ZANU PF acting deputy secretary for Youth Affairs Tendai Chirau
ZANU PF acting deputy secretary for Youth Affairs Tendai Chirau has hailed President Mnangagwa, for the measures his administration is taking to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at a national executive meeting of the Youth League in Harare yesterday, Chirau said the measures, which include various levels of lockdowns and other strict restrictions, demonstrated astute leadership that was sensitive to the need to preserve life.
Chirau’s sentiments come as the country’s Covid-19 cases are shooting up on a daily basis and deaths increasing. As of Friday, goverment recorded the national tally at 1420 with 21 deaths.
He said while Government and the ruling party continued to encourage citizens to take preventative measures to combat Covid-19, the ultimate responsibility to prevent the pandemic lay with every Zimbabwean.
“To this end, I encourage all Zimbabweans to embrace lockdown measures put in place by Government for these measures are meant to protect the masses. The Youth League will also not stand by and watch lockdown measures being violated and I urge all our members to report all persons who violate lockdown measures,” said Cde Chirau.
“The Covid-19 pandemic brings new and unique livelihood challenges for young people.
“It is critical that as revolutionary members of the party, the youth remain united and continue to work together in shaping the desired destiny of our generation.
“The seriousness of this disease outbreak compels us to think outside the box and even imagine our further progress without the box, as we adapt to new realities and possibilities.
Virtual meetings, for instance, are just a tip of the iceberg in terms of the new approaches and mechanisms for survival and development we have the potential to exploit.
The league warned opposition parties against destabilising the country by planning illegal demonstrations.
“We are more than doubly aware that these attempts to cause mayhem in the country are part of a broader sponsored regime change strategy that has in the past, yielded nothing but violence,” said Chirau adding that the only acceptable path to political power in Zimbabwe was through elections.
By A Correspondent- A 9 Months old baby from Maphisa Matabeleland South reportedly died due to COVID-19 last week.
According to the publication, the child had travelled to Bulawayo with her mother and was later on admitted at Maphisa District Hospital with severe Pneumonia and died the following day, becoming Zimbabwe’s first infant to die due to the novel coronavirus.
It was confirmed she had died due to the virus during postmortem. The death was confirmed by Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Officer Dr Rudo Chikodzore who said this to the publication:
As Matabeleland South Province we recorded a Covid-19 death of a nine-month-old female baby from Maphisa area in Matobo District.
The child died on Saturday at Maphisa District Hospital after she was admitted with severe pneumonia. A post-mortem was then conducted and it revealed that the child had succumbed to Covid-19. These results came in yesterday (Tuesday),” said Dr Chikodzore.
Investigations have shown that the child travelled to Bulawayo some time last week and upon returning she fell ill. This is a local transmission case. We have started making follow ups and we have informed authorities in Bulawayo and we are making follow ups to find the addresses of the people they visited while in Bulawayo.
We are also tracing contacts within the local community. We have been recording cases of children testing positive for the pandemic across the country but this is the first death.
7 other people including politician and businessman Keith Guzhah have tested positive for COVID-19 posthumously and the ministry says the cases are being detected during postmodern because its standard procedure to test for COVID-19 during postmodern.
A large group of streets in Bulawayo, Bindura, Chegutu, Chipinge, Gweru, Harare, Masvingo and Mutare, largely named after colonial figures have had their names changed yesterday to national heroes or leaders of countries allied to the liberation movements.
The changes were gazetted by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo in Statutory Instrument 167 of 2020.
The change of names follows a Cabinet decision that was made last year in November.
Notable among the changes is the renaming of Enterprise Road in Harare to Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Road.
Besides Enterprise Road being named after President Mnangagwa, roads in other towns now bear Mnangagwa’s name.
They include Sixth Avenue in Bulawayo, A5 Road in Kwekwe, Main Street in Gweru, Chipinge Main Street, Etherton Road in Bindura, Edgar Peacock Road in Mutare, Henry Hartley Road in Chegutu and Hughes Street in Masvingo.
Some of the streets whose names changed in Harare are Speke Avenue, which changed to Agostinho Neto Avenue, Angwa Street to Sir Seretse Khama Street, Third Street to Patrice Lumumba Street, Rezende Street to Julia Zvobgo Street, Selous Avenue to John Landa Nkomo Avenue, Cameron Street to Joseph Msika Street, while the stretch from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to Manyame Air Base is now called Josiah Tungamirai Drive, and Kirkman Drive is now known as Solomon Mujuru Drive.
In Bulawayo, the stretch from Fourth Avenue through to Seventh Street up to King George has been renamed John Landa Nkomo Avenue, Collenbrander Avenue is now Lookout Masuku Avenue and Victoria Falls Road is Mosi-Oa-Tunya Road.
Fort Street through to Bellevue Road up to Plumtree Road has been renamed Benjamin Burombo Street.
Some of the Government buildings whose names have been changed include the New Government Composite Office Building in Harare which will now be called Mgandane Dlodlo Building; Harare Central Hospital is now Sally Mugabe Central Hospital; Immigration Building in Harare has been named to Chingaira Makoni Building; Defence House to Hashim Mbita House; CID Headquarters Building to Ethan Dube Building and Central Registry Building to Muchecheterwa Chiwashira Building.
By A orrespondent- Polices bosses reportedly ordered their subordinates to destroy the ZRP financial records during the 2017 November Coup code-named operation restore legacy that toppled former president Robert Mugabe.
According to the publication, the records were loaded into a Nissan UD truck and were destroyed at the Chikurubi Camp by fire.
The records according to the publication would have been used to investigate the then police boss and his relatives who are now being accused of siphoning public funds into their companies and buying assets which are on the verge of being forfeited by the state.
This was revealed in a sworn affidavit being used by the NPA in the Chihuri’s case by one Constable Ellison Mutivayo who reportedly said he was responsible for typing in the office of the then Staff Officer Ordinance. Mutivayo said he was instructed to type the order to destroy 20 sets of selected records which were then taken by a lorry for destruction:
All sections like receipt bay, bulk store, stores office, buying office, cardex office, loan office, dispatch carding, issues and discharges, took the books to his office. The Staff officer did the selection of files with the administrator and brought them to my office where I was ordered to type out a destruction order in respect of the selected books. The books were more than 20 in number.
According to the publication, an assistant inspector then arrived driving a UD lorry, the policeman and others had to load the books detailed for destruction and the truck drove off to Support Unit in Chikurubi where they were destroyed by fire. Chihuri is yet to respond to the allegations that PGHQ destroyed files that could have been used in his case.
MDC-Alliance officials have been accused of forging affidavits of legislators in a court application that has since been withdrawn as the battle for control of the opposition party takes another nasty twist.
Branding the MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa as a “bunch of criminals”, MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said law enforcement should step in and arrest the “crooks” masquerading as democrats.
And in the ensuing battle for control of the opposition party, Dr Thokozani Khupe and her allies who include Mr Mwonzora, have been calling the shots, including recalling MPs who were refusing to abide by the Supreme Court ruling.
In a fresh bid to stop the culling, the Chamisa camp approached the High Court, but Mr Mwonzora claimed that their initial application was premised on forgery and should be investigated.
“Their application was accompanied by forged affidavits. The MPs were made to sign blank affidavits without anything. If you look at the affidavits that were filed in the main original body and the tail end is where the applicant signature is, it’s a photocopy that was forged. We also had Members of Parliament who were disowning the affidavits,” said Mr Mwonzora.
“I raised that with some of the MDC-A people and they said they had no idea; that is when we realised that the whole application had been forged. I got in touch with a number of MPs and they professed ignorance of the application. I think it was withdrawn specifically because of that,” said Mr Mwonzora.
Mwonzora claimed that the High Court application was designed to demonstrate that the MDC A was still in control of legislators in parliament.
“They wanted to present that they still have 51 members of Parliament. That is the impression they wanted to create because right now they have less than 15 MPs sympathetic to them out of 111.
“They wanted to give an impression that MPs were behind them and against us. It was simply political posturing, an awkward political manoeuvring that confirms our earlier assertion that these people are criminals. They are crooks who forged the succession. They try to forge papers of ownership of Harvest House. They now have forged this application who ought to be prosecuted,” said Mr Mwonzora.
MDC-A lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama confirmed that they withdrew the case, but on the grounds that it had been filed as an urgent application.
“We withdrew the case because we saw that we could run around issues of urgency. So we withdrew it and we will file it as an ordinary application. However, I don’t think it is possible to forge someone’s signature. As far as I know, it did not happen,” said Mr Muchadehama.
He, however, could not say how many people had signed the affidavits that will be filed as an ordinary application at the High Court, where legislators are challenging Dr Khupe’s legitimacy to recall them from Parliament.
POLL: Organisers of a protest scheduled for July 31 say they are going ahead with the public march despite government concerns that it may cause a spike in COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe where over 1,000 people have already tested positive for the disease.
Financial records at Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) were reportedly loaded into a Nissan UD truck on the instruction of then police bosses and destroyed by fire at Chikurubi Camp during Operation Restore Legacy in 2017, allegedly to cover up corrupt procurement and other illicit payments.
The destruction of the records, according to investigations, was not done in accordance with the law and was allegedly designed to destroy evidence that could be used in the present investigations into former Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and his relatives.
Affidavits by four police officers in the police procurement section stated how pages of files involving companies linked to relatives of top police officers, including Chihuri, were pulled out and burnt. The affidavits also narrates how some senior officers instructed juniors to replace the pages in question with alternative and probably fake documents in a bid to erase any incriminating evidence.
The companies in question were allegedly awarded tenders without following procedure and it is suspected they might have received money without providing goods and services.
Some of the documents which were doctored and burnt include records for Mastaw Investments where Chihuri was a manager and his wife Isobel was managing director. Chihuri’s brother-in-law Aitken Khan was operations manager for the same company.
Documents for Croxile Investments where Isobel was general manager were, according to the investigations, allegedly tampered with.
Other records for Adamah Enterprises and Nodpack Investments where Isobel was general manager were also reportedly destroyed.
Documents for Rewstand Enterprises owned by Mrs Abigail Billie Makono, wife of a top police officer Assistant Commissioner Makono and her sister Beaula Billie, were also allegedly tampered with.
Rewstand had the tender to supply tents and clothing material.
Adamah had the tender to supply cap drab, blue hats for female officers and clothing material while Mastaw and Croxile would supply tents.
Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi, is also on record as saying there was a reasonable basis to suspect Chihuri of instructing some senior officers to spearhead the destruction of records relating to his family companies as he was then still in charge.
Constable Ellison Mutivayo who was responsible for typing in the office of the then Staff Officer Ordinance said he was instructed to type out an order to destroy 20 sets of selected records which were immediately ferried in a lorry for destruction.
“All sections like receipt bay, bulk store, stores office, buying office, cardex office, loan office, dispatch carding, issues and discharges, took the books to his office. The Staff officer did the selection of files with the administrator and brought them to my office where I was ordered to type out a destruction order in respect of the selected books. The books were more than 20 in number.”
An assistant inspector then arrived driving a UD lorry; the policeman and others had to load the books detailed for destruction and the truck drove off to Support Unit in Chikurubi, said Cnst Mutivayo in his sworn affadavit.
Another officer, Cst John Shoko, said he was ordered to pluck out some pages from the goods received register which were also burnt.
Sergeant Tamirirashe Matutu, who worked at the buying office, said Supt Munemo visited their office and asked for files in respect of Rewstand, Adamah, Mastaw, Nodpack and Croxile which he took to his office.
“He came back and took used up goods received registers from the safe where they were kept. He also took another goods received register from receipt bay section to his office. After an hour, he came back with pages which had entries of receipts in respect of the above mentioned companies, folded and marked while others were detached.
He said that he had been instructed by a Senior Assistant Commissioner to remove the marked pages. “He gave us blank pages of the registers and instructed us to rewrite the entries excluding those for the above mentioned companies which were left blank. Those blank spaces were filled in with false information and later cancelled.
“Supt Munemo then took the registers and asked Cst Shoko to accompany him to Police Printers for rebinding. All this happened when the overall officer-in-charge Chief Inspector Gavaza was on occasional leave,” said Sgt Matutu.
Assistant Inspector Nelson Phiri said at one point, the goods received register at the buying office went missing, only to find it a week later in the company of Cst Shoko who was busy plucking out pages and rewriting the information on the superiors’ instructions.
“On Wednesday 22 November 2017, I entered the Buying Office while searching for the missing book.
“I then found Cst Shoko with the goods received register on his table. I observed that he had a bunch of blank papers of the goods received register. He was busy re-writing the entries and other information.
“When I asked him why he had taken my book, he made a statement that he had been instructed by the Staff Officer Supt Munemo to rewrite new pages and removing all entries with information of deliveries of companies namely; Adamah, Croxile, Rewstand, Mastaw and Nodpack,” reads Asst Insp Phiri’s affidavit.
A week later, Asst Insp Phiri said he discovered that pages related to the five companies had been removed and replaced with newly doctored ones.
“I noted that pages which had entries and information of the aforementioned companies had been plucked out and replaced by newly re-written pages. The books had been bound anew to appear as if everything was still intact,” reads Asst Insp Phiri’s statement.
The re-written entries, according to the police officers, now had forged signatures, force numbers and names of officers who once worked in the receipt bay office.
By A Correspondent| Tajamuka/ Sesjikile leader Promise Mkwananzi has appealed to Telecel to help him identify the owner of a particular mobile number that is being used by an unknown person to issue death threats on him.
Mkwananzi, who has thrown his weight behind the forthcoming July 31 protest and whose organisation has started mobilising citizens to come out in their numbers on July 31 said the number 073 207 1086 is being used to threaten him with death.
He said:
“This number is calling threatening to kill me. Telecel Zimbabwe help me identify who this person is.”
SEVEN National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) bosses have been fired as the company reels from allegations of multi-million dollar corruption involving the acquisition of medicines and equipment meant for the Covid-19 pandemic response.
Those who have been fired are managing director Flora Sifeku, operations manager Charles Mwaramba, finance manager Rolland Mlalazi, human resources manager Walter Nhau, regional manager Raguel Mthombeni, stores pharmacist Rumbidzai Kanhema (Matambanadzo) and Bridget Kumapenda.
NatPharm is mandated with the procurement, storage and distribution of medicines and medical equipment for public health institutions.
Some of the managers were implicated in the Drax International LLC US$60 million Covid-19 medicines supply scandal.
They were arrested and face charges of criminal abuse of office.
Sifeku, Mwaramba and Mlalazi were arrested early this month and are being accused of processing government procurement without following proper tender procedures.
In a July 14 internal email with the subject head “Termination of contracts for some managers”, acting managing director Zealous Nyabadza said the seven have been dismissed from their posts with immediate effect. This email serves to inform you that the following managers have been dismissed from NatPharm with immediate effect,” Nyabadza said, without elaborating.
An unprecedented purge has already seen several Ministry of Health officials and chief executive officers of major referral hospitals being fired.
Yesterday, several senior managers at the Health Services Board were also either relieved of their duties or transferred.
“This is part of the large-scale purging of those perceived to be involved in the controversial cases surrounding the procurement of medical supplies and Covid-19 equipment. In fact, more of these senior people are going to fall by the wayside going forward,” an official said.
First to fall was former Health minister Obadiah Moyo, who was fired on July 8 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for what he deemed behaviour inconsistent with a member of cabinet.
Moyo was arrested last month after an investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. He was freed on bail and returns to court on July 31.
Moyo is facing charges of corruption and criminal abuse of office over his role in a deal with Drax to supply personal protective equipment and Covid-19 test kits. If convicted, he faces a fine or up to 15 years in prison.
A representative of Drax, Delish Nguwaya, was also arrested and is facing charges in connection with the contract.
Nguwaya is also on bail. His company has, however, denied wrongdoing and has written to the government protesting the cancellation of the procurement deal.
Apart from the Drax controversy, the Ministry of Health has also been accused of mishandling the procurement of Covid-19 materials through a Namibian-based company, Jaji Investments.
