ZINASU says Zimbabweans have suffered for too long under Zanu PF dictatorship.
ZINASU has also joined hands with ZCTU to fight for the freedom of suffering Zimbabweans.
Watch video below :
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has described the recall of Parliamentarians as “mere connivance by Emmerson Mnangagwa, Thokozani Khupe and Jacob Mudenda to destroy the people’s revolution.”
He also said the MDC Alliance was prepared to defend the will of the people.
“We will fight criminal connivance and corruption by 45 000 vote Khupe, Parliament’s Mudenda and Mnangagwa.
These shenanigans make us stronger than ever before.
MDC ALLIANCE MPs can’t be forced to belong to the MDC-T which they defeated in 2018.
This is ridiculous! We resist the illegal and unlawful recalls. We resist the illegitimate and unelected Mnangagwa.
Our 5 key fights are on a legitimate PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT, REFORMS, CORRUPTION, CONSTITUTIONALISM (ALIGNMENT NOT AMENDMENT), LIVELIHOODS & RIGHTS,” wrote Advocate Chamisa on Twitter.
By Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
Harare East MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Chairman Prince Mutebuka has been granted $500 bail by Harare Magistrate Barbara Mateko.
He was ordered to report once in two weeks at his nearest police station.
Comrade Prince was represented by lawyer and Vice National Chairman Hon Job Sikhala.
In the spirit of the party’s founding value of solidarity, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly members led by Commander Obey Sithole thronged Rotten Row Magistrates Court to support comrade Prince.
As an Assembly, we maintain that Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed his generation, our generation and generations to come!
The looting military squad must go!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) welcomes the statement by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development concerning guidelines for the informal sector to reopen in line with Statutory Instrument 136 of 2020.
The guidelines announced are also in tandem with the self-regulation which VISET has been championing with our membership during the COVID-19 awareness campaigns we have been conducting nationally since the national lockdown was proclaimed.
As VISET, our attention has been drawn to the issue contained in the guidelines pertaining to registration of Informal Traders with Local Authorities, as well as the allocations to be done at newly established and refurbished markets.
Past experience would have us know that, there are some unscrupulous amongst us who will seek to take advantage of such a noble intervention to allocate themselves and their associates multiple market stalls which are then rented at a premium, creating the infamous “Space Barons”
Informal Traders have been sorely affected by loss of incomes during this lockdown period and have also been adversely affected by demolitions of their market stalls, hence should be sheltered from any rent seeking tendencies.
We contend that the Local Authorities should by all means ensure this process is as transparent as possible and a sure way of achieving this is bringing on board informal sector representatives in all processes to be initiated in this regard.
This will ensure greater buy-in and conformity as well as removing suspicions of underhand dealings as has been the case in the past.
As an organisation, we would like to put on record the cooperation we have received in the past from Local Authorities during our awareness campaigns and would hope this can be continued as we embark on this next step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further, we urge all Local Authorities to ensure that the process of construction and refurbishing of Traders Markets is expedited so as to certify the success of the reopening exercise.
Prepared by VISET Information and Publicity Department
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General Japhet Moyo has warned the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe that the union will launch a global campaign against Chinese investors if its nationals in Zimbabwe continued violating labour rights.
ZCTU petitioned Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun to reprimand his fellow countrymen in the country or face retaliation.
The development follows the shooting of two Zimbabweans in Gweru by a Chinese businessman, Zhang Xueun over a salary dispute.
Said Moyo:
We would like to warn you that if these abuses by Chinese investors continue, the ZCTU will have no option but to launch a global campaign against any Chinese investors who come not only to Zimbabwe but Africa.
There is no doubt that your compatriots are a law unto themselves and act with impunity knowing that they have protection from someone in the higher offices.
Why is it that of all investors coming to Zimbabwe, the Chinese investors have proved to be the most abusive?
This is the same behaviour that led Zimbabweans to take arms against white oppressors. Sooner rather than later, workers are bound to retaliate.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF stalwart Ozias Bvute has lost a land dispute between him and a land developing couple Florence and Felix Pambukani after a High Court Judge declared the latter as the rightful owners of the 724 0475 hectares of land.
High Court judge, Tawanda Chitapi said the Pambukanis were the rightful owners of the land and ordered Bvute to pay the costs of the lawsuit.
Said Justice Chitapi:
The cancellation of deed number 2410/2010 in applicants’ name and the subsequent revival of certificate registered title number 6754/08 in the name of second respondent (Crowhill Farm (Pvt) Ltd) in the respect of certain immovable property namely an undivided 0,0298% being share number 702 in a certain piece of land situate in the District of Salisbury called Lot J of Borrowdale Estate measuring 724,0475 hectares be and is hereby declared null and void.
It has been disclosed in the papers that there are third parties who obviously innocently purchased stands in the property in dispute herein. The resolutions of the wrongful cancellation of the title deed transfer of 2010 in the name of the applicants must be restored.
Having noted the irregularity of third’s respondent (Registrar of Deeds) cancellation of the deed transfer 2410/10 it is no surprise that third and fourth respondents do not oppose the relief being sought.
What also remains unexplained is why Chigumba’s order was only executed upon or given effect on February 13, 2018 when the order had been granted on 29 October 2014, a period in excess of three years.”
By A Correspondent- Bulawayo Provincial affairs minister Judith Ncube has appealed to members of the public to pray for the country’s leadership as the country was going through a difficult time
She made the remarks on Tuesday at funeral service for the late national hero Stanley Nleya held at the White City stadium yesterday. She said:
Let us also pray for our leaders because we are going through difficult times. We are battling with COViD-19 and we must follow laid down regulations so that we do not perish.
Her remarks come when the economic and humanitarian crisis in the country has only worsened over the last 24 months.
The country has inadequate energy, medicines, food and the government is failing to adequately pay its workers some of whom have already embarked on industrial action.
The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has done less to help the situation.
Many informal traders were forced to suspend operations in March when the lockdown was imposed to stop the spread of the virus thereby further deteriorating living standards of many families in the country.
-newsday
By Jane Mlambo| Police have summoned Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) President Obert Masaraure to Harare Law and Order Section over yet to known reasons.
Masaraure has led a number of protests demanding USD salaries for teachers and has recently been outspoken in his strong opposition against government decision to continue with June examinations despite the COVID-19 threat.
Posting on Facebook, an unmoved Masaraure said he will be going there on Friday in the company of his lawyer.
“I have been invited to Harare Law and Order Section. I will be going there in the company of my lawyer on Friday 26 June at 0800hrs. Our Police officers deserve a real salary. United States Dollar Salaries now,” said Masaraure.
Dear Advocate Mudenda,
At the height of political tension in the rank and file of the MDC in 2014, Honourable Tendai Biti wrote to you seeking to shield the nine legislators aligned to his faction from potential expulsion from the party.
Honourable Biti’s letter was followed by a counter letter from the the faction led by the late Dr. Richard Morgan Tsvangirai seeking the ejection of Honorable Biti from the August House.
You responded by referring the case to the courts, arguing that parliament had no authority over internal affairs of a political party, and the current dispute is still pending before the courts.
In the 2014 MDC dispute, you stated that “I must reiterate as I have done in a previous ruling that the notification to the Speaker by the party that a member has ceased to represent its interest in the National Assembly and Parliament is all that is required at law to create a vacancy and for the Speaker to declare the seat vacant.
Fast forward to 2020, MDC-T Secretary-General Mr. Nixon Nyikadzino wrote to you requesting the recall MDC-T legislator Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, and you ignored the request. Honourable Hwende wrote to you requesting to recall Senator Mwonzora and Senator Komichi as they had ceased to be members of the MDC Alliance which is an officially registered Party with Parliament, and you ignored the request.
But the request by Senator Mwonzora goes through without question, confirming that there is collusion taking place between you and the MDC faction headed by Dr. Khupe.
It is also important to note that in the 2014, you stated that “It was prudent that I did not pronounce myself on the matter as it was sub judice and against the principle of separation of powers as set out in section 3(2)(e) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe”.
In the light of that, one would have thought that as there are cases regarding the recall of MDC Alliance Parliamentarians by the 2014 MDC-T structures still pending in the courts, you would have followed the 2014 precedence and not pronounced yourself, but shelved all requests pending finalisation of pending legal cases
The Supreme Court has ordered that the Party should hold an Extra-Ordinary Congress to elect a President to replace the late founding President the late Dr. Richard Morgan Tsvangirai using its 2014 structures, failure which the disputed leadership becomes water under the bridge. The work to prepare for the Congress has had a false start as one faction has not included another faction in the preparations for the Extra Ordinary Congress.
The factions created after the demise of Dr. Tsvangirai are still in existence, and the one led by Dr. Thokozani Khupe, who was reinstated as Acting President specifically to prepare for the Extra Ordinary congress, has put in place its own National Council and National Standing Committee against the provisions of the Supreme Court Judgement.
On the other hand, other members of the MDC-T 2014 National Council who are the majority 2014 Council members, but are not included in the planning processes, have assembled and challenged the unconstitutional decisions being made by faction led by Dr. Khupe ahead of the recommended Extra Ordinary Congress, and formally wrote to the interim leadership to seek audience with the 2014 Standing Committee.
Bearing in mind that the Supreme Court Ruling did not conclude the leadership wrangle in the MDC-T, but only set a process in motion to resolve the leadership issues, you should not at this stage involve yourself with the internal politics of a political party in the same way as you could not interfere in 2014, but should wait for the process recommended by the Supreme Court to conclude.
And this process is still work in progress. Furthermore, you are fully aware that there are cases arising from the previous the previous recall of Honourable Thabitha Khumalo and Senator Lilian Timveous which are still pending in courts, which should have given you adequate reason to withhold a decision, just as you did in 2014 when factions of the MDC wrote to you, when you advised the MDC formations to get their issues resolved by the Courts. Why not you give the courts time this time round?
A the resolution of the MDC leadership is still work in progress, your acceptance of a letter of recall by one faction, and rejection of a recall letter by another formation proves beyond reasonable doubt that you are biased in favour of the faction led by Dr. Khupe. It proves beyond any shed of doubt that Zanu PF, Parliament and Government are involving themselves in the internal affairs of opposition politics, taking sides with the weaker of the two factions in order to entrench Zanu PF repression.
Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has been involved saying he wanted to give money due to the MDC Alliance under the Political Parties Finance Act to Dr. Khupe, and Zanu PF MP Kindness Paradza has spoken on the Voice of America on the internal disputes in the opposition party.
In the 2014 case, you only accepted to eject legislators after the MDC held its 2014 Congress, in November of that year when it was explained to you in writing that Congress had followed the formal procedures to expel the Parliamentarians in question, who had all been invited to the Congress but had failed to attend.
Please be informed that just like Zanu PF which you belong to, which followed the formal process to expel Honourable Killer Zivhu recently, the MDC also has its internal formal processes of expelling members, where the members being expelled are brought before a disciplinary hearing to give their side of the story, hence the letters you have received signed by Senator Mwonzora, who doubles as the Supreme Court reinstated 2014 Secretary-General as well as Secretary General of the MDC Khupe formation, are null and void as due process has not been followed. No such decisions can be made without the involvement of the full complement of the MDC-T 2014 Council.
Coming back to yesterday’s presentation in Parliament dismissing the legislators, I listened to you read “…members of parliament have ceased to be members of the MDC-T Party, and therefore no longer represent the interests of the Party in Parliament with effect from 23 June 2020”. According to your own Parliament records, the MDC-T has two legislators, Honourable Priscilla Mushonga-Misihairambwi and another whose name I cannot recall.
According to your own Parliamentary records, Mr. Speaker Sir, the three parties represented in Parliament are MDC Alliance; MDC-T, and Zanu PF. Those are the official records you have in Parliament, so that is what all your decisions should be based on. The MDC-T as it appears in your Parliamentary records cannot recall MDC Alliance legislators, and the MDC Alliance cannot recall Zanu PF legislators, and Zanu PF cannot recall MDC-T legislators unless you are presented with a conclusive court outcome confirming the conclusion of dispute resolution processes in place.
You will be fully aware that there are legality issues pending in the courts, where three High Court judges Justice Joseph Mafusire, Justice Munangati Manongwa and Justice Chitapi all ruled that the MDC Alliance is a political party, although Justice Chitapi ruled that “although MDC Alliance had been given the status of a political party under the Electoral Act, this did not make it a legal person able to sue and be sued”.
The description by Justice Chitapi that the MDC Alliance is not a juristic persona can be equally used to describe the MDC-T which also did not have a constitution in the name of MDC-T at the time of elections, so cannot be used against the MDC Aliance alone.
Also note, Mr. Speaker Sir, that Section 129 (1)(k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that you used to expel the honourable members of Parliament does not stipulate that a political party has to be a juristic persona in order to qualify to register for elections, as noted by Justice Chitapi.
“A seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the Member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he or she was a member when elected to Parliament and the political party concerned, by written notice to the Speaker or the President of the Senate, as the case may be, has declared that the member has ceased to belong to it”
Section 129 (1) of the Constitution does not say that the political party sponsoring parliamentary candidates has to be juristic persona. In any case, the MDC-T is equally not a juristic persona if Justice Chipato’s judgement is to to be equally applied.
The argument by the MDC Khupe faction is that MDC-T owns all MDC Alliance parliamentarians. This is the argument that you may have used to expel the legislators, but again going by that argument, if the MDC Alliance legislators are owned by the MDC Khupe faction of the MDC-T, how then can you pronounce that they are no longer members of the MDC-T?
You are therefore dragging the August House into MDC factional fights, discrediting Parliament of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe as a country in the process. You know very well that the issues are being finalised in the Courts, but you brazenly proceed to accept a request by the MDC-T to recall MDC Alliance legislators.
One cannot help but conclude that you are still as scandalous as you were during the Willow-gate revelations. Your history of scandals is well documented, Advocate Mudenda, and even your deployment by Zanu PF as Speaker of Parliament stinks, and will continue to stink forever.
In conclusion, I will remind you that the MDC disputes are still an internal affair that the courts are resolving. This is confirmed even by the Zanu PF mouthpiece, The Herald, which writes “as the MDC blood-letting wars persist, the Dr Thokozani Khupe-led faction yesterday recalled nine legislators aligned to MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa.”. Hands off your dirty hands on that Party until all legal processes are concluded.
The remedy at your hands is to reverse the expulsions from Parliament made to date, and to stop any further recalls until the cases before the courts pertaining to expulsions are fully resolved, and until the Supreme Court ruling is fully implemented or otherwise.
The World is watching. God is watching.
By Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa has expressed excitement at the filtering results from Malawi Presidential election runoff where Lazarus Chakwera is currently leading the polls ahead of incumbent Peter Mutharika.
Posting on Twitter, Chamisa said;
I’m getting good and positive news on the exciting election results from my friends in opposition in Malawi @SidikMia and @LAZARUSCHAKWERA. Well done African brothers on the vigilance and that United front. Africa needs fresh politics and credible electoral processes.
So yesterday the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe conducted it’s first foreign currency auction and sold over $10 million US dollars at an average rate of $57 ZWL per 1 USD.
Immediately after the auction ZERA went to work and recomputed fuel prices using the new rate. The result was that the prices of both diesel and petrol went up by about 100%.
The likely effect of this fuel price hike is that the price of just about everything else is set to go up. Fuel is at the heart of almost every business operation. Farmers use it to irrigate their crops and to transport produce to the market, so do shops and manufacturers. Zimbabwean shops never miss an opportunity to hike their prices and so prepare yourself for another massive round of price increases.
Despite the universal usage of fuel the impact will likely be different to different sectors. Increases will probably not be a 100% increases.
Dear Advocate Mudenda,
At the height of political tension in the rank and file of the MDC in 2014, Honourable Tendai Biti wrote to you seeking to shield the nine legislators aligned to his faction from potential expulsion from the party.
