By A Correspondentt- Two employees at the Zimbabwe Republic Police National Armaments workshop have appeared in court on allegations of conniving with two fellow employees to steal five pistols.

Nhawu Jongwe and Wellington Nata were not asked to plead to allegations of theft when they appeared before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko. The two were remanded to September 3.

It is alleged that the two, who are stationed at national armaments, Morris Depot in Harare, connived and teamed up with two other workmates Charles Mabhiza – who has since appeared in court on the charge – and Liberty Musindo – who is on the run – and stole the firearms at their workplace.

It is said on June 19, the officer-in-charge at national armaments, chief inspector Madenyika discovered that some pistols were missing from the armoury and carried out a stock-take.

He discovered that four CZ and Tokarev pistols were missing.

Investigations were done, leading to the arrest of Mabhiza which led to the recovery of two CZ pistols.

It is said Mabhiza then implicated the two as his accomplices.

The pistols were valued at US$4 000 and the two recovered are valued at US$1 600.

Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.

A Zimbabwean court has overturned the conviction of two Mutare residents after they successfully challenged the decision by some Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members to order them to pay RTGS$1 000 as fine for unnecessary movement during the national lockdown period.

Precious and Privilege Gwatidzo, who are twin sisters and based in Mutare recently petitioned the Mutare Magistrates Court seeking an order to set aside their conviction and to be refunded the fine which they paid to ZRP on 12 April 2020 after they were arrested and charged for unnecessary movement during national lockdown period as defined in section 4(1)(a) of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020.

Precious and Privilege, who are residents of Dangamvura high-density suburb in Mutare, were arrested on 12 April 2020 after they left their home with the intention to purchase some prescribed medication at a pharmacy for their grandmother, who is chronically ill.

Although Precious and Privilege had in their possession a supporting letter from their local Councillor confirming that they had an ailing member of the family who needed urgent medication, the ZRP members at Dangamvura Police Station could not entertain their request and proceeded to arrest and detain them overnight without pressing a charge against them.

The twin sisters were only advised of the charge the following day, it being alleged that they contravened section 4(1)(a) of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020, which prohibited unnecessary movement of people during the national lockdown imposed by the government in March in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus.

While in police detention, Precious and Privilege were denied access to sanitary wear and were only released from custody after paying a fine of RTGS$500 each.

With the assistance of human rights lawyer Moses Chikomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Precious and Privilege wrote a letter of complaint to the Officer in Charge of Dangamvura Police Station registering their displeasure in the manner in which the law enforcement agents had conducted themselves after apprehending them.

The twin sisters also challenged their conviction and the imposition of fines against them by ZRP members and this was granted by Magistrate Sheila Nazombe.

In her ruling, Magistrate Nazombe stated that she was satisfied that the plea of guilty entered by Precious and Privilege when they were arrested in April was equivocal.

The Magistrate ordered ZRP members to refund the total fine amounting to RTGS$1 000 paid by Precious and Privilege and also directed ZRP members to compile a docket and bring the twins sisters to appear in court for a proper hearing and determination of their matter.

A picture of former G40 kingpins Patrick Zhuwao, Saviour Kasukuwere and Walter Mzembi has gone viral on the internet.

The picture shows the three former ZANU PF heavyweights at a restaurant.

The three were exiled in South Africa after the November 2017 coup that ended 37 years of Robert Mugabe’s rule.  

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has said that it is investigating a shootout incident which occurred at Tarkka Forest, Manicaland where two people died.

Below is the police’s statement in full.

03 JULY, 2020, SHOOTING INCIDENT AT TARKKA FOREST, MANICALAND.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating an unfortunate shooting incident which occurred today at TARKKA forest, Chimanimani where two people died and one was injured when timber poachers clashed with Police officers.

The poachers had left a tractor and trailer when Zimbabwe Republic Police deployed members on 1st July 2020 and grouped on 3rd July 2020 before attacking police officers with a Police Sergeant being trampled upon by thirty suspects before other police officers reacted. They fired warning shots which were ignored until the three suspects were shot and taken to Rusitu Mission Hospital. Two suspects died on admission while the other one is currently admitted at the same institution.

Police are conducting comprehensive inquiries into this regrettable incident and urge members of the public to observe the law at all times.

Dear Dougie: Between from 2011-2014 you were the MDC spokesperson elected in Bulawayo. You became SG from 2014-2019 elected in Harare during Tsvangirai leadership. Its only after Supreme Court ruling in March 2020 that you are now the darling of regime media, why, what happened? pic.twitter.com/CTiIaI5i7j

— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) July 4, 2020

By A Correspondent- An 86-year-old pensioner is challenging the constitutionality of the statutory instrument (SI) that converted United States dollar balances to Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) accounts, which resulted in the devaluation of his savings and pension.

Duncan Hugh Cocksedge is among hundreds of thousands of pensioners in Zimbabwe that have lost millions of dollars as their pensions and savings have been eroded and they risk destitution.

Cocksedge, a structural and civil engineer and one of Zimbabwe’s greatest sportsperson, has approached the courts to recover the US$179 541,45 balance, which was in his CABS account as at December 5, 2016.

Some writers consider him to be the country’s greatest-ever baseball player and he also played rugby, cricket and hockey. Cocksedge played hockey and baseball for the national team in the 1950s and 1960s.

He also wants the Exchange Control Directive RT/120/2018 to be declared null and void and set aside, arguing that it is grossly irrational and unreasonable and that Section 22(1)(b), (d) and (e) of the Finance Act Number 2 of 2019 be set aside.

In the application, CABS is the first respondent while the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and Finance minister Mthuli Ncube are the second and third respondents respectively.

“My case is simple. I deposited into the bank goats. I expect to be paid my goats. The bank can’t give me cockroaches when I gave them goats,” Cocksedge, who is being represented by prominent lawyer Tendai Biti, said in the application.

“It is my respectful contention that section 22 (1)(b), (d) and (e) are unconstitutional and are a breach of my right to property as protected by section 71 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The net effect of Section 22 is to devalue my US$ balances into a quasi-currency known as the ‘Real Time Gross Settlement’ which should then be negotiable on a willing buyer-willing seller.”

“I am an 86-year-old man who was looking to those resources for my retirement. The sum of US$179 000 would have looked after me very well. The sum of less than US$2 000 equivalent cannot last me three months.”

He said there is nothing dignified about essentially expropriating the savings of an 86-year-old pensioner who has toiled for the money all his life with the intention of cushioning himself in his twilight years.

The government introduced a basket of multi-currencies, including the US dollar, as legal tender in 2009.

In May 2016, RBZ governor John Mangudya made a major policy announcement indicating that the central bank would introduce an export incentive in the form of bond notes.

Mangudya said the facility was backed by a US$200 million fund.

On October 31, 2016, through an extraordinary Government Gazette, the then president Robert Mugabe enacted the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Amendment of the Reserve Bank Act on the Issue of Bond Notes Regulations of 2016, which were contained in SI 133 of 2016.

Cocksedge wrote a letter to CABS, asking the bank to preserve his account and not to deposit any more funds into it.

“On the 2nd of June 2020, I wrote a letter of demand to the first respondent (CABS) demanding payment of the said sum of US$179 541,45, but the first respondent has failed or neglected to pay the same.

“I am advised, which advice I take, that on the 22nd of February 2019 the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe enacted the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act Amendment of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act Regulations SI 33/2019. Further, I am advised that on the 24th of June 2019 the 3rd respondent enacted the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Legal Tender Regulations published as SI 142/2019,” Cocksedge said.

He said he also understood that in August last year the Finance Act No 2 of 2019 was passed by parliament, which morphed and incorporated the provisions of SI 33 of 2019 and SI 142 of 2019. And the net effect of SI 33 of 2019 was — among other outcomes — to effectively convert all US dollar balances that existed in Zimbabwe into local RTGS$ at the exchange rate of 1:1.

“The Supreme Court has interpreted SI 33 of 2019 to mean that all indebtedness must now be converted and payable in Zimbabwean dollars. I am aware that through SI 142/2019, Zimbabwean dollar currency was restored as a sole currency in Zimbabwe and the regime of multiple currency was terminated,” Cocksedge said

“I am aware that the Finance Act No 2 of 2019, in Section 21 of the Act, amended Section 44C of the Reserve Bank Act to incorporate SI 33/2019 in making the current currency the RTGS legal tender. I am aware that Section 23 of the Finance Act restates the fact of the Zimbabwean dollar being the sole currency for legal tender with effect from the 24th of June 2019.

“However, Section 44C made it clear that funds that were held in nostro foreign currency accounts would continue being designated in such foreign currency accounts. Nostro foreign currency accounts were defined to mean any foreign accounts designated in terms of the Exchange Control Directive RT/120/2018 held with the financial institution,” he added.

Cocksedge says Exchange Control notice 120 of 2018, issued by the RBZ to separate US dollar balances between those that were classified as nostro foreign currency accounts (FCAs) and nostro RTGS was unlawful, grossly unreasonable and irrational.

“Through the stroke of a pen, the 2nd respondent (RBZ) had enacted a directive whose effect was to have retrospective application in converting our US$ balances into nostro FCA. Respondents knew the impact of their actions and deceptively strove to assure the market about the 1:1 ‘Gedyegedye’ fiction,” he said.

“As I write this affidavit now, the parallel market exchange rate between the US$ and the RTGS is 1:100. Which means that as of today my US$179 000,00 is now effectively worth a mere US$1 790,00, according to the respondents.

“The 3rd respondent (Ncube) himself, acknowledges the erosion of workers’ salaries and savings and pensions, raising by 50% the salaries of civil servants and directing that a US$75 payment would be made to all civil servants in foreign currency nostro accounts. The 2nd and 3rd respondent’s actions have thus contributed to a massive loss of value. They cannot deny this catastrophe.”

Cocksedge said he has contributed a lot to the development of Zimbabwe through his engineering works in the construction of major buildings in Harare, including Bard House, Karigamombe Centre, CABS Millennium Towers, Pegasus House, Harare International School, the European Union office block as well as Chinhoyi Hospital, among others.

He also worked for the Ministry of Roads and was involved in civil works on the Chinhoyi to Makuti road and the Bulawayo to Hwange road and was involved in the design and construction of bridges on those roads.

-ZimIndependent

By A Correspondent- Jemedza High School is reportedly forcing parents to pay for the second term online lessons in forex.

A source privy to the development confirmed that the school had sent communication to parents instructing them to pay second term fees in united states dollars.

