The Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has imposed a ban for six sittings from Parliament against Norton MP, Mr Temba Mliswa for disorderly conduct in the Chamber.

Adv Mudenda imposed the ban after Mr Mliswa repeatedly interjected thereby disrupting the business of the House.

We interview Mliswa on the matter. Stay tuned to ZimEye.com for this live interview coming up at 9:30pm Zim time.

Hon @TembaMliswa interview at 8.30pm (UK time) 9.30pm (Zim time) @schikanza pic.twitter.com/2lQ3keXq8b

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 24, 2020

Mandi Chimene now selling buns in Mozambique. Is this what happens to one after Zanu pf has used you and is done with you?

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

State Media

A 78-year-old man from Dete in Hwange District has been ordered by a court to compensate the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) of US$20 000 after he killed a leopard that had attacked him in the bush.

Amos Moyo of Thuthukani village on the edge of Hwange National Park used an axe handle to finish off the marauding big cat that had been caught by a trap he had set in Vulamashava bush.

The leopard attacked Moyo last Thursday when he went to check the trap, leaving him with serious injuries on both arms, head and face.

The leopard pounced on Moyo who used his hands to wrestle it after his axe had fallen down. He later managed to reach for the axe and struck it to death, after almost losing his right eye.

Moyo asked his nephew Perfect Ndimande (20) to carry the leopard carcase home where they skinned it with the help of Mr Tayi Moyo and Mr Gudu Justice Moyo.

Moyo and Ndimande were jointly charged with making, possessing or using Class Two traps and another of removing any animal or any part of an animal from any land or from one place to another on the land, when they appeared before Hwange magistrate Mr Rangarirai Gakanje.

Moyo told the court that he decided to trap the big cat as it had killed his goat.

“One of my goats was killed sometime in March and I saw some leopard spoors. I was frustrated when nothing was done after I reported to authorities,” said Moyo.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. He was also ordered to compensate ZimParks of US$20 000 being the value of the leopard.

The magistrate said she considered his advanced age and that he almost lost his life, which was enough punishment.

Ndimande was fined $1 200 or four months in jail if he fails to pay by 31 July, and in addition, he was sentenced to a further two months in prison which were suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence within five years.

The magistrate said she considered that Ndimande did not participate in setting the trap, while Tayi and Gudu were not charged because they only participated in skinning the animal. The carcass, skin and trap were forfeited to the state.

Prosecuting, Ms Jamesina Makanza said Moyo committed the crime between Thursday last week and Sunday.

“During the period between 18 and 21 June Moyo set a Class Two spring jaw trap in Vulamashava bush and caught and killed a leopard. Moyo instructed Ndimande to carry the leopard home where they skinned it with Tayi Moyo and Gudu Justice Moyo,” said the prosecutor.

Investigations by ZimParks rangers who were on patrol led to Moyo’s homestead where they found the leopard carcass hanging from a tree and skin spread on the ground to dry. Moyo and Ndimande were arrested.

I formed this party in 1999 with Morgan Tsvangirai, and I'm prepared to fight to advance the legacy of Morgan Tsvangirai, says Mashakada | IS HE TELLING THE TRUTH? pic.twitter.com/t7WufDiWmW

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 24, 2020

The revolutionary and pan African ZANU PF Youth League strongly condemns the callous shooting of Comrades Wendy Chikwaira (31) and Kennedy Tachiona (39) by a Chinese national, one Zhang Xuen (a general manager) following a wage dispute at Reeden Mine located some 25 kilometres out of Gweru.

The Youth League is deeply concerned and perplexed with this flagrant disregard of existing dispute resolution mechanisms encapsulated in Zimbabwe’s labour laws in preference of barbaric law of the jungle tactics.

The ZANU PF Youth League continues to stand with the toiling indigenes of Zimbabwe and we express our utter shock, dismay and grief at Zhang Xuen’s murderous actions which not only threaten the peace, progress and stability that characterises the Second Republic but actions which also risk being misinterpreted in the context of the bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and its all-weather friend China.

We welcome in this regard the statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe wherein the Embassy said it would firmly “…support Zimbabwe’s law enforcement authority agencies to transparently and openly investigate and handle the case in accordance with the law of Zimbabwe.”

We vehemently condemn such callous acts that seek to destabilise the harmonious working relationships of people of all races.

Zimbabwe is a civilized progressive democratic nation and our Youth League is deeply perturbed by such an inhuman act.

It is our fervent hope that the law will speedily take its course and remind all employers (domestic and foreign) that workers have rights too.

Accordingly, we encourage the courts as well as mining regulation authorities to send an urgent and strong warning to those who dare take advantage of the humility of Zimbabweans by turning the mining sector into a wild-wild west where laws are senselessly flouted in pursuit of personal gain and greediness.  Such criminal and heartless acts have no place in a progressive and democratic Zimbabwe.

The ZANU PF Youth League also takes this opportunity to strongly condemn all forms of abuse and ill-treatment of workers in all sectors of the economy.

The ZANU PF Constitution in Article 2 clearly states the aims and objectives of ZANU PF as including “To uphold and fully apply fully the rule of equality before the law and equality of opportunities for all the people in Zimbabwe, regardless of race, tribe, sex, religion or origins.”

Defending the weak employee is thus in the DNA of the Youth League and we will not hesitate to perform our constitutional duty in this regard.

Furthermore, Article, 2 (12) of the ZANU PF Constitution clearly espouses and articulates ZANU PF’s negative stance towards all social ills including “…tribalism, regionalism, nepotism, racism, religious fanaticism, xenophobia and related intolerance, discrimination on the grounds of sex and all forms of exploitation of man by man in Zimbabwe…”

In the same vein, the revolutionary ZANU PF Youth League aims and objectives as stipulated in section 186 (1-3) of the ZANU PF Constitution clearly state that it is the duty of the youths to actively participate in the political, social, cultural and economic affairs of the country and to promote and protect the interests of the youths.

It must be noted in this regard that the ZANU PF Youth League’s interest arises not only from the fact that the victims of the shooting are Zimbabweans but equally that one of the victims is a youth as defined in the African Youth Charter and the ZANU PF Constitution.

We are as the youth duty-bound by the afore-mentioned constitution to defend the interests of these two unfortunate comrades in all aspects of their socio-cultural, political and economic endeavour.

It must be reiterated that Mr Zhang Xuen’s cold-hearted trigger happy and barbaric act is an affront upon the peace-loving and hardworking people of Zimbabwe and a law-breaking act against the sovereign people of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

The Youth League will studiously monitor the progress of this case and we encourage all employers and employees to abide by the law in all their labour relations as a means to foster and perpetuate order in our economy.

The ZANU PF Youth League will continue to stand in support and defence of all the hardworking youths of Zimbabwe.

State Media

THE Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Sekai Nzenza has, with the concurrence President Mnangagwa, appointed Dr Farai Karonga as chief executive officer for Zisco and three additional board members. Dr Karonga replaces, Mr Alois Gowo, who retired from the organisation early this year.

Once the backbone of Zimbabwe’s industry, Zisco has been on defunct mode since 2008 when it collapsed under hyperinflationary climate.

Engineer Martin Manhuwa, Mr Demand Gwatinetsa and Mr Edmore Tafirenyika add to the existing board led by Professor Gift Mugano. Other members are Mrs C. Zhanje, Ms M. Buzuzi, Mr M. Phiri and Ms S. Sidambe.

“The resuscitation of ZISCO Steel remains of paramount importance considering the parastatal’s pivotal role in the mining and manufacturing sector,” said Dr Nzenza in a statement.

“The minister is confident that board members and the CEO’s technical expertise will help lead the ZISCO Steel strategic direction and revive a vibrant national steel industry.”

Minister Nzenza said the appointed team must focus on best practice and good corporate governance hence the inclusion of a diversity of skills to contribute to the strategic direction and transformation of ZISCO into a formidable player in the mining sector.

Dr Karonga is an accomplished mining engineer with vast technical experience in the mining industry having served for institutions like RioZim (Pvt) Ltd, as acting general manager for the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and the University of Zimbabwe. He holds a Masters in Mining Engineering and a Doctorate in Mining Engineering.

Mr Gwatinetsa is an expert in mining engineering currently managing the holding company for the largest gold mining in Zimbabwe with overall strategic, financial and operational responsibility. He was part of an executive team that was managing the strategic turn-around of the largest coal mine (Hwange Colliery) in Zimbabwe while developing two further large collieries each.

Mr Gwatinetsa holds an MSc in Engineering, a Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Geology.

Mr Tafirenyika currently serves at Mimosa Mining Company with experience in strategic management of mining institutions. He previously served as a finance and administration manager of Zimasco’s smelting division. He holds Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration.

Engineer Manuhwa brings in experience, which spans over 20 years in power engineering protection, distribution as well production and manufacturing engineering consultancy.

He is currently the managing consultant of Zimbabwe Africa Infrastructure Development Group (ZAIDG), a consortium of consulting firms and a managing director of Industrial Energy Solutions.

Engineer Manuhwa holds Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Honours) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

The Thokozani Khupe MDC-T has pleaded with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to free MDC Alliance MP, Joanna Mamombe and two female party activists who are languishing in remand prison.

The three have been in prison for a fortnight for allegedly faking an abduction and torture in the hands of state security agents.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House on Wednesday, the Thokozani Khupe led MDC Spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni, pleaded with the government to sympathise with the embattled activists.

“I do not know the circumstances beyond their denial of bail, but I am saying the system must be sympathetic to appreciate that these are young ladies,” Phugeni said.

“These are young ladies. They are in their youth and they are youth assembly members and we know that they are impressionable and we know that in politics, youths are used for all sorts of things.

“The legal system must be careful with how they deal with these young people when they are young. If there are mistakes they make, we should appreciate them.

“I am basically making an appeal for their release. I’m saying keep them out until they have been proven guilty by a competent court.”

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

State Media

A WOMAN from Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb who shared her nude pictures with a friend has been arrested together with three other women after the photos were shared in a residents’ WhatsApp group.

Linah Ncube (33) shared her nude pictures with Mpumelelo Nyoni (30) from the same suburb.

Nyoni further shared the pictures with Viola Chamboko (29) and Sheron Dube (22) who leaked the pictures.

The crime was committed between April last year to June this year when the quartet was arrested.

