By Own Correspondent| Freda Rebecca Gold Mine, a subsidiary of Landela Investments targets to buy 1 tonne of gold monthly over the next three years.

This will also act as an empowerment initiative by Freda Rebecca Gold Mine as it will unveil a number of financial packages to enhance productivity among small scale miners.

This comes after the company was licenced by Fidelity Printers and Refiners to buy gold direct from small scale miners and artisanal miners operating within its 60 000 hectares claims across the country.

The arrangement has seen Landela Investments entering into a smart partnership with CBZ Bank to convert some of its banking halls into Gold Buying Centres for expanded transparency.

“The aim is to buy 500kgs of gold monthly from artisanal miners and tributary holders while the overall vision is to attain 1 tonne monthly over the next three years,” said a source within Freda Rebecca.

According to sources, Fidelity Refiners and Printers gave Freda Rebecca the greelight to purchase gold as a way of ensuring that leakages of the yellow metal are curtailed.

According to the licence and agreement between Freda Rebecca Gold Mine and Fidelity Refiners and Printers gleaned by this publication, Freda Rebecca will buy gold at the same price that is offered by Fidelity of US$ 45 000 per kilogram.

“On the back of this agreement, Freda Rebecca Holdings has entered into a smart partnership with CBZ Bank which will see specific banking halls being converted into specialised gold buying and handling centres. The bank’s extensive branch network has been utilised to ensure the gold buying centres are located as close to the miners as possible,” said the source.

Speaking on the sidelines of an inspection of the recently completed pilot buying centre in harare, Landela Holdings official who refused to be named said the group had noted that artisanal miners were being shortchanged by unscrupulous middlemen in the industry hence the new arrangement.

“Reports have been rife on gold leakages while unscrupulous gold buyers were undervaluing proceeds from small scale miners and they have been cited as the ones fueling smuggling of the yellow metal depriving the country of the much needed foreign exchange revenue. It is envisaged that this initiative will enable government to account for more gold and ultimately plug gold leakages,” he said.

Under the new arrangement, artisanal miners would be paid their full amount for gold delivered in USD within CZB banking halls.

“CBZ Bank has already committed to creating products tailored for miners to enable them access loans for capital expenditure as well as working capital. CBZ Bank will also offer investment advisory services to the small scale miners.Landela Investmemts will offer technical support, equipment and financial support to small scale miners as a way of boosting their operations which will be recovered through gold sales,” said another source within Landela Investments.

Freda Rebecca has set in motion a process to re-register holders of tributaries on its mining claims to ensure that all activities are legalised.

A member of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation who attended the inspection of the pilot facility at one of the CBZ branches expressed her support for the project.

“The giant gold miner must spread its project to other parts of the country or other big mining firms should emulate this gesture to ensure that it covers other areas such as Midlands and Matebeleland provinces among other gold rich areas
as this initiative is expected to increase government’s gold receipts considering the level of transparency as gold from all Freda Rebecca’s claims will be accounted for,” she said.

David Coltart: I have noted the allegations made by Mr Mashakada reported in the Herald this week alleging that senior leaders of the the MDC A have been involved in misuse of party funds. This is a baseless accusation which serves a ZANU PF agenda.

As the public will know this isn’t the first time allegations have been made like this. In this regard I repeat what I have stated before – namely that since taking office I have implemented systems designed to combat fraud and misuse of party funds.

I’m not aware of any misuse of party funds since becoming Treasurer General in 2019. I also stress that MDC A President Advocate Nelson Chamisa is not a signatory to our accounts & has always insisted on the highest levels of integrity & probity in all matters financial or administrative.

The accusations made by Mr Tapiwa Mashakada are accordingly scurrilous and baseless. It is also pertinent that at no time has Mr Mashakada raised any of these concerns with me in the last year, despite having every opportunity to do so.

One questions why he now suddenly has raised these issues, which appear to indicate a malicious political motive. I also note that ZANU PF has made similar baseless accusations & they are hardly paragons of virtue. What is this common agenda I ask?

ZBC

Zanu PF party has dismissed calls by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa for one-on-one dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, telling the opposition politician to join the POLAD process.

In a statement Friday, Zanu PF acting spokesman Patrick Chinamasa said the party had taken note of indications by Chamisa that he was ready for exclusive one-on-one dialogue with President Mnangagwa.

Chinamasa said the ruling party was committed to the inclusive Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) process established by President Mnangagwa after the 2018 elections.

“The POLAD dialogue process which is in motion is inclusive of all political players and must be supported by sober thinking Zimbabweans,” said Chinamasa.

“The party (Zanu PF) therefore has no time to entertain calls for exclusive dialogue processes that are being demanded by some political players who think dialogue is meant to resurrect their waning political fortunes.

“We dismiss the demand by Mr. Chamisa and his political grouping in which he is insisting on a one-on-one dialogue with President Mnangagwa exclusive of other players.”

Chinamasa insisted that President Mnangagwa’s commitment to dialogue was not a sign of weakness and warned the opposition against issuing empty violence threats.

“… the President’s call for dialogue is not an act of cowardice or a sign of weakness as some have been tempted to think. Rather it is a gesture of statesmanship, inclusivity, and maturity,” Cde Chinamasa.

He added; “… We advise that issuing empty threats of violence or setting unbridled conditionalities to an ongoing inclusive dialogue framework will not be tolerated.

“The party reaffirms its support for the POLAD process and calls upon Mr. Chamisa and like-minded political leaders to join the POLAD dialogue framework.”

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Health minister Obediah Moyo has been arrested over alleged criminal abuse of office in what is being termed the Covidgate scandal.

He is currently being held at Rhodesville police station in Harare where he is expected to spend the night.

The ZACC spokesperson John Makamure confirmed the arrest of Moyo adding that he is likey to be taken to court tomorrow, Saturday.

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

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Health minister Obediah Moyo has been arrested over alleged criminal abuse of office in what is being termed the Covidgate scandal.

He is currently being held at Rhodesville police station in Harare where he is expected to spend the night.

The ZACC spokesperson John Makamure confirmed the arrest of Moyo adding that he is likely to be taken to court tomorrow, Saturday.

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

By A Correspondent

A teenage boy from Tsholotsho who stabbed his cousin who later died because of his injuries has been ordered to perform 600 hours of community service after a postmortem revealed that the deceased died because of lack of proper medical attention at the hospital, The Chronicle reports.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva according to the publication found the 17-year-old boy guilty of murder with constructive intent and ordered him to perform 600 hours of community service at a clinic in Tsholotsho for his crime.

According to the publication:

The two had connived with another juvenile to steal a donkey drawn cart from a neighbour’s homestead to carry bags of maize to Gwayi Railway Station on June 30 last year.

