Siyabonga @dvocatemahere well done. Siyawamukela ngenhlonipho amazwi akho amahle, njalo siwathatha njengophawu lobukhokheli obuqotho against colonial stereotypes. Qhubeka ngomsebenzi omuhle ukuze abantu bakusekele ngobunengi babo. Ubelosukoluhle sikhulumeli senhlanganiso yabantu! https://t.co/IHNrVkLAsV

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) June 23, 2020

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has embarked on a “meet the structures” interface premised at getting feedback from grassroots.

Chamisa’s presidential affairs secretary, Jameson Timba confirmed the development adding Chamisa himself was in Mbare, Chitungwiza and Mabvuku from Friday to Sunday meeting party members. He said:

The president (Chamisa) has been about meeting the people, listening to their challenges and offering direction. If you remember our plan and strategy was to have action, to confront the evils of corruption and poverty caused by the Zanu PF government. We were supposed to have gone across the country and dealt with these things by May, but the plans were scuttled by COVID-19.

The development is in line with the party’s strategic plan announced last year which shall also see the party working to increase its rural support base which is currently insignificant.

This also comes amid a leadership crisis in the MDC that has resulted in the division of the party into two factions -one led by Chamisa and the other by Thokozani Khupe.

The MDC Alliance has since started recruiting new members in preparation of the 2023 elections.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- On 23 June 2018, there was an assassination attempt at a ZANU PF rally held at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was campaigning for his party ahead of that year’s harmonised elections.

There was a blast a few yards from the president who was stepping off the stage to make way to his motorcade.

Dozens of people including Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Minister of Defence Oppah Muchinguri and then-wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga sustained injuries while Mnangagwa’s guard was blown completely dead.

In an endeavour to get to the bottom of the matter, the government roped in bomb experts from Belarus to join the country’s Criminal Investigation Department.

The team’s investigation concluded that the explosive device was an offensive fragmentation grenade made in Russia adding that it had been lobbed in Mnangagwa’s direction from a distance of about 17 to 20 meters.

Two men, described as drifters who sometimes worked as commuter omnibus touts, were arrested and later released after it was established they were not connected to the explosion

To date, the identity of the perpetrator(s) is not known, something that was described 17 months later by former War Veterans Minister, Tshinga Dube, as concerning since the perpetrators can repeat it knowing that they can get away with it.

Immediately after the blast, President Mnangagwa reshuffled his security detail.

-Online

What’s going on in Zimbabwe today, in the MDC Alliance especially: Chamisa’s party is mocked for turning into a Salad Party and this is portrayed in the following emotional graphic, quoting the Twitter fame-flame, Fadzai Mahere who calls Bulawayo, “Bhuluweyo,” and Harare, “Harari.” It is said Chamisa’s MDC has been reduced to a Salad party and an artiste describes it on top of a bottle of Heinz Salad cream.

And now suddenly Mahere’s own campaign manager ‘confirms’ it in a tweet mocking the strategist, Dr Nkululeko Sibanda on a mere accent, saying Chamisa wants to remove him and appoint him, Musasiwa, in his place ‘because’he has a fake British accent. So far, Prof Jonathan Moyo has tagged Mahere’s Bhuluweyo video under the catchphrase, “ZANU PF must go,” somewhat suggesting that the MDC Alliance has become captured.  

….

By A Correspondent | The MDC Alliance spokesperson, Fadzai Mahere’s 2018 election campaign manager, Kuda Musasiwa, has announced saying MDC President Nelson Chamisa wants to replace the top expert Dr Nkululeko Sibanda as his Presidential spokesperson.

His claims, contained in a tweet that remained unchallenged by Chamisa 3 days later, comes 3 weeks after Chamisa replaced Hon Daniel Molokele with Mahere in what some say was a good move, while others complain saying her rise to influence in the MDC Alliance is too sudden, and could turn disastrous.

Musasiwa ran Mahere’s entire 2018 election campaign, when Mahere thought she would defeat the MDC Alliance in Harare’s Mt Pleasant surbub.

Musasiwa is also known for plotting to rid the MDC Alliance of the capital city, Harare, having ganged up with Acie Lumumba (Gerald Mutumanje), Evan Mawarire, and a small group of zealots before the 2018 elections.

During that time Musasiwa would clash with the MDC stalwart Jameson Timba, who would in turn swear saying Fadzai Mahere prides herself in mere Twittership. Both Mahere and Musasiwa would regularly clash with the MDC Alliance until the day when she was given the heavy slap of reality that the MDC Alliance rules the city.

Fast forward, to June 2020, Musasiwa’s boss, the same Mahere, has risen to the post of running the entire information engine of the party she planned to crush (she has taken the shoes of the last most powerful spokesperson of the MDC Alliance, Obert Gutu, who had presidential ambitions, and remains a thorn in the flesh in the side of the MDC Alliance to this day.)

Her rise is clearly sudden, and it is at this time, that Musasiwa is seen announcing that he has been contacted by Chamisa for to replace Dr Sibanda, a claim that has remained unchallenged up to the time of the publication of this article.

While efforts to get a comment from Chamisa were fruitless at first (he later on dismissed the claim saying it is all false, there’s no truth at all in it), Musasiwa had openly published his tweet saying, ” even the president said to me that he (Nkululeko Sibanda)’s a clown and offered me his job. “

He also mocked Dr Sibanda saying he has a fake British accent. He said, “haiwawo Blaz uye ibaranzi..

“Aigija with a BriS**t accent yefeja. Nxa.”

Dr Sibanda has for more than 20 years proved to be not only an MDC loyale since his student union days when he was tortured by the CIO in the Midlands area, but worked hard to shape the MDC Alliance’s political strategy, and had Morgan Tsvangirai listened to him at the time of the coup, Mnangagwa would have been subdued during the very military takeover that removed Robert Mugabe. He supplied strategic intelligence that the MDC must not march to remove Mugabe or participate in impeachment drives until securing a state reform deal underwritten by the United Nations.

On the other hand, both Mahere and Musasiwa have no history of sacrifice to the struggle for democracy apart from participating in ED-Lacoste protests before the 2017 coup.

COMMENT – Meanwhile, should the development be true, firing Dr Sibanda especially at this time, will be disastrous for Nelson Chamisa and the entire party, while giving political ammunition to his nemesis, Douglas Mwonzora. Subsequently the person to gain out of all this is Emmerson Mnangagwa, there perhaps won’t be any need for ZANU PF to use state security against Chamisa, he will have finished himself.

State Media

HEALTH workers, especially nurses, are at a high risk of contracting Covid-19 pandemic due to the careless behaviour of members of the public who violate lock down rules and regulations.

This comes amid reports that 13 more Mpilo Central Hospital nurses have tested positive to Covid-19 and are part of the 60 cases which have been reported in Bulawayo.

Earlier this month, a nurse from the same institution tested positive to the global pandemic which led to Mpilo testing 197 health workers who were in contact with her and three patients who were positive.

The nurses have been put on isolation and Mpilo is yet to test more health workers who were in contact with the 13 as there are test kit challenges.

The world over, at least 90 000 health care workers had been infected by Covid-19 and more than 260 nurses had died by the end of May according to the International Council of Nurses (ICN).

As of Sunday, Bulawayo had 60 Covid-19 cases and two deaths while the national cumulative figure stood at 489 with six deaths.

According to the Bulawayo City Council, 26 of the cases that had been recorded in the city were from Hillcrest, Hillside, Kumalo, Emakhandeni, Cowdray Park, Pumula South, Nkulumane, Barbourfields, Lobengula West and Magwegwe suburbs.

The infected nurses are in isolation at their homes and Elangeni Training Centre and they are all constantly being followed up by the city health department.

In an interview, Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Cde Judith Ncube said it was worrying to note that health workers testing positive for Covid-19 were on the increase.

Minister Ncube said members of the public were deliberately exposing health workers to Covid-19 by illegally coming into the country without going through quarantine centres.

She urged members of the public to adhere to rules and regulations that had been laid down to control the spread of Covid-19.

“Thirteen of our nurses tested positive to Covid-19 and it’s mostly because of our reckless behaviour as residents. I know there are people who are sneaking into the country and by-passing quarantine measures that have been laid down and that exposes our health care workers,” said Minister Ncube.

“We should not allow anyone into our homes who would not have gone through quarantine as they will fall sick and end up in hospitals thereby endangering the lives of our health care workers.”

Minister Ncube said residents were reluctant to practise social distancing, which puts everyone at risk.

“I even appeal to supermarkets that they sanitise trolleys after every use because none of us is safe,” she said.

Minister Ncube appealed to the business community and private players to help the city source test kits which are in short supply.

“I appeal to our blessed business people and private companies to help us source test kits as we are having shortages. It is very important that we test as many people as possible so that we have a clear idea of where we stand as a city in terms of cases,” said Minister Ncube.

Medical practitioner Dr Khayelitsha Dube said nurses were more at risk to Covid-19 due to the longer periods they spend with members of the public in their day to day duties.

“We are more at risk because of the concentration of sick people that we interact with in our duties. What makes it more dangerous is the fact that most people may have Covid-19 but they do not know as they have not yet tested,” said Dr Dube.

He said doctors were also exposed but nurses were at a higher risk as they spent more time with patients compared to other health workers.

Mpilo acting chief executive officer Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said health workers were at higher risk of contracting Covid-19.

“We are intensifying our surveillance system by testing contacts here at the hospital and we will make sure that we will make PPE widely available for use by health workers,” said Dr Ngwenya.

“We have a peculiar situation where we have to warn people about the dangers of Covid-19 yet every morning we have to wake up and go care for patients some of whom have the virus.”

He said people must desist from treating Covid-19 as if its non-existent.

“I urge the public to be wary of the dangerous pandemic as cases may go up since we are in winter. People who have no serious business should remain at home at least until after the cold weather. Social distancing is necessary because we are witnessing worrying trends of people wearing masks but not practising social distancing,” he said.

Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni said the city health department had managed to trace over 1 358 people who were in contact with 26 of the infected.

He said primary sources were tested and secondary sources were observed for Covid-19 symptoms.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance VP Tendai Biti has said president Emmerson Mnangagwa is desperate to destroy the party led by Nelson Chamisa but his project has failed.

Said Biti in a tweet:

“Emmerson has gotten more desperate as the #CUP agenda has spectacularly collapsed .A moronic project to destroy the Movement using all levers of the State was always bound to fail . The people are clear .We are #MDCAlliance led by one leader @nelsonchamisa . #TogetherToTheEnd “.

Emmerson has gotten more desperate as the #CUP agenda has spectacularly collapsed .A moronic project to destroy the Movement using all levers of the State was always bound to fail . The people are clear .We are #MDCAlliance led by one leader @nelsonchamisa . #TogetherToTheEnd . https://t.co/dpNTAD74N8

— TENDAI BITI (@BitiTendai) June 23, 2020

Zimlive

HARARE – A magistrate who denied bail to three female MDC Alliance activists accused of staging their own abduction has been promoted.

Bianca Makwande refused bail for Harare West MP Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri after endorsing prosecution claims that they had harmed Zimbabwe’s economy after news of their abduction was reported around the world.

On Monday, she was promoted to Deputy Chief Magistrate following he resignation of Chrispen Mberewere on June 18.

The appointment was made by Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi.

The MDC trio have appealed to the High Court for bail. They deny staging their own abduction on May 13, when they say they were arrested while returning from an anti-government protest and taken to a police station. They told journalists they were driven away from the police station by suspected state security agents who brutally tortured and sexually assaulted them for two days. They were dumped from a moving vehicle in Bindura.

In November 2018, Makwande was blasted by a High Court judge for “prejudging” socialite Genius Kadungure before denying him bail based on her “perceptions”.

“The magistrate prejudged the matter and misdirected herself in her approach to bail as she should have invited submissions from both counsels. Courts should be impartial, it’s wrong for judicial officers to refer to matters that are not before them, as she referred to another fraud matter the accused is facing. She based her decision on her perceptions,” Justice Tawanda Chitapi commented.

