ZIMBABWE ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK

PRESS RELEASE

08-June-2020– The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes with concern the the continued suspension of electoral activities by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) without consulting key electoral stakeholders.

Initially, on 25 May, ZEC announced the indefinite suspension of all electoral processes. While announcing plans to resume some electoral activities, the ZEC’s Press Release dated Friday 5 June 2020 notes; “The Commission would like to remind the public that those electoral activities that require gatherings will remain suspended to avoid violating lockdown measures currently in place.”

Whilst acknowledging the risk that the novel coronavirus exposes those involved in elections to, ZESN reiterates its position that ZEC could have reached a decision after engaging key stakeholders such as political parties, CSOs, and even citizens.

Engagement with regards to whether or not to suspend electoral activities could have been done through virtual or any other means adhering to measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19.

In the absence of these consultations, ZEC could at least have considered postponing, rather than suspending electoral activities. But even postponement cannot be indefinite.

ZESN is the position that ZEC could proceed with by-elections and other electoral activities, ensuring COVID-19 preventative measures are in place for voters, polling officials, political party agents as well as observers.

This is particularly so because the COVID-19 pandemic may be here to stay, no one knows for how long if it is for months or years.

ZESN notes that the suspension of electoral activities was not done in terms of the law. Sections 158 (3) and 121 (a) of the Constitution provide that ZEC should conduct polling in by-elections to fill vacancies in Parliament and local authorities, fix the polling dates for local authority by-elections within 90 days after the vacancies occur.

Section 132 allows ZEC to change dates but does not mandate ZEC to change without giving notice of its decision in the Gazette and in the media and beyond 90 days.

ZESN envisages to see a comprehensive COVID-19 Electoral Practice Policy that is reflective of key electoral stakeholders’ input. Consultations and stakeholder engagement is one of the progressive provisions in the current ZEC Strategic Plan. “Electoral stakeholders play a key role in creating public confidence in ZEC and ensuring public support in its policies and programmes.

To ensure trust in the electoral process, there is need for the Commission to institutionalize stakeholder engagement and to develop an operational culture that makes it responsive to the needs of the stakeholders,” reads the ZEC Strategic Plan 2019-2024, page 23.

Recently, ZESN noted that Parliament has been engaging with stakeholders and ZEC should have taken a cue from that so as to enhance trust and confidence. Indications are that Parliament may soon embark on public hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill No.2.

Given that a number of countries have so far held electoral activities amid COVID-19, ZEC could draw lessons to guide the conduct of elections under more or less similar circumstances so as not to quarantine democracy.

Furthermore, Zimbabweans queue on a daily basis for basic commodities, cash outs at banks and money agents, social welfare and food aid from different organisations whilst observing safety measures.

ZESN is of the view that ZEC could proceed with electoral activities including voting and consider the following measures, among others:

•In developing the COVID-19 policy, ZEC should be informed by views and inputs gathered from consultations;
•In order to accommodate additional activities in setting up polling stations due to COVID-19, polls could now commence at 8.30 am and close earlier;
•Perhaps ZEC should consider postponing by-elections if vacancies occur in areas where the incidence of COVID-19 positive cases is high.

However, ZEC should note that any postponement beyond 90 days from the date a vacancy arises as provided for in Section 158 (3) of the Constitution is potentially illegal and unconstitutional;

•ZEC could consider mandatory COVID-19 testing for ZEC staff before and after deployment for elections;
•ZEC should institute preventative measures such as body temperature screening, hand sanitizers, face masks, and safe distancing for voters, polling officials, political party agents, security personnel, and observers and provide personal protective equipment to polling officers during by–elections;
•ZEC could develop and widely disseminate ahead of election days a Code of Conduct for Voters detailing information on voting amid COVID-19;
•ZEC could ensure that, prior to the commencement of polls, the Presiding Officer or ZEC officers read out loudly to voters the contents of the Code of Conduct for Voters;
•ZEC could use tags and twines to ensure crowd control and maintenance of safe distance;
•ZEC could ensure safe distancing inside and out of polling stations by indicating using signs and marks strategically placed throughout the voting premises;
•ZEC could introduce a two-tier queuing system at polling stations where voters will be brought into the voting area periodically to prevent overcrowding;
•ZEC could ensure that the layout of polling stations complies with distancing requirements;
•ZEC could disinfect polling stations before, during and after polling and regularly disinfect voting compartments, ballot stamps and other election materials;
•ZEC could have voters temporarily lower or remove their face masks to facilitate their identification;
•Where any are close to such facilities, ZEC should move polling stations away from long term care facilities and facilities housing older persons to minimize COVID-19 exposure among older individuals and those with chronic medical conditions;
•ZEC could limit the number of people in the same room at any given time;
•ZEC could allow voters who are under COVID-19 self-isolation to vote at polling stations after the closing of polling stations for all other voters, with strict protective measures adhered to on the part of both the voters and election administration officers; and
•ZEC could ensure safe distancing amongst all in collation centres.

Besides the above proposed measures that would help ensure elections are conducted in a manner that reduces chances of spreading COVID-19, there is need to institute reforms that will ensure the credibility in elections and electoral processes.

ZESN restates the need for ZEC to ensure that electoral processes done during the COVID-19 pandemic era are conducted in a transparent, accountable, credible and verifiable manner.

There is need to strike a balance between ensuring the health and safety of all stakeholders and upholding the law. ZESN thus recommends more dialogue between ZEC and electoral stakeholders on alternative methods of conducting other electoral processes that will ensure the health and safety for all involved.

Overall, ZEC’s decision on the way forward regarding conducting electoral processes amid COVID-19 should be informed by an inclusive consultative process that taps into the views of all concerned stakeholders.// ENDS

PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN ZIMBABWE

PRESS STATEMENT: ZMC06/2020

TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ACCREDITATION FOR YEAR 2020

This notice serves to inform all stakeholders that the Zimbabwe Media Commission has temporarily suspended the accreditation of all media practitioners following a High Court Interdict obtained by the Zimbabwe Online Content Creators Trust (ZOCC).

The High Court judgement interdicts the Commission from proceeding with the current accreditation framework that had introduced two additional categories for filmmakers and online content creators which in the past were accredited as journalists.

It is in the spirit of upholding the Court judgement that the Commission has temporarily stopped accreditation of media practitioners. The Commission needs time to interpret and understand the judgement and its implications.

The Commission will soon be meeting with stakeholders to deliberate on the issue of accreditation of media practitioners. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), the legal instrument proving for registration and accreditation, only provides for the accreditation of journalists who meet certain basic standards as contained in Statutory instrument 169C of 2002, Second Schedule (Section 2) and the requirements as per Form AP3 which is part of the schedule.

The Commission will soon issue a statement on the resumption of the accreditation process after meeting with stakeholders and the legal implications of the judgement.

Issued by the Zimbabwe Media Commission
08 June 2020

By Own Correspondent| Drax International frontman Delish Nguwaya is on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) radar over his alleged inflation of COVID-19 medical supply prices.

The case which dominated social media last week, has left the anti-graft body with questions which they want answers from Nguwaya.

The Harare businessman who is being accused of abusing names of First Family members in a bid to evade justice, has had a brush with the law in the past five years having been arrested for extortion and drug dealing in 2017.

A ZACC official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the net was closing in on Nguwaya.