As they were walking towards the neighbour’s homestead at around 10PM, the accused person started whistling prompting the now deceased to rebuke him for making noise. They started arguing which led to a fight.

The accused person ran away and came back armed with a knife which he used to stab his cousin once on the left side of the chest and he screamed and collapsed. Neighbours came and rushed the injured boy to Sipepa Clinic using the same cart they had wanted to steal.

He was transferred to Tsholotsho District Hospital where he was treated and discharged after a few days.

However, his condition deteriorated and was he readmitted at the same hospital a few days later before being transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital where he was also treated and discharged.

The boy died on August 1 while at his aunt’s place of residence in Bulawayo’s Old Magwegwe suburb. He had just finished bathing, preparing to go back to Tsholotsho when he collapsed and died on the spot.

-StateMedia

Correspondent

FORMER Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge has finally been picked up and sent to prison to serve his two and half years in prison sentence.

A huge contingent of police officer stormed his residence on Thursday evening to arrest him after a warrant of arrest was issued against him.

Undenge was in 2018 convicted of abuse of office but appealed at the High Court which dismissed his appeal and committed him to serve the sentences imposed by the lower court.

Undenge appeared before senior regional magistrate Trynos Utahwashe at the Harare magistrate’s court on Friday.

He was in the company of his lawyer Alec Muchadehama.

Muchadehama said they have since approached the High Court seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the latest decision.

He said they have also applied for bail pending appeal at the Supreme Court.

“However, the High Court has dismissed his appeal against both conviction and sentence meaning that he now has to serve a full sentence he was given by magistrate Hosea Mujaya,” his lawyer said.

“He was convicted and jailed two and half years in 2018. His (earlier) appeal against both conviction and sentence at the High Court was successful and he has been out all the while.”

“When his appeal was thrown out, I told him to stay at home because I knew the police would go after him so he was never a fugitive.”

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Health minister Obediah Moyo has been arrested over alleged criminal abuse of office in what is being termed the Covidgate scandal.

He is currently held at Rhodesville police station in Harare where he is expected to spend the night before being taken to court Saturday.

The ZACC spokesperson John Makamure confirmed the arrest of Moyo adding that he is likey to be taken to court tomorrow.

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

By A Correspondent- 3 people have died in an accident that occurred near Guinea Fowl school along the Gweru-Shurugwi Highway today.

The accident involved a kombi, a ford ranger and a haulage truck.

It is still not clear what caused the accident.

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

Own Correspondent

A few Zimbabweans living in South Africa turned up for the solidarity demonstration at the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria on Friday afternoon.

The much publicised demonstration was organised by Chapter 2 Movement. The demonstrators called for the immediate impeachment of President Mnangagwa by both ZANU PF and MDC parliamentarians.

The demonstrators went on to drop a petition at the embassy.

Below are the contents of the petition and pictures of the demonstration.

We the people of Zimbabwe, having given the President of Zimbabwe, parliament and Senate legitimacy through our votes, hereby petition and demand our Members of Parliament and senators from all political parties to participate in setting up and moving a motion for the impeachment of the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. The Preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe dictates that sovereignty resides in the people of Zimbabwe.

As law abiding citizens we demand a legal and constitutional solution to Zimbabwe’s challenges and that is the impeachment of a President who has failed. We can no longer continue on this trajectory of pain and suffering, we will not wait for 2023, we demand a constitutional process of impeachment. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is not bigger than the Constitution, we demand that he be subjected to a constitutional proceed of impeachment.

Our MPs, senators, the Speaker of Parliament, the President of the Senate, the Chief Whips and the leader of the House we implore you to allow a motion on the impeachment of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa must face impeachment for the following reasons as laid out in section 97 (1) (a)-(d) of the Constitution. They include: serious misconduct; failure to obey, uphold or defend the Constitution; wilful violation of the Constitution and inability to perform the functions of the office.

On the part of the President, it has been shown here that the people have expressed their desire to have him leave office for various  reasons which include

Presiding over corruption of the highest order, the first family is implicated in the Drax deal which prejudiced the taxpayers of 60 Million USD

The President presided over the killing of civilians on 1 August 2018, January 2019 and the president presided over torture, abductions, rape and political detention of representatives of the people, media personalities, political activists among others.

The President as commander in chief has presided over the shooting of civilians by the police such as the Pual Munakopa case among others.

The President as commander in chief has presided over the violent human rights abuses by the police, cases include the Bulawayo sisters who were assaulted by police officers, several demonstrators who were assaulted by police officers, we have video footage to prove this.

The President has presided over the looting of Bank depositors funds through various statutory instruments which have disenfranchised depositors and robbed them of their USD.

Section 3 (2) (d) of the Constitution states that good governance is based on “the respect for the rights of all political parties”. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has failed in this regard as evidenced by the state sponsored clandestine and brutal assault on the MDC Alliance, its MPs, members, lawyers and other supporters. This is not the Zimbabwe we want. We demand a Zimbabwe that respects the rights and dignity of all forces and voices, even opposition voices.

We the people petition every elected Member of Parliament and Senator to actively push for and participate in the legal removal of President ED Mnangagwa.

We urge the security sector not to interfere in the Constitutional process of impeachment, we will not be intimidated and we urge the international community to pay close attention to the situation in Zimbabwe.

Independent

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s adviser and Sakunda Holdings boss Kuda Tagwirei who has been pocketing millions of dollars from dodgy state contracts, will smile all the way to the bank after making a profit of US$54 million in a fresh bus purchase agreement with the government.

Through his company Landela Investments, Tagwirei will import 500 additional buses for mass public transportation at a unit price of US$58 900 from Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Company in China. He will then sell each bus to the government for US$212 962.

The landing cost of each bus, including transportation, duty, tax and clearing, will be US$104 147, meaning the company will make a profit exceeding 100%, at US$108 815 per bus.

In total, Landela will rake in a profit of US$54 million from the bus deal. The government will pay Tagwirei’s company a total of US$106,4 million.

As first revealed by the Zimbabwe Independent, Landela recently made millions of dollars through acquiring 162 buses for the state-owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) in a murky arrangement, which the government, Zupco officials and Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) officials failed to explain.

Landela sold each of the 162 buses it bought from Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Company for US$212 962 despite buying at US$58 900.Initially, government and Zupco officials falsely claimed that Zupco had directly acquired the buses on its own.

The Independent understands Landela imports the buses on credit, as the company pays a 20% deposit, with the 80% balance payable a year after delivery.

Import duty for a 64-seater bus is calculated at 61% of purchase price and shipping cost.

