Own Correspondent

Fifty-three people tested positive for COVID-19 this Tuesday bringing the total number of positive cases to 787.

In a COVID-19 daily update, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the people who tested positive include nineteen returnees and thirty-four (34) local cases.

“53 cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These include sixteen returnees from South Africa, three from Botswana, and thirty-four local cases who are all isolated,” the Ministry said.

29 of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases, and investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the other 5 local cases.

New recoveries were reported in Bulawayo (2) and Mashonaland East (2).

The total number of confirmed cases stands at 787, with 201 recoveries, 577 active cases, and 9 deaths since the beginning of the outbreak in Zimbabwe on the 20th of March 2020.

To date, a total of 81 335 tests have been done.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has also called on Zimbabweans to report any returning citizens who abscond quarantine.

“To protect yourself and others, report to health authorities any suspicious returning citizens or residents that might not have gone through quarantine.”

Harare has the highest number of cases (250) which are mainly imported cases, while Bulawayo has recorded the highest number of local cases.

The cases so far recorded in the country, however, do not have a specific trend and are largely influenced by the volumes of returnees.

There are currently no cases admitted in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

President Mnangagwa has consoled MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa following the sudden death of his mother on Monday.

In a message on microblogging site Twitter, the President said he was saddened by the death of Gogo Chamisa who passed away at her Gutu rural home in Masvingo.

“I was sad to hear of the passing of Ambuya Chamisa, the mother of Nelson Chamisa. Our thoughts and prayers are with @nelsonchamisa and the Chamisa family at this difficult time,” he said.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo also extended his condolences to Mr Chamisa.

“Allow me to express my deepest condolences on the untimely passing on of Gogo Chamisa, your dear mother. May Advocate @nelsonchamisa find comfort in the word of God and may her departed soul rest in eternal peace,” he said.

Setting aside their political difference, MDC-T acting president Dr Thokozani Khupe also consoled Mr Chamisa.

“My deepest condolences to the Chamisa family. I pray that the Lord comforts you in this difficult time. MHSRIP,” she posted on her Twitter page.

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi also commiserated with Mr Chamisa saying, “The passing on of a parent, particularly when it’s sudden, is a very painful development. So sorry @nelsonchamisa.”

Reports indicate that Gogo Chamisa collapsed and died while in her garden.

Farai Dziva|The burial of Gogo Alice Chamisa, the mother of MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa is scheduled for Wednesday July 8 at the family homestead in Gutu.

See statement below:

Update on Gogo Chamisa Burial

The details of the funeral are as follows:

Venue: Chidyamakuni Village, Makwirivindi area of Chiwara
Date: 08 July 2020
Time: 1000hrs

Directions

From Harare via Chivhu then Gutu. Turn left dust road just before Maungwa Business Centre. That’s Chiwara road. 32km to Makwirivindi Business Centre then ask for Chidyamakuni Village. It will be 3-4km away.

From Masvingo or Mutare turn at Bikita Minerals into Chiwara area of Gutu South to Makwirivindi Business Centre. It’s abt 6-7km along the dust road from Bikita minerals.

Together in solidarity, we shall deliver a new Zimbabwe.

Hon Amos Chibaya
MDC Alliance
National Organising and Party Building Secretary

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has described his late mother, Gogo Alice Chamisa as an industrious lady who taught him to inculcate the principles of discipline and respect.

Gogo Chamisa collapsed and died in Gutu on Monday.

“She toiled to educate me just like all mothers do for families.

She taught me industry,respect,discipline,integrity and hardwork.

A hardworking, multi-talented woman.A prayer warrior and pillar in the faith.

Collapsed in her garden and went to be with the Lord. Rest in power Mai Nerison,” said President Chamisa.

Following our Press Conference on the 26th of June 2020 in Harare under the theme “Zimbabwe At Crossroads – The Way Forward” where we urged and challenged fellow citizens to start dialogue and conversations from the 27th of June to the 6th of July 2020 around what has to be done in order to stop the on-going bleeding, corruption and looting in Zimbabwe, we are happy to give feedback that citizens have been engaging in different ways and different platforms and there is consensus that we have to ACT as citizens to extract ourselves from the current crisis which is affecting everyone across the divide.

After engagements, conversations and consultations with fellow citizens and progressive organisations, we have agreed that we have to ACT and the day is 31 JULY 2020
This, therefore, sets aside the initial proposal for ACTION from the 7th to the 10th of July 2020.

The Front for Economic Emancipation in Zimbabwe (FEEZ) also known as the GREEN REVOLUTION being a non-partisan economic movement of the united citizens that fight against corruption, looting and demands transparency and accountability is, therefore, redirecting all progressive citizens and stakeholders towards the 31st of JULY as announced by fellow citizen, esteemed brother and leader Mr Jacob Ngarivhume.

We are the people let’s get it done.
A united people knows no defeat. We are stronger together. Victors do not bicker.

Front for Economic Emancipation in Zimbabwe (FEEZ)

Two people were killed by marauding elephants while one person was severely injured…

See full report below:

Marauding elephants killed two people and seriously injured another one in Muzarabani and Mbire on Wednesday last week.

The incident was confirmed by Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe.

He said:
I can confirm that two brothers from Nyamaro village, Muzarabani, were working in a field when an elephant charged at Tinashe Dzoro (10) who was trampled to death while his brother Solomon (12) escaped with serious injuries.
In another incident, a 22-year-old man from ward 12 Mbire district was trampled to death, while working in his field.

Mbire legislator Douglas Karoro said that four people have been killed by wild animals in ward 2 alone in less than 12 months.

He appealed to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the Rural District Council to erect a fence to separate the communal area from the zone of the national park- NewsDay

While the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is setting rules to allow by-elections to be held safely during what it sees as a long-term Covid-19 pandemic, Parliament has pushed ahead for an early census and new delimitation of seats to enable constituencies in the 2023 reflect the present population distribution.

Zec originally suspended voting during the lockdown, but now considers that the public health emergency is likely to be the “new normal” and so is putting in new voting rules.

Under these rules, voters will check online to see if their names are on the voters roll, will be screened for temperature before entering a polling station, and will even have to bring their own pen to mark the ballot papers.

Meanwhile, Zec is ready for filling of proportional representation seats in the Senate and National Assembly, since there is no extra voting in this regard, the results of the 2018 election being used.

When the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Assembly notifies the commission of a vacancy, this will be gazetted and the political party holding the seat will be invited to nominate a replacement.

For the 2023 harmonised elections, the Census and Statistics Amendment Bill sailed through the Senate on Thursday and awaits the President’s assent before becoming law.

Under this new law, there will be an early census, in July next year, instead of waiting for 2022, giving Zec time to delimit all 120 constituency boundaries in time for the Presidential, Parliamentary and local government elections using up-to-date census data-The Herald

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu PF party on Monday accused exiled former minister Jonathan Moyo of agitating for “mass uprising” in the country and called for his extradition from Kenya.

Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, in a video statement rebleased by the party, claimed opposition parties and other groups had formed an “unholy alliance” whose aim was to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa through an uprising.

Mpofu charged: “Our party detractors continue with their anti-establishment agendas. The party is aware of the plan for mass protests (on July 31) being organised by the MDC Alliance renegades: Tajamuka, the Front for Economic Emancipation of Zimbabwe being led by the expelled youth commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu and other media protagonists.

“Our security departments should constantly alert us on this clear and present danger of the activities of this unholy alliance.”

Zimbabwean prosecutors last week wrote to the Kenyan government requesting Moyo’s extradition on allegations that he improperly spent over US$200,000 from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund. Acting Deputy Prosecutor-General Nelson Mutsonziwa assured Kenyan authorities that Moyo “will not be prosecuted for any offence other than fraud, based only upon the facts stated in this request.”

But Mpofu appeared to reveal a political motive behind the request, accusing Moyo of subversive conduct by whipping-up anti-regime sentiment through his Twitter account which has more than half-a-million followers.

“We take note and welcome the Prosecutor General’s efforts for the extradition of Professor Jonathan Moyo from Kenya as he is the figment of the external demonisation of our leadership and extorting (sic) mass uprising in the country,” Mpofu said.

“Our security departments’ role in jealously guarding the integrity and the reputation of the party is critical.”

Mpofu claimed that a man had been arrested in Harare’s Kuwadzana suburb while printing Zanu PF and Central Intelligence Organisation cards, linking the discovery to planned mass protests on July 31.

“The level and sophistication of such an act points to the fact that there are leakages and gross breaches of our internal party systems which would be thoroughly investigated,” Mpofu said.

An economic crisis under President Mnangagwa has revived memories of the hardships of more than a decade ago when hyperinflation wiped out savings and pensions and forced the country to dump its currency in favour of the U.S. dollar.

Zimbabwe reintroduced its local currency last year after a decade of official use of the U.S. dollar but the local currency rapidly lost value, sending prices rocketing and raising fears of renewed hyperinflation.