Honourable Biti’s letter was followed by a counter letter from the the faction led by the late Dr. Richard Morgan Tsvangirai seeking the ejection of Honorable Biti from the August House.
You responded by referring the case to the courts, arguing that parliament had no authority over internal affairs of a political party, and the current dispute is still pending before the courts.
In the 2014 MDC dispute, you stated that “I must reiterate as I have done in a previous ruling that the notification to the Speaker by the party that a member has ceased to represent its interest in the National Assembly and Parliament is all that is required at law to create a vacancy and for the Speaker to declare the seat vacant.
Fast forward to 2020, MDC-T Secretary-General Mr. Nixon Nyikadzino wrote to you requesting the recall MDC-T legislator Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, and you ignored the request. Honourable Hwende wrote to you requesting to recall Senator Mwonzora and Senator Komichi as they had ceased to be members of the MDC Alliance which is an officially registered Party with Parliament, and you ignored the request.
But the request by Senator Mwonzora goes through without question, confirming that there is collusion taking place between you and the MDC faction headed by Dr. Khupe.
It is also important to note that in the 2014, you stated that “It was prudent that I did not pronounce myself on the matter as it was sub judice and against the principle of separation of powers as set out in section 3(2)(e) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe”.
In the light of that, one would have thought that as there are cases regarding the recall of MDC Alliance Parliamentarians by the 2014 MDC-T structures still pending in the courts, you would have followed the 2014 precedence and not pronounced yourself, but shelved all requests pending finalisation of pending legal cases
The Supreme Court has ordered that the Party should hold an Extra-Ordinary Congress to elect a President to replace the late founding President the late Dr. Richard Morgan Tsvangirai using its 2014 structures, failure which the disputed leadership becomes water under the bridge. The work to prepare for the Congress has had a false start as one faction has not included another faction in the preparations for the Extra Ordinary Congress.
The factions created after the demise of Dr. Tsvangirai are still in existence, and the one led by Dr. Thokozani Khupe, who was reinstated as Acting President specifically to prepare for the Extra Ordinary congress, has put in place its own National Council and National Standing Committee against the provisions of the Supreme Court Judgement.
On the other hand, other members of the MDC-T 2014 National Council who are the majority 2014 Council members, but are not included in the planning processes, have assembled and challenged the unconstitutional decisions being made by faction led by Dr. Khupe ahead of the recommended Extra Ordinary Congress, and formally wrote to the interim leadership to seek audience with the 2014 Standing Committee.
Bearing in mind that the Supreme Court Ruling did not conclude the leadership wrangle in the MDC-T, but only set a process in motion to resolve the leadership issues, you should not at this stage involve yourself with the internal politics of a political party in the same way as you could not interfere in 2014, but should wait for the process recommended by the Supreme Court to conclude.
And this process is still work in progress. Furthermore, you are fully aware that there are cases arising from the previous the previous recall of Honourable Thabitha Khumalo and Senator Lilian Timveous which are still pending in courts, which should have given you adequate reason to withhold a decision, just as you did in 2014 when factions of the MDC wrote to you, when you advised the MDC formations to get their issues resolved by the Courts. Why not you give the courts time this time round?
A the resolution of the MDC leadership is still work in progress, your acceptance of a letter of recall by one faction, and rejection of a recall letter by another formation proves beyond reasonable doubt that you are biased in favour of the faction led by Dr. Khupe. It proves beyond any shed of doubt that Zanu PF, Parliament and Government are involving themselves in the internal affairs of opposition politics, taking sides with the weaker of the two factions in order to entrench Zanu PF repression.
Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has been involved saying he wanted to give money due to the MDC Alliance under the Political Parties Finance Act to Dr. Khupe, and Zanu PF MP Kindness Paradza has spoken on the Voice of America on the internal disputes in the opposition party.
In the 2014 case, you only accepted to eject legislators after the MDC held its 2014 Congress, in November of that year when it was explained to you in writing that Congress had followed the formal procedures to expel the Parliamentarians in question, who had all been invited to the Congress but had failed to attend.
Please be informed that just like Zanu PF which you belong to, which followed the formal process to expel Honourable Killer Zivhu recently, the MDC also has its internal formal processes of expelling members, where the members being expelled are brought before a disciplinary hearing to give their side of the story, hence the letters you have received signed by Senator Mwonzora, who doubles as the Supreme Court reinstated 2014 Secretary-General as well as Secretary General of the MDC Khupe formation, are null and void as due process has not been followed. No such decisions can be made without the involvement of the full complement of the MDC-T 2014 Council.
Coming back to yesterday’s presentation in Parliament dismissing the legislators, I listened to you read “…members of parliament have ceased to be members of the MDC-T Party, and therefore no longer represent the interests of the Party in Parliament with effect from 23 June 2020”. According to your own Parliament records, the MDC-T has two legislators, Honourable Priscilla Mushonga-Misihairambwi and another whose name I cannot recall.
According to your own Parliamentary records, Mr. Speaker Sir, the three parties represented in Parliament are MDC Alliance; MDC-T, and Zanu PF. Those are the official records you have in Parliament, so that is what all your decisions should be based on. The MDC-T as it appears in your Parliamentary records cannot recall MDC Alliance legislators, and the MDC Alliance cannot recall Zanu PF legislators, and Zanu PF cannot recall MDC-T legislators unless you are presented with a conclusive court outcome confirming the conclusion of dispute resolution processes in place.
You will be fully aware that there are legality issues pending in the courts, where three High Court judges Justice Joseph Mafusire, Justice Munangati Manongwa and Justice Chitapi all ruled that the MDC Alliance is a political party, although Justice Chitapi ruled that “although MDC Alliance had been given the status of a political party under the Electoral Act, this did not make it a legal person able to sue and be sued”.
The description by Justice Chitapi that the MDC Alliance is not a juristic persona can be equally used to describe the MDC-T which also did not have a constitution in the name of MDC-T at the time of elections, so cannot be used against the MDC Aliance alone.
Also note, Mr. Speaker Sir, that Section 129 (1)(k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe that you used to expel the honourable members of Parliament does not stipulate that a political party has to be a juristic persona in order to qualify to register for elections, as noted by Justice Chitapi.
“A seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the Member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he or she was a member when elected to Parliament and the political party concerned, by written notice to the Speaker or the President of the Senate, as the case may be, has declared that the member has ceased to belong to it”
Section 129 (1) of the Constitution does not say that the political party sponsoring parliamentary candidates has to be juristic persona. In any case, the MDC-T is equally not a juristic persona if Justice Chipato’s judgement is to to be equally applied.
The argument by the MDC Khupe faction is that MDC-T owns all MDC Alliance parliamentarians. This is the argument that you may have used to expel the legislators, but again going by that argument, if the MDC Alliance legislators are owned by the MDC Khupe faction of the MDC-T, how then can you pronounce that they are no longer members of the MDC-T?
You are therefore dragging the August House into MDC factional fights, discrediting Parliament of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe as a country in the process. You know very well that the issues are being finalised in the Courts, but you brazenly proceed to accept a request by the MDC-T to recall MDC Alliance legislators.
One cannot help but conclude that you are still as scandalous as you were during the Willow-gate revelations. Your history of scandals is well documented, Advocate Mudenda, and even your deployment by Zanu PF as Speaker of Parliament stinks, and will continue to stink forever.
In conclusion, I will remind you that the MDC disputes are still an internal affair that the courts are resolving. This is confirmed even by the Zanu PF mouthpiece, The Herald, which writes “as the MDC blood-letting wars persist, the Dr Thokozani Khupe-led faction yesterday recalled nine legislators aligned to MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa.”. Hands off your dirty hands on that Party until all legal processes are concluded.
The remedy at your hands is to reverse the expulsions from Parliament made to date, and to stop any further recalls until the cases before the courts pertaining to expulsions are fully resolved, and until the Supreme Court ruling is fully implemented or otherwise.
The World is watching. God is watching.
By A Correspondent- Fired Zanu-PF Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu said the ruling party politburo acted on false information to fire him, but welcomed its verdict and vowed to continue supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid for re-election in 2023.
Zivhu was fired a fortnight ago by the party’s politburo following a recommendation by the party’s national disciplinary committee. This was after his home province, Masvingo, recommended his expulsion.
After he was fired, he went on social media and claimed that he was victimised for demanding his money – $1,5 million from a party stalwart.
But yesterday, in a statement, Zivhu said he would continue to support Mnangagwa and make sure he wins re-election in 2023 so that he fulfils his electoral promise and vision 2030.
He said he would seek readmission in the party after five years because he had never known any other political home except Zanu-PF, and his future lied within the party.
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- The Chinese International who allegedly shot and seriously injured two of his employees on Sunday apperead before Gweru magistrate Edwin Marecha who remanded him in custody.
Zhang Xuelinthe (41) is accused of attempted murder after he shot and injured Wendy Chikwaira (31) and Kennedy Tachiona (39) at his gold mine premises following a dispute over salaries.
NewsDay reports that there was heavy police presence at the Court as the state was anticipating that miners and residents would protest against the Chinese national.
Ignatius Mupfiga, the lawyer representing the Chinese national told Southern Eye that he would apply for bail at the High Court.
Meanwhile, Tachiona is admitted at a private hospital in Gweru while Chikwaira was treated and discharged from hospital.
The Chinese Embassy responding to the reports said Xuelin must be investigated according to the law of Zimbabwe.
The Chinese company has said it regretted the shooting adding that it was committed to meet medical bills for the two former workers and negotiate compensation with the families of the victims.
The Chinese community in Gweru on Monday said the incident was regrettable and did not reflect their behaviour.
22 members of two families in Lupane have been quarantined after they failed to notify authorities about their two relatives who illegally returned into the country from South Africa and subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.
They include six adults and 16 children aged between 11 months and 16 years.
Seventeen are members of a Sibanda family which was taken to Mabhikwa High School quarantine centre on Saturday after a relative who had returned from South Africa evaded screening processes.
The other five are members of the Ngwenya family that was quarantined on Monday after their relative, who is a son-in-law to the Sibandas, tested positive.
The two illegal returnees have since been isolated at St Luke’s Hospital while their family members at Mabhikwa High School wait to be tested.
Matabeleland North provincial social welfare officer Mr Macnon Chirinzepi said an anonymous tip-off was reportedly made to authorities that the two were back home and suspected not to have gone through screening processes. They were both taken to the quarantine centre where they tested positive.
“Mabhikwa quarantine centre has 22 community members from Malunku Village who have been in contact with persons who tested positive for Covid-19 and had previously joined the community without being tested,” said Mr Chirinzepi.
He said they will be tested after the mandatory eight days, a period when any quarantined person gets tested for the novel coronavirus.
Mabhikwa High School so far has five confirmed cases.
“The two came back illegally from South Africa and went to their villages. After their presence became known one was taken to the quarantine centre where he tested positive. His brother-in-law who had come to visit his ex-wife was also taken and tested positive.
“The Sibanda family members were taken into quarantine on June 20 and because the second man had also gotten into contact with his family, five members of his family were also taken on Monday. They are all at Mabhikwa waiting to be tested after eight days,” said Mr Chirinzepi.
He said as per procedure, if they test negative, they will be discharged but will be further isolated if they test positive.
Mr Chirinzepi warned members of the community against habouring border jumpers saying they risk being quarantined with them in terms of the country’s laws.
He encouraged people to be on the lookout for border jumpers.
“We encourage members of the community to make sure our returning relatives coming from outside the country have gone through the quarantine processes or show their certificates to community leaders such as village heads or even chiefs. This is good for both parties because habouring border jumpers exposes everyone to the dangers of Covid-19. Being quarantined also affects our livelihoods because if we are all quarantined, no one will take care of our homesteads and livestock for that period,” said Mr Chirinzepi.
The 22 bring to 32 the number of people at Mabhikwa High School.
Early this month, six people, four members of the same family in Victoria Falls were quarantined in separate incidents. The family of four was quarantined after failing to notify authorities about its 17-year-old daughter and five-year-old grandson who illegally returned into the country from South Africa. The other two separately entered from South Africa and Namibia. They have all been discharged.
By A Correspondent- A Zaka schools inspector, Lylletty Aleta Makomeke, who is also Zanu-PF councillor for Masvingo Rural District Council (RDC) ward 5, has been accused of terrorising teachers for the past two years.
A source, who spoke to Southern Eye on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said Makomeke would threaten to unleash Zanu-PF militias on teachers who expressed their views on political issues.
Makomeke contested in an all-female race during the 2018 general elections in which she garnered 721 votes, beating Silideni Kuzowana of MDC Alliance who had 662 votes and Independent candidate Elizabeth Ncube, who had 410 votes.
Although, some civil servants like Johnson Madhuku, former Pamushana High School head, who contested and won Bikita East constituency, resigned from the civil service; Makomeke, is yet to resign from the service two years later.
She is manning Zaka education offices as a schools inspector.
Makomeke could not be reached for comment as her mobile was not reachable.
However, Zaka district schools inspector (DSI) Samson Chidzurira confirmed that Makomeke was at the district offices, but referred all questions to the provincial education director (PED) Zedius Chitiga.
“I can confirm Makomeke is one of my inspectors, but for further details, you can talk to the PED,” he said.
Chitiga, however, refused to comment and referred all question to the minister.
Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, who is on record saying no government employee should contest for political office or assume any position in a political party before resigning from the civil service, refused to comment.
He referred all questions to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister, Paul Mavima.
Mangwana was a co-chair of the Constitution Parliamentary Committee (Copac) charged with drafting the new constitution for Zimbabwe by the Government of National Unity between 2009 and 2013.
“I cannot comment on that right now. You have to talk to the minister of Public Service. He will be in a position to comment on the matter. Otherwise, if I comment on that I would be overriding his ministry,” Mangwana said.
Both Mavima and his deputy Lovemore Matuke were not available to comment.
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance legislator Tapiwa Mashakada who now works with the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe has called for a national dialogue to address the country’s ailing economy.
Through his Facebook post Mashakada said National Dialogue is important for confidence and the instituting of economic and political reforms that will stop the economic hermorrhaging and create conditions for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
He said:
“Dialogue is a give and take take exercise. Zimbabwe has been arrested by contested elections which have had a damaging impact on macroeconomic stability and economic development. Zimbabweans must find each other and move the country forward.”
By Patrick Guramatunhu- The Speaker of National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda has just announced the recall of nine more MDC legislators at the behest of MDC-T leader, Douglas Mwonzora.
Ever since the Supreme Court judgement confirming the High Court’s ruling that Nelson Chamisa’s succession as leader of the MDC had violated the party’s own constitution, it was clear this was a matter that would divide the MDC. Still, few would have imagined there would be this much chaos, confusion and blood bath!
Tsvangirai’s appointment of Chamisa and Mudziri as VPs of the party was messy and so too was Chamisa’s takeover of the party following Tsvangirai’s death. The failure by the party to sort this mess is what one would expect given the party’s history as corrupt and incompetent. Sadly, this mess is proving to be so divisive the party is subdividing in such way, mutual annihilation, that the emerging factions are so weak and feeble they are utterly useless.
The real tragedy here is MDC is engaged in this self-destruction at the very time the nation is facing its greatest ever existential threat from the corona virus pandemic. It is bad enough the pandemic is happening at a time when the country is facing economic meltdown and political paralysis after 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF rule. It is a nightmare that the nation should still be in the hands of the corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF thugs during this pandemic with no oversight even from the corrupt and incompetent MDC!
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only,” wrote the great novelist Charles Dickens.
The last 40 years have been hell for Zimbabwe but compared to what now lays ahead, it was heaven. The last 40 years has been a time of foolishness with very little wisdom, the years of winter with a few days here and there of spring. There is nothing before us by years foolishness, despair and evil and none of the good and wise! None!
