By A Correspondent- Gwanda magistrate, Ndumiso Khumalo, who was beaten up by police in April following his arrest over suspected robbery, has lodged a complaint for the violation of his rights

Khumalo filed his complaint on May 29 at Hillside Police Station after he was assaulted on April 21 at 9pm in Waterford, Bulawayo.

In his letter, Khumalo stated that he was a magistrate at Gwanda (Criminal) Magistrates Court.

“It was on April 21, 2020 at 9pm, and I was walking home with a friend (neighbour) after visiting him where we had spent the evening indoors from around 6pm and two vehicles stopped on the main road. The occupants of the vehicles disembarked. The first vehicle to stop was a Honda Fit carrying approximately 10 men armed with knobkerries and police batons,” Khumalo wrote.

“The second vehicle was a kombi being driven by a tall, dark and big uniformed member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). The kombi had two other uniformed police officers, but the one I saw clearly was the driver. On disembarking from their vehicles, the part of men, armed with the weapons, started to assault me and my friend accusing us of hitting one of them with a brick and taking his bicycle in a nearby bush earlier that evening.”

Khumalo stated that the police officers asked them where the bicycle and a satchel (suspected to be stolen) were.

“The mob of armed men assaulted me severely on both sides of my pelvis using batons, knobkerries and did not stop until I was unable to feel my legs or stand. During the attack I ran and tried to beg the driver to intervene but he pushed me back to the armed men,” Khumalo wrote.

“I became half-conscious on the side of the main road after being assaulted by the mob and the police officer (driver) violently handcuffed me to his friend’s left hand. I was extremely in pain and could not feel my legs. The officers demanded that we get into the kombi saying we were under arrest as suspects for robbery.”

Khumalo said they were driven to Hillside Police Station where they were charged with robbery and detained.

The following morning Khumalo realised that they were victims of mistaken identity as the three robbery suspects were already in custody.

“The three young men confessed to beating and robbing a man of his bicycle,” Khumalo wrote.

After demanding to be released, Khumalo and his friend were charged with loitering during lockdown and ordered to pay $500 fine each. Khumalo showed the officers the wounds on his pelvis and convinced them that he required medical attention.

“An ambulance arrived and I was carried by officers into the vehicle, given back my shoes, cellphone and a piece of paper instructing the hospital to treat me,” Khumalo wrote, adding that he was treated at United Bulawayo Hospitals and released the following day, but his friend remained in custody.

Constable Rambi of Hillside Police Station called and asked Khumalo to bring a medical affidavit to the station so that he could lay assault charges against the officers who had battered him, but he could not because he was still receiving medical treatment.

Khumalo later discovered that his friend had been given handwritten summons to appear in court on a charge of robbery.

“To date I still cannot walk without feeling extreme pain, needless to say that I am still confused as to how this unfortunate incident befell me in my neighbourhood, near my house and near a police station,” Khumalo wrote.

The medical affidavit compiled by a doctor at the United Bulawayo Hospitals stated that Khumalo’s injuries were serious, permanent disability was likely to occur and that the examination showed that there was potential loss of life due to intracranial and internal bleeding.

The police are yet to respond to the letter.

Alert! Alert! Alert!

The dreaded Ferret team known for abductions and torture of opposition activists has just paid an unwanted and uninvited visit to the home of our MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Organizer, Clr Godfrey Kurauone just now!

Organ Kurauone’s crime is refusing to take part in Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Command Fasting Day held yesterday.

Below is Clr Godfrey Kurauone’s statement:

“4 people have just left my home now. Tendai David Runganga Gumbo from CIO, Sibanda from Police Intelligence, Tshabangu from Law and Order and the other one who did not disembark from his Car.

They are accusing me of not following Covid 19 regulations yesterday when i gave food to the disabled homeless people. They said they came to warn me to stop what i am doing.”

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Alert! Alert! Alert!

The dreaded Ferret team known for abductions and torture of opposition activists has just paid an unwanted and uninvited visit to the home of our MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Organizer, Clr Godfrey Kurauone just now!

Organ Kurauone’s crime is refusing to take part in Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Command Fasting Day held yesterday.

Below is Clr Godfrey Kurauone’s statement:

“4 people have jus left my home nw.
Tendai David Runganga Gumbo from CIO, Sibanda from Police Intelligence, Tshabangu from Law and Order and the other one who did not disembark from his Car.

They are accusing me of not following Covid 19 regulations yesterday when i gave food to the disabled homeless people.
Hanzi we have come to warn u to stop what you are doing.”

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- Harare Magistrate Bianca Makwande on Monday 15 June 2020 ordered Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) to allow three victims of abduction and torture, who she condemned to prison after denying them bail, to be allowed access to food brought by their
lawyers after they complained of starvation while in detention.

Magistrate Makwande denied bail to Harare West legislator Hon. Joana
Mamombe aged 27 years, Cecelia Chimbiri aged 31 years and Netsai Marova aged 25 years, who appeared before her after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police members and charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The trio was also charged with defeating or obstructing the course of
justice as defined in section 184(1)(f) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Magistrate Makwande told Hon. Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova that she
vetoed their bail application after being convinced that there were
compelling reasons not to admit them to bail.

The Magistrate who remanded the trio in custody to 26 June 2020
ordered ZPCS to allow Hon. Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova to be treated
for ailments sustained when they were abducted and disappeared by some
unidentified people on 13 May 2020.

The trio’s lawyers Alec Muchadehama, Jeremiah Bamu, Roselyn Hanzi and
Tinomuda Shoko of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, told Magistrate Makwande that their clients were starving in prison and had not eaten since Friday as ZPCS officers were not allowing them to get food coming from their lawyers when they visit them at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, where they are detained.

Watch MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere speaks to ZimEye shortly after the court ruling:

The abductees’ lawyers advised Magistrates Makwande that they will
challenge the placement of their clients on remand when they return to
court on 26 June 2020.

Hon. Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova went missing on 13 May 2020, when
they were abducted in Harare and were found on 15 May 2020 after being
dumped in Bindura in Mashonaland Central province.

They have already been charged with committing public violence after
they were arrested on 26 May 2020 for allegedly participating in an anti-government protest against hunger during the national lockdown period as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and for contravening section 5(3) (a) as read with section 5(1) of Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 of Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 and will stand trial in August.

-ZLHR

By A Correspondent| Sugar producer Tongaat Hulett has hiked the price of sugar with effect from yesterday 15 June 2020.

This is despite the fact that the product is in short supply and rarely available in local supermarkets.

According to a communication from Tongaat Hulett, a 2kg pack of brown sugar is now being sold at a retail price of ZWL$140.45 while a 2kg of white sugar is now going for ZWL$147.86.

The company did not state reasons for the hike in prices.

Find below the Tongaat Hulett price schedule

By A Correspondent- The MDC T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe will soon hold its National Council Meeting once the modalities are in place.

ecretary general of the party Douglas Mwonzora:

“…..following the petition by some members of the National Council asking us to hold an emergency National Council meeting, and our attitude is that we will soon be holding the National Executive Council meeting as soon as the circumstances are permitting gatherings …that allow for big gatherings. As you know, there are 202 members of the council, and we will need our leadership…The president will give us a date.. we are not in a hurry to hold the meeting because we had another one on May 9 virtually.”

Watch the live video loading below…..

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is delaying the introduction of the $20 note and other higher denominations to avoid upsetting the market.

Treasury boss Mthuli Ncube said allowing citizens to use foreign currency in domestic transactions as well as delaying the introduction of higher Zimbabwe dollar denominations is meant to manage the growth of money supply.

Said Ncube:

At the moment we have allowed citizens to use free funds (forex), as a way to also manage the growth of money supply.

So, we said we will bring it ($20 note) but we need to ease pressure and we want to manage the introduction of whatever currency we have so that again we don’t balloon growth of money supply.

We use the swapping mechanism where we are swapping RTGS balances for cash and we have kept that approach and that’s the right approach to do it.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) introduced the $10 note at the end of May and had initially announced that the $20 note would be in circulation by the first week of June.

The exchange rate has spiralled out of control, with the local dollar now trading at 1:60 and above against the US$1 on the parallel market at a time when the fixed exchange rate remains at 1:25.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa on Monday confirmed the report that a 14-year-old girl committed suicide by hanging.

