Former Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane gracefully handing over power to Moeketsi Majoro
EWN|Lesotho officially has a new prime minister. It’s now former Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro was sworn-in on Wednesday morning to seal his appointment by King Letsie III.
Dignitaries and diplomats attended the ceremony in Maseru. Outgoing Prime Minister Tom Thabane symbolically handed over to the incoming Majoro.
Thabane resigned officially on Tuesday after battles with rival factions in his own party, as well as growing discontent around his leadership from other political parties and the public.
Majoro was flanked by his wife and two daughters who were wearing matching outfits – as well as his mother.
He said he owed his political career to Thabane who recruited him in 2013 as development minister.
The 59-year-old economist said he would hit the ground running, tackling COVID-19, food security, youth unemployment and independence of state institutions.
He is now expected to appoint his Cabinet from at least the two parties in the new coalition government.
MAJORO’S FIRST PRIORITIES
The 59-year-old Majoro is an economist who was once a director of the IMF.
He was nominated as prime minister after Thabane’s four-party coalition collapsed, relegating Thabane to the position of caretaker prime minister.
In an interview with Eyewitness News last week, Majoro said he had no choice but to make the COVID-19 response his first priority when he took over, saying COVID-19 and food security would be his main priorities.
Majoro is well aware of the health service challenges facing Lesotho.
He has always maintained he doesn’t believe that the country does not have any COVID-19 cases but the first one is now confirmed.
“We have to double our efforts to know how much infection is in our community. We moved in with lockdown too early and the impact on the economy was immense, but we have a little bit more capacity.”
Majoro said to achieve this, he wanted politicians who also have technical knowledge in his Cabinet.
“You cannot provide a solution unless you understand in-depth what the problem is. You cannot provide a superficial solution, you cannot brainstorm a solution. It’s not enough to sit down as Cabinet ministers and speak with passion, solutions are not created like that. We need to bring in knowledge but it’s a political process. It’s a game of balancing interests.”
THABANE AND TURMOIL
Thabane himself is no stranger to political turbulence.
He first came to power in 2012 as head of the country’s first coalition government, formed after inconclusive polls.
But the alliance was marred by political bickering, which culminated in a coup attempt in August 2014 when soldiers attacked police posts and surrounded his official residence.
The failed putsch prompted him to flee to South Africa.
He returned home in February 2017, saying he still feared for his life, although he went on to win snap elections just four months later.
His victory stirred hopes of stability to the hilly country, which has a long history of political turmoil.
An old hand in Lesotho politics, Thabane founded the All Basotho Convention in 2006 after years of manoeuvering between political parties.
Before becoming prime minister, he served in various Cabinet posts such as foreign affairs and home affairs.
In an exclusive interview with AFP last week, Thabane said he was looking forward to retirement and all he wanted was to be “left alone”.
He has not yet been charged for the ex-wife’s murder but when he briefly appeared in court in March, his lawyer sought to have him granted immunity. The case has not been heard yet.
Thabane said he would retire to his personal house in his constituency on the outskirts of Maseru.
He said he planned writing a book about his life, returning to the plays of Shakespeare, which he studied at university, and serving as a lay minister in his evangelical church.
The Israeli News newspaper, Jerusalem Post reports that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has called on his army to prepare for combat over Ethiopia’s plans to start filling its hydropower Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the rainy season.
The President ordered the armed forces to be on the “highest state of alert.” In response, Ethiopia reportedly deployed anti-aircraft missiles in the vicinity of the Renaissance Dam.
Formerly known as the Millennium Dam, GERD is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia that has been under construction since 2011. At 6.45 gigawatts, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as well as the seventh largest in the world. And as of October 2019, the works on the dam stood at approximately 70% completion. Once completed, the Dam’s reservoir could take from 5 to 15 years to fill with water, depending on hydrologic conditions, and, even more important: depending on the reactions of the countries most likely to be affected: Egypt and Sudan.
An Ethiopian Foreign Office spokesperson has stated on Monday that “Ethiopia’s plan to start filling GERD this rainy season is part of the scheduled construction without needing to notify Sudan and Egypt.” According to Ethiopia’s news agency ENA, the spokesman said: “There is no way that we have necessarily inform them (Egypt and Sudan) when we will start filling.”
On May 11, Egypt submits a 17-page letter to the United Nations Security Council protesting Ethiopia’s actions and demanding that it halt construction until an agreement is reached. On Monday, Addis Ababa sent a letter to the UNSC saying Ethiopia has no legal obligation to seek Egypt’s approval to fill GERD, and blamed Cairo for the deadlock in talks between the two countries.
Source: Jerusalem Post
IN SUMMARY
• Addis and Cairo have failed to agree on the filling period with both countries accusing each other of being stiff in their conditions.
• Ethiopia pulled out of the US-led talks on the Nile dam accusing the US and the World Bank of overstepping their observer roles and favouring Cairo’s interest.
• GERD, locally funded, is expected to produce over 6,000 megawatts once upon completion.
Ethiopia has said it will continue with its plans to fill its $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) from July, despite Egypt’s claim that the move could be lead to regional instability.
In a letter to the UN Security Council on Monday, Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andargachew said that Addis Ababa “does not have legal obligation” to seek Egypt’s approval to fill GERD.
Gedu was responding to Egypt’s recent complaint to UNSC in which Cairo sought the intervention of the UN executive body to stop Ethiopia’s plan to start filling what would be Africa’s largest power dam.
Egypt said Ethiopia’s move to fill the dam before reaching a final agreement with riparian states “potentially poses a serious threat to peace and security throughout the region”.
“This [filling the dam] would jeopardise the water security, food security and indeed the very existence of over 100 million Egyptians who are entirely dependent on the resource of the Nile River for their livelihoods,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a 17-page complaint document to UNSC dated May 1.
Ethiopia and Egypt have failed to agree on the filling period with both countries accusing each other of being stiff in their conditions.
On April 10, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed proposed a “first stage filling” strategy that would allow GERD reservoir to retain 18.4 billion cubic meters of water over a two-year period.
However, both Egypt and Sudan fear the reservoir, with a holding capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, will affect their water share from the Nile River.
Addis had initially planned to fill the dam in three years but it lengthened the period to between six and seven years. However, Egypt’s proposal has always been the dam to be filled in 15 years in order to avoid detrimental impact downstream.
Now Ethiopia says all necessary preparations for the first filling of the dam have been completed.
“This storage is meant to begin testing of the power plant, effectively releasing the water downstream. Furthermore, the impoundment is carried out in two years with 4.9 billion cubic meters of water in the first year and 13.5 [billion] cubic meters of water in the second year,” Gedu said.
“Moreover, the rules for first stage filling are not the creation of Ethiopia; rather, they are taken from the non-controversial sections of the entire ‘guidelines and rules’ worked out by the three countries.”
“Therefore, Ethiopia is in full compliance with the DoP [Declaration of Principles] and made a remarkable and generous gesture in offering an agreement to Egypt,” Gedu argued.
Ethiopia pulled out of the US-led talks on the Nile dam accusing the US and the World Bank of overstepping their observer roles and favouring Egypt’s interest.
A negotiator in the talks Zerihun Abebe on Tuesday said he was surprised at Egypt lodging a complaint to UNSC accusing Addis Ababa of “unilateralism’’.
“Ethiopia has a sovereign right to fill the dam constructed within its borders and through local funding,” Abebe was quoted as saying by Turkish news agency Anadolu.
“Ethiopia invited both Egypt and Sudan and shared details about the GERD in 2012 and kick-starting a process of trilateral talks. And that was based on Ethiopia’s firm stand on the principle of cooperation, regional partnership and to find a win-win solution,’’ added Abebe.
GERD, locally, is expected to produce over 6,000 megawatts once upon completion.
Mkhize was speaking during a briefing with health experts last night on the country’s COVID-19 projections.
JOHANNESBURG – As most parts of the country prepare to move to level three lockdown restrictions, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has admitted that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), South Africa doesn’t qualify to move down the levels just yet.
Mkhize was speaking during a briefing with health experts on Tuesday night on the country’s COVID-19 projections.
The country now has 17,200 cases with 312 deaths.
Mkhize explains the criteria for easing lockdown regulations from the WHO.
“The WHO has said that we need to start showing that the numbers are declining, and infections are not increasing. We are nowhere near that.”
But he said that’s not the only thing South Africa had to take into account before deciding on moving down the levels of restrictions.
“We are balancing the issue of hunger, food security, job protection, the issue of the economy and the issue of constriction to social disruption. Those are the issues that have to be taken to account.”
The minister said on the positive side, community transmission had remained low except for the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Meanwhile, Gauteng Premier David Makhura said his government was consulting with various sectors to prepare for less stringent lockdown measures.
Makhura said the province was ready to move to level three but would need the help of business leaders and law enforcement to ensure compliance with regulations.
He has cited the ailing economy as one of the reasons level three must be affected across the province.
“Every scenario says that COVID-19 on the economy would be no less than the scale of the 1929 Great Depression. I think is something very serious.”
Own Correspondent|Pretoria-based Zimbabwean businessman Justice Maphosa who at one time rescued President Emmerson Mnangagwa from imminent death has sent a load of food and basic necessities to the Zimbabwean nationals who were repatriated from South Africa last week amidst the current lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The more than 1,000 food parcels will also provide humanitarian relief for the elderly and orphaned children in the small town of Gwanda, in southern Zimbabwe, where the Bigtime Strategic Group founder and chief executive Maphosa was born.
“We gave away 1,100 food parcels. Four hundred of the food parcels are for the people in the buses [the repatriated Zimbabweans]. When they finish [quarantine], they will take some food parcels with them to share with their families,” Maphosa said.
Each food parcel for the returnees includes 25 kg of maize meal, 2 kg of rice, 2 kg sugar, 2 litres of cooking oil and soap.
“The same food items are for 700 people in my hometown of Gwanda. As I remember everyone who is struggling, I remember the people from the community that raised me,” Maphosa said.
“The only criteria that is non-negotiable is that the food set aside for the Gwanda community – is only for the elderly and the orphans, there must never be a mistake. By elderly, I mean someone who is a pensioner, with no other source of income and over the age of 60,” he said.
The Pretoria-headquartered Bigtime Strategic Group has also donated at least 3,000 gloves and masks as well as sanitisers for the Zimbabwean returnees now quarantined in Bulawayo and Harare.
“They will each get one pair of gloves and a mask for each day they are in quarantine, so that they are able to change them,” Maphosa said.
On Friday, Maphosa hired the six buses that left Gauteng, ferrying hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals who have been stranded in South Africa.
Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi said the many Zimbabweans returning home had lost their sources of income.
“What has necessitated the repatriation is the hardship some of our nationals are facing following this proclamation of the national state of disaster and the lockdown measures that have been implemented, which have entailed that we stay at home, without being able to go out and do normal activities.
“The (stranded Zimbabweans) have indicated that they wish to go back home, and the embassy, working with the Bigtime Strategic Group has been able to put together some resources to support their return home,” Hamadziripi said.
The United Nations’ migration agency, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), led by chief of mission Lily Sanya was providing technical support to the embassy in planning the trip logistics and carrying out this humanitarian repatriation exercise.
The technical support also included co-ordination of pre-departure arrangements, pre-embarking medical check and distribution of Covid-19 awareness material.
Own Correspondent|The City Parking Private Limited has announced a hike in Parkades and Parking Lots effective the first of June.
In a statement, the company’s finance manager Mr. Itai Mavhera said the development has been necessitated by the increased employment and operational costs prevailing in the current inflationary environment. Mr Mavhera, however, said the company will endeavour to keep the charges as low as possible taking into consideration the plight of the motoring public.
The reviewed tariffs will be as follows, Unreserved ZWL$ 1000, Reserved ZWL$ 1 200, New/Tag Replacement ZWL$ 800 and Casual ZWL$ 200 per hour.
THE Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has threatened legal action against government over the alleged lack of consultation by the Primary and Secondary Education ministry on modalities for the re-opening of schools in the face of COVID-19.
In a letter addressed to the Education ministry dated May 18, PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said the educators were not willing to go back to school anytime soon fearing COVID-19 infection.
A formal engagement between PTUZ and the ministry before schools re-open is necessary “to avoid second-guessing each other and as well as for the purpose of collectively plotting the way forward for our education in light of the lockdown caused by the coronavirus epidemic”, Majongwe argued.
“The idea that the government can plan the date of re-opening schools without consulting a core constituency such as teachers is such an oversight that would normally end with lawyers for both sides tussling in court over the matter, and I believe you do not want to hazard that.
“We are not being cowards, and we believe there is no need for the ministry and government to exhibit Dutch courage in the face of the disease. Why then would the same government choose to experiment with learners and teachers when all other categories of interaction remain banned?”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced last week that examination classes under a COVID-19 safe environment will be re-opening, while plans were underway to re-open the entire education sector at a later stage.
Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema on Monday claimed that the government was putting in place adequate measures to protect teachers and learners ahead of the re-opening of schools.
“As a ministry, we have put in place plans to best prepare and support teachers and learners for a safe, secure and seamless transition back to quality teaching and learning in schools,” he said.
Teacher organisations, however, yesterday said government’s decision to hastily open schools without putting in place mitigatory measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 would endanger both the teachers and pupils.
The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) and PTUZ said the most worrying development was that schools were used as quarantine centres.
“Sadly, this announcement is in direct conflict with the situation obtaining on the ground, where schools are being used as COVID-19 quarantine centres,” Zimta said in a statement.
“This raises the simple question: Where are these classes expected to be carried out if these institutions are being used as quarantine centres?”
The teachers also accused government of abrogating its duty and forcing schools to produce protective clothing such as face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19.
ZIMBABWEAN returnee from South Africa, Nomathemba Ndlovu (31), who died on Sunday night at Mkoba Teachers College quarantine centre in Gweru, was chronically ill and still awaiting COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results, Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima said yesterday.
Mavhima, however, said the Zhombe woman’s rapid diagnostic test results came back negative.
“The 31-year-old from South Africa had been chronically ill for a month while still in South Africa,” he said.
“She came on May 17 and was coughing and on treatment from South Africa. She was on a course of antibiotics, haematinics and painkillers.”
Mavhima said although her temperature was normal, her condition kept deteriorating until she died.
“She was screened for COVID-19 using RDT [rapid diagnostic tests] and was negative,” he said.
“Samples for COVID-19 PCR were taken and we are waiting for results.”
To date, there are 358 returnees from South Africa and Botswana quarantined at Mkoba Polytechnic and Mkoba Teachers colleges.
There has not been any confirmed case of the coronavirus in the Midlands province.
Meanwhile, the Gweru City Council run Infectious Diseases Hospital recently received a borehole donation from Mimosa Mine as well as blankets and sheets from River Valley Properties.
Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee yesterday confirmed the donations.
Several Watford players have reportedly refused to train amid revelation that three people at the club tested positive for coronavirus.
Captain Troy Deeney was the first to declare he would not be attending training which will start on Wednesday as he fears putting his baby son in danger.
And following the news that one Watford player and two staff members contracted the virus, more players at the Vicarage Road are joining Deeney’s stance and refusing to return to training, according to The Athletic website.
The Hornets released a statement on Tuesday night confirming the three positive tests.
The statement read: “Watford Football Club confirms that three people have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus following testing at the training ground over the past 48 hours.
“Of those three positive tests, one is a player and two are members of staff. All three have asked that medical confidentiality be respected and, therefore, the club will not be naming those involved.
“All three will now self-isolate for seven days – in line with the protocols set out in Premier League guidelines – before being tested again at a later date.
“Strict adherence to the Premier League guidelines has ensured the training ground remains virus-free and a safe environment for the players to continue to work.
“The club will continue to liaise closely with the affected personnel and there will be no further comment.”-Soccer 24
Winston Mhango has confirmed that a couple of clubs in Zambia are interested in his services as his contract with Kabwe Warriors nears its end.
The defender crossed to the north of Zambezi after winning the league championship with FC Platinum in 2018. Former Kabwe coach Tenant Chilumba lured him during his reign at the club.
Mhango signed a one-and-half year contract which will expire this month.
Speaking to the Chronicle, the 30-year old says the coronavirus lockdown is slowing the talks with the interested clubs, but he hopes to make a move anytime soon.
“I greatly enjoyed my stay at Kabwe Warriors after being signed by Tenant Chilumba, who is now with Forest Rangers,” he said. “I am glad that my one-and-a-half-year stint has helped me attract the interest of other big Zambian clubs.
“The Covid-19 lockdown is slowing things but all things being equal, I should be moving.”
Mhango added he is not thinking of returning to play in Zimbabwe in the coming seasons.
“I believe I still have a lot to offer to Zambian football and as such I’m not thinking of returning to Zimbabwe soon,” said the defender.
Farai Dziva|Warriors coach Zdravko Logarušić says he can’t wait for football to return so that he takes charge of the senior men’s national soccer team and do what he is being paid for.
The Croat, who has not presided over a single competitive game with the country’s flagship football team since he was appointed in January, is at home in light of the indefinite lockdown enforcement by government to prevent the spread of Covid-19, a pandemic which has resulted in all football activity being suspended.
Speaking to The Herald newspaper, Logarušić said:“I will be lying if I say I have been home sick. The truth is football is my profession and I have always been praying for its return all this time,” he said.
“I am very hopeful that football will return soon. You know, sitting at home without football, is not normal. I am hoping that the disease is eradicated completely and we go back to our normal lifestyle with football at the centre of everything.
“I am not happy receiving the salaries which I have not worked for. I want to be coaching football. I want to be watching football. I eat football and nothing else so I can’t say anything else.” he added.
Shabanie chairman Elias Marufu is hoping for a return to the top-flight after paying their Zifa Central Region affiliation fee.
The was among the teams that delayed confirming their participation in lower divisions owing to affiliation fee challenges.
Marufu, who is bouncing back after he had left the club, came back with the team he was working with previously.
“We are happy that we are now able to play in the division one after having some challenges.It was a little bit hard for us to pay the required affiliation fee but the mine came to our rescue.
“Going forward we want to be well structured and be professional that we can attract sponsors.
“We always wanted Shabanie to be where it belongs and we are looking forward to bounce back in the Premier League.
“We are hoping that our club will soon be a competitive side in the country,” he said.-H-Metro
Geneva, 15 May 2020 – Presidents Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica and Sebastián Piñera of Chile joined WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today to announce progress on a technology platform that aims to lift access barriers to effective vaccines, medicines and other health products against COVID-19.
Costa Rica proposed the idea at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak and several countries are now backing the proposal. “Our proposal relies on solidarity,” said President Alvarado of Costa Rica.
“It’s a Solidarity call to action to Member States, to academia, to companies, research institutions and cooperation agencies, based on global social responsibility, on a voluntary basis, promoting more global nonexclusive voluntary licensing.”
“We need to unleash the full power of science, without caveats or restrictions, to deliver innovations that are scalable, usable, and benefit everyone, everywhere, at the same time,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Traditional market models will not deliver at the scale needed to cover the entire globe. Solidarity within and between countries and the private sector is essential if we are to overcome these difficult times.”
“Chile, like most countries in the international community, considers that only through international cooperation is it possible to emerge victorious from the crisis caused by COVID-19,” said Ambassador Cristian Streeter, Director of Multilateral Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on behalf of President Piñera of Chile.
The platform will pool data, knowledge and intellectual property for existing or new COVID-19 health products to deliver ‘global public goods’ for all people and all countries.
Through the open sharing of science and data, numerous companies will be able to access the information they need to produce the technologies, thereby scaling up availability worldwide, lowering costs and increasing access.
WHO and Costa Rica will officially launch the platform on 29 May. On that date, a Solidarity Call to Action will be published on WHO’s web site where governments, research and development funders, institutions and companies can express their support.
The solidarity of all of WHO’s Member States will be critical to ensuring the technology platform can be a meaningful tool for equitable access to COVID-19 health products.
Credit: WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Geneva, 15 May 2020 – Presidents Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica and Sebastián Piñera of Chile joined WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today to announce progress on a technology platform that aims to lift access barriers to effective vaccines, medicines and other health products against COVID-19.
Costa Rica proposed the idea at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak and several countries are now backing the proposal.
“Our proposal relies on solidarity,” said President Alvarado of Costa Rica.
“It’s a Solidarity call to action to Member States, to academia, to companies, research institutions and cooperation agencies, based on global social responsibility, on a voluntary basis, promoting more global nonexclusive voluntary licensing.”
“We need to unleash the full power of science, without caveats or restrictions, to deliver innovations that are scalable, usable, and benefit everyone, everywhere, at the same time,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Traditional market models will not deliver at the scale needed to cover the entire globe. Solidarity within and between countries and the private sector is essential if we are to overcome these difficult times.”
“Chile, like most countries in the international community, considers that only through international cooperation is it possible to emerge victorious from the crisis caused by COVID-19,” said Ambassador Cristian Streeter, Director of Multilateral Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on behalf of President Piñera of Chile.
The platform will pool data, knowledge and intellectual property for existing or new COVID-19 health products to deliver ‘global public goods’ for all people and all countries.
Through the open sharing of science and data, numerous companies will be able to access the information they need to produce the technologies, thereby scaling up availability worldwide, lowering costs and increasing access.
WHO and Costa Rica will officially launch the platform on 29 May. On that date, a Solidarity Call to Action will be published on WHO’s web site where governments, research and development funders, institutions and companies can express their support.
The solidarity of all of WHO’s Member States will be critical to ensuring the technology platform can be a meaningful tool for equitable access to COVID-19 health products.
Credit: WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
Farai Dziva| In a move that is likely to dent Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi’ s political project, Elias Mudzuri has slammed the recall of opposition party MPs from Parliament.
