Own Correspondent|Both the government and police have adopted a very shocking denial stance against the abduction and brutal torture of MDC activists who were abducted on Wednesday only to be dumped in a remote area on Thursday night.

In a very disturbing statement, government said police will investigate the case to establish the truth on the abduction instead of investigating the abduction to establish the perpetrators.

Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe (27), Netsai Marova (25) and Cecilia Chimbiri (33) were found at Muchapondwa Business Centre, 30km from Bindura along the Harare-Domboshawa Road after disappearing in the hands of the police on Wednesday.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana made the statement on behalf of the government.

“Investigations are currently underway to establish what transpired to the three women from the time they left the demonstration up to the point when they were reportedly picked up at Muchapondwa Business Centre.

“Government will uphold the law and constitutional safeguards contained therein and if any law has been broken, the law will be enforced.

“We are calling on the three citizens to work with the law enforcement agents in order to bring the truth to light and we are appealing to anyone with information concerning this case to make a report with the police,” said Mr Mangwana.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who shortly after the disappearance issued a statement to the effect that the three ladies were in police custody, has come up with a changed stance indicating that police never arrested the ladies.

“Police are conducting investigations to establish what transpired on May 13, 2020 after the flash demonstration in Warren Park 1, Harare had been dispersed.

“It is only after full scale investigations that police will be in a position to pin point what actually happened between May 13 and May 15 2020. This includes the movement of demonstrators, their associates and subsequent location of the trio at Muchapondwa Business Centre,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

Government said information gathered shows the case emanated from a demonstration that was staged in Warren Park.

“The three were part of a group of MDC youths that defied the lockdown laws in the country and took part in an illegal demonstration in Warren Park. While police were looking for them, social media chatter indicating the three had disappeared was observed. Measures were put in place to locate them. On the night of the 14th, the police were informed that the three suspects had been located at Muchapondwa Business Centre in Bindura,” reads the statement.

Own Correspondent|After an initial shocking hero status snub of gallant liberation war fighter, late Brigadier-General Crispan Masuku has been conferred the National Hero Status.

Zanu-PF Politburo conferred national hero status on Masuku on Friday after he was laid to rest at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo earlier in the day.

ZimEye.com raised concern on the hero status snub by ZANU PF before he was buried.

He was 61.

Zanu PF secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu announced the conferment of national hero status in a statement last night.

“This is to notify that the late Brigadier-General, Crispan Masuku has been declared a national hero. Brigadier General Masuku, who is a liberation fighter whose Chimurenga name was Cde Kid Manzini, passed on Wednesday May 13, 2020.”

A delegation led by Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo, Zanu PF Politburo member Angeline Masuku and Dr Mpofu, visited the late Brig Gen Masuku’s homestead and conveyed the national hero status message to the family.

“I am here as I have been sent to convey this message by the President (Mnangagwa). The late General Masuku has been declared a national hero and his works speak for themselves. He dedicated his life to service and until his time of death, he remained a committed serviceman,” said Dr Mpofu.

“The Government has seen him fit to be conferred national hero status. It is unfortunate that he is being declared a National Hero after his burial. However, this does not take away the honour that has been bestowed upon him. The Covid-19 has made processes much more difficult as we are working remotely as we practice social distancing.

“Messages may take time to be heard and acted upon. However, we thank the family for doing such a splendid job in giving the late general befitting send-off. His place at the National Heroes (Acre) shall be always known and he will not be forgotten for the works he has done.”

He is survived by his wife Nomathemba Ndiweni and three children Ngqabutho, Nqobile and Nomagugu Adelide.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has suspended without salary and allowances Registrar-General Clemence Masango who is facing charges of criminal abuse of office as a public officer after he allegedly instructed CMED to buy a double cab and six single cab pick-up trucks without Cabinet approval before using the vehicles at his farm.

The suspension will run from May 8, 2020 to August 2020 and is meant to allow Auditor General Mrs Mildred Chiri to conduct a forensic audit of the central registry.

Masango has denied any wrongdoing saying the process of buying the cars started long before he assumed duty as Registrar-General and that payments were made within 10 days of him assuming duty on September 24, 2018.

He said he found no reason to seek authority from accounting officers, as CMED was mandated to procure vehicles on behalf of the Government. Masango also denied misusing Government vehicles at his farm, saying he only acquired the land in December last year.

When contacted yesterday over the suspension, Masango declined to comment referring questions to Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Mr Aaron Nhepera.

Mr Nhepera confirmed the suspension. “That issue is handled by the PSC because of his level as a senior Government official. I only come in when I asked him to sign the letter to show that he had received it,” said Mr Nhepera.

According to a letter signed by PSC Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe, Masango was suspended to allow a forensic audit and will not be allowed to leave the country without the permission of the employer. His bail conditions included the need for him to surrender his passport to the court, so he is now under a double travel ban.

“The reasons for your suspension are that your continued attendance at work or your continued performance of duties would enable you to hinder or interfere with the investigations or evidence relating to the alleged misconduct, occasion prejudice to any moneys or property likely to be handled by you in the course of your work and also be undesirable in the public interest or likely to lead to a loss of public confidence in the Public Service.”

Masango was directed not to go to work during the period of his suspension.

“Since the nature of the allegations you are facing involve financial prejudice to the Government, you shall not be entitled to a suspension allowance during the period of suspension.”

Last week Masango was granted $10 000 bail by a magistrate court and had to handover the title deeds to his home as extra surety when he appeared for his initial remand.

Masango was arrested last week by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission after an investigation into allegations raised by one of his subordinates, chief accountant Peter Bwanya, who is himself facing a disciplinary hearing after allegedly forcing one of his subordinates to resign at gunpoint.

Former Zanu PF Secretary for Youth Affairs and Politiburo Member, Absolom Sikhosana has passed away. He was 71.

This is according to a Zanu PF linked State of the Nation Twitter post this morning.

Sikhosana was the Secretary for Youth Affairs during the late President Robert Mugabe reign. He was later replaced by Kudzanai Chipanga who later got fired after the November 2017 military coup.

More to follow….

Chipinge has witnessed another earth tremor early morning today. According to The Manica Post, the tremor lasted for about 30 seconds.

View the Manica Post Tweet….

