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

By Dr Takavafira Zhou

8 May 2020

Perturbed by the shrinking democratic space in Zimbabwe.

Realising that MDC Alliance and MDC-T contested as two distinct political parties in 2018 elections and both had subsequent Congresses in 2019 and 2018, respectively

Noting Zanu PF consented efforts to decimate a credible political opposition in Zimbabwe, in the form of MDC Alliance.

Baffled by deliberate attempts to conflate MDC, MDC-T and MDC Alliance for Zanu pf political expediency.

Recognising the SC judgement which although moot and academic, is restricted to MDC-T and not MDC Alliance

Concerned by the monumental injustice where MDC-T has been assisted by its masters, viz, Zanu pf to recall three MDC Alliance Mps (Hon Tabitha Khumalo, Hon Mutseyami and Hon Hwende), and a Senator (Hon Timveous)

Now therefore as MDC Veterans and custodians of our institutionary memory:

-Deplore and denounce the recall of MDC Alliance deployees as heinous, malodorous, an act of provocation, if not open declaration of war by Zanu PF through its proxies.

-Declare that the recall has no locus standi and must be resisted by all democratic means possible.

-Amplify that the name MDC does not belong to Khupeists, Mwonzoraists or Komichists (who are currently abusing it), but to many democrats who are dead, many democrats who are still living, and many other democrats who are yet to be born. It is in the courts of the people that the name must be contested. That contest has long been determined, sealed and consummated in the May 2019 Gweru MDC Alliance National Congress.

• Reiterate our support for the MDC Alliance under President Chamisa as the legitimate President of the MDC Alliance, out of the May 2019 Gweru National Congress and indeed with a mandate to run the affairs of the party until 2024.

-Urge the MDC Alliance to realise fully the act of provocation and declaration of war by Zanu pf and be ready to engage in war of attrition in defence of their democratic space and egalitarianism.

-Commit our services at the disposal of the party in navigating the landmined democratic path that we embarked on in 1999.

-Reiterate our long held view that those who wish MDC Alliance away are in for a rude awakening, as it is here to stay and grow by leaps and bounds.

The blood of our departed veterans, and in particular that of our iconic founder leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, will continue to water our spirit of liberty and egalitarianism.

No amount of classical diversionary device of dictators, chicanery, brutality and force can stop an idea whose moment is up.

The MDC Alliance must remain vigilant and resilient every time. The people’s project must be fulfilled in our life time. Life is too short to spend it in misery. At any rate the darkest hour is just before dawn.

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (VAA DSG)

For and on Behalf of MDC Veterans.

The Ministry would like to report that today [8 May 2020], 624 rapid screening tests and 460 PCR tests were done in the public sector.

Additionally, 140 PCR tests were done in the private sector giving a total of 600 PCR tests done today.

One of the PCR tests done in Harare today was positive for COVID-19, whilst the National TB Reference Lab in Bulawayo is expected to resume PCR testing on the 9th May 2020.

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

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

Cumulatively, a total of 10 218 rapid screening tests and 8 741 PCR diagnostic tests have been done to date…

The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation 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.

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.

— Elias Mudzuri (@EngMudzuri) May 9, 2020

By A Correspondent- A man from Hope Fountain on the outskirts of Bulawayo’s bid to search for love during the coronavirus lockdown proved costly when he was severely beaten after he allegedly solicited for sex from a married woman in exchange for Mopane worms locally known as amacimbi or madora in Shona.

It is reported that Trust Nyathi’s move to trade his amacimbi for sex turned nasty when he was given a thorough beating by Brian Moyo after he attempted sample his wife, Sipho Mpofu, over the “delicious” worms.

The incident happened on Saturday last week.

It is alleged that Nyathi thanked his Creator when Mpofu who he had been pestering for some time sent him a WhatsApp message asking for two packets of amacimbi costing $60 saying she was going to pay the following day.

It is reported that on the day in question, Nyathi sent a WhatsApp message to Moyo asking her about his money and the latter told him she hadn’t raised it yet.

Nyathi exploited the opportunity when he suggested that she could pay the debt in a different way.

According to a B-Metro mole, when a seemingly confused Moyo asked Nyathi to clarify his proposal on how she was supposed to settle her debt, Nyathi is alleged to have unhesitatingly said “bhadala ngesiphundu” (pay with occiput) a colloquialism for “pay with sex”.

Shocked by Nyathi’s proposal, Mpofu showed the messages to her husband who later decided to set a trap by responding while pretending that he was Mpofu.

In the WhatsApp conversations which were reportedly accompanied by some lewd videos showing how they were going to enjoy their love-making sessions, Nyathi was being promised some steamy sex action that he would never forget in his entire life.

It was gathered that steamy messages flew back and forth with Moyo encouraging his wife’s secret admirer to come to the house saying he was not at home.

“An excited Nyathi who however, didn’t know that the messages were a trap being set by Mpofu’s husband quickly proceeded to Mpofu’s house. Upon arrival he got the shock of his life when he looked to see a furious Moyo sitting on a sofa while waiting for him with a sjambok,” said the mole.

After being bashed Nyathi who was also found with condoms in his trousers’ pocket pleaded for forgiveness saying the offer was made in a joking manner and that he didn’t intend to have sex with his wife.

Nyathi who reportedly sustained injuries all over the body didn’t report the matter to the police.

Nyathi denied the allegations that he was beaten as punishment for soliciting for sex from a married woman.

“What you should know is that when something happened everyone has their own opinion and what you heard is not true. Brian was just bitter why I sold his wife amacimbi without his knowledge. I think he suspected that I was after her when I started demanding my money,” said Nyathi.

Although Moyo didn’t let this publication speak to his wife, he confirmed the incident and said the beating was a stern warning to Nyathi to stop pestering married women for sex.-statemedia

Watch the live video below…………..

By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland Central province are looking for a Chiweshe man who allegedly strangled his wife to death in an infidelity misunderstanding.

Willard Chakaipa of Nyamawende, Mwedziwendira village in Chiweshe is on the run following the death of his wife Yeukai Chatyoka (19) who was found death with strangled marks on the neck on Thursday.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.

“I can confirm a murder case in Chiweshe and we are hunting for the suspect who allegedly fled after committing the crime,” Mundembe said.

A witness Mike chibwe (35) who is a neighbour said he saw the two quarrelling but was subsquently called by the suspect to see the dead body.

“I saw the couple quarrelling on Wednesday night but was called by the husband the following day alleging that his wife consumed poison so when l went to file a police report he fled,” Chibwe said.

It is further alleged that a bottle of poison was discovered close to the dead body but the police also discovered strangulation marks.