Mudzuri, quoted by NewZimbabwe.com, said the bloodbath should stop to allow opposition MPs to do their work.
“I don’t enjoy anyone getting out of Parliament.
I don’t want that to happen, as a senior member, those people have worked in their own different ways whether they went there (Parliament) by hook or crook but they are there representing the MDC.
We don’t want to withdraw Parliamentarians.
Why should we want them not to work for the people? Their job is within their constituencies.
Right now it’s the time of COVID-19 and I have said we don’t want to recall any Parliamentarians,”said Mudzuri.
Farai Dziva|The Ministry of Health and Childcare has pointed out that children under two years should not wear face masks as they are unable to remove them.
“Babies and children under 2 years of age should not wear face masks as they cannot remove the masks when they feel suffocated.
As much as possible, babies and young children should be kept away from public places,” said the Health Ministry in a statement.
See also the latest update on COVID -19 cases in Zimbabwe:
No case tested positive for COVID-19 today.
Today 1 291 RDT screening tests and 553 PCR diagnostic tests were done.
The cumulative number of tests done to date is 31 589 (17 414 RDT and 14 175 PCR). To date the total number of confirmed cases remains 46; recovered 18, active cases 24 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
The Ministry also discourages members of the public from stigmatising or teasing anyone about being sick with COVID-19 because the virus does not follow geographical boundaries, ethnicity, age, ability or gender.
Open letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa from Beatrice Mtetwa On May 19, 2020 5,506
By Beatrice Mtetwa
Sir, I address you, not because you personally abducted, tortured and sexually abused JOANA MAMOMBE, CECILIA CHIMBIRI and NETSAI MAROVA. Neither do I address you because I know or am in other way connected with the three young women. I address you as the head of all government institutions in Zimbabwe. I address you as the man who appointed each one of the persons who head our government institutions.
In particular, you appointed the Commander of our Defence Forces, the Commissioner General of our Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Minister in Charge of our State Security, the Director General of Our Central Intelligence Organization.
All four appointees are supposed to be non-partisan and to protect Zimbabweans from both external and internal attacks on their persons, property, integrity and to at all times ensure that rights granted by the Constitution are enjoyed by all.
Instead of protecting the three young women, appointees instead allowed the violation of their persons and their rights in the most despicable of ways. I therefore address you, your Excellency, not only as someone who lives in Zimbabwe, but as a woman, a mother to Zimbabwean children who include a daughter who could easily have been anyone of the three young women so despicably abused by agents of your appointees.
I also wish to point out the gendered nature of these violations where it is clear that these women were targeted for these violations because they are women who have chosen to participate in the country’s politics. The attacks on them is therefore clearly designed to dissuade young women from engaging in politics outside of the ruling party.
Allow me to directly address your appointees through you, Sir. To you General Valerio Sibanda, in your capacity as head of our Defence Forces, if anyone of your men and women were involved in the despicable acts perpetrated against these three young women, you are as responsible as if you held that gun that was used to simulate sexual intercourse.
If none of your members were involved, as head of the Defence Forces, which is associated with guns, you have the obligation to prove through a public and inclusive process that the members of the Defence Forces had nothing to do with these abominable acts.
And as a member of JOC, you have the added responsibility to ensure that none in the defence, security and police sectors do anything that puts the government of Zimbabwe into disrepute. So, even if none of your members were directly involved in these atrocities, you still have the obligation to ensure that those responsible for the abduction, torture and other abuses these young women were subjected to are publicly brought to account for their actions.
Anything less from you will taint you with every indignity and illegality these three suffered. The goodwill that the people of Zimbabwe showed to members of the army that memorable day in November, 2017 requires that your reciprocate and reassure Zimbabweans that you still lead a people’s army. That the country is still awaiting for reprisals against members of the army who gunned down unnarmed civilians remains a sore point for Zimbabweans.
It is time that you are seen to be a People’s Army. And to you, vaMatanga, our esteemed Commissioner General of Police, you inherited an organization which had become so discredited that it was no different from a rag-tag police force for an aspiring government in a war torn country hoping to take over power.
Only, it was worse in that it was actually the government’s police force, which in terms of the Constitution should be a Police Service. So discredited it was that even his Excellency, your boss, who had not committed any crime, could not trust it and the courts to protect him. He felt safer in the hands of the police of neighbouring countries.
As a Police Service, you have an obligation to protect and secure the lives of those who live in Zimbabwe. You have an obligation to maintain law and order by ensuring that abductors are hunted down like the scum that they are.
You, Commissioner General, will remember the jubilation of November, 2017. You will recall how the police, as law enforcement agents, played second fiddle to members of the army. So discredited were the police that they were wholly identified with the fallen regime. Is this the legacy you want to leave as Commissioner General of the Second Republic?
Is this what the New Dispensation means for your police? Sir, these three young women were taken at a roadblock manned by uniformed police and were taken to your top Central police station after they were “arrested”. They were under your roof. No Zimbabwean will believe that they were released to unknown third parties by your police without any due process requiring identification.
As a former public prosecutor, I am aware, Sir, that the command structure within the police is such that none of your underlings within the police would have released the three to the abductors and torturers without the specific say so of their immediate superiors.
Furthermore, every occurrence at a police station is recorded and you owe the nation an explanation why their attendance at Central Police Station would not have been recorded in the Police Occurrence Book. And none of their superiors would have authorised their release to third parties without first conferring with those above them.
Unless you want to tell the nation you are merely a seat warmer, the buck stops with you on how “arrested” persons were unlawfully removed from your premises by abductors and torturers. Unless you therefore tell the nation how this happened, you are directly responsible and complicit in everything that happened to them.
To you, Minister of State Security, Mr Owen “Mudha” Ncube, your ascension to this throne was controversial. So, prove the country wrong by coming out and openly accepting any role your agents might have played in this. If your agents were not involved, all the more reason to leave no stone unturned in unravelling who the abductors and torturers are.
You can even resort to a few fall guys who will take the can and be pardoned thereafter as has happened many times before. At least it would look as if you care. And you need that little respect where a few people might think that you are a good guy. Intelligence Services in terms of our Constitution are supposed to be non-partisan.
That the abused women are members of the opposition requires that you scrupulously investigate this matter so that any suggestions or perceptions that opposition party women politicians were targeted is dispelled. Your Excellency, this is also to your comrades who were there when the second republic came into being. I remember the abuse the leaders of the War Veterans Association were subjected to in the run up to the removal of the old dispensation.
I remember being asked by one of the Comrades to help in the trumped-up charges brought against them for exercising freedoms granted to them by the constitution. I remember how it was clear that your comrade Victor Matemadanda, now Deputy Minister of Defence, was targeted for elimination on a contrived night time trip to Gokwe on the pretext of going to search his house.
I remember how we resolved that we would drive in a convoy to wherever the comrade was taken regardless of the time of day. I remember how our team resolved to stay with him at the Law & Order Section all night if that was necessary and indeed I got home at 01.00hrs that night after following the police to where he was finally lodged that night and ensuring his name was entered in the detention book. Comrade Matemadanda, do you remember that night?
Do you remember how we taught you and comrade Headman Moyo how to walk when manacled together with leg irons? Do you remember Dave Drury tying your one leg to that of Comrade Headman Moyo’s leg with his tie and the two of you practising to walk whilst carrying your plastic of provisions? Do you, in the War Veterans Association believe that this was done so that your dispensation could abduct, torture and abuse young women exercising the same rights that the old dispensation harassed and arrested you for? Would you be alive today if we had not kept vigil with you that night to avoid harm befalling you? And my old friend Oppah, how would you feel if your two daughters were subjected to this treatment by any group that comes in as another new dispensation? And yes, comrade Monica, is this what you and Chris were ostracised for in the run up to the coup that was not a coup?
And to all you mothers in the New Dispensation, is this what you are all about? Is this the legacy that you want to leave as the Second Republic? Kirsty Coventry, you are the Minister responsible for Youth. The abducted and tortured young women are youths who fall under your protection.
Your silence in the face of the abduction and torture of youthful young women is astounding, as is the silence of the Minister of Women’s Affairs. Is this what you want your child to think you stood for when she is old enough to read about these occurrences under your watch? And to the entire Zanu (PF), especially the Women’s League, is this who you are? Is this what you fought for?
Is this what you want your legacy to be? And Your Excellency, this is to your wife, the Mother of the Nation, the Angel of Mercy. Amai, tinokutenda nemabasa ako emufushwa. We now appeal for your visibility as our Angel of Mercy, your daughters have been abducted, tortured and abused in ways that as a mother you would not want to hear.
Why have you been silent in the face of such despicable acts against your daughters? Why have we not seen you with sadza nemufushwa, or even potatoes and vegetables to visit these children who need your intervention?
Surely, you and your foundation are appalled at this egregious breach of our constitution. Isn’t the very reason you visibly care for women and children because you care for their well being? Can a tortured and abused women-folk be sustained by mufushwa alone?
The nation awaits your signal on how we should respond to one of the most despicable acts of the New Dispensation. I am sincerely yours,
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has dismissed Douglas Mwonzora’s assertion that MDC Alliance is not a political party.
Chamisa argued ZANU PF did not cease to exist when it merged with ZAPU in 1987 in a pact known as the Unity Accord.
Chamisa tweeted : “Is Zanu PF not a political party because it is an alliance or a unity accord between Zanu and Zapu?
Mwonzora told ZBC News on Tuesday, the Alliance was not a political party but an electoral pact which ceased to exist at the end of the 2018 harmonised elections.
As the People’s party, the MDC Alliance is so proud and totally appreciates all its legislators who heeded the call for disengagement pending the resolution of the matter of the illegal and unjust recalls.
Indeed, the legislators have proved beyond reasonable doubt that they are more than prepared to put first the democratic aspirations of the long-suffering masses of Zimbabwe and sacrifice their personal interests.
We salute them all for their exemplary conduct of patriotism and nationalism
History will judge them all favourably, for standing firmly with the People’s party the MDC Alliance, and also with the People’s President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Issued by the MDC Alliance Communications Department
By Investigative Editor | A male Zimbabwean who is boasting of assaulting the three tortured MDC leaders Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, and Netsai Marova, has threatened to repeat the same on the late Hilton Tamangani’s Father.
The three were abducted after being arrested in Harare on the 13th of May last week, and following denials by the police who began saying they never arrested them, were found tortured and dumped in Musana, Bindura 2 days later, on Friday. (Their vehicle is still parked at the same police station since the 13th May 2020).
Tamangani was murdered by uniformed police officers in October last year, having also been cruelly denied medical attention, after being slapped with false charges of stealing police helmets.
On Monday night, during the heated moments when millions of Zimbabweans were circulating pictures of a certain Tawanda Mutesva, fingered by whistleblowers for abducting the three women, the aggressor appeared as if in a panic while telephoning Mr Tamangani twice via both voice and videocall, which calls were not successfully answered due to a technical glitch. Soon after this, the aggressor began typing messages through to Tamangani.
In the written threats, the man appeared as if he is the same individual previously flighted on social networking website, Facebook, as the main suspect in abducting the three. He appeared more concerned about his pictures being published on the Facebook website, but left an open puzzle as he laid all the blame on Hilton Tamangani Senior.
The development comes as there is no connection whatsoever between the abducted women and Tamangani’s father, and the allegations against Tamangani of posting the aggressor’s pictures on Facebook, were found bizarre.
The only Zimbabwean man likely to be most worried about their pictures being posted on Facebook in the last week, is an abductor-suspect named by some whistleblowers on ZimEye.com on Sunday night.
All this happened following an evening program on Sunday, when ZimEye telephoned an accused male whose pictures show him dressed in a blue suit- during the program, the accused continued to deny that he is linked to the abduction of the three. He was very aggressive and later on terminated the call after barely 2 minutes.
While on the same program, a victim of last year’s January brutality, Mr Owen Chari, telephoned to declare he strongly remembers the voice of this blue shirted man; as that of a man who during his own abduction last year, ordered that his legs be broken with a log, while assaulting him.
The aggressive man who contacted Mr. Tamangani on Monday night, telephoned and messaged him using a different number from the one ZimEye had used on Sunday night. The latest number registered in an evidently dummy name is as below: the user packet traced through the Ecocash network. Since last year state agents have been noted for registering cell phone numbers using fake names for the purpose of carrying out their hit jobs.
Writing to Mr. Tamangani, via the WhatsApp platform, the man began accusing him (Tamangani) of posting his pictures on the Facebook website.
He started off by throwing an emoji of anger while saying: “You are the next target kuda kukura musoro zvisina basa.” – you are trying to be big headed for nothing.
He began accusing Tamangani of labeling him the murderer of the late Tamangani son, Hilton, when in fact, the deceased’s father had only posted a picture of the three activists with a message accusing the Zimbabwean regime (or police) for ending his (junior’s) life in October last year.
“You said I killed ur son I saw ur post,” the aggressor wrote. The extremely agitated man continued to rage on as if he is one of the police officers referred to by Mr Tamangani.
Tamangani then cited evidence saying he had only complained about police officers who killed his son.
He referred the aggressor to his original message posted on the Facebook website which reads: This evil regime killed my son in very similar circumstances.
First the pariah state illegally arrested Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani. Next; the scandalous regime isolated Hilton out of everyone’s reach. Just 7 days later, my Little Hilton was stone dead. Absolutely diabolic stuff.
Tamangani said: “You don’t understand. I reposted photo[s] of abducted women. And I said that’s what police did to my son. Where are you getting it wrong?” To this, the aggressor, replied with an insult, saying: “PASURI?”
Tamangani then asked: “Are you the one who killed my son ?,” and he answered saying: “Ingoziva kt paukuuya ma1 chaiwo coz zvanakakugadzirira you will be shocked.” – just know that when you return (to Zimbabwe), you will be shocked when you see what I will do to you. ”
Speaking to ZimEye last night, Mr Tamangani said, “This guy honestly thought I am the one who posted that photograph of the man who people are saying abducted the three girls. “He honestly believed that it is me. That’s why in the conversation, he says why did you post my photograph.
“He honestly believed that it is me. And that is where we are coming from … It was a damaging photograph… ” ZimEye has performed several packet tracing forensics one of which was the simple method using the Ecocash network.
ANALYSIS: WHO DO YOU THINK THIS MAN IS?- A) WHO IS THIS MAN? B) WHAT IS HIS MOTIVE/AGENDA? C) WHAT DOES HE WANT TO ACHIEVE IN TELEPHONING TAMANGANI? D) IS THIS A MERE PRANK? E) IS IT A GUILTY CONSCIENCE FOR ASSAULTING BOTH HILTON ANS THE GIRLS? F) IS HE JUST BEING DELUSIONAL? POSSIBILITIES & POINTERS:
He already has prior hatred (fear or irritation) for me, says Tamangani.
The person threatening Tamangani is the same person whose picture was advertised as one of the abductors of the three MDC female leaders.
The only person who could be worried about his picture being posted on Facebook, in the last week, is this suspect named on ZimEye.com on Sunday night.
He is the one responsible for abducting the three: Cecilia’, Joana, and Netsai. He even tacitly and directly confesses so, threatening Tamangani while saying: “You are the next target kuda kukura musoro zvisina basa.” – being big headed for nothing. ZimEye reveals the full WhatsApp chat below FULL CHAT HISTORY:
18/05/2020, 18:50 – Messages to this chat and calls are now secured with end-to-end encryption. Tap for more info. 18/05/2020, 18:50 – +263 77 872 4684: ? 18/05/2020, 18:51 – +263 77 872 4684: You are the next target kuda kukura musoro zvisina basa 18/05/2020, 18:52 – +263 77 872 4684: Ndakakumirira paunodzoka ziva zveku poster pamhata 18/05/2020, 18:54 – +263 77 872 4684: Missed voice call 18/05/2020, 18:54 – +263 77 872 4684: Missed video call 18/05/2020, 18:57 – +263 77 872 4684: Urikudei 18/05/2020, 18:57 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: It’s you phoning me. 18/05/2020, 18:57 – +263 77 872 4684: ImbWa 18/05/2020, 18:58 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: What have I done to you. 18/05/2020, 18:58 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: ??? 18/05/2020, 18:59 – +263 77 872 4684: You said I killed ur son I saw ur post 18/05/2020, 19:00 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: What post ??? I always say Zimbabwe police killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:00 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: And that’s what happened. Police killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:00 – +263 77 872 4684: Why did you post my pic on Facebook 18/05/2020, 19:02 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: You don’t understand. I reposted photo of abducted women. And I said that’s what police did to my son. Where are you getting it wrong ??? 18/05/2020, 19:03 – +263 77 872 4684: PASURI? 18/05/2020, 19:04 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Are you the one who killed my son ??? 18/05/2020, 19:05 – +263 77 872 4684: Ingoziva kt paukuuya ma1 chaiwo coz zvanakakugadzirira you will be shocked 18/05/2020, 19:05 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Are you the one who killed my son ??? 18/05/2020, 19:06 – +263 77 872 4684: Will answer you pauchauya 18/05/2020, 19:07 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Maybe you’re a coward. See you later then. 18/05/2020, 19:07 – +263 77 872 4684: Iri boe mdhara 18/05/2020, 19:08 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Watch for posts. More coming. 18/05/2020, 19:09 – +263 77 872 4684: Olk the coward will be waiting for your return 18/05/2020, 19:09 – +263 77 872 4684: Olk waiting 18/05/2020, 19:09 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Am also waiting to meet all those who killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:10 – +263 77 872 4684: Olk 18/05/2020, 19:12 – +263 77 872 4684: Wakajaidzwa neshamwari dzamai vako just wait and see zvanichakuita 18/05/2020, 19:12 – +263 77 872 4684: dakuripaza zimusoro iroro 18/05/2020, 19:13 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Very fake. You cant even admit kuti you killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:14 – +263 77 872 4684: Boe mdhara ndatopedza nemi so 18/05/2020, 19:14 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: A coward killed my son. What a joke. 18/05/2020, 19:15 – +263 77 872 4684: We shall see 18/05/2020, 19:16 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: You killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:17 – +263 77 872 4684: zvawafunga路♀ 18/05/2020, 19:17 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Why are you angry at me. That’s what I don’t understand. 18/05/2020, 19:18 – +263 77 872 4684: Ndapedza newe shaa 18/05/2020, 19:20 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Ndiwe wandi tanga. Ndiwe uri kundi tuka. You are threatening me. Of course I want to know why. 18/05/2020, 19:22 – +263 77 872 4684: Go to hell 18/05/2020, 19:24 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: I thought you phoned me to tell me how I wronged you. 18/05/2020, 19:26 – +263 77 872 4684: Rara iwe wakundinyaudza nxaaa 18/05/2020, 19:27 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: I killed nobody. You won’t find me in hell.
Man who threatened Hilton Tamangani father’s contact information
Sexual harassment(hereunder referred to as s/h) at the workplace is a species of unfair discrimination which is prohibited in terms of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (hereinafter referred to as the Act).
The Code of Good Practice on the handling of Sexual Harassment Cases in the Workplace of August 2005 (hereunder referred to as the Code) was enacted to add flesh to the skeleton provisions of section 54 (1) (b) of the Act. The Code seeks to, inter alia, eliminate s/h at the workplace, provide the procedure on how to deal with cases of s/h at the workplace and to encourage and foster the development of policies and procedures to combat and deal with s/h at the workplace.
Item 4 of the Code defines s/h as sexual conduct which has a tendency of undermining or infringing the dignity, privacy and integrity of the victim. The conduct must be an impediment to the achievement of equity at the workplace. Conduct that is otherwise normally categorized as s/h will not constitute s/h if such conduct is mutual and welcome or committed against a willing participant.
S/h can happen in a variety of ways such as; physical s/h, verbal s/h, non-verbal s/h, victimisation which emanates from the refusal by an employee to submit to sexual advances, quid pro qou s/h which occurs for example when owner, employer, supervisor undertakes or attempt to influence or influences the process of employment, promotion, dismissal, salary increament or other benefits of the employee or job applicant in exchange of sexual favours.
Most of the different forms of s/h can lead to both a criminal prosecution as well as a misconduct disciplinary hearing leading to dismissal, compensation or even imprisonment depending on the gravity of the infringement of human dignity involved.
Any one of the following persons can qualify as either perpetrators or victims of s/h; owners, employers, managers, supervisors, employees, job applicants, clients, suppliers, contractors and others having dealings with the business.
Don’t be a perpetrator or victim of sexual harassment. Maybe you are already a victim or a perpetrator of sexual harassment.
The Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) June 2020 exams will start on 22 June and end on 22 July.
This was said by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Tumisang Tabela during a hearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education chaired by Honourable Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga (Proportional Representation) in Harare this Wednesday.
She said the Education Ministry noted that there are a number of issues which will be considered before schools can re-open.
The issues have to do with the guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Child Care which are meant to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus.
Thabela said schools need to be disinfected while more furniture is required for social distancing with each school expected to have an infrared thermometer for testing purposes.
An announcement will be made on how the June examinations will proceed, Thabela added.-ZBC News
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) June 2020 exams will start on 22 June and end on 22 July.
This was said by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Tumisang Tabela during a hearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education chaired by Honourable Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga (Proportional Representation) in Harare this Wednesday.
She said the Education Ministry noted that there are a number of issues which will be considered before schools can re-open.
The issues have to do with the guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Child Care which are meant to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus.
Thabela said schools need to be disinfected while more furniture is required for social distancing with each school expected to have an infrared thermometer for testing purposes.
An announcement will be made on how the June examinations will proceed, Thabela added.