Ncube discovered that her nude pictures were being circulated after bumping into them on Mpopoma residents WhatsApp group platform.

She reported the matter to police who deployed the cyber crack team comprising Zimbabwe Republic Police Victim Friendly Unit to investigate the matter.

Police’s investigation led to her arrest and that of three accomplices as it was established that she intentionally sent the pictures to Nyoni.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday said while the other three had violated Ncube’s privacy, she was also liable for circulating the nude pictures.

“The three accused persons worked in cahoots and circulated pictures bearing nude photos of the complainant on WhatsApp platforms. They did this in full realisation that there was a real risk or possibility that their conduct would seriously impair the dignity of the complainant. The trio was also found in possession of five nude pictures belonging to the complainant on their phones which is indecent or obscene or prohibited,” said Insp Ncube.

He said police investigation also led to Ncube’s arrest.

“After a report was made a follow up was made where the accused was found to have intentional taken nude pictures of herself and sent them to her friend Nyoni,” he said.

Insp Ncube said the four are scheduled to appear in court soon.

He urged members of the public to desist from sharing nude pictures saying it was illegal and morally wrong.

“As police we urge members of the public to respect other people`s private lives. It is an offence to take and circulate nude or indecent pictures or videos on social media. Members of the public are also advised to report such acts as it tarnishes the image of other people and is a bad influence to the youths and children,” said Insp Ncube.

Insp Ncube said members of the public should report similar cases to the nearest police station, NetOne toll free number 110 or 0292-885479.

Dear Highfield West residents, you elected me in good faith, to represent you and serve. You chose me above all on the 31st July 2018. Today I come back again, as your former MP, thanking you for the support and patience for it’s almost 2 years now.

It’s not by choice that I have left parliament, but there are political questions that need to be solved. Questions of over ambitious people who lost elections, questions of selfish individuals that have chosen money and personal enrichment over the people. You chose MDC Alliance over MDC-T but well, Zanu being Zanu is here to destroy the people’s project.

However I’m so grateful to you, for the faith that you have always had in me, for the undying support. I have been recalled from parliament but not from your hearts. We shall continue to serve. This whole fiasco is meant to turn us away from issues that matter, the bread and butter issues. Corruption, RTGS salaries, inflammation, mis-governance. It’s a phase that has to make us stronger than before, a drama that has to turn the tables and unite us, as citizens above everyone else.

Peace will definitely come, change is inevitable makata anoshura mawere. My power lies in you, not parliamentary chairs, and as such, we will work together to restore the pride of our nation, to fight mis-governance and injustice as well as develop our constituency and improve each other’s welfare in love, as a United people.

Lastly, because you elected me, to represent your will, the will of the people I’m as well pleased to notify you that I have been recalled for siding with your will, for choosing your voice and sticking with the people’s choice, the people’s president advocate Nelson Chamisa. We are fighting a system , a cunning group of dictators but it shall come to pass. I remain clear and unshaken in the path of democracy and under his genuine leadership. Let’s remain focused and yes…

Zanu pf must go !

Kind regards, with love from myself

ZANU-PF is set to launch the hashtag #edfirst ahead of the 2023 elections aimed at highlighting the “successes of the new dispensation.”

Addressing a Zanu-PF Midlands provincial meeting in Gokwe recently, national Political Commissar Victor Matemadanda said President Mnangagwa is the party’s sole candidate in the 2023 harmonised elections.

He said #edfirst will be launched soon.

“We are going to launch #edfirst aimed at highlighting the successes of the new dispensation soon. We are launching #edfirst and no one is going to start to speak without telling us about ED Mnangagwa and the good that the new dispensation has done. President Mnangagwa while leading the new dispensation has recorded many successes which ought to be highlighted now. We are solely behind his candidature as the party leader in the 2023 Presidential elections,” said Matemadanda.

He said revived District Coordinating Committees (DCC) will strengthen party structures.

Matemadanda said they are targeting to double support for the President.

“We are targeting 5 million votes by 2023. In the last election 2,5 million people voted for President Mnangagwa and we are doubling that figure. It means from the cells to the province; we must stop fighting and work on recruitment of more party members. We want to double the 2018 vote so that we have the 5 million votes we need for our President,” he said.

“So, we are working on restructuring all cells by end of June, by end of July we work on branches and come August we work on the provinces. We are working on reviving the DCC and we are going to see each provincial leadership exchanging provinces to see the revival of DCC across the country.”

Matemadanda said the ruling party wants to reclaim all Parliamentary seats it lost to the opposition MDC Alliance.

The MDC Alliance, he said, was losing the plot as it is busy blaming the ruling party for its internal squabbles.

He said the real threat to Zanu-PF was now coming from within as some members plot against the party’s leadership and structures.

“To us there isn’t any opposition out there. The MDC Alliance is busy blaming is for its problems. We don’t care about them because we are a people driven party and our goal is to provide a good life for our people. But at the moment we feel we have opposition from within our party.

“We have people who want to assume leadership at all costs without following the laid down procedures. But it must be noted that succession starts from the cell to the District. That is why we are reviving the DCC structures,” he said.

Matemadanda said Members of Parliament and councilors who got more votes than President Mnangagwa must give the party their strategy amid indications that some of them were working against the party’s leadership.

He said MPs given food aid by President Mnangagwa for distribution in their constituencies should complete the task in time so that no one dies of hunger.

“President Mnangagwa is sourcing food aid for our people and MPs should take the food to the people. Some become busy to distribute and some stand accused of giving only their relatives and friends and this is causing conflicts. The food from the President must reach the intended beneficiaries,” said Matemadanda.

Meanwhile, the provincial leadership handed over washing soap, hand sanitisers and rice donated by President Mnangagwa to Gokwe South District Hospital.

The goods were handed over to hospital authorities by Politburo members Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Jorum Gumbo.

The country’s Food Poverty Line (FPL) for one person was $680.00 while that for an average household of five persons was $3.398.00 in May 2020, latest official figures show.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), the Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) for one person during the same period (May 2020) stood at $1.697.00 while that for an average of five persons per household was $8.484.00. Zimstat said in a statement:

The Food Poverty Line (FPL) for one person in May 2020 was $680.00 while that for an average household of five persons was $3.398.00.

The Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) for one person during the same period (May 2020) stood at $1.697.00 while that for an average of five persons per household was $8.484.00.

According to the agency, the TCPL is a combination of food and non-food items that an average family requires for it not to be deemed poor.

The TCPL for Zimbabwe stood at $1 485 per person in April which means that an individual required that much to buy both food and non-food items per month.

Pindula

By A Correspondent- A 40 year old Johanne Masowe eChishanu Apostolic church member from Burma Valley in Manicaland Province has been taken to court facing rape charges after taking a Grade 7 pupil as a wife.

Tichaona Chinemo appeared before Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe on Saturday and was remanded in custody to July 3.

According to prosecutor Brian Goto, sometime in 2019, Chinemo allegedly proposed love to the complainant, whose age was not revealed, and she agreed.

The two had unprotected sexual intercourse several times this year until the girl fell pregnant and she subsequently eloped to Chinemo’s homestead.

On June 18, the complainant’s mother and social welfare workers found the minor at Chinemo’s homestead where she was living as his wife.

The matter was reported at Burma Valley Police Station leading to Chinemo’s arrest.

-Newsday

VACANCIES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

THE HON. SPEAKER: On 23^rd June, 2020 which is today, Parliament was notified by the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirayi (MDC-T) Party that the following Members of Parliament had ceased to be the members of the MDC-T Party and therefore no longer represent the interests of the party in Parliament, with effect from 23^rd June, 2020. The Hon. Members affected are as follows:

1.    Hon Amos Chibaya – Mkoba Constituency

2.    Hon Happymore Chidziva – Highfield West Constituency

3.    Hon Bacilia Majaya- PR Mashonaland Central Province

4.    Hon Mucharairwa Mugidho – PR Masvingo Province

5.    Hon Virginia Z Muradzikwa – PR Harare Province

6.    Hon. Annah Muyambo – PR Harare Province

7.    Hon Francisca Ncube – PR Matabeleland North

8.    Hon Nomathemba Ndlovu – PR Matabeleland South

9.    Hon Murisi Zwizwai – Harare Central Constituency

Section 129 (1) (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 august House that vacancies have arisen in the constituencies stated above 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 vacancies in line with Section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 213] as amended

https://twitter.com/babachirasha/status/1275651039052603394?s=20

By A Correspondent- In a statement to the media which triggered furore, Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe said preliminary investigations, conducted by the police and other state security agents, show that Member of Parliament for Harare West Joanna Mamombe, Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, had links with people and organizations like the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who coached them to claim that they were abducted and tortured by unknown assailants.

Kazembe said:

“… Needless to say, without at all preempting due process of the law, their three statements show glaring signs of rehearsal and even possible coaching which may not stand up to rigorous cross examination.

There is no relationship whatsoever between the findings of the medical examination that was carried out on them by the government medical officer in the presence of two human rights doctors of their choosing on 15 May 2020 and the injuries they claim to have suffered as a result of being subjected to beatings with ‘open palms, booted feet, fists, rifle butts and other blunt objects, including being thrown out of a moving car and being cut up with broken bottles and razor blades on their backs.

There was no evidence of any swelling, fresh lacerations, wounds or even fractures consistent with the kind of manhandling they claimed to have gone through. This being the case, it is important to advise the public that, in a bid to ascertain if there was any rape or sexual assault, samples were taken and results are pending.”

REPORT ON THE RE-ENGAGEMENT VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF SWEDEN AS PRESENTED BEFORE PARLIAMENT ON JUNE 23 2020

          HON. K. PARADZA: I move the motion standing in my name that this House takes note of the Report on the Re-engagement visit to the United Kingdom of Sweden by a Parliamentary Delegation led by the Hon. Advocate J. F. Mudenda from 9^th to 10^th September, 2019.

          HON. MADIWA: I second.

          HON. K. PARADZA: 1.0    Introduction

1.1           Within the context of the current re-engagement process spearheaded by H.E. the President, Cde. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, and in pursuit of Parliamentary diplomacy as approved by Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda, Speaker of the National Assembly led a Parliamentary Delegation on a re-engagement visit to Stockholm, Sweden on 9 and 10 September 2019.