Own Correspondent

High Court judge, Joseph Musakwa has made a shock decision releasing five police officers who were jailed in 2017 after gouging out a Harare man’s eye accusing him of standing at an intersection they were manning.

The five police officers, gouged a civilian’s right eye after assaulting him with batons at the intersection of Kenneth Kaunda Avenue and Julius Nyerere Way in March 2017 and were jailed for an effective one year and three months each in prison.

Livingstone Zvimba, Tendai Musungambira, Sunday Nyaude, Khululekani Dale and Evans Mashonganyika assaulted Washington Gezana (32)’s wife Yvonne Magora (26).

They were convicted of two counts of assault after a full trial. The then magistrate, Mr Farai Gwitima, sentenced them to 18 months each behind bars before setting aside three months each on condition of good behaviour.

He then effected 15 months. In passing the sentence, Mr Gwitima castigated the behaviour of the five, saying they brought the name of the police force into disrepute. He said assault at the hands of the police constituted violation of one’s rights.

In the latest move, Musakwa ruled that Harare magistrate, Gwitima erred in convicting and sentencing the officers.

“The evidence presented before the court a quo leaves a lot to be desired.

“Evidence led by the State was largely desultory. It does not show any diligence in systematically piercing together the crucial pieces on the part of the prosecutor,” Musakwa ruled.

He added, “That lack of alertness on the part of the prosecutor migrated to the trial magistrate in as far as assessment of evidence went.

“The trial court made an erroneous finding regarding who actually assaulted the complainants.

“The case was compounded by the fact that fellow police officers decided to shield the perpetrators of the assault. They preferred to see no evil in the whole process.

“The trial prosecutor made a mess of it by not seeking particulars that would have exposed the culprits.

“This renders the conviction unsafe. In the result, the conviction and sentence is hereby set aside.”

ZIMBABWEAN universities and colleges are set to reopen July 13 following three months of continuous closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This was revealed Monday by Higher and Tertiary Education minister Amon Murwira while giving oral evidence before parliament’s Higher and Tertiary Education committee.

Murwira expressed worry over the country’s escalating numbers of Covid-19 cases but remained confident over government strategies to curb the spread of the disease.

The minister told MPs students would be safe after government has taken steps to ensure masks and sanitisers were accessible to learners.

He was quick to say government would not hesitate to close the institutions again if problems arose.

“Tertiary education institutions that include polytechnic colleges, teachers’ colleges and industrial training colleges will open on the 13th of July, 2020 starting with final year students.

“Numbers (Covid-19 cases) are increasing yes but statistics have shown that most of these are imported and are in quarantine centres.

“I am less worried because cases are contained but all we are doing is to make sure preventive measures are followed,” said Murwira.

The minister added, “Our strategy as a country is working. We have to be careful, we cannot stick to one strategy. We should be prepared to close colleges if anything goes wrong. We are however confident of what we are doing right now.

“We are not sticking to one goal as we are also planning to continue if our strategy works.”

The minister gave credit to students who have taken the initiative to produce sanitisers and some Covid-19 materials in 16 languages for the whole country.

According to Murwira, Midlands State University produced Covid-19 material in the form of booklets (700 000) in less than two weeks through government assistance whilst Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) has so far made three ventilators.

Own Correspondent

Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa has clashed with former President Robert Mugabe’s Son, Chatunga Bellarmine after he made public demands for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to seize farms which are still in the hands of the late leader’s widow, Grace.

Mliswa tweeted it was unfair for the current Zanu PF led administration to seize Robert Zhuwao’s only farm while allowing Grace to keep possession of 15 of them.

Grace Mugabe is still seating on about 15 farms but we are still going after Robert Zhuwao, a guy who is not just sick but owns a single farm. The government policy is one man one farm, so why are we avoiding Grace? What are we scared of instead of just implementing the policy?

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) June 20, 2020

An unamused Bellarmine Chatunga, was quick hit back exposing Mliswa’s own transgressions during the height of the country’s violent farm grab period.

Wakadzosera zvinhu zva Paul Westwood here iwe ?

— CHATUNGA (@bellagushaz) June 20, 2020

British investor Paul Westwood, who has made claims that his companies were “illegally” grabbed by Mliswa in 2009. Mliswa was still a member of the ruling Zanu PF party and its provincial chairperson for Mashonaland West.

Nhai Gushungo makadzosawo here zvamakabira nyika namai venyu whilst using the former President's name? We know about it& you are only surviving on the generosity of @edmnangagwa. Musadhakwe necocaine kusvika ipapo.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) June 21, 2020

He asked the late leader’s son if the family has ever thought of returning wealth it allegedly plundered from the country during Mugabe’s rule.

“Nhai Gushungo makadzoserawo here zvamakabira nyika namai venyu whilst using former President’s name? We know about it and you are only surviving on the generosity of @edmnangagwa. Musadhakwe necocaine kusvika ipapo,” Mliswa told Chatunga.

Good evening my fellow Zimbabweans
Today the National Taskforce on COVID-19 met and received reports from its Subcommittees and also to deliberate on the following matters:

• COVID19 TESTING AND TREATMENT
The National Taskforce was given an update on the COVID-19 confirmed cases as reported on 21 June 2020. Positive cases stand at 489, of these 417 are imported cases, with South Africa, Botswana and the UK being the major contributors, while 72 are local cases.
In light of the increase in COVID19 cases, awareness campaigns in communities on the epidemic have been intensified, with reinforcement of WHO guidelines underway.
Additionally, we have strengthened our surveillance, management and treatment plans and the COVID19 response plan is being fine-tuned. We are paying particular attention to prevalence, areas of high concentration, management of quarantines, treatment and isolation centres.
Presently, all the District, Provincial and Infectious diseases hospitals are now ready to admit COVID19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms that cannot self-isolate in their homes.
Our stocks of drugs and medicines used in the treatment of COVID19 symptoms continue to increase. Presently our stocks include 27.6 million of paracetamol tablets, paracetamol syrup and 2.1 million Vitamin C tablets.
Some of our local pharmaceutical companies have in stock some drugs that are being used to manage COVID19 cases internationally such as dexamethasone which is now being used in UK, ramsidivir which is being used in USA and hydroxchloroquine.

• QUARANTINE CENTRES
The National Taskforce noted that presently active quarantine facilities under Government sponsorship across the country stand at 43; while there are 37 private quarantine centres with the majority being in Harare. To date, a total of 9735 persons have been housed at these quarantine facilities, 6801 have been discharged and current enrolment is at 1944.
Government continues to enhance systems in order to better manage quarantine facilities and ensure the safety of both returnees and staff. It has been noted that some returnees are failing to adhere to protective and preventative measures that have been put in place to curb in-house transmission. The purpose of quarantine centres is to screen all those who are coming from outside so that we contain the spread of the virus. Government urges returnees to be responsible citizens as they risk infecting each other if they do not adhere to the protective and preventative measures, within the quarantine facilities.
The Taskforce noted that cases of quarantine absconders have gone down with seven returnees absconding last week. The decrease in the number of absconders is attributed to increased security at quarantine centres and implementation of the Cabinet Directive to withhold returnees’ travel documents upon arrival at ports of entry.
As for diplomats, foreign envoys enjoy diplomatic immunity and are only subjected to normal screening in accordance to health protocols upon arrival to the country. They are then allowed to proceed home for self-quarantine at their private residences under the supervision of their respective Heads of Mission. However, Zimbabwean diplomats, upon return are treated as ordinary returning citizens and are expected to comply with quarantine protocols.
• RETURNEES AND REPATRIATION
Government continues to facilitate the repatriation of our citizens in South Africa from the 2600 who initially registered for repatriation. In this regard, 137 Zimbabwean nationals were repatriated from Durban and KZN on 19 June 2020.
In regards to the repatriation of students from foreign countries, it has been established that there are no students on Government scholarships who have signaled a desire to be repatriated back home. However, the only exceptions were 5 students from India, who have since arrived in the country.
Negotiations are underway with financial institutions to set up an ad-hoc ticket loan facility that could enable the purchase of tickets by families who wish to repatriate students who have been self-funding their studies abroad. Families in Zimbabwe would be able to borrow money from such a facility to purchase one-way tickets. The terms and conditions of such a loan facility would be subject to the financial institutions’ internal policies.
Government wishes to commend our staff at our embassies and consulates abroad that have been working and liaising with citizens and students to ensure that their smooth repatriation back home.
On a sad note, the nation is informed that the Consulate in Johannesburg has temporarily closed after two confirmed cases of COVID19 were recorded among the officers. The officers who tested positive had been to Limpopo and Lindela Detention Centre to screen and assist Zimbabweans who were being repatriated home. The total number of recorded positive cases among Consulate staff and dependents now stands at six.
The Consulate is now offering most of its services online to reduce the exposure of officers to contact with those seeking consular services. Meanwhile, two of those who tested positive have been checked into an isolation lodge away from their families.
• FOOD AND WATER SUSTAINABILITY
It can be recalled that when Zimbabwe went into a total lockdown at the end of March 2020, places of safety were established to house children and adults living and working on the streets. The National Taskforce received an update from the Food and Water Sustainability Subcommittee on the five main places of safety in Harare, Midlands, Manicaland and Bulawayo Provinces. It was reported that significant progress has been made in rehabilitating and reuniting inhabitants with their families. There are some 55 inhabitants whose families are still being trained and we hope they will also be reunited with their families soon.
• Transport and Logistics
Following reports on erratic hours of operation by some fuel retail outlets, The Attorney General has clarified that fuel retail outlets are classified as an essential service under the lockdown regulations. As such, retail outlets are allowed to conduct trade during their normal hours of operation. Their hours of operation are not confined to 8am to 4.30pm which applies to some other exempted categories of business.
(Conclusion)
My fellow Zimbabweans, ours is a war against an enemy which cannot be identified by the naked eye, and so it requires us to be vigilant at all times. Protective and preventative measures are not suggestions, but requirements which have been put in place to prevent the spread and transmission of COVID19.
There are some among us who are relaxing and this puts not only themselves, but those around them and the nation at risk. Our law enforcement agents will continue to be at hand to assist those who forget that we are still under lockdown, albeit an eased lockdown and as such we should act accordingly.
Let us stay safe out there.

Good night

Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases have surpassed the 500 mark after 23 new infections were recorded on Monday.

The latest information was announced by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in its COVID-19 update which notes that of the twenty-three (23) new cases, twenty-one (21) are returnees from South Africa while two (2) are local cases. and are all isolated.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 512. Meanwhile, recoveries are at 64, active cases 442 and 6 deaths.

The country’s Covid-19 chief coordinator in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Agnes Mahomva has said the recent record jump in confirmed Covid-19 cases was more because of a spike in testing after more kits were procured, rather than an increase in infection rates. In an interview with the Herald on Friday, Dr Mahomva said:

“We have since started contact tracing of the local transmissions as we always do with any confirmed case and we are hoping to get finer details once that process is complete.”

“This process is bound to increase the number of people being tested and the more the people are tested, the more the cases we are also bound to confirm.”

Most of the cases recorded recently were returnees in quarantine centres prompting some to believe that some were getting infected in quarantine centres.

The government has however allayed the fears saying inmates are tested upon arrival which means those who test positive would be positive before the quarantine.

As of a week ago, a total of 26 451 antigen based, or PCR, tests have been done in the country from which 486 tested positive. A further, 35 946 other tests were conducted through rapid diagnostic testing.

However, PCR is the test used to confirm infection, recovery or lack of infection while the rapid testing is used to screen large groups to find out who needs the more complex test to confirm infection or to confirm that the screening test was a false positive.

Own Correspondent

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo has refuted claims by former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi that arrested businessman Delish Nguwaya holds a diplomatic passport.

Moyo told state media that the claims were false and baseless.

Mzembi last week demanded President Emmerson Mnangagwa to explain how Nguwaya managed to acquire a diplomatic passport when during his (Mzembi) tenure as tourism minister, he struggled but failed to facilitate one for world-acclaimed Zimbabwean musician, the late Oliver Mtukudzi. The musician, popularly, known as Tuku, died last year and was declared a national hero.