We publish below the messages sent to parents on various platforms:

We advise you that every student is required to pay USD150 and USD165 for O level and A level respectively towards tuition for second term. Those who paid for online lessons can deduct the amount they paid and pay the balance. $2750 & $3025 were equivalent to USD 50 & 55 respectively. St Luke Jemedza High School.

ZimEye was in the process of contacting the school headmaster only identified as C Mukupe.

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

The leader of the Labor Economists Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) Linda Masarira has thrown her weight behind the leader of the MDC-T, Thokozani Khupe who is been accused of using her political muscle to take revenge on her former lover.

Khupe recently recalled Gideon Shoko, an MDC Alliance senator who allegedly fathered her child, for siding with her nemesis, Nelson Chamisa in the MDC leadership wrangle.

The move was viewed by some as Khupe’s way to take revenge on her ex-lover. Masarira was clearly not amused by comments on Khupe’s gesture.

She said:

This is the highest level of mediocrity, misogyny & idiocy. I have never seen anyone bring up past lovers of male politicians in Zimbabwe. This trend is getting out of hand & its time that #ZimWomenPoliticians unite to stop this nonsense. There is nothing for women without women.

The use of Khupe’s private life suggests how nasty the leadership crisis in the MDC which started shortly before the demise of the party’s founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai has become.

Khupe recently sought the services of the army and police to oust MDC Alliance from the Harvest House christened Morgan Tsvangirai House.

The power wrangle reportedly started with “Tsvangirai’s unconstitutional appointment of Nelson Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri” to be his vice presidents and was worsened by “Chamisa’s eventual usurpation of power from Khupe who was the legitimate heir to the throne.”

Despite the presence of legal frameworks which promote the participation and inclusion of women in politics and administrative issues, very few women make it to the top echelons of power due to a number of issues including lack of funding and public perception, both a result of a patriarchal society still prevailing in the country.

Joyce Mujuru, the former vice president of Zimbabwe, stands out as one case that gave hope that the country was moving towards the inclusion of women in decision making positions in the public sector.

By A Correspondent- An ex-Lupane State University laboratory technician who fatally assaulted his 52-year-old maid whom he was having an affair with after discovering that she was HIV positive, was yesterday sentenced to five years in jail.

Godson Zondo (40) from Emganwini suburb assaulted his maid Khethiwe Zimba with a plank all over the body in February 2018 after he discovered that she was on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The maid, who was having an extramarital affair with Zondo, had not told him that she was HIV positive and tricked him into having unprotected sex twice at his matrimonial home. Zondo took advantage of his wife’s absence to indulge in sex with the now-deceased. The offence was committed when his wife was away in Filabusi where she is a nurse.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese convicted Zondo of a lesser charge of culpable homicide in connection with Zimba’s death.

Initially, the accused person was charged with murder. He will serve an effective three years in jail after two years were suspended for five years on condition that Zondo does not within that period commit a similar offence. In passing the sentence, Justice Makonese condemned Zondo’s conduct, saying it was deplorable.

“This offence is grave and serious and a life was needlessly lost due to the accused person’s recklessness. The deceased lied about her HIV status and even hid condoms resulting in the two lovers having unprotected sex and it is clear that the accused person got angry upon discovering antiretroviral drugs falling from the deceased’s bag,” he said.

“It is clear that he acted in the heat of the moment due to provocation and lost self-control. He acted irrationally and his actions resulted in loss of life.” The judge said courts discouraged infidelity, saying it undermined the sanctity of marriage.

“The accused person ought to have acted responsibly and exercised caution after the deceased had hidden the condoms. We however, don’t accept accused’s assertion that he was seduced by the deceased when he in fact, failed to exercise self-restraint by engaging in the sexual enterprise and his moral blameworthiness is very high,” said Justice Makonese.

The judge said Zondo deserved a custodial sentence, although it won’t be too harsh given the circumstances under which the offence was committed. Justice Makonese also took into consideration the fact that Zondo compensated the deceased’s family with 18 head of cattle and also assisted with the funeral expenses.

Prosecuting, Mr Blessing Gundani said on February 3, 2018, Zondo and the now-deceased developed a sexual relationship after Zimba had assured the accused person that she was HIV negative and they had unprotected sex.

“On February 11, 2018, the accused and deceased had another unprotected sexual intercourse. However, after sex, the accused person discovered some ARV drugs which had fallen from deceased’s handbag,” he said.

The court heard that Zondo got angry and he confronted the deceased and demanded to know why she lied. The two were involved in a heated argument which degenerated into a fight. He took a plank and indiscriminately attacked the deceased and she fell headlong to the ground and bled profusely.

Zimba, the court heard, died in hospital the following day. According to the post-mortem, the cause of death was severe skeleton-muscular damages, multiple injuries and callous murder.

 In his warned and cautioned statement, Zondo said the deceased seduced him after she opened the door half naked and suggested that they have unprotected sex. Mr Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners represented the accused person.

-statemedia

A storm is brewing in Zanu-PF over the ruling party’s newly-launched war veterans’ wing – pitting many former freedom fighters against their national spokesperson Douglas Mahiya.

This comes as there are widening fissures in the former liberation movement, which was split in the middle during the last years in office of the country’s late ex-president Robert Mugabe – who was unexpectedly toppled from power by a stunning and popular military coup in November 2017.

The launch of the war veterans’ league follows the resolutions that were made at Zanu-PF’s December 2019 annual conference, which moved to adopt the ex-combatants’ wing as an integral organ of the party.

Enquiries by the Daily News yesterday showed that the war veterans’ wing is widely seen as crucial in the ruling party’s problematic succession matrix.

Now, a tag team made up of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) and war collaborators is accusing the under-fire Mahiya of “unilaterally” launching the wing without further consultations with key stakeholders.

This comes after Mahiya launched the Mashonaland Central war veterans’ wing last month, where he presided over appointments into the body – allegedly without consulting his colleagues.

“We are extremely surprised to note that Mahiya decided to rush to launch the league even before the party’s constitution has been amended to accommodate that … and without consulting veterans of the liberation struggle.

“The league formation was just rushed through the politburo, central committee and (2019 Zanu-PF) conference (in Goromonzi) without consulting stakeholders.

“Provinces were expecting Mahiya to come to them to explain and update them on the modalities of conference resolutions on the league,” agitated war veterans’ chairpersons drawn from the country’s 10 provinces said yesterday.

“Ever since the period of the conference, Mahiya has not addressed veterans of the liberation struggle in any of the 10 provinces, yet he rushes to launch the league.

“One wonders whose interests he is serving, also given the calibre of the people pushing him.

“The war veterans demanded the party to reverse the appointments which were made during the (Mashonaland Central) meeting,” the chairpersons said further.

“The party procedures are that such occasions are handled by the commissariat department. The absence of the commissariat department on such a crucial occasion raises a lot of questions,” they added.

ZNLWVA secretary-general Victor Matemadanda – who doubles up as Zanu-PF national political commissar – confirmed that the party’s commissariat department was responsible for managing such exercises.

“I don’t know who organised that meeting because the issue of party structures is under the commissariat department and we should have known that there is a meeting to launch the war veterans’ league.

“I don’t know what really happened. Maybe he (Mahiya) has a special permission to do that,” the guarded Matemadanda told the Daily News yesterday.

On his part, the vice chairperson of the Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators (Ziliwaco), Josephine Gandiya, accused Mahiya of allegedly disrespecting President Emmerson Mnangagwa by not following the ruling party’s procedures in the establishment of the former freedom fighters league.

“Mahiya was told by the president when we met him last year that he must work with all associations. We are surprised to hear that he has launched the league in Mashonaland Central without consulting anyone.

“We have nothing to do with Mahiya’s purported launch. He is forming his own league which has nothing to do with the real war veterans.

“Mahiya is working against the president. As an association, our duty is to second people who are going to be part of the war veterans’ league.

“In our view, the league has not been launched. We totally dismiss what Mahiya did,” Gandiya told the Daily News yesterday.

Contacted for his view, Mahiya refused to comment. However, he got backing from Zanu-PF secretary for administration – Obert Mpofu – who hailed him for having launched the war veterans’ wing in Mashonaland Central.

“I also want to acknowledge the strides taken by the secretary of war veterans wing comrade Mahiya – in conjunction with the Mashonaland Central politburo members, central committee members and honourable ministers from that province – for the restructuring of the war veterans committee at the historic Atlanta farm in Muzarabani, of which (Richard) Chirongwe was appointed as the interim chairperson,” Mpofu said.

During Mugabe’s last few years in power, Mnangagwa was involved in a hammer and tongs war with the Generation 40 (G40) faction which had coalesced around the nonagenarian’s erratic wife Grace.

The vicious brawling took a nasty turn when Mnangagwa was allegedly poisoned by his rivals during one of Mugabe’s highly-divisive youth interface rallies in Gwanda in 2017.

Mnangagwa’s fate was eventually sealed on November 6, 2017 when Mugabe fired his long-time lieutenant a few days after the then VP’s allies had booed the irascible Grace during a tense rally at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.

However, tables were dramatically turned on Mugabe when the military rolled in their tanks on November 15 of that year and deposed the long-ruling geriatric from power – which saw a number of alleged G40 kingpins fleeing into self-imposed exile soon afterwards.

But despite Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power, some ambitious bigwigs in the former liberation movement continue to stand accused of plotting to unseat the new Zanu-PF leader.

This comes as political analysts have said a proposed   new law which seeks to empower Mnangagwa to handpick his deputies could see him deciding who takes over after him, both as Zanu-PF’s and the country’s new leader.

Parliament has just held public hearings across the country, ahead of Constitutional Amendment Number 2 Bill being debated in the august House – where it is expected to sail through as Zanu-PF enjoys a super majority.

At the same time, critics say the Bill – which seeks to introduce at least 27 amendments to the Constitution, including dropping the presidential election running mate clause – is retrogressive.

The running mate clause was supposed to become operational from the fast-approaching 2023 general elections, which Mnangagwa has already indicated he will participate in.

The Bill also intends to amend the country’s supreme law to give Mnangagwa the power to appoint the prosecutor-general, extend the terms of retiring judges, increase the women’s quota in Parliament by 10 years, create a youth quota in the National Assembly, and appoint more non-constituency ministers, among other things.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases have risen to 625 after eight more people tested positive for coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care announced the development in a statement issued on the 3rd of July saying six of the new infections are returnees from South Africa while the remaining two cases were, a returnee from Botswana and a local case.

Three more people recovered from the virus bringing the total of recoveries to 176.

Recall of MDCA Councillors

The MDC Alliance condemns the recall of 4 Harare City Councilors by Minister July Moyo of Zanu Pf on the instruction of the MDCT.