Police warned people to desist from resorting to violence when ever they have differences.

We have been there before. These regime antics will definitely fail again. We will bite the gun, with our eyes Luke-king right into the retina of the eye of the Beast.

— Luke Tamborinyoka (@luke_tambo) May 9, 2020

By A Correspondent- A Harare woman on Saturday failed to observe the stop sign at a railroad level crossing in Kambuzuma and rammed into a moving goods train, leaving her badly injured.

The accident, which took place around midday Saturday, saw the unidentified woman’s Volkswagen Golf car extensively damaged.

An eyewitness to the accident, who was also among the first responders, told the Zimbabwe Voice that the woman was taken to the hospital as she was writhing in pain.

“Onlookers attended to the woman who apparently had her music on loud as she approached the railroad level crossing,” said an eyewitness.

“Police were called in after some of us had extracted her from the wreckage. She is really lucky to have survived this because the impact was huge and was heard from far away.”

By A Correspondent- An elderly woman suspected to be COVID-19 positive was today reportedly transferred to Wilkins hospital from South medical private hospital in Chitungwiza.

Sources privy to the developments alleged that the woman was immediately isolated after she was suspected to be COVID-19 positive.

Said the source:

“She was immediately isolated on Friday and the wards fumigated. The suspected elderly woman was transferred to Wilkins Infectious Hospital on Saturday.”

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

Just in- Suspected COVID-19 case at South medical hospital in Chitungwiza. Elderly woman transferred to Wilkins Infectious hospital.

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 9, 2020

By A Correspondent- A machete weilding Bindura man was arraigned before a Bindura magistrate on Friday for robbing a pedestrian of his US$2 and RTGS$100.

Takudzwa Mugwagwa (24) of Choma village in Bindura pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him before magistrate Maria Msika who remanded him out of custody to May 27.

Prosecutor Ndaizivei Media Gunda alleged on April 27 at Muonwe business centre the accused followed Paul Mukarakate (40) and threatened to assault him with a machete before demanding cash.

Fearing for his life Mukarakate surrendered his money to Mugwagwa and was freed.

The complanaint went and filed a police report leading to the arrest of the accused.

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean UK based nurse traces her journey to recovery after being diagnosed of the COVID-19.

Watch the live video loading below……

Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba says the decision by the main MDC faction led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa to withdraw its members from parliament was disenfranchising the voters who mandated the MPs to lead them.

Charamba said, “What is the effect on constituencies of an MP withdrawing from parliamentary processes? Doesn’t that disenfranchise the concerned constituency, thus breaking the explicit contract between a voter and his MP?”

MDC announced that its members will boycott any platform that makes them interact with ZANU PF. The statement was delivered on Thursday by Job Sikhala.

Read Charamba’s response below:

DECISION BY CHAMISA AND TEAM raises quite some interesting issues of party constitutionality and general propriety. Do you suspend involvement in parliamentary business and then consult?? And if you have that latitude – and legal basis of it has to be established – why not go the whole hog and then consult on a substantive decision, namely disengaging wholly?

Secondly and more fundamentally, is an MP’s availability for parliamentary business/role a matter for a political party and its members?? Or is he bound by wishes of all who reside in a constituency to whom he offers surrogate presence in Parliament, itself a National – not Party – Institution??

In other words, are MPs in Parliament for themselves and their parties, or for whole constituencies regardless of individual political membership of constitutive electorate?? What is the effect on constituencies of an MP withdrawing from parliamentary processes? Doesn’t that disenfranchise the concerned constituency, thus breaking the explicit contract between a voter and his MP?

If so, what recourse does a voter have, singly and in concert with fellow voters registered under, and residing in a constituency??

Does that not provide a sound legal basis for class action well before we even wait or parliamentary rules sanctioning such (mis)conduct?? Should such a case be brought before a competent court, what are its chances??

Assuming there are good chances – and that’s my hunch – would an MP go by his/her party’s wishes, or submit to court decision? Will courts be (mis)construed as interfering with affairs of a voluntary organisation? Just a thought!!! Ndini hangu

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 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

The government of the Republic of Zimbabwe takes this opportunity to congratulate the citizens and member states of the European Union on the ocassion of the 70th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration which set the European Integration project in motion on the 9th of May 1950. Zimbabwe applauds the EU for time-tested evolution into a major cooperating partner, sharing its ideals and providing development support to fight poverty and promote peace and good governance.

In the context of the on-going Political Dialogue with the EU, Zimbabwe reaffirms its commitment to constructive reengagement based on mutual respect and determination to overcome the challenges that have restricted the full restoration of mutually beneficial relations, key among them the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe that should lifted. The removal of the remaining sanctions will enable Zimbabwe to be fully integrated in the interantional community.

Both sides can attest that cooperation to date in the promotion of health, food security and good governance under the 11th European Development Fund EDF has yielded positive results. This should be consolidation and intensified towards new investment initiatives, trade development and supporting Zimbabwe’s industrial capacity utilization.

Commemorations for Europe Day, like Zimbabwe’s 40th independence anniversary a month earlier have been bloated by the impact of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic which globally continues to claim thousands of lives, infect millions of people, destroy livelihoods and severely damage our economies.

Zimbabwe commends the EU for it timely response and channelling additional humanitarian assistance to countries such as Zimbabwe to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. With a shared vision for a better life to all our citizens. It is incumbent upon Zimbabwe and the EU along with the entire international community to redouble their efforts and cooperation towards the mobilization of resources in support of economic stimuli and sustainable development for all countries

Lt. Gen (Rtd) Dr S.B Moyo

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

By A Correspondent- A UK based Zimbabwean nurse who was LIVE on ZimEye 2 weeks ago today after being diagnosed of coronavirus shares her journey to recovery.

The nurse, a front line health worker was on video praising God despite being confirmed COVID-19 positive urging others in the same ordeal to be strong.

WATCH THE VIDEO LOADING BELOW………….

DOMESTIC violence cases have increased by more than 100 percent during the ongoing Covid-19 induced national lockdown with men among the affected, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) report states.

Cases have shot up to about 1 200 in April, compared to an average of 500 usually reported in a month.

Institutions that fight against abuse have reported that psychological, emotional, verbal, physical, economical and other kinds of abuse have increased against both sexes as perpetrators spend every hour of the day locked down with their victims.

Police have, however, recorded a huge decrease in reported cases.

This has been attributed to the lockdown which requires everyone to stay at home, except for essential service providers and those seeking vital services like medical attention.

Violating the lockdown attracts a fine of up to $500 or in default 12 months in prison.