1.2    The delegation comprised the following Members and Officers of Parliament:

·                   Hon. Kindness Paradza, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade;

·                   Hon. Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education;

·                   Hon. Joshua Sacco, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce;

·                   Hon. Sen. Douglas Mwonzora, Member of Parliament;

·                   Ms. Rumbidzai Chisango, Principal External Relations Officer;

·                   Mr. Shepherd Manhivi, Committee Clerk and Secretary to the Delegation; and

·                   Mr. Clive Mukushwa, Security Aide to the Hon. Speaker.

1.3    From the onset, the delegation wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to H.E.  Alice Mashingaidze, the Republic of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Sweden together with her able staff and Mrs. Sofia Margareta Andrietta Calltorp, former Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe who completed her tour of duty in August 2019, for their sterling work in ensuring that the Parliamentary diplomacy visit to Stockholm was successful.

1.4    It should be noted that Stockholm is only one of the four capitals the delegation initially intended to engage. Due to circumstances beyond the delegation’s control, visits to Washington, London and Brussels had to be postponed to mutually agreeable dates in the first quarter of 2020.

2.0    Purpose of the Visit

2.1    The re-engagement visit sought to complement the efforts of the Executive by articulating the major political and economic reforms being instituted by the Second Republic through parliamentary legal processes. Furthermore, the interface sought to strengthen bilateral relations between the Parliament of Zimbabwe and the Swedish Riksdag in areas of common interest.

2.2    To that end, the delegation held several meetings with the following stakeholders:-

·                   Hon. Dr. Andreas Norlen, Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag and his delegation;

·                   Mrs. Irina Schoulgin Nyoni, Head of Africa Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and her delegation in place of the Swedish Foreign Minister who had resigned when the delegation arrived;

·                   Hon. Olle Thorell, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and his Delegation;

·                   Mrs Asa Jarskog, President of the Swedish-Southern Africa Chamber of Commerce;

·                   Anna Sundstrom, Secretary General of the Olof Palme International Centre for Democracy and her delegation; and

·                   Mr Leif Isaksson, International Secretary of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and his delegation.

3.0    The Delegation’s Message to Stakeholders in Sweden

3.1    Of paramount importance, the delegation emphasised the opening up of democratic space in Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa’s leadership whose mantra is that “Zimbabwe Is Open For Business” and should attain an upper middle income economy by 2030. The delegation informed their hosts that the New Dispensation under the leadership of President Mnangagwa had opened up the political democratic space. That is why 133 political parties emerged to contest the 2018 Harmonised Elections while 23 candidates registered to contest the presidential race. The electoral environment before, during and after was extremely conducive except for the regrettable violence in August 2018 and January 2019.

3.2    The stakeholders were informed that Parliament, through its constitutional mandate, is seized with instituting political and economic reforms. The reforms are anchored on the recommendations by International Election Observer Missions during the 2018 Harmonised Elections, civil society petitions and the Montlanthe Commission recommendations.

 3.3   With regards to electoral reforms, the delegation informed the Swedish stakeholders that POSA and AIPPA had been repealed while measures will be taken to strengthen the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the enforcement of the Electoral Code of Conduct through Multi Party Liaison Committees, among other measures.

 3.4   Furthermore, the stakeholders were informed about the economic reforms being undertaken by Parliament to create a conducive environment for the ease of doing business. Accordingly, Parliament is currently considering the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) Bill which is now at Committee Stage. Once promulgated into law, it will create a One Stop Investment Centre and will harmonise Special Economic Zones and Joint Venture economic enterprises in order to attract domestic and foreign direct investors in Zimbabwe.

3.5    Additionally, the delegation advised the stakeholders that the indigenisation legislation had been repealed by Parliament through the Finance Act of 2018 because it negated foreign direct investment. Foreign investors can now hold 100% shareholding if they so wish.

3.6    The delegation explained the ongoing political dialogue process comprising 19 political parties except the MDC-Alliance. Overtures are underway to ensure that the main opposition party, the MDC Alliance, becomes part and parcel of the political dialogue so that the political dialogue becomes inclusive.

 3.7   The delegation appealed to Sweden to assist Zimbabwe achieve a positive international image as it embarks on the highlighted reforms. In this context, the delegation called on the removal of the illegal sanctions which are hurting the Zimbabwean economy and the ordinary citizens.

4.0    Meeting with the Head of Africa Department- Ministry of Foreign Affairs

4.1    The Parliamentary delegation diplomatic overtures led to the resignation of the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Maggot Wallstrom, who strongly contended that failure to dialogue with Zimbabwe was a “bad policy” more so that the former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe was no more on Zimbabwe’s political arena. On the delegation’s arrival, she opined that,

“The other insight is that countries should not be isolated. It’s such a bad policy. Now that Mugabe has died, look back at Zimbabwe’s history and what happened when the country became isolated. How has it helped North Korea, how is it helping Iran? At the moment when countries are isolated, they join. They look inward and stop developing. To think that you should not meet them because you dislike their politics is the worst-it only gives more power to the reactionary forces and those who do not want democracy or democratic development. Then civilization itself goes backwards”.

Her resignation demonstrated the impact of the delegation’s visit, wittingly or unwittingly. As a result of her resignation, the delegation met with officials from the Africa Desk led by Mrs. Irina Schoulgin-Nyoni who is the Head of the Department for Central, Eastern and Southern Africa.

4.2    The delegation explained the electoral and economic reforms being championed by Parliament, specifically making reference to the repeal of POSA, AIPPA and the Indigenisation Act. POSA will be replaced by MOPA which is to be accented to and signed into law by the President. AIPPA is being substituted by the Freedom of Information Bill, Protection of Personal Information Bill and the Media Commission Bill in order to address freedom of assembly and expression as championed by the Constitution. 

4.3    While the officials made a commitment to advocate for Zimbabwe’s re-engagement, they noted the following areas for action by Zimbabwe:-

·                   Called for the need for dialogue between H.E. the President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, and Leader of the main opposition Mr. Nelson Chamisa.

·                   Called on Zimbabwe to address currency volatility issues which create negative perceptions for investors.

·                   Called for specific programs to advance gender issues including gender budgeting.

·                   Called for programs to strengthen citizen’s involvement in political processes.

·                   Called for the expeditious adoption of key political and economic reforms through the Parliamentary legislative processes.

5.0    Meeting with the Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament)

5.1    The Meeting with the Hon Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag was held at the Riksdag Buildings. In attendance during this meeting were Ms. Sara Heikkinen Breitholtz, a Member of Parliament representing the Social Democratic Party and Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mats Nordberg, Member of Parliament representing the Sweden Democrats and a substitute Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ms Yasmine Posio, Member of Parliament representing the Left Party and Substitute Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ms. Teres Lindberg, Member of Parliament representing the Social Democratic Party and Vice Chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Ms. Anna Karin Hedstrom, Head of the International Department of the Riksdag and Mr. Ralph Hermansson, International Parliamentary Advisor.

5.2    In his opening remarks, Hon. Dr. Andreas Norlen, Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag gave a historical background and the current composition of the Riksdag highlighting that the Riksdag was bicameral until 1971 when it became unicameral. The Riksdag comprises of 139 Members from 8 political parties who are elected after every four years. The Riksdag has 15 Standing Committees.

5.3    The host Hon. Speaker outlined his role as Speaker, specifically that he chairs the Riksdag Board, represents Parliament and Sweden both within and outside Sweden and he also leads the process of forming a government.

5.4    Hon. Advocate Mudenda extended his appreciation to the host Speaker’s gesture to meet the delegation at the Parliament Buildings. Furthermore, he extended his appreciation to the Swedish IPU delegation for proposing an Emergency Item during the 140^th Assembly of the IPU held in March 2019 calling for humanitarian aid in support of victims of Cyclone Idai which ravaged parts of Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.  Subsequently, Zimbabwe received humanitarian amounting to over 600 million United States dollars for the reconstruction efforts.

5.5    The Zimbabwe delegation elaborated on efforts being undertaken by the Parliament to effect political and economic reforms as well as alignment of laws to the country’s Constitution. It affirmed that the Parliament of Zimbabwe is committed to the upholding of the tenets of the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

5.6    The Swedish delegation welcomed the positive initiatives aimed at promoting democracy and democratic institutions through the political and economic reforms. In this regard, they called on the Parliamentary delegation to:

·                   Ensure the expeditious implementation of the highlighted political and economic reforms.

·                   Ensure an inclusive political national dialogue that should foster public trust, ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights as well as paying attention to gender based violence.

5.7    In response to some of the concerns raised by the Swedish Speaker of Parliament, the Hon. Speaker indicated that the political and economic reforms are matters of legislative processes that occur in time through Parliamentary due diligence. The Hon. Speaker further explained that the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and the Gender Commission speak to the political dialogue matrix and gender based violence respectively. Additionally, the Swedish funded Institutions such as the Zimbabwe Institute have been assisting in the political party inclusive dialogue efforts. In further response, the Zimbabwe delegation advised their Swedish counterparts that democracy is an evolving phenomenon. It has taken, for example, 584 years since 1475 for Sweden to evolve its democracy to what it is now. Thus, Zimbabwe’s democracy must be given chance to nurture its young democracy.

6.0    Meeting with the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

6.1    Hon. Olle Thorell, who is a Member of Parliament representing Social Democratic Party made reference to the long standing relations between Zimbabwe and Sweden which date back to the days of the Zimbabwe liberation struggle. Accordingly, he was keen to learn of new developments taking place in Zimbabwe and to explore possible areas of cooperation.

6.2    The delegation briefed the meeting on current developments highlighting the electoral and economic reforms, political dialogue and the re-engagement processes which seek to not only open Zimbabwe to the world but to enrich democratic processes as well. It made it clear that Zimbabwe has a Government formed in line with the results of the 2018 Harmonized elections.

6.3    Hon. Mwonzora briefed the Meeting on the position of the MDC Alliance highlighting that the party is advocating for mediated dialogue that is essential but that it must be genuine, unconditional and predicated on national issues.

6.4    With regards to possible areas of cooperation, the delegation appealed for funding to capacitate key institutions such as Independent Commissions to effectively discharge their mandate. In addition, there is need to increase funding to Parliament which is being channeled through the Zimbabwe Institute as well as the  scope for capacity building programmes.