The inflation rate stands at 785 percent, one of the highest in the world, while businesses charge in U.S. dollars and use black market rates to calculate prices in the local currency, making goods too expensive for many.

The crisis has stoked public anger against Mnangagwa, and triggered strikes. Police arrested 12 nurses protesting outside Harare Hospital on Monday demanding to be paid in U.S. dollars.

Opposition parties and activists are mobilising for nationwide protests on July 31 – the second anniversary of a presidential election narrowly won by Mnangagwa amid accusations of electoral fraud.

Mnangagwa has previously used the army and police to crush protests, but analysts say poorly-paid middle and lower ranks soldiers and police officers now also pose a threat to his regime which came to power on the back of a military coup that ousted the late former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017.

The government last month denied that the military was plotting another coup. Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe called an unprecedented news conference where, with security chiefs sat behind him, he declared: “The government would like to unequivocally debunk and dismiss these rumours. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no coup in the making.”

By A Correspondent- The trial of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has been postponed to the 21st of this month.

Mphoko, who is facing allegations of criminal abuse of office, appeared in court this Tuesday after he applied for exception of charges.

In postponing the matter, the state represented by Mr Lavock Masuku and Andrew Kumire told the court that the Magistrate dealing with the matter Mr Trynos Utahwashe is on another assignment.

Mphoko is alleged to have stormed Avondale Police Station and instructed junior police officers to release two Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) officials who were in custody.

Elsewhere, the trial of former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation Chief Executive Officer, Mr Patrick Mavhura and Director Human Resources and Administration, Ms Benania Shumba failed to kick off this Tuesday as the Magistrate dealing with the matter was out of town.

The two are facing charges of criminal abuse of office for allegedly swindling thousands of dollars from the national broadcaster.

Mavhura and Shumba will be back in court on the 21st of this month for commencement of trial.

-statemedia

The Zimbabwe dollar today fell by just over $2 against the United States dollar at today’s auction.

The average rate was $65.88 down from $63.74 last week and $57.36 at the first auction.

The lowest rate offered was $30 and the highest $90 but the lowest rate accepted was $55.

The highest rate offered continues to decline from $100 in the first auction, to $92 in the second and $90 today.

The lowest rate of $55 that was accepted should set the trend for future bids.

According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe 264 bids were accepted and 92 rejected.

A total of US$13.6 million was allotted, down fromU$16.3 million last week but total bids for this week were only U$15.9 million while those for last week were almost US$19 million.

Manufacturing got the highest amount of US$5.6 million followed by retail and distribution which got US$1.9 million.

ZimLive

Zimbabwe’s deputy minister of industry and commerce Raj Modi has been stranded in Australia for three months after the coronavirus outbreak disrupted international travel, ZimLive can reveal.

The 61-year-old was travelling on private business when Australia imposed a lockdown on March 20, before Zimbabwe closed its borders to foreigners on March 30.

Modi reportedly owns three supermarkets in Australia and runs a liquor wholesale business in Bulawayo.

Government spokesman Nick Mangwana confirmed Modi’s lengthy absence.

“I can confirm that deputy minister Modi is in Australia and is making arrangements to come back home,” Mangwana said.

Modi had not responded to questions left for him on his WhatsApp.

The 61-year-old Bulawayo South MP (Zanu PF) was born in India. Aged 22, he met his Zimbabwe-born future wife, Parul Kothari, and eventually settled in Bulawayo.

By A Correspondent- The government has barred the MDC-T’s court-ordered extraordinary congress that was scheduled for the 31st of this month.

In response to MDC-T leader, Thokozani Khupe’s letter to the Ministry of Health and Child Care which sought clearance to hold the congress, authorities cited the coronavirus pandemic as the reason why the opposition party should not have the congress.

The acting permanent secretary in the ministry of Health and Child Care, Gibson Mhlanga responded to the letter:

Your request for clearance to hold an extraordinary congress on 31 July 2020 is not approved.

We are in a Covid-19 lockdown and one of the requirements is that there must not be any public gatherings of more than 50 people. The delegates that you are indicating exceed the recommended number.

Based on this requirement, it is, therefore, impossible to hold the meeting in this environment.

The congress was expected to have 4500 delegates. Meanwhile, Khupe’s spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni told the Daily News that the party was consulting its lawyers to chart the way forward

DRAX International representative Delish Nguwaya, who recently landed in the dock over a US$60 million drugs procurement scandal, has been freed on $50 000 bail by High Court judge, Pisirayi Kwenda.

Nguwaya is accused of misrepresenting facts to the government in order to win a drug procurement tender.

He contends he is not guilty and approached the High Court after he was denied bail by a Harare magistrate.

Kwenda upheld Nguwaya’s arguments and rules that he cannot be held accountable for what happened, before granting him bail.

The judge said Nguwaya is a businessman and cannot be blamed for approvals made by government officials adding that when his offer for due diligence, in the drug supplying deal was presented, “the State officials packaged it as a ‘loan facility’ for the ‘funding of the health sector development’, whereas the company (Drax International) was not offering financial assistance but to sell medicines which would and did result, in the disbursement of US$2 million by the Zimbabwean Treasury”.

“In that event, the procurement may have been tainted. It is such deception or conduct short of the transparency required in administering public funds which would be of concern to the Anti-Corruption Court. The duty to safeguard public funds and property is bestowed on government agencies/employees,” Justice Kwenda said.

“However, the appellant (Nguwaya) had no role to play in that apparent deception or in administration of public funds. The appellant was not part of the procurement process undertaken by the State officials.

“The appellant is charged with fraud and its seriousness should be assessed based on the extent of the alleged potential or actual prejudice occasioned by the misrepresentation attributed to him.”

The judge further said Nguwaya is alleged to have misrepresented that the Drax Consult Sagl and Drax International LLC were medicine manufacturers thereby inducing some State officials to strike deals with his companies to the prejudice of good governance.

However, the judge said exaggerated marketing/business talk commonly referred to as ‘puffery’, is in a way, misrepresentation but a person who engages in exaggerated business talk would only be guilty of fraud if the other party acted on the misrepresentation to his/her/its prejudice.

“It is not the State’s case that the appellant actions caused financial prejudice. If there was any other form of deception which resulted in financial prejudice, then that could only have been as a result of a flawed procurement process.

“The appellant is not a State official. The fact that the medicines were overpriced should have been picked by the State officials during due diligence or a competitive bidding process,” the judge said.

“The financial prejudice ensuing from lack of diligence cannot be blamed on the appellant but, perhaps, on the persons who procured on behalf of the State. This court and the court a quo have no authority to prosecute or investigate crime. The courts only deal with the charge(s) before them. It is up to the Prosecutor General to direct the ZRP to investigate or the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate any other anomalies that may be affecting the procurement.”

As part of his bail conditions, Nguwaya was also ordered to reside at 148 Sandton, Mt Hampden, Harare until his trial is concluded, not interfere with State witnesses, to surrender all his travel documents to the Clerk of court at Harare magistrates Court and to provide surety in the form of his immovable property ordinarily known as 148 Mt Hampden, Harare and the Title Deed duly registered in his name.

Own Correspondent

A prominent Bulawayo Darts player and senior Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) manager in the city died on Sunday after being diagnosed with Coronavirus.

The late has been identified as 54-year-old Thabani Sibanda.

ZIMRA, in its condolence message, however, did not state the cause of Sibanda’s death.

“The Board, Commissioner General, Management and Staff of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority express their deepest condolences to the Sibanda family, relatives, and friends following the passing on of Mr Sibanda. The late Mr Sibanda, who was based in Bulawayo, passed away on July 5 2020,” read the ZIMRA condolence message.

Sibanda used to frequent Highlanders Club House where he loved to play darts and was also a member of the ZIMRA Darts team in Bulawayo.

KENYAN ministry of education has stated that all primary and secondary schools will reopen in 2021. The ministry said all students would resume studies in their current classes.

Education Minister George Magoha said no final-year national examinations would be held for primary and secondary pupils this year. Those exams are usually held in October and November each year.

However, colleges and universities will prepare to re-open in September this year with strict guidelines, the minister says.
Schools across Kenya closed in March after the country’s recorded its first coronavirus cases.

On Monday, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta reopened the borders of three counties that had been closed as part of the lockdown. He then gave the education ministry 24 hours to give guidelines about the school calendar.

BBC

Own Correspondent

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, ZLHR, lawyers Rudo Bere and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa have managed to get freedom for eleven nurses arrested on Monday and charged for allegedly violating some national lockdown regulations.

The nurses were released after the lawyers secured their release on RTGS$1 000 bail.

The nurses have been ordered to report once a week at various Zimbabwe Republic Police stations.

DRAX International representative Delish Nguwaya, who recently landed in the dock over a US$60 million drugs procurement scandal, has been freed on $50 000 bail by High Court judge, Pisirayi Kwenda.