Government imposed a national lockdown on March 30 before extending it by a further 14 days for the second time last week.

In a report released this week titled: “A gender crisis within the Covid-19 pandemic one month after national lockdown,” the commission says the lockdown has had severe socio-economic impact on the nation.

ZGC’s report was compiled in consultations with Government, private sector, civic society, faith-based organisations and development agencies.

The report touches on how the lockdown has affected public service delivery, health matters, the economic sectors and families.

The commission has called on Government to address gendered socio-economic problems especially targeting the most vulnerable in society.

ZGC noted with concern the increase in gender-based violence (GBV) cases.

“Media and reports by institutions such as Musasa and Padare show an unprecedented increase in GBV namely domestic violence manifesting in physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse among family members. Musasa, for example, reports that they have attended to more than 1 200 reports by end of

April, more than double the usual per month,” reads the report.

“Enkundleni (Padare), the Men’s Forum on Gender Equality, reports that during the same period, they had received more than 50 reports of domestic violence on men since the lockdown started, a sharp increase.”

The report states that while organisations dealing with GBV recorded increase in abuse cases, police registered reduced cases.

It says police acknowledged that the decrease in cases could be a result of few people being mobile.

“The situation for survivors, mainly women and girls, becomes desperate, as abusers are locked-up with their victims while limited mobility reduces the usual access to external assistance. Children are also trapped in this vicious cycle of violence as witnesses or victims. Women and girls are the worst affected in these circumstances. While schools generally provide safe shelter for children, these have been closed indefinitely further locking them within homes,” the report states.

ZGC said indefinite schools’ closure also presents new challenges for learners as it widens social gaps between the rich and poor when considering online learning.

It states that while home learning is being considered, its effectiveness is highly compromised as it is a new phenomenon in the country.

“Spending more time online also exposes children to cyber-bulling, sex-predators, pornographic material and all other online vices. Reports show that out of the school pupils, girls are in a more precarious situation as they risk falling pregnant and dropping out of school indefinitely,” reads the report.

ZGC also warns of increased food insecurity among vulnerable members of the society, some who lost their source of livelihoods as a result of measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

It said the national lockdown has impacted heavily on the players in the informal sector while Government safety nets were not reaching intended beneficiaries on time due to cumbersome screening processes.

“While we acknowledge the scale of the pandemic and the strain it has put on all sectors, we call upon Government, civil society organisations, private sector, development agencies and other stakeholders to: recognise the gender dynamics in emergencies and ensure that respective response mechanisms are gender responsive and enhance respective social protection systems. There should be robust safety nets with a deliberate emphasis on giving preference to the vulnerable members of the society, which includes women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities, among other groups,” reads the report.

-State Media

Watch live video loading below….

By A Correspondent- A UK based Zimbabwean woman has opened up on how a US scammer robbed her of £3.500.

Fundai Chiname allegedly used another woman’s name to get a loan from Amigo loans

“She has done the same scam to several others and took a loan which she never serviced. She is being selfish despite that i helped her “.

Watch the Live video loading above……

Ministry of Finance has raised alarm after it emerged that officials were looting funds meant for COVID-19 relief.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance George Guvamatanga this week wrote to directors and other top ranking officials advising them that only sanctioned travel should be allowed to draw domestic allowances, while the rest should go to deserving people in the country’s COVID-19 response which had been sustained, largely by donors.

“Treasury has noted with concern an increase in payment runs requesting for funds for processing domestic allowances, narrated as COVID-19 payments for staff on duty during the lockdown period,” reads Guvamatanga’s circular dated April 28.

“As you are aware of pronouncement of lockdown throughout Statutory instrument 81 and 82 clearly called for mitigatory measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and involved limited or no movement across cities and towns and hence reduces domestic travel expenses.”

Guvamatanga said instead of government departments focusing on coronavirus interventions, they were now pushing more for allowances than delivering to the needy.

“However, line ministries are now prioritising payment of allowances despite the call by Treasury in its later dated March 20, requesting accounting officers to identify none wage savings from their respective votes to be ring fenced for coronavirus interventions,” he wrote.

Sources have disclosed to NewsDay that top government workers were taking the biggest part of funds allocated to coronavirus response in the form of travel and subsistence allowances while frontline health workers work go without risk allowances or personal protective equipment.

“You have those in higher offices, the principal directors, finance directors and their peers looting fuel, accommodation allowances as they crisis cross the country on errands that don’t even make sense, while those who are actually doing the work get nothing,” said a senior government official.

The official added that poorly paid top civil servants were beginning to feel the pinch owing to the closure of workshops, travel opportunities especially foreign trips which gave them access to huge allowances. They have now resorted to looking for opportunities in the coronavirus response.

“You would notice that government does not pay huge salaries even to your permanent secretaries and directors, however they have always had allowances when attending workshops and travel, this has all been put on Ice by coronavirus and for them to fill this gap they are now digging into the coronavirus budget,” said the source.

Government is struggling to buy protective clothing for doctors, even after a court order compelling it to do so.

Due to lack of resources, government has also left the purchase of critical items towards the fight against the virus such as test kits to donors.

Zimbabwe so far has 40 cases, but observers think the number is probably huger because of low testing levels. Zimbabwe has carried out just over 7 000 tests.

-Newsday

By Jane Mlambo| Hotel giant, African Sun has announced that it is reopening four of its business units with effect from Monday on a phased approach.

The hotels have been closed since 30 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

African Sun said it will re-open Holiday Inn Harare, Holiday Inn Bulawayo, Holiday Inn Mutare and Great Zimbabwe Hotel under its phase one.

The four units, according to African Sun will be disinfected and sanitized and conduct regular temperature checks of all staff and guests at entry points on top of contactless check in and check out protocols.

“Staff members will wear face masks at all times, guests accessible hand sanitizer at entrance and high traffic areas, extra disinfection of high touch areas in guest rooms including light switches and door handles,” reads the notice to clients.

African Sun added that gyms and swimming pools at its hotels will remain closed while social distancing of upto two meters will be observed and maintained.

By A Correspondent- The Covid-19 National Lockdown  in Zimbabwe, has stalled the police’s  plans to travel to South Africa, in order to investigate and gather evidence which ties VP Chiwenga’s ex wife Marry Mubaiwa, to charges of attempted murder.

VP Chiwenga claimed that Marry Mubaiwa wanted to kill him, while he was incapacitated in a hospital in South Africa.

The lockdown has seen the proceedings in Mubaiwa’s much anticipated trial failing to take off.

Marry Mubaiwa is facing several charges, which include attempted murder,money laundering, externalizing foreign currency and fraud.