“Mr. President! Please explain why this thief holds a diplomatic passport?” Mzembi asked.

“Despite repeated pleas and submissions for Oliver Mtukudzi to the then Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mmbengegwi to consider a diplomatic passport for this cultural icon (Mtukudzi), my ministry and ZTA (Zimbabwe Tourism Authority), were given a flat NO. Uyu (Nguwaya) akazokosha kupfura Tuku nhai? (So, Nguwaya is more important than Tuku!”

Mzembi is now in self-imposed exile after a nasty fall-out with the Mnangagwa administration following the November 2017 military-backed coup to remove the now late President Mugabe from office.

Minister Moyo said the circulation of the information was only meant to tarnish the good works of the new dispensation.

“Following social media reports of Sunday 21 June 2020 claiming that Mr Delish Nguwaya is a holder of a diplomatic passport, I wish to inform the nation that as the custodians of the diplomatic passports in Zimbabwe, my ministry has no record of our issuing a diplomatic passport to Mr Delish Nguwaya.”

Minister Moyo said if Nguwaya had a diplomatic passport, he could have acquired it fraudulently and whoever had evidence that Nguwaya was a holder of diplomatic passport was supposed to present it to relevant authorities.

Minister Moyo said according to the records from the Registrar-General’s Office, Nguwaya had an ordinary passport.

“I wish to confirm that from the Registrar-General’s Office records, Mr Nguwaya is a bona fide holder of an ordinary passport that was issued in Harare on 4 October 2011 and expires on 3 October 2021,’’ said the minister.

The 36-year-old businessman has appeared in court facing charges of defrauding the Government in the procurement of personal protective equipment for Covid-19 and the matter is pending.

Watch video downloading below.

https://twitter.com/TechMagTV/status/1275108273646194691?s=19

Own Correspondent

After yesterday’s meeting of the ad hoc Inter-ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19, the Government confirmed that filling stations, as a defined essential service, can remain open and sell fuel during the hours for which they were originally licensed and are not obliged to close at 4.30pm.

Regarding the transport subsector, particularly at a time fuel supplies are inconsistent countrywide with long queues becoming the order of the day at most filling stations, Minister Mutsvangwa clarified the legal position in terms of operating hours for fuel retailers.

“Following reports on erratic hours of operation by some fuel retail outlets, the Attorney-General has clarified that fuel retail outlets are classified as an essential service under the lockdown regulations,” she said, adding:

“As such, retail outlets are allowed to conduct trade during their normal hours of operation. Their hours of operation are not confined to 8am to 4.30pm which applies to some other exempted categories of business.”

In his Covid-19 update address at State House recently, President Mnangagwa said the threat posed by Covid-19 is still hanging over the nation, therefore, citizens should embrace the new normal that has been brought by the plague, which at present has no cure.

Under level two lockdown, the country is gradually returning to full economic activity, with an orderly reopening of the informal sector under the “new normal” spelt out by the President: of masks, registration with local authorities, high levels of personal hygiene, social distancing and minimum non-business travel.

Agriculture, food markets, tobacco marketing, and most of the formal sectors have already been allowed to reopen under set conditions.

State Media

Zimbabwean Consulate in Johannesburg has been temporarily closed after two more officials were confirmed positive for Covid-19.

The temporary closure of the Johannesburg consulate comes after two more cases among staff, bringing the total to six for staff and their families.

Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the infected officials “had been to Limpopo and Lindela Detention Centre to screen and assist Zimbabweans who were being repatriated home”.

To mitigate exposure of officials through contact with citizens seeking consular services, the consulate is now offering most of its services online.

“Meanwhile, two of those who tested positive have been checked into an isolation lodge away from their families,” the minister said.

The Government remains committed to the repatriation of citizens from South Africa, where initially 2 600 Zimbabweans registered for assistance. In that regard,

“137 Zimbabwean nationals were repatriated from Durban and KZN on 19 June 2020”.

South Africa is now easily the worst hit country in Africa with 97 302 confirmed cases and 1 930 deaths from Covid-19 by yesterday morning as the number of confirmed cases world wide rose to just over 9 million, with millions more likely as some countries do not test all suspected patients, and 469 220 deaths.

Most of Zimbabwe’s recorded cases are among those returning from South Africa.

To date Zimbabwe has received 9 735 returnees from 48 countries with the number of positive cases rising sharply in the past fortnight from 54 to 512, 438 of which being imported cases, mainly from South Africa, Botswana and the United Kingdom.

Concerning the repatriation of students from foreign lands, Minister Mutsvangwa said the position is that no students on Government scholarships, save for five from India who have since arrived in the country, have expressed the need to be repatriated.

Pertaining to those students who had been paying their own way and now might have to return, she said: “Negotiations are underway with financial institutions to set up an ad-hoc ticket loan facility that could enable the purchase of tickets by families who wish to repatriate students who have been self-funding their studies abroad.”

Families of such learners in Zimbabwe, she indicated, “would be able to borrow money from such a facility to purchase one-way tickets”, subject to the financial organisations’ terms and conditions.”

In a post-Cabinet briefing last week Minister Mutsvangwa said Government was exploring ways of assisting Zimbabwean students stranded in foreign lands, pointing out that these students had to be identified and their needs known to find out what sort of help they might need.

Minister Mutsvangwa urged Zimbabweans to remain consistent and vigilant in the fight against the global pandemic which she said “cannot be identified by the naked eye”.

State Media

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)today replaces the interbank market with weekly foreign exchange auctions to determine the Zimbabwe dollar exchange rate with those in industry and commerce cautiously optimistic that the platform will enhance transparency and efficient distribution of foreign exchange.

If the new system works as expected, it would help build market confidence, improve access to foreign currency and help stabilise the exchange rate while speculative activity on the black market could subside significantly.

The Tuesday auctions are to sell the foreign currency retained by exporters which must either be used or sold within 30 days at the discretion of the exporter or be subject to compulsory sale after 30 days.

It replaces the interbank market that came into operation in February last year, but with the exchange rate then temporarily fixed at $25:US$1 in late March this year in an attempt to stabilise prices following the outbreak of Covid-19.

However, the immediate effect was a drying up of sales in the official market and a forced movement to the black market for many seeking foreign currency for legitimate imports.

RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya said last week the auction system will operate on the Reuters Forex Trading platform, a real-time electronic trading system. The weekly auctions are designed to improve transparency and efficiency in trading of forex in Zimbabwe.

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

Successful bidders will pay what they bid, with allotments moving down from the highest bid. Invoices have to be submitted with bids to ensure the allotted currency is sued for approved imports or payment of approved services.

The weighted average will then become the ruling rate, the official rate, for the next week.

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

“Principally, we look forward to stability so that as industry, we can be able to plan for the long term; without stability this is a chaotic situation.

“Our expectation as well is that there must be a check on money supply. We must be disciplined and the Government must not print money, otherwise it will put paid to the auction system,” Mr Gunda said.

He stressed the point that authorities should be “honest and sincere” in the way they operate the auction system by not interfering or tinkering to manipulate the system.

“The other concern is that the limits that have been set; you are aware that there is a requirement for minimum bids of US$50 000, that is a challenge. It means the discovery of the rate or price is going to be determined by big players at the exclusion of small players,” he said.

According to the Reserve Bank, the auction will only accept bids of a minimum of US$50 000 and a maximum of US$500 000 with individuals and firms required to make a single bid per week through an authorised dealer. However, the ruling rate established during the weekly auction will be the rate for smaller sales and purchases of foreign currency during the week before the next auction.

“It means whatever the big players decide goes and small players are just caught in between and we are saying no, going forward, there may be need to review that limit on the minimum bids.

“We are cautiously optimistic because we want things to work, we are complimenting Government efforts because some of the ideas that came through are our brainchild, so let us see how it turns out from tomorrow,” he said.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chief executive Takunda Mugaga, said businesses were optimistic that if conducted properly and with little interference by authorities, the auction system will achieve the desired objectives, but pointed out that the system would expectedly experience a slow start.

“We expect it to have a slow start obviously; we are not going to be surprised by that and we do not think we should judge the auction after its first week or the next week; we need to give it a chance,” he said.

Mr Mugaga said it would not be possible for everyone who has faced challenges accessing foriegn currency to immediately start receiving it on the auction as the system needs time to develop and build stocks or accumulate capital.

The ZNCC chief executive, however, said there was need for adjustments to the auction system, especially regarding the issue of imports priority list, which he said might scare away some potential bidders or disrupt its effectiveness.

“As industry, we say we need priority to be on raw materials imports, but for people to import finished food products and other basics, which are in short supply, could be difficult.

“So, if authorities say ‘so and so’ must not get the foreign currency because they do not produce, they may cause market distortions and render the whole auction system useless.

“Authorities must also not panic over the movement of the exchange rate on the auction market because if they panic and start tampering with the rate to be affordable, the system will suffer a stillbirth,” he said.

Amid a huge appetite for imports due to constrained local production, which pushes the demand for forex, the local currency has kept depreciating against major currency, resulting in exponential price increases.

The auction will operate every Tuesday when banks will inform the central bank of the amount of foreign currency they intend to sell while authorised dealers will submit their offers.

Eddie Cross, an economist and member of the RBZ monetary policy committee said in an interview the auction will settle the highest bids first and slide down to the lowest depending on the availability of resources.

However, the central bank said bids will be settled at each bidder’s own bid rate with successful bids being allotted in full, but if funds are not enough allotment will be done on pro-rata basis.

The bank will advise the market by end of day after trading what the highest and lowest bid price were and then a midrate will be determined, which will guide trading for the next week.

A weighted average rate will be calculated based on allotments and the rate will be used as the market rate until the next auction. The ruling market rate would be used to serve importers and other users and sellers of foreign currency in between the auction days.

State Media

Government has dismissed a joint statement by five United Nations (UN) human rights experts, which concluded that three MDC-Alliance youth leaders were abducted as “premature and unreasonable” since investigations to get to the bottom of the matter are still ongoing.

In response to allegations by the five United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Special Procedures mandate holders who concluded that Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marowa had been tortured and subjected to degrading treatment, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Pearson Chigidi said the “promotion and protection of human rights of all Zimbabweans was a primary responsibility of the Government of Zimbabwe working with national institutions, civil society and the people themselves”, and therefore the Government cannot abduct its own citizens.

“Generally, the Government of Zimbabwe expresses its concern that the five special procedures mandate holders fell short of the standards that they are expected to comply with in their work and failed to uphold their moral authority and credibility.

“Their joint communication and news release are punctuated by subjective language and are over prescriptive on matters still under investigation. Domestic remedies have not been exhausted in this matter, so it was unreasonable and premature for the five special procedures mandate holders to involve themselves at this stage,” he said.

Early this month, five UN human rights experts (special procedures mandate holders) called on Zimbabwean authorities to immediately put an end to the reported pattern of torture and disappearances, and this was not just before investigations had been carried out but also based on hearsay.

Ambassador Chigidi said the fact that Zimbabwe has in the past opened the doors for special procedures mechanisms is testimony that the Second Republic has nothing to hide and values constructive and honestengagement.

“Unfortunately in the case at hand, instead of engaging all the relevant stakeholders, including the investigating authorities of the State, the five special procedures mandate holders rushed to draw conclusions after hearing only from one side, that is the alleged victims,” read the response in part.

So far investigators into the alleged abduction of the MDC Alliance trio of Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marowa have poked holes into their case.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe early this month indicated that a multi-agency investigation that is seeking to establish whether the alleged kidnappings did occur and to identify the alleged perpetrators, whether purporting to act on behalf of Government or other forces and bring them to justice is still ongoing.

And thus raising concerns with the manner in which the five special procedures mandate holders came to a conclusion on the alleged abduction of the three MDC-Alliance officials, Ambassador Chigidi said they disregarded their own code of conduct as detailed in Article 6 (a) of the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders, which states that they should “always seek to establish the facts, based on objective, reliable information emanating from relevant credible sources, that they have duly cross-checked to the best extent possible”.