Both deals were concluded without the approval of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe. The Drax deal was cancelled after journalists exposed the transaction, sparking public outrage.
The Health Service Board last week fired chief executive officers of central hospitals, while directors in the Ministry of Health were sent on forced leave as part of what was termed a restructuring exercise.
Those fired are Ernest Manyawu (Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals), Tinashe Dhobbie (Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, formerly Harare Central Hospital), Enock Mayida (Chitungwiza Central Hospital), Nonhlanhla Ndlovu (United Bulawayo Hospitals) and Leonard Mabhandi (Ingutsheni Hospital).
A lady died of covid in carpark of the teaching hospital in Harare-she had been waiting there for 4 hours as lift Is broken so she couldn’t be taken to the ward.Even worse, many colleagues don’t appear shocked..I was told “welcome to the real world”
— Rashida Abbas Ferrand (@rashida_abbferr) July 17, 2020
The ZANU PF National Youth Executive held its second national executive council meeting this Friday at the party headquarters in Harare, where Acting Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs, Tendai Chirau called for Zimbabwe to stand “against subversion of their will.”
“As ZANU PF Youth league, we register our preparedness to stand in resolute defence of legitimate national interests, in defence of innocent breadwinners and their dependents who are being threatened with disruptive, senseless violence and injury. We further reiterate our conviction that the only acceptable path to political power in Zimbabwe is through the plebiscite.
“In the 2018 elections, the voice of the majority emphatically spoke in favour of ZANU PF running the country until 2023. The threats to remove the Government that we hear are unconstitutional and we remain ready to defend the constitution of Zimbabwe and accordingly warn all putschist elements to hold their peace,” he said.
Chirau also raised concern that the people who are agitating for a demonstration are the same people who bad mouth the country to foreigners and then come back to lay blame on the government.
“We will therefore not entertain any form of retrogressive opportunism, which is in many predictable ways, similar to the coordinated anarchy of 1 August 2018 and January 2019, which should never be repeated. We are tired of merchants of regime change abusing the universal right to demonstrate and wish to remind them that such right is subject to limitations in defence of national security,” he said.
58 people tested positive for the corona virus this Friday.
Of the 58 people, 48 are local cases and 10 are returnees from South Africa.
In a daily Covid-19 update the Ministry of Health and Child Care said, “32 of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases. Investigations are underway to establish the source of infections for the other 16 cases.” One more person has succumbed to Covid-19, the total now stands at 24.
“Today we regret to report 1 death at facility level in Bulawayo Province. The death is a 19-year-old male who tested positive for Covid-19 and had a co-morbidity.”
Cases continue to rise in Bulawayo, with 27 local cases being recorded yesterday, the total number of confirmed cases in the province is the highest in the country. The province accounts for 31% of all the cases in Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo has 446 confirmed cases, 411 local transmissions, 35 imported cases, 88 recoveries, 347 active cases and 11 deaths.
A total of 99 701 tests have been conducted since the onset of the outbreak in March this year.
The opposition MDC Alliance Youth League Assembly National Secretary for Recruitment Kerine Murwira has died.
The development was announced by the party on its social media pages. The party, however, did not reveal the cause of death. The party tweeted:
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has been robbed of a committed & hardworking fighter, Kerine Murwira, who was the National Secretary for Recruitment. Mourners are gathered in Dangamvura & burial has been slated for Sunday.
Fifty-eight (58) cases tested positive for COVIO-19 today These include returnees from South Africa (10), and 48 local cases who are isolated Thirty two (32) of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases.
Investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the other 16 cases Thirteen (13) recoveries were reported by the following provinces; Mash Central (6), Mat North (3), Mash East (2) and Manicatand (2) Today we regret to report 1 death at a facility level in Bulawayo Province.
The death is a 19-year old male who tested positive for COVID-19 today and had co-morbidities Today 1214 ROT screening test and 979 PCR diagnostics tests were done The cumulatiye number of tests done to date is 99 701(59 606 RDT met 40095 PCR).
Since the onset of the COV10-19 outbreak on 20 March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 1420; recoveries 438, active cases 958 and 24 deaths- Ministry of Health and Child Care
By Jane Mlambo| A militant grouping Tajamuka/Sesijikile yesterday visited Epworth as it warms the ground ahead of the 31 July protests against corruption.
The grouping Spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi urged Zimbabweans to speak out against corruption and bad governance by participating in the planned action.
He accused Zanu PF of looting every resource in the country saying 31 July was the end of it all.
“We are putting Mnangagwa and the criminals surrounding him on notice, only a few days left, on the 31st Garai marongedza, takura mikwende yako unange where ever you come from, ” said Mkwananzi while addressing Epworth youths.
31 July protests coordinator Jacob Ngarivhume earlier this week said the COVID-19 pandemic was not going to deter the people from proceeding with the planned action.
MASVINGO – A 26-year old woman from Zimuto near Masvingo forced her one-year-old baby to drink poison before gulping the liquid herself and the two died within an hour of admission at Masvingo Provincial Hospital on Friday.
The Mirror is informed that Ruramai Mbombi of Nduru Village under Chief Zimuto took her own life following a squabble over dwindling finances with her husband Max Musariri (37).
The baby died at around 8am on Friday while the mother died at 9am after taking the poison the same day.
Masvingo Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula confirmed the case and urged families to solve disputes amicably by consulting the Police or church and local leadership.
The couple had the misunderstanding on Thursday evening and Musariri woke up at 5am on Friday morning after hearing his wife coughing outside the house.
Mbombi allegedly told Musariri that she was ready to die.
Musariri rushed Mbombi and the baby to Zimuto Clinic where they were transferred to Masvingo Provincial Hospital- Credit :Masvingo Mirror
By A Correspondent- Harare’s Glaudina suburb has recorded another COVID-19 death, ZimEye can exclusively reveal.
The man, who worked at a local sugar refinery company died Friday morning at his home where he was recuperating in self quarantine.
Neighbours had to break the windows of the house where the man was after his wife who is in Bulawayo asked a neighbour to check on her husband whom she said was not picking up her calls since yesterday.
Said the source:
“Everyone was equally afraid to get closer to the corpse because he was a COVID-19 known case. So when the community members broke the windows, no-one got close to the corpse for fear of contracting the virus.”
The source narrated how the community tried in vain to call the publicised COVID 19 toll free numbers.
“We called the numbers that were publicised by the Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa but no one was picking up the call. We tried it for over 2 hours while some of the community members went to report the death at a local police station.”
The source said they went to Dzivarasekwa police station where they noted that the police were not properly equipped to deal with COVID-19 deaths.
“They had a car but no fuel to start with. What was even baffling is that the police officers had no PPEs so most of the police details were reluctant to attend to the corpse.”
The source told this publication that the officer in charge at Dzivarasekwa police station assisted the community members to contact City of Harare’s rapid response team who quickly attended to the dead man.
However, the City of Harare did not fumigate the house where the man died.
Added one Masunda:
“Nothing was done to fumigate the house and they just collected the body and left. We engaged Dr Prosper Chonzi who was very rude to us.
He told us that the City of Harare does not have the capacity to fumigate the house and that there was nothing that they can do. He even said we should stop troubling him as he had received over a 100 calls from concerned residents.
Dr Chonzi’s conduct is not reflective of a public official. He is an arrogant man who should just call it quits becuase he does not have the skills to deal with the public. Rather than giving us the way forward, he was just very rude.”
Efforts to get a comment from Dr Chonzi were futile by the time of writing.
There are reports that the government has finally disbursed the USD75 promised to civil servants last months but they are now faced with the dilemma on how to access the money as they do not have bank cards to use in shops while banks are said to be refusing to give them hard cash.
Government last month promised to give civil servants a flat USD75 which they can use to buy in shops but it appears most if not all of them do not have Foreign Currency Account cards.
Posting on Twitter, vibrant teachers union PTUZ, questioned government its members could do to access their money in light of the challenges of banks refusing to give them cards.
“Now that gvt has paid $75, nobody knows how that money is used. Banks say they won’t give cash, won’t give cards, with some “advising”clients to liquidate into RTGS at bank rate. Come here @MthuliNcube , @Jamwanda2 and @nickmangwana,” said PTUZ.
A 31-YEAR-OLD Victoria Falls woman who allegedly fatally stabbed her live-in boyfriend with a kitchen knife for refusing to open the door for her has been granted $2 000 bail.
Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Linda Dzvene yesterday granted Sithandazile Sibanda bail after the accused’s lawyer Mrs Nomusa Khumalo of Mvhiringi and Associates applied to the High Court which granted the consent order. The State was not opposed to bail.
Sibanda was ordered to reside at an alternative address, not to interfere with witnesses, surrender travel documents and report at Victoria Falls Police Station once fortnightly on Mondays as part of her bail conditions.
She was staying with the now deceased Mohamed Vain (26) at House Number 6047 in Mkhosana when she committed the offence of Sunday.
Sibanda has not been formally charged with the murder.
She will be back in court on July 28 for routine remand.
Details of the case according to prosecutors are that Sibanda used a kitchen knife to stab Vain once on the back causing his instant death.
He bled from the nose and mouth.
The two had been customarily married for about two years and Vain was a well-known vendor who operated from Comesa Market, popularly known as Emaplankeni.
“On 12 July at house number 6047 Mkhosana, the accused caused the instant death of Mohamed Vain aged 26 by stabbing him with a kitchen knife once on the back. The deceased bled profusely and died on the spot,” said Mrs Sithabile Daka-Mungombe the prosecutor.
Sibanda had allegedly left Vain at home in the morning while going for booze with friends and returned drunk after 9PM.
She allegedly knocked at the window and he refused to open the door.
Their landlady’s children later opened it.
Sibanda entered the house and allegedly picked an iron bar from the kitchen and attacked Vain who was in bed in the couple’s bedroom.
The two wrestled for the iron bar and Vain disarmed her in the corridor leading to the kitchen.
After disarming her, Vain started walking away and Sibanda allegedly drew a kitchen knife and stabbed him once on the back.
Sibanda allegedly attempted to flee into the bush soon after committing the crime and police who attended the crime scene ran after her and arrested her.
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has distanced itself from social media allegations that it is backing a deceitful plan by the opposition to effect regime change on July 31 under the guise of denouncing corruption.
ZDF noted with concern false accusations peddled on social media that it said was intended to cause alarm and despondency within the nation.
This comes as security chiefs in June warned of a plot by some opposition parties, working with foreign embassies in Zimbabwe and private media to undermine the authority of the Government, saying that those engaging in treasonous acts would be punished.
In a statement, Defence Forces Commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda dismissed the allegations as a figment of social media websites imaginations and not of the ZDF.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) notes with concern the concerted efforts by some sections of the private media, which are bent on dragging the ZDF into their political scheming. This is evidenced by an online news item titled, ‘Military backing demo’ published by Transform Zimbabwe on Chimurenga Radio on 13 July 2020. On the same day there was another publication by ZimEye in their article, ‘The army has been used settle politics’ and that the ZDF and ‘other security structures are literally used to silence, remove and oppress the people of Zimbabwe in a bid to keep ZANU PF in power’.
“Further to this scheming, ZimEye on 05 June 2020, claimed that the ZDF had helped the MDC-T, led by Thokozani Khupe to reclaim Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, formerly Harvest House, from the MDC-Alliance. These claims and assertions are the work of very fertile imagination of the authors of these articles, which members of the public should dismiss with the contempt they deserve. They are aimed at unfairly using the security establishment to drum up support for their planned illegal anti-Government protests.
“It should be noted that, as a professional, loyal and patriotic Defence Force, the ZDF does not involve itself in anti-people activities that are designed to achieve anti-Government political and economic objectives by some malcontents within our citizenry,” he said.
The ZDF Commander added that the country’s military is guided by Section 212 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which mandates the Defence Forces to protect Zimbabwe, its people, its national security and interests and its territorial integrity and to uphold this Constitution, “and not in shenanigans as those purveyed by the authors of the articles mentioned above”.
Spanish giants Real Madrid sealed their 34th LaLiga title on Thursday with a 2-1 win over Villarreal at a sweltering Alfredo di Stefano in the suburbs of Madrid.
Zidane’s side have been irresistibly unspectacular since the return of football and it was in that same style that they won their 10th game in a row and marched to another trophy under their French manager. Zidane, often almost accused of having some secret formula for success that he refuses to divulge, has done it again.
Zidane focused on LaLiga title Zidane refused to let his mind drift to the possible celebrations and didn’t want to entertain the importance of the game in the grander scheme of things before kick-off on Thursday night.
“I don’t have to think about if we draw tomorrow, or on Sunday… Tomorrow, we will be going all out to win the game, as we do in every game,” he said in the press conference before the Villarreal game.
There had to be part of him that sensed something inevitable about a title win given their recent run but he wasn’t about to show that in public. Zidane is a serial winner and this is his 11th title as the Real Madrid boss in just over four years.
The reason he left in 2018 was in part due to Madrid’s failure to win the league that year and the manner in which they lost in the Copa del Rey that year, bowing out to Leganés.
Losing for Zidane is never acceptable even when it is accompanied by winning a Champions League trophy the same year.
Zidane has always maintained that the league is the hardest of all trophies to win:
“It’s more difficult to win the league than it is to win the Champions League,” he said in 2018 after losing the league to Barcelona. “I have always said it and I won’t change. I have said it all my life.”
LaLiga, interrupted There will never be a stranger league season than this one. There might never be a more satisfying league title win either though.
Madrid had 11 games left when the coronavirus brought football around Europe to an end. They had just been beaten by Real Betis and looked like a team lacking plenty. As the weeks rolled by and football remained on hold, it became clear that Javier Tebas was planning on a LaLiga return.
Meanwhile, Madrid were planning their own comeback from the confines of their homes and felt that if they took care of their business in the remaining games, Barcelona would stumble.
That’s exactly how things transpired with Barcelona drawing with Sevilla and Atlético Madrid to hand Madrid the lead in LaLiga. Madrid never looked back. Thursday’s victory was their 10th in a row.
Benzema on fire again Karim Benzema, Real Madrid’s talisman and top scorer gave Madrid the lead with Casemiro robbing a risky Sofian Chakla pass, Modric pouncing on the loose ball like only Modric pounces on loose balls, and Benzema finished the way Benzema has been finishing all year. It was his 19th goal and 6th since the return of football.
Madrid were on their way. They wrapped it up with more of the usual suspects involved.
Ramos stole in front of Gerard Moreno and raced forward before winning a penalty. Benzema slotted it home after a retake when a number of players encroached on the first effort, which saw Ramos cheekily pass to Benzema-As-En Football
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | No minute passes without being reminded that on the 31st July Zimbabwe will join disjointed hands in a mother of all demonstrations to try and force President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to resign.
Conflicting views are gracing the social media and people are genuinely worried. Above all the anxiety brings in fear a uncertainty. Nobody knows for sure what is going to happen but everybody knows that it will happen. It is strange that the news about the 31st July has generated so much interest and the word has spread to all. Even non Zimbabweans are waiting in anticipation to see what the end of July will bring.
As usual there are some some who dismiss the date as a non event while others pin their hopes. Only the date has influence the economy and many investors have suspended investment wanting to see life after the 31st.
Yet there is a very certain day when a very real final demonstration will change the government of Mnangagwa and any other. The real 31Ju will see the end of July. Not July Moyo but the cold deadly unfriendly period on earth will be replaced by the rule of God. It is a known fact that Jesus is coming again yet we chose to be worried about 31 July and not the second coming of Christ.
Jesus is coming again. Personally and visibly, He is coming back. In power and glory, He will return to consummate His redemptive mission and to establish His eternal kingdom. Bible-believing Christians may disagree on some details surrounding the end times, but on this we can agree: Jesus is coming again.
