State Media|A BULAWAYO family suffered double trauma when Falakhe Funeral Services delayed delivering the body of their relative who died in South Africa by over 20 hours before eventually giving them a wrong body for burial.
The Ncube family had expected to bury Mthokozisi Ncube (37), who died of kidney failure on May 3, as soon as they received his body. The arrangement was in line with Covid-19 regulations that repatriated bodies should all be treated as if they are contaminated.
After failing to deliver the body, parlour officials suddenly became unreachable on their phones.
The family was frantic with worry and endured a sleepless night where they imagined all scenarios that could have caused the funeral parlour to disappear without notice. Yesterday morning the parlour called the family to collect the body and grief-stricken members said they suffered a “cruel blow” when they were shown the body of an “old man” who was a stranger to them.
The family paid Falakhe Funeral Parlour about R11 000 to bring the body into the country for burial.
Pouring out the family’s harrowing ordeal to Chronicle yesterday at Athlone Cemetery where Ncube was eventually buried after the mix-up was cleared, family spokesperson Mr Mfaniselwa Mpofu said the parlour had exposed them to unimaginable distress.
“We spent the whole of yesterday (Wednesday) waiting for my nephew’s body as we were told he would arrive by 11AM. We waited but his body didn’t arrive as expected and upon inquiring, officials at Falakhe told us there were delays at the border,” he said.
“They promised us that the body would be in Bulawayo by 3PM which also did not happen. We tried reaching the parlour after 3PM and they went silent on us, their phones were not going through. We spent a sleepless night without any communication,” said the disgruntled Mr Mpofu.
According to Mr Mpofu, the body arrived during the wee hours of yesterday morning and the family was only contacted around 8AM.
“We went to Falakhe and we were shown a coffin which was supposedly carrying Mthoko’s body. Our daughter-in-law back in South Africa had sent us pictures of the coffin and the one we were shown looked different. This prompted us to ask to at least see his face before proceeding to bury him,” he added.
Mr Mpofu said Falakhe officials were rude and refused to open the coffin claiming that it was sealed and could not be opened for any reason.
“We had accepted that due to Covid-19 we could not conduct a body viewing service but at least one of us had to ensure it was indeed Mthoko before we could bury him.
“After a struggle, they opened the coffin and we immediately thought something was amiss because the face of the body was covered with a piece of cloth.
When it was removed, we saw an old man that we had never seen before.” said Mr Mpofu.
He said emotions of family members that had been overstretched reached boiling point.
Mr Mpofu said there was an exchange of harsh words between the family and Falakhe officials who claimed there could have been a mix up as they had brought two corpses from South Africa at the same time.
They claimed the body the family had seen was in transit to Kezi in Matabeleland South.
“About three hours later, they told us they had Mthoko’s body. That is when we did paper work and proceeded to Athlone where he is now being buried,” he said.
Mr Mpofu said the family was still traumatised and disappointed in Falakhe. “Falakhe is one of the oldest funeral parlours we have and we expected better from them. We hope that one day we will heal from the trauma they brought upon the family which was worsened by the fact that Mthoko’s wife and son could not attend his burial due to Covid-19 conditions.”
Contacted for comment, an official from Falakhe Funeral Parlour, Mr Eugene Ncube, said the company had acted on Government’s directive in refusing to let the family open the coffin.
He referred this reporter to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and refused to comment on what would have happened if the Ncube family had buried the wrong body. “We dealt with the person who paid for the policy and explained to them so I do not know where these allegations are coming from. This whole issue is because the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care wrote a letter banning us from conducting body viewing programmes or even opening coffins from outside the country,” said Mr Ncube.
“This policy is affecting us as a business as families are always questioning our stance. However, these allegations are false.We told the family there were delays at the border and they cannot accuse us of anything, we are simply following instructions laid out in the letter from the Ministry.”
Dear Editor|IT was in 2000 when I had just begun my “A” level studies at Rupare High school in Bikita, Masvingo.
We were going towards the 2000 parliamentary election. Zanu-PF had just lost a constitutional referendum in February of that year.
The Movement for Democratic Change had been formed in 1999 and was to participate in the 2000 election for the first time. The wind of hope swept across the country. I saw people being as hopeful as they were during the first decade of Independence (1980-1990). I did not anticipate the violence that was to come.
As we approached the 2000 elections, I witnessed and heard of iniquitous violence which I never thought would become a long and savagery chapter of our political system.
