By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance National Organising Secretary, Amos Chibaya was involved in a terrible crash on Sunday.

According to information gathered by ZimEye, the accident occured just before the Runde river.

Chibaya was travelling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

He was in the company of three other people.

Witnesses said a CIO operative Norman Kujoka, reportedly made a sudden u-turn in front of Chibaya’s approaching vehicle ramming into the front of the car.Watch video below:

Farai Dziva|Elias Mudzuri has claimed Zanu PF has nothing to do with the internal battles in the country’s main opposition party, MDC.

Mudzuri echoed discredited Zanu PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu’ s remarks about the same matter.

Political observers argue Zanu PF is using disgruntled elements in a desperate attempt to annihilate the opposition party.

Mudzuri, Douglas Mwonzora, Thokozani Khupe and Morgen Komichi are widely viewed as Zanu PF fosterlings.

Mudzuri argued: “Assertions that ZANU PF is involved in the affairs of MDC are mere hallucinations triggered by denialism and refusal to accept responsibility for what we have done wrong.

Extraordinary Congress is the only remedy.”

On Thursday Mudzuri wrote on Twitter : How can I be fired from Parliament by a non – existent political party? Ncube fired Tsvangirai (2005) but the party remained Biti (2014) did the same but left the party intact Today(2020) Sikhala fires us but still the party shall remain- let’s go for the Extraordinary.”

By A Correspondent- A Mazowe miner was crushed to death last week by a harmer mill at Phirip mine in Mazowe.

Allegations are that Luke Mugiya (19) was operating a harmer mill when he was approached him by two Tubuso brothers  with their gold ore.

Steven Tubuso entered in a harmer mill trying to separate the ore from dump.

While inside he ordered Mugiya to press a separating button but Mugiya pressed the wrong button and crushed the now deceased Tubuso.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.

Police warned miners to employ qualified operaters adding that their clients should not enter into mining machinery to avoid unnecessary loss of life.

More than 24 000 people have been arrested for various offences since the national lockdown started on March 30.

The country is this week entering the last week of the national lockdown which is expected to come to an end on Sunday.

Police National spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said people were still being found on the wrong side of the law.

“The lockdown is continuing and people must continue to observe the social distancing guidelines.

People must continue to wear masks and continue to adhere to what has been set by the Government.

The police are basically there to enforce all the laws that have been put in place to ensure the safety and security and health of Zimbabweans,” he said.

Asked to clarify the issue of carrying letters authorising them to travel, Asst Comm Nyathi said it was still mandatory that one carries it.

“If the police do not verify somebody’s work status how then can they certify that this person is indeed going for work or not.

Remember the Government has said people involved in the industry and commerce sector can go to work.

That does not mean each and every person should be moving around the Central Business District.

If you check the CBD, it is only people allowed to work that are coming,” he said.-State media

Motsoaledi ordered the repatriations in response to an escape at the facility earlier this month and some of those who were released were Zimbabweans who committed various crimes and have since been deported.

Zimbabwean authorities are unhappy with South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi’s decision to repatriate a large group of detainees from the Lindela centre last week.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana on Saturday said 18 buses carrying some ex-convicts were expected at the Beitbridge border post.

He said:

Zimbabwe is expecting 18 buses through Beitbridge between tonight and tomorrow morning. These buses have 476 Zimbabweans deported from South Africa.

A good number of expected citizens are ex-prisoners. They are coming from different detention centres, some for documentation issues. These are mainly former prisoners; some have different histories from murder, robbery, fraud, housebreaking and documentation problems.

There are concerns that crime in Zimbabwe will spike if South Africa continues wholesale deportations. Some of the deportees were given a five-year ban on travel to South Africa

Government should put into consideration the need to revoke ZUPCO monopoly and allow other players to provide passenger conveyancing services, given the prevailing public transport crisis.

ZUPCO buses are being overwhelmed by workers in the formal sector who resumed operations after the Covid 19 lockdown was eased to level 2.

The situation is exercebated by the unavoidable social distance requirement for passengers.

Ironically, at all bus termini the large and impatient numbers do not follow this rule. Most people are queing up at 3 or 4am so as to be at work by 8am.

They are getting home at between 7 and 9pm. They have little time to rest and enjoy family life.

More often than not, many are forced to commute in private vehicles and pick up trucks, where the social distancing rule does not apply and some passengers do not wear face masks.

Government should allow passenger service vehicles that abide by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and WHO requirements and road rules and regulations to provide public transport services.

Commutter omnibus transporters must also belong to bona fide associations.

Passengers Association Of Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Goliati

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has warned defaulters that it will be disconnecting them.

In a statement, ZETDC raised concern over companies and domestic consumers who are stealing power.

Read the statement:

ZIMBABWE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION COMPANY NOTICE OF POWER DISCONNECTION TID DEFAULTERS

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) is concerned with the number of domestic consumers and companies that are stealing electricity from the national grid.

ZETDC would like to advise those caught stealing power through illegal connections and bypassing of meters. that they would be disconnected with the prejudice to the power utility being recovered. Criminal charges may also be levelled against those stealing power with the possibility of a jail sentence of 10 or 30 years.

The power utility is also concerned that non-paying customers, some of whom are vandalising electricity infrastructure, are unduly affecting good and loyal customers who are bearing the cost and burden of keeping the lights on.

ZETDC would like to advise that all suspicious points, including bypasses that are flagged by the internal Information Technology Systems more customers, are going to be netted and disconnected.

ZETDC would like to thank all those customers who have been paying their bills Umeously and also those who have been honouring their payment plans. for their valued contribution in keeping the lights ON.

We urge those customers currency not paying to follow suit.
PAY FOR YOUR ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO PUBLIC RELATIONS (08/05/20)

By A Correspondent- Exiled former Zimbabwean Cabinet Minister, Patrick Zhuwao who is also the nephew of the late founding member of the ruling ZANU PF, Robert Mugabe, has joined a long list of people previously aligned to the party to have demanded that it relinquishes or be forced to leave power.

We present his statement in full below.

Although Zimbabwe is staring down the barrel of a gun, the country is experiencing the emergence of a truly national movement which transcends political partisan lines calling for ZANU PF to go. The hashtag #ZanupfMustGo has become so viral on Twitter that all progressives forces are using it as a signoff. #ZanupfMustGo was started by Thandekile Moyo, a young Zimbabwean woman with no discernible political links. Moyo cautioned against supporting the November 2017 coup. Why has the hashtag #ZanupfMustGo found so much resonance amongst progressive Zimbabweans including most of my former colleagues in ZANU PF and government?

Zimbabwe is faced with a myriad of political, economic, social and cultural challenges. Although Zimbabwe is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, these resources are being looted and spirited out of the country. Zimbabwe’s biggest resource is its educated people who constantly display tremendous talent, resilience and fortitude. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s talent pool has been denied the opportunity to contribute to the country’s development. There is no room for Zimbabweans to assist in correcting the country’s trajectories because the country’s so-called ruling party, ZANU PF, is dysfunctional. Worse still, those in control of the moribund ZANU PF are actively working to disable any viable opposition in Zimbabwe.

ZANU PF no longer exists as a functional political party with a clear ideological position. ZANU PF has been captured by a small cabal of ideologically vacuous kleptomaniacs who stand for nothing beyond securing power for the purpose of self-enrichment. This became so abundantly clear when characters who previously paraded themselves as democracy activists were co-opted into the regime’s structures such as PAC and POLAD. Thankfully some of them are withdrawing. ZANU PF kleptomaniacs operate with a business model which uses the military as an enforcement mechanism for their criminal activities and intentions. ZANU PF has become a parasitic virus that has captured the nation’s military to act as mafia-style enforcers. Most of the people who have remained within ZANU PF are merely being used as a cover to create a veneer of legitimacy; vari kuitiswa.

Furthermore, ZANU PF has effectively destroyed the democratic space by capturing and using state institutions to destabilise opposition political parties. ZANU PF functionaries facilitated the recall of MDC Alliance Members of Parliament by a totally different political party indicating the extent to which ZANU PF will seek to destroy any genuine opposition. ZANU PF will not only tolerate but will promote and support surrogate puppet political parties for the express purpose of hoodwinking the rest of the world into thinking that Zimbabwe has some semblance of multi-party democracy. The political charade labelled POLAD seeks to disillusion Zimbabweans from participating in opposition politics.

It is extremely clear that ZANU PF is now a fully-fledged terrorist organisation which has perfected the use of terror and violence to subjugate Zimbabweans. The massacres of 1^st August 2018 and those committed during January and February 2019 were blatantly used to send a message to Zimbabweans that ZANU PF will continue to use the military as an instrument of repression. Even the individual soldiers involved in those atrocities knew and recognized that they were committing crimes and therefore made every effort to hide their identity behind masks.

ZANU PF has become a vampire institution that is sucking the lifeblood out of all Zimbabweans. I feel sorry for a few of my colleagues who, despite being lucky to have been jettisoned from ZANU PF, still feel that they can negotiate themselves back onto the vampire state of ZANU PF. Drunk with dreams of power, they are not aware that the vampires that still remain in ZANU PF will not allow them back. The rot in ZANU PF has become so toxic and gangrenous that the only solution for Zimbabwe is that ZANU PF must go.

Asante Sana. Iwe Neni Tine Basa. Umsebenzi lo Umkhulu.

By A Correspondent= Reinstated leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Thokozani Khupe wants to be sworn in as an MP as soon as possible so that she assumes the position of leader of
the opposition in the National Assembly.

This comes amid reports saying that she is facing resistance from the party’s reinstated Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora who is now refusing to recall 30 more members of the party from Parliament.

The publication further reports that Mwonzora who is alleged to have no support base in the party wants to use the ‘carrot and stick’ strategy to win supporters.

The Standard was told that Mwonzora believes that the four legislators he recalled from Parliament were enough to cow others into supporting him.

Meanwhile, Khupe reportedly wants 30 more recalled so that she can field members of her breakaway MDC-T faction.

The alleged conflict comes when the party is gearing up for the extraordinary congress that was ordered by the Supreme Court in its ruling on the party’s leadership crisis.

Mwonzora recently claimed that almost 1000 people were needed for the delegates who have confirmed that they will attend the congress to constitute a quorum.

Reports suggest that both Mwonzora and Khupe are eying the presidency.-Standard

By A Correspondent- The opposition MDC has issued a statement with the regards to its organising Secretary, Amos Chibaya who was involved in an accident this Sunday on his way from Gweru to Zvishavane.

We present the party’s statement in full below.