Beloved Choga from Nhokwara village in Buhera hung herself to death after being reprimanded by her mother for failing to perform household chores.

Reports indicate that on June 10, Beloved was quizzed by her mother Memory Choga (38) why she was not doing her household chores.

Dejected and depressed over her mother’s rebuke, Beloved left home a few hours later and her mother failed to locate her.

After searching for the teenager for hours without much success, villagers gave up the search only for Shadreck Nhokwara to stumble upon the juvenile’s corpse two days later hanging from a tree.

Nhokwara reported the matter to the nearby police station.

-Newsday

State Media

Informal traders have begun registering or confirming registration and are readying their stalls in response to President Mnangagwa’s announcement of the lifting of a ban on informal business activities but most are only expected to resume operations next week after repairing and cleaning market areas.

Most of the informal sector has been inactive for 10 weeks since the start of the lockdown at the end of March to curb the spread of Covid-19 infection. Farmers’ markets and vegetable vendors received early emptions and the informal industrial sector came back into operation a little later, with all these opening under set conditions.

Government statistics suggest that close on three quarters of the economically active population earn their living in the informal sector, and while there is a temporary programme to give the most vulnerable families a survival stipend of $300 a month, the re-opening of this sector has had a high priority within the required public health guidelines.

Under amended regulations, those in the informal sector, but excluding cross-border traders and a few others, can resume business under the same conditions imposed on the formal sector so long as they are registered, which means they have hawker and vendor licences from their local authority, and pay presumptive taxes at the same time, or they have stalls in approved flea markets and peoples’ markets.

Besides registration they will have to follow the rules of compulsory mask wearing, social distancing and personal hygiene for both themselves and their customers.

Already the leadership of groups of informal traders are working to put safety measures in place.

At Mupedzanhamo market, men were hard at work fixing the panels of the precast concrete wall around the market, one of the conditions set by Harare City Council before the market reopens.

Mupedzanhamo traders are already registered by paying fees to the council but now have to fix up the market as well. Chairman of Mupedzanhamo Traders Committee Mr Charles Marufu told The Herald they expected to be back at work next week.

“We are already registered. We were already paying money to council and that has not changed. We engaged council informing them of our intention to reopen and they gave us conditions, which we are in the process of satisfying,” he said.

“We were told to fix precast walls, which were vandalised, and we are almost done with that then we engage them for inspection and subsequent reopening,” said Mr Marufu.

At the Mbare Market, the fresh produce and wholesale section was re-opened while the lockdown was at level four since food markets are deemed an essential service.

But the retail section has been tightly shut. Now the traders, again registered by paying council fees, are cleaning up their market. They have buckets with water and detergents at the entrances with a sanitisation booth being erected at each of the two entrances, which will be used.

Mbare retail market committee chairman Mr Archford Manjoro said traders were dedicating this whole week to cleaning.

“We were already registered, but we felt we could not open immediately after the President’s declaration. During the lockdown we were already engaging Médecins Sans Frontiers. They drilled a borehole for us and gave us sanitisation buckets, which we are currently using,” said Mr Manjoro.

In both markets, they have held meetings and came up with a set of rules, which include allowing limited numbers into the market, social distancing and mandatory wearing of face masks.

At Siyaso, the light industry area, there was less enthusiasm for Covid-19 precautions, and few were observing social distancing. No one had any idea if they were registered or deemed to be registered.

Harare City Council officials were also in the dark over the precise registration requirements. While the statutory instrument exempting the informal sector under conditions clearly states that paying presumptive taxes via a local authority, or renting stalls in a formal market, were the two routes, the mechanics have yet to be communicated to municipal staff.

In other cities and towns, local authorities were seized with registering informal traders seeking to make a quick return to their work.

Beitbridge Municipality has started registering and verifying existing registers for those wishing to operate under the local authority’s jurisdiction. Acting town clerk, Mr Sathulani Moyo said they expected the informal traders to start work today.

“First they register with our security and then the environmental health team will educate them on standard guidelines in line with national Government standards.

“We already have existing registers and the council has since contacted the people to find out if they are still available. In addition, we are registering new players,” said Mr Moyo.

Informal traders in Bindura have to wait a little longer before they can resume. Bindura Municipality said officials would meet the informal sector today and map a way forward on their operations.

Town clerk Mr Shangwa Mavesera said they received the statutory instrument yesterday and needed time to go through it and acquaint themselves with its implications.

In Marondera, informal traders were not allowed into their workplaces, as security officers could have none of it. But Marondera Mayor Chengetai Murowa said they were waiting for informal traders to come for registration.

“We have been waiting for informal traders to come for registration, we have been moving around the town to see whether vendors are back,” he said.

Informal traders, especially vendors in Kariba continued with their normal activities amid calls for others to register their businesses.

Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association (ZCIEA) vice president Mrs Stella Chivandikwa called on players in the sector to register in compliance with Government’s precondition for resumption of business.

“We need our members to register but as of now we are yet to see how people are responding since it is something new. We hope by end of this week it will be clear on how people are responding,” said Mrs Chivandikwa.

The return of informal traders will increase pressure on Zupco, which is already strained for resources at peak periods although the major problem between peaks is that buses appear irregularly since Zupco has yet to reintroduce scheduled services.

Zupco acting chief executive officer did not respond to questions sent by The Herald on how it intends to react to the imminent increase in passengers.

State Media

Suitable transport arrangements are being made for when schools reopen, both for travel between and within cities, a Cabinet minister has said.

This comes as another four Covid-19 patients tested positive yesterday, bringing the total to 387. All four, like almost all cases, were returning residents from South Africa in formal quarantine.

But the Government is continuing to prepare, procuring more drugs and equipment with the bulk of the products now being locally manufactured.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa last night gave details of progress after a national taskforce meeting held at State House.

“In order to cater for the re-opening of schools, which will see learners, teaching and non-teaching staff commuting to and from schools, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development is developing guidelines that will assist schools in their preparations for operation as well as inter-city passenger transport services,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said a standard operating procedure in schools under Covid-19 had been circulated to all schools for them to input before the document is finalised.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the national taskforce got an update on the distribution of Covid-19 essentials made to all the Provincial and district medical centres over the past week.

“These essentials included personal protective equipment such as aprons, face masks and theatre gowns; supplies for the screening of Covid-19 such as infrared thermometers and disinfection materials such as knapsack sprayers. There has been no need for medications and drugs used to treat Covid-19 patients thus far, however, our medical facilities have to be ready to administer treatment to severe and critical Covid-19 cases,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“This past week, drugs that were identified in the treatment of Covid-19, Hydroxychloroquine, which was locally produced, and Alpha Interferon, which was sourced from Cuba, were distributed to provincial and central hospitals. Another primary drug, which is used in treating symptoms through lowering fevers and pain, paracetamol, is being locally manufactured. I am pleased to announce that the nation now has the following stocks of pharmaceuticals: 20 million paracetamol tablets, 20 000 paracetamol syrup, 755 000 Vitamin C and 420 000 chloroquine tablets.”

A subcommittee on materials inspected some manufactures of personal protective equipment last week and noted local companies were producing a variety of such equipment.

“Stocks of locally produced personal protective equipment and other Covid-19 essentials are increasing and this enhances the country’s ability to combat the virus. The report mentioned that we have a company that is daily producing 4000 hospital gowns, 2500 scrubs and 6000 facial masks using waterproof cotton fabric,” she said.

It was noted that tertiary institutions had so far produced 459 295 litres of hand sanitisers with current stocks pegged at 92 977 litres. They have also produced 367 769 masks to date and currently hold stocks of 70 861.

“Government commends efforts by local companies and tertiary institutions, a national response through using mostly local resources shows that we are refocusing, recalibrating and revamping to life under Covid-)19,” she said.

Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo said Government had taken a deliberate approach to concentrate available resources to test those in quarantine centres following complaints of delays.

“The complaints centred on delays in testing the returnees and where tests had been done, results were taking longer than expected to be delivered to rightful recipients. With effect from last week, Government took a deliberate approach to concentrate available resources to testing people in quarantine centres so as to alleviate challenges being faced by our people,” said Dr Moyo.