Violence-mongering elements mounted “roadblocks” in the villages. They stopped and searched vehicles for MDC materials. Those who were found in possession of these, or anything which is red in colour, were tortured or harassed. Those who would not stop had their vehicles stoned, many times injuring the passengers. They visited teachers’ cottages and searched houses.
Many teachers went through nightmarish experiences. Schools were closed. Many of them were turned from centres of education to centres of interrogation and torture. It is conscience-wrenching to recount the horrors of June 27, 2008. It was the epitome of savagery of human against human. Entire homesteads were torched; livelihoods were destroyed or appropriated; eyes were gouged out; limbs were hacked and heads were crushed.
Villagers slept in mountain caves and along river banks. It was reminiscent of their excruciating experiences during the liberation war. I heard of heart-rending stories of old women, some in their 80s, who were flogged.
In September 2019, I visited my rural home. One day, I took a walk. I met a familiar village woman. During our conversation, she stated that she is a converted Zanu-PF supporter. Her major reason for moving from the MDC was the belief that the party’s splits and focus on personal power and aggrandisement are evidence of its lack of appreciation of the hard sacrifices which have been made by its grassroots supporters.
She said: “ZveMDC hazvina shumo. Vanogara vachingorwa nekuparadzana gore negore. Havana futi kana chavanoitira vanhu. Vanomboziva here kuti vanhu vanovasapota vasangana nezvakawanda. Tarira kuurawa kwakaitwa vana Richard Chatunga na Richard Maposa. Umwe wakaururwa nemuururo waiswa mumoto. Umwe wakatemwa musoro. Mapurisa haana kana kupindira” (MDC is always splitting year afteryear.Plustheyhavenotdoneanything for the people. Do they even appreciate what their supporters have gone through over the years because of their allegiance? Just look at how people like Richard Chatunga and Richard Maposa were killed. One was burnt while the other’s head was bashed in. The police did nothing).
The other day, I was seating under the mutondo tree with my mother when another woman from the village came. We talked about many issues, including politics. She told me that if I want to join politics, I should not follow the path of Jacob Ngarivhume, who is in the opposition. She enjoined me to join Zanu-PF.
She said that in the village and surrounding areas, only Zanu-PF supporters get food aid. “Dhongi rinomwa padhongi, mombe pamombe. Munhu ungasapota MDC inechii. Zanu-PF ndiyo inebhegi. Izvezvi isu hatichemi chikafu. Vhunza mai vako. VeMDC vachafa nenzara gore rino, vachadya masilogani iwayo,” she said, with a strong sense of conviction and contentment.
This conversation was interrupted when a young man from the village arrived. He is an MDC supporter. He wanted to harvest some grass to feed his domestic rabbits. After harvesting the grass, he came and sat with me. I asked him how life was going. He said that “these old women are letting us own by voting Zanu-PF”. He told me a long story of what he lost because of supporting the MDC.
I asked him why he continues to support the MDC. He said: “I cannot renounce my support for the MDC because I want food aid. All I want is a good economy. In a functioning economy, I can raise my own income and buy food for myself. I want what is good for us all, not for me alone. Right now, my family cannot get food assistance. It is tough but ok, we will have to work hard to put food on the table. That is why I have this project of domestic rabbits”.
These are the stories of many MDC supporters across the country. For the past 20 years, they have sacrificed, even the last drop of their blood, for what they believe is a long fight for the common good. Let me now turn to the story of MDC leadership.
It is incontestable that the leadership has fought against enormous odds, but there are also many areas of concern. In 2005, the party encountered a split because of controversy over whether to participate in the senatorial elections of that year.
The splinter group formed MDC-M, which was led by Arthur Mutambara and Welshman Ncube. Job Sikhala formed MDC-99. The MDC witnessed another split after the 2013 elections. Tendi Biti formed the People’s Democratic Party and Elton Mangoma formed his own party. In 2018, it split. Thokozani Khupe limped away, but claimed leadership of MDC-T. Chamisa morphed the party into the MDC-Alliance. On March 31, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled, quite expectedly but strangely, that Khupe is the legitimate leader of the MDC.
The MDC’s narrative is that these splits are caused by infiltration by Zanu-PF. The brutal truth is that this is a convenient and scapegoating narrative. It is the MDC itself which creates a fertile ground for infiltration.
To be blunt, the root cause is greed. When Biti left the MDC in 2013, he vociferously argued that the party had been “hijacked” by a “fascist clique” which uses violence, abuse of power, ethnicity, and informal methods to run party structures and stifle internal democracy.