MDC Alliance Organising Secretary, Hon. Amos Chibaya was today involved in an accident as he was driving towards Zvishavane this afternoon. The driver of the other vehicle, a Central Intelligence Officer. Norman Kujoka, whose car was stationary on the same road facing Hon Chibaya’s vehicle, just made a u-turn in front of Hon Chibaya and caused the crash.

By A Correspondent- The reinstated Secretary-General of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Senator Douglas Mwonzora has sent his regards to Amos Chibaya who was involved in a road accident on Sunday afternoon.

Chibaya is a known ally of Nelson Chamisa who is at loggerheads with the party’s reinstated leader Thokozani Khupe over the party’s stewardship.

Mwonzora, on the other hand, is one of the senior party officials who openly endorsed the Supreme Court ruling that reinstated Khupe as the leader and himself as the party’s Secretary-General.

The Supree Court ruling escalated tensions in the party to the extent that some members no longer see eye to eye, but, in his tweet, Mwonzora suggests that their political differences must not overshadow the relationship they had.

He tweeted:

Just learnt of the involvement of my brother Amos Chibaya in an accident. I have just talked to him wishing him a speedy recovery. We are brothers and we are family first and foremost.

Chibaya was going to Zvishavane from Gweru when the driver of the other vehicle, allegedly a Central Intelligence Officer, Norman Kujoka, whose car was stationary on the same road facing Hon Chibaya’s vehicle, just made a u-turn in front of Hon Chibaya and caused the crash.

A good number of those who parroted the 'New Dispensation' hogwash are now silent at a time we need answers;

Where did all those megadeals go?

What results did ED's multi-million dollar private jet flights bring for Zimbabwe?

We have't forgotten & the time for recovery is now!

— Makomborero Haruzivishe (@MakomboreroH) May 10, 2020

The reinstated Secretary-General of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Senator Douglas Mwonzora wishes Amos Chibaya who was involved in a road accident on Sunday afternoon a speedy recovery.

Chibaya is a known ally of Nelson Chamisa who is at loggerheads with the party’s reinstated leader Thokozani Khupe over the party’s stewardship.

Mwonzora, on the other hand, is one of the senior party officials who openly endorsed the Supreme Court ruling that reinstated Khupe as the leader and himself as the party’s Secretary-General.

The SC ruling escalated tensions in the party to the extent that some members no longer see eye to eye, but, in his tweet, Mwonzora tweeted:

“Just learnt of the involvement of my brother Amos Chibaya in an accident. I have just talked to him wishing him a speedy recovery. We are brothers and we are family first and foremost.”

Chibaya was going to Zvishavane from Gweru when the driver of the other vehicle, allegedly a Central Intelligence Officer, Norman Kujoka, whose car was stationary on the same road facing Hon Chibaya’s vehicle, just made a u-turn in front of Hon Chibaya and caused the crash.

The Standard reports that the reinstated leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Thokozani Khupe wants to be sworn as an MP as soon as possible so that she assumes the position of leader of

the opposition in the National Assembly.

This comes amid reports saying that she is facing resistance from the party’s reinstated Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora who is now refusing to recall 30 more members of the party from Parliament.

The publication further reports that Mwonzora who is alleged to have no support base in the party wants to use the ‘carrot and stick’ strategy to win supporters.

The Standard was told that Mwonzora believes that the four legislators he recalled from Parliament were enough to cow others into supporting him.

Meanwhile, Khupe reportedly wants 30 more recalled so that she can field members of her breakaway MDC-T faction.

The alleged conflict comes when the party is gearing up for the extraordinary congress that was ordered by the Supreme Court in its ruling on the party’s leadership crisis.

Mwonzora recently claimed that almost 1000 people were needed for the delegates who have confirmed that they will attend the congress to constitute a quorum.

Reports suggest that both Mwonzora and Khupe are eying the presidency.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent | Today the Zimbabwean nation will witness another member of the community in the United Kingdom, an 82 year old woman, walk out of hospital after spending two weeks.

This will happen at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The incident follows several others that have seen black and ethnic minority people recovering from the COVID-19 disease.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

ZimEye will livestream the event. – REFRESH THIS PAGE TO WATCH

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance National Organising Secretary, Amos Chibaya was involved in a terrible crash today.

According to information gathered by ZimEye, the accident occured just before the Runde river.

Chibaya was travelling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

He was in the company of three other people.

Witnesses said a CIO operative Norman Kujoka, reportedly made a sudden u-turn in front of Chibaya’s approaching vehicle ramming into the front of the car.Watch video below:

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has described mothers as the “glue that holds people together.”

Below is Chamisa’s Mother’s Day message:

This Mother’s Day…

Mums are the glue that holds us all together.

Stars in society working day and night in life struggles to keep families and communities sparkling. All of us are evidence of the power of love out of capable motherhood.

Whereas motherhood is a fact, fatherhood is just an opinion.

All great and even bad people came through a mother. Salvation came through Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes, through a Mother, the virgin Mary. Salute to all Mothers for making us this great!

Let’s remember to send warm greetings to our mothers…

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

BREAKING NEWS: The MP who reported Mudenda to @IPUparliament Amos Chibaya involved in Horror Accident caused by a CIO agent (Norman Kujoka) – LIVE courage on https://t.co/RMz9FsvEJW @nelsonchamisa pic.twitter.com/qwSusFGLXO

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance heavyweight Amos Chibaya was involved in a horror car crash today.

According to information gathered by ZimEye, the accident occured just before the Runde river.

Chibaya was traveling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

Below are pictures of Chibaya showing the injuries he sustained and the damaged car that he was travelling in.

He was in the company of three other people.

Witnesses to the accident said a CIO operative Norman Kujoka, reportedly made a u-turn in front of Chibaya’s approaching vehicle ramming into the front of the car.

Accident happened just before the Runde river. He was traveling from Gweru to Zvishavane pic.twitter.com/G7JYFu08FT

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

ZimEye brings you an exclusive live interview where our reporter speaks to Senator Lillian Timveous, who drove to the scene of the accident to rescue Chibaya.

Watch the live video loading below…

At a time when it is impossible to stand outside in a tight crowd without masks, without being arrested, 9 youths have posed for a camerashoot to announce they want to burn Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mashavira alive. They include a woman dressed in a night-bedroom vest. “Right, we are here in Highfields, we heard Dougie & Mashavira are here, once we catch them someone’s going to burn up” – are these real MDC youths or they are mere CIO implants?

9 youths pose for a camerashoot to announce they want to burn Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mashavira alive. They include a woman dressed in a night-bedroom vest. "Right, we are here in Highfields, we heard Dougie & Mashavira are here, once we catch them someone's going to burn up" pic.twitter.com/pDCLh2IM60

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

By Jonathan Mapenduka| AT least 1 300 Zimbabweans living in Botswana have been expelled from Botswana following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Last week Vice-President Kembo Mohadi went on a tour of Plumtree border post to witness returning Zimbabweans after it was reported that at least 40 people were reporting to authorities daily without Botswana authorities informing their Zimbabwean counterparts.

Authorities in Plumtree said 1 291 returnees were now under quarantine in the border town with some of them being taken to facilities in Bulawayo. This is extremely embarrassing when this treatment of Zimbabweans comes just before the ink on recent co-operation agreements has hardly dried. It is common knowledge that relations between the two countries left a great deal to be desired under President Mokgwetsi Masisi’s predecessors.

This new development comes just when the world thought relations of the two countries had thawed and improved sufficiently under President Emmanuel Mnangagwa and his new counterpart in Botswana. Not so long ago Zimbabwe was well-represented to observe Bot-swana’s general elections, something that was unknown under Masisi’s and Mnangagwa’s predecessors.

This had been the case since 1980 when Zimbabwe gained independence under the late Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa was recently in Kasane to sign co-operation agreements with Botswana. It, therefore, is in Botswana’s court, to explain just what caused this sudden rift when the two countries are in the grip of the novel coronavirus pandemic, which knows no borders. It is common knowledge that Botswana, whose population is only a fraction of that of Zimbabwe, does not export immigrant labour to Zimbabwe, while this country has millions of its citizens working in foreign countries, including Botswana.

The Batswana have a disparaging name for Zimbabweans, which means that Zimbabweans are not welcome in Botswana. This is the case in neighbouring South Africa where Zimbabweans have often been subjected to violence. This is a great challenge for Zimbabwe which should be tackled on many fronts, particularly the need for the country to create decent employment for its people.

This point can never be over-emphasised because our dignity as a nation hinges on our ability to create employment for our people. It is not enough to blame sanctions because if sanctions are the only problem, we must find means to eliminate the problem. Some think we have done just that by budgeting to compensate former white farmers.

The government’s wisdom in this regard is highly debatable because neither the government nor the farmers themselves (in the face of historical evidence against it) can just why compensation is plausible. Why are we still blaming sanctions if compensation is the answer and appropriate provision has been made to settle the issue? It appears that government has found a perfect scapegoat to blame. Moreover, Zimbabwe’s relations with the international community are still a subject of ten-sion and disagreement. What is it that the international community is demanding, which the government is unwilling to do?

An honest answer to this question will probably tell Zimbabweans just what the problem is. There is at this point in time nothing to show that government has met all the demands of the international community on the question of reforms, some of which are required by the country’s constitution.

The year 2030 is by all accounts forecast to be the beginning of the new world order (NWO) when no country will be allowed to trade unless they are subscribers to the NWO. There will be no scapegoats to blame then and it is imperative that Zimbabwe must prepare for 2030 now. The divide between the East and the West will not work then because those countries that are being blamed for sanctions now will be running the world un-challenged. We will have absolutely no choice, but to obey the new order. So let’s not give the people a blank cheque for 2030.

——-
Jonathan Maphenduka contact 0772 332 404

THE Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has allocated the country’s three mobile network operators free frequencies until the end of the year as part of measures to ensure affordable data to consumers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Potraz director-general Dr Gift Machengete said the authority has granted Econet, NetOne and Telecel free spectrum to enable them to increase their capacities to offer data to consumers.

“During the Covid-19, Potraz will be assigning additional 3G (Third Generation Network) and LTE (Long Term Evolution) spectrum for free to cater for additional data demand. The authority has granted the spectrum up to December 2020 to three mobile operators to enable them to increase the capacity of their data offering,” he said.

This, however, comes at a time when mobile network operators have reviewed upwards charges for most of their services, including data, sparking an outcry from users who say the services were now beyond their reach.

Econet, the country biggest mobile phone operator, increased data prices by 225 percent.

However, Dr Machengete said the review was within what the regulator prescribed (30 cents per megabyte) as firms were all along charging less to attract customers.

Potraz, he said, continues to regulate tariffs for data or Internet using the cost-based pricing principle.