By A Correspondent- 22 Families in Lupane have been quarantined after harbouring their relatives who evaded the quarantine process when they came home from South Africa and later on tested positive for COVID-19.
The Sibanda and Ngwenya family which includes six adults and 16 children aged between 11 months and 16 years were taken to Mabhikwa High School by Rapid response teams after their family members tested positive for COVID-19.
The development was confirmed by Matabeleland North provincial social welfare officer Mr Macnon Chirinzepi who shed light on how they discovered the families were harbouring escapees through a tip-off:
Mabhikwa quarantine centre has 22 community members from Malunku Village who have been in contact with persons who tested positive for Covid-19 and had previously joined the community without being tested
The two came back illegally from South Africa and went to their villages. After their presence became known one was taken to the quarantine centre where he tested positive. His brother-in-law who had come to visit his ex-wife was also taken and tested positive.
The Sibanda family members were taken into quarantine on June 20 and because the second man had also gotten into contact with his family, five members of his family were also taken on Monday. They are all at Mabhikwa waiting to be tested after eight days.
Meanwhile, ZRP is looking for 2 men who escaped from Harare’s Belvedere Teachers College Quarantine Center one escaped after testing positive and the other one escaped before getting his results.
We all kind of expected it so no one was shocked when ZERA announced new fuel prices yesterday evening. Earlier in the day, after it’s first weekly auction, the new Reuters based system threw out $57 ZWL as to 1 USD as the new average exchange rate and powers at the energy regulator wasted no time updating the price of fuel to $62.77 ZWL ( or $1.09 USD) for diesel and $71.62 ZWL ( or $1.28 USD) for Blended Petrol.
That was a massive 100% hike in prices but to be honest that was much lower than we anticipated. In fact, based on our analysis, the rate will probably go higher next week when the next auction will be held. What enraged a lot of Zimbos who commented on the new prices was the price of ethanol. According to ZERA the product is going for:
On the other hand unblended Petrol is going for:
The reason why a lot of people are fuming is because it actually means that blended petrol is more expensive than unblended petrol! That higher price is on account of the ethanol in E20 that is being sold at a higher price than imported petrol. This has left many asking the question: Why are we paying more for something that is already cheap isn’t the whole point of blending so that we can pay less?
The truth is that there is nothing unusual here. Green fuels tend to be more expensive than their non-renewable counterparts. Blending fuel is not about just lowering the price, in fact, as the latest case shows, blending sometimes leads to motorists paying higher prices. There other benefits brought about by blending that still makes it desirable despite a marginal increase in the final price of the product. Touted benefits of blending include saving the environment and in the case of Zimbabwe saving on foreign currency.
Popular Zimdancehall chanter Wallace Chirumiko known as Winky D has rejected a US$35 000 offer from US-based flamboyant preacher, Passion Pnganai Java.
Winky D’s manager, Jonathan Banda said the offer for an undisclosed project was rejected mainly because the Winky D brand was currently preoccupied by another project. Banda said:
“Deals come everyday of our lives and it doesn’t take one person to approve them. Although I am the front-man, we also have a team and we have some things we look at before making a decision. Just like any other business we have to look for suitable proposals that benefit the brand.
“So maybe at that time it did not meet the requirements or maybe it was not approved because of the timing. We are open to business proposals but one thing for sure is that we do due diligence.”
He however said that there was no bad blood between Winky D and Java adding that all proposals are weighed in connection with the brand’s business objectives.
Java recently parted ways with upcoming Zimdancehall artist, Enzo Ishall who has since signed for a new promoter T-Mak.
Java is well known for promoting Zimdancehall artistes in the country and his links with one of the biggest dancehall stables Chillspot Records.
– NewsDay
GOVERNMENT has embarked on a process to amend the High Court Act with a view to split the country into four High Court zones, a development that will curb forum shopping and compel litigants to access justice from their nearest court stations.
Lawyers and litigants are now shopping for a High Court station, sometimes preferring to go halfway across Zimbabwe for a favourable judgment.
Every judge of the High Court has “full original criminal and civil jurisdiction over all persons and matters throughout the country”, according to the High Court Act.
In theory, a High Court judge in Mutare can hear a case involving a land row in Mangwe on the Botswana border.
The recent opening of permanent High Court stations in Masvingo and Mutare was meant to make it easier for people to access this court, and so cut down costs and bring justice to the people, rather than bring people to justice.
However, in recent times there have been those who now shop for a court where they think they might get a more favourable judgment, or even to get a second chance without going through the delays of an appeal.
In an interview, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday said his ministry was now drafting proposals to amend the High Court Act in line with the recent decentralisation of the courts.
Minister Ziyambi said his ministry had noted the abuse of Sections 13 and 23 of the High Court Act by litigants and lawyers, hence the need to change the law to suit the new development.
“We have noted concern in the way litigants are abusing their freedom to approach any High Court station for recourse.
“We are going to amend the legislation so that people don’t just criss-cross the country with court applications and appeals,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi said he had since asked the Permanent Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabiza to draft the relevant papers and institute processes to change the law.
“I have asked my Permanent Secretary to start looking into the issue so that we amend the legislation accordingly.
“Already we have three court divisions, headed by regional magistrates across the court and that is, the Eastern, Western and Southern divisions.
“We intend to create a fourth division by splitting the Eastern division.
“We will then separate High Court so that people just don’t criss-cross the country. If you are in one division, you cannot go to the other. You will have to show cause why you want to go into another division,” said Minister Ziyambi.
Strive Masiyiwa The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ventilator suites that were donated by businessman and Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa are now in the country ready to be deployed.
Through his Higher Life Foundation Zimbabwe, working with some donor partners, Mr Masiyiwa acquired 45 ventilators suites to be distributed to Zimbabwe’s public hospitals.
The ventilator suites were manufactured in the UK.
Back in April, Mr Masiyiwa said he was going to donate the ventilators which however required time to be produced because of the technology and the supply of parts.
The global community is in unchartered territory as COVID-19 continues to spread and immensely impact the lives of individuals, families, and communities around the world.
Zimbabwe is also facing the pandemic, with confirmed positive cases, unfortunately, increasing by the day. The total number of confirmed cases in the country at yesterday were 512; with 64 recoveries, 442 active cases and 6 deaths recorded since the onset of the outbreak in the country on March 20, 2020.
The increasing positive cases, and now deaths, point to the significance of the ventilators which, in the fight against COVID-19, can save lives.
Zimbabwe has a critical shortage of ventilators, something that Mr Masiyiwa has acknowledged before.
When he made the pledge, Mr Masiyiwa emphasised that the donation was a “drop in the bucket, in terms of actual requirement” and called on mining companies and corporate player in other industries to follow suit.
In addition to the ventilators, Mr Masiyiwa also secured critical equipment required in creating a “Critical Care” suite, such as oxygen concentrators, which are critical in providing the much-needed oxygen to a patient that is being ventilated, or just needs oxygen therapy.
The equipment that was brought in also includes suction machines, laryngoscopes and consumables such as endotracheal tubes, infusion sets, drip stands, suction tubes, oxygen tubes, syringes, airway-filters, airways and nasal cannulas.
Also supplied along with the ventilators is an oxygen splitter, which allows for a single ventilator to be used by two patients simultaneously.
However, according to sources familiar with the development, this will not be a typical “Charity Donation”, but a model where the ownership of the ventilators remains with Higherlife Foundation and Mars.
Mars will provide technical support such, as service, repair, maintenance and training.
Observers say this is the best arrangement as the burden to keep the ventilators in good working condition is removed from Government, which is often cash-constrained due to competing priorities.
The donors and the government of Zimbabwe have agreed that the equipment will be distributed across all the country’s provinces and will also include Mission Hospitals. By their size, Harare and Bulawayo will get the bulk of the equipment.
Mr Masiyiwa is also the African Union’s special envoy to coordinate the Africa private sector initiative for the procurement of personal protective equipment and other essential supplies.
As an AU envoy, Mr Masiyiwa has been working with global entrepreneurs, Sir Richard Branson and Jeff Skoll, and recently announced that 1 000 ventilators are being manufactured in SA, under free license.
He said these will be distributed for free to several African countries including 200 to Zimbabwe.
Prison bound, the eight accused officialsHIGH Court judge Justice Thompson Mabhikwa has revoked bail for eight suspects allegedly involved in the theft of nearly US$1 million worth of gold at Plumtree Police Station after being infuriated by their co-accused who faked death to abscond trial.
Jefat Chaganda’s lawyers, Nyikadzino, Simango and Associates informed the court that he had died but failed to produce a death certificate resulting in a warrant of arrest being issued against their client.
There are fears that Chaganda could have skipped the border. Police have since launched a manhunt for him.
Chaganda and eight others, Plumtree regional magistrate Timeon Tavengwa Makunde, Stanley Chinyanganya, who is the area public prosecutor, prominent Harare lawyer Admire Rubaya as well as Dingumuzi Ncube, Tyson Ruvando, Godfrey Makuvadze, Ladislous Tamboonei and Detective Assistant Inspector Ladislous Tinacho, who is in charge of the ZRP Minerals and Border Control, are facing theft charges or alternatively obstructing the course of justice.
They allegedly connived to steal the gold which was kept as an exhibit at Plumtree Police Station.
The accused persons had each been out of custody on $300 bail pending trial, but after Chaganda failed to appear in court, justice Mabhikwa revoked bail for the other eight accused persons and they were locked up. Before claims that he had died, Chaganda had been arrested in a Botswana-bound train while his accomplice Ncube, who was in his company, managed to flee. The suspect took advantage of his temporary freedom to run away again.
Yesterday, Justice Mabhikwa ordered that the other eight suspects be kept in custody pending trial on September 8 following Chaganda’s failure to appear in court.
The judge said there was a likelihood that they would also abscond trial.
The accused persons’ trial has on a number of occasions failed to kick off due to several applications filed by the accused persons at both Supreme and High Courts, including an application for discharge at the close of the State case, which was dismissed.
Justice Mabhikwa said the accused persons were abusing court processes and their liberty as a delaying tactic.
According to court papers, it is alleged that the accused persons are behind the theft of gold weighing 28kg valued at US$970 000, which was stolen from the Plumtree Police Station armoury through unlawful entry on July 7, 2018.
The offence came to light a week later when Chief Inspector Mangena, who was reporting for duty, noticed that two FN rifles which were booked in the charge office were not physically there in the armoury.
The gold was later intercepted by police leading to the arrest of Chaganda. He was found in unlawful possession of part of the stolen gold weighing 14 kg which he intended to smuggle to Botswana.
The recovered gold was seized by Zimra and handed over to the police in Plumtree. It is alleged that the nine accused persons hatched a plan to steal the impounded gold and allegedly played various roles in the scheme.
When Chaganda appeared in court charged with unlawful possession and smuggling of gold, Ncube allegedly sought the services of one Vusumuzi Sayi who in turn contacted his friend, Kailos Moyo to secure the services of Lovemore Sibanda.
Sibanda’s documents for his Qalo Syndicate were fraudulently used in court to claim ownership of the seized gold.
Tinacho contacted Rubaya to represent Chaganda. Rubaya allegedly roped in Makunde and Chinyanganya to further their plan of stealing the gold.
Tamboonei, a police officer, gave false evidence in court under cross examination by Rubaya while Makunde and Chinyanganya, who were aware of the scam, allegedly adopted an armchair approach during the court proceedings.
State Media
Samuel Undenge JAILED former Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge has offered to pay $10 000 and surrender title deeds of his Tynwald South property in exchange for his freedom pending the determination of his appeal at the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision that upheld his incarceration.
Undenge was convicted of criminal abuse of office and jailed for two-and-a half-years.
In a bid to allay State fears that he was likely to abscond, Undenge seeks to argue that all borders are sealed due to Covid-19 pandemic, hence there is no basis for the prosecution to bring that averment.
In his bail application filed at the High Court by his lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama, Undenge argues that his prospects of success on appeal are high.
Undenge was last week committed to prison after his appeal against both conviction and his two-and-a-half year imprisonment was dismissed by the High Court recently.
The former minister had been convicted in the Magistrates Court for abuse of office after he hand-picked a public relations company for the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) without going to tender.
He was slapped with four years’ imprisonment, but 18 months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
He has since approached the High Court seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision to incarcerate him.
In seeking bail as surety, Undenge wants his Tynwald South property to remain part of his bail. Undenge stated that he is not a flight risk.
“Since his arrest the applicant was on bail pending appeal. After his conviction on July 20, 2018 the applicant was imprisoned. He successfully applied for bail pending trial at the High Court.
“This bail was granted on August 1, 2018. Applicant has been on bail ever since and is determined to clear himself of the conviction and has no reason to abscond the jurisdiction of this court. His passport was surrendered to the clerk ofcourt. Also there is the Covid-19 induced lockdown all he can not travel to foreign countries.
“Applicant submits that there are bright prospects of success. Bail is an entitlement as of right. He must not be unreasonably denied bail especially in light of the many misdirections that do exist in the court-a-quo’s judgement,” he said.
Undenge also seeks to argue that to uphold his conviction in the circumstances as the court did was a serious travesty of justice.
“The letter that the applicant signed was motivated by Psychology Mazivisa, Oscar Pambuka and Fruitful Communications who were committing fraud.
“The appeal court acknowledged this fact. This therefore completely destroyed the applicant’s guilty state of mind as he was himself being conned and was a victim of crime,” read the application.
The fresh application is yet to be heard at the High Court.
Own Correspondent
Polls have closed in Malawi’s hotly contested presidential vote, the second time in just over a year, after incumbent President Peter Mutharika’s re-election was annulled by the courts over irregularities.
Some 6.8 million people were eligible to vote in Tuesday’s rerun, practically a two-horse race between Mutharika and opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera. A third candidate, Peter Kuwani, was also in the running.
Watch video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.
File Picture of a domestic worker GOVERNMENT has gazetted a new salary scale for domestic workers who include housekeepers, cooks and gardeners with basic pay ranging from $900 to $1 040.
Domestic workers have since lobbied for salaries in forex.
According to the newly gazetted Labour Employment Regulation Number 20 of 2020, a gardener is entitled to $900 a month, a housekeeper, $945 while those who take care of the old and disabled should be paid $1 042.
These wages are for live in employees as those who reside out of work premises should be paid an extra $200 for accommodation, $150 for transport, $50 for fuel, lights and water.
Gardeners will also receive $4,20 per hour while child minders get $4,63.
One of the affected is Ms Maybe Sibanda, an old woman from Mzilikazi, who said she can longer afford to work full time and would rather scout for piece jobs along Robert Mugabe Street and 4th Avenue.
“I have a family to fend for and honestly $945 is not enough to clear all that I have to pay for. I have since decided that I come and look for piece jobs on the road where I charge R100 or US$10 depending on the amount of work to be done on that day,” said Ms Sibanda.
She said it was better not to work at all than receive $945 on EcoCash.
“Things are tough and we are surely going to starve to death if things do not change. I sometimes spend the day waiting for someone to pick me before walking back home but that is better than staying with someone for the whole month only to get $900 on EcoCash,” she added.
Miss Nokulunga Ncube from Entumbane said the gazetted salary was not enough to cater for her basics.
“Money loses value every day and with $1 000 I can only buy pads, a pack of mealie-meal and 2kg of sugar for my family. This simply means I have nothing for upkeep and school fees for my children, it is pathetic,” said Miss Ncube.
“In a month’s time, $1 000 will not be enough to buy bread hence we are lobbying that our salaries be pegged in forex. I am grateful because my employer agreed to pay me R300 which is better though in essence is nothing compared to my needs.”