“Our expectation is that the special procedures mandate holders should discharge their mandates with due respect to the time-honoured and universally accepted principles of independence, transparency, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity”.

In their statement, they boldly stated that the charges against the three MDC- Alliance activists should be dropped in a prescriptive stance that also overreaches their mandate and ignores the fact that authorities in Zimbabwe are investigating the alleged abduction.

While addressing the media, Minister Kazembe said the ongoing investigations into the alleged abduction cannot be used to detract authorities from a separate investigation and due process currently underway concerning the trio’s alleged participation in an illegal demonstration in Warren Park, Harare, on May 13.

Authorities have also raised concern with the pattern of the numerous cases of so-called abductions, which are usually scripted to coincide with major regional and international events.

For instance, the alleged abduction of the three MDC Alliance officials coincided with the Sadc Troika Summit that was attended by regional leaders.

In September last year, just before the UN General Assembly and also when a high-ranking delegation was visiting Zimbabwe to assess the human rights situation, Dr Peter Magombeyi, a leader of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) was also allegedly abducted in yet another case that exposed machinations to soil the image of the Second Republic.

With the five Special Procedures mandate holders expressing a desire to visit Zimbabwe again, Ambassador Chigidi said they should come with an open mind and conduct proper and full investigations when granted such visits.

State Media

BANKS have agreed with the Government on the modalities of the opening Foreign Currency Accounts (FCAs) for civil servants at zero costs and also to charge minimal costs so that the US$75 is not demeaned by banking and transactions costs.

This comes as civil servants and pensioners are set to get US$75 and US$30 respectively in allowances to cushion them against inflation and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apart from the cushioning allowances, Government also announced a 50 percent salary increment for its workers.

In order to ensure that civil servants get value for money, which will come in plastic form to prevent leakages onto the parallel market, President Mnangagwa last week directed that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, along with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) engage banks.

Under a facility that has been agreed between banks and Government, the FCAs can be opened online and in some cases free of charge, Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba said.

“I happen to know that quite a number of banks have already offered a zero cost FCA facility to civil servants, but also offered to say the FCAs can be opened online, so you don’t have to go to the nearest town and thirdly to link those accounts with the employment numbers of every civil servants and the bank he or she uses,” he said.

It costs anything between US$10 and US$20, depending on the bank, to open an FCA in Zimbabwe and many civil servants were worried that they might not be able to secure such accounts.

Determined to ensure that civil servants who have no other source of income, apart from their monthly salaries, get the best of the US$75 cushion allowance, which will run for three months subject to review, President Mnangagwa assigned the Ministry of Finance and RBZ to ensure that the implementation of the facility will be tailored to benefit the worker wholesomely.

“Some civil servants are asking how do we open Foreign Currency Accounts, how do we do this inexpensively, by way of the cost of opening an FCA and also by way of doing so. His Excellency the President gave a directive to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Reserve Bank to say the execution or implementation of this facility of US$75 and US$30 should not have the unintended effect of demeaning the welfare threshold of civil servants.

“He said go and confer with the banks and retailers and come back with modalities of implementing this facility which is least onerous on the beneficiary, in this case the civil servant and the pensioner.

“I also happen to know that the Governor last week met with the bankers, the Governor met with retailers on the instruction of the Finance Minister who was responding to a directive from the President.

“The whole idea is to make sure that opening an FCA is at the least cost, the transaction is also at least costs and that it brings greater value and convenience to the civil servants,” said Mr Charamba.

To guard against the potential misuse of the US denominated cushion allowances, that come to a combined US$32 million per month for both civil servants and pensioners, the Government decided to secure the money through forms of FCA accounts.

Key considerations that the Government took include the market shocks implied in an increase on its wage bill from 30 percent of annual revenue to 40 percent.

Apart from having to contend with an increased wage bill, the Government, which is already stretched by the novel pandemic that entails lots of imports, also wanted to minimise the disruption on its balance sheet.

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe reached 512 yesterday, although 438 of these are among returning residents in quarantine with only 74 people being infected within Zimbabwe, including the two latest confirmed yesterday.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care announced 23 new positive cases yesterday with 21 among returnees in official quarantine and two within the community, with both of them contacts of known confirmed cases.

So far 63 347 Covid-19 tests have been done in Zimbabwe, counting both the rapid screening tests and the diagnostic PCR tests. The death toll remains at six.

After yesterday’s meeting of the ad hoc Inter-ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19, the Government confirmed that filling stations, as a defined essential service, can remain open and sell fuel during the hours for which they were originally licensed and are not obliged to close at 4.30pm.

At the same briefing yesterday Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the Zimbabwean Consulate in Johannesburg had been temporarily closed after two more officials were confirmed positive for Covid-19- The Herald

Farai Dziva|ZRP cops in the ancient city of Masvingo surprised all and sundry on Monday morning when they blocked roads into the city centre, forcing scores of people to return home.

Police officers at the Rujeko Footbridge accused residents of plotting to overthrow the government through mass protests.

“We don’t want to see your exemption letters, we are simply following instructions from our bosses.

We know what you are planning -you want to cause havoc in the Central Business District, go back home,” shouted a ZRP cop.

Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Charity Mazula was not immediately available for a comment on the matter.

Residents who spoke to ZimEye.com said they were forced to sit on bare ground for several hours, despite the chilly weather in the morning.

“They forced us to sit on bare ground and they accused us of denigrating the authorities.I wanted to buy medicine for my daughter but the cops would not allow me to get into town,” fumed one resident.

By Farai F Hove| The government has said the UN experts who announced that the MDC Trio was abducted, did not interview the Zimbabwe Republic Police. 

The development comes as clear evidence showed that the three activists were abducted from inside the Harare Police station after being arrested.

State personnel said this as they dismissed a joint statement by five United Nations (UN) human rights experts, which concluded that three MDC-Alliance youth leaders were abducted as “premature and unreasonable” since investigations to get to the bottom of the matter are still ongoing.

In response to allegations by the five United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Special Procedures mandate holders who concluded that Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marowa had been tortured and subjected to degrading treatment, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Pearson Chigidi said the “promotion and protection of human rights of all Zimbabweans was a primary responsibility of the Government of Zimbabwe working with national institutions, civil society and the people themselves”, and therefore the Government cannot abduct its own citizens.

“Generally, the Government of Zimbabwe expresses its concern that the five special procedures mandate holders fell short of the standards that they are expected to comply with in their work and failed to uphold their moral authority and credibility.

“Their joint communication and news release are punctuated by subjective language and are over prescriptive on matters still under investigation. Domestic remedies have not been exhausted in this matter, so it was unreasonable and premature for the five special procedures mandate holders to involve themselves at this stage,” he said.

Early this month, five UN human rights experts (special procedures mandate holders) called on Zimbabwean authorities to immediately put an end to the reported pattern of torture and disappearances, and this was not just before investigations had been carried out but also based on hearsay.

Ambassador Chigidi said the fact that Zimbabwe has in the past opened the doors for special procedures mechanisms is testimony that the Second Republic has nothing to hide and values constructive and honest engagement.

“Unfortunately in the case at hand, instead of engaging all the relevant stakeholders, including the investigating authorities of the State, the five special procedures mandate holders rushed to draw conclusions after hearing only from one side, that is the alleged victims,” read the response in part.

So far investigators into the alleged abduction of the MDC Alliance trio of Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marowa have poked holes into their case.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe early this month indicated that a multi-agency investigation that is seeking to establish whether the alleged kidnappings did occur and to identify the alleged perpetrators, whether purporting to act on behalf of Government or other forces and bring them to justice is still ongoing.

And thus raising concerns with the manner in which the five special procedures mandate holders came to a conclusion on the alleged abduction of the three MDC-Alliance officials, Ambassador Chigidi said they disregarded their own code of conduct as detailed in Article 6 (a) of the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders, which states that they should “always seek to establish the facts, based on objective, reliable information emanating from relevant credible sources, that they have duly cross-checked to the best extent possible”.

“Our expectation is that the special procedures mandate holders should discharge their mandates with due respect to the time-honoured and universally accepted principles of independence, transparency, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity”.

In their statement, they boldly stated that the charges against the three MDC- Alliance activists should be dropped in a prescriptive stance that also overreaches their mandate and ignores the fact that authorities in Zimbabwe are investigating the alleged abduction. – Herald /state media

Farai Dziva|WELEAD Director, Namatai Kwekweza has urged Zimbabweans to reject the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 2.

Kwekweza accused the Zanu PF government of trying to enforce the bill during the lockdown.

She challenged citizens to distance themselves from the whole process.Namatai and Vongai Zimudzi were arrested last week for merely expressing their views on the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 2.
Watch video below :

Farai Dziva| Madzibaba Enoch of Budiriro, Harare, is about to release a prophetic message on the end of the deadly COVID-19 scourge, it has emerged.

Madzibaba Enoch is the leader of Nyenyedzi Nomwe Apostolic Church and he reportedly predicted the coming of the virus in a video footage in 2018.

In the video clip, Madzibaba Enoch is heard telling his congregants that there will be a strange disease which will be flue- like and the whole world will be affected.

“There will be a disease which will come from the oceans and will be flue- like. It will kill back and white people like fish from the sea.

I see the disease coming soon and people will be in trouble,” Madzibaba Enoch is heard saying in the video footage.

Although Madzibaba Enoch did not personally speak about the said prophecy, members of his sect have pointed out that the man is about to release a prophetic message on the end of the deadly scourge.

“There is no doubt that Madzibaba Enoch is the man of the moment.In 2018 he prophesied about the coming of the deadly scourge and he will release a prophetic message on the end of the scourge.

His prophecies are very accurate,” declared a member of his sect.

Farai Dziva|An incensed Zanu PF MP, Berita Chikwama of Gutu East Constituency nearly assaulted MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Organising Secretary and councillor for ward 4, Masvingo Urban, Godfrey Kurauone during a public hearing on the Constitutional Amendment Bill in the ancient city on Thursday.

Stunned by Kurauone’s presentation, Chikwama charged towards the former and accused him of insulting her.Chikwama was restrained from physically attacking Kurauone by the facilitators of the event.

Speaking during the Public Hearing session, Kurauone said :

“Align the urban councils act first before tampering with the Constitution. The female quota system must be based on capacity.

Do not send people who sleep in Parliament. The amendments are designed to give ED sweeping powers.

ED must concentrate on reviving the economy and he must implement the 2013 Constitutional provisions.

Therefore, l reject all the amendments.”

After the presentation, Chikwama threatened to deal with Kurauone and she also accused the MDC Alliance of destroying the country’s economy.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By A Correspondent- ZRP this afternoon arrested ARTUZ Provincial Secretary For Gender and Welfare, Sheila Chirisamhuru as she was protesting poor salaries at the Mucheke District Education Offices in Masvingo.

Chirisamhuru was arrested when teachers congregated at the Education offices to announce nationwide protests, she was arrested for disorderly conduct and public violence.

Mudzitirwa’s arrest was confirmed by ARTUZ secretary General Nation Mudzitirwa who said:

We take it as a direct attack to the workers (teachers) who were exercising their constitutional rights in demanding a living. We demand an unconditional release of our colleague.

The protests will continue in every province in the country until the employer pays us a US520 monthly salary,

Teachers have rejected the government’s 50% salary increment and US$75 allowance as they are demanding that the government pay them US$520 per month.

-ZimMorningPost

By A Correspondent- A 3.9 Earthquate hit the town of Kariba this morning, The Herald reports. The epicentre of the earthquake was determined to be in Kariba Dam. According to the Meteorological Services Department:

An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 was felt in Kariba Urban and surrounding areas today on 22 June 2020 at 07:11 local time.

The determined earthquake parameters show that the earthquake occurred at Latitude -16.678S and Longitude 28.581E.The epicentre is in Kariba Dam and it was widely felt in Kariba urban.

No reports of damage were received however more inquiries would be made to determine its intensity in the locality and to determine the exact areas it was felt.

Most of the earthquakes in this region are attributed to the reservoir/dam and they are called reservoir induced earthquakes. The seismic activity arises as a result of the impoundment (confinement of water in a reservoir) of the dam.