Mubaiwa was arrested in December under the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission’s directive, on allegations of money laundering and externalizing foreign currency, before VP Chiwenga came forward pressing attempted murder charges.

According to the state, Mubaiwa  attempted to kill VP Chiwenga in a South African hospital, by allegedly disconnecting his life supporting machines and denying him access to critical medical care.

Part of investigations involving the attempted murder charges, have to be carried out in South Africa where the incident is alleged to have taken place.

The travel bans and lockdown restrictions enacted by both the Zimbabwean and South African government, have brought the procedure to a halt.“The State is making an application for a postponement of the attempted murder case and money laundering to July 31,” said the leading prosecutor.

“The reason we are seeking a postponement is because we intend to carry out extraterritorial investigations in South Africa and we haven’t been able to do so due to the outbreak of COVID-19 which has seen all countries switching to a lockdown.

The state said it hopes that by the end of July, investigations will resume .

The case was postponed to the 31st of July 2020, with consent from Mubaiwa who was self-acting. 

Mubaiwa is currently on a $50 000 bail.

By A Correspondent- A woman who was allegedly used as a bait to lure a married Gweru man into the hands of his murderers has been arrested.

Precious Moyo, the court heard, was allegedly used to make a phone call to Mr Walter Mutombwera pretending to be Ms Nyaradzo Chigagure, his girlfriend based in South Africa.

Mr Mutombwera allegedly fell into the trap and went to a house in Gweru at round 11PM thinking that his girlfriend was back in town and wanted to spend some quality time with him.

Brandy Sifanjani, Ms Chigagure’s husband and Darlington Chigagure, her brother lay in ambush at the house where they allegedly assaulted Mr Mutombwera for five hours leading to his death.

Chigazuze (26) of Mkoba 17 suburb is already in custody following his arrest last month while Moyo appeared yesterday before Gweru magistrate Mr Edwin Marecha. Sifanjani is on the run.

Chigazuze and Moyo are both facing charges of murdering Mutombwera (36) popularly known as Japan. Moyo was remanded in custody to May 28.

The court heard that Moyo went into hiding following the murder before she was later arrested. Police are now looking for Sifanjani.

Prosecutor Ms Connie Madzudzu told the court that on March 11 Chigagure, Sifanjani and Moyo allegedly connived to lure Mr Mutombwera to visit their place of residence in Mkoba 17 suburb.

The court heard that Moyo pretended to be Sifanjani’s wife who was allegedly having an affair with Mr Mutombwera. When Mr Mutombwera got into the house, Sifanjani allegedly struck him with a wooden hoe handle but he fought back and the fight continued outside the house.

Mr Mutombwera allegedly tried to escape but Chigagure blocked him by the gate where Sifanjani hit him on the head and legs with the hoe handle and he fell down.

Mr Mutombwera allegedly cried for help but no one came to his rescue. The court heard that Chigagure and Sifanjani took electrical codes which they used to tie Mr Mutombwera’s hands from the back and continued assaulting him with the wooden hoe handle and a knife.

At around 3AM, Mr Mutombwera was now groaning in pain as he had sustained serious injuries all over his body.

In a bid to conceal the matter, Chigagure and Sifanjani allegedly bundled Mr Mutombwera into their vehicle and drove off for about 500m before dumping him. Mr Mutombwera was rescued by a taxi driver but died on the way to hospital.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- An anti-riot police officer in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly demanding a US$10 bribe from a local resident who had violated lockdown regulations by entering the Central Business District (CBD) without an exemption letter.

Phineas Mutandwa (32) who is attached to the ZRP Support Unit at Fairbridge appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing charges of criminal abuse of office. He was remanded out of custody to May 19 on his own cognizance.

The prosecutor, Mr Terrence Chakabuda said on May 4 at around 11AM, the accused person spotted the complainant walking in the CBD and he stopped him.

He demanded to see Mr Thabisani Ndlovu’s exemption letter allowing him to move around during the lockdown.

“The complainant failed to produce the letter and the accused person ordered him to follow him to Bulawayo Central Police Station where he was supposed to pay a $500 fine,” said Mr Chakabuda.

The court heard that along the way, Mutandwa solicited for a US$10 bribe from the complainant in exchange for his freedom. Mr Ndlovu allegedly gave Mutandwa the US$10 before proceeding to Bulawayo Central Police Station where he reported the matter leading to Mutandwa’s arrest.

Last month, 13 police officers in Bulawayo were arrested for allegedly soliciting and accepting a US$10 bribe from a commuter omnibus crew that had allegedly violated lockdown regulations following the interception of their vehicle.

The accused persons who are all stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station, were arrested by a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zaac) team after an unidentified whistleblower captured them in a video while they were allegedly receiving the bribe.

The video was posted on social media. The police officers allegedly blocked and stopped the commuter omnibus at the intersection of Josiah Tongogara Street and 4th Avenue and demanded a bribe from the crew for allegedly disregarding lockdown regulations.

The unsuspecting cops were captured on video by a whistleblower while allegedly receiving US$10 from one Thulani Ndlela, a conductor of the commuter omnibus. Investigations were carried out leading to the arrest of the accused persons.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said people should report anyone soliciting for bribes. He said the police command will continue to monitor police officers on the ground to curb acts of corruption.-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- South African immigration officials at Beitbridge Border Post were yesterday reportedly imposing five-year bans on returning Zimbabweans without explanation.

This was revealed yesterday when 141 returnees arrived aboard three buses from Johannesburg.

Immigration officials at Beitbridge were not immediately available for comment.

Beitbridge east legislator Albert Nguluvhe said imposing bans on returnees might have been an overreaction considering that some of the returnees were shoppers caught up when the lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus commenced.

“I am not sure if this is the international arrangement, but I think South African immigration officials at Beitbridge are overreacting,” Nguluvhe said.

Sharon Sibanda (27) of Filabusi said all those aboard the bus she was on had a five-year ban imposed.

“They did not explain, but just banned us. They seemed cheeky,” she said.

Of the 141 who arrived, 51 were from Cape Town, who arrived earlier in the morning while the remainder arrived after midday. They were screened by health officials and profiled by Social Welfare Department officials who immediately separated them according to their destinations.

At least four Zupco buses were on standby to ferry them to their various provinces while some will be quarantined in Gwanda, Masvingo, Harare, Gweru, Bulawayo and Mutare.

By A Correspondent- Desperate imbibers are injecting hand sanitizer liquid directly into their veins to get a quick fix because of the ban on the sale of alcohol, revealed Dr. Gerhard Verdoorn from the Griffon Poison Information Center.