Nguwaya is accused of misrepresenting facts to the government in order to win a drug procurement tender.

He contends he is not guilty and approached the High Court after he was denied bail by a Harare magistrate.

Kwenda upheld Nguwaya’s arguments and rules that he cannot be held accountable for what happened, before granting him bail.

The judge said Nguwaya is a businessman and cannot be blamed for approvals made by government officials adding that when his offer for due diligence, in the drug supplying deal was presented, “the State officials packaged it as a ‘loan facility’ for the ‘funding of the health sector development’, whereas the company (Drax International) was not offering financial assistance but to sell medicines which would and did result, in the disbursement of US$2 million by the Zimbabwean Treasury”.

“In that event, the procurement may have been tainted. It is such deception or conduct short of the transparency required in administering public funds which would be of concern to the Anti-Corruption Court. The duty to safeguard public funds and property is bestowed on government agencies/employees,” Justice Kwenda said.

“However, the appellant (Nguwaya) had no role to play in that apparent deception or in administration of public funds. The appellant was not part of the procurement process undertaken by the State officials.

“The appellant is charged with fraud and its seriousness should be assessed based on the extent of the alleged potential or actual prejudice occasioned by the misrepresentation attributed to him.”

The judge further said Nguwaya is alleged to have misrepresented that the Drax Consult Sagl and Drax International LLC were medicine manufacturers thereby inducing some State officials to strike deals with his companies to the prejudice of good governance.

However, the judge said exaggerated marketing/business talk commonly referred to as ‘puffery’, is in a way, misrepresentation but a person who engages in exaggerated business talk would only be guilty of fraud if the other party acted on the misrepresentation to his/her/its prejudice.

“It is not the State’s case that the appellant actions caused financial prejudice. If there was any other form of deception which resulted in financial prejudice, then that could only have been as a result of a flawed procurement process.

“The appellant is not a State official. The fact that the medicines were overpriced should have been picked by the State officials during due diligence or a competitive bidding process,” the judge said.

“The financial prejudice ensuing from lack of diligence cannot be blamed on the appellant but, perhaps, on the persons who procured on behalf of the State. This court and the court a quo have no authority to prosecute or investigate crime. The courts only deal with the charge(s) before them. It is up to the Prosecutor General to direct the ZRP to investigate or the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate any other anomalies that may be affecting the procurement.”

As part of his bail conditions, Nguwaya was also ordered to reside at 148 Sandton, Mt Hampden, Harare until his trial is concluded, not interfere with State witnesses, to surrender all his travel documents to the Clerk of court at Harare magistrates Court and to provide surety in the form of his immovable property ordinarily known as 148 Mt Hampden, Harare and the Title Deed duly registered in his name.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has described his late mother, Gogo Alice Chamisa as an industrious lady who taught him to inculcate the principles of discipline and respect.

Gogo Chamisa collapsed and died in Gutu on Monday.

“She toiled to educate me just like all mothers do for families.

She taught me industry,respect,discipline,integrity and hardwork.

A hardworking, multi-talented woman.A prayer warrior and pillar in the faith.

Collapsed in her garden and went to be with the Lord. Rest in power Mai Nerison,” said President Chamisa.

By Own Correspondent| Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has penned a heartrending message to his dear departed mother who collapsed and died yesterday.

Said Chamisa:

“She toiled to educate me. I know all our mothers do the same for families. She taught me industry, respect, discipline, integrity and hardwork. A hardworking, multi-talented woman. A prayer warrior & pillar in the faith. She just collapsed yesterday at 4pm. She has gone to be with the Lord. Rest in power Mai Nerison!”

Farai Dziva|The burial of Gogo Alice Chamisa, the mother of MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa is scheduled for Wednesday July 8 at the family homestead in Gutu.

See statement below:

Update on Gogo Chamisa Burial

The details of the funeral are as follows:

Venue: Chidyamakuni Village, Makwirivindi area of Chiwara
Date: 08 July 2020
Time: 1000hrs

Directions

From Harare via Chivhu then Gutu. Turn left dust road just before Maungwa Business Centre. That’s Chiwara road. 32km to Makwirivindi Business Centre then ask for Chidyamakuni Village. It will be 3-4km away.

From Masvingo or Mutare turn at Bikita Minerals into Chiwara area of Gutu South to Makwirivindi Business Centre. It’s abt 6-7km along the dust road from Bikita minerals.

Together in solidarity, we shall deliver a new Zimbabwe.

Hon Amos Chibaya
MDC Alliance
National Organising and Party Building Secretary

A POLICE officer based at Chivhu Police Station died on the spot on Friday after he was run over by a haulage truck that was evading a roadblock at the 136-kilometre peg along the Harare-Masvingo Highway.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi identified the deceased as Constable Cosmas Kwangwari.

“I can confirm that a police officer died on Friday at a roadblock in an accident. Investigations are still underway. More details will be released tomorrow (Sunday),” Nyathi said, but could not give more details yesterday saying he was out of office.

Police sources told NewsDay that the driver of the haulage truck overtook vehicles at a roadblock some 10km from Chivhu town and ran over the police officer manning the checkpoint.

The driver, Wellington Mutowa (38) was stopped and arrested at the next roadblock in Chivhu.

The truck had six passengers on board.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe will tomorrow hold her first meeting with the party’s national council as they prepare to hold a watershed extraordinary congress (EOC) at the end of the month.

Members of the national council last month petitioned Khupe and her standing committee to present themselves before them and discuss the Supreme Court ruling and the proposed EOC amid reports that there were plans to use the organ to kick out the current leadership.

Party deputy spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni told NewsDay that the MDC-T national council would convene to discuss the July 31 EOC among other issues affecting the party.

“The issues will be discussed this Wednesday when the national council convenes. We will hold a Press conference after which we will be able to deliver the resolutions and way forward. As you can see president Khupe is steadying the ship and giving leadership to the party,” he said.

Already there are moves to delay the July 31 EOC on health grounds with MDC-T officials claiming that the Health ministry had said it would not allow the 3 500 MDC-T congress delegates to gather for elections in Harare as this could affect the response to COVID-19.

Insiders said the delays were being pushed by Khupe’s camp seen as having favour from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration as they fear the acting president would lose the elections and would be relegated to Douglas Mwonzora’s deputy.

“The leadership was in Mashonaland West and violating all COVID-19 regulations, nothing has happened, look at the pictures that Mwonzora and (Morgen) Komichi took, no social distancing, no masks and they want to say EOC should be postponed,” said an insider.

Phugeni said everyone wanted the EOC to happen so that the party moved past the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai and there was no attempt to block it.

“Nobody wants to block the EOC, we all want it to happen, but of course not at the expense of people’s health. I have seen pictures of our meeting in Mashonaland West, yes, I was not there and I should admit that it does not look good. We have to respect health regulations, it’s important,” he said.

-newsday

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe’s largest labour movement, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) will declare a general strike beginning next week.

ZCTU president Peter Mutasa says the exact dates will be announced shortly.

Workers have been reduced to slaves in a tattered economy & must now defend their rights, he adds.

More to follow…..

Two people died on the spot while several others got injured after a haulage truck plunged from the upper lane down into the lower lane while descending the steep Christmas Pass curves in Mutare.

The injured were rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.

When The Manica Post arrived at the scene moments after the crash, police officers were retrieving dead bodies as well as guarding hundreds of 50kg bags of stock feed that had fallen off the truck.

Traffic was temporarily blocked as the police and the fire brigade team laboured to move parts of the wreckage from the lower lane.

-State Media

By Patrick Guramatunhu- Same s***t different day! That really sums up beautifully what Nelson Chamisa’s E-Rally was about!

“We want political reforms and these reforms must have people’s consultation. We want credible elections in this country. We don’t want a repeat of the past,” announced Nelson Chamisa in his hour-long E-Rally address.

The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders on the promise they will implement the democratic reforms necessary to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. The party had its golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. They failed to get even one reform implemented. Not one!

“We sat, ate and did nothing!” Nelson Chamisa admitted, for the first time ever, in an interview with New Zimbabwe last July.

In other words for five years of the 2008 GNU MDC leaders were busy enjoying the trappings of high office, the ministerial limos, the generous salaries, US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai they forgot about reforms and credible elections.

SADC leaders tried their best to have the 2013 Zimbabwe elections postpone in a desperate bid to have the reforms implemented.

“In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed – the SADC summit. I went there,” Dr Ibbo Mandaza, Director of SAPES, explained to Violet Gonda.

“Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform at least electoral laws. And after that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told ‘if you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done’.”

As we know Tsvangirai and company paid no heed to the SADC leaders’ advice. The elections went ahead and Zanu PF blatantly rigged the elections, as SADC leaders had rightly predicted.

“So, there are no 2023 elections without reforms. We have the capacity to say there are no elections, and they will not be held because we are the people. We want elections with comprehensive electoral and political reforms,” boasted Nelson Chamisa yesterday.

