MDC MPs quitting parliament sounds like the juiciest news in ZANU PF’s ears.

An overly excited Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has immediately warned that parliament will quickly invoke the Constitution and Standing Orders to deal decisively with MDC-Alliance legislators who fail to attend parliament sittings.

Ziyambi Ziyambi said Parliament would not deal with political parties, but individual legislators, should they fail to attend sittings and portfolio committee meetings.

Minister Ziyambi’s remarks followed an announcement yesterday by the MDC-Alliance directing its Members of Parliament to “disengage” from the House.

“As Parliament, we do not deal with political parties, but individual MPs when it comes to attendance of sittings and portfolio committee meetings. If a Member of Parliament fails to attend Parliament sittings and portfolio committee meetings the due process will be instituted,” said Minister Ziyambi who is also Leader of Government Business of House.

He said their failure to attend Parliament would not disrupt Parliamentary business given that Zanu PF has a two thirds majority.

Addressing journalists yesterday, MDC-Alliance deputy national chairperson, Mr Job Sikhala said the party’s national standing committee had resolved not to participate in all activities of Parliament by its legislators pending further consultation with a view to withdraw from the august House.

He said the party will not countenance the wishes of individual MPs such as their financial benefits like vehicles and salary.

“This is in the interest of the people and not the interest of individuals,” said Mr Sikhala.

“All MDC-Alliance MPs will forthwith suspend all participation in Parliament and disengage from all platforms in which the party has to interact with Zanu PF pending consultations with the relevant constituencies of the party, that is the electorate and Zimbabweans at large on the decision for a total withdrawal from Parliament.”

Mr Sikhala said Messrs Elias Mudzuri, Morgan Komichi and Mwonzora had “expelled themselves” from the party for working with MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe who was recently declared legitimate leader of the opposition party by the Supreme Court.

Adv Mudenda said he could only comment if the MDC-Alliance had put their concerns in writing.

“They have not yet communicated that to me. In the absence of such communication I cannot comment,” said Adv Mudenda.

The decision to direct legislators from the MDC-Alliance has riled most of them as they risk losing sitting allowances, vehicle and other benefits all legislators are entitled.

Besides risking losing financial benefits, the legislators also face expulsion from Parliament should Mr Mwonzora further wield the axe on errant MPs.

Source: State Media

GOVERNMENT has dismissed as false, reports that Zimbabwe has deployed troops to Mozambique stressing that it will tell the people, as constitutionally required, if forces are sent outside the country.

Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the Government had noted with concern continued false reports claiming that Zimbabwe had deployed its army to fight an Islamic State insurgency in Mozambique.

In a statement, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the deployment of soldiers in foreign countries was governed by the Constitution and members of the public would be told whenever the Government makes such a decision.

“The Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs would like to inform the public that it is not true that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces has deployed troops in Mozambique to fight some armed elements destabilising that country. The deployment allegations are not only outright falsehoods but malicious hence the fake news should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.

Whenever the ZDF is deployed, the population is always informed in accordance with the dictates of the country’s Constitution,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

There have been disturbances in some parts of Mozambique where gruesome acts have been committed by Islamist terrorists.

A fortnight ago President Mnangagwa held a one-day working meeting with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi in Chimoio, where they discussed the security situation in Cabo Delgado and parts of Mozambique’s Manica and Sofala provinces.

The two leaders shared information and exchanged views on the political and economic situation in their two countries, Sadc, Africa and the world at large.-State media

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance national youth leader Tererai Obey Sithole has declared that the vibrant wing is prepared to fight for real change in spite of desperate attempts by Zanu PF to destroy the people’s movement.

See full statement below :
The events that have unraveled in our country over the past month have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that we are at war with ZANU-PF and that the war requires nothing short of our vigilance and clarity to confront the people’s enemy head on.

It has become more clearer that it is ZANUPF’s immediate plan to destroy the our party, the people’s party and consequently suffocating the democratic space in Zimbabwe and this has been further confirmed by the recent illegal recalling of four MDC Alliance MPs.

We would like to state it categorically, here and now that any plans to undermine the very stability of our party will not be taken lightly, we are up for the task to protect all the democratic space.

In that regard, we would like to assure the generality of the citizenry that we the young people, remain resolute in the execution of our democratic revolution for the restoration of hope and dignity to the citizens of this country.

The pregnancy of a cat does not bother a bull, we are MDC Alliance, we are unmoved by the happenings in other parties even those that aspire to be us, we remain solidly behind our visionary leader, the only legitimate foot forward, President Nelson Chamisa.

While others remain busy in planning to destroy us, I urge every young person of this country to get ready, stand up and be counted as we embark on a series of political action in defense of democracy which is under serious threat and the broad implementation of our #Agenda2020.

Zimbabwe has been robbed of almost everything else by the illegitimate Mnangagwa and his cabal, we would like to warn the regime and its enablers that we will defend what is left for us fearlessly by all means necessary.

Stay calm Zimbabwe, Wamba Dia Wamba is in charge and we are on guard.

Obey Sithole
“Cde Luther”
MDC Alliance Youth Chairperson

Farai Dziva|Discredited Zanu PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu has claimed the ruling party has nothing to do with the infighting in the Movement for Democratic Change.

Said Mpofu:
“That’s a recognition that we are the party in power.

We are the party of choice. The MDC is grappling with a decision by the Supreme Court and how Zanu-PF comes into it is something we fail to understand.

We are happy that the law has taken its course, not only to MDC, but in all court cases, as a law abiding party, as a law abiding Government.

So it’s not a question of being happy but respecting the rule of law which they have been talking about themselves and in any case it’s not Zanu-PF that went to court it’s themselves that went to court so the problem there is their own making and Zanu-PF can only say the law has taken its course.”

He added:”They think that by aligning with him Zanu-PF, their supporters will believe that he is Zanu-PF but he is not. But what would you expect from a frustrated and defeated leader?”

Communique from the
National Standing Committee read by MDC national vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala

The National Standing Committee of the MDC -Alliance met in Harare and made the following resolutions:

1. The Standing Committee noted the perverse and insidious attempt by ZANUPF and its proxies to dismember the MDC Alliance by executing a coup against the legitimately elected leadership of the MDC Alliance under the guise of implementing the equally insidious judgement of the Supreme Court which seeks to foist ZANUPF proxies as leaders of the MDC Alliance in brazen violation of the MDC Constitution.
2. The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus shall forthwith suspend its participation in all Parliamentary processes, programmes and activities pending the party’s consultations with its structures and a final resolution of the National Council on the way forward given the ZANUPF insidious attempted coup against the elected and legitimate leadership of the MDC Alliance.
3. The MDC Alliance shall forthwith disengage from all platforms in which the party has to interact with Zanu PF.

4.The Standing Committee noted that Zanu PF staged an illegal and unconstitutional coup against Robert Mugabe in November 2017 and yet another one on the 30th July 2018 against the people’s sovereign will by which the people had elected Nelson Chamisa as the President of the country.

5. The Standing Committee further noted the in progress attempt to stage yet another coup, this time against the leadership of the MDC Alliance duly elected at the party’s Congress in Gweru in May 2019, a Congress which has not been set aside by any Court of law.
6. The Standing Committee resolved to reject in toto and with utter contempt the ZANUPF and its proxies attempt to foist modern day Muzorewas as leaders of the MDC Alliance.

7.The Standing Committee maintains the truism that only the MDC Alliance has the power and authority to recall iMPs elected under its ticket.

8The Standing Committee resolved to urgently consult the structures of the party at Provincial and constituency levels through the National Executive Committee and the National Council on appropriate responses to the attempts to dismember the party by staging a coup against its elected leadership.

9.The MDC Alliance will not allow Zanu PF to hold a Congress under the name of the MDC. Zanu PF cannot write another political party’s constitution and hold a congress under its name.

10.The Standing Committee noted that Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mudzuri expelled themselves from the MDC Alliance by joining another party and thereby automatically expelled themselves from the party which has accordingly resolved to relieve them of their positions in the party and to withdraw them from all positions to which they had been deployed by the party.

11.The Standing Committee resolved to demand all monies due to the MDC Alliance under the Political Parties Finance Act and to take all necessary steps and measures to lain claim to its money.

12.The Covid-19 Supreme Court judgement has engendered an illegality by seeking to extend the mandates of the 2014 structures which had since expired. The terms of office of all 2014 structures expired in October 2019 and the toxic judgement illegally seeks to give a Lazarus moment by seeking to resurrect the expired mandate of the 2014 MDC-T structures.

13
The meeting took note of the COVID19 pandemic and the dislocated livelihoods of the vulnerable and the majority of Zimbabweans who are surviving in the informal sector. The illegitimate regime has provided no safety nets whatsoever to assist the despondent Zimbabweans.

They have instead destroyed the vending stalls where the majority of Zimbabweans are eking a living through informal trading

The Ministry would like to report that all the PCR tests done in and Bulawayo on the 5S of May 2020 were negative for COVID-19.

Cumulatively a total of 8 244 rapid screening tests and 7 808 PCR diagnostic tests have been done to date.

Today 564 rapid screening tests and 667 PCR tests were done.

In the public institutions all the PCR tests done today were negative for COVID-19.

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

The Ministry continues to implement a comprehensive approach in response to COVID-19- this includes prevention and intensified survailance to ensure early case detection timely testing, isolation and appropriate case management.

Seven days have passed since the last reported PCR confirmed case.

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 personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Cover your nose and mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing. ..

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) disinter between yourself and others.

Always wear a face mask in public places.

DARING armed robbers raided a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) container depot in Bulawayo and went away with a consignment of 148 boxes of Broncleer, a cough mixture which was banned over abuse as a euphoric drug.