By Wilbert Mukori| As of today, Friday 15 May 2020, Zimbabwe has 42 confirmed covid-19 cases, 13 have recovered, 4 deaths and 25 active cases, none of whom are in hospital.
The country imposed a 3-week total nationwide lockdown 30 March 2020 with 7 confirmed cases. The lockdown was eased to level 2 and extended by 2 weeks. The 2-week end 17 May and authorities will now have to decide whether to extend the lockdown or end it.
If we assume that the government has been testing aggressively as it should and it promised to then imposing a nationwide lockdown does not make any sense when the number of new cases has gone from 34 to 42 in two weeks in a country with a population of 16 million and the majority of the cases have a history of having travelled outside the country.
It would make a lot of sense to restrict movement of people in those provinces with reported covid-19 and also in and out of those provinces. Those provinces which have had no reported cases should be allowed to carry on as normal.
The level 2 lockdown allows most economic activity to go ahead but not the informal sector activities. It is clear that there has been no meaningful adherence to the physical distancing in the shops and people queuing to get on the buses, in the buses, etc. It is therefore unfair that vendors have been singled out when everyone else is allowed to operate violating the physical distancing rules.
The vendors are generally the poorest of the poor and they have no political voice and hence are the easiest to pick upon!
No one should have to face the impossible choice of starving or violate the lockdown restrictions and face the brutality of the state! If Mnangagwa is going to extend the lockdown on 17 May 2020, then government must have a demonstrative plan to make sure all those who need such basic needs as food, water and medicine are all going to get it!
There is growing evidence to suggest that this government is not testing for covid-19 as aggressively as it should. Some provinces such as Midlands and Masvingo had 3 and 0 tests carried out in 15 May report and have consistently reported low tests. It is inconceivable that there have been no reported deaths with covid-19 like symptoms in these provinces.
It seems Zimbabwe has not been testing aggressively to keep the covid-19 cases and deaths as low as possible. The low covid-19 figures will give the impression the country has the virus under control when in reality the virus is spreading even faster than it should otherwise. If people knew that malaria patients are in fact covid-19 patients, for example, then they will be a lot cautious than otherwise.
Covid-19 is a virus just like flu and winter is flu season. Watch out!
The tragedy for Zimbabwe is the country has imposed a nationwide lockdown too early and, because the lockdown was poorly planned, it failed to stop the virus spreading. By failing to test and track covid-19 cases aggressively nation has failed react and stop the virus spreading far and wide.
Covid-19 has wreaked economic and humanitarian havoc the world over. Even those nations with vast economic wealth and five-star health care services have been hit hard economically and their health care services have been stretched to the limit and many people have died of the virus.
40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption meant Zimbabwe was an impoverished nation whose health care had all but collapse. The country does not even have clean running water even in urban centres so people can wash their hands regularly, a basic covid-19 hygiene requirement. So, we know the country is going to be hit particularly hard.
The worst case scenario projected covid-19 death toll in the developed countries is 0.1% of the population. In most developing countries the figure will be ten times that, 1%. Given Zimbabwe’s sorry economic state and Zanu PF’s continued blundering incompetence in the handling of this pandemic, the country will be very lucky to get away with 2% or 320 000 death rate!

Eighty one returnees have been discharged from the Beitbridge Quarantine Centre, which expected several busloads of more Zimbabweans repatriated late Friday and on Saturday.

Director of Social Welfare Totamirepi Tirivavi said those discharged yesterday were expected to finish their 21-day quarantine in their provinces.

Unlike earlier arrangements where repatriates finished the remainder of their quarantine at home, the government had said quarantine period will now be completed in confinement.

“Those discharged were earlier expected to finish their quarantine at home but some have not adhered to that and a decision has been reached that everyone be confined until the finish the 21-day period,” said Tirivavi.

Cabinet last week resolved all people finish the internationally recommended mandatory 21 day period during which the Coronavirus is expected to have manifested itself if any.

Earlier, the government had reduced quarantine period to eight days after anyone testing negative on rapid examination was allowed home for self-quarantine.

Tirivavi said the bulk of the busloads were from Gauteng, where Zimbabweans have expressed the desire to go home in the wake of uncertainties surrounding employment.

SA has said companies that open will be subjected to vigorous scrutiny to ensure its citizens were preferred ahead of foreigners.

Of those discharged yesterday six were children and the rest were juveniles and adults.

Twenty-eight of the 81 are from Masvingo, 32 from Matabeleland South, seven from Manicaland, five from Harare while the Midlands, Mashonaland West, and Mashonaland Central had four, three and one returnees respectively.

Meanwhile, officials at the Beitbridge quarantine centre received about 17 locals from around Beitbridge, who were deported by the South African government after they had sneaked into that country possibly for illegal activities.

The 17 were mostly juveniles from the Mapai and Dumba areas in the outskirts of the border town who eke out a living as porters for smugglers.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende has reported that personal belongings of three youth leaders including a car are still missing despite being forced forced to surrender the items at Harare Central Police station.

Posting on Twitter this morning, Hwende said;

“According to the 3 when they were arrested they were taken to the Central Police they were then asked to leave all their bags cellphones and their car and they were bundled into a black car. Police confirmed this arrest. Their car, cellphones and handbags have now vanished,” said Hwende.

Four more people, all travellers from South Africa or in official quarantine on their return to Zimbabwe, have tested positive for Covid-19 bringing the number of confirmed cases to 42.

None of the new patients appear to have been infected within Zimbabwe.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that four people had tested positive for Covid-19: one was from Mashonaland East and one from Harare, both being travellers from South Africa.

The other two were from a quarantine centre in Mashonaland West.

“To date we have 42 confirmed cases, 13 recoveries, four deaths and 25 active cases since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020,” read the statement.

-State Media

MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has condemned the abduction of party youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The three were abducted and severely assaulted by suspected government agents.They were dumped in Bindura.

“Lawyers just informed us that Cecilia Chimbiri,Joana Mamombe and Netsai Marova victims of enforced disappearance, were dumped and found late last night.

Sadly, they are in bad shape having been subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

These rogue regime terror tactics,” Chamisa tweeted.

Three Female MDC Youth Assembly Leaders Were S*xually Abused -Chamisa

Three female MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leaders were severely tortured and sexually abused, party leader Nelson Chamisa has said

By Own Correspondent| Mabvuku residents are mooting a legal intervention to coerce council to supply them with safe potable water amid lamentations over chaotic bulk water distribution that has seen residents relegated to access water in open shallow ponds near Lafarge Cement.

In a letter addressed to the City of Harare, Mabvuku residents are claiming that the chaotic and uncoordinated bulk water supplies have necessitated gender based violence and creating a fertile ground for the spread of covid 19.