She added that the gazetted salary was in line with salaries but was not adequate considering the high cost of living in Zimbabwe.
According to Ms Tanya Manyawi, who is working in Emganwini, house helpers also deserved forex salaries just like civil servants who have been making such demands of late.
She said no amount in the local currency was enough to pay for the effort of baby sitting and taking care of homes while employers are at work.
“We also have families to fend for and children to take to school and this gazetted salary is a mere joke. Already our employers are struggling to put food on the table and what more us, who rely on the same measly salary,” said Ms Manyawi.
“I cannot afford to send my parents food in the rural area because my salary can only buy a bag of 5kg rice and that’s all we are worth.”
Mrs Princess Ndlovu a teacher from Richmond said her conscience was against paying her domestic worker $800 on Ecocash but her salary made it impossible to pay anything more as she was earning $3 000.
“lt’s always embarrassing to give another human being $650 as salary on EcoCash plus R100 which I decided to add after she complained she needed some cash. In all honesty that money amounts to nothing but it’s way too much considering my monthly salary,” said Mrs Ndlovu. She said she struggles to buy the R100 from the black market but she must do it as she cannot do without her house helper.
“I cannot afford to eat a balanced diet in my house let alone buy toiletries. Something should be done so that we earn more and give our helpers a salary that restores dignity to their profession.
Own Correspondent
The two contenders in Malawi's presidential election. Polls closed across Malawi Tuesday evening after millions voted for the country’s president in a rerun of the 2019 election that was nullified by the courts because of vote tampering.
Counting of ballots began at the 5,000 polling stations, and the results will be announced from the National Counting Centre in Blantyre. The Malawi Election Commission has eight days to announce the official results.
Incumbent President Peter Mutharika, 79, is running against Lazarus Chakwera, 65, leader of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party.
The Constitutional Court on 3 February struck down Mutharika’s victory in the May 2019 election, citing evidence of voting fraud, including thousands of ballots that appeared to have been altered using typing correction fluid also known by its brand name of Tippex. The Malawi Supreme Court upheld the ruling.
Some 6.8 million Malawians were eligible to cast ballots. The Human Rights Defenders Coalition, a local organisation, led demonstrations across the country to call for fairness in the electoral process. The group’s national coordinator, Luke Tembo, told AP that the voting that took place on Tuesday is what the group had been campaigning for.
“This has now given people a second chance to exercise their rights. Now we have been calling on people to come out in their large numbers to vote to determine the future of this country,” said Tembo. “We believe this time around we are going to get things right and get a free, fair and credible election.”
The day before the vote there was a spate of clashes in the capital, Lilongwe, and the lakeshore town of Nkhotakota sparked by rumours of vote-rigging. Order was restored by soldiers of the Malawi Defence Force who have been deployed across the country. The Electoral Commission Chairperson Chifundo Kachale assured all voters that the polling process would be fair.
Before the voting started the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on “all political actors and stakeholders to renew their commitment to credible and peaceful elections while observing all preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19,” according to a statement issued by spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Several local and international organisations are observing the new elections, in an effort to confirm that they are free and fair. The European Union, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, several diplomatic missions, and the Commonwealth also observed the elections, the Malawi Electoral Commission’s spokesman Sangwani Mwafulirwa said. The US and British embassies announced that they sent out small observer missions as a supplement to thousands of domestic election observers and political party monitors.
Additional reporting by AP
State Media
THE inaugural foreign exchange auction had a flying start yesterday with applications worth US$10.35 million being allotted from bids for US$11.4 million, with the weighted average, effectively the official exchange rate until next week’s auction, being $57.3582:US$1.
Bidders offered rates at this auction run by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ranging from a low of $25.50, a whisker above the frozen and now defunct interbank rate prevailing until the auction, to a high of $100, a rate even above the black market rate, for US$1.
Under auction rules successful bidders have to pay the rate they offer, so the high bidder paid almost twice as much for their US dollars as the weighted average and possibly four times as much as a successful low bidder. It is expected that as the auction system gets into its stride the gap between high and low bids will become far narrower. Sellers of foreign currency are all paid out at the weighted average.
In a ZBC interview last night, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said there were 92 bidders and 91 percent of bids were successful.
Generally the jump in the official rate would not be inflationary he said, with the possible exception of fuel prices.
Businesses and shops were already, in the absence of a proper market using forward pricing, trying to predict what they would have to pay to replace raw materials and stock. So any inflationary pressure from the auction system had already been calculated into present prices.
But he was giving advice to Government authorities to allow fuel prices to be based on the new ruling rate. This would remove the opportunities for arbitrage, that is retailers buying fuel at the price based on the cheap interbank rate and selling on the black market at a price based on that rate. With proper pricing based on the auction rate, this arbitrage would disappear and so fuel would be sold on the open market.
Fuel prices are set on a formula that starts with the landed cost of petrol and diesel as it exits the pipeline from Beira at Feruka. This US dollar price is then converted at the official exchange rate, and additions are made, the largest being the Excise duty. Most of these additional costs are based on a percentage of the Zimbabwe dollar landed price.
All sales and purchases of foreign currency through the banking system will be at the ruling rate, the weighted average, for the next week with sellers probably getting slightly less and buyers paying slightly more in view of normal banking practice.
Sellers of goods and services are now expected to quote prices in both Zimbabwe dollars and US dollars, but using this ruling rate not the black market rate.
The close match of foreign currency available and bids offered is seen as the critical factor in having the successful initial auction. The wide range of rates offered in bids was seen as highlighting the problem bidders had in setting a rate for their offer with the interbank market frozen since late March and so not able to give much guidance.
The black market has been seeing ever higher rates, but this market includes speculators and currency hoarders and is subject to systematic manipulation by a small group of dealers as Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe investigations have revealed in recent weeks.
All bidders at the auction had to submit invoices that they wished to pay, to prove that the currency they were bidding for was to be used to buy approved imports or pay approved foreign suppliers, and the RBZ warned that those cheating or speculating would be banned from the auction.
Primary imports of raw materials, machinery and equipment accounted between them for more than half the currency allotted and once consumables, such as spares and packaging, and chemicals were included these primary imports took up two thirds of the allotments.
The actual allotments are in US dollars:
Raw materials 2 883 052,05
Machinery and equipment 2 407 666,89
Food and beverages 1 398 340,00
Services 1 308 996,12
Consumables (incl spares, tyres and packaging) 1 286 995,43
Portfolio investments 436 400,73
Fuel, electricity and gas 263 147,46
Chemicals 257 015,00
Livestock 53 636,36
Medicals 50 000,00
A member of the bank’s monetary policy committee who attended the inaugural auction said: “I was there all morning. All I can say is that the process was transparent. I saw all the applications, including those that were rejected and I felt that all rejections were justified.
“Importantly, 100 percent of the successful applications for forex were funded. We had 17 banks putting in applications for forex and had several pages of applications. But every application from every individual company was settled and the average rate came in at just over $57 to the US dollar,” the source said.
Business leaders said this week that if conducted properly without interference from authorities, the auction system would enhance efficient and transparent distribution of foreign exchange and automatically ensure a tight match between exports and imports.
The auction system is funded from the retained export earnings of exporters. Under the original rules, which the RBZ has stressed it will now enforce, exporters have 30 days to sell these retentions or spend these earnings for approved goods and services but at the end of that period anything left has to be sold. Large-scale amassing of foreign exchange in nostro accounts held by exporters has been starving the official market. The bank went for simultaneous enforcement of the retention rules and offering a proper unmassaged market for the sales.
The RBZ can pad out the supply with offshore facilities it has negotiated.
Analysts believe that if the new system works as expected, it would help build market confidence, improve access to foreign currency and help stabilise the exchange rate while speculative activity on the black market could subside significantly. In any case, with a better official market normal business requirements will be met on the auction, reducing demand in the black market.
Even reputable businesses have been forced to access black market currency, directly or through middlemen, to meet import bills because the interbank market did not work as expected.
RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya said last week the auction system will operate on the Reuters Forex Trading platform, a real-time electronic foreign exchange trading system and an international standard for such systems
Under the new foreign currency auction system, bids will be submitted to, allotted and evaluated by RBZ with the offers for foreign currency while bids from buyers are submitted in the morning every Tuesday.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) vice president Mr Joseph Gunda, said this week industry was highly expectant that the auction system would bring about transparency and efficiency in the trading of foreign currency, ensure market-led price discovery and improve availability.
According to the Reserve Bank, the auction will only accept bids of a minimum of US$50 000 and a maximum of US$500 000 with individuals and firms required to make a single bid per week through an authorised dealer.
State Media
HIGH Court Judge Justice David Foroma yesterday reserved judgment in the bail application by MDC-Alliance legislator Joana Mamombe and two activists Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marovawho are accused of lying to the police and faking abduction.
The three were denied bail pending trial by Harare magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande last week on the grounds that they had the propensity to commit similar offences.
She also considered that they were likely to abscond given that they were likely to be given a custodial sentence if convicted.
Arguing for the trio, defence lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama told the judge that the magistrate misdirected herself in denying his clients bail, treating them as guilty before trial.
He said the lower court failed to consider that the suspects had no bad criminal records to warrant the court to deny them bail.
The magistrate, Mr Muchadehama said, relied on the State’s statement of a video evidence against the activists, which they failed to produce during the bail hearing.
However, Justice Foroma said he did not have it on record that Mr Muchadehama contested it at the lower court.
“Something is not tallying in your submissions. The court a quo said it relies on the submissions made by counsel,” said Justice Foroma.
“It was your duty to openly dismiss the existence of the video in the presence of the witness rather than putting the blame at this stage now on the State for failing to produce the video.”
Justice Foroma also said the defence counsel should have filed the medical affidavits of the suspects as part of its evidence considering the magnitude of the allegations of assault and rape.
The State represented by Mrs Wadzanai Badalane insisted that the magistrate was correct in her judgment as she analysed the facts that had been presented before her.
This is a developing story
State Media
CBZ Bank has dismissed as false reports that the financial institution has been awarded a gold-buying licence by Government.
Some sections of the media had claimed that CBZ was now buying gold produced in the country and that it had reportedly set a target of 1 million tonnes. Fidelity Printers and Refiners is the country’s exclusive buyer of the yellow metal in Zimbabwe after being licensed in 2008 as part if measures to curb smuggling of the bullion.
“We refer to the online publications purporting that CBZ Bank Limited is a licenced gold buyer and exporter of gold. We advice that the bank does not hold a gold buying licence neither does it export gold,” said CBZ in a statement.
“The bank has on board a number of mining companies of which Freda Rebecca Gold Mine is one of them.”
The financial institution said it was thus offering banking services to its clients in line with its normal course of business and regulatory requirements.
“We are supportive of Government and the private sector efforts to grow the economy and our group entities will continue to offer traditional and innovative financial products and services to all our customers.”
Meanwhile, on May 26, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced that it had increased the gold retention threshold to 70 percent in foreign currency for sale proceeds from the previous 55 percent in a move aimed at boosting production in the sector. Under the new gold trading framework, large gold producers now receive 30 percent of their gold sale proceeds to Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) in local currency while 70 percent of the sale proceeds is being paid into the producer’s Nostro account. The local currency gold sale proceeds is paid at the ruling exchange rate into the producer’s ZW$ account.
For small-scale miners, gold buying agents and artisanal producers are being paid in cash at a flat price of US$45 per gramme of fine gold.
Under the new framework, large gold buying agents must have a mining operation producing a minimum of 50 kilogrammes fine gold per month to qualify for FPR’s agency permit. Last year, Zimbabwe produced 33,2 tonnes of the yellow metal having set a target of 40 tonnes.
The projected target was unattainable due to a number of factors that hogged the mining industry chief among them, intermittent power supplies.
State Media
Khama Billiat celebrates a goal scored for WarriorsWARRIORS’ poster-boy, Khama Billiat, and former captain Willard Katsande are safe from the coronavirus threat after two of their Kaizer Chiefs teammates yesterday tested positive for Covid-19.
Chiefs, who are preparing for the resumption of Premiership games in South Africa, announced yesterday two samples had returned positive results after players and officials went through the mandatory testing procedures.
The club, however, did not release the names of the players for professional reasons.
But, indications showed the Zimbabwean duo on the Chiefs books were safe.
“Following a series of Covid-19 tests conducted last Friday, two Kaizer Chiefs players’ results have come back positive from the laboratory,” the club said in a statement.
“A total of 70 individuals, including players, members of the technical team and other club officials were tested for Covid-19 in preparation for the restart of the 2019/20 season.
“At the time of doing these tests, players and officials were screened and monitored by healthcare workers and team doctors. None of the people tested showed any signs or symptoms of Covid-19.
“All the players and officials were given different timeslots and did not come into contact with each other.
“The affected duo will be in self-isolation for the stipulated period of 14 days. They will be retested after the isolation period as required. If their tests come back negative, they will then be able to rejoin the team.
“Kaizer Chiefs’ medical team and management are working around the clock to provide the necessary support to the affected individuals and ensure they follow the guidelines.”
Bloemfontein Celtic, where Ronald Pfumbidzai plays, released a statement in which they confirmed midfielder, Given Mashikinya has the virus but was not displaying any symptoms.
Mashikinya has since been placed in self isolation while he is being treated.
“Bloemfontein Celtic can confirm that after we have conducted Covid-19 tests on Friday, 19 June 2020, one player [Given Mashikinya] tested positive.
“The player was and still is asymptomatic and is currently in isolation for the next 14 days.”
Orlando Pirates midfielder Ben Motshwari, who has since made a full recovery, was the first Super Disk player to contract the virus.
Ovidy Karuru’s Stellenbosch FC also confirmed yesterday that three of their staff members tested positive for the virus.
However, none of the players was found to be infected with the virus. Last week, the South African Football Association gave all the 32 PSL teams the green light to resume training following approval from South Africa’s Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize and Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa.
The Guardian
Novak DjokovicBELGRADE. — World No 1, Novak Djokovic, has tested positive for coronavirus, along with his wife, Jelena, throwing tennis into turmoil as the sport’s official tour prepares to resume after a four-month lockdown.
They join three other leading players and two trainers infected by the disease towards the end of the Serb’s unsanctioned Adria Tour, which was aborted moments before the final in Croatia on Sunday.
Djokovic, who will go into quarantine for 14 days, said this was “the new reality”, although he had organised his tour “with a philanthropic idea” and said he was sorry for the other people who tested positive.
He declined to be tested on site and with his family flew directly to his home city, Belgrade, where he sought medical advice and was tested.
He received the results on Monday evening and issued a statement on Tuesday.
The Serb stands widely accused of complacency for organising an unofficial charity event — in Belgrade, Zadar and Montenegro (subsequently cancelled) — without safety protocols applicable in most other countries and which have prevented resumption of the main Tour until August.
Djokovic expressed regret and sympathy but little contrition in a prepared statement.
He was clearly upset that his close friend, Viktor Troicki, and the Serb’s pregnant wife, along with Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric — who played each other on Saturday — as well as Dimitrov’s coach and his own fitness trainer had also tested positive.
There are now genuine concerns that the rescheduled major tournaments — in New York in August and at Roland Garros at the end of September — could be postponed or even cancelled; many players, especially from Europe, South America and Asia, will be reluctant to risk their health travelling into suspect environments after these disturbing developments.
Most of the other players on the Adria Tour had tests in the team hotel in Zadar on Sunday night, and there have been no positive test results from there so far.
However, Djokovic declined to take a test at that time, because he said, “he did not feel any symptoms”.
“The moment we arrived in Belgrade [on Sunday night] we went to be tested. My result is positive, just as Jelena’s, while the results of our children are negative,” he said
Djokovic, who organised the Tour against a backdrop of lowering Covid-19 spread in the Balkans, added: “Everything we did in the past month, we did with a pure heart and sincere intentions.