Well that is rich! MDC had the opportunity and the full backing of SADC leaders, who were the guarantor of the Global Political Agreement that forced Mugabe to accept the need to implement the reforms, to stop the 2013 elections until reforms are implemented and they wasted it. And now Chamisa wants the nation to believe MDC has “the capacity to stop the 2023 elections going ahead!

In his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, former MDC – Ncube Senator and Minister of Education in the 2008 GNU, gave details of how Zanu PF was flouting the electoral rules in the upcoming 2013 elections. It was clear the elections would not be free, fair and credible and yet MDC participated in the elections regardless.

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”

In 2014 MDC party Congress resolved they would not participate in any future elections until reforms were implemented. “No reforms! No elections!”

The resolution was soon ditched for the same reason as before – greed.

“MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections!” Nelson Chamisa insisted. One of the many feeble excuses to justify why the party was participating in the 2018 elections with no reforms in place.

Stringent measures, my foot! The MDC did not even have the common sense to insist on ZEC producing a verified voters’ roll! No doubt nearer the 2023 elections Nelson Chamisa, regular as clockwork, will announce the party has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections!

Mnangagwa is dimwit, there is a mountain of evidence to prove it; still even he is smart enough to know that as long as Zanu PF gives away the few gravy-train seats, bait, MDC and company will participate in the elections no matter how flawed the process. So, why would Zanu PF ever agree to implementing any reforms and reduce its chance of the usual landslide election victories when the opposition will participate guaranteed with no reforms!

Like it or not, MDC and the rest of Zimbabwe’s equally corrupt and incompetent opposition entourage’s continued participation in these rigged elections is giving the process some modicum of “credibility” as Coltart admitted and giving the vote rigging Zanu PF some modicum of legitimacy. If we are serious about ending the curse of rigged elections and bad governance then we must deny Zanu PF the little legitimacy the party is deriving from the opposition’s continued participation in flawed elections by starving MDC and company of our support.

The people of Zimbabwe must finally put their foot down and refuse to participate in any elections until the reforms are in place. It is for us, the people, to refuse to accept MDC’s myriad of feeble excuses to justify why we should participate in the 2023 elections without reforms. We must stop following MDC like sheep to the slaughter!

Indeed, when it comes to reforms MDC leaders have sold-out big time during the 2008 GNU and since then. They are no longer worthy of the nation’s trust, support and vote. Deprive MDC of political credibility and you deprive Zanu PF the veneer of legitimacy the regime has relied on since the 2013 elections!

After 40 years of rigged elections; the next elections must be free, fair and credible, without failure! Zimbabwe is not going to get out of this s***t-hole it is stuck or accomplish anything of substance until we implement the reform and end the curse of rigged elections. Enough of all these MDC “No reform! No elections!” redlines which both Zanu PF and MDC have repeatedly ignored with no consequences!

There are political consequences for Zanu PF rigging the 2018 elections. The party is illegitimate and hence the reason Mnangagwa and company must step down. If Zanu PF is allowed to stay in power until 2023, not even in a new GNU which Chamisa has been crying for none stop since July 2018, because the party will rig the 2023 elections guaranteed. We must not allow that to happen!    

By A Correspondent| Mother to the opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa will be buried tomorrow in Gutu, the party’s Organising Secretary Amos Chibaya has announced.

Ambuya Chamisa collapsed and passed on at her house in Gutu yesterday afternoon.

According to Chibaya, Ambuya Chamisa will be buried in Chidyamakuni Village, Makwirivindi area of Chiwara.

Below is the full message on burial arrangements;

Update on Gogo chamisa Burial
The details of the funeral are as follows:

Venue: Chidyamakuni Village, Makwirivindi area of Chiwara
Date: 08 July 2020
Time: 1000hrs*

Directions
From Harare via Chivhu then Gutu. Turn left dust road just before Maungwa Business centre. Thats Chiwara road. 32km to Makwirivindi business Centre then ask fo Chidyamakuni village. It will be 3-4km away.

From Masvingo or Mutare turn at Bikita Minerals into Chiwara area of Gutu South to Makwirivindi business centre. Its abt 6_7km dust road from Bikita minerals.

Together in solidarity, we shall deliver a new Zimbabwe.

*Hon Amos Chibaya
MDC Alliance
National Organising and Party Building Secretary*

Police have since May arrested 319 people countrywide for border jumping and smuggling.

Police have equally nabbed 87 827 people countrywide since March 30 for violating lockdown measures aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19, with the bulk of them paying fines.

Offences ranged from failure to wear masks, liquor-related offences and for violating the Road Traffic Act, unnecessary movements, illegal gatherings, opening businesses without proper documentation and violating the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said two other people escaped from quarantine centres in Beitbridge and Mashonaland East.

“Two people escaped last Thursday, one from NSSA Hotel Beitbridge quarantine centre and another one from Beatrice Rehabilitation Centre in Mashonaland East province.

“The cumulative number of escapees is now 194, while those arrested is still 28.

“A total of 12 arrests for illegal border crossing were made at Zona Border Post and Nyamapanda Border Post and two for smuggling at Forbes Border Post and Beitbridge Border Post.

“Total number of arrests made since 16 May are now 319,” he said.

At least 67 drivers were arrested for ferrying passengers in violation of Covid-19 lockdown regulations. The police national traffic unit has been deployed to account for such drivers. Some of the culprits were fined, while others are expected to appear in court soon. Asst Comm Nyathi warned drivers against violating the law.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is ready for filling of proportional representation seats in the Senate and National Assembly, since there is no extra voting in this regard, the results of the 2018 election being used.

When the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Assembly notifies the commission of a vacancy, this will be gazetted and the political party holding the seat will be invited to nominate a replacement.

For the 2023 harmonised elections, the Census and Statistics Amendment Bill sailed through the Senate on Thursday and awaits the President’s assent before becoming law.

Under this new law, there will be an early census, in July next year, instead of waiting for 2022, giving Zec time to delimit all 120 constituency boundaries in time for the Presidential, Parliamentary and local government elections using up-to-date census data.

Constituencies are supposed to be of equal size, within modest limits caused by provincial and district boundaries, but continual movement of people changes the distribution.

Land reform, for example, had a major change in how rural populations were distributed, and the continuous rural-to-urban migration common to most countries outside a small group of the most advanced, has to be taken into account when setting boundaries.

Even opening a new major mine can mean a boundary change as a new town arises.

Presenting the Bill in Senate last Thursday, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency should conclude the population census in July next year instead of 2022 to allow Zec enough time to use the information to delimit constituencies for the 2023 harmonised elections.

Minister Ziyambi said in terms of the law, delimitation of electoral boundaries must be completed less than six months before polling day in a general election, and if that failed to happen, boundaries that existed before the delimitation would be applicable. He said use of old constituency boundaries would not be consistent with the legal requirement that equal number of voters be registered in each constituency.

“It is now seven years into the new Constitution, we are faced with the undesirable prospect of using the same electoral boundaries as were used back in the 2013 general election for two reasons. The first is that the next census is only due to be completed in 2022. Even if all the data for 2022 was availed timeously, that still brings us uncomfortably close within the range of six months of the next election in 2023,” he said.

“Secondly, Zec will simply not have the time to do the consultation, produce the report and table before Parliament its preliminary and final delimitation reports to enable Parliament and the President to properly consider them. Remember also Madam Speaker that voter registration is done on a continuous basis by Zec.”

He said it was important that Zec depends on reliable up to date data for its delimitation. “The only achievable one in the short time available to us before the next delimitation, is to amend the Census and Statistics Act so as to align the taking of decennial national census in a manner that will enable the Zec to take into account census data in timeous fashion.”

Under the Bill, the next census must be concluded by July 2021, with a new census every 10 years from that date.

This will mean Zec will produce a new delimitation every 10 years for every other harmonised election, using good census data.

Minister Ziyambi said Zimbabwe’s democracy was based on the principle of one-person-one vote and the country had to wage a war several people paid dearly for the realisation of that right.

“The principle of one-person-one-vote has two meanings as well as signifying the entitlement of every citizen to vote at local and national elections. It also bears the meaning that one’s vote is equally as important and carries the same weight as the vote of any other person,” said Minister Ziyambi.

-statemedia

ZLHR: At Mbare Police Station, ZRP members have added another charge of incitement to commit a crime against Moses Sigauke, a nurse, accussing him of circulating a video on Facebook inciting other nurses to stage a demonstration at Mbare Police Station.

Sigauke was arrested on Monday together with other nurses and charged with contravening lockdown regulations by planning to hold a feedback meeting on their grievances with their employer.

The nurses , who are represented by ZLHR, are expected to appear at Mbare Magistrates Court this morning.

MDC stalwart Ian Kay has suggested that the opposition party should rebrand and start afresh as it has since lost its glitter because of infighting which has led to several splits.