The demands by the residents of Mabvuku are part of the Provision Order granted by the High Court on the 31st of March 2020 which called on for the supply of clean, potable and safe water, availability of municipal officers at water points to enforce social distancing guidelines and access to information.

Mabvuku residents are requesting the City of Harare to urgently comply to the provisions of the Interim Relief granted by the Court by doing the following;
• Produce, publicise and disseminate a schedule with times and places where water will be accessed through water bowsers in Ward 19.
• Ensure coordination with bulk water suppliers so that bowsers do not congregate at one place a situation that has implications on social distancing rules as residents’ rally to access water at one point.
• Water bowsers should be evenly distributed across the whole Ward to ensure equitable distribution of water to all residents.
• Increase quantity of water supplied through bulk water suppliers.
• Take measures to equitably distribute municipal water to Mabvuku Ward 19 so as to decongest few boreholes and water bowsers supplying water.
• Repair four (4) non-functional boreholes of the six boreholes that are in Ward 19
• Ensure that municipal officers “man” bulk water distribution and attend to water points to enforce social distancing rules.

The Combined Harare residents Association calls on the City of Harare to take the demands of residents seriously by complying with the High Court Order as this has serious legal implications to the local authority. CHRA also reiterate that the government must provide resources for water provision in the City.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Parliamentarians have described the torture and abduction of the opposition party’s youth leaders as a desperate attempt by the Illegitimate Zanu PF government to silence democratic voices.

Three MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were abducted, tortured and dumped in Bindura by suspected state security agents.

See full statement below:

MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus Statement :

The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus condemns the abduction, kidnapping, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment of Our Member of Parliament for Harare West Constituency Hon Joana Mamombe together with The MDC Alliance Young Assembly National Deputy Chair Cecilia Chimbiri, and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Organiser Netsai Marova.

Enforced disappearance, and torture are crimes against humanity and unacceptable in a democratic society. They are International crimes where those that are responsible must be prosecuted and punished.

The fact that the three female activists were abducted in broad day light is a serious indictment to the Illegitimate regime of Zanu PF. The Hitler style of suppression of citizens is condemned and has no place in The 21st century politics.

Abducting and torturing Women a few days after Mother’s Day makes it more ugly and heartless.

The intention is definitely to intimidate citizens and silence the opposition voices and close down on democratic space.

The Zimbabwe Government’s intention is to destroy in totality or The MDC Alliance.

The government activities are wide spread and systematic, and the targeted group is the MDC Alliance. In Zimbabwe, the MDC Alliance is now an endangered population that risks total extinction through deliberate targeted actions of abductions and torture, arrests and persecutions, as well as targeted eliminations through intentionally designed accidents and poisoning.

The abduction and torture of citizens, including a Member of Parliament is regrettably a confirmation of the fact that Zimbabwe is moving steps backwards in democratic practices and deeper into dictatorship and authoritarianism.

SADC and AU must intervene and stop the government of Zimbabwe from continuing in this terrible path of human rights abuses.

For and on behalf of The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus

Thabitha Khumalo( Chairperson)
Leader of the House in Parliament
Hon P C Mutseyami
Senator Lillian Timveous
Chief Whips

By Simba Chikanza| The former MDC Alliance Vice President, Elias Mudzuri last night refused to comment on the plight of the three abducted MDC Alliance youth leaders saying the matter is not important. He said he would rather talk about things that ‘make us go somewhere.’

Below are excepts of the interview:

“I’m sorry let’s talk tomorrow.”

QN: it’s a life and death matter.

“What are you saying?

QN: This is a life and death matter.

“Whose life and death matter? – life and death yaani?”

QN: The three MDC Alliance activist who were abducted 2-days ago.

“I know about it and I will answer tomorrow.

“I don’t think it’s necessary, what time is it now? I know what happened, and I’m not clear with the circumstances. And I don’t think it’s the time to intervene and phone people at this hour.

“Let’s talk about things that make us go somewhere.

“Simba, I don’t want us to be fair. Let’s be fair.”

QN: Are you being fair to the electorate to the people you say you represent?

PHONE CUT OFF

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NetOne chief executive officer Lazarus Muchenje, six senior executives and former board member Paradzai Chakona were arrested yesterday by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on charges of criminal abuse of office.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure confirmed the arrests, but could not give details on the swoop, one of the biggest on a State-owned enterprise since the inception of the anti-graft body in 2004 and was unable to disclose the identities of the other six accused executives who are likely to appear in court today along with Muchenje and Chakona.

“I can confirm that Mr Muchenje and his alleged accomplices have been arrested. The charges relate to alleged criminal abuse of duty as public officers and the suspected violation of the Public Finance Management Act,” said Comm Makamure.

Muchenje’s lawyer, Mr Innocent Chingarande of Titan Law Chambers, said his client was facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office, with the alternative charges being fraud, and that the evidence was similar to that presented in recent disciplinary investigations.

Mr Chingarande said his client was being held at Avondale Police Station and was expected to appear in court today.

He said Chakona was facing one count of criminal abuse of office from what was presented when a warned and cautioned statement was taken.

Mr Chingarande could however, not reveal details of the allegations last night although these will be presented when the eight appear in court .

“He (Muchenje) will appear in court tomorrow as has been advised. I cannot comment on the six other executives as they are not my clients.

The charges arise from the same facts as the disciplinary hearing charges that NetOne had preferred against Mr Muchenje but with a few amendments and additions,” said Mr Chingarande.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he could not comment on the arrests and detention, referring all questions to ZACC.

Sources close to the matter said some of the arrested executives included chief technology officer Darlington Gutu, acting chief finance officer Tinashe Severa, acting head legal affairs Tanyaradzwa Chingombe and manager interconnection and roaming Tawanda Sibanda.-State media

By Shepherd Yuda

Zimbabwe has become the “rape country” of the world and the worst zone for women…

Three female MDCA leaders were abducted by CIO, tortured and made to do horrendous things before being dumped. They have been stripped naked and violated.

The three Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri, and Netsai Marova were found along Bindura road in a bad state after being brutalized and dumped.

People feared the 3 could have been killed. Recently Zimbabwe has witnessed a surge in violence where brutalised and raped bodies of women have become an essential component of most parts of the country.

Meanwhile, these 3 survivors were taken to hospital for medical attention.

MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus Statement :

The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus condemns the abduction, kidnapping, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment of Our Member of Parliament for Harare West Constituency Hon Joana Mamombe together with The MDC Alliance Young Assembly National Deputy Chair Cecilia Chimbiri, and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Organiser Netsai Marova.