This action is the first step toward the decimation of councils whose mandate comes from the will of the people.

We have noted that Zanu PF is stalling the holding of by-elections because the people will just vote back the recalled councilors. This sideshow will not in any way help service delivery or improve the plight of the ordinary Zimbabwean. It is a move calculated to cause confusion and shift attention from the national crisis.

As the MDC Alliance, we remain resolute and firmly focused on fighting for a people-centred government at local level. We shall continue to make sure that the people in the wards whose representatives have been removed are represented and their service delivery needs are met.

This unnecessary destabilization of the people’s government is a passing phase.

To our councillors, my reminder to you is that you have a covenant with the people in your respective wards. They voted for you and you accepted to carry the load of superior services for the people. This bond between yourselves and the people cannot be broken by anybody. Whether you have been recalled or are awaiting recall, let us remember that we account to the people and we must continue working in our communities unperturbed.

Sesel Zvidzai
Sec Local Gvt and Rural Development, MDCAlliance

A Uitenhage family had to organise two funerals in the space of four days after discovering that they had buried a stranger.

The bungle was allegedly caused by Uitenage hospital mortuary workers after the name tags of the bodies were switched.

The hospital refused to allow the widow of the one of the men to view the body of her husband prior to the funeral, due to Covid-19 regulations.

“They refused to allow me to view my husband’s body at the hospital mortuary due to Covid-19 regulations. Now I buried the wrong person.”

These were the words of a heartbroken Eastern Cape widow who exclusively told News24 that due to a bungle at Uitenhage Provincial Hospital’s mortuary, the body of her 79-year-old husband was mixed up with that of someone else.

As a result, she had to organise two funerals in the space of four days this week.

Retired nurse Nomsa Noda, 67, who worked at the same hospital where her husband died, said she was shocked when an undertaker, accompanied by her pastor, visited her on Wednesday to tell her she had buried the wrong person.

Her husband Vukile Noda, 79, died of Covid-19 on 22 June after he was admitted to the hospital seven days earlier.

Noda claimed the mix-up happened when her husband’s name tag was put on the body of another person, who also died of Covid-19.

She ended up burying the stranger at a funeral at Matanzima Cemetery in Uitenhage on Sunday.

People travelled from across the country to pay their respects on the day.

The mourners included her daughter Zuziwe Noda who teaches at a Rustenburg school.

“I did not even have the strength to call all those people or my daughter to tell her the man she came to bid farewell to was not her father.

On Thursday, she organised another funeral for her husband and the service was attended by less than 20 people.

‘He could not sleep that night’

“The second funeral service was too small because 80% of the mourners had already travelled back to their towns of residence, thinking that they had said their goodbyes to my husband. Calling and asking them to return for the right funeral would have been inconsiderate.”

“He said he was scared to come immediately. He said he could not sleep that night, so he went to our pastor to tell him the news and they both came to our house on Wednesday. We buried him on Thursday.”

“When they came to tell us this, we could not sleep a wink the entire Wednesday night. I am so traumatised by this situation,” said Noda.

Nyiki Funeral Directors’ owner Zway Nyiki confirmed the incident and slammed the health department for creating “chaos”.

Counsel the family

“The health department must answer because they are the ones who created this chaos. Yesterday they were doing door-to-door visits, apologising to everyone, including me and the Noda family. They must answer.”

The pastor from the Church of God and Saints of Christ church, Siphiwo Mangena, said when Nyiki came to him with the news, he prayed and asked God to grant him strength.

“I had to counsel the family… The undertaker was too shocked and scared to break the news alone so we went together.”

Mangena – who was the only member of the church who could make it to the second funeral on Thursday – said in his 17 years as a pastor, he had never experienced this.

Mangena said:I prayed, sang and preached alone in front of the 10 mourners. It was very sad. A more dignified funeral was organised for the wrong person on Sunday. This was a big shock, I have never seen anything like this before. That initial funeral was well planned and had financial implications because the church members pledged and bought bouquets of flowers. The choir was there as well, thinking we were bidding farewell to a senior and respected member of our church.

Noda said the mix-up could have been easily avoided.

“Initially they agreed to show us the body prior to the funeral. They said they would allow two people to view the body behind a glass wall at the mortuary. However, that did not happen.”

Integrity, humility

To make matters worse, Noda said the health department never tested her and everyone who stayed with the deceased. She added that a company had to be hired to decontaminate her Luphondwana Street house in Uitenhage’s largest township, Nobuhle.   

The costs for the initial funeral were R13 000.

“We chose another coffin for the second funeral and were granted another grave.”

She said they heard that the affected family would will exhume the body she initially buried and rebury it.

-News24

Own Correspondent

Members of the Senate have taken Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to task accusing him of being a security threat in the country with his policies.

The senators said the foreign currency trading system, introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) last week, was a serious threat as prices of goods and commodities are spiralling every week.

Masvingo MDC Alliance Senator Tichinani Mavetera accused Ncube of implementing policies that were threatening the country’s stability and security.

“As we heard from the minister, the policy he introduced has become a security risk to the country. This is because we are seeing strikes in all sectors of the economy which is a real threat to the stability of Zimbabwe,” said Mavetera.

In response, Ncube dismissed Mavetera’s assertions.

“Security risk to the country is not the policies we have introduced but the speculators, those who are dealing in the parallel market and involved in illicit activities,” Ncube said.

He added there was nothing government could do more for civil servants as the public workers were recently covered by a 50% salary hike and a US$75 Covid-19 cushioning allowance.

“The other point is that for the civil servants, we are doing various things. We have increased their salaries by 50% and this a temporary cushioning allowance during this Covid-19 period while we negotiate for a normal call adjustment.

“We have added another allowance of US$75 for all civil servants to cushion them from inflation during this difficult time. Negotiations are going on as we speak. This is just a gesture from the employer. To be clear the saboteur is the person on the parallel market.”

Ncube said the government had allowed the floating of free funds to bring transparency and efficiency in the trading of foreign currency and extinguish the thriving foreign currency black market.

“There is only one exchange rate. We allowed for the use of free funds to give consumers and citizenry flexibility when they go for shopping and paying for goods and services and to manage money supply by allowing circulation and easy transaction activity and stabilise our currency,” he told the senators.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy president, Tendai Biti, has described Emmerson Mnangagwa as a cunning and callous political figure whose record of brutality is well-known.

Biti said Mnangagwa personally hounded Dr Joshua Nkomo out of Zimbabwe.

Biti also described the recalling of MPs as an attempt by Zanu PF to destroy the popular opposition party.

“The continued expulsion of our MPs is simply illegal and unacceptable.

It is an insult to the electorate that voted MDC Alliance .

It is a violation of the right to freedom of association. It is a major assault on democracy . Emmerson you are absolutely shameless,” argued Biti.

The desperate psychotic zeal to destroy our movement will never work. In the loser of an election ends up as the leader of the party that defeated her.

Emmerson and Thokozanu’s efforts are futile It is time to end the madness and protect our struggle.It’s time to finish it off…

As we remember Joshua Nkomo let us not forgot that it was Emmerson who personally hounded him out of Zim. His autobiography has no kind words for Emmerson who planted arms on ZAPU farms and executed Gukurahundi. 30 years later Emmerson is still up to the same nonsense,” Biti added.

Opposition MDC Alliance Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has questioned President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the newly gazetted Freedom of Information bill saying it serves no purpose when the civil liberties are not respected.

Responding to Mnangagwa who posted on Twitter that the new Freedom of Information bill was step towards creating a more accountable and transparent, Mahere said the state was abducting and sexually assaulting citizens, police were shooting people while the army was invading private properties.

She also questioned the closure of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange among other things the state was involved in.

Youth Sports Arts and Recreation Deputy Minister and Wedza South MP Tinoda Machakaire has warned business people in his constituency who are refusing to accept bond notes and Ecocash for payments.

He said it was an act of economic sabotage and those implicated should be arrested as it was derailing economic recovery and his work as the local representative.

Machakaire was responding to the concerns raised by villagers against errant business people who were only accepting US dollars on Goneso ward on Thursday.

“President Emmerson Mnangagwa has already told you that there are economic saboteurs and these people are part of them. Now in my capacity as your MP and Government official I am warning these people to stop this madness because it is making life difficult for the villagers. We will be forced to act against such behavior,” he said.

He was some of the measures being taken by the Central bank were meant for illegal foreign currency dealers not for the ordinary citizens and business community should not take advantage of that.

“We have seen the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announcing some measures recently but they are meant to stop illegal foreign currency dealings and not to make life difficult for ordinary citizens. So the business community should not take advantage of that,” he said.

The youthful MP said the end of such behavior from the business community was worrying.

He encouraged villagers to identify areas where they can start fishery projects.

“We want to start fishery projects because they can assist on community development. That is the only way we can capacitate our people and fight disasters like drought and hunger in our communities,” he said.

Zanu PF youth league Mashonaland East province chairman Kelvin Mutsvairo concurred with Machakaire saying they would work to flash out errant business people.

“This is not right because they are making it worse for the people here in Hwedza South and some other parts of the country. These economic saboteurs will meet their fate very soon because even President Mnangagwa has been clear that this has to come to an end,” he said.

Villagers thanked him for bringing the fishery project saying it would open several business opportunities for them.

Former minister Professor Jonathan Moyo may have to flee Kenya to avoid extradition to Zimbabwe on fraud and related charges involving the alleged diversion of US$244 575 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef).

He is believed to be living in Kenya with his wife, Beatrice Ambiyo, who is of Kenyan origin.

Now, after waiting more than 30 months for the former minister to return, Government is seeking the assistance of the Kenyan authorities to bring Prof Moyo to court on the 14 counts of fraud, money laundering, criminal abuse of office, and corruptly concealing personal interest to a principal.

The Kenyans have been assured that Prof Moyo will face the criminal corruption-related charges already listed should he return or be returned to Zimbabwe.

He is accused of defrauding Zimdef of over US$244 575 and misallocating other funds for purposes not covered by the Zimdef regulations. He is jointly charged with four others — Godfrey Gandawa, Fredrick Mandizvidza, Shepherd Honzeri and Nicholas Mapute.

This week the Prosecutor General’s office wrote to Kenya, seeking mutual legal assistance to bring the former minister to face the Zimbabwean courts

Chief Law officer Mr Chris Mutangadura processed the papers based on a sworn affidavit by Acting Deputy Prosecutor-General Mr Nelson Mutsonziwa.

The prosecution premised its request on the Extradition (Designated Countries) Order of 1990 which designated Kenya as one of the nations to which the Government can seek legal mutual assistance in extradition cases.