By A Correspondent- Malawi Court has ruled that the approach that was taken by the Zimbabwe Constitutional Court in the 2018 Presidential election challenge case was not a good one.
The Zimbabwean Constitutional Court ruled in favour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU PF observing that the opposition MDC had failed to prove that ZANU PF had connived with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to manipulate results in favour of Mnangagwa.
Malawi is saying that approach is a bad approach. It observed:
This Court is alive to the fact that it is rare that elections are set aside on light or trivial grounds considering what goes on in the preparation for elections. (See Col (Rtd) Kizza Besigye v Yoweri Museveni and Electoral Commission 2001 Election Petition No. 1 of 2001 (Supreme Court of Uganda).
Accordingly, this led the courts to develop a legal philosophy that even if there is non-compliance as long as results are not affected that results of the election will not be annulled. (See. The Zimbabwean case of Chamisa v Mnangagwa and 24 Others (CCZ 42/18) [2018] ZWCC (24 August 2018).
That philosophy suggests that whatever serious electoral irregularities may have been committed, and an election will be allowed to stand as long as the petitioners do not demonstrate that the non-compliance or irregularities affect the number of votes in the election. This is the quantitative approach to resolving electoral disputes in the courts.
The Zimbabwe case of Chamisa v Mnangagwa and 24 Others (supra) seems to suggest that as a general rule an election will not be annulled if a breach of the law did not affect the election result.
We have doubts that this would be a good approach, particularly where serious breach of the law is involved. What if the numbers themselves are as a result of an inaccurate counting, intimidation, fraud or corruption? Surely, for an election to be truly free, fair and credible it must be conducted in full compliance with the constitution and applicable electoral laws.
By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean female returnee from South Africa who died on Sunday night at Mkoba Teachers College quarantine centre in Gweru was chronically ill and was still awaiting COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results.
Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima on Tuesday revealed that Nomathemba Ndlovu’s rapid diagnostic test results came back negative. Said Mavima:
The 31-year-old from South Africa had been chronically ill for a month while still in South Africa.
She came on May 17 and was coughing and on treatment from South Africa. She was on a course of antibiotics, haematinics and painkillers.
… she was screened for COVID-19 using RDT [rapid diagnostic tests] and was negative.
Mavima added that samples for COVID-19 PCR were taken and they are waiting for the results.
By A Correspondent- Secretary for Information Nick Mangwana says the National Prosecuting Authority is moving in to possess an estate left by the former Police Commissioner-General who is currently in exile.
Posting on Twitter Mangwana said: “I hear the NPA has formally commenced an action to seize and forfeit to the State a vast property portfolio belonging to former Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri. Nobody should ever be allowed to benefit from and enjoy filthy lucre.”
In January, the Chronicle reported that an up-market housing scheme in north-eastern Harare meant for top police officers was allegedly hijacked by former Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri in its final phase, and he allocated himself three hectares initially marked for communal boreholes.
According to report by the Land Commission set to investigate abuse of State land, Dr Chihuri is reported to have also ordered land originally set aside for a hotel and a clubhouse to be subdivided and parcelled out to civilians.
The report further says US$4 million collected as deposit fees for a second scheme of 900 lower-ranking police officers in Hatcliffe, cannot be accounted for while at the site there is only two show houses and a few roads built.
The Land Commission chaired by Justice Tendai Uchena is recommending thorough investigations into the upmarket scheme, Police Heights Housing project at Gletywin Farm in Harare, concentrating on the third phase where the commission finds a lot could have gone wrong.
According to the report, Dr Chihuri walled and gated the 3ha of land on which police had drilled the eight boreholes for use by all residents.
By A Correspondent- Nine Malawian border jumpers who were intercepted in Beitbridge along with 32 others after skipping the border from South Africa have tested positive for Covid-19.
They have now been put on isolation at the National Social Security (NSSA) hotel in Beitbridge. Thirty two others have since been moved by the Government to their embassy in Harare pending repatriation.
The group was intercepted yesterday by security agents on patrol while seeking transport from haulage trucks at a local truck stop in Beitbridge.
The Director of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Totamirepi Tirivavi confirmed the developments today.
“The group was profiled and screened for the Covid-19 and nine have been isolated in Beitbridge pending further PCR tests,” he said.
“These will only be allowed to travel once they are fit to do so. We have since moved 32 others to Harare in liaison with the Malawian Embassy pending their repatriation.”
Meanwhile, the police are yet to locate 19 people who escaped quarantine in Beitbridge on Monday night.
The escapees are part of the people arrested along the Limpopo for facilitating the smuggling of goods. So far 27 people have escaped from the centre since it started operating.
The first group of eight absconded in the first week of operation prompting authorities to beef up security with the army.
The Beitbridge quarantine centre can carry 280 people but the Government has set the maximum at 150.
By midday today the centre had 60 people which includes 33 male adults, seven boys, 15 female adults and five young girls.
In addition, the place is used for screening and dispatching Zimbabweans coming from South Africa to different provincial quarantine centres nearer to their final destinations.
By Investigative Editor | A male Zimbabwean who is boasting of assaulting the three tortured MDC leaders Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, and Netsai Marova, has threatened to repeat the same on the late Hilton Tamangani’s Father.
The three were abducted after their arrest in Harare on the 13th of May, and following denials by the police who began saying they never arrested them, were found tortured and dumped in Musana, Bindura 2 days later, on Friday. (Their vehicle is still parked at the same police station since the 13th May 2020).
Tamangani was murdered by uniformed police officers in October last year, having also been cruelly denied medical attention, after being slapped with false charges of stealing police helmets.
Tawanda Mutesva
On Monday night, during the heated moments when millions of Zimbabweans were circulating pictures of a certain Tawanda Mutesva, fingered by whistleblowers for abducting the three women, the aggressor appeared as if in a panic while telephoning Mr Tamangani twice via both voice and videocall, which calls were not successfully answered due to a technical glitch.
Soon after this, the aggressor began typing messages through to Tamangani.
In the written threats, the man appeared as if he is the same individual previously flighted on social networking website, Facebook, as the main suspect in abducting the three. He appeared more concerned about his pictures being published on the Facebook website, but left an open puzzle as he laid all the blame on Hilton Tamangani Senior.
The development comes as there is no connection whatsoever between the abducted women and Tamangani’s father, and the allegations against Tamangani of posting the aggressor’s pictures on Facebook, were found bizarre.
The only Zimbabwean man likely to be most worried about their pictures being posted on Facebook during the week after the 13th May incident, is an abductor-suspect named by some whistleblowers on ZimEye.com on Sunday night.
All this happened following an evening program on Sunday, when ZimEye telephoned an accused male whose pictures show him dressed in a blue suit- during the program, the accused continued to deny that he is linked to the abduction of the three. He was very aggressive and later on terminated the call after barely 2 minutes.
While on the same program, a victim of last year’s January brutality, Mr Owen Chari, telephoned to declare he strongly remembers the voice of this blue shirted man; as that of a man who during his own abduction last year, ordered that his legs be broken with a log, while assaulting him.
The aggressive man who contacted Mr. Tamangani on Monday night, telephoned and messaged him using a different number from the one ZimEye had used on Sunday night. The latest number registered in an evidently dummy name is as below:
the user packet traced through the Ecocash network. Since last year state agents have been noted for registering cell phone numbers using fake names for the purpose of carrying out their hit jobs.
Writing to Mr. Tamangani, via the WhatsApp platform, the man began accusing him (Tamangani) of posting his pictures on the Facebook website.
He started off by throwing an emoji of anger while saying:
“You are the next target kuda kukura musoro zvisina basa.” – you are trying to be big headed for nothing.
He began accusing Tamangani of labeling him the murderer of the late Tamangani son, Hilton, when in fact, the deceased’s father had only posted a picture of the three activists with a message accusing the Zimbabwean regime (or police) for ending his (junior’s) life in October last year.
“You said I killed ur son I saw ur post,” the aggressor wrote.
The extremely agitated man continued to rage on as if he is one of the police officers referred to by Mr Tamangani.
Tamangani then cited evidence saying he had only complained about police officers who killed his son. He referred the aggressor to his original message posted on the Facebook website which reads:
This evil regime killed my son in very similar circumstances. First the pariah state illegally arrested Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani. Next; the scandalous regime isolated Hilton out of everyone’s reach. Just 7 days later, my Little Hilton was stone dead. Absolutely diabolic stuff.
Tamangani said: “You don’t understand. I reposted photo[s] of abducted women. And I said that’s what police did to my son. Where are you getting it wrong?”
To this, the aggressor, replied with an insult, saying: “PASURI?”
Tamangani then asked: “Are you the one who killed my son ?,” and he answered saying: “Ingoziva kt paukuuya ma1 chaiwo coz zvanakakugadzirira you will be shocked.” – just know that when you return (to Zimbabwe), you will be shocked when you see what I will do to you. ”
Speaking to ZimEye last night, Mr Tamangani said, “This guy honestly thought I am the one who posted that photograph of the man who people are saying abducted the three girls.
“He honestly believed that it is me. That’s why in the conversation, he says why did you post my photograph.
“He honestly believed that it is me. And that is where we are coming from … It was a damaging photograph… ”
ZimEye has performed several packet tracing forensics one of which was the simple method using the Ecocash network.
ZIMEYE WILL LIVE STREAM THE INTERVIEWS TODAY
ANALYSIS: WHO DO YOU THINK THIS MANIS?-
A) WHO IS THIS MAN? B) WHAT IS HIS MOTIVE/AGENDA? C) WHAT DOES HE WANT TO ACHIEVE IN TELEPHONING TAMANGANI? D) IS THIS A MERE PRANK?
E) IS IT A GUILTY CONSCIENCE FOR ASSAULTING BOTH HILTON ANS THE GIRLS?
F) IS HE JUST BEING DELUSIONAL?
POSSIBILITIES & POINTERS: 1. He already has prior hatred (fear or irritation) for me, says Tamangani. 2. The person threatening Tamangani is the same person whose picture was advertised as one of the abductors of the three MDC female leaders. 3. The only person who could be worried about his picture being posted on Facebook, in the last week, is this suspect named on ZimEye.com on Sunday night. 4. He is the one responsible for abducting the three: Cecilia’, Joana, and Netsai. He even tacitly and directly confesses so, threatening Tamangani while saying: “You are the next target kuda kukura musoro zvisina basa.” – being big headed for nothing.
ZimEye reveals the full WhatsApp chat below
FULL CHAT HISTORY:
18/05/2020, 18:50 – Messages to this chat and calls are now secured with end-to-end encryption. Tap for more info. 18/05/2020, 18:50 – +263 77 872 4684: ? 18/05/2020, 18:51 – +263 77 872 4684: You are the next target kuda kukura musoro zvisina basa 18/05/2020, 18:52 – +263 77 872 4684: Ndakakumirira paunodzoka ziva zveku poster pamhata 18/05/2020, 18:54 – +263 77 872 4684: Missed voice call 18/05/2020, 18:54 – +263 77 872 4684: Missed video call 18/05/2020, 18:57 – +263 77 872 4684: Urikudei 18/05/2020, 18:57 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: It’s you phoning me. 18/05/2020, 18:57 – +263 77 872 4684: ImbWa 18/05/2020, 18:58 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: What have I done to you. 18/05/2020, 18:58 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: ??? 18/05/2020, 18:59 – +263 77 872 4684: You said I killed ur son I saw ur post 18/05/2020, 19:00 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: What post ??? I always say Zimbabwe police killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:00 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: And that’s what happened. Police killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:00 – +263 77 872 4684: Why did you post my pic on Facebook 18/05/2020, 19:02 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: You don’t understand. I reposted photo of abducted women. And I said that’s what police did to my son. Where are you getting it wrong ??? 18/05/2020, 19:03 – +263 77 872 4684: PASURI? 18/05/2020, 19:04 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Are you the one who killed my son ??? 18/05/2020, 19:05 – +263 77 872 4684: Ingoziva kt paukuuya ma1 chaiwo coz zvanakakugadzirira you will be shocked 18/05/2020, 19:05 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Are you the one who killed my son ??? 18/05/2020, 19:06 – +263 77 872 4684: Will answer you pauchauya 18/05/2020, 19:07 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Maybe you’re a coward. See you later then. 18/05/2020, 19:07 – +263 77 872 4684: Iri boe mdhara 18/05/2020, 19:08 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Watch for posts. More coming. 18/05/2020, 19:09 – +263 77 872 4684: Olk the coward will be waiting for your return 18/05/2020, 19:09 – +263 77 872 4684: Olk waiting 18/05/2020, 19:09 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Am also waiting to meet all those who killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:10 – +263 77 872 4684: Olk 18/05/2020, 19:12 – +263 77 872 4684: Wakajaidzwa neshamwari dzamai vako just wait and see zvanichakuita 18/05/2020, 19:12 – +263 77 872 4684: dakuripaza zimusoro iroro 18/05/2020, 19:13 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Very fake. You cant even admit kuti you killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:14 – +263 77 872 4684: Boe mdhara ndatopedza nemi so 18/05/2020, 19:14 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: A coward killed my son. What a joke. 18/05/2020, 19:15 – +263 77 872 4684: We shall see 18/05/2020, 19:16 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: You killed my son. 18/05/2020, 19:17 – +263 77 872 4684: zvawafunga?♀ 18/05/2020, 19:17 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Why are you angry at me. That’s what I don’t understand. 18/05/2020, 19:18 – +263 77 872 4684: Ndapedza newe shaa 18/05/2020, 19:20 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: Ndiwe wandi tanga. Ndiwe uri kundi tuka. You are threatening me. Of course I want to know why. 18/05/2020, 19:22 – +263 77 872 4684: Go to hell 18/05/2020, 19:24 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: I thought you phoned me to tell me how I wronged you. 18/05/2020, 19:26 – +263 77 872 4684: Rara iwe wakundinyaudza nxaaa 18/05/2020, 19:27 – Hilton Tamangani OCOG: I killed nobody. You won’t find me in hell.
SEVEN police officers in Gweru were arrested for allegedly extorting cash, fuel and opaque beer from bottle store and shop operators who had allegedly violated lockdown regulations in and around Gweru.
The accused persons, who are all stationed at Gweru Rural Police Station, allegedly solicited and accepted bribes from nine shop and bottle store operators between April 25 and May 1.
They allegedly shared the loot.
Constables Joyful Magumise (35), Mugwagwa Magumise (42), Goodhope Chitimbe (31), David Mandimutsira, Bruce Chikwanda, Freddy Mahupere (all 35), Tonderai Gomana (39) were arrested on Monday following a tip-off.
They appeared before Gweru Provincial Magistrate Mr Tayengwa Sangster yesterday facing bribery charges.
They were remanded out of custody to June 18 on $3 000 bail each.
Mr Sangster ordered them to reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with State witnesses.
The magistrate said he was worried that the police officers were still reporting for duty when they were facing a criminal matter.
“Police officers working in the jurisdiction where complainants are doing business and continue to be, puts some doubts in terms of justice delivery in the witnesses’ eyes. Even if they see them patrolling, it leaves questions on the intention of the employer and I’m not sure what is happening in terms of their suspension,” he said.
Prosecutor Ms Margret Mukucha told the court that police investigations were still underway.
“Police investigations are underway and we hope by the next remand date they will be complete,” she said.
It is the State case that on April 25, the accused persons hatched a plan to swindle Khumbulani Ngwenya at his shop at Shamrock Mine, Lower Gweru.
They allegedly drove to the mine and approached Mr Tawanda Ngwenya, the younger brother to Khumbulani whom they found operating without a liquor licence.
The accused persons, the court heard, allegedly took 16 cases of Chibuku Super and four cases of spirits.
Tawanda advised his brother that the police officers were in the shop.
The court heard that Khumbulani approached Cst Mugwagwa Magumise who demanded that he pays some money in order for them to return the beer they had confiscated.
The complainant succumbed to the threat and allegedly gave them $1 000 cash before they returned the cases of Chibuku Super and spirits.
Cst Mugwagwa Magumise further told Mr Ngwenya that they had used Government fuel to raid his shop and asked him to replace it or else they were going to confiscate 200 litres of diesel he was keeping in his shop.
Mr Ngwenya allegedly gave them a further $200 and 20 litres of diesel before they left.
Using the same modus operandi, the seven police officers on April 28 proceeded to Kitchenburg Farm, in the Matobo area of Gweru, where they allegedly approached Mrs Alice Chokora who operates a shop and liquor store.
Fearing that she was found illegally selling beer, Chokora bribed them with $1 000 cash.
On May 1, around 2pm, the accused persons allegedly proceeded to Ranch Farm in Lower Gweru where they approached Mr Dumoluhle Ngwenya and threatened to arrest him and confiscate his beer and that of other shop operators for allegedly selling alcohol during the lockdown period.
They allegedly ordered him to collect $150 cash from seven operators totalling $1 050 before they went away.
Police working on a tip-off, arrested the rogue police officers.
In April, 13 police officers in Bulawayo were arrested for allegedly soliciting and accepting a US$10 bribe from a commuter omnibus crew, which had allegedly violated lockdown regulations following the interception of their vehicle in the central business district.
The accused persons, stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station, were arrested by a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) team after an unidentified whistle-blower captured them on video while they were allegedly receiving the bribe before posting it on social media where it circulated.
By A Correspondent- A convoy of army and police trucks on Tuesday went around Harare central business district warning citizens against unnecessary movement saying COVID-19 was not yet over.
Following an announcement that the stay at home order will remain in place indefinitely by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a lot of people flooded Harare city centre, with thousands of commuters left stranded later in the day as the few ZUPCO buses on the road could not cope with increased human traffic.
Yesterday police and the military mounted roadblocks on many routes leading to the city centre to allow only those going to work to proceed.
Over 90 per cent of Zimbabweans are employed in the informal sector and the extended lockdown has made it impossible for hundreds of thousands of households to get food.
As a result, most suburbs in Harare have reverted to “normalcy”, with Mbare a hive of activity again.
Dumiso Dabengwa, the late President of Zapu always had dreams for the future. Evidence is awash showing that his life was full of big dreams for Zimbabwe as a whole.
History tells that he left his banking job in then Rhodesia to join the struggle, substituting comfort with a life of struggle. He saw the possibility of overthrowing a very powerful regime at that time.
His dream of a liberated African continent saw him fight battles with South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe of ANC against the Rhodesian forces for months on the battle fields of Rhodesia.
He was to later on partake in the building of a guerrila army that engaged the enemy both on the ground and in the air. What should be very inspirational to the genuine young patriotic Zimbabweans is that he first did it himself. He did not say “go and do,” but said, “come, let us do.”
The description of his dream of a free and democratic Zimbabwe is endless. Dabengwa`s most striking dream was to pass the political and developmental baton stick to the younger generation. Not only did he see a potential of a better and prosperous Zimbabwe but he visually foresaw how this could be realized. He even took himself to task in making sure it was achieved.
From the onset of the Zapu pull-out from the 1987 Unity Accord in 2009, Dabengwa made it clear that he had not wished to lead the party. He clearly stated he would have loved to be led by a younger person.
His preoccupation was to build the future and not to strengthen his existing power basing it on the justifications of his past and the power of incumbency. His focus was to press ahead having learnt that life is a continuous process whose future is determined by the actions of those who live today and collective decisions we take in the contemporary.
This view was not limited to the party Zapu alone but he consulted far and wide. He interacted with people from all walks of life, from all over the country and beyond Zimbabwe and Africa, taking their advice with all humility whenever he could do so.
Because of his humility and strong sense of selflessness and sacrifice, together with his unflinching belief in the future, he was not ashamed to support the youngest presidental candidate in 2018 elections, in the process risking betrayal and humiliation in the hands of shallow and narrow minded political fraudsters of our time.
Out if his love and wish for a peaceful coexistence and a sustainable development of the country, fr of political bickering and polarization, he listened to the voice of reason when many open minded and patriotic Zimbabweans called for a Transitional National Governing Authourity that could address the huge political, social, legal, constitutional and economic problems of our nation.
His was not to just criticise without offering alternative advice. His dream for the immediate future was to promote a political national consensus above political party affiliations characterised by emotional and empty slogans.
Dabengwa will be forever associated with one of the most gigantic economic post-independence project, the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project.
It is no doubt that the battle hardened freedom fighter even saw mountains moving and in their place a green belt emerging, feeding the whole Southern Africa from the Zambezi.
One is justified to believe that the failure to effectively move towards combating drought in the Matabeleland Regions must have been very frustrating. Whereas it had been accepted that it is the Matebeleland regions that had perennial droughts over the years and that water had to be sourced from the Zambezi,
A Minister in the GNU from the MDC set out to fight Dabengwa. Apparently he came from koSiphepha in Tsholotsho himself. This is one of the driest parts of Zimbabwe.
He made all sorts of allegations and accusations even going to the press claiming that there had been misappropriation and abuse of funds under Dabengwa’s watch.
During the scuffle the project had to change its name to be called the National Zambei Matebeleland Water Project. The then Prime Minister even came down to Bulawayo to do something that no one ever talks about even now.
It was very frustrating to see a son of Tsholotsho being used to fight a project set out to help his very own people. However, as already stated Dabengwa never saw failure. Like a true revolutionary, he only saw a delay in a revolution but never a total failure, and as such, he held on the project til the end.
It is therefore safe to say that his dreams for a brighter and better future in Zimbabwe were his source of inspiration against all the frustrations.
By A Correspondent- South African Police Service (SAPS), working together with the South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) and National Traffic last Friday intercepted R1.5 million worthy of cigarettes contraband made in Zimbabwe that was being smuggled into that country.