In 2016, I interviewed a number of MDC leaders and supporters as part of my PhD studies. The general sense was that the splits are caused by personal egos, top-down decision-making processes, the rewarding of hero-worshiping, the repression of critical thinking, loss of moral compass, corruption, greed, internal violence, and the creation of parallel structures.
It is not only about fights and splits. During the Government of National Unity, the party’s representatives focussed on feathering their own nests. Municipal authorities under its leadership have been characterised by corruption. Its parliamentarians have demanded “obscene” perks and benefits. Its lawyer-politicians have defended former Zanu-PF politicians in the courts.
In 2017, it participated in the events which led to the removal of Mugabe by mobilising its supporters to march on November 18; by expressing the eagerness to participate in the impeachment process and by attending the inauguration of Emmerson Mnangagwa. It was evident that the MDC’s major ask was the formation a coalition government.
When this failed, its emissaries advocated for the retention of sanctions before the US Committee on Foreign Relations. On August 1 2018, six demonstrators were shot and killed and more were injured. Chamisa stated that the demonstrators were “stupid, very stupid” because the results had not been announced. On the delivery front, the MDC has merely promised a “new Zimbabwe”, without much tangible delivery. It is now 20 years, but there are no “pockets of delivery” which demonstrate its willingness and capability to deliver a “new Zimbabwe”.
Impoverished MDC supporters are willing to sacrifice their wellbeing and even lives, for what they believe is a long struggle for the common good. But alas, this is not the case with MDC leaders. Where and when their power ambitions hit a rock, they are ready, not only to walk away, but to turn back and wage war against the MDC, even if it means working with Zanu-PF. It leaves one wondering whether they have been fighting for the democratic cause.
MDC leaders should not be judged on account of how long they have been in the party, but of what they can do to pursue and retain power, or when they are frustrated, especially in respect of their power ambitions. Using this barometer, despite its shortcomings, it is arguable that the majority of MDC leaders are not in the struggle in order to seek the common good. They do not appreciate the depth and breadth of sacrifices and suffering which the party’s supporters have gone through for the past 20 years. This is a sheer pity, and my heart goes to these Wananchi.
We should never again make the historical mistake of believing the myth that those who lead the struggle are the most important cadres of the struggle. Whether historical, present or future, the greatest custodians and cadres of any struggle are the people themselves. It is common to see MDC leaders sharing pictures of themselves, especially where and when they were victims of brutality. They use this to push the narrative that they have suffered in the struggle for democratic change. Sure? Do you want us to show you the pictures of grisly remains of ordinary people who were murdered, whose limbs were hacked and eyes gouged out, of villagers whose entire homes and livelihoods were torched to ashes, of children whose parents or guardians were murdered? None of the crop of MDC leaders, past and present, suffered as much as the ordinary people did.
To be fair, after 20 years, one would expect MDC supporters to ask whether it is worth the fight, pain and loses, when the party’s leaders are largely fixated on feathering their own nests. MDC leaders should be made accountable, they cannot be immune to criticism, and they cannot hide behind the bogus smoke screen of infiltration. But sure, this is not the MDC’s struggle. Let me divert and conclude with the following quotations, whatever their import:
“Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them.” (Assata Shakur).
“Dictators and authoritarian regimes are not easily removed from office through democratic means.” (John Makumbe).
——— Tofa holds a PhD in Political Studies from the University of Johannesburg and a PhD in Peace Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He writes in his own capacity. Feedback: [email protected]
State Media|Chitungwiza Municipality has reinstated the sister-in-charge of St Mary’s clinic whom it had suspended, after her subordinates went on strike over council’s failure to provide them with personal protective equipment and covid19 lockdown allowances.
While nurses from all the four council-run clinics had gone on strike over the same concerns, only the sister-in-charge Sr Shingirai Tsvangirai was suspended causing an uproar among her subordinates who felt she was being persecuted.
She was under suspension without salary and benefits.
In a twist of events, The Herald on Thursday was tipped that council had reversed its decision and it got hold of a letter confirming the latest position.
The letter was referenced ‘Notice of withdrawal of suspension with loss of salary and benefits and confirmation of your immediate reinstatement without loss of salary and benefits.’
State Media|THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has introduced new $10 and $20 bank notes and reviewed upwards weekly withdrawal limit to $1000 from $300.
In a statement today RBZ Governor, Dr John Mangudya, said the $10 notes will be in circulation by Tuesday next week with $20 notes set to be injected into the market early next month.
“The RBZ wishes to advise the public that the $10 and $20 dollar bank notes issued on 14 May 2020 through Statutory Instrument 103A of 2020 will come into circulation as follows:
-the $10 bank notes will commence circulation on Tuesday, 19 May 2020, the $20 bank notes will be in circulation by the first week of June 2020,” said Dr Mangudya.