According to the request, the Prosecutor-General has since prepared indictment papers for the trial of Prof Moyo and his accomplices in the High Court, but he is nowhere to be found.

“The matter requires urgent attention as the accused have a constitutional right to be prosecuted within a reasonable time whilst State witnesses who are available ought to testify before any supervening events curtail their adduction of evidence,” said the formal request.

“I therefore humbly request the competent authorities of the Republic of Kenya to treat this matter as urgent and give it priority that the authorities’ circumstances permit,” reads the request.

“The accused will not be prosecuted for any offence other than fraud, based only upon the facts stated in this request. This request is not being pursued for political reasons or any ulterior purpose. The Republic of Zimbabwe also undertakes to render assistance to the Republic of Kenya in any criminal matter,” read the letter.

While Zimbabwe does not have an extradition agreement with Kenya, the Minister of Home Affairs can designate any country listed in the Extradition Order of 1990.

Prof Moyo was arrested by Zacc in 2017. He swiftly applied to the Constitutional Court, arguing his rights had been violated, submitting that Zacc had no arresting powers, and that police Sergeant Munyaradzi Chacha, who was on secondment to Zacc, had no powers to arrest him by virtue of the secondment.

The Constitutional Court ruled that the minister deserved no preferential treatment and that he should, like anyone else, follow the normal criminal procedure of arrest and appear before a magistrate.

It was found that he had jumped the gun by approaching the Constitutional Court instead of challenging his arrest at the lower court; the secondment of police officers to the Zacc did not strip them of their arresting powers, the court ruled.

-State Media

The leader of the Labor Economists Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) Linda Masarira has thrown her weight behind the leader of the MDC-T, Thokozani Khupe who is been accused of using her political muscle to take revenge on her former lover.

Khupe this Wednesday recalled Gideon Shoko, an MDC Alliance senator who fathered her child, for siding with her nemesis, Nelson Chamisa in the MDC leadership wrangle.

Below is Linda Masarira’s outburst against ZimEye.com on the news article revealing Khupe’s unprecedented move.

This is the highest level of mediocrity, misogyny & idiocy. I have never seen anyone bring up past lovers of male politicians in Zimbabwe. This trend is getting out of hand & its time that #ZimWomenPoliticians unite to stop this nonsense. There is nothing for women without women. pic.twitter.com/1xmX00jEAi

— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) July 3, 2020

Farai Dziva|Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume says he is ready to lead peaceful protests against Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

According to Ngarivhume, Mnangagwa has dismally failed to revive the economy.

In a statement Transform Zimbabwe said:

Jacob Ngarivhume is a man on a mission. His vision is to liberate Zimbabwe from its former liberators who have now become its captors.

He has stepped in to fill the leadership vacuum.

Zimbabwe has been on a knife edge for some time. The economy which has been on auto pilot has finally hit rock bottom. ED’s clueless government is scratching everywhere but can not find answers. Corruption has reached unprecedented levels, with the recent Covigate which implicated and embarrassed the First family, a case in point.

Zimbabweans are fed up and are ready to confront this bloodsucking animal called ZANU PF government.

The restless and impoverished civil servants are demanding US denominated salaries.

Nurses have already downed tools. Vendors are locked down at home under this covid induced lockdown, while the cost of living continues to skyrocket.

Mthulism has surely failed the nation.

The democratic space has continued to shrink with alleged abductions every month. Rumours of an imminent coup are everywhere while the nation is being railroaded into another Constitutional amendment meant to give the incumbent almighty power.

And these are desperate times indeed.

Writing on his twitter handle, Ngarivhume issued a call encouraging citizens to unite

He also promised to lead from the front on the 31st of July 2020:

“It’s not about politicians, it’s about the nation, our children, our future.
ZANUPFmustgo”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa will address a landmark e-rally on Sunday.

The youthful leader is expected to address the nation on the deepening economic crisis, social unrest and the rampant violation of human rights by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

The e-rally will be held under the theme, “Fight for Better Livelihoods.”

“On Sunday 5 July, we will host an e-rally under the theme “Fight for Better Livelihoods.”

The rally will start at 1400hrs. The keynote address will be at 1500hrs by President
@nelsonchamisa . Tune in on all our online channels,” the party announced.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 induced national lockdown, Chamisa has not had an opportunity to address his party supporters on the current challenges facing the movement including the Supreme Court ruling and subsequent events that have seen a rival faction headed by Thokozani Khupe grabbing party assets while also recalling legislators.

According to MDC Alliance National Deputy Spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo, thousands of Zimbabweans and party supporters are ready for the e-rally.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy president, Tendai Biti, has described Emmerson Mnangagwa as a cunning and callous political figure whose record of brutality is well-known.

Biti said Mnangagwa personally hounded Dr Joshua Nkomo out of Zimbabwe.

Biti also described the recalling of MPs as an attempt by Zanu PF to destroy the popular opposition party.

“The continued expulsion of our MPs is simply illegal and unacceptable.

It is an insult to the electorate that voted MDC Alliance .

It is a violation of the right to freedom of association. It is a major assault on democracy . Emmerson you are absolutely shameless,” argued Biti.

The desperate psychotic zeal to destroy our movement will never work. In the loser of an election ends up as the leader of the party that defeated her.

Emmerson and Thokozanu’s efforts are futile It is time to end the madness and protect our struggle.It’s time to finish it off…

As we remember Joshua Nkomo let us not forgot that it was Emmerson who personally hounded him out of Zim. His autobiography has no kind words for Emmerson who planted arms on ZAPU farms and executed Gukurahundi. 30 years later Emmerson is still up to the same nonsense,” Biti added.

Alert

3 July 2020

Masvingo
State agents have besieged the residence of MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Organiser Godfrey Kurauone who is the councillor for ward 4 Masvingo urban.

Kurauone was not available at the time they besieged his residence.

The state agents claimed they wanted to talk to him . They coerced his wife to give them details of his whereabouts and his travel and communications pattern and in the process they took the contact number of his wife.

Intimidation remains rife in the new dispensation where civic and political spaces are continuously being blocked.

Womberaiishe Nhende
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Deputy Spokesperson

Harare – Local doctors have warned against complacency saying the fight against the coronavirus was not yet over.

These remarks were made as some considered a decline in the number of coronavirus cases recorded in Zimbabwe earlier this week to be a signal that things were normalising.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights Doctors (ZADHR) secretary Norman Matara, however, warned of the possibility of a second wave of the virus.

He added:
We need to remain extra vigilant and cautious, continue enhancing our disease surveillance and make sure the public continues to practise social distancing and good hygiene practices.

With cases of COVID-19 continuing to increase in neighbouring South Africa, and we have people returning home from that country, we should always remain on high alert. It is definitely not time to relax.

His remarks were echoed by the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during his media briefing on Monday.

He said the virus still had a lot of room to move therefore the “hard reality is: this is not even close to being over.”

The Ministry of Health and Child Care reported on Wednesday that the country had 605 cases with the majority of cases being returnees from other countries including South Africa-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Jemedza High School is reportedly forcing parents to pay for the second term online lessons in forex.

A source privy to the development confirmed that the school had sent communication to parents instructing them to pay second term fees in united states dollars.

We publish below the messages sent to parents on various platforms:

We advise you that every student is required to pay USD150 and USD165 for O level and A level respectively towards tuition for second term. Those who paid for online lessons can deduct the amount they paid and pay the balance. $2750 & $3025 were equivalent to USD 50 & 55 respectively. St Luke Jemedza High School.

ZimEye was in the process of contacting the school headmaster only identified as C Mukupe.

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

Nurses in public health institutions in Zimbabwe today said that they had gone on strike over what they called poor pay and incapacitation.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enoch Dongo said most members had already completely used up their June pay, and were having difficulties surviving.

“All nurses have embarked on a nationwide withdrawal of labour due to incapacitation. The salary that they got in June was eroded by inflation and it cannot take them a month.

“So nurses are severely incapacitated and they have exercised their democratic right to withdraw their labour,” he said.

The government last month increased salaries for civil servants, including nurses in public health institutions, by 50 percent, and offered an additional US$75 allowance, but this is yet to be paid.

The government has said it was still working on the pay increment, and payment modalities for the US dollar allowance, which will be in effect for just three months.

But Dongo said the delay had taken a heavy financial toll on nurses, hence the strike.

He said some public health institutions were victimising the striking nurses, a claim which could not be verified.

Dongo cited Parirenyatwa Hospital where he claimed nurses were being evicted from the institution’s hostels after refusing to be at work.

-New Ziana

The leader of the Labor Economists Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) Linda Masarira has thrown her weight behind the leader of the MDC-T, Thokozani Khupe who is been accused of using her political muscle to take revenge on her former lover.

Khupe this Wednesday recalled Gideon Shoko, an MDC Alliance senator who fathered her child, for siding with her nemesis, Nelson Chamisa in the MDC leadership wrangle.

Below is Linda Masarira’s outburst against ZimEye.com on the news article revealing Khupe’s unprecedented move.

This is the highest level of mediocrity, misogyny & idiocy. I have never seen anyone bring up past lovers of male politicians in Zimbabwe. This trend is getting out of hand & its time that #ZimWomenPoliticians unite to stop this nonsense. There is nothing for women without women. pic.twitter.com/1xmX00jEAi

— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) July 3, 2020

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has said that it is investigating a shootout incident which occurred at Tarkka Forest, Manicaland where two people died.

Below is the police’s statement in full.

03 JULY, 2020, SHOOTING INCIDENT AT TARKKA FOREST, MANICALAND.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating an unfortunate shooting incident which occurred today at TARKKA forest, Chimanimani where two people died and one was injured when timber poachers clashed with Police officers.

The poachers had left a tractor and trailer when Zimbabwe Republic Police deployed members on 1st July 2020 and grouped on 3rd July 2020 before attacking police officers with a Police Sergeant being trampled upon by thirty suspects before other police officers reacted. They fired warning shots which were ignored until the three suspects were shot and taken to Rusitu Mission Hospital. Two suspects died on admission while the other one is currently admitted at the same institution.

Police are conducting comprehensive inquiries into this regrettable incident and urge members of the public to observe the law at all times.

Own Correspondent

Zimbabwe Police shot two people dead in Tarkka timber forest in Manicaland, the ZPR spokesperson has said. The two  suspects are reported to have been poaching timber in the Chimanimani forest.