Landela is therefore paying duty amounting to US$37 147 per bus, at the prevailing US$1:ZW$25 interbank exchange rate. Clearing charges amount to US$5 000 per bus, thus bringing the landing price to around US$104 147 per bus. Bigger buses, however, attract duty of 10%.

The procurement procedures in the bus deal remain shrouded in secrecy as line ministries and Praz officials have distanced themselves from the opaque transaction.

Africa, creditors wake up to debt dilemma
Landela announced last week it will import 500 more buses to boost the mass public transportation system as the government is in the process of phasing out private commuter omnibus operators.

A Landela representative who was not named in a state media report on Sunday, said the company was using its own resources to import the buses for the government.

The company also has interests in mining. Landela is one of the companies that had its bank account frozen by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in September last year for allegedly being involved in money laundering and fueling the foreign currency parallel market.Questions have arisen as to how the company clinched the bus procurement deal without going to tender.

The buses were bought through a dealer, FAW Zimbabwe, which has offices in Harare.All the relevant ministries in the deal told the Independent that they were not involved in the deal in which the state-run Central Mechanical and Engineering Department (CMED) had a hire-purchase agreement with Landela.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister July Moyo and his Transport counterpart Joel Biggie Matiza both said their ministries were not involved in the deal.

The government has been hard-pressed to create the impression that it was directly acquiring the buses on behalf of Zupco, with Mnangagwa officiating at a vehicle-commissioning ceremony amid pomp and fanfare in Bulawayo in November last year.

At the time Landela imported the vehicles, the Civil Service Commission also acquired 20 new buses from the same supplier to boost its fleet, raising questions as to why the government decided to handpick Landela to purchase buses on behalf of Zupco.

Mnangagwa has been going around the world, and in some instances with Tagwirei, with the government boasting he struck various deals — including bus purchase agreements in China and Belarus — but the transactions are shrouded in controversy.

The buses imported by Landela were reported by state media to be part of a consignment of 1 000 vehicles ordered from China and 500 from Belarus.

Tagwirei, who has been expanding his empire and enjoys close relations with both Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, also has dealings with the military and government officials. Chiwenga’s estranged wife Marry revealed in a High Court affidavit that Tagwirei bought the vice-president expensive luxury cars.

Tagwirei’s flagship company, Sakunda Holdings, has been involved in controversial projects, including Command Agriculture, under which the company failed to account for about US$3 billion in public funds, according to Auditor-General Mildred Chiri’s 2018 audit report. The company was also awarded the Dema Emergency Power Plant project without going to tender, after an experienced United States company, which had won the tender, was corruptly muscled out.

Own Correspondent

3 people have died in an accident that occurred near Guinea Fowl school along the Gweru-Shurugwi Highway today,

The accident involved a kombi, a ford ranger and a haulage truck.

It is still not yet clear what caused the accident.

More details to follow.

Below are pictures from the scene of the accident circulated on social media.

Own Correspondent

Stanley Nleya who died on Tuesday has been declared a national hero.

Nleya was one of the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army’s (ZIPRA) commanders during the war of independence.

He succumbed to heart disease on Tuesday at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he had been admitted. Zanu-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu announced the national status to the Nleya family at the family’s residence in Luveve on Friday afternoon.

He said Nleya was declared a national hero in recognition of his contributions towards the liberation of Zimbabwe.

Nleya whose guerilla name was Elish Gagisa died on Tuesday at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) due to cardiac complications.

He was 72.

Family spokesperson and younger brother Mr Tshaha Nleya said the family was devastated by his death.

The former ZPRA Deputy Chief of Operations was born in 1947 in Masendu ,Bulilima District, Matabeleland South.

Nleya joined the armed struggle in Zambia via Botswana.

He rose from being a simple recruit to become one of the chief instructors, at one point seconded for attachment to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) where he was involved in combat with the Israelis.

As an instructor some of the people who went through his hands are decorated freedom fighters such as the current Zimbabwe Defense Forces Commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda, Todd Mpisi, Rodwell Nyika (Retired Brigadier-General Collins Moyo), former St Paul’s Assembly Point commander and frontal commander for NF1 and 2, Nicholas Nkomo.

During the Zipa period Nleya was the chief of staff for Mgagao Training Camp in Tanzania where his deputy was former Airforce commander, Air Marshal Perence Shiri.

MUTARE – Thirty-five nurses at Mutare General Hospital were on Friday arrested for taking part in an “illegal” strike over poor salaries.

The disgruntled nurses were, however, released later without a charge following intervention of the hospital leadership.

Though Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Taviringwa Kakohwa professed ignorance over the arrests, a nurse who was part of the arrested group confirmed the arrests.

“We were rounded up and arrested in the morning at the hospital, as we were on strike. We were then taken to Mutare Central Police Station where we were briefly detained,” she said.

“We were, however, released around midday without any charge following intervention by our superiors,” added the nurse.

Hundreds of disgruntled nurses and other health workers across the country demonstrated this week over poor salaries.

The nurses also demanded the proposed United States-dollar COVID-19 allowance to be paid in cash.

Zim Morning Post

State Media

A Harare City Council employee based at Remembrance Drive offices in Mbare last Friday allegedly committed suicide under yet to be established circumstances.

Ms Margaret Muganga who was working in the Department of Housing and Community Services as acting allocations officer, is suspected to have poisoned herself.

Her death came two weeks after the city council instituted investigations into the alleged unprocedural and double allocations of stands by the Department of Housing.

There are reports that the deceased left a suicide note in which she allegedly revealed circumstances leading to her death. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed Ms Muganga’s death and said they were investigating circumstances surrounding her death.

“Police are investigating circumstances surrounding the death of (Ms) Margaret Muganga. The circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident are not clear and are now subject of the police inquiry.

“We will release detailed information only after inquiries are complete. In this regard, it is difficult to say if there was a suicide note or not,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

On June 5, the Harare City Council temporarily suspended operations of the Allocations Unit in the Department of Housing to pave way for internal investigations.

Council said the move to temporarily shut down the unit was prompted by desperate home seekers that were duped of their hard earned cash.

However, the operations have since been resumed and according to a highly placed source in council, Ms Muganga was one of the employees implicated during the on-going investigations.

“She is one of the employees implicated in the on-going internal investigations. There are also reports that she left a suicide note before she took her life,” said the source.

When The Herald visited the Muganga family residence at House number 2645 Crowborough Phase 4, her husband refused to comment on whether his wife left a suicide note.