Enforced disappearance, and torture are crimes against humanity and unacceptable in a democratic society. They are International crimes where those that are responsible must be prosecuted and punished.

The fact that the four female activists were abducted in broad day light is a serious indictment to the Illegitimate regime of Zanu PF. The Hitler style of suppression of citizens is condemned and has no place in The 21st century politics.

Abducting and torturing Women a few days after Mother’s Day makes it more ugly and heartless.

The intention is definitely to intimidate citizens and silence the opposition voices and close down on democratic space.

The Zimbabwe Government’s intention is to destroy in totality or The MDC Alliance.

The government activities are wide spread and systematic, and the targeted group is the MDC Alliance. In Zimbabwe, the MDC Alliance is now an endangered population that risks total extinction through deliberate targeted actions of abductions and torture, arrests and persecutions, as well as targeted eliminations through intentionally designed accidents and poisoning.

The abduction and torture of citizens, including a Member of Parliament is regrettably a confirmation of the fact that Zimbabwe is moving steps backwards in democratic practices and deeper into dictatorship and authoritarianism.

The rumors that the female activists have been found near Bindura in Mashonaland Central and with visible marks of injuries of torture shows that there is serious violation of human rights in Zimbabwe. SADC and AU must intervene and stop the government of Zimbabwe from continuing in this terrible path of human rights abuses.

For and on behalf of The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus

Thabitha Khumalo( Chairperson)
Leader of the House in Parliament
Hon P C Mutseyami
Senator Lillian Timveous
Chief Whips

Farai Dziva|Controversial Masvingo based clergyman, Isaac Makomichi’ s anointed “love potion herb” has sparked raging debate in Christian circles.

Makomichi, the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and
the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust distributes the “anointed love potion herb” to needy women and girls across the country for free.

A 62-year- old woman recently claimed she got married after using the herb.

However, it is the testimony of a well known sex worker with 3 children who reportedly got married to a 30- year -old rich boy- that has sparked debate in Christian circles.

The sex worker says she has been using love potion herb to attract rich boys.

Church leaders in Masvingo have expressed mixed sentiments on the love potion herb.

“I think in Christian circles we should not use the so called anointed love potion herb. I don’t see it’s relevance to a believer,” said a senior church leader.

However another church leaders said: ” I can’t rush to criticize the anointed herb.Maybe that’s the revelation the prophet got. Personally I am not against the anointed love potion herb.”

Makomichi said those willing to ask him about the herb should contact him on 0777469342.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has condemned the abduction of party youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The three were abducted and severely assaulted by suspected government agents.They were dumped in Bindura.

“Lawyers just informed us that Cecilia Chimbiri,Joana Mamombe and Netsai Marova victims of enforced disappearance, were dumped and found late last night.

Sadly, they are in bad shape having been subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

These rogue regime terror tactics,” Chamisa tweeted.

A 90-YEAR-OLD man died after he was hit by a haulage truck while crossing the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road in Lutumba area in Beitbridge.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday at the 264 kilometre peg along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road at Lutumba Business Centre.

Chief Insp Ndebele said Titus Murindadare from Chapfuche area in Beitbridge was hit by a haulage truck which was towing two trailers and he died on the spot.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident which occurred at Lutumba Business Centre where a 90-year-old man was hit by a truck while he was crossing the road. The driver of the truck Itayi Chiyedza was driving along the Masvingo- Beitbridge Road and when he got to the 264 kilometre peg at Lutumba Business Centre he hit Titus Murindadare who was crossing the road and he died on the spot,” said Chief Insp Ndebele.

“The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and investigations are underway.

As police we would like to urge motorists to adhere to road regulations and adhere to speed limits. Lutumba Business Centre is a busy area that we would expect motorists to approach with caution in order to avoid such incidences. We are set to engage the Ministry of Transport to put up speed humps in that area as we have been recording a number of fatal road accidents there. Pedestrians are also urged to check both sides of the road before crossing.”

In another incident a 27-year-old woman died after a scotch cart she was travelling in hit a tree stump and overturned in Fort Rixon.

Chief Insp Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Sunday at around 1pm.

He said the now deceased Petronella Moyo was travelling in a donkey drawn scotch cart which was being led by Mr Godknows Gumbo.

He said one of the tyres of the scotch cart hit a tree stump and it overturned and knocked Moyo on the head in the process.

Chief Insp Ndebele said Moyo died on the spot as a result of the accident.

“As police we would like to urge members of the public to be careful when travelling in scotch carts as they can be as fatal as other vehicles,” he said.-State media

Watch the live video loading below……

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By A Correspondent- A political commentator has called on First lady Auxilia Mnangagwa to speak out against the abduction and torture of MDC Alliance female youth leaders at the hands of suspected state security agents.

The trio, were arrested at a roadblock and taken into police custody before they were handed over to unidentified assailants who tortured and sexually assaulted them before dumping them in Bindura.

Watch the live video loading below…..

watch the live video loading below…..

By A Correspondent- Vice president Lynette Kore has implored women to rise up and demand the safety and security of women following the abduction and torture of MDC Alliance youth leaders.

Said Kore:

“The Constitution allows us to say enough is enough. Peaceful demonstrations are guaranteed in the Constitution… Right now they are looking for our youth leader Obey Sithole and they have in the past taken Itai Dzamara and where is he now…We must say enough is enough”

Watch the live video loading below…….

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State Media|Chitungwiza Municipality has reinstated the sister-in-charge of St Mary’s clinic whom it had suspended, after her subordinates went on strike over council’s failure to provide them with personal protective equipment and covid19 lockdown allowances.

While nurses from all the four council-run clinics had gone on strike over the same concerns, only the sister-in-charge Sr Shingirai Tsvangirai was suspended causing an uproar among her subordinates who felt she was being persecuted.

She was under suspension without salary and benefits.

In a twist of events, The Herald on Thursday was tipped that council had reversed its decision and it got hold of a letter confirming the latest position.

The letter was referenced ‘Notice of withdrawal of suspension with loss of salary and benefits and confirmation of your immediate reinstatement without loss of salary and benefits.’

State Media|THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has introduced new $10 and $20 bank notes and reviewed upwards weekly withdrawal limit to $1000 from $300.

In a statement today RBZ Governor, Dr John Mangudya, said the $10 notes will be in circulation by Tuesday next week with $20 notes set to be injected into the market early next month.