“As ZACC, we have taken keen interest in the Drax saga including the local partner, Delish Nguwaya, hence our team is on the ground to unravel circumstances regarding the inflated prices of COVID-19 medical supplies,” said the ZACC source.

Nguwaya was arrested in 2017 on allegations of extortion and possession of cocaine

A detailed Zimbabwe Republic Police memorandum revealed Nguwaya’s shenanigans.

“On the 3 March 2017, Detectives from CID Drugs, Harare received information from Bruce Blake, a consultant at Linscort Investment Private Limited, to the effect that he was being extorted money by one Delish Nguwaya who claimed to be a CIO special agent,” reads the memo.

This was one of Nguwaya’s dealings which later led to his arrest.

“On the 3rd of March 207, complainant Bruce Blake received a phone call from his South African business associate Justin Davenport who stated that he had been contacted by the accused person Delish Nguwaya who misrepresented to him that he was a CIO operative,” reads the memo.

Delish Nguwaya was later arrested after a trap was instituted by law enforcement agents.

“On the 8th day of March 2017, a team of detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics, Harare, carried out a trap on the accused person at premise number 3 Liemba Close, Borrowdale, Harare. The accused person arrived at the premise unsuspecting of the trap and received narked cash being trap money totalling US$2000 from the complainant Bruce Blake,” reads the memo

Besides Nguwaya’s past which is littered with controversy, he is currently in the headlines after his company Drax International torched a storm as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development officials raised a red flag over inflated invoices which sought payment for the supply of medicals.

Nguwaya this week also saw his WhatsApp chat with a local journalist leaking in which he admitted to using names of President Mnangagwa’s children to shield himself from scrutiny.

In a bid to salvage his blocked tender, Nguwaya dragged the name of President Mnangagwa’s son, Collins claiming he was working with him.

Collins immediately hit back publicly telling the nation that he was not part of Nguwaya and Drax International in any way.

In the chat, he also also pleads for positive coverage from the media.

By A Correspondent- LEAD President Linda Masarira has invited opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to join rebrand, restrategise or join her party.

Masarira, who herself was once a member of the break away faction of the MDC T led by Thokozani Khupe before she fell out with her earstwhile leader leads her year old party, LEAD.

Said Masarira in an invitation to Chamisa:

Dear Nelson Chamisa

How have you been my brother? I’ve been following the events unfolding between your party and the MDC T. For your sanity, my advise to you is rebrand, restrategise and or join LEAD and let’s work togethre to Rebuild Zimbabwe. Tikabatana tinokunda, Siyambambana Siyangoba.”

Chamisa is yet to respond to the invitation.

Farai Dziva|Popular Masvingo based Cleric, Isaac Makomichi has challenged Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe to vacate Harvest House with immediate effect.

The controversial preacher has released a strong “prophetic warning” to Mwonzora and Khupe.Makomichi, who is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group, claims he has the prophetic grace to facilitate national dialogue in the country.

Mwonzora and Khupe captured Morgan Tsvangirai House on Thursday night.

In a ” prophetic statement” released on Monday, Makomichi said:

“Many people may wonder why I am speaking about political events that are happening in the country.

It is my prophetic obligation to reveal divine revelations about what is happening in Zimbabwe.

I am not a politician and I do not belong to any political party.

By grabbing Harvest House, Khupe and Mwonzora violated spiritual laws.

The two should immediately vacate the building because as I see things in the spirit, a curse is upon them.

They should not move around the country at this juncture because of the wrath of the people.

If one violates spiritual laws, one has to seek deliverance before it is too late.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance youth spokesperson Womberai Nhende’s court case is set to commence this Monday afternoon at Parirenyatwa hospital where he is currently recuperating.

Nhende was brutally assaulted by the police following his arrest before he was taken to Parirenyatwa hospital following the intervention of his lawyers and his party MDC Alliance.

Said a source privy to developments:

“Nhende’s court case is set to commence any time from now from his hospital bed. He is however in pain following the brutal attack by the police.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said his main aim is to lead Zimbabwe to a phase of prosperity and national unity.

Chamisa said petty fights would not deter the wave of revolution.

Quoted by NewsDay, Chamisa said:

It’s not about me or the MDC Alliance, it is about the people of Zimbabwe, the democratic space is being choked by Zanu PF and it is time we act, draw a line in the sand or we will be choked to death
Look at how everyone has become an enemy of the State and under siege, first it was the doctors, then they came after journalists, then lawyers, human rights activists, the whole nation can’t breathe now.”

“It is a Zanu PF party culture of label and condemnation.

I am not seeking to be the president of MDC. I am already the president of MDC Alliance and I am not going to be reduced into petty fights.

I am seeking to establish national consensus for all people. I am not going to label people condemning them because of who they are. I know I am going to lead Zimbabwe including Mnangangwa and his Zanu PF, so I am going to lead the entire nation.

Why should I say I don’t want to see Mnangagwa when you are a leader you must unify people.

That is my fundamental problem with Mnangagwa.

Instead of unifying people, he is waging a gap of hatred within people.”

Chiredzi South villagers on Wednesday last week raised placards in the presence of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to protest against a lucerne grass farming project which is bound to displace over 1 000 families from their ancestral land.

The Vice President visited Chilonga communal lands with Ministers Perence Shiri (Agriculture), Fortune Chasi (Energy), Ezra Chadzamira (State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs), July Moyo (Local Government), John Mangwiro (Health deputy) and Clemence Chiduwa (Finance deputy).

However, after villagers spent the whole day waiting for the Vice President he arrived at 4pm and delivered a 10 minute speech.

After Chiwenga’s address, some villagers peacefully protested by raising placards inscribed with such messages as ‘consult us on lucerne’ and ‘takaramba investor’.

In his 10-minute address, Chiwenga promised to resuscitate Chilonga Irrigation Scheme and vowed to push through the grass project, which he said was important for the future.

Without elaborating, he warned that rural people should expect a new form of societal organization post-pandemic, arguing that the current arrangement was not sustainable.

“We need to work together now. We need you to work together with the team we are going to send back (from Harare) in order to speed up the process. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, we will never get back to our traditional arrangement of living. We are going to start a new living arrangement. Are we together?” said Chiwenga.

Villagers are resisting government plans to remove them from their land, fearing a repeat of the fate thousands of villagers who were dumped in the semi-arid Chingwizi Area of Mwenezi East with no basic amenities during construction of Tungwi-Mukosi Dam.

A few years ago, hundreds of families were displaced to pave way for bio-energy company Green Fuel to grow sugarcane and set-up an ethanol plant in the Chisumbanje area of the neighbouring Chipinge District.

After enduring hardships at Chingwizi transit camp, the Tugwi-Mukosi flood victims were later allocated one-hectare plots on a portion of Nuanetsi ranch in the arid Mwenezi district as part of compensation for the relocation. Zimbabwe Bio-energy owns the ranch, a company owned by millionaire businessman Billy Rautenbach. Last year, the businessman threatened to kick the villagers out of his property. He displaced several families in Chisumbanje to pave way for Green Fuel’s ethanol project nearly two decades ago. Some of the displaced villagers are yet to receive compensation.

SOURCE: MASVINGO CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ADVOCACY AND DEVELOPMENT (MACRAD)
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B y A Correspondent- A 33-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus escaped from Chipadze Isolation Centre in Bindura in the early hours of today.