The police has released the statement below after the regrettable incident:

“ZRP PRESS STATEMENT [BREAKING NEWS] 03 JULY 2020 SHOOTING INCIDENT AT TARKKA FOREST, MANICALAND.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating an unfortunate shooting incident which occurred today at TARKKA forest, Chimanimani where two people died and one was injured when timber poachers clashed with Police officers. The poachers had left a tractor and trailer when Zimbabwe Republic Police deployed members on 1st July 2020 and grouped on 3rd July 2020 before attacking police officers with a Police Sergeant being trampled upon by thirty suspects before other police officers reacted. They fired warning shots which were ignored until the three suspects were shot and taken to Rusitu Mission Hospital. Two suspects died on admission while the other one is currently admitted at the same institution. Police are conducting comprehensive inquiries into this regrettable incident and urge members of the public to observe the law at all times.”

The incident has caused disgruntlement from citizens who believe the police could have been more cautious not to kill the pair.

NewsDay

NELSON Chamisa’s MDC Alliance has vowed to block Thokozani Khupe and her party from replacing proportional representation (PR) legislators and senators recalled by the MDC-T from Parliament over the past month as the battleground shifts to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).

This followed the MDC-T’s recall yesterday of four councillors from Harare City Council in a bid to chip away at Chamisa’s support in the opposition party.

Denford Ngadziore, Grisot Mandere, Jaison Kautsa and Tonderai Chakeredza received their marching orders from Local Government minister July Moyo in a letter dated June 26 delivered to them yesterday.

MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende said the party was waiting for Zec to declare the vacancies so that it moves to stop Khupe and her team from usurping the mandate of the people.

“The battle is far from over, we won’t let the mandate of the people be hijacked. The process of replacing the senators and PR MPs is not that simple. First there has to be a gazette, then nominations, which are then opened to objections. We will object at every turn if the proper procedures are not followed,” he said.

The MDC Alliance said Zec knew that they registered the party for election purposes and was further aware that it was the MDC-T that recalled legislators from Parliament, yet only Chamisa’s party could replace those MPs.

“We want to see who they will invite to fill the vacancies because Zec knows that MDC-T only has two legislators and they can’t replace MPs on behalf of the MDC Alliance, so it is on that basis that we will block Khupe and her cabal,” he said.

Zec, in its process to replace recalled senators and PR legislators, allows for objections to be made by voters and the political party involved.

“Notify the public of the nomination to fill the vacancy in the Gazette … afford any person who is a voter to lodge any written objection (together with reasons for the objection) to nominate within a specified time from the date of the publication,” part of Zec’s procedures in replacing senators and PR MPs states.

MDC-T said it would replace those recalled at the right time and would not be stopped by Chamisa or any of his members.

“We have not yet replaced those who were recalled because we are waiting for processes by Zec, we will replace them within that context when the time is ready. There is a Supreme Court ruling and it’s very clear who is in charge,” MDC-T deputy spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni said.

Moyo, in a letter addressed to town clerk Hosea Chisango, wrote: “I wish to inform you that I am in receipt of a letter from the Movement for Democratic Change stating that Cllr Ngadziore ward 16, Cllr Grisot Mandere ward 44, Cllr Jaison Kautsa ward 37 and Cllr Tonderai Chakeredza ward 31 have been expelled from that party.”

He said following the expulsion of the four councillors from their party, they were no longer councillors and, therefore, vacancies be declared in their wards.

“In terms of section 278(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with section 129(1)(k), ward 16, ward 44, ward 37 and ward 31 of Harare City Council are now vacant,” the minister wrote.

Khupe, who is hoping to rope Ian Makone into her corner, spared him from recall even though he was appointed secretary of elections in Chamisa’s standing committee and also signed an affidavit declaring the MDC Alliance the legitimate occupants of the party headquarters, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House.

Ngadziore said he was not moved by the recall and would continue to serve his ward even outside chambers as his party continues to search for a response to Khupe’s assault.

“You voted for me as your councillor under the MDC Alliance, yet I am being recalled by MDC-T and one Douglas Mwonzora. This did not come as a surprise to me and I am not regretting as you are the ones who gave me the mandate through the MDC Alliance. I will continue providing necessary leadership at community level until such a time we meet again,” he wrote to his ward.

Reuters

ZIMBABWE’S Landela Mining Venture has reached agreements to take over and revive four idle state-owned gold mines and is in talks to buy more assets from a privately-owned bullion producer, its chief executive said on Friday.

Unlisted Landela is majority-owned by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, an adviser to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and one of the most prominent business people in the country.

Commodities trader Trafigura partnered with Tagwirei in the lucrative fuel sector until buying him out earlier this year. Landela has been on a buying spree of local mining assets since 2019.

Chief executive David Brown, former Impala Platinum Holdings CEO, told Reuters that Landela’s takeover of gold mines run by state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) would be funded through debt and equity.

The mines were put up for sale in 2018 but the government cancelled the process last year without giving a reason.

“Agreements are in place, but a close-out of the process is still subject to being finalised with the appropriate authorities,” Brown said in e-mailed responses to questions.

“I would expect it to be completed in Q3 and will be funded through a mixture of debt and equity.”

The four mines have a capacity to produce at least 85,000 ounces a year, according to ZMDC.

Gold is the single biggest forex earner in Zimbabwe and controlling its production gives Landela greater access to dollars, which are in short supply in the country.

Brown said Landela last month restarted operations at the 21,000 ounces a year Shamva mine after buying it from Metallon Corporation, owned by South African businessman Mzi Khumalo.

Landela plans a bigger open pit mine at Shamva and is in talks to purchase Metallon’s three other gold mines, said Brown.

A Metallon spokeswoman declined to comment.

Until 2017, Metallon was Zimbabwe’s largest gold miner, producing 100,000 ounces a year. A 2016 estimate showed Metallon had a mineral resource of 8.3 million ounces of gold.

“If we can have time to develop the assets properly with the appropriate amount of capital, this will be a significant business,” Brown said.

Last year Landela became partner of Russia’s Vi Holding in the Darwendale platinum project and bought Freda Rebecca gold mine.

Own Correspondent

The British Embassy in Harare has dismissed as fake a document circulating on social media which suggests that the United Kingdom government imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe to propel the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) into power.

The document is believed to be from ZANU PF circles who have over the years argued that the MDC approached the UK and begged for sanctions on the country.

The document circulating on social media reads:

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE WHITEHALL LONDON 

12/11/2001

SECRETARY OF STATE

MO 7/11/ZB

Dear Scott,

I have received the communication from Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and these are my recommendations:

1) That we mobilise more funds to get the party more liquid than it is at the moment. 

2) That we immediately disengage with Mr Mugabe’s government and lobby the EU to take a common position on sanctions. High Commissioner Briann Dornelly has met with Messrs Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Laxton Biti and David Coltart. The latter two are lawyers who are assisting in the drafting of the sanctions document and are giving great insights on what our role should be in the upcoming 2002 Presidential Elections.

3) It is important that we maintain momentum and pressure on Mr Mugabe, whose party has suffered loses in the parliamentary elections. The MDC has 57 parliamentary seats, so Mr Tsvangirai can win the presidential election if we support him financially.

4) We should also mobilise the civic movement in the country for civil disobedience if Mr Mugabe wins in 2002 presidential elections.

If the MDC does not win the next presidential election or the 2005 parliamentary elections, there will be no prospect of getting into power at any other time as ZANU-PF will get even tougher with the opposition.

These matters are, therefore, very urgent. 

G Hoon Esq

In response, the British Embassy said:

It has been brought to our attention that a photo is being shared online pretending to show a UK government document from 2001. This document is a fake and should be dismissed as such. 

Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive officer Dr Solwayo Ngwenya yesterday said it was important for people to use the cases of new mystery infections as a wake-up call and to start acting in a manner that matches the prevailing situation.

“It is worrying that people continue to walk around wearing masks with the nose sticking out. If people are finding masks uncomfortable, they must know that there is nothing comfortable in using a ventilator. They won’t like it. The worst is yet to come. The country does not have enough resources. We cannot have our hospitals filled with sick Covid-19 patients needing care. It will result in deaths and untold suffering for people. Some people must act responsibly so that we make efforts to contain the virus. These source-unknown infections must teach us something,” said Dr Ngwenya.

A PRIVATE hospital in Bulawayo is charging massive amounts of money – in foreign currency – for Covid-19 treatment.

With government hospitals ill-equipped, and with doctors and nurses on strike, the only hope available for those needing treatment is private care – something beyond the reach of many.

“Kindly be advised that all Covid patients are required to pay USD (American dollars) deposits, US$60 for casualty, US$3,000 for General Ward and US$5,000 for ICU (Intensive Care) hospitalisation,” Obedience Ncube, credit controller for the Catholic run Mata Dei Hospital in Bulawayo, said in a statement.

A government worker earns the equivalent of US$30, which is about half the fee for a basic Covid-19 test at a private hospital.

MYSTERY local Covid-19 transmissions whose source cannot be traced are worrying health experts in the country.

Most Covid-19 cases in the country have been accounted for as either from returning residents or have been linked to confirmed Covid-19 cases.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has reported eleven local transmissions, also known as community infections in the health field, whose sources of infection are unknown.

On Monday, the ministry reported a Covid-19 case who died but the source of infection is not yet known.

A similar report was made on Tuesday that two more cases with unknown sources of infection had been reported in the country, now they have escalated to 11.

Globally, infections are closing in on the 1,1 million mark and deaths have topped 520 000.

In Zimbabwe 605 infections and seven deaths have been recorded.

Health experts have expressed concern over porous borders and the issue of Covid-19 patients escaping from isolation and quarantine centres and going into communities, which they have pointed out as a major potential source of untraceable community infections.

The Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) has since called for naming of people escaping from the centres to protect citizens.

Zima president Dr Francis Chiwora said escapees were a leading cause of the rise in mystery infections in communities and warned that if not addressed properly, Covid-19 infections and deaths could soar.

He said mystery infections were worrisome as contact tracing was difficult and infections could quickly multiply unchecked in communities.

He said porous borders and Covid-19 positive patients escaping from quarantine centres were the most probable source of the mystery infections and called on Government to strengthen security systems at quarantine centres and the country’s borders.

“What we are having are these community infections that are very problematic. You cannot easily trace them unlike the others we have been dealing with from the returning residents and from people linked to already known Covid-19 patients. These ones are showing us that Covid-19 is scattered out there and it is very difficult to follow up on them, because honestly where do you start.

“Suppose a positive person infects people at a supermarket in town. Each of those people go back to their respective suburbs and infects more people. The contact tracing is very difficult and this is worrying because we are not conducting enough tests as a country. If we were testing a lot, it would be better as we would be able to pick on more of these cases,” said Dr Chiwora.

Dr Chiwora called on Government to consider deferring the opening of schools.