South Africa does not allow the selling of cigarettes and alcohol since the imposition of the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March.
Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo announced in a statement that the operation that was conducted following a tip-off and intercepted three vehicles ferrying the contraband and one suspected stolen car.
He said:
A Mazda sedan, a Nissan panel van, a Toyota Quantum and a Chrysler SUV were stopped at different intervals.
The vehicles were caught following car chases after suspects but all suspects escaped hence no arrests were made.
These reports come amid allegations that some South Africans are jumping the border into Zimbabwe to buy alcohol.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- The current lockdown currently underway to fight coronavirus pandemic has seen a surge in crime as people are hard-struck to make a decent living in Harare.
Residents took to social media timelines decrying the wave of criminal incidences saying it has by and large become a thorn in the feet with mostly daring unemployed youngsters involved in house break-ins.
As a result however, some neighbourhoods have coalesced neighborhood watch committees to keep an eye on properties even in their absence.
“Getting stolen from is not amusing. In Helensvale in our street, we hired a private security company and we are paying 20 dollars every household. We had seen a lot of crime last month,”said Cynthia.
“Thieves must be arrested, they give us pain,”she added.
Another Harare resident Phillip Pisirayi said he recently experienced a break-in that is costly in a very challenging economy.
“Yes things are tough but that doesn’t justify breaking into other people’s houses. Government must be tough with these lazy chaps,’
“They took my 500 littres water tank last week and now I have to part with another USD 400 for a replacement,”he added.
Youngsters from Epworth have been largely blamed as the main culprits for a spate of crime in Northern Eastern Harare.
Mudavanhu Gitsa said:
“The Epworth team is a menace and the way they strike tell it is after a massive surveillance. I suspect when they move around with hoes looking for piece jobs, they would be doing surveillance,”
“Getting stolen from is painful. Well, this is the same pain when Zanu PF inflicts on societies when they steal diamonds and other precious minerals. Corruption by the elites and ruling oligarchs must get the same condemnation,”Gitsa added.
Earlier this month, thieves broke into former The Herald Newspaper Editor’ s place in Greendale, Harare and stole a 55 inch plasma television set which is yet to be recovered and no arrests have been made so far.
Another resident Lawrence Archibald Bhebhe said the recent crime wave has been unheard of.
“Thieves are now a menace in the neighbourhoods. The bad thing is that they are so daring,’
“I heard a place where they stole money from a woman and her daughter during this lockdown,”he said.
Another city resident along Bulawayo Road Tawanda Willis Chigumbura said he was recently mugged in the house.
“My TV was stolen, my phones , my gas tank in the house. I had visitors, they were also mugged. The following month my neighbour lost the same items like me,”
“But the police came and took statements.It ended there. This side around Bulawayo road is terrible. The level of crime is horrendous,’ he said.
Luke Mbune said they stole three chickens at his place while another resident Author Bothwell Masikoto said: ‘ I suffered the same a few weeks ago , the same number of chickens. Add security and put the locks inside not outside ,”he said.
Ratidzi Mgungu concurred Harare is in ucharttered territory with incremental occurences of crime.
“Let’s not justify the work of thieves. Last week they broke into my niece’s house in Shawasha Hills. She is a single parent,”
“They stole everything they could grab including bath soap and meat in the fridge. They nearly raped her daughter but luckily one of the burglars was against it and they let go. On top of that they defaecated by the gate , Cheeky, she was left traumatised. It is nonsense,”he said.
By Jane Mlambo| Top human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has revealed how she saved the now Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Victor Matemadanda from death after he was targeted for elimination on a contrived night trip to Gokwe on the pretext of going to search his house.
In an open letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mtetwa reminded Matemadanda how they resolved to stay with him at the Law and Order Section all night so as to protect him from state security agents who wanted to eliminate him.
Prior to the November 2017 military coup, Matemadanda and other war veterans leaders including Christopher Mutsvangwa, Headman Moyo and Douglas Mahiya became a target for state security agents due to their open support for Mnangagwa and the lacoste faction in the ruling Zanu PF.
“I remember being asked by one of the Comrades to help in the trumped-up charges brought against them for exercising freedoms granted to them by the constitution. I remember how it was clear that your comrade Victor Matemadanda, now Deputy Minister of Defence, was targeted for elimination on a contrived night time trip to Gokwe on the pretext of going to search his house.
“I remember how we resolved that we would drive in a convoy to wherever the comrade was taken regardless of the time of day. I remember how our team resolved to stay with him at the Law & Order Section all night if that was necessary and indeed I got home at 01.00hrs that night after following the police to where he was finally lodged that night and ensuring his name was entered in the detention book. Comrade Matemadanda, do you remember that night?
“Do you remember how we taught you and comrade Headman Moyo how to walk when manacled together with leg irons? Do you remember Dave Drury tying your one leg to that of Comrade Headman Moyo’s leg with his tie and the two of you practising to walk whilst carrying your plastic of provisions? Do you, in the War Veterans Association believe that this was done so that your dispensation could abduct, torture and abuse young women exercising the same rights that the old dispensation harassed and arrested you for?,” said Mtetwa.
We have allowed tyrants like Mugabe and Mnangagwa ride roughshod over us, denying us our freedoms and rights for the last 40 years. Look where it has landed us – in this economic and political hell-on-earth. You are having to lie just to flatter Mnangagwa in the hope he will finally stop treating us like dirty!
“And to you, vaMatanga, our esteemed Commissioner General of Police, you inherited an organization which had become so discredited that it was no different from a rag-tag police force for an aspiring government in a war torn country hoping to take over power,” you stated in your letter to Mnangagwa. See Bulawayo 24.
“Only, it was worse in that it was actually the government’s police force, which in terms of the Constitution should be a Police Service. So discredited it was that even his Excellency, your boss, who had not committed any crime, could not trust it and the courts to protect him. He felt safer in the hands of the police of neighbouring countries.”
Yes, the Zimbabwe Republic Police was, in November 2017 when Mnangagwa escape to SA, and still is to this day a totally discredited institution.
But to suggest that Mnangagwa, of all people, “had NOT committed any crime” is a nauseating lie. The Police, Army, CIO, judiciary and all the other state institutions have all been corrupted by none other than Emmerson Mnangagwa himself. Throughout the Mugabe years, he was a senior member, second only to Mugabe himself, of the Joint Operation Command (JOC); the junta, that turned Zimbabwe into the de facto one party dictatorship.
Mnangagwa was Mugabe’s chief enforcer for 37 years. He was the henchman behind the Gukurahundi massacre in the 1980s, which forced PF Zapu to sign the unity accord paving the way for the one-party dictatorship. He has boasted of being the one who saved Mugabe and Zanu PF from the humiliating electoral defeat in 2008. He forced ZEC to cook up the vote count to deny MDC victory and force the presidential run-off where he used wanton violence to secure a Mugabe victory.
Yes, Mnangagwa escape to SA fearing for his life. He did not trust some of his follow JOC members just as much as they feared for their own lives because they did not trust him. Such is the dog-eat-dog nature of Zanu PF, a party of ruthless thugs.
As it turned out, it was Mnangagwa and his Lacoste faction who prevailed. Mugabe was booted out of office in the November 2017 military coup. Justice George Chiweshe declare the coup “legal, justified and constitutional”!
Mnangagwa and his cronies went on to blatantly rig the July 2018 elections. A gaggle of braindead geese, masquerading as Constitutional Court judges, endorsed his elections regardless of the glaring flaws and illegalities in the election process. ZEC had three different results which it could not verify because 10% or so of the V11 forms, summary of vote count at each polling station, were missing. And so each of the three teams had made up figures. ZEC had not followed the laid down counting procedure!
The whole election had gone ahead even though ZEC had failed to produce something as basic a verified voters’ roll; a legal and common-sense requirement.
Zimbabwe is in this economic mess and political paralysis because the country has had the great misfortune to be ruled by a corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous regime for the last 40 years. Four decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the economy in ruins.
Four decades of political oppression have forced most men and women with some common-sense and integrity to abscond from political activity, leaving the field open to corrupt and incompetent thugs. The scum of the earth!
“Instead of protecting the three young (MDC) women, appointees instead allowed the violation of their persons and their rights in the most despicable of ways. I therefore address you, your Excellency, not only as someone who lives in Zimbabwe, but as a woman, a mother to Zimbabwean children who include a daughter who could easily have been anyone of the three young women so despicably abused by agents of your appointees,” you have pleaded.
The tone of your letter suggests that Mnangagwa himself is clean and honourable and above ever committing such heinous crimes. As we all know, such flattery did not work with Mugabe; it will not work with Mnangagwa either! The abduction, vote rigging, murder, etc happened during his watch; he is responsible, more so when he is the principle political beneficiary of the crime. Period!
After 40 years of denying us our freedoms and rights, Mnangagwa now believes he not only has the right to rig elections but to abduct, rape, beat, murder anything to cow us into submission. He is chief instigator and beneficiary of all the political intrigue and criminal activities. The worst thing we can do is blame his subordinates, leaving T S Eliot’s “Macavity, the monster of depravity” to rig the next election and commit another crime.
Mnangagwa blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections, his regime has no mandate to govern, it is illegitimate and it must therefore step down. He and his subordinates must step down, that is not negotiable.
We need to allow appointment an interim administration whose task will be to implement the democratic reforms, to drain the country’s political sewage pond, so the nation can finally hold free, fair and credible elections.
By A Correspondent- Polling stations in Burundi opened at 06:00 local time (04:00GMT) on Wednesday with around five million voters expected to participate in the general elections.
Voters will be electing their president, members of parliament and communal council members.
Seven candidates are seeking to replace long-serving President Pierre Nkurunzinza, with the main contenders being Agathon Rwasa of the opposition CNL party and Evariste Ndayishimiye from the ruling CNDD-FDD party.
Voters in the diaspora will not cast their ballot because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Polling stations will close at 16:00 local time with preliminary results expected to be out on 25 May.
The electoral commission announced that there will be 53 international observers who include personnel for the embassies of Tanzania, Egypt, China, Kenya, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Russia and Africa Union mission in Burundi.
The commission has banned the use of mobile phones and cameras by observers and poll agents inside polling stations.
Social media platforms have become inaccessible in Burundi as voting kicked off across the east African country on Wednesday.
The BBC has confirmed that access to Twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook has been blocked.
Only those using Virtual Private Network (VPN), which mask a user’s identity, could access the social media sites.
Human rights organisations had urged the government not to block the internet on voting day because it would hinder access to crucial election information.
Critics say the outage will also affect the opposition who will be unable to flag electoral malpractices. – BBC News
By A Correspondent- An employee at the Zimbabwe Electrical Supply Authority (ZESA), Clement Mateta, is reportedly traumatised after Tarirai Mnangagwa, the son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa threatened to shoot him over the weekend.
Mateta who was in the company of former Sunday Mail photographer Edmore Muzerengi had gone to Mnangagwa’s farm in Norton to record meter readings the incident took place.
Muzerengi told NewsDay that upon arrival at the farm, Mnangagwa who was entering the premises stopped Mateta from accessing the meter box saying they were not supposed to enter the premises since it was a State House and protected place.
He ordered them to sit crosslegged, entered the house and came out wielding a pistol, fired shots in the air and used the pistol to remove Mateta’s face mask. Narrated Muzerengi:
We identified ourselves and produced letters from Zesa, but he still threatened to kill us. He said he could kill and bury us behind his house and nobody would know what happened to us.
Muzerengi added that Mnangagwa then asked a woman who was behind him to collect the meter box keys and opened it, took pictures of their identification particulars and the letter from Zesa and released them.
Both Mashonaland West police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera and national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were yet to receive the report.
By ZAPU Information Dept| Dumiso Dabengwa, the late President of Zapu always had dreams for the future. Evidence is awash showing that his life was full of big future dreams for Zimbabwe as a whole.
History tells that he left his banking job in then Rhodesia to join the struggle, substituting comfort with a life of struggle. He saw the possibility of overthrowing a very powerful regime at that time.
His dream of a liberated African continent saw him fight battles with South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe of ANC against the Rhodesian forces for months on the battle fields of Rhodesia.
He was to later on partake in the building of a guerrila army that engaged the enemy both on the ground and in the air. What should be very inspirational to the genuine young patriotic Zimbabweans is that he first did it himself. He did not say “go and do,” but said, “come, let us do.”
The description of his dream of a free and democratic Zimbabwe is endless. Dabengwa`s most striking dream was to pass the political and developmental baton stick to the younger generation. Not only did he see a potential of a better and prosperous Zimbabwe but he visually foresaw how this could be realized. He even took himself to task in making sure it was achieved.
From the onset of the Zapu pull-out from the 1987 Unity Accord in 2009, Dabengwa made it clear that he had not wished to lead the party. He clearly stated he would have loved to be led by a younger person. His preoccupation was to build the future and not to strengthen his existing power basing it on the justifications of his past and the power of incumbency. His focus was to press ahead having learnt that life is a continuous process whose future is determined by the actions of those who live today and collective decisions we take in the contemporary.
This view was not limited to the party Zapu alone but he consulted far and wide. He interacted with people from all walks of life, from all over the country and beyond Zimbabwe and Africa, taking their advice with all humility whenever he could do so.
Because of his humility and strong sense of selflessness and sacrifice, together with his unflinching belief in the future, he was not ashamed to support the youngest presidental candidate in 2018 elections, in the process risking betrayal and humiliation in the hands of shallow and narrow minded political fraudsters of our time.
Out if his love and wish for a peaceful coexistence and a sustainable development of the country, fr of political bickering and polarization, he listened to the voice of reason when many open minded and patriotic Zimbabweans called for a Transitional National Governing Authourity that could address the huge political, social, legal, constitutional and economic problems of our nation.
His was not to just criticise without offering alternative advice. His dream for the immediate future was to promote a political national consensus above political party affiliations characterised by emotional and empty slogans. Dabengwa will be forever associated with one of the most gigantic economic post-independence project, the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project. It is no doubt that the battle hardened freedom fighter even saw mountains moving and in their place a green belt emerging, feeding the whole Southern Africa from the Zambezi.
One is justified to believe that the failure to effectively move towards combating drought in the Matabeleland Regions must have been very frustrating. Whereas it had been accepted that it is the Matebeleland regions that had perennial droughts over the years and that water had to be sourced from the Zambezi, A Minister in the GNU from the MDC set out to fight Dabengwa. Apparently he came from koSiphepha in Tsholotsho himself. This is one of the driest parts of Zimbabwe. He made all sorts of allegations and accusations even going to the press claiming that there had been misappropriation and abuse of funds under Dabengwa’s watch. During the scuffle the project had to change its name to be called the National Zambei Matebeleland Water Project. The then Prime Minister even came down to Bulawayo to do something that no one ever talks about even now.
It was very frustrating to see a son of Tsholotsho being used to fight a project set out to help his very own people. However, as already stated Dabengwa never saw failure. Like a true revolutionary, he only saw a delay in a revolution but never a total failure, and as such, he held on the project til the end.
It is therefore safe to say that his dreams for a brighter and better future in Zimbabwe were his source of inspiration against all the frustrations.
By Kennedy Kaitano|I LISTENED with great admiration to the interview by one of the founding members of the MDC, Elias Mudzuri, where he emphasised the need for leaders to sit down and talk to each other.
It is progressive to talk, but it can also be detrimental if the people involved have no common purpose and it will be misdirected talks that are influenced by a Supreme Court judgment which merely suggested that it is vital that the MDC holds an extraordinary congress.
Political parties are voluntary organisations which only bring together people with the same goals.
Where some publicly declare that they are in politics to make money or that they will always support President Emmerson Mnangagwa, others will find it impossible to work with such personalities and may choose to exercise their constitutional right not to involve themselves in a political project with such persons.
I completely agree with your thinking that parliamentarians should not be recalled. While legislation allows recall of parliamentarians, gentlemen’s agreements can always be made and allow leaders elected by the people to continue with the mandate they were elected for.
It should not be about fixing each other. Also, parliamentarians must be allowed to make a choice without the fear of losing the opportunity to represent the people who elected them.
Regarding who has the right to recall, it is unfortunate that the Supreme Court judgment seems to have been misunderstood to mean that the pro-congress MDC-T will have the right to recall.
Firstly, like MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, Parliament of Zimbabwe and Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Mudzuri made an argument about the MDC Alliance not being a political party.
Get this right, the only legal requirement for political parties to register in a country globally is entering an election, and the MDC-T and MDC Alliance registered for that purpose, and that is the only occasion that parties are required to register legally.
The MDC-T and MDC Alliance were accepted as political parties that registered for the 2018 harmonised elections and, as such, they are the parties that are known in Parliament that can recall legislators who belonged to them at the time of the elections, the parties which made the decision to allow them to enter the election.
One interesting aspect is that both the MDC Alliance and MDCT officials speak glowingly about the late founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, if they respect him, they should also respect his initiative to bring back together all allies.
I cannot wait for the finalisation of the court challenges submitted by the legislators.
Own Correspondent|THE High Court will this Wednesday afternoon make a crucial determination in the case in which Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance is seeking to stop reinstated MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora from recalling MPs from Parliament.
This comes as Mwonzora has already recalled four members of the MDC Alliance, namely Prosper Mutseyami (Dangamvura), Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Thabitha Khumalo (proportional representation) and Senator Lillian Timveos (Midlands).
Chamisa’s lawyers requested Justice Tawanda Chitapi to postpone the matter at its initial sitting on Monday.
Buoyant Douglas Mwonzora told journalists after the court that Chamisa’s lawyers were just wasting everybody’s time by asking for the postponement.
“They have asked for a postponement through their lawyer. The matter will be heard on Wednesday in the afternoon.
“They made their application after seeing our detailed papers. I hope they are not just wasting everybody’s time,” Mwonzora said.
MDC Alliance deputy secretary general Jameson Timba said the postponement was on the understanding that Mwonzora would not seek to recall more MPs when Parliament convened on Tuesday.
“The matter was postponed to Wednesday on the full understanding that they have no intention to recall MDC Alliance MPs on Tuesday,” Timba said.
Own Correspondent|An employee at the Zimbabwe Electrical Supply Authority (ZESA), Clement Mateta, is reportedly traumatised after Tarirai Mnangagwa, the son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa threatened to shoot him over the weekend.
Mateta who was in the company of former Sunday Mail photographer Edmore Muzerengi had gone to Mnangagwa’s farm in Norton to record meter readings the incident took place.
Muzerengi told NewsDay that upon arrival at the farm, Mnangagwa who was entering the premises stopped Mateta from accessing the meter box saying they were not supposed to enter the premises since it was a State House and protected place.
He ordered them to sit crosslegged, entered the house and came out wielding a pistol, fired shots in the air and used the pistol to remove Mateta’s face mask. Narrated Muzerengi:
“We identified ourselves and produced letters from Zesa, but he still threatened to kill us. He said he could kill and bury us behind his house and nobody would know what happened to us.”
Muzerengi added that Mnangagwa then asked a woman who was behind him to collect the meter box keys and opened it, took pictures of their identification particulars and the letter from Zesa and released them.
Both Mashonaland West police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera and national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were yet to receive the report.
Own Correspondent|Small-scale gold miners have raised a red flag after Fidelity Printers’ gold buying points have reportedly ran out of US Dollars to pay for their gold.
Fidelity is the country’s sole buyer of the yellow metal and runs several buying centres countrywide.
A gold miner in Inyathi District on the outskirts of Bulawayo confirmed to ZimEye.com that he did not get his cash for gold deliveries on Friday.
“We were told there’s no cash and we don’t know why? We delivered our gold at Fidelity on Friday and Saturday,” he said. “We suspect that the staff at Fidelity is making illicit deals with the foreign currency issued to them.”
The Fidelity Printers and Refiners boss says the cash shortages from their gold buying centres are due to the current COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted foreign currency inflows into the country and dismissed the allegations of forex misuse at their branches.
The cash shortages appear to be widespread at most Fidelity Printers branches. Miners in Chinhoyi have also been complaining that their local branch is also out of hard currency yet Fidelity was collecting gold from miners. The miners also accused workers at the Chinhoyi branch of misusing the money at the expense of miners.
Kunaka said, “We would like to reiterate that the current cash shortages have nothing to do with employees at our buying centres rather its due to the cash movement disruption brought about by the COVID 19 lockdown”.
“FPR has been diligently paying all the miners who deliver their gold using the formal channels and with the relaxation on the lockdown measures, we are hoping we will start receiving cash and all payments will normalise,” he said.
The coronavirus COVID-19 is affecting over 200 countries in the world with countries resorting to restricting movements in an effort to combat the deadly disease. This has disrupted world trade as many countries banned incoming and outgoing commercial or passenger flights.
South African gold refiner RAND REFINERY stopped shipping gold to London on 30 March 2020 because of a lack of commercial flights, adding to the disruption that’s upending the physical bullion market. However business is set to improve as some countries have began easing trade restrictions.
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acted unlawfully when it suspended the holding of all by-elections due to the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, legal watchdog, Veritas has said.
The legal think-tank argued that even if the suspension was legal, ZEC had illegally enforced it by not approaching the Electoral Court for the suspension to have a court-ordered backing and also informing concerned political parties.
In March, ZEC chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba announced the suspension of all electoral activities due to Covid-19.
“The chairperson announced, presumably with the approval of her fellow commissioners, but her announcement was not followed up with an official notice in the Gazette or a newspaper,” Veritas said.
“So far as we are aware, before announcing the suspension she did not consult all the political parties likely to be affected by it.
