Cecilia Chimbiri has demanded that police officers guarding her hospital door leave the post. In the video below, Chimbiri is seen pointing and shouting at the officers.
She is one of the three female members of the opposition MDC who were abducted on Wednesday in Warren Park, Harare, during a flash protest only to be found on Thursday night in Bindura.
The MDC party says that the trio was found tortured, traumatised and dumped.
Watch the video below for more.
Pindula
David Coltart Independent|RENOWNED lawyer and MDC-Alliance treasurer-general David Coltart says the crisis which played out in the last few weeks in the backyard of the country’s main opposition MDC has Zanu PF fingerprints all over it. The former Education minister in the 2009-2013 Government of National Unity believes President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ruling party is seeking to weaken and crush the once vibrant movement — a development he says lays the groundwork for the Zanu PF leader to establish a one-party state. Coltart (DC) this week spoke to Zimbabwe Independent correspondent Nkululeko Sibanda (NS). Below are the excerpts of the interview:
NS: The MDC-Alliance national council last week resolved to disengage from Parliament, citing a number of reasons. Given the political matrix at play in present-day Zimbabwe, would you think that this was the best way to confront the challenges the party is facing?
DC: Let me stress something about that decision for a start. It was not a final decision. It was agreed that there was need to suspend activities in Parliament pending consultation. So we are now trying to consult with our structures on the way forward.
NS: Would complete withdrawal of MDC-Alliance legislators from the National Assembly and the Senate be the best way to deal with issues?
DC: Well, I think at the moment we cannot say the decision to disengage will be a good one or bad one because we still need to see where the broad consensus, in terms of party members and supporters, lies. There are powerful arguments that can be forwarded both ways.
Let me take you a little bit back to 2005 and one of the reasons of the MDC split was whether to participate in the senatorial elections at the time or not. (Founding party leader Morgan)Tsvangirai did not want to participate in those elections. He put the matter to the national council which narrowly made a decision that we should participate in the elections and that is how the split came about.
I was in that group which said we should have participated in that election. And the reason why I said we should have participated was that we needed to maintain democratic space. We were not supposed to yield the hold that we had managed to get in places like Bulawayo to Zanu PF. And that argument, in a certain way, still holds sway today in saying that we are in Parliament. We need to maintain our hold in Parliament and not to let it go.
However, on the other side, there is a very strong argument to say we cannot compare the Parliament of today to the one in 2005 for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, no matter what one thought about the split then, there was no clear evidence in 2005 that either formation of the MDC was working with Zanu PF.
We had a disagreement in terms of policy but there was no question of either faction working with Zanu PF. No evidence was brought forward and, critically, there was no action taken by either faction to destroy the other. In that respect, things are totally different. In the present circumstance, we have the MDC-T which is working in clear alliance with Zanu PF. The best example that I can put forward is the removal of the four MPs.
It would be impossible for the four MPs to be removed from Parliament without the consent of Zanu PF. In essence, the speaker of Parliament (Jacob Mudenda) made a political judgment in the matter given that he had two letters before him, one from the MDC-A which said Mwonzora and company should be dismissed and another from Mwonzora pushing for the recall of the four MPs.
The Speaker decided to act in a quasi-judicial manner where he dismissed one letter and upheld the contents of the other. What I am saying is because of this clear connivance, one dares question or imagine how it would be to remain in parliament going forward. We wonder whether parliament is still independent or it is now a body that one political party can abuse to deal with the other.
NS: Some within the MDC-Alliance family as well as outside feel there was a need for the party to engage with its stakeholders before the decision to disengage from Parliament was reached. Do you share this sentiment?
DC: Well, I think that is our intention (to consult), bearing in mind that this is a provisional decision subject to consultation with the wider MDC-Alliance family. We still need to go out there and consult. There is also an understanding going on in Parliament that our MPs are being subjected to a lot of intimidation in the form of people saying if you resign, if you do not join Mwonzora, there are going to be a lot of consequences. We have seen (Justice minister) Ziyambi Ziyambi talking about the withdrawal of MPs’ vehicles and all sorts of things. There are overt threats on our MPs and covert threats as well.
NS: One believes that Parliament is the rightful body to handle the administrative issues pertaining to the withdrawal of MPs for one reason or another, in that certain measures will be taken in accordance with the standing rules of Parliament. Is there anything wrong with that?
DC: If we are to assume that Parliament is an objective national institution and independent in its discharge of duties, then it’s a different case. But when our Parliament ceases to be independent and becomes an appendage of Zanu PF, those rational and lawful processes won’t take place.
NS: Reports this week have suggested that there is discord within the MDC-Alliance and its MPs on the course of action to be taken, chief among them the disengagement agenda. One would wonder: Is everyone in the MDC-Alliance singing from the same hymn book with the national leadership of the party?
DC: Inevitably, in any political situation, you might never get a consensus on a particular issue all the time. That is made even more difficult in a country where people have no other prospects of employment outside their being MPs. Our people have been reduced to paupers by some of the policies of this Zanu PF regime. Some of our MPs have very tough choices to make. Many of them live from hand to mouth. They do not have savings.
Quite frankly, they will be thinking of their survival post the Parliamentary term. So this talk of losing cars and allowances and amending the constitution to avoid by-elections is designed to send a message to all our MPs to say that if you go with the decision of the MDC-Alliance (to disengage from Parliament), you will lose all these things, your cars and allowances and you might never return to Parliament again. It is the equivalent of blackmail and, in those circumstances, it would be foolhardy for me to say that we will get 100% support. A lot of our MPs would be in dire circumstances and, because of that, some of them might not make a decision based on principle.
NS: Should a sizeable number of MPs refuse to toe the party line to disengage, what are the available options for the MDC-Alliance leadership insofar as ensuring that these members are brought to the same page as the rest of their colleagues in the party?
DC: I would not have that answer off the top of my fingertips. But allow me to respond and say, to me, this is a clear attempt by Mnangagwa to enforce a de facto one-party state in Zimbabwe. It’s clear from the non-payment of monies due to us under the Political Parties Finance Act, it’s clear from the connivance with the Speaker of Parliament, it’s clear from Mwonzora’s actions that Zanu PF wants to weaken and destroy the MDC-Alliance under the leadership of Nelson Chamisa.
It’s clear from the actions of the police who were called in to deal with the issues of trying to get access to the party headquarters (by Mwonzora) that that is their intention. And anyone who does not see this as a brazen attempt by Mnangagwa, with Khupe and Mwonzora in tow, to re-create a one- party state in Zimbabwe is simply not in touch with reality. Given that, my assumption is that they will do everything in their power to threaten our MPs to go against the party they represent, that is the MDC-Alliance.
They are trying to get access to our assets. They are busy trying to ensure that the money meant for the party (ZW$7,5 million under the Political Parties Finance Act), which we also intend to use to pay our workers, does not get to us. It is all in furtherance of that attempt by Mnangagwa to weaken us and, in the process, institute his one-party state agenda.
I have to state that if we are not inclined to taking up arms and to a violent route of stopping Mnangagwa from instituting his one-party state agenda, we then have one option available to us, which is to go back to the drawing board and establish means and ways in which we can strengthen ourselves to take Mnangagwa head-on and stop him from doing what he intends to do.
NS: Some people have argued that the name MDC can now be safely tucked away in the annals of history. They believe that with all that has been happening to the brand, it is time to park it and come up with a new identity that does not have the excess baggage. And they argue that the party still has enough time to build its image and support base under a new name ahead of the 2023 elections. What would be your view with regard to this sentiment?
DC: Well, I think that debate is raging. We need to apply a business branding approach to it. In business, corporates like Coca-Cola use billions of dollars in branding. So the question is whether, on balance, the MDC is a positive brand or a negative brand. I think that is an open question that I cannot answer. All I can say is that the MDC brand is a positive one in the sense that it is well-known. Everyone knows the brand because of its association. It is a negative brand because it has been associated with splits and factions for all these years.
There is also a question to say, in 2018, Nelson Chamisa got more votes on his own than all his MPs. So you can then ask what was wrong with the MPs and the brand MDC which made them fail to get all those votes to match those that Chamisa, as a brand on his own, managed to get. There is no doubt that Nelson Chamisa is a powerful brand that you can then take and institutionalise.
NS: On another note, the MDC formations have been at each other’s throats fighting over company assets. As the party treasurer, what can you say are the properties that belong to the party at the moment?
DC: When the MDC was formed, it was agreed that we needed to stay away from individualising party property. In saying that, there are quite a number of immovable party properties that are still there. It is only that they are not registered under the name MDC.
NS: Last year, there were reports that there was money that had disappeared from the coffers of the MDC under your very watch. Has there been any movement with regard to tracing and recovering the money?
DC: I have issued press statements on several occasions where I have explained that there was no money that had disappeared. We made a decision to have our books audited as a party. That decision had nothing to do with the money that is said to have disappeared. It was an internal arrangement to put our things in order. I also said that I had put in place systems that made it impossible for money to be abused.It is unfortunate that I do not have any evidence of any money being abused as alleged.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has accused the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe and its Ambassador Timo Olkkonen of being behind what they call stage-managed abductions in Zimbabwe.
A ZANU PF social media group accused the European Union for executing the abductions.
MDC Alliance Parliamentarians have described the torture and abduction of the opposition party’s youth leaders as a desperate attempt by the Illegitimate Zanu PF government to silence democratic voices.
Three MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were abducted, tortured and dumped in Bindura by suspected state security agents.
See full statement below:
MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus Statement :
The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus condemns the abduction, kidnapping, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment of Our Member of Parliament for Harare West Constituency Hon Joana Mamombe together with The MDC Alliance Young Assembly National Deputy Chair Cecilia Chimbiri, and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Organiser Netsai Marova.
Enforced disappearance, and torture are crimes against humanity and unacceptable in a democratic society. They are International crimes where those that are responsible must be prosecuted and punished.
The fact that the four female activists were abducted in broad day light is a serious indictment to the Illegitimate regime of Zanu PF. The Hitler style of suppression of citizens is condemned and has no place in The 21st century politics.
Abducting and torturing Women a few days after Mother’s Day makes it more ugly and heartless.
The intention is definitely to intimidate citizens and silence the opposition voices and close down on democratic space.
The Zimbabwe Government’s intention is to destroy in totality or The MDC Alliance.
The government activities are wide spread and systematic, and the targeted group is the MDC Alliance. In Zimbabwe, the MDC Alliance is now an endangered population that risks total extinction through deliberate targeted actions of abductions and torture, arrests and persecutions, as well as targeted eliminations through intentionally designed accidents and poisoning.
The abduction and torture of citizens, including a Member of Parliament is regrettably a confirmation of the fact that Zimbabwe is moving steps backwards in democratic practices and deeper into dictatorship and authoritarianism.
The rumors that the female activists have been found near Bindura in Mashonaland Central and with visible marks of injuries of torture shows that there is serious violation of human rights in Zimbabwe. SADC and AU must intervene and stop the government of Zimbabwe from continuing in this terrible path of human rights abuses.
For and on behalf of The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus
Thabitha Khumalo( Chairperson)
Leader of the House in Parliament
Hon P C Mutseyami
Senator Lillian Timveous
Chief Whips
The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation has outlined measures ought to be taken for some of the country’s sporting disciplines to resume in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
All sporting activities are currently temporarily suspended amid the government-enforced lockdown to mitigate the spread of the novel pandemic.
In his latest state of the nation address though, President Emmerson Mnangagwa reduced the lockdown parameters to Level 2.
Through a memorandum in our possession, the Ministry laid a platform for the resumption of sport in the country by categorizing disciplines into three; low risk, medium risk and high risk.
“The Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation and its stakeholders notably the Sports and Recreation Commission, Zimbabwe Wrestling and Control Board, Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and others are keen to resume sporting activities amid the Level 2 lockdown in the middle of the
Covid-19 pandemic. The anxiety came after realising that some sporting codes when carefully programmed can be implemented at the same time adhering to lockdown parameters pronounced by His Excellency.”
“Zimbabwe can systematically re-introduce the sporting events after strategically programming and planning for a smooth implementation. The aim is to provide an enabling platform for some sporting codes to hold training, competitions and continue their leagues amid the Covid-19 lockdown guided by precautionary measures pronounced and being enforced by the government. We aim to work in partnership with our usual stakeholders including medical experts and those that will be defined essential when implementing this strategy,” reads the memo.
Low risk sporting disciplines as indicated in the memorandum include tennis, shooting, athletics, swimming, darts, golf and chess.
Medium risk sporting codes include weight-lifting, badminton, softball and baseball while high risk ones include soccer, wrestling rugby and basketball.-Soccer 24
?? André Alkema: The story of Zimbabwe’s economic collapse begins in 1997, the 14th of November 1997, a day that is now known as “Black Friday” in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe currency lost 75% of its value against the US$ in one day. Why?. Facing pressure from the war veterans, always crucial to the ruling ZANU-PF’s grip on power, the Mugabe Government had earlier in 1997 announced unbudgeted pension payouts that amounted to 3% of National GDP, or in more frightening terms, 55% of the previous year’s total budget. This was the first fundamental error leading to Zimbabwe’s collapse.
The failing economy from 1997 onwards, led to international isolation in economic terms with, both World Bank and IMF suspending credit lines as they believed Zimbabwe could not afford the debt bill that would be incurred by lending more money to Zimbabwe. Investors saw the economic instability as hi-risk and withdrew capital and stopped investing in projects. ??
Between the unbudgeted pension payouts and the gazetted land acquisition plans, foreign capital took flight and within months, the Zimbabwe Reserve bank had run out of foreign capital reserves. After trying to raise taxes to fund the programmes, the price of sadza (Maize Meal), a staple food, went up and food riots followed in the capital city of Harare. 841 farmers resisted to attempts to grab their farms via the Courts, the other 630 farms were acquired by the State at market rate and immediately put under subsistence farming, again due to a lack of collateral value and commercial farming skills amongst the new tenants.
In February of 2000, the newly formed MDC, openly supported by white farmers resisting acquisition, defeated the Government in Referendum on Constitutional Amendments, one of which was to allow the Government to seize farms without compensation for the land, improvements were to be compensated at State determined rates. The turnout for the referendum was 26%, the government had never faced opposition before, and believed they would win comfortably. They lost 54% to 46%. ZANU-PF panicked, as June 2000, just 4 months away, was the deadline for General Elections.
Within weeks, war veterans started invading white owned farms in small numbers across the country. The High Court ruled the land invasions to be illegal. The Police refused to intervene in most cases, as they declared the matter was “political”, not criminal. Most farmers fled once their farms were invaded, those who resisted were killed, 12 in total. 78 black Farm Managers were killed during this period as well. The first farmer killed, just before Easter 2000, in the town of Macheke, 140km East of Harare, was David Stevens also an MDC activist, kidnapped, tortured and shot dead by a mob, whilst Police looked on. The war veterans drank his blood after killing him.
On April 18th 2000, Martin Olds refused to surrender his farm and was shot dead near Nyamandlovu, 25 km outside Bulawayo. Martin Olds was not politically affiliated, he was murdered by a mob of 40 men armed with new AK47’s.
Martin Olds was murdered the day after Mugabe said on National Television of whites “Our present state of mind is that you are now our enemies because you really have behaved as enemies of Zimbabwe”. We are full of anger”.
Not one person was ever charged with the killing of a white farmer or a black Farm Manager. A white farmer’s brother, Blondie Bezuidenhout, who ran over and killed 2 invaders who tried to block his way off the family farm, was jailed for 12 years for culpable homicide. He served 8 years in prison. ??
A neighbouring farmer, was quoted as saying “The Commercial Farmers Union” (CFU) is telling us that we must not resist or there will be a bloodbath. But as far as I am concerned, as a third generation Zimbabwean, I can’t just stand there if someone comes to my farm with guns. We have been told the Police will not help. Now we are going to start defending ourselves.”
Divided we fell, one by one, as we never stood united.
It should also be noted that no CPF or Commando systems existed in Zimbabwe. The South African Government’s scrapping of the Commando system in 2003 was a deliberate act designed to weaken farmer security, and it was passed with the lie being told that a special Police Unit would be established to handle this. This news was received in Zimbabwe, now 2 years into land invasions, with disbelief, and the wide spread view, that the South African Government ?? was planning the same course of action with its own white farmers.
Mugabe’s ZANU-PF “won” the June 2000 elections with a 2/3rds majority and amended the Zimbabwe Constitution to allow for seizure of land without compensation, but still with compensation for improvements.