6.5    The delegation appealed for the removal of sanctions and ending Zimbabwe’s isolation which has had a negative impact on the ordinary citizen.

6.6    Hon. Olle Thorell encouraged Zimbabwe to learn from the Swedish experience where all political parties had put aside their differences, formed alliances and a Government based on national interest. Accordingly, all political parties in Zimbabwe should engage in dialogue for the good of the country.      

7.0    Meeting with the President of the Swedish Southern Africa Chamber of Commerce (SSACC)

7.1    The Swedish Southern Africa Chamber of Commerce is an independent, non- profit making organisation that promotes trade and investment between Sweden and Sub-Saharan Africa.

 7.2   The President of the SSACC has a keen interest in Zimbabwe and as such is willing to market Zimbabwe to her membership as part of re-engagement through Business interface. However, she emphasised that Swedish businesses are averse to risk and corruption preferring to invest in countries where there is policy consistency and the legislative framework governing various sectors of the economy.

7.2    The Zimbabwe delegation informed the Chamber President that the Indigenisation Act has been repealed and the investments will now be driven under the ZIDA Act whose Bill is currently before Parliament. It will address the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe. The delegation assured the Swedish Chamber that foreign investors would be able to repatriate their profits back to their country.

7.3    The Chamber President welcomed the developments with regards to the progress on the ZIDA bill. In this regard, she proposed convening a dialogue where representatives from the Zimbabwe business community would interface with her Chamber Members. In this regard, the Swedish Southern Africa Chamber of Commerce is willing to facilitate this engagement.

8.0    Meeting with the Olof Palme International Centre

8.1    The Olof Palme International Center is currently supporting political party dialogue in Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Institute. In addition, the Zimbabwe Institute has supported Parliament in its capacity building programmes for both Members and Officers of Parliament. The Centre works closely with the Social Democratic Party in Sweden as well as the Swedish Trade Union Confederation.

8.2    The delegation, briefed the Secretary General of the Olof Palme Centre on current developments in Zimbabwe focusing primarily on electoral and economic reforms as well as the political dialogue efforts taking place in Zimbabwe.

8.3    The Secretary General of the Centre welcomed the positive developments taking place in Zimbabwe and expressed a keen interest in maintaining programmes under its funding. In the spirit of encouraging an all-inclusive dialogue, the Centre sponsors joint youth programs across the political divide through the Zimbabwe Institute. The Centre was keen in advancing political and economic reforms being undertaken by Zimbabwe and, therefore, there was need for sustainable interface with the Centre. 

9.0    Meeting with the Swedish Trade Union Confederation

9.1    The Swedish Trade Union Confederation is one of the largest Trade Union Centres in the world. It has a long history of financially and morally supporting Trade Unions in Zimbabwe.

9.2    The delegation and the Trade Unionist exchanged best practices on labour rights for all workers, including the civil service and the right to collective bargaining. Of particular interest to the delegation was the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (NTF) which Zimbabwe has crafted into law so that recommendations arising from NTF are legally binding to all parties to the negotiations.

9.3    Of note is that Members of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation have the right to support a political party of their choice although such a practice can create unnecessary political imperatives where there is change of government. 

10.0  Conclusion and Recommendations

10.1  The role of Parliament in the re-engagement process through Parliamentary diplomacy cannot be over emphasised. The visit to Sweden has strengthened the resolve to complement the Executive’s efforts in re-engaging the International Community and affirming the mantra that Zimbabwe Is Open for Business. Accordingly, efforts must be made to ensure that the delegation proceeds to Washington, London, and Brussels on the re-engagement trail through Parliamentary diplomacy. The visits will also help address the apparent negative perceptions about Zimbabwe.

10.2  While all stakeholders welcomed the positive developments as articulated by the delegation, it was clear that the international community expects Zimbabwe to focus on the implementation of political and economic reforms as well as the protection of human rights as enshrined in the country’s Constitution. Accordingly, Parliament of Zimbabwe will expedite the realisation of political and economic reforms as well as complete the aligning of all outstanding 60 laws to the country’s Constitution. This requires the concerted support of the Executive because it is the Executive that generally originates the Bills.

10.3  The Zimbabwe Embassy in Stockholm needs to continuously engage the Swedish Southern Africa Chambers of Commerce with the view of jointly convening the proposed Business Conference. In addition to the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Parliament of Zimbabwe can delegate representatives from the Portfolio Committees on Foreign Affairs and International Trade as well as Industry and Commerce to attend the Conference in order to unpack the ZIDA Bill once it is promulgated into law so as to foster business re-engagement.

10.4  From the delegation’s interaction with the Olof Palmer International Centre, there is a possibility of broadening the scope activities funded through the Zimbabwe Institute. Accordingly, there is need to engage the Zimbabwe Institute on possible areas of cooperation, especially in the quest for inclusive national political dialogue through national consensus building. Parliament should encourage the Zimbabwe Institute to carry on with the multi-party dialogue with the view of persuading political parties to embrace gender parity in their Party Constitutions in line with the national Constitution.

10.5  Parliament may wish to immediately appoint a Constitution Committee to oversee the implementation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. In addition, this Committee would oversee the alignment of legislation with the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

10.6  Corruption remains a major economic challenge and a major disincentive to local and foreign direct investment. Parliament should ensure that all institutions fighting corruption are adequately resourced through the National Budget so as to augment the President’s crusade against corruption. I thank you.

-NationalAssemblyHansard

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has described the recall of Parliamentarians as “mere connivance by Emmerson Mnangagwa, Thokozani Khupe and Jacob Mudenda to destroy the people’s revolution.”

He also said the MDC Alliance was prepared to defend the will of the people.

“We will fight criminal connivance and corruption by 45 000 vote Khupe, Parliament’s Mudenda and Mnangagwa.

These shenanigans make us stronger than ever before.

MDC ALLIANCE MPs can’t be forced to belong to the MDC-T which they defeated in 2018.

This is ridiculous! We resist the illegal and unlawful recalls. We resist the illegitimate and unelected Mnangagwa.

Our 5 key fights are on a legitimate PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT, REFORMS, CORRUPTION, CONSTITUTIONALISM (ALIGNMENT NOT AMENDMENT), LIVELIHOODS & RIGHTS,” wrote Advocate Chamisa on Twitter.

The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) welcomes the statement by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development concerning guidelines for the informal sector to reopen in line with Statutory Instrument 136 of 2020.

The guidelines announced are also in tandem with the self-regulation which VISET has been championing with our membership during the COVID-19 awareness campaigns we have been conducting nationally since the national lockdown was proclaimed. 

As VISET, our attention has been drawn to the issue contained in the guidelines pertaining to registration of Informal Traders with Local Authorities, as well as the allocations to be done at newly established and refurbished markets.

Past experience would have us know that, there are some unscrupulous amongst us who will seek to take advantage of such a noble intervention to allocate themselves and their associates multiple market stalls which are then rented at a premium, creating the infamous “Space Barons”

Informal Traders have been sorely affected by loss of incomes during this lockdown period and have also been adversely affected by demolitions of their market stalls, hence should be sheltered from any rent seeking tendencies.

We contend that the Local Authorities should by all means ensure this process is as transparent as possible and a sure way of achieving this is bringing on board informal sector representatives in all processes to be initiated in this regard.

This will ensure greater buy-in and conformity as well as removing suspicions of underhand dealings as has been the case in the past.

As an organisation, we would like to put on record the cooperation we have received in the past from Local Authorities during our awareness campaigns and would hope this can be continued as we embark on this next step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Further, we urge all Local Authorities to ensure that the process of construction and refurbishing of Traders Markets is expedited so as to certify the success of the reopening exercise.

Prepared by VISET Information and Publicity Department

Will fight criminal connivance & corruption by Mudenda and @edmnangagwa.MDC ALLIANCE MPs can’t be forced to belong to the MDCT they defeated in 2018.We resist the illegal & unlawful recalls.5 Fights on!-A legitimate PEOPLE’S GVT,REFORMS,LIVELIHOODS & RIGHTS!#corruptioniskillingus

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) June 24, 2020

….Part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's speech at Stanley Nleya's burial at the Heroes Acre …"It has come apparent that in our midst, there are wolves in sheep's clothing. The end is coming." pic.twitter.com/CIYwZmggT6

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 24, 2020

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF stalwart Ozias Bvute has lost a land dispute between him and a land developing couple Florence and Felix Pambukani after a High Court Judge declared the latter as the rightful owners of the 724 0475 hectares of land.

High Court judge, Tawanda Chitapi said the Pambukanis were the rightful owners of the land and ordered Bvute to pay the costs of the lawsuit.

Said Justice Chitapi:

The cancellation of deed number 2410/2010 in applicants’ name and the subsequent revival of certificate registered title number 6754/08 in the name of second respondent (Crowhill Farm (Pvt) Ltd) in the respect of certain immovable property namely an undivided 0,0298% being share number 702 in a certain piece of land situate in the District of Salisbury called Lot J of Borrowdale Estate measuring 724,0475 hectares be and is hereby declared null and void.

It has been disclosed in the papers that there are third parties who obviously innocently purchased stands in the property in dispute herein. The resolutions of the wrongful cancellation of the title deed transfer of 2010 in the name of the applicants must be restored.

Having noted the irregularity of third’s respondent (Registrar of Deeds) cancellation of the deed transfer 2410/10 it is no surprise that third and fourth respondents do not oppose the relief being sought.

What also remains unexplained is why Chigumba’s order was only executed upon or given effect on February 13, 2018 when the order had been granted on 29 October 2014, a period in excess of three years.”

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo Provincial affairs minister Judith Ncube has appealed to members of the public to pray for the country’s leadership as the country was going through a difficult time

She made the remarks on Tuesday at funeral service for  the late national hero Stanley Nleya held at the White City stadium yesterday. She said:

Let us also pray for our leaders because we are going through difficult times. We are battling with COViD-19 and we must follow laid down regulations so that we do not perish.

Her remarks come when the economic and humanitarian crisis in the country has only worsened over the last 24 months.

The country has inadequate energy, medicines, food and the government is failing to adequately pay its workers some of whom have already embarked on industrial action.

The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has done less to help the situation.

Many informal traders were forced to suspend operations in March when the lockdown was imposed to stop the spread of the virus thereby further deteriorating living standards of many families in the country.