The Zimbabwean

The Zimbabwean newspaper has recorded the prices below as captured from an OK Supermarket In Harare on Friday. Most basic commodities this week shot up following a drastic fall in the value of the local currency and rise in inflation currency at almost 1000%

cremora 1kg =$320

Ideal 2kg Rice = $170
Ekono 5kg Rice =$400
Colgate $46

Mazoe orange $157
Brilliant 1kg $160
Sunlight powder 500g= $110
Blackberry $150

Readseal flour 2kg $157
Baking powder 100g $50
Raha c/oil 2l $245
Sun c/oil 2l $228

Eggs crate 305
Buttercup 2kg $329
Buttercup 1kg $170
Buttercup 500g $85
Gloria Flour 5kg $450
Dlite c/oil 750ml $90

Bread $60
Salt 2kg $90
Royco $27
Salt 2kg $44
Jade soap $40

Gesha $80
Smart B/soap $43
Vaseline blueseal 100g $58
Bond paper rim $520
Ngwerewere 10kg $410

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has scoffed at the euphoria over the seizure of Harvest House by Thokozani Khupe.

According to Chamisa, a people’s revolution is not confined to a building.

Chamisa on Wednesday visited the late Kelvin Choto’s family in Chitungwiza.

Choto was shot dead by State security agents during the Jan 2019 disturbances.

Chamisa joined the Choto family members as they celebrated 2-year – old Janel’s birthday.

Janel is the daughter of the late Kelvin Choto (21).

“They are celebrating the seizure of Harvest House and they are saying a lot about Chamisa.

They say we have kicked Chamisa out of Harvest House, we have grabbed Chamisa’s MPs – That doesn’t matter.

A revolution is not limited to a building, you cannot take away 2,6 million people, is that possible?

A different Zimbabwe is possible.A revolution is an unstoppable idea,” said Chamisa.

He added:”Mr Mnangagwa cannot suppress the people forever.People will liberate themselves from oppression.

You think you are on top of the situation but you are fooling yourself, things can change unexpectedly.”

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance legislator Tapiwa Mashakada who defected to the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe has hit back at former colleagues in the MDC Alliance who have criticized him.

In an article he posted on Facebook, Mashakada said a clarion call is made to all MDC Party Structures and the 2014 National Council saying: “Munhu wese mugango/Umuntu wonke embizeni”

“The MDC party does not have a substantive leader until the Extra Ordinary Congress chooses a new Leader. The shenanigans that happened after Tsvangirai’s death were all nullified by the Supreme Court. These were:Chamisa’s takeover and his Congress, Khupe’s Congress,” he said. 

“True Democrats must accept the ruling of our courts and comply with the Supreme court ruling. All accusations about some people being sell-outs or bought by Zanu PF are immaterial. It is cheap policking. Let MDC leaders walk the talk on democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism. The MDC family must unite, go to Congress and choose a new leader to replace Morgan   Tsvangirai and reaffirm the original position that MDC is a labour backed party, a social democratic party and not a neo-liberal party.”

He said the Congress must reposition the new MDC as a Pan-Africanist party with known national values and footprints in Africa. 

“But most importantly, a party that is non tribal, non racial, non sexist. A party with a  rural support base. The cabal that is ill-advising my young  brother Nelson Chamisa are making his political Waterloo and spoiling his chances of  ever becoming the President of Zimbabwe,” he said.

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

At a news conference in the capital on Friday, ZCTU called for the immediate resignation of corrupt individuals in Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.Watch video below :

Former Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge has been sentenced to two and a half years behind bars.

This follows the High Court’s recent rejection of his appeal after it found out that his sentence was not excessive.

Undenge appeared at the Harare magistrate’ court today before magistrate Trynos Utahwashe in the company of his lawyer Alec Muchadehama.

Muchadehama said they have since approached the High Court seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the latest decision.

More details to follow…

By A Correspondent- According to a relative, Excellent Nyathi of Old Lobengula was touched when he heard high pitched cries from his neighbour’s house where a man only identified as SaMaDu was pummelling his wife Partel Mlilo allegedly accusing her of being a woman of loose morals.

The source went on to say Nyathi rushed to the house and restrained the angry SaMaDu from battering his hapless wife.

“He left when the couple was on talking terms at around 9pm,”said the relative.

But Nyathi did not know that by intervening in the couple’s feud he had courted trouble for himself.

Later on in the evening he heard a knock on his door and upon opening, the source said, SaMaDu grabbed him by the throat accusing him of causing a rift in their union.

The source said while he was trying to explain his side of the story a heavy slap landed on his cheek.

“He cried for help as the marauding couple took turns to hit him with open hands and kicked him with booted feet all over the body. They left him shirtless and with torn trousers,” said a neighbour. The source said the couple demanded money from Nyathi.

“They demanded money from Nyathi so that they could free him but he could not give them anything since he had nothing on him,” said a source.

Hearing that he had no money seems to have stoked more anger as they turned more violent and smashed windows with beer bottles.

The source said Nyathi’s mother Juliet Ndlovu (48) phoned police officers who rushed to the scene and arrested the violent couple.

Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed: “We are investigating a case of assault and malicious damage to property.

“A couple from Old Lobengula suburb beat their neighbour accusing him of causing problems in their marriage. They also damaged windows with beer bottles.”

-BMetro

To: All Youth Assembly members

Ref: Communique and Resolutions of the MDC Alliance Management Committee held on the of 18th June 2020.

Meeting at a critical juncture in the history of our Movement and the country at large, wherein there is the closure of democratic space, increase in state-sponsored repression and oppression and total disregard of the law.

AFFIRMING our total support of the MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa as the legitimate leader of our Movement,

LOCATING the role of the youth Assembly as a critical arm of the party in advancing the agenda of the National Democratic Revolution,

REALISING that some of our erstwhile comrades have decided to join hands with the enemy thereby betraying the struggle,

CONCERNED by the increase in police brutality and politically motivated persecution,

Further concerned about the regime’s brutal attack, abduction, torture and further detention on our 3 national leaders, Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri,

ACCORDINGLY, it is this context that the Management Committee of the MDC Alliance made the following resolutions:

1. Fight for Justice and Anti-police brutality, the Management meeting resolved to escalate the fight for justice, in particular, the illegal detention of our female comrades and the criminal abuse of power by the regime.

2. Immediate community based national program to engage with structures and continue to build and organise from below.

3. Reject in toto the proposed constitutional amendment number 2 as it is a direct attack and the heart and soul of constitutional democracy.

4. Launch a 1 million campaign as a massive recruitment drive for the Youth Assembly

5. Noting the criminal abuse of COVID-19 as a policy tool to annihilate the Democratic Movement and its leadership the Management Committee resolved to come up with a rural-based program anchored on the party’s
Development and Urbanisation of Rural Areas (DURA).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-BMetro

“….We cant warn them, we cant tell them we are going on Monday and the protest started NOW…..” the ZCTU leadership declares strike across all sectors.

Watch the live video loading below…..

“There is no saint anymore in government…… Everyone that is corrupt, that is looting must resign.” said the ZCTU in a statement today.