“The RBZ wishes to advise the public that the $10 and $20 dollar bank notes issued on 14 May 2020 through Statutory Instrument 103A of 2020 will come into circulation as follows:

-the $10 bank notes will commence circulation on Tuesday, 19 May 2020, the $20 bank notes will be in circulation by the first week of June 2020,” said Dr Mangudya.

“The features of the said banknotes will be publicised prior to circulation.”

The Apex Bank has also announced the upward review of withdrawal limits, a move likely to excite depositors.

“The Bank also advises that it has revised withdrawal limits upwards from $300 per week to $1000 per week with effect from 19 May 2020,” said Dr Mangudya.

He said banks have since been directed to ensure that the withdrawal limits were strictly observed. On the back of illicit cash deals and illegal money transfers, the Governor warned that decisive measures will be taken against those found on the wrong side of the law.

MUTARE – Esau Mupfumi is the only Zanu PF politician to ever be voted into parliament for an entirely urban constituency in Mutare since 2000.

And he is hoping to have a second bite of the cherry.

The recalling of Dangamvura-Chikanga legislator and MDC Alliance chief whip Prosper Mutseyami is offering the businessman-cum-politician another opportunity to contest his former seat.

“This is a chance for people to reflect on their experiences with me as MP before the 2018 election and what they had over the past two years.

“I hope they will be a bit more objective about their political choices if a by-election is called for,” Mupfumi said.

The former Dangamvura-Chikanga lawmaker has been a hard worker before, during and after his 2015 electoral victory.

During his tenure he even at one point moved to charm his often-distrustful constituency with an impassioned plea for forgiveness for unfulfilled promises.

Mupfumi who has expended thousands of dollars in cultivating the urban constituency knows that the odds are against his party in an urban electoral contest against the opposition MDC.

In 2015 victory was handed to him on a silver platter when the MDC-T recalled Arnold Tsunga for allegedly crossing the floor to MDC Renewal before boycotting the polls.

The seat is an opposition stronghold which Zanu PF last won before MDC came into the fray back in the 2000 parliamentary election.

Despite his 2018 electoral loss, Mupfumi has continued to actively engage the constituency by continuing to support its urban poor after he was designated the shadow-MP by his party.

He has not let up on providing water to areas without council water connections and providing his buses for funeral assistance.

“I also availed buses at half the price when commuter omnibus operators were taking advantage of transport shortage to reap-off commuters before government introduced Zupco buses,” he said.

In fact, the Zupco model was inspired by his intervention, Mupfumi opines. “The Zupco model was inspired by what we had begun to do in Mutare.”

The Zanu PF central committee member said he has developed a special bond with the locals who gave him over 10 thousand votes in the populous constituency with nearly 60 thousand registered voters.

“Despite everything that has happened in my political career I have an attachment to this constituency,” he said.

But all the good work do not always count for much for a Zanu PF politician in an urban setting.

Former Zanu PF Secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo during his 2015 election campaign even once expressed sympathy for the top businessman’s vulnerability to being fleeced by both party fellows and locals only to be dumped at the polls.

Mupfumi has previously committed resources to the city and like his late friend and fellow business mogul Shadreck Beta has often been taken for a ride by local residents who in spite of benefitting from their generosity have enjoyed dumping them on election day.

Chombo even likened Mupfumi’s situation to the late Bulawayo politician Sikhanyiso Ndlovu who he said always lost regardless of supplying Mpopoma residents truckloads of maize during their time of need, opening 12 butcheries across the constituency and dedicating a fleet of commuter omnibuses as well as funding many cooperatives.

Mupfumi is hopeful that his hard work and charm offensive will help him gain the trust of locals and secure him an electoral victory in the 2018 watershed election.

But he can only wish that years of service and hundreds of thousands of personal resources expended in philanthropic work in the constituency will be rewarded.

“I know they don’t trust my party,” Mupfumi said. “I hope they just give me the seat so that l can finish off this term as a show of gratitude.”

Byo 24

Independent|THE European Union (EU) has ruled out prospects of providing budgetary support to the broke Zimbabwean government, citing “massive misuse” of public funds as exposed by various audits and the failure to ensure transparency and predictability.

Failure to implement substantive economic and political reforms is also a major concern to the EU. Finance minister Mthuli Ncube last month made an impassioned plea to international financial institutions for support which includes debt rescheduling or cancellation.

In his letter, which was leaked to the media, the Treasury chief painted a grim picture of the country’s economic crisis. He pointed out that the economy would contract by between 15% and 20% this year, adding that the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives globally, will spawn a national catastrophe with potentially devastating consequences for the rest of southern Africa.

In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with the Zimbabwe Independent this week, the EU’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen, said assisting this country with budgetary support is not under consideration.

“At the moment, budget support is not on the table. Currently, we are not in the clear what is happening with government revenue and expenditure. The Auditor-General’s report shows massive misuse of public funds. That is not a fiscal environment where I would be willing to see European taxpayers’ money go,” Olkkonen said.

“The EU has been supporting the government in public financial management through the World Bank-managed ZIMREF (Zimbabwe Reconstruction Fund), but there is still much more to be done to create transparency and predictability.”

Olkkonen pointed out that Zimbabwe has been added by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to a list of countries that are risky in terms of money laundering and terrorism financing because the country has failed to fulfil certain recommendations within a set timeframe.

FATF is an inter-governmental organisation founded in 1989 as an initiative of the Group of Seven (seven of the largest economies in the world) to develop policies to combat money laundering.

According to FATF, Zimbabwe’s deficiencies include: insufficient understanding of the key money laundering and terrorist financing risks. The country is also deficient in the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policy based on the identified risks. There are further shortcomings in the implementation of risk-based supervision of financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs).

“Lack of adequate risk mitigation measures among financial institutions and DNFBPs entailing the application of proportionate and dissuasive sanctions to breaches; shortcomings in the legal framework and mechanism to collect and maintain accurate and updated beneficial ownership information for legal persons and arrangements, and to ensure timely access by the competent authorities,” the FATF notes in its report.

“Gaps in the framework and implementation of targeted financial sanctions related to terrorist financing and proliferation financing. On this basis, Zimbabwe should be considered as a country having strategic deficiencies … under Article 9 of directive (EU) 2015/849”.

Olkkonen said the European Commission’s decision to list Zimbabwe among countries that are not serious about fighting money laundering is the EU’s way of implementing the FATF ruling.

“The FATF decision itself was taken as a consequence of a process with Zimbabwe, where the country was given a set of recommendations that were not fulfilled in the given timeframe,” Olkkonen said.