“Costs incurred to provide the service are used to determine thresholds within which operators set tariffs. This is meant to balance the need to ensure service affordability at the same time ensuring survival of operators. Operators then get flexibility to compete on prices as manifested in their discounted bundle offerings,” he said.

Government is said to be working on using the Zimbabwe Academic and Research Network (ZARNet)’s low-cost broadband connectivity to facilitate online learning at schools.

“The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services has ZARNet, which has the sole responsibility of providing high-speed and low-cost broadband connectivity to the educational sector including schools and other academic institutions with funding from the Universal Service Fund. This will help towards facilitating online education,” he said.

Potraz has granted a free licence to Zimbabwe Research and Education Network (ZIMREN), which is a consortium of tertiary institutions, to enable the pooled sourcing of Internet connectivity and distribution.

The move is expected to reduce the cost of Internet for tertiary institutions.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) expert Mr Prosper Mutswiri said the allocation of free spectrum to operators by Potraz would boost their capacity to provide reliable and affordable data.

“It is an exciting and welcome development by the regulator as this will aid operators’ capacities to provide reliable and affordable data to customers. It also comes in the wake of the coronavirus, where customers are experiencing reduced disposable income and want to do business online and digitally. This move means there is more for less for the customers. Some base stations were now congested due to increased demand and the move has relieved that pain,” he said.

With most schools and companies increasing their online presence, he added, there was need for mobile network operators to enhance their bandwidth to meet the ever-increasing demand for such applications.

“Operators had to increase capacities on either 3G network or LTE network, which was going to come at a cost, likely to increase operators’ fixed costs thereby impacting their pricing structure.

“Potraz has decided to step into the shoes of the operator and customer and this will go a long way in addressing all sectors of the economy’s current pains,” he said.

National Consumer Rights Association (Nacora) advocacy advisor, Mr Effie Ncube, said the move by Potraz was commendable, but there was need to ensure that operators avail data at affordable charges.

“This is a tremendously important and welcome development for millions of Zimbabweans who are relying on data to get information, particularly when we are faced with a global pandemic in Covid-19 . . .

“If only the three mobile service providers translate that to cheaper voice call and data prices . . . what Potraz has done and the steps it has taken are welcomed by all,” he said.

State Media

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance National Organising Secretary, Amos Chibaya was involved in a terrible crash today.

According to information gathered by ZimEye, the accident occured just before the Runde river.

Chibaya was travelling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

He was in the company of three other people.

Witnesses said a CIO operative Norman Kujoka, reportedly made a sudden u-turn in front of Chibaya’s approaching vehicle ramming into the front of the car.Watch video below:

Thokozani Khupe yesterday convened the first national council meeting of a faction of the mainstream MDC where top officials clashed on a number of issues, including plans to recall more Nelson Chamisa loyalists from Parliament.

Opposition politics was thrown into turmoil last week when Khupe’s ally Douglas Mwonzora initiated the recall of four MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament.

Following a Supreme Court judgement handed down in April, where Khupe was declared the interim leader of the MDC ahead of Chamisa, who has been leading the party since the death of its founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018, a fight for control of the party has been raging.

Mwonzora, Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri are some of the senior officials who immediately shifted base to Khupe’s camp and yesterday’s virtual meeting was meant to strategise after a tumultuous week.

Leaked audio recordings of the meeting and interviews with some of the officials, however, revealed that it was a stormy affair with Khupe and Mwonzora allegedly trying to outwit each other.

Khupe opened the meeting that had 65 members by 2:30pm by urging unity in the party and advised fence-sitters to join her camp following the Supreme Court ruling.

“Let us remain solid like a rock until we arrive at our destination,” Khupe says in the recording obtained by The Standard.

“Our destination right now is peace, unity and prosperity.

“Unity is the greatest weapon towards stability; we want political stability in the party and in the country so that Zimbabwe once more becomes the breadbasket of the region.”

There was no unity in the meeting, however, after one of Khupe’s allies Abedinico Bhebhe pulled out after hardliners in the faction allegedly pushed for the recall of more MDC Alliance legislators.

Bhebhe, the national organising secretary from MDC 2014 structures, is said to favour reconciliation between Khupe and Chamisa.

At yesterday’s meeting conducted through the WhatsApp platform, the former Nkayi South MP queried why Chamisa and other MDC Alliance members were not invited as they were part of the 2014 structures that were legitimised by the Supreme Court ruling.

Mwonzora’s backers said in terms of the party’s constitution, the MDC Alliance members were no longer part of the organisation as they had violated its rules.

Bhebhe exited the meeting after his contribution was rejected. He refused to comment on the incident.

“I am not ready to give a comment on the matter at the moment,” Bhebhe said. “I will grant a full interview when I am ready to talk.”

Three-quarters of the provinces that participated in the meeting were in favour of the recall of more legislators.

At the time the meeting ended, only a handful of people were left.

Prior to the meeting, Khupe and Mwonzora are said to have clashed over the recalling of legislators after the secretarygeneral used last week’s process to recall his foes in the party Chalton Hwende and Prosper Mutseyami.

Mwonzora is now said to be reluctant to support Khupe’s bid to recall 30 proportional representation legislators to create space for her own allies in the legislature.

“Khupe will possibly go it alone and recall the MPs herself next week,” said an insider who was part of yesterday’s meeting.

The source said Khupe wants to be sworn as an MP as soon as possible so that she assumes the position of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. “Mwonzora does not want to recall the MPs because he wants to use them in his bid to win the presidency,” said the source.

“He has no supporters in the MDC-T and hopes to use the carrot-and-stick approach on those MPs fearing recall on his way to the presidency

“Khupe is watching him closely. She realised that and wanted to use (yesterday’s) council meeting to force for resolution to recall them so that the cunning Mwonzora will not go to court over the issue.”

There is growing suspicion in the MDC Alliance that the Khupe-Mwonzora clique will connive with Zanu-PF to suspend the holding of by-elections so that the faction handpicks its supporters to replace recalled MPs.

Mwonzora and Khupe are said to be now at loggerheads because they both want to take over as leaders of the party.

Komichi and Mudzuri are also said to be interested in the position.

Meanwhile, Khupe has been ditched by her long-time aide Witness Dube, who has thrown his weight behind Mwonzora.

“Dube is supporting Mwonzora because he believes he is the better candidate, has better leadership skills and stands a better chance against Zanu-PF, but he has received a backlash and is now facing threats of violence from those in Bulawayo, who feel he is betraying his former boss and the Matabeleland region,” said the source.

Dube has been involved in heated exchanges on social media platforms with one of Khupe’s backers Chief Ndlovu over his decision to support Mwonzora ahead of his former boss.

Ndlovu is said to be a wealthy businessman based in South Africa.

Dube admitted that he was backing Mwonzora and that his decision had angered Khupe’s camp.

“I think from the people that are throwing their hats into the ring Mwonzora has a better skills set, he is more tolerant and shrewd,” Dube said.

“I can’t be called a sexist and a sellout for my choice.

“I served Khupe for 10 years and I think this sense of entitlement should just not be part of our politics.

“We need a leadership that can unite the party and allow us to move on.”

Mwonzora says he does not harbour presidential ambitions, but insiders in his faction say he has been canvassing for support across the provinces.

Former MDC-T vice-president Obert Gutu yesterday said there was need for Khupe and Chamisa to find each other.

“I think there is need to have a boardroom meeting and agreement on the way forward because if that does not happen, I don’t see anyone who loses at the congress taking it well,” Gutu said.

“Some political careers might end, we are watching from the terraces.”

Gutu said he does not see Khupe winning the presidency outside an agreement to hand over the post to her.

“I don’t see them compromising and coming to the table for talks, but if that does not happen, the MDC, as we know it, will cease to exist as a major political party,” he said.

“But if (Zimbabwe’s first army commander) Solomon Mujuru and (former Rhodesian army commander) General Peter Walls could sit down and talk and share a cup of tea with the animosity that existed between them, we can’t say never.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused by the MDC Alliance of using Khupe and Mwonzora to Thokozani Khuphe destroy the country’s main opposition party.

The Standard

By A Correspondent- Junior government officials at the Beitbridge quarantine centre have said that returnees from South Africa are stuck in Beitbridge due to shortage of buses to ferry them to their respective provinces.

They told the Standard that the delay in the provision of transport has left some returnees in a sorry state.

One of the officials said:

Buses are not readily available and this is the cause of delay. These people are weary and children are restless.

There are no sleeping facilities. We also do not have enough food for the crowds and something must be done fast.

The remarks are a reiteration of earlier reports which said that Beitbridge was not prepared to cater for all the expected returnees.

Meanwhile, more citizens are expected to return from South Africa where life has become unbearable due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

The South African government does not provide food assistance to foreigners who now find it better to return to their home countries.-Standard

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will soon introduce entrepreneurship studies as a subject to be taught at both primary and secondary level.

This was revealed by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema during a media briefing in Bulawayo on Saturday.

Mathema said:

The process (to introduce entrepreneurship studies) has already begun and the subject will be launched very soon.

For too long our education has not moved along with changing times and that has affected the quality of our graduates.

We want to produce people who, even if they cannot find a job after finishing school, can start their businesses.

I am talking about start-ups which can go on to be big enterprises, not just small projects.

Minister Mathema added that the new subject will enable pupils to take advantage of the resources surrounding them as a launchpad to transform their lives and communities.

Currently, all State universities offer entrepreneurship studies as a compulsory module in a bid to produce business-minded graduates-StateMedia

BREAKING NEWS: The MP who reported Mudenda to @IPUparliament Amos Chibaya involved in Horror Accident caused by a CIO agent (Norman Kujoka) – LIVE courage on https://t.co/RMz9FsvEJW @nelsonchamisa pic.twitter.com/qwSusFGLXO

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance heavyweight Amos Chibaya was involved in a horror car crash today.

According to information gathered by ZimEye, the accident occured just before the Runde river.

Chibaya was traveling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

Below are pictures of Chibaya showing the injuries he sustained and the damaged car that he was travelling in.

He was in the company of three other people.

Witnesses to the accident said a CIO operative Norman Kujoka, reportedly made a u-turn in front of Chibaya’s approaching vehicle ramming into the front of the car.

Accident happened just before the Runde river. He was traveling from Gweru to Zvishavane pic.twitter.com/G7JYFu08FT

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

ZimEye brings you an exclusive live interview where our reporter speaks to Senator Lillian Timveous, who drove to the scene of the accident to rescue Chibaya.