Watch the live video loading below….

Watch the live video loading below

“Zimbabwe’s crisis will spill into the region….help us help ourselves. Help us resolve our social and economic crisis, ” ZCTU

Watch the live video loading below……

watch the live video loading below….

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo woman is beyond angry and upset after her best friend whom she claimed she was spending every single day with, allegedly snatched her boyfriend.

Ollin Ngulube from Pumula North suburb is apparently feeling sick in her heart after her friend Memory Due Sibanda from Makokoba suburb stole her boyfriend Delani Mpunzi.

What makes her so wild is that Sibanda won’t even let her speak to Mpunzi whom she is also reportedly parading around her suburb like a prized catch saying she was not worthy of having him.

Ngulube’s anger pangs were contained in papers obtained at the Bulawayo Civil Court in which she was seeking a peace order against her former friend claiming she was verbally and physically abusing her. She claimed Sibanda was also threatening to kill her over her boyfriend.

“I want a peace order to be granted against Memory Due Sibanda from Makokoba suburb. She was my best friend and our friendship ended after she snatched my boyfriend Delani Mpunzi despite knowing that we were in love.

“Memory is now verbally and physically abusing me as well as threatening to kill me. I want the court to stop her from insulting and assaulting me as well as threatening me.

She should also stop visiting me at my work place and home,” her affidavit reads in part.

Ngulube’s case was, however, struck off the roll by presiding magistrate Nomsa Ncube after she didn’t come to court to corroborate her claims.

BMetro

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

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

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

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

The heartbreaking discovery reportedly happened on Saturday last week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A self-confessed thigh vendor from Shurugwi who dumped her newly born baby into a Blair toilet claiming the baby was going to distract her in soliciting for clients has been slapped with 235 hours of community service.

Netsai Ngazimbi (24)) of Poshai Village under Chief Nhema left the court shell shocked when she said she dumped the baby in the toilet as it was going to be a major distraction in her thigh vending business.

Ngazimbi appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Sithabile Zungula facing charges of infanticide and concealing child birth and she pleaded guilty.

She told the court that her job needed maximum concentration which she was not going to be able to render had she decided to keep the baby.

“I am a sex worker and l don’t earn much. As a result, l had to get rid of the baby because the baby was going to divide my attention yet l have to focus on my work. Keeping the baby meant that l would have to stay home and not go to work.

“As it is, l do not have food to feed myself so I wasn’t going to afford to buy clothes, food and medication for the baby,” she said.

Circumstances surrounding the matter are that on April 25, at a business centre in Chachacha, Ngazimbi gave birth and wrapped the baby in a cloth. She then proceeded to the toilet and threw the baby in and fled from the scene.

A colleague heard the baby crying and alerted the police. The baby was retrieved from the toilet but died upon admission to a hospital.

An interrogation was conducted and it was established that the baby belonged to the accused leading to her arrest.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba has blasted Zanu-PF youths for hiding behind the party name to default on payment of bank loans.

She made the remarks during the launch of a COVID-19 Youth Relief Fund by the Youth ministry in Mutare early this week. This followed the release of $17 million by government to sustain youth projects disrupted by the COVID-10 pandemic.

The meeting was attended by Youth deputy minister Tinomudaishe Machakaire, Zanu-PF Manicaland chairman Tawanda Mukodza and Zanu-PF central committee member Gertrude Mutandi, among others.

“We are gathered here to witness the disbursement of a youth fund that is aimed to cushion the youths in this COVID-19 period. I want to urge you the youths to be aggressive when doing business,” Gwaradzimba said.

“I am worried because most of the youths have gotten used to not repaying loans advanced to them, claiming it is Zanu-PF’s money. If you fail to repay, others will not benefit. When we are given such money, we should not go on merrymaking.”

The minister urged youths to formalise their businesses.

About 400 beneficiaries walked away with between $3 000 and $5 000 which the youths claimed was too little to start a business.

Mukodza supported Gwaradzimba, saying they always encouraged their youths to repay loans.

“As you are aware, the issue of loans is non-partisan, if any individual fails to pay a loan, he or she is sued. But as a party we fight for our youths to get such loans. Every youth in the country can benefit from loans,” he said.

Machakaire, who was representing his boss Kirsty Coventry, said most of the youths were hesitant to apply for loans.

“I have realised that most of the youths are hesitant to apply for loans. As government, we give you opportunities to succeed and we are also urging you to formalise your businesses. We need you to dream big when doing business,” he said.

Machakaire acknowledged that the money given to youths was little, but promised that government would mobilise more, adding that the issue of loans was non-partisan.

In Mashonaland East, a paltry 13 youths in the province received the loans at a meeting where Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu (MDC Alliance) was turned away.

Matewu was barred by some Zanu-PF youths from attending the meeting, who told him he was not invited, despite Machakaire saying the youth fund was non-partisan.

“I am disappointed that we have only 13 youths who have benefitted from these government funds, that was only $30 000 disbursed,” Machakaire said.

Some youths, however, expressed disgruntlement over the strenuous process of acquiring documents required to access the loans due to lockdown restrictions, among other things. The 13 youths received a total of $5 000 each.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The government has said the US$75 COVID-19 relief allowance for civil servants and US$30 for retired civil servants is a provisional measure to ease the anguish on its employees and pensioners who are confronted with exorbitant prices in shops.

The government said that it had noted the effects of the unjustified price increases caused by the country’s detractors, elite opportunists and malcontents who are pushing a nefarious agenda to cause regime change.

The Secretary for the Public, Defence, Police and Prisons and Recreational Service Commissions Jonathan Wutawunashe had this to say:

The rationale of that Covid-19 allowance is the anguish that has been reported by civil servants; it is the challenge that people are facing at the point of sale.

So supporting livelihoods at the point of sale is the purpose of that cushion of US$75. However, the US$75 is not going to be in my hand, it is going to be in a Nostro account. It will be issued with a card that one can swipe at the point of sale.

Every civil servant is requested to open a Nostro account and arrangements will be made, and I am sure proper communication will be made to the banks to facilitate the opening of the Nostro accounts.

We are going to work out the details with all stakeholders to ensure that there is soft landing to ensure the intention of the allowance is not lost because it is a cushion, it is a relief measure that is supposed to address the livelihood requirements of civil servants and their families.

Wutawunashe said the awarding the COVID-19 allowance does not shut the door on further negotiations between the Government and its workers.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Veteran journalist Cornelius Nduna has died.

Nduna passed away yesterday morning at his Harare home.

He died suddenly and had no history of any medical condition.

Zimbabwe Union of Journalists secretary-general Foster Dongozi said: “He was an easygoing and gentle giant in the media who easily moved across public and private media and finally became an international correspondent.”