The amendments did NOT permit Court Appeals against procedurally correct expropriation. Very few farmers ever received compensation for improvements, and those that did, tell that the value was heavily understated by Government Officials doing inspections. ??
Local Land Affairs Offices were established and corruption ruled the day. Farmers who won Court Orders to have their lands returned due to failures to follow procedures, found the Police would not enforce the Court Orders. ? Judges who ruled in favour of farmers were quickly forced to retire, usually by death threats, and replaced with ZANU-PF Judges who were quickly granted seized farms for their own use. The newly loaded Benches gave appealing farmers a hostile reception.
For every white farmer kicked off the farms, along went 100 workers and family members. These workers and dependants were never considered for land from the Government Land Reform Process, as they were seen to be supporters of the farmers and MDC opposition party. Most of these folks had never lived anywhere else and were now suddenly homeless.
Within months of being forced in a Government of National Unity by SADC leaders, after an election 2008, Mugabe admitted in 2015, on national television that he had lost resoundingly, the Zimbabwe Dollar was scrapped. The only investments that survived the hyper inflationary period was property investments, and gold, illegal but widely available. ??
Mugabe once stated that only white farmers with multiple farms would be targeted, however he quickly realised the lie, in his own propaganda, that many farmers have no multiple farms. ??
Cabinet Ministers accumulated multiple farms, and traded other farm allocations for cash and favours, Mugabe and his family claimed 12 farms, Military and Police top-dogs, were also awarded numerous farms. In 95% of the cases, the farms were simply looted of whatever assets that could be found, tin shed roofs stripped to build huts, fences sold as scrap wire, or used as snares to trap game on seized game farms.
So continues a sad story that started as a bread basket for the region, and ended as a begging bowl within the region, all because a liberation movement ran out of ways to keep it’s voters happy, and decided to strip a minority of what they had, and spread it across an ever increasing support base, in a vote buying exercise. And once the farms were finished, they started with white owned businesses, and all mining companies. ??
To quote a now exiled farmer, “We tried to appease them by giving what they wanted. When they wanted it all, we had two choices, die defending our lands, or move on and try to survive somewhere else. The world turned its eyes away from us, as they did in the 1980’s when Mugabe butchered 20 000 Ndebeles in Matabeleland. We stood alone, and fell alone, most of us simply packed up and left.”
The author is a former Zimbabwean farmer who has requested anonymity. ??
CAPS United vice president Nhamo Tutisani insists that the the delay by the club in paying the players April salaries is being far-fetched.
A local newspaper yesterday ran a story in which it suggested that the Harare giants are ‘back in familiar territory’- wrangle between the club’s hierarchy and players over the delay in the payment of salaries for the month of April but Tutisani demystifyed those suggestions.
“I don’t know where that information is coming from,” he said.
”It is a fact, we have not yet paid the players their April salaries but communication has made to them regarding our position, through the right channels. We are working flat out to have that issue resolved despite the current situation (Covid-19 crisis) which has affected not only CAPS United but everyone.”
”It is being blown out of proportion. If there is any player ‘complaining’ as suggested by those media reports you are making reference to, that player should come to us, his employers. Besides, is that player the captain? Such that he can speak on behalf of all the other players.”
”Players know what to do, guided by the labour act. Should they feel mistreated by the club, they know the channels to follow , because resorting to the media does not ensure that those salaries are paid.”-Soccer 24
Aspiring Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president and FIFA match agent Ellen Chiwenga has attained another top post at the world football governing body.
The United Kingdom-based football intermediary, who has made known of her ambitions to lead Zimbabwean football starting in 2022, has been appointed as one of the advisers in the FIFA Ethics and Regulations Watch.
“Ellen Chiwenga, hopeful Candidate for ZIFA presidency in the 2022 elections. A member of the Association of Football Agents (AFA), the International Association of Fifa Licensed Football Match Agents (FIFMA), and Women in Football (WIF),” reads her profile on the FIFA Ethics and Regulations Watch website.-Soccer 24
Augsburg coach Heiko Herrlich will miss the restart of the Bundesliga this weekend after he broke quarantine regulations to buy toothpaste.
The 48-year-old gaffer was supposed to take charge of his first game at the struggling top-flight side against Wolfsburg on Saturday.
Herrlich, along with everyone in the Bundesliga teams, was ordered by the German Football League (DFL) not to leave hotel and avoid any contact with the public ahead of the restart.
The coach breached the rules by going to a supermarket to buy toothpaste.
In a statement, the gaffer admitted he made a mistake, saying: “I had no toothpaste and then I went to a supermarket. I made a mistake by leaving the hotel.
“Even though I have followed all hygiene measures both when leaving the hotel and otherwise, I cannot undo this.
“In this situation, I was not able to act as a role model for my team and the public.
“I will, therefore, be consistent and stand by my mistake.
“Because of this misconduct, I will not be leading the training [on Friday] and will not be in charge of the team against Wolfsburg on Saturday.”
Herrlich took over from Martin Schmidt earlier his year, penning a deal until 2022.-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Parliamentarians have described the torture and abduction of the opposition party’s youth leaders as a desperate attempt by the Illegitimate Zanu PF government to silence democratic voices.
Three MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were abducted, tortured and dumped in Bindura by suspected state security agents.
See full statement below:
MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus Statement :
The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus condemns the abduction, kidnapping, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment of Our Member of Parliament for Harare West Constituency Hon Joana Mamombe together with The MDC Alliance Young Assembly National Deputy Chair Cecilia Chimbiri, and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Organiser Netsai Marova.
Enforced disappearance, and torture are crimes against humanity and unacceptable in a democratic society. They are International crimes where those that are responsible must be prosecuted and punished.
The fact that the four female activists were abducted in broad day light is a serious indictment to the Illegitimate regime of Zanu PF. The Hitler style of suppression of citizens is condemned and has no place in The 21st century politics.
Abducting and torturing Women a few days after Mother’s Day makes it more ugly and heartless.
The intention is definitely to intimidate citizens and silence the opposition voices and close down on democratic space.
The Zimbabwe Government’s intention is to destroy in totality or The MDC Alliance.
The government activities are wide spread and systematic, and the targeted group is the MDC Alliance. In Zimbabwe, the MDC Alliance is now an endangered population that risks total extinction through deliberate targeted actions of abductions and torture, arrests and persecutions, as well as targeted eliminations through intentionally designed accidents and poisoning.
The abduction and torture of citizens, including a Member of Parliament is regrettably a confirmation of the fact that Zimbabwe is moving steps backwards in democratic practices and deeper into dictatorship and authoritarianism.
The rumors that the female activists have been found near Bindura in Mashonaland Central and with visible marks of injuries of torture shows that there is serious violation of human rights in Zimbabwe. SADC and AU must intervene and stop the government of Zimbabwe from continuing in this terrible path of human rights abuses.
For and on behalf of The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus
Thabitha Khumalo( Chairperson)
Leader of the House in Parliament
Hon P C Mutseyami
Senator Lillian Timveous
Chief Whips
For Immediate Release
15 May 2020
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is greatly concerned with continued cases of abductions, torture, beatings and inhumane treatment of civic and political activists.
The recent abduction, torture, inhumane treatment of three MDC Alliance activists, Harare West Legislator Hon. Joana Mamombe, MDC Youth Vice Chairperson Cecilia Chimbiri and Deputy Organising Secretary Netsai Marova points to shrinking democratic space.
The three activists who disappeared at a roadblock near the National Sports Stadium were later found dumped in Bindura, in a bad state and in need of urgent medical attention.
Zimbabwe has a disturbing record of enforced disappearances of opposition and civic society activists which happen in almost similar fashion.
Reports indicate that most are being abducted by masked and heavily armed men who torture them and later dump them in the middle of nowhere.
This is reminiscent of the Mugabe era and bears testimony to the fact that Zimbabwe remains stuck in the dark past.
As an umbrella body of civic society organizations, we demand the following;
I. An end to torture, abductions and enforced disappearances, murder, rape and maiming of civilians by the military and state security agents
II. Decriminalization of civil society work, political activism as well as union leaders and an end to arbitrary arrests
III. Respect for fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution including freedom of expression, freedom of association as well as the right to protest peacefully among other rights
ENDS//
Marvellous Kumalo
Spokesperson [email protected] /+263776379966/+263776191402
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
What can I do to protect myself and prevent the spread of disease?
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks.
Authorities in China and some other countries have succeeded in slowing or stopping their outbreaks.
However, the situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses.
Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth.
From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene.
This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
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By Shepherd Yuda
Zimbabwe has become the “rape country” of the world and the worst zone for women…
Three female MDCA leaders were abducted by CIO, tortured and made to do horrendous things before being dumped. They have been stripped naked and violated.
The three Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri, and Netsai Marova were found along Bindura road in a bad state after being brutalized and dumped.
People feared the 3 could have been killed. Recently Zimbabwe has witnessed a surge in violence where brutalised and raped bodies of women have become an essential component of most parts of the country.
Meanwhile, these 3 survivors were taken to hospital for medical attention.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Masvingo based clergyman, Isaac Makomichi’ s anointed “love potion herb” has sparked raging debate in Christian circles.
Makomichi, the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and
the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust distributes the “anointed love potion herb” to needy women and girls across the country for free.
A 62-year- old woman recently claimed she got married after using the herb.
However, it is the testimony of a well known sex worker with 3 children who reportedly got married to a 30- year -old rich boy- that has sparked debate in Christian circles.
The sex worker says she has been using love potion herb to attract rich boys.
Church leaders in Masvingo have expressed mixed sentiments on the love potion herb.
“I think in Christian circles we should not use the so called anointed love potion herb. I don’t see it’s relevance to a believer,” said a senior church leader.
However another church leaders said: ” I can’t rush to criticize the anointed herb.Maybe that’s the revelation the prophet got. Personally I am not against the anointed love potion herb.”
Makomichi said those willing to ask him about the herb should contact him on 0777469342.
By Cathy Buckle- With anxiety and excitement I headed out onto the open road one day this week; everything was in order: travel permit, face mask on, hand sanitizer and gloves at the ready.
I had anxiety for what I suspected I would see and excitement at seeing what I knew I had missed; I was not wrong on either count.
It was day 43 of Zimbabwe’s Coronavirus lockdown, a beautiful day with a blue sky that stretched to the horizon and roads lined with the golden grass of winter. The highways had been taken over by trucks laboring up the hills, giving me a chance to glance out the windows and soak in the spectacle.
Just as they had been 43 days ago, there were the timeless, beautiful kopjes, the Mukwa trees covered with fried egg pods, an eagle soaring high in the deep blue sky and, standing proud and alert on a rock, a big male baboon, his tale arched, the lookout. Oh Zimbabwe, how I missed you.
Children who should be in school were herding cattle on the edges of the road, waving in response to my greeting as I passed, eyes wide at the sight of the face mask, our new, impersonal reality.
In common with children all over the world they’ve been out of school for over two months now but unlike other children most here don’t have laptops, internet connections, online learning, electricity or even books at home and so their education has just completely stopped.
In a rock pool on a river women were bent over washing clothes. On a bridge over a sluggish olive green river a thin woman sat on the tarmac, collecting maize pips that had fallen off a passing truck.
Carefully she put them in a small enamel bowl at her side and my eyes stung with tears. How much longer must Zimbabweans live this, because this isn’t Coronavirus hunger this is just plain hunger from drought exacerbated by a toxic cocktail of punitive economic policies and taxes that have impoverished our entire nation.
Strikingly absent everywhere were the thousands of men and women who make their living on the roadsides, their home-made wooden tables and stalls empty, not allowed to sell their bowls of bright red tomatoes, pockets of butternuts and potatoes, bunches of orange carrots.
Every now and again a lone vendor braves the police and sits on a stump with his tomatoes, ready to run into the golden grass. How are they surviving, is anyone helping them, are their vegetables going rotten in the fields?
Tragically the promised financial assistance of Z$200 each for vulnerable families affected by the Coronavirus lockdown, pledged by government on March 30 2020 has still not materialized. Six weeks ago the Minister of Finance said a Z$600 million fund would support “one million vulnerable households under a cash transfer programme and payment will commence immediately.”
That didn’t happen and at the time of writing not a cent has been disbursed. Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima said they were busy verifying people to make sure they really were vulnerable and once that was done the payments would be made. Six weeks later and you still can’t see who’s in trouble?
What can I say except look into people’s sunken, desperate eyes and you will know. But that’s not quite the end of this absurd story. Now we are told that the promised Z$200 for vulnerable people has been increased to Z$300 which today is only worth US$6, enough to buy two packets of non-existent sugar and one loaf of bread with money that is so far non-existent anyway. What a disgrace, but it was still to get much worse.
Exposing the government’s lack of assistance to vulnerable and needy families during lockdown, a small protest was held in Harare this week. Afterwards three MDC officials who had been in the protest were allegedly abducted at a road block near the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
MDC MP Joana Mamombe, Youth Vice Chairperson Cecilia Chimbiri and Deputy Organising Secretary Netsai Marova disappeared. In the hours that followed Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights checked at numerous police stations but there was no sign of the women.
The British and American Embassies expressed their concern publicly; the Police said they did not have the women in custody and so, again, Zimbabwe feared the worst, remembering the disappearance and torture of Doctor Peter Magombeyi some months ago.
This morning the three women were found, dumped at Muchapondwa shops in Bindura. Rescued and now receiving medical attention their horrific stories are being revealed, heads covered with hoods, driven in a car into the bush, dumped in pit and brutally assaulted.
At the end of this sickening story we can only assume that the people behind the abduction and torture of three women are not hungry, haven’t got family members who are picking up maize pips on the roadside for supper, haven’t lost their jobs, haven’t had their salaries cut by half, aren’t watching their tomatoes going rotten in the fields, and aren’t concerned about catching or spreading Coronavirus.
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A Chipinge man wrestled a lioness with his bare hands and survived to tell the tale.
Berty Chigwe (20) and two other family members were harvesting cotton when two lions pounced. They had escaped from the Save Valley Conservancy.
Chigwe sustained serious injuries while his nephew Muzi Chikowo was bruised all over his body. His other nephew, Sam Chikowo (10), escaped unharmed after outpacing a sprinting lion and finding refuge in a tree.
“My two nephews Muzi, Sam and l woke up early Tuesday morning to harvest cotton in our fields. We then heard people shouting from a distance that they had spotted two lions coming from Save River heading towards our direction.
“We ignored them and continued with our work. After about 20 minutes, two lions emerged from a nearby cotton field and started roaring. A lioness charged towards me. Fear gripped my nephew, Muzi, who ran and jumped onto my back. Everything happened in a flash. I remember seeing Sam running away with another lion in hot pursuit,” he said.
“I wrestled with the lioness that had jumped on us. When we fell down, the lioness mauled my left thigh. I was badly injured and blood oozed from the injury. I remained determined to survive and continued wrestling with it. I tried to grab its mouth, but failed.
“I was also mauled on my right hand and it dragged me towards the direction where Sam had ran towards. I continued crying for help as I was staring death in the face.
“As that was happening, Muzi managed to escape and ran to notify other villagers. They swiftly reacted and came to my rescue, armed with hoes, iron bars and drums.
When they started beating the drums, this scared the lioness. lt dropped me and ran away into the wilderness,” Chigwe told the Manica Post.-The Manica Post
The three MDC Alliance activists who went missing after being arrested by the police and being taken to a Harare police station only to surface two days later in Bindura are receiving treatment at a Harare health centre.
WATCH the video loading below ….
Farai Dziva|The three MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were severely assaulted and forced to eat human faeces, it has emerged.
According to Senator Lilian Timveous, the three MDC Alliance officials were “damaged beyond measure.”
Said Senator Timveous: “They were damaged beyond measure but we thank Our Almighty God, we thank Zimbabweans all over the World for exerting pressure on the regime- they are alive.
But the trauma they went through shame, I hear they are just crying continuously.
We hear they were forced to eat human faeces.They really need need critical care.”
Editor,
An article published on the Zanu PF website, which has been shared widely on social media, quotes former Zimbabwean Ambassador to Australia, Ambassador Jacqueline Zwambila saying “There is no abduction. What would be so strategic to kidnap Mamombe at all? If you recall Zimbabwe is under lockdown and leading a demo as well as no physical distancing and masks would raise authorities’ ire. Is this what Job Sikhala was referring to as action perhaps.”