In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, the outspoken politician, who is also former Marondera Central legislator, said the opposition party needed to retrace its roots and be guided by the founding principles as outlined during its formation.

“When you are in the bush and you get lost, the best thing to do is to retrace your footsteps and go back where you started from. This is because when you embark on such a journey you know where you want to go, hence starting all over again will be ideal,” he said.

Kay left the MDC in 2013 after the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai lost for the third time in a row to the late Zanu PF leader Robert Mugabe in the presidential race. After the dismal defeat by Zanu PF, Kay and his colleague, the late Roy Bennett, called for leadership renewal within the MDC before retiring from active politics.

He lost the Marondera Central seat to former Zanu PF heavyweight Ray Kaukonde in the same year.

“When this started, it was MDC. Movement meant going forward and democratic meant democracy. This is why I am saying, there is need to start afresh, going back to the drawing board and be guided by what was agreed on when the movement was formed.

“Through the passage of time, we have forgotten the founding principles of the movement and if we fail to recall that we will end up having leaders who are astray. If you read the Bible, it took Moses 40 years to cross over to the promised land, but if you analyse it, it was a short journey that took him so much time. This is the moment in which the MDC has seen itself in,” he said.

The opposition party is currently embroiled in massive factional fights pitting Nelson Chamisa against Thokozani Khupe with the former leading the MDC Alliance while the latter leads the MDC-T.

Following a recent Supreme Court ruling which ruled Chamisa’s leadership illegitimate, acting president of the MDC-T Khupe has since responded by recalling most of Chamisa’s lieutenants from Parliament and local authorities.

Kay said it was best for the warring parties to find common ground and forge a strong alliance. He accused the current crop of politicians of being self-centred.

“No one is perfect, you cannot blame anyone, it is better to blame yourself. Khupe is MDC, Chamisa is MDC and when I was there I was MDC. The best thing is for them to come together and go back to the drawing board. They should dialogue. It is not good to ignore each other, this is what has resulted in the MDC being where it is today,” he said.

“This nation lacks a driver. It is a pity that we have wise people in this country, but we lack the perfect person to steer the ship. Most of the people are joining politics to fatten their pockets and feed their families, that is where we are losing it,” he said.

While announcing his departure from the opposition politics in 2013, Kay described Tsvangirai as “a rusty bolt that needed to be replaced” and this was after the late former trade unionist failed to dislodge Mugabe for the third consecutive time.

-Newsday

By Patrick Guramatunhu- Same s***t different day! That really sums up beautifully what Nelson Chamisa’s E-Rally was about!

“We want political reforms and these reforms must have people’s consultation. We want credible elections in this country. We don’t want a repeat of the past,” announced Nelson Chamisa in his hour-long E-Rally address.

The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders on the promise they will implement the democratic reforms necessary to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections. The party had its golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. They failed to get even one reform implemented. Not one!

“We sat, ate and did nothing!” Nelson Chamisa admitted, for the first time ever, in an interview with New Zimbabwe last July.

In other words for five years of the 2008 GNU MDC leaders were busy enjoying the trappings of high office, the ministerial limos, the generous salaries, US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai they forgot about reforms and credible elections.

SADC leaders tried their best to have the 2013 Zimbabwe elections postpone in a desperate bid to have the reforms implemented.

“In 2013 the Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed – the SADC summit. I went there,” Dr Ibbo Mandaza, Director of SAPES, explained to Violet Gonda.

“Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform at least electoral laws. And after that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told ‘if you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done’.”

As we know Tsvangirai and company paid no heed to the SADC leaders’ advice. The elections went ahead and Zanu PF blatantly rigged the elections, as SADC leaders had rightly predicted.

“So, there are no 2023 elections without reforms. We have the capacity to say there are no elections, and they will not be held because we are the people. We want elections with comprehensive electoral and political reforms,” boasted Nelson Chamisa yesterday.

Well that is rich! MDC had the opportunity and the full backing of SADC leaders, who were the guarantor of the Global Political Agreement that forced Mugabe to accept the need to implement the reforms, to stop the 2013 elections until reforms are implemented and they wasted it. And now Chamisa wants the nation to believe MDC has “the capacity to stop the 2023 elections going ahead!

In his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, former MDC – Ncube Senator and Minister of Education in the 2008 GNU, gave details of how Zanu PF was flouting the electoral rules in the upcoming 2013 elections. It was clear the elections would not be free, fair and credible and yet MDC participated in the elections regardless.

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”

In 2014 MDC party Congress resolved they would not participate in any future elections until reforms were implemented. “No reforms! No elections!”

The resolution was soon ditched for the same reason as before – greed.

“MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections!” Nelson Chamisa insisted. One of the many feeble excuses to justify why the party was participating in the 2018 elections with no reforms in place.

Stringent measures, my foot! The MDC did not even have the common sense to insist on ZEC producing a verified voters’ roll! No doubt nearer the 2023 elections Nelson Chamisa, regular as clockwork, will announce the party has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging elections!

Mnangagwa is dimwit, there is a mountain of evidence to prove it; still even he is smart enough to know that as long as Zanu PF gives away the few gravy-train seats, bait, MDC and company will participate in the elections no matter how flawed the process. So, why would Zanu PF ever agree to implementing any reforms and reduce its chance of the usual landslide election victories when the opposition will participate guaranteed with no reforms!

Like it or not, MDC and the rest of Zimbabwe’s equally corrupt and incompetent opposition entourage’s continued participation in these rigged elections is giving the process some modicum of “credibility” as Coltart admitted and giving the vote rigging Zanu PF some modicum of legitimacy. If we are serious about ending the curse of rigged elections and bad governance then we must deny Zanu PF the little legitimacy the party is deriving from the opposition’s continued participation in flawed elections by starving MDC and company of our support.

The people of Zimbabwe must finally put their foot down and refuse to participate in any elections until the reforms are in place. It is for us, the people, to refuse to accept MDC’s myriad of feeble excuses to justify why we should participate in the 2023 elections without reforms. We must stop following MDC like sheep to the slaughter!

Indeed, when it comes to reforms MDC leaders have sold-out big time during the 2008 GNU and since then. They are no longer worthy of the nation’s trust, support and vote. Deprive MDC of political credibility and you deprive Zanu PF the veneer of legitimacy the regime has relied on since the 2013 elections!

After 40 years of rigged elections; the next elections must be free, fair and credible, without failure! Zimbabwe is not going to get out of this s***t-hole it is stuck or accomplish anything of substance until we implement the reform and end the curse of rigged elections. Enough of all these MDC “No reform! No elections!” redlines which both Zanu PF and MDC have repeatedly ignored with no consequences!

There are political consequences for Zanu PF rigging the 2018 elections. The party is illegitimate and hence the reason Mnangagwa and company must step down. If Zanu PF is allowed to stay in power until 2023, not even in a new GNU which Chamisa has been crying for none stop since July 2018, because the party will rig the 2023 elections guaranteed. We must not allow that to happen!    

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his foreign affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo have consoled opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa who lost his mother yesterday.

Posting on Twitter this morning, Mnangagwa said his thoughts and prayers are with Chamisa and his family during this difficult time.

“I was sad to hear of the passing of Ambuya Chamisa, the mother of Nelson Chamisa. Our thoughts and prayers are with @nelsonchamisa and the Chamisa family at this difficult time,” said Mnangagwa.

His foreign affairs minister SB Moyo also consoled Chamisa encouraging him to find comfort in the word of God.

“Allow me to express my deepest condolences on the untimely passing on of Gogo Chamisa, your dear mother. May Advocate @nelsonchamisa find comfort in the word of God and may her departed soul rest in eternal peace,” said SB Moyo.

1 #FullDetails of the police shooting of vendor Tinashe Zharare.

Zharare left home in the morning , at around 9 am to Jambanja Unit L shopping Centre to conduct his usual business of selling grocery from his pick up vehicle.

2. When police officers from Chitungwiza police station began their usual raid on the area,, Zharare quickly got into his vehicle and closed the door with an intention to drive off the scene.
3. A police officer then allegedly fired directly at the vehicle. The bullet not only damaged the drivers’ door but it went through the vehicle resulting in Zharare sustaining serious injuries on his right leg.
4. The police immediately rushed the injured Zharare to the hospital, dropped him off there, and vanished without leaving any documentation
5. At Chitungwiza hospital a doctor who attended to him recommended to have the leg amputated but a doctor from a private hospital said he could be operated and he was subsequently transferred to a local private clinic.

6 Police officers handling the case at Makoni police station are denying Zharare’s relatives access to the victim’s vehicle. They are not allowing them to take images of the damaged vehicle.The officers are also in possession of the victim’s national identity card

7. The acts by the police, of firing live ammunition, were unnecessary & unconstitutional. The Constitution is clear on the procedures to be taken when making an arrest. Cases of police firing live bullets at unarmed civilians are on the rise, & it is worrying.