“The European Commission decision means that European banks need to exercise enhanced due diligence when processing financial transactions to and from Zimbabwe. The listing will be active from 1 October onwards, as it was deemed appropriate to delay it because of the corona pandemic.”He said Harare’s implementation of the recommendations it agreed with FATF will go a long way in having the country removed from the list.

“The EU has resources to support countries to implement the required actions and Zimbabwe could make a request for that support,” Olkkonen said.

The EU ambassador to Zimbabwe said the country does not qualify for the debt-service moratorium for developing countries because of its failure to service its debts to international financial institutions (IFIs) and bilateral creditors.

“Zimbabwe owes significant debts to several EU member states bilaterally, and member states are shareholders and represented on the boards of the IFIs, including that of the European Investment Bank. In general, the European Commission has announced its support for a debt service moratorium for developing countries struggling with the response to Covid-19,” Olkkonen said.

“A moratorium of payments would not be applicable to Zimbabwe, since the country unilaterally stopped servicing its debts to most IFIs and bilateral creditors years ago.”

He said reforms are imperative if the country is to normalise relations with IFIs.“The IMF Staff-Monitored Programme was seen as a starting point for creating macro-economic balance, and there is still a hope that serious economic reforms would pave a way towards closer engagement with IFIs, which could also be a stepping stone towards addressing the debt issue,” Olkkonen pointed out. “In addition to purely macro-economic measures, governance and addressing the leakages in the economy would be crucial.”

Associated Press|Three young Zimbabwean opposition activists who were reported missing following a protest over COVID-19 lockdown measures this week were being treated at a hospital Friday after asserting they were abducted and sexually abused by suspected state security agents.

The three women, including the country´s youngest parliament member, Joana Mamombe, were allegedly arrested at a roadblock after Wednesday’s protest in the capital, Harare, but family members and lawyers failed to locate them.

Police denied they arrested or held the trio, saying they were unaware of their whereabouts. The women had been protesting what they called deepening poverty and lack of social protection measures during the weeks-long lockdown.

The activists were later found by a “sympathetic villager” who heard their cries for help after they were dumped about 90 kilometers (55 miles) from Harare, Richard Chimbiri, the father of one of the women, told reporters outside the hospital.

“One can´t even talk, the other is just crying and another has been taken for some tests. They were seriously beaten up and stripped of their clothing. They are in pain, they are in bad shape,” he said.

Zimbabwe´s security agents have a history of abducting and torturing opposition and civil society activists viewed as anti-government. Many are later found abandoned, although some, such as Itai Dzamara, a journalist abducted in 2015, are still missing.

One of the three women, Cecilia Chimbiri, spoke briefly from a hospital ward. “They kept touching me all over the body and also beat us using the butt of their guns,” she said, writhing in pain.

The Associated Press does not name victims of sexual assault but the named women gave permission to be identified.

Chimbiri said they were stopped by police at a roadblock and taken to a police station where they were bundled into a private car, hooded and taken away.

“They were arrested at a roadblock and taken away from a police station by supposedly unknown people, so we hold the police responsible,” Maureen Kademaunga, the opposition MDC party secretary for welfare, said at the hospital. Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa visited the women there.

Mamombe, the 27-year old lawmaker, was visibly in agony and could barely talk as she was wheeled from an ambulance.

Tempers flared outside as family members tried to gain access to the women while hospital staff tried to ensure social distancing.

Jeremiah Bamu, the women’s lawyer, said he was yet to get “full instructions” on taking any legal action because “they are not in a physical and mental state that allows them to fully brief me on what course of action to take. The focus now is to ensure that they are in a good mental state. The focus is on their recovery.”

While police have denied arresting the women, some are skeptical, pointing to Zimbabwe´s record of enforced disappearances.

“It is deeply alarming that the state claims that it cannot account for the three activists when they were arrested at a roadblock run by both the police and the military,” said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International deputy director for East and Southern Africa.

HARARE West lawmaker Joannah Mamombe (MDC Alliance) is among the three opposition youth leaders who were abducted on Wednesday before being found alive but “badly beaten and traumatized,” according to the opposition party.

A video is circulating on social media showing Mamombe in hospital where she is groaning in pain while a woman who is said to be her mother comforting her.

MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said Mamombe and her colleagues Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, were dumped Friday by unknown assailants at Muchapondwa shops in Musana, Bindura South.

Tamborinyoka said the three were bruised and traumatized as they were allegedly forced to eat human waste by their assailants, who seized them while they were staging a public protest in Harare over the failure by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to provide food aid during the ongoing nationwide lockdown to curb the spreading of coronavirus COVID-19.

“They are in very bad shape and they have told horrendous tales of torture and abuse. Hon. Mamombe and Netsai Marova are having difficulty in walking while Cecilia Chimbiri is complaining of severe head pains.”

Tamborinyoka said some MDC members, lawyers and police attended to the three in Muchapondwa before they were ferried to a Harare hospital.

“After receiving a distress phone call from the dumped cadres who had been accommodated by a sympathetic villager in Muchapondwa, a group of MDC officials that included Secretary for Welfare Maureen Kademaunga and deputy Organing secretary Hon.

“Happymore Chidziva immediately alerted lawyers and the police and drove to the area in Bindura South where they found the three cadres in very bad shape. They are heavily traumatised.”

According to the party’s rescue team that drove to Bindura with lawyers and the police, the three women indicated that they were first taken to Harare Central Police station after being “arrested”.

Tamborinyoka said the MDC activists were later taken from the police station by unknown assailants and driven away in a black Wish vehicle.

“The men who drove them away covered the ladies’ faces with what looked like sacks. They remember being taken to a forest and being put in a pit where they were brutally assaulted.

“They are telling horrendous stories of abuse and humiliation that include being forced to eat human excreta … The ladies are still heavily traumatised and their clothes are torn.”

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not reachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.

Nyathi told the state-controlled Herald newspaper on Wednesday that police arrested some protesters on Wednesday, who were ferried to Harare Central Police Station.

A few hours later police said they had no record of any arrests, resulting in a national and international outcry over the alleged abduction of the three women.

Watch video below:

Watch full video below:

MyZim

MDC President Nelson Chamisa on Friday visited in hospital the three bruised MDC Youth Leaders who were abducted on Tuesday and found dumped in Bindura on Thursday night.

Chamisa took swipe at ruling ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa for the abductions.