‘’Our tournament was meant to unite and share a message of solidarity and compassion throughout the region.
“The Tour was designed to help both established and up-and-coming tennis players from south-eastern Europe to gain access to some competitive tennis while the various tours are on hold due to the Covid-19 situation.
‘’It was all born with a philanthropic idea, to direct all raised funds towards people in need, and it warmed my heart to see how everybody strongly responded to this.
“We organised the tournament at the moment when the virus has weakened, believing that the conditions for hosting the Tour had been met.
‘’Unfortunately, this virus is still present, and it is a new reality that we are still learning to cope and live with.
“I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection. I hope that it will not complicate anyone’s health situation and that every will be fine. I will remain in self-isolation for the next 14 days, and repeat the test in five days.”
Own Correspondent
THE petrol price has gone up from ZWL$28,96/litre to ZWL$71.62/litre, but operators can still sell below the cap depending on their trading advantages. Diesel price also went up from ZWL$24,93 to ZWL$62.77/Litre.
In a statement the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) said the price adjustments take effect today, the 24th of June 2020.
These adjustments follow the introduction of a market-based forex auction system which placed the official exchange rate of the US dollar to ZWL$ at 57.36.
ZERA also gazetted the price of petrol and diesel in US dollars at $1.28 and $1.09 respectively.
The price increase comes at a time when queues at service stations were becoming the order of the day.
State Media
Elkannah DubeA chief accountant in the then Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture inflated travel and subsistence allowances for the 2014 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee (LOC) officials by over US$300 000, according to a Deloitte and Touche audit report.
According to the report, the chairperson and chief executive officer of the LOC Khonzani Ncube and Elkanah Dube, authorised LOC operations to receive goods worth over US$114 000 well after the Games had ended.
The goods included PlayStation consoles, shoes, television sets, bunk beds and tracksuits, among a huge list. US$38 617 was paid, leaving a balance of US$75 996,03.
Some of the goods received, according to well placed sources, were grabbed by high ranking Ministry of Sport officials, some of who are now serving in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.
One official also took electrical gadgets such as computers, photocopiers and printers and claimed that VIP regalia such as jackets would be given to Members of Parliament, while another is believed to have given the T-shirts to his farm workers.
Garikai Nemutenzi, chief accountant in the then Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture, gave auditors a schedule with outstanding travel and subsistence allowances of US$454 075,80 due to former LOC officials.
However, upon further investigations, the auditors noted that the actual claims amounted to US$136 770.
“We examined all the 119 claims of unpaid LOC travel and subsistence allowances in the files provided by Sijingo (Lathi), LOC director of finance and noted that they amounted to US$136 770. We did not find supporting claim forms for the remaining US$317 305,80 on the outstanding schedule provided by Nemutenzi,” reads the report.
Ncube and Dube issued a directive on December 14, 2014, after the Games had ended that LOC operations receive goods and services amounting to US$114 613,03.
“We interviewed Musekiwa (Simplicio), (LOC administration and procurement director), who stated that Ncube (Khonzani), LOC chairperson and Dube (Elkanah), LOC chief executive officer, directed that the goods be received. Ncube confirmed in her email dated October 31, 2017, that there were indeed late deliveries of goods and services and that all records pertaining to the Games were handed over to the Ministry of Sport and Recreation. She further stated that she could only competently comment on the goods and services received after the Games once she gets information from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation to whom she has directed her request for information through the permanent secretary,” wrote the auditors.
A total of 14 companies supplied goods and services after the official closure of the Games.
Own Correspondent
ZIMBABWE this Tuesday recorded 13 more COVID-19 cases bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 525.
Of the positive cases, 10 are returnees from South Africa while three are local cases and all have since been isolated.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said investigations to establish the source of infection for the three local cases are ongoing.
To date Zimbabwe has conducted 63 782 COVID-19 tests and has 455 active cases, 64 have recovered while six deaths have been recorded since the onset of the outbreak in March this year.
Harare Province has the highest number of cases at 186 followed by Bulawayo with 64 confirmed cases.
Mashonaland Central remains the least affected with only ten cases to date.
The bulk of Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 cases have been returnees from the region and abroad and the government is on high alert to ensure all returnees are quarantined upon return until they have satisfied all testing measures as outlined by the WHO.
State Media
The 50-year-old Chinese Gweru miner who on Sunday allegedly shot and injured two of his employees following a pay dispute was yesterday denied bail by a Gweru magistrate.
Zihang Xuelin, a manager at Reden Mine in Gweru is now facing attempted murder charges after he shot one of his employees Mr Kenneth Tichaona three times on both legs and fired another shot that grazed the chin of another employee, Mr Wendy Chikwaira.
Zihang appeared before magistrate Mr Edwin Marecha and was remanded in custody to July 7, 2020.
Mr Marecha said the accused, who is a foreigner and was represented by Mr Ignatius Mupfiga of Gundu and Dube Legal practitioners, could not give his plea because he did not bring a certified interpreter.
For the State, Mr Fredrick Macheza told the court that on Monday morning, Mr Tichaona was among 30 employees of Reden Mine who were gathered at the mine premises during a pay dispute with the employer.
The staff were demanding to be paid in hard currency while the employer insisted on paying them in local currency. This did not go down well with the employees resulting in an altercation and a mini demonstration.
The employees led by Mr Tichaona then charged towards Zihang, who fired two warning shots into the air but the group continued to charge at him, the court heard.
It is the state’s case that Zihang then used the company’s FN pistol to shoot Mr Tichaona three times in both legs resulting in him falling to the ground.
Zihang again shot at the group of employees and a bullet grazed the chin of Mr Chikwaira, the court further heard.
Mr Tichaona is still in hospital while Mr Chikwaira was treated and discharged.
State Media
Jonathan Moyo with Chris Mutsvangwa War veteran’s leader Chris Mutsvangwa has disowned Twitter accounts in his name saying they are creations of self-exiled G40 kingpin Jonathan Moyo.
This comes after a purported exchange between him and fellow war veterans’ leader Victor Matemadanda on Twitter is being circulated on social media platforms.
However, Mutsvangwa, who has been a subject of a choreographed campaigns by elements that are traceable to the decapitated G40 clique, said he is being attacked for the role he played in thwarting power grab antics by the Moyo clique.
“I do not have a Twitter account now and never had one. The Twitter account bearing my name and my picture is a creation of G40 Jonathan Moyo. He feels entitled to the ZANLA wing of the historical national liberation movement by hereditary writ.
“He views his Christopher Mutsvangwa as his nemesis as in the November 2017 Operation Restore Legacy. This stems from my role as Chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association-(ZNLWA). We spearheaded the drive to thwart his treacherous G40 antics at power grab by this traitor of long practice since he absconded from Mgagau Camp ZANLA ranks in 1975-6. This was after Ndabaningi Sithole was rejected and jettisoned as leader of ZANU by the guerrilla army. Jonathan Moyo returned to racist Rhodesia to report back to his racist white handlers,” he said.
At one point the phantom accounts in his name called for dialogue between the Revolutionary Party Zanu PF and the MDC Alliance, something that Ambassador Mutsvangwa never said.
Last year’s messages were sent on a fake Twitter account purported to be Ambassador Mutsvangwa’s, which he denied saying he suspected Moyo to be behind it.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa’s name has been registered on no less than five accounts while Matemadanda and other leaders of the ruling party have also had fake accounts created in their names.
Under Twitter’s Impersonation Rules a person that pose as another person, brand, or organization in a confusing or deceptive manner may be permanently suspended but fake account holders usually get away with their crimes by opening multiple accounts
WORLD No 1, Novak Djokovic, has tested positive for coronavirus, along with his wife, Jelena, throwing tennis into turmoil as the sport’s official tour prepares to resume after a four-month lockdown.
They join three other leading players and two trainers infected by the disease towards the end of the Serb’s unsanctioned Adria Tour, which was aborted moments before the final in Croatia on Sunday.
Djokovic, who will go into quarantine for 14 days, said this was “the new reality”, although he had organised his tour “with a philanthropic idea” and said he was sorry for the other people who tested positive.
Djokovic declined to be tested on site and with his family flew directly to his home city, Belgrade, where he sought medical advice and was tested.
He received the results on Monday evening and issued a statement on Tuesday.
The Serb stands widely accused of complacency for organising an unofficial charity event – in Belgrade, Zadar and Montenegro (subsequently cancelled) – without safety protocols applicable in most other countries and which have prevented resumption of the main Tour until August.
Djokovic expressed regret and sympathy but little contrition in a prepared statement.
He was clearly upset that his close friend, Viktor Troicki, and the Serb’s pregnant wife, along with Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric – who played each other on Saturday – as well as Dimitrov’s coach and his own fitness trainer had also tested positive- Chronicle
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder and former Warriors captain Willard Katsande on Monday revealed that he was now into music and will launch his first album soon.
Katsande made the announcement on Social Media on Monday, saying the album contains a mixture of Rhumba and Sungura music.
Sungura is a dominant music popular genre across the country while Rhumba traces its origins to central Africa, specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The 34-year-old has not yet revealed what he plans to do after he hangs up his boots but he said that he has already started doing coaching classes.
Earlier in the month, Katsande was quoted as saying:
After retirement, well, I am not arrogant, but I won’t be poor again.
I am considering a lot of things, but I will only reveal that when the time is ripe-Soccer 24
The MDC Alliance condemns the recall of nine of its MPs as announced by the Speaker of Parliament today.
This recall is a violent onslaught on the will of the people who elected MDC Alliance MPs into Parliament.
We take the firm view that state institutions, including Parliament, are being abused to reverse the will of the people and replace it with an unholy alliance between Mr Mnangagwa and Ms Khupe.
This great reversal of the people’s will by Zanu PF is a continuation of the electoral theft of 2018.
The block recalls are a regrettable act of intimidation of MPs who have refused to align themselves with the Zanu PF agenda.
The thinking is that our MPs will be guided by material interests, not by their conscience; however, unlike those who have chosen political expediency, we firmly believe that the majority of our MPs, who represent the true will of the people, will be guided by conscience.
The firing of our MPs is an act of coercion by Zanu PF and its proxies because our MPs have refused to support them freely and voluntarily.
They are targeting proportional representation MPs because they want to create space for their handpicked surrogates, including their leader, Thokozani Khupe, who lost dismally in the 2018 election.
They want to hand her a free ticket into Parliament to make her an opposition stooge in Parliament even though she has no mandate from the people.
The MDC-A, in line with the people’s mandate, is seized with issues of fundamental national concern that are affecting the livelihood of ordinary Zimbabweans including, but not limited to, corruption, violations of human rights, and an economy in decline.
This despicable ploy to enter the corridors of influence through underhanded and insincere tactics using borrowed state powers to distract and cause unnecessary havoc should be condemned by all.
This attempt by Zanu PF, and all its manifestations, to subvert the will of the people shall be defeated.
We will not be distracted but remain firm in our resolve to win Zimbabwe for change.
Thirteen more Covid-19 infections in Zimbabwe were confirmed yesterday bringing the cumulative total to 525, with 448 being returning residents in quarantine centres and 77 being infected within Zimbabwe, including three new cases yesterday.
The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare said last night that investigations were now in progress to identify the source of the three local infections.
South Africa’s cumulative total passed the 100 000 mark yesterday to reach 101 590, the worst in Africa and the region.
The South African death toll remains low by global standards of the epidemic at 1 991. Global totals reached 9 154 232, although this is regarded as a significant underestimate since full testing has never been universal, but with 473 650 deaths.
In several countries lockdowns have been reimposed or tightened after sudden spikes.
Germany, generally regarded as having the fastest reactions to the pandemic among European countries, started lifting its lockdown last month.
Tight lockdowns have now been imposed on two districts in North Rhine-Westphalia State following local spikes, with the most worrying being the 1 500 workers in a meat packing plant testing positive.
The World Health Organisation has reported a record increase in global Covid-19 infections on Sunday with 183 020 in just one day-The Herald
Farai Dziva|A Masvingo based Non Governmental Organisation, Green Institute has blasted the city council for coming up with a list of misplaced priorities.
Masvingo City Council is set to spend $ 2,5 million on construction of new market stalls, following the demolition of old ones.
This comes at a time the city is grappling with worsening water problems.
See Green Institute’s statement below:
“THE Masvingo City Council is set to spend $2.5 million on building new market stalls around the city following demolitions carried out on illegally
erected stalls recently.
As Green Institute we urge the city council to prioritize water and sanitation services.
We have noted that in most cases the supply of portable water at market stalls is always a challenge.”
Three Arsenal players were unable to train in the build-up to last week’s defeat at Manchester City after one of them returned a positive Covid-19 test.
Those concerned were eventually cleared after in-house and official testing, but three training sessions had to be sat out by the Gunners stars
The Gunners made their return to competitive action after a three-month hiatus away at Manchester City where they lost 3- 0.
An error-strewn performance from David Luiz cost them dearly at the Etihad Stadium, with the Brazilian defender at fault for the opening goal before then conceding a penalty and being sent off.
Their woes continued on Saturday as they also lost 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion thereby diminishing their hopes to finish the current season in the top five (5).
Mikel Arteta, who tested positive for coronavirus in March, had tried to ready the players for the resumption of top-flight football but the absence of three senior stars from training disrupted the preparations.
The unnamed player was instructed to self-isolate for seven days as a result, while it was also determined that he had been in close enough contact Arsenal FC with two team-mates that they had to take similar action- Goal.com
Farai Dziva|ZCTU has warned of spontaneous protests as a result of the country’s deepening economic crisis.
On Monday ZCTU president Peter told Daily News that deploying security forces would worsen the situation.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has been accused of using the lockdown to suppress dissenting voices.
“We are mobilising the workers. Actually, the workers are being mobilised by the material conditions in the country.
Instead of sending heavily-armed police and soldiers, the government should better address the workers’ concerns.
People are hungry. Deploying the army and police in our view exacerbates the situation because eventually, people will go out to look for food.
People are desperate, and they are working for nothing,” Mutasa told the daily publication.
“We are prepared for a long, protracted struggle. What we are demanding is a peaceful demonstration.
The people must be very peaceful.
We must be wary of people who join us and seek to cause violence. Our resistance must be peaceful and avoid provocateurs.
Apartheid in South Africa was not dismantled in one day.
Even the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe was prolonged.”
Farai Dziva|ZCTU has warned of spontaneous protests as a result of the country’s deepening economic crisis.
On Monday ZCTU president Peter told Daily News that deploying security forces would worsen the situation.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has been accused of using the lockdown to suppress dissenting voices.
“We are mobilising the workers. Actually, the workers are being mobilised by the material conditions in the country.
Instead of sending heavily-armed police and soldiers, the government should better address the workers’ concerns.
People are hungry. Deploying the army and police in our view exacerbates the situation because eventually, people will go out to look for food.
People are desperate, and they are working for nothing,” Mutasa told the daily publication.
“We are prepared for a long, protracted struggle. What we are demanding is a peaceful demonstration.
The people must be very peaceful.
We must be wary of people who join us and seek to cause violence. Our resistance must be peaceful and avoid provocateurs.
Apartheid in South Africa was not dismantled in one day.
Even the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe was prolonged.”
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has pounced on yet another MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader.
Harare East Youth Assembly Chairperson, Prince Mutebuka has been arrested for allegedly participating in an illegal demonstration.
See full statement below:
Harare East MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Chairman, Prince Mutebuka has been arrested.
He is currently detained at Harare Central Police Station.He will appear in court on Wednesday.
Prince is being charged with allegedly participating in an unsanctioned demonstration in Mabvuku sometime in March this year.