1 #FullDetails of the police shooting of vendor Tinashe Zharare.
Zharare left home in the morning , at around 9 am to Jambanja Unit L shopping Centre to conduct his usual business of selling grocery from his pick up vehicle. #EndImpunity #StoptheShooting #EndPoliceBrutality

— The Zimbabwe Peace Project (@zppINFO) July 6, 2020

By A Correspondent- A national pressure group Chapter 2 Movement has officially reported the Mayor of Bulawayo to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the CID Law and Order over the death of 13 people from Luveve.

The 13 allegedly died after consuming Council’s contaminated water.

In a letter seen by this publication, the organization said the Mayor as the head of the organization was supposed to be investigated and accountable to the loss of lives which was caused by the council’s dirty water.

Chapter 2 Movement is a watchdog of Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe, we seek to safeguard the National Objectives as enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Constitution.

Our members in Bulawayo and across the globe have asked that we formally lay a complaint for investigation by your office and CID Homicide, over the death of 13 people who died in Luveve Bulawayo after consuming contaminated water.

We kindly request that you investigate the Mayor of Bulawayo as the head of the city. The buck stops with the Mayor therefore he needs to account for the actions of his administration.

It has been reported that the City of Bulawayo gave a contract to replace water pipes to an incompetent company or individual which then resulted in the deaths of 13 innocent persons. The Mayor as the head of the city is responsible and should be held to account. Bulawayo water has killed more people than the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe and this is a cause of concern. We ask that you investigate and bring the guilty to book in order to preserve the sanctity of human life.

06-07-2020

Three MDC Alliance Youth Assembly members, Never Bakali, David Jorum and Tarisai Mudiwa were granted free bail by Marondera Magistrate Liberty Garakara after spending the weekend languishing in police cells.

The trio who are represented by lawyer and Vice National Chairman, Hon Job Sikhala are being frivolously charged with what the state refers to as “disorderly conduct”.

The trio are set to re-appear in court on 27 July for commencement of trial.

As per our norm, tens of MDC Alliance supporters thronged Marondera Magistrates Courts in solidarity with our persecuted cadres.

Meanwhile, the Chitungwiza 12 are set to reappear at Chitungwiza Magistrates Courts tomorrow at 8:30 am.

It is very clear that the illegitimate Emmerson Mnangagwa is abusing courts through persecution by prosecution of MDC Alliance supporters.

The courts have become a new centre of the struggle and we are ready to challenge Mnangagwa’s authoritarianism with tenacity anytime anywhere!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

 By A Correspondent- A police officer based at Chivhu Police Station died on the spot on Friday after he was run over by a haulage truck that was evading a roadblock at the 136-kilometre peg along the Harare-Masvingo Highway.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi identified the deceased as Constable Cosmas Kwangwari.

“I can confirm that a police officer died on Friday at a roadblock in an accident. Investigations are still underway. More details will be released tomorrow (Sunday),” Nyathi said, but could not give more details yesterday saying he was out of office.

Police sources said the driver of the haulage truck overtook vehicles at a roadblock some 10km from Chivhu town and ran over the police officer manning the checkpoint.

The driver, Wellington Mutowa (38) was stopped and arrested at the next roadblock in Chivhu.

The truck had six passengers on board.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent a condolences message to opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa on the passing on of his mother on Monday.

Said Mnangagwa in a social media statement.

“I was sad to hear of the passing of Ambuya Chamisa, the mother of Nelson Chamisa. Our thoughts and prayers are with Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the Chamisa family at this difficult time.”

An MDC-T Presidential Task Team, travelled to Luveve District in Bulawayo, on Friday, June 4, 2020, to hear from the Luveve, residents first-hand about the deadly health crisis which has cost the lives of so many. The team was led by a Standing Committee member Khaliphani Phugeni, an official from the Local Government Secretary Hon. Chiwondegwa and Bulawayo Provincial Secretary Hon N. Mguni.

The residents spoke at length about their fear in using the Bulawayo City Council water which they believe has cost the lives of so many of their children and neighbours.

The City Council on other hand dissents that it is its water delivery system responsible for the deadly outbreak as the City’s internal testing and that of NUST and other private players have shown that the water from the tap is clean and good for human consumption, therefore they should be another reason for this deadly outbreak.

Having received the preliminary report from the MDC-T Presidential task team, Dr Khupe has ordered the City through its Mayor and his team to immediately, deploy all necessary interventions to arrest the deadly outbreak in that District.

The Mayor has to report to the Presidential task team every other day until the situation has been successfully arrested, as to the City’s intervention, the outcome hoped for and the results thereof. To the residents of Luveve, your situation is untenable, your anger and fears are not only reasonable but are well understood by the MDC-T President, Dr Khupe.

Over fourteen lives and still counting lost so far, these are hopes and dreams needlessly extinguished by this mysterious outbreak. This situation in Luveve is exacerbated by the COVID 19, pandemic however our humanity must shine through and the residents have inalienable right to expect their government to provide solutions to such deadly outbreaks and this case is no exception.

To that end, the President makes a commitment that she will leave no stone unturned until you (Luveve Residents) can safely drink and cook with clean water from your taps. The Mayor and his team will be visiting the families of the bereaved and those admitted or even discharged from the hospital over this outbreak starting from, Monday 6 July, 2020.

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi, who is also Mazowe South legislator (ZANU PF), has paid tuition fees for 1 200 pupils from underprivileged families in his constituency.

Chasi deposited $146 000 into Mazowe Primary School’s CBZ account for second term fees. The development was confirmed by school head Archibald Tanda. He said:

We received school fees for 1 200 pupils from our honourable MP, the fees for the second term.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF youth and former Mazowe Primary School school development committee chairperson Peter Mangisa said they approached Chasi for help following the closure of Jumbo Mine where many parents and guardians were employed.

Mangisa also said that many families in Mazowe do not fall under the “underprivileged” category for them to qualify for the government’s Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) even though they cannot afford to pay the school fees.

The BEAM programme provides assistance to close to 500 000 disadvantaged children.

NewsDay

MDC stalwart Ian Kay has suggested that the opposition party should rebrand and start afresh as it has since lost its glitter because of infighting which has led to several splits.

In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, the outspoken politician, who is also former Marondera Central legislator, said the opposition party needed to retrace its roots and be guided by the founding principles as outlined during its formation.

“When you are in the bush and you get lost, the best thing to do is to retrace your footsteps and go back where you started from. This is because when you embark on such a journey you know where you want to go, hence starting all over again will be ideal,” he said.

Kay left the MDC in 2013 after the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai lost for the third time in a row to the late Zanu PF leader Robert Mugabe in the presidential race. After the dismal defeat by Zanu PF, Kay and his colleague, the late Roy Bennett, called for leadership renewal within the MDC before retiring from active politics.

He lost the Marondera Central seat to former Zanu PF heavyweight Ray Kaukonde in the same year.

“When this started, it was MDC. Movement meant going forward and democratic meant democracy. This is why I am saying, there is need to start afresh, going back to the drawing board and be guided by what was agreed on when the movement was formed.

“Through the passage of time, we have forgotten the founding principles of the movement and if we fail to recall that we will end up having leaders who are astray. If you read the Bible, it took Moses 40 years to cross over to the promised land, but if you analyse it, it was a short journey that took him so much time. This is the moment in which the MDC has seen itself in,” he said.

The opposition party is currently embroiled in massive factional fights pitting Nelson Chamisa against Thokozani Khupe with the former leading the MDC Alliance while the latter leads the MDC-T.

Following a recent Supreme Court ruling which ruled Chamisa’s leadership illegitimate, acting president of the MDC-T Khupe has since responded by recalling most of Chamisa’s lieutenants from Parliament and local authorities.

Kay said it was best for the warring parties to find common ground and forge a strong alliance. He accused the current crop of politicians of being self-centred.

“No one is perfect, you cannot blame anyone, it is better to blame yourself. Khupe is MDC, Chamisa is MDC and when I was there I was MDC. The best thing is for them to come together and go back to the drawing board. They should dialogue. It is not good to ignore each other, this is what has resulted in the MDC being where it is today,” he said.

“This nation lacks a driver. It is a pity that we have wise people in this country, but we lack the perfect person to steer the ship. Most of the people are joining politics to fatten their pockets and feed their families, that is where we are losing it,” he said.

While announcing his departure from the opposition politics in 2013, Kay described Tsvangirai as “a rusty bolt that needed to be replaced” and this was after the late former trade unionist failed to dislodge Mugabe for the third consecutive time.

NewsDay

Own Correspondent

MDC ALLIANCE leader, Nelson Chamisa has come under fire for questioning government’s prioritization of the memorial statue for Mbuya Nehanda.

Chamisa criticised the government’s move to erect the statue in Harare when the country should be putting priorities towards building infrastructure.