Jesus’ spoke about His return in Mark 13. We must remind ourselves that the primary purpose of the Bible’s teachings on end time events is not merely to satisfy our curiosity. Rather, it is to reveal how to live now in light of future events.As we anticipate the demonstration of 31 July can we put it at the universal perspective. Note especially the final verse of the chapter 13. where Jesus said this: “And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!” (v. 37). The Greek word translated “be alert” (“stay awake,” “watch”) is the very last word of the chapter, and Jesus’ final word on this subject in Mark’s Gospel. It is where the emphasis lies in Mark 13. The recurring theme of Scripture concerning the second coming is to be ready, and Scripture is not silent on how to prepare:
We can be well versed in politics but Anesu is coming again.
Do you want to be prepared for Jesus’ second coming? Then live like His first coming mattered. Jesus spoke parables about His return. In Luke 19:11-27, He told about a nobleman who traveled to a far country to become king. This nobleman called ten of his servants, gave them each a mina (coin), and told them: “engage in my business until I come back” (v. 13). After an unspecified duration of time, the nobleman returned as king and summoned his servants to give an account of their faithfulness. The first two servants had been productive with what was entrusted to them. But another servant had done nothing. He simply wrapped his mina in a cloth and hid it. His mistake was that he didn’t act on what he professed to believe. He professed something about his master but didn’t live by his profession, and lost his reward (vv. 21-23).
Those who profess Christ as Lord and live according to their profession will receive great reward when Jesus returns.
Twice in Mark 13 Jesus warned His disciples not to be led astray by false claim: “Watch out that no one deceives you… false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (vv. 5-6,21-22). Paul warned, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him…. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way” (2 Thess. 2:1-3).
The warning of Scripture is consistent: use discernment in listening to those who claim to have all the details of the end times figured out, and ignore those who resort to date setting end time events. “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son —but only the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming” (Mark 13:32-33). If Jesus was content not to know the day or hour, then let’s stop speculating about it. Be content with “no one knows … only the Father.”
Paul reminded Titus that Jesus’ first coming brought salvation and it instructs us how to live “sensible, righteous, and godly” lives in this present age. It is our “blessed hope”—the expectation of Jesus’ return—that compels us to do so (Titus 2:11-13).
The promise that “the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is followed by a command: “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18). Again, the affirmation that “the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2) is followed by the exhortation: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (v. 11). Scripture’s teachings about the second coming are not given to satisfy our personal fascination with future events but that the body of Christ might encourage one another with the promises.
If we’re not careful, the delay in Jesus’ return will lead us to complacency. Living in the expectation that He could return today compels us to live every day for what really matters—for eternity. Jesus warned of troubling events as we near the end of the age, including persecution of believers (Mark 13:7-9). Then He added that nothing—not even persecution—should distract us from the one necessary thing: preach to the gospel to all nations (v. 10). Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave the church its marching orders: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The very next verses report that the disciples just stood there looking up into the sky. Two angels appeared and spoke the words the church today needs to hear: Why are you standing there gazing into heaven? Jesus is coming back—so get busy! (vv. 9-11).
Jesus loves you. And he wants you to triumph; he won’t let you fail. He gives you all the tools you need to be with him for eternity in heaven. May we all be ready for His coming for He is surely coming.
May God bless you ass you chose to wait for our Lord. Whether you believe it or not Jesus is coming again. May the Lord meet you at the point of your need. AMEN and Amen
Farai Dziva|Suspected state security agents broke into ARTUZ leader Obert Masaraure’s house as Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration intensifies the persecution and prosecution of perceived opponents.
According to leading human rights organization, ZimRights, armed men broke into Masaraure’s house and harassed his wife.
“We have learnt and confirmed with shock the report that armed man broke into @ARTUZ_teachers President Obert Masaraure’s house at 01:00hrs. They broke the doors and harassed his wife. Obert was not at home. We condemn these barbaric acts. Masaraure has suffered at the hands of state security agents a number of times,”ZimRights tweeted.
Masaraure has been arrested several times for speaking on behalf of suffering civil servants and teachers in particular.
He was also brutally assaulted by suspected state security agents last year.
Zimbabwe will have enough power to push forward its rapid industrialisation from 2023 and is poised to become an exporter of electricity as new coal and coal gas generation capacity being planned or commissioned by private and public initiatives in Hwange come on stream.
This emerged when President Mnangagwa concluded his two-day working visit of coal projects here that saw him touring eight power concerns.
Zimbabwe imports power from South Africa’s Eskom and Mozambique’s Hydroelectrica de Cahora Bassa after a 30-year hiatus when no new generation capacity was installed.
Power projects visited by the President on Thursday and Friday are expected to feed an additional 3 000MW into the national grid upon envisaged completion by 2023.
The power is not only sufficient for the country’s present needs, but will also suffice for an industrialised Zimbabwe as envisaged by the economic growth that is being planned in line with Vision 2030 that is set to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy.
The projects themselves, are designed to support the country’s industrialisation drive by generating the required electricity.
Crucially, the projects will also play a critical role in Government’s devolution strategy which is aimed at improving standards of living, creating jobs and generating wealth in the provinces.
Speaking here yesterday, President Mnangagwa noted that employment creation will be accelerated for the benefit of local communities. With some of the projects being foreign-owned, the President implored the companies to prioritise using the local workforce in line with Government policy.
“You (Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube) are spending hundreds of millions a month importing power when we have everything to produce power in this country,” said the President during the tour of Zambezi Gas and Coal Mine.
“Yesterday, where we visited and the general picture I have been given now, is that we should be energy sufficient by 2023 because we have everything. We have the coal, we have the gas in Zimbabwe . . . None of us here will live beyond the volumes of coal we have,” said the President.
With the projects being dominated by companies of Chinese origin, the President also highlighted that this was a result of his visit to China in April 2018, where he got the backing and support of his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping.
Although the President assured all the companies he visited of Government’s total support, he reserved special mention for the locally owned duo of Zambezi Gas and Makomo Resources.
He said he was particularly pleased by the progress being made by the two and noted that they have an added advantage in that their profits will not be repatriated to foreign countries.
He also challenged the two to draw and follow extensive expansion road maps.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando who accompanied the President said the visit had showed that the coal sector is poised to become the first to attain its target under the US$12 billion mining industry set for 2023.
President Mnangagwa speaks to Makomo Resources director Mr Raymond Mutokonyi (right) during a tour of the company
The sector is envisaged to contribute US$1 billion by the 2023 milestone.
“The coal and hydrocarbon sector had been allocated to achieve US$1 billion, but all indications are that it will not only be the first to achieve but will exceed the US$1 billion,” said Minister Chitando.
“This visit by His Excellency has now clearly demonstrated that Zimbabwe is well on course to move from being an importer of power but a net exporter of power,” he said. -Herald
In a statement, Defence Forces Commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda said the allegations are a figment of the social media websites imaginations and not of the ZDF.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) notes with concern the concerted efforts by some sections of the private media, which are bent on dragging the ZDF into their political scheming. This is evidenced by an online news item titled, ‘Military backing demo’ published by Transform Zimbabwe on Chimurenga Radio on 13 July 2020.
“These claims and assertions are the work of very fertile imagination of the authors of these articles, which members of the public should dismiss with the contempt they deserve. They are aimed at unfairly using the security establishment to drum up support for their planned illegal anti-Government protests. It should be noted that, as a professional, loyal and patriotic Defence Force, the ZDF does not involve itself in anti-people activities that are designed to achieve anti-Government political and economic objectives by some malcontents within our citizenry,” he said.
The ZDF Commander added that the country’s military is guided by Section 212 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which mandates the Defence Forces to protect Zimbabwe, its people, its national security and interests and its territorial integrity and to uphold this Constitution, “and not in shenanigans as those purveyed by the authors of the articles mentioned above”.-
STATEMENT ON THE ILLEGITIMACY OF MR E.D. MNANGAGWA & PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
The MDC Alliance Congress and National Council resolutions on the illegitimacy of Emmerson Mnangagwa remains unchanged and as such continues to guide the conduct of all party organs including our Parliament caucus.
In addition, the National Council re-engagement resolution on Parliament post the unlawful recalls initiated by our erstwhile colleagues led by Douglas Mwonzora working in cohorts with Zanu PF remains in force.
Our MPs and the party leadership in Parliament will, therefore, be guided by these resolutions and continue not to recognise an illegitimate Mnangagwa who lost the 2018 election to President Nelson Chamisa
By A Correspondent| Popular comedienne Felistas Edwards better known as Mai Titi has showered praises on millionaire traditional healer Sekuru Banda after one of her friends who lost her laptop and approached him, recovered his gadget within seven days,
In a Facebook live yesterday, Mai Titi said she never used to take Sekuru Banda seriously due to her Christian faith but had found value in his work as it helps in keeping society away from crime.
“Sekuru Banda vakanyanya, vaya vaya vanobirwa, vachikohwa pavasina kurima, vachikohwa pavasina kushanda, Sekuru Banda vakandiitira mashura mazuwa apfuura
“Inini I didn’t believe it, ndobva pabiwa ma laptop evamwe vasahwira vangu, ndobva shamwari yangu yaenda kuna Sekuru Banda, inini ndini nyakuti unoenda kwa Sekuru Banda ikoko akakuudza kuti zvinhu zvinodzoka ndiyani, ndobva sekuru Banda vati don’t worry ndiri kukupa seven days.
“Ndobva paya shamwari yangu yapihwa seven days na Sekuru Banda, ndobva seven days dzapera, murandakadzi akaona ma laptop ari pamusiwo pagedhi, zvikanzi ndiwe wakamaka Sekuru Banda hona ma laptop akadzoka.”
Mai Titi said Sekuru Banda was doing a job in keeping society in good check as thieves had become a menace in the country.
Mai Titi who appeared in another live video with Disc Jockey-cum-comedian DJ Shugeta hailed Sekuru Banda for building a house for popular comedian Marabha.
She said through Sekuru Banda’s good gesture, Marabha was on course to become a landlord with Shugeta saying they were assisting the former street theatre actor to marry and settle down.
Mai Titi said Sekuru Banda had redefined philanthropy as he had assisted without going public about it unlike other socialites who are in the habit of blowing trumpets about their donations.
Sekuru Banda is famed for his ability to help theft victims recover their stolen goods (back to sender), bringing back lost lovers and casting out bad spirits.
He has of late added another feather to his influence after venturing into philanthropic work and has to date assisted the elderly cope with COVID-19 induced lockdown and other prominent people including comedian Marabha and sports personality Alphonse Zvenyika.
He is currently building a house for Marabha and has also donated a residential stand to a former Air Zimbabwe engineer-turned destitute.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Secretary for Recruitment, Kerina Murwira has died.
Murwira passed on after a short illness.
In a statement MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General, Gift Ostallos Siziba said:
It is with sadness and heavy heart that I announce that we have lost our National Secretary for Recruitment in the Youth Assembly Kerina Murwira who had suffered short illness and was admitted in hospital.
Arrangements for burial will be communicated soon.
THERE was drama at the Victoria Falls magistrates’ courts on Monday afternoon when a teenage boy, recently sentenced to 11 years in jail for 18 counts of unlawful entry and theft, stormed out of a courtroom and outpaced court officials in movie style.
He was eventually captured when members of the public joined in the chase.
Zinedine Zibusiso Siziba, who recently turned 17, was last Wednesday convicted on his own plea by Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa.
A probation officer recommended that Zinedine be treated as an adult for purposes of sentencing as he had failed to reform.
Ms Maphosa sentenced him to 11 years in jail for the 18 counts of unlawful entry and theft .
On the first 10 counts Zinedine was sentenced to five years but two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
He was sentenced to six years for the remaining eight counts but two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Ms Maphosa ordered both sentences to run concurrently meaning Zinedine will serve an effective four years in jail. He stole property worth $41 853.
On Monday Zinedine, who should be in Form Three, had been led to the courtroom where he was supposed to appear again for 36 other counts of housebreaking and theft when he ran away.
According to court sources, the boy suddenly stormed out of the courtroom leaving court officials and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officers shocked.
He outran prison officers and members of the public before scaling a precast wall dividing the courtyard and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority premises.
He ran across Livingstone Way which leads into the town centre and scaled a perimeter fence on an open ground between the police station and OK supermarket.
He scaled another fence at the other end of the open space but ran out of luck as officers managed to apprehend him with the help of members of the public who had joined in the chase.
ZPCS Matabeleland North provincial public relations officer, Principal Correctional Officer Bothwell Bosha confirmed the incident-Chronicle
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa has challenged Victor Matemadanda’s liberation war credentials.
This comes after Matemadanda’s remarks about the dispute between MDC Alliance and MDC -T.Matemadanda surprisingly “endorsed” Douglas Mwonzora as the man who should lead the opposition while discrediting President Chamisa in the process.
In response to Matemadanda’s utterances, the MDC Alliance said:
Dear Victor Matemadanda As the country’s Deputy Defense minister you are a public figure.
We the public demand you tell us where you served during the liberation war.
We the public demand to know who you served under during the liberation war.
The head of government business in Parliament, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi while responding to Bulawayo East MP Ilos Nyoni’s question in Parliament this week said the government had no plans of abandoning the Zimbabwe dollar which has greatly depreciated in value since its infamous debut on 24 June 2019.
Nyoni had asked if the government was aware that people were now preferring the USD to the depreciating Zimbabwe dollar.
Ziyambi said: Government has no desire to abandon the Zimdollar. The MP is aware that when COVID-19 came, the Minister of Finance allowed the use of free funds.
There was no pronouncement to say that we are going back to the US dollar that we do not produce. Our desire is to stabilise our currency so that the earnings of our people are not eroded. At no point are we going to abandon the idea of our currency.
The Minister repeated the same answer when Tendai Biti asked him:
The Ministry of Transport through Statutory Instrument 161/2020 has announced that all vehicle number plates must be paid for in US dollars, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe through its auction floors is trading in foreign currency and has obliged all shops to display prices in US dollars and local currency and so are we going to officially dollarise?”- NewsDay
A Bulawayo City player caused a scene in Mzilikazi suburb as he head-butted a neighbour at the height of a misunderstanding and was later accused of stealing cash.
A court heard Gerald Ngulube (23), a forward for the BCC side, felt he was belittled by a neighbour during an argument and that seemed to have stoked anger in him resulting in a brawl.
It is said he grabbed his neighbour Lawrence Mwale (36) and scored hard with his tough head in Lawrence’s mouth.
The court head blood gushed out of the wound and his teeth got loose.
The court heard during the commotion Gerald allegedly stole US$60 and R150 from Lawrence.
A report was made at a police station leading to the arrest of Gerald.
He appeared before magistrate Marrygold Ndlovu. He pleaded guilty to assault but not guilty to the theft charge.
He took to the stand: “Your worship, I apologise for head-butting my neighbour and I blame myself because anger got the better of me.”
On the second count he said: “I deny that I stole his money because the incident happened where there were lot of people and someone could have taken it.”
The magistrate found him guilty of assault and fined him $1 200. Gerald was acquitted on the theft charge-B-Metro
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| A very sad day ended badly for the Madzingira family in Harare. A couple was killed in a car crash while driving to a funeral of their sister who had passed on suddenly in the capital city.
Sam Madzingira, an MDC supporter was coming from Bulawayo to Harare for the funeral of his sister Mrs Felistas Dimairo who had passed on after few hours of complaining of dizziness. Mr Sam Madzingira was driving a Mercedes Benz C class series when his car was involved in a head on collusion with The Controversial Prophet Talent Chiwenga just after the Norton Toll gate towards Harare.
Their car collided with a Landrover Discovery being driven by Talent Chiwenga killing them both on the scene.
Sam Madzingira has founded several schools which he was operating under a trust Turnup Enterprises, he was a director. His school had classes up to A level enrolling over a thousand students per year.
Madzingira oversaw a construction equipped well with the teachers’ staff rooms, headmaster/deputy headmaster’s office, reception, pupils’ toilets and classroom blocks already complete. The school’s construction project is being bankrolled by Madzingira’s Turnup study pack and it has become a state of the art school. This New Bulawayo secondary school, Prestige High, in Cowdray Park suburb, opened its doors in January 2015. Madzingira was the school’s founder. Talking in 2015 Turnup Enterprises director Sam Madzingira, said the school would have nine blocks with three classes each.