The total value of the contraband, which includes four cases of gin, is about US$20 000.

The stolen goods believed to have been smuggled from South Africa were confiscated by Zimra on Tuesday and the gang struck at the depot on the same day at around 7.30PM.

The suspects were armed with an FN rifle and they threatened to shoot the security guards who were manning the premises in the event that they raised alarm before tying their hands using a rope.

The suspects whose exact number could not ascertained used bolt cutters to destroy the locks at the main gate to access the premises.

They found four security guards and ordered them to lie down at gunpoint before they tied them and offloaded the impounded goods from the truck.

The contraband, which was concealed under a consignment of groceries, was being transported to Bulawayo in a haulage truck when it was intercepted by police in Esigodini.

The truck was seized and taken to the Zimra container depot at Raylton Industrial Area in Bulawayo.-State media

Watch the live video loading below……

Zanu Pf's Energy Mutodi has suggested that the masses are saying recalled MDC Alliance MPs must be replaced by NOMINEES instead of going for by elections. Should they be replaced by NOMINEES or the electorate mst be given an opportunity to elect new leaders through BY-ELECTIONS?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 7, 2020

Constitutional Law lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku has said that the recalling of four MDC Alliance MPs from Parliament was in accordance with the Constitution.

He said this in remarks on Twitter in response to questions by Open Parly who wanted to know the legality of the move.

Madhuku who was representing Thokozani Khupe in the MDC stewardship case which she eventually won said:

The MPs were recalled in terms of section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution. That section refers to “a political party of which he or she was a member when elected”. Parliament proceeded on the basis that party concerned is the MDC and not MDC ALLIANCE. Only a court can reverse.

His remarks come when MDC members aligned to Nelson Chamisa are saying that the recalling of the legislators is a political move by the ruling ZANU PF.

They said that Thokozani Khupe who was reinstated by the Supreme Court as the leader of the opposition MDC has no authority to “recall legislators who belong to MDC Alliance since she was reinstated as the leader of the MDC-T.”

Douglas Mwonzora, the reinstated MDC-T Secretary-General says the recalled members had “expelled themselves from the MDC-T, the party they belonged to which joined the MDC Alliance in 2018 and for the purposes of that year’s elections,” therefore they had to be recalled.

More: Lovemore Madhuku

Pindula

REGISTRAR General (RG) Clemence Masango will spend another night in police cells awaiting his court appearance this Friday.

Masango was expected to appear in court Thursday but he did not show up amid reports that his docket was still being prepared by police investigating officers.

The RG was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Wednesday on allegations of flouting tender procedures.

ZACC spokesperson John Makamure said he is facing two counts of abuse of public office and flouting tender procedures.

Makamure claimed in the first count, Masango purchased Ford Ranger Wilde truck and five Isuzu trucks without authority and following tender procedures.

“The value of Wilde Track is valued at US$78 000 while Isuzu pickup trucks are at US$95 000,” said Makamure.

On the second count, the former high ranking police officer is accused of abusing his office by diverting seven vehicles meant for use at the Registrar’s district offices for personal use at his farm and house.

State run Herald Deputy Editor Ranga Mataire (RM) spoke to MDC-T secretary-general Senator Douglas Mwonzora (DM) on the reasons behind the recall of four MDC legislators and the way forward on leadership wrangles that threaten to decimate the opposition political party.

Mwonzora said party leader Nelson Chamisa disrespected them leading to the move to recall the MPs.

Read the interview below.

RM: Mr Mwonzora, I understand you are a signatory to a letter to the Speaker of Parliament requesting the recalling of four MDC-T legislators. What informed this decision?
DM: Basically, the four are senior members who ought to have acted responsibly in the discharge of their duties, particularly after the Supreme Court ruling, which directed that we revert to the 2014 structures.

RM: Have you tried yourself or as a group to engage Mr Chamisa after the Supreme Court ruling?
DM: Yes, we did through Honourable Elias Mudzuri. He tried to set an appointment with Advocate Chamisa. He was not forthcoming and we sense that he did not have enough respect for us. Maybe he thought that we don’t matter.

But as I said before, our aim is never to divide the party, but to have a responsible leadership. If you can see; Adv Chamisa has not commented for one month. He has not commented on the Supreme Court decision and we think that he has commented via his deputy presidents and other party officials who were just dismissive.

All they would say is that anybody speaking a different opinion was a ZANU PF agent. That’s their standard answer. Anybody who differs with them is ZANU PF and is supposed to have been bought. Sometimes they even volunteer figures. This is their trademark and its tragic. These are young people and they ought to do things in a modern way.

RM: When you say “us” and “them”, who are you referring to?
DM: The party, the majority is us. The people who are saying let’s follow the law; let’s follow values, let us be a party of discipline, let’s follow our own constitution and let us be a party of rules. It is critically important. I heard someone saying that why should we worry about the constitution and what does it help?

The world’s biggest economy is the United States economy and that country’s economy is predicated on its strong constitution and the respect for that constitution. If you have respect for constitution, you will then have respect for institutions and a country with strong and inclusive institutions has been shown by empirical evidence to develop faster.

Even in commerce, we must have rules otherwise we have corruption and clientelism setting in.

Constitutionalism is critically important. People who meet in a particular political party are not necessarily friends. They are united by certain values. A political party must be known for something. It must be known to represent something. Does it represent democracy? Does it represent nationalism? Does it represent anarchy? Where we were going was anarchy.

RM: How do you respond to the accusation that what is happening has happened before and you are a divisive element sent by ZANU PF to destroy the MDC? Others are saying Mr Chamisa will remain the MDC-T leader in the court of public opinion despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.
DM: Well, what has happened has not happened before. Definitely not. This is very unique. This is a division caused by a court judgment. And the difference between all the court judgments in the past, for example, the court judgment versus President Mnangagwa. It was a court judgment versus an external person.

In this court case, it was an MDC’s Elias Mashavira who is the organising secretary in Gokwe versus the MDC president. So it was MDC versus MDC. It was an internal dispute that spilled onto the public arena.

Once you have an internal dispute between yourselves and is resolved by the highest court in the land, you have to obey it because if you don’t, when that dispute comes back home, it doesn’t go away. That’s why some of us were saying we must follow the ruling.

So the basis for the division is between anarchy and lawfulness. It is a moral issue. It is not always true that there was a problem of Biti and Tsvangirai and the former lost in the court of public opinion and there was a problem between Welshman and Tsvangirai and again Welshman lost in the court of public opinion.

Therefore, if there is a conflict between Chamisa and Komichi or Chamisa and Mwonzora then the court of public opinion will be in Chamisa’s favour.

History will show that this is too early for people to write off other people. Nelson Chamisa is certainly not Tsvangirai and the disputes are different. The worrying thing is that instead of listening to one another to say what exactly is the issue, people rush to say you have been bought by ZANU PF and that I am sponsored.

I can’t be sponsored by ZANU-PF. I have been a lawyer for almost 30 years and in those years I have attempted three times to write the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I failed on two occasions, but on the third occasion together with others, I succeeded. My passion is constitutionalism. It is order, it is against anarchy.

RM: Assuming that we have by-elections for the seats left vacant by the recalled MPs, how do you foresee the candidates in terms of their representations?
DM: These will be by-elections you have never seen before. I am sure you have seen the number of people in the provinces writing statements in support of the court judgments. There have been statements from youths in Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland Central, women in Mashonaland East, youths in Harare and I am told that the South African province has also issued a statement. This is unprecedented in the history of the movement and leaders must begin to listen.

RM: But Mr Mwonzora, I don’t remember any youths in Harare issuing a statement in support of the Supreme Court ruling.
DM: Yes, through Paul Gorekore, he issued a statement a few days ago and I can send you a copy.

RM: So Mr Mwonzora, you are saying we don’t anticipate to have more MPs  recalled? The ones who were recalled were the ones who had acted irresponsibly as leaders.
DM: Not only that. They actually did something that was positively wrong. Besides being in authority, they actually acted in a manner that invited the recall. For example, Mr Hwende tweeted that he was no longer a member of the MDC that was once led by Tsvangirai.

That was a positive act and that is a statement we can never allow. First of all, it is factually incorrect and secondly, it is politically incorrect.

RM: Lastly, how far have you gone with preparations for the extraordinary congress?
DM: The preparations are going on very well. We have been reconstructing the structures because there was a lack of cooperation on the part of the immediate past administration.

They were refusing to give us information of the people. But we are now in communication with these people. We have, of course, been disturbed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which makes certain organisation methods not appropriate.

For example, we are going to have our national council meeting online on Friday. And then after that we will find ways of getting to the delegates without jeopardising their health and our technical team is looking at all this. On Friday, we will be announcing the date of the congress and unveiling the rules concerning the nomination of the candidates. Our hope is that if we get one candidate nominated unopposed, then there may not be need for a bigger gathering.

Once a candidate has been nominated unopposed, then they are automatically elected unopposed.

RM: Then how do you hope to resolve the issue of the party headquarters currently occupied by the faction aligned to Mr Chamisa?
DM: We have said to the people who were occupying the building that they should hand it over, but they have not done so.

In fact, they have been promising a bloodbath. I am told there are about 30 youths holed inside there with all manner of crude weapons to do harm to anybody who comes. Now, that is something we cannot accept. We are trying to use dialogue and persuasion for them to see sense and do what is right. The long and short of it is that we will have the building.

The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus will forthwith suspend its participation in all Parliamentary processes, programmes and activities pending the party’s consultations with its structures.