“We have more reason to believe that Mr Mnangagwa is aware of all this because it is a pattern that happened in the country. We have seen that across the year 2019 we recorded a total of about 49 abductions of this nature and they have the audacity to want to lie to the world that this is all self-inflicted, it’s all false abductions when it is clear that the pattern is the same and the intentions are known,” said Chamisa

He said the abductions were meant to preserve the illegitimate regime and protect Mnangagwa.

“It is all meant to preserve an illegitimate regime. It is meant to defend an unelected regime. It is meant to protect Mr Mnangagwa, what is clear is that those people who are doing it are doing it on behalf of Mr Mnangagwa. What makes it so obvious is the fact that Mr Mnangagwa has never condemned.

“Not a single arrest has been done of all these cases. One wonders why if a police commissioner or spokesperson had confirmed that they had custody of these young girls, they then turn around and say they didn’t know about these arrests,” he said

Chamisa said the country had become a hot spot of human rights abuses and torture against the girl child.

“Zimbabwe has become a hot spot of human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. This inhumane and degrading treatment is torture against the girl child, women, and citizens. Assuming that they (the girls) had committed a crime there were supposed to be taken to a police station, court and be tried and sentenced. We see it as a continuation of the old ugly past, the past that has been associated with the kind of torture that we have seen”

Government has finally spoken on the abduction of MDC Youth Wing leaders who were found dumped in Bindura on Thursday night.

Below is the statement by Nick Mangwana the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

Government has noted with concern reports of the alleged abductions of three citizens namely the legislator for Harare West (MDC-T) Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova on 13 May 2020.

So far we have established the following details:

The three women were part of a group of MDC youths that defied the lockdown laws in the country and took part in an illegal demonstration in Warren Park. Harare. Police then sought to interview them on suspicion of committing crimes related to the lockdown laws und the holding of illegal demonstrations. Whilst the police were looking for them, social media chatter indicating that the three had disappeared was observed. Measures were put in place to locate their whereabouts.

On the night of the 14th, the Police were informed that the three suspects had been located at Muchapondwa Business Centre in| Bindura.

Investigations are currently underway to establish what transpired to the three women from the time they left the demonstration up to the point when they reportedly picked up at Muchapondwa Business Centre.

The government will uphold the law and constitutional safeguards contained therein, and if any law has been broken, the law will be enforced.

We are calling on the three citizens to work with the law enforcement agents in order to bring the truth to light and we are appealing to anyone with information concerning this case to make a report with the Police.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has come under global spotlight, with Western embassies raising the red flag, after three MDC Alliance youth leaders allegedly went missing on Wednesday following their arrest over an unsanctioned demonstration in Harare.

Although police initially confirmed the arrests on Wednesday, they made a U-turn yesterday saying they were unaware of the opposition activists’ whereabouts, prompting human rights groups and foreign diplomats to demand answers from Mnangagwa’s government amid fears they could have been abducted by State spy agents.

“The ZRP wishes to make it clear that the MDC Alliance members who include Joanah Mamombe, Obey Sithole, Ostallous Siziba, Stanely Manyenga and Justin Chidziva (including Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marowa) who were involved in an illegal flash demonstration on May 13 in Warren Park, Harare, are not in police custody,” police said in a tweet yesterday.

But on Wednesday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was quoted as saying: “I can confirm that the police arrested the three in Harare today in connection with an illegal demonstration which occurred in Warren Park earlier in the day. They are in our custody and we are still making further investigations into the issue.”

Nyathi yesterday said he never admitted that they had arrested the activists, but only confirmed that they were investigating the case.

The activists were nabbed after they led a protest over deteriorating standards of living under Mnangagwa’s administration.

Human rights lawyer Roselyn Hanzi said she feared for the safety of the three ladies after failing to locate them at several police stations in Harare.

“ZLHR (Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights) searched at Harare Central, Milton Park, Warren Park, Rhodesville, Mbare, Matapi, Stoddart and Braeside police stations, failing to locate Joanah Mamombe, Cecilia and Netsai. Legally speaking, this is an enforced disappearance and a violation of section 86(3) of the Constitution,” she said.

Hanzi said it was sad that the government was using State resources to suppress human rights instead of fighting the coronavirus.

“Very sad that the State has a penchant of misdirecting a lot of energy, resources, time violating rights rather than comply with the Constitution and investing more energy, time and resources fighting coronavirus,” she said.

The activists’ lawyer Agency Gumbo also said he had made checks at all police stations in the capital, but could not locate his clients.

The international community led by the European Union (EU) and Britain yesterday took to Twitter to express the bloc’s concerns on the development.

Posting on its official Twitter handle @UKinZimbabwe, the Western nation said: “Concerned to hear lawyers still not told of whereabouts of three female MDC officials reportedly arrested in Harare. Urge authorities to use their resources to locate (them) urgently in line with security services’ obligation to act at all times in line with Zimbabwe’s law and Constitution”.

The EU also tweeted: “We are concerned that three female MDC officials remain missing after they were reportedly arrested in Harare yesterday (Wednesday). We urge authorities to swiftly and in line with constitutional and legal obligations assist lawyers and relatives to establish their whereabouts and wellbeing.”

The MDC Alliance said it suspected the police had abducted its activists and held them incommunicado.

“As the people’s party, we have no doubt that our youth assembly leaders’ forced disappearance has the tacit approval of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimate regime. Indeed, the illegitimate regime has been at the centre of using abductions as a strategy to deal with dissent,” the opposition party said in a statement.

Mnangagwa has, since he came into power over two years ago, been under the watchful eye of the Western powers over his alleged human rights abuses, including extra-judicial killings by State security agents.

Allegations of human rights abuses have hindered government’s re-engagement efforts with the family of nations to unlock credit lines for the country’s comatose economy.

By Own Correspondent| MDC Alliance Chief Whip in the Senate, Lilian Timveos has filed a High Court challenge against her dismissal in parliament.

In her application, Timveos cited President of the Senate, Parliament of Zimbabwe, Douglas Mwonzora, Thokozani Khupe and the MDC-T.

She is being represented by Mafume Chambers

At the time of publishing, It could not be ascertained whether her three colleagues Charlton Hwende, Prosper Mutseyami and Tabitha Khumalo had also filed similar applications.

Cecilia Chimbiri has demanded that police officers guarding her hospital door leave the post. In the video below, Chimbiri is seen pointing and shouting at the officers.

She is one of the three female members of the opposition MDC who were abducted on Wednesday in Warren Park, Harare, during a flash protest only to be found on Thursday night in Bindura.