“He was a hilarious colleague who could come up with solutions to difficult situations to get a story or get out of sticky situations.”

Burial arrangements are yet to be announced.

-Newsday

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Chairperson of the MDC T Morgen Komichi has maintained that his party is in charge of the MDC Alliance parliamentarians.

He however added that the MDC Alliance is a new formation.

Watch the live video loading below….

“We are a serious team and we are dedicated…The MDC Alliance is a new formation and we are the original MDC T”: Morgen Komichi

“We cannot afford to sacrifice the values of what we created simply because some people just want to be leaders…Respect the Supreme Court judgement. It was fair….” Morgen Komichi

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By A Correspondent- Government has been barred from conducting the June examinations unless World Health Organisation guidelines that restrain the spread of coronavirus are met.

The High Court issued a June 26 ultimatum for the government to comply with set guidelines following an application by Teachers Unions.

The government is supposed to provide PPE and implement all procedures and recommendations of WHO before the start of the examinations on June 30.

-DailyNews

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By A Correspondent- First lady Auxilia Mnangagwa has revealed that a number of street children are set to be relocated to Chambuta Children’s Home in Chiredzi after they agreed to abandon street life.

Said Mnangagwa in a facebook post:

“Every society needs children because they are our hope and future. Every child deserves education and life opportunities and as a nation we cannot fully develop if we turn a blind eye to marginalised children.

In 2019, through the Angel of Hope Foundation I made a pledge to create lasting positive change for children living on the streets. We are transforming lives of hundreds of children living on the streets by seeing to their basic needs such as shelter, food and skills training among others.

Yesterday, working together with the Department of Social Welfare, we counselled some children living on the streets in Harare who have agreed to abandon life on the streets and be rehabilitated at Chambuta Children’s Home in Chiredzi.

The true measure of any nation’s humanity is how it treats the most vulnerable among them. Marginalised children are our children and we should not leave them behind

ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by the MDC T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe at Morgan Tsvangirai House at 10am.

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

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Harare Province District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairman Godwin Gomwe has scoffed at his purported suspension from his position for indiscipline.

The party’s interim chairperson for Harare Metropolitan Province Oliver Chidawu signed a prohibition letter written to Gomwe accusing him of posting statements on social media that tarnished the characters of some senior party officials.

Gomwe told the state media that as acting chairperson, Chidawu did not have authority to institute disciplinary proceedings against him.

Said Gomwe:

Yes, I received a prohibition order from the acting provincial chairman Chidawu, he said. Unfortunately, he does not have the right to give me a prohibition order since he is not a substantive chairman. I will carry on with my duties as the DCC 2 chairperson.

According to the letter, a meeting of the provincial co-ordinating committee that was held on May 28, 2020, resolved to have Gomwe suspended.

Chidawu added that the meeting resolved to recommend to institute disciplinary proceedings against Gomwe by the National Disciplinary Committee.

By A Correspondent- A security guard who allegedly killed her lover for cheating on him with a man based in the diaspora delivered the horrific news of her death to her family over the phone.

Munyaradzai Chinyama killed Chipo Vhunga of Chikanga, Mutare in cold blood on June 3 in Crowborough, Harare following a heated argument over WhatsApp chats with the other boyfriend the deceased was on the verge of getting married to.

Chipo was a security guard and her boyfriend Chinyama worked as a supervisor at the same security firm.

Chipo’s mother Virginia Vhunga denied claims that Chinyama was Chipo’s live-in boyfriend. She said:

The only boyfriend we knew about was a man who resides in the United Kingdom. Chinyama was not our son-in-law, neither was he her live-in-boyfriend.

He stayed in Kuwadzana, while Chipo stayed in Crowborough, Harare. Her UK boyfriend was making plans to come to Zimbabwe for lobola proceedings. Maybe this triggered Chinyama’s wrath.

Chinyama and my daughter were co-workers so maybe it was a case of office romance.

Chipo’s mother added that Chinyama was using Chipo’s phone to communicate with her relatives and friends while on the run and he did not show any remorse.

This was confirmed by Chipo’s young sister, Yolanda who said:

I was informed of Chipo’s death by Chinyama hours after I had sent her some mobile money. I called her mobile with the intention of confirming if she had received the money, only for him to pick up and tell me that he had killed my sister.

He said to me:

‘Muri kutotaura henyu zvemari, Chipo afa uyo (You are concerned about money, Chipo is dead).”

We had to call my other sister and her husband to go and check on her. Within a couple of hours, they confirmed that she was indeed dead.

Chipo was laid to rest last week in Bikita, Masvingo.

Own Correspondent

Residents of Gwanda have thrown blame on soldiers enforcing lockdown measures for graffiti splashed on ZANU PF offices and streets around the town.

Unknown persons in Gwanda took advantage of the Coronavirus lockdown which sees no-one move around the streets at night to paint graffiti around Gwanda town denouncing the ruling ZANU PF and calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down.

Residents of the mining town on Monday woke up to find streets, private perimeter walls and even the ruling party offices inscribed with messages denouncing Mnangagwa, Zanu-PF and Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs minister Abednico Ncube.

In social media discussions, the residents claim that the high level of lockdown enforcement especially at night by the soldiers would not have allowed an ordinary citizen to execute the risky act.

“It can’t be anyone else but the soldiers, they are the only ones moving around town at night, ” said one resident.

However, sources within ZANU PF said they suspected rival opposition MDC Alliance supporters for the graffiti.

“You can see the timing of the graffiti is meant to divert attention from the business of the day. However, we would like to warn the opposition that we would not be distracted by their antics but remain with the people and help them with the fight against COVID-19 as well as improving their livelihoods,” he said.

MDC Alliance officers at the opposition party offices in the town rubbished the sentiments from ZANU PF saying it could have been disappointed ZANU PF supporters or just hungry and angry citizens.

The Zanu-PF source dispelled claims that the work could have been triggered by factional fights in the ruling party

“That is pure imagination and day-dreaming. There are no factions in Zanu-PF. Everyone rallies behind our leadership led by President Mnangagwa who is also our 2023 presidential election candidate. Those who wish the party to have factions may they go hang,” the source added.

State Media

THERE has been a public outcry after the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) offered the Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni 3,5 hectares of agricultural land in Lower Rangemore under a 25-year lease at $165 per month rent.

Residents accused the local authority officials of abusing privileges and parcelling out land to cronies at what they described as ridiculously low rentals.

However, some agronomists have argued that the council rentals are much higher than those charged for State agricultural land leases.

Some residents have widely circulated on social media an advert confirming the 25-year land lease being offered to Clr Mguni, arguing that it is tantamount to corruption.