Tichaona Mutema from Madondo Village in Mt Darwin escaped between 2am and 6am.

The provincial  development coordinator Mr. Cosmas Chiringa confirmed the incident.

Mr. Chiringa said the isolation centre is manned by police between 2pm and 10pm only.

By A Correspondent- LEAD President Linda Masarira has invited opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to join rebrand, restrategise or join her party.

Masarira, who herself was once a member of the break away faction of the MDC T led by Thokozani Khupe before she fell out with her earstwhile leader leads her year old party, LEAD.

Said Masarira in an invitation to Chamisa:

Dear Nelson Chamisa

How have you been my brother? I’ve been following the events unfolding between your party and the MDC T. For your sanity, my advise to you is rebrand, restrategise and or join LEAD and let’s work togethre to Rebuild Zimbabwe. Tikabatana tinokunda, Siyambambana Siyangoba.”

Chamisa is yet to respond to the invitation.

By A Correspondent- LEAD President Linda Masarira has invited opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to join rebrand, restrategise or join her party.

Masarira, who herself was once a member of the break away faction of the MDC T led by Thokozani Khupe before she fell out with her earstwhile leader leads her year old party, LEAD.

Said Masarira in an invitation to Chamisa:

Dear Nelson Chamisa

How have you been my brother? I’ve been following the events unfolding between your party and the MDC T. For your sanity, my advise to you is rebrand, restrategise and or join LEAD and let’s work togethre to Rebuild Zimbabwe. Tikabatana tinokunda, Siyambambana Siyangoba.”

Chamisa is yet to respond to the invitation.

Watch live video as opposition leader Nelson Chamisa speaks on how the Supreme Court has reinstated Thokozani Khupe as the headgirl of a school in the past…..

By A Correspondent- In a heart-shattering development, a South African man met his demise at the hands of his live-in lover after an altercation over beer money. The incident occurred in KwaThema township, East Rand, on Wednesday.

The deceased, Veli Mahlangu,40, succumbed to stab wounds administered by his lover, whose identity has not been disclosed. This was allegedly after the pair had gotten into an altercation over money for liquor.

What is reported to have sparked the wrangle is that Mahlangu bought a large amount of mealie-meal and had left money insufficient to purchase beer.

In an interview with SowetanLive, the couple’s neighbour revealed that he heard noises coming from the couple’s room, with the girlfriend demanding money for alcohol.

He added that she lambasted Mahlangu for buying a big pack of mealie meal when they did not have beer to drink. Mahlangu’s girlfriend blew a gasket and stabbed him with a knife. 

In vain, Mahlangu tried to flee with his girlfriend in hot pursuit. She caught up with him and stabbed him several times until he died.

A neighbour who witnessed the fracas said that the accused had threatened Mahlangu with death over the issue. ‘Because Veli was a down to earth man who did not like violence, he just came to chill with us outside and we calmed him down. He went back to the room an hour later, hoping she had calmed down.

“I heard a noise again and then he came out of the room. He looked weak and was holding his chest. Before we could get to him, we saw him running out of the yard with his girlfriend chasing him with a knife. She stabbed him twice more in the chest, once in the neck and in his back.’ the neighbour said.

Another neighbour said Mahlangu collapsed on the pavement near his home.

“I watched him run in my direction. I walked towards him but when I got to him, he was already on the ground and was bleeding profusely and he was running out of breath,” he said.

Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Mason confirmed the incident.

By A Correspondent- Former Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Dr  Augustine Chihuri’s estranged mistress, Sithulisiwe Mthimkhulu, who in the past dominated headlines for demanding child maintenance from the former police boss, has again hogged headlines.

Assistant Commissioner Sithulisiwe Mthimkulu allegedly had an affair with one of her subordinates’ husband.

The subordinate, Assistant Inspector Happiness Lunga, recently approached the courts seeking a peace order against Mthimkulu whom she claims snatched her husband- whose name has not been revealed- ending her 16-year-old marriage.

According to a local tabloid, Lunga clashed with Mthimkhulu after a heated confrontation over her affair with her husband. She also alleged that the homewrecker visited her matrimonial house in Nketa 9 suburb, Bulawayo, and struck her with a bolt cutter before she pepper-sprayed her in the eyes. 

‘On 11 March 2020 at around 10 pm the respondent came to my house purporting to be looking for my husband. I got out and I asked her not to disturb our peace. She became violent threatening to assault me. I stood my ground and she eventually left.

‘I am employed by the Ministry of Home Affairs as a police officer and I am currently based at Nkulumane Police Station. I hold the rank of Assistant Inspector. I am married to my husband and have been married to him for 16 years and we have two minor children.

‘Sometime in August 2019, I discovered that the respondent (Sithulisiwe Mthimkhulu) was having an affair with my husband and I sent her a message telling her that was married to me and that as such she should back off.

‘She responded through a WhatsApp message saying that she knows that my husband was married and that she only needed him for sex as and when necessary.

‘In the same WhatsApp message, she indicated that she too was married and that it was not her intention to wrestle my husband away from me,” Lunga’s papers read in part.

She said from the time she asked her boss to stop having an affair with her husband she turned violent and started harassing her by sending vulgar messages via WhatsApp.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The High Court this morning granted an interim order that has barred MDC-T from replacing recalled MDC Alliance legislators.

The development comes amid revelations that the MDC T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe seeks to replace recalled MDC Alliance legislators following the Supreme Court ruling which nullified the presidency of Nelson Chamisa.

The four MDC Alliance MPs and Senators made an application at the same court seeking to have their recall invalidated. 

The 4 MDC Alliance MPs include Secretary-General Chalton Hwende who represents Kuwadzana East, Prosper Mutseyami (Dangamvura-Chikanga) who was also the opposition party’s chief whip, Thabitha Khumalo (proportional representative for Bulawayo Province) and Senator Lillian Timveous (Midlands).

The quartet were recalled by Senator Douglas Mwonzora after the supreme court ruled that the Nelson Chamisa was not the legitimate MDC leader and restored the party’s 2014 structures.

More to follow

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance youth leader Womberai Nhende who was arrested and brutally assaulted by the police sustained serious injuries.

The deputy national spokesperson of the youth assembly was admitted at a local hospital after being assaulted by police officers.

The party posted on Twitter suggesting that Nhende was admitted in the early hours of Saturday.

Said the party:

Around 1am Womberai Nhende was admitted in hospital under police guard. He is in bad shape and Drs are investigating to rule out head injury and chest trauma. Wombe was assaulted by @PoliceZimbabwe during his arrest outside MRT House.

On Friday, the party’s recently appointed national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere had reported that Nhende was in bad shape.

Said Mahere:

Womberai Nhende, our Deputy Spokesperson for the Youth Assembly, was badly beaten by police outside Harvest House today for no reason.

He can’t breathe and urgently requires medical attention. Police refused to release him to be seen by his doctors.

We publish below the gruesome pictures showing Nhende’s injuries..

The mandatory percentage of ethanol blending has been restored to 20 percent after sitting at 10 percent  after ethanol production fell below market requirements..

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi announced the restored percentage in a general notice gazetted as General Notice 926A of 2020.

Government introduced fuel blending in 2008 following the licensing of Green Fuel’s Chisumbanje Ethanol Plant, which resumed operations in 2013.