“The features of the said banknotes will be publicised prior to circulation.”
The Apex Bank has also announced the upward review of withdrawal limits, a move likely to excite depositors.
“The Bank also advises that it has revised withdrawal limits upwards from $300 per week to $1000 per week with effect from 19 May 2020,” said Dr Mangudya.
He said banks have since been directed to ensure that the withdrawal limits were strictly observed. On the back of illicit cash deals and illegal money transfers, the Governor warned that decisive measures will be taken against those found on the wrong side of the law.
MUTARE – Esau Mupfumi is the only Zanu PF politician to ever be voted into parliament for an entirely urban constituency in Mutare since 2000.
And he is hoping to have a second bite of the cherry.
The recalling of Dangamvura-Chikanga legislator and MDC Alliance chief whip Prosper Mutseyami is offering the businessman-cum-politician another opportunity to contest his former seat.
“This is a chance for people to reflect on their experiences with me as MP before the 2018 election and what they had over the past two years.
“I hope they will be a bit more objective about their political choices if a by-election is called for,” Mupfumi said.
The former Dangamvura-Chikanga lawmaker has been a hard worker before, during and after his 2015 electoral victory.
During his tenure he even at one point moved to charm his often-distrustful constituency with an impassioned plea for forgiveness for unfulfilled promises.
Mupfumi who has expended thousands of dollars in cultivating the urban constituency knows that the odds are against his party in an urban electoral contest against the opposition MDC.
In 2015 victory was handed to him on a silver platter when the MDC-T recalled Arnold Tsunga for allegedly crossing the floor to MDC Renewal before boycotting the polls.
The seat is an opposition stronghold which Zanu PF last won before MDC came into the fray back in the 2000 parliamentary election.
Despite his 2018 electoral loss, Mupfumi has continued to actively engage the constituency by continuing to support its urban poor after he was designated the shadow-MP by his party.
He has not let up on providing water to areas without council water connections and providing his buses for funeral assistance.
“I also availed buses at half the price when commuter omnibus operators were taking advantage of transport shortage to reap-off commuters before government introduced Zupco buses,” he said.
In fact, the Zupco model was inspired by his intervention, Mupfumi opines. “The Zupco model was inspired by what we had begun to do in Mutare.”
The Zanu PF central committee member said he has developed a special bond with the locals who gave him over 10 thousand votes in the populous constituency with nearly 60 thousand registered voters.
“Despite everything that has happened in my political career I have an attachment to this constituency,” he said.
But all the good work do not always count for much for a Zanu PF politician in an urban setting.
Former Zanu PF Secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo during his 2015 election campaign even once expressed sympathy for the top businessman’s vulnerability to being fleeced by both party fellows and locals only to be dumped at the polls.
Mupfumi has previously committed resources to the city and like his late friend and fellow business mogul Shadreck Beta has often been taken for a ride by local residents who in spite of benefitting from their generosity have enjoyed dumping them on election day.
Chombo even likened Mupfumi’s situation to the late Bulawayo politician Sikhanyiso Ndlovu who he said always lost regardless of supplying Mpopoma residents truckloads of maize during their time of need, opening 12 butcheries across the constituency and dedicating a fleet of commuter omnibuses as well as funding many cooperatives.
Mupfumi is hopeful that his hard work and charm offensive will help him gain the trust of locals and secure him an electoral victory in the 2018 watershed election.
But he can only wish that years of service and hundreds of thousands of personal resources expended in philanthropic work in the constituency will be rewarded.
“I know they don’t trust my party,” Mupfumi said. “I hope they just give me the seat so that l can finish off this term as a show of gratitude.”
Country’s confirmed cases at 12 739, with 5676 recoveries
The total number of Covid-19 deaths in South Africa now stands at 238, with Health Minister Zweli Mkhize reporting 19 further fatalities on Thursday.
This represents the biggest single day increase in coronavirus-related deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country.
The Western Cape accounts for over half of these deaths, at 129, while the Eastern Cape has seen a spike in deaths, which now stands at 31. It has more Covid-19 deaths than Gauteng, which stands at 24. KwaZulu-Natal still has the third highest number of deaths, at 44.
Mkhize noted in a brief statement that, as of Thursday, the total number of confirmed cases in South Africa is 12 739. The country’s active Covid-19 cases stands at 7063, with the minister reporting 5676 recoveries.
He added that 16 666 new Covid-19 tests had been done over a 24-hour cycle, taking the total number of tests in the country beyond the 403 000 mark.