Watch the live video loading below…

Stampede for food. These families in Domboshava interrupted my sleep in the chilly Sunday morning as they jostled & shoved each other by the gate to the MP’s house, expecting anything they can take home to save starving children. Help someone during this lockdown. Donate food. pic.twitter.com/mEcjazVJX9

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) May 10, 2020

The little I got they took it all. I am appealing to well wishers to help me feed these people. pic.twitter.com/paZdkaUop5

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) May 10, 2020

By A Correspondent- Thokozani Khupe yesterday convened the first national council meeting of a faction of the mainstream MDC where top officials clashed on a number of issues, including plans to recall more Nelson Chamisa loyalists from Parliament.

Opposition politics was thrown into turmoil last week when Khupe’s ally Douglas Mwonzora initiated the recall of four MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament.

Following a Supreme Court judgement handed down in April, where Khupe was declared the interim leader of the MDC ahead of Chamisa, who has been leading the party since the death of its founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018, a fight for control of the party has been raging.

Mwonzora, Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri are some of the senior officials who immediately shifted base to Khupe’s camp and yesterday’s virtual meeting was meant to strategise after a tumultuous week.

Leaked audio recordings of the meeting and interviews with some of the officials, however, revealed that it was a stormy affair with Khupe and Mwonzora allegedly trying to outwit each other.

Khupe opened the meeting that had 65 members by 2:30pm by urging unity in the party and advised fence-sitters to join her camp following the Supreme Court ruling.

“Let us remain solid like a rock until we arrive at our destination,” Khupe says in the recording obtained by The Standard.

“Our destination right now is peace, unity and prosperity.

“Unity is the greatest weapon towards stability; we want political stability in the party and in the country so that Zimbabwe once more becomes the breadbasket of the region.”

There was no unity in the meeting, however, after one of Khupe’s allies Abedinico Bhebhe pulled out after hardliners in the faction allegedly pushed for the recall of more MDC Alliance legislators.

Bhebhe, the national organising secretary from MDC 2014 structures, is said to favour reconciliation between Khupe and Chamisa.

At yesterday’s meeting conducted through the WhatsApp platform, the former Nkayi South MP queried why Chamisa and other MDC Alliance members were not invited as they were part of the 2014 structures that were legitimised by the Supreme Court ruling.

Mwonzora’s backers said in terms of the party’s constitution, the MDC Alliance members were no longer part of the organisation as they had violated its rules.

Bhebhe exited the meeting after his contribution was rejected. He refused to comment on the incident.

“I am not ready to give a comment on the matter at the moment,” Bhebhe said. “I will grant a full interview when I am ready to talk.”

Three-quarters of the provinces that participated in the meeting were in favour of the recall of more legislators.

At the time the meeting ended, only a handful of people were left.

Prior to the meeting, Khupe and Mwonzora are said to have clashed over the recalling of legislators after the secretarygeneral used last week’s process to recall his foes in the party Chalton Hwende and Prosper Mutseyami.

Mwonzora is now said to be reluctant to support Khupe’s bid to recall 30 proportional representation legislators to create space for her own allies in the legislature.

“Khupe will possibly go it alone and recall the MPs herself next week,” said an insider who was part of yesterday’s meeting.

The source said Khupe wants to be sworn as an MP as soon as possible so that she assumes the position of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. “Mwonzora does not want to recall the MPs because he wants to use them in his bid to win the presidency,” said the source.

“He has no supporters in the MDC-T and hopes to use the carrot-and-stick approach on those MPs fearing recall on his way to the presidency

“Khupe is watching him closely. She realised that and wanted to use (yesterday’s) council meeting to force for resolution to recall them so that the cunning Mwonzora will not go to court over the issue.”

There is growing suspicion in the MDC Alliance that the Khupe-Mwonzora clique will connive with Zanu-PF to suspend the holding of by-elections so that the faction handpicks its supporters to replace recalled MPs.

Mwonzora and Khupe are said to be now at loggerheads because they both want to take over as leaders of the party.

Komichi and Mudzuri are also said to be interested in the position.

Meanwhile, Khupe has been ditched by her long-time aide Witness Dube, who has thrown his weight behind Mwonzora.

“Dube is supporting Mwonzora because he believes he is the better candidate, has better leadership skills and stands a better chance against Zanu-PF, but he has received a backlash and is now facing threats of violence from those in Bulawayo, who feel he is betraying his former boss and the Matabeleland region,” said the source.

Dube has been involved in heated exchanges on social media platforms with one of Khupe’s backers Chief Ndlovu over his decision to support Mwonzora ahead of his former boss.

Ndlovu is said to be a wealthy businessman based in South Africa.

Dube admitted that he was backing Mwonzora and that his decision had angered Khupe’s camp.

“I think from the people that are throwing their hats into the ring Mwonzora has a better skills set, he is more tolerant and shrewd,” Dube said.

“I can’t be called a sexist and a sellout for my choice.

“I served Khupe for 10 years and I think this sense of entitlement should just not be part of our politics.

“We need a leadership that can unite the party and allow us to move on.”

Mwonzora says he does not harbour presidential ambitions, but insiders in his faction say he has been canvassing for support across the provinces.

Former MDC-T vice-president Obert Gutu yesterday said there was need for Khupe and Chamisa to find each other.

“I think there is need to have a boardroom meeting and agreement on the way forward because if that does not happen, I don’t see anyone who loses at the congress taking it well,” Gutu said.

“Some political careers might end, we are watching from the terraces.”

Gutu said he does not see Khupe winning the presidency outside an agreement to hand over the post to her.

“I don’t see them compromising and coming to the table for talks, but if that does not happen, the MDC, as we know it, will cease to exist as a major political party,” he said.

“But if (Zimbabwe’s first army commander) Solomon Mujuru and (former Rhodesian army commander) General Peter Walls could sit down and talk and share a cup of tea with the animosity that existed between them, we can’t say never.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused by the MDC Alliance of using Khupe and Mwonzora to Thokozani Khuphe destroy the country’s main opposition party.-Standard

Addressing delegates at a United Nations conference room with other heads of states, the former and late Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, decided to combine the two, and took time to appreciate women on the Mothers day of the same year.

Said Mugabe:

“Is there a man who can say I am not born of a woman? Let him raise his hand and say I dropped from heaven.No,we all came through the same road,and for nine months. Each and everyone of us was born in that womb ,and even today when something bad happens to me, I say ”Oh my mother !”,I don’t say Oh father.

So the mother mother mother mother is very dear, and it was not only the nine months mind you, all that suckling on the breast, for all that time, and now here we are, here is your President, your head of state, a businessman, and you will look down upon the women and you will say, you cook for me, you sweep the house for me, you do this and that and she does that and doesn’t say no, they are a special breed these people.”

By A Correspondent- An acute shortage of buses has hampered the fast movement of Zimbabweans repatriated from South Africa with some of the returnees stuck in Beitbridge for the past two days despite having completed formalities to travel to provincial quarantine centres.

Last week 527 border jumpers ejected from South Africa, but arrived at the border post aboard nine buses were yet to be taken to their provinces.

Junior government officials at the Beitbridge quarantine centre said buses were delaying the movement of the deportees, some of whom looked dejected and weary.

“Buses are not readily available and this is the cause of delay. These people are weary and children are restless.

“There are no sleeping facilities,” said one civil servant on condition of anonymity.

“We also do not have enough food for the crowds and something must be done fast.”

Zimbabwe expects more returnees from South Africa and there is need to beef up staff, increase food supplies and deploy more buses, officials said.

“They can contract more buses from private operators because Zupco is failing to cope,” added the civil servant.

As part of the national lockdown to arrest the spread of the novel coronavirus, government banned all private buses from operating.

It despatched its subsidised Zupco fleet and Zupco is understood to have released long distance buses from its southern region headquartered in Bulawayo, but these were failing to cope.

Another source at the centre said there was less synchronisation on release of buses and each time police officers were not readily available to escort the buses.

When our news crew arrived at the centre yesterday evening, social welfare staff were looking for police to escort returnees who arrived on Friday.

Totamirepi Tirivavi, director of the department of social welfare, told journalists yesterday that more buses would be availed to transport the returnees. Meanwhile, the government says it is decongesting the Beitbridge quarantine centre at the National Social Security Authority building and would open another Matabeleland South quarantine centre at

Umzingwane High School in Esigodini. Matabeleland South provincial welfare officer Crisswell Nyakudya told journalists on Friday that Beitbridge would remain with 150 people while others would be moved to the new quarantine centre. “The decision has already been made and we will be implementing it. Some of the people, who should have been kept at Beitbridge will now be quarantined at Mzingwane High School,” Nyakudya said.

Beitbridge has a capacity of 260 people but due to other constraints that include food shortages and possibly security concerns, the number would be reduced, he said.

Zimbabwe expects thousands of its citizens who over the years sought economic and political refuge in South Africa but are now being forced back by Covid-19-induced job losses and worldwide uncertainty.

Police and the army have been roped in to provide security at the quarantine centre, which has also been turned into a reception centre for the returnees.

Nyakudya said five buses departed Beitbridge for Bulawayo, Gweru, Masvingo, Chinhoyi and Matare with returnees escorted by police to ensure they complied with quarantine requirements.-Standard

Watch the live video loading below…….

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance councillors in Victoria Falls defied a directive by MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora to reinstate the resort town’s mayor, who was fired by the Nelson Chamisa led party.

The councillors chose Richard Mguni to take over as mayor from Somvelo Dlamini, who was fired last month for defying a party directive.

Dlamini was reinstated by Local Government minister July Moyo last week following Mwonzora’s intervention.

Fellow councillors, however, ignored the move and held elections on Thursday where they elected Mguni ahead of Patricia Mwale, who is now the deputy mayor.

“We think interested parties will understand that resignation is a unilateral act and everything we did was above board on the basis of that resignation,” said a councillor.

“We proceeded in terms of section 103 of the Urban Councils Act.

“However, politics remains politics and powerful politicians in many instances get their way.”

Prince Dubeko Sibanda, the MDC Alliance provincial chairman for Matabeleland North, said Dlamini was only reinstated as a councillor, not mayor.

“The former mayor was reinstated to be councillor and not mayor,” Sibanda said.

“Mayorship is acquired through elections by councillors.

“The duly elected mayor of Victoria Falls municipality is Councillor Rich Mguni.

In a letter to Dlamini, Moyo said he was reinstating him as councillor for ward nine following a letter from Mwonzora.

Moyo had in March declared the ward vacant and a by-election was now due.

Dlamini was expelled by MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende through a letter dated February 24 on charges of violating party rules and undermining protocol after he contested and won the mayoral elections in 2018.

The party wanted him to step aside for its preferred candidate Margaret Valley.