“What ZEC should have done, in our view, was to apply to the Electoral Court for an order declaring that in view of the Covid-19 epidemic, it would be lawful to suspend all electoral activity until the danger had passed.
“If ZEC had done that, the court could have clarified the legal position after giving all parties an opportunity to express their views.”
Chigumba issued her statement ahead of a scheduled by-election in Ward 16, Chiredzi Rural District Council that was set for 4 April. The by-election was immediately suspended.
However, Veritas argued there was nothing in the legal statutes that allowed authorities to suspend scheduled elections.
The Constitution states by-elections must take place within 90 days after a vacancy occurs unless it happens nine months before the holding of a general election.
“The section does not say that by-elections can be postponed beyond the 90-day limit, and there is no other provision in the Constitution that gives the power to postpone elections or by-elections,” Veritas said.
“In the case of by-elections to fill vacancies in local authority councils section 121A of the Act gives ZEC power to fix the dates, but again the section states that the dates must not be more than 90 days after the vacancies occurred.
“Although Section 132 of the Act allows ZEC to change the dates, ZEC cannot extend polling beyond the constitutionally fixed time-limit of 90 days.
“In any event, if ZEC does change the dates of a by-election under Section 132, it must give notice of the change in the Gazette and in a newspaper.
“ZEC has not given such notice of its decision to suspend all by-elections.”
Own Correspondent|South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that there are now a total of 17,200 COVID-19 cases in South Africa.
This is an increase of 767 cases from the 16,433 cases reported on Monday.
26 more deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of fatalities attributed to the virus to 312.
Mkhize said 488,609 tests for COVID-19 had been conducted as of Tuesday 18 May. This is an increase of 13,538 tests over the past 24 hours.
He added a total of 7,960 recoveries have been seen in the country, an increase of 662 from the previous day.
Provincial breakdown
The Western Cape has recorded 187 deaths due to COVID-19, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 46 deaths and the Eastern Cape with 41.
The table below provides an overview of the total number of recorded COVID-19 cases per province, along with the number of deaths in each province attributed to COVID-19.
Province
Case Numbers
Deaths
Western Cape
10,639
187
Gauteng
2,361
27
Eastern Cape
2,135
41
KwaZulu-Natal
1,616
46
Free State
168
6
Limpopo
94
3
Mpumalanga
78
0
North West
72
1
Northern Cape
37
1
South Africa not ready to lift lockdown
Mkhize said South Africa does not yet meet criteria set out by the WHO as a guideline for determining a country’s readiness to lift restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19
According to the minister, the rate of new infections was still too high to justify a complete reversal of South Africa’s lockdown measures.
The government is expected to further ease restrictions in the coming weeks after it recently announced e-commerce retailers would be allowed to offer and deliver all items, with the exception of tobacco and alcohol products.
The Department of Basic Education has also announced schools are set to reopen for Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners on 1 June 2020.
#Covid_19 statistics in South Africa as at 19 May 2020.
Revived MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora says that he tried to advise the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai to follow the constitution of the party in 2016 when he appointed Nelson Chamisa as Vice President.
Watch Mwonzora speak on the video downloading below:
The MDC renegade Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said the MDC Alliance Secretary General, Chalton Hwende has proven he was never the holder of the position.
Presenting before the High Court, Mwonzora said
“It is denied that the said Chalton Hwende is the secretary-general of the applicant.
“He has not told this court how he came into being as the secretary-general of the applicant.
“He has not shown that he has any authority whatsoever to act for and on behalf of the applicant as he has not attached any proof of authority to represent the applicant at all.
"I never contested in the MDC Alliance congress led by Nelson Chamisa," says @DMwonzora but he is on full colour LIVE video as a candidate during the MDC Alliance Gweru Congress with alliance partners @BitiTendai and @JobWiwa , and others. @nelsonchamisapic.twitter.com/L0abPZ5XXp
“I will demonstrate that at the material times, the said Chalton Hwende did not seek the office of the first applicant. To the contrary, he sought and temporarily got office from me as secretary. However, the situation has now changed.”
“It is denied that the MDC Alliance ever held a congress anywhere in Zimbabwe. It was the faction of the MDC-T led by Nelson Chamisa that held a congress in Gweru,” Mwonzora said and attached the notice of the said congress that brought together most of the MDC Alliance leadership under one party.
Mwonzora contested for the post of secretary-general and lost to Hwende during the 2019 congress, but in his opposing papers, he denied participating in any MDC Alliance congress.
“By virtue of the judgment of Justice (Edith) Mushore as well as the judgment by the Supreme Court, the actions by Nelson Chamisa in his capacity as president of the MDC-T were nullified. I never contested in the MDC Alliance congress led by Nelson Chamisa. Fortunately, the judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court,” he said.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Mwonzora said the Bulawayo congress by the MDC-T, another faction of the opposition movement, was also a legal nullity following the Supreme Court ruling.
Chamisa and Khupe are fighting for the control of Zimbabwe’s mainstream opposition party.
Mwonzora said the legislators were fired for insisting that they belonged to the MDC Alliance.
In his papers filed last week, Hwende said since their election in 2018, they had been treated in Parliament as members of the MDC Alliance and they were surprised why they were now being referred to as MDC-T members.
“Our party, the MDC Alliance fielded candidates in constituencies for election as Members of Parliament in terms of section 46 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13],” he said.
“In our case, our forms were filed and signed for as is required by the law. At all material times, we were MDC Alliance. In all our communication with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, we were MDC Alliance. We registered election agents through the MDC Alliance. They were accredited for as MDC Alliance. At no stage were we ever anything other than the MDC Alliance.”
The legislators said Mudenda and Senate president Mabel Chinomona acted illegally by apportioning themselves powers of the courts.
Meanwhile, the High Court yesterday postponed the hearing of a matter filed by Timveous challenging her dismissal from Parliament.
The matter was moved to tomorrow after the MDC Alliance and MDC-T consented to the postponement.
Timveous cited Senate president, Parliament of Zimbabwe, Mwonzora, Khupe and the MDC-T as respondents.
Masvingo police have been guarding the provincial registry complex for the past four days after a staffer lost a bunch of keys allegedly to thieves, TellZim News reported.
Sources said a member of the skeletal staff that is maintaining the offices for the duration of the lockdown lost the keys after work on May 15.
Though provincial registrar Sithembeni Chitsa could not be reached for comment, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Masvingo provincial assistant spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the development.
“We are investigating the alleged theft of the keys and I can confirm that the keys have not yet been found,” said Dhewa.
Other sources said the bunch contained keys for the main entrances and safes containing security item registers, receipts and other sensitive documents.
“The spares are not available and it would be a big problem if the lockdown was to be lifted today because there would be no access to the interior unless the doors are broken. People are worried that sensitive documents will be stolen for malicious reasons,” said a source.
It is understood the spare keys used to be kept at Standard Chartered Bank which no longer has a branch in Masvingo.
The source said it could be an inside job as there was a lot of infighting and backbiting over positions at the office.
The provincial registry handles citizens’ sensitive personal information; providing such services as registration and processing of birth certificates, passports and reburial orders.
At national level, the office has not been without controversy, with Registrar General (RG) Clemence Masango, who succeeded Tobaiwa Mudede, being arrested and suspended from work without pay for corruption.
Twelve employees from Gonarezhou National Park have tested positive to Covid-19 virus following tests done on Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits at a private laboratory in Chiredzi yesterday.
The 12 were among 62 employees from Gonarezhou who went for mandatory Pre-Industrial tests at Lancet Laboratory as the animal sanctuary prepares to re-open early next month.
Chiredzi District Medical Officer Brian Dhladhlara confirmed the development in an interview with The Mirror but said the results will only be conclusive after Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests which were conducted today. He also said the 12 were advised to isolate themselves while at their homes.
“I can confirm that 12 employees from Gonarezhou tested positive to Covid-19 virus on RDT tests done at Lancet Laboratory yesterday. The 12 had their specimens collected at Chiredzi Hospital today for PCR tests which are being done by the same laboratory and we are expecting the results tomorrow morning. We will only confirm their status after the PCR tests since RDT is not conclusive so at the moment we advised them to self quarantine at their homes,” said Dr Dhladhlara.
The RDT checks to see if a body is reacting to the presence of a virus. Its results are not accurate because the test may detect the body’s response to other viruses other than Covid-19.
Today 1291 RDT screening and 553 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 31589 (17414 RDT and 14175 PCR).
To date the total number of confirmed cases remains 46; recovered 18, active cases 24 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
Number of tests Done today
Number of Confirmed Cases
NumberRecovered
Number of active cases
Deceased
Province
RDT
PCR
New
Cum
New
Cum
New
Cum
Bulawayo
74
186
0
12
0
4
7
0
1
Harare
590
309
0
22
0
9
11
0
2
Manicaland
108
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mash Cent.
–
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mash East
19
0
0
6
0
4
2
0
0
Mash West
176
6
0
5
0
0
4
0
1
Midlands
149
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Masvingo
10
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mat North
76
16
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
Mat South
89
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
1291
553
0
46
0
18
24
0
4
Do not stigmatize or tease anyone about being sick with COVID-19; remember that the virus does not follow geographical boundaries, ethnicity, age, ability or gender. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe.
In the below video Emmerson Mnangagwa tells investors wishing to put money in building roads and rail lines: all the institutions in the country are just a branch of his Zanu-pf party. So anyone wanting to bring money into the country will have to first of all respect his ZANU PF party.
Mnangagwa says ZANU PF is everything in Zimbabwe and must be respected. We are the police the army….we are everything in this country pic.twitter.com/HrRFrSGUoh
Judicial Service Commission to hold a ceremony to witness the separation of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court on Fri | WILL THIS CHANGE THE LIVES OF ORDINARY ZIMBABWEANS?
State Media|Nineteen people escaped from quarantine at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Hotel in Beitbridge on Monday night, with five others absconding mandatory quarantine at Rupangwana Isolation Centre in Chiredzi, in the last seven days.
Beitbridge police were last night pursuing the 19 escapees while two of those who escaped from Chiredzi have since been arrested while three are on the run.
A combined 27 returnees have now escaped from the NSSA Hotel quarantine centre since it started operating after the first group of eight absconded in the first week, prompting authorities to beef up security.
It is understood that those who escaped were part of the people arrested for facilitating the smuggling of groceries and an assortment of goods along the Limpopo River.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not available for comment last night, but sources said the 19 fled between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
It was discovered around 10am yesterday, when the group skipped breakfast.
“Seventeen of those are Beitbridge residents, from mostly villages on the border line. Two others are not local residents, but are believed to have connived with the group.
“Efforts are being made to locate them at their given addresses.
“These were tested when they were put into quarantine and are Covid-19 negative,” said the official.
The Director of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare, Mr Totamirepi Tirivavi last night, said he was yet to get a report on the incident.
The Beitbridge quarantine centre has capacity to accommodate 280 people, but Government has set the maximum at 150.
There are presently 48 people at the centre.
By the end of yesterday, all the people in quarantine had been moved to one wing of the hotel to maximise security.
Recently, 41 Malawians who had skipped the border through an illegal crossing point along the Limpopo River were intercepted by security agents while attempting to hitch-hike.
Turning to the Chiredzi escapees, three of the five were returning from South Africa and are from Zaka while the other two are from Chipinge.
Chiredzi District Development coordinator Mr Lovemore Chisema, who is also the district Covid-19 taskforce chairperson, said the hunt for the three was underway.
“Of the first group of three men (all from Zaka), we managed to account for two who are now back at the isolation centre and we are looking for the remaining one.
“These three had undergone testing for Covid-19 when they arrived at the isolation centre and they had all tested negative.
“The two men from Chipinge escaped before they were tested,” he said.
Following the escape, the number of people at the centre has declined to 18.
The developments at Rupangwana came as police on Monday night swooped on a house at Maringire Business Centre in Chivi and arrested three Harare-bound women who had illegally crossed the border from South Africa.
They were arrested after a tip-off.
They had sought overnight accommodation at a relative’s house at the business centre.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula confirmed the swoop on the three women.
The four SADC leaders who agreed to join the war in Mozambique.
State Media|SADC states have been urged to support Mozambique’s fight against terrorists and armed groups attacking civilians and infrastructure in Cabo Delgado Province in the north-east of the country.
In a communiqué after an Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Troika on Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation held at State House in Harare yesterday, which was also attended by Mozambique, the leaders said Sadc condemned the armed terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage carried out in Cabo Delgado Province as contained in the Sadc Declaration on Terrorism and the AU Convention on the Prevention and Combating Terrorism.
“The Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit plus Mozambique urged Sadc member states to support the Government of Mozambique in fighting the terrorists and armed groups in some districts of Cabo Delgado,” reads part of the communiqué.
The communiqué was read out by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo.
The meeting was convened by President Mnangagwa in his capacity as the chairperson of the Sadc Troika to discuss the security situation in Mozambique following its request for the regional body’s intervention.
The Summit was attended by Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu, Botswana’s leader Mokgweetsi Masisi, who are both members of the Troika, and their Mozambican counterpart, Filipe Nyusi, who briefed the meeting of the situation in his country.
In his remarks when he officially opened the Summit, President Mnangagwa thanked President Nyusi for formally presenting the situation in his country to Sadc.
He said this showed the confidence he had in the regional body’s structures and support and ability to work together to deal with the threat.
“The threat of terrorism in the past decade has assumed greater proportions,” he said. “Regions that previously did not perceive seriousness of the threat, or seemed immune to terrorism, are being targeted by terrorists. The threat is now becoming increasingly complex, blurring boundaries between political religious and ideological extremism and crime. In addition, the modus operandi of the terrorist groups and their networks are intricate and elaborate.”
He said the region was equally affected by the growing risk of threatening peace, security and development.
President Mnangagwa said as the Chairman of the Sadc Troika, he was concerned by the situation in Cabo Delgado and parts of Manica and Sofala provinces and had decided to convene the meeting after his meeting with President Nyusi in Mozambique last month.
“The possible impact that these developments have on the peace and security of the people of Mozambique and the entire region are indeed dire. Subsequently we both agreed on the importance of an urgent Organ Troika meeting to brief the Organ on the extent of the problem and proffer the way forward,” President Mnangagwa said.
Speaking after the Summit, the President said their meeting was frank and open, adding that they reiterated their commitment to peace, security and stability in Mozambique and the region.
“This is all testimony to Sadc’s robust and rich heritage, which stems out of the founding principles of our august regional body,” he said.
President Lungu thanked President Mnangagwa for convening the Summit despite dangers being faced globally due to Covid-19.
Cabo Delgado is the north-eastern province of Mozambque, bordering on Tanzania and the Indian Ocean. Since October 2017 armed groups claiming to be Islamist militants have been attacking civilians, who have taken the brunt of the attacks, police and government workers and buildings. It has claimed ties with the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant and that terrorist group has said it is active in the area.
It is thought that the terrorists fund their activities largely through drug and ivory smuggling.
Political analyst Goodwine Mureriwa commended Sadc’s solidarity in tackling its challenges.
He said the spirit of solidarity was a historical reality of shared cultural values co-existence that were there prior to colonisation. “Ubuntu demands unity and friendly relations in Sadc and Africa as a whole.”
Mr Mureriwa said the collective liberation war support and values continue to cement the “injure one injure all principle” that binds the region.
“The move to counter terrorism is noble and inevitable in the interest of regional security, terrorism is a global threat to peace, stability and development. It should be condemned and eradicated,” Mr Mureriwa said.
Meanwhile, the Summit commended the region’s efforts in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and paid tribute to medical frontline workers that have sacrificed their lives in fighting the disease. The Summit also took note of the situation in Lesotho following the resignation of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane yesterday.
The Summit also noted the situation in Malawi, which is due to hold elections following a Supreme Court ruling that nullified results of its Presidential election held last year.
Former Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri
State Media|Former Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri is suspected of diverting US$32 million of public funds into family companies and buying a large swathe of property, which the State now wants frozen pending the final outcome of possible criminal cases and civil suits.
During his 25 years at the helm of the police, Chihuri and his family acquired a lot of property and other assets.
So yesterday Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi filed an application at the High Court seeking an order compelling Chihuri to explain how he acquired his properties and he wants all the assets still in Zimbabwe frozen until investigations and resulting court actions are complete.
Chihuri, his wife Isobel Halima Khan Chihuri, daughter Samantha Hamadziripi Chihuri, and son Ethan Takudzwa Augustine Chihuri were listed as the respondents in the application along with relatives Aitken and Netsai Khan and six companies: Croxile Investments, Adamah Enterprises, Mastermedia (Pvt) Ltd, Mastaw Investments and Rash Marketing.
In an affidavit deposed by Mr Hodzi, Chihuri is under investigation for criminal abuse of office, money laundering, theft and fraud. He accuses Chihuri of establishing a “syndicated criminal mafia” meant to siphon public funds for his personal benefit and that of his cronies. This would have entailed externalisation of money and money laundering abroad, he said.
Mr Hodzi contends that Chihuri established the companies in connivance with his relatives for the alleged purposes of siphoning funds from the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s revolving fund held under CBZ Account number 0212050619002.
Isobel Chihuri, according to the State, is the managing director for Mastaw Investments, which received US$3 823 285 from ZRP General Headquarters after giving an allegedly fake business address.
Rewstand Enterprises received US$10 401 500 from ZRP despite using an allegedly fake address. Investigations by the police found a different company operating from that address, said Mr Hodzi.
Nodpack Investments (Pvt) Ltd of Bure Close in Strathaven, Harare, whose directorship includes Clever Nziramasanga and had Isobel Halim Chihuri as general manager, allegedly received US$5 766 252.31 from the police. But, said Mr Hodzi, this address was a residential property for a Mrs Marange who does not know Nodpack, raising strong suspicion that the address was fake.
Croxile Investments (Pvt) Ltd of 8 St Aubins Walk in Chisipite received US$1 892 040 from the police, with Vanessa Madalisto Banda listed as director and Isobel Chihuri as general manager. But the property owner is a Mr Matongo who does not know about Croxile.
ZRP also released US$10 575 732 to Adamah Enterprises Pvt Ltd of 29 Carsberg Avenue in Alexandra Park in Harare. Isobel Chihuri is also general manager of this company with Nelia Mafunga listed as director. But investigations found this address belonged to another company called Brightcoast Construction owned by Clever Nziramasanga.
Mastermedia (Pvt) Ltd, according to the State, is owned by Isobel Khan Chihuri and it received US$1 073 038.08 from the ZRP Revolving Fund from January 5, 2016 to February 9, 2017.
Rash Marketing, which is owned by a CBZ employee called Shingirai Maponga and his spouse Sharon Maponga nee Tiyani, received US$764 370 from November 14, 2016 to December 12, 2016.
The companies won orders for the supply of goods and services without going to tender.
Besides the company dealings, the State is keen for Chihuri to explain his property holdings.
Four vehicles are also listed under assets that need explanation. Two combine harvesters, six tractors, two planters, three motorbikes and a boom spray were found at Chihuri’s farms at Shamva and Darwendale.
State Media|Some banks yesterday started issuing new $10 notes to customers queuing for cash, although others said they would only start availing them today.
The red $10 notes were put into circulation by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), with the new blue-grey $20 notes going public in the first week of June.
Weekly cash withdrawal limits more than tripled from $300 to $1 000 from today.
All businesses in the formal sector have been accepting debit cards or mobile money transfers for some time now, are unlikely to be affected positively or negatively by the new notes, and even in the informal sector, vegetable vendors are increasingly advertising their EcoCash numbers for mobile money transfers.
There are micro-businesses who offer lower prices for cash, and the increased quantity of cash in circulation is likely to reduce the discount given for banknotes, with all prices tending to come close to the digital money prices. It was too early yesterday to see what effect the extra cash in circulation was having on the market.
Most people do need cash for bus fare, although Zupco has introduced tap cards and there is no difference between cash and tap fares.
The Covid-19-induced national lockdown, which has been extended indefinitely, has made it difficult for people to access new Zupco tap cards, although those with such cards can prepay them at some retail and other shops.
With independent commuter omnibuses suspended from operating, only Zupco buses and contracted transporters allowed to offer public transport, it is likely that cash fares will in the end, be replaced by tap cards.
However, pirate operators, the mushikashika and private motorists offering lifts still demand cash.
Availability of banknotes should see the premiums demanded by sellers of cash for mobile transfers dropping, as supply increases to meet demand.
By Wilbert Mukori. | My dear sister Beatrice Mtetwa
I am done with appeasing tyrants!
indepth…Wilbert Mukori
We have allowed tyrants like Mugabe and Mnangagwa ride roughshod over us, denying us our freedoms and rights for the last 40 years. Look where it has landed us – in this economic and political hell-on-earth. You are having to lie just to flatter Mnangagwa in the hope he will finally stop treating us like dirt!
“And to you, vaMatanga, our esteemed Commissioner General of Police, you inherited an organization which had become so discredited that it was no different from a rag-tag police force for an aspiring government in a war torn country hoping to take over power,” you stated in your letter to Mnangagwa.
“Only, it was worse in that it was actually the government’s police force, which in terms of the Constitution should be a Police Service. So discredited it was that even his Excellency, your boss, who had not committed any crime, could not trust it and the courts to protect him. He felt safer in the hands of the police of neighbouring countries.”
Yes, the Zimbabwe Republic Police was, in November 2017 when Mnangagwa escape to SA, and still is to this day a totally discredited institution.
But to suggest that Mnangagwa, of all people, “had NOT committed any crime” is a nauseating lie. The Police, Army, CIO, judiciary and all the other state institutions have all been corrupted by none other than Emmerson Mnangagwa himself. Throughout the Mugabe years, he was a senior member, second only to Mugabe himself, of the Joint Operation Command (JOC); the junta, that turned Zimbabwe into the de facto one party dictatorship.