-newsday

By Jane Mlambo| Police have summoned Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) President Obert Masaraure to Harare Law and Order Section over yet to known reasons.

Masaraure has led a number of protests demanding USD salaries for teachers and has recently been outspoken in his strong opposition against government decision to continue with June examinations despite the COVID-19 threat.

Posting on Facebook, an unmoved Masaraure said he will be going there on Friday in the company of his lawyer.

“I have been invited to Harare Law and Order Section. I will be going there in the company of my lawyer on Friday 26 June at 0800hrs. Our Police officers deserve a real salary. United States Dollar Salaries now,” said Masaraure.

Dear Thoko & Dougie

I would want to make it clear that am not afraid of being RECALLED by you. If ever you are going to RECALL me it should be known that I am not going to REGRET my decision to support the MDC Alliance and President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

— Denford Ngadziore (@DNgadziore) June 23, 2020

By Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa has expressed excitement at the filtering results from Malawi Presidential election runoff where Lazarus Chakwera is currently leading the polls ahead of incumbent Peter Mutharika.

Posting on Twitter, Chamisa said;

I’m getting good and positive news on the exciting election results from my friends in opposition in Malawi @SidikMia and @LAZARUSCHAKWERA. Well done African brothers on the vigilance and that United front. Africa needs fresh politics and credible electoral processes.

So yesterday the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe conducted it’s first foreign currency auction and sold over $10 million US dollars at an average rate of $57 ZWL per 1 USD.

Immediately after the auction ZERA went to work and recomputed fuel prices using the new rate. The result was that the prices of both diesel and petrol went up by about 100%.

The likely effect of this fuel price hike is that the price of just about everything else is set to go up. Fuel is at the heart of almost every business operation. Farmers use it to irrigate their crops and to transport produce to the market, so do shops and manufacturers. Zimbabwean shops never miss an opportunity to hike their prices and so prepare yourself for another massive round of price increases.

Despite the universal usage of fuel the impact will likely be different to different sectors. Increases will probably not be a 100% increases.

By A Correspondent- Fired Zanu-PF Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu said the ruling party politburo acted on false information to fire him, but welcomed its verdict and vowed to continue supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid for re-election in 2023.

Zivhu was fired a fortnight ago by the party’s politburo following a recommendation by the party’s national disciplinary committee. This was after his home province, Masvingo, recommended his expulsion.

After he was fired, he went on social media and claimed that he was victimised for demanding his money – $1,5 million from a party stalwart.

But yesterday, in a statement, Zivhu said he would continue to support Mnangagwa and make sure he wins re-election in 2023 so that he fulfils his electoral promise and vision 2030.

He said he would seek readmission in the party after five years because he had never known any other political home except Zanu-PF, and his future lied within the party.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Chinese International who allegedly shot and seriously injured two of his employees on Sunday apperead before Gweru magistrate Edwin Marecha who remanded him in custody.

Zhang Xuelinthe (41) is accused of attempted murder after he shot and injured Wendy Chikwaira (31) and Kennedy Tachiona (39) at his gold mine premises following a dispute over salaries.

NewsDay reports that there was heavy police presence at the Court as the state was anticipating that miners and residents would protest against the Chinese national.

Ignatius Mupfiga, the lawyer representing the Chinese national told Southern Eye that he would apply for bail at the High Court.

Meanwhile, Tachiona is admitted at a private hospital in Gweru while Chikwaira was treated and discharged from hospital.

The Chinese Embassy responding to the reports said Xuelin must be investigated according to the law of Zimbabwe.

The Chinese company has said it regretted the shooting adding that it was committed to meet medical bills for the two former workers and negotiate compensation with the families of the victims.

The Chinese community in Gweru on Monday said the incident was regrettable and did not reflect their behaviour.

22 members of two families in Lupane have been quarantined after they failed to notify authorities about their two relatives who illegally returned into the country from South Africa and subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

They include six adults and 16 children aged between 11 months and 16 years.

Seventeen are members of a Sibanda family which was taken to Mabhikwa High School quarantine centre on Saturday after a relative who had returned from South Africa evaded screening processes.

The other five are members of the Ngwenya family that was quarantined on Monday after their relative, who is a son-in-law to the Sibandas, tested positive.

The two illegal returnees have since been isolated at St Luke’s Hospital while their family members at Mabhikwa High School wait to be tested.

Matabeleland North provincial social welfare officer Mr Macnon Chirinzepi said an anonymous tip-off was reportedly made to authorities that the two were back home and suspected not to have gone through screening processes. They were both taken to the quarantine centre where they tested positive.

“Mabhikwa quarantine centre has 22 community members from Malunku Village who have been in contact with persons who tested positive for Covid-19 and had previously joined the community without being tested,” said Mr Chirinzepi.

He said they will be tested after the mandatory eight days, a period when any quarantined person gets tested for the novel coronavirus.

Mabhikwa High School so far has five confirmed cases.

“The two came back illegally from South Africa and went to their villages. After their presence became known one was taken to the quarantine centre where he tested positive. His brother-in-law who had come to visit his ex-wife was also taken and tested positive.

“The Sibanda family members were taken into quarantine on June 20 and because the second man had also gotten into contact with his family, five members of his family were also taken on Monday. They are all at Mabhikwa waiting to be tested after eight days,” said Mr Chirinzepi.

He said as per procedure, if they test negative, they will be discharged but will be further isolated if they test positive.

Mr Chirinzepi warned members of the community against habouring border jumpers saying they risk being quarantined with them in terms of the country’s laws.

He encouraged people to be on the lookout for border jumpers.

“We encourage members of the community to make sure our returning relatives coming from outside the country have gone through the quarantine processes or show their certificates to community leaders such as village heads or even chiefs. This is good for both parties because habouring border jumpers exposes everyone to the dangers of Covid-19. Being quarantined also affects our livelihoods because if we are all quarantined, no one will take care of our homesteads and livestock for that period,” said Mr Chirinzepi.

The 22 bring to 32 the number of people at Mabhikwa High School.

Early this month, six people, four members of the same family in Victoria Falls were quarantined in separate incidents. The family of four was quarantined after failing to notify authorities about its 17-year-old daughter and five-year-old grandson who illegally returned into the country from South Africa. The other two separately entered from South Africa and Namibia. They have all been discharged. 

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A Zaka schools inspector, Lylletty Aleta Makomeke, who is also Zanu-PF councillor for Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) ward 5, has been accused of terrorising teachers for the past two years.

A source, who spoke to Southern Eye on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said Makomeke would threaten to unleash Zanu-PF militias on teachers who expressed their views on political issues.

Makomeke contested in an all-female race during the 2018 general elections in which she garnered 721 votes, beating Silideni Kuzowana of MDC Alliance who had 662 votes and Independent candidate Elizabeth Ncube, who had 410 votes.

Although, some civil servants like Johnson Madhuku, former Pamushana High School head, who contested and won Bikita East constituency, resigned from the civil service; Makomeke, is yet to resign from the service two years later.

She is manning Zaka education offices as a schools inspector.

Makomeke could not be reached for comment as her mobile was not reachable.

However, Zaka district schools inspector (DSI) Samson Chidzurira confirmed that Makomeke was at the district offices, but referred all questions to the provincial education director (PED) Zedius Chitiga.

“I can confirm Makomeke is one of my inspectors, but for further details, you can talk to the PED,” he said.

Chitiga, however, refused to comment and referred all question to the minister.

Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, who is on record saying no government employee should contest for political office or assume any position in a political party before resigning from the civil service, refused to comment.

He referred all questions to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister, Paul Mavima.

Mangwana was a co-chair of the Constitution Parliamentary Committee (Copac) charged with drafting the new constitution for Zimbabwe by the Government of National Unity between 2009 and 2013.

“I cannot comment on that right now. You have to talk to the minister of Public Service. He will be in a position to comment on the matter. Otherwise, if I comment on that I would be overriding his ministry,” Mangwana said.

Both Mavima and his deputy Lovemore Matuke were not available to comment.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance legislator Tapiwa Mashakada who now works with the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe has called for a national dialogue to address the country’s ailing economy.

Through his Facebook post Mashakada said National Dialogue is important for confidence and the instituting of economic and political reforms that will stop the economic hermorrhaging and create conditions for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.

He said:

“Dialogue is a give and take take exercise. Zimbabwe has been arrested by contested elections which have had a damaging impact on macroeconomic stability and economic development. Zimbabweans must find each other and move the country forward.”

By A Correspondent- 22 Families in Lupane have been quarantined after harbouring their relatives who evaded the quarantine process when they came home from South Africa and later on tested positive for COVID-19.

The Sibanda and Ngwenya family which includes six adults and 16 children aged between 11 months and 16 years were taken to Mabhikwa High School by Rapid response teams after their family members tested positive for COVID-19.

The development was confirmed by Matabeleland North provincial social welfare officer Mr Macnon Chirinzepi who shed light on how they discovered the families were harbouring escapees through a tip-off:

Mabhikwa quarantine centre has 22 community members from Malunku Village who have been in contact with persons who tested positive for Covid-19 and had previously joined the community without being tested

The two came back illegally from South Africa and went to their villages. After their presence became known one was taken to the quarantine centre where he tested positive. His brother-in-law who had come to visit his ex-wife was also taken and tested positive.

The Sibanda family members were taken into quarantine on June 20 and because the second man had also gotten into contact with his family, five members of his family were also taken on Monday. They are all at Mabhikwa waiting to be tested after eight days.

Meanwhile, ZRP is looking for 2 men who escaped from Harare’s Belvedere Teachers College Quarantine Center one escaped after testing positive and the other one escaped before getting his results.

Price Check

We all kind of expected it so no one was shocked when ZERA announced new fuel prices yesterday evening. Earlier in the day, after it’s first weekly auction, the new Reuters based system threw out $57 ZWL as to 1 USD as the new average exchange rate and powers at the energy regulator wasted no time updating the price of fuel to $62.77 ZWL ( or $1.09 USD) for diesel and $71.62 ZWL ( or $1.28 USD) for Blended Petrol.

That was a massive 100% hike in prices but to be honest that was much lower than we anticipated. In fact, based on our analysis, the rate will probably go higher next week when the next auction will be held. What enraged a lot of Zimbos who commented on the new prices was the price of ethanol. According to ZERA the product is going for:

• $54.58 ZWL per litre or
• $1.10 USD

On the other hand unblended Petrol is going for:

• $21.66 ZWL before duty and
• That is $38.87 after duty

What does this mean?