The publication claimed the earthquake is attributed to the upward or downward variation in water levels in Lake Kariba. According to the Zambezi Water Authority, water levels at the dam have continued to rise for the past 2 months:

The Lake level has continued rising steadily, closing the period under review at 481.22m (40.97% usable storage) on 18th June 2020. Last year on the same date, the Lake level was at 479.63m (29.12% usable storage

Breaking: Magistrate Biaca Makwande who refused to give MDC Alliance TRIO bail has been promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Magistrate… Is this a reward for the denial of freedom for the torture victims? @advocatemahere @DrNkuSibanda @nickmangwana @ShumbaTapiwa pic.twitter.com/6XPP6L8kgs

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 22, 2020

LEAD President Linda Masarira has appealed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to assist pensioners who are being paid an equivalent of US$3 per month.

Masarira said the pensioners are victims of the Zuva judgment.

On 17th July 2015, the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe delivered a judgment in Don Nyamande and Another v Zuva Petroleum (Private) Limited: SC 43/15 to the effect that in terms of our common law, the employer had a right to terminate a permanent employment contract on notice.

Read Masarira’s letter below:

Dear Mnangagwa

Former mining industry pensioners are receiving RTGS$197.98 pension payoutd yet the mining industry minimum wage is around 7500 rtgs. This situation is not unique to the Mining Industry Pensions Fund as most pensioners are receiving less than usd3 equivalent

This is the reality of how pension funds are treating pensioners and those who were victims of the infamous Zuva Judgement.

The Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare is doing justice to the plight of pensioners who are geriatrics like yourself Mr Mnangagwa. Show your people leadership.

The office of the National Secretary General would like to advise all media houses, Structures, Stakeholders and the MRP Membership in General that the National Executive Committee has reaffirmed the following positions in the National Executive committee.

1. President
Moyo Mqondisi

2.National Chairperson
Ndebele Mqondisi

3. National Secretary General
Mhlanga Ackim

4. Deputy National Secretary General
Nkomo Sakhile

5. National Treasure General
Maladzi Brighton Itutheng

6. National Organizer
Xaba Partone

7. National spokesperson
Moyo Velile

8. Foreign Affairs Secretary
Fuyana Alphous

9. National Secretary for Security( responsible for party structures)
Mhlanga Mxolisi

The NEC further made the following appointment in the National executive Committee.

10. Secretary for Education, Science and Technology Development
Maphosa Bafundi

11. Deputy Secretary for Education, Science and Technology Development
Ncube Virginia

12. Secretary for Industry, Trade and Commerce
Dube Nhlanhla Galimani

13. Deputy Secretary for Industry, Trade and Commerce
Nyoni Bekezela

14. Secretary for Health
Ndlovu Ree

15.Deputy Secretary for Health
Jele Robert

16. Secretary for Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Ndlovu Mnqobi

17. Deputy Secretary for Legal and Constitution Affairs
Nyoni Nkosikhona

18. Secretary for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure Development
Khumalo Ademosi

19. Deputy Secretary for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure development.
Nyoni Sithembakuye

20. Secretary for Labour, Affirmative Action and Physically challenged
Mafu Rebecca

21. Deputy Secretary for Labour, Affirmative action and Physically challenged
Ndlovu Majahamahle

22. Secretary for Gender, Youth, and child welfare
Mpofu Phindile

23. Deputy Secretary for Gender, Youth, and child welfare
Nkomazana Sicelimpilo

24. Secretary for National Affairs.
Moyo Vincent

25. Deputy Secretary for National Affairs
Ndlovu Vuyani

26. Secretary for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation
Tshele Bhekimpi

27. Deputy Secretary for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation
Nkala Sandile

28. Secretary for water, lands, climate and Agriculture
Ncube Yenzani

29. Deputy Secretary for Water, lands, climate and Agriculture
Mkhwananzi David

30. Secretary for Sports
Sibanda Nkosikhona

31. Deputy Secretary for Sports
Ncube Zodwa

32. Secretary for mining and Natural resources
Moyo Maxwell Mandlenkosi

33. Deputy Secretary for mining and Natural resources
Mguni Ntombizodwa

34. Secretary for Tourism, arts and culture
Ndiweni Velaphi

35. Deputy Secretary for Tourism, arts and culture
Siqhoza Ndebele Sithembile

36. Secretary for Finance and Economic development.
Caretaker Secretary Maladzi Brighton Ithuteng

37. Secretary for Defense and State Security
Caretaker Secretary- Mhlanga Mxolisi

38. Secretary for Local Government and Provincial Affairs
Ngwenya Paul

39. Deputy Secretary for Local Government and Provincial Affairs
Mpofu Ngqabutho

These appointments are with immediate effect.

Pindula

The Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai (MDC-T) led by Thokozani Khupe has reportedly secured the support of three MDC Alliance principals who were part of the 2017 pact.

The three principals are Transform Zimbabwe president Jacob Ngarivhume, Zanu Ndonga leader Denford Musiyarira and Mathisa Guchutu of the Multiracial Christian Democracy (MCD).

The development was confirmed by an anonymous MDC-T official who told New Zimbabwe that the inaugural meeting between the principals and MDC-T officials had been slated for Saturday. The official said:

The meeting was supposed to take place in Harare on Saturday last week, but it could not happen because of Ngarivhume’s absenteeism.

In fact, he sent through an excuse and asked for a postponement of the meeting on the basis that he had travelled outside Harare on an emergency and the meeting was duly rescheduled to early next month.

The development was also confirmed by MDC-T national chairperson Morgen Komichi who said the plan was to review the Alliance pact of 2017 and establish a grand coalition to contest in the 2023 election which are drawing closer.

He said MDC Alliance was left out since it “is not a political party” adding that perhaps Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube would bring their parties- PDP and MDC-N respectively.

Press Statement

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) wishes the people of Malawi a peaceful, free and fair election as the country goes for a fresh Presidential election tomorrow Tuesday, 23 June 2020.

The coalition is concerned with the incidences of violence and hate language reported throughout the campaigns.

Attempts by the Executive to undermine democratic processes by interfering in the work of the judiciary and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in the runup to this election is unfortunate and should be condemned by all democrats across the region.

We call on all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful election, the security of the voters and everyone participating in those elections.

The SADC Principles and Guidelines governing democratic elections state that it is the responsibility of the State to “Ensure that adequate security is provided to the entire electoral process including all political parties participating in elections”.

We, therefore, call on the government of Malawi and all stakeholders to accept the will of the people, any attempts to manipulate the outcome should be resisted.

We also urge SADC to be vigilant and ensure a smooth electoral process and allow democratic processes in choosing the country’s next leader.

A free, fair, credible and safe election to the good people of Malawi.

Issued by:Marvellous Kumalo
Spokesperson

NewsDay

POLICE Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga (pictured) was on Friday left with egg on the face after more than 1 111 junior officers successfully challenged their “intermittent transfers” at their own cost, which they argued could not be sustained from their meagre salaries.

Detective Constable Bryn Moyo (CID Theft, Harare), Sergeant Terrence Zireva (Budiriro) and Assistant Inspector Emmanuel Chipanda (Ruwa Police Station) — representing more than 1 111 others — successfully filed at the High Court, challenging what they termed intermittent transfers at their own cost.

Chipanda, who had been earmarked for transfer to Nehanda Police Station in Mkoba 19, Gweru, said he could not afford the transfer cost on his $1 300 salary and pleaded with the court to note the civil servants’ call for a strike over poor remuneration.

Moyo and Zireva also submitted affidavits saying they had no capacity to move to their new workstations, which were not disclosed in court papers.

In an application heard before Justice Benjamin Chikowero on Friday, the police officers said the transfer costs were beyond their means and not in the best interests of their minor school-going children in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The junior officers cited ZRP chief-of-staff, Matanga and Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, as respondents.

“My children are enrolled at schools in Harare, which I believe to be in their interest. I am alive to the fact that schools are still closed, but rumours are that they might reopen soon. If the rumours are true, it would mean that I would have to return my children to Harare from Gweru and look for someone to take care of them,” Chipanda said.

“My transfer was effected at a time when I had already paid my June rentals, I had already planned for the month. The financial implications of my transfer from ZRP Ruwa include buying new school uniforms, looking for alternative accommodation, schools and that represents gross inconvenience and irreparable harm since no allowances have been paid to me.”

The trio’s lawyers Gift Chihuta and Paddington Chinzou from Chakanyuka and Associates also cited violation of their clients’ rights.

“Applicants have children and have been subjected to intermittent transfers during the last four years. The cost of securing accommodation as well as paying school fees and buying school uniforms will seriously burden applicants, especially in this trying economic era considering their income,” they submitted.

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

“Pending determination of this matter, applicant is hereby granted the following relief: applicant’s transfers dated June 2020 from their respective stations be and is hereby stayed pending the determination of the appeal noted on June 8, 2020,” Justice Chikowero ruled.

Matanga recently admitted in Parliament that his officers were prone to accepting bribes because of poor remuneration.

The transfer refusal came hard on the heels of calls by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions for rolling protests over government’s failure to ensure a living wage for workers.

Civil servants last week rejected a 50% pay rise and US$75 three-month COVID-19 allowance, and demanded at least US$520 salary.

Frontline healthcare workers have already downed tools over poor working conditions.

State Media

Zimbabwe is not sliding back into dollarisation after Government announced interim US dollar allowances for civil servants, but rather these allowances are a way of cushioning civil servants, Finance and Economic Development Minister ProfMthuli Ncube has said.

Prof Ncube says the US$75 Covid-19 allowances and 50 percent salary increase awarded to civil servants last week will not affect the national Budget projections.

He said Treasury was already working on an $18 billion package to revive all sectors of the economy.

Government last week awarded a 50 percent pay rise to civil servants and pensioners with immediate effect, together with a flat non-taxable US dollar denominated Covid-19 allowance for the next three months.

Speaking on the sidelines of a tour of the site designated for a Zimra dry port, about 10km out of Masvingo, along the Masvingo-Harare highway recently, Prof Ncube said no country can grow its economy without using a component of domestic currency as this would be the bedrock upon which the economy is drip-fed and grown.

“We cannot print the US dollar here in Zimbabwe and we need the domestic currency if we are to grow the economy. If you move around big supermarkets in big cities you will see 30 or so new products manufactured locally and this is the import substitution that we are pushing for because it will create jobs, while also growing our economy and saving foreign currency.”

He said the authorities, through the Financial Intelligence Unit under the RBZ, were working flat out to stabilise the local currency by plugging loopholes used by elements who abuse mobile money platforms.

ProfNcube said civil servants and pensioners will not get the allowances in hard cash, but would be issued with cards to purchase goods and services locally using their US dollar allowances.

“We discourage the withdrawal of these funds in the form of cash because we are worried that this might fuel the parallel market. The money should circulate in the formal market,” he said.

In our lifetime, Rhodes must fall
In our lifetime, Rhodes must fall
He said concerns over the interbank rate will be addressed by the foreign currency auction system that will start tomorrow.

“Our people should be patient and not rush to make judgment. They must wait for tomorrow to see what the bank rate will be after the auction system for foreign currency. I don’t know what it will be in the future. It is a function of market forces, demand and supply, so let us wait and see.”

Minister Ncube last week also toured Beitbridge Border Post where he said more interventions will be rolled out to address challenges facing most civil servants and Zimbabweans in general.

“On the national Budget, we are very comfortable and we are able to meet the needs of the civil servants as planned.

“After all, they work very hard and inflation has been depressing their wages and salaries. We felt the need to increase their salaries by 50 percent on the Zimbabwean dollar component and introduce an US$75 non-taxable allowance for three months.

“The whole idea is to ease the Covid-19 pressures, while we manage and contain the novel coronavirus. Of course, this is the beginning. We have said that we will look at other non-monetary measures to support the civil servants. You will note that the foreign currency allowance is an inflation protector.”

He said there was nothing stopping the private sector from paying their workers in foreign currency though they will have to pay tax in the currency of trade as specified by the law.