Dlamini took the party to the High Court contesting his expulsion but later withdrew the lawsuit after he reached a deal with Mwonzora and his allies that he would be reinstated.

Mwonzora had also reinstated Masvingo and Chegutu mayors that were fired under similar circumstances.

By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf’s Victor Matemadanda has scoffed at MDC MPs challenging them to quit their parliamentary positions if Nelson Chamisa was the one who would take responsibility of their families’ welfare and economic needs.

Matemadanda said the MDC can quit parliament but that would not stop the gravy train from moving neither would it stop the nation from going forward.

Watch the live video loading below…..

By A Correspondent- High Court judge Justice Webster Chinamhora on Friday released, on $3 000 bail, Masvingo-based Justice Garainesu Mawadze’s son, who is facing allegations of murdering a Harare cellphone dealer.

Munyaradzi Mawadze is accused of killing Million Ncube in March with his alleged accomplices Elvin Dongo Saungweme and Dellon David Balani, who were the first to be released on bail by the High Court last month.

As part of his bail conditions, Munyaradzi was also ordered to report three times every week at Waterfalls Police Station, to reside at his given address, and not interfere with known state witnesses and investigations.

Munyaradzi’s bail was granted after Justice Chinamhora stood his ground and refused to recuse himself despite concerted efforts by the prosecutor-general’s office, demanding that the matter be handled by a retired judge of the same court.-Standard

By A Correspondent- Opposition politics was thrown into turmoil last week when Khupe’s ally Douglas Mwonzora initiated the recall of four MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament.

Thokozani Khupe yesterday convened the first national council meeting of a faction of the mainstream MDC where top officials clashed on a number of issues, including plans to recall more Nelson Chamisa loyalists from Parliament.

Following a Supreme Court judgement handed down in April, where Khupe was declared the interim leader of the MDC ahead of Chamisa, who has been leading the party since the death of its founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018, a fight for control of the party has been raging.

Mwonzora, Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri are some of the senior officials who immediately shifted base to Khupe’s camp and yesterday’s virtual meeting was meant to strategise after a tumultuous week. Leaked audio recordings of the meeting and interviews with some of the officials, however, revealed that it was a stormy affair with Khupe and Mwonzora allegedly trying to outwit each other.

Khupe opened the meeting that had 65 members by 2:30pm by urging unity in the party and advised fence-sitters to join her camp following the Supreme Court ruling. “Let us remain solid like a rock until we arrive at our destination,” Khupe says in the recording obtained by The Standard.

“Our destination right now is peace, unity and prosperity. “Unity is the greatest weapon towards stability; we want political stability in the party and in the country so that Zimbabwe once more becomes the breadbasket of the region.”

There was no unity in the meeting, however, after one of Khupe’s allies Abedinico Bhebhe pulled out after hardliners in the faction allegedly pushed for the recall of more MDC Alliance legislators. Bhebhe, the national organising secretary from MDC 2014 structures, is said to favour reconciliation between Khupe and Chamisa.

At yesterday’s meeting conducted through the WhatsApp platform, the former Nkayi South MP queried why Chamisa and other MDC Alliance members were not invited as they were part of the 2014 structures that were legitimised by the Supreme Court ruling.

Mwonzora’s backers said in terms of the party’s constitution, the MDC Alliance members were no longer part of the organisation as they had violated its rules.
Bhebhe exited the meeting after his contribution was rejected. He refused to comment on the incident.

“I am not ready to give a comment on the matter at the moment,” Bhebhe said. “I will grant a full interview when I am ready to talk.” Three-quarters of the provinces that participated in the meeting were in favour of the recall of more legislators. At the time the meeting ended, only a handful of people were left.

Prior to the meeting, Khupe and Mwonzora are said to have clashed over the recalling of legislators after the secretary-general used last week’s process to recall his foes in the party Chalton Hwende and Prosper Mutseyami.

Mwonzora is now said to be reluctant to support Khupe’s bid to recall 30 proportional representation legislators to create space for her own allies in the legislature. “Khupe will possibly go it alone and recall the MPs herself next week,” said an insider who was part of yesterday’s meeting.

The source said Khupe wants to be sworn as an MP as soon as possible so that she assumes the position of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. “Mwonzora does not want to recall the MPs because he wants to use them in his bid to win the presidency,” said the source.

“He has no supporters in the MDC-T and hopes to use the carrot-and-stick approach on those MPs fearing recall on his way to the presidency “Khupe is watching him closely. She realised that and wanted to use (yesterday’s) council meeting to force for a resolution to recall them so that the cunning Mwonzora will not go to court over the issue.”

There is growing suspicion in the MDC Alliance that the Khupe-Mwonzora clique will connive with Zanu PF to suspend the holding of by-elections so that the faction handpicks its supporters to replace recalled MPs.

Mwonzora and Khupe are said to be now at loggerheads because they both want to take over as leaders of the party. Komichi and Mudzuri are also said to be interested in the position. Meanwhile, Khupe has been ditched by her long-time aide Witness Dube, who has thrown his weight behind Mwonzora.

“Dube is supporting Mwonzora because he believes he is the better candidate, has better leadership skills and stands a better chance against Zanu PF, but he has received a backlash and is now facing threats of violence from those in Bulawayo, who feels he is betraying his former boss and the Matabeleland region,” said the source.

Dube has been involved in heated exchanges on social media platforms with one of Khupe’s backers Chief Ndlovu over his decision to support Mwonzora ahead of his former boss.

Ndlovu is said to be a wealthy businessman based in South Africa. Dube admitted that he was backing Mwonzora and that his decision had angered Khupe’s camp. “I think from the people that are throwing their hats into the ring Mwonzora has a better skill set, he is more tolerant and shrewd,” Dube said. “I can’t be called a sexist and a sellout for my choice.

“I served Khupe for 10 years and I think this sense of entitlement should just not be part of our politics. “We need leadership that can unite the party and allow us to move on.”

Mwonzora says he does not harbour presidential ambitions, but insiders in his faction say he has been canvassing for support across the provinces. Former MDC-T vice-president Obert Gutu yesterday said there was a need for Khupe and Chamisa to find each other.

“I think there is need to have a boardroom meeting and agreement on the way forward because if that does not happen, I don’t see anyone who loses at the congress taking it well,” Gutu said.

“Some political careers might end, we are watching from the terraces,” Gutu said he does not see Khupe winning the presidency outside an agreement to hand over the post to her.

“I don’t see them compromising and coming to the table for talks, but if that does not happen, the MDC, as we know it, will cease to exist as a major political party,” he said.

“But if (Zimbabwe’s first army commander) Solomon Mujuru and (former Rhodesian army commander) General Peter Walls could sit down and talk and share a cup of tea with the animosity that existed between them, we can’t say never.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused by the MDC Alliance of using Khupe and Mwonzora to destroy the country’s main opposition party.-Standard

By A Correspondent- A 25 year old Gwanda man allegedly fatally stabbed his elder brother with a knife for taking his harness without permission.

Proud Siziba from Ndibe area in Gwanda was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to May 21.

Prosecuting, Mr Silent Shoko said on 23 March Proud and his brother Priviledge (27) were at Buvuma Business Centre when the incident occurred. He said the two arrived at the business centre in separate scotchcarts and Proud later realised that the harness he had used to fasten his donkeys was missing.

“He confronted his brother and accused him of taking the harness. Priviledge denied the allegations which resulted in a misunderstanding. Proud took out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Priviledge several times on the stomach,” said Mr Shoko.

Priviledge was rushed to a nearby clinic where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The matter was reported to the police leading to Proud’s arrest, the court heard.

In another incident a mine worker has appeared in court for allegedly beating up his workmate to death in a dispute over missing gold ore.

Artman Mumba (22) from Nkulumane 12 suburb in Bulawayo who works at Valentine Mine White Farm in Gwanda was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Sibanda facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to May 27.

Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said Mumba struck Mr Michael Moyo with an iron rod on the head after Mr Moyo accused him of stealing his gold ore from the stamp mill.

“On 24 April at around 10AM at Valentine Mine, White Farm the accused person and Mr Moyo were working on their mining site when they had a misunderstanding. Mr Moyo accused Mumba of stealing his gold ore the previous night from the stamp mill.

The pair started fighting and Mumba picked up an iron rod and struck Mr Moyo once on the head.

“Mr Moyo lost consciousness and his workmates rendered first aid and he was later rushed to hospital. Mr Moyo’s condition continued to deteriorate and he died while admitted at hospital resulting in Mumba’s arrest,” said Miss Nare.-Statemedia

Farai Dziva|Elias Mudzuri has claimed Zanu PF has nothing to do with the internal battles in the country’s main opposition party, MDC.

Mudzuri echoed discredited Zanu PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu’ s remarks about the same matter.

Political observers argue Zanu PF is using disgruntled elements in a desperate attempt to annihilate the opposition party.

Mudzuri, Douglas Mwonzora, Thokozani Khupe and Morgen Komichi are widely viewed as Zanu PF fosterlings.

Mudzuri argued: “Assertions that ZANU PF is involved in the affairs of MDC are mere hallucinations triggered by denialism and refusal to accept responsibility for what we have done wrong.

Extraordinary Congress is the only remedy.”

On Thursday Mudzuri wrote on Twitter : How can I be fired from Parliament by a non – existent political party? Ncube fired Tsvangirai (2005) but the party remained Biti (2014) did the same but left the party intact Today(2020) Sikhala fires us but still the party shall remain- let’s go for the Extraordinary.”

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has reported one more COVID-19 positive case to take the number of confirmed cases to 36.

In its coronavirus (COVID-19) update for 9 May 2020 released on Sunday morning, the Ministry of Health said cumulatively, Zimbabwe has conducted 10 944 rapid screening tests and 9 593 PCR diagnostic tests to date.

It said that more details on Case #36 will be given in the next update.

The latest update reads in part:

The Ministry would like to report that today, 375 rapid screening tests and 768 PCR tests were done in the public sector.

Additionally, 351 rapid screening tests and 84 PCR tests were done in the private sector giving a total of 726 rapid screening tests and 852 PCR tests done today.

One of the PCR tests done in Harare today was positive for COVID-19, whilst all the PCR tests done at the National TB Reference Lab in Bulawayo were negative for COVID-19.

More details on the latest case to be given in tomorrow’s update.

Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has thirty-six confirmed cases, including nine recoveries and four deaths.

Cumulatively, a total of 10 944 rapid screening tests and 9 593 PCR diagnostic tests have been done to date.

… Case #35 reported yesterday is a 50-year-old female resident of Harare, with no recent history of travel, or any known contact with a person with respiratory symptoms.