Under normal circumstances, one would not expect the MDC Alliance youths to have staged a demonstration in light of the current Covid-19 lockdown, but I will leave that to the youths concerned to justify their action.
Ambassador Zwambila may or may not have said this, but personally I think she has been used by Zanu PF to absolve themselves and Government from responsibility. The history of abductions in Zimbabwe is well documented. After reading stories about Ambassador Zwambila’s ordeal at the hands of Zanu PF and Government during her term of office in Australia, one would think that she knows that Zanu PF and Government of Zimbabwe are capable doing the unexpected.
Among the persons who have been abducted are Jestina Mukoko, Tonderai Ndira who was killed in the process, and Itai Dzamara who is still missing to date. The regime in Zimbabwe hasn’t really changed from being a brutal regime, and I will not be surprised if anyone opposed to Zanu PF or Government is abducted.
Interestingly, it is reported that a senior police officer initially confirmed the trio had been arrested. I am convinced that was the truth of the matter, but realising that this would dent to already bruised image of Zanu PF and the Zimbabwean Government, that acceptance has been reversed to try and spruce up the image of Zanu PF and Government.
Abducting people, irrespective of what crime they have committed, or are alleged to have committed, is evil.
It will be interesting to hear from Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova what they went through.
It is premature for Zanu PF, Government, officials from opposition parties or political commentators to deny what could be the truth before issues are investigated and the truth established.
Kennedy Kaitano.
Background reading
1. Story on Zanu PF website alleging that former Ambassador to Australia accused MDC youth leaders of faking abduction https://www.zanupf.org.zw/mdc-alliance-plays-dirty-intrigue-fakes-abductions-again/
2. Story in Australia media showing former Ambassador Zwambila sought protection visa fearing for her life if she returned to Zimbabwe Exiled former Zimbabwean diplomat Jacqueline Zwambila cautiously optimistic
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has condemned the abduction of party youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
The three were abducted and severely assaulted by suspected government agents.They were dumped in Bindura.
“Lawyers just informed us that Cecilia Chimbiri,Joana Mamombe and Netsai Marova victims of enforced disappearance, were dumped and found late last night.
Sadly, they are in bad shape having been subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
These rogue regime terror tactics,” Chamisa tweeted.
MDC Youth Alliance leaders who were abducted, tortured and dumped getting treatment :watch video below. ..
By Fortune Daniel Molokele
There is now overwhelming evidence that our MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leaders were abducted, tortured and dumped at Bindura.
Yet there are still some people out there who are willing to believe that this whole act of brutality was a publicity stunt.
Worse still, others are blaming the youths for daring to demonstrate in the first place.
The sad story about Zimbabweans is that they prefer to suffer in silence or talk about it in social media.
In other countries like Malawi and Lebanon the peope have poured out into the streets against the lack of social safety nets from their governments during the restrictive lockdown period.
Just across the Limpopo river, our neighbour South Africa tried to come up with some safety nets for their people.
Rwanda also tried to do something for it’s most vulnerable populations.
In Zimbabwe a promise was made a few weeks ago, but to date the relevant Minister Paul Mavhima, has confirmed that he has not yet received anything yet from the Treasury.
Yet we all know that most of our urban economy is informal.
Our people are starving right now.
Yes, now is indeed the right time to protest in line with section 59 of our national Constitution.
So the few who dare to protest must not be brutalised nor vilified for exercising their constitutional rights.
The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus condemns the abduction, kidnapping, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment of Our Member of Parliament for Harare West Constituency Hon Joanna Mamombe together with The MDC Alliance Young Assembly National Deputy Chair Cecilia Chimbiri, and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Organiser Netsai Marova. Enforced disappearance, and torture are crimes against humanity and unacceptable in a democratic society.
They are International crimes where those that are responsible must be prosecuted and punished. The fact that the four female activists were abducted in broad day light is a serious indictment to the Illegitimate regime of ZanuPf .
The Hitler style of suppression of citizens is condemned and has no place in The 21st century politics. Abducting and torturing Women a few days after Mother’s day makes it more ugly and heartless.
The intention is definitely to intimidate citizens and silence the opposition voices and close down on democratic space. The Zimbabwe Government’s intention is to destroy in totality or The MDC Alliance.
The government activities are wide spread and systematic, and the targeted group is the MDC Alliance.
In Zimbabwe, the MDC Alliance is now an endangered population that risks total extinction through deliberate targeted actions of abductions and torture, arrests and persecutions, as well as targeted eliminations through intentionally designed accidents and poisoning.
The abduction and torture of citizens, including a Member of Parliament is regrettably a confirmation of the fact that Zimbabwe is moving steps backwards in democratic practices and deeper into dictatorship and authoritarianism.
The rumors that the female activists have been found near Bindura in Mashonaland Central and with visible marks of injuries of torture shows that there is serious violation of human rights in Zimbabwe. SADC and AU must intervene and stop the government of Zimbabwe from continuing in this terrible path of human rights abuses.
For and on behalf of The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus Thabitha Khumalo( Chairperson) Leader of the House in Parliament Hon P C Mutseyami Senator Lillian Timveous Chief Whips
Below are pictures of MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe and Cecelia Chimbiri after being tortured and dumped in Bindura.
They were arrested on Wednesday while coming from a Youth Assembly demonstration in Warren Park
By Own Correspondent| The European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen has cornered Information Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana over his dismissal of reports of abduction and torture of opposition MDC Alliance youth leaders by state security agents, enquiring if his propaganda tweet represented a government position.
Mangwana tweeted that the abduction of the trio was “a poorly choreographed attempt to throw a curve ball at the system.”
“It’s a diversionary tactic. A poorly choreographed attempt to throw a curve ball at the system. But you can’t fool people by playing the same scene many times over and expect to successfully pull wool over their eyes. You have been seen a mile away. Nicole Charity Maodza-Hondo,” posted Mangwana.
But the EU Ambassador questioned if Mangwana’s statement with the regards to abduction reports represented the position of the government.
“Permanent Secretary, is this an official government position?,” responded Olkkonen.
Mangwana has on countless times come under fire from people over his divisive social media posts and failure to separate government positions from personal views.
By A Correspondent- The Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) is conducting quality tests on hand sanitiser and protective clothing and will soon be publishing a list of certified producers following the proliferation of inferior products.
Government enacted Statutory Instrument 92 of 2020 to regulate the production of protective apparel, materials and equipment to ensure the public takes effective measures to protect itself from Covid-19, which has caused global havoc.
The decision by SaZ to conduct the tests came after one of the companies producing sanitiser, Prochem, was this week fined ZW$3 000 over a sub-standard product.
A consumer shared a report from the University of Zimbabwe stating that the 20 litres of sanitiser he had bought only contained 25% alcohol instead of the stipulated minimum of 60%.
SAZ director-general Eve Gadzikwa said the association is working overtime to process the certification of producers.
“We are going to be publishing a list of certified producers on our website. We just need to clear the batches that we are testing at the moment,” Gadzikwa said.
“Since this Covid-19 came into circulation, we have experienced a boom of local producers. Statutory Instrument 92 of 2020 was put in place to protect the community against substandard PPE (personal protective equipment) and sanitisers. These have to go through testing and certification and we have been extremely busy even working on weekends. It is a process.
“We have products that have been seized by the police because they failed to comply with the requisite packaging and labeling disclosures. This is a new law and it also looks into the alcohol content of sanitisers, which should be above 60%. The tests also look at the efficacy in killing the bacteria and germs, apart from the virus.”
Gadzikwa said there are about 70 new producers on the market, with the association also helping out the companies to ensure they comply with the new regulations.
“We have not completed the process and some have already been certified. I would not want to give a number of which products have not met the standard because we are still in the process of testing and also helping the other companies meet the standards,” Gadzikwa said.
“Just yesterday (Monday) we had about 35 new producers and have to go through that batch, so far we have 30 that have already gone through the process, in total we have about 70 local producers. We have SMEs, universities, and different other institutions,” she said.
“We have been visiting their factories to help them put in place proper certification tools and also that they maintain consistency. as you are aware, there are also a number of people who are producing masks, they need to meet the standard as well.”
The Public Health (Standards for Personal Protective apparel, Materials and Equipment) Regulations, 2020, state that: “4. (1) No person shall (a) offer for sale or attempt to offer for sale; or (b) sell by auction; or (c) expose, display or advertise for sale; or (d) sell under an agreement in terms of the Hire-Purchase act (Chapter 14:11) or by means of staggered payments or instalments; or (e) transmit, convey, deliver, distribute, possess or prepare for sale; or (f) barter or otherwise exchange or dispose of for valuable consideration; or (g) import or export; or (h) donate or otherwise dispose of for use by others; or (i) manufacture, assemble or fabricate; non-standard personal protective apparel, materials or equipment.
“(2) any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year to both such fine and such imprisonment.
“(3) In the case of a company or other corporate body, the directors or members of the governing body shall each be liable together with the such company or body to the penalties specified in sub-section (2).”
By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC activist Pedzisai Ruhanya has called for an immediate investigation into allegations of sexual harassment on party members, Joannah Mamombe (MP Harare West), Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova who were found in ‘bad shape’ in Bindura on Thursday night.
The trio was abducted on Wednesday in Warren Park during a flash protest and their whereabouts were not known until late last night.
Posting on Twitter, Ruhanya who is also the director of the Harare-based Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) said:
“ALLEGATIONS of torture against Hon MP @JoanaMamombe , @ceechimbiri2 and @MarovaNetsai point to SEXUAL ASSAULT. This requires immediate investigation.”
It is alleged that the three were taken by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). On the day they disappeared, police issued a statement saying that they had arrested the trio but later issued another statement saying that they did not know their whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the three are said to have received emergency medical attention.
By A Correspondent- The three missing MDC A activists, Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova have been found, after they were dumped at Muchapondwa shops in Musana, Bindura South, following alleged torture.
Watch the live video loading below as Maureen Kademaunga narrates the latest developments regarding the trio…
Lawyers, Jeremiah Bamu from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights filed a Harbeas Corpus application to compel the police to determine the whereabouts of the trio, who has been missing for more than a day, within 12 hours of granting a court order.
Watch the live video loading below….
Kademaunga however said the trio were in very bad shape and they told horrendous tales of torture and abuse.
“Mamombe and Marova are having difficulty in walking while Chimbiri is complaining of severe head pains, ” said MDC spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka in a statement.
He said they are currently being assisted to check into a medical facility in the presence of lawyers and the police.
Added Tamborinyoka….
“After receiving a distress phone call from the dumped cadres who had been accommodated by a sympathetic villager in Muchapondwa, a group of MDC officials that included Secretary for Welfare Maureen Kademaunga and deputy organisinf secretary Happymore Chidziva immediately alerted lawyers and the police and drove to the area in Bindura South where they found the three cadres in very bad shape.”
Kademaunga revealed that the trio confrmed being arrested and taken to Harare Central Police station before they were taken in a black toyota wish and being covered by sacks so that they could not see where they were going.
Said Kademaunga:
“We have more than 10 police details hovering around the medical facility where we have taken them and we are worried because the same people that arrested them handed them over to those that tortured them and yet they claimed that they did not know where they are. This is very worrying because the girls want nothing to do with the police.”
This is a developing story, Refresh this page for latest details
By A Correspondent- Spencer Banda’s s.e.xual abuse storm gets hotter as many students claim they lost v!rg!n!ty to him.
This comes as current and former students at Sodbury High School made numerous allegations that Banda s.e.xually abused them.
Sodbury High School is a family-run school owned by the Banda family. The allegations were made on Wednesday night during a Facebook live streaming show on the page Sis Melly’s Diaries.
ZimEye exclusively interviewed Banda over the allegations and he confirmed being hauled to court over rape allegations claiming that he was not guilty hence he had been acquitted.
He said that the allegations being made by the more than 20 former Sodbury students was a move by his enemies who had a sinister agenda against him.
Watch the live video loading below…..
Reports are that the students alleged that Banda used to rape and s.e.xually abuse them when they were underage. The broadcaster is alleged to have s.e.xually molested 7 minors at Sodbury High School between 2001 and 2007.
One of the victims alleged that Banda r@ped her when she was 14-years-old and claimed that she had lost her v!rginity during the heinous act. Another of the girls alleged that Banda used to conduct his shenanigans at Sodbury High School’s sports department. Yet another one alleged that Banda was brazen enough to visit the girls’ hostel at night where he would abuse his targets.
The alleged victims revealed that they had formed a WhatsApp group to help them cope and to discuss means of seeking justice. They claimed that they added Banda to the group so that they could confront him.
Spencer Banda is said to have denied the allegations. However, Banda is alleged to have contacted the victims individually through private messages and apologised for his conduct claiming that he had been young and immature when he molested them.
He was in his mid-twenties at that time. Banda is alleged to have profusely apologized and pleaded with the former students, who are now parents, to forgive him.
By Jane Mlambo| The European Union in Zimbabwe (EU) has called for an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the torture of three MDC youth leaders during their forced disappearance.
Posting on Twitter, EU said it was relieved that the trio had been found though they expressed deep concern about reports of torture and humiliation during their abduction.
“Relieved that three MDC officials were found, but deeply concerned about reports of torture and humiliation during their #enforceddisappearance. We urge authorities to sincerely and swiftly investigate, and bring those responsible to justice! @JoanaMamombe#NoZimpunity,” said EU in Zimbabwe.
Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe, Youth Assembly deputy chairperson Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were on wednesday arrested at a roadblock near Long Cheng Plaza on their way back from a protest in Warren Park.
Reports indicate that they were taken to Harare Central Police station before being taken by a Toyota Wish with men who tortured them before dumping them out of Harare.
By A Correspondent- First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa was treated by her hubby and sons on Mother’s day with an unusual gift any person could think of.
Many mothers were being spoilt and treated as the whole world commemorated Worlds Mother’s Day.
This ceremony happens every year in the month of March or May as a sign of respect to all the mothers and appreciates what they do to make a family stand and function well. In Shona, they even say Musha Mkadzi.
So like many mothers, Mai Mnangagwa was treated to a surprise which she was not near of ever expecting little alone suspect about.
The President and his sons surprised the First Lady with a Nissan Sunny box car which the first lady used in the 90s.
They had the car pimped and retain to its original form. The father and his sons presented it to the First Lady at State House.
By A Correspondent- The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture, chaired by Gokwe Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu PF), this Thursday booted out officials from the Ministry of Agriculture after they failed to present documents with regards to contracts awarded to different companies for winter wheat programme.
The officials, Remigio Makoni (acting director of procurement) and Peter Mudzamiri (director of finance) had appeared before the portfolio on behalf of Lands and Agriculture secretary John Bhasera who was supposed to give oral evidence on the state of financing and preparedness for the 2020 winter cropping season.
Before dismiss the duo, Wadyajena said:
The information on the contracts that you submitted is insufficient. We ask you to go back and tell your ministry secretary (Bhasera) that we want him here and that he must bring the information on the contracts as Parliament business takes precedence over other business.
It is strongly believed that the Ministry of Agriculture in the past failed to account for funds meant for Command Agriculture programme.
This comes when the country is facing starvation due to El Nino drought and poor agriculture policies in the past two decades.
-Newsday
A pyramid scheme promising to double contributors’ money in days backfired for unsuspecting fortune-seekers who lost close to $2 million when the inevitable collapse occurred.
The suspected conmen are siblings Romeo (25) and Tinashe (29) Samhungu.
The brothers devised a plan to swindle people using the pyramid scheme and promised investors lucrative returns over very short periods of time.
Pyramid schemes work by giving older investors money from new investors and rely on far more newcomers joining at each step than people already in the scheme; they collapse when there are not enough newcomers.
To lure investors, the brothers allegedly advertised the scheme on social media platforms saying they were offering 100 percent profit to anyone who paid into their EcoCash account using their merchant code.
Romeo and Tinashe initially appeared in court on Tuesday before Mrs Barbra Mateko charged with fraud after they allegedly swindled a Harare woman, Gina Makosa, of $33 000.
They were granted $500 bail each.
The pair was however, back in court yesterday facing fresh charges of a similar nature.
They reportedly swindled several victims of $1 552 427 through the pyramid scheme before using the money to buy forex on the black market.
This time the brothers were not so lucky as they were remanded in custody to today for bail ruling after prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti strongly opposed bail.