Covid-19 Chief Coordinator in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Agness Mahomva said Government came up with guidelines that will harmonise operations and practices to be applied in the quarantine centres.

“We have heard, we have listened from those who have been in facilities complaining. We took note and put that document together with all stakeholders. We also took note about the challenges that we got from those from quarantine. This document will take every aspect of management of individuals to ensure that we are sticking to the same thing throughout Zimbabwe,” said Dr Mahomva.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

People being turned away in the capital city Harare, at turnoff in Arcturus as well off Mabvuku tatodzima mota kupaka." pic.twitter.com/52nIhyUjZg

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 16, 2020

Soldiers turning people away in Luveve rd, Bulawayo pic.twitter.com/uq9VGNXkfQ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 16, 2020

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE UPDATES.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Own Correspondent

Econet Wireless, the country’s biggest mobile phone service provider is set to review its prices for data and sms services as from Wednesday.

The company made an announcement to its customers on Tuesday morning. As is the norm with the company, whenever they issue warnings to review tariffs it will be upwards and the same is expected again this time.

Econet more than doubled its charges at the end of April attracting heavy criticism from its customers with a good number migrating to the cheaper government run Netone.

The company announced in March that it was aiming at maintaining its charges in line with the United States Dollar rate to the Zimbabwean Dollar.

The local currency has been dropping on a daily basis against the US Dollar reaching a high of US$1 to ZWL$80 in the parallel market a week ago.

Below is the message sent out by Econet.

Dear Customer. Please take note, bundle prices for Data & SMS will be reviewed effective 17 June 2020. Dial *143# to buy Data or *140# to buy SMS Bundles.

Own Correspondent

Tongaat Hulett has announced new sugar prices which are effective from 15 June 2020.

Brown sugar’s recommended retail price will be as follows:

1kg: $70/pack
2kg: 140.45
5kg: 351.12
10kg: 702.24

Bloomberg

Zimbabwe’s fixed currency peg, adopted in March, has become the latest flash point between central bank Governor John Mangudya and Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

Mangudya unilaterally imposed the peg of 25 to the U.S. dollar as the country entered a coronavirus lockdown in March, ignoring the recommendations of the Monetary Policy Committee and Ncube, the people said, asking not to be identified as the dispute hasn’t been publicly disclosed. Prior to the central bank governor’s decision, a moving peg dictated by the market had been used.

The introduction of the peg came without warning and has further strained relations between Mangudya and Ncube, who have disagreed over a range of policy issues, the people said. It comes as black market rates for the Zimbabwe dollar range between 75 and 90 per unit of the U.S. currency and the country’s worst economic crisis since at least 2008 deepens.

That’s raised pressure on Mangudya and Ncube, who were last week called to testify to the politburo of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front over why the economy was deteriorating, the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper said. Inflation in April surged to 766% and shortages of fuel, foreign currency and power are commonplace.

The widening gap between the official and black market currency rates is pushing companies to use illegal means to source foreign currency. In a June 8 statement after a meeting of the central bank’s monetary policy committee, Mangudya said the committee had “expressed serious concern over the continued deterioration in the exchange rates that were widely being used by the private sector.”

Industry associations representing tobacco and gold miners, two key exports, have asked for an urgent review of the official currency peg, which is used to pay producers the local unit equivalent of their earnings. They have cited threats to their industries’ viability due to mounting debts and a decline in revenue.

The depreciation on the black market is “divorced from economic fundamentals,” the central bank said in a statement today.

Ncube, who also heads a currency task-force, will at the end of this week meet with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to seek his approval to free float the local unit and drop the currency peg, the people said.

Zimbabwe reintroduced its own currency last year after a 10-years hiatus, caused by the scrapping of the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009 after a bout of hyperinflation.

Own Correspondent

The Reserve Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit will start arresting people who post black market foreign currency exchange rates on social media.

The unit said in a statement shared below:

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has been monitoring social media platforms where foreign currency dealers have been advertising and promoting their illegal trade. The FILI is aware of WhatsApp groups that have mushroomed in the country for the specific purpose of promoting and facilitating illegal foreign currency trade.

The FlU, in collaboration with the police, banks, mobile money I mobile phone service providers and relevant regulatory agencies, has embarked on an exercise to identify and take action against individuals who create, advertise on or participate (actively or passively) in WhatsApp groups or other platforms for illegal foreign currency trading.

The Flu and relevant institutions will take the following immediate actions:

• The mobile phone numbers used to join or advertise on the illegal groups will be shared with mobile phone operators and POTRAZ for barring;
  *Other mobile phone numbers registered in the names of such persons will also be identified and barred;
  *Any mobile money wallets registered in the names Of such persons will be frozen and the persons barred from accessing mobile money services with any operator;
• Bank accounts owned by a person so identified will be frozen and the person will be blacklisted and barred from accessing banking services with any bank; and
  *Identified persons will be investigated and prosecuted for illegally trading in or advertising illegal trading in foreign currency.

Members of the public are requested to report to the FIU any person, mobile phone number or bank account that continue to be used to engage in or advertise illegal foreign currency activities, using the following contact details:

FIU mobile and WhatsApp number; 0714039897

Own Correspondent

HARARE Magistrate Bianca Makwande on Monday 15 June 2020 ordered Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) to allow three victims of abduction and torture, who she condemned to prison after denying them bail, to be allowed access to food brought by their lawyers after they complained of starvation while in detention.

Magistrate Makwande denied bail to Harare West legislator Hon. Joana Mamombe aged 27 years, Cecelia Chimbiri aged 31 years and Netsai Marova aged 25 years, who appeared before her after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police members and charged with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(ii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The trio was also charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(f) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Magistrate Makwande told Hon. Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova that she vetoed their bail application after being convinced that there were compelling reasons not to admit them to bail.

The Magistrate who remanded the trio in custody to 26 June 2020 ordered ZPCS to allow Hon. Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova to be treated for ailments sustained when they were abducted and disappeared by some unidentified people on 13 May 2020.

The trio’s lawyers Alec Muchadehama, Jeremiah Bamu, Roselyn Hanzi and Tinomuda Shoko of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, told Magistrate Makwande that their clients were starving in prison and had not eaten since Friday as ZPCS officers were not allowing them to get food coming from their lawyers when they visit them at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, where they are detained.

The abductees’ lawyers advised Magistrates Makwande that they will challenge the placement of their clients on remand when they return to court on 26 June 2020.

Hon. Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova went missing on 13 May 2020, when they were abducted in Harare and were found on 15 May 2020 after being dumped in Bindura in Mashonaland Central province.

They have already been charged with committing public violence after they were arrested on 26 May 2020 for allegedly participating in an anti-government protest against hunger during the national lockdown period as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and for contravening section 5(3) (a) as read with section 5(1) of Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 of Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 and will stand trial in August.

Source: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

Own Correspondent

The MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has announced its online initiative of registering new members. Those on WhatsApp can register by sending the message REGISTER to 0777101739 and instructions including the payment of the joining fee will be sent.

Those who are not on WhatApp or who do not have access to the internet can visit the party’s nearest branches and do the process manually.

The development comes when power issues in the MDC have seen some members of the MDC Alliance defecting to the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe.

Own Correspondent

DRAX International local representative Delish Nguwaya remained behind bars Monday night awaiting bail ruling on Tuesday.

Nguwaya appeared for his bail hearing late Monday afternoon charged in the Covid-19 medical supplies scandal.

State, led by Charles Muchemwa opposed bail citing that Nguwaya had previous convictions and was a flight risk since he was facing a lengthy jail term.

It, however, emerged after cross examination that Nguwaya has no previous convictions as previously stated in the charge sheet.

This was after the investigating officer failed to substantiate this claim that the State had used on grounds of the Form 242 charge sheet.

Nguwaya’s defence led by Tafadzwa Hungwe of Samukange and Hungwe Attorneys, made submissions that he had no reason to flee since he was not answering in his own capacity.

Hungwe argued that Nguwaya was not a director of Drax neither was he involved, at any stage, in the authoring of the documents that initiated the deal in question.

The matter was presided over by magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti who rolled it over to Tuesday.

Zimbabwe’s coronavirus cases have risen to 387 after 4 new cases were recorded in Mashonaland Central (3) and Harare (1).