Source: National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)/ Department of Health
During his latest address to the nation on Wednesday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that more than nine million people had also been screened as part of the country’s health response to the pandemic.
In addition to a significant increase in testing and screening capacity, he said that government has been able to acquire 25 000 more beds for quarantine as well as more quantities of personal protective equipment and medical equipment.
Ramaphosa noted that this represented the “largest and most extensive public health mobilisation in the history of our country”.
“By delaying the spread of the disease, we have been able to strengthen the capacity of our health system and to put in place wide-ranging public health programmes to better manage the inevitable increase in infections,” he said.
Independent|THE European Union (EU) has ruled out prospects of providing budgetary support to the broke Zimbabwean government, citing “massive misuse” of public funds as exposed by various audits and the failure to ensure transparency and predictability.
Failure to implement substantive economic and political reforms is also a major concern to the EU. Finance minister Mthuli Ncube last month made an impassioned plea to international financial institutions for support which includes debt rescheduling or cancellation.
In his letter, which was leaked to the media, the Treasury chief painted a grim picture of the country’s economic crisis. He pointed out that the economy would contract by between 15% and 20% this year, adding that the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives globally, will spawn a national catastrophe with potentially devastating consequences for the rest of southern Africa.
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with the Zimbabwe Independent this week, the EU’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen, said assisting this country with budgetary support is not under consideration.
“At the moment, budget support is not on the table. Currently, we are not in the clear what is happening with government revenue and expenditure. The Auditor-General’s report shows massive misuse of public funds. That is not a fiscal environment where I would be willing to see European taxpayers’ money go,” Olkkonen said.
“The EU has been supporting the government in public financial management through the World Bank-managed ZIMREF (Zimbabwe Reconstruction Fund), but there is still much more to be done to create transparency and predictability.”
Olkkonen pointed out that Zimbabwe has been added by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to a list of countries that are risky in terms of money laundering and terrorism financing because the country has failed to fulfil certain recommendations within a set timeframe.
FATF is an inter-governmental organisation founded in 1989 as an initiative of the Group of Seven (seven of the largest economies in the world) to develop policies to combat money laundering.
According to FATF, Zimbabwe’s deficiencies include: insufficient understanding of the key money laundering and terrorist financing risks. The country is also deficient in the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policy based on the identified risks. There are further shortcomings in the implementation of risk-based supervision of financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs).
“Lack of adequate risk mitigation measures among financial institutions and DNFBPs entailing the application of proportionate and dissuasive sanctions to breaches; shortcomings in the legal framework and mechanism to collect and maintain accurate and updated beneficial ownership information for legal persons and arrangements, and to ensure timely access by the competent authorities,” the FATF notes in its report.
“Gaps in the framework and implementation of targeted financial sanctions related to terrorist financing and proliferation financing. On this basis, Zimbabwe should be considered as a country having strategic deficiencies … under Article 9 of directive (EU) 2015/849”.
Olkkonen said the European Commission’s decision to list Zimbabwe among countries that are not serious about fighting money laundering is the EU’s way of implementing the FATF ruling.
“The FATF decision itself was taken as a consequence of a process with Zimbabwe, where the country was given a set of recommendations that were not fulfilled in the given timeframe,” Olkkonen said.
“The European Commission decision means that European banks need to exercise enhanced due diligence when processing financial transactions to and from Zimbabwe. The listing will be active from 1 October onwards, as it was deemed appropriate to delay it because of the corona pandemic.”He said Harare’s implementation of the recommendations it agreed with FATF will go a long way in having the country removed from the list.
“The EU has resources to support countries to implement the required actions and Zimbabwe could make a request for that support,” Olkkonen said.
The EU ambassador to Zimbabwe said the country does not qualify for the debt-service moratorium for developing countries because of its failure to service its debts to international financial institutions (IFIs) and bilateral creditors.
“Zimbabwe owes significant debts to several EU member states bilaterally, and member states are shareholders and represented on the boards of the IFIs, including that of the European Investment Bank. In general, the European Commission has announced its support for a debt service moratorium for developing countries struggling with the response to Covid-19,” Olkkonen said.
“A moratorium of payments would not be applicable to Zimbabwe, since the country unilaterally stopped servicing its debts to most IFIs and bilateral creditors years ago.”
He said reforms are imperative if the country is to normalise relations with IFIs.“The IMF Staff-Monitored Programme was seen as a starting point for creating macro-economic balance, and there is still a hope that serious economic reforms would pave a way towards closer engagement with IFIs, which could also be a stepping stone towards addressing the debt issue,” Olkkonen pointed out. “In addition to purely macro-economic measures, governance and addressing the leakages in the economy would be crucial.”