She was admitted at a private hospital on the 27th of April 2020 with a history of vomiting, general body weakness and shortness of breath on a background of comorbidities.

Following the COVID-19 diagnosis, she has since been transferred to Wilkins Hospital for management under isolation.

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.

For assistance, please call the COVID-19 tollfree hotline number: 2019.

Matemadanda Announces: Chamisa Has Been Removed By Supreme Court, So MDC MPs Will Now Sleep On Empty Stomachs |TRUE OR FALSE?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

By Farai D Hove | As Zimbabweans based in foreign lands yesterday began fundraising to rescue their members of Parliament who are currently stranded, they witnessed a video of the ZANU PF national commissar Victor Matemadanda threatening the same MPs with hunger.

Matemadanda was speaking shortly after the MDC Alliance resolved to pull its members out of the august house reacting to the continuing strangulation in which they have among other things been deprived of their allowances, and so far four have been removed on instructions of the renegade senator, Douglas Mwonzora.

A campaign to rescue the MPs had raised USD1100 in the space of 2 hours last night.

Said Matemadanda:

They want to withdraw their members why do they tell us? What's that got to do with us, another persons children sleeping on empty stomachs? …If their party is Chamisa & they want to go hungry because he's been removed by the Supreme Court, we'll just go ahead & run the country pic.twitter.com/HwTEd94shk

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

They want to withdraw their members why do they tell us? What’s that got to do with us, another persons children sleeping on empty stomachs? … If their party is Chamisa&they want to go hungry because he’s been removed by the Supreme Court, we’ll just go ahead & run the country

Standard|Thokozani Khupe yesterday convened the first national council meeting of a faction of the mainstream MDC where top officials clashed on a number of issues, including plans to recall more Nelson Chamisa loyalists from Parliament.

Opposition politics was thrown into turmoil last week when Khupe’s ally Douglas Mwonzora initiated the recall of four MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament.

Following a Supreme Court judgement handed down in April, where Khupe was declared the interim leader of the MDC ahead of Chamisa, who has been leading the party since the death of its founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018, a fight for control of the party has been raging.

Mwonzora, Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri are some of the senior officials who immediately shifted base to Khupe’s camp and yesterday’s virtual meeting was meant to strategise after a tumultuous week.

Leaked audio recordings of the meeting and interviews with some of the officials, however, revealed that it was a stormy affair with Khupe and Mwonzora allegedly trying to outwit each other.

Khupe opened the meeting that had 65 members by 2:30pm by urging unity in the party and advised fence-sitters to join her camp following the Supreme Court ruling.

“Let us remain solid like a rock until we arrive at our destination,” Khupe says in the recording obtained by The Standard.

“Unity is the greatest weapon towards stability; we want political stability in the party and in the country so that Zimbabwe once more becomes the breadbasket of the region.”

There was no unity in the meeting, however, after one of Khupe’s allies Abedinico Bhebhe pulled out after hardliners in the faction allegedly pushed for the recall of more MDC Alliance legislators.

Bhebhe, the national organising secretary from MDC 2014 structures, is said to favour reconciliation between Khupe and Chamisa.

At yesterday’s meeting conducted through the WhatsApp platform, the former Nkayi South MP queried why Chamisa and other MDC Alliance members were not invited as they were part of the 2014 structures that were legitimised by the Supreme Court ruling.

Mwonzora’s backers said in terms of the party’s constitution, the MDC Alliance members were no longer part of the organisation as they had violated its rules.

Bhebhe exited the meeting after his contribution was rejected. He refused to comment on the incident.

“I am not ready to give a comment on the matter at the moment,” Bhebhe said. “I will grant a full interview when I am ready to talk.”

Three-quarters of the provinces that participated in the meeting were in favour of the recall of more legislators.

At the time the meeting ended, only a handful of people were left.

Prior to the meeting, Khupe and Mwonzora are said to have clashed over the recalling of legislators after the secretary-general used last week’s process to recall his foes in the party Chalton Hwende and Prosper Mutseyami.

Mwonzora is now said to be reluctant to support Khupe’s bid to recall 30 proportional representation legislators to create space for her own allies in the legislature.

“Khupe will possibly go it alone and recall the MPs herself next week,” said an insider who was part of yesterday’s meeting.

The source said Khupe wants to be sworn as an MP as soon as possible so that she assumes the position of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.

“Mwonzora does not want to recall the MPs because he wants to use them in his bid to win the presidency,” said the source.

“He has no supporters in the MDC-T and hopes to use the carrot-and-stick approach on those MPs fearing recall on his way to the presidency

“Khupe is watching him closely. She realised that and wanted to use (yesterday’s) council meeting to force for resolution to recall them so that the cunning Mwonzora will not go to court over the issue.”

There is growing suspicion in the MDC Alliance that the Khupe-Mwonzora clique will connive with Zanu PF to suspend the holding of by-elections so that the faction handpicks its supporters to replace recalled MPs.

Mwonzora and Khupe are said to be now at loggerheads because they both want to take over as leaders of the party.

Komichi and Mudzuri are also said to be interested in the position.

Meanwhile, Khupe has been ditched by her long-time aide Witness Dube, who has thrown his weight behind Mwonzora.

“Dube is supporting Mwonzora because he believes he is the better candidate, has better leadership skills and stands a better chance against Zanu PF, but he has received a backlash and is now facing threats of violence from those in Bulawayo, who feel he is betraying his former boss and the Matabeleland region,” said the source.

Dube has been involved in heated exchanges on social media platforms with one of Khupe’s backers Chief Ndlovu over his decision to support Mwonzora ahead of his former boss.

Ndlovu is said to be a wealthy businessman based in South Africa.

Dube admitted that he was backing Mwonzora and that his decision had angered Khupe’s camp.

“I think from the people that are throwing their hats into the ring Mwonzora has a better skills set, he is more tolerant and shrewd,” Dube said.

“I can’t be called a sexist and a sellout for my choice.

“I served Khupe for 10 years and I think this sense of entitlement should just not be part of our politics.

“We need a leadership that can unite the party and allow us to move on.”

Mwonzora says he does not harbour presidential ambitions, but insiders in his faction say he has been canvassing for support across the provinces.

Former MDC-T vice-president Obert Gutu yesterday said there was need for Khupe and Chamisa to find each other.

“I think there is need to have a boardroom meeting and agreement on the way forward because if that does not happen, I don’t see anyone who loses at the congress taking it well,” Gutu said.

“Some political careers might end, we are watching from the terraces.”

Gutu said he does not see Khupe winning the presidency outside an agreement to hand over the post to her.

“I don’t see them compromising and coming to the table for talks, but if that does not happen, the MDC, as we know it, will cease to exist as a major political party,” he said.

“But if (Zimbabwe’s first army commander) Solomon Mujuru and (former Rhodesian army commander) General Peter Walls could sit down and talk and share a cup of tea with the animosity that existed between them, we can’t say never.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused by the MDC Alliance of using Khupe and Mwonzora to destroy the country’s main opposition party.

Standard|MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe and reinstated secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora are at odds over the recalling of more MDC Alliance legislators.

Khupe is reportedly keen on recalling 30 proportional representation legislators to create space for her own allies in the legislature, a move which Mwonzora is opposed to.

An unnamed official who attended the MDC-T’s virtual National Council meeting held on Saturday told The Standard that Khupe intends to get into Parliament and assume the position of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, a position that was rejected by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa in 2018. The official is quoted as saying:

Khupe will possibly go it alone and recall the MPs herself next week.

Mwonzora does not want to recall the MPs because he wants to use them in his bid to win the presidency.

He has no supporters in the MDC-T and hopes to use the carrot-and-stick approach on those MPs fearing recall on his way to the presidency.

Khupe is watching him closely. She realised that and wanted to use (yesterday’s) council meeting to force for a resolution to recall them so that the cunning Mwonzora will not go to court over the issue.

The Constitution says that when a seat is vacated for one reason or the other, this would automatically trigger a by-election.

However, the law does not provide for by-elections for seats reserved for the Women’s Quota and Senate.

By Farai D Hove | As Zimbabweans based in foreign lands yesterday began fundraising to rescue their members of Parliament who are currently stranded, they witnessed a video of the ZANU PF national commissar Victor Matemadanda threatening the same MPs with hunger.

Matemadanda was speaking shortly after the MDC Alliance resolved to pull its members out of the august house reacting to the continuing strangulation in which they have among other things been deprived of their allowances, and so far four have been removed on instructions of the renegade senator, Douglas Mwonzora.

A campaign to rescue the MPs had raised USD1100 in the space of 2 hours last night.

Said Matemadanda:

They want to withdraw their members why do they tell us? What's that got to do with us, another persons children sleeping on empty stomachs? …If their party is Chamisa & they want to go hungry because he's been removed by the Supreme Court, we'll just go ahead & run the country pic.twitter.com/HwTEd94shk

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

They want to withdraw their members why do they tell us? What’s that got to do with us, another persons children sleeping on empty stomachs? … If their party is Chamisa&they want to go hungry because he’s been removed by the Supreme Court, we’ll just go ahead & run the country

State Media|THE European Union (EU) has unveiled a US$75 million package to fight Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

Of this, US$40 million was released through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s Health Development Fund, while US$35 million was pledged by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen.

EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Timo Olkkonen told state media that the bloc was one of the major donors in Zimbabwe’s fight against coronavirus.

“We are working with our partners on several fronts in the fight against Covid-19. The EU in Zimbabwe is one of the major donors of the health sector and our support goes through the UNICEF-administered multi-donor Health Development Fund (HDF).

“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have released an additional US$40 million to the HDF, on top of previous support of 126 million Euro (about US$138 million). This money will mainly support — through our implementing partner UNICEF — the Government’s effort in the fight against Covid-19.”

Ambassador Olkkonen said US$15 million had already been distributed for materials to fight the pandemic.

“About US$15 million of that top-up has already been allocated for equipment (including Covid-19 testing kits and PPE), for mass awareness campaigns and for financial support to frontline staff — while we maintain our support to access to healthcare for the general population.

“In addition, we have requested our other partners, ranging from international and local NGOs to EU-funded civil society organisations and the Spotlight Initiative implemented through the UN systems, to re-route some of their activities and EU funding towards the Covid-19 response.”

Ambassador Olkkonen said the EU had committed an additional package of US$35 million.

“There is also an additional package of about US$35 million, which our Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, announced to the President recently. This package has three components: a) immediate additional funding to the HDF programme to import mainly more testing kits and protective equipment while maintaining adequate level of service in health facilities, b) additional humanitarian aid funding through the European Union’s Department for Humanitarian Aid, ECHO, the most vulnerable in the provinces most affected by the current food crisis and c) to support the post-Covid-19 food and water needs later in the year.”