The reason why a lot of people are fuming is because it actually means that blended petrol is more expensive than unblended petrol! That higher price is on account of the ethanol in E20 that is being sold at a higher price than imported petrol. This has left many asking the question: Why are we paying more for something that is already cheap isn’t the whole point of blending so that we can pay less?

The truth is that there is nothing unusual here. Green fuels tend to be more expensive than their non-renewable counterparts. Blending fuel is not about just lowering the price, in fact, as the latest case shows, blending sometimes leads to motorists paying higher prices. There other benefits brought about by blending that still makes it desirable despite a marginal increase in the final price of the product. Touted benefits of blending include saving the environment and in the case of Zimbabwe saving on foreign currency.

GOVERNMENT has embarked on a process to amend the High Court Act with a view to split the country into four High Court zones, a development that will curb forum shopping and compel litigants to access justice from their nearest court stations.

Lawyers and litigants are now shopping for a High Court station, sometimes preferring to go halfway across Zimbabwe for a favourable judgment.

Every judge of the High Court has “full original criminal and civil jurisdiction over all persons and matters throughout the country”, according to the High Court Act.

In theory, a High Court judge in Mutare can hear a case involving a land row in Mangwe on the Botswana border.

The recent opening of permanent High Court stations in Masvingo and Mutare was meant to make it easier for people to access this court, and so cut down costs and bring justice to the people, rather than bring people to justice.

However, in recent times there have been those who now shop for a court where they think they might get a more favourable judgment, or even to get a second chance without going through the delays of an appeal.

In an interview, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday said his ministry was now drafting proposals to amend the High Court Act in line with the recent decentralisation of the courts.

Minister Ziyambi said his ministry had noted the abuse of Sections 13 and 23 of the High Court Act by litigants and lawyers, hence the need to change the law to suit the new development.

“We have noted concern in the way litigants are abusing their freedom to approach any High Court station for recourse.

“We are going to amend the legislation so that people don’t just criss-cross the country with court applications and appeals,” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said he had since asked the Permanent Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabiza to draft the relevant papers and institute processes to change the law.

“I have asked my Permanent Secretary to start looking into the issue so that we amend the legislation accordingly.

“Already we have three court divisions, headed by regional magistrates across the court and that is, the Eastern, Western and Southern divisions.

“We intend to create a fourth division by splitting the Eastern division.

“We will then separate High Court so that people just don’t criss-cross the country. If you are in one division, you cannot go to the other. You will have to show cause why you want to go into another division,” said Minister Ziyambi.

State Media

JAILED former Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge has offered to pay $10 000 and surrender title deeds of his Tynwald South property in exchange for his freedom pending the determination of his appeal at the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision that upheld his incarceration.

Undenge was convicted of criminal abuse of office and jailed for two-and-a half-years.

In a bid to allay State fears that he was likely to abscond, Undenge seeks to argue that all borders are sealed due to Covid-19 pandemic, hence there is no basis for the prosecution to bring that averment.

In his bail application filed at the High Court by his lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama, Undenge argues that his prospects of success on appeal are high.

Undenge was last week committed to prison after his appeal against both conviction and his two-and-a-half year imprisonment was dismissed by the High Court recently.

The former minister had been convicted in the Magistrates Court for abuse of office after he hand-picked a public relations company for the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) without going to tender.

He was slapped with four years’ imprisonment, but 18 months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

He has since approached the High Court seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision to incarcerate him.

In seeking bail as surety, Undenge wants his Tynwald South property to remain part of his bail. Undenge stated that he is not a flight risk.

“Since his arrest the applicant was on bail pending appeal. After his conviction on July 20, 2018 the applicant was imprisoned. He successfully applied for bail pending trial at the High Court.

“This bail was granted on August 1, 2018. Applicant has been on bail ever since and is determined to clear himself of the conviction and has no reason to abscond the jurisdiction of this court. His passport was surrendered to the clerk ofcourt. Also there is the Covid-19 induced lockdown all he can not travel to foreign countries.

“Applicant submits that there are bright prospects of success. Bail is an entitlement as of right. He must not be unreasonably denied bail especially in light of the many misdirections that do exist in the court-a-quo’s judgement,” he said.

Undenge also seeks to argue that to uphold his conviction in the circumstances as the court did was a serious travesty of justice.

“The letter that the applicant signed was motivated by Psychology Mazivisa, Oscar Pambuka and Fruitful Communications who were committing fraud.

“The appeal court acknowledged this fact. This therefore completely destroyed the applicant’s guilty state of mind as he was himself being conned and was a victim of crime,” read the application.

The fresh application is yet to be heard at the High Court.

GOVERNMENT has gazetted a new salary scale for domestic workers who include housekeepers, cooks and gardeners with basic pay ranging from $900 to $1 040.

Domestic workers have since lobbied for salaries in forex.

According to the newly gazetted Labour Employment Regulation Number 20 of 2020, a gardener is entitled to $900 a month, a housekeeper, $945 while those who take care of the old and disabled should be paid $1 042.

These wages are for live in employees as those who reside out of work premises should be paid an extra $200 for accommodation, $150 for transport, $50 for fuel, lights and water.

Gardeners will also receive $4,20 per hour while child minders get $4,63.

One of the affected is Ms Maybe Sibanda, an old woman from Mzilikazi, who said she can longer afford to work full time and would rather scout for piece jobs along Robert Mugabe Street and 4th Avenue.

“I have a family to fend for and honestly $945 is not enough to clear all that I have to pay for. I have since decided that I come and look for piece jobs on the road where I charge R100 or US$10 depending on the amount of work to be done on that day,” said Ms Sibanda.

She said it was better not to work at all than receive $945 on EcoCash.

“Things are tough and we are surely going to starve to death if things do not change. I sometimes spend the day waiting for someone to pick me before walking back home but that is better than staying with someone for the whole month only to get $900 on EcoCash,” she added.

Miss Nokulunga Ncube from Entumbane said the gazetted salary was not enough to cater for her basics.

“Money loses value every day and with $1 000 I can only buy pads, a pack of mealie-meal and 2kg of sugar for my family. This simply means I have nothing for upkeep and school fees for my children, it is pathetic,” said Miss Ncube.

“In a month’s time, $1 000 will not be enough to buy bread hence we are lobbying that our salaries be pegged in forex. I am grateful because my employer agreed to pay me R300 which is better though in essence is nothing compared to my needs.”

She added that the gazetted salary was in line with salaries but was not adequate considering the high cost of living in Zimbabwe.

According to Ms Tanya Manyawi, who is working in Emganwini, house helpers also deserved forex salaries just like civil servants who have been making such demands of late.

She said no amount in the local currency was enough to pay for the effort of baby sitting and taking care of homes while employers are at work.

“We also have families to fend for and children to take to school and this gazetted salary is a mere joke. Already our employers are struggling to put food on the table and what more us, who rely on the same measly salary,” said Ms Manyawi.

“I cannot afford to send my parents food in the rural area because my salary can only buy a bag of 5kg rice and that’s all we are worth.”

Mrs Princess Ndlovu a teacher from Richmond said her conscience was against paying her domestic worker $800 on Ecocash but her salary made it impossible to pay anything more as she was earning $3 000.

“lt’s always embarrassing to give another human being $650 as salary on EcoCash plus R100 which I decided to add after she complained she needed some cash. In all honesty that money amounts to nothing but it’s way too much considering my monthly salary,” said Mrs Ndlovu. She said she struggles to buy the R100 from the black market but she must do it as she cannot do without her house helper.

“I cannot afford to eat a balanced diet in my house let alone buy toiletries. Something should be done so that we earn more and give our helpers a salary that restores dignity to their profession.

State Media

THE inaugural foreign exchange auction had a flying start yesterday with applications worth US$10.35 million being allotted from bids for US$11.4 million, with the weighted average, effectively the official exchange rate until next week’s auction, being $57.3582:US$1.

Bidders offered rates at this auction run by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ranging from a low of $25.50, a whisker above the frozen and now defunct interbank rate prevailing until the auction, to a high of $100, a rate even above the black market rate, for US$1.

Under auction rules successful bidders have to pay the rate they offer, so the high bidder paid almost twice as much for their US dollars as the weighted average and possibly four times as much as a successful low bidder. It is expected that as the auction system gets into its stride the gap between high and low bids will become far narrower. Sellers of foreign currency are all paid out at the weighted average.

In a ZBC interview last night, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said there were 92 bidders and 91 percent of bids were successful.

Generally the jump in the official rate would not be inflationary he said, with the possible exception of fuel prices.

Businesses and shops were already, in the absence of a proper market using forward pricing, trying to predict what they would have to pay to replace raw materials and stock. So any inflationary pressure from the auction system had already been calculated into present prices.

But he was giving advice to Government authorities to allow fuel prices to be based on the new ruling rate. This would remove the opportunities for arbitrage, that is retailers buying fuel at the price based on the cheap interbank rate and selling on the black market at a price based on that rate. With proper pricing based on the auction rate, this arbitrage would disappear and so fuel would be sold on the open market.

Fuel prices are set on a formula that starts with the landed cost of petrol and diesel as it exits the pipeline from Beira at Feruka. This US dollar price is then converted at the official exchange rate, and additions are made, the largest being the Excise duty. Most of these additional costs are based on a percentage of the Zimbabwe dollar landed price.

All sales and purchases of foreign currency through the banking system will be at the ruling rate, the weighted average, for the next week with sellers probably getting slightly less and buyers paying slightly more in view of normal banking practice.

Sellers of goods and services are now expected to quote prices in both Zimbabwe dollars and US dollars, but using this ruling rate not the black market rate.

The close match of foreign currency available and bids offered is seen as the critical factor in having the successful initial auction. The wide range of rates offered in bids was seen as highlighting the problem bidders had in setting a rate for their offer with the interbank market frozen since late March and so not able to give much guidance.

The black market has been seeing ever higher rates, but this market includes speculators and currency hoarders and is subject to systematic manipulation by a small group of dealers as Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe investigations have revealed in recent weeks.