Government Information Ministry Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana has issued a government position statement on the abduction of the MDC Youth Leaders.
His statement completely contradicts previous information issued by the police on the sequence of events leading to the disappearance of the young women.
Watch video downloading below as we discuss his statement.
Associated Press|Three young Zimbabwean opposition activists who were reported missing following a protest over COVID-19 lockdown measures this week were being treated at a hospital Friday after asserting they were abducted and sexually abused by suspected state security agents.
The three women, including the country´s youngest parliament member, Joana Mamombe, were allegedly arrested at a roadblock after Wednesday’s protest in the capital, Harare, but family members and lawyers failed to locate them.
Police denied they arrested or held the trio, saying they were unaware of their whereabouts. The women had been protesting what they called deepening poverty and lack of social protection measures during the weeks-long lockdown.
The activists were later found by a “sympathetic villager” who heard their cries for help after they were dumped about 90 kilometers (55 miles) from Harare, Richard Chimbiri, the father of one of the women, told reporters outside the hospital.
“One can´t even talk, the other is just crying and another has been taken for some tests. They were seriously beaten up and stripped of their clothing. They are in pain, they are in bad shape,” he said.
Zimbabwe´s security agents have a history of abducting and torturing opposition and civil society activists viewed as anti-government. Many are later found abandoned, although some, such as Itai Dzamara, a journalist abducted in 2015, are still missing.
One of the three women, Cecilia Chimbiri, spoke briefly from a hospital ward. “They kept touching me all over the body and also beat us using the butt of their guns,” she said, writhing in pain.
The Associated Press does not name victims of sexual assault but the named women gave permission to be identified.
Chimbiri said they were stopped by police at a roadblock and taken to a police station where they were bundled into a private car, hooded and taken away.
“They were arrested at a roadblock and taken away from a police station by supposedly unknown people, so we hold the police responsible,” Maureen Kademaunga, the opposition MDC party secretary for welfare, said at the hospital. Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa visited the women there.
Mamombe, the 27-year old lawmaker, was visibly in agony and could barely talk as she was wheeled from an ambulance.
Tempers flared outside as family members tried to gain access to the women while hospital staff tried to ensure social distancing.
Jeremiah Bamu, the women’s lawyer, said he was yet to get “full instructions” on taking any legal action because “they are not in a physical and mental state that allows them to fully brief me on what course of action to take. The focus now is to ensure that they are in a good mental state. The focus is on their recovery.”
While police have denied arresting the women, some are skeptical, pointing to Zimbabwe´s record of enforced disappearances.
“It is deeply alarming that the state claims that it cannot account for the three activists when they were arrested at a roadblock run by both the police and the military,” said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International deputy director for East and Southern Africa.
HARARE West lawmaker Joannah Mamombe (MDC Alliance) is among the three opposition youth leaders who were abducted on Wednesday before being found alive but “badly beaten and traumatized,” according to the opposition party.
A video is circulating on social media showing Mamombe in hospital where she is groaning in pain while a woman who is said to be her mother comforting her.
MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said Mamombe and her colleagues Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, were dumped Friday by unknown assailants at Muchapondwa shops in Musana, Bindura South.
Tamborinyoka said the three were bruised and traumatized as they were allegedly forced to eat human waste by their assailants, who seized them while they were staging a public protest in Harare over the failure by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to provide food aid during the ongoing nationwide lockdown to curb the spreading of coronavirus COVID-19.
“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.”
Tamborinyoka said some MDC members, lawyers and police attended to the three in Muchapondwa before they were ferried to a Harare hospital.
“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.”
According to the party’s rescue team that drove to Bindura with lawyers and the police, the three women indicated that they were first taken to Harare Central Police station after being “arrested”.
Tamborinyoka said the MDC activists were later taken from the police station by unknown assailants and 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 … The ladies are still heavily traumatised and their clothes are torn.”
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not reachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.
Nyathi told the state-controlled Herald newspaper on Wednesday that police arrested some protesters on Wednesday, who were ferried to Harare Central Police Station.
A few hours later police said they had no record of any arrests, resulting in a national and international outcry over the alleged abduction of the three women.
MDC President Nelson Chamisa on Friday visited in hospital the three bruised MDC Youth Leaders who were abducted on Tuesday and found dumped in Bindura on Thursday night.
Chamisa took swipe at ruling ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa for the abductions.