Blending of fuel is exclusively conducted by licensed blenders and currently there are 11 such licensees who abide and comply with Zera regulations.

Five of the 11 fuel dealers licensed to blend petroleum products have blending depots in Harare and Bulawayo and oil companies can acquire either already blended fuel from National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC) of Zimbabwe, or unblended fuel which they blend with a licensed blender.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A 3 months old baby from Kadoma has tested positive for COVID-19, Newsday reports.

This was revealed by Kadoma health services director Daniel Chirundu who was speaking on the sidelines of the Mashonaland West Edutech Wash Project which was being commissioned by Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka on Friday.

Chirundu said:

In Zimbabwe, we have 265 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday (Thursday). Here in Kadoma district, we have had numerous suspects and we now have three confirmed cases which we are handling as a district. Among them is a three-month-old baby. With that we have broken the world record of being an area where there is the youngest person to test positive. We are not proud of that record.

Meanwhile, cases jumped to 279 positive cases yesterday according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| The High Court has barred a faction of the opposition MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe from replacing legislators who were recently recalled from parliament.

Posting on Twitter this morning, MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende said the High Court has stopped the Khupe faction from replacing the four legislators pending the determination of the legality of calls.

“We have just won our case at the High Court before Justice Mafusire. MDC-T Khupe and Mwonzora have been bared from replacing those recalled pending the court’s determination of the legality of the recalls,” said Hwende.

The recalled MPs are Charlton Hwende, Tabitha Khumalo, Prosper Mutseyami and Lilian Timveos.

Watch live video as opposition leader Nelson Chamisa speaks on how the Supreme Court has reinstated Thokozani Khupe as the headgirl of a school in the past…..

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has said the struggle to defeat the ruling party is no longer up to the MDC Alliance only but to all Zimbabweans as he likened the current administration’s governance to a yoke choking the country’s democratic space to an extent that it could not breathe.

Said the youthful MDC leader:

It’s not about me or the MDC Alliance, it is about the people of Zimbabwe, the democratic space is being choked by Zanu PF and it is time we act, draw a line in the sand or we will be choked to death

Look at how everyone has become an enemy of the State and under siege, first it was the doctors, then they came after journalists, then lawyers, human rights activists, the whole nation can’t breathe now,

Chamisa also took the time to address rumours that he was being funded and taking advice from members of the now-defunct former Zanu PF G40 faction:

“Yes, I am G40, my age is 42, so what? It is a Zanu PF party culture of label and condemnation. I am not seeking to be the president of MDC. I am already the president of MDC Alliance and I am not going to be reduced into petty fights.

I am seeking to establish national consensus for all people. I am not going to label people condemning them because of who they are. I know I am going to lead Zimbabwe including Mnangangwa and his Zanu PF, so I am going to lead the entire nation.

Why should I say I don’t want to see Mnangagwa when you are a leader you must unify people. That is my fundamental problem with Mnangagwa. Instead of unifying people, he is waging a gap of hatred within people.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Political analyst Pedzisayi Ruhanya has accused the Zimbabwean government of using the COVID 19 Lockdown as a political tool to suppress the opposition and trample on citizens’ rights.

Ruhanya said the political incidents that have been implemented under the guise of the Lockdown are numerous calling on government to divert its efforts in fighting the coronavirus.

He said:

“The indefinite COVID-19 pandemic Lockdown has now proved clearly that its political. Just check the number of political incdents that have happened. If such efforts were put on fighting the coronavirus, Zimbabwe would be a world class success story against the pandemic.”

By A Correspondent- Lawyer Tapiwa Makanza spent the night at Rhodesville Police Station after he was charged with defeating the course of justice, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has revealed.

Makanza is alleged to have created a fictitious character, Simbarashe Zuze, who challenged the appointment of Kumbirai Hodzi as Prosecutor General.

In the case in question, he instructed Advocate Thabani Mpofu to oppose the appointment.

Makanza is being represented by ZLHR lawyer Paidamoyo Saurombe.

Two other lawyers, Advocates Mpofu and Choice Damiso were also been arrested over the same case last week.

Mpofu was granted a $20 000 bail.

Health Minister Obaddiah Moyo has said coronavirus patients would be named because the pandemic is a contagious and notifiable disease.

This also comes as the number of coronavirus patients continue going up with the number of confirmed cases now at 237 with 31 recoveries and 4 deaths.

However, naming of the patients remains illegal under the Public Health Act. But Moyo said unlike HIV which was in a different category, coronavirus patients had to be named because the disease was contagious.

Heath experts and human rights activists however say that the planned move by Government would violate people’s privacy rights and will only promote stigmatization around the patients.

Own Correspondent|The Ministry of Health and Child Care has declared that 2 South African and 1 South Sudan returnees tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday bringing the national figure up to 282.

The Ministry has also indicated that a number of returnees have escaped from quarantine centres and they pose a health scare to the nation.

The Ministry has appealed to Zimbabweans to report any escapees to the police on anonymous tip offs on Police line 0242703631, or reporr to the nearest Police station.

Below is the latest Covid-19 statistic for the country.

Own Correspondent|The court has given MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe an order to occupy Harvest House without any disturbances from the rival MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

A copy of a draft peace order issued by the Magistrate’s Court to bar MDC Alliance members from entering into Harvest House is making rounds in local media.

The Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai and Morgen Komichi, in that order, are cited as 1st and 2nd applicants while Charlton Hwende, the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance and officer Commanding ZRP Harare District were cited as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents, respectively.

Meanwhile, some allege that MDC-T Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora used a fake stamp since a “Magistrate has no power to issue this interdict.”

Reads the draft order:

WHEREUPON, after reading documents filed of record;

IT IS ORDERED:-That a Rule Nisi be and is hereby granted calling upon the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents, to show cause, if any, to this court on the 9th day of June 2020 at I11:15 am or soon thereafter as parties can be heard, why the following order should be made:

FINAL ORDER SOUGHT

1. The application be and is hereby granted.

2. 1st and 2nd Respondents and all those persons claiming through them be and are hereby permanently interdicted from disturbing Applicants’ peaceful and undisturbed use and possession of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, No. 44 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare.

3. 1st and 2nd Respondents pay the costs of this application.

INTERIM RELIEF GRANTED

1. The 1st Respondent and members of the 2nd Respondent be and are hereby interdicted from coming to Applicant’s premises at No. 44 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare.

2, 1st and 2nd Respondents be and are hereby ordered not to harass, assault or commit any acts of violence against is’ Applicant’s members or the ed Applicant in any manner likely to lead to breach of peace.

3. The 1st and 2nd Respondents be and are hereby ordered not to take possession of the ie Applicant’s premises without a valid court order.

4. 3rd Respondent be and is hereby ordered to use all the necessary means to maintain law and order at the 1st Applicant’s premises and to enforce the provisions of this order.

BY THE MAGISTRATE

CLERK OF COURT

Former Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, who is MDC Alliance co-deputy president said that Zimbabwe urgently needs a political solution and a national transitional authority to avoid a possible upheaval.

Biti made the remarks on Friday during an interview with the
Daily News on Sunday shortly before he was arrested for “criminal nuisance” and “violating lockdown regulations”.