Mnangagwa was Mugabe’s chief enforcer for 37 years. He was the henchman behind the Gukurahundi massacre in the 1980s, which forced PF Zapu to sign the unity accord paving the way for the one-party dictatorship. He has boasted of being the one who saved Mugabe and Zanu PF from the humiliating electoral defeat in 2008. He forced ZEC to cook up the vote count to deny MDC victory and force the presidential run-off where he used wanton violence to secure a Mugabe victory.
Yes, Mnangagwa escape to SA fearing for his life. He did not trust some of his follow JOC members just as much as they feared for their own lives because they did not trust him. Such is the dog-eat-dog nature of Zanu PF, a party of ruthless thugs.
As it turned out, it was Mnangagwa and his Lacoste faction who prevailed. Mugabe was booted out of office in the November 2017 military coup. Justice George Chiweshe declare the coup “legal, justified and constitutional”!
Mnangagwa and his cronies went on to blatantly rig the July 2018 elections. A gaggle of braindead geese, masquerading as Constitutional Court judges, endorsed his elections regardless of the glaring flaws and illegalities in the election process. ZEC had three different results which it could not verify because 10% or so of the V11 forms, summary of vote count at each polling station, were missing. And so each of the three teams had made up figures. ZEC had not followed the laid down counting procedure!
The whole election had gone ahead even though ZEC had failed to produce something as basic a verified voters’ roll; a legal and common-sense requirement.
Zimbabwe is in this economic mess and political paralysis because the country has had the great misfortune to be ruled by a corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous regime for the last 40 years. Four decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have left the economy in ruins.
Four decades of political oppression have forced most men and women with some common-sense and integrity to abscond from political activity, leaving the field open to corrupt and incompetent thugs. The scum of the earth!
“Instead of protecting the three young (MDC) women, appointees instead allowed the violation of their persons and their rights in the most despicable of ways. I therefore address you, your Excellency, not only as someone who lives in Zimbabwe, but as a woman, a mother to Zimbabwean children who include a daughter who could easily have been anyone of the three young women so despicably abused by agents of your appointees,” you have pleaded.
The tone of your letter suggests that Mnangagwa himself is clean and honourable and above ever committing such heinous crimes. As we all know, such flattery did not work with Mugabe; it will not work with Mnangagwa either! The abduction, vote rigging, murder, etc happened during his watch; he is responsible, more so when he is the principle political beneficiary of the crime. Period!
After 40 years of denying us our freedoms and rights, Mnangagwa now believes he not only has the right to rig elections but to abduct, rape, beat, murder anything to cow us into submission. He is chief instigator and beneficiary of all the political intrigue and criminal activities. The worst thing we can do is blame his subordinates, leaving T S Eliot’s “Macavity, the monster of depravity” to rig the next election and commit another crime.
Mnangagwa blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections, his regime has no mandate to govern, it is illegitimate and it must therefore step down. He and his subordinates must step down, that is not negotiable.
We need to allow appointment an interim administration whose task will be to implement the democratic reforms, to drain the country’s political sewage pond, so the nation can finally hold free, fair and credible elections. – SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com
State Media|Four returnees from South Africa, believed to have been recently released from prison, are now quarantined for an unspecified period in remand prison cells after their arrest for theft and violence while at a quarantine centre in Zimbabwe.
The three — Fanuel Mapaiki, Allen Mungai and Tinotenda Chigwande — were arrested for theft and unlawful entry, while Garikai Tawanda was arrested for attempted murder after stabbing another returnee with a pair of scissors.
The four had already been separated from the rest of the group they returned with after causing problems at Harare Polytechnic where the law-abiding returnees from the same bus loads were housed.
The four were moved into isolation at Prince Edward High School, but allegedly continued their criminal activities there.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of three of the returnees facing theft and unlawful entry charges.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Fanuel Mapaiki (22), Allen Mungai (30) and Tinotenda Chigwande (25) on May 15 at Prince Edward Quarantine Centre,” the police said.
The three were charged with unlawful entry, have since appeared in court and were remanded in custody.
A fourth returnee, Garikai Tawanda, is accused of stabbing a fellow returnee.
He appeared in court on Saturday facing attempted murder charges and was remanded in custody to May 29.
Tawanda was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before magistrate Sheunesu Matowa. He complained in court that he was feeling pain in his ribs after being assaulted by police with batons, saying he needed medical attention. The court ordered the he be assisted with medication.
The State alleges that on May 15 at around 7pm Tawanda approached Munashe Razawo, who was also isolated at Price Edward School. It was said the two had a misunderstanding that ended up with Tawanda stabbing Razawo in the stomach several times before the latter was rushed to hospital.
The wayward behaviour of the four now in the remand cells reportedly started at Harare Polytechnic last week when authorities were forced to separate them from the rest of the returnees for rowdy conduct, with the quarantine officers in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deciding to transfer the group to Prince Edward.
A source who was quarantined with the crew before their transfer said the group was unruly from the onset.
“These were people released from South African prisons straight into quarantine facilities, said the source. They were behaving in a weird way from the first day.
Women among returnees had to be taken to Girls High instead of Harare Polytechnic after some members of the group were making disturbing comments over their bodies on the bus.”
After arriving at Harare Polytechnic, the group, which was housed in Block D is alleged to have started stealing belongings from others in quarantine.
“Things were disappearing, and they were violent towards the rest of us, said the source. They had to be moved to Prince Edward.”
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare confirmed there had been trouble.
Chief director in the Ministry, Mr Clifford Matorera said: “What happened is that they were moved from Harare Poly to Prince Edward. We could not risk mixing ex-convicts and those in quarantine voluntarily.
Some of the ex-convicts had been originally arrested in South Africa for rape, murder, robberies and other crimes. They needed to be monitored separately.
But at Prince Edward they allegedly started committing crimes, breaking into the housemaster’s house and stealing valuables from student lockers in the hostels they are housed in. They allegedly tried to steal from the deputy head and from teachers’ cars.
Besides theft, there have been episodes of violence.
“We had to take one of the returnees to hospital after he had been stabbed by a scissors, said Mr Matorera. We do not know what the issue was about or where the attacker had got the weapon.”
The stabbed returnee was taken to hospital for treatment and is back at the quarantine facility where he is recovering.
It seems like Zodwa Wabantu’s latest relationship with her Ben 10 Vusi has taken a knock and the two are on a break.
Speaking to Drum Magazine the dancer has revealed that although the two had been on lockdown together, Vusi has since left.
Elaborating further Zodwa says things started going sour after the break in at her Durban house that saw robbers making away with items worth over R100 000.
She even issued a statement that she was willing to pay a reward of R30 000 to recover her stolen property.
On the reason for the breakup she said “Things were not working out, he left but I’ve learnt that you must allow people to leave. You accept things as they come and as they are and allow people to be themselves.” Vusi is her second public relationship after her breakup with Ntobeko Linda a year ago.
Although things are not working out on the personal front, Zodwa Wabantu is expanding her beauty business.
After launching her perfume range which consists of two perfumes she is gearing up to launch her petroleum jelly and lipstick.
Meanwhile, Zenande Mfenyana is expecting her bundle of joy and after keeping it under wraps for the longest time on Mothers Day she finally shared the good news.-State media
A SELF-STYLED prophet from Mabvuku was yesterday sentenced to an effective seven years in prison with labour for raping his patient twice.
Harare regional magistrate, Mr Godwin Chizhande had initially slapped Allen Nyabereka (23) with 10 years imprisonment, but conditionally suspended three years Nyabereka pleaded not guilty, but Mr Chizhande convicted him due to overwhelming evidence against him.
Charges against Nyabereka stemmed from an incident on May 29 this year when the 20-year-old complainant fell sick and decided to seek help from Nyabereka.
The complainant, who was in the company of her father and another relative, went to Nyabereka’s Mabvuku residence and found people queuing, waiting to be served.
They joined the queue and when their turn came, they went inside the house and Nyabereka ordered the complainant’s father and an accompanying relative to leave the room. Nyabereka and the girl remained in the room and the door was closed as well as the windows. The court heard that Nyabereka administered an ointment into the complainant’s nose and eyes and she felt dizzy, before losing consciousness. Nyabereka stripped her before raping her.
When the complainant regained consciousness, she discovered that Nyabereka had raped her, but she was ordered to quickly dress up and wait outside for more rituals.
Nyabereka then served the last person in the queue and again called the girl into the room. He administered the same ointment again into her nose and she fell unconscious. While she was unconscious Nyabereka raped her again and dismissed her afterwards.
In mitigation, Nyabereka said he was a youthful first offender who was not married and deserved the lenience of the court.
LESSONS FOR TODAY The State has been tough on religious leaders or self-styled prophets found guilty of sexual offences, the crime is still being committed.
Sexual abuse is on the rise in modern prophetic churches as there is lack of structures to hold leaders accountable, and institutional systems tend to protect predators and harm victims.-State media
Nairobi. — South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny have tested positive for Covid-19.
Dr Machar yesterday said that he and his wife, who is also the Defence minister, had contracted the virus after interacting with infected members of the High-Level Taskforce on Covid-19, a team drafted to help fight the pandemic.
A statement from his office said a number of his staffers, including security guards, also contracted the virus, although their names were not immediately published.
“We are still awaiting other tests and hopefully tomorrow we will have the full list (of positive cases among the Taskforce),” Dr Machar told a televised news conference in Juba on Monday.
“All our colleagues that have tested positive are in good health.” He added that he and his wife will quarantine in their home.
“A doctor may be visiting us until they tell us it is time to end the quarantine. All our colleagues will also be self-quarantining,” Dr Machar said.
His spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, said Dr Machar and Ms Teny are both asymptomatic but “feeling well and healthy”.
South Sudan was the last East African Community member state to report a Covid-19 case when a UN staffer reporting to duty from abroad tested positive in April. The cases have since risen to 290 and four deaths.
No recoveries have been reported. Strained by a seven-year civil war, South Sudan has one of the poorest health systems.
Dr Machar rejoined the government of national unity in February following a peace deal signed in September 2018.
His office said he was coming forth to declare his status as part of efforts to counter panic associated with Covid-19.
Officials in his party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition, said his coming forward would encourage the public to follow guidelines announced by the Taskforce he chairs and help lower the coronavirus infection rates. -The East African
Nineteen people escaped from quarantine at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Hotel in Beitbridge on Monday night, with five others absconding mandatory quarantine at Rupangwana Isolation Centre in Chiredzi, in the last seven days.
Beitbridge police were last night pursuing the 19 escapees while two of those who escaped from Chiredzi have since been arrested while three are on the run.
A combined 27 returnees have now escaped from the NSSA Hotel quarantine centre since it started operating after the first group of eight absconded in the first week, prompting authorities to beef up security.
It is understood that those who escaped were part of the people arrested for facilitating the smuggling of groceries and an assortment of goods along the Limpopo River.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not available for comment last night, but sources said the 19 fled between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
It was discovered around 10am yesterday, when the group skipped breakfast.
“Seventeen of those are Beitbridge residents, from mostly villages on the border line. Two others are not local residents, but are believed to have connived with the group. “Efforts are being made to locate them at their given addresses.
“These were tested when they were put into quarantine and are Covid-19 negative,” said the official.
The Director of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare, Mr Totamirepi Tirivavi last night, said he was yet to get a report on the incident.
The Beitbridge quarantine centre has capacity to accommodate 280 people, but Government has set the maximum at 150.
There are presently 48 people at the centre.-State media
Farai Dziva|Controversial Masvingo based preacher, Isaac Makomichi has sensationally declared that Douglas Mwonzora is a man who needs spiritual deliverance as God’s ” leadership gift is not upon his life.”
Makomichi is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust.
In a statement released on Monday Makomichi described Mwonzora as a “good man” who needs spiritual deliverance.
Read the full statement below:
I have been praying for the nation for a long time.
This is what I saw in a prophetic dream- Angels revealed the face of a man who has been chosen by God to lead the opposition party.The man who has been chosen to lead the opposition is Nelson Chamisa.
The angels revealed Mwonzora’s name is not on the list of chosen leaders.I am still praying about the issue.
This means the man has not been chosen to lead the people.However, we cannot say he is a bad person.
What he needs is spiritual deliverance.If one tries to lead people without listening to the divine voice, one will be wasting time. Leaders are chosen by God. You cannot just lead people without the Lord’s approval.
What I can say is nobody can go against God’s plan, time will tell.
Let us not be emotional, above all let us be patient as a nation.
Farai Dziva|Former Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi has said Emmerson Mnangagwa is the man behind the abduction and torture of MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
Below is Mzembi’s argument :
No mystery there… we as a Nation just choose to forget certain things, the chronology of events and new modus operandi ever since Nov 2017 coup and these sporadic abductions just remind us who is in charge since then.
From a Police to a Military State! Before Nov 17, Zim was suffering from an inordinate presence of Police Roadblocks, but they were manned by Police alone. I complained bitterly about this, it’s on record .
There were no soldiers though, party or paramilitary presence at these roadblocks It was a modus operandi that if you are apprehended at a Police Roadblock you are asked to follow or drive to a Police Station with an officer inside your car before being charged.
Your car would remain parked until your appearance either in court or fine Post-Nov 2017, Roadblocks reflect a joint operation of all security agents but the Police are no longer in charge, they submit to the Army, they may not necessarily be in uniform but they are overall in charge-lots of haggling between them at these points.
A victim is usually torn between their arguments of civil or paramilitary handling of these cases, but they always head to a Police Station sometimes victims are made to drive all around Harare as they seek a determination on what to do with them In the case of these three, they were determined political cases, and with these MID takes over, not even CIO whose brief has been subsumed by MID since Nov 2017. There is deep distrust between the two.
It’s all in the public since the coup Ask Chombo, Chimedza etc who blindfolded them & which Police Station kept them in Custody? And who interrogated them during their incarceration.
Ask G40 these questions how we were arrested, who interrogated us & the helplessness of the Police Because of this divide post-Nov 17, we would get tip-offs of impending abductions, how and where they would happen. I got mine on the morning of the 19th of September 2018, and was authoritatively told if you don’t escape it will be too late in 12 hrs! I thank the Security Branch and Officers that tipped me off, I would be history.
My destiny was Goromonzi, I don’t know where but some interrogation and torture camp they told me. So it is not a wonder why that car is parked there and who took over!
Finally even the President switched his Aide de Camp from Police to Airforce blue.
Mugabe always had a Snr Ass Comm behind him now it’s the Army, this manifests who is in charge, that reflects down to a roadblock. Musaenda kuGumbwa mhinduro iripo.
Farai Dziva|Former Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi has said Emmerson Mnangagwa is the man behind the abduction and torture of MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
Below is Mzembi’s argument :
No mystery there… we as a Nation just choose to forget certain things, the chronology of events and new modus operandi ever since Nov 2017 coup and these sporadic abductions just remind us who is in charge since then.
From a Police to a Military State! Before Nov 17, Zim was suffering from an inordinate presence of Police Roadblocks, but they were manned by Police alone. I complained bitterly about this, it’s on record .
There were no soldiers though, party or paramilitary presence at these roadblocks It was a modus operandi that if you are apprehended at a Police Roadblock you are asked to follow or drive to a Police Station with an officer inside your car before being charged.
Your car would remain parked until your appearance either in court or fine Post-Nov 2017, Roadblocks reflect a joint operation of all security agents but the Police are no longer in charge, they submit to the Army, they may not necessarily be in uniform but they are overall in charge-lots of haggling between them at these points.
A victim is usually torn between their arguments of civil or paramilitary handling of these cases, but they always head to a Police Station sometimes victims are made to drive all around Harare as they seek a determination on what to do with them In the case of these three, they were determined political cases, and with these MID takes over, not even CIO whose brief has been subsumed by MID since Nov 2017. There is deep distrust between the two.
It’s all in the public since the coup Ask Chombo, Chimedza etc who blindfolded them & which Police Station kept them in Custody? And who interrogated them during their incarceration.
Ask G40 these questions how we were arrested, who interrogated us & the helplessness of the Police Because of this divide post-Nov 17, we would get tip-offs of impending abductions, how and where they would happen. I got mine on the morning of the 19th of September 2018, and was authoritatively told if you don’t escape it will be too late in 12 hrs! I thank the Security Branch and Officers that tipped me off, I would be history.
My destiny was Goromonzi, I don’t know where but some interrogation and torture camp they told me. So it is not a wonder why that car is parked there and who took over!
Finally even the President switched his Aide de Camp from Police to Airforce blue.
Mugabe always had a Snr Ass Comm behind him now it’s the Army, this manifests who is in charge, that reflects down to a roadblock. Musaenda kuGumbwa mhinduro iripo.
Farai Dziva|Outspoken cleric, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya, has warned Emmerson Mnangagwa against continued harassment of citizens.
In a strong message to the Zanu PF leader, Bishop Magaya condemned the incessant abduction, torture and persecution of hapless citizens.
See full statement below :
When the voice of the church becomes increasingly louder in its disgust and forthright condemnation of your brutal show of force, callousness on the weak and continuous violation of international conventions and utter disregard of human dignity, then know for sure that you are being weighed in the balance and unless genuine repentance springing from the heart and evidenced by acts of righteousness and justice immediately ensue, you will soon be found wanting and I repeat, your fall and a catastrophic one is nearer.
To all God fearing and loving Zimbabweans, Please join me in this prayer that Jehoshaphat prayed, ” O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” ( 2 Chronicles 20 vs 12 ). Just like how God intervened down the chapter , so he will in our Zimbabwean situation.
Unto him who is able to do far more exceedingly ,abundantly , immeasurably above our hope and imagination, to him be the glory throughout all ages, world without end ( Ephesians 3 vs 20 ).-Bishop Ancelimo Magaya
Farai Dziva|Outspoken cleric, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya, has warned Emmerson Mnangagwa against continued harassment of citizens.
In a strong message to the Zanu PF leader, Bishop Magaya condemned the incessant abduction, torture and persecution of hapless citizens.
See full statement below :
When the voice of the church becomes increasingly louder in its disgust and forthright condemnation of your brutal show of force, callousness on the weak and continuous violation of international conventions and utter disregard of human dignity, then know for sure that you are being weighed in the balance and unless genuine repentance springing from the heart and evidenced by acts of righteousness and justice immediately ensue, you will soon be found wanting and I repeat, your fall and a catastrophic one is nearer.
To all God fearing and loving Zimbabweans, Please join me in this prayer that Jehoshaphat prayed, ” O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” ( 2 Chronicles 20 vs 12 ). Just like how God intervened down the chapter , so he will in our Zimbabwean situation.
Unto him who is able to do far more exceedingly ,abundantly , immeasurably above our hope and imagination, to him be the glory throughout all ages, world without end ( Ephesians 3 vs 20 ).-Bishop Ancelimo Magaya
The recent announcement by the Head of State, President Emmerson Mnangagwa regarding the reopening of schools to examination classes has left most forward-thinking educationists shell shocked.
Re-opening of schools whilst hordes of people from the diaspora are being bused in from COVID-19 infested regions might be just as good as opening Pandora’s box.
Sadly, this announcement is in direct conflict with the situation obtaining on the ground where schools are being used as COVID-19 quarantine centres.
This raises the simple question, where are these classes expected to be carried out if these institutions are being used as quarantine centres? The quarantine process of returnees has been marred by the huge influx of border jumpers who are taking advantage of some of the countries’ porous border posts, leaving the country vulnerable to further infections.
Taking a closer look at the Zimbabwean education set up vis -a- vis the World Health Organisation guidelines on social distancing, we can already see that there is conflict. Average classes have a teacher to pupil ratio of about 1: 60 and such a large class cannot ensure effective social distancing.
The alternative would be to split the class which in turn requires the employment of another teacher.
Without effective social distancing in schools, these institutions will easily turn into high infection zones with catastrophic results. Government needs to attend to that before there is any talk of re-opening schools.
Availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in schools is another area of concern. Looking at the way Government has handled industry by merely giving instruction without the financial backing in regards to the issue of testing employees, leaves a lot to be desired. Schools most of which have dried up coffers are in no position to avail PPEs to Educators and pupils leaving this burden in the hands of Government.
Other schools of thought are encouraging the government to transfer the burden of PPEs to parents however the extended lockdown has left most households poorer than before as all informal traders are still banned from conducting any business activities.
Teachers who are the main characters in the administration of classes lack the technical and critical skills regarding the detection and handling of COVID-19 cases.
Just like we have witnessed unequipped frontline nurses losing their lives in the fight against COVID-19, the same could easily happen to Teachers as they interact with children from various homes and backgrounds.
Before schools re-open, teachers in all their wisdom need to be trained in effectively and safely handling themselves as well as their students in regards to COVID-19.
Whichever way you want to look at it, no teacher training on handling COVID-19, no classes, this is simply a non-negotiatiable issue. Temperature screening and hand sanitizing have been made mandatory at all entrances in all institutions, however, this comes at a cost. Schools in this regard need to have someone who will be dedicated to this task which is another cost the Government is expected to cater for.
As the testing happens, proper guidelines in regards to the handling of suspected cases need to be in place and made available to schools well before they open. As we speak there is nothing of that sort.
In conclusion, everything else considered, the Government is hereby called upon to sit down the relevant health and education authorities as well as to consult widely before opening Pandora’s box.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise daily and the flu season being upon us, this will turn out to one of the worst decisions ever.
Zimbabwe’s capacity to test, trace contacts, isolate and treat patients is still way below pandemic standards and the premature opening of schools can result in more infections against an already weak health system.