Zanu PF Director for Information and Publicity, Tafadzwa Mugwadi who obviously failed to understand Chamisa’s sentiments had no kind words for him for what he described as a disgraceful demeaning of the country’s heroes and heroines.

“By virtue of disrespecting our founding heroes like Mbuya Nehanda, Chamisa has demonstrated a high level of immaturity, and his true colours that the MDC Alliance worships their western masters who imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe. His utterances demeaning the dead are nonsensical and rendered him a nonentity who lacks qualities of a leader,” he said.

Former MDC Alliance spokesperson Obert Gutu who has found new love with the ZANU PF system said by attacking the dead, Chamisa had stooped too low.

“Such sentiments which Chamisa made have no place in our African culture, even in all progressive countries internationally, leaders there respect their founding heroes and statue of heroes are worldwide be it in Russia, USA, among others. So it is shocking and disrespectful of Chamisa uttering that, we know in our Zimbabwean culture that is the norm that “Wafa Anaka” so it is disturbing to have Chamisa misfiring like that, this should be condemned with the seriousness it deserves,” added advocate Gutu.”

Speaking in his e-rally organised by the party on Sunday, Chamisa criticised the government timing on the setting up of the monument.

“I heard this government wants to build the statue of the late heroine of the First Chirimurenga, Ambuya Nehanda,” Chamisa said.

“It shows that people are wired wrongly. This is inappropriate to build the statue.

“You are telling us that you want to commit state resources to build a statue instead of putting money and effort into building buildings and infrastructure.

“But you are thinking of building a statue, that’s wrong priorities!”

Chamisa added: “Our (MDC) government will honour heroes but will not worship any human beings. We will not worship the dead.

“We will honour all our national heroes and that honour will bestowed to those deserving.

“Under our government, heroes will not be selected by a political party but by an independent and impartial body.

“All national heroes from all sectors will be honoured.

“We cannot have a heroes acre of politicians, especially some of the politicians with questionable credentials.”

Last week, government reported that work on the Mbuya Nehanda memorial statue had started at the corner of Julius Nyerere Way and Samora Machel Avenue in Harare.

Nehanda was hanged on 27 April 1902.

MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa’s mother died on Monday at her home in Gutu.

Reports indicate that Gogo Chamisa collapsed and died while in her garden.

In a post on Twitter, Chamisa paid tribute to her departed mother, saying she imparted to him the important values in life. He wrote:

She toiled to educate me just like all mothers do for families. She taught me industry, respect, discipline, integrity and hard work. A hardworking, multi-talented woman. A prayer warrior & pillar in the faith. Collapsed in her garden& went to be with the Lord. Rest in power Mai Nerison!

Own Correspondent

MDC Alliance Bulawayo councillor for ward 4 Silas Chigora has clashed with the party leadership in the City leaving him to cross the floor and join the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T.

Chigora who was also the MDC Alliance Bulawayo East District Chairman was initially relieved of his duties as Chairman after he had continuously passed negative comments about President Nelson Chamisa in WhatsApp groups.

Chigora was in the news last year when he and Deputy Mayor, Tinashe Kambarami unsuccessful tried to suspend Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube over allegations of misusing council funds.

He was stripped of his position during a district meeting held in the city on Saturday.

According to party sources, the meeting was attended by the MDC Alliance district committee and national executive members Jasmine Toffa, Tinashe Kambarami and the party’s Bulawayo spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza.

In one of the leaked chats, Chigora described Chamisa as a liar who was not fit to be party leader.

“Our president (Chamisa) is a big liar. He lied about the Alliance agreement and also that Harvest House was under the control of the Alliance. He lied about everything and now the truth has been exposed,” reads a message allegedly sent by Chigora to one “Mainini”.

Chigora was also removed from all the party’s WhatsApp groups.

Reports just received indicate that at least fifteen highly qualified lectures have quit working at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) last week alone over poor remuneration.

Senior lecturers holding doctorate degrees are currently earning about ZWL$7 000, equivalent to just over US$100.

Among those who have quit the institution are long-serving constitutional law lecturer Greg Linington and leading professors Donald Chimanikire and Hasu Patel.

“The situation here is terrible,” said one lecturer who preferred to remain anonymous.

“Senior lecturers are leaving every week for greener pastures and it’s not a good sign at all given that we are in the middle of examinations and very soon, marking is starting and there is a huge shortage of staff.

“For instance, only last week on Monday, 15 lecturers left, most of them being vastly experienced doctors and professors.

“This is a new brain drain. The department of political and administrative studies alone lost five lecturers and many are already processing their papers.”

State Media

The tribunal set up to rule on misconduct allegations against Justice Francis Bere has stopped its proceedings until the High Court has ruled on a defence application to review a tribunal decision not to delay the hearing.

Both parties had been asked by the tribunal to agree on a convenient date for the resumption of the hearing.

A fortnight ago, tribunal chairman and retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako ruled on preliminary issues, deciding that the tribunal could proceed even though Justice Bere, under suspension from the Supreme Court, wanted the tribunal stopped until the High Court had ruled on the legality of the tribunal.

The High Court had already refused to accept this first application on tribunal legality as a matter of urgency, but it is still on the ordinary continuous roll and will eventually wind its way to be heard before a judge.

What Justice Bere now wants is for the tribunal proceedings to be stayed until that legal issue is decided.

The tribunal refused to do this, but on Friday, just before tribunal proceedings were about to resume, Justice Mubako did agree to halt proceedings until the application to review the earlier decision not to delay matters further has been dealt with.

Justice Bere’s lawyer Prof Lovemore Madhuku confirmed that the hearing had been suspended to a later date this month.

“(Retired judge) Justice Simbi Mubako took note of our application for review of the tribunal decision and stopped the proceedings to allow the High Court to deal with our urgent application, which was filed on Thursday,” he said.

“They were served with a copy of our application to the High Court.”

So there are now two live applications by Justice Bere before the High Court, one to cancel the tribunal and one that, in effect, seeks to have the tribunal stop sitting until the first one is decided.

Justice Bere is facing three charges of improper conduct after a Harare lawyer accused him of interfering in a civil case.

He denied the charges, before challenging the whole tribunal process, seeking to invalidate Proclamation 1 of 2020, the legal instrument, which was issued by President Mnangagwa, at the request of the Judicial Service Commission, established the tribunal.

The judge, who was serving on both the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court benches, was suspended from the bench in March this year, pending a probe into potential misconduct.

He is accused of meddling in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) and his relatives.

He allegedly telephoned Mr Itai Ndudzo, who was representing Zinara, asking him to consider settling a civil dispute pitting Zinara against Fremus Enterprises.

Complaints against him were raised before Deputy Chief Justice, Elizabeth Gwaunza, during a court hearing, and Mr Ndudzo was asked to make the complaint in writing.

In a response to the allegations, Justice Bere claimed that he only contacted Mr Ndudzo in the context of their personal relationship, dating back to the days when they were both members of the Zimbabwe Football Association Ethics Committee.

He described the complaint as a falsehood meant to taint his record.

This is the second time Justice Bere has been the subject of a serious complaint, but in the first case he was cleared of wrongdoing.

State Media

ROOFTOP solar energy has emerged as one of the sources of power that can ease the consumption of energy on the national grid.

This was revealed at the commissioning of the Switzerland Embassy solar project in Harare this Monday.

Zimbabwe is a country endowed with abundant solar resources, and the Swedish Embassy has managed to install a 20 kilowatt an hour rooftop solar system and a 40-kilowatt-hour lithium power project for their premise and also feed excess power into the national grid.

The government has welcomed the project as a possible import substitution model that can reduce the load on the national power supplier.

“Government is very serious about ensuring that the country is energy secure and one of the key ways of doing this is ensuring we have rooftop solar and we are determined to drive this in a very big way. What the swiss have done here is a very good example of what other embassies can do. As a government, we have a huge interest in this type of project which is an import substitution model. Solar representing a saving in the power that we are importing from other countries. It is viable for business it is not viable to run a business on fuel. We are putting a net metering framework where the embassy can sell excess power to the grid Zesa and government is working on a payment plan,” said the Minister.

Switzerland Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, Niculin Jager said they are willing to feed their excess power to the national grid.

“We have commissioned a new installation and now we are fully independent on solar power. We want to contribute to sustainable energy management in the world. During the day we would want to feed into the grid so that our neighbours can profit so we will participate in the net metering program that the ministry is offering and make available our excess power to other consumers. We will also buy an electric car that will use all the excess power,” he said.

Solar is considered a clean and sustainable energy source which Zimbabwe is tapping into and is in line with the country’s energy policy.

THIRTEEN nurses were arrested yesterday at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, formerly Harare Central Hospital, for allegedly contravening Covid-19 lockdown regulations .

Most of them were fined between $200 and $500.