According to the notice flighted on May 29, Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube revealed that that Clr Mguni has been offered a land lease in Rangemore for agricultural purposes on plot Lot 3 of Lot 3 Lower Rangemore.

The lease is for an initial 25-year period while monthly rentals are pegged at $165, subject to review.

The notice states that residents objecting to the proposed lease should submit their written submissions at Tower Block by end of today at the Director of Housing and Community Services offices.

The land should only be used for agricultural purposes.

Mr Dube yesterday said he can only comment after the closure of the period for objections.

Clr Mguni said the offer was above board.

He said his application was born from his passion for agriculture.

“I’ve a passion for agriculture so I applied for land just like any other resident of Bulawayo. Council has an urban agriculture masterplan, so I applied just like any resident could have done. The processes went through all relevant committees and I did not influence the allocation. I was not even in any committee that discussed the matter and when it was brought before the full council meeting, I was not there. To me I think this was above board,” said Clr Mguni.

He said residents have a say on rates or rentals charged for council land hence it was their right to query the rentals if the felt they were too low.

Residents said it did not make sense that council leases prime land for as little as $165 a month for 3,5 hectares.

Mr Methuseli Moyo, whose interests are in farming, said the lease fees were ridiculously low and could result in residents thinking that they kept them that way in order to corruptly benefit.

He said council should review its tariff structure and charge commercial rates for agriculture land in order to realise real value from this finite resource.

“The rates are just too low considering the rates being charged by some farmers who are leasing their farms. This can lead residents to conclude that council officials are deliberately charging low rates so that they benefit from leasing the land for commercial purposes,” he said,

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) coordinator Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu said they will object to the lease offer.

“We are objecting as residents outlining our reasons including abuse of privilege. We are of the view that he is abusing his privilege as Mayor given that no individual monthly council bill is less than $300 per month. What then is the justification to charge $165 a month for 3,5 hectares? Council should be utilising such land to generate revenue instead of abusing the land to benefit a few,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said as an association they were not aware of the criteria used to allocate land.

“Are the council officials the only ones who applied for those properties? Is it not a conflict of interest where properties are given to individuals who decide how much should be charged as rentals?” said Mr Ndlovu.

An agricultural expert who declined to be named for professional reasons said while it might seem as though the mayor is being offered land for ‘a song’, the rentals are way higher than what is charged for State land.

“I’m a beneficiary of State land, I received five hectares from Government and I am paying just $5 per hectare for the whole year. I believe what council is charging are very competitive rates for agricultural land.

“I also understand that after council increased its rates people like the mayor with 3,5 hectares will be paying $1 600 per month. What is appearing in the advert for objections are old rates,” said the expert.

Matabeleland North Provincial Agritex officer Mr Dumisani Nyoni said the last time he checked, State land was being leased for about $5 per hectare per year.

A People’s Own Savings Bank (Posb) employee is accused of conniving with a senior police officer and a vendor to tamper with the bank’s system and transferring different amounts defrauding the bank of $158 million in the process.

Mercy Meda (34) who was stationed at Causeway Building, Assistant Inspector Tawanda Martin Mavhiya (40) and John Nyika (26) allegedly tampered with the POSB banking system.

The unlikely trio, appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Barbra Mateko charged with fraud.

Alternatively, they were charged with unauthorised access to or use of a computer or network. The trio was not asked to plead to the charges.

The State led by Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti opposed to granting of the trio’s bail saying they were a flight risk.

Mr Mutsokoti also told the court that there was overwhelming evidence against them in the form of receipts of items purchased from proceeds of crime and cellphones used in the commission of the alleged crime.

The State also claims to be in possession of text messages between them when planning to commit the offence.

Meda, through her lawyer, told the court that she was not linked to her co-accused.

She also told the court that she was sleeping at home at the time when the offence was allegedly committed.

Mavhiya and Nyika, through their lawyer told the court that they were not a flight risk.

Mavhiya said he was about to resign from the police service after serving 19 years.

He said he cannot afford to lose his pension and benefits by running away from a weak case.

Magistrate Mateko granted the trio $5 000 bail and the three will report once every fortnight at the police.

Four other alleged accomplices to the offence are still at large.

Circumstances leading to the trio’s arrest are that they connived with four others who are still at large, to defraud POSB.

In pursuant to their plan, on June 13 Meda allegedly made a $32 million deposit into Mavhiya’s bank account.

On the following day, Mavhiya and Nyika went to TM Supermarket in Borrowdale, OK Supermarket in Harare’s city centre and Spar Sam Levy where they purchased groceries worth $6 768.

Meda is also alleged to have deposited $30 000 into Audrey Nhokwara, Harzel Makarawu, Tanaka Trevor Muradzi and Chipo Fifteen’s bank accounts.

On June 15, the POSB international banking manager, Caroline Magonera, reconciled transactions that were made on June 13 on the general ledger account.

The court heard that Magonera noted that there were some transactions with high values, which had irregular sources.

Magonera is said to have notified the POSB authorities who then managed to reverse $156 690 000 from five accounts.

On the same day, Mavhiya and Nyika were arrested, leading to the recovery of groceries worth $4 264, 68.

On Wednesday, Econet released their new tariffs for bundles and data. Yesterday NetOne made their move after announcing that they will be reviewing their tariff structure.

This is what will now be paid for the Netone charges.

Data Bundles

Social Media Bundles

SMS

Own Correspondent

Harare West MP, Joanna Mamombe and two female MDC Alliance activists, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri have approached the High Court seeking bail.

The trio is facing allegations of communicating false statements prejudicial to the State after alleging abduction and torture by suspected security agents last month.

They have been languishing in prison since they were denied bail Monday by Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande on the basis that they were a flight risk.

At the High Court, the activists’ lawyer Alec Muchadehama argued the magistrate erred in denying his clients bail.

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State Media

THE US$75 Covid-19 relief allowance for civil servants, which was announced by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is really nothing to write home about but just a temporary measure to cushion workers against ongoing price increases, a top official has said.

Secretary for the Public, Defence, Police and Prisons and Recreational Service Commissions Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said yesterday the Government introduced the US$75 allowance for civil servants and US$35 for pensioners as a provisional measure to ease the anguish on its employees who are confronted with exorbitant prices in shops.

“The rationale of that Covid-19 allowance is the anguish that has been reported by civil servants; it is the challenge that people are facing at the point of sale. So supporting livelihoods at the point of sale is the purpose of that cushion of US$75. However, the US$75 is not going to be in my hand, it is going to be in a nostro account. It will be issued with a card that one can swipe at the point of sale,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.

This will be done to ensure that the money remained in the formal system and does not leak onto the black market.