The school, which will go up to A-Level, will accommodate up to 720 pupils.
Madzingira started building the school in September 2013 and over $300,000 had been used so far for the construction. It was completed by January 2014.
Madzingira and his wife were merging onto a highway from the toll gate they collided with a car being driven by the self proclaimed prophet Mr Talent Chiwenga who quickly blamed the CIO for his accident.
Without verifying the issues Talent Chiwenga flooded the social media with rhetoric and shameless accusations accusing The educationist Madzingira for being CIO.
“Those two Madzingira and his wife Only wanted one thing that they wanted to educate every Zimbabwean. The two of them had so many dreams. Mr Madzingira had hoped to open a University and impart knowledge and deliver education to as many people as possible.
Mr Mpofu a parent of a student from Madzingira’s school fumed and said ” these false prophets like Chiwenga must be ashamed of themselves. Chiwenga should have known better before he rushed to the press and social media accusing Madzingira and his wife to be CIOs.
Mrs Nodumo Siza a former officer in the president’s office said Zimbabwean intelligence service will never sacrifice officers for Talent. Talent Chiwenga is the incarnation of the devil. He is vile and an attention seeking liar. God should have shown him that the people he killed were just a bereaved couple on their way to the funeral
Madzingira and wife died at the scene. The man driving the Land Rover was unharmed. It is a shame that he flooded the social media with self aggrandising paranoiac statements.
“The Madzingira family witnessed their own worst nightmare,” “That’s an image that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.” Said Silas Mbambo who was the first to attend the accident. “I won’t forget it. It will never go away. I will see that truck hit the Merc spinning it around and killing them every night of my life, the rest of the time that I’m on earth.”
Mr Madzingira and his wife were buried yesterday in Zaka SVINA Village under Chief Benzi. while Mrs Dimairo was buried in Harare on Tuesday.
What has angered most people is the fact that Talent Chiwenga turns this tragic episode into a political scene. Talent Chiwenga and his poor church has proved to be a bunch you tubers who are all out to seek attention they do not care who gets injured. Chiwenga must be compassionate and stop hallucinating. No one is after his life.
He killed his wife and blamed ZANU PF. for it. Now he killed this innocent couple. Whe will he stop.
By Mari Matutu| Hey. I was reading some letters written by Khupe on behalf of Polad, I also listened to an interview where SB Moyo was being asked on Tagwirei corruption.
It reminded me something
Back then when I was very young. My mum told me not to poo in my pants. So when I ever I felt liking to relief my self I will run to the bush area she told me to go.
First I will drop my pants and pull out leaving the pants at least five meters away. Making sure nothing goes on it.
Move the five meters then squat. My mother had told me that no one must ever see you doing this exercise. Actually its “inhuman” , she said. So I will take my hands put them on my eyes. Close my eyes so tight and block them too tight. Double safety. No body should “see” me in the act.
After finishing because I pulled my pants facing north then it mean the pants are facing north. As for me it was a matter of putting legs in and pull up and go.
When I get home my mum would always say, “B, asi wandodota?”
I would feel embarrassed. How did she know this? I had my eyes closed so tight and on top I put my hands on. How did she note this.
She would say, “huya paono!”. I would go and she will always shout at me and take my pants off then change direction.
Because my mind was concerned in hiding from being seen in the act I never listen to her words, “pfeka bhurukwa zvakanaka!”, words which will always follow a hiding.
Actually she knew I was squatting through the way I put on my pants after the act but it took long for me to realise this. I concentrated on “hiding”.
Zanu is doing exactly the same, Khupe is now in the game. Lobbying and paying people in US, or cheating with the POLAD useless people is like closing your own eyes so tight and even putting hands on top thinking that other people will not see you.
Defending corrupt people and refusing people’s will is like dressing up your pants back facing front after pooping. We will always see you.
Whom did they think will not know all these plans of forming POLAD with 17 useless people trying to make them majority?
31 July close your eyes tight. We will catch you in the act.
Prison officer named CO(1) Mukwenya stationed at Hwahwa prison died after falling from a tower where he was manning.
A Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officer on night duty at Whawha Medium Prison allegedly plunged to his death from a guard tower that is over 30 metres high.
Sources said Correctional Officer Grade 1 Joseph Makwenya fell from the tower between 3AM and 6AM yesterday.
Prison sources said no one knows what really happened as his lifeless body was only discovered around 6AM by another correctional officer who had gone to the tower to take over watch duty.
The source said CO Makwenya’s head had a crack and there were blood clots on the ground.
ZPCS national spokesperson Superintendent Meya Khanyezi said investigations into the death were underway.
“I can confirm that we lost a correctional service officer from Whawha Medium Prison who allegedly died while on duty at the guard tower. His lifeless body was discovered yesterday morning by fellow officers. We are awaiting post mortem results and we have since launched our own investigations to understand what happened,” said Supt Khanyezi.
She said ZPCS had lost a dedicated officer.
“We are so saddened by this occurrence; we lost a dedicated officer and we want to know what happened. Our deepest condolences go to his wife and kids,” said Supt Khanyezi.
ZPCS sources said CO Makwenya was alone when he made his way to the guard tower to take on his duties.
They said the tower is steep and he could have slipped and fell to his death.
“It was around 3AM when he made his way to the guard tower. We don’t know what happened from that time until his body was discovered around 6AM some three hours later by another correctional officer who was supposed to relieve him and take over the watch tower duties.” -Chronicle
Financial records at Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) were reportedly loaded into a Nissan UD truck on the instruction of then police bosses and destroyed by fire at Chikurubi Camp during Operation Restore Legacy in 2017, allegedly to cover up corrupt procurement and other illicit payments.
The destruction of the records, according to investigations, was not done in accordance with the law and was allegedly designed to destroy evidence that could be used in the present investigations into former Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and his relatives.
Affidavits by four police officers in the police procurement section stated how pages of files involving companies linked to relatives of top police officers, including Chihuri, were pulled out and burnt. The affidavits also narrates how some senior officers instructed juniors to replace the pages in question with alternative and probably fake documents in a bid to erase any incriminating evidence.
The companies in question were allegedly awarded tenders without following procedure and it is suspected they might have received money without providing goods and services.
Some of the documents which were doctored and burnt include records for Mastaw Investments where Chihuri was a manager and his wife Isobel was managing director. Chihuri’s brother-in-law Aitken Khan was operations manager for the same company.
Documents for Croxile Investments where Isobel was general manager were, according to the investigations, allegedly tampered with.
Other records for Adamah Enterprises and Nodpack Investments where Isobel was general manager were also reportedly destroyed.
Documents for Rewstand Enterprises owned by Mrs Abigail Billie Makono, wife of a top police officer Assistant Commissioner Makono and her sister Beaula Billie, were also allegedly tampered with.
Rewstand had the tender to supply tents and clothing material.
Adamah had the tender to supply cap drab, blue hats for female officers and clothing material while Mastaw and Croxile would supply tents.
Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi, is also on record as saying there was a reasonable basis to suspect Chihuri of instructing some senior officers to spearhead the destruction of records relating to his family companies as he was then still in charge.
Constable Ellison Mutivayo who was responsible for typing in the office of the then Staff Officer Ordinance said he was instructed to type out an order to destroy 20 sets of selected records which were immediately ferried in a lorry for destruction.
“All sections like receipt bay, bulk store, stores office, buying office, cardex office, loan office, dispatch carding, issues and discharges, took the books to his office. The Staff officer did the selection of files with the administrator and brought them to my office where I was ordered to type out a destruction order in respect of the selected books. The books were more than 20 in number.”
An assistant inspector then arrived driving a UD lorry; the policeman and others had to load the books detailed for destruction and the truck drove off to Support Unit in Chikurubi, said Cnst Mutivayo in his sworn affadavit.
Another officer, Cst John Shoko, said he was ordered to pluck out some pages from the goods received register which were also burnt.
Sergeant Tamirirashe Matutu, who worked at the buying office, said Supt Munemo visited their office and asked for files in respect of Rewstand, Adamah, Mastaw, Nodpack and Croxile which he took to his office.
“He came back and took used up goods received registers from the safe where they were kept. He also took another goods received register from receipt bay section to his office. After an hour, he came back with pages which had entries of receipts in respect of the above mentioned companies, folded and marked while others were detached.
He said that he had been instructed by a Senior Assistant Commissioner to remove the marked pages. “He gave us blank pages of the registers and instructed us to rewrite the entries excluding those for the above mentioned companies which were left blank. Those blank spaces were filled in with false information and later cancelled.
“Supt Munemo then took the registers and asked Cst Shoko to accompany him to Police Printers for rebinding. All this happened when the overall officer-in-charge Chief Inspector Gavaza was on occasional leave,” said Sgt Matutu.
Assistant Inspector Nelson Phiri said at one point, the goods received register at the buying office went missing, only to find it a week later in the company of Cst Shoko who was busy plucking out pages and rewriting the information on the superiors’ instructions.
“On Wednesday 22 November 2017, I entered the Buying Office while searching for the missing book.
“I then found Cst Shoko with the goods received register on his table. I observed that he had a bunch of blank papers of the goods received register. He was busy re-writing the entries and other information.
“When I asked him why he had taken my book, he made a statement that he had been instructed by the Staff Officer Supt Munemo to rewrite new pages and removing all entries with information of deliveries of companies namely; Adamah, Croxile, Rewstand, Mastaw and Nodpack,” reads Asst Insp Phiri’s affidavit.
A week later, Asst Insp Phiri said he discovered that pages related to the five companies had been removed and replaced with newly doctored ones.
“I noted that pages which had entries and information of the aforementioned companies had been plucked out and replaced by newly re-written pages. The books had been bound anew to appear as if everything was still intact,” reads Asst Insp Phiri’s statement.
The re-written entries, according to the police officers, now had forged signatures, force numbers and names of officers who once worked in the receipt bay office. Herald
By Fanuel Chinowaita Kasiyamhuru| Today is one of the darkest day as i heard the untimely death of Kerine Murwira.
Kerine was my sister and a comrade in the Movement for Democratic Change.
She died today due to serious headache.
It is very painful that I will not be able to attend her funeral due to long distance and Lockdown.
Anyway, let me take this time to say very little things I know about Kerine. When it comes to politics, she was steadfast and so principled.
She is someone I always consulted and her advices made me strong. She always said, “usazviise muhana sterek mwana waMai, let’s soldier on kusvika Zimbabwe yasununguka.”
Her presence made the struggle real and stronger. She was a force in Manicaland and Zimbabwe as a whole.
You will always be remembered Keri.
Pese peairwara aindiudza kuti mwana waMai ndarwara, but this time she did not say any word. The last time I talked to her she said, “mwana waMai ita plan and see how I can reach that side.” Sad, she just go without saying good bye!!!
Nguva iyi yandirwadza.
To Tyne, please take care of Kupa and Nenyasha. To our lovely and caring mother, be strong….chemai netariro…chengetaiwo vazukuru vemasiirwa naKerine.
By A Correspondent- A Harare man died from COVID-19 Friday in Glaudina suburb, Harare, ZimEye can exclusively reveal.
The man, who worked at a local sugar refinery company died at his home where he was recuperating in self quarantine.
The sugar refinery company where he was working has reportedly closed and sent all it’s workers to a local health institution for COVID 19 tests and self quarantine following this incident.
Neighbours had to break the windows of the house where the man was staying after his wife who is in Bulawayo asked a neighbour to check on her husband whom she said was not picking up her calls since Thursday.
Said the source:
“Everyone was equally afraid to get closer to the corpse because he was a COVID-19 known case. So when the community members broke the windows, no-one got close to the corpse for fear of contracting the virus.”
The source narrated how the community tried in vain to call the publicised COVID 19 toll free numbers.
“We called the numbers that were publicised by the Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa but no one was picking up the call. We tried it for over 2 hours while some of the community members went to report the death at a local police station.”
The source said they went to Dzivarasekwa police station where they noted that the police were not properly equipped to deal with COVID-19 deaths.
“They had a car but no fuel to start with. What was even baffling is that the police officers had no PPEs so most of the police details were reluctant to attend to the corpse.”
The source told this publication that the officer in charge at Dzivarasekwa police station assisted the community members to contact City of Harare’s rapid response team who quickly attended to the dead man.
However, the City of Harare did not fumigate the house where the man died.
Added one Masunda:
“Nothing was done to fumigate the house and they just collected the body and left. We engaged Dr Prosper Chonzi who was very rude to us.
He told us that the City of Harare does not have the capacity to fumigate the house and that there was nothing that they can do. He even said we should stop troubling him as he had received over a 100 calls from concerned residents.
Dr Chonzi’s conduct is not reflective of a public official. He is an arrogant man who should just call it quits becuase he does not have the skills to deal with the public. Rather than giving us the way forward, he was just very rude.”
Efforts to get a comment from Dr Chonzi were futile by the time of writing.
By A Correspondent| Hundreds of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries followers recently besieged their leader Prophet Walter Magaya’s offices in Cape Town, South Africa, demanding refunds following a botched stands deal.
The followers said they wanted their money back since nothing had materialised three years after paying deposits.
Through Planet Africa, the investment arm of Prophet Magaya’s church, the followers were asked to pay varying deposits into a housing scheme.
In a grey agreement of sale, the investors (who are named as partners in the agreement) were informed that the stands’ sizes and prices were to vary and would be determined after the sub-division of the land.
By Nomusa Garikai- The release of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule’s report on Zimbabwe, just two weeks before the 31 July 2020 street protests is fortuitous.
The root causes behind the public unrest have not gone away, if anything things are worse now than before and the future prospects are grime, and so as long as the fire burns more fiercely than ever the pot will boil.
“The special rapporteur is conscious that political polarisation, poor governance and a fragile economy exacerbated discontentment with the government and prompted demonstrations and strikes,”Voule said.
The special rapporteur made it abandonly clear that the people have a right to peaceful demonstration to express their discontent; a constitutional right, not a privilege, which the Zanu PF government has forcefully and repeatedly denied. He sited the 1st August 2018 post July 2018 rigged elections protest and the two weeks soaring cost of living protest in January 2019 in which 6 and 18 people were shot dead respectively.
“Regarding the use of force, the commission concluded that ‘the use of live ammunition directed at people, especially when they were fleeing was clearly unjustified and disproportionate’ and it added that ‘(t)he use of sjamboks, baton sticks and rifle butts to assault members of the public indiscriminately was also disproportionate’,” stated the report.
The tragic reality is Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown is getting decidedly worse not better, the corona virus pandemic has accelerated the decline; there are a lot more people living in abject poverty and desperate for change. Sadly, in Zimbabwe the only hope for meaningful change is violent uprising.
The opportunity for peaceful democratic change has been slammed shut in the faces. Ever since Zimbabwe gained her independence in 1980, the country has never ever held free, fair and credible elections. Never ever!
President Emmerson Mnangagwa blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections just as blatantly as Zanu PF had rigged elections in the past.
Yes, Zanu PF would not have got away with rigged elections without the help of the corrupt and incompetent MDC opposition party.
It was Morgan Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC leaders’ failure to implement even one democratic reform in 20 years of the party’s existence which has allowed Zanu PF to retain its carte blanche powers to rig elections.
By participating in flawed and illegal elections MDC (doing it out of greed) have given the process credibility and by extension the result some modicum of legitimacy. And it is from this phony legitimacy that Zanu PF claims its mandate to govern and justifies its brutal repression.
“We have noted statements from some social media platforms to plan and organise violent (31st July) protests and overthrow a constitutionally-elected Government,” commented Patrick Chinamasa, following the Zanu PF politburo meeting.
“Those who are plotting anarchy should know that ZANU-PF is not sleeping. This time we are ready and we will not allow a repeat of what happened before.
“Those doing so must stand warned and the law will not hesitate to deal with those. Our democracy and rule of law is very clear on how a Government is constituted.
The (politburo) meeting advised those planning to sneak themselves into Government violently through the back-door to desist from such devious agendas because they will have themselves to blame.”