This was said by the party’s national vice chairperson Job Sikhala during a media briefing in Harare on Thursday.

Meantime BREAKING NEWS is that an attempt by Douglas Mwonzora to take over the party headquarters MRT House with the help of the police has failed.

10 ZRP Police allegedly stormed MRT House accompanied by Rhino Mashaya. They had come to effect a letter from Mwonzora instructing the security team to hand over keys to Mashaya and Crew.

Follow our live discussion on these issues on the video downloading below:

2/ The political parties in this country have perception challenges. People have lost confidence in political parties. I see an influx of Independent legislators, especially in areas where the elected are popular & serve the people.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

4/ The only safe person in Parly is myself, an Independent as I cannot be recalled by anybody, I can only recall myself. Once people understand what being Independent means, the number of Independent MPs is likely to increase. The way to go is Independence.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

6/ It’s important to realise the true extent & depth of people’s despondency. The by-elections will illustrate whether people are for @nelsonchamisa or not. Will the numbers emerging be more or less?

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

8/ Chamisa must now prove his mettle as a true brand, the so called two million people that followed him must now come through. Unfortunately most Presidential voters, don’t belong to political parties, this fact usually emerges during an election.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

10/ The real issue here is @ZANUPF_Official can’t celebrate too soon. Political parties must stop seizing opportunities through other parties by negative means. ZANU-PF at times acts like an opposition party not the governing party.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

12/ I don’t think they will though. If they were well organised, they could do a lot that would be difficult to amend in the future. However history will show that there are many constitutional amendments that have never seen the light of day due to the lack of organisation

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

14/MDC are confused, this will be a test. If they really believe in their vision & leader Chamisa, resigning en masse isn’t an option. The trouble with Zim politics is the politicians are not wealthy. After vacating their office as a legislator they’ve no other means of income.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

16/ Ultimately @nelsonchamisa will know who’s for him & who’s not, an important lesson to go through in life. When I was persecuted by the RGM/Chihuri regime, I knew who was for me & who wasn’t, I knew who was powerful & who wasn’t; but ultimately God was forever there.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

18/ Politics is about being on the ground for people, not just appearing in Parly. Sitting in Parly is a fraction of what’s needed to be done as a politician, the rest is on the ground with the people.

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

20/ I look forward to their comeback as we need a strong opposition in this country to keep the ruling party on their toes. MDC needs to put its house in order as there was a cocktail of bananas, apples, oranges etc they need to separate themselves&understand who they really are

— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) May 7, 2020

A total of 164 citizens who were in mandatory quarantine at the United College of Education(UCE) were discharged today. We sincerely apologise to those that ended up staying for a longer time than scheduled whilst waiting for their #Covid19Zim test results.

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) May 7, 2020

A total of 328 zimbabweans based in SA have been cleared for self repatriation via Beitbridge Border Post pic.twitter.com/CUVxUR1p5w

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 7, 2020

The Botswana Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation has released a press statement that the Government of the Republic of Botswana, and the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, will embark on another joint voluntary repatriation exercise to aid Zimbabwean nationals who have requested to be assisted to return home. 

According to the Botswana MinistryThe exercise will be conducted from 6th to 8th May 2020. 

The ministry said the repatriation will be by road and Zimbabwean authorities will receive the returnees at the Ramokgwebana Border Post as was the case with the recent voluntary repatriation exercise conducted on 16th April 2020.

The two Governments recognise the current challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching adverse impact on livelihoods, and are therefore committed to work closely together on the voluntary repatriation of Zimbabwean nationals as and when required. The two Governments are also committed to ensure the safe and humane repatriation of the concerned nationals. 

The Ministry further also clarify that in addition to the Government of Zimbabwe, the Government of Botswana continues to collaborate with other governments to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of their citizens from Botswana.

State institutions are being abused to destroy the opposition, using and abusing the instruments of the State. Nobody who works with the regime against the people will ever succeed. The will of the people will ever triumph. @JobSikhala1 @mdczimbabwe pic.twitter.com/iuollqXXEx

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 7, 2020

Communiqué  and Resolutions of the MDC National Standing Committee
Held on Wednesday 6th May 2020

PreambleNoting with regret and sadness, the sharp rise in contradictions within the State, the lack of political cohesion, the serious closure of political spaceparticularly the overt use of the Covid -19 pandemic to suppress and repress the citizens, the continued monopolisation of media spaces and the
broken down social contract. 
Further noting the massive increase in corruption and arbitrage, and vested self interest, in every sector of the economy including command
agriculture, fuel, Covid-19 donations, procurement and commodities. 
LOCATING Zimbabwe’s multiple faceted crisis, to the unresolved crisis of legitimacy, and the stolen election of July 2018.

REALIZING that the Lockdown has been abused to lock down only the people and the MDC Alliance and to further ambush the people with the
Supreme Court judgement and recalling of People’s MPs.
Concerned that the concerted attacks and desperate measure unleashed by the State, Zanu Pf and Mr Mnangagwa on the MDC Alliance.

Further concerned by the regime’s obsession with the MDC Alliance at the time when the country faces unprecedented multiple crisis including aneconomic meltdown, Covid-19, hunger and starvation.
Further concerned by the brazen capture and use of State institutions to further undemocratic power retention agendas of Mr Mnangagwa and his
illegitimate cronies.
CONVINCED that what is being witnessed is a war by Mnangagwa and ZANU PF through proxies against the MDC Alliance having not forgiven the partyfor defeating him in the 2018 general elections. The end game is to totally annihilate the opposition and establish a one party state.
Further Convinced that the biggest ‘crime’ that MDC Alliance and its candidates committed was to garner over 2 million votes in the last Presidentialelections; which is a serious threat to the system and reason for this frantic efforts to destroy or eliminate the MDC Alliance.
AWARE that:
They wanted MDC Alliance to join POLAD.
They wanted MDC Alliance President to accept to be Leader of Opposition in Parliament.
They wanted MDC Alliance to accept the stolen election outcome.
They want to tell MDC Alliance who to partner and how to oppose.
They wanted MDC Alliance Mps to recognize Emmerson Mnangagwa as legitimate President of Zimbabwe after the stolen and disputed 2018 general
election.
THEREFORE, in this context, the National Standing Committee of the MDC Alliance met today in Harare and made the following resolutions

(1) Supreme Court judgement

(i) The NSC noted the judgement of the Supreme court that ws handed down on the 30th March 2020 in the matter of MDC Case No SC56/2020.
The NSC categorically restates that , the party , the MDC Alliance was not a party to this litigation.
(ii) The NCS restate that a political party is a voluntary organisation of willing people and the MDC Alliance, was created through the voluntary
agency of the Zimbabwean People whose right to form a political organisation is protected by the constitution of Zimbabwe and cannot be interfered
by any power or authority.
(iii) The NSC noted the undisputable legal fact that the MDC Alliance is a separate legal entity from the MDC-T and participated in the election of
July 2018as MDC Alliance and that same entity held its congress in May 2019 as MDC Alliance.
(iv) The NSC restates that any attempt to infringe or impinge on the existence of the MDC Alliance is an assault on the Constitutional right of the
same.
(v) The Supreme Court judgement has engendered illegalities and created unconstitutional outcomes which include the following,

• extending the terms of office of the 2014 structures which were elected in October 2014 with the terms therefore expiring in October 2019.
• The judgment also conflates three different organisations the MDC, the MDC-T and the MDC Alliance (the latter two which competed against

           each other in the 2018 election).

• Ignoring the juridical fact of the MDC Alliance being established by virtue of participation in the 2018 elections.
• Ignoring the juridical act of the MDC Alliance congress of May 2019.

(2) The recall of MDC Alliance members of Parliament

(i) The NSC notes that a separate independent the MDC Alliance participated in the election of July 2018.

(ii) That being so, the NSC condemns as wrong and false, the decision taken by the Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Senator in
recalling 4 members of Parliament namely, Our Chair Thabitha Khumalo, Our secretary general Chalton Hwende, Lillian Timveous, and Prosper
Mutseyami.
(iii) Only the MDC Alliance has the power to recall its MPs. No-one else has the mandate to do that except only the MDC Alliance.

(3)  The position of MDC Alliance in Parliament

(i) Pursuant to the above, the NSC resolved that with immediate effect the MDC Alliance suspends the membership in parliament by its members of
Parliament pending consultation with the electorate and other stakeholders on the way forward.
(ii) For the avoidance of doubt this means that no MDC member shall attend any parliamentary committee or the sitting of parliament or any official
business of parliament until such time as a decision is made.
(4) The Protection of the Struggle

(i) The MDC Alliance has noted that Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mudzuri have decided to cooperate with Zanu PF and the state.They therefore have expelled themselves from the MDC Alliance and are forthwith relieved of their positions and membership in the party. They are
further withdrawn from all positions to which they had been deployed by the party. Replacements have been made and shall be announced in duecourse. 
(ii) The party resolved to take all the necessary steps to recover all the gains of the peoples’ democratic struggle.

(iii) The Standing Committee noted the perverse and insidious attempt by Zanu PF and its proxies to dismember the MDC Alliance by executing a
coup against the legitimately elected leadership of the MDC Alliance under the guise of implementing the equally insidious judgement of the SupremeCourt which seeks to foist Zanu PF proxies as leaders of the MDC Alliance in brazen violation of the MDC Constitution.

(iv) The MDC Alliance will not accept the holding of a Zanu PF organized extra-ordinary congress in the MDC. Zanu PF cannot write another political
party’s constitution and hold a congress on its behalf to impose a puppet leadership. 