Prof Ncube said the $18 billion economic recovery package will cover largely the agriculture, mining, industry and Small to Medium Enterprises.

The minister said $6,1 billion would be committed to the agriculture sector’s Presidential Inputs Scheme and the Command Agriculture.

“The mining sector, especially gold, is one of our major foreign currency earners and here we are committing $1 billion, while another $3 billion will be spent on reviving industries and small to medium enterprises, arts and sports.

“In addition, you will note that the tourism area has been hard hit and we are offering bank guarantees for those wishing to secure funding to revive their entities,” he said.

The minister added that the Government was considering reviewing the cash payments to vulnerable citizens. Government had registered 200 000 people and was encouraging more people to register with the Department of Social Welfare. These, he said, would include the returnees from various countries who did not have a source of livelihood to sustain their general upkeep.

“I have also taken note of the operational challenges at Beitbridge Border Post, which generates 31 percent of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s annual income.

“There is a need to deploy more resources, among them helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and construction of staff accommodation to enhance efficiency issues and minimise intrusive leaks around the border with South Africa. These should cover, customs, immigration and security services,” said Professor Ncube.

NewsDay

Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and several former government officials have been taken to the High Court by a Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) employee, Pascal Gonzo, who wants them charged for contempt of court after failing to pay him US$80 000 in abduction damages.

Gonzo was in early December 2008 abducted together with his workmate Broderick Takawira and ZPP director Jestina Mukoko for allegedly plotting to topple the late former President Robert Mugabe’s administration through recruiting people to undergo military training in neighbouring Botswana.
At the time, Mohadi was co-Home Affairs minister with Giles Mutsekwa.

According to court papers, Gonzo, Takawira and Mukoko’s whereabouts remained unknown until December 24, 2008, when they first appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court, after weeks of being held incommunicado and being tortured. They were eventually acquitted.

Sometime in November 2019, the High Court ordered the State to pay Gonzo US$80 000 for unlawful arrest and detention, assault, shock, pain and suffering and costs of suit.

But despite the consent order, Mohadi, Mutsekwa, and their co-defendants who included Patrick Chinamasa, Didymus Mutasa, Augustine Chihuri, Paradzai Zimondi, Happyton Bonyongwe and other top police officers failed to implement the order, prompting the current application.

“This is an application for an order holding respondents (Mohadi and others) to be in contempt of court, and bind them over to purge their contempt within a given time frame, failing which a warrant for the committal of their persons to jail may be issued until they purge such contempt,” Gonzo said.

According to Gonzo, the consent order was issued on November 6, 2019 when the amount ought to have been paid within 30 days from October 28, 2019 being the date upon which the parties entered into a deed of settlement to that effect.

“The judgment debt remains unsatisfied despite the lapse of the 30-day period within which it ought to have been settled. There can be no doubt that respondents have knowledge of the judgment, it having been entered into by consent and in view of the deed of settlement entered into between the parties,” he said.

“There can be no doubt that respondents are aware of their obligations to me (Gonzo) and have the necessary details to enable them to fulfil their obligations, but are just unwilling to do so despite the existence of an order by consent directing them to effect the payments in question.”
The matter is pending.

State Media

A 75-YEAR-OLD man from Jambezi in Hwange district who was accused of impregnating his granddaughter after allegedly raping her twice, has been acquitted.

The man from Jabula area under Chief Shana was arrested on October 3 last year and charged with two counts of rape and another of attempting to rape his late son’s 14-year-old daughter.

The girl who was in Form 1 last year, dropped out of school after falling pregnant and gave birth in January this year.

The man pleaded not guilty and told the court that the complainant was impregnated by her elder sister’s husband.

Acquitting the man, Hwange regional magistrate Mr Collet Ncube said it was difficult to convict the accused when it was not clear how the complainant’s brother-in-law was ruled out of the case after being implicated.

Mr Ncube said the accused’s wife and son who testified in court gave credible defence testimonies.

In his defence, the accused who was represented by Mr Thulani Nkala of Dube, Nkala and Company, said his granddaughter was influenced by her elder sister to lie against him to protect her husband.

He said he is not in good books with the complainant’s elder sister over inheritance of a house left by his late son, the complainant’s father.

The accused said he was shocked when police arrested him in October and nothing being done to the complainant’s brother-in-law who had been implicated in August at a family meeting.

The family suspected the girl had a secret love affair with her sister’s husband as they were once caught kissing in a car.

The girl is staying with the brother-in-law and her elder sister in Victoria Falls.

The court was told that the girl denied being pregnant and refused to name the father despite a village health worker having tested her using a pregnancy test kit.

Her grandmother had taken her to the health worker after suspecting that she was pregnant.

Nurses and a doctor at Victoria Falls Hospital in September last year also failed to make the girl talk.

The family had then resolved that paternity test be done after the birth of the child. No tests were done.

At some point the family summoned a self-proclaimed prophet in an attempt to force the girl to reveal the person who impregnated her.

ZBC

A 70-YEAR OLD Buhera man who shot and killed his employee’s wife and two children following a misunderstanding has been slapped with three life sentences.

Takadu Oxford Mangwiro who did the unthinkable in 2018 when he shot and killed the trio including a one-year-old infant has been convicted of three counts of murder and attempted murder.

Mangwiro was handed three life sentences for murder with actual intent and 10 years for attempted murder by Mutare High Court judge, Justice Hlekani Mwayera.
The court heard that in 2018, Mangwiro had a misunderstanding with his employee, Mandingo, whom he accused of theft.

Mangwiro fired Mandingo before asking him to vacate his premises but he could not leave as he had no bus fare.

The following morning Mangwiro took a 303 pistol and tried to shoot Mandingo but he missed before going on to gun down his wife and two children. The matter was reported to the police leading to Mangwiro’s arrest.

In another case, a 40-year old member of the local apostolic sect has been charged with rape after he allegedly impregnated a 14- year old girl from his church before taking her as his wife.

State Media

Three police officers and a soldier have died on the spot after a police vehicle they were travelling in veered off the road, hit a telecommunication pole and a rock before overturning.

The accident occurred at 106 kilometre peg along Harare-Shamva-Madziwa Road at around 4pm yesterday. Six were injured and are admitted at Shamva and Bindura Hospitals.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident and said names of the deceased will be released after their next of kin have been advised.

He expressed his condolences to families of the deceased and a speedy recovery to the injured.

Own Correspondent

Former MDC Alliance top leader Tapiwa Mashakada who in recent days has been enjoying wide media coverage especially with State Media is now an angry man claiming that the very state media he has been friends with has lied against him.

Mashaka was widely published by almost all state media outlets allegedly saying that the MDC Alliance has been faking abductions of its members by state security agents.

The man who through the years at MDC Alliance Was known for his composure suddenly turned into a wide mouth after striking allegiance with Thokozani Khupe of the MDC-T discrediting almost the entire system of the MDC Alliance.

Mashakada has released a video in which he says the media is lying about the report it carried in an article published today that had the following headline: Mashakada Exposes MDC Alliance Fake Abductions

Mashakada said he believes human right abuses are taking place in Zimbabwe and he believes all people who said they were abducted were indeed abducted.

Big lesson for him, “you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.”

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

By A Correspondent- Tapiwa Mashakada, who defected to the MDC T faction led by Thokozani Khupe has released a video in which he said The Herald is lying about the report it carried in an article published today that had the following headline:  Mashakada Exposes MDC Alliance Fake Abductions 

Mashakada said he believes human right abuses are taking place in Zimbabwe and he believes all people who said they were abducted.

Watch the live video below…..

By A Correspondent- People whose homes and property were destroyed during the Binga floods in February are still living in tents 4 months after the floods as the government fails to provide alternative accommodation for them, according to Binga North legislator Prince Dubeko Sibanda.

Speaking to the publication, Dubeko said the flood victims were also left to fend for themselves despite losing everything in the floods that displaced them. Dubeko said:

The victims are living in a sorry state. They have even forgotten about help coming from the government because no one is talking about it now. Some have left those tents and are now staying with relatives after realising that nothing was forthcoming.

When contacted for comment Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo said the COVID-19 pandemic had derailed the government’s plans to assist the victims:

What I know is that the villagers had their stands pegged elsewhere in preparation for their relocation, but I will have to check with the district administrator on the progress that has been made so far.

Everything would have been done in time, but unfortunately there was Covid-19, so this generally disturbed our entire plans for the affected villagers. Yes, we are aware that they are still in tents in this winter season, but I can assure you that we are working on that as government.

One person died in the floods that displaced many people in Nsungulwe village in Binga.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- ZRP has launched a manhunt for 2 men who escaped from Belvedere Teachers’ College quarantine centre, one of the escapees escaped after he tested positive and the other one escaped before knowing his results.

In a statement released by ZRP, ZRP appealed to the families and friends of the 2 men to come forward with information about the whereabouts of the escapees. ZRP National Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said;

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information which may lead to the location of a 33-year-old man who escaped from Harare Polytechnic Isolation Centre on June 15, 2020, after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus and another 28-year-old man who also escaped on June 17, 2020, before getting results. Family members, friends and close associates of the two are implored to report so that the spread of Covid-19 by the two can be curtailed. 

This has brought the number of people who have escaped from quarantine so far to 180. Meanwhile, ZRP has managed to arrest 28 escapees of the 180 people who have escaped from quarantine facilities countrywide.

-StateMedia

Watch the live video loading below……

Watch the live video loading below……….

Watch live video loading below…..

Farai Dziva|ZRP cops in the ancient city of Masvingo surprised all and sundry on Monday morning when they blocked roads into the city centre, forcing scores of people to return home.

Police officers at the Rujeko Footbridge accused residents of plotting to overthrow the government through mass protests.

“We don’t want to see your exemption letters, we are simply following instructions from our bosses.

We know what you are planning -you want to cause havoc in the Central Business District, go back home,” shouted a ZRP cop.

Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Charity Mazula was not immediately available for a comment on the matter.

Residents who spoke to ZimEye.com said they were forced to sit on bare ground for several hours, despite the chilly weather in the morning.

“They forced us to sit on bare ground and they accused us of denigrating the authorities.I wanted to buy medicine for my daughter but the cops would not allow me to get into town,” fumed one resident.

Farai Dziva|WELEAD Director, Namatai Kwekweza has urged Zimbabweans to reject the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 2.

Kwekweza accused the Zanu PF government of trying to enforce the bill during the lockdown.

She challenged citizens to distance themselves from the whole process.Namatai and Vongai Zimudzi were arrested last week for merely expressing their views on the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 2.
Watch video below :

Alert! Alert! Alert!

22-06-2020

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Chitungwiza North Secretary, Tryvine “Sox” Musokeri has been arrested. He is currently at Harare Central Police’s Law and Order Section.

Sox as he is commonly known is being accused of threatening one Yvonne Musarurwa from Thokozani Khupe renegades on Facebook.

He was accompanied to the police station by his lawyer and party’s National Vice Chairperson, Hon Job Sikhala.

Sox’s arrest add to a high number of MDC Alliance Youth Assembly activists who have been rounded up by the police in a blitzkrieg aimed at silencing the opposition.

As MDC Alliance Youth Assembly, we demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners including our 3 female comrades Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova and Joanna Mamombe who are currently languishing at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

The MDC Alliance is not a terrorist group but a political party which carries a better vision and hopes for the suffering masses and as such our members must never be treated as terrorists.

It is regrettable that real terrorists like the Gulen Movement linked Obadiah Moyo are walking scot free despite looting millions of Covid19 funds meant to help masses.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- Tempers flared at the burial of liberation war fighter Steben Chiweshe in Muzarabani on Saturday as the newly-installed Mashonaland Central interim provincial war veterans executive blocked former chairperson Sam Parirenyatwa from addressing the mourners, further widening the fissures in the province.

Chiweshe, who succumbed to cancer, was a member of the “dissolved” provincial war veterans association led by Parirenyatwa and was granted provincial hero status following a request made by the latter.

Parirenyatwa, who was scheduled to speak at the burial, was sent on a wild goose chase allegedly by Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Kazembe Kazembe’s faction as the event proceeded only to realise later that he had been fooled.