The Ministry of Health reports that all the new cases are returnees from South Africa.

This comes amid claims that some returnees are contracting the virus in substandard quarantine centres.

The new cases were recorded on Monday as the nation prayed for an end to the pandemic which has claimed four lives.

Coronavirus has affected 387 people in Zimbabwe from the 59 194 tested so far but 58 cases have been closed after 54 recovered.

The nation today held a national prayer and fasting day at State House at the invitation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to ask for God’s intervention to end the pandemic.

Zimbabwe’s r

Businessman Strive Masiyiwa, who has been appointed the African Union special envoy to help fight the pandemic, today said the 45 ICU ventilators he promised to Zimbabwe have been delivered.

He said Zimbabwe will receive another 200 ventilators from the batch of 1 000 that is being manufactured in South Africa.

Own Correspondent

MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe yesterday held her inaugural national standing committee meeting at Morgan Tsvangirai House, days after reclaiming the headquarters from MDC-Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa where some senior positions were filled through co-option.

Shock appointment was that of former MDC-T youth vanguard leader Shakespeare Mukoyi as interim youth assembly leader.

Shakespeare Mukoyi is a known rival of Khupe who wanted her dead and out of the MDC-T at all cost.

Other members co-opted into the national standing committee were Mr Elias Mudzuri, as deputy national chairperson, Mr Gift Chimanikire (deputy national organising secretary), Mr Abednico Bhebhe (national organising secretary) and Manasa Tsvangirai was appointed as MDC-T secretary for elections.

“The MDC-T you know is here today,” said Dr Khupe.

“We are standing now on our toes. We are rearing to go. Our desire is to make sure that we are an opposition which is ready to build the country. We want to make sure that Zimbabweans have a better life.”

In March, the Supreme Court ruled that under MDC-T rules, Chamisa assumed the leadership of the opposition party illegally in 2018 and pronounced Dr Khupe as the interim president pending an extraordinary congress, in line with the party’s constitution.

After taking control of the MDC-T, Dr Khupe’s camp went on to recall four MPs who won their seats on the MDC-A ticket, but who were originally nominated by the MDC-T to contest the elections.

The High Court at the end of last month found that the MDC-A was not a legal entity, but just an electoral pact by a group of political parties, which retained their previous existence.

Dr Khupe confirmed that they had officially occupied their headquarters, which was a bone of contention with Chamisa’s faction since the demise of Mr Tsvangirai.

“We are here at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House today,” she said.

“We are now working from the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House.

“We have been founded on the foundation of non-discrimination, we have been founded on the foundation of constitutionalism, we have been founded on the foundation of non-violence.

“We met here as a leadership to say let us reflect on what happened and lets us correct our mistakes because in life, it is important that when you make a mistake you must admit that you have made the mistake and to use those mistakes as a stepping stone to success.”

Dr Khupe challenged the party’s parliamentarians to attend Parliament sessions in order to serve the electorate.

“We have returned to our founding ideal values and principles of the MDC-T,” she said.

“We are going to make sure that whatever we do, we do according to our values.”

Secretary-general Mr Douglas Mwonzora said they would not hesitate to recall MPs and councillors who had joined the MDC-Alliance.

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

ZBC

The supreme court created MDC-T has vowed to “take back the party to its founding principles” as outlined in its founding constitution after holding its first standing committee meeting.

In her first address at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House formerly Harvest House, MDC-T leader Dr. Thokozani Khupe said she is on course to returning the party to its founding principles of non-discrimination and non-violence as she pushes to correct the mistakes created after the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.

“As the MDC-T we were founded on the foundation of constitutionalism, democracy, non-discrimination, and non-violence. We met here today as leaders to say let us reflect back on what happened and let us correct our mistakes because in life it is important that when you make a mistake you must admit that you have made a mistake but use those mistakes as a stepping stone to success. As you can see we are gathered here today, these are the founding members of the MDC-T and I would also like to allude to the fact that most of the members you are seeing here are the real founders from the ZCTU. ”

The party’s Secretary-General, Senator Douglas Mwonzora outlined the resolutions of the Standing Committee.

“Some of the resolutions that we dealt with today, number one dealt with Harvest House, whose property is it? We saw in the court some people claiming that the Harvest House belonged to them. We reiterate that Harvest House belongs to the Movement for Democratic Change as a party. We will do everything that is in our power to safeguard our property. We also resolved that we are going to fulfill the Supreme Court judgment and the Supreme Court was very kind to us in dealing with the document called the Constitution for the MDC. Nullification by the Supreme Court of the Presidency of Advocate Nelson Chamisa and everything that he did in his capacity as president that includes signing agreements with other people.”

Watch video downloading below.

State Media

NAMING Covid-19 quarantine centre escapees is a violation of their rights which may lead to stigma and discrimination, the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has said.

This comes amid concerns that a number of people are fleeing from quarantine centres which were created to stop the spread of the global pandemic.

In recent weeks, most of the Covid-19 positive cases recorded in the country involve people returning mostly from South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique

A total of 169 returnees have escaped from quarantine centres countrywide, posing challenges in efforts to reduce Covid-19 cases.

The offence is a violation of Section 6 (4)(b) of the Statutory Instrument 77/20, cited as the Public Health (Covid-19 prevention, containment and treatment regulations) 2020.

It is mandatory for all people returning to the country to be quarantined.

“While we totally agree that non-disclosure of the escapees’ names represents a threat to public health, we believe that approach causes more public damage than good through exacerbating stigmatisation and discrimination of both the escapee and the immediate families,” says CWGH director Itai Rusike.

The organisation said the naming also violates the guarantee of patients’ confidentiality since some of them might be infected with Covid-19 disease.

“The CWGH calls on the Government to use a human rights-based approach when dealing with the escapees since they are also constitutionally entitled to the same rights enjoyed by everyone. In addressing the issue of escapees, the Government must be guided by the Public Health Act (PHA) which states that all information concerning a user, including information relating to his or her health status, treatment or stay in a health establishment is confidential,” said Mr Rusike.

CWGH called on the Government to use a human rights-based approach when dealing with the escapees since they are also constitutionally entitled to the same rights enjoyed by everyone.

“In addressing the issue of escapees, the Government must be guided by the Public Health Act (PHA) which states that all information concerning a user, including information relating to his or her health status, treatment or stay in a health establishment is confidential,” said Mr Rusike.

He added that quarantine centres must have basic facilities like decent accommodation, enough food, blankets and cost of PCR testing must be carried by government.

“It is also the role of the government to ensure that all the returnees are tested for Covid -19 and it must not dump that responsibility to individuals. Sadly, some of the inmates may even get infected with Covid-19 whilst in the quarantine centres due to the poor observation of the social distancing measures, hand washing and generally poor hygiene standards.”

State Media

TREASURY is taking caution not to upset the market through increased money supply by delaying the introduction of the $20 note and other higher denominations.

Following the introduction of the $10 note at the end of May, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) had initially announced that the $20 note would be in circulation by the first week of June.

However, despite helping ease cash shortages and enhancing consumer convenience in the market, the move has been followed by a wild exchange rate spiral against the local dollar, which now trades at 1:60 and above against the US$1 on the parallel market at a time when the fixed exchange rate remains at 1:25. The trend has worsened pricing distortions and further weakened consumer spending.

This is happening at a time when earnings for workers have remained stagnant amid limited business activity with employers also feeling the pinch in view of the adverse impact of Covid-19.

In a recent interview, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said Government was cognisant of the prevailing manipulation of the market and the exchange rate, stating that concrete measures were being put in place to stem the tide and ease the burden on ordinary citizens. “At the moment we have allowed citizens to use free funds (forex), as a way to also manage growth of money supply.

“So, we said we will bring it ($20 note) but we need to ease pressure and we want to manage the introduction of whatever currency we have so that again we don’t balloon growth of money supply,” he said.

“We use the swapping mechanism where we are swapping RTGS balances for cash and we have kept that approach and that’s the right approach to do it,” said Prof Ncube.

He said Treasury through the Central Bank was determined to clamp down on currency speculation tendencies on the market, which have been blamed for parallel market distortions. “We said at the beginning of the year that one of our challenges is going to be exchange rate stabilisation and we are working on it. We are dealing with those in the speculation business in the parallel market,” said Prof Ncube.