His arrest adds up to the number of MDC Alliance activists who have been arrested in an illegal blitzkrieg by ZRP whose sinister agenda is to silence the opposition from questioning Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corrupt and illegitimate regime.
We maintain that the arrests are clear cases of persecution by prosecution.
It is shameful that the regime is letting real criminals like Obadiah Moyo who fraudulently awarded millions to Gulen Movement terrorists walk scot free while at the same time persecuting innocent civilians.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
_MDC_Alliance
Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has pounced on yet another MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader.
Harare East Youth Assembly Chairperson, Prince Mutebuka has been arrested for allegedly participating in an illegal demonstration.
See full statement below:
Harare East MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Chairman, Prince Mutebuka has been arrested.
He is currently detained at Harare Central Police Station.He will appear in court on Wednesday.
Prince is being charged with allegedly participating in an unsanctioned demonstration in Mabvuku sometime in March this year.
His arrest adds up to the number of MDC Alliance activists who have been arrested in an illegal blitzkrieg by ZRP whose sinister agenda is to silence the opposition from questioning Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corrupt and illegitimate regime.
We maintain that the arrests are clear cases of persecution by prosecution.
It is shameful that the regime is letting real criminals like Obadiah Moyo who fraudulently awarded millions to Gulen Movement terrorists walk scot free while at the same time persecuting innocent civilians.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
_MDC_Alliance
Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
TWO more Malawian border jumpers who tested positive to Covid-19 at the Beitbridge Quarantine and Isolation Centre located at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Hotel escaped yesterday.
This comes after two other Malawian nationals who tested positive for the virus during profiling and screening at the same facility escaped last month.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the development yesterday.
He, however, could not disclose their identities.
“Two Malawian nationals escaped from NSSA Hotel after testing positive for Covid-19 virus.
The cumulative number for escapees is now 184 while those arrested remain at 28.
We continue to urge members of the public to report suspected escapees or those who are entering the country through undesignated entry points evading the Covid-19 screening process at their nearest police station or call 0242 70361 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
A total of 914 people were arrested on Sunday for violating Covid-19 lockdown regulations, bringing the total number of arrests countrywide to 75 134- The Herald
TWO more Malawian border jumpers who tested positive to Covid-19 at the Beitbridge Quarantine and Isolation Centre located at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Hotel escaped yesterday.
This comes after two other Malawian nationals who tested positive for the virus during profiling and screening at the same facility escaped last month.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the development yesterday.
He, however, could not disclose their identities.
“Two Malawian nationals escaped from NSSA Hotel after testing positive for Covid-19 virus.
The cumulative number for escapees is now 184 while those arrested remain at 28.
We continue to urge members of the public to report suspected escapees or those who are entering the country through undesignated entry points evading the Covid-19 screening process at their nearest police station or call 0242 70361 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
A total of 914 people were arrested on Sunday for violating Covid-19 lockdown regulations, bringing the total number of arrests countrywide to 75 134- The Herald
By Patrick Guramatunhu- “Several Zimbabweans have been treated like junk in their own country. The Chinese have been left to do as they please in our mother land,” wrote Dr Masimba Mavaza, in a recent article.
“While China is our all-weather friend it must not be allowed to give us its bigots pretending to be investors. Chinese largely do not respect black people and our government must stand for its people and not for the bigoted Chinese pausing as our friends. How much blood has to be shed in Zimbabwe before the Chinese are called to order. We must never be Afraid to arrest and prosecute our Chinese friends if they behave in an unfriendly manner.
“Without a government to provide the safety of law and order, protecting citizens from each other and from foreign foes the nation will be in a free for all fall. The horrors of little or no government to provide that function are on global display in the world’s many fragile states and essentially ungoverned regions. Zimbabwe must not fall into that category.”
Every Zimbabwean, indeed anyone, with half a brain would join you in condemning the ill treatment of another human being especially by those in the position of power and authority. There have been too many stories of thuggery and lawlessness be it by these maShurugwi or Chinese employers which the Police have failed to investigate and hold those responsible to account, for whatever reasons.
However, what every thinking Zimbabwean out there would find repugnant about you, Dr Masimba Mavaza, is your hypocrisy. You are quick to condemn the lawlessness of the Chinese employers but say nothing about the more sinister and deadly institutionalised state lawlessness and murderous oppression.
For the last 40 years and counting this Zanu PF regime was ridden roughshod over the people denying them their freedoms and rights including the right to a free and fair election and even the right to life itself! Mnangagwa; the man you worship and praise, whose likeness is on the shirt and trade-mark scarf you wear; blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections and shot dead 7 for daring to protest the rigged elections.
“Without a government to provide the safety of law and order, protecting citizens from each other and from foreign foes the nation will be in a free for all fall. Zimbabwe must not fall into that category,” you said.
Zimbabwe’s state institutions have been corrupted and compromised so much so they are not only failing to protect the people from each other but worse still from the overbearing and oppressive ruling elite. Zimbabwe is a pariah state, a Banana Republic, ruled by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs and it is sickening that people like you bury their heads in the sand and refuse to this political reality.
Dr Mavaza, you only pretend to care about the wellbeing of ordinary Zimbabweans by condemning the Chinese employers’ abuse of Zimbabweans and yet have continue condone the Zanu PF dictatorship that has crashed the whole nation’s hopes, dreams and human dignity.
Zimbabwe is in a real economic and political mess. 34% of our people live in abject poverty, according to World Bank report late last year; i.e. they cannot afford one decent meal a day let alone other basic necessities such as education, medicine, etc.
The corona virus pandemic is causing economic and humanitarian havoc the world over but those nations, like Zimbabwe, who economy and health care services were already in a mess, will be hit very hard. Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans are set to lose their lives to corona virus and hundreds of thousands more will die of hunger and other poverty related problems. Zimbabwe’s economic recovery will harder and take a lot longer than that of the developed nations!
The real threat to the wellbeing and, indeed, to the very survival of the ordinary Zimbabweans comes not from the oddball individual, the lawlessness of the Chinese employer, but from the corrupt, tyrannical and dysfunctional Zanu PF dictatorship.
It is nonsensical to make a big song and dance about the excess of the individual thug and yet say nothing about the state thuggery especially when the later not only affects millions of people but is the instigator of the lawlessness and worse!
“Manomano omuroyi kunyepera kutya dzvinhu akasagira nyoka muchiuno!” (The pretentions of a witch scared of lizard but not the snake round his waist!) You scared of Chinese employer, a lizard, but not omnipresent Zanu PF dictatorship, the deadly black mamba.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has warned businesses against rejecting $2 and $5 bond notes and coins, saying the notes and coins are still legal tender and those found disregarding the country’s laws will be dealt with.
This was said by national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi following reports that retailers and suppliers have started rejecting the coins and notes, demanding, instead, to be paid in the United States (US) dollar. Said Nyathi:
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted with concern that some business people, especially informal traders, are refusing to accept local currency coins, $2 and $5 notes, which is legal tender.
The police will not hesitate to enforce the law on anyone found to be disregarding the country’s laws, especially during this lockdown period.
The public is again urged to report such errant people for swift action to be taken.
Meanwhile, a Habakkuk Trust Community Advocacy Action Team convener Shakespeare Ndlovu has blamed the illicit trading practices prevalent in the retail sector on the government’s inconsistency in the implementation of monetary measures.
-DailyNews
The MDC Alliance condemns the recall of nine of its MPs as announced by the Speaker of Parliament today.
This recall is a violent onslaught on the will of the people who elected MDC Alliance MPs into Parliament.
We take the firm view that state institutions, including Parliament, are being abused to reverse the will of the people and replace it with an unholy alliance between Mr Mnangagwa and Ms Khupe.
This great reversal of the people’s will by Zanu PF is a continuation of the electoral theft of 2018.
The block recalls are a regrettable act of intimidation of MPs who have refused to align themselves with the Zanu PF agenda.
The thinking is that our MPs will be guided by material interests, not by their conscience; however, unlike those who have chosen political expediency, we firmly believe that the majority of our MPs, who represent the true will of the people, will be guided by conscience.
The firing of our MPs is an act of coercion by Zanu PF and its proxies because our MPs have refused to support them freely and voluntarily.
They are targeting proportional representation MPs because they want to create space for their handpicked surrogates, including their leader, Thokozani Khupe, who lost dismally in the 2018 election.
They want to hand her a free ticket into Parliament to make her an opposition stooge in Parliament even though she has no mandate from the people.
The MDC-A, in line with the people’s mandate, is seized with issues of fundamental national concern that are affecting the livelihood of ordinary Zimbabweans including, but not limited to, corruption, violations of human rights, and an economy in decline.
This despicable ploy to enter the corridors of influence through underhanded and insincere tactics using borrowed state powers to distract and cause unnecessary havoc should be condemned by all.
This attempt by Zanu PF, and all its manifestations, to subvert the will of the people shall be defeated.
We will not be distracted but remain firm in our resolve to win Zimbabwe for change.
By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland Central Province last week found a body of a middle-aged man floating in Gulliver Dam, Mvurwi.
Police suspect that the deceased may have been fishing when he drowned after some fisherman’s nets were found close to the spot where the body was retrieved.
Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) spokesperson Detective Inspector Portia Chinho has appealed to members of the public who could be missing a relative to come and identify the dead body. Chinho said in a press release:
The Zimbabwe Republic Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Mvurwi is appealing for information that may lead to the identification of a dead body.
It is of a male aged between 35 and 40 years and about 1, 75 to 1, 8 metres.
The deceased was wearing a khaki three-quarter short with a brown leather belt, red t-shirt written Gucci and a khaki shirt.
The dead body was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for post mortem which indicated that the cause of death was head trauma hence the case is being investigated as a suspected murder.
We are also appealing to members of the public who might have information on the circumstances surrounding the death of the man to come forward and assist the police.
For more information please contact CID Mvurwi on 06621 62577 or 0772 331 952, national complaints desk on 0242 703631, WhatsApp number 0712800197 or any nearest police station.
1] Ever since the Supreme Court Judgement, there have been so many lies it is difficult to catch up. The Leaders of the old new MDC-T have been lying with straight faces, it’s a thing of beauty. Inevitably, the state media has jumped to the train and has been lying in their name.
2] Mwonzora lied about some “smooth handover takeover of MRT House”. He further lied that state security was not involved. To this day, Mwonzora lies that the police are not guarding HH. Whereas Mwonzora claims ZRP was at HH by chance, Sen Morgen Komichi had a different version.
3] In their attempt to push Adv Chamisa away from the MDC name, Mwonzora lied about meeting Ngaribvume and other ALLIANCE partners. Seeing that their ownership of MDC-T carries no electoral weight, Mwonzora is now gunning for the MDC-A. Today, Ngaribvume has exposed the lies.
4] Mwonzora has been lying about having had held virtual National Council meetings. No registers! Mwonzora lied about holding National Standing Committee meetings yet his faction only had 3 of the previous 15 members. How can 3 people legally constitute a 15 members structure?
5] MaKhupe has been lying about being in charge of 103 MPs. Mwonzora lies about having the majority of MPs. Reality is, even armed with the ability to recall them, the MPs have continued to defy him. Risking recalls, MDC-A MPs still recognize Adv Chamisa as their Leader.
6] Shakespeare has exposed the long-held lie that Nelson Chamisa sent youths to burn MaKhupe and other MDC-T Leaders in Humanikwa. Without exposing what he apologized for to MaKhupe, Shakespeare CATEGORICALLY says that Adv Chamisa personally sent him to address those threatening violence.
7] State media continues to label Chamisa as an illegitimate Leader. Illegitimate Leader of what? Chamisa now leads a distinct political formation recognized even by those who recalled MPs. There is no Leadership question in the MDC-A but the resurrected MDC-T.
8] There is the lie that through the MDC-A, Chamisa has moved away from the MDC of 1999. That movement has historically taken different shapes. In fact, in the MDC-A, Chamisa is MRT’s successor. Tsvangirai was the first Leader of the BIG TENT MDC-A Chamisa succeeded him.
9] Those who support the MDC are not bothered by the name it uses. They embraced MRT when he employed the moniker “T”. They unequivocally knew which MDC they wanted. Thinking the magic was in the “T”, MaKhupe ran away with it & achieved nothing. MDC supporters are rational.
10] Dr Mashakada lies that ZCTU transformed into a party. Balance me here: How did ZCTU transform into something else & yet remain in its original state? How & when did Student Leaders hijack a party they helped form? How can Prof Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, Adv Chamisa be labelled Mafikizolo?
11] And now State media has been helping Dr Mashakada lie that Dr Magombeyi & the MDC3 faked their abduction. You can only hope that he has enough data bundles to do short videos dispelling ZBC lies. By the time they are done doing damage in his name, he won’t know what hit him.
12] And now they have postponed their ill-fated EOC. In the meantime, they are coopting each other whilst pretending they have gone back to their original state as between 2014 and 2016. Varume vakuru nevakadzi vakuru kuita kuchinjana kunyepa. THESE ARE VERIFIED LIES.
Twitter- Davis Laque
Nleya, who died last Tuesday, was ferried in a Zimbabwe National Army helicopter following a funeral service at the White City B Arena in the cityTHE body of National Hero Stanley Nleya has been flown from Bulawayo to Harare for burial at the national shrine tomorrow.
Nleya, who died last Tuesday, was ferried in a Zimbabwe National Army helicopter following a funeral service at the White City B Arena in the city.
Speakers led by the Bulawayo Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, described Nleya as an illustrious liberation fighter who left school to liberate his country from colonialism.
Earlier in the day, another funeral service was held at Nleya’s rural home in Masendu, Bulilima in Matabeleland South
State Media
TWO more people, believed to be Malawians escaped yesterday from a quarantine centre at NSSA Hotel in Beitbridge after testing positive to Covid-19, bringing the total number of those that have so far escaped to 184 countrywide.
Last week, a Harare man escaped from a quarantine centre at Harare Polytechnic after testing positive to Covid-19 and police have launched a manhunt for all the suspects to prevent the spread of the virus.
Police are also looking for another man who escaped at the same centre before knowing his Covid-19 status.
In a statement national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi appealed to relatives and friends of the escapee to report the whereabouts these men.
He said the two Malawians escaped on Sunday.
“Two Malawians escaped from NSSA Hotel, Beitbridge after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus. The cumulative number of escapees is now 184 while those arrested remain at 28.
“We continue to urge members of the public to report suspected cases or those who are entering the country through undesignated entry points evading the Covid-19 screening process at their nearest police station of telephone 0242 703631/WhatsApp number +263712800197,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
He said on Sunday alone 914 people were arrested countrywide for various offences related to contravening the national lockdown regulations, bringing the total number to 75 134 arrested so far.
FIN24
Eddie Cross The Zimbabwean government’s move to pay its workers US dollar-denominated allowances as the southern African country struggles to stabilise its local currency has been described as “crazy” by an economist and member of the central bank’s monetary policy committee.
Fin24 previously reported that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration had hiked civil servants’ salaries in local currency by 50% and also awarded them a US$75 Covid-19 allowance. Government pensioners will also be paid a flat, non-taxable, Covid-19 allowance of US$30 per month. Using the parallel market exchange rate of 75, the allowance is more than the US$40 government workers, including teachers and nurses, are currently earning.
Officials have called the measures “transitory”.
In response, economist and MPC member Eddie Cross said there was not enough money in government coffers to support such a move, which would cost more than $20 million in total.
The Zimbabwean dollar was introduced early in 2019. It was previously pegged at 1:1 to the US dollar. The falling currency has resulted in a return to hyperinflation as businesses put up prices to keep up with an exchange rate in free fall, as they are reliant on imports of raw materials and finished products.
Inflation reached 785.55% in May, according to official statistics released last week by Zimstats.