All bidders at the auction had to submit invoices that they wished to pay, to prove that the currency they were bidding for was to be used to buy approved imports or pay approved foreign suppliers, and the RBZ warned that those cheating or speculating would be banned from the auction.

Primary imports of raw materials, machinery and equipment accounted between them for more than half the currency allotted and once consumables, such as spares and packaging, and chemicals were included these primary imports took up two thirds of the allotments.

The actual allotments are in US dollars:

Raw materials 2 883 052,05

Machinery and equipment 2 407 666,89

Food and beverages 1 398 340,00

Services 1 308 996,12

Consumables (incl spares, tyres and packaging) 1 286 995,43

Portfolio investments 436 400,73

Fuel, electricity and gas 263 147,46

Chemicals 257 015,00

Livestock 53 636,36

Medicals 50 000,00

A member of the bank’s monetary policy committee who attended the inaugural auction said: “I was there all morning. All I can say is that the process was transparent. I saw all the applications, including those that were rejected and I felt that all rejections were justified.

“Importantly, 100 percent of the successful applications for forex were funded. We had 17 banks putting in applications for forex and had several pages of applications. But every application from every individual company was settled and the average rate came in at just over $57 to the US dollar,” the source said.

Business leaders said this week that if conducted properly without interference from authorities, the auction system would enhance efficient and transparent distribution of foreign exchange and automatically ensure a tight match between exports and imports.

The auction system is funded from the retained export earnings of exporters. Under the original rules, which the RBZ has stressed it will now enforce, exporters have 30 days to sell these retentions or spend these earnings for approved goods and services but at the end of that period anything left has to be sold. Large-scale amassing of foreign exchange in nostro accounts held by exporters has been starving the official market. The bank went for simultaneous enforcement of the retention rules and offering a proper unmassaged market for the sales.

The RBZ can pad out the supply with offshore facilities it has negotiated.

Analysts believe that if the new system works as expected, it would help build market confidence, improve access to foreign currency and help stabilise the exchange rate while speculative activity on the black market could subside significantly. In any case, with a better official market normal business requirements will be met on the auction, reducing demand in the black market.

Even reputable businesses have been forced to access black market currency, directly or through middlemen, to meet import bills because the interbank market did not work as expected.

RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya said last week the auction system will operate on the Reuters Forex Trading platform, a real-time electronic foreign exchange trading system and an international standard for such systems

Under the new foreign currency auction system, bids will be submitted to, allotted and evaluated by RBZ with the offers for foreign currency while bids from buyers are submitted in the morning every Tuesday.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) vice president Mr Joseph Gunda, said this week industry was highly expectant that the auction system would bring about transparency and efficiency in the trading of foreign currency, ensure market-led price discovery and improve availability.

According to the Reserve Bank, the auction will only accept bids of a minimum of US$50 000 and a maximum of US$500 000 with individuals and firms required to make a single bid per week through an authorised dealer.

State Media

HIGH Court Judge Justice David Foroma yesterday reserved judgment in the bail application by MDC-Alliance legislator Joana Mamombe and two activists Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marovawho are accused of lying to the police and faking abduction.

The three were denied bail pending trial by Harare magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande last week on the grounds that they had the propensity to commit similar offences.

She also considered that they were likely to abscond given that they were likely to be given a custodial sentence if convicted.

Arguing for the trio, defence lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama told the judge that the magistrate misdirected herself in denying his clients bail, treating them as guilty before trial.

He said the lower court failed to consider that the suspects had no bad criminal records to warrant the court to deny them bail.

The magistrate, Mr Muchadehama said, relied on the State’s statement of a video evidence against the activists, which they failed to produce during the bail hearing.

However, Justice Foroma said he did not have it on record that Mr Muchadehama contested it at the lower court.

“Something is not tallying in your submissions. The court a quo said it relies on the submissions made by counsel,” said Justice Foroma.

“It was your duty to openly dismiss the existence of the video in the presence of the witness rather than putting the blame at this stage now on the State for failing to produce the video.”

Justice Foroma also said the defence counsel should have filed the medical affidavits of the suspects as part of its evidence considering the magnitude of the allegations of assault and rape.

The State represented by Mrs Wadzanai Badalane insisted that the magistrate was correct in her judgment as she analysed the facts that had been presented before her.

The Guardian

BELGRADE. — World No 1, Novak Djokovic, has tested positive for coronavirus, along with his wife, Jelena, throwing tennis into turmoil as the sport’s official tour prepares to resume after a four-month lockdown.

They join three other leading players and two trainers infected by the disease towards the end of the Serb’s unsanctioned Adria Tour, which was aborted moments before the final in Croatia on Sunday.

Djokovic, who will go into quarantine for 14 days, said this was “the new reality”, although he had organised his tour “with a philanthropic idea” and said he was sorry for the other people who tested positive.

He declined to be tested on site and with his family flew directly to his home city, Belgrade, where he sought medical advice and was tested.

He received the results on Monday evening and issued a statement on Tuesday.

The Serb stands widely accused of complacency for organising an unofficial charity event — in Belgrade, Zadar and Montenegro (subsequently cancelled) — without safety protocols applicable in most other countries and which have prevented resumption of the main Tour until August.

Djokovic expressed regret and sympathy but little contrition in a prepared statement.

He was clearly upset that his close friend, Viktor Troicki, and the Serb’s pregnant wife, along with Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric — who played each other on Saturday — as well as Dimitrov’s coach and his own fitness trainer had also tested positive.

There are now genuine concerns that the rescheduled major tournaments — in New York in August and at Roland Garros at the end of September — could be postponed or even cancelled; many players, especially from Europe, South America and Asia, will be reluctant to risk their health travelling into suspect environments after these disturbing developments.

Most of the other players on the Adria Tour had tests in the team hotel in Zadar on Sunday night, and there have been no positive test results from there so far.

However, Djokovic declined to take a test at that time, because he said, “he did not feel any symptoms”.

“The moment we arrived in Belgrade [on Sunday night] we went to be tested. My result is positive, just as Jelena’s, while the results of our children are negative,” he said

Djokovic, who organised the Tour against a backdrop of lowering Covid-19 spread in the Balkans, added: “Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions.

‘’Our tournament was meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.

“The Tour was designed to help both established and up-and-coming tennis players from south-eastern Europe to gain access to some competitive tennis while the various tours are on hold due to the Covid-19 situation.

‘’It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need, and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this.

“We organised the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met.

‘’Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.

“I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection. I hope that it will not complicate anyone’s health situation and that every will be fine. I will remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days, and repeat the test in five days.”

Own Correspondent

THE petrol price has gone up from ZWL$28,96/litre to ZWL$71.62/litre, but operators can still sell below the cap depending on their trading advantages. Diesel price also went up from ZWL$24,93 to ZWL$62.77/Litre.

In a statement the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) said the price adjustments take effect today, the 24th of June 2020.

These adjustments follow the introduction of a market-based forex auction system which placed the official exchange rate of the US dollar to ZWL$ at 57.36.

ZERA also gazetted the price of petrol and diesel in US dollars at $1.28 and $1.09 respectively.

The price increase comes at a time when queues at service stations were becoming the order of the day.

Own Correspondent

ZIMBABWE this Tuesday recorded 13 more COVID-19 cases bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 525.

Of the positive cases, 10 are returnees from South Africa while three are local cases and all have since been isolated.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said investigations to establish the source of infection for the three local cases are ongoing.

To date Zimbabwe has conducted 63 782 COVID-19 tests and has 455 active cases, 64 have recovered while six deaths have been recorded since the onset of the outbreak in March this year.

Harare Province has the highest number of cases at 186 followed by Bulawayo with 64 confirmed cases.

Mashonaland Central remains the least affected with only ten cases to date.

The bulk of Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 cases have been returnees from the region and abroad and the government is on high alert to ensure all returnees are quarantined upon return until they have satisfied all testing measures as outlined by the WHO.

State Media

The 50-year-old Chinese Gweru miner who on Sunday allegedly shot and injured two of his employees following a pay dispute was yesterday denied bail by a Gweru magistrate.

Zihang Xuelin, a manager at Reden Mine in Gweru is now facing attempted murder charges after he shot one of his employees Mr Kenneth Tichaona three times on both legs and fired another shot that grazed the chin of another employee, Mr Wendy Chikwaira.

Zihang appeared before magistrate Mr Edwin Marecha and was remanded in custody to July 7, 2020.

Mr Marecha said the accused, who is a foreigner and was represented by Mr Ignatius Mupfiga of Gundu and Dube Legal practitioners, could not give his plea because he did not bring a certified interpreter.

For the State, Mr Fredrick Macheza told the court that on Monday morning, Mr Tichaona was among 30 employees of Reden Mine who were gathered at the mine premises during a pay dispute with the employer.

The staff were demanding to be paid in hard currency while the employer insisted on paying them in local currency. This did not go down well with the employees resulting in an altercation and a mini demonstration.

The employees led by Mr Tichaona then charged towards Zihang, who fired two warning shots into the air but the group continued to charge at him, the court heard.

It is the state’s case that Zihang then used the company’s FN pistol to shoot Mr Tichaona three times in both legs resulting in him falling to the ground.

Zihang again shot at the group of employees and a bullet grazed the chin of Mr Chikwaira, the court further heard.

Mr Tichaona is still in hospital while Mr Chikwaira was treated and discharged.

State Media

War veteran’s leader Chris Mutsvangwa has disowned Twitter accounts in his name saying they are creations of self-exiled G40 kingpin Jonathan Moyo.

This comes after a purported exchange between him and fellow war veterans’ leader Victor Matemadanda on Twitter is being circulated on social media platforms.

However, Mutsvangwa, who has been a subject of a choreographed campaigns by elements that are traceable to the decapitated G40 clique, said he is being attacked for the role he played in thwarting power grab antics by the Moyo clique.

“I do not have a Twitter account now and never had one. The Twitter account bearing my name and my picture is a creation of G40 Jonathan Moyo. He feels entitled to the ZANLA wing of the historical national liberation movement by hereditary writ.

“He views his Christopher Mutsvangwa as his nemesis as in the November 2017 Operation Restore Legacy. This stems from my role as Chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association-(ZNLWA). We spearheaded the drive to thwart his treacherous G40 antics at power grab by this traitor of long practice since he absconded from Mgagau Camp ZANLA ranks in 1975-6. This was after Ndabaningi Sithole was rejected and jettisoned as leader of ZANU by the guerrilla army. Jonathan Moyo returned to racist Rhodesia to report back to his racist white handlers,” he said.