Mr Mutsokoti argued that the State had a strong case against the brothers who faced a serious offence and were likely to face a prison term if convicted, hence this would induce them to abscond.
Mr Mutsokoti added that the pair were also wanted by other police stations following reports by several others who have complained they were scammed.
In response, Romeo and Tinashe argued they were proper candidates for bail saying they were of fixed abode. They distanced themselves from the criminal act arguing they were also victims of the pyramid scheme having invested their money.
After hearing submissions from both parties, magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko rolled over the matter to today for ruling.
When they appeared in court on Tuesday, the brothers were being accused of receiving $33 000 through their EcoCash merchant code 017223 from Makosa.
After depositing the money, Makosa is said to have called the two who promised to pay back her full amount plus profit the following day.
The pair, the court heard, switched off the mobile phones they were using to communicate with her and also blocked their merchant line. After one week, Makosa tried to call them but they were unreachable prompting her to make a police report.
On the fresh charges yesterday, it is alleged that between April 1 and 20, Romeo and Tinashe hatched a plan to defraud unsuspecting individuals and posted an advert on Facebook through their company Getrich Investments offering 100 percent profits to anyone who would deposit money through their EcoCash merchant number.
However, after receiving the money from several people, they allegedly switched off their mobile phones.
-State Media
The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Black Market Rates:
More: marketwatch.co.zw
In the first case of its kind, a Harare man has been taken to court for disclosing another person’s Covid-19 positive status on a WhatsApp group in contravention of the Public Health Act, which provides for patient confidentiality.
Jimmy Mhlanga (40), who resides at 41 Divaris Flats, Bluffhill, is employed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and is stationed at its Eastlea Depot.
He appeared before magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko on Saturday charged with contravening section 39(2) as read with section (3) of the Public Health Act, chapter 15:17 “disclosing information relating to one’s health status, treatment or stay in health establishment.”
He was granted $500 bail and would be back in court on June 4 for his routine remand.
According to the prosecution led by Mr Terence Mashaire, Mhlanga reportedly used his mobile phone to disclose the positive status of a Covid-19 patient, her particulars and also revealed details of police members suspected to have made contact with the patient on a WhatsApp platform group named ‘Think Tank No under 18.’
Mhlanga reportedly disclosed the information without the consent or authority of the patient, the court heard. It is the state’s case that the cellphone used to commit the crime was recovered from him, while the WhatsApp message was also found in his cellphone and is being held as an exhibit.
According to the state, members of the group who received the said message will be called as state witnesses.
-State Media
By A Correspondent- A picture of Parirenyatwa hospital nurses weraing bedsheets is doing the rounds on social media.
The deveopment comes at the backdrop of massive resignations by nurses from public health institutions due to potential exposure to the novel coronavirus and poor salaries.
Citizens here have blasted government over its falure to provide the health care givers with PPEs.
Hopewell Chin’ono, a journalist claims that this is as a result of massive looting of national resources by a company close to president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
He alleged:
These are nurses at Zimbabwe’s BIGGEST hospital, Parirenyatwa, wearing BEDSHEETS as an alternative form of Personal Protective Equipment. This is in a country where a company close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa has LOOTED BILLIONS of dollars, yet Mnangagwa can’t provide PPE for nurses and doctors!
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Defence Industries general manager Brigadier-General Crispan Masuku who died on Wednesday at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) will be buried today at Lady Stanley Cemetery.
He was 61.
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) yesterday held a military parade in his honour at Headquarters 1 Infantry Brigade, Mzilikazi Barracks in Bulawayo. ZNA Chief of Staff Quartermaster Staff, Major-General Hlanganani Dube, who was chief mourner, presided over the military parade standing in for the ZNA Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo.
Maj-Gen Dube delivered Lt-Gen Chimonyo’s message describing Brig-Gen Masuku as a gallant fighter, who resisted the settler regime’s oppressive ways by joining the liberation war as a teen.
“The late general officer was motivated by the oppressive regime that was in place which was characterised by discrimination and harassment of black people. The late general officer managed to brave the Rhodesian Security Forces that were deployed to monitor the border and managed to cross to Botswana heading for Zambia to join the liberation struggle,” he said.
“During his stay in Zambia they also resisted various diseases and chemical warfare that was used by the enemy in an effort to annihilate the combatants that were fighting the regime. The late general officer was one of the survivors of that warfare.
“Whilst at Freedom Camp he and other cadres were subjected to gruesome Rhodesian air bombardment in August 1979 in which several of Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) freedom fighters perished as the Rhodesians tried to derail the liberation struggle. After the bombardment the group was moved to Mulungushi Camp where they were again bombed two days after arrival. Thereafter, the group was moved back to Freedom Camp in October 1979 before proceeding for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).”
He said both Mulungushi and Freedom camps have become memorial site in remembrance of those who lost their lives.
Brig-Gen Masuku did his primary education at Mzola Five and Tshongogwe primary schools in Lupane District before proceeding to do his secondary education at Ihlathi Secondary School in Bulawayo. He joined the liberation struggle in March 1977 via Botswana on his way to Zambia, exposing him to near fatal incidents in the fight for the country’s liberation. After the ceasefire demobilisation programme at Gwayi River Mine, he joined the ZNA on January 1, 1981, as a lieutenant.
Brig Gen Masuku was appointed Officer Commanding 18 Infantry Battalion on June 24, 1981, before being appointed to Battery Commander 1 Air Defence Regiment on March 8, 1982. He was posted to 402 Infantry Battalion as Officer Commanding on August 30, 1982 before being reassigned to Battalion Battle School, now All Arms Battle School, where he served as training officer from October 2, 1984, to August 1, 1987.
He served at Headquarters 2 Infantry Brigade as Quartermaster Staff Officer (Grade Two) between 1987 and 1991, before being reassigned to Ordinance Directorate as Ordinance Staff Officer (Grade Two) (Manning and Training) where he served until 1994. In May 1994, he was appointed Ordinance Staff Officer (Grade Two) (Material) while still at Ordinance Directorate.
In 1995, the late general officer was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. On November 29, 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and assigned to Army Headquarters Quartermaster Staff Branch as a Staff Officer (Grade One) (Equipment Management).
In 2003, while still at Army Headquarters, Brig Gen Masuku was appointed Colonel Quartermaster Staff leading to his reassignment to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters as Director Logistics where he served until 2013 when he was redeployed to South Africa as a Defence Attaché.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in 2012 When he returned from South Africa in October 2013, he was appointed Brigadier-General Quartermaster Staff at Army Headquarters Quartermaster Staff Branch until November 2015.
Brig-Gen Masuku was then deployed to the Zimbabwe Defence Industries as the general manager, a position he held until his death. He is survived by his wife Nomathemba Ndiweni and three children; Ngqabutho, Nqobile and Nomagugu Adelide.
Mourners are gathered at House Number 7, Masfield Road, Malindela, Bulawayo.
-statemedia
By A Correspondent- A Gweru chief and two Bulawayo residents have filed notices of intention to sue the police and the army for damages after brutalisation by the security officers during lockdown.
Trymore Nhari, a chief in Gweru, as well as Weston Chadomba of Njube and Sethukani Ncube, of Lobengula in Bulawayo, on Wednesday filed their notices of intention to sue the police in terms of the State Liabilities Act Chapter 8:14 and the Police Act Chapter 11:20.
Their notices were addressed to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga.
In their notice, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said Chief Nhari was with Shepherd Moyo in Gweru central business district on April 30 at around 10am.
“They met a truckload of police officers who, without just cause, stopped the vehicle, disembarked, harassed and assaulted them with baton sticks,” ZLHR wrote.
ZLHR said the police accused Nhari and his colleague of violating the lockdown regulations. Nhari reported the matter at Mtapa Police Station.
At 3pm, he came across another group of police officers who assaulted him again and damaged his chieftaincy badges, three mobile phones, a wrist watch and a laptop.
“As a result, his left arm was broken and he made a report to Gweru Central Police Station, where he requested an escort to Gweru Hospital. His request was declined and he was insulted and threatened with physical violence by the officer-in-charge,” ZLHR wrote.
The chief suffered physical, emotional pain and injuries and incurred financial expenses in medical bills all to be evaluated and quantified.
In the other notice, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said Chadomba was beaten up by a police officer and soldier in Njube, Bulawayo, on May 1.
“The police officer and the soldier werein uniform. Our client is able to identify them as having been seconded from your police station.
“He advises that he was coming from his place of employment, driving his vehicle proceeding to his place of residence when he met the police officer and the soldier who were controlling the truck that was selling subsidised mealie-meal,” the notice read.
“Our client further advises us that there was a misunderstanding between him and the police officer as he wanted to pass and proceed to his home, but the truck was blocking his way.”
The police officer switched off Chadomba’s car, removed keys from the ignition, dragged him out of the vehicle and assaulted him. The soldier hit him with the butt of a gun and without just cause in violation of his rights.
Chadomba allegedly suffered serious injuries all over the body and now has a hearing impairment resulting from the battering, ZLHR stated.
Police took him to Njube Police Station where he was jointly charged with two oter persons and made to pay a $300 fine under duress for an unspecified offence, ZLHR said.
“He was released after paying the fine and he proceeded to Mpilo Hospital, where he was medically attended to. As a result of unlawful conduct of the concerned officers, our client suffered physical and emotional pain. Our client suffered financial loss in paying for his medical bills and other related expenses (yet to be quantified).”
On Ncube, ZLHR say he was assaulted with booted feet by uniformed police at his home on 25th April.
“As a result of these wanton and savage attacks, he suffered serious injuries on his person, which included a dislocated left shoulder. Upon realising the impact of their actions and the extent of the injuries sustained by our client and in a bid to cover up their unlawful conduct, they dragged him into a vehicle and took him to Magwegwe Police Station, where he was detained overnight.
“He was released the following day after having been made to pay a fine of $500 on fabricated allegations of contravening the lockdown regulations.”
ZLHR said their client suffered physical and emotional pain, sustained serious injuries and needs to undergo a series of check-ups at Mpilo Central Hospital, suffering financial loss and other related medical expenses yet to be quantified.
ZLHR stated that they were under instruction to institute legal proceedings against the police service, the police officers concerned, the Police Commissioner-General, Home Affairs minister, Defence minister and Commander of the National Army for unlawful conduct.
Meanwhile, police boss Matanga is yet to respond.
-online
Prince Dubeko SibandaTHE MDC Alliance has taken Local Government minister July Moyo to court challenging his directive to reinstate former Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dlamini.
Dlamini was replaced as mayor after councillors elected Rich Mguni who was deputised by Patricia Mwale on Thursday last week on the understanding that he was relinquishing his position effective July 1.
But Moyo last week reinstated Dlamini on the strength of a letter from MDCT secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora directing his reinstatement.
The town had two mayors who were now fighting for the control the municipality with Dlamini declaring that Mguni’s election was a sham and also disowning his resignation letter, attributing it to the work of the MDC Alliance leadership.
Mguni on the other hand, with the backing of MDC Alliance leadership, was adamant that he was the new mayor.
MDC Alliance Matabeleland North provincial chairperson and Binga South legislator Prince Dubeko Sibanda yesterday said the party did not recognise Dlamini, but Mguni and was, therefore, seeking the court’s opinion over Moyo’s decision.
“We are seeking the opinion of the court on whether the minister’s actions are within the law,” Sibanda said.
He had earlier on defended the move by councillors, arguing that Dlamini was reinstated as councillor, not mayor. “The former mayor was reinstated to be councillor and not mayor. Mayorship is acquired through election by councillors. The duly-elected mayor of Victoria Falls Municipality is Rich Mguni,” he said.
Dlamini yesterday said he had started work and had access to his office and mayoral vehicle.
“I am back in the office today. I am raring to go and serve our people. My replacement was illegal. I am happy the dust has settled after the minister’s intervention. We should now put politics aside and work to provide services to residents and fulfil the mandate they bestowed on us,” he said.
Moyo wrote to the municipality on Tuesday nullifying an election conducted by 10 councillors which removed Dlamini and replaced him with Mguni last Thursday.
The Local Government minister in a letter dated May 12 said: “In terms of section 316, I hereby order that the election of a new mayor of Victoria Falls is nullified and Dlamini continues in the office of mayor.”
Moyo reinstated Dlamini as a councillor for ward 9 last week, guided by a letter written to him by Mwonzora, who is secretary-general of the MDC-T, as per a recent Supreme Court ruling which recognised Thokozani Khupe as the acting party leader. Dlamini had been in the political wilderness since February 24 when the MDC Alliance leadership expelled him on allegations of disrespecting the party.
Byo 24
Somvelo Dlamini The chairman of the Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association has fallen victim to the ongoing battle for control of the town between rival MDC groupings.
Long serving chairman Morgan “Gazza” Dube was this week forced to resign from his position after he openly supported the reinstatement of mayor Somvelo Dlamini by the Thokozani Khupe MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora.
Dube, a sports administrator and coach as well as benefactor for local football, had been at the helm of the association for about 10 years.
Dube had contested for Member of Parliament for Hwange West under MDC-T in 2018.
He came third after incumbent Godfrey Dube of MDC Alliance and Nkosilathi Jiyane of Zanu PF who was second.
Ironically, Dube was instrumental through Vifacora in thwarting the MDC Alliance leadership plot to smuggle Ward 1 Margaret Varley into the mayor’s office, which led to expulsion of Dlamini.
It is believed Dlamini has now crossed to the MDC-T.
Vifacora councillors met a few days ago and resolved that Dube steps down and serve as a trustee member.
No replacement has been elected.
“The resolution of the meeting which you asked the vice to chair as you had given an apology on the 10th of May, was that chairperson of Vicfacora steps down with immediate effect due to the following reasons;
“Active participation in politics as you represented and contested in the 2018 election as a member of Parliament for MDC-T Hwange West constituency and putting the association name into disrepute.
“The name of the association has been associated with the MDC-T yet our mandate is to ensure proper service delivery to the residents,” read a statement compiled by Vifacora secretary Trymore Ndolo.
“The association also resolved and recommended that you serve as a member of the board of trustees. In line with the resolution above, you are advised not to issue statements or represent the association in any manner with effect from now,” Vifacora stated.
Ironically, another politician Christopher Ndiweni who also contested the election as a Hwange West candidate under Joice Mujuru’s party, is also a member of Vifacora board of trustees.
Statutory Instrument On New $10 and $20 Banknotes In Zimbabwe
Statutory Instrument 103A of 2020.
[CAP. 22:15
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Issue of Ten Dollar and Twenty Dollar Banknotes) Notice, 2020
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Development has hereby, in terms of section 40(3) of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act [Chapter 22:15], made the following notice specifying the matters determined by the President in terms of subsection (2) of that section:—
Title
1. This notice may be cited as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Issue of Ten Dollar and Twenty Dollar Banknotes) Notice, 2020.
Issue of ten dollar and twenty dollar banknotes ‘
2. There shall be issued, in terms of the Act, a ten dollar banknote and a twenty dollar banknote.
Design of ten dollar and twenty dollar banknotes
3. ( I ) The design of the of ten dollar banknote shall be as follows—
(a) on the front side of both the ten dollar note the dominant feature shall be the logo of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (three balancing rocks), with the visually impaired recognition feature to the left, latent image showing the denomination, optical variable ink with colour shift from magenta to green, security thread with the inscription .RBZ”, watermark with highlighted inscription “RBZ 10” and see-through of the Zimbabwe Bird looking to the left in perfect register, as secondary features: and
(b) on the back side there shall bean impression of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Building and four buffaloes.
(2) The design of the of twenty dollar banknote shall be as follows—
(a) on the front side of both the twenty dollar note the dominant feature shall be the logo of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (three balancing rocks), with the visually impaired recognition feature to the left, latent image showing the denomination, optical variable ink with colour shift from green to azure, security thread with the inscription “RBZ”, watermark with highlighted inscription “RBZ 20” and scc-through of the Zimbabwe Bird looking to the left in perfect register,. secondary features; and
(b) on the back side there shall be an impression of one elephant and the Victoria Falls.
Design, colour, size and material of the ten dollar and twenty dollar banknotes
4. The form and material of the ten dollar and twenty dollar banknotes shall be as specified in the Schedule.
SCHEDULE (section 4)
DESIGN, COLOUR, SIZE, MATERIAL OF TEN AND TWENTY DOLLAR BANKNOTES
Mining Zimbawe|Lack of synergies between the Local government and Mines and Mining Development Ministry has had some houses in Norton built on top of minable gold claims.