The institutionalized ban on alcohol and cigarettes worldwide amid the pandemic has seen South African booze hankers unable to please their alcohol buds.

They have since resorted to injecting themselves with alcohol-based hand sanitizers to quench the alcohol ‘thirst.’

“It makes me feel numb. Someone could pinch me and I wouldn’t feel a thing”, a hand sanitizer ‘user’ reported to SABC News.

He alleges the sanitizer substance was mostly being used by drug addicts to clean up their wounds after injecting drugs, but with its abundant availability nowadays more than drugs, most people were now injecting sanitizers instead.

Even though the hand sanitizers do work to get people a quick fix, it doesn’t last long in the system, and the consequences after the uptake are often severe.

“It also makes me feel sick and causes what we call downs when the high is over, it causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and makes me feel weak,” Mojafela told SABC News.

Jealousy Mawarire has advised @Nelson Chamisa to form a new political outfit and disband everything to do with the MDC T . Should Chamisa form a new political party or not?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 9, 2020

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Wednesday the government is also now focusing on post-Covid-19 programs such as ensuring that the country is food secure.

In an opening address to the Zanu PF Politburo meeting, he said as the nation continues to grapple with challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, it was also equally important to be preparing for the post-Covid-19 phase.

“As such, the government continues to monitor progress on all the programs we had outlined in our 2020 national budget statement and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme. Our agriculture must continue to produce to ensure food security through climate change mitigation strategies,” he said.

In recognition of the importance of agriculture, President Mnangagwa said he had tasked Vice President Constantine Chiwenga to supervise the sector.

“I asked VP Chiwenga to spearhead resuscitation, modernization and mechanization of that sector,” he said, adding that government had availed enough resources towards the success of winter wheat farming.

“In the immediate term, we have availed the resources for a successful winter wheat season. In the medium to long term, the irrigation development strategy will continue to be rolled out to mitigate the impact of climate change,” he added.

President Mnangagwa urged small to medium entrepreneurs (SMES) and the manufacturing sector to harness the potential of homegrown innovative solutions to drive the country’s modernisation agenda.

“In this regard, there should be closer co-operation between the manufacturing sector, SMEs and our educational institutions,” he said.

He said government would also accelerate the implementation of infrastructure projects such as dualisation of the Beitbridge-Harare Chirundu highway.

He commended the international community for assisting Zimbabwe with Covid-19 response materials.

“On behalf of the party, allow me to express my profound appreciation to all individuals, corporates, churches, humanitarian organisations and friendly countries and international institutions such as the People’s Republic of China, United Kingdom, India, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, European Union, Japan and the African Union who have given towards our national response needs to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are as a nation truly grateful for their generosity and goodwill,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Eight suspects were arrested for illegal mining by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in Limpopo on Thursday after being caught processing gold.

Police also seized equipment and material believed to be worth millions of rand.

The suspects, aged between 31 and 65, were due to appear in the Giyani magistrate’s court on Friday for contravening the Precious Metal Act.They are alleged to have been mining illegally in Hlaneki, Mapuve and Mavalani villages, just outside Giyani.

“The Hawks, the SAPS Public Order Police, Tactical Response Team, National Intervention unit, Local Criminal Record Centre, Explosives Unit, Crime Intelligence, Air Wing, K9, SANDF, department of home affairs, department of mineral resources & energy, department of water & sanitation conducted simultaneous disruptive operations focusing on illegal mining at the three villages, where the integrated team confiscated a generator, hose pipes, saws, electric cables, hammers, 9mm live ammunition, gold nuggets, bags full of gold bearing material, pendukas, grinder and an app gas.

“The confiscated goods are yet to be valued but they are expected to run into millions. The suspects were found processing gold when they were apprehended,” Limpopo police said.

Limpopo DPCI provincial head Maj-Gen Thobeka Jozi welcomed the arrests and assured the public that police would continue to intensify operations to “decisively deal with illegal mining which is contributing to serious and violent crime in the province”.-TimesLives

By A Correspondent- The spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front Jealousy Mawarire has urged the MDC Alliance to do away with its name and form a new movement that will not be subjected to unending challenges.

On the 30th of March, the Supreme Court made a ruling in the MDC leadership dispute, declaring congresses held by Dr Thokozani Khupe and Nelson Chamisa as null and void while ordering the party to go for an extra-ordinary congress to replace the late founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

The Supreme Court ruling was followed by the dismissal of four legislators aligned to Chamisa by Douglas Mwonzora who was confirmed as the Secretary-General according to the 2014 status.

The MDC led by Chamisa has come out to say the ruling does not involve them as they formed a new movement named MDC Alliance soon after the July 30 harmonised elections.

But Mawarire felt the name MDC had its own problems that will keep coming and haunting Chamisa.

“Cde,while there is the people’s struggle to defend, there is no party to defend, wake up,smell the coffee & work towards a new instrument under which the people’s struggle can be executed, simple. U can’t continue wearing perfume when in a soiled diaper, get out of it,” said Mawarire while responding to MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende on Twitter.

Hwende is among the four legislators recalled by Mwonzora together with the party chief whips Prosper Mutseyami and Lilian Timveos as well as leader of the opposition in parliament Tabitha Khumalo.

By A Correspondent- An artisanal miner at Gasela homestead in Hope Fountain allegedly fatally axed a colleague following a dispute over money.

This was heard by Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Mjanja on Wednesday when Samson Ncube (29) appeared in his court charged with murder.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to May 20.

The court was told that Andrea Moyo (36), now deceased, and Ncube were employed at Central Sourdale Mine, Douglasdale in Bulawayo.

It is alleged that sometime in April this year, the two had a misunderstanding over sharing money, resulting in a fist-fight.

On May 3, Ncube and Andrea were in the company of five workmates and went to Siphilazima shops to convert US$20 into local currency so that they could share.

Andrea and Future Moyo later returned to the mining site and retired.

Ncube and the four co-workers followed the duo to the mining site. Ncube axed Andrea once on the head, killing him instantly. Future, who was sharing the cabin with the deceased reported the matter to the police, leading to Ncube’s arrest.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Two deportees from Botswana who escaped from Bulawayo Polytechnic isolation centre a few days before the end of their mandatory 21-day quarantine period, have each been fined $800.

The two were part of a group of 456 returnees and deportees who were recently brought from Plumtree High School to provide them with better living conditions and ease crowding.

They were deported through Plumtree Border Post from Botswana where they were staying illegally. The two were arrested while on their way back to Botswana.