“We have more reason to believe that Mr Mnangagwa is aware of all this because it is a pattern that happened in the country. We have seen that across the year 2019 we recorded a total of about 49 abductions of this nature and they have the audacity to want to lie to the world that this is all self-inflicted, it’s all false abductions when it is clear that the pattern is the same and the intentions are known,” said Chamisa
He said the abductions were meant to preserve the illegitimate regime and protect Mnangagwa.
“It is all meant to preserve an illegitimate regime. It is meant to defend an unelected regime. It is meant to protect Mr Mnangagwa, what is clear is that those people who are doing it are doing it on behalf of Mr Mnangagwa. What makes it so obvious is the fact that Mr Mnangagwa has never condemned.
“Not a single arrest has been done of all these cases. One wonders why if a police commissioner or spokesperson had confirmed that they had custody of these young girls, they then turn around and say they didn’t know about these arrests,” he said
Chamisa said the country had become a hot spot of human rights abuses and torture against the girl child.
“Zimbabwe has become a hot spot of human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. This inhumane and degrading treatment is torture against the girl child, women, and citizens. Assuming that they (the girls) had committed a crime there were supposed to be taken to a police station, court and be tried and sentenced. We see it as a continuation of the old ugly past, the past that has been associated with the kind of torture that we have seen”
Government has finally spoken on the abduction of MDC Youth Wing leaders who were found dumped in Bindura on Thursday night.
Below is the statement by Nick Mangwana the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
Government has noted with concern reports of the alleged abductions of three citizens namely the legislator for Harare West (MDC-T) Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova on 13 May 2020.
So far we have established the following details:
The three women were part of a group of MDC youths that defied the lockdown laws in the country and took part in an illegal demonstration in Warren Park. Harare. Police then sought to interview them on suspicion of committing crimes related to the lockdown laws und the holding of illegal demonstrations. Whilst the police were looking for them, social media chatter indicating that the three had disappeared was observed. Measures were put in place to locate their whereabouts.
On the night of the 14th, the Police were informed that the three suspects had been located at Muchapondwa Business Centre in| Bindura.
Investigations are currently underway to establish what transpired to the three women from the time they left the demonstration up to the point when they reportedly picked up at Muchapondwa Business Centre.
The government will uphold the law and constitutional safeguards contained therein, and if any law has been broken, the law will be enforced.
We are calling on the three citizens to work with the law enforcement agents in order to bring the truth to light and we are appealing to anyone with information concerning this case to make a report with the Police.
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has come under global spotlight, with Western embassies raising the red flag, after three MDC Alliance youth leaders allegedly went missing on Wednesday following their arrest over an unsanctioned demonstration in Harare.
Although police initially confirmed the arrests on Wednesday, they made a U-turn yesterday saying they were unaware of the opposition activists’ whereabouts, prompting human rights groups and foreign diplomats to demand answers from Mnangagwa’s government amid fears they could have been abducted by State spy agents.
“The ZRP wishes to make it clear that the MDC Alliance members who include Joanah Mamombe, Obey Sithole, Ostallous Siziba, Stanely Manyenga and Justin Chidziva (including Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marowa) who were involved in an illegal flash demonstration on May 13 in Warren Park, Harare, are not in police custody,” police said in a tweet yesterday.
But on Wednesday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was quoted as saying: “I can confirm that the police arrested the three in Harare today in connection with an illegal demonstration which occurred in Warren Park earlier in the day. They are in our custody and we are still making further investigations into the issue.”
Nyathi yesterday said he never admitted that they had arrested the activists, but only confirmed that they were investigating the case.
The activists were nabbed after they led a protest over deteriorating standards of living under Mnangagwa’s administration.
Human rights lawyer Roselyn Hanzi said she feared for the safety of the three ladies after failing to locate them at several police stations in Harare.
“ZLHR (Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights) searched at Harare Central, Milton Park, Warren Park, Rhodesville, Mbare, Matapi, Stoddart and Braeside police stations, failing to locate Joanah Mamombe, Cecilia and Netsai. Legally speaking, this is an enforced disappearance and a violation of section 86(3) of the Constitution,” she said.
Hanzi said it was sad that the government was using State resources to suppress human rights instead of fighting the coronavirus.
“Very sad that the State has a penchant of misdirecting a lot of energy, resources, time violating rights rather than comply with the Constitution and investing more energy, time and resources fighting coronavirus,” she said.
The activists’ lawyer Agency Gumbo also said he had made checks at all police stations in the capital, but could not locate his clients.