He said the RBZ had taken measures to deal with deviants in terms of the law and in regulating the mobile platforms in transmitting money.

Prof Ncube said tackling the tide of speculation was critical in restoring currency stability and exchange rate challenge. He also said Treasury was keeping its focus in taming budgetary deficits, which have a huge bearing on currency stability.

“On the fiscal front, we are determined to make sure that we don’t run large budget deficits, which become a problem for currency stabilisation. But also on the monetary front, we make sure money supply growth stays within the limits to ensure it doesn’t add again to currency volatility,” said Prof Ncube.

A unique multi-faith prayer service at State House was the centre of the National Day of Prayer yesterday with the full spectrum of Christian groups — Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical and indigenous — plus representatives of the Islamic, Jewish and Hindu faiths converging to seek healing from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Day of National Prayer and Fasting was called by President Mnangagwa for Zimbabweans to commit themselves to repentance and deliverance in the face of the pandemic and the measures needed to confront it and beat it.

In his short address, the President said while he had declared June 15 as the National Day of Fasting and Prayer, the Bible implored people to observe God’s commandments by praying regularly.

“Today we come boldly before the heavenly throne of grace standing on the scripture, as I highlighted in the declaration of this day; found in 2nd Chronicles 7 v 13-15 which reads . . . ‘if I send pestilence among my people and people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open and my ears attend to the prayer that is made in this place’.

“We therefore gather in prayer, in the total belief and knowledge that the word of God is true for indeed ‘Heaven and earth will pass away but his word, shall not pass away’ (Matthew 24 v 35). We are also confident that God watches over his word, to perform it,” President Mnangagwa said.

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Schools to get transport on reopening
The President said God’s word is clear that pestilences such as Covid-19 would come as a warning to people to leave their sinful ways. As such, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans had two choices to make in light of the pandemic; either to repent and seek God’s help or continue to live in defiance of his word.

“In Zimbabwe we have chosen to be part of the first category of those who humble themselves, acknowledging God and glorifying him as God,” he said.

So far the global pandemic has killed four people in Zimbabwe with 383 infections and 54 recoveries but statistics worldwide are grimmer with close to half a million fatalities and close to 10 million confirmed cases along with millions more that were never tested.

Although Zimbabwe has kept the disease at bay, largely due to a raft of measures that were rolled by the Government such as social distancing, wearing masks and limiting movements — the President said the country still has to pray to God for total deliverance.

“We have chosen to repent and to seek his mercy, help, healing and healing in the face of this deadly coronavirus pandemic. I as your President have no hesitation in leading and calling us all to this path of seeking divine help.”

President Mnangagwa then led the nation in prayer asking for God’s forgiveness for the country’s sins, idol worshipping and worshipping of false gods, immorality and injustice and corruption that have made the poor die.

After the President’s address, religious leaders took turns to offer prayers.

Those attending included the Catholic Bishops Conference represented by Father Philip Kembo; Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (Dr Ezekiel Guti); Zimbabwe Council of Churches (Ephraim Ngadziore); Zimbabwe Indigenous Council of Churches (Bishop Goronga); Zimbabwe Inter-denominational Council of Churches (Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi — patron); Faith of Nation Campaign (Bishop Abel Sande); National Elders Forum (Reverend Felix Mukonowengwe); Jewish Community (Arnold Joffe); and Islamic Faith (Moulana Mohammed Ismail).

The Master of Ceremonies, Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe, emphasised the importance of prayer as he appealed to the nation to observe a few moments of devotion to the Lord, so that all sins are forgiven, and new avenues are opened for the good of the nation. Declaring that God is the Lord, he asked for the nation’s protection against the ravaging coronavirus.

Patron of the indigenous churches Nehemiah Mutendi thanked President Mnangagwa for convening such a gathering. He described President Mnangagwa as a rare breed of God-fearing presidents he had met.

“I would like to thank the President for this service. Of all the presidents I have seen, he is the only one that has shown respect and acknowledged that there is a higher authority than him,” Bishop Mutendi said.

He added that because of the Day of Fasting and Prayer, Zimbabwe had overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As the Bible says, any commitment made here on earth would be bound in heaven. This service is a proclamation of the defeat of the pandemic,” Bishop Mutendi added.

Mrs Egnes Sithole, who joined the session under the banner of the Zimbabwe Interdenominational Council of Churches, said she believed life could never be the same again as the nation joined in prayer against the pandemic, and all other ills bedevilling the Motherland.

On the other hand, Madzibaba Moses Gwasira of Johane Masowe WeChishanu in Highfield said it was important for Zimbabweans to know that God had all solutions to life’s challenges.

“As Zimbabweans we should know that God has the answers to the problems and challenges we face so I thank the President for dedicating this day to praying and seeking God’s healing.

“Going forward we should have a day like this where we dedicate our country to God and not to only think of him when we have problems,” he said.

In his remarks VP Mohadi thanked the President for leading from the front in the fight against the pandemic. He said: “Our guest of honour (President Mnangagwa) has led from the front in the fight against the pandemic and believes that our culture and religion are at the centre of people’s lives.”

VP Chiwenga said yesterday’s prayer session would deliver the nation from the effects of the pandemic: “There is also no known cure for this pandemic to date but we know there can be a cure from God if we pray and submit to him like we have done today.”

A BULILIMA man fatally stabbed his friend for refusing to pay him after he had won a $10 bet in a card game.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred at Ntoli Business Centre on Thursday last week at around 5PM. He said the suspect Delani Ndlovu (28) stabbed Oscar Moyo (29) with an Okapi knife in the stomach and chest.

“I can confirm that we recorded a murder case which occurred at Ntoli Business Centre in Bulilima.

Delani Ndlovu and Oscar Moyo were playing a game of cards when they had a misunderstanding over an undisclosed issue. They started fighting and Ndlovu drew an okapi knife and stabbed Moyo in the chest and stomach.

“Moyo was rushed to a nearby clinic where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Ndlovu is still at large and we appeal to anyone with information that could lead to his arrest to contact the nearest police station.

As police we continue to urge people to desist from engaging in violence during disputes.

People should also desist from carrying dangerous weapons in public. These weapons have been the cause of a number of violent crimes of which some result in the loss of life,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele also urged members of the public to desist from engaging in illegal activities such as gambling.

A source close to the investigations who preferred anonymity said Ndlovu and Moyo were playing a game of cards and had each placed a $10 bet.

He said Ndlovu won and Moyo refused to pay up resulting in the altercation.

The source said when other villagers intervened, Ndlovu had already stabbed Moyo and fled from the scene-Chronicle

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has described Emmerson Mnangagwa’s magnitude of brutality as shocking.

See full statement below :
15-06-2020

The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly is very disturbed by the regime’s move to deny our female youth leaders bail.

We maintain that our comrades were abducted, tortured and sexually abused and as such they are supposed to appear in any normal court as complainants and not as the accused.

The denial of bail of Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova and Joanna Mamombe by the Rotten Row Magistrates Courts is a clear confirmation of judiciary capture by the junta.

It is also clear that the continued persecution by prosecution of the trio is a deliberate attempt by the shameless regime to cover up for the abduction case.

As an Assembly we are going to take Emmerson Mnangagwa head on until justice for the trio is served.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has said the party will file papers to the High Court opposing Magistrate Bianca Makwande’s ruling…

MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were remanded in custody to June 26.

Watch video below:

By A Correspondent- Apostle Talent Chiwenga has queried why Thokozani Khupe and her entourage were allowed to violate the Lockdown regulations and travel all the way to Buhera at a time when opposition MDC Alliance stalwarts are being arrested for violating the same Lockdown rules.

Chiwenga queried:

“Why is there a selective application of the law? Why are the MDC Alliance leaders arrested for violating Lockdown? There are some who have sold their souls for money who ended up in Buhera at a graveside. Who authorised their journey? Who gave them the blessings to violate the Lockdown and why were they not arrested?”

Watch the live video loading belwo……

Watch the live video loading below….

Watch the live video loading below….

Watch the live video loading below….