“I think it’s worrisome that schools have opened, considering that children may not be the best group to observe Covid-19 prevention measures. We call on Government to defer schools opening especially when considering what has happened in countries such as South Korea and France where after they opened schools, they started recording new cases which escalated rapidly. Those schools had better resources but were still forced to close, what of us?” he asked.

Dr Chiwora called for behaviour change as he said that people were no longer taking necessary precautions to protect themselves in public spaces.

“The community infections cases are showing us that Covid-19 is real. When it is not related to returning residents or known confirmed cases, then it means that there are potentially lots more such cases out there. Quarantine escapees are a major source of this crisis as they are obviously interacting with communities wherever they go,” said Dr Chiwora.

Own Correspondent

Thokozani Khupe has decided to use her newly acquired position to hit back at her ex-lover, Gideon Shoko through recalling him from the Senate.

Shoko was Bulawayo Metropolitan senator and was expelled on Wednesday with other seven legislators.

According to well-placed sources, Shoko and Khupe had a romantic relationship some years ago which led to the birth of a girl.

Khupe, a former senior official in the ZCTU with late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, left the labour group with other leaders 1999 to form MDC.

It was during the time Shoko is said to have sired a daughter with the now opposition leader.

MDC-T deputy spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni dismissed the allegations.

“These recalls have nothing to do with Khupe as they are decided at party level. So far many MPs and senators have been recalled regardless of past relationships,” he said.

Khupe’s fights with Shoko first came to the public domain in 2017 when she clashed with the late MDC-T founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai who snubbed her to appoint then national executive member Shoko to the Senate to replace the late Victor Mapungwana.

The move was inspite of a reported spirited attempt by Khupe then Tsvangirai’s deputy, to block the appointment of Shoko.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Emmerson Mnangagwa has been given up to the 7th July to act or face imminent action. The ultimatum was issued by the ZANU PF youth who has a reputation of paving the way for coups, Godfrey Tsenengamu. Tsenengamu spoke during his press address during the week. His presser came just as the military Commander Valerio Sibanda complained about corruption and what he termed the selfishness of some who have betrayed the founding principles of the liberation struggle. Gen Sibanda went to the point of even hinting that the One Man One Vote principle has been violated.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

https://youtu.be/Smypo1oxC5k

State Media

Following the successful launch of the US$51 million facility for farm mechanisation, United States-headquartered company John Deere now wants to expand the programme to US$250 million to include the supply of mining and road construction equipment.

The present US$51 million deal with the company was officially launched by President Mnangagwa last week and is testimony of the success of the Government’s re-engagement drive, which saw the first batch of the equipment arriving in Zimbabwe early this year.

Now in a letter to Permanent Secretary for Finance and Economic Development, Mr George Guvamatanga, John Deere financial managing director for Sub Saharan Africa Mr Antois van der Westhuizen, after praising the way the Government was implementing the first deal, said the company wanted to expand the operation.

The offer to the Government includes an additional US$49 million for farm mechanisation, US$100 million for construction and mining equipment and US$50 million for road making equipment, taking the total to US$250 million.

He added that the offer would be subject to final credit approval by John Deere Financial if accepted by Government.

“John Deere has embraced confidence in the imminent recovery of the Zimbabwean economy through these three key sectors and our partnership will go a long way in achieving the economic recovery targets,” he said.

The present deal that is already easing equipment shortages among serious farmers, was signed following President Mnangagwa’s engagement with John Deere Agriculture Worldwide president Mr Mark von Pentz, who expressed his willingness to partner the Government in boosting the agriculture sector through mechanisation.

The facility through a local agent, Afgri Zimbabwe, will unlock 1 300 tractors, 80 combined harvesters, 600 planters, 200 disc harrows, 100 boom sprayers and 100 trailers.

It will be used by 5 000 farmers under the National Agriculture Recovery Plan, while the selection of beneficiaries will be based on creditworthiness of the farmers as assessed by CBZ and Stanbic Bank.

Agribank will establish a special equipment leasing vehicle for the purposes of mechanisation service provision, especially for combine harvesters.

In his letter to Mr Guvamatanga, Mr van der Westhuizen expressed his appreciation for the working relationship they have established with Government.

“The US$51 million facility for optimisation of farm mechanisation in Zimbabwe is in progression and the due diligence processes being conducted by the Government of Zimbabwe to guarantee the sustainability of this facility is captivating and absolutely depicts high levels of proficiency hence a successful programme is inevitable,” he said.

Mr Guvamatanga confirmed receipt of the letter but could not provide further comment.

Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza welcomed the proposed offer saying it would go a long way in boosting road construction projects being carried out countrywide.

“We have CMED that deals in equipment and hires out equipment to our departments including the private sector. We did put out a statement that we want to see it fairly capacitated.

“As you can see the potential and the massive road construction projects going on countrywide need efficient equipment and more of it,” he said.

John Deere local representative, Mr Graham Smith said the deal was a testimony of the excellent working relationship with Government and would further develop the mining sector and road construction projects in the country.

Watch the video loading below…..

Own Correspondent

Members of the Senate have taken Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to task accusing him of being a security threat in the country with his policies.

The senators said the foreign currency trading system, introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) last week, was a serious threat as prices of goods and commodities are spiralling every week.

Masvingo MDC Alliance Senator Tichinani Mavetera accused Ncube of implementing policies that were threatening the country’s stability and security.

“As we heard from the minister, the policy he introduced has become a security risk to the country. This is because we are seeing strikes in all sectors of the economy which is a real threat to the stability of Zimbabwe,” said Mavetera.

In response, Ncube dismissed Mavetera’s assertions.

“Security risk to the country is not the policies we have introduced but the speculators, those who are dealing in the parallel market and involved in illicit activities,” Ncube said.

He added there was nothing government could do more for civil servants as the public workers were recently covered by a 50% salary hike and a US$75 Covid-19 cushioning allowance.

“The other point is that for the civil servants, we are doing various things. We have increased their salaries by 50% and this a temporary cushioning allowance during this Covid-19 period while we negotiate for a normal call adjustment.

“We have added another allowance of US$75 for all civil servants to cushion them from inflation during this difficult time. Negotiations are going on as we speak. This is just a gesture from the employer. To be clear the saboteur is the person on the parallel market.”

Ncube said the government had allowed the floating of free funds to bring transparency and efficiency in the trading of foreign currency and extinguish the thriving foreign currency black market.

“There is only one exchange rate. We allowed for the use of free funds to give consumers and citizenry flexibility when they go for shopping and paying for goods and services and to manage money supply by allowing circulation and easy transaction activity and stabilise our currency,” he told the senators.

By A Correspondent- Two Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers stationed at Chombira, Chiweshe were arrested recently after they allegedly fought for a gun.

Luiz Manhezho (36) and Bernard Chibundu (30) are set to appear before Concession magistrates courts on July 10.

Sources close to the investigations allege that on March 3 the two police officers exchanged harsh words during the hand over take over of a gun.

Manhezho picked a heater and assaulted Chibundu on the face and in retaliation Chibundu assaulted Manhezho with a chair.

They were subsequently arrested and were not medically examined.

-online

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has advised its stakeholders that it is developing a policy to guide the holding of elections during the coronavirus pandemic.

We present the statement in full below.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is currently developing a COVID 19 Policy on Elections to guide its operations during this lockdown period. In view of the important role stakeholders play in the entire electoral process, the Commission is calling for your inputs to this draft policy docurnent. All contributions addressed to the Chief Elections Officer should reach the Commission no later than 8 July 2020.

State Media

Firewood sellers should brace for tough times following yesterday’s launch of a nationwide blitz that will see offenders being fined up to $14 500 or face a two-year jail term.

The two weeks’ national blitz code-named “Operation Huni Dzabvepi”, which was launched yesterday in Mbare, Harare by the Forestry Commission, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), saw eight people being arrested and fined $14 500 each.

People cutting down trees for commercial purposes or selling firewood need authority from the Forestry Commission. Residents can still cut trees on their premises and may burn the timber for domestic use, but cannot sell the wood without permission.

In an interview yesterday, Forestry Commission operations manager Mr Lewis Radzire said the operation is targeting hotspots.

“The deforestation has reached alarming levels so as the lead agency as far as the conservation of forests and natural resources is concerned, we have put our hands together with our partners to try to reduce this rampant deforestation that is taking place,” he said.

“With the rising cost of energy, especially electricity, people in major cities are resorting to the environment which they perceive to be defenceless.”

Mr Radzire said there was a booming poultry industry which is specifically looking for charcoal, which is being used for breeding chicks. There is rampant charcoal production mainly in Muzarabani and partly from Mhondoro-Ngezi.

For one to produce a tonne of charcoal, they would need 10 tonnes of firewood. Highways have also seen a strong presence of firewood sellers, leaving massive deforestation.

Mr Radzire warned people purporting to be clearing land for arable purposes, saying there was a procedure to be followed for one to extract firewood from the forest as provided for by the Forest Act.

The Forestry Commission is conducting awareness campaigns to ensure people minimise the wanton cutting down of trees. EMA Harare Metropolitan environmental manager, Mr Robson Mavondo, said resettlement and communal areas around urban areas were largely responsible for cutting trees as source of livelihoods.

By A Correspondent- A nurse at Mater Dei Hospital, a private hospital in Bulawayo has resigned after the hospital victimised him for taking a picture of a memo saying COVID-19 patients will pay US$3 000 for ward admissions and US$5 000 for the ICU.

Xolani Sibanda had reportedly been vocal asking why staff were being paid in RTGS dollars whilst the hospital charged for its services in foreign currency.

Sibanda’s resignation came after the hospital’s management instructed him to write and submit a report this Wednesday giving reasons why he should not be arraigned before a disciplinary committee.

The letter that written to Sibanda by the hospital’s human resources manager M. Tembo which prompted his resignation reads:

It has been brought to the attention of Management that while you were rendering your services on the 15th July 2020 in the high dependency unit at 22.00 hours, you were captured on the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera taking a photograph of an internal memorandum, that was put up on the staff notice board which is located at the Nurses Station using your personal cellphone.

A review of the entire hospital footage was done and it shows that you were the only individual who photographed the confidential document on that day.

May you explain in writing why you took a photograph of a document that is strictly meant internal purposes?

The picture of the document is currently circulating on social media platforms and you are therefore required to submit your written explanation and show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against you.

Your written report should be submitted to the human resources department tomorrow morning at 08.00 hours.

-online

The City Of Harare has issued a public notice indicating that the section along Samora Machel Avenue between Leopold Takawira Street and First Street and Julius Nyerere Way between Sam Nujoma Street and Kwame Nkurumah Avenue will be temporarily closed between the 25th of June 2020 to the 28th of August 2020.