The central question here is Zanu PF’s claim that it is the “constitutionally-elected government” when it is not. All the observers of the July 2018 elections have dismissed the whole process as a farce.
“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner.
The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Election Observer Mission final report.
It was impossible to verify anything when the elections went ahead without something as basic as a verified voters’ roll!
The one organisation that has repeatedly said nothing about Zimbabwe’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections is the UN.
Whilst UNDP and other arms of the UN have played a key role in Zimbabwe’s elections, UN bankrolled the drafting of the 2013 constitution, for example; the UN said nothing about the blatant rigging of elections.
Whilst the efforts of the UN Special rapporteur on rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association are welcomed, one has to question the sincerity of the UN in the case of Zimbabwe.
Does the UN seriously expect a vote rigging and per se illegitimate regime that has just blatantly denied the people their right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country to grant them the right to protest the denial or anything else?
As we can see Zanu PF is gearing for yet another brutal confrontation to silence dissent and hang on to power at all cost.
What good will yet another UN Special rapporteur on rights to peaceful assembly condemning the brutal repression do for the nation?
UN should not be wasting time and energy trying to get an illegitimate government to honour the citizens’ rights and freedoms; for that is tantamount to bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted!
The UN should spend it time, energy, sweat and blood in getting a legitimate government!
What Zimbabwe needs is UN Special rapporteur on rights to free, fair and credible elections and secure a legitimate government!
With a legitimate government, there is hope of securing all the universal freedoms and rights.
By A Correspondent- Harare’s Glaudina suburb has recorded another COVID-19 death, ZimEye can exclusively reveal.
The man, who worked at a local sugar refinery company died Friday morning at his home where he was recuperating in self quarantine.
Neighbours had to break the windows of the house where the man was after his wife who is in Bulawayo asked a neighbour to check on her husband whom she said was not picking up her calls since yesterday.
Said the source:
“Everyone was equally afraid to get closer to the corpse because he was a COVID-19 known case. So when the community members broke the windows, no-one got close to the corpse for fear of contracting the virus.”
The source narrated how the community tried in vain to call the publicised COVID 19 toll free numbers.
“We called the numbers that were publicised by the Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa but no one was picking up the call. We tried it for over 2 hours while some of the community members went to report the death at a local police station.”
The source said they went to Dzivarasekwa police station where they noted that the police were not properly equipped to deal with COVID-19 deaths.
“They had a car but no fuel to start with. What was even baffling is that the police officers had no PPEs so most of the police details were reluctant to attend to the corpse.”
The source told this publication that the officer in charge at Dzivarasekwa police station assisted the community members to contact City of Harare’s rapid response team who quickly attended to the dead man.
However, the City of Harare did not fumigate the house where the man died.
Added one Masunda:
“Nothing was done to fumigate the house and they just collected the body and left. We engaged Dr Prosper Chonzi who was very rude to us.
He told us that the City of Harare does not have the capacity to fumigate the house and that there was nothing that they can do. He even said we should stop troubling him as he had received over a 100 calls from concerned residents.
Dr Chonzi’s conduct is not reflective of a public official. He is an arrogant man who should just call it quits becuase he does not have the skills to deal with the public. Rather than giving us the way forward, he was just very rude.”
Efforts to get a comment from Dr Chonzi were futile by the time of writing.
Government has increased the Tax free threshold to $5,000 up from $2,000 while those earning above $100,000 will pay 40 percent tax.
This was said by Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube in Parliament today where he is presenting the Mid-term Policy Review.
He told Parliament that growth for mining sector is now projected to slow-down to -4.1 percent in 2020, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges including perceptions around retentions, erratic power supply and loss of skills in the mining sector.
On the manufacturing sector, Minister Ncube told Parliament that the COVID-19 pandemic has also depressed the performance of the manufacturing industry by restricting production, distribution and the consumption of goods and services, among other factors. It also caused input supply disruptions in source markets and hence, the sector is expected to contract by -10.8 percent in 2020 against 1.9 percent originally projected
He said Government continued to prioritise road rehabilitation programme under which the Harare-Beitbridge road got $321 million leading to much faster progress in construction works. The target is to achieve 200km by year end.
Minister Ncube said Internet usage increased by 2.8 percent to 6 661 tera-bytes in the first quarter of 2020, from 6 489 tera-bytes recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019, driven by the substitution of voice traffic and print media by over the top serves (OTTs) and online publication.
He reported that the COVID-19 mitigation measures were further expected to enhance mobile data and internet usage for remote working driven by corporates and government, as well as online education.
“Transport and communication sector is projected to grow by 3.2 percent in 2020, driven by enhanced communication activities that is offsetting the dampening effect of the transport sub-sector,” he told Parliament.
By Jane Mlambo| The MDC Alliance Secretary General, Charlton Hwende has insisted that their 2019 resolution on the legitimacy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa remains unchanged despite their decision to attend the mid-term budget review session today.
The MDC Alliance since the 2018 elections have always walked on Mnangagwa each time he attends parliament, a move that once forced Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda to withhold their allowances at some point.
Yesterday, party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the MDC Alliance legislators would attend the mid-term budget review as the country was facing a deteriorating economic situation and a governance crisis.
The move appeared to be a departure from their earlier stance not to recognise Mnangagwa in parliament but Hwende said nothing changes from their last resolution.
“The MDC Alliance Congress and National Council resolutions on the illegitimacy of Emmerson Mnangagwa remains unchanged and as such continues to guide the conduct of all party organs including our Parliament caucus,” said Hwende.
Public statement by Jesus Revelation Ministries: An update of the accident involving Apostle T F Chiwenga and colleagues which happened on the 13th of July 2020 in Norton around 1930 hours.
We seek to notify the whole family of Jesus Revelation Ministries in Zimbabwe and abroad, the Nation of Zimbabwe at large, and the whole world in general, that Apostle T F Chiwenga and the two brethren were involved in a car accident on 13 July 2020 at around 1930 hours while travelling from Harare along Bulawayo road. The accident happened at 3.8 kilometer-peg before Norton tollgate. Apostle T F Chiwenga was driving in a Land Rover Discovery 4 and was intercepted into a head on collision by a Mercedes Benz Sedan with registration number plate AED 7059 which emerged against the one-way traffic. The evidence on the scene shows a dismal collision steered by the driver of the Mercedes Benz which was travelling against the one-way traffic in the highway.
Apostle T F Chiwenga was quickly taken from the scene of the accident and rushed to the hospital by a well-wisher.
After receiving information about the accident, we tasked a team to visit the scene and came up with details of what could have probably transpired. To clarify our position, attached to this statement is a diagrammatic representation and pictures. Our statement is also supported by interviews of the persons involved in the accident.
According to the sketch diagram attached along with this statement, it shows a deliberate, well-calculated intentional plan to murder Apostle Chiwenga in a brutal car crush. While the possible intension was to cause the vehicle in which Apostle Chiwenga was travelling in to veer out of the way unto a possible plunge or overturn, instead there was a head-on collision. It is reported that the casualty resulted in the unfortunate death of two people who were in the Mercedes Benz while the other one was critically injured. By the time of the report we are not sure of the condition. The Ministry sincerely sympathizes with the bereaved families and relatives of the deceased following the sad passing on of their loved ones.
Further to our observation, Apostle T F Chiwenga and the two colleagues who were involved in the collision testified that they realized that their vehicle was being stalked by a Toyota Hilux from Kuwadzana roundabout. The same vehicle overtook them moments before the incident and is labelled in the diagram as car D. The vehicle involved in the head-on labelled as car B was travelling against the one-way and had its lights switched off. The vehicle only appeared within an estimated 20 meters distance. According to Apostle, there was another vehicle (Car C in the diagram) travelling adjacent to Car A at the time of the impact, making it difficult to avoid an eminent head-on. All this evidence has compelled us to believe that this fatal collision was not natural but it was a skimmed project. Our concern as Jesus Revelation Ministries is the deliberate delay, concealment and holding back of the release of the information about the accident by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Also, there are certain media houses and journalist who have partially released details of the accident without other important details including the names of those who died from the head-on collision caused by a car travelling against a one-way. On the contrary, on 12 June 2019, when Apostle Chiwenga was involved in an almost similar car accident in which three brethren from Jesus Revelation Ministries passed on, the police urgently released the details of the victims and circumstances of the accident within an hour. We expected ZRP to give the full details of the account as is their norm. As Jesus Revelation Ministries, we are not surprised by the developments of this planned murder as preempted in the public statement by Apostle T F Chiwenga exposing an operation by the government to abduct and murder him. The details of the statement made on the 10th of July 2020 and published on the 11th of July 2020 are available on the following link. https://youtu.be/tNUNerwmGa4 The murder attempt happened barely three days after the statement. Further to that, Apostle T F Chiwenga was being stalked ten days before the unfortunate man-made disaster, and the complaint is echoed in Apostle Chiwenga’s sermons preached in the past six months. The sentiments in the State media of late as also reiterated by the President in his Party’s Politburo meeting address were threatening and in some instances Apostle T F Chiwenga’s name was mentioned among people they accused of inciting violence and uproar. Such information coupled with the evidence on the scene made it difficult for us to believe that the State is not involved.
Jesus Revelation Ministries is aware of the State’s targeted campaign to attack Apostle T F Chiwenga and Jesus Revelation Ministries because of the bold rebuke and counsel against sin, corruption, and all manner of evil doings without respecting persons. (John 16 v 7-9, Ezekiel 2 v 6-7, Acts 10 v 34-35, Romans 2 v 11) However, the gospel is not preached on man’s terms but God speaks to his creatures using his own choice vessels in His manner and fashion. (Daniel v 4 v 34-35) We call on the nation of Zimbabwe, civic societies, Human Rights organizations and the International Community to condemn these barbaric acts perpetrated on innocent citizens by our Government.
Brethren all over the world must pray for Apostle T F Chiwenga and the other brethren during these difficult times. In the meanwhile, let people be calm and comforted at heart as the condition of Apostle T F Chiwenga and that of two other brethren is stable and well monitored. Any developments will be communicated.
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Treasurer Judith Tobaiwa has been arrested and is currently detained at Kwekwe Central Police Station.
We are yet to be furnished with her charges . More to follow…
Meanwhile MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Organizing Secretary and ward 4 councillor, Godfrey Kurauone who was granted RTGS $1000 bail has declared that he is determined to push for democratic change despite persecution and prosecution.
“I will say this today and more days to come. Mnangagwa has failed us. He must just go,” said Councillor Kurauone.
On 17 July, we commemorate the sixth anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, when 298 people of 17 different nationalities lost their lives. The European Union continues to feel deep sympathy for all those who lost their loved ones.
The European Union reiterates its full support for all efforts to establish the truth, achieving justice for the 298 victims of the downing of Flight MH17 and their next of kin and holding those responsible to account, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166.
Recalling its previous statements, the European Union takes note of all steps that have been taken in this regard and expects Russia to accept its responsibility and to fully cooperate with efforts to establish accountability.
Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe and the officer-in-charge of St Mary’s Police Station have been jointly ordered to pay over $16 000 to a Chitungwiza woman who was shot by a police officer at a roadblock in 2018.
High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore on July 8 ruled that the trio pay US$16 788,75 for damages to Loveness Chiriseni, the victim of the shooting. Justice Mushore ruled that the police officer who shot Chiriseni was reckless.
She said:
The plaintiff was an unarmed, non-threatening passenger in a vehicle. It is undeniable that the police had no basis per the constitutional provisions to fire a weapon at a civilian target.
If it was his intention to stop the driver of the vehicle from proceeding through the roadblock, he ought to have fired a warning shot into the air.
The police officer deployed unbridled excessive force which was not justifiable and thus failed to exercise his constitutionally imposed duty of care which he owed the plaintiff.
The shooting incident occurred on August 19, 2018, at a police roadblock at the intersection of Seke and Delport Road.
Officers from St Mary’s Police Station, who had mounted the roadblock, fired shots at an unregistered private vehicle which was being driven by one Lloyd Sibanda into town after he had failed to stop.
Chiriseni, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was hit on her right buttock.
She was taken to St Mary’s hospital for treatment and endured out-patient care daily for three months and incurred transport costs, trauma, depression, and anxiety.
Zindzi Mandela, the daughter of former South African president Nelson Mandela, who died on Monday, had tested positive for COVID-19, according to her son.
Her son, Zondwa, confirmed her diagnosis to South Africa’s public broadcaster, SABC, on Wednesday. It was not, however, confirmed if this was the cause of her death.
The 59-year-old died in a hospital in Johannesburg, in Gauteng province, the region identified by the Ministry of Health as South Africa’s COVID-19 epicentre.
Zindzi was once deputy president of the Soweto Youth Congress and an underground operative for the African National Congress (ANC) party’s armed wing, uMkhonto we Sizwe.
She most recently served as South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark and was slated to take over as head of mission in Monrovia, Liberia.
Zindzi, who is survived by her husband and four children, will be buried on Friday, the Mandela family confirmed.
The writing of this year’s November public examinations will be determined by the extent Zimbabwe contains tCovid-19 infection, legislators heard today.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema said he could not tell with certainty whether students in Grade Seven, and in O-level and A-level forms would write their November examinations, following a decision to defer the reopening of schools for examination classes, originally scheduled for July 28, in light of the rising number of confirmed Covid-19 cases.
The deferment of schools opening by Cabinet this week was part of measures that include postponement of further opening of economic sectors, localised lockdowns in hotspots and more testing in areas where infections are spiking.
Minister Mathema was responding to questions from legislators during the question and answer session in the National Assembly yesterday.
Masvingo Central MP, Cde Edmond Mhere (Zanu-PF), had asked what would become of the pupils due to write examinations this year following the deferment of reopening of schools.
Until very recently, almost all infected people were returning citizens and residents and these infections were discovered in quarantine centres.
But the number of internal infections has been rising in recent weeks, a development that requires strong measures to be taken to deal with the menace.
Responding to another question, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, said uniform fees would be charged for all tertiary students regardless of whether they were conducting e-learning or were on campus.
Zengeza West MP Mr Job Sikhala had asked if pupils doing e-learning would pay the same fees with those on campus.“Students are not paying for a particular way of learning but are paying for delivery of content. The method of delivery does not matter, whether it is by radio, internet, video, e-learning or on campus,” said Prof Murwira.
Meanwhile, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi reiterated that Zimbabwe will continue to use the Zimbabwean dollar.
“Government has no plans whatsoever to abandon the Zimbabwean dollar. Rather, we are working towards a view that it becomes the sole currency of trading,” said Minister Ziyambi.
Responding to another question, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister, Davison Musabayana, said Government had engaged a local financial institution to help with advancing a loan facility to Zimbabweans abroad who had failed to raise funds to return home due to lockdown-induced challenges.
He said his Ministry was working tirelessly to help those keen to return so much that two staffers from the Ministry had tested positive to Covid-19 while assisting some returnees.
As of 15 July 2020, Zimbabwe had 1 089 confirmed cases, including 395 recoveries and twenty (20) deaths.
In its daily COVID-19 (coronavirus) update, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said:
Twenty-five (25) cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These include returnees from South Africa (3) and 22 local cases who are isolated.
One (1) of the local cases is a contact of a known confirmed case.
Investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the remaining 21.
Today 2009 RDT screening tests and 603 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 95 860 57 236 RDT and 38 624 PCR).
Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak on 20 March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 1 089; recovered 395, active cases 674 and 20 deaths.
Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Professor Emmanuel Mbennah says President Emmerson Mnangagwa will deliver Zimbabwe to the promised land because of his clear economic vision, his tough anti-corruption stance and his sound re-engagement drive.
In an interview with State Media, Prof Mbennah, whose country recently became an upper middle class economy, said President Mnangagwa has laid a solid foundation that will make Zimbabwe the Jewel of Africa.
“I really commend President Mnangagwa for the works he is doing. He is focused on the progress of the country, obviously, the challenges are not few, but he is working very hard.