Tiswirai DMakambena  · 5:42 ZANU WAY OF DOING THINGS CHINHU CHEDU TISU TAKACHITANGA

Watch the live video loading below…..

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) secretary-general Dr Norman Matara said most people are contracting the coronavirus in the quarantine centres because they are not being tested early and results are also delayed.

Dr Matara also bemoaned the mixing of people with unknown statuses saying this promotes the spread of the virus in the quarantine centres. He said:

We can say that most people at the quarantine centres are contracting the virus from there. Not all of them arrive with Covid-19.

People are just being mixed – old comers and newcomers. They are not being grouped accordingly and this may be one of the ways that the centres are always recording new positive cases daily.

Dr Matara urged the government to abandon Rapid tests for screening and diagnostics and to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for all inmates on the first 1st and 8th days to prevent infection within the centres.

He said:

“Another issue is the testing kits. We have been advocating for the PCR test on the first and eighth day as it is more sensitive but the government has ignored that.

The World Health Organisation has clearly stated that the Rapid test should not be used for screening and diagnostics but we are still using it.

To many doctors, the test does not make sense because its results are not conclusive. The government simply needs to apply the gold standard and do the PCR test.

Zimbabwe’s new coronavirus cases are predominantly recorded in quarantine centres, with 27 people – all returnees from South Africa – testing positive for the virus on Sunday.

-DailyNews

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said a transitional mechanism is needed to “soft-land” the crisis in the country.

Chamisa, quoted by The Standard, described the crisis in Zimbabwe as unbearable and beyond imagination.

“We are in a disaster. There is no income, no foreign investments, no jobs, nothing and it is a tinderbox, it is an explosion, everything is going southward.

The centre can no longer hold.
More than eight million people are facing starvation and this situation does not require a business-as-usual approach,” Chamisa told the weekly publication.

He added:
“We need a transitional mechanism to soft-land the crisis.

We need nation-building and consensus to extricate ourselves out of this problem in the country.

With service delivery collapse, economic collapse, corruption flourishing, human rights abuses on the increase, victimisation of lawyers, attacks on human rights defenders, attacks on journalists, diplomats and non-governmental organisations, everyone seems to be under attack.

It’s a state that seems to be in a difficult position and they are seeing enemies everywhere.”

By A Correspondent- Two people are feared dead while several others were seriously injured when a Granvia long distance pirate taxi overturned at Lutumba Business centre 20 kilometres outside Beitbridge this evening.

Reported Newsday:

“Two people are lying seemingly lifeless. We are ferrying many injured who include children to Beitbridge hospital,” Biggie Ndlovu a village head at Lutumba said.

The Granvia was reported to have been speeding towards Beitbridge when the driver lost control avoiding animals resulting in the car veering off the road before rolling several times and throwing out its occupants.

Police had not yet arrived at the scene, Ndlovu said.

Despite the lockdown several passenger carrying vehicles have been breaking the lockdown regulations ferrying passengers to and from the border town.

It is believed most of the vehicles in that business which never respected the lockdown belonged to some law enforcement and security agents at Beitbridge.

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

By A Correspondent- The reinstated leader of the opposition MDC-T, Thokozani Khupe has said that she is currently the acting president of the party hence the leader of the party with 103 legislators.

Addressing the media, she said that it does not matter that she was not the party’s leader when 2018 elections were held adding that the situation is not unique to the MDC.

She speaks when some have accused her of being used by the ruling ZANU PF to take legislators from her nemesis Nelson Chamisa in an endeavour to destroy the main opposition party in the count.

Watch the live video loading below…

Genesis 4 verses 8-12…

Said the preacher Talent Chiwenga:

“The first murderer was cursed. God does not want people that shed innocent blood….if you are a murderer, God will not accomodate you. We have people that were murdered in this country simply because they were Zimbabwean.

On 1 August 2018, 7 people were gunned down by soldiers…i want you to remember that the Mothlanthe Commission made an inquiry into who killed those people… the long arm of the law has not yet caught up with the people that killed those people…”

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“Only religious pimps who are after food handouts and checks will attend the National Day of Prayer…. real men of God will not attend that function neither will they heed the National Day of Prayer even at their homes,” Pastor Talent Chiwenga has said.

“You are surrounded by clowns who clap hands for you when you do what is not right. Mr President Sir you are cursed, and its not only you but your entire government is cursed. You are carrying a curse and you have blood on your hands . You need cleansing and not prayers. It’s not only you that needs cleansing but your whole administration should be cleansed……”

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By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza Hospital on Monday 15 June directed that all workers will not be served food in adherence to the national prayer and fasting decree by president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In a memorandum addressed to all Heads of Departments and Ward Managers and All Employees the hospital management said the food was only to be served to patients.

Reads the memorandum:

SUBJECT: NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING JUNE 15, 2020

Today, the Government has proclaimed that it be the day of National Prayer and Fasting. In accordance with the above proclamation, the Kitchen is hereby directed to serve food to patients only and not to staff members. Sterner measures will be taken against those taking advantage of patients’ food so please note. Please note that this directive should be religiously adhered to.

Thank you for your understanding.

“You have shed innocent blood for far too long and you have no moral ground to talk about BlackLivesMatter. What are you smoking?” Pastor Talent Chiwenga has told Zanu Pf stalwarts

Watch the live video loading below…….

By A Correspondent- Exiled former Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that MDC Alliance Secretary for Policy and Research, Dr Tapiwa Mashakada is an undercover ZANU PF agent.

His remarks come when Mashakada has recently become critical of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and the party leadership which he accuses of being autocratic.

Responding to ZANU PF’s post which observed that Mashakada claimed that MDC Alliance members were not happy by Chamisa’s appointment of Fadzayi Mahere to the post of party spokesperson even when she recently joined the party, Moyo said:

I wrote the 2000 ZanuPF election manifesto, ran the party’s campaign & deputised Nathan Shamuyarira, as a party spokesperson, before becoming a ZanuPF member. As for Mashakada, he’s one of a dozen or so MDC leaders who’ve been closet ZanuPF moles ever since!

A number of MDC officials including MDC Alliance Vice Presidents Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube have in the past been labelled ZANU PF moles.

They have all denied the allegations saying their adversaries were creating that narrative for them to lose support in the party.

Links with the ruling ZANU PF is one of the ways MDC officials have been losing the backing of the electorate and pasty supporters.

By A Correspondent- Preacher Talent Chiwenga has there is nothing wrong with prayer but it is something that should be declared by a president who has turned from his wicked ways and has humbled himself before the Lord.

Chiwenga said President Emmerson Mnangagwa should not have called for a National Day of Prayer as this lacks the proper ingredients, namely humility and repentance,

He said:

“…There are three questions that the president should have asked himself before pronouncing the National Day of Prayer… what is this place that he will conduct the prayer from? You have ursurped the powers of the church. Are you the right person to declare the National Day of Prayer?

Have you turned from your wicked ways? and if you have, there are a lot of things that you ought to do… there are a lot of things that as a humble man you are supposed to do. …the president has not humbled himslef neither has he turned from his wicked ways….”

Watch the live video below as Chiwenga speaks on the National Day of Prayer…..

The reinstated leadership of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai (MDC-T) met at the Morgan Tsvangirai House formerly known as Harvest House and made a number of resolutions including the ownership of the building.

Addressing the press after the MDC-T Standing Committee meeting Mwonzora said that Morgan Tsvangirai House belonged to MDC adding that at the right time, the party will prove that.

He said:

We reiterate that Harvest House belongs to the MDC as a party and we will do everything that is in our power to safeguard our property. So there are matters that are before the courts but we want to make it clear that the Harvest House or Morgan Tsvangirai House is not a private property owned by a company, it is a property that is owned by the party.

These remarks come when there has been a conflict between the MDC Alliance and MDC-T over the ownership of the building.

Khupe’s faction recently took control of the building with the support of the state security forces. Meanwhile, a duo, Timothy James Neill and Ian Mutero Makone, claiming to be the directors of the property, said the rightful occupants of the building was the MDC Alliance, not MDC-T.

The United States Embassy in Harare has issued a travel advisory to returning residents to Zimbabwe. We present the advisory in full below.