Officials in Zimbabwe are however calling these economic challenges “transitory” and blamed the worsening economic fundamentals on the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement released Wednesday the Ministry of Finance announced that government workers will be paid “a flat, non-taxable, Covid-19 allowance of US$75 per month”.
Cross said in addition to being unaffordable, the allowance would set a precedent.
“What can you say, it’s crazy, it’s crazy. I don’t think we have the money.
“I think the problem is it establishes a precedent for the private sector as workers will demand the same thing.”
Cross added that the move was retrogressive in his view, as it violated a dedollarisation programme which was already facing resistance.
He said allowing mines to pay workers in US dollars was already causing economic difficulties, and applying the same principle to the biggest workforce in the country would complicate matters further.
Imara Asset Management Zimbabwe said the only other sustainable currency option for Zimbabwe would be a combination of a Government of National Unity, a hard currency regime and extensive institutional reform.
In a research note for the month of May 2020, Imara’s Chief Investment Officer Jonathan Chew said the current multiple exchange rate system would keep the “show on the road for a while” but will eventually lead to dollarisation.
State Media
Fadzai Mahere MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere has apologised to the people of Bulawayo for pronouncing the City’s Ndebele name in a twisted way this after an uproar by forces against her elevation to be the party spokesperson.
In her apology written in perfect Ndebele, Mahere says she has been learning the language for two months and hopes to learn quickly.
Below is he tweet.
State Media
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also the current chairperson of the SADC Organ of Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, has urged stakeholders in today’s Malawi presidential elections to be politically tolerant and channel any grievances arising from the polls to relevant bodies.
Almost a year after Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika’s disputed election victory that was annulled in February by the country’s Constitutional Court, Malawians are casting their votes again to choose a new President.
President Mutharika, who is vying for a second term is up against opposition coalition leader Mr Lazarus Chakwera in an election high on emotions.
Although the opposition embraced the February annulment of the presidential results, President Mutharika described it as a “serious subversion of justice” which marked the death of the country’s democracy leading to the building of tensions ahead of today’s polls.
In a statement issued on Monday President Mnangagwa said as Malawians vote, SADC stands in solidarity with its people and remains engaged with all stakeholders in that country.
“SADC also urges stakeholders to remain politically tolerant and peaceful in the remaining campaign period, and to exercise calm and restraint during and after election-day.
“Furthermore, SADC encourages all candidates, their supporters and other stakeholders to channel any grievances regarding the electoral process and its final outcomes through the appropriate legal channels,” the President said.
Malawians have gone to vote under the dark cloud of Covid-19, a global pandemic that has not spared Africa. To curb the spread of the highly contagious disease, nations have introduced a raft of measures such as social distancing, limits on the number of people in public gatherings, regular washing of hands and also wearing face masks.
President Mnangagwa called on stakeholders in Malawi to thus embrace innovative voting measures in the wake of the highly contagious Covid-19 pandemic.
“SADC remains engaged with stakeholders in Malawi, and reaffirms its solidarity with the people of Malawi in this period of uncertainty and risk caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In this regard, SADC commends all stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring that the people of Malawi exercise their democratic right to vote in the face of challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. SADC encourages all stakeholders to apply innovative election campaign and voting measures that minimise chances of the spread of the virus”.
There have been concerns in some circles over how Malawi will manage logistical and safety challenges of conducting an election in the throes of a worldwide pandemic.
Own Correspondent
John Mangudya Following the introduction of a Foreign Exchange Auction Trading system by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) which came into effect this Tuesday, the official Zimbabwe dollar exchange rate to the US dollar is now $57.36.
According to the RBZ, bids totalling over USD11 million were received with the highest rate at $100 while the lowest rate was $26.
This exchange rate will run for one week until next Tuesday when the next auction is held. In terms of the new system, the auctions will be held every Tuesday
This means that we will have a new rate every week – provided it changes.
See picture below:
Own Correspondent
Amos Chibaya The MDC Alliance has condemned the recall of nine of its MPs as announced by the Speaker of Parliament on Tuesday.
The party says this recall is a violent onslaught on the will of the people who elected MDC Alliance MPs into Parliament.
Watch ZimEye.com live discussion on the recalls initiated by Douglas Mwonzora with Thokozani Khupe.
Watch the video downloading below. Please be patient as the video downloads.
Own Correspondent
BLANTYRE, Malawi — Voters in Malawi lined up before dawn for a re-run of the 2019 presidential election that the courts nullified over widespread evidence of tampering.
Hundreds of voters braved the cold weather of the southern hemisphere’s winter to vote as soon as the polls opened at 6 a.m. Incumbent President Peter Mutharika, 79, is looking for a second and final five-year term in office and is running against Lazarus Chakwera, 65, leader of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party.
The Constitutional Court on Feb. 3 struck down Mutharika’s victory in the May, 2019 election, citing evidence of voting fraud, including thousands of ballots that appeared to have been altered using typing correction fluid. The ruling was upheld by the Malawi Supreme Court.
Some 6.8 million Malawians are eligible to cast ballots at more than 5,000 polling stations across the country.
Many voters interviewed Tuesday morning said they are relieved the elections are taking place.
The Electoral Commission Chairperson Chifundo Kachale assured all voters that the polling process would be fair.
Before the voting started the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on all political actors and stakeholders to renew their commitment to credible and peaceful elections, while observing all preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19,’ according to a statement issued by spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
A number of local and international organisations will observe the new elections, in an effort to confirm that they are free and fair. The European Union, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, several diplomatic missions and the Commonwealth will be observing the elections, the Malawi Electoral Commission’s spokesman Sangwani Mwafulirwa said.
The U.S. and British embassies announced that they sent out small observer missions as a supplement to thousands of domestic election observers and political party monitors.
Own Correspondent
The three MDC activists in courtThe High Court postponed judgement in a bail application by the MDC activists arrested for allegedly taking an abduction by state agents.
The judge said he will give a ruling on Friday 27 June 2020.
MDC Alliance MP, Joanna Mamombe and two party activists have been in person for the last two weeks to face charges of faking their abduction.
Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova in May claimed they were abducted by state security agents who later drove them out of Harare to subject them to acts of both physical and sexual abuse.
They later spent weeks under police and prisons guard while recovering for injuries sustained, at a Harare private hospital.
The three also face charges of violating the country’s lockdown regulations through a flash anti-government demonstration they staged in Harare’s Warren Park suburb earlier on the day of their alleged abductions.
Remarks by the Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe
The MDC Alliance condemns the recall of nine of its MPs as announced by the Speaker of Parliament today. This recall is a violent onslaught on the will of the people who elected MDC Alliance MPs into Parliament.
We take the firm view that state institutions, including Parliament, are being abused to reverse the will of the people and replace it with an unholy alliance between Mr Mnangagwa and Ms Khupe. This great reversal of the people’s will by Zanu PF is a continuation of the electoral theft of 2018.
The block recalls are a regrettable act of intimidation of MPs who have refused to align themselves with the Zanu PF agenda. The thinking is that our MPs will be guided by material interests not by their conscience; however, unlike those who have chosen political expediency we firmly believe that the majority of our MPs, who represent the true will of the people, will be guided by conscience.
The firing of our MPs is an act of coercion by Zanu PF and its proxies because our MPs have refused to support them freely and voluntarily. They are targeting proportional representation MPs because they want to create space for their handpicked surrogates, including their leader, Thokozani Khupe, who lost dismally in the 2018 election. They want to hand her a free ticket into Parliament to make her an opposition stooge in Parliament even though she has no mandate from the people.
The MDC-A, in line with the people’s mandate, is seized with issues of fundamental national concern that are affecting the livelihood of ordinary Zimbabweans including, but not limited to, corruption, violations of human rights, and an economy in decline. This despicable ploy to enter the corridors of influence through underhanded and insincere tactics using borrowed state powers to distract and cause unnecessary havoc should be condemned by all. This attempt by Zanu PF, and all its manifestations, to subvert the will of the people shall be defeated.
We will not be distracted but remain firm in our resolve to win Zimbabwe for change.
FinX
Cabinet has directed the national statistics agency to conduct the national census next year instead of the planned 2022, which would have been held close to the general elections in 2023.
The population census is set to gobble US$85.5m.
ZimStat general manager Taguma Mahonde confirmed that the census would be conducted next year and that the statistics agency had already re-aligned its activities in accordance with the new dates by increasing the number of teams currently involved in the mapping exercise.
“The mapping programme is the foundation of the enumeration programme and we have had to re-adjust our work on this programme hence when we started we had 14 teams covering the whole country and these have been increased to 42 teams,” he said.
The national population census is census is a constitutionally mandated procedure, which occurs after every ten years. The last one was held in 2012. Oftentimes, individuals do not think of a census having a direct effect on elections, but it does. At its most basic level, a population census is needed simply to determine how many people there are in the country and where they live. Secondly a census, especially with information on demographics, provides an important statistical snapshot of the population that can be used for planning purposes. However, for election purposes it provides the context for events such as redistricting and voter targeting.
University of Zimbabwe lecturer and political scientist Eldred Masunungure said while results of any census would not be available with two years, bringing the exercise forward could be a political decision made with the 2023 harmonised elections in mind.
“While all cabinet decisions are political in nature, there are also political because there are made by and for people who wield political power and for their interests.
“A census is a technical process which is often preceded by a political decision whose implications can never be under-estimated.”
In a not so recent chat Zimstat chair Doug Hoto said that there is a general lack of understanding of the country’s population patterns and it is only through an organised structure from a cell level that political parties would be able to understand the dynamics.
He said the Zimbabwe election landscape consists of 68,4 percent rural and 31,6 percent urban voters and the population figures should ideally assist in election targeting. It is the rural dynamics mostly that the political parties need to understand.
“One interesting thing that happened in 2018 unlike the previous years, Uzumba Maramba-Pfungwe (UMP) was not the top voter and UMP used to be one constituency but its divided into two and the votes there were around 21 000 and the biggest single vote for the President was in Chiredzi North at 33 000 against 3 000 for the rest of the opposition.
“But to start with, you need to see how many people are in Chiredzi District as a whole. Many people think this district is a small place and they think Triangle is in Chiredzi District and yet the District starts from where Bikita ends, up to the Malipati Barder post and up to Ngundu to Save River. Chiredzi had 301 000 people at the last census count, so if you divide it into four constituencies it means a constituency has an average 75 000 and if you take adults who are about 50 percent of the people then you know you have at least 37 000 voters in a constituency,” said Hoto.
He noted that despite the excellent performance by Chiredzi District, Hurungwe remains the biggest district in terms of population in Zimbabwe with 350 000 people.
Meanwhile, Magonde said that Zimstat was undergoing a restructuring exercise, which has resulted in some of the directors and managers being stripped off their titles. This had heightened reports of low morale among staff at a time the organisation has to carry out a key programme such as the national census.
Mahonde said low morale among Zimstat workers was expected although the restructuring exercise was part of recommendations the council made to Treasury.
“Any organisation needs to restructure in order to achieve its goals but this is just a pending proposal which has yet to be approved by Treasury.
“The fact that workers are concerned about the restructuring is not a problem because it is a positive move that is meant to attain certain goals within the organisation.
“We cannot not celebrate that morale is high among the workers because of decadence hence the need to go through the restructuring programme,” he said.
THE African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games’ asset register mysteriously disappeared making it difficult for Cabinet appointed auditors to quantify the total value of the assets purchased by the Government for the Games.
Also missing was the contract entered into between the local organising committee and the Central Mechanical Engineering Department (CMED) as it emerged that the CMED was overpaid by US$25 000 for the hire of its Mercedes Benz mini bus over a 19 day period.
CMED accountant a Ndyire told the auditors that the contract document was missing, making it difficult for the auditors to assess the accuracy of their claim and compliance to the agreed terms and conditions.
CMED was subsequently paid US$293 691.99 which was overstated by US$25 707 after the hire of its minibus registration number ACZ0351 which was charged at a daily rate of US$1503 instead of US$150, an increase of 900 percent.
“We were not provided with an asset register for LOC assets. Simplicio Musekiwa, the LOC acting administration and procurement director who was responsible for the maintenance of the asset register stated that the asset register could have been misplaced when records were moved to Khumalo Hockey Stadium and Elangeni Training Centre. As a result we were not able to quantify the total value of assets purchased by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation or LOC towards the games and reconcile them to records,” noted the audit firm Deloitte and Touche in their forensic audit report.
Musekiwa could also not avail a list of officials provided with accommodation at the School of Hospitality and Tourism, Zaks Place and Cresta Lodge who were all booked on the LOC account which saw a total of US$338608.78 in accommodation costs being paid of which US$241 906.78 was paid to the School of Hospitality and Tourism while Cresta Lodge and Zaks Place were paid US$73 182 and US$23 520 respectively.
Former Zanu Pf stalwart who was shown the exit door for being in the “wrong basket” before he openly joined the opposition Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has said the intimidatory tactics against citizens should stop revealing that he woke up to a bullet hole at his house in Borrowdale Harare.
Said Bhasikiti:
“Woke up today to bullet hole on my house in Borrowdale.This intimidatory tactics should end.Citizens are not a threat to anyone.Address Economic&Social needs of the populace.NOT ME.”
ZBC
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has re-assured the nation that bond notes are still legal tender.
This follows recent reports that some retail outlets and business entities are not accepting bond notes.
In an exclusive interview with ZBC News, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya dismissed social media reports that bond notes are no longer acceptable.
“People should have trust with our money, it is disheartening for some people to spread such lies and misinforming the public, I have seen some women circulating information that the bonds notes are no longer acceptable, this is fake news which should not be accepted because the notes still have its value,’’ said the Governor.
Dr Mangudya advised people who have been holding onto large amounts of bond notes to deposit them or use them for buying goods.
“My assurance is that the bond notes are still legal tender, the two, five, ten and twenty notes are still legal tender which can be used interchangeably, i am aware the money is acceptable in all big shops, while those who are nearer to the banks can go and deposit and get new notes,” the RBZ boss said.
The issue of bond notes also came under the spotlight in parliament recently, with Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube assuring the nation that bond notes remain a medium of exchange but will be phased out gradually and replaced by the new notes.
1] Ever since the Supreme Court Judgement, there have been so many lies it is difficult to catch up. The Leaders of the old new MDC-T have been lying with straight faces, it’s a thing of beauty. Inevitably, the state media has jumped to the train and has been lying in their name.
2] Mwonzora lied about some “smooth handover takeover of MRT House”. He further lied that state security was not involved. To this day, Mwonzora lies that the police are not guarding HH. Whereas Mwonzora claims ZRP was at HH by chance, Sen Morgen Komichi had a different version.
3] In their attempt to push Adv Chamisa away from the MDC name, Mwonzora lied about meeting Ngaribvume and other ALLIANCE partners. Seeing that their ownership of MDC-T carries no electoral weight, Mwonzora is now gunning for the MDC-A. Today, Ngaribvume has exposed the lies.
4] Mwonzora has been lying about having had held virtual National Council meetings. No registers! Mwonzora lied about holding National Standing Committee meetings yet his faction only had 3 of the previous 15 members. How can 3 people legally constitute a 15 members structure?
5] MaKhupe has been lying about being in charge of 103 MPs. Mwonzora lies about having the majority of MPs. Reality is, even armed with the ability to recall them, the MPs have continued to defy him. Risking recalls, MDC-A MPs still recognize Adv Chamisa as their Leader.
6] Shakespeare has exposed the long-held lie that Nelson Chamisa sent youths to burn MaKhupe and other MDC-T Leaders in Humanikwa. Without exposing what he apologized for to MaKhupe, Shakespeare CATEGORICALLY says that Adv Chamisa personally sent him to address those threatening violence.