(5)On Covid-19

(i) The National Standing Committee took note of the COVID19 pandemic and the dislocated livelihoods of the vulnerable and the majority ofZimbabweans who are surviving in the informal sector.
(ii) The illegitimate regime has provided no safety nets whatsoever to assist the despondent Zimbabweans. They have instead destroyed the vending
stalls where the majority of Zimbabweans are seeking a living through informal trading
(iii) Pursuant to our Agenda 2020 program of action, we put forward the five fights that we, the people of Zimbabwe must pursue this year. They are as
follows;
• The fight for a people’s government, reforms and return to legitimacy.
• The fight for a better life, dignity and livelihoods.
• The fight against corruption.
• The fight for rights, freedoms, security of persons and rule of law.
• The fight in defence of the constitution and constitutionalism.

We now call upon the people of Zimbabwe to build a broad consensus and united front of all progressive citizens to address the national crisis.

By A Correspondent- Deputy Government Spokesperson Energy Mutodi has alleged that opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa faces arrest over misappropriation of party funds.

Mutodi alleged that about 40 MDC Members of Parliament have refused to accept a directive by the Party’s Standing committee to withdraw their participation in parliamentary activities.

Said Mutodi:

“Commotion in MDC-Alliance as over 40 MDCT legislators disagree with decision to withdraw from Parliament. Chamisa also faces arrest for misappropriating party funds.”

On Thursday the main opposition party announced that the MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus shall forthwith suspend its participation in all Parliamentary processes, programmes and activities pending the party’s consultations with its structures and a final resolution of the National Council on the way forward given the ZANUPF insidious attempted coup against the elected and legitimate leadership of the MDC Alliance.

Addressing the media, Sikhala said the decision was made by the party’s National Standing Committee at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday following the recall of three legislators by Mwonzora and his team.

Said Sikhala:

“Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora & Elias Mudzuri have expelled themselves from the party on account of their decision to work with ZANU PF. They are no longer members of the MDCA. Their replacements shall be announced in due course.”

Watch the live video loading below for a full text of this resolution……..

State institutions are being abused to destroy the opposition, using and abusing the instruments of the State. Nobody who works with the regime against the people will ever succeed. The will of the people will ever triumph. @JobSikhala1 @mdczimbabwe pic.twitter.com/iuollqXXEx

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 7, 2020

Communiqué and Resolutions of the MDC National Standing Committee
Held on Wednesday 6th May 2020

Preamble

Noting with regret and sadness, the sharp rise in contradictions within the State, the lack of political cohesion, the serious closure of political space particularly the overt use of the Covid -19 pandemic to suppress and repress the citizens, the continued monopolisation of media spaces and the broken down social contract.

Further noting the massive increase in corruption and arbitrage, and vested self interest, in every sector of the economy including command agriculture, fuel, Covid-19 donations, procurement and commodities.

LOCATING Zimbabwe’s multiple faceted crisis, to the unresolved crisis of legitimacy, and the stolen election of July 2018.

REALIZING that the Lockdown has been abused to lock down only the people and the MDC Alliance and to further ambush the people with the Supreme Court judgement and recalling of People’s MPs.

Concerned that the concerted attacks and desperate measure unleashed by the State, Zanu Pf and Mr Mnangagwa on the MDC Alliance.

Further concerned by the regime’s obsession with the MDC Alliance at the time when the country faces unprecedented multiple crisis including an economic meltdown, Covid-19, hunger and starvation.

Further concerned by the brazen capture and use of State institutions to further undemocratic power retention agendas of Mr Mnangagwa and his illegitimate cronies.

CONVINCED that what is being witnessed is a war by Mnangagwa and ZANU PF through proxies against the MDC Alliance having not forgiven the party for defeating him in the 2018 general elections. The end game is to totally annihilate the opposition and establish a one party state.

Further Convinced that the biggest ‘crime’ that MDC Alliance and its candidates committed was to garner over 2 million votes in the last presidential elections; which is a serious threat to the system and reason for this frantic efforts to destroy or eliminate the MDC Alliance.

AWARE that:
-They wanted MDC Alliance to join POLAD.
-They wanted MDC Alliance President to accept to be Leader of Opposition in Parliament.
-They wanted MDC Alliance to accept the stolen election outcome.
-They want to tell MDC Alliance who to partner and how to oppose.
-They wanted MDC Alliance Mps to recognize Emmerson Mnangagwa as legitimate President of -Zimbabwe after the stolen and disputed 2018 general election.

THEREFORE, in this context, the National Standing Committee of the MDC Alliance met in Harare and made the following resolutions

(1) Supreme Court judgement

(i) The NSC noted the judgement of the Supreme court that ws handed down on the 30th March 2020 in the matter of MDC Case No SC56/2020. The NSC categorically restates that , the party , the MDC Alliance was not a party to this litigation.

(ii) The NCS restate that a political party is a voluntary organisation of willing people and the MDC Alliance, was created through the voluntary agency of the Zimbabwean People whose right to form a political organisation is protected by the constitution of Zimbabwe and cannot be interfered by any power or authority.

(iii) The NSC noted the undisputable legal fact that the MDC Alliance is a separate legal entity from the MDC-T and participated in the election of July 2018 as MDC Alliance and that same entity held its congress in May 2019 as MDC Alliance.

(iv) The NSC restates that any attempt to infringe or impinge on the existence of the MDC Alliance is an assault on the Constitutional right of the same.

(v) The Supreme Court judgement has engendered illegalities and created unconstitutional outcomes which include the following,

• extending the terms of office of the 2014 structures which were elected in October 2014 with the terms therefore expiring in October 2019.
• The judgment also conflates three different organisations the MDC, the MDC-T and the MDC Alliance (the latter two which competed against each other in the 2018 election).
• Ignoring the juridical fact of the MDC Alliance being established by virtue of participation in the 2018 elections.
• Ignoring the juridical act of the MDC Alliance congress of May 2019.

(2) The recall of MDC Alliance members of Parliament

(i) The NSC notes that a separate independent the MDC Alliance participated in the election of July 2018.

(ii) That being so, the NSC condemns as wrong and false, the decision taken by the Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Senator in recalling 4 members of Parliament namely, Our Chair Thabitha Khumalo, Our secretary general Chalton Hwende, Lillian Timveous, and Prosper Mutseyami.

(iii) Only the MDC Alliance has the power to recall its MPs. No-one else has the mandate to do that except only the MDC Alliance.

(3) The position of MDC Alliance in Parliament

(i) Pursuant to the above, the NSC resolved that with immediate effect the MDC Alliance suspends the membership in parliament by its members of Parliament pending consultation with the electorate and other stakeholders on the way forward.

(ii) For the avoidance of doubt this means that no MDC member shall attend any parliamentary committee or the sitting of parliament or any official business of parliament until such time as a decision is made.

(4) The Protection of the Struggle

(i) The MDC Alliance has noted that Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mudzuri have decided to cooperate with ZANU PF and the state. They therefore have expelled themselves from the MDC Alliance and are forthwith relieved of their positions and membership in the party. They are further withdrawn from all positions to which they had been deployed by the party. Replacements have been made and shall be announced in due course.

(ii) The party resolved to take all the necessary steps to recover all the gains of the peoples’ democratic struggle.

(iii) The Standing Committee noted the perverse and insidious attempt by ZANU-PF and its proxies to dismember the MDC Alliance by executing a coup against the legitimately elected leadership of the MDC Alliance under the guise of implementing the equally insidious judgement of the Supreme Court which seeks to foist ZANUPF proxies as leaders of the MDC Alliance in brazen violation of the MDC Constitution.

(iv) The MDC Alliance will not accept the holding of a ZANU PF organized extra-ordinary congress in the MDC. ZANU PF cannot write another political party’s constitution and hold a congress on its behalf to impose a puppet leadership.

(5) On Covid-19

(i) The National Standing Committee took note of the COVID19 pandemic and the dislocated livelihoods of the vulnerable and the majority of Zimbabweans who are surviving in the informal sector.

(ii) The illegitimate regime has provided no safety nets whatsoever to assist the despondent Zimbabweans. They have instead destroyed the vending stalls where the majority of Zimbabweans are seeking a living through informal trading

(iii) Pursuant to our Agenda 2020 program of action, we put forward the five fights that we, the people of Zimbabwe must pursue this year. They are as follows;

• The fight for a people’s government, reforms and return to legitimacy.
• The fight for a better life, dignity and livelihoods.
• The fight against corruption.
• The fight for rights, freedoms, security of persons and rule of law.
• The fight in defence of the constitution and constitutionalism.

We now call upon the people of Zimbabwe to build a broad consensus and united front of all progressive citizens to address the national crisis.

Thank You

Former cabinet minister Walter Mzembi, fresh from selling his Vainona house to fund his People’s Party’s activities, has resigned from the same, along with his deputy, Dr Godfrey Gandawa.

The two quit their positions as party president and deputy, respectively.

The resignations come a few days after Zanu PF’s Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena alleged that Walter Mzembi received US$1 million from a  local businessman.

The sensational allegation which generated a lot of spark on social media platform Twitter, has been the source of contradictions as party members were throwing insults at the party leadership.

In their resignation letter, which they jointly signed, Mzembi and Gandawa cite failure to resolve internal contradictions.

“Having failed to resolve internal contradictions that have recently bedevilled the People’s Party, we have reached a decision together with my deputy, Dr Godfrey Gandawa, to step down from our positions in the interest of the party.”

“The party was started with the sole objective of facilitating democratic change in Zimbabwe, and that sacrosanct goal remains bigger than any individual, including those occupying the Presidency.

In that vein, we have decided to hand over control of the party to Secretary-General Lloyd Msipa. We wish the party good success in its democratic endeavour,” the two added.