The Mines ministry was made aware of the development by Norton Miners Association in 2018 after inspection of Mines maps.
According to mine maps, some areas in Galloway, Ngoni Township, Katanga, Knockmalloch estate, and Knowe are built on Minable gold claims.
We contacted Norton miners Association Mr. Privelage Moyo who said,” There is a case in Norton whereby Udicop through local government was given the land for housing and Ministry of mines had claims, so now the gold is worthlessly buried under houses”.
“According to the Ministry of mines map of Norton, more gold claims are shown or marked in areas that already have residential properties. There are areas and claims were new developments were taking over vast tracks of sustainable good and very rich minable land area”.
Land use conflict between Ministries leaves a lot to be desired as local government parcels out land for urban expansion while Mines Ministry issue out claims on the same mining land, and on the other hand Ministry of Agriculture also parcelling plots.
Last year Mining Zimbabwe was made aware of unprocessed sand which the department of metallurgy confirmed of consisted of gold, iron ore 52.33 per cent, and red oxide ore with 19.68 per cent which was being used for road construction on the Harare – Bulawayo dualisation project.
Issues like these can easily be eradicated by having synergies between town councils, Agriculture and Mines Ministry consultations before any land is given away.
President Hage GeingobNamibia’s president on Thursday slapped a five-year ban on buying new cars for top politicians and government officials in order to channel funds into fighting coronavirus, his office said.
President Hage Geingob “has directed that the vehicle fleet of the Namibian government will not be renewed for the period 2020-2025,” presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari announced in a statement.
“No new vehicles will be purchased for members of the executive and public office bearers in the Namibian government.”
He said the decision would save some 200 million Namibian dollars ($10.7 million), which will be directed “to urgent priorities, specifically at a time when the country is dealing with the health and economic implications of Covid-19”.
The southern African country of 2.5 million people has so far recorded 16 cases of Covid-19, with no deaths.
Namibian ministers and their deputies each qualify for Mercedes-Benz vehicles upon their appointment.
The president also directed a limit on monthly fuel consumption for top politicians, the government said.
In 2002, then-president Sam Nujoma had banned the use of Mercedes-Benzes, insisting that ministers should ride in Toyota Camry cars.
Big News Network
Brigadier-General Crispan MasukuState Media|Zimbabwe Defence Industries general manager Brigadier-General Crispan Masuku who died on Wednesday at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) will be buried today at Lady Stanley Cemetery.
He was 61.
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) yesterday held a military parade in his honour at Headquarters 1 Infantry Brigade, Mzilikazi Barracks in Bulawayo.
ZNA Chief of Staff Quartermaster Staff, Major-General Hlanganani Dube, who was chief mourner, presided over the military parade standing in for the ZNA Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo.
Maj-Gen Dube delivered Lt-Gen Chimonyo’s message describing Brig-Gen Masuku as a gallant fighter, who resisted the settler regime’s oppressive ways by joining the liberation war as a teen.
“The late general officer was motivated by the oppressive regime that was in place which was characterised by discrimination and harassment of black people. The late general officer managed to brave the Rhodesian Security Forces that were deployed to monitor the border and managed to cross to Botswana heading for Zambia to join the liberation struggle,” he said.
“During his stay in Zambia they also resisted various diseases and chemical warfare that was used by the enemy in an effort to annihilate the combatants that were fighting the regime. The late general officer was one of the survivors of that warfare.
“Whilst at Freedom Camp he and other cadres were subjected to gruesome Rhodesian air bombardment in August 1979 in which several of Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) freedom fighters perished as the Rhodesians tried to derail the liberation struggle. After the bombardment the group was moved to Mulungushi Camp where they were again bombed two days after arrival. Thereafter, the group was moved back to Freedom Camp in October 1979 before proceeding for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).”
He said both Mulungushi and Freedom camps have become memorial site in remembrance of those who lost their lives.
Brig-Gen Masuku did his primary education at Mzola Five and Tshongogwe primary schools in Lupane District before proceeding to do his secondary education at Ihlathi Secondary School in Bulawayo.
He joined the liberation struggle in March 1977 via Botswana on his way to Zambia, exposing him to near fatal incidents in the fight for the country’s liberation.
After the ceasefire demobilisation programme at Gwayi River Mine, he joined the ZNA on January 1, 1981, as a lieutenant.
Brig Gen Masuku was appointed Officer Commanding 18 Infantry Battalion on June 24, 1981, before being appointed to Battery Commander 1 Air Defence Regiment on March 8, 1982.
He was posted to 402 Infantry Battalion as Officer Commanding on August 30, 1982 before being reassigned to Battalion Battle School, now All Arms Battle School, where he served as training officer from October 2, 1984, to August 1, 1987.
He served at Headquarters 2 Infantry Brigade as Quartermaster Staff Officer (Grade Two) between 1987 and 1991, before being reassigned to Ordinance Directorate as Ordinance Staff Officer (Grade Two) (Manning and Training) where he served until 1994.
In May 1994, he was appointed Ordinance Staff Officer (Grade Two) (Material) while still at Ordinance Directorate. In 1995, the late general officer was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
On November 29, 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and assigned to Army Headquarters Quartermaster Staff Branch as a Staff Officer (Grade One) (Equipment Management).
In 2003, while still at Army Headquarters, Brig Gen Masuku was appointed Colonel Quartermaster Staff leading to his reassignment to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters as Director Logistics where he served until 2013 when he was redeployed to South Africa as a Defence Attaché.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in 2012
When he returned from South Africa in October 2013, he was appointed Brigadier-General Quartermaster Staff at Army Headquarters Quartermaster Staff Branch until November 2015.
Brig-Gen Masuku was then deployed to the Zimbabwe Defence Industries as the general manager, a position he held until his death.
He is survived by his wife Nomathemba Ndiweni and three children; Ngqabutho, Nqobile and Nomagugu Adelide.
Cecilia ChimbiriI am Cecilia Chimbiri’s father. Henry Chimbiri. I want to THANK GOD.
My Threesome Daughters have been found dumped outside northeast of Harare in Bindura at Muchapondwa village.
I would like to thank the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights who are tirelessly in constant attention and working to bring sanity from the marauding brutal regime blood stained police and overzealous State agents.
God is WATCHING and Pharaoh’s Endtime span is almost up. Zimbabweans unity of purpose is the ultimate price of our freedom and indepence , sideshows must stop.
Women Arise. Man Arise. Zimbabwe open your Eyes The Dictator is at it again. We no longer have a police charter.
Selective justice is now the order of the day. God will prevail.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul NyathiPOLICE have dismissed allegations by Bulawayo organisations that its officers enforcing lockdown measures were targeting people from that area out of proportion to the population.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the information was false and misleading.
“We want to dismiss some information from civic organisations in Bulawayo purporting that the ZRP and other security agents who are enforcing the lockdown are only targeting people from that province,” he said.
“As police, our mandate is to maintain law and order in the country and we are not selective. We are, therefore, on the ground enforcing the Covid-19 lockdown directive to ensure there is compliance in all provinces. That is why officers were deployed across the country.
“For some people to say officers are targeting certain people in certain provinces is a lie.
“We are arresting people without fear or favour. Those who do not want to be arrested should not commit crimes.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said the lockdown regulations were set for everyone, therefore, every citizen had to comply.
Since the beginning of the lockdown in March, police have arrested 28 403 people for various offences.
Bulawayo, Midlands, Manicaland and Harare provinces account for the highest numbers of daily arrests.
Asst Comm Nyathi said those who were arrested were found engaging in unnecessary movement, illegal gatherings, operating businesses without exemptions and, since last week, not wearing a face mask.
“The number of arrests continue to rise every day,” he said. “This means people are not adhering to the Covid-19 health measures.
“We continue to urge the nation to comply with health regulations. We made it clear since the beginning of the lockdown that those who choose to defy the measures will be arrested, without fear or favour.”
SRC director-general Prince MupazvirihoState Media|SOME sports and recreation activities in the country that had been iced due to the Covid-19 pandemic are set to resume anytime, albeit after meeting set minimum conditions as defined by the Sports and Recreation Commission as well as health authorities.
The sports and recreation activities have been classified into three different categories, ranging from high risk to low risk sport codes respectively with most of the crowd pulling sporting activities and those deemed to be contact sports being classified under the high risk codes.
Less contact sports like archery, swimming, cycling, golf, tennis, chess, darts, shooting, fencing and rowing have been pooled under the low risk sport codes and are likely to resume subject to the set guidelines.
SRC director-general Prince Mupazviriho yesterday wrote circulars to the leadership of National Sports Associations outlining various guidelines that have to be followed before resumption of activities.
“It is against this background that your sport code was catergorised as high risk thus implying that activities may not resume, but at the time of resumption, you will be required to submit to the SRC specific measures that your clubs will put in place for consideration by relevant and responsible national authorities.
“The measures should include, but not limited to the following; there must be temperature checks and sanitisers at the entrance of all club premises, all support staff, coaches and athletes off the field of play must wear face masks and gloves. However, athletes on the field of play don’t have to wear masks. Daily symptom checks for athletes, coaches and officials, thorough disinfection and cleaning before, during and after training session as well as ensure that athletes wash hands often with soap and running water or use sanitisers,” reads the statement from Mupazviriho.
High risk sport codes, according to the SRC are football, wrestling, boxing, basketball, waterpolo, volleyball, taekwondo, rugby, netball, judo, handball and field hockey.
Same conditions are required for low and medium risk sport codes, but for medium risk sport code competitions to be conducted, the associations will have to request special permission from the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, while for the low risk codes, the re-introduction is only directed at training and recreation and they must send to the SRC specific measures that individual clubs will put in place for consideration by the relevant and responsible national authorities.
The submissions for the low risk sport codes to get underway were expected by end of business yesterday.
Medium risk sport codes are badminton, baseball, lawn bowls, soft ball, triathlon, weightlifting and gymnastics, while the rest of the low risk sport codes are equestrian, drafts and motor sports.
Opposition MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Leaders Cecilia Chimbiri, Honourable Joanna Mamombe and Netsai Marova were found badly beaten and dumped along Bindura Road.
Said Maureen Kademaunga:
“They were rescued by a villager and we have since ferried them to a health institution. Three police details also attended to the scene but now there are over 10 police officers at the health institution and it is now scary. The three ladies want nothing to do with the police after what they went through.”
The trio were arrested at a roadblock on Wednesday before the police denied ever arresting them and said they were not in police custody.
Their lawyers confirmed that the trio were missing hence an abduction alert issued.
However, it is alleged that they were abducted by suspected state security agents.
State Media|Industrial lobby group, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), has proposed the adoption of a two-tier exchange rate management regime, formed from the combination of floating and crawling peg systems, to facilitate formal access to foreign currency by businesses.
The lobby group made the call in a comprehensive position paper, titled “CZI Policy Response Paper 1”, submitted to Government this week, as part of proposed policy interventions to avoid potential negative impact of the $18 billion stimulus.
CZI’s suggested policy interventions and reorientation also covers guidance on money supply, careful stimulus package calibration, modalities for funding disbursements and institutional strengthening proposals.
Government came up with the economic stimulus and recovery package to ameliorate the devastating effects of the Covid-19 global pandemic, which has killed hundreds of thousands and infected millions worldwide, forcing months of national lockdowns.
The proposals come against the backdrop of exchange rate volatility in Zimbabwe since broad economic reforms that started in October 2018, which also ushered the process of de-dollarisation.
As the market absorbed the changes, after a decade of multi-currency regime anchored by the US dollar, the local unit that was reintroduced in 2019 after a decade long hiatus, has depreciated exponentially, fuelling increases in inflation.
“The bottom line is that there is no point in providing facilities to resuscitate production when it is almost impossible to legally obtain foreign exchange through official channels.
“At the same time, the fixed exchange rate creates a significant price distortion in the economy which undermine stability.
“One of the best examples of this is that the fixed exchange rate then results in the need to provide an incentive to gold producers,” CZI said.
As such, CZI wants the fixed rate regime, adopted in March following Covid-19 outbreak, replaced by “creation of a two-tier exchange rate management system with a crawling peg combined with a market tier (system) to guarantee formal access to foreign exchange for all businesses”.
Crawling peg is an exchange rate regime that allows depreciation or appreciation to happen gradually.
In order to provide predictability and stability to the foreign currency being sold to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe under the surrender arrangements, CZI recommended that the current fixed exchange rate be modified slightly into a formal crawling peg.
The industrial sector representative group suggested a variable crawling peg exchange format, such as one guided by monthly inflation rate adjustable on the previous month’s rate.
“So for example if month-on-month inflation in April is 3 percent then the peg would be adjusted by 3 percent in equal daily increments,” CZi said.
Notably though, CZI suggested, this crawling peg exchange rate system would apply only to the sale of surrendered foreign exchange, which goes to the central bank for critical state obligations.
And on the second tier system, CZI has proposed full implementation of the Reuters system on a willing buyer -willing seller basis. The system was suspended in March after just about a month of little success.
The floated exchange rate system, the industrial lobby submitted, will ensure that there is a market for foreign exchange, which clears on a daily basis and where supply meets demand for forex.
“We can aim to converge these two tiers over time. The market exchange rate will be the benchmark exchange rate for all transactions including customs duty which will boost Government revenue and obviate the need for Government to collect duty in foreign currency,” CZI submitted.
Three MDC young cadres found badly bruised and traumatised
The three missing MDC cadres Hon. Joannah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were found early this morning after being badly beaten up and dumped at Muchapondwa shops in Musana, Bindura South.
They are in very bad shape and they have told horrendous tales of torture and abuse. Hon. Mamombe and Netsai Marova are having difficulty in walking while Cecilia Chimbiri is complaining of severe head pains.
They are currently being assisted to check into a medical facility in the presence of lawyers and the police.
After receiving a distress phone call from the dumped cadres who had been accommodated by a sympathetic villager in Muchapondwa, a group of MDC officials that included Secretary for Welfare Maureen Kademaunga and deputy Organing secretary Hon. Happymore Chidziva immediately alerted lawyers and the police and drove to the area in Bindura South where they found the three cadres in very bad shape.
They are heavily traumatised.
They were found dumped near Muchapondwa shops, popularly known as “paSupa”.
According to the party’s rescue team that drove to Bindura with lawyers and the police , the three ladies said they were first taken to Harare Central Police station after being “arrested.” They were later taken from the police station and were driven away in a black Wish vehicle. The men who drove them away covered the ladies’ faces with what looked like sacks. They remember being taken to a forest and being put in a pit where they were brutally assaulted.
They are telling horrendous stories of abuse and humiliation that include being forced to eat human excreta.
They are currently checking into a medical facility , under the close watch of MDC officials, a team of lawyers and some nine police officers from the Law and Order section.
The ladies are still heavily traumatised and their clothes are torn.
Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson
Mrs Mildred ChiriState Media|All donations in the fight against Covid-19 will be accounted for, with the Auditor-General’s Office led by Mrs Mildred Chiri conducting a systems audit.
There has been an overwhelming response in donations from various countries and the corporate world towards the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, with the latest on Wednesday when President Mnangagwa saluted Zimbabwean companies for responding positively to his call for donations to fight Covid-19.
Mrs Chiri said Government had directed her office to conduct a systems audit meant to ensure that there were no weaknesses or leaks.
“We have been asked to carry out a systems audit. It is meant to ensure that there are enough controls in the handling of donations. Unlike in previous audits where the door would be closed when the proverbial horse has bolted, this one will check on the current systems and if any weaknesses are detected, they will be highlighted and corrective action taken.
“The audits will be carried out simultaneously as donations pour in. We will be making an audit to ensure that there is effective and efficient utilisation of the donations in line with corporate governance as envisaged by the Public Finance and Management Act,” said Mrs Chiri.
“The idea is to minimise leakages by pointing out potential and actual weaknesses before they arise. It is a real time audit. The objective is to strengthen systems.”
Mrs Chiri said besides financial resources affecting her department, she wanted to do the audit in a manner that did not put her staff at risk when they visit clinics and hospitals.
“We are under lockdown as a country and we have a skeletal staff as most of our auditors are working from home. It would have been easier if the donations were uploaded on a website and we take information from that platform. We will have to sit down with relevant authorities to establish how to do it. The point is we will carry out the audit mindful of the need to achieve intended objectives as well as protect auditors,” said Mrs Chiri.