He said:
We urgently need a political solution in this country because if we do not do that, as (Finance minister) Mthuli Ncube admits in his letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there is going to be an implosion.

An implosion could mean another military coup, people going into the streets and being shot … but for crying out loud we need a political solution and a national transitional authority.

The economy is arrested by a milieu of debilitating challenges, that are beyond Mnangagwa, Mthuli and the Zanu PF government.

At the centre of these challenges is the failure to resolve the deep political crisis in the country.

The country’s economic situation is deteriorating alarmingly with inflation approaching 1 000 per cent.

The majority of workers, including civil servants, earn less than US$50 per month and those employed in the informal sector are not allowed to conduct their activities as the country has been under coronavirus lockdown since March.- Daily News

State Media|As Great Zimbabwe University re-opened its doors yesterday to final year students, a new programme to train teachers and other frontline workers in the education sector on preventing Covid-19 was announced.

This is the second university to allow final year students to return after Chinhoyi University of Technology let in its first batch of final years on Friday last week.

Great Zimbabwe arranged with Zupco to start moving its students to the university yesterday. All students were interviewed on arrival, according to university spokesperson Anderson Chipatiso, to assess their risk of exposure to Covid-19.

Students were asked where they had been since they left the campus last, who they had seen and if they had been ill.

All returning students have to follow social distancing rules and wear masks outside their room. The university has rearranged desks and other furniture to ensure social distancing is observed in lecture halls, seminar rooms, dining facilities and everywhere else on campus. Students will have their temperatures scanned frequently and all visitors are banned.

All universities are permitted to re-open for final year students once they have fulfilled minimum safety conditions. Permission for other students will be granted once health authorities are satisfied that the increase in numbers will not significantly increase the health risk. With only final years, numbers are low enough to make social distancing and other measures simple to implement and manage.

Teachers who will be involved in the return of examination forms to schools are set to undergo training during the next two weeks on how to minimise health risks and prevent Covid-19 infection.

Under the educational policy, schools will re-open classes in phases starting with this year’s forms sitting public examinations. The second phase will be next year’s public examination forms. Most pupils write public examinations in November and need intense teaching in their final few months to fulfil their full potential in the exams.

However, a far smaller number will be writing mid-year and the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council has set O-Level and A-Level examinations over three weeks starting on June 30.

According to a memo written by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs Tumisang Thabela to provincial education directors, the training should be completed by June 24.

The training is mainly for school heads, teachers of examination classes, school health coordinators and invigilators and will be done according to standards set by the World Health Organisation.

“Provincial education directors are requested to work with the provincial medical directors in their respective provinces with the assistance of the provincial teams that usually work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” reads part of the memo.

Mrs Thabela could not give further details on the training and only said: “We are planning to do that.”

However, Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive office Dr Sifiso Ndlovu welcomed the decision by Government to train teachers on preventing infection.

“This is what we have been proposing all along and it is all part of the preparations towards the re-opening of schools.

“It is a pro-active way of preparing for the re-opening. The training does not mean schools are re-opening because we believe that more should be done to ensure the safety of both teachers and pupils,” Dr Ndlovu said.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe programmes officer Mr Ladistous Zunde said the training of the education personnel was premature.

“We have made our position clear that there should be minimum conditions that should be in place before we consider re-opening of schools.

“At least 60 000 more teachers should be employed to ensure social distancing that is required is met; the conditions of service for teachers should be addressed and teachers and pupils should be tested for the diseases before classes resume,” Mr Zunde said.

He added that there was no need to rush the sitting for the June examinations if the minimum conditions had not been met.

Last week the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education advised against re-opening of schools in June saying necessary precautions were not in place, such as running water at all schools, protection for teachers and pupils, and temperature scanners at all schools. The committee criticised the plans of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) for setting examination dates for the of this month saying no minimum standards as set out by the World Health Organisation had been met.

Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC-T proportional representative), the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, presented the report of the committee and was supported by parliamentarians from across the political divide.

She said the interactions her committee had with various stakeholders showed that the country was not ready for the re-opening of schools.

State Media

A total of 197 health workers at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo have been placed in self-quarantine after three patients and a nurse tested positive recently for Covid-19 at the hospital.

Two of the patients were positive after they had been admitted at the hospital, while the third person was an outpatient.

It is suspected that the nurse contracted Covid-19 due to interactions with one of the patients who had come to the referral hospital.

After the confirmed cases at Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo’s rapid response team was contacted to contain the potential spread of the virus.

Through contact tracing, the team identified 197 health workers who were at high risk of contracting the disease, placing them on 14-day mandatory self-quarantine, while under surveillance.

The self-quarantine process started on June 28 and is expected to end on Thursday.

The Mpilo Central Hospital staffers have undergone initial tests for Covid-19 and would be retested before being given the green light to resume normal duties.

The hospital was also fumigated and disinfected.

Mpilo Central Hospital acting chief executive Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said out of more than 2 000 health workers at the facility, 197 were placed on self-quarantine.

He commended the health workers for their commitment.

“This resulted in 197 health workers going in self-isolation at their homes including the nurse who was asymptomatic. So far all of them have tested negative for the virus. They are in self-isolation for 14 days and are supposed to complete process on Thursday. I guess we can say we were very lucky to have escaped this one,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said the hospital had to improvise to cover for the health workers placed on self-quarantine.

Dr Ngwenya said it was critical for communities to adhere to lockdown and Covid-19 preventive measures as the hospital scare gives an impression of how the pandemic could impact on the health sector.

“If hospital staff get degraded and are unable to cope with the rising numbers, at the end of the day people will not have anyone to look after them. So, it’s extremely important that people follow lockdown regulations, wear masks properly otherwise failure to do so could cripple the health sector,” said Dr Ngwenya.

Acting Bulawayo provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo, said Government would continue working to improve safety of health care workers.

“It is back to the issue of personal protective equipment.

“Government is procuring the protective clothing, which is being availed to health workers including those as Mpilo. We also fumigated the hospital, while taking all precautionary measures to ensure that staff does not contract the virus. The rapid response team is following on those who need to be followed for contact tracing and they are put in isolation until they are cleared to come back,” said Dr Mlilo.

A police officer, Shungudzemoyo Kache, on Saturday appeared in court after he was arrested and charged with “insulting and undermining” Emmerson Mnangagwa by likening him to a “condom”, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has revealed.

Kache allegedly told one Stanley Mabhachi, who was wearing a scarf with the Zimbabwean flag colours, that Mnangagwa is a “used condom”.

Kache’s lawyer Jeremiah Bamu of ZLHR told the court that his client was taken to ZANU PF headquarters after he was arrested.

In his latest Big Saturday Read (BSR), renowned law expert Alex Magaisa observed that police and prosecution authorities have a strong appetite to apply provisions criminalising presidential insults, hence the rampant arrests and prosecutions.

Said Magaisa:
“… while the police and prosecution authorities have a strong appetite to apply provisions criminalising presidential insults, hence the rampant arrests and prosecutions, the Constitutional Court has been a more reluctant customer. The Constitutional Court has been more dismissive of these offences.”

The remarks by both the late Chief Justice Chidyausiku and the current Chief Justice Malaba have been highly critical of these prosecutions which do more damage to the presidency than the comments on which they are based- News24online

A police officer, Shungudzemoyo Kache, on Saturday appeared in court after he was arrested and charged with “insulting and undermining” Emmerson Mnangagwa by likening him to a “condom”, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has revealed.