The decision to dump the financially crippled party also follows squabbles which sucked in the party’s treasurer-general Agrippa Bopela Masiyakurima who has been firing members on social media.

Lloyd Msipa who assumed leadership of the party was ostensibly fired by Masiyakurima on allegations of bringing the party into disrepute.

The People’s Party, freshly minted this year, has been struggling to stay bouyant in the political waters of Zimbabwe.

Both Mzembi and Gandawa are former cabinet ministers in the late deposed President Robert Mugabe’s administration.

-Online

Farai Dziva|Discredited Zanu PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu has claimed the ruling party has nothing to do with the infighting in the Movement for Democratic Change.

Said Mpofu:
“That’s a recognition that we are the party in power.

We are the party of choice. The MDC is grappling with a decision by the Supreme Court and how Zanu-PF comes into it is something we fail to understand.

We are happy that the law has taken its course, not only to MDC, but in all court cases, as a law abiding party, as a law abiding Government.

So it’s not a question of being happy but respecting the rule of law which they have been talking about themselves and in any case it’s not Zanu-PF that went to court it’s themselves that went to court so the problem there is their own making and Zanu-PF can only say the law has taken its course.”

He added:”They think that by aligning with him Zanu-PF, their supporters will believe that he is Zanu-PF but he is not. But what would you expect from a frustrated and defeated leader?”

By A Correspondent- The announcement was made by the party’s deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala Thursday.

Addressing the media, Sikhala said the decision was made by the party’s National Standing Committee at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday following the recall of three legislators by Mwonzora and his team.

Said Sikhala:

“Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora & Elias Mudzuri have expelled themselves from the party on account of their decision to work with ZANU PF. They are no longer members of the MDCA. Their replacements shall be announced in due course.”

Watch the live video loading below for a full text of this resolution……..

By A Correspondent- A total of 328 Zimbabweans based in SouthAfrica have been cleared for self-repatriation via Beitbridge Border Post with the first group expected to arriving from Cape Town in two buses today, ZimEye has been reliably informed.

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

By Jane Mlambo| Chipinge’s Musikavanhu legislator Joshua Murire has refused to complete a clinic project initiated by former area parliamentarian Prosper Mutseyami saying it is not part of the programme he sold to the constituency in the run up to the 30 July 2018 polls.

In a chat leaked to ZimEye, Murire was asked by one resident to complete the clinic to save one of the Musikavanhu constituency’s Mbeure community from walking long distance to access health care at Rimbi Growth Point.

Mutseyami, from the MDC Alliance moved to Dangamvura constituency before completing the clinic project which is at roofing stage.

The clinic was constructed using Constituency Development Fund and the communities felt the current legislator could as well finish it off but Murire showed them that he does not want to associate himself with Mutseyami’s projects.

Below are the chats…

[18:22, 5/6/2020] Shingai Gapara: He is former mp for musikavanhu .
[21:57, 5/6/2020] General Batsi: Tokumbirawozve MP mutipedzisirewo clinic yepaMbeure yakatangwa ndi MP Mutseyami .
It is good for continuity and development purposes.
[22:01, 5/6/2020] Shingai Gapara: Munoti former
[22:10, 5/6/2020] General Batsi: Noted hwevr the point is on the clinic
[22:37, 5/6/2020] Dr Joshua Murire: I was not elected to finish mutseyami’s unfinished business. I sold my programme to the people of musikavanhu and they bought it so it is the one I will live up to.
[22:38, 5/6/2020] Shingai Gapara: Maida kuitwa Sara pavana kkkkkk
[22:38, 5/6/2020] Dr Joshua Murire: Kkkk
[22:40, 5/6/2020] Dr Joshua Murire: I wish to advise members that I am currently out of the constituency. I am in Harare attending to my brother who is critically ill. I hope to be back at work in the constituency by Friday.
[07:45, 5/7/2020] General Batsi: While I respect your opinion Honourable but is it not good and honourable enough to do what is good for the community. Is there anything wrong with completing the clinic. Imagine the distance between Kondo clinic and Rimbi clinic. The idea of having a clinic at Mbeure is a very noble one. Aisi nyaya yembiri yekuti zvakatangwa ndiyani, the issue is about a medical facility which will help vana, vabereki harahwa nechembere munharaunda. Vanhu vofa ere veitikida mumango Dhumisai to Kondo or from Mbeure to Rimbi and leaving a near complete structure to collapse. It is ant-progress in my opinion kukorera kuita continuity of projects that benefit the community. Tinokumbirawo Honourable Murire mutidetsere kuti clinic ipere vanhu vadetsereke
[08:12, 5/7/2020] Dr Joshua Murire: My friend I have a mandate to discharge and this is exactly what I am going to do not to forward mutseyami’s agenda. If the issue is about the community’ need for a clinic then that what I pursue. As to whether it was started by mutseyami let that remain a quotation in your hear and not to be shared with me for inclusion in my election agenda. I suppose you hear me loud and clear

Communique from the
National Standing Committee read by MDC national vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala

The National Standing Committee of the MDC -Alliance met in Harare and made the following resolutions:

1. The Standing Committee noted the perverse and insidious attempt by ZANUPF and its proxies to dismember the MDC Alliance by executing a coup against the legitimately elected leadership of the MDC Alliance under the guise of implementing the equally insidious judgement of the Supreme Court which seeks to foist ZANUPF proxies as leaders of the MDC Alliance in brazen violation of the MDC Constitution.
2. The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus shall forthwith suspend its participation in all Parliamentary processes, programmes and activities pending the party’s consultations with its structures and a final resolution of the National Council on the way forward given the ZANUPF insidious attempted coup against the elected and legitimate leadership of the MDC Alliance.
3. The MDC Alliance shall forthwith disengage from all platforms in which the party has to interact with Zanu PF.

4.The Standing Committee noted that Zanu PF staged an illegal and unconstitutional coup against Robert Mugabe in November 2017 and yet another one on the 30th July 2018 against the people’s sovereign will by which the people had elected Nelson Chamisa as the President of the country.

5. The Standing Committee further noted the in progress attempt to stage yet another coup, this time against the leadership of the MDC Alliance duly elected at the party’s Congress in Gweru in May 2019, a Congress which has not been set aside by any Court of law.
6. The Standing Committee resolved to reject in toto and with utter contempt the ZANUPF and its proxies attempt to foist modern day Muzorewas as leaders of the MDC Alliance.

7.The Standing Committee maintains the truism that only the MDC Alliance has the power and authority to recall iMPs elected under its ticket.

8The Standing Committee resolved to urgently consult the structures of the party at Provincial and constituency levels through the National Executive Committee and the National Council on appropriate responses to the attempts to dismember the party by staging a coup against its elected leadership.

9.The MDC Alliance will not allow Zanu PF to hold a Congress under the name of the MDC. Zanu PF cannot write another political party’s constitution and hold a congress under its name.

10.The Standing Committee noted that Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mudzuri expelled themselves from the MDC Alliance by joining another party and thereby automatically expelled themselves from the party which has accordingly resolved to relieve them of their positions in the party and to withdraw them from all positions to which they had been deployed by the party.

11.The Standing Committee resolved to demand all monies due to the MDC Alliance under the Political Parties Finance Act and to take all necessary steps and measures to lain claim to its money.

12.The Covid-19 Supreme Court judgement has engendered an illegality by seeking to extend the mandates of the 2014 structures which had since expired. The terms of office of all 2014 structures expired in October 2019 and the toxic judgement illegally seeks to give a Lazarus moment by seeking to resurrect the expired mandate of the 2014 MDC-T structures.

13
The meeting took note of the COVID19 pandemic and the dislocated livelihoods of the vulnerable and the majority of Zimbabweans who are surviving in the informal sector. The illegitimate regime has provided no safety nets whatsoever to assist the despondent Zimbabweans.

They have instead destroyed the vending stalls where the majority of Zimbabweans are eking a living through informal trading

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

People working in the informal sector say that they are struggling to make ends meet during the lockdown period where modalities for them to begin operating again in safe environments have still not been crafted.

Government extended the lockdown, but eased some of the restrictions to allow people in formal employment to go back to work, keeping the informal sector on ice as a measures to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, Cosmas Sithole, a vendor who sells roasted maize in central Harare, said life has been tough for him and his family since the lockdown came into force on March 30.

“I used to operate from the Avenues area in the evenings — targeting workers that will be returning home after a long day of work and the sales were very good. I would make around $350 on a good day after selling about 50 roasted cobs at $7 each,” Sithole said.

“This enabled me to pay rent and buy food as well as send my two children to school.”
Sithole said while he made good money, his informal business depended on the availability of fresh maize. With the COVID-19 striking during the maize harvesting season, he says this will affect his trade.

Another vendor living with a disability, Marko Sibanda, who used to survive by selling snacks and cigarettes, said life will never be the same again.

“I am very vulnerable right now together with my family. I do not even know where I will get my next meal because I am grounded,” Sibanda said.

Although illegal vending is not allowed in Zimbabwe, most people in the country have turned to informal employment and the extended lockdown will subject them to abject poverty. Government promised to dish out $200 cushioning allowances to vulnerable people, but the money has not yet been disbursed six weeks into the lockdown.

A recent report by the International Monetary Fund states that Zimbabwe is only second to Bolivia in the world in terms of informal economies and is rated 62, 3% informal.

Legal think-tank Veritas said people in the informal sector were the most vulnerable during the lockdown as they no longer had means to survive.

“The informal worker is particularly the most vulnerable during the current COVID-19 shutdown period. Measures to assist informal workers are essential, and they should be thorough, implementable, practical and relevant to the people,” Veritas said in a statement.