On Wednesday, Secretary for Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, said the Government had directed a systems audit on Covid-19 donations.
“In pursuit of transparency and accountable Government, the Auditor-General will carry out a systems audit in respect of donations received towards the curbing of the spread of COVID-19,” read a tweet from Mr Mangwana.
State Media|A pyramid scheme promising to double contributors’ money in days backfired for unsuspecting fortune-seekers who lost close to $2 million when the inevitable collapse occurred.
The suspected conmen are siblings Romeo (25) and Tinashe (29) Samhungu.
The brothers devised a plan to swindle people using the pyramid scheme and promised investors lucrative returns over very short periods of time.
Pyramid schemes work by giving older investors money from new investors and rely on far more newcomers joining at each step than people already in the scheme; they collapse when there are not enough newcomers.
To lure investors, the brothers allegedly advertised the scheme on social media platforms saying they were offering 100 percent profit to anyone who paid into their EcoCash account using their merchant code.
Romeo and Tinashe initially appeared in court on Tuesday before Mrs Barbra Mateko charged with fraud after they allegedly swindled a Harare woman, Gina Makosa, of $33 000.
They were granted $500 bail each.
The pair was however, back in court yesterday facing fresh charges of a similar nature.
They reportedly swindled several victims of $1 552 427 through the pyramid scheme before using the money to buy forex on the black market.
This time the brothers were not so lucky as they were remanded in custody to today for bail ruling after prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti strongly opposed bail.
Mr Mutsokoti argued that the State had a strong case against the brothers who faced a serious offence and were likely to face a prison term if convicted, hence this would induce them to abscond.
Mr Mutsokoti added that the pair were also wanted by other police stations following reports by several others who have complained they were scammed.
In response, Romeo and Tinashe argued they were proper candidates for bail saying they were of fixed abode. They distanced themselves from the criminal act arguing they were also victims of the pyramid scheme having invested their money.
After hearing submissions from both parties, magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko rolled over the matter to today for ruling.
When they appeared in court on Tuesday, the brothers were being accused of receiving $33 000 through their EcoCash merchant code 017223 from Makosa.
After depositing the money, Makosa is said to have called the two who promised to pay back her full amount plus profit the following day.
The pair, the court heard, switched off the mobile phones they were using to communicate with her and also blocked their merchant line. After one week, Makosa tried to call them but they were unreachable prompting her to make a police report.
On the fresh charges yesterday, it is alleged that between April 1 and 20, Romeo and Tinashe hatched a plan to defraud unsuspecting individuals and posted an advert on Facebook through their company Getrich Investments offering 100 percent profits to anyone who would deposit money through their EcoCash merchant number.
However, after receiving the money from several people, they allegedly switched off their mobile phones.
Watch Live Update in the video downloading below:
“Youth Assembly Leaders C. Chimbiri, Hon. Joanna Mamombe & Netsai Marova were found badly beaten and dumped along Bindura Road. We have since rescued them with the help of our lawyers. The Police also attended to the scene. We are currently in the process of checking into a medical centre for treatment.”
Watch Live Update in the video downloading below:
The Zimbabwean currencyState Media|The High Court has declared unconstitutional, a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) exchange control directive converting sums in accounts originally designated in US dollars into Zimbabwe dollar-denominated accounts, ordering a bank to pay a particular holder of such an account in foreign currency within seven days.
The ruling is from the lowest level of court that can handle such a matter and the decision may still require confirmation by the Constitutional Court (Concourt) in terms of Section 175 of the Constitution.
The High Court ruling comes after business partners — Ms Penelope Douglas Stone and Mr Richard Harold Stuart Beatie, represented by Mr Tendai Biti — took CABS, RBZ and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to court over US$142 000 deposited in its business account.
The legal fight between the business partners and their bank spilled into the High Court following RBZ exchange control directive RT120/2018 issued on October 4, 2018.
The directive separated the RTGS Foreign Currency Account from a Nostro Foreign Currency Account based on the source of funds.
Money from the pair’s business could only be paid in bond notes and coins, but not in the United State dollar which was the currency in which it was denominated.
The concept of the Nostro Foreign Currency Account came into existence following RBZ’s Monetary Policy Statement of October 1, 2018.
Justice Happias Zhou granted the duo’s application on the grounds that it was legally and morally unjustified for the central bank to change the currency of a bank account by simply renaming it.
He ordered CABS, the duos’ bankers, to pay The Stone/Beattie Studio US$142 000 which is the amount that they held in their account in 2016 or transfer it into a “nostro” account nominated by the applicants within 7 days of the judgment.
The impugned exchange control directive, Justice Zhou ruled had retrospective application, in that it arbitrarily converted an existing United States Dollar account balance into something else by arbitrarily imposing an RTGS value on the United States dollar value of the credit balance in the applicants’’ account.
“Equality of value is not something that can be arbitrarily or capriciously imposed in the manner that the Governor of the first respondent (CABS) sought to do in relation to the balance in the applicants’’ (Stone/Beatie Studio) account,” he said.
He said it was offensive to any sense of justice that a person who holds money in a bank can wake up on any day to be told that his money means something else different from what it has always been.
“The directive effectively disables any withdrawal of United States dollars from that account. They can only withdraw bond notes,” the judge said.
“That reality cannot be altered by renaming the account as an RTGS FCA. This drastic deprivation of existing rights is not what is contemplated by . . . the Constitution of Zimbabwe as constituting regulation of the monetary system, protecting the currency of Zimbabwe and formulating and implementing monetary policy.”
The court noted that for the regulations to pass the test of rationality, conduct should not only be legally but also morally justified.
“The democratic founding values of accountability, responsiveness, justice and transparency would be violated by a decision which, without recourse to any affected individual, businessperson or investor, changes the currency of money in a bank.”
Justice Zhou said if the decision of CABS was to be allowed to stand the effect of it was that the duo’s money was now $142 000 which is probably less than 4 percent of its value at the prevailing official rates which the court cannot ignore.
The decision to reduce $142 000 to a small fraction of its value , the court ruled, could not be defended in the values enshrined in the Constitution, as this manifestly violates the right to property.
The judge also found that the RTGS is not a foreign currency and wondered how it could have hosted in a foreign currency account.
“The sovereignty of any Government to determine currency cannot extend to arbitrarily changing the currency of money in a bank to another currency as that would not only be unlawful deprivation of property in contravention the right protected in the Constitution of Zimbabwe but compels a party, the CABS, to breach its contractual obligations,” said Justice Zhou.
This, he added, would be contrary to all notions of justice and fairness, and to the rule of law and good governance if the State or the bank was allowed to simply rename money in an account and decide that it has become something else different from what is in the account.
The judge said such conduct was an affront to the tenets of the Constitution which binds the State and all institutions, respect “transparency, justice, accountability and responsiveness’’.
The value of good governance enshrined in the Constitution demands that a new approach to decision making be embraced by all arms of the government and other public institutions.
“Power must be exercised with sensitivity to fairness and justice, and in a manner that does not unnecessarily deprive persons of their rights,” he said.
The exchange control directive was, in the court’s view, illegal, irrational and unreasonable for offending against the rule of law and the constitutional values of good governance.
Justice WadyajenaThree parliamentarians elected on the MDC-Alliance ticket yesterday defied a boycott of parliament agreed on by the opposition party and attended a sitting of the Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement.
The three are Virginia Mafuta (Proportional Representative), David Tekeshe (Makoni Central) and Joyce Makonya (Proportional Representative).
The committee meeting was chaired, by Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena.
Ms Makonya told State Media that she ignored the boycott after being abused by fellow MPs who accused her of backing Douglas Mwonzora.
“I was removed from the party WhatsApp group by Lilian Timveos who accused me of backing Mr Mwonzora since we hail from Manicaland province.
“I was briefly re-admitted into the group, but was removed again and it was at that point that I realised that a lot of things were happening behind my back,” she said.
Asked which of the MDC groups she belonged to, Makonya said: “I belong to the MDC-T that was left behind by Mr Tsvangirai and I stand by the ruling that was made by the Supreme Court.”
Tekeshe said: “I do not believe I am defying the party directive, but that I am doing what the constituency has directed me to do. During this time of Covid-19, my people need me the most and if I don’t come to these platforms they miss out on many things. People think that being in opposition is hatred and enmity, but I think we need to unite.”
Asked if he still recognised Mr Chamisa as his leader, Mr Tekeshe said the time was not ripe to declare his allegiance. “That is a tough one. We will cross the bridge when we get to it. All I can say is that in a democracy, we have the right to make choices and I made the choice to come to Parliament. I am not an MP for the love of politics, but for the love of the people,” he said.
Ms Mafuta declined to comment.
Wadyajena thanked the opposition members for attending the committee meeting.
“We must thank members of the MDC who have come for the committee though there maybe intimidations and harassment, but we thank them for coming to support the committee and do what they were elected to do,” he said.
The committee agreed to meet later to enable the Permanent Secretary in the ministry Dr John Basera to attend after he failed to turn up yesterday.
“Youth Assembly Leaders C. Chimbiri, Hon. Joanna Mamombe & Netsai Marova were found badly beaten and dumped along Bindura Road. We have since rescued them with the help of our lawyers. The Police also attended to the scene. We are currently in the process of checking into a medical centre for treatment.”
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Paul Nyathi|The number of Covid-19 confirmed cases in Zimbabwe has gone up and is now at 38, with 21 active cases, 13 recoveries and four deaths.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care released the latest information in a brief statement late Thursday evening promising to provide more details on the latest case on Friday.
Minister Monica Mutsvangwa State Media|Government has operationalised the 24-hour Covid-19 Command Centre to help the national taskforce in making timeous decisions. The Command Centre is managed by the Civil Protection Unit.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday said Government continued to be on high alert by intensifying surveillance and implementing World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.
“I would also like to inform you that the Covid-19, 24-hour Command Centre has been operationalised and is being spearheaded by the Civil Protection Unit,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“The Command Centre briefs the National Taskforce on a daily basis and assist in timeous decision making. We encourage the nation to continue making use of the established call centres 2019 and 2023 for feedback, general enquiries and suggestions.
“To date, the response to the call centres has been favourable as the nation seeks to understand issues around Covid-19.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said it was important for the country to remain vigilant in its protective and preventative measures.
She said the war against Covid-19 remained a priority for Government, and Zimbabwe was working as part of the family of nations to ensure everyone was protected from the pandemic.
Minister Mutsvangwa hailed the corporate sector and the First Family for lending a hand towards the fight against Covid-19 after making several donations on Wednesday.
“Government would like to thank the Chinese Government for seconding a team of 12 medical experts who will assist in the fight against Covid-19,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“This will go a long way in augmenting current Government efforts in the fight against coronavirus.
“The team will continue with a comprehensive approach through meetings with different line ministries.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said the country witnessed an increase in the number of returning residents, especially from South Africa and Botswana.
To ease congestion at Plumtree and Beitbridge quarantine centres, all provinces had established additional quarantine centres to accommodate returning residents.
Minister Mutsvangwa urged those going through the mandatory quarantine to cooperate with the authorities throughout their stay at the facilities.
“Let me take this opportunity to commend Zimbabweans who are cooperating with law enforcement and implementation agents in order to ensure that the nation’s containment measures are implemented,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“We are in this together, and a collective effort is crucial to winning this fight against Covid-19.”
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo thanked the Chinese government for seconding a team of medical experts to Zimbabwe that was assisting and sharing experience with local health personnel.
Paul Nyathi|Information just received indicates that the three missing MDC Youth Wing members including Harare West Member of Parliament Joanna Mamombe have been found heavily beaten and dumped in a bushy area along Harare to Bindura Road.
ZimEye.com received an MDC internal message allegedly written by Maureen Kademaunga, the party Secretary for Social Welfare indicating that the three have since been rescued by party officials with their lawyers.
“Youth Assembly Leaders C. Chimbiri, Hon. Joanna Mamombe & Netsai Marova were found badly beaten and dumped along Bindura Road. We have since rescued them with the help of our lawyers. The Police also attended to the scene. We are currently in the process of checking into a medical centre for treatment.”
More details to follow…
KHAMA Billiat is being subjected to a wave of brutal criticism by some sections of the South African media and the relentless onslaught has now reached sickening levels which should be rejected by everyone who cares for the Warriors.
The attacks, says former former Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare, are disguised as criticism but are driven by an agenda to drive a wedge between the player and the Kaizer Chiefs fans.
And, the diminutive forward appears to be finding comfort in Jesus amid the onslaught.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me,.” he tweeted last week.
But, while others have been hammering him, Billiat was featured by CAF on their Wednesday Wizards online show in which the continental football governing body produced a video package of some of his best moves and described him as ‘’the best of the lot at a certain skill.’’
And, Mpandare feels the local media should leap into Billiat’s defence because he remains a key pillar of the country’s national football fortunes.-State media
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A 90-YEAR-OLD man died after he was hit by a haulage truck while crossing the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road in Lutumba area in Beitbridge.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday at the 264 kilometre peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road at Lutumba Business Centre.
Chief Insp Ndebele said Titus Murindadare from Chapfuche area in Beitbridge was hit by a haulage truck which was towing two trailers and he died on the spot.
“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident which occurred at Lutumba Business Centre where a 90-year-old man was hit by a truck while he was crossing the road. The driver of the truck Itayi Chiyedza was driving along the Masvingo- Beitbridge Road and when he got to the 264 kilometre peg at Lutumba Business Centre he hit Titus Murindadare who was crossing the road and he died on the spot,” said Chief Insp Ndebele.
“The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and investigations are underway.
As police we would like to urge motorists to adhere to road regulations and adhere to speed limits. Lutumba Business Centre is a busy area that we would expect motorists to approach with caution in order to avoid such incidences. We are set to engage the Ministry of Transport to put up speed humps in that area as we have been recording a number of fatal road accidents there. Pedestrians are also urged to check both sides of the road before crossing.”
In another incident a 27-year-old woman died after a scotch cart she was travelling in hit a tree stump and overturned in Fort Rixon.
Chief Insp Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday at around 1pm.
He said the now deceased Petronella Moyo was travelling in a donkey drawn scotch cart which was being led by Mr Godknows Gumbo.
He said one of the tyres of the scotch cart hit a tree stump and it overturned and knocked Moyo on the head in the process.
Chief Insp Ndebele said Moyo died on the spot as a result of the accident.
“As police we would like to urge members of the public to be careful when travelling in scotch carts as they can be as fatal as other vehicles,” he said.-State media
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has denied social media reports alleging that the police are having in custody three MDC-A youth members who participated in a demonstration on Wednesday afternoon in Warren Park, Harare.
In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said no one was taken into custody.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police dismisses all social media reports insinuating that the police have detained or has custody of some MDC Alliance members,” read part of the statement.
“Some MDC Alliance members including Johanna Mamombe, Obey Sithole, Ostallous Siziba, Stanley Manyenga and Justin Chidziva were involved in an illegal flash demonstration in Warren Park, Harare on 13th May 2020.-State media
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has challenged government to release the missing party youth leaders.
The missing MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leaaders are Joana Mamombe(MP Harare West and Secretary for Policy and Research), Cecilia Chimbiri(deputy chairperson) and Netsai Marova(vice organising secretary).
” I’m very concerned at the situation regarding members of our Youth Assembly, Hon. Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova who were arrested but remain unaccounted for; their whereabouts still unknown,” Chamisa posted on Twitter.
He added: “The State has a duty to ensure the personal security of all citizens. We are concerned that police who initially admitted they had been arrested have changed their tune and now deny responsibility.
Given the history of abductions and enforced disappearances we are extremely concerned for the safety and security of our members. Bring the 3 to court. If anything happens to the 3, we hold the arresting authorities responsible and accountable!Stop provoking the people!”
Farai Dziva|Prominent social humanity scientist, Prosper Tiringindi has accused Zanu PF of using COVID-19 donations to advance its political interests.
According to Tiringindi, Zanu PF is using COVID-19 donations to campaign for the 2023 elections.He also accused Zanu PF of insincerity.
“Zanu PF is distributing COVID-19 aid through its members and structures.
Perceived opponents are being left out of the distribution processes happening simultaneously countrywide.
In actual fact Zanu PF is already campaigning for the 2023 elections using the same donations.
That is how Zanu PF manipulates votes.In addition the ruling party uses intimidation, violence and gerrymandering to influence election results,” said Tiringindi.