The recent announcement by the Head of State, President Emmerson Mnangagwa regarding the reopening of schools to examination classes has left most forward-thinking educationists shell shocked.
Re-opening of schools whilst hordes of people from the diaspora are being bused in from COVID-19 infested regions might be just as good as opening Pandora’s box.
Sadly, this announcement is in direct conflict with the situation obtaining on the ground where schools are being used as COVID-19 quarantine centres.
This raises the simple question, where are these classes expected to be carried out if these institutions are being used as quarantine centres? The quarantine process of returnees has been marred by the huge influx of border jumpers who are taking advantage of some of the countries’ porous border posts, leaving the country vulnerable to further infections.
Taking a closer look at the Zimbabwean education set up vis -a- vis the World Health Organisation guidelines on social distancing, we can already see that there is conflict. Average classes have a teacher to pupil ratio of about 1: 60 and such a large class cannot ensure effective social distancing.
The alternative would be to split the class which in turn requires the employment of another teacher.
Without effective social distancing in schools, these institutions will easily turn into high infection zones with catastrophic results. Government needs to attend to that before there is any talk of re-opening schools.
Availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in schools is another area of concern. Looking at the way Government has handled industry by merely giving instruction without the financial backing in regards to the issue of testing employees, leaves a lot to be desired. Schools most of which have dried up coffers are in no position to avail PPEs to Educators and pupils leaving this burden in the hands of Government.
Other schools of thought are encouraging the government to transfer the burden of PPEs to parents however the extended lockdown has left most households poorer than before as all informal traders are still banned from conducting any business activities.
Teachers who are the main characters in the administration of classes lack the technical and critical skills regarding the detection and handling of COVID-19 cases.
Just like we have witnessed unequipped frontline nurses losing their lives in the fight against COVID-19, the same could easily happen to Teachers as they interact with children from various homes and backgrounds.
Before schools re-open, teachers in all their wisdom need to be trained in effectively and safely handling themselves as well as their students in regards to COVID-19.
Whichever way you want to look at it, no teacher training on handling COVID-19, no classes, this is simply a non-negotiatiable issue. Temperature screening and hand sanitizing have been made mandatory at all entrances in all institutions, however, this comes at a cost. Schools in this regard need to have someone who will be dedicated to this task which is another cost the Government is expected to cater for.
As the testing happens, proper guidelines in regards to the handling of suspected cases need to be in place and made available to schools well before they open. As we speak there is nothing of that sort.
In conclusion, everything else considered, the Government is hereby called upon to sit down the relevant health and education authorities as well as to consult widely before opening Pandora’s box.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise daily and the flu season being upon us, this will turn out to one of the worst decisions ever.
Zimbabwe’s capacity to test, trace contacts, isolate and treat patients is still way below pandemic standards and the premature opening of schools can result in more infections against an already weak health system.
THREE family members have died in a suspected case of food poisoning in Gwanda.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said Jotham Sibanda (64) from Matshiye Village died on Saturday while his two grandchildren aged six and eight died on Thursday and Friday last week.
He said Jotham’s wife Mrs Khohliso Sibanda (58) prepared food for her family on May 7 and they all fell ill resulting in the death of her husband and two grandchildren.
“I can confirm that we recorded a case where a man and his two children aged six and eight years died in a suspected case of food poisoning.
On May 7 in the morning Mrs Khohliso Sibanda prepared food which she ate with her husband and their three grandchildren aged six, eight and 12 years,” he said.
“On the same day at around 11AM they started vomiting and started suffering from diarrhea.
They lost consciousness and were ferried to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where they were admitted. The condition of the child aged six worsened and he was further referred to Mpilo Hospital where he died on Thursday while admitted.”
Chief Insp Ndebele said the eight-year-old child died on Friday at home after he had been discharged from hospital while Jotham Sibanda died on Saturday at his home after he had also been discharged from hospital. He said the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene.
Chief Insp Ndebele said investigations were underway to determine the source of poisoning.
He appealed to members of the public with information that could assist in the investigations to contact the police.-State media
THE MINISTRY of Health and Child Care has lifted the ban on jogging and other outdoor exercises during Covid-19 imposed lockdown.
Outdoor exercises and public gatherings were banned following the national lockdown order which was implemented to contain the spread of the disease.
The new statutory instrument gazetted on Sunday, provides for a limited relaxation of the lockdown conditions specified in Statutory Instrument 94 of 2020.
This follows an announcement by President Emmerson Mnangagwa who extended the lockdown indefinitely promising to review its conditions fortnightly.
The number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 so far in Zimbabwe has risen to 46 with four deaths.
According to the new Statutory Instrument 110 of 2020, any person who fails to comply with the orders shall be guilty of an offence and liable to fine not exceeding level 12 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
“The new order has a provision for outdoor exercise which means walking or jogging along a public thoroughfare, in public parks or other open public spaces where persons may walk or jog for exercise, or at a sporting or recreational establishment.
This does not include gymnastic clubs,” read the document.
“Cycling, or walking or jogging along a public thoroughfare accompanied by one’s dog or dogs, in public parks or other open public spaces where persons may cycle, or walk or jog for exercise accompanied by one’s dog or dogs will also be allowed.”-State media
Own Correspondent|MDC President Nelson Chamisa has responded to claims by wayward former party leader Douglas Mwonzora that the MDC Alliance is not a political party but a pact of opposition parties.
In a special programme with state television ZBC TV, Mwonzora declared that his former party was not a political party.
Chamisa responded and said: “Is Zanu pf not a political party because it is an alliance or a unity accord between Zanu and Zapu?? Some people lack honesty and integrity..”
Chamisa buttressed his assertion by quoting the 1987 unity agreement between ZANU and PF ZAPU.
By A Correspondent- Botswana President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi, who visited Zimbabwe on Tuesday for a Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting, will go into his third quarantine upon returning home, his Government has announced.
Masisi’s spokesperson Batlhalefi Leagang said the president was attending an extraordinary summit of heads of state and government of the SADC organ on politics, defence, and security cooperation in his capacity as the incoming chairman.
The organ is responsible for providing policy direction and decision making on regional political, defence, and security issues.
Leagang said circumstances had forced the meeting to be held face to face despite the Covid-19 pandemic which has spurred virtual meetings worldwide.
“IT, security and defence experts have advised the president that (the) meeting should be face to face in light of (the) sensitivity of the issues discussed,” he said in a statement.
Masisi was expected back in Botswana’s capital Gaborone later on Tuesday.
He will then undergo his third quarantine since Botswana declared a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus.
Masisi was quarantined on March 21 after he attended the inauguration of Namibian president Hage Geingob.
He went through the measure again on April 9 after it was discovered that a nurse who screened members of parliament at a special sitting to debate the state of emergency — which was imposed for six months — had tested positive for Covid-19. In both instances his test results were negative for the virus.
Masisi was accompanied to Zimbabwe by the minister for presidential affairs, governance and public administration Kabo Morwaeng and senior government officials.
Botswana has registered 25 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with one person dying and 17 recovering.
Zimbabwe has reported 46 cases, four deaths and 18 recoveries.
Media Statement|Following the passing on of Mr. David Magagula on 18May 2020, MLF, in consultation its advisory body, Mthwakazi council of Elder, which is drawn from the length and breadth of Mthwakazi, has resolved to declare Mr. David Magagula a Mthwakazi national hero.
Mr. David Magagula will be laid at his final resting place at his rural home at a date to be advised soon. This is in line with our tradition, customs and values. The late passed away after a short illness in Johannesburg in RSA. In conferring him such a status, the organisation (MLF), with it’s subsidiaries considered the invaluable and selfless contributions to Mthwakazi as a whole the departed cadre offered while he lived.
The late, Mr. David Magagula was a teacher by profession with a BA in English for communication and media studies. At the time of his death he was a teacher in languages in the RSA. Magagula co-authored ‘Inyathelo’ series for Mthwakazi primary school children in lower grades to perfect their grasp of our indigenous languages at early stages. These books are still in use even today. He also authored the novel ‘Sasisemeveni’ which became a set book for secondary schools. He is also one of the founding members of Abalobi Bakithi where he co- authored Izigigaba ZakwaNdongaziyaduma. In 2019, he published the novel entitled ‘Good Bye Zimbabwe. In this novel, he sought to interrogate and explore objectively the rampant injustices, impunity and gerrymandering that typify the Zimbabwean regime. At the time of his passing, Mr Magagula was working on a play titled the ‘The Trial of Robert Gabriel Mugabe’, which his publishing company, the Seraphim Publishers, is working towards publishing in the upcoming months.
On the political front, Magagula co-founded Matabeleland Freedom Party (MFP) with Mr. Andrea Sibanda and Mr. Philimon Ncube on 20 June 2006. This they saw as the only conveyance by which to resuscitate and breathe life into Mthwakazi nationalism once again. This they viewed as a means by which to relieve their nation of the unending and unabating afflictions oppression and marginalisation premised on tribal supremacy that has ejected many of people from their homeland. While in MFP, Magagula together with many others who had bought into this noble ideology, traveled home regularly to give out T-shirts and literature on who and what Mthwakazi is. This was an arduous undertaking to rekindle hitherto the somewhat dormant Mthwakazi nationalism and consciousness.
Later in 2009, Magagula was involved in talks aimed at merging MPO and MFP into one strong and compact organisation to champion the aspirations and hopes of our Mthwakazi nation.
These talks gave birth to MLF in 2010 to which Magagula became the first publicity and information secretary and spokesperson owing to his prowess in speech and fearlessness. As MLF spokesperson, Magagula, as a vital cog in a powerful front, pulled huge following from across Mthwakazi sparking the envy of the Zanupf regime which subsequently issued countless threats and punishment including capital. This, however, did not deter the resolute Magagula. Instead, he forged ahead and in the process building alliances with Organisation of Emerging African States(OEAS), the organisation that later helped to bring to the international platform the ruthless purging on thrumped up treason charges metted agaisnt some Mthwakazi cadres among them Charles Thomas, Paul Siwela and John Gazi, some who were later acquitted. They were incarcerated just because they also campaigned for self determination, a cornerstone of Mthwakazi movements. Such dubious senseless attacks by Zanupf regime using its multiple fronts threatened to stall MLF activities but Magagula in his portfolio rose to the occassion and never gave in nor up. He kept the flames burning by pounding with messages of hope and victory and this has kept MLF activities afoot up to now. Magagula as the leader of MLF was instrumental in the establishment of the Internationa Conference of Emerging States in Africa (ICESA), headquartered in Lesotho at the beginning of March 2020. ICESA is a mother body of the nations and states like, Mthwakazi, Caprivi, State of Good Hope, Basotho, Eswatini, Barotseland, Ambazonia, and Biafra which is a springboard platform that represents the African nations and states that seek total independence or regaining of their land that was scandalously given to some nations by the apartheid regimes.
Mr Magagula is survived by his wife Mrs Bokang Magagula, five children- four boys and a girl and two grandchildren. His passing away happens when there is this lockdown due to inexplicable corona virus and this may effectively deprive Magagula of his deserved graceful send off. Equally, this also deprives his comrades, friends and family the opportunity to give him a dignified send off. At the time of writing this declaration, a handful mourners are gathered at his place in Johannesburg to mourn with the family and console them to come to grips with this tragedy which came so abruptly and stole such a pundit. In view of the foregoing, the MLF has seen it most fit, human and appropriate to accord him a recognition he deserves. Accordingly, Mr. David Magagula is herewith declared an ‘Mthwakazi National Hero’. The nation is called upon to uphold the ideals and values he stood for and redouble its effort in pursuit of Mthwakazi independence without fear or favour. Together we owe our independence to both our living and the departed. This is the time to introspect and selflessly give our nation all we can to save them from daily terrorism and predation at the hands of the British proxies – the shameless and callous Zimbabwean regime.
So, a whole cabinet minister and Commissioner-General of the police organise a press conference to deny arresting the MDC youth leaders, obviously not having been briefed that after their arrest at the roadblock, a police officer got into the car and asked the ladies to drive to the police station, standard practice where other police officers have to remain at the road block while one of them gets the arrested persons to a police station.
Who is the Government of Zimbabwe really trying to fool here? We do not have a government in Zimbabwe, and the best thing is for what calls itself the Government to simply step down and fresh elections ordered. What image are the minister and the country’s most senior police officer trying to create for Zimbabwe internationally?
Are they trying to tell the world that there are now police officers in Zimbabwe who will set up a road block, and take the arrested persons to an official police station, park the arrested persons’ car into a parking at the police station and they drive the arrested persons away in a vehicle that is also available at the police station?
So I read the Government is planning to charge the abduction survivors for the lesser crime of violating shutdown regulations, well, they can proceed with that, but what price will they pay for the suffering these ladies have gone through?
Minister Kazembe Kazembe and Police Commissioner General’s press conference was therefore just a ploy to mislead the world and absolve Government’s responsibility in the abduction. So it all means the Police Spokesperson was pressured to make a u-turn from his earlier confirmation that the three ladies had indeed been arrested? If so, by whom? Heads must roll! Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga’s head must roll. Minister Kazembe Kazembe’s head must roll, but the world knows they will be well protected by Dear President, and for that Dear President’s head must roll too.
People of Zimbabwe, know it that we have a criminal Government which has to be removed from power if Zimbabwe is to function. The power is in your hands, and we need to mobilise ourselves and take appropriate democratic action to liberate ourselves. The country cannot continue in this mode.
The United Nations must come in to help the people by ordering an internationally supervised election in Zimbabwe to end this rot.
Own Correspondent|President Eric Masisi left Gaborone on Tuesday for Harare where he attended a meeting of the Southern African Development Community, SADC.
His spokesperson confirmed that extraordinary circumstances had forced him to travel as the incoming chairperson of SADC’s political, defense and security cooperation arm.
“IT, security and defense experts have advised the president that meeting should be face to face in light of sensitivity of issues discussed,” Bathelefi Leagang said.
According to a Botswana Government Twitter post, the president and his entourage shall be subjected to 14-day quarantine as soon as they land in the country.
It will be his third consecutive quarantine.
The first after he attended investiture in Namibia in March and later in April after a healthworker in parliament tested positive on a day he was in attendance.
He said Batswana should be rest assured that President Masisi's safety remains paramount adding that he would be quarantined upon return.
— Botswana Government (@BWGovernment) May 19, 2020
‘A kist is a sign that there will be no divorce. I will die here.’
David and Stella Malebye on their wedding day. Photo: Mzansi Magic/OPW
These were the haunting words that Mzansi Magic’s Our Perfect Wedding (OPW) bride Stella Mthembu said in an interview after shooting the reality wedding TV programme’s last episode.
Merely four days after marrying the love of her life on OPW, Mthembu, who was popularly known by her “stage name” Stella Malebye, sadly passed away on Sunday 17 May. It is alleged the newlywed fell ill a few days after filming the show. The cause of her death is yet unknown.
At the beginning of airing the OPW, it was displayed onscreen that the 46-year-old died after filming her wedding episode which was then dedicated to her family and friends by Mzansi Magic.
Social media abuzz about cause of death
Rumours have been circulating on Twitter and Facebook that she was allegedly poisoned by her 82-year-old mother-in-law who later confessed.
This, however, remains an allegation and has not been proven to be true.
The OPW wedding episode
Stella and David Malebye’s wedding was a beautiful one despite the cake missing a tier; the sparkling wine not arriving and the couple and their bridal party not able to take pictures on their happy day as it was raining cats and dogs. Followed by the tragic passing of Stella…
Watch the couple’s passionate exchange of vows:
Beautiful heart
Those who did not know the bride from Meadowlands, Soweto, personally got to see a glimpse of her beautiful heart. She opted not to throw her bouquet, but rather give each of the single ladies a flower.
Watching her sing “Noyana, Noyana…phezulu?” (Are you going, are you going…Are you going to heaven?) with one of her friends, gave viewers goose bumps as they felt like she knew that somehow all that happiness was going to be short-lived.
Lesson learnt from Stella’s untimely passing
Good times offer great memories and bad times teach us valuable lessons. If anything, the episode reminded us of how short life really is.
Tomorrow is not promised: Love your partner unconditionally and cherish every moment with them. What is here today can be gone instantly, so never take anything or anyone for granted.
Reuters|Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas resigned on Tuesday, removing the main hurdle to resolving a political crisis that engulfed the small southern African mountain kingdom late last year.
Thabane’s departure marks the end of one of Lesotho’s longest political careers, one marked by exile, feuding, intrigue, tensions with the military and a political crisis that worsened when police named him as a suspect in a murder case in February.
His own All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, opposition figures and South African mediators, had been heaping pressure on the prime minister to resign over a case in which he and his current wife are suspected of conspiring to murder his former wife nearly three years ago.
They have both denied any involvement.
“The time to retire from the great theatre of action, take leave from public life and office has finally arrived,” the eighty-year-old told citizens in a speech on Lesotho TV.
“I plead with the entire nation and leadership to give my successor utmost support, and on my part I wish to assure him of my support at all material times,” he added.
Finance minister Moeketsi Majoro has been named by parliament as Thabane’s interim replacement.
Correspondent|Three government websites have been hacked and are currently inaccessible.
The websites in question are the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Youth, Sports, Art, Culture and Recreation and the Ministry of Information.
Visitors to the Ministry of Mines website are greeted with a 404 error whilst the Ministry of Information is redirecting to a site hosting adverts and lastly the Ministry of Sports which is redirecting to a site boldly proclaiming “hacked by W4riok!”
The site also has a strange song playing in the background which has supposedly been done for dramatic effect.
These type of hacks occur in specific situation.
This usually happens when there is belief of human rights violation in a country. The hackers in include ghost-squad hacker (GSH) and W4R10K.
A check on a host of other government websites to see if they too had been compromised showed that the majority of those are up and running just fine – excluding the Registrar General’s website which is only showing a mostly plane page with the word error tucked away in the top left corner of the site.
Editor’s note: Some viewers may find the visuals above sensetive
Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, is pleading for help from South Africa and the United Nations.
The MDC leader says the country is in a political crisis.
It follows the alleged abduction, sexual assault, and torture of one of the party’s female MPs and two youth leaders.
Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were allegedly kidnapped at a roadblock in Harare.
The women were returning from a protest against lack of government support for the needy during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Families and lawyers spent 3 days trying to find the trio.
They were eventually found dumped about 90 kilometres outside Harare.
They are now recovering in hospital and say they were tortured and sexually assaulted.
“They were beating us thoroughly. They were beating us under our feet and our back. There were using hands, sticks and guns,” said MDC youth leader, Chimbiri.
“They were thoroughly beaten, thoroughly assaulted and even sexually assaulted. In fact, it’s a very sad story when you listen to them, they are traumatised. These people had guns, these people were saying why is it that you want to revolt against government?,” added Chamisa.
Police deny the three were in their custody.
Chamisa says the political situation is deteriorating and regional and international bodies must intervene.
He says South Africa as a neighbour and President Cyril Ramaphosa as AU Chairperson must take the lead.
“It’s so difficult that’s why we need the international community to help us, this is why the United Nations must help us, this why SADC and AU should help us, President Ramaphosa please lead us, help us to help ourselves. We are going to stand as Zimbabweans, but ultimately we need an international hand,” he said.
Amnesty International called the incident alarming, saying if they were taken by security forces it is a crime under international law.
Reuters|Southern Africa’s regional bloc urged member states to support Mozambique in fighting militias with suspected links to Islamic State in the natural gas-rich north of the country.
The Mozambican interior minister said on Friday security forces had killed around 50 insurgents in recent days in the northern Cabo Delgado region that has been plagued by violence for several years.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, who chaired a summit including the leaders of Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique, cited a growing risk of religious extremism and radicalization in southern Africa, threatening peace and security.
The meeting, under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) defence and security organ, was assessing the security situation in Mozambique.
“The extraordinary organ troika summit plus Mozambique committed and urged SADC member states to support the government of Mozambique in fighting against the terrorists and armed groups in some districts of Cabo Delgado,” the SADC said in a communique after the summit.
The statement did not say whether SADC would send troops to fight the militias. Mnangagwa said the situation in Mozambique called for “an enhanced joint action given the transnational nature of the terrorist groups”.
Since 2017, infrequent but violent raids on government buildings and villages by militias in Cabo Delgado have intensified, threatening one of Africa’s poorest nations.
Little is known about the insurgents, though initial attacks were claimed by a group known as Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama. More recently, Islamic State has claimed a number of attacks which security officials have struggled to contain.
Exxon Mobil and Total are among big international energy companies developing natural gas projects offshore from northern Mozambique.
Mnangagwa says ZANU PF is everything in Zimbabwe and must be respected. We are the police the army….we are everything in this country pic.twitter.com/HrRFrSGUoh
By Beatrice Mtetwa|Sir, I address you, not because you personally abducted, tortured and sexually abused JOANA MAMOMBE, CECILIA CHIMBIRI and NETSAI MAROVA. Neither do I address you because I know or am in other way connected with the three young women.
I address you as the head of all government institutions in Zimbabwe. I address you as the man who appointed each one of the persons who head our government institutions.
In particular, you appointed the Commander of our Defence Forces, the Commissioner General of our Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Minister in Charge of our State Security, the Director General of Our Central Intelligence Organization.
All four appointees are supposed to be non-partisan and to protect Zimbabweans from both external and internal attacks on their persons, property, integrity and to at all times ensure that rights granted by the Constitution are enjoyed by all.
Instead of protecting the three young women, appointees instead allowed the violation of their persons and their rights in the most despicable of ways. I therefore address you, your Excellency, not only as someone who lives in Zimbabwe, but as a woman, a mother to Zimbabwean children who include a daughter who could easily have been anyone of the three young women so despicably abused by agents of your appointees.