“Some things that I can identify with Tanzania is the ardent fight against corruption. It does not matter who it is. If anyone is found on the wrong side of the law, action is taken, people are arrested and taken to court and that is very much what Tanzania has done especially during the tenure of President Magufuli.”
Corruption, Prof Mbennah said, was a problem in many countries and President Mnangagwa was doing all he could to show his resolve in dealing with the scourge.
Prof Mbennah said it is incumbent upon the country’s populace, including those in the opposition to be united.
“My call to the people of Zimbabwe is to rally behind the President and support him because he means well for the country. He gives his best and success will come and we are already seeing the signs, but people of Zimbabwe including those in the opposition will have to support the President,” he said.
“In Tanzania we have opposition parties, but it is very clear that people in the opposition consider Tanzania first. We may have different ideas and different ideologies, but we are here to give everything to the development of the country.
“My appeal to the people of Zimbabwe is build Zimbabwe, don’t pull it down, you don’t have another Zimbabwe. Building means building, you cannot be destroying one side and say you are building. There are a lot of things I see on social media that are destructive (and) will not take Zimbabwe forward.”
On patriotism, Prof Mbennah said it was obligatory for every Zimbabwean not to speak ill or his or her country. He said Zimbabwe was endowed with a highly-educated populace, hardworking and very intelligent.
“If the people put their heads together Zimbabwe will be a shining star not only in the region, but also internationally. My appeal to Zimbabwe is to keep working hard and for everyone to stand behind the President. The opposition should also contribute towards building Zimbabwe.
“We need to be wise in dealing with those who purport to be our friends. They are only friends because they want to benefit. There are so many good friends that Zimbabwe can count on and not those who are working against the Government,” said Prof Mbennah.
“The efforts of the Second Republic are very clear. Efforts of re-engagement are bearing fruits and most world nations are coming closer to Zimbabwe including the UK. The recent lifting of sanctions against some banks is also a good sign for Zimbabwe”.
MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa’s appointment of firebrand lawyer and party politician Fadzayi Mahere as spokesperson of the main opposition has been overwhelmingly endorsed by members of the public.
Mahere, replaced Daniel Molokele at the end of May as part of the opposition chief’s attempts to sharpen the MDC Alliance’s National Standing Committee which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the party.
Although some people considered her a late comer into the MDC fold, having contested the 2018 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate, an overwhelming majority of respondents in a ZimEye.com poll endorsed her appointment.
Below is the result of the poll which puts to rest the debate on whether Chamisa blundered in appointing Mahere.
A MEMBER of the human trafficking syndicate which trafficked six women into virtual slavery in Kuwait between 2015 and 2016 by promising them good jobs as maids, was on Monday jailed for 10 years by a Harare magistrate.
James Marodza was jailed by Harare regional magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande, who convicted him of six counts of human trafficking after trial.
Mrs Makwande said Marodza’s acts infringed on the rights and freedoms of the six women.
Evidence during the trial showed that the six had their passports confiscated by their employers on arrival in Kuwait, that they were forced to work up to 22 hours a day.
They were called “khadama”, which means slave and were prevented from communicating with anyone else, including their families.
Mrs Makwande said the “horrific testimonies” that were given by the six women during Marodza’s trial entailed that some of them will never live a normal life in future.
They were rescued by the Government which had to investigate, help them escape, process temporary travel documents and then arrange for them to fly home.
“The Government had to intervene and send people to investigate on the conditions that the women were living in while in a foreign land,” said Mrs Makwande. “The Government had to make sure that the women returned home by processing temporary travel documents through the embassy.
“This means that he (Marodza) prejudiced the Government and also left the country in the spotlight over the offences.”
Mrs Makwande noted that there was serious violations of the women’s liberties, freedom of association and movement during the time they were enslaved in Kuwait.
“That alone shows the seriousness of the offence that he is facing and it calls for imprisonment,” said Mrs Makwande, before jailing Marodza for 10 years.
The State, led by Mrs Netsai Mushayabasa, proved that between December 2015 and March 2016, Marodza unlawfully and intentionally recruited unsuspecting victims to Kuwait using Facebook and WhatsApp platforms. He misrepresented to the women that housemaids in Kuwait were paid handsomely, before sending them pictures of some girls he said were well paid in the Middle East country.
The victims sent their medical examination certificates and police clearances to Marodza and communication was through a WhatsApp number.
CONSUMERS are expecting the 2020 mid-term fiscal policy review to increase the income-tax-free thresholds and stabilise prices for basic goods and services.
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on the terms of spending patterns, with government reallocating resources in order to provide safety nets for vulnerable communities.
With the 2020 mid-term budget review being set for presentation by the minister of finance and economic development, Professor Mthuli Ncube on Thursday, consumers are anticipating treasury will introduce measures to restore buying confidence, price stability and improve disposable incomes.
“Ndozvatamirira kuti tione kuti zvinofamba sei kuitira kuti economy ienderere mberi, mari ngaitenge zvakasiyana siyana,” (we are waiting to see if any measures will be put in place to ensure money retains its buying power) said a consumer.
Some consumers are also expecting reforms to create business-friendly systems that can result in certainty on pricing models.
Clarity regarding currency transactions and exemptions of tax structures is also under the spotlight ahead of the mid-term budget review.
The mid-term fiscal policy review will be presented at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has had its effects in terms of the government’s set economic targets. There are also possibilities that the government will review expenditure estimates, revenue inflows, and economic outlook, among others.
Furthermore, it is being presented when the government is focusing on restoring food security as well as ensuring that most firms get relief packages.
With inflation having eroded most of the macro-economic fundamentals, analysts await to sees how the government will focus on restoring productivity.
However, the key highlight is the current foreign exchange auction system in which the treasury is also being anticipated to provide an impetus as to how it can stabilise overall economic systems.
Generally, consumers being the most heavily hit by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, fiscal authorities are left with nothing apart from relief packages.
Zanu PF Mashonaland West Province is considering recommending liberation hero status for its former vice chairman, legislator, businessman and indigenisation and economic empowerment activist, Keith Guzah who died at his home in the early hours of yesterday.
He was 57.
Central Committee member and Zvimba South legislator Dr Phillip Chiyangwa said liberation war status will be a befitting honour for the economic empowerment advocate.
“Keith did so much in fighting for black economic empowerment and we are recommending liberation hero status,” he said.
“He also did a lot as vice chairman of the party, Zanu PF. This will not be a new thing because another black economic empowerment proponent Peter Pamire was accorded the same status after his death in 1997.”
“When he contested in the Hurungwe West constituency by-election, I was his campaign manager and funder. He was our vice chairman in the Zanu PF provincial executive. He did a lot for the empowerment of people.”
Guzah participated and won in a fiercely contested Hurungwe West by-election against the then incumbent, but now expelled former Zanu PF provincial chairman Mr Temba Mliswa in 2016.
His daughter Nicole said the death came as a shock to many people, adding that her father died after complaining of having difficulties in breathing.
His body, she said, was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for further tests to determine the cause of death.
She described her father as a calculative person who had a passion and drive to succeed.
“I don’t have anything concrete about his final moments besides that he was having trouble breathing for the past few weeks and had been tested for Covid-19 twice and the results were negative,” said Nicole.
“Dad was a self-made man who demanded respect and got it because he was determined and very intelligent.”
Zanu PF members and legislators who worked with Guzah in the 8th Parliament expressed shock at his sudden death.
Mourners are gathered at Number 6 Fairview Close, Greendale, Harare.
The Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19, Honourable Vice President K.C.D. Mohadi, presented the weekly Report on the National Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak, which was adopted by Cabinet. Cabinet was informed that, out of the ninety-one thousand one hundred and three (91 103) tests conducted throughout the country, one thousand and thirty-four (1 034) were confirmed COVID-19 positive, compared to the seven hundred and thirty-four (734) cases reported on 6 July, 2020. The number of those who have recovered has increased from the previously reported one hundred and ninety-seven (197) to three hundred and forty-three (343), while deaths have increased from nine (9) to nineteen (19). This leaves the number of active cases at six hundred and seventy-two (672). Bulawayo and Harare Metropolitan Provinces have recorded the highest number of deaths with seven (7) and eight (8) deaths, respectively.Of the one thousand and thirty-four (1 034) confirmed cases, seven hundred and twenty-five (725) were imported from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America with returnees from South Africa and Botswana contributing the most cases. This means the total number of locally transmitted cases now stands at three hundred and nine (309) cases.
Cabinet is disturbed by the spike in COVID-19 locally transmitted cases and the number of deaths recorded. To curb the increase in transmissions as well as deaths from COVID-19, the following measures were adopted: (a) that the current lockdown restrictions will be tightened, while localised lockdowns are introduced in hotspot areas and further opening up of the economy is halted; (b)that testing in communities with high cases of local transmission such as Bulawayo will be increased; (c) that the re-opening of schools shall be deferred pending a review of the situation, while the writing of public examinations continues;(d)that private schools that have already opened without permission will be penalized; (e) that Government shall have the sole responsibility for inter-city travel for those that really require to travel especially to seek medical attention; and (f) that two (2) buses will be availed to transport those that test positive from Beitbridge to their respective provincial isolation centres.
Cabinet also noted and approved the ongoing restructuring of the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Cabinet further noted with concern that some members of some religious sects have gathered in their numbers in Manicaland Province for their yearly retreat, in contravention of COVID-19 regulations that prohibit gatherings of more than fifty (50) people. This poses high risk to the spread of COVID-19. Accordingly, Cabinet directed that the gathering should disperse forthwith.
Let me also take this opportunity to report that His Excellency the President will announce comprehensive measures on the way forward regarding the country’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
2020 MID-TERM BUDGET AND ECONOMIC REVIEW AND UPDATE ON THE STATE OF THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AND MONETARY REFORMS
Cabinet received and approved a presentation from the Minister of Finance and Economic Development on the 2020 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review and Update on the State of the Financial Sector and Monetary Reforms. Full details of the proposed measures will be made in Parliament on Thursday, 16th July, 2020.
EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF PAYING INCENTIVE ON MAIZE DELIVERIES
Cabinet has extended the period over which farmers will receive the 30% incentive for delivering maize to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) from 31st July 2020 to the 31st August 2020. Farmers are urged to liaise with their nearest GMB depots and Agricultural Extension Officers for assistance in the transportation of their produce.
PROPOSED STRATEGIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE II OF THE EASE OF DOING BUSINESS REFORMS
The Ministers of Mines and Mining Development; Energy and Power Development; Local Government and Public Works; and Finance and Economic Development presented to Cabinet on proposed strategies for the implementation of Phase II of the Ease of Doing Business Reforms.
a) Ministry of Mines and Mining Development
The Ministry is finalising amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act to bring the legislation in line with internationally competitive, modern, friendly and supportive law. The amended Act will help enhance investor confidence.
The Ministry is also implementing the Mining Computerised Information Management (cadastre) System (MCIMS) to speed up registration of mining title and minimising disputes through correctly positioning mining titles.
b) Ministry of Energy and Power Development
The Ministry has put in place measures for reducing and standardising connection and application procedures. These include: Standardised reporting from Regions on Reliability indices; Compensation to customers for damaged equipment due to voltage fluctuations; Quality control of customer wiring; and availability of connection material.
c) Ministry of Local Government and Public Works
The Ministry has introduced the following reforms: (a) the Construction Permit is now obtainable within 136 days as opposed to the earlier 208 days; (b) duration of local authorities response to application for construction reduced from 35 to 14 days; (c) One-Stop Shop plan introduced and approval sessions being held twice a week; (d) the number of inspections of stages during construction were reduced from 7 to 4 thereby reducing the overall time and cost of construction. Work to further improve the doing business environment is in progress.
d) Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
The Ministry in consultation with line Ministries and stakeholders has identified the following areas, among others for reform:
Implementation of the Collateral Registry
Lack of immovable collateral security by mainstream lenders remains a major challenge. In order to address this challenge, Government through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has taken initiative to establish a collateral registry for moveable assets, with a view to expanding the range of assets that qualify as collateral security. The movable assets to be used as collateral will include, but not limited to: Agricultural and industrial equipment; inventory and raw materials; vehicles; households items; and agricultural products (livestock, poultry, crops), among others.
Paying Taxes
Paying tax reforms are centred on creating a conducive environment for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises by minimising costs and time spent during payment of tax obligations to the Fiscus.
Trading Across Borders
Trade facilitation is a crucial element in enhancing ease of movement of commercial cargo and travellers. The reforms involve automation, which will enhance efficiency of tax administration. Plans are at an advanced stage on the implementation of an Electronic Single Window system whereby payment of fees, charges, levies for services offered by Agencies are done through the electronic platform.
Creating a Conducive Environment for SMEs
SMEs have the potential of becoming an anchor to growth and development of the economy, through their contribution to employment creation, poverty alleviation, economic empowerment and participation of previously disadvantaged groups, such as women and the youth. The key strategy would be the creation of a conducive environment for the sector through a Simplified Tax Regime.
The Zimbabwe dollar eased by a modest 4.6 percent to $68.88 from $65.80 in the fourth foreign currency auction yesterday with the range between the top bid and the lowest successful bid falling to $20 as bidders continue to make ever more accurate calculations over pricing.
This growing expertise in price discovery saw the top bid falling to $85, from the $100 in the first auction, $92 in the second and $90 last week. The lowest bid in yesterday’s auction was $40, but the lowest allotted bid was $64.20, with all bidders below that price missing out as higher bidders had exhausted the foreign currency on offer.
Successful bidders pay what they offer, so if they manage to bid below the weighted average and still miss the cut off they get a bargain and if they bid above their currency is more expensive, although their bid is guaranteed to be successful.
The small gap between the lowest allotted bid and the weighted average suggests that most bids were in an even tighter range than the top bid suggests, possibly something like $64.20 to $72.
The total number of successful bids amounted to 230, with another 59 rejected, because they were too low or because bidders had some fault in their bid.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe disqualifies bids that are for goods and services not on the priority import lists, with category 1 imports sharing 70 percent of the available currency and category 2 imports sharing the other 30 percent.
Bidders also have to have cleared by deadline their CD1 export forms and their bills of entry from previous imports and will not be allowed to bid if they have sufficient cash in their foreign currency accounts to meet their desired import payments.
The value of total of bids recovered from US$15.8 million last week to US$18.719 million, while successful bids increased to US$15.98 million, up from US$13.6 million last week.
Increasing demand on the auction is seen as growing confidence in the system.
Economist and advisor to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Eddie Cross, said although the auction managed to meet industry’s foreign currency requirements, banks are still not coming to the party.
“We are disappointed that banks did not come to the market, again. Foreign exchange supply should not be left to the RBZ. We know that banks are trading foreign currency and they should participate in the auction,” he said.
“In terms of today’s (yesterday) auction, we managed to meet all of industry’s requirements, and it’s having an impact. Already you can sense that prices are stabilising.”
The increasing shift of industry players to the auction system has dried out activity on the parallel market, which has also helped to contain inflationary pressures as firms no longer ‘forward price’ their goods and services according to a phantom rate.
Commenting on his Twitter handle, industrialist Busisa Moyo, said the foreign currency auction system should move towards a market-determined rate.
“The auction is still at infancy but needs to gradually move towards a market rate,” he said.
“A framework where demand for Zimbabwe dollars is high — taxes, duties paid in local dollars will create a desire to sell. This framework doesn’t exist at the moment, but it will come.”
In line with indications that at least 70 percent of foreign currency will be allocated to industry, the majority of the hard currency in yesterday’s auction went to raw materials, machinery and equipment. These segments accounted for US$8,63 million.
Retail and distribution accounted (including food and beverages) for US$2,47 million, while consumables (including spares, tyres and electricals) accounted for US$1,41 million, and pharmaceuticals and chemicals accounted for US$1,26 million.
Services (including loans, dividends and disinvestments) accounted for US$900 526, while paper and packaging accounted for US$761 500, and fuel, electricity and gas accounted for US$528 200.
Prices of goods and services are expected stabilise in the short-term before declining in the medium to long-term, industrialists and economic analysts have said.