Veritas said it was crucial for government to come up with measures pertaining to vendors as they constitute more than 60% of the economy and Zimbabwe’s economic recovery post-COVID 19 depends on them.

“The sector will be crucial to the post-COVID-19 recovery of the economy. Its workers should not be overlooked during this time.”

According to the International Labour Organisation, up to 300 million jobs are at risk worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Police have recovered US$18 000 worth of crack cocaine, cutting utensils, a cutting agent and a scale from a vehicle and house of a local businessman following a tip off.

Tafungiswa Kennedy Jasi (52) of Borrowdale, appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro last Saturday charged with unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs and was remanded in custody to May 19. Jasi is the chief executive for Pringle Haulage Company and Pringle Technical Engineering.

This came after another businessman, Elliot Kariyana (45), who is also in the trucking business, appeared in court recently after being found in possession of 18kg of mbanje with a street value of about $15 000.

The dagga was found in the boot of his car. In denying Jasi bail, Mrs Muchuchuti-Guwuriro said the amount of cocaine found in his possession was big and that would make him a flight risk.

Prosecutor Mr George Manokore opposed bail on the basis that the State had a strong case against Jasi, who was likely to go to jail for a lengthy term if convicted.

“Your Worship, the accused person was caught red-handed, thus removing the presumption of innocence,” he said.

“He is also facing a serious offence and is likely to face a prison term if convicted, hence this will induce him to abscond. “The State has overwhelming evidence against him. Also, investigations are still ongoing and more people are likely to be arrested in connection with this offence, hence if released on bail, he is likely to interfere with the investigations.”

Jasi, through his lawyer Mr Knowledge Maeresera, maintained that he was innocent until proven guilty. He further said he was not a flight risk since he was a family man with business interests in Zimbabwe. After hearing submissions from both parties, the court ruled in favour of the State.

On April 30, detectives received information that Jasi was a cocaine dealer and proceeded to Borrowdale where they mounted an ambush. They were monitoring movements at the house when Jasi came driving a Ford Ranger. The detectives stopped him and searched his vehicle and found sachets of cocaine which were stashed under the steering wheel.

They further searched his house and found more granules of crack cocaine, cutting utensils, cutting agent and a scale in Jasi’s bedroom, which they seized. Jasi was arrested and taken to CID drugs and narcotics where field tests were conducted and the substance recovered was proven to be cocaine weighing 221 grammes.

In another matter, Constantine Tsuro (29), a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboa yesterday charged with unnecessary movement during the Covid-19 lockdown period, unlawful possession of dangerous drugs and selling liquor without a licence.

According to the State led by Mr Terence Mashaire, Tsuro had no exemption letter and neither did he have a licence to sell alcohol from his vehicle nor authority to possess mbanje. It is alleged he was selling the dangerous drug and liquor at Budiriro 3 shopping centre.

By Jane Mlambo| The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has offered a reward to anyone who positively identifies a man sitting in a vehicle bragging and showing off packaged brand new Zimbabwe dollar notes.

In a press statement issued today, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said, “it is keen to interview the man to establish the circumstances under which he came into possession of the cash.”

“The bank is offering a financial reward to the first person who will provide information leading to the positive identification and location of the man in the video.”

Mangudya also encouraged the man in question to come forward and present himself to the Financial Intelligence Unit to assist with investigations.

By A Correspondent| MDC-A MPs have suspended participation in parliament, pending consultations with the electorate, with a view to their total withdrawal from the parliament.

This was announced by the party’s national vice chairperson Job Sikhala at a press briefing in Harare, Thursday morning.

Said Sikhala:

“….Zanu PF is trying to impose its own puppet leadership in the MDC that is malleable to Mnangagwa.”

Watch the live video loading below for this and more….

Said a whistle blower……

Dear Editor

Information received from intelligence sources is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Grand Plan to Anhilliate the MDC Alliance. They are waiting for the Thokozani Khupe’s MDCT Congress in 3 months.

After the congress they are going to form a Transitional Government and suspend elections for a longer period. So even by-elections may be suspended subject to ratification by their two thirds majority in parliament.

More details to follow

Participate in a ZimEye poll on the recent decision by the MDC Alliance to withdraw its legislators from parliament or Vice Chairperson Job Sikhala’s words, any processes involving Zanu PF.

Read the question below and cast your vote?

The MDC National Standing Committee has resolved that its MPs in parliament will "disengage" from parliamentary business following the recall of some of its legislators by Dr Khupe and her team. Do you think all MDC Alliance MPs should boycott parliament enmasse?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 7, 2020

By A Correspondent- Registrar General Clemence Masango has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on charges of flouting tender procedures when buying five vehicles for the Central Registry and taking seven other Government vehicles to his farm for personal use.

Masango spent last night at Mabelreign Police Station pending his initial court appearance today.

Giving details of the charges, ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said: “He faces two counts of criminal abuse of office. He is accused of procuring five vehicles without following laid down tender procedures. He also faces another count of taking seven Government vehicles, meant for the RG’s provincial offices, to do his personal errands at his farm,” said Comm Makamure. “He will appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.”

Last week Masango clashed with the chief accountant in his office, Mr Peter Bwanya, who accused him of abuse of office over vehicles. But Masango denied all wrongdoing, saying Mr Bwanya was putting up a smokescreen since he is fighting disciplinary action over alleged incompetence and misbehaviour.

Mr Bwanya made a swathe of allegations, mainly involving the purchase or non-purchse of vehicles, which Masango responded to point by point, while criticising Zacc for launching an investigation before seeking an audit report on the allegations and on his office’s purchases and use of its purchasing budget.

The only one of Mr Bwanya’s allegations that now forms part of the charges against Masango is the purchase of five vehicles when 11 were approved and budgeted for.

Masango responded to that allegation by saying that when the approval and budget were given, the exchange rate was 1-1 between the RTGS dollar and the US dollar. When the foreign currency was released there was a US dollar cost. The second charge, of the misuse and personal use of seven vehicles by Masango, was not part of Mr Bwanya’s allegations and arises out of Zacc’s own investigations.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Former Minister of Education David Coltart has claimed that Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe breached the Constitution and recalled four MDC Members of Parliament with the assistance of Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda.

The recalled MPs are Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East),Thabitha Khumalo,proportional representation of Bulawayo province,Prosper Mutseyami (Chikanga-Dangamvura) and Midlands sentor Lillian Timveous.

“On reflection l think that we are concentrating too much on Mr Mwonzora and Madam Khupe this week. They would never have been able to breach the Constitution of #Zimbabwe in the brazen way they have without the connivance of ZANU PF Speaker, and my former client, Jacob Mudenda,” said Coltart via Twitter.

Meanwhile, ZANU-PF says it has no hand in the vicious infighting within the MDC-T that culminated in the opposition party recalling four of its legislators from Parliament on Tuesday, Politburo member Obert Mpofu has said.

Addressing a media conference in Harare after a Politburo meeting at the ruling party’s headquarters yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu said the chaos within the opposition party was a result of legal processes that were settled by the courts.

Watch the live video loading below for this presser as it was issued by the party’s Vice national chairperson Job Sikhala….

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe security nabbed 18 people who sneaked into the country from South Africa through crossing illegal entry points.The citizens are said to have committed the crime because they feared being subjected to mandatory quarantine days.

Confirming the matter Secretary for Information Nick Mangwana said, “Security in Masvingo intercepted 18 Zimbabweans who got in the country through udesignated crossing points with SA. There are 10 men, 6 women and 2 children. Social Welfare has organised a bus for them to be taken to Rupangwana Quarantine Centre in Chiredzi.”

Mnangagwa’s government recently reduced the mandatory quarantine period for possible coronavirus cases by one-half.

The government said it lacks the resources to take care of patients in isolation for the two-week period recommended by the World Health Organization.

Health Minister Obediah Moyo told journalists that Harare does not have the resources to continue following the two-week quarantine period for people entering the country.

Speaking at a news conference streamed on social media, Moyo said the Cabinet decided to reduce the quarantine period to seven days.

“And if they are found to be positive they will be sent to an isolation center. And if they are found to be negative they will be released. It decongests the facilities,” said Moyo.-StateMedia

“We have drawn a line in the sand….we have been abused in parliament by Jacob Mudenda….” said the deputy national chairperson of the MDC Alliance Job Sikhala.

Watch the live video loading below….

Watch Job Sikhala speaks……

By A Correspondent- Secretary General of the small MDC faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora has accused MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa of undermining other opposition officials.

Mwonzora who was responding to a question on whether he has tried to engage Chamisa said:

“Yes, we did through Honourable Elias Mudzuri. He tried to set an appointment with Advocate Chamisa. He was not forthcoming and we sense that he did not have enough respect for us. Maybe he thought that we don’t matter.”

Mwonzora further accused MDC Vice Presidents Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti of undermining the rule of law and branding dissenting voices as sponsored by the ruling ZANU PF.

“But as I said before, our aim is never to divide the party, but to have a responsible leadership. If you can see; Adv Chamisa has not commented for one month. He has not commented on the Supreme Court decision and we think that he has commented via his deputy presidents and other party officials who were just dismissive.

“All they would say is that anybody speaking a different opinion was a ZANU PF agent. That’s their standard answer. Anybody who differs with them is ZANU PF and is supposed to have been bought. Sometimes they even volunteer figures. This is their trademark and its tragic. These are young people and they ought to do things in a modern way.” Mwonzora added.

History will show that this is too early for people to write off other people. Nelson Chamisa is certainly not Tsvangirai and the disputes are different. The worrying thing is that instead of listening to one another to say what exactly is the issue, people rush to say you have been bought by ZANU PF and that I am sponsored.