Kache allegedly told one Stanley Mabhachi, who was wearing a scarf with the Zimbabwean flag colours, that Mnangagwa is a “used condom”.

Kache’s lawyer Jeremiah Bamu of ZLHR told the court that his client was taken to ZANU PF headquarters after he was arrested.

In his latest Big Saturday Read (BSR), renowned law expert Alex Magaisa observed that police and prosecution authorities have a strong appetite to apply provisions criminalising presidential insults, hence the rampant arrests and prosecutions.

Said Magaisa:
“… while the police and prosecution authorities have a strong appetite to apply provisions criminalising presidential insults, hence the rampant arrests and prosecutions, the Constitutional Court has been a more reluctant customer. The Constitutional Court has been more dismissive of these offences.”

The remarks by both the late Chief Justice Chidyausiku and the current Chief Justice Malaba have been highly critical of these prosecutions which do more damage to the presidency than the comments on which they are based- News24online

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has strongly condemned the incessant persecution of senior party officials by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

MDC Alliance officials Tendai Biti, Lynnette Karenyi-Kore, Gladys Hlatshwayo, Lovemore Chinoputsa, Vongai Tome and David Antony Chimhini were arrested in Harare on Friday.MDC Alliance Youth Assembly deputy spokesperson, Womberaiishe Nhende was also brutally assaulted by ZRP cops.

On Thursday night Thokozani Khupe captured Harvest House with the help of soldiers.

Advocate Thabani Mpofu and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly chairperson Obey Sithole were also arrested.

Advocate Chamisa argued:

” Instead of Mnangagwa dirty schemes to arrest people, have schemes to arrest prices.

The Opposition is not your problem but your policy positions. Bad governance and poor leadership,not MDC Alliance, is the source of national agony. ED has learnt nothing and forgotten nothing! Lead don’t Rule!”

Also watch video below :

Own Correspondent

The Vice President of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-Alliance), Welshman Ncube, has said that the MDC Alliance is prepared to lose everything to Thokozani Khupe than to have the party members agree to be led by a “ZANU PF project.”

Ncube said this following the capture of the MDC Alliance offices in Harare by Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T.

The Supreme Court recently ruled on the party’s leadership crisis reinstating Thokozani Khupe as the legitimate leader and demoted Nelson Chamisa to a mere Secretary of Policy and Research.

Watch the video below for more.

Own Correspondent

Members of the military will receive reduced salaries this month (June) because a back pay that had been spread for four months – February to May – has been paid up.

In a memorandum dated 28 May 2020, Lieutenant J.V. Nsimba said the cessation of the back pay will result in reduced net salaries for members of the military.

Below is the memo as shared on social media.

Media has this weekend been awash with a pay slip for May this year showing that soldiers were already being paid peanuts.

Below is the payslip that caused a major uproar.

The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) is deeply concerned with reports of an increase in alleged corruption by ZRP officers, ZNA soldiers and the Municipal Police, and the District Development Coordinators’ offices among others. If not curbed, corruption by these corrupt public officials may reverse the gains made and putting all investment, including donor aid to waste. A research conducted by ACT-SA has confirmed that ZRP officers, ZNA soldiers, and Municipal police are soliciting bribes in exchange for giving a blind eye to violations of the COVID-19 regulations as well as helping all those arrested to enjoy freedom. Also implicated in corruption are the Offices of the District Development Coordinators (DDCs) country-wide.

ACT-SA has shown in its report that the national lockdown declared by President Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, pursuant to the Public Health (COVID-19) Prevention, Containment and Treatment (National Lockdown Order, 2020), has unfortunately and shamefully presented an environment ripe for public corruption.

Mr. Obert Chinhamo, the Director of ACT-SA has expressed disappointment that the management of the ZRP is not doing well in responding against corruption by ZRP officers and instilling a culture of integrity within the police service.

“What is clear from these recent developments is that the Commissioner-General of Police is still harbouring corrupt ZRP officers. And he has for a long time been too lenient when allegations of corruption are leveled against ZRP officers. More often, we have witnessed all those accused of corruption and other malfeasance being transferred from one station to the other where they continue with their immoral activities. I think the management of the police should be very strict in its approach. This lockdown has exposed the epidemy nature of corruption in the police similar to the levels, even exceeding the levels it had reached during the Augustine Chihuri era” he says.

Mr. Chinhamo added that the heavy fines for violating the COVID-19 regulations are part of the corruption problem.

“We have also observed that corrupt ZRP officers solicit bribes that are less than the gazetted fines. That’s how these corrupt public officials lure their clients to pay the bribes. The heavy fines are actually being used as bait by these corrupt officials. Accused persons thus prefer to save money by paying bribes instead of paying those heavy fines. If they were lower, accused persons would simply pay the fines without any problems,” he says.

A leading South African based human rights lawyer Advocate Gabriel Shumba, who is also one of the ACT-SA Trustees, had this to say:

“I am not sure if ZRP officers are being adequately supervised. For instance, if it is not permitted why were some ZRP officers reportedly seen parking their personal cars at checkpoints? This just means that ZRP officers are not being adequately supervised or that their supervisors are giving a blind eye,” he adds.

Advocate Shumba called upon the government to ensure that laws and policies are fully implemented:

“Laws and regulations on corruption busting are not an end in themselves. Implementation and enforcement are critical. Government, ZACC, and civil society must strengthen partnership to ensure good governance, especially in so far as the protection of whistleblowers is concerned” he says.

The ACT-SA report also lambasts the Government of Zimbabwe for giving empty promises, especially to the micro, small to medium enterprises and the general populace. Food aid and rescue packages were not given to the people as promised. Hunger forced people to venture out of their homes in search of food where they met these corrupt public officials.

In addition, the ACT-SA report covered corruption in the health and water sectors. In some areas community boreholes were politicized. In Mbare in Harare, it was alleged that ZANU PF supporters were given first preference to fetch water at community boreholes. It was also alleged that suspected ZANU PF youths have taken over control of some community boreholes near Budiriro 2 in Harare.

ACT-SA calls for more investigation and action on allegations arising from the report.

Source: Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA)

THE Matabeleland South provincial task force on Covid-19 has called for strict supervision of cross-border truck drivers transporting goods following reports that some of them were assisting some people to  illegally cross into the country.

During a meeting on Sunday that was held in Gwanda, stakeholders from the province said there was need for thorough searches of trucks at the border and at roadblocks as illegal activities pose a health threat following the outbreak of Covid-19.

Truck drivers who transport goods into the country stand accused of offering transport to border jumpers whom they drop off just before reaching the South African border to cross on foot through unauthorised points and then later pick them up after crossing the Zimbabwean border.

Speaking during the meeting, Beitbridge Senator, Tambudzani Mohadi, said there was need for movement of truck drivers to be monitored.

“We have a major problem with truck drivers who bring goods into the country. There is a need for restrictions and for their movements to be controlled. During this time when we are faced with the Covid-19 pandemic we have to be cautious. Some of these truck drivers give lifts to border jumpers. They also make stops anywhere and they attract vendors that sell goods along the highway which isn’t safe,” she said.

“They need to be thoroughly checked at roadblocks and at the border to ensure they don’t smuggle people.”