At one point the phantom accounts in his name called for dialogue between the Revolutionary Party Zanu PF and the MDC Alliance, something that Ambassador Mutsvangwa never said.

Last year’s messages were sent on a fake Twitter account purported to be Ambassador Mutsvangwa’s, which he denied saying he suspected Moyo to be behind it.

Ambassador Mutsvangwa’s name has been registered on no less than five accounts while Matemadanda and other leaders of the ruling party have also had fake accounts created in their names.

Under Twitter’s Impersonation Rules a person that pose as another person, brand, or organization in a confusing or deceptive manner may be permanently suspended but fake account holders usually get away with their crimes by opening multiple accounts

Farai Dziva|ZCTU has warned of spontaneous protests as a result of the country’s deepening economic crisis.

On Monday ZCTU president Peter told Daily News that deploying security forces would worsen the situation.

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has been accused of using the lockdown to suppress dissenting voices.

“We are mobilising the workers. Actually, the workers are being mobilised by the material conditions in the country.

Instead of sending heavily-armed police and soldiers, the government should better address the workers’ concerns.

People are hungry. Deploying the army and police in our view exacerbates the situation because eventually, people will go out to look for food.

People are desperate, and they are working for nothing,” Mutasa told the daily publication.

“We are prepared for a long, protracted struggle. What we are demanding is a peaceful demonstration.
The people must be very peaceful.

We must be wary of people who join us and seek to cause violence. Our resistance must be peaceful and avoid provocateurs.
Apartheid in South Africa was not dismantled in one day.

Even the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe was prolonged.”

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has pounced on yet another MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader.

Harare East Youth Assembly Chairperson, Prince Mutebuka has been arrested for allegedly participating in an illegal demonstration.

See full statement below:

Harare East MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Chairman, Prince Mutebuka has been arrested.

He is currently detained at Harare Central Police Station.He will appear in court on Wednesday.

Prince is being charged with allegedly participating in an unsanctioned demonstration in Mabvuku sometime in March this year.

His arrest adds up to the number of MDC Alliance activists who have been arrested in an illegal blitzkrieg by ZRP whose sinister agenda is to silence the opposition from questioning Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corrupt and illegitimate regime.

We maintain that the arrests are clear cases of persecution by prosecution.

It is shameful that the regime is letting real criminals like Obadiah Moyo who fraudulently awarded millions to Gulen Movement terrorists walk scot free while at the same time persecuting innocent civilians.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
_MDC_Alliance
Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

TWO more Malawian border jumpers who tested positive to Covid-19 at the Beitbridge Quarantine and Isolation Centre located at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Hotel escaped yesterday.

This comes after two other Malawian nationals who tested positive for the virus during profiling and screening at the same facility escaped last month.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the development yesterday.
He, however, could not disclose their identities.

“Two Malawian nationals escaped from NSSA Hotel after testing positive for Covid-19 virus.

The cumulative number for escapees is now 184 while those arrested remain at 28.

We continue to urge members of the public to report suspected escapees or those who are entering the country through undesignated entry points evading the Covid-19 screening process at their nearest police station or call 0242 70361 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

A total of 914 people were arrested on Sunday for violating Covid-19 lockdown regulations, bringing the total number of arrests countrywide to 75 134- The Herald

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has warned businesses against rejecting $2 and $5 bond notes and coins, saying the notes and coins are still legal tender and those found disregarding the country’s laws will be dealt with.

This was said by national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi following reports that retailers and suppliers have started rejecting the coins and notes, demanding, instead, to be paid in the United States (US) dollar. Said Nyathi:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted with concern that some business people, especially informal traders, are refusing to accept local currency coins, $2 and $5 notes, which is legal tender.

The police will not hesitate to enforce the law on anyone found to be disregarding the country’s laws, especially during this lockdown period.

The public is again urged to report such errant people for swift action to be taken.

Meanwhile, a Habakkuk Trust Community Advocacy Action Team convener Shakespeare Ndlovu has blamed the illicit trading practices prevalent in the retail sector on the government’s inconsistency in the implementation of monetary measures.

-DailyNews

The MDC Alliance condemns the recall of nine of its MPs as announced by the Speaker of Parliament today.

This recall is a violent onslaught on the will of the people who elected MDC Alliance MPs into Parliament.

We take the firm view that state institutions, including Parliament, are being abused to reverse the will of the people and replace it with an unholy alliance between Mr Mnangagwa and Ms Khupe.

This great reversal of the people’s will by Zanu PF is a continuation of the electoral theft of 2018.

The block recalls are a regrettable act of intimidation of MPs who have refused to align themselves with the Zanu PF agenda.

The thinking is that our MPs will be guided by material interests, not by their conscience; however, unlike those who have chosen political expediency, we firmly believe that the majority of our MPs, who represent the true will of the people, will be guided by conscience.

The firing of our MPs is an act of coercion by Zanu PF and its proxies because our MPs have refused to support them freely and voluntarily.

They are targeting proportional representation MPs because they want to create space for their handpicked surrogates, including their leader, Thokozani Khupe, who lost dismally in the 2018 election.

They want to hand her a free ticket into Parliament to make her an opposition stooge in Parliament even though she has no mandate from the people.

The MDC-A, in line with the people’s mandate, is seized with issues of fundamental national concern that are affecting the livelihood of ordinary Zimbabweans including, but not limited to, corruption, violations of human rights, and an economy in decline.

This despicable ploy to enter the corridors of influence through underhanded and insincere tactics using borrowed state powers to distract and cause unnecessary havoc should be condemned by all.

This attempt by Zanu PF, and all its manifestations, to subvert the will of the people shall be defeated.

We will not be distracted but remain firm in our resolve to win Zimbabwe for change.

By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland Central Province last week found a body of a middle-aged man floating in Gulliver Dam, Mvurwi.

Police suspect that the deceased may have been fishing when he drowned after some fisherman’s nets were found close to the spot where the body was retrieved.

Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) spokesperson Detective Inspector Portia Chinho has appealed to members of the public who could be missing a relative to come and identify the dead body. Chinho said in a press release:

The Zimbabwe Republic Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Mvurwi is appealing for information that may lead to the identification of a dead body.

It is of a male aged between 35 and 40 years and about 1, 75 to 1, 8 metres.

The deceased was wearing a khaki three-quarter short with a brown leather belt, red t-shirt written Gucci and a khaki shirt.

The dead body was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for post mortem which indicated that the cause of death was head trauma hence the case is being investigated as a suspected murder.

We are also appealing to members of the public who might have information on the circumstances surrounding the death of the man to come forward and assist the police.

For more information please contact CID Mvurwi on 06621 62577 or 0772 331 952, national complaints desk on 0242 703631, WhatsApp number 0712800197 or any nearest police station.

I would like to dispel rumours that I am in discussions with @DrThoko_Khupe branch of the MDC. These reports aren't true. The events taking within the MDC are a sore point for the whole nation. My hope is the we the people can rise above petty politics in this very crucial hour.

— Jacob Ngarivhume (@jngarivhume) June 23, 2020

1] Ever since the Supreme Court Judgement, there have been so many lies it is difficult to catch up. The Leaders of the old new MDC-T have been lying with straight faces, it’s a thing of beauty. Inevitably, the state media has jumped to the train and has been lying in their name.

2] Mwonzora lied about some “smooth handover takeover of MRT House”. He further lied that state security was not involved. To this day, Mwonzora lies that the police are not guarding HH. Whereas Mwonzora claims ZRP was at HH by chance, Sen Morgen Komichi had a different version.

3] In their attempt to push Adv Chamisa away from the MDC name, Mwonzora lied about meeting Ngaribvume and other ALLIANCE partners. Seeing that their ownership of MDC-T carries no electoral weight, Mwonzora is now gunning for the MDC-A. Today, Ngaribvume has exposed the lies.

4] Mwonzora has been lying about having had held virtual National Council meetings. No registers! Mwonzora lied about holding National Standing Committee meetings yet his faction only had 3 of the previous 15 members. How can 3 people legally constitute a 15 members structure?

5] MaKhupe has been lying about being in charge of 103 MPs. Mwonzora lies about having the majority of MPs. Reality is, even armed with the ability to recall them, the MPs have continued to defy him. Risking recalls, MDC-A MPs still recognize Adv Chamisa as their Leader.

6] Shakespeare has exposed the long-held lie that Nelson Chamisa sent youths to burn MaKhupe and other MDC-T Leaders in Humanikwa. Without exposing what he apologized for to MaKhupe, Shakespeare CATEGORICALLY says that Adv Chamisa personally sent him to address those threatening violence.

7] State media continues to label Chamisa as an illegitimate Leader. Illegitimate Leader of what? Chamisa now leads a distinct political formation recognized even by those who recalled MPs. There is no Leadership question in the MDC-A but the resurrected MDC-T.

8] There is the lie that through the MDC-A, Chamisa has moved away from the MDC of 1999. That movement has historically taken different shapes. In fact, in the MDC-A, Chamisa is MRT’s successor. Tsvangirai was the first Leader of the BIG TENT MDC-A Chamisa succeeded him.

9] Those who support the MDC are not bothered by the name it uses. They embraced MRT when he employed the moniker “T”. They unequivocally knew which MDC they wanted. Thinking the magic was in the “T”, MaKhupe ran away with it & achieved nothing. MDC supporters are rational.

10] Dr Mashakada lies that ZCTU transformed into a party. Balance me here: How did ZCTU transform into something else & yet remain in its original state? How & when did Student Leaders hijack a party they helped form? How can Prof Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, Adv Chamisa be labelled Mafikizolo?

11] And now State media has been helping Dr Mashakada lie that Dr Magombeyi & the MDC3 faked their abduction. You can only hope that he has enough data bundles to do short videos dispelling ZBC lies. By the time they are done doing damage in his name, he won’t know what hit him.

12] And now they have postponed their ill-fated EOC. In the meantime, they are coopting each other whilst pretending they have gone back to their original state as between 2014 and 2016. Varume vakuru nevakadzi vakuru kuita kuchinjana kunyepa. THESE ARE VERIFIED LIES.

Twitter- Davis Laque