Council said the closure of the road will allow for the construction of a monument at the busy prime spot in the city.

City of Harare further said alternative routes will be recommended by use of informative signs. Council said:

“It is most important to note that during this period Leopold Takawira Street will be two – way up to Nelson Mandela Avenue from Samora Machel Avenue and a section of Kwame Nkrumah Avenue between First Street and Julius Nyerere Way will be one – way for traffic due west.”

The site of the construction is where ZANU PF elements have for a long-time been calling for the setting up of a statue of late former President Robert Mugabe.

Conscious that at 93, Robert Mugabe was to serve a full term if he won the 2018 presidential election ZANU PF officials ordered two statues that were to be erected in his honour when he dies.

The statues remained stuck in North Korea and are rumoured to have since arrived in the country.

The two giant bronze effigies were meant to be erected in Mr Mugabe’s home district of Zvimba and in the Harare at the spot that the City Of Harare is working on.

They were commissioned from a North Korean statue maker, Mansudae Art Studio, whose socialist-realist monuments are spread across the pariah state but have also become a common sight in Africa, where they offered imposing commemorations of the continent’s strongmen for a knockdown price.

2/5 We need to strengthen our surveillance systems by increasing the number of people being tested in the community, as well as conduct a robust contact tracing process.

— ZADHR_DrsHumanRights (@ZadhrDoctors) July 3, 2020

4/5 The long queues for basic commodities like mealie-meal and sugar, where people cannot practise social distancing, is a huge problem.

— ZADHR_DrsHumanRights (@ZadhrDoctors) July 3, 2020

5/5 Health workers also need to be equipped with PPE and be well remunerated so that they are able to do their job well, and properly screen and diagnose Covid-19 suspected cases.

— ZADHR_DrsHumanRights (@ZadhrDoctors) July 3, 2020

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa will address a landmark e-rally on Sunday.

The youthful leader is expected to address the nation on the deepening economic crisis, social unrest and the rampant violation of human rights by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

The e-rally will be held under the theme, “Fight for Better Livelihoods.”

“On Sunday 5 July, we will host an e-rally under the theme “Fight for Better Livelihoods.”

The rally will start at 1400hrs. The keynote address will be at 1500hrs by President
@nelsonchamisa . Tune in on all our online channels,” the party announced.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 induced national lockdown, Chamisa has not had an opportunity to address his party supporters on the current challenges facing the movement including the Supreme Court ruling and subsequent events that have seen a rival faction headed by Thokozani Khupe grabbing party assets while also recalling legislators.

According to MDC Alliance National Deputy Spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo, thousands of Zimbabweans and party supporters are ready for the e-rally.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy president, Tendai Biti, has described Emmerson Mnangagwa as a cunning and callous political figure whose record of brutality is well-known.

Biti said Mnangagwa personally hounded Dr Joshua Nkomo out of Zimbabwe.

Biti also described the recalling of MPs as an attempt by Zanu PF to destroy the popular opposition party.

“The continued expulsion of our MPs is simply illegal and unacceptable.

It is an insult to the electorate that voted MDC Alliance .

It is a violation of the right to freedom of association. It is a major assault on democracy . Emmerson you are absolutely shameless,” argued Biti.

The desperate psychotic zeal to destroy our movement will never work. In the loser of an election ends up as the leader of the party that defeated her.

Emmerson and Thokozanu’s efforts are futile It is time to end the madness and protect our struggle.It’s time to finish it off…

As we remember Joshua Nkomo let us not forgot that it was Emmerson who personally hounded him out of Zim. His autobiography has no kind words for Emmerson who planted arms on ZAPU farms and executed Gukurahundi. 30 years later Emmerson is still up to the same nonsense,” Biti added.

Farai Dziva|Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume says he is ready to lead peaceful protests against Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

According to Ngarivhume, Mnangagwa has dismally failed to revive the economy.

In a statement Transform Zimbabwe said:

Jacob Ngarivhume is a man on a mission. His vision is to liberate Zimbabwe from its former liberators who have now become its captors.

He has stepped in to fill the leadership vacuum.

Zimbabwe has been on a knife edge for some time. The economy which has been on auto pilot has finally hit rock bottom. ED’s clueless government is scratching everywhere but can not find answers. Corruption has reached unprecedented levels, with the recent Covigate which implicated and embarrassed the First family, a case in point.

Zimbabweans are fed up and are ready to confront this bloodsucking animal called ZANU PF government.

The restless and impoverished civil servants are demanding US denominated salaries.

Nurses have already downed tools. Vendors are locked down at home under this covid induced lockdown, while the cost of living continues to skyrocket.

Mthulism has surely failed the nation.

The democratic space has continued to shrink with alleged abductions every month. Rumours of an imminent coup are everywhere while the nation is being railroaded into another Constitutional amendment meant to give the incumbent almighty power.

And these are desperate times indeed.

Writing on his twitter handle, Ngarivhume issued a call encouraging citizens to unite

He also promised to lead from the front on the 31st of July 2020:

“It’s not about politicians, it’s about the nation, our children, our future.
ZANUPFmustgo”

The United Kingdom embassy in Zimbabwe has taken to social media to dismiss as fake a letter from Secretary of State acknowledging communication from the late opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai who apprised him on the situation in Zimbabwe.

According to the fake letter, the UK government recommended funding for civic groups to pile pressure on the Zanu PF administration.

In a Twitter, post, UK in Zimbabwe said the letter was fake and should be dismissed.

“It has been brought to our attention that a photo is being shared online pretending to show a UK government document from 2001. This document is a fake and should be dismissed as such.”

Reports coming in suggest that ZANU PF Midlands province has resolved to readmit seven (7) of the party’s expelled members thereby creating a regional hegemony.

Among the readmitted are former ministers of Sports, Arts and Culture and Labour and Social Services deputy minister, in that order, Makhosini Hlongwane and Tapiwa Matangaidze who had written to the Midlands province seeking to be reinstated in the party structures.

Most of the members were expelled on allegations that they belonged to party factions, Gamatox – led by expelled ex-vice president Joyce Mujuru, and or G40 allegedly ed by the former first lady, Grace Mugabe.

Below is the full list of the readmitted officials.

1. Rugare Gumbo
2. Francis Nhema
3. Jaison Machaya
4. Flora Bhuka
5. Makhosini Hlongwane
6. Tapiwa Matangaidze
7. Annastacia Ndlovhu

This is happening when Zanu PF Harare province has also lifted the suspension of Godfrey Gomwe, the Harare District Coordinating Committee chairperson.

It also comes when President Emmerson Mnangagwa has given the recently expelled Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu the nod to continue with his “empowerment” programmes since he “graciously” accepted his expulsion.

Meanwhile, some have said the opposition MDC which is currently submerged under a prolonged leadership crisis, should emulate the ruling party that readmits its members.

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has recently been recalling and expelling MDC Alliance Members of Parliament and Councillors for giving allegiance to her nemesis Nelson Chamisa.

Pindula

A nurse at Mater Dei has resigned after the hospital victimised him for taking a picture of a memo saying Covid patients will pay US$3000 for ward admissions & US$5000 for the ICU.
Xolani Sibanda had been vocal asking why staff were paid in Bond Notes whilst Mater Dei charged USD.

THE officer commanding police in Harare yesterday appealed to Zimbabwe Republic Police commanders to provide transport and accommodation to junior officers who are facing eviction from their rented accommodation and missing work because their salaries can no longer meet their needs.

In a leaked radio addressed to commanders, seen by NewsDay, titled “Welfare of Members,” the police boss noted that junior officers were earning poor salaries which could no longer meet their needs and that many of them were facing eviction for failure to pay rentals.

Police officers earn an average of $3 000 per month and will this month be getting a COVID-19 allowance of US$75 in their nostro accounts plus an extra $1 500 at a time the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions says the breadbasket is now hovering around $20 000 and subject to change every week following the introduction of the foreign currency auction system.

Officers, who spoke to NewsDay on condition they were not named, said they were facing challenges reporting for duty, while some of their peers were actually collapsing at work due to hunger.

“Presentations have been made to bosses that the situation is now dire, members are struggling with paying rentals, which are being indexed to US dollars. Most police officers face eviction and are failing to buy food and meet basic expenses while we watch our bosses drive top-of-the-range vehicles, stay in plush houses and get benefits that include fuel, airtime and accommodation,” the police officer said yesterday.

Police were also angry that while they were at the forefront of suppressing opposing voices and protecting the ruling elite, they remained poor and neglected.

“They promised us garrison shops, they even said they would get us cheaper mealie-meal and sugar, but none of that is happening, yet it’s us with batons and tear smoke protecting the ruling elite,” another officer said.

In February, government promised to set up subsidized shops in cantonment areas to cushion restive members of the uniformed forces from the rising cost of living, but is yet to fulfill that pledge.

In the communication to commanders, the police boss wrote: “Addressees are being encouraged to continue addressing welfare issues of members under their command, especially during the prevailing phase of unstable economic environment exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Commanders, therefore, should have keen interest and the zeal to assist members where possible.”

Commanders were being urged to ensure that they provide accommodation and transport to officers under their command as many struggled to get to work and face eviction for failure to pay rentals.

“The provision of transport and accommodation on transfers and those staying away from stations, among other pertinent issues, as provided for in the standing orders and regulations, should be prioritised. Impartiality and empathy must be exercised when addressing issues to do with the welfare of subordinates,” the communication read.

On June 21, 1 111 police officers successfully challenged transfers by Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga saying they were incapacitated and could not fund relocation.

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

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said while he could not comment on the issues without getting first-hand information, he was aware that Matanga had appeared before a parliamentary portfolio committee and presented the challenges faced by his officers.

“I am not aware of the issues that you raise, but I know that the Commissioner-General appeared before the relevant parliamentary portfolio committee and told them what is needed in the police service. I will need to access the radio and verify it before I comment on other issues,” he said.

Nyathi also requested the leaked radio so that he could verify its authenticity to which he later responded: “The police signal availed to the media is, in fact, a confidential document in terms of the Official Secrets Act. It was internally intended for police commanders as a reminder to do their work as articulated in Police Regulations and Standing Orders. Remember, the CommissionerGeneral of Police recently appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence and Security, where he articulated the challenges faced by the Zimbabwe Republic Police in policing. The government has made it clear that it is currently addressing issues to do with members’ conditions of service.”

Last week, Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri also revealed before Parliament that morale was low in military barracks, with hungry soldiers, particularly those manning border posts in the wake of COVID-19, now tempted to engage in corrupt activities to sustain themselves.