I also wish to point out the gendered nature of these violations where it is clear that these women were targeted for these violations because they are women who have chosen to participate in the country’s politics. The attacks on them is therefore clearly designed to dissuade young women from engaging in politics outside of the ruling party.
Allow me to directly address your appointees through you, Sir. To you General Valerio Sibanda, in your capacity as head of our Defence Forces, if anyone of your men and women were involved in the despicable acts perpetrated against these three young women, you are as responsible as if you held that gun that was used to simulate sexual intercourse.
If none of your members were involved, as head of the Defence Forces, which is associated with guns, you have the obligation to prove through a public and inclusive process that the members of the Defence Forces had nothing to do with these abominable acts.
And as a member of JOC, you have the added responsibility to ensure that none in the defence, security and police sectors do anything that puts the government of Zimbabwe into disrepute.
So, even if none of your members were directly involved in these atrocities, you still have the obligation to ensure that those responsible for the abduction, torture and other abuses these young women were subjected to are publicly brought to account for their actions.
Anything less from you will taint you with every indignity and illegality these three suffered. The goodwill that the people of Zimbabwe showed to members of the army that memorable day in November, 2017 requires that your reciprocate and reassure Zimbabweans that you still lead a people’s army. That the country is still awaiting for reprisals against members of the army who gunned down unnarmed civilians remains a sore point for Zimbabweans.
It is time that you are seen to be a People’s Army. And to you, vaMatanga, our esteemed Commissioner General of Police, you inherited an organization which had become so discredited that it was no different from a rag-tag police force for an aspiring government in a war torn country hoping to take over power.
Only, it was worse in that it was actually the government’s police force, which in terms of the Constitution should be a Police Service. So discredited it was that even his Excellency, your boss, who had not committed any crime, could not trust it and the courts to protect him. He felt safer in the hands of the police of neighbouring countries.
As a Police Service, you have an obligation to protect and secure the lives of those who live in Zimbabwe. You have an obligation to maintain law and order by ensuring that abductors are hunted down like the scum that they are.
You, Commissioner General, will remember the jubilation of November, 2017. You will recall how the police, as law enforcement agents, played second fiddle to members of the army. So discredited were the police that they were wholly identified with the fallen regime. Is this the legacy you want to leave as Commissioner General of the Second Republic?
Is this what the New Dispensation means for your police? Sir, these three young women were taken at a roadblock manned by uniformed police and were taken to your top Central police station after they were “arrested”. They were under your roof. No Zimbabwean will believe that they were released to unknown third parties by your police without any due process requiring identification.
As a former public prosecutor, I am aware, Sir, that the command structure within the police is such that none of your underlings within the police would have released the three to the abductors and torturers without the specific say so of their immediate superiors.
Furthermore, every occurrence at a police station is recorded and you owe the nation an explanation why their attendance at Central Police Station would not have been recorded in the Police Occurrence Book. And none of their superiors would have authorised their release to third parties without first conferring with those above them.
Unless you want to tell the nation you are merely a seat warmer, the buck stops with you on how “arrested” persons were unlawfully removed from your premises by abductors and torturers. Unless you therefore tell the nation how this happened, you are directly responsible and complicit in everything that happened to them.
To you, Minister of State Security, Mr Owen “Mudha” Ncube, your ascension to this throne was controversial. So, prove the country wrong by coming out and openly accepting any role your agents might have played in this. If your agents were not involved, all the more reason to leave no stone unturned in unravelling who the abductors and torturers are.
You can even resort to a few fall guys who will take the can and be pardoned thereafter as has happened many times before. At least it would look as if you care. And you need that little respect where a few people might think that you are a good guy. Intelligence Services in terms of our Constitution are supposed to be non-partisan.
That the abused women are members of the opposition requires that you scrupulously investigate this matter so that any suggestions or perceptions that opposition party women politicians were targeted is dispelled. Your Excellency, this is also to your comrades who were there when the second republic came into being. I remember the abuse the leaders of the War Veterans Association were subjected to in the run up to the removal of the old dispensation.
I remember being asked by one of the Comrades to help in the trumped-up charges brought against them for exercising freedoms granted to them by the constitution. I remember how it was clear that your comrade Victor Matemadanda, now Deputy Minister of Defence, was targeted for elimination on a contrived night time trip to Gokwe on the pretext of going to search his house.
I remember how we resolved that we would drive in a convoy to wherever the comrade was taken regardless of the time of day. I remember how our team resolved to stay with him at the Law & Order Section all night if that was necessary and indeed I got home at 01.00hrs that night after following the police to where he was finally lodged that night and ensuring his name was entered in the detention book. Comrade Matemadanda, do you remember that night?
Do you remember how we taught you and comrade Headman Moyo how to walk when manacled together with leg irons? Do you remember Dave Drury tying your one leg to that of Comrade Headman Moyo’s leg with his tie and the two of you practising to walk whilst carrying your plastic of provisions? Do you, in the War Veterans Association believe that this was done so that your dispensation could abduct, torture and abuse young women exercising the same rights that the old dispensation harassed and arrested you for?
Would you be alive today if we had not kept vigil with you that night to avoid harm befalling you? And my old friend Oppah, how would you feel if your two daughters were subjected to this treatment by any group that comes in as another new dispensation? And yes, comrade Monica, is this what you and Chris were ostracised for in the run up to the coup that was not a coup?
And to all you mothers in the New Dispensation, is this what you are all about? Is this the legacy that you want to leave as the Second Republic? Kirsty Coventry, you are the Minister responsible for Youth. The abducted and tortured young women are youths who fall under your protection.
Your silence in the face of the abduction and torture of youthful young women is astounding, as is the silence of the Minister of Women’s Affairs. Is this what you want your child to think you stood for when she is old enough to read about these occurrences under your watch? And to the entire Zanu (PF), especially the Women’s League, is this who you are? Is this what you fought for?
Is this what you want your legacy to be? And Your Excellency, this is to your wife, the Mother of the Nation, the Angel of Mercy. Amai, tinokutenda nemabasa ako emufushwa. We now appeal for your visibility as our Angel of Mercy, your daughters have been abducted, tortured and abused in ways that as a mother you would not want to hear.
Why have you been silent in the face of such despicable acts against your daughters? Why have we not seen you with sadza nemufushwa, or even potatoes and vegetables to visit these children who need your intervention?
Surely, you and your foundation are appalled at this egregious breach of our constitution. Isn’t the very reason you visibly care for women and children because you care for their well being? Can a tortured and abused women-folk be sustained by mufushwa alone?
The nation awaits your signal on how we should respond to one of the most despicable acts of the New Dispensation.
THE MDC-T has filed papers opposing an application filed by MDC Alliance legislators challenging their recall.
The Thokozani Khupe-led party, in papers filed by Douglas Mwonzora as secretary-general, argued that the MDC Alliance was never a political party, but a faction of the party left by the late Morgan Tsvangirai.
It follows, therefore, that the 2019 MDC Alliance Gweru congress that ushered in new leadership was a legal nullity.
The MDC Alliance last week filed a High Court application opposing the recall by Mwonzora of its secretary-general Chalton Hwende and three other legislators, Lillian Timveous, Prosper Mutseyami and Tabitha Khumalo.
Through his lawyers Chatsanga and Partners, Mwonzora said he was the bona fide secretary-general of the MDC-T and Hwende should not act as such.
He said the MDC Alliance was only a faction of the MDC-T, which split into two following the death of Tsvangirai in February 2018.
Mwonzora is the first respondent, while Khupe, the MDC-T, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda were mentioned as the second, third and fourth respondents, respectively.
The MDC Alliance, its national deputy organising secretary Happymore Chidziva and Wellington Mariga were mentioned as applicants in the matter.
Mwonzora said it was unfair to have the matter sat for before the expiry of the respondents to file opposing papers.
“This application gives all the respondents, including myself, 10 days within which to file opposing papers. Yet the applicants have proceeded to have this matter set down before the expiry of that period. This, I believe, is not only improper, but very unfair as well,” he argued.
He said the certificate of urgency was based on an application for review that does not exist.
“I believe a certificate of urgency based on a falsehood is fatally defective.”
Mwonzora said Hwende had not proven how he was, indeed, in such a position.
“It is denied that the said Chalton Hwende is the secretary-general of the applicant. He has not told this court how he came into being as the secretary-general of the applicant. He has not shown that he has any authority whatsoever to act for and on behalf of the applicant as he has not attached any proof of authority to represent the applicant at all.
“I will demonstrate that at the material times, the said Chalton Hwende did not seek the office of the first applicant. To the contrary, he sought and temporarily got office from me as secretary. However, the situation has now changed.”
“It is denied that the MDC Alliance ever held a congress anywhere in Zimbabwe. It was the faction of the MDC-T led by Nelson Chamisa that held a congress in Gweru,” Mwonzora said and attached the notice of the said congress that brought together most of the MDC Alliance leadership under one party.
Mwonzora contested for the post of secretary-general and lost to Hwende during the 2019 congress, but in his opposing papers, he denied participating in any MDC Alliance congress.
“By virtue of the judgment of Justice (Edith) Mushore as well as the judgment by the Supreme Court, the actions by Nelson Chamisa in his capacity as president of the MDC-T were nullified. I never contested in the MDC Alliance congress led by Nelson Chamisa. Fortunately, the judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court,” he said.
Mwonzora said the Bulawayo congress by the MDC-T, another faction of the opposition movement, was also a legal nullity following the Supreme Court ruling.
Chamisa and Khupe are fighting for the control of Zimbabwe’s mainstream opposition party.
Mwonzora said the legislators were fired for insisting that they belonged to the MDC Alliance.
In his papers filed last week, Hwende said since their election in 2018, they had been treated in Parliament as members of the MDC Alliance and they were surprised why they were now being referred to as MDC-T members.
“Our party, the MDC Alliance fielded candidates in constituencies for election as Members of Parliament in terms of section 46 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13],” he said.
“In our case, our forms were filed and signed for as is required by the law. At all material times, we were MDC Alliance. In all our communication with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, we were MDC Alliance. We registered election agents through the MDC Alliance. They were accredited for as MDC Alliance. At no stage were we ever anything other than the MDC Alliance.”
The legislators said Mudenda and Senate president Mabel Chinomona acted illegally by apportioning themselves powers of the courts.
Meanwhile, the High Court yesterday postponed the hearing of a matter filed by Timveous challenging her dismissal from Parliament.
The matter was moved to tomorrow after the MDC Alliance and MDC-T consented to the postponement.
Timveous cited Senate president, Parliament of Zimbabwe, Mwonzora, Khupe and the MDC-T as respondents.
Own Correspondent|The Kenyan government spokesperson, Cyrus Odhiambo Oguna has warned police officers against arresting motorists, who are not wearing face masks in their personal cars.
“What they are supposed to do, is to rather just encourage the drivers to have them on,” he said.
While speaking to the daily COVID-19 briefings, he mentioned that wearing a mask, was a culture being adopted to combat spread of coronavirus in the country, thus should be encouraged all the times.
He added that when leaving a house, it is mandatory to wear a mask since one will be outside their personal space.
The government official said “a personal car is not a public place, police officers should encourage drivers to have their masks on, instead of arresting them.”
“You must step out of your house with a mask on. A personal vehicle is not a public place thus we should find a way to achieve compliance. Police officers should encourage people in vehicles to have masks on so that they don’t leave the vehicle without them,” he said.
The spokesperson reiterated that coronavirus was not going away tomorrow, and called upon people to adapt to the new cultures and practices to prevent spread of COVID-19.
Own Correspondent|The US Embassy in Harare says that The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank have approved a $13.7 million grant to finance the COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe.
The funds are meant to provide an immediate relief for frontline responders and health personnel. Its also meant to boost the country’s Global Health Security amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The statement informed that the Approval for the grant was made on the 13th of May, after a request had been made by the Zimbabwe Government Ministry Of Finance.
The funds which are from the African Development Fund (ADF) 14 Transition Support Facility are set to go a long way in Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 Response Project (CRP), whose aims is to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country which is already facing economic and social challenges.
The CRP is meant to be used on 15 high-density urban suburbs in Harare , satellite townships and specific health facilities in other areas of the country.
The activities which the project is set to cover include boosting COVID-19 prevention and management protocols for healthcare personnel .It also includes populations in targeted regions, and increasing access to COVID-19 hand washing facilities in Harare, satellite townships and other affected regions.
The project is also set to supply COVID-19 medical equipment and laboratory test kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and set up handwashing facilities through rehabilitation or construction of boreholes.The training of healthcare personnel and laboratory technicians at community level on COVID-19 prevention and case management protocols will also be implemented. .
The World Health Organization is set to implement the project with the assistance of the with the country’s Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Over 680 000 people are set to benefit from the project.
The country is currently on lockdown and the majority of the people are in great need of assistance from the regional and international community.
What appear to be MOWAG Piranhas destined for Botswana.
Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe social media has been awash with images showing Chinese military vehicles “arriving in Zimbabwe” are in fact of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) equipment delivered overland via Namibia.
Photos and videos have emerged online showing military vehicles and other equipment being transported by road, with erroneous reports claiming the equipment has been bought to be used in a possible zimbabwe Military intervention in Mozambique.
However, ZimEye.com has since established that the equipment was in fact delivered to Botswana from France under a 2016 order.
Photos show a Unimog-mounted Mistral Coordination Post, a Panhard VBL armoured vehicle fitted with what appears to be a Mistral launcher assembly, a VL MICA missile transporter-erector-launcher truck and a VL MICA truck-mounted radar or command post vehicle.
A separate set of photos appears to show MOWAG Piranha armoured vehicles being transported on the back of lowbed trucks. Botswana has acquired a number of these from Switzerland.
Website defenceWeb understand that the equipment was delivered in at least two different convoys. One convoy was apparently several months ago, and the other was at least a year ago. It is most likely the VL MICA and Mistral systems were delivered most recently.
A Mistral command post vehicle.
In 2016 Botswana ordered 50 MICA missiles for a single VL MICA surface-to-air missile system and 50 Mistral surface-to-air missiles. These were acquired from France’s MBDA for approximately €304.2 million.
The VL MICA is a short range, ground based air defence system deploying the MICA fire-and-forget missile, capable of being fitted with either a heat-seeking homing head or with an active radar seeker head. Interception range is up to 20 km.
The Mistral man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) is a short range weapon using a fire-and-forget heat-seeking missile with a range of up to 6 km. It is normally operated by a gunner and a crew commander. However, if the mission is carried out in a simple tactical environment, it can be operated by one single soldier. Mistral entered series production in 1989 and over 16 000 missiles have been ordered by more than 27 countries.
A Panhard VBL.
According to defence export and Director at African Defence Review, Darren Olivier, some of the equipment appears to have arrived at the port of Walvis Bay before being transported to Botswana. “The trucks seem to be part of the VL MICA ground-based air defence system, which we know that the BDF recently acquired, and the Panhard VBL looks to have a Mistral launcher assembly fitted which again is something we know the BDF has recently acquired.”
“The wrapped vehicles look to be MOWAG Piranhas, which the Botswana Defence Force already operates. In 2016 it ordered an additional 45 Piranhas, which have been arriving in small batches over the past few years in convoys just like this. In other words, nothing to worry about,” Olivier said.
Own Correspondent|A popular Cameroonian pastor has died less than a week after being diagnosed with the coronavirus (Covid-19), leaving hundreds of his supporters panicking after the man had laid hands on them in an effort to “cure” them of the infection.
African News Agency reports that Pastor Frankline Ndifor was also a candidate in the central African state’s last presidential election.
According to Voice of America (VOA) news, Cameroon police used force to gain access to the pastor’s residence in the economic capital of Douala, as some of his supporters blocked entrances, praying for his resurrection.
Hundreds of the pastor’s followers sang on Sunday morning at Ndifor’s residence that the man popularly referred to as “the prophet” was not dead, but on a spiritual retreat with God, and would return soon. Their singing and prayers were broadcast by several local radio stations.
Ndifor died and was buried in front of his residence on Saturday by workers of Cameroon’s Covid-19 response team in the city.
Doctor Gaelle Nnanga told VOA that the pastor died less than a week after being diagnosed with Covid-19.
He said that some members of Ndifor’s Kingship International Ministries Church called him to come to the pastor’s aid when they found out Ndifor was in agony, and that when the medical team he leads arrived, Ndifor was having severe respiratory difficulties.
He said the pastor died less than 10 minutes after being treated.
The governor of Cameroon’s coastal region said in a release that he deployed police to force their way into Ndifor’s residence when his followers chased medical staff away.
Ndifor follower Rigobert Che said the “prophet” last Wednesday prayed for him and several dozen people diagnosed with Covid-19, and some who suspected they were carriers or had symptoms.
He said Ndifor’s death had brought panic to the hundreds of people who had been visiting him for prayers for a divine cure.
According to Che, the pastor has been laying hands on the sick and claiming that he was able to cure Covid-19.
“If you, the person that claims that you are curing Covid-19, you are dead, what about the fellow people that were affected by the Covid-19? Now that he is dead, I do not know how the people that he was laying hands on will be healed,” he told VOA.
Medical staff have urged all the people who came in contact with the pastor to report to hospitals to be tested for the virus.
Besides praying for Covid-19 patients at his home and his church, Ndifor was also donating buckets and soap to the poor to protect themselves from the virus. His last public outing was on April 20, when he ventured into Douala’s streets to distribute face masks.
File Picture Walter Mzembi in court with his lawyer, Job Sikhala
Own Correspondent|Exiled former Zimbabwean Cabinet Minister, Walter Mzembi has said that the people behind the abduction of opposition MDC members and human rights defenders in the country are known.
In a Twitter thread after revelations that Joanna Mamombe’s car was found at Harare Central Police Station, Mzembi opened up that government is to blame for the abductions.
Below is his full Twitter thread.
No mystery there… we as a Nation just choose to forget certain things, the chronology of events and new modus operandi ever since Nov 2017 coup and these sporadic abductions just remind us who is in charge since then. From a Police to a Military State!
Before Nov 17, Zim was suffering from an inordinate presence of Police Roadblocks, but they were manned by Police alone. I complained bitterly about this, it’s on record . There were no soldiers though, party or paramilitary presence at these roadblocks
It was a modus operandi that if you are apprehended at a Police Roadblock you are asked to follow or drive to a Police Station with an officer inside your car before being charged. Your car would remain parked until your appearance either in court or fine
Post-Nov 2017, Roadblocks reflect a joint operation of all security agents but the Police are no longer in charge, they submit to the Army, they may not necessarily be in uniform but they are overall in charge. lots of haggling between them at these points
A victim is usually torn between their arguments of civil or paramilitary handling of these cases, but they always head to a Police Station sometimes victims are made to drive all around Harare as they seek a determination on what to do with them
In the case of these three, they were determined political cases, and with these MID takes over, not even CIO whose brief has been subsumed by MID since Nov 2017. There is deep distrust between the two. It’s all in the public since the coup
Ask Chombo, Chimedza etc who blindfolded them & which Police Station kept them in Custody? And who interrogated them during their incarceration. Ask G40 these questions how we were arrested, who interrogated us & the helplessness of the Police
Because of this divide post-Nov 17, we would get tip-offs of impending abductions, how and where they would happen. I got mine on the morning of the 19th of September 2018, and was authoritatively told if you don’t escape it will be too late in 12 hrs!
I thank the Security Branch and Officers that tipped me off, I would be history. My destiny was Goromonzi, I don’t know where but some interrogation and torture camp they told me. So it is not a wonder why that car is parked there and who took over!
Finally even the President switched his Aide de Camp from Police to Airforce blue. Mugabe always had a Snr Ass Comm behind him now it’s Army, this manifests who is in charge, that reflects down to a roadblock. Musaenda kuGumbwa mhinduro iripo.
Own Correspondent|The saga around what happened to the abducted MDC trio continues to deepen with news that the car they were using was found parked at Harare Central Police Station.
Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe, 27, and two other activists from the MDC’s youth assembly – Cecilia Chimbiri, and Netsai Marova – were arrested at a police roadblock near the Harare Showgrounds while returning from an anti-government protest in the suburb of Warren Park on May 13.
Police advised Mamombe to drive her grey Mercedes to the Harare Central Police Station, where the vehicle remains parked.
Mamombe’s husband, Mfundo Mlilo, said that police – in the presence of the MDC’s lawyers – had engaged a locksmith to open the Mercedes where the three women’s phones were recovered.
The three women, speaking from their hospital beds, said they were abducted from the police station by men driving in a black Toyota Wish and driven for an hour, with bags over their heads, out of Harare into the forest. They were tortured and sexually assaulted over two nights after being forced into a pit.
They were dumped near Bindura from a moving car at dawn on Friday, two days after they went missing.
Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the three women’s arrest in the hours shortly after the demonstration which was not sanctioned by police, but he recanted a day later when police could not account for the women’s whereabouts.
The mobile phones hold vital evidence about the women’s movements on the day they disappeared.
Mlilo said: “Police now have the three phones. Joana’s is an iPhone and it keeps a map of where she has been, at what time on a particular day. I’ve heard that police want to claim that the Mercedes was only parked at the station on Saturday, but the cellphone data will easily dispel that.”
There was CCTV at the main police station in Harare, fed by several cameras.
“If the CCTV is reviewed, it’s very easy to establish when the Mercedes came in, and it should also be possible to establish when this abduction vehicle arrived and left. But you get the truth from a professional police service, and I don’t think the ZRP is that at the moment,” a middle-rank police source said.