President Mnangagwa has noticed that price stability was now returning and few items have risen in price in the last three weeks with the first price reductions, albeit modest, now being seen.
“As Government, we envisage a situation where foreign currency resources and raw materials are improved for the productive sector as this will result in increased availability and affordability of goods as well as the creation of jobs,” said the President.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers Association president, Mr Denford Mutashu, told The Herald that the foreign currency auction system had started well with manufacturers, suppliers and the retail sector accessing a huge chuck of forex.
“We are quite happy with the current price stability on the market that has seen some prices of commodities such as bread being reduced,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer, Mr Christopher Mugaga, said Zimbabweans must be patient but that prices would be tracking the auction rate as stocks were renewed.
“It’s too early to expect the foreign currency auction system to have a full impact within the economy (but) in the medium to long-term, from the fourth quarter of 2020 going forward, we might see the market responding to the auction,” he said.
Economist Mr Persistent Gwanyanya said stability has been restored in the market.
“The set-up has stabilised the current system in the country. It has also stabilised the prices in the market to the extent our currency was now under attack and inflation, which is largely linked to the exchange rate volatility, was also going out of hand,” said Mr Gwanyanya.
Already, the forex auction system has helped in rebuilding market confidence, improving access to foreign currency and helping stabilise the exchange rate while speculative activity on the black market could subside significantly.
Health and Child Care Acting Minister Professor Amon Murwira (left) addresses the media flanked by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa (right), Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe (back row, left), Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo (back row, right) and Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Mr Nick Mangwana at Munhumutapa Offices in Harare yesterday
The reopening of schools for examination classes scheduled for July 28 has been deferred in light of the rising number of confirmed Covid-19 infections which reached 1 064 yesterday, with infections within Zimbabwean communities rising fast.
The deferment by Cabinet yesterday was part of measures that include postponement of further opening of economic sectors, localised lockdowns in hotspots and more testing in areas where infections are spiking.
Until very recently, almost all infected people were returning citizens and residents and these infections were discovered in quarantine centres. But the number of internal infections has been overtaking the imported infections in many recent daily reports.
Yesterday the Ministry of Health and Child Care announced another 30 infections, 14 among returning residents and 16 within Zimbabwe. While seven of these 16 were contacts of known cases, efforts are now being made to find the sources of the other nine.
The latest death is a child in Matabeleland South who was admitted to hospital on Saturday with pneumonia. This takes the cumulative total to 20. But a large batch of confirmed recoveries in Bulawayo (49) and Matabeleland North (3) has taken the cumulative number of confirmed recoveries to 343.
South Africa has now seen 4 172 deaths from 287 796 cases, the ninth worst number of confirmed cases in the world and is easily the most severely hit country in Africa.
Announcing the deferment of schools re-opening yesterday after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had adopted the recommendation of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Committee on Covid-19 as part of a tightening of current lock-down measures.
The recommendation was in a report presented by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, the committee chairperson.
“The re-opening of schools shall be deferred pending a review of the situation, while the writing of public examinations continues; private schools that have already opened without permission will be penalised,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa noted the restrictions in the fight to contain the spread of the pandemic will not be relaxed and President Mnangagwa “will announce comprehensive measures on the way forward regarding the country’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak”.
The Government was concerned with the increase in the numbers of Covid-19 cases and among the measures adopted will be a tightening of the current lockdown restrictions, with localised lockdowns in hotspot areas.
The further opening up of the economy has been halted; testing in communities with high cases of local transmission such as Bulawayo will be increased; and Government shall have the sole responsibility for inter-city travel with priority given to those seeking medical attention.
Two buses will be allocated to transport those returning from South Africa, the regional epicentre, that test positive in Beitbridge to isolation centres near their homes.
Cabinet also noted and approved the ongoing restructuring of the Ministry of Health and Child Care. There have been staff transfers and movement in the ministry following the departure of Dr Obadiah Moyo who was replaced by Professor Amon Murwira in an acting capacity.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Government is worried by those who are not adhering to the prescribed guidelines and cited the ongoing gathering in Manicaland of members of the Marange Apostolic sect in contravention of lockdown regulations.
“This poses high risk to the spread of Covid-19. Accordingly, Cabinet directed that the gathering should disperse forthwith,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Meanwhile, Cabinet received and approved a presentation from Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube on the 2020 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review he will present tomorrow.
The minister is expected to update the nation of developments have occurred in the economy following the presentation of the $8.16 billion 2020 national budget last year.
Villagers in Maphane Village, Ward 7 of Gwanda North have told ZimEye.com that they are living in fear after the mother to a Bulawayo man who died of Coronavirus last week sneaked back into the village.
The man who became Zim Covid-19 deaths case number 9 died in Bulawayo on Sunday last week after being diagnosed with Coronavirus.
According to the villagers, the mother was in Bulawayo with the family when her son passed on. Reports further indicate the widow has also since tested positive for the virus.
Efforts to get a comment from the Bulawayo Provincial Covid-19 task team are still underway.
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe and his wife Nolwandle have tested positive for Covid-19, the Presidency said on Tuesday.
Gwende Mentash
According to the Presidency, the minister received his results earlier on Tuesday after having undergone three rounds of tests since the outbreak of the virus.
” Minister Mantashe and Mrs Mantashe are currently in isolation and the minister will continue to work from home. The minister remains committed to a course of ensuring security of energy and petroleum products supply to society during this difficult period and beyond.
“The minister has directed all members of his private office in government to also test,” said the Presidency.
“As we wish Minister and Mrs Mantashe a speedy recovery, we extend the same well wishes to the thousands of South Africans and their families who are also battling coronavirus.
“To defeat this virus, we must all continue playing our part in observing the WHO protocols of washing hands regularly, wearing a mask and practising physical distancing.” -IOL
Aston Villa kept alive their slim chances of surviving relegation following a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Villa Park on Sunday.
Egyptian winger Trézéguet‘s brace propelled Dean Smith’s men to only their 8th win of the season but it might have galvanized their survival push.
The victory takes Villa to 18th on the table with 30 points, four behind 17th placed Watford with three games to play.
Aston Villa now need Watford to lose their two next games against West Ham and Manchester City then they (Villa) beat Everton and Arsenal to leap out of the relegation zone.
On the penultimate day, Villa travel to West Ham while Watford host Arsenal as the relegation battle will likely go down to the wire as Dean Smith’s men still have a mathematical chance of avoiding the chop-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|Advocate Nelson Chamisa has appointed Professor Welshman Ncube as the acting president of the opposition party.
According to MDC Alliance presidential spokesperson, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda, the appointment is with immediate effect.
See statement below:
RE: APPOINTMENT OF MDC-ALLIANCE ACTING PRESIDENT
The President of the MDC Alliance Advocate Nelson Chamisa has, with immediate effect, appointed Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube to act as President.
This appointment is in line with the rotational Acting appointments of the office.
Prof Ncube will act as President till advised otherwise. I thank you, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda
MDC Alliance National youth organiser and Masvingo Urban ward 4 councillor Godfrey Kuraone’s bail application will be heard on Wednesday 15 July 2020.
Councillor Godfrey Kuraone’s lawyer advocate Martin Mureri of Matutu and Mureri legal practitioners said, “Today, 13 July 2020 I have filed an appeal against refusal of bail pending trial at Masvingo High court. The matter will be heard on Wednesday, 15 July 2020 at 9am at Masvingo High court. “
On the 7th of July 2020, Masvingo Magistrate P. Madondo refused to give bail to MDC Alliance youth organiser Godfrey Kuraone.
Godfrey Kuraone is accused of undermining authority of or insulting president as defined in section 33 (2) (a) of the codification and reform act chapter 9:23.
The offence is allegedly to have been committed on 26 June 2020, in Masvingo.
In addition, the human rights lawyer, Advocate Martin Mureri said, “We hope the high court judge will grant Councillor Godfrey Kuraone bail.”
However, MDC National youth organiser Kuraone denies the allegations and argues that he has not committed the said crime.
ACCIDENT IN NORTON: Source alleges Talent Chiwenga was taken away by a white car from the scene within 10 minutes from the accident, and left everyone else at the scene. Contacted for a comment, Chiwenga's PA Pastor Baloyi confessed ignorance. He told ZimEye,"I am not aware…" pic.twitter.com/RYXukBt0co
There was pandemonium today at the Sakunda run Rock Foundation Medical Centre in Harare when medical staff got entangled after five patients, one male & four female, tested positive for #COVID19; all of them through local transmission linked to a hairdresser at a Westgate salon!
By A Correspondent- Former Finance minister and MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti has claimed that Zimbabwe has become a colony of the Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians and “some little banana republics in Eastern Europe” amid their activity in the country’s struggling economy.
In an interview with MDC Alliance National Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere on Saturday, Biti accused Russian based companies like Trafigura and Russian linked Sakunda Holdings for capturing the Zimbabwean economy especially in the fuel sector.
“Right now they are active in six key areas of our economy. The first one is the US$. If you want stability in this country, you need to actually close the Reserve Bank because it has been the source of distortions. Number two is fuel. You have got Sakunda and Trafigura.
“Trafigura is owned by Russian mafia. Under president Mugabe there was a danger that Zimbabwe would be a colony of the Chinese. Under Mr Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has become a colony of the Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians and some little banana republics in Eastern Europe,” Biti said.
Biti added that, “Trafigura are Russians, they are in bed with Sakunda. They own 50% of the pipeline from Feruka in Mutare to Msasa but they manage this pipeline from Beira to Msasa.
“This is crazy they have the monopoly of every drop of fuel that comes through that pipeline. So it is a supply side monopoly. Trafigura does not own any fuel pipeline. Why should we give a monopoly to a company in a country that is not oil producing.”
Biti slammed the ruling Zanu PF regime for being bribed by another fuel mogul, Billy Rautenbach in 2013 and allegedly allowed him monopoly over importation of ethanol.
“There is another thug called Billy Rautenbach. He bribed some Zanu PF people in 2013 and a statutory instrument was made called SI 17 of 2013. It says anyone who wants to bring ethanol in Zimbabwe can only do so if you are in a joint venture agreement with the Government of Zimbabwe, which is a euphemism for saying if you are Billy Rautenbach or Green Fuel.
“So Billy supplies all the ethanol in Zimbabwe that is sold in all these gas stations which is a supply side distortion. It is unfair. If you look at the breakdown of prices of ethanol, Billy is selling ethanol in US$ at anything between US$ 1 and US$ 1,20 a litre of ethanol when right now you can import FOB ethanol at anything between US$ 0,40 to US$ 0,50 from Brazil and USA and because they were good rains in Brazil, sugarcane did so well so you can actually bring it at US$ 0,40.
“So why can’t ethanol being imported into Zimbabwe the same way we import petrol and diesel. Why are we at the mercy of Billy Rautenbach.
“The irony is that when the price of crude is at its all-time low, when all producing countries under OPAC are literally paying all consuming countries to consume for free, in Zimbabwe it is going up because of Mr Rautenbach, Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Chasi,” Biti added.
General Chiwenga vakaramwa kupinda mu the last Politburo Session which ended up issuing THREATS through vaChinamasa flanked by vaMatemadanda and Amai Kashiri …
• General Chiwenga is a lifetime People’s General and a no Nonsense leader!!!
• Dr. Chiwenga is an astute Constitutionalist and at November 2017 , let’s all take stock that :
(a) General Chiwenga never knew that Ambassador Mutsvangwa had been instructed to spearhead and ochestrateorchestrated the UltraVires unsanctioned ZANU PF Central Committee Caucus of 19 November 2017
(b) General Chiwenga was not involved in the Parliamentary Process that Amai Mutsvangwa raised the Impeachment motion which was seconded by Maridhadhi etc.
(c) General Chiwenga is not even sure where the Resignation Letter that the Speaker of Parliament: Advocate Mudenda read came from?
(d) General Chiwenga was did not lead an ZANU P.F procession after the ORL.
(e) The appointment to be a V.P to Dr. Mnangagwa only means that Dr. Chiwenga was APPOINTED not elected by the people only to serve at the mercy and pleasure and mercy of President Mnangagwa and only to be DISAPPOINTED by the same power that appointed him.
(f) General Chiwenga was not aware that the song by Jah Praiser would be sung and played to intoxicate the Citizens as Sovereign who became so clouded that they could not pay attention to every detail of the ZANU PF Constitution?
(g) Do you notice that the late President Mugabe never spoke BADLY about General Chiwenga ?
• So yes General Chiwenga who , by the way is and was never a LACOSTE is fully aware of the July 31 Demonstration.
His wish is that Citizens as Sovereign be constitutional ,law abiding and be adherent to all lockdown measures enacted by Government.
• General Chiwenga also wants to be the president but would love to see a competent transition from Liberation Movement Government to a modern Democracy and Civilian rule under:
(a) Meritocracy (b) Pragmatism (c) Honesty
• Should Citizens as Sovereign really desire change from the Dr. Mnangagwa Lacoste led Government , General Chiwenga is saying that the Citizens must declare openly who they really want to be president to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces , JOC and that all Political Parties can predetermine the propensity of a GNU and or a TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY by declaring and decreeing it openly within their parties.
• General Chiwenga says: |” Everything that should happen in Zimbabwe must be led by the VOICE OF THE PEOPLE!!”|
• General Chiwenga is praying that Citizens don’t become intoxicated by songs such as:
*[ ? KutongaKwaro ?”]
• General Chiwenga’s hands in Government and in ZANU PF are tied by virtue of APPOINTMENT as POWER IS ONLY TRANSFERRED FROM CITIZENS TO A PRESIDENT BY ELECTION NOT BY APPOINTMENT?
• So General Chiwenga wants every Citizen to acknowledge all his LIMITATIONS that come with APPOINTMENT by Dr. Mnangagwa ?
• He does not agree to the stance by Cde Chinamasa , Matemadanda and Amai Kashiri that civilians be killed , beaten and arrested on 31 July 2020 for wanting the President to go for General Chiwenga is fully aware that Citizens are looking forward to a GNU and Transitional Authority that united EVERYONE !!
• General Chiwenga can’t wait to REVISE the Operation Restore Legacy especially the TRANSFER OF POWER from [MUGABE to MNANGAGWA] which remains constititionally very ULTRAVIRES forever!!
By : Cde Goodman Tamuona Musariri Cde Jiribada Prophet Bokolings?????
By Sindile Ncube| On the 31st of July, Zimbabweans will come out to demonstrate against Zanu pf and how this gang of cruel men and women has ruined their country almost to the point of no return. In this article, I want to urge people to make this demo very personal for themselves. The world will be watching, be a part of history. I am urging people to speak from the heart through various media at their disposal, be it posters or placards in the streets, or tweets, Facebook posts, text messages, WhatsApp messages, audio recordings, and much else. Let’s make the world feel our cries and despair.
Between now and the 31st of July, I urge everyone who is taking part to take a moment and decide on the message they want to convey to the world with regards to the atrocities Zanu has been carrying out in our once lovely country.
The message has to be personal for it to be impactful. Say what’s in your heart. See how Zanu has failed you, see how they have cut off your potential. You had dreams when you were young to be ‘somebody’ when you grow up. By now you thought you would have a house of your own, a decent job or a business of your own, but now you can’t even have a decent meal, no water; electricity is touch and go and a headache can kill you because the health system has been so run down by Zanu theft and incompetence.
You see people of your age whose parents are Zanu officials driving around in plush cars bought by money that is stolen from your heritage as a Zimbabwean citizen. Look around you, see the damage Zanu has done to your loved ones. Your uncle who died from malaria because he could not afford to pay for the prescription, your aunt who died from diabetes because the family could not afford to pay for the insulin; your grandfather who had to be ferried to a local clinic at night by wheelbarrow only to find it closed because there is no money to run it – it’s been stolen by Zanu.
Look at the mothers with their hungry babies lying on street pavements 12 hours in the cold only to sell a handful of tomatoes. Look at the dreams Zanu have shattered, university graduates selling airtime cards on street corners, young girls who are having to sell their bodies to men like the old men in Zanu and their rich friends.