Ambassador Wutawunashe said the Government, through relevant authorities, is in discussion with banks to ensure that the opening of nostro accounts that requires a deposit of between US$10 and US$20 does not chew into the cushioning allowance.

“Every civil servant is requested to open a nostro account and arrangements will be made, and I am sure proper communication will be made to the banks to facilitate opening of the nostro accounts. We are going to workout the details with all stakeholders to ensure that there is soft landing to ensure the intention of the allowance is not lost because it is a cushion, it is a relief measure that is supposed to address the livelihood requirements of civil servants and their families,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.

Allying fears of some sceptics, including civil servants in the Apex Council, Ambassador Wutawunashe said the Government decided to swiftly intervene to bring relief to its workers who were suffering from constant price hikes.

“I am not sure that when the Government recognises a problem that has to be addressed immediately, that impacts on livelihoods, that the Government’s move to bring relief should be subject to debate and criticism. I am not so sure that a beneficiary of relief will be distressed that they are getting relief. What the Government has done, does not in any manner shape or form or cancel the engagements that Government will definitely have with the Apex Council.

“That is why the US$75 measure is clearly an interim measure that is tied to the Covid-19 challenge right now. It does not in any way make a statement about the National Joint Negotiating Council, which is still the valid forum for engagement between Government and representatives of workers. There is no government that would say just because there is a mechanism that can be activated tomorrow, the pain of today cannot be addressed,” he said.

Apart from rolling out the Covid-19 cushion allowance, that will be reviewed in three months’ time, the Government also announced a 50 percent salary hike for its workers and also pledged to introduce non-monetary benefits that will be announced in due course.

With the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announcing that from Tuesday next week auctions of foreign currency will be used to set the exchange rate — the volatile black market rate that has been used by some shops to benchmark their prices is likely to be reined in, meaning the cushion allowances will come with real value for the Government employees.

Own Correspondent

Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada who recently dumped the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa for Thokozani Khupe’s Supreme Court assembled MDC-T of 2014, has called on his former colleagues in the MDC Alliance including Chamisa to move over to the Khupe party.

In a statement on social media, Mashakada urges for the reunification of the MDC left behind by founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai claiming that all those who are urging Chamisa to stay away from the group are misinforming him.

Reads the statement:

Clarion call to All MDC Party Structures and the 2014 National Council: “Munhu wese mugango/Umuntu wonke embizeni”

The MDC party does not have a substantive leader until the Extra Ordinary Congress chooses a new Leader. The shenanigans that happened after Tsvangirai’s death were all nullified by the Supreme Court. These were:
(1) Chamisa’s takeover and his Congress
(2) Khupe’s Congress

True Democrats must accept the ruling of our courts and comply with the Supreme court ruling. All accusations about some people being sell-outs or bought by Zanu PF are immaterial. It is cheap policking. Let MDC leaders walk the talk on democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism. The MDC family must unite, go to Congress and choose a new leader to replace Morgan Tsvangirai and reaffirm the original position that MDC is a labour backed party, a social democratic party and not a neo-liberal party. The Congress must reposition the new MDC as a Pan-Africanist party with known national values and footprints in Africa. But most importantly, a party that is non tribal, non racial, non sexist. A party with a rural support base. The cabal that is ill-advising my young brother Advocate Nelson Chamisa are making his political Waterloo and spoiling his chances of ever becoming the President of Zimbabwe.

Zikomo. Tatenda, Siyabonga, Twalumba, Thank You, Shokran, Asante Sana, Obrigado, Merci beau coup.

By Dr Tapiwa Maji-Marefu Mashakada

Own Correspondent

Reinstated MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora’s daughter Bertha Mwonzora has come out gun blazing to defend her troubled father who is experiencing a bombardment of verbal attacks on social media for turning his back against MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

Bertha recorded a video clip in which she said her father is not working for Zanu Pf and urged opposition leaders to come together and find a way to move forward.

Watch Bertha’s video below downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.

Zanu PF Harare Province has issued a prohibition order against its District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairman Godwin Gomwe for indiscipline pending a determination by the ruling party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).

The ruling party’s interim chairperson for Harare Metropolitan Province Oliver Chidawu said the province wanted the party to suspend Gomwe because of various acts of indiscipline.

“We have submitted our recommendations to the National Disciplinary Committee to suspend Gomwe from carrying any party activities until he is cleared of charges levelled against him,” Chidawu said.

Chidawu signed the prohibition letter accusing Gomwe of posting statements on social media that “tarnish and or defame the characters of some senior party officials namely Chidawu, Kazembe Kazembe — provincial chairman for Mashonaland Central, Biggie Matiza, provincial chairman Mashonaland East and Mike Madiro, provincial chairman Manicaland.”

“You posted several social media messages that went viral accusing the above of not defending His Excellency the President when he was under attack in the old dispensation,” said
Chidawu.

According to the letter, a meeting of the provincial co-ordinating committee that was held on May 28, 2020 resolved to have Gomwe suspended.

“The meeting resolved to recommend to institute disciplinary proceedings against you by the National Disciplinary Committee, said Chidawu.

Contacted for comment, Gomwe dismissed the suspension letter saying as acting chairperson Chidawu did not have authority to institute disciplinary proceedings against him.

“Yes, I received a prohibition order from the acting provincial chairman Chidawu, he said.

Unfortunately he does not have the right to give me a prohibition order since he is not a substantive chairman. I will carry on with my duties as the DCC 2 chairperson.”- The Herald

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere says corruption is the country’s main problem.

Speaking during a news conference in the capital Harare on the Thursday Mahere said the MDC Alliance was ready to defend the views of 2,6 million people who voted for the opposition party in 2018.

According to Mahere, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is a captured institution.Watch video below :

A Chipinge man was sentenced to an effective two years in prison after he broke into the home of a schoolteacher and stole the Holy Bible.

Dingani Mucheto (21) and Simon Gwenzi Chibhoso (19) of Musimbo village under Chief Mapungwana were sentenced for unlawful entry and theft by Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware.

Prosecutor Timothy Katsande told the court that the duo broke into the home of Edith Kaziboni, a teacher at Mundanda Primary School and stole property worth $3 400 on 13 April.

Mucheto and Chibhoso were arrested following a tip-off from members of the public.

Investigations led to the recovery of some of the property and it was later revealed that Mucheto only stole the Bible.

Asked by Nembaware why he had stolen only the Bible, Mucheto said:

I stole the Bible because I just liked it. I fell in love with it, that is why I took it.

However, on convicting the pair, Nembaware noted that they were acting in common purpose.

He sentenced each of them to 36 months of which six were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

The magistrate also suspended a further six months on condition they restitute the complainant jointly or severally, $2 600 through the Chipinge clerk of court on or before August 28 this year- NewsDay