A source told NewsDay that Kazembe made sure that Parirenyatwa was not part of the proceedings

As part of the plot, it is alleged, Zanu-PF politburo member Kenneth Musanhi called for a briefing with Parirenyatwa’s beleaguered executive in Glendale on the day of the burial, only for the latter to realise that it was a ruse.

Parirenyatwa later sped to Muzarabani, but was denied the opportunity to address the mourners by Muzarabani district development co-ordinator John Chihobo, leading to a commotion which was thwarted by police.

A member of Parirenyatwa’s “fired” executive, Farai Mataire, confirmed the development.

“I can confirm that there was a clash, but I can’t give further details,” he said.

Parirenyatwa refused to comment on the matter.

Kazembe and Musanhi were not picking calls when sought for comment.

However, Zanu-PF provincial spokesperson Alfred Mufunga accused Parirenyatwa of arriving late for the burial.

“Parirenyatwa came late after the family members had already spoken and Kazembe spoke as the Minister of Home Affairs. It had nothing to do with the party,” he said.

Meanwhile, the former provincial war veterans association members, who spoke to NewsDay on the sidelines of the burial, accused war veterans politburo secretary Douglas Mahiya of meddling in their affairs.

Mahiya recently presided over the installation of the interim war veterans league in the province without the consent of provincial chairpersons and the party’s national commissar Victor Matemadanda

Parirenyatwa’s executive was dissolved in absentia on June 7 and replaced by an interim committee led by Richard Chirongwe and Luke Mushoore, both linked to the G40 faction, inviting criticism from other provinces.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Vice President Kembo Mohadi and several former government officials have been taken to the High Court by a Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) employee, Pascal Gonzo, who wants them charged for contempt of court after failing to pay him US$80 000 in abduction damages.

Gonzo was in early December 2008 abducted together with his workmate Broderick Takawira and ZPP director Jestina Mukoko for allegedly plotting to topple the late former President Robert Mugabe’s administration through recruiting people to undergo military training in neighbouring Botswana.

At the time, Mohadi was co-Home Affairs minister with Giles Mutsekwa.

According to court papers, Gonzo, Takawira and Mukoko’s whereabouts remained unknown until December 24, 2008, when they first appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court, after weeks of being held incommunicado and being tortured. They were eventually acquitted.

Sometime in November 2019, the High Court ordered the State to pay Gonzo US$80 000 for unlawful arrest and detention, assault, shock, pain and suffering and costs of suit.

But despite the consent order, Mohadi, Mutsekwa, and their co-defendants who included Patrick Chinamasa, Didymus Mutasa, Augustine Chihuri, Paradzai Zimondi, Happyton Bonyongwe and other top police officers failed to implement the order, prompting the current application.

“This is an application for an order holding respondents (Mohadi and others) to be in contempt of court, and bind them over to purge their contempt within a given time frame, failing which a warrant for the committal of their persons to jail may be issued until they purge such contempt,” Gonzo said.

According to Gonzo, the consent order was issued on November 6, 2019 when the amount ought to have been paid within 30 days from October 28, 2019 being the date upon which the parties entered into a deed of settlement to that effect.

“The judgment debt remains unsatisfied despite the lapse of the 30-day period within which it ought to have been settled. There can be no doubt that respondents have knowledge of the judgment, it having been entered into by consent and in view of the deed of settlement entered into between the parties,” he said.

“There can be no doubt that respondents are aware of their obligations to me (Gonzo) and have the necessary details to enable them to fulfil their obligations, but are just unwilling to do so despite the existence of an order by consent directing them to effect the payments in question.”

The matter is pending.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga (pictured) was on Friday left with egg on the face after more than 1 111 junior officers successfully challenged their “intermittent transfers” at their own cost, which they argued could not be sustained from their meagre salaries.

Detective Constable Bryn Moyo (CID Theft, Harare), Sergeant Terrence Zireva (Budiriro) and Assistant Inspector Emmanuel Chipanda (Ruwa Police Station) representing more than 1 111 others successfully filed at the High Court, challenging what they termed intermittent transfers at their own cost.

Chipanda, who had been earmarked for transfer to Nehanda Police Station in Mkoba 19, Gweru, said he could not afford the transfer cost on his $1 300 salary and pleaded with the court to note the civil servants’ call for a strike over poor remuneration.

Moyo and Zireva also submitted affidavits saying they had no capacity to move to their new workstations, which were not disclosed in court papers.

In an application heard before Justice Benjamin Chikowero on Friday, the police officers said the transfer costs were beyond their means and not in the best interests of their minor school-going children in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The junior officers cited ZRP chief-of staff, Matanga and Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, as respondents.

“My children are enrolled at schools in Harare, which I believe to be in their interest. I am alive to the fact that schools are still closed, but rumours are that they might reopen soon. If the rumours are true, it would mean that I would have to return my children to Harare from Gweru and look for someone to take care of them,” Chipanda said.

“My transfer was effected at a time when I had already paid my June rentals, I had already planned for the month. The financial implications of my transfer from ZRP Ruwa include buying new school uniforms, looking for alternative accommodation, schools and that represents gross inconvenience and irreparable harm since no allowances have been paid to me.”

The trio’s lawyers Gift Chihuta and Paddington Chinzou from Chakanyuka and Associates also cited violation of their clients’ rights.

“Applicants have children and have been subjected to intermittent transfers during the last four years. The cost of securing accommodation as well as paying school fees and buying school uniforms will seriously burden applicants, especially in this trying economic era considering their income,” they submitted.

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

“Pending determination of this matter, applicant is hereby granted the following relief: applicant’s transfers dated June 2020 from their respective stations be and is hereby stayed pending the determination of the appeal noted on June 8, 2020,” Justice Chikowero ruled.

Matanga recently admitted in Parliament that his officers were prone to accepting bribes because of poor remuneration.

The transfer refusal came hard on the heels of calls by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions for rolling protests over government’s failure to ensure a living wage for workers.

Civil servants last week rejected a 50% pay rise and US$75 three-month COVID-19 allowance, and demanded at least US$520 salary.

Frontline healthcare workers have already downed tools over poor working conditions.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A students’ representative organisation, Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has claimed that its national vice president and Chinhoyi Univerity of Technology (CUT) chapter chair have been withdrawn from a lecture by police.

The union says they are being accused of standing in solidarity with MDC Alliance trio -Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova who are remanded in custody after they allegedly lied that they were abducted and tortured b suspected state security agents. The union posted on Twitter saying:

Our Vice President Talent Madava @TMadava and CUT Chapter Chair Lionel Shayahama have been taken out of their lecture by CID Chinhoyi for standing in solidarity with the abducted Trio. The continued targeted harassment of student leaders is deplorable.

The trio was initially arrested on the 13th of May this year for participating in a flash hunger protest in Warren Park, Harare.

They claim that they were kidnapped from police custody and endured a 24-hour-long session of torture and sexual assault.

While the identity of their alleged abductors is not yet known, the state says the alleged abduction was staged to soil the image of the government while the international community, human rights defenders and the opposition implicate the police saying it was impossible for the trio to escape police custody

y A Correspondent- A 70 year old Buhera man was on Friday handed three life sentences for fatally shooting his domestic employee’s three family members.

Mutare High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera handed down the sentence against Takadu Oxford Mangwiro after finding him guilty on three counts of murder and attempted murder.

Public prosecutor Jonathan Chingwinyiso said on September 15, 2018, Mangwiro had an altercation with Farai Mandingo who was his employee at his homestead in Buhera.

Mandingo stayed with his wife Portia Mudhara (32) and daughters Sharon and Lisa aged one and four years, respectively.

Chingwinyiso told the court that Mangwiro accused Mandingo of stealing half a tonne of maize, groundnuts, eggs, rapoko and chickens.

Mandingo denied the allegations, resulting in the accused terminating his contract of employment forthwith and ordering him and his family to vacate his premises.

Mandingo reportedly had no money to ferry his family and property to Marange, so he spent the night at his ex employer’s homestead.

The following day, Mandingo saw Mangwiro in the yard and greeted him. The convict who was armed with a .303 rifle instead fired at Mandingo who was eight metres away, but missed.

Mandingo fell to his knees and the convict fired another shot, but again missed. Mandingo bolted into a nearby bush and went to report the matter at Murambinda Police Station.

While Mandingo was on his way to make the report, the convict shot Mudhara, Sharon and Lisa who were in their bedroom and hid the three bodies in a rubbish pit and fled.

Mandingo returned in the company of police officers and was informed of the shooting by LeeRoy Zunzanyika (14) who heard the gunshots, but the convict had fled the scene.

On September 18, information emerged that the convict was hiding in a mountain near the village. He was lured from his hideout by a phone call and was arrested.

He led the police to the decomposing bodies.

Chingwinyiso argued in court that the convict had no respect for human life, hence the need for a harsh sentence.

-Newsday

Exiled former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that both the citizenry and political leaders in the country are not enthusiastic about leading demonstrations against the government.

He speaks when calls for the ruling ZANU PF to relinquish power have intensified recently following the new reports of corruption scandals which implicate government officials.

Some observers say the anti-government protests would have long erupted if recent developments had transpired in other countries.

Posting on Twitter this Monday, Moyo said:

While s58 of Zim’s Constitution enshrines the right to freedom of assembly & s59 protects the right to demonstrate, there is a conundrum: the people want political leaders to lead the demonstrations & political leaders want the people to start the demonstrations! #ZanupfMustGo

Last year, Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition MDC Alliance responded to his supporters who were demanded that he tell them when it was time for protests saying he would not give any signal.

He later said corruption and failure by the government to fulfil election promises was signal enough to push the general public into the streets.

This is partly as a result of arrests and torture of opposition officials, workers and human rights defenders have in the past been arrested and tortured or kidnapped for participating in protests.

The president Mnangagwa led government pledged to revive the collapsed sectors including health, agriculture and industry but the economic and humanitarian crisis in the country suggests the country is receding from where it was when President Mnangagwa took over from Robert Mugabe in 2017

By A Correspondent- Representatives of a Chinese mining company, Reeden Mine in Gweru whose manager shot workers in a pay dispute at the weekend will visit the victims’ family and offer compensation, it has emerged.

Yesterday, ZimEye, exclusively published an article revealing how the two workers had been shot and left injured by a Chinese manager over a salary dispute.

Zhang Xuelin, the manager who shot and injured the duo was however arrested on Sunday and he spent the night in custody.

Sources privy to the developments alleged that Xuelin shot his workers Wendy Chikwaira (31) and Kennedy Tachiona (39) after they approached him demanding their salaries after he had fired them.

It is alleged that a scuffle then ensued leading to the manager withdrawing a 9mm pistol which he used to shoot and injure the two.

Zhang was later picked up by Riot police officers after some other duty police details had taken statements and left without any arrests.

Zhang was charged for attempted murder and the matter is being investigated under ZRP Gweru Rural CR74/06/2020.

Tachiona sustained several gunshot wounds, he is said to be admitted at a private hospital in Gweru.

Chikwaira was treated and discharged from hospital.

Reedem Mine is located 25km from the Midlands capital Gweru, along the Matobo road.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest details.

By Godard Thabani Bvungidzire- On the 17^th of June health workers woke up to realise that their already compromised salaries had been further cut spurring them into an immediate industrial action that started at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe.

An unintelligible excuse was given by the Health Services Board, but it is the corruption within the health system and government at large that aggravated matters.

“It’s tiring that I earn 2.200 Zimbabwean Dollars (USD 35) and on top of that they cut it without giving a decent explanation.” A protesting nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity fumed.

The industrial action started at Parirenyatwa Hospital which is the country’s biggest referral health facility and swiftly cascaded to other major public hospitals across the country.

Efforts to get comments from the National Health Board were unfruitful as their phones were either not answered or the voice at the other side of the line claimed to have no authority to comment on the matter.

In a society where morality precedes legality the irony was not lost on the Health Services Board chairman who went to address the protesters in a brand-new Range Rover bought as a service vehicle for Covid19 related duties.