Speaking during the meeting the Officer Commanding Matabeleland South Province Assistant Commissioner Adolf Moyo said the major challenge was that the truck drivers were offering people lifts and dropping them off before reaching the South African border and later collecting them after crossing the Zimbabwean border.

He said trucks had been given the green light to ferry goods and some of them were not being searched.m

Also speaking during the same meeting, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu who is part of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on the Covid-19 outbreak said there is need for law enforcement agents to curtail these illegal activities.

He said border jumpers were a major threat to the country as they were not going through necessary testing and mandatory quarantine.

“In terms of truck drivers there are designated stopping points which the Ministry of Transport came up with on each of the major roads. At these stopping points that were published it was made clear that drivers shouldn’t entertain any locals.

“Truck drivers are also offering lifts to border jumpers and an example is a group of Malawians who were intercepted in a bush after they had been dropped off by a truck. There is need for law enforcement agents to be thorough on this,” he said.

“Border jumping and smuggling is a serious problem and there is a need for surveillance to be increased. This is our biggest threat as these people are not going through the medical facilities for screening and testing.”

Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director, Dr Rudo Chikodzore said about 800 trucks pass through the Beitbridge Border Post daily. She said all the drivers were being screened for Covid-19 upon reaching the border.

-State Media

Farai Dziva|Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has described the country’s leadership as wicked.

Bishop Magaya also condemned the harassment of MDC Alliance leaders following the grabbing of Harvest House by Thokozani Khupe.

See Bishop Magaya’s statement :

The God of regime change is watching and will judge.

“Can wicked rulers be aligned with you, those who frame injustice using the law? They band together against life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death, but the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of refunge.

He will bring back on them their inequality, wipe them out of their wickedness. The Lord our God will wipe them out” ( Psalm 94 vs 20-23 ).

The foregoing portion of scripture succinctly captures God’s heart and word in this season. As the church is called upon to pray prophetically it is my deep conviction that the prayers should not just be the usual pious like, lacking in specifics and substance. The church should pray in the light of this portion of scripture. Please note the guidelines as given by the scriptures in the quoted passage.

1. Wicked rulers have no capacity to align with God, and conversely God can not fellowship with them.

You do not have to love Nelson Chamisa or to hate Mnangangwa for you to see this truth that our leaders are wicked and are failing to align themselves with God.
2. They use the law to frame injustice, or mischief.

Events that are ongoing are a clearest evidence of a rogue state who craft laws for purposes of driving their own interests as they get into an overdrive of suppressing the people that think differently. The arrest of Tendai Biti and his fellow leaders for allegedly violating lockdown regulations, whilst others are allowed unfettered access to their supporters is just one of many examples of governments abuse of law.
3. Divine verdict is clear from the psalmist.

God will wipe them always! I am strongly persuaded that God has rejected this system and as the church, inkeeping with their prophetic mandate to the nations praise forthrightly for Gods judgement and faithfulness to this word and I mean that which you have just read afore, God will cause that word to come to fruition. Join me in this prayer now :” Oh Lord the faithful and awesome God in whom we put all our trust and in whom all power is reposed, in accordance with your word which says because the wicked rulers do not align with you, and therefore you can not fellowship with them. They craft injustice and mischief using the law. See what they do to your people.

See how they lie! See you they are deceitful and desperately wicked! See how they are flourishing in corruption !

Lord, in the Name of Jesus, judge them and bring to effect your word, which when sent it will not come back void. We decree the coming to an end of their rule. You are the God of regime change! In the Name of Jesus we pray”

And may all Gods people say Amen!

May God bless you and continue praying accordingly.

A Congolese man narrates to ZimEye how he was allegedly beaten up by ZRP cops in Selous Ave in Harare Saturday night. He says the attackers also took away his wallet

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

By A Correspondent- MDC acting President Thokozani Khupe has been told to recall all legislators elected under rival political leader Nelson Chamisa, failure which she will face a lawsuit.

A US-based businessman Devine Mafa threatened Khupe with a lawsuit if she failed to recall the MPs from Chamisa’s administration.

Mafa described opposition MPs elected under Chamisa as “mercenaries” who defied Chamisa’s call for them to disengage from Parliament, adding that the same MPs ar now offering themselves to whoever makes the highest bid between Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora, Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri for the vote at the upcoming extraordinary congress.

“Those MPs elected under Chamisa proved to Chamisa himself that they are not loyal to anyone except their pocket. They disobeyed calls to disengage Parliament because they got into Parliament via imposition when they were in good books with Chamisa in 2018.

“Now that they see Chamisa has lost the case at the Supreme Court, they immediately switched allegiance to Khupe to save their jobs.

“Madame Khupe mustn’t keep such treacherous characters in the party because soon as it becomes convenient for them to do so, they will also dump her the same way they ditched Chamisa.

MDC interim president Thokozani Khupe must clean the deck and fire all mercenary MPs to rerun the part to full democracy, says Devine Mafa. The US-based businessman threatens to sue her of she doesn’t recall them.

“MDC needs loyal leaders who stand by the party through thick and thin. Why are they afraid of being recalled if indeed they got elected by popular vote and if they know people are on their side?

“All it shows is that they know they were imposed and can’t risk a by-election which in all probability they will lose. So, the best way forward is for Khupe to recall all of them and start from a clean slate with democratically elected legislators via free and fair primary elections,” said Mafa.

Having been resident in the United States for slightly over 20 years, Mafa said he values the tenets of democracy and believes officials all the way from ward Councillors to the President must only be elected via democratic elections.

He threatened to sue Khupe if she does not recall all the MPs. So far, the Khupe camp has only recalled Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Prosper Mutseyami (Dangamvura Chikanga), Thabitha Khumalo (proportional representation MP) and Senator Lillian Timveos.

With the MDC set to hold an extraordinary congress by July 21st, Mafa reckoned that there is massive horsetrading in the party as Khupe, Mwonzora, Komichi and Mudzuri are trying to buy favours from the MPs in exchange for votes at the extraordinary congress.

Mafa says opposition MPs must all be recalled as they have already proven they are loyal to their pockets. Mudzuri and Mwonzora are believed to be some of the heavyweights angling for support from the MPs at the extraordinary congress.

“My feeling is that Khupe may not want to recall a good number of these MPs as she wants to use them as leverage to win power at the upcoming congress. The same can be said of Mwonzora, Komichi and Mudzuri, hence the apparent reluctance by these leaders to wield the axe on disloyal party legislators.”

Turning to his father, Dr Felix Mafa Sibanda who was recently appointed MDC Alliance deputy national spokesperson by Chamisa, Devine Mafa described Chamisa’s move as ‘disrespectful and tribal’.

Said Mafa: “Chamisa has proven to all and sundry that he is not the leader to deliver a new Zimbabwe. He is divisive, ageist and tribal.

“How can Dr. Mafa, a founding member of the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai be made an understudy to Fadzayi Mahere, a greenhorn in opposition politics who for intents and purposes was only contesting against the MDC just under two years ago?

“This is like Emmerson Mnangagwa appointing Tatenda Mavetera (Zanu-PF Seke-Chikomba women’s quota MP) the party spokesperson deputized by someone who understands the Zanu-PF system better, like July Moyo. That won’t work.

“Chamisa in making that appointment was clearly disrespectful to the people of Matebeleland as well as tribal against the same people.