7] State media continues to label Chamisa as an illegitimate Leader. Illegitimate Leader of what? Chamisa now leads a distinct political formation recognized even by those who recalled MPs. There is no Leadership question in the MDC-A but the resurrected MDC-T.
8] There is the lie that through the MDC-A, Chamisa has moved away from the MDC of 1999. That movement has historically taken different shapes. In fact, in the MDC-A, Chamisa is MRT’s successor. Tsvangirai was the first Leader of the BIG TENT MDC-A Chamisa succeeded him.
9] Those who support the MDC are not bothered by the name it uses. They embraced MRT when he employed the moniker “T”. They unequivocally knew which MDC they wanted. Thinking the magic was in the “T”, MaKhupe ran away with it & achieved nothing. MDC supporters are rational.
10] Dr Mashakada lies that ZCTU transformed into a party. Balance me here: How did ZCTU transform into something else & yet remain in its original state? How & when did Student Leaders hijack a party they helped form? How can Prof Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, Adv Chamisa be labelled Mafikizolo?
11] And now State media has been helping Dr Mashakada lie that Dr Magombeyi & the MDC3 faked their abduction. You can only hope that he has enough data bundles to do short videos dispelling ZBC lies. By the time they are done doing damage in his name, he won’t know what hit him.
12] And now they have postponed their ill-fated EOC. In the meantime, they are coopting each other whilst pretending they have gone back to their original state as between 2014 and 2016. Varume vakuru nevakadzi vakuru kuita kuchinjana kunyepa. THESE ARE VERIFIED LIES.
Twitter- Davis Laque
By A Correspondent- Following the introduction of a Foreign Exchange Auction Trading system by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) which came into effect this Tuesday, the official Zimbabwe dollar exchange rate to the US dollar is now $57.36.
According to the RBZ, bids totalling over USD11 million were received with the highest rate at $100 while the lowest rate was $26.
The weighted average rate was, therefore, $57.36.
This exchange rate will run for one week until next Tuesday when the next auction is held. In terms of the new system, the auctions will be held every Tuesday
This means that we will have a new rate every week – provided it changes.
See picture below:
Mark HarrisonHIGHLANDERS coach Mark Harrison has assured restless fans that he is still committed to the Bulawayo giants and will soon return to Zimbabwe once authorities give an all clear signal.
The Englishman returned to his homeland following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent shutting down of sporting activities which was taken so as to help flatten the curve.
Soon after his departure they were unverified reports on social media and other mainstream news agencies that the Bulawayo giants were already in talks with a Turkish national as a possible replacement for Harrison, who was said to be headed for Kenya.
“I cant wait to rejoin with my squad. I am 100 percent with Highlanders, just waiting for their phone call to return for my duties once this lockdown is over. So there is no need for the fans to be worried, I am definitely coming back,” said Harrison speaking to Chronicle online from his base in the United Kingdom.
File Picture of doctors on strikeDoctors have added their voices on calls by nurses for government to offer better salaries and are in the process of engaging all members on the course of action following a strike by the nurses.
The medical practitioners have also condemned the looting of funds meant for the betterment of service provision in the medical field citing the Covid-gate saga.
The government recently increased salaries by 50% and also put a US $75 allowances for all civil servants but the nurses rejected the offer demanding more as they feel the amount does not resonate with soaring inflation which stood at 785,55% as of May.
Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association spokesperson, Tawanda Zvakada in an interview said the association is still engaging its members on action to take contrary to reports in some media publications that the doctors were going on strike.
“We are receiving salaries in Zimdollar which is loosing value everyday as prices are going up. We recently got an increment and an allowance of US $75 which which is failing to meet our day to day demands,” said Dr Zvakada.
Nurses say they will not return to work until their demands are met, a position confirmed by Mpilo Central Hospital acting clinical director Xolani Ndlovu yesterday.
“Most of the qualified nurses are at home, they did not report for duty. They vowed that they will not come back until government addresses their demands. We only have a skeleton staff most of them being nurses on probation. We also have doctors and some have already started threatening to join the strike soon,” Ndlovu said,
Mpilo Hospital is dealing with emergencies only.
Ministry of Health and Child Care Acting Permanent Secretary Gibson Mhlanga has since written to defense of the ministry requesting support for the paralyzed health institutions.
In a letter addressed to Defence secretary Mark Grey Marongwe, Mhlanga said medical personnel from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces would augment coverage for emergencies and provision of patient care during the absence of nurses.
“We will be calling upon your health services personnel to assist in the hotspots at the central hospitals as requested by the chief executive officers and provincial medical directors of the affected institutions. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated,” he wrote.
The Senior Hospital Doctors Association also said its members were overwhelmed and pleaded with the government to act.
“The situation at the hospitals is now dire. There is no care available as health workers cannot afford to come to work anymore,” a senior doctor said.
“As senior doctors, we condemn the looting of funds meant for the COVID-19 fight and for capacitating our hospitals. We call upon the government to act,” he said.
Own Correspondent
Douglas Mwonzora MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora has recalled nine MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament.
Speaker of National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda on Tuesday announced the recalling of the nine MDC legislators who have been accused of supporting Nelson Chamisa.
The recalled MPs are Amos Chibaya (Mkoba, Happymore Chidziva (Highfield West), Basilia Majaya (Proportinal Representative) and Mutarairwa Mugido
Others also recalled include Virginia Muradzikwa, Anna Muyambo (Proportional Representative), Francesica Ncube, Nomathemba Ndlovu and Murisi Zvidzai (Harare Central).
The lawmakers were recalled following the recent Supreme Court ruling which nullified the election Chamisa as the MDC-T leader, instructing the opposition to revert back to the 2014 party structures where Thokozani Khupe was the party’s deputy to Morgan Tsvangirai.
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Farai Dziva|Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) director-general Prince Mupazviriho has said Barbourfields will be designated to host “low key” games such as those featuring the country’s national youth teams like the Young Warriors.
The government has been helping to upgrade the Bulawayo venue to meet international standards, but it will not be able to host the national team again.
According to Muparizviriho, the idea to make the ground a second-tier venue follows after noting that the facility was too old for expansion.
“You know that it is one of the stadiums built in the early 1950s and its expansion will change some of its structural issues and that has got some challenges,’’ he told The Herald.
“We went there last week and we agreed with the Bulawayo City Council on what needs to be done.
“I must highlight this is an old facility and there is a limit to what can be done with such an old facility.
“So, the agreement that we had, as a board, and which CAF has confirmed receiving the correspondence, is that there are certain low-tier international tournaments which can be hosted there.’’
Mupazviriho added that they will build a new stadium in the City of Kings.
He said: “The best for Barbourfields is to have a new stadium because we cannot continue demolishing its structures.”
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released strict rules for various associations, players, and managers to follow before the resumption of action.
Guidelines to Resume Football in Africa
It is in this regard that the CAF Medical Committee in collaboration with the Technical & Development Department and a team of experts has put together a comprehensive plan to guide the Member Associations (MA’s) on the restart of football activities on the continent.
The 27-page document titled “CAF Guidelines to Resume Football in Africa” emphasizes on the health of the major stakeholders (Players, Officials, Fans, Partners) as the essential element, which should constitute the basis of all decisions regarding the reintroduction of football activities across the continent supported by the authorization of relevant State Authorities.
The plan also highlights on effective and continuous medical assessment (testing) of players and officials, guidelines for training sessions, disinfection of sporting facilities, as well as strict adherence to the global preventive protocols.
“This comprehensive document is major step towards resuming football on the continent. Based on recent developments, it is important we have a plan in place to guide our stakeholders on the return of continental and domestic competitions, and the need for an all hands on deck approach.
“Many considerations were factored into the putting together of the document by our team of experts notably the specificities of the continent. Together with strategies established by local authorities, it provides the MA’s with adequate information to resume operations upon receiving the green light,” said CAF Acting General Secretary Abdelmounaim Bah.
Meanwhile, the Organising Committee for Interclubs Competitions & Management of Club Licensing, and the Organising Committee for Women’s Football held meetings via video-conference last week on the future on the various competitions.
The CAF Executive Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 30 June 2020 via video-conference will make pronouncements on the recommendations by the respective Standing Committees.
Details of the Executive Committee meeting to be announced in due course- Soccer 24
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Former Zimbabwe international Costa Nhamoinesu has castigated the racial behavior shown by his club Sparta Prague’s fans in their Czech Cup semi-final clash with Viktoria Plzeň last Wednesday.
Sparta fans directed monkey chants at Plzeň players, Congolese Joel Ngandu Kayamba and Frenchman Jean-David Beauguel during the game which they (Sparta) won 2-1 to progress to the final but the dreadlocked defender was not happy with the supporters of his side’s behavior at a time when the world is condemning racial injustice through the #BlackLivesMatter campaign.
“Good feeling to progress to Cup Final, but sad to hear monkey chants during the game. Sport has no color #onesport #onepeople. We are all human beings!! #NoToRacism… Let’s create a better future for the younger generation and enjoy the beautiful game,” the 35-year-old wrote on microblogging site Twitter.
The real @ACSparta_CZ …… family is against racism. It’s The Club that has taken positive initiatives in the Czech League against racism. The real @ACSparta_CZ fans are passionate about soccer…” he added-Soccer 24
THE National Sports Stadium is now almost ready to host international football matches while Babourfields will be designated to host low-tier games such as those featuring the country’s national youth teams like the Young Warriors.
Sports and Recreation Commission director-general, Prince Mupazviriho, said only a few issues, such as suitable turnstiles and bucket seats remained to be fitted at the country’s biggest sports stadium.
He said it was no longer prudent to continue demolishing structures at Barbourfields, in order to refurbish the stadium, considering it was an old facility constructed more than 70 years ago.
Mupazviriho was giving oral evidence before Parliament’s portfolio committee on Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture which wanted to get an update on stadia upgrade, among other issues, related to sport.
He was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Thokozile Chitepo.
“The minimum requirements to host international matches, National Sports Stadium is there, except for bucket seats, e-ticketing and turnstiles,’’ said Mupazviriho.
“And, the reason for those aspects to be outstanding is that most of the companies who manufacture (the items) are closed and we have to import.
“I am happy to report that two, or three weeks ago, I got approval from the Permanent Secretary (Chitepo) to float a tender whose processes are already at an advanced stage.
“Other than these outstanding issues, the National Sports Stadium now meets the intended requirements.
“If, today, we are requested to host a qualifying match for AFCON or World Cup, the National Sports Stadium must be able to host.
“It’s not only Zimbabwe, there are also a number of countries that must also upgrade their stadia.’’
Mupazviriho said a permanent solution for Barbourfields was not in renovating it, but building a new stadium in the City of Kings-The Herald
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has taken the battle to control the heart and soul of the opposition to party structures, dispatching his top leadership to conduct branch meetings across the country in an effort to outfox his rivals.
Chamisa himself was in Mbare, Chitungwiza and Mabvuku from Friday to Sunday where he met party members, danced to local dancehall music with ghetto youths and was mobbed by hundreds of supporters as the MDC Alliance said it was mobilising for mass action against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
Chamisa’s presidential affairs secretary, Jameson Timba confirmed that the party was gearing to demand living wages for the people, a stop to corruption and a better Zimbabwe.
“The president has been about meeting the people, listening to their challenges and offering direction. If you remember our plan and strategy was to have action, to confront the evils of corruption and poverty caused by the Zanu-PF government. We were supposed to have gone across the country and dealt with these things by May, but the plans were scuttled by COVID-19,”Timba said.
Chamisa, ousted from party headquarters, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House and fired by acting MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe from the party, drew cheers as he met ordinary party members.
During the tours Chamisa told NewsDay that he remained in control of the party and its structures and would not be deterred by his opponents.
“I can’t be told that I don’t have a party by people whom I defeated at polls using that party. Go and check the records. The MDC Alliance is the party that won elections. The leader of the MDC Alliance beat Emmerson Mnangagwa in the rigged elections. He can’t forgive us over that drubbing,” he said.
Chamisa contested the final presidential results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission insisting that he had garnered 2,6 million votes to win the presidency although he lost the challenge in court.
Khupe, who assumed leadership, through a Supreme Court ruling, also ran as a presidential candidate and got an official tally of 45 000 votes.
In an effort to win the hearts of supporters, the underfire Chamisa, who has been suffering crucial court defeats, dispatched secretary for rural mobilisation Happymore Chidziva to mobilise structures and close out Khupe’s team.
Chidziva said he had been holding branch meetings and was enjoying massive support from the business community and party members at home and abroad who were funding his outreach programme.
“The party is not stopping, it’s going ahead and I can tell you we are solid, over 200 branch meetings have taken place. We are getting support from our members and there is no doubt that they know where they stand,” Chidziva said.
Last week, MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende announced that they had received close to $210 000 for rural structures from a South African businessman.
Meanwhile, Khupe’s MDC-T said it was planning to recall 20 MPs who got into Parliament on an MDC Alliance ticket with close sources revealing that a batch of 12 would be booted out of the august House as early as this afternoon.
Impeccable sources yesterday told NewsDay that four top Chamisa loyalists including his deputy Lynette Karenyi-Kore, who is women’s quota proportional representation MP for Manicaland and organising secretary Amos Chibaya (Mkoba MP) would also face recall.
“Firstly, you need to realise that last week the MDC-T made replacements in the standing committee which existed in 2014 and was reinstated by the Supreme Court ruling. Among some people who were replaced are Karenyi-Kore, Chibaya, Murisi Zwizwai and Happymore Chidziva, who are all current MPs. These, therefore, are obviously going to be on the first list of MPs to be recalled today,” the source said.
On Thursday last week, a senior staff member in acting secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora’s office, Norest Marara, posted on his Facebook page hinting on the imminent purge.
“Tuesday 23/06/2020. Someone will cease to be honourable and will be dishonourable,” he wrote.
Contacted for comment, MDC-T deputy spokesperson Khalipani Phungeni said: “Yes, indeed we have replaced about four members in the standing committee who have since joined another political party. You will appreciate that our constitution says if you join another party you have dismissed yourself (from the party).”
“So someone who has dismissed himself or herself from the party can no longer represent us in Parliament. So yes, I can confirm that members who have fired themselves from the party have no business representing our interests in Parliament. Only members of MDC-T can represent MDC-T in Parliament.”
Phungeni could not be drawn into revealing the actual date on which the MDC Alliance MPs would be recalled from Parliament.
MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Clifford Hlatshwayo said the party’s reaction on the possible recalls would be guided by recommendations of their national council.
“What we have always said is that MDCT and MDC Alliance are two different parties which even went to congresses separately. So it will be illegal for Khupe to recall our MPs. Their call for sticking to 2014 structures is like a reverse jive song which people now want to enjoy as a freshly-released hit music. The 2014 structures were overtaken by events. However, we will be guided by recommendations of our national council if they continue to recall our MPs,” he said.
-Newsday
Three Arsenal players were unable to train in the build-up to last week’s defeat at Manchester City after one of them returned a positive Covid-19 test.
Those concerned were eventually cleared after in-house and official testing, but three training sessions had to be sat out by the Gunners stars
The Gunners made their return to competitive action after a three-month hiatus away at Manchester City where they lost 3- 0.
An error-strewn performance from David Luiz cost them dearly at the Etihad Stadium, with the Brazilian defender at fault for the opening goal before then conceding a penalty and being sent off.
Their woes continued on Saturday as they also lost 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion thereby diminishing their hopes to finish the current season in the top five (5).
Mikel Arteta, who tested positive for coronavirus in March, had tried to ready the players for the resumption of top-flight football but the absence of three senior stars from training disrupted the preparations.
The unnamed player was instructed to self-isolate for seven days as a result, while it was also determined that he had been in close enough contact Arsenal FC with two team-mates that they had to take similar action- Goal.com