Farai Dziva|Prominent social humanity scientist, Prosper Tiringindi has accused Zanu PF of using COVID-19 donations to advance its political interests.
According to Tiringindi, Zanu PF is using COVID-19 donations to campaign for the 2023 elections.He also accused Zanu PF of insincerity.
“Zanu PF is distributing COVID-19 aid through its members and structures.
Perceived opponents are being left out of the distribution processes happening simultaneously countrywide.
In actual fact Zanu PF is already campaigning for the 2023 elections using the same donations.
That is how Zanu PF manipulates votes.In addition the ruling party uses intimidation, violence and gerrymandering to influence election results,” said Tiringindi.
The Ministry would like to report that today, 830 rapid screening tests and 133 PCR tests were done in both the public and private sector.
All the PCR tests done today were negative for COVID-19.
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has thirty-seven confirmed cases, including thirteen recoveries and four deaths.
The latest recovery is a man from Harare who was confirmed following two consecutive PCR negative test results from samples taken at least 24 hrs apart.
Cumulatively, a total of 13 699 rapid screening tests and 11 191 PCR diagnostic tests have been done to date…
In line with our COVID-19 containment strategy, the Ministry continues to implement a comprehensive package of services, based on prevention, intensified surveillance both at community and health facility level, timely case detection, testing, isolation and management of all COVID-19 cases.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to practise good personal hygiene, always wear a face mask in public places and exercise social distancing.
Avoid touching the face mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
For assistance, please call the COVID-19 tollfree hotline number: 2019.
Popular Bulawayo-based national pool player Clemence Gutse has been slapped with a two year suspension amid revelations that he recently faked his father’s death in a bid to swindle unsuspecting members of the national game.
Gutse, who recently joined newbies Starton Lounge Pool Club, born from a merger between Dragons and Lounge Sharks, reportedly conducted the fiddle using his accomplice’s mobile phone claiming that his father had passed away in Gweru.
The accomplice is reportedly another well-known billiards player, McDonald “Sadam” Muvuti.
The hoax attracted the sympathy of national pool players and officials who pooled together over $6 000 to help the “bereaved” Gutse.
However, it was not long before a Gutse family member raised alarm dismissing the “bereavement”.
While the National Elite Pool Players Association of Zimbabwe (NEPPAZ) forced Gutse to hang his cue sticks for two seasons as punishment and the unsuspecting pool players and officials that had contributed were reimbursed their hard earned cash.
“It’s true that Clemence Gutse recently faked his father’s death. The development forced a number of pool players and officials to contribute over $6 000 which was meant to help the Gutse family in its supposed time of need.
“With some people in the pool fraternity smelling a rat, one of the Gutse family members was quick to raise alarm and dismiss everything. While we are happy that people were reimbursed their hard earned cash, the NEPPAZ disciplinary committee handed the player a two-year ban from the game,” said NEPPAZ disciplinary committee member Emmanuel Charuka. State Media/Chronicle
The Ministry would like to report that today, 830 rapid screening tests and 133 PCR tests were done in both the public and private sector.
All the PCR tests done today were negative for COVID-19.
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has thirty-seven confirmed cases, including thirteen recoveries and four deaths.
The latest recovery is a man from Harare who was confirmed following two consecutive PCR negative test results from samples taken at least 24 hrs apart.
Cumulatively, a total of 13 699 rapid screening tests and 11 191 PCR diagnostic tests have been done to date…
In line with our COVID-19 containment strategy, the Ministry continues to implement a comprehensive package of services, based on prevention, intensified surveillance both at community and health facility level, timely case detection, testing, isolation and management of all COVID-19 cases.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to practise good personal hygiene, always wear a face mask in public places and exercise social distancing.
Avoid touching the face mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
For assistance, please call the COVID-19 tollfree hotline number: 2019.
Bulawayo residents will now receive running water only once a week after council announced that it will decommission Lower Ncema Dam today, as the city grapples with one of its worst water crises in recent history.
The decommissioning of the dam will leave the city relying on three supply dams out of its six dams.Upper Ncema and Umzingwane dams were decommissioned last year and the latest development leaves Bulawayo with Insiza, Inyakuni and Mtshabezi dams for water supply.
The loss of the city’s three supply dams will see the local authority only managing to release about 94 megalitres (ML) per day against the city’s daily demand which averages 155ML per day.
In February last year, Bulawayo City Council introduced a 48-hour weekly water shedding programme that was increased to 72 hours then 108 hours to the current 120-hour regime.
According to council, the decommissioning of Upper Ncema will see residents enduring a 144-hour weekly water shedding programme which translates to six days.
The stringent measures are meant to conserve the fast dwindling water levels in the city’s dams that have dropped to 30 percent.
The water situation spells disaster for Bulawayo residents who are expected to maintain high levels of hygiene amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Constantly washing hands reduces chances of infection.
Some residents in high lying suburbs such as Magwegwe have gone for more than a month without receiving any tap water and the situation is getting desperate by the day.
In a statement, Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube said Lower Ncema is six percent full and will be decommissioned today.
“When Lower Ncema is decommissioned by Friday the 15th of May 2020, only 60 – 65 ML/day of raw water will be available for the city from three supply dams and Nyamandlovu aquifer,” said Mr Dube.
“In order to prevent the system from collapsing due to the supply-demand deficit, a more stringent water supply regime of 144 hours will be introduced.”
He did not immediately announce when the new water shedding schedule will be effected or how it will be rolled out.
Mr Dube said council is grappling with one of the worst water crises in Bulawayo’s history.
“BCC wishes to apologise to its valued consumers for the inconvenience already caused and likely to be caused as it grapples with one of the most parched seasons in its history,” said Mr Dube.
Mr Dube said since February last year, Bulawayo has been struggling to provide uninterrupted water supplies to the city due to depleting water levels in the city’s supply dams.
“Since the decommissioning of Upper Ncema and Umzingwane dams, the City has been unable to meet its daily demand which averages 155ML/day. The maximum available raw water supply is currently at 94ML/day,” said Mr Dube.
“As a result of the gap between demand and supply of 59ML/day, the city has been on water shedding since February 2019, which has been progressively implemented from the 48-hour, 72-hour, 108-hour to the current 120-hour regime. The daily water consumption for the period ending 30 April 2020 has been averaging 110ML/day which is above the available raw water supply of 94ML/day.”
Government is cognisant of Bulawayo’s water crisis. It recently released $10,6 million to Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) to rehabilitate 15 boreholes in Nyamandlovu aquifer to improve supplies to the city.
The renovations are already underway and once completed the boreholes will increase raw water pumping from an average of 3ML a day to between 7ML and 10ML.
Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo recently said Government would be releasing more funds to address Bulawayo’s water challenge.
During Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, it was resolved that more funds be allocated to Bulawayo and Harare municipalities so that the local authorities address the dire water situations in their localities. State Media/Chronicle
Farai Dziva|A list of top 15 Zimbabwean “prophets” has torched social media storm and the majority of users are sceptical of their credentials.
Masvingo based clergyman, Isaac Makomichi of the anointed love portion herb, Twabam, Uebert Angel and Walter Magaya are among those on the list.The list is circulating on various social media platforms.
The majority of social media users say the credibility of the “prophets” is questionable while their ardent followers believe they are anointed servants of God.
Below is the list:
Lynette Karenyi By A Correspondent- Journalist Zenzele Ndebele yesterday alleged that Nelson Chamisa’s Deputy Lynette Karenyi Kore is part of Thokozani Khupe’s MDC T Standing Committee.
Ndebele alleged that he has the V11s to prove that Kore was contributing to deliberations being made on that group.
He posted on twitter:
“At 11 am I will publish Kore’s chats participating in an MDCT standing committee what’s app group yesterday. I asked her this morning and she admitted it’s her then blocked me when I asked why she is in an MDCT what’s app group.”
While efforts to get a comment from VP Kore were futile by the time of publishing, ZimEye was informed Kore is not at all against her boss. Senator Lilian Timveous speaking in a forum described the story as fake news-
Farai Dziva|A list of top 15 Zimbabwean “prophets” has torched social media storm and the majority of users are sceptical of their credentials.
Masvingo based clergyman, Isaac Makomichi of the anointed love portion herb, Twabam, Uebert Angel and Walter Magaya are among those on the list.The list is circulating on various social media platforms.
The majority of social media users say the credibility of the “prophets” is questionable while their ardent followers believe they are anointed servants of God.
Below is the list:
Divisions in the African Apostolic Church (AAC), led by the ageing Archbishop Paul Mwazha, are widening after succession wrangles recently erupted into the public domain, amid contrasting messages on who should be the Archbishop’s successor.
Archbishop Mwazha, popularly known as Mudzidzisi, turns 102 this year. Recently, there was an altercation between his second born son Alfred Mwazha and other family members at the Archbishop’s Hatfield residence in Harare.
Alfred is claiming to have been appointed successor by his father, while other family members argue that the Archbishop prefers his youngest son, Tawanda Mwazha, to succeed him.
As the AAC succession feud unfolds, senior church officials seem to have picked sides between the feuding Mwazha brothers.
In a communiqué released this week by Archbishop Mwazha’s confidante, Bishop Richard Juru, the Bishop tried to shed some light on how the church’s leadership should proceed.
Bishop Juru claimed that on February 28, 2020 at around 3am, Archibishop Mwazha was filled with the Holy Spirit and summoned his personal aide, Reverend EV Kasima, to record the spirit’s instructions on who should succeed him.
He went on to reveal that the contents of that message stated that the Archbishop’s youngest son, Tawanda, should lead the Passover feast because of his experience, while Alfred would be the leader of the church because of his seniority.
Bishop Juru said this was discussed at a meeting of the church’s leadership in Hatfield on March 19.
“That meeting was attended by 15 members, including the Priesthood Council (Archbishop Mwazha’s sons) and the Board of Trustees. Apostle Mwazha’s message, which had been written down by Rev Kasima, was read out to them,” said Bishop Juru, adding that no one disputed the contents of the message.
However, in sharp contrast to the said written communique, in a video clip that was reportedly recorded in South Africa during some Passover gathering, Apostle Mwazha was captured saying Bishop Tawanda was his chosen successor.
“My son Tawanda is the one who was chosen by God to be my successor. God visited him in his house. He received my spiritual gift,” said Apostle Mwazha to wild applause.
But as more tension festers in the church, it has emerged that the fights go deeper than the leadership issue, amid stunning revelations that even prayer methods have been part of disharmony in one of the country’s leading indigenous churches.
Even though media shy leaders of the church, including Bishops Tekeshe and Chikwiro, were reluctant to grant The Manica Post an interview, reliable sources within the church revealed that there have always been existing differences within the church, adding that the festering tension has only manifested through the succession wrangles.
For example, long and personal prayers, widely known within the church as “tsindondi”, have been a source of disharmony, with a section of the church insisting on pre-written and recited prayers.
“We have always had our differences in the church and this was kept under wraps. Can you believe that the way we pray has seen some members clashing? Over the years, tsindondi has always been a source of disagreement, with some members preferring pre-written prayers,” said one source who preferred anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Another source indicated that the ongoing succession wrangle is not much of a surprise given the deep seated divisions that had been simmering.
“These succession wrangles do not come to us as a surprise because we knew it was always going to happen. With Mudzidzisi getting older and unable to control his sons and elders in the church, it was bound to happen that these people would fight for leadership. If it was not of the Covid-19 lockdown, we would be having two gatherings aligned to different leaders,” said the source. -Manica Post
Thursday 14th May 2020
By Senator Lilian Timveous
All MDC Alliance MPs, in line with their party directive, were conspicuous with their absence in the Industry and Commerce Parliamentary Committee meeting held on Thursday the 14th of May 2020.
Members from as far afield as Hwange and some within a kilometre of the precincts of Parliament, failed to attend this crucial Industry and Commerce committee meeting.
The Zanu PF members who came for the meeting noted that the absence of the hard thinking and strategic minded MDC Alliance MPs made them to have the shortest meeting ever in this committee as the brains behind the committee did not pitch up.
Comprehensive decisions could not be made as Zanu PF feared that they would make unhealthy choices on their own. Even though all Zanu members were present, the Chairperson of the committee complained that he missed the vibrancy of the MDC Alliance members who always made the meetings to be lively with sound debate.
The MDC Alliance think-tank MPs who did not attend the Industry and Commerce Parliamentary Committee meeting were;
Hon C Moyo
Hon W Sansole
Hon L Mukapiko
Hon Banda
Hon E Mushoriwa
Hon Tarusenga
Hon Chikudo
Hon L Chimina
Hon I Nyoni
Thursday 14th May 2020
By Senator Lilian Timveous
All MDC Alliance MPs, in line with their party directive, were conspicuous with their absence in the Industry and Commerce Parliamentary Committee meeting held on Thursday the 14th of May 2020.
Members from as far afield as Hwange and some within a kilometre of the precincts of Parliament, failed to attend this crucial Industry and Commerce committee meeting.
The Zanu PF members who came for the meeting noted that the absence of the hard thinking and strategic minded MDC Alliance MPs made them to have the shortest meeting ever in this committee as the brains behind the committee did not pitch up.
Comprehensive decisions could not be made as Zanu PF feared that they would make unhealthy choices on their own. Even though all Zanu members were present, the Chairperson of the committee complained that he missed the vibrancy of the MDC Alliance members who always made the meetings to be lively with sound debate.
The MDC Alliance think-tank MPs who did not attend the Industry and Commerce Parliamentary Committee meeting were;
Hon C Moyo
Hon W Sansole
Hon L Mukapiko
Hon Banda
Hon E Mushoriwa
Hon Tarusenga
Hon Chikudo
Hon L Chimina
Hon I Nyoni
South Africa-based rasta-kwasa musician, Dino Mudondo, took to social media to announce that his latest album “No Lumo” had been heavily affected by Covid-19 lockdown.
Dino begged for money on his Facebook page saying he was stranded, calling for other artists to assist him.
“I am writing this letter to you as a professional artiste with a huge begging bowl, asking for financial material, spiritual or any other support. It is our industry that was affected by the banning of gatherings, among others.
You have noticed that many artists have been doing some social media shows to entertain. One still needs to pay for the WIFI and data for live streaming.
“The little money I had saved for my new album launch and videos is slowly running out,” he begged.
The “Chirangano Chedu” hitmaker expressed hope of returning home soon after the lockdown.-State media
South Africa-based rasta-kwasa musician, Dino Mudondo, took to social media to announce that his latest album “No Lumo” had been heavily affected by Covid-19 lockdown.
Dino begged for money on his Facebook page saying he was stranded, calling for other artists to assist him.
“I am writing this letter to you as a professional artiste with a huge begging bowl, asking for financial material, spiritual or any other support. It is our industry that was affected by the banning of gatherings, among others.
You have noticed that many artists have been doing some social media shows to entertain. One still needs to pay for the WIFI and data for live streaming.
“The little money I had saved for my new album launch and videos is slowly running out,” he begged.
The “Chirangano Chedu” hitmaker expressed hope of returning home soon after the lockdown.-State media
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
By Pearl Matibe| UN resolution 20 (XXXVI) of 29 February 1980 which was further adopted by the Human Rights Council under A/HRC/RES/36/6, states that the Commission on Human Rights decided to “establish for a period of one year a working group consisting of five of its members, to serve as experts in their individual capacities, to examine questions relevant to enforced or involuntary disappearances of persons.”
Zimbabwe is a member state, yet involuntary disappearances are continuing.
On 9 March 2015, Itai Dzamara—widely known for speaking out against the government—vanished. He has never been seen since. The perpetrators are yet to be held to account in Zimbabwe yet, a forced disappearance is a heinous crime. No-one has ever been tasked with assisting his family to determine the fate or whereabouts of his disappearance.
5-years after Itai Dzamara vanished into thin air, 3 young women have gone missing in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
On 14 May, the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed that they had arrested them, and on the same day change statements to begin stating the very opposite. They tweeted what they claim as their official position which is, “The ZRP wishes to make it clear that the MDC Alliance members who include Johanna Mamombe, Obey Sithole, Ostallos Siziba, Stanley Manyenga and Justin Chidziva who were involved in an illegal flash demonstration on 13/5/20 in Warren Park, Harare are not in police custody.”
The arrest, detention, abduction or other form of deprivation of liberty by the State followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or the concealment of the whereabouts of the disappeared person is an enforced or involuntary disappearance according to the UN.