Silas Zimunya (44) of Masere Village in Bindura and Moses Gondo (41) of Matapi Flats in Mbare, Harare were convicted by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja on their own plea to violating quarantine regulations. They were fined $800 each or in default three months in jail.

Prosecuting, Mr Patson Muchingani said Zimunya and Gondo were on quarantine at Bulawayo Polytechnic following their deportation from Botswana last month. The court heard that on May 1 at around 8.30AM, the two accused persons connived to escape from the quarantine centre.

They then scaled a precast wall before jumping out of the quarantine centre.

“The two accused persons jumped out of the quarantine centre after climbing the precast wall and escaped,” said Mr Zimunya.

One of the returnees spotted them and alerted a security guard who in turn reported the matter to the police. Police tracked down the two men and arrested them along the Bulawayo-Plumtree road near Bellevue suburb while waiting for transport to Botswana.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance parliamentary caucus is set to meet in Harare on Monday for a crisis meeting to map the way forward following the shock expulsion of four party legislators by the Speaker of Parliament last Tuesday.

The expelled MPs are Charlton Hwende, party secretary-general and Kuwadzana MP; Prosper Mutseyami, Chikanga/Dangamvura; the party’s national chairperson, Thabitha Khumalo; and Senator Lilian Timveous.

This follows a letter that reinstated MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora wrote to Parliament recalling the four legislators.

However, MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka in an interview confirmed that the parliamentary caucus would meet Monday to map the way forward.

“The caucus itself is solid and united behind the people’s President, Nelson Chamisa and I know they (MPs) are meeting Monday to decide on the future of opposition parliamentarians in the National Assembly,” he said.

Tamborinyoka said the party was also in marathon meetings following the expulsion of the MPs with other relevant stakeholders.

“We are engaging everyone, the MPs themselves, and the relevant party organs. I am certain that the MDC Alliance MPs are true party cadres who will not drink from this poisoned Zanu-PF chalice.

“I doubt if there is anyone who will join these Zanu-PF surrogates,” he said dispelling reports that some MPs are willing to dump the MDC Alliance and join the MDC-T to save their political careers.

Senior MDC Alliance officials have described the expulsions of its MPs as part of a broader plot by State President and Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa to destabilise the operations of the main opposition party in Zimbabwe.-Online

By Own Correspondent| World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the novel coronavirus could kill approximately 190 000 people in Africa in a new infections blitz.

This comes when 4 033 286 coronavirus cases including 276 682 deaths and 1 399 898 recoveries have been confirmed globally as of May 09, 2020, 11:22 GMT.

Africa is currently the least affected continent since the emergence of the virus in China in December last year with some attributing the trend to warm weather on the continent.

The virus is however rapidly spreading across the continent and fears abound as Winter is fast approaching.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health Obadiah Moyo told a local publication that the country was on high alert. He said:

“We are on guard, and we are wary of the second phase of Covid-19. There is a high possibility of a second phase called a recurrence. Should people relax, we could have a second phase of the disease and we should thus continue to be on our guard because there are people who are infected who haven’t recovered yet.”

He urged the citizenry to continue wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and high hygiene levels adding that the country cannot afford to relax the current measures now.

Zimbabwe has 35 cases including 4 deaths.-DailyNews

The South African Home Affairs ministry says more than 500 Zimbabweans who are being deported from Lindela repatriation centre will be handed over to Zimbabwean officials at Beit Bridge border post in Musina, Limpopo today.

66 of the 538 being deported are from correctional facilities in Gauteng.

The number is regarded as a drop in an ocean as there are more than 2 million undocumented Zimbabweans living in South Africa.

This comes after some foreign nationals from Lesotho who did not have proper documentation got deported a few days ago.

The home affairs ministry is on a move to de-congest repatriation centres across the nation to mitigate the possible effects of the coronavirus.

Deportations of foreign nationals only seem good on paper as they seem to be on their way back to South Africa as soon as they get deported.

Home affairs ministry is being advised to adapt more advanced technologies such as the fingerprint during the deportation process. This enables them to create a proper database with information on all lawbreakers and deportees so that the banking sector and potential employers will make informed decisions.

Own Correspondent|The European Commission added four African countries to a new list of countries that pose financial risks to the European Union due to anti-money laundering and terrorism financing shortfalls.

The four countries are Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and Zimbabwe. Uganda was already on the list which now has a total of 22 countries. The EU said all countries on the list with the exception of North Korea pledged to change their rules in order to address the problem.

The Commission says more needs to be done to contain the practice of money-laundering in those countries.

According to a document seen by Reuters, the countries on the list “pose significant threats to the financial system of the Union”.

The European Commission on Thursday said that it is looking into the possibility of creating a new authority to tackle financial crime and keep an eye on banks more strictly.

“We need to put an end to dirty money infiltrating our financial system. Today we are further bolstering our defences to fight money laundering and terrorist financing, with a comprehensive and far-reaching Action Plan,” EU Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis said.

The addition of the countries means that companies in any of them are prohibited from receiving new funding from the European Union. The updated list is set to come into force in October this year.

Banks and other financial and tax firms are obligated to inspect more closely their clients who have any dealings with countries on the list, according to EU law.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia and Tunisia have been removed from the list owing to progress they have made in tackling money laundering and terrorism financing.

Transparency International has called for urgent action during the COVID-19 pandemic which could lead to a marked increase in criminal activity involving cross-border financial flows.

Own Correspondent|The MDC Alliance has called for an urgent meeting of all its members of parliamentary on Monday to decide the future of Alliance MPs in the National Assembly.

The meeting comes after the party’s Standing Committee met on Wednesday and resolved to withdraw all its parliamentarians from both houses after four of their colleagues were withdrawn from parliament.

On Tuesday, National Assembly and Senate Speakers, Jacob Mudenda and Mabel Chinomona, respectively, expelled four MDC Alliance MPs, Charlton Hwende, Kuwadzana MP; Prosper Mutseyami, Chikanga/Dangamvura; the party’s national chairperson, Thabitha Khumalo; and Senator Lilian Timveous.

The expulsion followed a letter that reinstated MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora wrote to Parliament recalling the four legislators.

Senior MDC Alliance officials have described the expulsions of its MPs as part of a broader plot by State President and Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa to destabilise the operations of the main opposition party in Zimbabwe.

Party sources though said that the MPs are solid and united behind the party President, Nelson Chamisa.

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has to withdraw her membership to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) as she has not been given the mandate by the party, national chairperson Morgen Komichi has said.

Khupe – who had formed her own MDC-T outfit after falling out with MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa following the death of the opposition party’s founding president Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018, had joined Polad at Mnangagwa’s invitation.