Information for returning residents to Zimbabwe who are able to pay to stay at a Minister of Health & Child Care approved lodge or hotel.  You will be subject to the Zimbabwean Government’s mandatory quarantine of 8 days at a pre-arranged accommodation and a further 14 days self-isolation for the safety of your fellow Zimbabwean.

Before booking a flight back to Zimbabwe 

• Please contact ZINCAT – [email protected]
• You will receive a pre-admission form to fill in. This will be sent to ZINCAT medical team and stored confidentially for reference by the clinical team only.

What to expect upon arrival to Zimbabwe?

• You will be required to fill out a guest acknowledgement form confirming you understand you have to complete the mandatory quarantine period of 8 days and a further 14 days self-isolation at home.
• You will collect your luggage and go through the normal border clearance processes (customs, immigration and Covid19 quarantine security ).
• You will be met by MINISTER OF HEALTH representative and be cleared. They will make this waiting period as comfortable as possible. Your cooperation and patience are appreciated
• MOH will organize the transfer from the airport to your pre-booked accommodation – accompanied by ZINCAT staff.

Arrangements for your 8 day’s quarantine period

• Your accommodation has been approved by Minister of Health & Child Care.
• All questions will be answered by the ZINCAT medical team on arrival at your lodge.
• The accommodation will have the amenities and services you’ll need during your stay. Please be aware this will not necessarily be of normal lodge standards but it will be safe and hygienic; food, /water, tea/coffee and basic 3 meals a day will be provided.

• All meals will be provided and served to your room. Should you require any special diet please advise prior to arrival.
• Daily visit by ZINCAT medical team for monitoring.
• Should you need a doctor for any other health concerns a Doctors call out fee of $20 may be needed.
• Should you have health needs, for example prescriptions for regular medications, arrangements will be made to facilitate these requirements.
• All rooms have DSTV and Wi-Fi.
• Under the quarantine security you’ll have to remain in the allocated accommodation until you’re medically cleared to return home. Depending on the facility you are in there will be time for you to be in the garden.

• A COVID19 test will be taken on the 8^thday by the ZINCAT medical team and a negative test will allow to leave for self-isolation at home for a further 7 days.  Your home address will be required by ZINCAT.
• You have the option to get the PCR test from LANCET labs. This will be an out of pocket expense of $65 with a $5 fee for the doctor to administer and return it for results. This should allow you to get your result in 24hours and return home on the 9^th
• However, City of Harare COVID19 Rapid Response team can administer your test for no cost. We cannot guarantee that this will be turned around less than 48 hours due to the backlog of tests they have. Which would require you to remain in quarantine for the extra nights at your expense.

What can you expect if your test is positive:  

• ZINCAT Medical Team will walk you through the procedures

• You will be moved to an ZINCAT Isolation Accommodation for Monitoring
• ZINCAT will provide Psycho-Social Support during this time should you require it.
• Should symptom’s increase from mild to moderate you will be admitted into Hospital.

Please be advised the ZINCAT quarantine lodges are running predominantly at a not for profit rate – your stay is helping them to keep their staff employed and their operating costs covered. It is also supporting clinical team of ZINCAT an NFP organisation supporting front line workers in the fight against COVID 19. But if you do not wish to pay, there are Government Quarantine facilities available, free of charge.

Own Correspondent

The United States Embassy in Harare has said Zimbabwe is doing the opposite of what United Nations experts recommended with regards to the handling of the case of three MDC Alliance officials – Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The statement is issued when the court on Monday denied bail for the trio and remanded them in custody to 26 June.

Posting on Twitter, the US Embassy said:

The trio was arrested on the 13th of May 2020 during a flash hunger protest in Warren Park. They allege that they were abducted from police custody and were tortured and sexually assaulted the whole night before being dumped in Bindura.

The state rearrested them and charged them with violating COVID-19 regulations which had banned social gatherings.

The trio was also charged with “lying” about that they had been abducted by suspected state security agents.

The state claims that the alleged abduction was staged merely to spoil the President Mnangagwa led administration, yet, there is no explanation as to how the trio ‘escaped’ from police custody to be found in Bindura.

By A Correspondent- The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CoMZ) president Ms Elizabeth Nerwande is prioritizing the upgrade of the Chamber’s resource centre so that information becomes available to its membership in real time.

Contacted for comment following her re-election on May 28, 2020, Ms Nerwande said as part of her agenda during her second and final term as president, her team is working towards the transformation of the Chamber into an institution that offers real, tangible benefits to its members and to broaden its revenue base.

She said in due course the Chamber must operate an up-to-date resource centre that eliminates the “black box” mentality where information becomes available after a crash, adding that members must be able to access information at the click of a button.

“While we continue to pursue our issues of lobbying and engaging on the ease of doing business, bearing in mind the industry’s state-objective of attaining a US$12 billion sector by 2023, top on my agenda in this second era is to place the Chamber as a leader of Information.

“Given this new normal occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic where we all must observe social distancing measures, 80 percent of our work is now running through use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). Our role in relaying information as well as being a point of reference on mining matters has also become more urgent. We are therefore in the process of enhancing our capacity to have updated information. We are working on upgrading our resource centre,” said Ms Nerwande.

Indeed, there is increasing realisation across the globe that in a fast-paced, dynamic operating environment, the availability of information in real time makes decision-making much easier.

Focus in most advanced economies has thus been on ensuring the availability of quality information that is relevant to the needs of its users.

In that regard, the Chamber is taking a defining step in upgrading its resource centre to serve as the central information and data domain not only for its membership but also for other stakeholders who can access the facility within specified limitations.

Traditionally, a library has been seen as a central point for the storage of information in hard copy, where students, researchers, among other users, go to find relevant information in their respective subjects.  But since the dawning of the digital age, the importance of a library has been transformed in its utility and role due to the Internet and Internet products accessible to staff.

In the case of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, its leadership is desirous of ensuring that speed and efficiency come together as they get down to providing information on mining to their membership.

Asked to comment on government’s vision to attain a US$12 billion mining sector by 2023, Ms Nerwande said they remain co-ordinated and organised to ensure its attainment.

“Such a goal can only be realised when all stakeholders address the perennial constraints on ease of doing business with a unity of purpose,” she remarked.

“There is need to speedily conclude the development of a consolidated fiscal regime for the ease of doing business,” she added.

ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL FOREIGN CURRENCY TRADING ADVERTS

1. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has been monitoring social media platforms where foreign currency dealers have been advertising and promoting their illegal trade. The FIU is aware of WhatsApp groups that have mushroomed in the country for the spoofs purpose of promoting and facilitating illegal foreign currency trade.
2. The FIU, in collaboration with the police, banks, mobile money / mobile phone service providers and relevant regulatory agencies, has embarked on an exercise to identify and take action against individuals who create, advertise on or participate (actively or passively) in WhatsApp groups or other platforms for illegal foreign currency tmding.
3. The FIU and relevant institutions will take the following immediate actions: • The mobile phone numbers used to join or advertise on the illegal groups will be shared with mobile phone operators and POTRAZ for barring; • Other mobile phone numbers registered in the names of such persons will also be identified and barred; • Any mobile money wallets registered in the names of such persons will be frozen and the persons barred from accessing mobile money services with any operator; • Bank accounts owned by a person so identified will be frozen and the person will be blacklisted and barred from accessing banking servicos with any bank; and • Identified persons will be investigated and prosecuted for illegally trading in or advertising illegal trading in foreign currency.
4. Members of the public are requested to report to the FIU any person, mobile phone number or bank account that continue to be used to engage in or advertise illegal foreign currency activities, using the following contact details:

FIU mobile and WhatsApp number: 0714039897

Financial Intelligence Unit

15 June 2020

Exiled former Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that MDC Alliance Secretary for Policy and Research, Dr Tapiwa Mashakada is an undercover ZANU PF agent.

His remarks come when Mashakada has recently become critical of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and the party leadership which he accuses of being autocratic.

Responding to ZANU PF’s post which observed that Mashakada claimed that MDC Alliance members were not happy by Chamisa’s appointment of Fadzayi Mahere to the post of party spokesperson even when she recently joined the party, Moyo said:

“I wrote the 2000 ZanuPF election manifesto, ran the party’s campaign & deputised Nathan Shamuyarira, as a party spokesperson, before becoming a ZanuPF member. As for Mashakada, he’s one of a dozen or so MDC leaders who’ve been closet ZanuPF moles ever since!”