-Newsday

Opposition MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa will this Sunday address an e-rally, the party has announced.

The e-rally will be held under the theme, “Fight for Better Livelihoods”

“On Sunday 5 July, we will host an e-rally under the theme “Fight for Better Livelihoods.” The rally will start at 1400hrs. The keynote address will be at 1500hrs by President @nelsonchamisa. Tune in on all our online channels,” the party announced.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 induced national lockdown, Chamisa has not had an opportunity to address his party supporters on the current challenges facing the movement including the Supreme Court ruling and subsequent events that have seen a rival faction headed by Thokozani Khupe grabbing party assets while also recalling legislators.

By Own Correspondent| Outspoken Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has hit back at the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda following his six sittings suspension saying he is being put under pressure by Zanu PF to act in a dictatorial manner.

Below is Mliswa’s Twitter thread…

1/ Whilst we’re aware I was ejected from Parly & banned for the next 6 sittings, I believe it’s important when one is in office to comply with the very same rules that you have to preside over. When you don’t, it creates anarchy & dictatorial tendencies emerge

2/ I have a great respect for The Speaker but he is often unnecessarily put under pressure by @ZANUPF_Official. As one who has always advised me to have a comprehensive understanding of the Standing Rules and Orders, I have taken this advice to heart & am as such well versed

3/As a legislator, it’s important to understand the rules that govern the institution you belong to as well as the Zim Constitution. I’ve also taken time to consult with one of the most brilliant constitutional minds I know, @BitiTendai. I’m subsequently going to make a decision

4/My decision will be targeted towards ensuring that the independence of the institution remains intact. It will also assist in dispelling the prevailing fear that institutions become personalised. Parly becomes weak if members are compromised. I’m thinking & looking deep into it

5/ So far from what I’ve gleaned, the decision to ban me for 6 sittings should actually have been 4. These are decisions that may seem small in isolation but have the propensity to add up & tarnish an otherwise impeccable character, due to party pressure.

6/ As a former Chairperson, they worked against me to remove me to protect their own. Just because one has the majority, it shouldn’t mean you abuse the advantage; introspection is needed.

THE High Court in Masvingo will on Monday next week preside over the hearing and determination of an application seeking the release on bail from prison of Ephraim Muthombeni, the Director of Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRAD), who was committed to prison after he was arrested last week and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The 28 year-old Muthombeni was denied bail on Monday 29 June by Masvingo Magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu, who ruled that the MACRAD leader is a flight risk and could escape from standing trial.

Muthombeni, who is represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) had applied for his release on bail after he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members on Sunday 28 June and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa as defined in section 33(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors alleged that Muthombeni faulted President Mnangagwa during an address to some commuters, who were queuing and waiting to board a state-owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company bus, for presiding over Zimbabwe’s agonising economic crisis and demanding that the ZANU PF party leader resigns.

Muthombeni is alleged to have uttered the words; “Murikuona kumira kwamakaita pa queue imhosva ya President E.D. Mnangagwa arikukwidza maprices e fuel achiba mari nevana vake. E.D. must go,” which if loosely translated means; “You are suffering as a result of President Mnangagwa’s poor leadership and corruption committed by himself and his children and his failure to stem fuel price hikes and he should resign.”

Business Times

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) should beef up foreign c u r r e n c y
inflows in order to stabilise the exchange rate instead of suspending the mobile money platforms, analysts have said.

The reactions to new government measures come barely a week after the
government suspended all mobile payment platforms and the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange to pave way for investigations for illicit financial transactions.

Parallel forex market hovers between 1:80 and 1:100 with official bank rate standing at 1:63.7.

Since the closure of mobile money platforms the parallel forex rate has not moved instead it has slightly retreated by ZWL$5.

Economists argued that the government was not sincere in dealing with perpetrators of illicit foreign currency dealers as it has left other avenues for underhand financial dealings.

Economist Persistence Gwanyanya told Business Times that more needs to be done to stabilise the forex rate as the illicit forex dealers are known for improvising thereby evading new restrictions.

“The monetary authorities should reinforce foreign currency inflows in order to stabilise the forex rate and one way to do so is to instill confidence in the market to unlock US$1bn exporters’ money locked in the FCA account,” he said.

“The closing of mobile payment platforms is only one piece of the puzzle
which will not solve the forex challenges as a wholesome approach is needed to deal with this complex situation.

Confidence issues are the ones affecting the rates day and night.”

In a snap survey carried out by the Business Times, most forex exchange dealers were not operating payment platforms like Ecocash and One Wallet.
Those dealing with Ecocash were trading at 1:80 and One Wallet at 1:90 but are using personal lines to transact.

The illegal forex traders are using more than five personal lines to trade on the parallel market.

Another economist John Robertson said the mobile money payment platforms have somehow contained illegal forex dealers as very some amounts limited to social transactions are transacted to buy groceries and utilities payment.

“We expect more forex to come through the forex auction trade system in the next three to four weeks as the dollar will be trading higher.

The prices of commodities will continue to rise as long as the rate hasn’t stabilised,” Robertson said.

“We hope that the commodities prices will stabilise soon after the importers have recovered the money they have used to buy forex from the auction system from as high as 1: 100.”

He said the parallel market will lose steam once the auction system gains
momentum.

RBZ has implored all holders of foreign currency to sell their money through the apex bank’s auction market at their preferred prices, to
enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the new platform.

This week, RBZ governor John Mangudya said holders of hard currency among them exporters, non-governmental organisations, bureaux de
change and receivers of remittances can participate on the auction market directly by selling at preferred prices their funds to the RBZ.

The dollar is trading at 1:63.7 after the second auction held on Tuesday
from 1:57.3 at the inaugural auction held last week

Own Correspondent

There appears to be confusion in the lower house of parliament after the Senate President announced a new Chief Whip for the opposition party on Wednesday.

The Senate announced Masvingo Senator Tichinani Mavetera as the opposition Chief Whip against Chamisa’s appointment of Eric Murai as the Acting Chief Whip also on Wednesday.

MDC Alliance secretary general Chalton Hwende announced the party’s appointments in a letter addressed to the speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda.

“Please be advised that our party MDC Alliance has appointed the following members as the party’s leadership in parliament,” reads part of the letter.

“Honourable Lynnet Karenyi- Acting leader of opposition in parliament, Eric Murai (Acting chief whip, lower house) and Jasmine Toffa (acting deputy chief whip lower house).”

The Senate President however made a different announcement without disclosing the source of her appointment.

“I have to inform the Senate that Hon. Sen. Dr. Mavetera has been appointed as the new MDC Chief Whip in the Senate,” she said.

Both MDC sides the MDC-T and the MDC Alliance have not commented on the issue.

Own Correspondent

Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has given three months’ notice to striking nurses who are resident at the hospital to vacate its flats.

Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Chief Executive Officer E. T Manyawu wrote the letters top to the nurses.

The letter reads as below:

This letter serves to notify you of the termination of your lease with effect from the end of day 30 September 2020. You are hereby given notice which will commence 1st July 2020.

You are aware that your stay in hospital accommodation was on the understanding that you avail yourself in times of emergencies that may be occasioned by disasters, stay-aways, industrial action and any other such disturbances.

The hospital has experienced numerous emergencies and industrial action in the last 12 months. Despite the calls for emergency cover in those situations you have not been forthcoming in spite of the fact that you are resident in hospital accommodation.

On its part, the hospital has ensured that you pay rentals of less than ZWL 100.00 per month which translate to US$1.75 (at 1:57 rate) on accommodation with no transport fares, free water and uninterrupted electricity both for your convenience and to enable you to attend to duty at short notice during emergencies.

The hospital will be entering into new lease agreements with those nurses who, due to the convenience and proximity of hospital accommodation are agreeable to assisting patients during times of emergencies.

You are therefore expected to prepare to vacate the aforementioned flat/room on or before the 30th September 2020, failure of which you will be evicted without any further notice.

Daily News

The government has not yet decided on the school calendar even though schools are scheduled to reopen this month.

Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema told the Daily News on Wednesday that while everyone would want to know the school calendar, due to the coronavirus crisis, it was difficult to plan for the future. He said:

We are going to plan according to the trend of COVID-19. Nobody knows what will happen so how do you expect us to tell what will happen in the future?

Yes, people want to know, but you and I are some of the people who want to know. Nobody invited COVID-19, it is all over the world and schools were closed all over.

Schools were forced to close early in late March as the government put in place lockdown measures to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19.

Under normal circumstances, the school calendar has three, four-month terms in which the fourth month is a holiday.

The government has announced a phased reopening of schools starting on July 28 and the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) examinations for June commenced this week.

However, parliamentarians and various teachers’ unions have urged the government to provide basics like running water, personal protective equipment, and basic screening equipment before schools reopen for the safety of teachers and learners.

More: Daily News

Former Chief of Staff in the late former Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s office, Alex Magaisa has suggested that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Mangudya might have breached corporate governance principles.

Below is Magaisa’s Twitter thread.

ZAMCO-Mangundya-AfreximBank 1. Last week I did a thread on the RBZ-ZAMCO-CBZ axis of corruption & showed how the bank formerly headed by RBZ Governor Mangundya was the principal beneficiary of the ZAMCO scheme that he set up upon taking office. Today, it’s about @afreximbank

2. One of the banks that sold non-performing loans is AfreximBank, the only non-Zimbabwean financial institution in the list. @afreximbank is based in Cairo. It has a regional office in Harare. I was surprised to see it on the list of banks from whom NPLs were bought by ZAMCO.

3. AfreximBank doesn’t just give loans to the likes of Tom, Dick & Harry. Whoever got these loans & failed to repay is no small person. @afreximbank made reckless lending decisions. Didn’t it ask for collateral? Why should the Zim taxpayer pick the cost of their recklessness?4. This is why it’s important to know who is on the list of borrowers who got loans from @afreximbank but failed, refused or neglected to pay them back. It is because of that failure that they became NPLs & now the Zimbabwean taxpayer is carrying the cost #ZAMCOlist

5. RBZ Governor John Mangundya is a board member of @afreximbank and has been for a long time. This places Mangundya at the centre of 2 relationships with ZAMCO, 1st as CBZ CEO, which sold US$698 million NPLs & 2nd as AfreximBank Director which sold US$42,7 million NPLs.

6. This presents a prima facie case of conflict of interest & demands full transparency. This is to ensure that Governor Mangundya did not abuse his position to benefit himself or those with whom he was/is associated. If there’s nothing to hide the #ZAMCOlist should be disclosed.

More: Alex Magaisa/Pindula