Look at the people fleeing Zimbabwe into South Africa, including mothers with babies on their back trying to sneak under razor wire. Many of these people will never see their relatives again, many will miss funerals of loved ones, some may even be unfortunate enough to be subjected to another wave of xenophobic machete attacks in South Africa. This is what Zanu has done to us.
Have this deep think, and then design your makeshift placard. Tell the world what you think about Zanu, Mnangagwa, Chiwenga and all the cruel people in this government. Tell the world what these people have done to you, to your family, to the neighbourhood you grew up in, and to your country. Tell the world you want all of them gone, all of them, from the president to wastes of space like that Matemadanda man who continues to embarrass us all whenever he opens his mouth.
The Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T has said it is caught between a rock and a hard place as they are in a dilemma to hold their Extra-ordinary congress in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling while the obtaining health situation does not permit large gatherings.
Addressing journalists yesterday, Party Spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni confirmed that police and health authorities rejected their request to hold the congress on the 31st of July-the last day gazetted by the Supreme Court order for them to hold and elect a new leader to replace the late founding father Morgan Tsvangirai.
“We are caught between a rock and a hard place, as it were the standing committee is still on the matter suffice to say we are going for our Extra Ordinary Congress in fulfillment of the Supreme Court judgment but we are also applying other measures to satisfy the police and health authorities. I hope we should be able to strike the balance,” said Phugeni.
Phugeni said their lawyers advised them to proceed with the congress while they are also considering approaching the same court for a waiver.
Asked if holding the congress would not put their members at risk of the COVID-19 pandemic, Phugeni said they had no option but to comply with a court order.
The Supreme Court ordered the MDC factions, one led by Thokozani Khupe and another by Nelson Chamisa to hold an extra-ordinary congress to resolve leadership disputes that started following the demise of Tsvangirai in February 2018.
Chamisa has refused to comply with the ruling insisting that he now leads a different movement the MDC Alliance which held its congress in May 2019.
On the other hand, Khupe has now teamed up with other MDC officials including Douglas Mwonzora, Morgan Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Tapiwa Mashakada and are working flat out to comply with the Supreme Court order.
The President of the MDC Alliance Advocate Nelson Chamisa has, with immediate effect, appointed Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube to act as President. This appointment is in line with the rotational Acting appointments of the office.
Prof Ncube will act as President till advised otherwise.
I thank you,
Former vanguard leader Shakespeare Makoyi says Chamisa blundered in appointing Fadzai Mahere as party spokesperson. "makashaya munhu ane institutional history of the party ne struggle plus competence kuti mutore Fadzayi Mahere who dines with known Zanu-PF." What's your take?
By A Correspondent- Citizens here have expressed concern over the behaviour of two ladies who reportedly skipped the Zimbabwe-South Africa border and attended their mother’s funeral in Banket before later testing positive for coronavirus.
The issue was among the discussed issues at the Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting in Chinhoyi this Sunday, amid disturbing revelations about people evading quarantine.
The Minister of State for Mashonaland West, Honourable Mary Mliswa confirmed the development adding that authorities have to trace mourners who made contact with the returnees.
Mliswa said:
It is an issue being looked into by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Reports say they hugged a lot of people. ..most mourners knew they were border jumpers …Now the task before us is to trace the mourners who made contact with these returnees.
The party’s Deputy Secretary for Health, Dr Douglas Mombeshora warned against harbouring returnees who would have skipped quarantine procedures saying that puts the whole family at the risk of contracting the virus.
Scores of people are reportedly entering the country through undesignated entry points and some believe that this partially explains the rise in local coronavirus cases.
SOME 1 000 convicted criminals, who appealed separately at the High Court as far back as 2010, but abandoned the appeals after being granted bail, had their challenges thrown out recently when the judiciary embarked on a rigorous audit to cleanse the system of idle files.
To that end, hundreds of warrants of arrest have since been issued out against the convicts who have pending jail sentences to ensure their committal to prison.
Police, armed with the warrants, are now hunting down the criminals.
Scores of the convicts are walking scot-free as the police struggle to serve them with the warrants and take them to court.
The Registrar of the High Court, Mr Donald Ndirowei, in terms of the rules of that court, dismissed the idle criminal appeals between May and July this year in an ongoing files audit.
Most of the criminals in question were convicted of theft, robbery, fraud and traffic offences.
According to official statistics seen by The Herald, at least 371 convicts were from Harare province, while 130 and 74 are from Mashonaland West and Masvingo respectively.
The statistics also show that 147 convicts were from Mashonaland Central, 80 from Mashonaland East and 63 from Manicaland.
Mr Ndirowei directed the magistracy to issue out warrants of arrest in respect of those who have pending prison terms.
Chances are high that some of the convicts have since died, while others could have skipped the borders.
Most of them filed “frivolous” notices of appeal for the purposes of seeking bail, but they abandoned the challenges after tasting freedom.
Some did not pay the relevant fees for the processing of the appeals, while others breached the rules of the High Court on criminal appeals, prompting the court to throw away the challenges.
Others did not bother to inspect the trial records as provided for in the rules.
The appeals were buried among several pending files until the High Court recently embarked on a rigorous audit of all pending appeals and dismissing those deemed abandoned.
Warrants of arrest were issued in respect of the first batch of 489 convicts in May and the documents were dispatched to the respective police stations countrywide.
The first batch consisted 489 appeals filed in 2010.
The second batch of convicts was issued with warrants of arrest a week later and it comprised of 185.
Some 280 appeals filed in 2012 were dismissed last week by the High Court before warrants of arrest were issued in respect of the convicts.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) acting secretary Mr Walter Chikwana confirmed the development, saying an audit of both criminal and civil files was underway at the High Court to deal with abandoned appeals.
“We are carrying out an audit of all appeal files at the High Court,” he said. “Notices of appeal were filed, but not prosecuted. We have recovered quite a number of records which have been lying idle and were not prosecuted.
“After filing an appeal, one would also file for bail pending appeal. After getting their freedom, they would then abandon those appeals.”
Some appellants failed to prepare records or pay the required fees.
Appellants are required to ensure the record of proceedings is prepared and submitted to the High Court within certain specified periods.
They are also required to pay costs for preparation of the record and some would not pay.
“So, what we are simply doing is to enforce the rules of the High Court,” said Mr Chikwana. “When you don’t arrange for the preparation of the record or pay for the preparation of the record, there are certain consequences that would follow, for example, the appeal may be deemed abandoned. The moment the appeal is deemed abandoned it means there is no longer an appeal before the High Court.”
In terms of the criminal appeal process, the onus to prosecute the appeal lies with the appellant, who can choose to drag or abandon the appeal.
At times, the appellants deliberately change lawyers to confuse the system, resulting in some correspondences from the Registrar of the High Court being sent to wrong addresses.
The Registrar of the High Court in terms of the rules of that court, is now empowered to dismiss appeals for want of prosecution.
Other appeals are dismissed by the judges in court.
It comes as no surprise that police have barred the gathering that had been planned to elect a replacement for the late MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai.
I have been advising the Thokozani Khupe-led faction that it should plan to hold the elections in a manner that complies with the prevailing coronavirus situation, to no avail.
The Supreme Court judgment was passed during lockdown. Most importantly, I also advised the Khupe faction that it was not planning the event in accordance with the MDC constitution, because the national council of the 2014 MDC-T structures has not met to discuss and communicate the extraordinary congress as required by section 6.2.6. and the advice was ignored.
Amid all this, there seems to be attempts by rival groups within the faction to outfox each other to land the presidency instead of addressing issues that ensure that the extraordinary congress meets the requirements of the Supreme Court ruling and the MDC constitution.
But I have warned the Khupe faction that it is spending precious time doing things that are outside the party constitution and the Supreme Court ruling instead of following the constitution, even suggesting that they can involve the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions which gave birth to the MDC to mediate in the MDC disputes, and all advice fell on deaf ears.
As I advised, the election of a replacement for Tsvangirai has to be done under the prevailing conditions.
In this age of information communication technology, speeches would have been delivered electronically as is common practice these days.
Instead of proper planning, the Khupe faction is obsessed with firing members and recalling legislators to create space for her to become leader in Parliament and to distribute positions in the legislature to trusted colleagues.
The Supreme Court has indeed been a test of intelligence of some of the potential leaders of Zimbabwe, and the result is there for the public to judge. I hope there have been some important lessons learnt and those in the Khupe faction who still aspire for leadership roles to pull the country out of the mess it was dumped into by Zanu PF can reflect and take corrective measures to improve their credibility in the eyes of the electorate.
All teachers should report for duty on July 28, the date set for the return of examination classes in the phased reopening of schools, and should make arrangements to be at their stations to either teach the examination classes or be able to give alternative learning to the rest of the schoolchildren
In an interview, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said all teachers were needed back at work as schools opened, even though only examination classes would physically return to school.
Teachers are expected to attend physical classes at schools, and offer alternative learning to those pupils who will not be physically present by virtue of being non-examination forms.
“Learners who are not physically at school are expected to receive tuition through alternative learning programmes, and so we need all teachers to be engaged in creating learning packages for all their pupils,” said Mr Ndoro.
Only Form Six, Form Four and Grade Seven classes will resume classes on July 28, while Lower Six, Form Three and Grade 6 pupils come in three weeks later.
Other pupils will move back into their classrooms in three more phases.
To allow for a smooth and safe resumption of classes for examination form pupils, the Government has already moved returnees out of school premises being used as quarantine centres to allow full disinfection, and has barred churches from renting school halls and classrooms for services.
Schools are ensuring that they have masks and other necessary protection equipment and can space out desks and have adequate teacher to pupil ratios.
With a phased re-opening, early classes can be split if necessary.
Mr Ndoro said the ministry was ensuring that risks of infection were kept very low.
The Government recruited 2 300 teachers last month and is in the process of recruiting 3 000 more.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care, in light of guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), has set requirements for schools to reopen.
“Some of our schools have taken the initiative to prepare face masks and hand sanitisers on their own,” said Mr Ndoro.
“We are also grateful that the Government has availed funds to the ministry so that schools can acquire, and in some cases produce their own personal protective equipment.”
Dismissing sentiments that rural schools were ill-equipped regarding protection, Mr Ndoro said some of those producing their own protective materials were the rural schools.
“Therefore, come July 28, all schools should be ready to open their doors to their phase one learners,” said Mr Ndoro.
On school fees, and the school calendar, since the traditional second term is already in its twilight, Mr Ndoro clarified that “school fees payments are going to be paid on pro rata (in proportion to the whole) basis, and we expect learners to start paying their fees and levies as soon as learning resumes”.
“We are working on a school calendar which we will share with all our stakeholders in the near future.”
Former officer-in charge of Gweru CID, Detective inspector, Leonard Gwandu, was on Thursday jailed for an effective two years after being convicted of criminal abuse of office after he released a stolen vehicle.
Gwandu released a vehicle stolen in South Africa that was being held by the police as an exhibit in December last year, without following procedures.
He pleaded guilty. Gweru regional magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa initially sentenced him to three years before suspending one year on condition of good behaviour.
For the State, Mrs Namatirai Chipere proved that on December 14 last year, Gwandu released a Toyota Hillux truck, which had been confiscated from local businessman Mr Shepherd Tundiya despite the fact that the car was being kept as an exhibit and should eventually be handed over to the South African police.
Tundiya was arrested in connection with the stolen vehicle that he had bought, and had been acquitted. But there was no order to release the car in question. — Herald
Farai Dziva| Zanu PF functionaries including Victor Matemadanda have abandoned the fundamental values of the liberation struggle, MDC Alliance has said.
Clifford Hlatywayo, the MDC Alliance Deputy National Spokesperson, described Matemadanda as an arrogant political figure.
“Victor Matemadanda and members of his ZANU PF party are the ones who are very irresponsible, ignorant, misguided and against the values of the liberation struggle.
They are misrepresenting the values of the liberation struggle.
Our parents went to war to achieve one man one vote yet ZANU PF is denying it.
Mbuya Nehanda and many other Zimbabweans fought for freedom for all,”said Hlatywayo.
He addd: “Now Matemadanda and his party zealots are at the centre of fighting against the people, threatening, intimidating, abducting, raping, killing and arresting citizens.
They suppress progressive voices, depress, repress and oppress citizens. Our fathers and mothers went to war to attain equal opportunities.
Where is this now?
The Zanu PF looters are busy plundering the little resources we have.
Their former boss Mugabe said 15 billion Diamond money just disappeared, Covid-19 money is vanishing, fuel scandals, Zinara monies, mines and land is being taken by Zanu PF functionaries.
Is the public benefiting? The answer is NO. Why? Because a few individuals have captured the state. Government institutions are no longer operating independently.
Recently they used the courts to declare themselves winners of 2018 elections.
In August 2018 they killed innocent souls in Harare, on 30 March 2020 they used the court to pass a judgment that was meant to attack the people’s movement.
Four weeks ago they used the army and police to seize the MDC A headquarters.
Matemadanda can’t say President Nelson Chamisa will not rule this country.
In other words he is admitting that they rig their way to state house.
The MDC Alliance respects the liberation struggle and those who fought for it. Our party is there to accomplish the unfinished business of the liberation struggle.
That’s why we are guided by social democratic values of Solidarity, Justice, Freedom and Equality.
Whatever Zanu PF touches disappears.
MDCA is the party that will transform the country’s economy.”
“Can you claim that you respect Mbuya Nehanda and other freedom fighters by erecting a statue yet you don’t respect what they represented?
MDCA is the only party that genuinely represents the interests of the liberation struggle.”
Zimbabwe on Saturday recorded 40 new coronavirus cases bringing the total number of officially known cases in the country to 982.
The local cases include 10 health care workers from Mpilo hospital in Bulawayo and 3 other health workers from a quarantine facility in Matabeleland South.
5 of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases, while investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the remaining 25.
The cases also include 320 recoveries and 18 deaths.
The number of fatalities rose to 18 after five new deaths, 3 at a community level and 2 at a facility level, were recorded in Harare and Bulawayo provinces.
The deaths were detected during a routine post mortem exercise as part of the ministry’s coronavirus surveillance-Health Ministry
A Bulawayo man suspected to be mentally unstable allegedly set on fire blankets at a police station while he was handcuffed.
The unnamed 29-year-old, who had been on the police wanted list for unlawful entry and had been on the run since April, was brought to Hillside Police Station by his uncle on Saturday morning.
While at the police station, the suspect torched the blankets but police managed to put out the fire before more blankets and material at the station could be burnt. The man had allegedly threatened to commit suicide before burning the blankets. The incident was confirmed by Bulawayo police provincial spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube.
He said: He had been wanted for unlawful entry and his uncle brought him in this morning (yesterday) but in the process of detaining he became violent and it was felt he was dangerous and had to be restrained with handcuffs.
The officers felt the suspect could not be locked within the cells but was allowed to remain within the perimeter fence of the cells.
The man was later referred to Ingutsheni Central Hospital as he was suspected to be mentally ill. It is thought that the man’s relatives decided to hand him over to the police because he had defaulted on taking his medication for mental illness-The Sunday News
THE director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Tuesday the coronavirus outbreak is “accelerating, and we have clearly not reached the peak of the pandemic”.
“More than six months in, the case for national unity and global solidarity is undeniable,” he said at a WHO briefing. “We cannot afford any divisions.”
Tedros stressed that while global deaths have levelled off, many countries are actually seeing cases and deaths rise.
Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said there are several possible explanations for a global death decline.
One explanation, he said, could simply be that there is a lag, and we may see deaths rise again.
Ryan warned, however, that what is imminently concerning is a daily increase in cases.
“That is not purely a result of testing,” he said.
According to Tedros, a team of WHO experts will be travelling to China this week to advance research working to understand how the novel coronavirus first reached humans.
Ryan said understanding how the virus got from the animal kingdom to humans is an “extremely important” step in managing risk going forward- The Sunday Mail