A number of MDC officials including MDC Alliance Vice Presidents Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube have in the past been labelled ZANU PF moles.

They have all denied the allegations saying their adversaries were creating that narrative for them to lose support in the party.

Links with the ruling ZANU PF is one of the ways MDC officials have been losing the backing of the electorate and pasty supporters.

Source: Jonathan Moyo Twitter/Pindula

TimesLIVE

A PHOTOSHOPPED nude picture of Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa shared on WhatsApp has landed a husband and wife in trouble.

Sarudzayi Ambiri Jani, 38, and Remember Simbarashe Ncube, 34, were arrested and charged on Friday with undermining the authority of or insulting the president in contravention of the Criminal Law Act.

Law enforcement agents who arrested the couple claimed that they made an abusive, indecent or obscene statement about Mnangagwa that may engender feelings of hostility towards him, with the knowledge that the statement is false.

The couple allegedly shared a nude picture of Mnangagwa wearing Zanu-PF regalia around his neck with a male organ adorned with a mask at its end on a WhatsApp group for residents in Ward 3 of Beitbridge.

Chief Inspector Kenneth Mushongahande of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, who is a member of the residents’ WhatsApp group, reported the couple to law enforcement agents, who arrested and detained them overnight at Beitbridge Urban Police Station.

Mushongahande said police officers “hunted” and arrested the couple, who had no right to publish the Photoshopped picture.

Takavingei Mahachi, the councillor for Ward 3 in Beitbridge, who created the residents’ WhatsApp group, will testify as a state witness when the trial of the couple commences on July 3.

The couple also faces a charge of contravening the Censorship and Entertainments Act, which criminalises the production and publishing of certain material.

They face up to a year in prison.

Observers and government critics have expressed concern at the increase in the number of people who of late are being persecuted for dissent and expressing themselves on social media platforms.

Home affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe has accused opposition political party leaders, former ruling party members and some civil society organisations of plotting to topple the president, who seized power from Robert Mugabe through a coup in November 2017.

African News Agency

Zimbabwe’s exiled former Local Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has distanced himself from widespread allegations of an imminent military coup in his home country.

“I make this statement in response to the allegations contained in a press statement released by the government of Zimbabwe, as read by Minister of Home Affairs, Kazembe Kazembe on Wednesday 10 June 2020. The allegations are that myself, along with other individuals are peddling rumours on an alleged coup plot,” said the former ZNAU-PF national political commissar, who held different ministerial posts under former president Robert Mugabe.

“This is laughable and I deny this unfounded allegation levelled against me and dismiss it with the contempt it deserves,” said Kasukuwere in a statement he posted to his Twitter account.

The tough-talking former Member of Parliament for Mount Darwin South said he was a firm believer in constitutionalism who did not have plans of seizing power from the Harare government.

“I am a firm believer in constitutionalism and would never attempt or conspire to carry out a coup of any sort,” said Kasukuwere, popularly referred to as “Tyson” by his followers.

“I, myself, am a victim of the November 2017 coup and retain the scars of this horrific event.”

Kasukuwere, who previously held the position of Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, said Zimbabwe was besieged by a multitude of challenges that needed all protagonists in the small southern African nation to rise beyond narrow interests.

“Our nation has greater challenges that behove us all to rise beyond narrow interests and place the collective security and survival of our people at the centre of governance. Threats and efforts to eliminate those viewed as adversaries to the powers that be are unfortunate and should have no place in a democratic Zimbabwe,” said Kasukuwere.

“The nation faces a plethora of difficulties that require a united front in order to secure the collective interests of the people of Zimbabwe. The challenges are not insurmountable and I am a Zimbabwean who desires to see the best for our nation and her people.”

The Standard – a private Zimbabwean weekly – reported that state security agents in Zimbabwe had interrogated Kasukuwere’s brother, on the day the government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa claimed there were people spreading rumours of an imminent coup last week.

According to the publication, Kasukuwere’s brother, Dickson Mafios, was arrested as he left Harare Polytechnic alongside Zimbabwean parliamentarian Wonder Mashange, where they were in Covid-19 quarantine after a recent trip to South Africa.

Own Correspondent

MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe says she never had an problems with the late party founding President Morgan Tsvangirai.

Khupe made the remarks during her first appearance at party headquarters Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House since the death of Tsvangirai in February 2018.

“I had a very good working relationship with my president. I had deputized him for 12 years. I worked with him for 26 years. Yes of course there was a problem that one problem when we were attacked in Bulawayo. The president whilst seated in this chair (at Harvest House) apologised about what happened in Bulawayo,” said Khupe.

Two weeks before the death of Tsvangirai, Khupe said she visited the late veteran leader at a South African hospital.

“Two weeks before his death I went to South Africa. I visited the president in hospital. He was very excited to see me, we chatted, and we spoke. The president for your own information for those who do not know phoned me two days before he passed on.

“It was very difficult for him to speak but those were his last words, he could not speak but I kept saying president you will be fine because I have gone through the same problem. I had cancer as well and I thought my president will be well because I was in the same situation. In a nutshell I had a good working relationship with him,” said Khupe.

The rival camp aligned to Nelson Chamisa has often accused Khupe of having deserted the party due to differences with Tsvangirai on the party’s stance to accommodate former rebels under the MDC Alliance coalition arrangement.

They argued that she missed the number of standing committee meetings to warrant automatic expulsion from the party.

Own Correspondent

Manasa Tsvangirai – young brother of the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been appointed into the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T National Executive Committee.

The younger Tsvangirai was on Monday announced as the party National Secretary for Elections at a news conference held at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai Headquarters in Harare.

The appointment was announced by MDC-T national secretary general Douglas Mwonzora.

He becomes the third member of the Tsvangirai family to pledge his support to the Khupe faction following Vincent and Millicent’s footsteps.

The party also announced the appointment of Elias Mudzuri as party deputy chairperson, with Shakespeare Mukoi coming in as deputy national chairperson for the youth assembly and Henry Mudzingwa as deputy secretary for elections.

Own Correspondent

Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande has denied bail to three MDC Alliance youth activists accused of staging their abduction saying that their claims of torture and sexual assault by suspected state security agents harmed the country’s economy which recently saw the Zim Dollar fall tremendously to the US Dollar.

The alleged abduction and torture of the three women had caused “negative publicity against the country”, and hurt the economy, the magistrate said, accepting prosecution arguments.

Makwande after listening to arguments by the prosecution and their lawyers, said bail was a right according to the constitution and can only be denied where there are compelling reasons.

“These include the likelihood for the accused to commit a similar offence or to abscond among other reasons,” Makwande said.

“In essence, it is alleged by the state that three staged a demonstration against the recalliñg of their colleagues from parliament and also abuse of Covid-19 funds.

“The state argued that the three committed a very serious offence and are likely to flee if granted bail. The police also said they are yet to establish the accused’s real addresses since they gave different addresses, adding further that investigations were to be completed in 14 days.

“The accused vehemently denied the allegations and feel they are good candidates for bail, and that the investigating officer’s evidence was too comical for a court to accept that. They asserted that the charges are nonsensical.

“The court is of the view that the state’s opposition of bail in respect of propensity to commit a similar offence is acceptable. It is highly likely that if convicted, they will be given a stiff custodial sentence which may induce them to skip bail.”

The magistrate also based his ruling on evidence to be provided by the state which including CCTV footage which allegedly shows the three women at Belgravia Shopping Centre at 4.54PM hours after the time they were abducted.

“If proven, the video evidence that the three were free citizens at a time they were alleging to have been abducted may force them to skip bail. Court will place confidence in the officers of the court. I will believe the submissions of the state if they have evidence they adduced,” Makwande said.

“The state says they faked their abduction, and that cannot be ignored. In that regard, bail is denied.”

Alec Muchadehama, the three women’s lawyer, gave notice to challenge placement of his clients on remand.

Ezekiel Guti says Mnangagwa is God’s servant, “Heavenly Father, we want to thank you for hearing when our president call upon you for us all. Thank you…I believe that you have heard the cry of our President and the wisdom which he has done to prepare us…