“One gets the intended sense that people from a certain region may not get positions of influence no matter the experience they have in the trenches. It’s absolute hogwash.”

Since February 2018 when Chamisa succeeded Tsvangirai without the convening of an extraordinary congress, Mafa has been consistent in calling for a return to constitutionalism in the opposition movement.

By A Correspondent- Jah Prayzah has disbanded the Military Touch Movement (MTM) stable and cancelled all contracts. In a statement released this Sunday, the musician said it is now time to “let these superstars go out there to concur the world in music”.

We present the statement in its entirety below:

When I started MTM, my dream was to have a movement that is driven solely by the ambition of the artists and producers involved in it. It has been 3 years since we began the journey and I can say it has been fruitful.

We have shared so many joys as a team and joys I will continue to cherish and celebrate. Like any other organisation, we also did share our lows and again we went through these together.

Today we celebrate superstars who have been housed in MTM and that was part of the mission, for us all to grow together and celebrate our achievements together.

I feel everyone who was involved in MTM is now in a position where they can now also take part in grooming and raising more talent out there.

I appreciate the trust that was given to me by these artists who are now brands and also for the privilege of working with legends like ExQ who have been in the game for so many years even before the start of my musical career. It is not an easy process to be able to trust putting your brand under someone else’s umbrella.

I would want to let the whole of Zimbabwe and other global music lovers who have been following our journey that it is now time I let these superstars go out there to concur the world in music and I have so much confidence in their ability to do so.

I have done my part in putting in the little resources I had at that time but do feel the artists have outgrown the label and though it is painful, I feel it is the right time to release them and also terminate all contracts that were in place.

What is important is the growth of talent as opposed to any return on money put in, again I repeat this was a movement put in place to encourage growth and not for profit.

Under the same light, I would like to categorically put it on record that until now and going forward, I do not have any amount of money that I collected from any of the artists who were involved in MTM.

I would, however, love to thank the producers, Tamuka and Rodney for the role they have played in helping me grow musically.

They have played a very significant role and my music would not be where it is today if not for them. I can never thank them enough or in any way that would really show how much I appreciate their efforts.

I would like to applaud Tamuka on the start of Mushroom Media, a dream he has always had and he also took time to brief me about the project. I am proud that under MTM he has achieved what he always dreamt and dared to achieve.

I did personally give him my blessing and would like to make it known out there too that I fully endorse the start and growth of his projects and cannot wait to release my first song recorded at Mushroom media.

Having been subjected to so much abuse at some points in this journey, I have become really sceptical about recruiting new artists under MTM as this in many occurrences has tainted my brand.

The main objective, however, was not to get praise from helping artists achieve their dreams. I have decided, I will proceed with finding other artists from the grassroots and will put in my effort to ensure they are talked about and their music grows.

For them, it will also come a time when they will also have to go out and spread their own wings and not under any umbrella.

I wish my team all the best,

Jah Prayzah

By A Correspondent- A notorious Muzarabani thief swept clean a fellow villager’s head after he stole 40 sheep from the grazing land which he loaded in a truck for resale.

The matter came to light at the Guruve magistrates courts yesterday where Obvious Muvezwa (29) stood before magistrate Shingirai Mutiro facing theft charges.

Mutiro sentenced Muvezwa to an effective 4years behind bars for stock theft.

The court heard that on April 25 Muvezwa went to the grazing land where Kingston Zisengwe had left Patricia Chikore’s sheep.

Muvezwa with his two accomplices who are still at large hatched a plan to steal the sheep and they hired a truck.

The trio loaded the stolen sheep and passed through both to ZRP Muzarabani and Veterinary department for clearance.

The trio managed to clear the stock and went to Tynwald South, Harare where they intended to sale the sheep.

The complainant filed a police report lading to the arrest of the suspect.Only 23 sheep were recovered.

By A Correspondent- A 28 year old Mutoko uncle who raped a 14 year old mentally ill niece has been hauled to court.

Pension Usayi appeared before Mutoko magistrate Jairosi Mutseyegwa who remanded him in custody until 12 June 2020.

He is accused of rape.

Majuru told the court that on 23 May 2020 at around 17 00hours, the complainant arrived at home from the bush where she had gone to fetch some firewood.

Prosecutor Majuru told the court that she was raped in the family kitchen hut.

“Complainant proceeded to the accused person grass thatched kitchen to drink some water as she was feeling thirsty. As she entered the kitchen, the accused followed her, closed the door after he entered into the house. It was then that he started fondling her breasts before undressing the complainant. He further went on to unzip his trousers and raped her once,” Majuru told the court.

The state further alleges that accused person told the complainant to conceal the rape.

He threatened her claiming that she would be arrested by police if she dared to report the matter.

However, she could not take the threats seriously as she went to reveal the act to her mother Sanisai Gumbeze who was attending their vegetable garden.

The complainant together with her mother filed a police report at Mutoko police and a medical examination revealed that there was definite evidence of penetration and there is a psychiatric report that she is mentally challenged.

-online

Farai Dziva|Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has described the country’s leadership as wicked.

Bishop Magaya also condemned the harassment of MDC Alliance leaders following the grabbing of Harvest House by Thokozani Khupe.

See Bishop Magaya’s statement :

The God of regime change is watching and will judge.

“Can wicked rulers be aligned with you, those who frame injustice using the law? They band together against life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death, but the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of refunge.

He will bring back on them their inequality, wipe them out of their wickedness. The Lord our God will wipe them out” ( Psalm 94 vs 20-23 ).

The foregoing portion of scripture succinctly captures God’s heart and word in this season. As the church is called upon to pray prophetically it is my deep conviction that the prayers should not just be the usual pious like, lacking in specifics and substance. The church should pray in the light of this portion of scripture. Please note the guidelines as given by the scriptures in the quoted passage.

1. Wicked rulers have no capacity to align with God, and conversely God can not fellowship with them.

You do not have to love Nelson Chamisa or to hate Mnangangwa for you to see this truth that our leaders are wicked and are failing to align themselves with God.
2. They use the law to frame injustice, or mischief.

Events that are ongoing are a clearest evidence of a rogue state who craft laws for purposes of driving their own interests as they get into an overdrive of suppressing the people that think differently. The arrest of Tendai Biti and his fellow leaders for allegedly violating lockdown regulations, whilst others are allowed unfettered access to their supporters is just one of many examples of governments abuse of law.
3. Divine verdict is clear from the psalmist.

God will wipe them always! I am strongly persuaded that God has rejected this system and as the church, inkeeping with their prophetic mandate to the nations praise forthrightly for Gods judgement and faithfulness to this word and I mean that which you have just read afore, God will cause that word to come to fruition. Join me in this prayer now :” Oh Lord the faithful and awesome God in whom we put all our trust and in whom all power is reposed, in accordance with your word which says because the wicked rulers do not align with you, and therefore you can not fellowship with them. They craft injustice and mischief using the law. See what they do to your people.

See how they lie! See you they are deceitful and desperately wicked! See how they are flourishing in corruption !

Lord, in the Name of Jesus, judge them and bring to effect your word, which when sent it will not come back void. We decree the coming to an end of their rule. You are the God of regime change! In the Name of Jesus we pray”

And may all Gods people say Amen!

May God bless you and continue praying accordingly.