In an effort to wade off the growing impatience from the health workers the government announced a USD 75 Covid 19 allowance which will only work as a shopping voucher since the banks are not allowed to cash it out.

The visibly frustrated nurse explained, “The government expects us to be able to open Foreign Currency Accounts (FCA) which require an initial USD 20 and with our current salaries we are not even able to do that.

This bedlam is happening at a time when the corona virus positive cases have risen to 479, a number that looks modest compared to other countries but already spelling danger Zimbabwe’s volatile healthcare system.

On June 19^th, the minister of health Dr. Obadiah Moyo was arrested on allegations of corruption in a move that is largely seen as a smokescreen to mask the rot in the healthcare system and possibly pacify the health professionals and have them return to work.

Predictably Minister Moyo was released the following morning on a bail and if the stories doing the rounds are anything to go by he did not even spend the night in the police holding cells at Rhodesville as reported in the state media.

The depth of corruption in the procurement of the corona virus personal protective equipment (PPEs) implicates even the president’s son and the president himself and the money misappropriated in the process was enough to cushion all the essential health services professionals.

This catastrophe has President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership shortcomings written all over as he pontifies over the corruption where every dollar that gets into the public health system a thousand vanish into individuals’ pockets.

‘’The healthcare workers protesting is symptom of a bigger problem; in our case the problem is our government’s inability to manage the countries resources “Sindiso Ncube an activist for political change commented.

The health workers are unrelenting in their fight and should they maintain their resolve the state of the country’s public health remains pitiable as the government officials would rather keep accumulating wealth at the expense of saving lives.

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has donated masks and food to the Zanu-PF Matabeleland South Province Women’s League.

Speaking during a distribution of the items at the Zanu-PF party offices in Gwanda on Friday, Zanu-PF Matabeleland South Women’s League chairlady Rona Moyo said they had received 2 000 masks and mealie meal from Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF Women’s League Secretary Mabel Chinomona.

She said the items had been given to members of the women’s league at national, provincial and district level.

Moyo said they expected to receive more masks for the rest of the women’s league.

“We were called to a meeting as the women’s league leadership where we were given 2 000 masks as a province and 250 bags of mealie-meal by Chinomona. We want to thank our President who made this possible as he availed the fabric to produce these masks,” she said.

Moyo said said the donation is supposed to benefit all members of the women’s league.

“These masks should benefit our members in the women’s league right up to district level including those in rural areas. The mealie- meal we received will also go a long way to assist families that have been severely affected by food shortages as a result of this Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

-StateMedia

Moyo appealed to the National Women’s League leadership to ensure that more masks were handed over to the province so that women at all levels received them.

In an interview during the distribution exercise, Zanu-PF National Women’s League representative for Matabeleland South Province Tambudzani Mohadi said the assistance will go a long way in helping women at grassroots level.

She said there was also need for the women’s league to extend assistance to the rest of the community.

“Women in the communal areas don’t have means to make their own masks. Wearing of masks has been identified as one of the means to curb the spread of this pandemic and hence it’s important for people to have these masks. With this distribution we realised that charity begins at home and we started with women from the party and then go beyond,” she said.

Finance minister has bragged that his policies have revived local industries after claiming that most supermarkets are filled with locally manufactured products.

“If you move around #Zimbabwe supermarkets you will see new products manufactured locally and this is the import substitution that we are pushing for because it will create jobs, while also growing our economy and saving foreign currency,” said Mthuli Ncube.

Do you agree with this Mthuli Ncube assertion?

By A Correspondent- Under pressure government has launched a volunteer nurses program in order to help alleviate the challenges experienced following the health workers strike which started last week.

According to health ministry spokesperson Donald Mujiri the Volunteer Nurse Leadership will kickoff today in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province as well as Masvingo provincial hospitals.

Chinhoyi provincial hospital built under late former president Robert Mugabe rule is one of the biggest nurses training centers under Chinhoyi School of Nurses. Mujiri posted public notices saying they will kick off recruitment today Monday at 10.00am

Read the yet to be confirmed notice which is doing the rounds:

“Volunteer Nurse Leadership will kick off in Chinhoyi and Masvingo provincial hospitals. The aim is to recruit voluntary nurses to assist our institutions during the strike by nurses.”

Efforts to get a comment from the Health ministry were not fruitful by the time of writing but this publication is making continued efforts to engage the ministry officials’ position regadring the above move.

The latest move by Government confirms the cold war between health professionals and their employer. as they have been agitated who has failed to give them better salaries that may cushion them against hyper inflation.

Of late, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe inter bank rate has been eroded with costs of basic commodities trading at unprecedented levels daily. Although Government offered a USD$75 for every civil servant for three months during Covid 19 crisis, some hospitals have seen patients turned away as nurses are on strike.

This has compromised the health sector under global spotlight after health minister Obadiah Moyo was arrested last week facing corruption charges running into millions of US dollars.

By A Correspondent- A five year old girl from a village under Chief Chireya in Gokwe, was allegedly killed by her two minor uncles for soiling herself.

The deceased Sibongile Charehwa was allegedly fatally assaulted to death by her two uncles, aged 10 and 14 after she messed her panties.

Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the murder of Sibongile Charehwa to B-Metro.

“We are investigating a case of murder of the deceased Sibongile Charehwa who was assaulted until she died by two minors whom she was left in custody of.

“The two accused persons took turns to assault her with a stick all over the body until she became unconscious.

“Noticing that the deceased was unconscious, they informed their neighbour Sarah Mhende who then went to check,” he said.

Inspector Goko said upon arrival, Mhende discovered that Charehwa had already died.

“Mhende went to the scene intending to assist the now deceased, but she then discovered that she had died.

She alerted other members of the community about the incident and the matter was reported to the police leading to the duo’s arrest while the deceased’s body was ferried to a mortuary,” said Inspector Goko.

Inspector Goko urged members of public to desist from leaving children on their own at home.

“We appeal to the members of the public to always leave their children in the custody of older people so that such incidents can be avoided,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Unlike catching a cheating man, nabbing an unfaithful woman is not easy.

This is because like a clumsy bear, men always leave behind trails of their infidelity, like scented perfume and lipstick on their shirts, lodge receipts in pockets and raunchy text messages in their phones.

A Plumtree man’s world fell apart when he busted his wife in a steamy embrace with a man she had been bringing home after she initially introduced him as her church elder.

Njabulo Mpala from Dingumuzi suburb who reportedly vowed never to “trust a woman again” flew into a rage after he caught his now ex-wife Semkelwe Ncube flirting with her lover only identified as Tshuma in their matrimonial bedroom.

The heartbreaking discovery reportedly happened on Saturday last week.

Mpala, an informal trader, reportedly caught Ncube cheating after he received a tip-off from a neighbour that Tshuma who was always visiting Ncube mostly in his absence, had sneaked into his house.

It is reported that when he quickly returned home, after that tip-off, Mpala was in for a shock when he found Ncube on their matrimonial bed while being cuddled in the arms of her “church elder”.

Out of fury, Mpala reportedly meted instant justice on Ncube. In the midst of the chaos, Tshuma reportedly made good his escape.

A witness who spoke on condition of anonymity told B-Metro that Ncube who felt guilty after being busted while cheating on her husband deserted their matrimonial home.

The witness said Mpala was heartbroken after he discovered that the mother of his two children had fooled him when she introduced her lover to him as her church elder.

“MaNcube (Semkelwe) deserted their matrimonial home after her husband caught her red-handed with her lover on their matrimonial bed.

“It was disheartening that the lover was someone who was known to Mpala and was always coming to their house after Semkelwe introduced him to her husband as her church elder,” said the witness.

When reached for comment an inconsolable Mpala could neither confirm nor deny the incident. Instead, he avoided the questions by saying:

“Of course I feel bad, but I can’t change what’s gone on”.

Ncube, however, defended her shenanigans saying it was revenge on her husband who had also been cheating on her.

“It was revenge on my husband after I discovered he had been all along fooling around with another woman,” she said.

StateMedia

SOME vendors and informal traders in Bulawayo have found new homes for their businesses in their respective residential areas after being removed from the city centre.

More than 600 vendors were removed from the city centre as part of measures to spruce up the city inline with Covid-19 hygiene regulations and most of them were operating along Fifth Avenue.

Council is yet to allocate the traders new vending bays hence most of them have now resorted to operating from their respective residential areas.

Many have turned their homes into market places and are selling an assortment of products they used to sell at the market along Fifth Avenue.

The vendors say while business is not as good as it was in the city centre, they are able to raise enough money to fend for their families as they adjust to the “new normal” of living under lockdown.

Some of them said they had to modify their business models as they were now targeting different types of markets compared to what they used to serve in the Central Business District.

Gogo Nogeit Nleya (64) of Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo said while waiting for council to provide new selling bays, she decided to operate from home.

She said she has been selling at the market since she was 23 years old and as such she has not known any other employment.

Mrs Nleya said she has been able to send her children to school from the money she raised at the market and had been able to look after her grandchildren from the same market proceeds until Covid-19 struck.

“I started selling from the market in the late 1980s. I sent all my children to school using that money and I am still able to fend for my family with proceeds from my vending business. I do not know any other business and as old as I am it will be very difficult to start thinking of any other business venture. I am a widow.

“During the lockdown I have realised that I can still continue with my business from home while waiting for council to allocate us new vending bays,” said Gogo Nleya.

She said at home she was able to maintain high hygiene standards required by Covid-19 regulations.

“I am able to wash my hands after coming into contact with every customer. It is only the water crisis that makes this a bit of a problem but the borehole is not very far from where I stay. I hope council will set up new vending stalls for us soon but while I wait, my home is my new fresh produce market,” she said.

Mr Dingani Sibanda from Nketa Six suburb who sells fresh produce and small grains among other products, says he is now operating from his vehicle.

“When I lost my stand at the Fifth Avenue market, I lost hope and stayed home for days during the peak of the lockdown. My colleagues who were also affected by our relocation, approached me asking for transport to collect vegetables from Woodville and other nearby places. We would be stopped by people inquiring if we were selling the produce in bulk, and from then on, I have realised that I can make more money through selling bulk vegetables to other vendors. I also sell smaller quantities after delivering my bulk orders. I sell from my car and I go to different areas in the city making deliveries and I keep small quantities for selling to individuals for consumption,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said he was now making more money than he used to make at the market in the city centre.

“I only realised now that I can actually make more money than I used to make by making bulk deliveries to other vendors. Maybe it’s because of this lockdown but I pray that the trend continues so that I do not return to spending the whole day at the market. I bought this truck in 2003 for a very cheap price when my former boss was relocating to the United Kingdom and it’s only now that I am enjoying real value of having the truck,” said Mr Sibanda.

Mrs Talent Musona from Cowdray park suburb said she is now spending more time with her family while doing business at home.

“It is hard to start something new but sometimes change is what we need to realise that there are new opportunities. I think selling from my neighbourhood is not so bad after all as I get to spend more time at home with my children. The revenues are lower compared to what I used to realise but the advantage is that I no longer pay for transport everyday,” said Mrs Musona.

Another vendor who only identified herself as MaSithole from Makokoba suburb, said while selling vegetables from home gave her less money, it was good because she was no longer involved in running battles with municipal police who used to confiscate her wares.

She however said she will be back at Renkini bus terminus once it is re-opened for business after lockdown.

“These days I sell my wares in peace without fear of being chased by police or BCC. I know that I will not have to ride at the back of a council truck during a raid or lose any of my stuff. My new business of selling from home now gives me time to cook for my children,” she said.

Not all vendors share the same optimism about finding opportunities despite the lockdown. For some it looks like the end of the road and the future is bleak.

Ms Nomsa Ncube said during the lockdown she was forced to eat more than half her stock while some of her perishable stock started rotting.

“I lost more than 75 percent of my stock and right now while the lockdown has eased, I am struggling to restock. Things are expensive and suppliers want forex. I wish I was younger so I could apply for the youth business relief fund,” she said.

Meanwhile, more than 600 vendors who were removed from the city centre are challenging their relocation by the Bulawayo City Council at the High Court.

–State Media