The international community led by the European Union (EU) and Britain yesterday took to Twitter to express the bloc’s concerns on the development.
Posting on its official Twitter handle @UKinZimbabwe, the Western nation said: “Concerned to hear lawyers still not told of whereabouts of three female MDC officials reportedly arrested in Harare. 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 EU also tweeted: “We are concerned that three female MDC officials remain missing after they were reportedly arrested in Harare yesterday (Wednesday). We urge authorities to swiftly and in line with constitutional and legal obligations assist lawyers and relatives to establish their whereabouts and wellbeing.”
The MDC Alliance said it suspected the police had abducted its activists and held them incommunicado.
“As the people’s party, we have no doubt that our youth assembly leaders’ forced disappearance 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,” the opposition party said in a statement.
Mnangagwa has, since he came into power over two years ago, been under the watchful eye of the Western powers over his alleged human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings by State security agents.
Allegations of human rights abuses have hindered government’s re-engagement efforts with the family of nations to unlock credit lines for the country’s comatose economy.
By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance Chief Whip in the Senate, Lilian Timveos has filed a High Court challenge against her dismissal in parliament.
In her application, Timveos cited President of the Senate, Parliament of Zimbabwe, Douglas Mwonzora, Thokozani Khupe and the MDC-T.
She is being represented by Mafume Chambers
At the time of publishing, It could not be ascertained whether her three colleagues Charlton Hwende, Prosper Mutseyami and Tabitha Khumalo had also filed similar applications.
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.
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.
1/2: CASE CLOSED: FAKE NEWS
The following were said to be badly brutalized & injured. We exposed it earlier that this was a well rehearsed script meant to soil the image of the Republic & its leadership. There are no signs of injuries as claimed by @euinzim, @usembassyharare etc pic.twitter.com/cwStSkotMB
2/2: Those who tweeted attacking our government after these fake abductions owe our Nation an apology. We followed this matter to every detail with a desire to unmask these fake abductions @SecPompeo@hbaldwin@TimoOlkkonen @usembassyharare @UKinZimbabwe@euinzim@CanEmbZimbabwe
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
The MDC-Western team shld use better actors & better scripts. A beaten person would have wounds and swollen body parts. Kuita tsvina hazvirevi kuti warohwa.
We mentioned it during the Gonyeti drama that these pple must up their acting game. We need to see tomatoe sauce for blood pic.twitter.com/7oUbGZsasc
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
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
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.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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
Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe crying on a hospital bed MDC Deputy Youth Chairperson Cecelia Chimbiri soon after being found in BinduraJoana Mamombe soon after being found in Bindura
Cecilia ChimbiriNetsai MarovaJoanna MamombeMDC Alliance trio at hospital
Fellow Zimbabweans,our colleagues are so traumatised. I visited them this morning. They told me horrific stories of their ordeal. I still can’t get how a human being can do that to another human being. We are a broken nation! @mdczimbabwe @usembassyharare @tomozeus@TimoOlkkonenpic.twitter.com/MkWaPLfQBM
— Hlatywayo Gladys Kudzaishe ?? (@gladyshlatywayo) May 15, 2020
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE 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.
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.
Namibia’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.
State 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.
I 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 Nyathi
POLICE 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.”
State 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.
State 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.
“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.”
State 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.
Three 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.”
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.
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.”
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
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:
Uebert Angel- miracle money
Emmanuel Makandiwa- miracle baby
Walter Magaya – Aguma herb
Utahwashe- miracle money
Passion Java- shona tounges
T Freddy – miracle spectacles
Madzibaba Enoch – Coronavirus prophecy
Madzibaba Mozie – miracle wealth
Isaac Makomichi – Love potion herb
Chiza- political prophecies
Madungwe- claimed to have braai with God
Sanyangore- claimed to walk on top of water
Miracle Paul- miracle temple to see life events
Madzibaba Israel coca cola – claimed to have keys to Christianity 15.Madzibaba Steven go back to sender
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:
Uebert Angel- miracle money
Emmanuel Makandiwa- miracle baby
Walter Magaya – Aguma herb
Utahwashe- miracle money
Passion Java- shona tounges
T Freddy – miracle spectacles
Madzibaba Enoch – Coronavirus prophecy
Madzibaba Mozie – miracle wealth
Isaac Makomichi – Love potion herb
Chiza- political prophecies
Madungwe- claimed to have braai with God
Sanyangore- claimed to walk on top of water
Miracle Paul- miracle temple to see life events
Madzibaba Israel coca cola – claimed to have keys to Christianity 15.Madzibaba Steven go back to sender
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
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
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