But with the recent Supreme Court ruling dislodging Chamisa and reinstating Khupe as the party’s legitimate leader, Komichi told the Daily News yesterday that she has to seek the MDC-T mandate to remain in Polad.

“What we know is that we are not a member of Polad and Khupe has not been mandated to represent the party. That issue will have to be considered after the extra-ordinary congress if there is need to do so. At the moment, Khupe is not a member of Polad,” Komichi said.

Khupe and her spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni were not available to comment on the matter and were not taking calls yesterday.

This comes as Khupe has been at the forefront in calling on her rival, Chamisa, to join the group and stop demonstrations to avoid his supporters from being beaten up by the police.

She became a member of Polad by virtue of being a presidential candidate for the MDC-T in the 2018 elections, which she lost dismally. Chamisa narrowly lost to Mnangagwa in the same elections.

Chamisa snubbed the call to join Polad, refusing to endorse Mnangagwa whom he accused of rigging the 2018 general elections.

In March, while addressing the media on the sidelines of a Polad meeting,  Khupe also pleaded with the Western countries that have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe to forgive Mnangagwa, who is accused of human rights abuses, give him a second chance, and treat him the way the United States and European countries treated other governments.

“We were still going to engage, to go to the United States to meet those people who actually are involved, but we can’t because of Covid-19, but we are appealing to the Americans to say as Zimbabweans, give us a second chance as a country. Zimbabwe requires assistance; we need a bailout to restart our economy,” Khupe said.

Zimbabwe’s human rights record has seen the country continue to suffer isolation, with Western countries demanding reforms from Mnangagwa before sanctions imposed on the country at the turn of the century can be lifted.

Khupe, who is head of a Polad sub-committee on international re-engagement, said only dialogue can save the MDC from police beatings and arrests.

“I am not saying people should not demonstrate,” Khupe said.
“I am saying people must use demonstrations as a last resort, but now, there is an opportunity for us to come together and dialogue about those same issues our colleagues are raising.

“For me, it is better for us to dialogue than to subject our members to police beatings, police brutality and to arrests because if you do demonstrations, those are the after-effects of demonstrations.”

She added: “If you sit around the table and you dialogue, it is leaders talking to each other to say no, Your Excellency, the route you are taking is not the right one; please take this way.

“For me, I would like to urge all my colleagues to say, for us to avoid these human rights abuses, let us talk to each other instead of doing all these other things.”

Daily News

The famous television whistleblower of the 2008 election rigging, Shepherd Yuda speaks concerning a leak he reports he’s received from military sources on alleged plans by ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

LEAKED – YUDA SPILLS THE BEANS ON MNANGAGWA'S ALLEGED MILITARY PLOT IN MOZAMBIQUE https://t.co/FG98hMkICP

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 8, 2020

If Mnangagwa created Fake Terrorist Gwesela and killed 22,000 people saying army's hunting for him (for a whole 4yrs 1983-87), and then created Fake Polling stations for Filipe Nyusi in Masvingo (in 2019), what stops him from creating Fake Terrorists in Mozambique for pleasure?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 5, 2020

– ORIGINAL ARTICLE –

Terrorists in Mozambique Investigated.

• Fake Pictures.
• Fake Mission.
• Strong Obsession On Zimbabwe, beginning to end
• Fake President.
• Mozambican opposition says it’s the government soldiers killing civilians,

By Simba Chikanza| ANALYSIS | There are digital footprints from within as well as from outside Mozambique that suggest there are some other terrorists currently operating in that country who were created by Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa so he can unleash military rule over the Beira corridor: it’s all about money and getting it by blood. He’s been doing this since 1983. He created Richard Gwesela (who was later killed by a newspaper article, literally), and up to as late as 2018 when we finally witnessed the Terrorist game played before our eyes on LIVE video. It’s a well known game by the politicians and innocent people die.

In recent weeks, we have been told of Christians being killed by so-called Islamic militants in Mozambique. Are they real terrorists and not mere political agents on a special assignment? Let’s hear from the Mozambicans themselves what they are both seeing and saying.

Of the 59 tweets published by ‘the Mozambican Islamic militant group,’ on a Twitter handle, 90% of them are attacking Zimbabwe; their very first one on the 29th April 2020, is a direct message to Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the last one, late Monday evening 9pm, refers to Zimbabwe. Why are these “terrorists” so obsessed with Zimbabwe beginning with their very first tweet?

Of the pictures published of the terrorists lately and on their Twitter account, FranceAlRasa, one is unmasked as a 2015 photo, and the second (used by a South African publication, Daily Maverick, which claims they got it via Telegram from the group last year, has its first citing way back in June 2018 over in Europe, Turkey, nowhere near Africa.

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The Twitter account FranceAlRasa, was created on the 29th April 2020, well in advance of Mnangagwa’s visit there (just a day before).

The correlation of timing as well as the desperation to rebuild the economy using military metal all point to one thing – a brute politician’s methods repeated for over 37 years since the 4th of May 1983.

One possibility – mere malicious intent

One possibility suggests that the Twitter account was created by a merely malicious person who is seeking to agitate war against Emmerson Mnangagwa. This is a very strong likely, and many citizens are known for doing these things in the past as they vent their anger against the government. If this is the case however how did the individual (s) know that Mnangagwa would fly over to Mozambique at the end of the week? The person who did this could thus only be an insider, or at least one possessing insider state-knowledge.

Furthermore if that is true, on Sunday, the nation witnessed ZANU PF’s most prolific pressure group, screaming on social networks that the Zimbabwe National Army must be deployed to Mozambique with immediate effect, today. They said they must do this in order to crush ISIS. They are confident that they will win this war. Very soon ZANU PF will throw a party telling the whole world that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the only politician who can crush ISIS. He has done it in Mozambique! Perfect. We will all believe them, because we did not care to investigate.

And why is ZANU PF suddenly agitated for war?

Does Mozambique have Islamic militants? Who is funding them?

Since Mnangagwa created fake polling stations in Masvingo for Phillip Nyusi 7 months ago, and someone printed fake IDs for scores of Zimbabweans who have never set foot in Mozambique to vote for Nyusi, what is his next move? The current Chairman of the SADC Politics, Defence And Security, is well known for creating terrorists who work for him and his story is documented for a long 37 year period. It brings up the question of what SADC is all about when it appoints someone who has killed more blacks than apartheid South Africa to head its defence and security, but well this is a very very long discussion for another day. A very long one.

Local agencies in Mozambique quote the opposition in that country complaining that the state is murdering civilians.

Mozambique’s interior minister, Amade Miquidade, last month attacked what he described as dis-information spread by independent journalists who are calling into question the credibility of Mozambique’s security forces.