Ambassador Olkkonen said an already announced top-up of US$13,5 million to the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund will be partly allocated to strengthening the Covid-19 response, including improving water and sanitation facilities at community level “within a couple of months”.

Ambassador Olkkonen said the EU is supporting 25 000 local farmers in all the country’s 10 provinces in partnership with the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme (ZAGP) to boost productivity.

ZAPG is coordinating programmes such as Beef Enterprise Strengthening and Transformation (BEST), Dairy Value Chain (DVC), Inclusive Poultry Value Chain (IPVC), focus on animal health (SAFE), value chain upgrading for pigs and goats (VALUE) and Zimbabwe Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Services (ZAKIS).

Ambassador Olkkonen said in the EU-funded agriculture and rural development projects, awareness campaigns have been developed on social distancing, targeting field staff and farmers.

He said the EU has been a partner to the Zimbabwean people since independence and “will continue to be here, building our political, economic, trade and development relations as much as we can”.

State Media|THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will in the next few weeks introduce a new set of higher denomination banknotes to increase physical money supply and curb cash shortages.

Authorities have approved the introduction of $10 and $20 banknotes worth close to $600 million.

The money will be drip-fed into circulation beginning this quarter.

Currently, around $1,4 billion in cash is circulating. The new notes are expected to take the total to $2 billion.

Designs for the new denominations have already been approved, while printing is underway.

Zimbabwe has $2 and $5 notes and coins, which make cash transactions cumbersome, with small transactions now requiring huge wads of notes and coins due to inflation.

Cash shortages have triggered long queues at banks and an illegal market where premiums of up to 40 percent are charged to convert electronic money into cash.

In addition, cash shortages have led to the creation of a multi-tier pricing system, where prices of a single product differ depending on the customer’s mode of payment.

Authorities believe the new notes will enhance convenience to the transacting public and eliminate the illegal cash market.

Printing smaller denominations was also proving costly for Treasury.

A member of the RBZ Monetary Policy Committee, Mr Eddie Cross, told The Sunday Mail that an announcement of the new notes was imminent.

“The plans are advanced and higher denomination notes will be made available to the public sometime later this month,” said Mr Cross.

“The Reserve Bank will make the announcement. They (the notes) are being printed and the appropriate date will be announced soon.

“We had a meeting yesterday of the MPC and the Governor confirmed to us that the rollout will be in stages so it won’t be a full range of notes initially, but it will only be higher denomination notes.”

He said banks will be required to exchange their electronic balances for physical cash to ensure that no new money is created.

“We are moving cautiously because we don’t want to disturb the monetary balance and we are insisting that banks pay for the currency when they draw it so that there is no money creation,” he said.

“We are now taking steps to start implementing that. We started in September last year when we had about $500 million worth of notes in circulation and now we have between $1,3 billion and $1,4 billion notes. This will take it up to $2 billion. Our target is $3 billion, which amounts to about 10 percent of our money supply.”

RBZ deputy governor, Dr Kupukile Mlambo, refused to disclose the rollout plan, saying it was “sensitive”.

“That is a very sensitive issue . . . I cannot comment on it either way because I am working from Bulawayo these days,” said Dr Mlambo.

Soiled notes, said Mr Cross, will be removed from circulation as the new notes are introduced onto the market.

“The other thing is that we have decided that the Reserve Bank will start buying back soiled notes,” he said.

“We had suspended that operation for some time but we are now going to restart the operation and an announcement will be made pretty soon by the bank as to the procedures that will be followed by the commercial banks.

“So we are going to start buying back the soiled notes, which will then be destroyed. We are trying to clean up some of the older notes that are out there and maybe are beyond use. Gradually we are getting on top of the cash situation, cash will still not be in free supply but this is going to improve matters.”

RBZ Governor, Dr John Mangudya, did not respond to our questions while economist Mr Kingstone Kanyile said introduction of higher denomination notes was overdue.

He counselled transparency by the RBZ and banks.

“The higher denomination notes were long overdue if you just look at the inflationary trends and projections,” said Mr Kanyile.

“Depending on how much they are going to put in the market it has to be within the requirement of making sure that there isn’t excessive money going around. This is so because if there is too much printed money we will have a problem.”

Mr Kanyile said the RBZ would have to exercise moral restraint in terms of how much they print.

“The RBZ must always be transparent. The black market or grey market type of lending outside the formal banking system is a serious matter that has to be dealt with. The Central Bank must gain moral and public trust.

“This business of a connected individual and a few of his cronies having all the notes when the economy suffers must stop. Another thing is that those notes should start from as high as $50 or $100 because that is the reality of where we are.”

The Zimbabwean dollar was re-introduced in June last year following a ban on the use of the multiple currency regime that had been in place since 2009. Government subsequently introduced new $2 and $5 notes and coins late last year.

The multi-currency system was re-introduced recently.

Paul Nyathi|Douglas Mwonzora has challenged MDC National Vice Chairman and Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala to take the first step and vacate his parliamentary seat immediately if he is serious about the party MPs resigning from parliament.

Last week, Sikhala, indicated that all MDC MPs would leave Parliament in solidarity with Charlton Hwende, Prosper Mutseyami, Tabitha Khumalo and Midlands Senator Lilian Timveous, who were recently recalled from the houses by Mwonzora.

In an interview with state media, Mwonzora accused Sikhala of grandstanding.

“If he (Sikhala) is serious and genuine about leaving Parliament he should set an example and resign first. The fact that he has not done so shows that he is not serious. I don’t take him seriously.”

He said most sitting MDC legislators have since advised him that they are not willing to heed Sikhala’s call.

“That threat to withdraw is coming from people who no longer have control over the MPs.

The issue on who has control over MPs was resolved first by the Supreme Court and secondly by Parliament itself when these two institutions recognised us as the leadership of the MPs of the MDC-T.

“We have since advised our MPs that they must ignore that call. It amounts to short-changing the electorate because MPs were elected to serve.”

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC, is readying themselves to hold by elections for parliamentary seats left vacant following the recall of some MDC Parliamentarians last week.

The quartet are Prosper Mutseyami (Dangamvura-Chikanga) who was also the opposition party’s chief whip, Charlton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Thabitha Khumalo (proportional representative Bulawayo Province) and Senator Lillian Timveous (Midlands).

According to the constitution, by elections will be held in Dangamvura – Chikanga and Kuwadzans East whilst the MDC-T under Thokozani Khupe which recalled the MPs will second replacements for Khumalo and Timveous.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the country’s supreme law was clear that if a seat is vacated for one reason or the other, this would automatically trigger a by-election.

“Our Constitution does not have a provision not to hold by-elections. If they decide to resign, we will at some stage have to hold the by-election unless if the vacancy occurs less than nine months to a general election.” However, the law does not provide for by-elections for seats reserved for the Women’s Quota and Senate.

MDC-T was allocated 50 seats of these seats after the 2018 general elections. Despite worries that further by-elections would burden State coffers, Minister Ziyambi said this would be “the cost we have to bear as a country for having undemocratic Movement for Democratic Change politicians”.

“It is also the right of other political parties to participate in by-elections.

I know for certain that the party which I represent, Zanu-PF, wants to participate in all elections when vacancies arise.”

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana confirmed that the electoral body had since been notified of the four vacancies in Parliament.

“I can confirm that yesterday (Thursday) we received the notification of the four vacancies that have arisen in Parliament. We will go ahead and call for a by-election when the time arises because currently all pending by-elections have been suspended in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

In the 2018 elections, Zanu-PF won 145 seats of the 210 contested seats in the National Assembly, the MDC-A had 63, while two of the remaining seats were won by the National Patriotic Front and an independent candidate. The remaining 120 seats that were apportioned for the Women’s Quota and Senate, with 35 seats allocated to Zanu-PF, 24 to MDC-A and one for MDC-T.

Twenty of the remaining seats were reserved for chiefs (18) and people living with disabilities (two) to complete the cumulative 350 seats in Parliament.

THE case of six police officers charged with assaulting two women in Cowdray Park in Bulawayo was not heard yesterday after it was decided that further investigations should be carried out on the matter before the suspects are taken to court.

The six, arrested on Friday, were supposed to appear at the West Commonage Magistrate’s court for the alleged brutal assault of two siblings from Cowdray Park on 16 April. The victims claimed police said they arrested them for violating the national lockdown regulations meant to combat the spread of the coronavirus by moving out of their home. The two had reportedly gone to buy food at a local supermarket before they were allegedly arrested by three officers that picked them out from a queue and cuffed their hands behind their backs. They were then allegedly force-marched, in between severe beatings and tribally charged insults, through a bushy pathway leading to Cowdray Park Police Base. At the police station, they alleged that they were further subjected to abuse by officers who took turns to assault them, leading to severe injuries.

The accused police officers are Simbarashe Bvekwa, Tichaona Zariro, Patson Gumoreyi, Elizabeth Denhere, Zibusiso Masuku and Christabel Munyondo. The official in charge of Public Prosecutions at the West Commonage Magistrate’s Court, Mr Nyasha Katurura, confirmed that the six police officers would appear at a date to be advised, as there were contradictions between the victim’s accounts and the evidence brought before the court.

“The case has been referred for further investigation. The police are yet to hold an identification parade. The victims had said two people assaulted them but six people were presented to us today. So, there is a need for further investigation,” he said.

The legal representative of the two women, Mr Nqobani Sithole of Ncube Attorneys, said they were worried about the manner in which investigations had been carried out.

“The two women who are complainants in this matter were picked up for whatever offence. The allegations are that they were then assaulted by two officers and as things stand, the investigations that have been done are shoddy to say the least. The six officers that have been brought here have not been identified by the complainants so whoever brought these officers here, we don’t know on what basis were they brought to court. Surely the complainants have not been given opportunity to identify them,” said Mr Sithole.

Mr Sithole said there was also a possible case of conflict of interest, as one of the investigating officers was also a person of interest in the ongoing legal action.

“One thing that is striking is that there is a Superintendent (name supplied) who is involved, it appears there is a senior officer who was part of the District Reactive Group and that officer is the one who is directing the investigation and surely it is a misnomer to have someone who is potentially supposed to be investigated being the one directing investigations.

“So, the investigations have been shoddy to say the least. For example, there is an entry in the docket where the Assistant Inspector was directed by the Chief Inspector to do an identification parade but he has not done so because the Superintendent has directed him to take the docket as it is to court. There is nothing that has been brought here save to say it has been a sheer waste of time. So, we have spoken with the National Prosecuting Authority that further investigations be done and the complainants be given further opportunity to identify the accused persons,” he said.