A decade ago in 2010, in an effort to raise the importance of greater efforts to deal with the problem of forced disappearances at the United Nations Jeremy Sarkin, Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances described it as “a scourge which must be eradicated.” “By employing enforced disappearances as a tactic, governments instill fear and terror into the populace. It creates confusion and panic in the society. Victims’ families may not even attempt to seek information about their loved ones out of fear that they will suffer a similar fate,” he said.
Today, involuntary disappearances continue in Zimbabwe.
Establishing a channel of communication between the victims’ families and the government, to ensure that individual cases are investigated, with the objective of clarifying the whereabouts of persons who, having disappeared, are placed outside the protection of the law, why they are being detained, and of they are being treated with dignity is critical.
Under the guise of implementing COVID-19 regulations, security forces continue to conduct atrocities. There is however helpful information for the victims’ families in that you can report a cases to the UN an a helpful resources is: How To Report A Case.
Fresh debate should be had on Zimbabwe’s ratification of the UN resolution just as calls ought to be made for the prevention and eradication of this odious practice.
Columnist, Pearl Matibe has geographic expertise on U.S. foreign policy and global affairs. You may follow her on Twitter: @PearlMatibe
Justice Francis Bere
SUSPENDED judge Justice Francis Bere had his bid to block a tribunal inquiring into his fitness to hold office, after a lawyer accused him of interference in a civil case, ruled as non-urgent by the High Court, meaning that the tribunal will probably report before his attempt to block the probe is concluded.
Justice Bere was serving at both the Constitutional and Supreme Court benches when he was suspended in March this year, to pave way for a probe into potential misconduct. He approached the High Court seeking, as a matter of urgency, a ruling to set-aside the Judicial Service Commission’s decision to refer his case to President Mnangagwa recommending an inquiry into his alleged misconduct. The finding of non-urgency means that the tribunal can now sit.
The three-member panel is chaired by retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako. The other two are Harare lawyer Mrs Rekayi Maphosa and Advocate Takawira Nzombe. Dismissing Justice Bere’s application, High Court judge Justice Alfas Chitakunye ruled the matter was not urgent.
He found that the application intended to sidestep the practice direction issued by the Chief Justice Luke Malaba suspended filing of litigation at the courts during the period of national lockdown and only allowed urgent and bail applications to be brought to court.
A man holds Zimbabwean Dollar Bond Notes on The High Court has today declared invalid the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Exchange Control Directive No. R120/2018, which created FCA “nostro” accounts as distinctive from “RTGS” accounts, as it is unconstitutional.
The ruling comes after Penelope Douglas Stone from The Stone/Beattie Studio took CABS, RBZ and ministry of finance to court over a US$142 000 deposit in its building society’s account.
Justice Happias Zhou granted the application on the grounds that the RBZ decision was not legally and morally justified, to change the currency of a bank account by simply renaming it.
The court ordered CABS, the applicants’ bankers, to pay The Stone/Beattie Studio US$142,000 which is the amount that they held in their account in 2016 or transfer it into a “nostro” account nominated by the applicants within seven days.
One more Zimbabwean has recovered from the coronavirus bringing the total to 13.
All those tested yesterday were negative which means Zimbabwe remains with 37 cases of whom 13 have recovered and four have died.
So far 24 890 people have been tested.
The number of active cases has been reduced to 20 with the majority being in Bulawayo which has 11 cases. Harare is now down to four, with Mashonaland West having another four and one in Mashonaland East.
There are no coronavirus cases in six other provinces-Matebeleland South, Matebeleland North, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland and Mashonaland Central.
Some 4.4 million cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the world of which 2.5 million are active.
A total of 298 442 people have died of the virus.
The highest number are in the United States which has 85 197, followed by the United Kingdom with 33 186 and Italy with 31 106.
As the People’s party, the MDC Alliance is totally appalled and strongly condemns the evil abduction of our Youth Assembly leaders, national Deputy Chairperson Cecilia Chimbiri, Deputy Organising Secretary Netsai Marowa and Secretary for Policy and Research Hon. Joana Mamombe (MP).
We demand their unconditional and immediate release.
This must be followed up with a strong reprimand and disciplinary action against all the repressive apparatus involved in the abductions including the individuals who gave the orders.
As the People’s party, we have no doubt that our Youth Assembly leaders forced disappearances has the tacit approval of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimate regime.
Indeed, the illegitimate regime has been at the centre of using abductions as a strategy to deal with dissent.
This unrepentant behavior of the regime is at the centre of Zimbabwe’s isolation from the family of nations.
It has no place in modern day society.
The People’s party calls upon all the progressive forces for democracy both nationally and internationally to confront this ever-growing trend of State sanctioned forced disappearances.
Indeed, this latest incident of the abduction of our Youth Assembly leaders must not be viewed in isolation at all.
For example, in January of 2019, several MDC Alliance members were abducted only to be dumped at police stations after being tortured for hours.
Then there has also been the abductions of comedians, trade union leaders including the then leader of the Hospital Doctors Association Dr. Peter Magombeyi.
Worse still, some of the people abducted in the past like Itai Dzamara and Patrick Nabanyama are still yet to be found while some like Tonderai Ndira were killed in cold blood and their bodies found chopped into pieces.
As the People’s party, we would like state it in unequivocal terms that these abductions which are a gross Crime Against Humanity; are totally unacceptable and must come to an end forthwith.
In any case, Zimbabweans have a legal right to join, form or participate in activities of political parties of their own choice in line with Section 67 of the national Constitution.
In a new Zimbabwe led by our People’s government, such kind of repressive behaviour and conduct will not be tolerated nor accepted.
Peace, justice and freedom shall be guaranteed to all Zimbabweans regardless of their political affiliations or divergent views.
Issued by the MDC Alliance Department of Communications
Michelle KatsvairoOur attention has been drawn to the use of a wrong picture to accompany a story about one of our local footballers who was spotted playing social soccer during the Coronavirus Lockdown.
We wish to retract and apologise for the wrong use of the image of Edmore Chirambadare in our news article on the 11th of May entitled “Professional Footballer Spotted Playing Social Soccer In Budiriro During Lockdown.”
We inadvertently used his image instead of the image of Michelle Katsvairo of Highlanders Football Club in our story.
We regret the inadvertent error and apologise to Chirambadare, his fans and his club for any inconvenience the use of his image may have caused him.
ZimEye.com editorial.
The Zimbabwean Human Rights NGO Forum has accused the government of attempting to do a hostile takeover of kombis through Zupco.
Under the current Level 2 Coronavirus lockdown, kombis are not allowed to operate. Buses operating under the ZUPCO banner are however allowed to operate. The government has asked private transport operators to register as ZUPCO transporters in order to be classified as official service providers.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum said the move is unfair and has been considered a hostile takeover attempt:
Statutory Instrument (SI) 99 of 2020 Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) National Lockdown (Amendment Order No.5, 2020) stipulated that public buses are the only mode of public transport allowed. Omnibus like Kombis and smaller taxis are still not permitted to operate.
Private transport operators have been negatively affected by the pronouncement. According to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo, private transport operators to be classified as official service providers have to register with Zupco so that they can operate during the lockdown period. However, coercing private transport operators to join Zupco is an unfair practice and private transport operators have seen the move as a hostile takeover of their business.
Burundi has ordered the World Health Organization (WHO) official to leave the country. The official was directed to vacate the country alongside three other health experts over utterances that Burundi government is operating in denial.
Foreign Affairs Ministry declared the WHO official Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo and three others as ‘persona non grata’ and gave them 24 hour ultimatum to leave the country.
Dr Mulombo among Prof Tarzy Daniel, Dr Jean Pierre Murunda and Dr Ruhana Mirindi Bisimwa were declared ‘personna non grata’ in Burundi by doubting the figures given by the ministry of health about Covid-19 infections in the country.
Burundi has been on the chopping board with critics blaming the authorities for negligence by holding elections in the midst of a pandemic. The elections slated for May 20 have precipitated campaign rallies with various candidates traversing the country soliciting for votes.
There are only 15 confirmed cases of Covid-19 cases in Burundi with one fatality recorded.
Lynette Karenyi By A Correspondent- Journalist Zenzele Ndebele has alleged that Nelson Chamisa’s Deputy Lynette Karenyi Kore is part of Thokozani Khupe’s MDC T Standing Committee.
Zenzele alleged that he has the V11s to prove that Kore was contributing to deliberations being made on that group.
He posted on twitter:
“At 11 am I will publish Kore’s chats participating in an MDCT standing committee what’s app group yesterday. I asked her this morning and she admitted it’s her then blocked me when I asked why she is in an MDCT what’s app group.”
While efforts to get a comment from VP Kore were futile by the time of publishing, ZimEye was informed Kore is not at all against her boss. Senator Lilian Timveous speaking in a forum described the story as fake news- THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.
The European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) have urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to ensure that legislator Joana Mamombe and two other MDC Alliance officials, who were reportedly arrested on Wednesday, are found.
Harare West legislator, Joanna Mamombe who is also the Nelson Chamisa led party’s secretary for policy and research, together with youth assembly vice-chairperson Cecilia Chimbiri and deputy organising secretary Netsai Marova were rounded up by police after the protest held in the capital’s Warren Park suburb but their whereabouts are up to now unknown.
Agency Gumbo, a lawyer for the three, said they had gone to several police stations in search of the opposition members, but could not find them, with the cops denying ever having arrested them.
This is despite the fact that police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi had earlier confirmed the arrest of MDC officials.
“[We are] concerned to hear lawyers still not told of (the) whereabouts of three female MDC officials reportedly arrested in Harare,” the UK embassy tweeted.
“[We] urge authorities to use their resources to locate (them) urgently in line with security services’ obligation to act at all times in line with Zimbabwe’s law and constitution”.
The European Union also took to the same platform to register its concern.
“We are concerned that three female MDC officials remain missing after they were reportedly arrested in Harare yesterday.
“We urge authorities to swiftly and in line with constitutional and legal obligations (to) assist lawyers and relatives to establish their whereabouts and wellbeing.”
Mfundo Mlilo, an activist, tweeted that he had received a message from Mamombe on Wednesday, telling him that she had been arrested.
He said he organised food and lawyers and went to Harare Central Police station, where he expected to find Mamombe, but the police denied ever having arrested her.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has said it will be filing a court application in order to force the authorities to reveal where the MDC officials are.
— NewsDay
Despite loud calls for his resignation by his own All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, coalition partners, the opposition and civic organisations, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is stalling in the hope that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will help him secure immunity from prosecution.
However, analysts warn the regional body against supporting such a deal. They say this would set a dangerous precedent where politicians would be emboldened to commit crimes safe in the knowledge that they are guaranteed immunity when they leave power.
Analysts further warn that SADC risks soiling its own image by practicing double standards. This is because the regional body has previously recommended the prosecution of Mr Thabane’s political rivals and members of the security agencies accused of serious crimes and fueling instability from 2014 to 2017.
Since the beginning of the year, Mr Thabane has come under intense pressure from his own ABC party to step down. The party considers him a liability especially after he and his wife, Maesaiah Thabane, were implicated in the 14 June 2017 murder of his ex-wife, Lipolelo Thabane.
The party says it cannot have a murder suspect in charge of government. Even before this, the veteran leader was already under intense pressure to go from the party faction aligned to his ABC deputy Professor Nqosa Mahao.
The pro-Mahao ABC’s national executive committee (NEC) accuses Mr Thabane of dictatorial tendencies and flouting the will of party members after he refused to accept the February 2019 election of Prof Mahao and others into the NEC.
The ABC has since agreed a deal with the main opposition Democratic Congress (DC) to form a new government which excludes Mr Thabane. Two of Mr Thabane’s three current coalition partners, namely Thesele Maseribane of the Basotho National Party (BNP) and Keketso Rantšo of the Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL) support the moves to oust him.
They have also been joined by the Lekhetho Rakuoane-led opposition Popular Front for Democracy (PFD).
This leaves Deputy Prime Minister Monyane Moleleki’s Alliance of Democrats (AD) as the only party backing Mr Thabane’s bid to remain in office.
Despite all the forces ranged against him, Mr Thabane continues to cling on, insisting that he will only consider stepping down at the end of July 2020 and even then, he will only go on his own terms.
The ABC and the opposition are having none of this and insist that he should go without further delay. Over the past three weeks the South African-led SADC mediation team has visited the country twice to break the deadlock and expedite Mr Thabane’s departure.
South African special envoy, Jeff Radebe has even issued a communique, saying Mr Thabane must be allowed to leave office with “dignity, grace and security”.
This has been interpreted by some analysts as an indication that SADC favours a compromise deal to allow Mr Thabane to go in exchange for immunity from prosecution for Lipolelo’s murder.
But such a compromise would be a big mistake, according to political analyst and Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) director Tsikoane Peshoane.
Mr Peshoane says SADC appears to be contradicting itself and practicing double standards by calling for Mr Thabane to be guaranteed a safe, dignified and secure exit when the regional body is fully aware that he faces murder charges.
“SADC’s apparent endorsement of a deal to give Thabane’s safe exit is an oversight on the part of the regional body,” Mr Peshoane said in an interview this week.
“SADC is likely to find itself practicing double-standards as it had already prescribed mechanisms for dealing with such alleged crimes,” he said.
He was referring to the Justice Mpaphi Phumaphi-led SADC commission of inquiry’s 2016 recommendations for the prosecution of politicians and members of the security agencies accused of the June 2015 murder of army commander Lieutenant General Maaparankoe as well as other human rights violations.
Former army commander, Lt-Gen Kamoli, was forced to retire on 1 December 2016 by SADC. He is one of those who have been charged with murder in line with the SADC recommendations. Lt-Gen Kamoli has also been charged with treason in connection with the 30 August 2014 attempted coup against Mr Thabane’s first government. He has been charged alongside Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader Mothetjoa Metsing and his Movement for Economic Change (MEC) counterpart Selibe Mochoboroane.
SADC has also assisted the police to investigate the 5 September 2017 assassination of army commander Lt-Gen Khoantle Motšomotšo allegedly by Colonel Tefo Hashatsi, Brigadier Bulane Sechele and other soldiers.
The regional body also helped the police to investigate the Lipolelo murder. Overally, the approach of SADC has been that all crimes must be investigated and prosecuted. Any attempts to shield Mr Thabane would thus contradict this approach, analysts say.
Mr Thabane thus far appears determined to avoid prosecution.
He has filed a Constitutional Court application to stop the courts from trying him while he remains in office. In a bid to ensure that he will never be prosecuted even after he leaves office, Mr Thabane has told the SADC mediation team that he is prepared to leave immediately only if he is guaranteed immunity.
But as analyst and prominent lawyer Advocate Letuka Molati says, SADC had already set a precedent where politicians and others are tried for their alleged crimes. He warned the regional body against double standards just to save Mr Thabane from prosecution.
“SADC set a precedent through the Phumaphi Commission’s recommendations and its subsequent assistance to Lesotho to investigate other crimes. All suspects should be tried for their alleged crimes regardless of their status.
“Why should Thabane be treated differently now? The prime minister should be prosecuted in terms of the applicable laws of Lesotho even when he leaves office,” Adv Molati said.
National University of Lesotho (NUL) Political Science lecturer, Mohlomi Mahlelebe, said SADC should not even be listening to Mr Thabane’s demand for immunity in the first place. He said Lesotho was a sovereign state which has its own laws regarding the prosecution of suspects.
He said the fact that the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security is currently led by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa- himself a man with a long record of human rights abuses- probably explained why SADC was even willing to listen to Mr Thabane’s demands for immunity.
He however warned that the regional body’s credibility, which has already taken a huge battering for its failure to resolve the crises in Zimbabwe and other member countries, would suffer more if it protected Mr Thabane.
“Prime Minister Thabane is among the African leaders who are said to have committed serious political offences in the past and he should be made to account for his iniquity.
“Should Thabane be offered immunity from prosecution, SADC’s credibility would suffer more. SADC should allow the courts in Lesotho to deal with the Thabane (murder) case,” Mr Mahlelebe said.
What is sauce for the goose should therefore be sauce for the gander. SADC should not risk further soiling its image by allowing one set of rules for Mr Thabane and another for the rest of Lesotho’s politicians who have already been prosecuted for crimes at the behest of the regional body.
Lesotho will not know peace and stability if SADC helps to set a new precedent where some politicians are shielded from prosecution for their alleged crimes.