I can’t be sponsored by ZANU-PF. I have been a lawyer for almost 30 years and in those years I have attempted three times to write the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I failed on two occasions, but on the third occasion together with others, I succeeded. My passion is constitutionalism. It is order, it is against anarchy

ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa over the path to be taken by the party following the recall of its legislators by Dr Thokozani Khupe and her team from parliament.

Last night, Nelson Chamisa revealed that the die had been cast and his party had come up with key resolutions to be followed by the party.

The party yesterday held a crisis meeting chaired by Chamisa following the expulsion of the MPs by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda after Senator Douglas Mwonzora had written to him seeking their recall.

The affected legislators are; secretary-general and Kuwadzana East MP, Chalton Hwende; House of Assembly chief whip and Dangamvura/Chikanga MP, Prosper Mutseyami; party national chairperson, Tabitha Khumalo and Senate chief whip, Lilian Timveous.

Said Chamisa:

“Just been chairing a long MDC Alliance National Standing Committee Zoom meeting. We came up with key resolutions and action points to be released by the party’s deputy national chairperson Hon. Job Sikhala. Whatever the case, the die is cast! Victory and freedom to our motherland!,” Chamisa wrote on Twitter.”

By A Correspondent- A 78-year-old man and his grandson have been arrested for allegedly stealing nine head of cattle from a farm in Gwanda. Cetshwayo Nyathi, his grandson Ndumiso Nyathi (28) and Sibangilizwe Ncube (42) all from Gwanda were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a stocktheft charge.

 They were remanded in custody to May 28.

Representing the State, Miss Glenda Nare who opposed bail said the accused persons were facing a serious offence and could be a flight risk. She said there was overwhelming evidence pinning the trio to the offence as Ncube was intercepted while driving the cattle and he implicated his accomplices.

Miss Nare said the old man and his grandson hatched a plan to steal cattle from Doelfontein Farm in Gwanda and they engaged Ncube’s services to drive the animals to the old man’s homestead.

“On 25 April Cetshwayo and Ndumiso hatched a plan to steal nine cattle belonging to three people from Doelfontein Farm. They went to the farm with Ncube and showed him the nine beasts which they wanted him to drive. They further took him to Silikwe area where he was supposed to deliver the cattle at Cetshwayo’s homestead,” she said.

“On 29 April Ncube drove the cattle from Doelfontein Farm and when he was in Nkashe Village while on his way to Silikwe area he was spotted by some villagers. The villagers confronted him and demanded to see a clearance letter giving him authority to be in possession of the animals. Ncube failed to produce any documents and the villagers apprehended him and led him to the police base.”

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele commended villagers from Nkashe area for being on the alert and assisting police in apprehending the suspects. He urged members of the public to work with the police to ensure culprits are brought to book.

Chief Insp Ndebele said the province recorded an increase in stocktheft cases during this time of the year as most farmers drive their cattle to grazing areas and leave then unattended.-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Health Services Apex Council team leader Enock Dongo, who is also the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) president, said the nurses were mulling industrial action after government failed to come up with a reasonable offer at Tuesday’s meeting.

The meeting, which Health and Child Care secretary Agnes Mahomva attended, took place at the behest of the nurses.

Dongo revealed that the indaba ended in a deadlock after it emerged that Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, who heads the Cabinet taskforce on COVID-19, had directed that nurses be docked of flexible working hours and report for duty full-time.

Dongo said although a final position on the strike is yet to be taken, the nurses have been left with no choice, but to down tools if their concerns are not addressed.

“The nurses are now saying let us withdraw labour and collapse the health system altogether rather than go to work on empty stomachs and bear the risk of contracting the COVID-19, more so, because of lack of personal protective equipment,” Dongo said.

“Can you imagine a situation where all nurses contract the COVID-19 and put on 21 days isolation? What will be the situation like at our hospitals?

“Other civil servants are at home, but we are being forced to be at the frontline without solving our grievances. It is very unfair labour practice.”

Last year, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga fired hundreds of nurses after they had engaged in a strike over paltry salaries.

However, Dongo said the nurses are now prepared to go on the same path.

“The nurses are saying there is a risk of being fired for going on strike, but it is better to save their lives as well,” Dongo said.

“So the nurses are saying let us all go on strike and even if they fire us all, we will return later after issues have been solved because government will need us. We did not reach an agreement at the meeting and there was a deadlock.

“Firstly, what we were saying is that nurses need to work on flexible hours of two days a week instead of five to reduce their exposure to COVID-19 cases.

“Secondly, we were saying their salaries or remuneration is too inadequate to take them to work on all days after meeting living expenses since prices of basic goods and everything have gone up steeply and it has been rendered useless.”

“Before the COVID-19, we had declared incapacitation. It is shocking that they now want us to work all days when the situation is now even worse in terms of prices of basic commodities in shops and other costs if other basic needs.

“Our previous demands made in 2019 have not been met and nothing has changed, yet they want us to return to normal working days. That is big challenge and unrealistic.”

He said nurses were still earning measly salaries of $3 000 per month and will get a further $1 500 (US$25) as risk allowance, but Dongo said it was insignificant.

“A nurse earns about $3 000 and that money is now useless,” he said.

The nurses said they wanted United States dollars denominated salaries indexed at the interbank market rate while negotiations continue on demands of at least US$1 000 salaries.

Meanwhile, 16 811 healthcare workers will be receiving 20kg of roller meal each monthly after the Grain Millers of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) and Zina signed a memorandum of understanding last weekend.

GMAZ chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara and Dongo confirmed the development.

Musarara said GMAZ would supervise the deliveries by millers to designated public hospitals on the scheduled dates.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Government has a made a quick U-turn on its order requiring companies to ensure all their workers are tested for coronavirus first before they can resume work, after facing some resistance.

On Tuesday, a Cabinet meeting resolved to allow workers to return to work without having to be tested for the novel coronavirus.

“It has since transpired that companies are experiencing difficulties in accessing the Rapid Results test kits for testing their employees.

“In order to facilitate companies in the commercial and industrial sectors opening in terms of the relaxation pronounced under SI 99 of 2020, government has decided that, pending companies acquiring the required test kits to test their employees, companies will be permitted to open subject to the following conditions being met in relation to their employees,” reads part of cabinet decision matrix.

Before the U-turn, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government introduced Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020, requiring  all companies in the commercial and industrial sectors opening for the first time following the  lockdown to have all their employees tested for COVID-19 using the Rapid Results test.

Instead, companies are now supposed to ensure that they conduct  “temperature tests upon entering work premises, issue hand sanitizers upon entry to sanitise their hands, that each employee wears a face mask in appropriate form and employees to practice social distancing in the workplace,” the Cabinet resolved.

Businesses, led by Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) president, Israel Murefu, had said the government had set an unrealistic task for business and they pushed for a rethink, triggering the U-turn.

“If you look at the capacity the national response has managed in more than 30 days to do just 9 000 tests, yet the government expects in just 14 days for companies to have tested over a million workers, it’s just not practical or feasible,” he said.

Murefu said they could also not meet the cost of the tests at private laboratories particularly since most companies have not been operating for the past two months.

“The cheapest quotation for tests is USD$25 and the most expensive is USD$100 now for most companies that have not been operating there would be no budget for this, while the idea is noble and business is sympathetic and would want to ensure employees and their families are safe, the cost is just beyond reach, unless government proposes to include the cost of testing in the $18 billion stimulus package they are proposing,” Murefu said.

So far the government has not covered itself in glory in accounting for testing, regularly producing questionable and wrong results.

The government set a target of 40,000 tests for April, but fell woefully short, as less than a quarter of that number of people were tested.

Following the U-turn, it is not clear if the government will once again lean on companies to carry out tests in the future.-Newsday

Paul Nyathi |MDC Alliance deputy president Welshman Ncube says that the recent recall of party lawmakers is a ZANU PF execution using vulnerable former MDC members.

Speaking in separate interviews with the Voice Of America’s Studio Seven and Zimlive on Wednesday, Ncube said that the party will not take the move lying down.

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda announced MDC Alliance MPs Charlton Hwende, Thabitha Khumalo, Prosper Mutseyami and Senator Lilian Timveous were recalled through a letter by Douglas Mwonzora, who says he has reprised his role as secretary general of the party following a court ruling in late March.

The Supreme Court ruled that Nelson Chamisa had taken leadership of the MDC-T party in February 2018, before forming the MDC Alliance, in a “fundamentally flawed process.”

The court ordered that Thokozani Khupe, who participated in elections in July 2018 as leader of the MDC-T, should take over on an interim basis pending a congress within three months to elect a new leader.

“Everything is a choreographed from the courts to the Speaker of Parliament. We had no expectation of anything better. We said what the plan was before the court delivered its judgement. We said they will continue to play this game. They have their game plan, watch the space and see if we will play their game.”

“We won’t take it lying down. In the next few days, you will know what we will do and it will be a strong response. The organs of the party will make the decisions. People have seen what has happened.”

He said “What’s happening is not a legal matter but a political issue, and it must be understood as such. People must disabuse themselves of the notion that this is legal, otherwise we wouldn’t be here.

“The law is clear, and has always been clear that you are recalled by the party under which you were elected. The candidates were fielded by MDC-Alliance which was in competition with MDC-T. So no, this has nothing to do with the law.

“Which judgement gave anyone authority to recall MDC Alliance MPs? Which party is controlled by a single individual? Parties are controlled institutionally. Where in the world have three people (Khupe, Mwonzora, Komichi) controlled a party?