He also blasted Jose Manteigas, a spokesman for Renamo, the main opposition party, who has accused the country’s security forces of “murdering” civilians.

Miquidade said the security forces “will not tolerate these acts of subversion.”

Zitimar news agency, quotes Manteigas alleging that Mozambique’s security forces killed 12 civilians — including two Renamo members — when they attacked boats at jetties on Ibo island in mid-April.

In another report, the interior minister has claimed that security forces have since put the situation in Cabo Delgado under control.

“The situation in Cabo Delgado, at this moment, is under control. What does that mean? We have identified where the enemy is, what are their bases, what are their camps and their movements; while, the defence and security forces are strategically preparing for yet another offensive,” said Miquidade.

Seeing that Mnangagwa is officially assisting Nyusi with political direction, what kind of mentorship is Emmerson Mnangagwa giving the Mozambican leader, a professional one? How is the story unfolding?

So far, the report begins on the 4th May 1983, when Mnangagwa created fake terrorists having abducted and killed 6 western tourists. The victims were: Brett Baldwin, 23, of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Kevin Ellis, 24, of Bellevue, Wash.; Britons James Greenwell and Martyn Hodgeson; and Australians Tony Bajzeli and William Butler.

The Gwesela sequel.

ZIFA’s spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela has in recent days responded to allegations by some quarters in Matebeleland who attack him saying that he is the son of the notorious so called dissident, Ranson or Richard Gwesela, a terrorist Mnangagwa created in the 1980s.

Gwesela is the infamous “immortal” character who the Zimbabwean military claimed they were after between 1983 and 1987 when they continued to kill civilians until more than 22,000 people were massacred. He was immortal for a whole 4 years and only “killed” when ZANU PF now wanted to sign a unity accord with Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU party in 1987.

Thousands of people sensationally flocked to a police station in Gweru on the 18th November 1987 for a glimpse of the bullet-riddled corpse of Zimbabwe’s most wanted “fugitive.”

Zimbabwe Republic Police say Richard Gwesela, a former guerrilla fighter, was a gang leader who terrorized the people of two provinces for four years.

Gwesela was alleged to have murdered 20 people in the Midlands and neighbouring Matabeleland provinces. He also was said to have raped women and robbed villagers.

In silence, onlookers walked past his body sprawled beneath a wanted poster offering $30,000 for him, dead or alive.

The state media said Gwesela was the country’s most wanted man, and was killed in a gunbattle with Zimbabwean security forces near Gweru “on Sunday,” earlier.

His death was reported for the first time three days later, on the Wednesday. There were no independent investigations to confirm the state media report.

His mother and an uncle identified the corpse as Gwesela, and police fingerprints confirmed the identity, according to the state media report.

″Gwesela had killed more than 20 people since he started operating in the area,″ Enos Nkala, home affairs minister in charge of police, told reporters. ″Now he is going to join them, whether in heaven or hell, we don’t know,” he said.

NEW TWIST.

33 years later, some Mthwakazi activists have begun claiming ZIFA’s Gwesela was rewarded the sports job for a sterling role the supposed father played as an insider who staged for Emmerson Mnangagwa during Gukurahundi in order to kill civilians, pursuing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s terror operation to kill people under the guise of flushing out dissidents.

One activist makes the above chilling allegations (pic).

Responding however, ZIFA’s Mr Xolisani Gwesa told ZimEye, the so called Gwesela was not even a real Gwesela.

He said: “This writer is waffling. I am shocked by these ghastly falsehoods.

“I am the son of the late Chief Gwesela whose real name was Cornelius Nobody Gwesela Ndebele who died in 1996.He was never a dissident. The so called “dissident Gwesela” was never a Gwesela and his real name was Zedious Mangena.

“I am holder of a Masters Degree in Media and Society studies, Post grad Diploma in Media , Bsc Honours degree , Diploma in Management and Diploma in Sport Management.

“I have over 15 years experience in media management and sport management and events coordination. I joined Zifa purely on merit.

“The Gweselas are also from Zhombe and not Lower Gweru. The Gweselas are also from Zhombe and not Lower Gweru.”

ZIMBABWE, THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING CROP ECONOMY SUDDENLY CRASHED FOLLOWING MNANGAGWA’S PRONOUNCEMENTS

Rhodesia, was once the worst hit African economy by both United Nations sanctions and a debilitating 14 year running civil war from within, and yet by 1976, it had been hailed as the world’s fastest growing crop economy. So what really went wrong? Soon after 1980, it was handed over to Robert Mugabe and his state security minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, who less than 3 years later launched a military crackdown against civilians who he personally described as cockroaches who must be wiped out using DDT. That operation destroyed the economy in ways exactly similar to the recent 1 Aug 2018 military crackdown (which the Finance Ministry has told The Motlanthe Commission has cost the nation USD16 billion.) Zimbabwe’s economy began crumbling following Mnangagwa’s words on the 4th April 1983:

“Blessed are they who will follow the path of the Government laws, for their days on earth will be increased. But woe unto those who will choose the path of collaboration with dissidents for we will certainly shorten their stay on earth.”

As Minister of State Security, Mnangagwa was in charge of the brutal massacre of more than 22 000 Ndebele. He labeled dissidents ‘cockroaches’ and the killers of the Fifth Brigade army unit as ‘DDT,’ an insecticide.

Economy data shows how the country’s GDP crashed down following the operation, and effects were immediately felt from 1983 all the way to 1985.

Fast forward to the period 2004 – 2018 more evidence shows the correlation between economic performance and the rule of law, specifically human rights adherence.

MNANGAGWA’S METHOD.

But Mnangagwa’s method is different. He operates on the belief that an economy is only built by killing people, and his appetite for shedding blood is evident for 40 years to date during which he has killed more blacks than apartheid South Africa. On the 2nd January, 2020, he told residents of Kuwadzana, Harare that he will send the army after them once he suspects them to have stopped the rain. This came barely 2 years after he deployed the military to change election results and citizens for the first time witnessed soldiers opening fire against shoppers going about the day-to-day business.

What kind of mentorship is Emmerson Mnangagwa giving the Mozambican leader, a professional one?

There is no doubt that Mnangagwa will deny all this evidence even to the Mozambicans. But his file is now full and fat, a whole 37 years full.

If Mnangagwa created Fake Terrorist Gwesela and killed 22,000 people saying army's hunting for him (for a whole 4yrs 1983-87), and then created Fake Polling stations for Filipe Nyusi in Masvingo (in 2019), what stops him from creating Fake Terrorists in Mozambique for pleasure?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 5, 2020