Police said the nurses were arrested for violating regulations relating to social distancing and for not wearing face masks.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests saying: “We have arrested 13 nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital for contravening Covid-19 lockdown regulations which relate to social distance guidelines. They were fined amounts ranging between $200 and $500.”

Government has banned all political rallies and demonstrations, among other forms of public gatherings, in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Nurses, mainly those at central and provincial hospitals, withdrew their labour on June 18 and continued to boycott work yesterday claiming they were incapacitated.

Following industrial action by nurses last month, the Health Services Board said the 50 percent pay rise and the US$75 Covid-19 allowances awarded by Government were a temporary arrangement to cushion Government workers while salary negotiations continued.

HSB chairperson Dr Paulinas Sikhosana said they were waiting for guidance from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on the potential Government offer to be taken for the actual negotiations with health workers’ representatives.

Health workers have not welcomed the cushioning allowance by Government saying they need to be treated differently from the rest of the civil service since they have been reporting for duty during the Covid-19 lockdown while the bulk of their counterparts have been home on full pay since end of March.

MDC-T Secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has continued with his barrage on the MDC Alliance Leadership claiming that some top party officials used their positions to strip the big opposition party of assets that include houses and vehicles.

Mwonzora confirmed to State Media that investigations are underway to establish what happened to the party’s so-called safe houses as well as vehicles that he claims were converted to personal use.

“Right now that is a matter that I would not want to discuss in detail but it is a matter that the leadership of the party is dealing with. The matter of embezzlement of the party funds and trying to strip the party of its assets. We are looking into this issue but we will advise at the appropriate time and take the issue to the police,” said Mr Mwonzora.

However, while addressing party structures over the weekend, Mwonzora said the party lost over US$23 million to some of its leaders who misled the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai into believing that there would be a presidential election run-off and there was need for a resourced war chest to fund the polls.

“We didn’t know that the party had more than 150 vehicles but we have the paper trail and we are going to trace what happened to those vehicles. We are going to trace where our motorbikes are.

“We have people who left the party with more than US$23 million. This happened in 2013 when we were using the US dollar. So some people lied to Tsvangirai that there would be a run-off and they took the money to Botswana. After the election, Tsvangirai said can you take US$5 million from that stash to rebuild the party and they then started accusing him of being too old and suggested that they should be a leadership renewal. Those same people who lied to Tsvangirai and stole the party money now want to lead us,” said Mwonzora.

MDC Alliance secretary general Mr Chalton Hwende dismissed Mwonzora’s claims questioning why he ignored the matter when he was the party Secretary General for five years.

“He was the secretary general for five years. Why doesn’t he report the case to the police? He completed his five-year term but didn’t raise those issues. What we know is that there is no missing money. The only assets we know that are missing are vehicles that were auctioned by Mwonzora. We also know that the last vehicles that were bought by the party were bought by vice president Tendai Biti when he was the secretary general. Those cars we have them and we cannot give them because they belong to the party,” said Mr Hwende.

Bread prices have come down by around $10 a standard loaf with prices in most retail outlets throughout the country.

The new price is range is now between $55 and $68 depending on brand.

The reduction in the price is comes after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ensured millers could import wheat with foreign currency supplied at the ruling auction rate.

Last week, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) announced that millers would reduce the price of the flour and that in future flour prices would track the standard auction rate.

Supermarkets and shops still have variations in the price of a standard loaf from the big three commercial bakers of Lobel’s, Proton, and Bakers Inn, ranging from $66.90 to $68.43 depending on how they apply mark-ups, with in-house brands being sold for as low as $55.

In-house brands are normally cheaper as there are no transport costs to factor in.

The bakers were being charged $3 150 for a 50kg bag of bread flour, but the millers, now able to use auction rates to import wheat, are charging just $2 136 for the same 50kg.

“There are still stocks of higher-priced flour by bakers, but most are already diluting this with lower-priced flour, so pushing down prices closer to what their competitors charge.

Bakers Association of Zimbabwe President Mr. Dennis Wallah yesterday confirmed that the price of bread had started going down, but said any movement on the foreign currency would affect the price.

“The reduction in the price of bread shows that our members are responsible, but any movement upward or downward in the exchange rates will affect the bread price,” he said.

In future bread prices will track the auction rate, making bread the first non-subsidised essential product where prices will track the auction rate, not the black market rate.

Bread prices started soaring in May this year when the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) advised millers that they had run out of wheat and millers had to import using free funds.

GMAZ chairman, Mr. Tafadzwa Musarara recently confirmed that prices would be guided by the foreign currency auction outcomes.

In a few months, as the present winter wheat crop is harvested, there could be more price adjustments with the price of flour for the next year being dependent on what farmers are paid for their crop and the storage and other costs incurred by buyers, mainly the GMB.

Zimbabwe has always been a wheat importer, but this winter the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Resettlement has pushed hard to contract enough competent farmers in the hope that Zimbabwe can be self-sufficient or close to self-sufficient.

The country requires around 400 000 tonnes of wheat a year at present demand.

Eighteen people tested positive for COVID-19 this Monday bringing the total number of positive cases to 734.

In a COVID-19 daily update, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the people who tested positive include sixteen returnees and two local cases.

“Eighteen cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These include sixteen returnees from South Africa and two local cases who are isolated,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry also announced the death of a 54-year-old male.

“Today we regret to report a facility death of a male aged 54, from Bulawayo province who tested positive yesterday with no history of travel and had comorbidities.”

16 recoveries were also reported, twelve from Harare, two from Masvingo, and another two from Midlands.

The total number of confirmed cases stands at 734, with 197 recoveries, 528 active cases, and 9 deaths since the beginning of the outbreak in Zimbabwe on the 20th of March 2020.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has also called on Zimbabweans to report any returning citizens who abscond quarantine.

“To protect yourself and others, report to health authorities any suspicious returning citizens or residents that might not have gone through quarantine.”

This comes at a time when President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed concern over the number of returnees who are absconding from quarantine facilities and has also urged Zimbabweans to be on the lookout for returning residents who do not have COVID-19 clearance certificates.

Farai Dziva|Former Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Jonathan Moyo has claimed he has evidence to prove Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to kill him.

Moyo was commenting on the move by Mnangagwa’s administration to extradite him.

“I am where I am, in terms of international law following a premeditated military attack on my home and family whose aim was to kill me, on November 15, 2017.

The evidence of that military attack is in the public record.

The only person who does not know about it is Mnangagwa’s henchman, prosecutor general [Kumbirai] Hodzi.

His extradition quest, which will be vigorously dealt with in terms of international law, is a desperate last-ditch effort to do what the army failed to do against me on November 15, 2017,” Moyo argued.

By Farai D Hove| The MDC renegade, Douglas Mwonzora has announced sudden allegations that the Alliance Deputy Tendai Biti and colleagues misappropriated US$23 million stashed for the party in a bank in Botswana.

Speaking during a meeting in Marondera, Mwonzora said, 150 party vehicles were stolen after the 2013 elections. He said this as he swung a direct inference at his predecessor, Tendai Biti.   

He said the late Morgan Tsvangirai was duped by people he says are thieves. Mwonzora’s allegations however, come at a time when he failed to speak on the said “theft” during the many years running up to Tsvangirai’s death in February 2018. Furthermore he had more than ample time in his hands, several years, holding the powerful post of Secretary General from 2014 to 2019, a time when he could have even authoritatively spoken on it. Mwonzora’s action and inaction thus make him a direct accomplice in his own allegations.

Despite all this, he confidently continues to announce: 

”  [Chalton] Hwende went to parliament thinking that he would have powers to remove us.

“He went wearing clean clothes. He was wearing his blue suit, with sharp ended shoes, thinking of of how he would remove Mwonzora.

“This was battle number one: we were the ones given the powers to remove MPs, counselors; they fought us in court, and we defeated them in court over those powers.”

He then begins to make his allegations of theft, saying:  ” What people did not know is that Tsvangirai had a system to keep two copies, one at Harvest House, another at the Safe House. 

“There are very few people who know where this Safe House is, we will not tell them.

” The other copies are kept with the Secretary General, so I had the papers, they are all with the Secretary General.  I wont tell them; so I had the papers this building is ours it is owned by the party, the papers are here.

“We did not know Mr Mudzuri, that the party has 150 cars, we did not know where they are.

“The 150 cars were stolen, the papers are here, so we are now going after our cars, we are now going after our motorbikes.

“We have people who disappeared with USD23 million, not bond. You remember in 2013 we used to use US dollars, there were people who lied to Baba Tsvangirai, and said President we have been told by CIO, there will be a runoff, so we are now taking this money to bank it in Botswana.

“After elections, Tsvangirai then said, on the 23 million, take out 5 million so that we can rebuild the party, then these people began attacking Tsvangirai using big words such as debauchery, and leadership renewal. 

“It was all an issue of money, nothing else. so these thieves we are going after them, we know them well.”

Efforts to get a comment from Tendai Biti were fruitless at the time of publishing.