“So, it’s not a legal issue. Since the judgement, has the national council or the standing committee met? Thabitha Khumalo was deputy spokesperson under the structure that the other side wants to say is the court recognised leadership. I can tell you that Khumalo has not been invited to any meeting where a decision to recall our MPs was taken.”

“What you have is a political programme of Zanu PF to basically take control of the MDC Alliance. Khupe, Mwonzora and Komichi have carefully selected our senior people in parliament. They have basically thrown the dice to say the rest of you who are junior to these people, we can get rid of you too if you don’t associate with our plans,” said Ncube.

Information supplied to ZimEye.com by intelligence sources on Wednesday indicates that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is harbouring a grand plan with some former members of the mainstream main opposition party, the MDC, to anhilliate the Nelson Chamisa led party.

The plan is supposedly being worked around the recent ambiguous Supreme Court ruling which declared MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe as the successor to late Morgan Tsvangirai in leading the main opposition party.

According to the plan, Mnangagwa will wait for Khupe to hold an extraordinary congress as directed by the Supreme Court after which she will be enticed into signing for a National Transitional Authority with Mnangagwa.

The Transitional Authority will suspend elections there by giving Mnangagwa an opportunity to continue leading the country beyond 2023 when elections are meant to be held.

Mnangagwa is on record indicating that he will be the President of the country until 2030 which may be the time that the dubious Transitional Authority may call for elections.

Alex Tawanda Magaisa, a law lecturer in the United Kingdom has further broken down the perceived plan meant to weaken the opposition parties.

Posting on Twitter, Magaisa said:

“What is the game plan?

1. The regime wants a GNU with a weak and submissive opposition it can control. They can tell the world that they are now working with the MDC. The regime identified a weak seam in the opposition – a coterie of the disgruntled keen to join the gravy train
2. They want to amend the law in order to get rid of by-elections. Having dubiously & scandalously awarded the MDC Alliance seats to Khupe & associates they can fill the seats left vacant by any recalls without any contest, eliminating the risk of losing.
3. The GNU agreement will include a constitutional amendment to avoid elections for 7 years on the grounds of focusing on the economy. They will invite various “stakeholders” (make that stakeholders) including civil society & churches to make it look inclusive. A political fraud
4. There will be a concurrent campaign to discredit Chamisa and his colleagues in the MDC Alliance, including Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube. Virtually anything. Current MPs are already being offered trinkets and receiving threats in a carrot and stick strategy.
5. But none of this will confer legitimacy on the regime. The plan is to crush the head of the MDC Alliance with the help of opposition enablers. However, stealing opposition seats is one thing. Winning the hearts & minds of opposition supporters is a different proposition.
6. Manipulating political institutions and rearranging the deck chairs of the struggling ship is one thing. Saving it requires a lot more than that. The international community, whose support the regime is desperate for can see through these hideous political machinations.
7. None of the opposition characters that the regime has courted has the political capital to provide the respect & recognition that it’s desperate for in the international community. They know it but they will be very happy to join the feeding trough. So brace for a dubious GNU

Additional information from Alex Tawanda Magaisa Tweeter

THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance’s national standing committee yesterday reportedly resolved to order its Members of Parliament to resign from the august House en-masse in protest over the recall of its four legislators by the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

The decision was taken by the party’s national executive committees in a virtual meeting held yesterday, a source close to the development said, but warned that a campaign was underway to entice the MPs to dump Chamisa in return for positions in a likely government of national unity (GNU).

After the meeting, Chamisa tweeted: “Just been chairing a long MDC Alliance National S Committee Zoom meeting. We came up with key resolutions and action points to be released by the party’s deputy national chairperson Hon Job Sikhala. Whatever the case, the die is cast! Victory and freedom to our motherland!”

But Sikhala, contacted for comment, said the party would address a Press conference today to announce its response to the recall.

On Tuesday, Douglas Mwonzora, who recently defected to Khupe’s camp, ordered the recall of Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), chief whip Prosper Mutseyami (Chikanga-Dangamvura MP) and Midlands senator Lillian Timveous, the leader of the opposition party in the Senate.

Mwonzora said he was using his mandate as the secretary-general of the party after a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the party to go back to its structures of 2014, endorsing Khupe as the acting president.

Political analyst Ibbo Mandanza yesterday said Chamisa was under pressure to avoid challenging the expulsion of four of his Members of Parliament and instead recall all the remaining legislators and councillors so that he can face Zanu-PF head-on in a political fight.

Mandaza said it was time for Chamisa to face the beast in the eye and take on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF in a political duel, instead of continually accepting to being bullied.

“These are kicks of a dying regime and if Chamisa is serious, it is time to face off with the regime,” Mandaza said.

“Isn’t this opportunity in Zimbabwe to cease being complaint and obliging and thereby deal a deadly blow to the crumbling edifice?”

Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwe Peace Project reports that an eight-year-old Mudzi boy in Mashonaland East collapsed and died in fear after being intimidated by First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa’s security details from the Zimbawe National Army presidential guard brigade.

The peace monitoring body made the revelation in its monthly violence monitoring report presented on Wednesday.

ZPP said the unnamed boy died on admission at Kotwa Hospital also in Mudzi.

“One of the cases is a very unfortunate incident where an eight-year boy panicked and collapsed after he and his friends were reportedly intimidated by some army officers who were providing security during the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s visit in Mudzi North in Mashonaland East province,” ZPP said in the report.

Auxillia Mnangagwa has been going around the country in the midst of the Coronavirus lockdown donating food aid including dried vegetables through her Angel of Hope Foundation.

Last month, one of her security details died in a dubious road accident while four others were hospitalised with one of them under police guard on possible accusations of deliberately executing the accident in an alleged attempt to bump the first lady’s vehicle.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project in its report claimed that incidents of intimidation by security details topped the violence during the month under review.

“Of the total number of violations recorded, harassment and intimidation topped the list with 130 incidents while 86 cases of assault were recorded.

“Harare recorded the highest number of violations at 104, followed by Midlands, which had 52 cases. Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Masvingo provinces each recorded 25% of food and other aid violations. Harare, Matabeleland North and Midlands all share 8.33%.”

Thokozani Khupe was never assaulted in Bulawayo or Buhera, Samanyanga interview pic.twitter.com/49hpieAnRI

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 7, 2020

Own Correspondent|Local Government Minister July Moyo has reinstated the opposition MDC Mayor for Victoria Falls Councillor Somvelo Dlamini, ZimEye.com can reveal.

Sources within the Municipality at Victoria Falls said that, Minister Moyo reinstated Dlamini on the bases of a letter written by Douglas Mwonzora who is the Secretary General of the MDC-T of 2014 which was recently established by the Supreme Court.

The court “reverted” the country’s main opposition party to its 2014 structures declaring Thokozani Khupe the Acting President of the party and Mwonzora assuming his Secretary General position.

The MDC led by Nelson Chamisa expelled the Mayor early this year on allegations of violating party rules and undermining protocol.

The party’s secretary-general Charlton Hwende wrote to Clr Dlamini in a letter dated February 24, advising him of the national council’s decision to terminate his membership and remove him as a councillor in Victoria Falls.

It was the third time that the Nelson Chamisa-led party had fired Clr Dlamini after expelling him from the party twice in 2018 for standing for election as Victoria Falls mayor to pave way for a candidate of their choice Clr Margaret Valley of Ward 1.

Clr Dlamini was reinstated on both the previous occasions he was fired.

The party alleged that Clr Dlamini defied the party directives when he stood as a candidate for mayor where he beat Clr Valley by eight votes to three.

Business Times|The opposition MDC Alliance has severed ties with its members that were posted to diplomatic missions and are refusing to leave their posts
as the party scales up its fight against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Among those disowned by the MDC Alliance are former MPs James Maridadi and Hilda Suka-Mafudze who took up diplomatic posts.

Maridadi was appointed ambassador to Senegal last year.

Suka-Mafudze has been a diplomat since 2010 and was last year appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Malawi.

Before the latest appointment, she was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Sudan.
The MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has indicated that it was not going to allow
any of its senior party members to work in any capacity in President Mnangagwa’s administration.

The opposition party failed to recognise Mnangagwa saying he is a beneficiary of vote rigging despite
the Constitutional Court throwing out MDC’s challenge to the results
of 2018 Presidential elections.

The spokesperson of the Chamisa led party, Daniel Molokele, confirmed the party’s leadership had made a decision to cut its relationship with any senior member associating with the government.

“We had asked our senior members not to work for the government in any capacity and the senior party members Maridadi and Mafudze refused to cooperate with the party directive despite being asked not to take up their diplomatic posts,” Molokele said.

“We have a dispute with the Mnangagwa administration and we don’t recognise his legitimacy and we don’t expect any of our senior party
members to recognise him as the legitimate president.”

Maridadi and Mafudze are former legislators for Mabvuku and Mhondoro constituencies respectively.
Maridadi was also a former spokesperson for Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai. Mafudze has been a senior MDC Women
Assembly leader since 2000.

But David Musabayana, Foreign Affairs and International Trade
deputy minister said the two diplomats were working for the
government and not for any political party.

“Our ambassadors work for the country not for any political
party and are doing a good job in representing us in the foreign
countries where they are stationed,” Musabayana said.

During the inclusive government which ran from 2009 to 2013, the
two MDC formations were allowed to nominate candidates who would
represent Zimbabwe in diplomatic missions. Suka-Mafudze, alongside
the late Trudy Stevenson, Hebson Makuvise, Jacqueline Zwambila
and Mabel Ngulani were appointed Ambassadors for Sudan, Senegal,
Germany, Australia and Nigeria respectively.