Representing the six officers, Nkosiyabo Sibanda of Tanaka Law Chambers said the State was only trying to delay the inevitable as further investigations would only provide the same information thereby acquitting the six accused.

“The matter is now pending before the courts so its sub judice so I cannot go into detail about the case. I can only tell you what has happened here today only. The position with regards to the females that have been assaulted by members of the police is that the matter has been stood down, or rather postponed, for further investigations as we were told. As the legal representatives of the accused persons we feel like the investigations will not yield anything other than what is already known to us,” said Mr Sibanda.

-State Media

Zimbabwe has for the second day running recorded yet another COVID-19 case taking the total number of cases to 36 including nine recoveries and four deaths.

Below is the ministry of health daily update for yesterday.

THE Kwekwe City Council has converted Amaveni Bus Terminus into a marketplace as a way of regularising the operation of vendors in the city.

The move by the local authority is also meant to ensure hygiene is maintained post-lockdown.

The development comes as the local authority took advantage of the lockdown and demolished illegal structures and unregularised vending places in the mining town.

Kwekwe Town Clerk Dr Lucia Mnkandla said the move to demolish illegal structures was in line with the cleaner cities concept as directed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

She said the local authority was moving to regularise vending hence it was creating more vending stalls for the traders.

“The demolition was nothing personal but in line with the cleaner cities concept as enunciated by President Mnangagwa.

“We are, however, moving to regularise vending by creating a database and constructing more regularised vending places that are easily monitored by the council,” said Dr Mnkandla.

She said besides converting Amaveni, which had been idle for a number of years, into a market place, the local authority was creating more vending places in the Central Business District (CBD) and other areas like Mbizo.

Besides costing council thousands of dollars in licences, the illegal structures were posing as a health hazard to the residents.

Demolitions targeted backyard food outlets, illegal flea markets and vending stalls as well as shebeens that had sprouted around the city.

“This is clearly not a fight against our residents, but simply a fight against the spread of diseases associated by such unhygienic places.

“We are actually playing our role in a bid to protect the citizenry. As a way forward we are saying people who want to operate should approach council and regularise their operations. Anything illegal will not be tolerated going forward,” said Dr Mnkandla.

-State Media

THE Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) has implored Government to employ more teachers to reduce class sizes and teacher pupil ratio as one of the main pre-conditions to ensure social distancing before schools re-open.

Schools were supposed to open on 5 May for the second term but a new date is still to be announced. In a statement, Zimta said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should put in place measures to ensure there would be social distancing in schools by reducing class sizes.

The teachers’ body said educators were convinced that the Covid-19 situation is not yet under control judging by activities on the ground which could worsen the situation if schools open for the new term.

“The coronavirus pandemic threat is worse as numbers of positive cases are on an upward trend. It is against this backdrop that educators being on the frontline to the provision of quality public education have raised the following concern. The current classrooms are overcrowded, having a teacher-pupil ratio of 1: 70 on average. Government must address the issue of huge class sizes as this is a fertile ground for coronavirus to spread. Government must as a matter of urgency re-organise class sizes during this lockdown so that should attendance and learning commence, class sizes are already reduced, manageable and enabling for social distancing to occur,” Zimta said.

Zimta implored the Government to also give guidance on monitoring of social distancing in learning institutions.

“The ministry must publicise all measures that have been put in place to ensure that learners do not contract the virus when they get to schools on the opening day, this is an urgent matter.”

It advocated for disinfection of communities and establishment of voluntary testing centres at shopping centres and schools countrywide.

Zimta said as far as educators are concerned, some issues should be addressed as conditions for schools to re-open. These include ensuring there is necessary equipment and protection. The educators’ body said arrangements should also be made for learners’ transport and response mechanism in the event that any school is affected in due course.

Information packs should also be produced and supplied to schools to guide pupils on hygiene and other response guidelines.

Zimta said in the obtaining environment, schools cannot be opened before the said conditions are met as that would put pupils and their families at risk, as well as reverse the gains made so far in the fight against Covid-19.

-State Media

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will introduce a new set of higher denomination bank notes over the next few weeks to increase physical money supply and curb prevailing cash shortages.

Authorities have given the greenlight for the introduction of $10 and $20 bank notes worth close to $600 million. The money will be drip-fed into circulation beginning this quarter. Currently, around $1,4 billion in cash is circulating. The new notes are expected to take the total to $2 billion.

Designs for the new denominations have already been approved and printing of the new notes is underway. Zimbabwe has $2 and $5 notes and coins, which make cash transactions cumbersome, with small transactions now requiring huge wads of notes and coins due to high inflation.

Cash shortages have resulted in long queues at banks, spawning a thriving illegal cash market where huge premiums of up to 40 percent are charged to convert electronic money into cash. In addition, cash shortages have led to the creation of a multi-tier pricing system, where prices of a single product differ depending on the customer’s mode of payment.

Authorities believe that the new notes will enhance convenience to the transacting public and eliminate the illegal cash market. Member of the RBZ Monetary Policy Committee Mr Eddie Cross told our Harare Bureau that an announcement of the new notes was imminent.

“The plans are far advanced and higher denomination notes will be made available to the public sometime later this month. The Reserve Bank will make the announcement. They (the notes) are being printed and the appropriate date will be announced soon. We had a meeting yesterday of the MPC and the Governor confirmed to us that the rollout will be in stages so it won’t be a full range of notes initially, but it will only be higher denomination notes.”

He said banks will be required to exchange their electronic balances for physical cash to ensure that no new money is created.

RBZ deputy governor, Dr Khuphukile Mlambo, refused to disclose the rollout plan, saying it was “sensitive”.

“That is a very sensitive issue . . . I cannot comment on it either way because I am working from Bulawayo these days,” said Dr Mlambo. RBZ Governor, Dr John Mangudya, did not respond to questions from our Harare Bureau.

Soiled notes, said Mr Cross, will be removed from circulation as the new notes are introduced onto the market.

-State media

SCHOOLS must not charge extra money for conducting online lessons or increase their fees for Term Two without seeking approval from the Government and those that will ignore the directive risk being de-registered, a Cabinet Minister has warned.

Addressing a media briefing in Bulawayo yesterday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said schools that have demanded that parents pay for online fees and pay for Term Two fees were extortionist and would be de-registered.

The warning comes at a time when most private schools have gone on an overdrive demanding that parents either pay for online lessons or start paying fees for Term Two, which have been reviewed upwards from the first term. Minister Mathema said while his ministry appreciates that online and distance learning have become necessary owing to the closure of schools due to the coronavirus pandemic, there were concerns over how schools were using the initiative to “extort” money from parents.

“What the nation has experienced recently where such school initiatives appear to be construed as the start of the second term, with schools giving deadlines to parents and guardians for the payment of unapproved fees or levies is unacceptable.

“Some high fees and levies that have been brought to my attention, including foreign currency, appear extortionist and we should not have this in education. Section 17 of the Education Act provides for cancellation of registration by the Secretary. This is not an issue that was ever considered necessary given the cooperation that existed in the education sector,” he said.

The Education Act [25:04] applies to all Government and non-Government schools and correspondence and independent colleges. Minister Mathema said some private schools have broken the trust the Government had in them.

“However, the spirit of some of the non-State players in the sector is no longer clear. Some non-Government schools charge fees and levies that are initially affordable to many but in due course the fees and levies are hiked so much that the ministry struggles to cope with the relocation of some learners to new schools. I cannot emphasise enough the need for all schools to abide by the law and culture of consultation. We have a responsibility to be fair to our learners, parents and guardians. No school should attract our attention by doing wrong things,” he said.

Private schools in the city such as Petra and Whitestone gave parents up to 15 May to make partial school fees payments while they wait for Government approval. Deposits were ranging between $10 000 and $27 000. Parents with children at Masiyephambili said they had been told that Term Two fees were due last Friday, raising the ire of most parents.

“While the ministry is developing online and distance learning programmes, school initiatives are welcome. However, such initiatives by schools must receive the necessary approvals from the ministry before any implementation takes place,” he said.

Minister Mathema said any fee that is charged for online or distance learning programmes must receive approval first before schools can implement them.

“I would want us all to work as a team for the good of our children. His Excellency, the President has introduced a culture of dialogue, let us all please live by it because we belong, we all have one country, Zimbabwe. We therefore have no alternative but to dialogue with each other,” he stressed.

However, some private schools have defended their stance saying they were demanding school fees so as to meet salaries for teachers and support staff, and also to take care of other running costs in school maintenance.

-State Media

Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks through the park after buying a cup of Coffee, can Emmerson Mnangagwa do it in Zimbabwe?

Own Correspondent| Elias Mudzuri has claimed Zanu PF has nothing to do with the internal battles in the country’s main opposition party, MDC.

Mudzuri echoed discredited Zanu PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu’ s remarks about the same matter.

Political observers argue Zanu PF is using disgruntled elements in a desperate attempt to annihilate the opposition party.

Mudzuri, Douglas Mwonzora, Thokozani Khupe and Morgen Komichi are widely viewed as Zanu PF fosterlings.

Mudzuri argued: “Assertions that ZANU PF is involved in the affairs of MDC are mere hallucinations triggered by denialism and refusal to accept responsibility for what we have done wrong.

Extraordinary Congress is the only remedy.”

On Thursday Mudzuri wrote on Twitter : How can I be fired from Parliament by a non – existent political party? Ncube fired Tsvangirai (2005) but the party remained Biti (2014) did the same but left the party intact Today(2020) Sikhala fires us but still the party shall remain- let’s go for the Extraordinary.”

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has condemned rogue police officers who battered and bruised two women in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb for allegedly violating the ongoing national lockdown.

The women, who are sisters, were arrested on April 16 at a supermarket in the suburb where they had gone to buy food for their children.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi on Friday said six people had been arrested over the incident and will appear in court this Saturday.

He said:
We have six suspects who are appearing in court tomorrow. That is what we can say for now.

We will release more information soon but what we can assure the public is that the case has been investigated and is being well handled. Nothing has been swept under the carpet. That is why we are taking the case to court.

They should not get carried away when they perform their duties.

They should stick to the mandate which the police have in terms of the constitution of the country, in terms of the deployment which would have been done by their commanders.

So, anyone who goes outside the deployment order and does their own things will face the full the wrath of the law.

The women were picked out from a queue at the supermarket and had their hands cuffed behind their backs by three police officers who then brutally assaulted them for hours with batons on their backs, hips and legs.

They were then force-marched through a bush to Cowdray Park Police Base, with the officers making frequent stops along the way to beat them with the batons.-State media