The MDC party says that the trio was found tortured, traumatised and dumped.

Watch the video below for more.

Pindula

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has accused the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe and its Ambassador Timo Olkkonen of being behind what they call stage-managed abductions in Zimbabwe.

A ZANU PF social media group accused the European Union for executing the abductions.

MDC Alliance Parliamentarians have described the torture and abduction of the opposition party’s youth leaders as a desperate attempt by the Illegitimate Zanu PF government to silence democratic voices.

Three MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were abducted, tortured and dumped in Bindura by suspected state security agents.

See full statement below:

MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus Statement :

The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus condemns the abduction, kidnapping, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment of Our Member of Parliament for Harare West Constituency Hon Joana Mamombe together with The MDC Alliance Young Assembly National Deputy Chair Cecilia Chimbiri, and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Organiser Netsai Marova.

Enforced disappearance, and torture are crimes against humanity and unacceptable in a democratic society. They are International crimes where those that are responsible must be prosecuted and punished.

The fact that the four female activists were abducted in broad day light is a serious indictment to the Illegitimate regime of Zanu PF. The Hitler style of suppression of citizens is condemned and has no place in The 21st century politics.

Abducting and torturing Women a few days after Mother’s Day makes it more ugly and heartless.

The intention is definitely to intimidate citizens and silence the opposition voices and close down on democratic space.

The Zimbabwe Government’s intention is to destroy in totality or The MDC Alliance.

The government activities are wide spread and systematic, and the targeted group is the MDC Alliance. In Zimbabwe, the MDC Alliance is now an endangered population that risks total extinction through deliberate targeted actions of abductions and torture, arrests and persecutions, as well as targeted eliminations through intentionally designed accidents and poisoning.

The abduction and torture of citizens, including a Member of Parliament is regrettably a confirmation of the fact that Zimbabwe is moving steps backwards in democratic practices and deeper into dictatorship and authoritarianism.

The rumors that the female activists have been found near Bindura in Mashonaland Central and with visible marks of injuries of torture shows that there is serious violation of human rights in Zimbabwe. SADC and AU must intervene and stop the government of Zimbabwe from continuing in this terrible path of human rights abuses.

For and on behalf of The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus

Thabitha Khumalo( Chairperson)
Leader of the House in Parliament
Hon P C Mutseyami
Senator Lillian Timveous
Chief Whips

For Immediate Release

15 May 2020

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is greatly concerned with continued cases of abductions, torture, beatings and inhumane treatment of civic and political activists.

The recent abduction, torture, inhumane treatment of three MDC Alliance activists, Harare West Legislator Hon. Joana Mamombe, MDC Youth Vice Chairperson Cecilia Chimbiri and Deputy Organising Secretary Netsai Marova points to shrinking democratic space.

The three activists who disappeared at a roadblock near the National Sports Stadium were later found dumped in Bindura, in a bad state and in need of urgent medical attention.

Zimbabwe has a disturbing record of enforced disappearances of opposition and civic society activists which happen in almost similar fashion.
Reports indicate that most are being abducted by masked and heavily armed men who torture them and later dump them in the middle of nowhere.

This is reminiscent of the Mugabe era and bears testimony to the fact that Zimbabwe remains stuck in the dark past.

As an umbrella body of civic society organizations, we demand the following;
I. An end to torture, abductions and enforced disappearances, murder, rape and maiming of civilians by the military and state security agents
II. Decriminalization of civil society work, political activism as well as union leaders and an end to arbitrary arrests
III. Respect for fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution including freedom of expression, freedom of association as well as the right to protest peacefully among other rights

ENDS//
Marvellous Kumalo
Spokesperson kumalomarvellous@gmail.com /+263776379966/+263776191402
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

The three MDC Alliance activists who went missing after being arrested by the police and being taken to a Harare police station only to surface two days later in Bindura are receiving treatment at a Harare health centre.

WATCH the video loading below ….

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has condemned the abduction of party youth leaders Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.

The three were abducted and severely assaulted by suspected government agents.They were dumped in Bindura.

“Lawyers just informed us that Cecilia Chimbiri,Joana Mamombe and Netsai Marova victims of enforced disappearance, were dumped and found late last night.

Sadly, they are in bad shape having been subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

These rogue regime terror tactics,” Chamisa tweeted.

MDC Youth Alliance leaders who were abducted, tortured and dumped getting treatment :watch video below. ..

The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus condemns the abduction, kidnapping, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment of Our Member of Parliament for Harare West Constituency Hon Joanna Mamombe together with The MDC Alliance Young Assembly National Deputy Chair Cecilia Chimbiri, and MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Deputy Organiser Netsai Marova. Enforced disappearance, and torture are crimes against humanity and unacceptable in a democratic society.

They are International crimes where those that are responsible must be prosecuted and punished. The fact that the four female activists were abducted in broad day light is a serious indictment to the Illegitimate regime of ZanuPf .

The Hitler style of suppression of citizens is condemned and has no place in The 21st century politics. Abducting and torturing Women a few days after Mother’s day makes it more ugly and heartless.

The intention is definitely to intimidate citizens and silence the opposition voices and close down on democratic space. The Zimbabwe Government’s intention is to destroy in totality or The MDC Alliance.

The government activities are wide spread and systematic, and the targeted group is the MDC Alliance.

In Zimbabwe, the MDC Alliance is now an endangered population that risks total extinction through deliberate targeted actions of abductions and torture, arrests and persecutions, as well as targeted eliminations through intentionally designed accidents and poisoning.

The abduction and torture of citizens, including a Member of Parliament is regrettably a confirmation of the fact that Zimbabwe is moving steps backwards in democratic practices and deeper into dictatorship and authoritarianism.

The rumors that the female activists have been found near Bindura in Mashonaland Central and with visible marks of injuries of torture shows that there is serious violation of human rights in Zimbabwe. SADC and AU must intervene and stop the government of Zimbabwe from continuing in this terrible path of human rights abuses.

For and on behalf of The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus Thabitha Khumalo( Chairperson) Leader of the House in Parliament Hon P C Mutseyami Senator Lillian Timveous Chief Whips

Below are pictures of MDC Alliance youth leaders Joana Mamombe and Cecelia Chimbiri after being tortured and dumped in Bindura.

They were arrested on Wednesday while coming from a Youth Assembly demonstration in Warren Park

By Own Correspondent| The European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen has cornered Information Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana over his dismissal of reports of abduction and torture of opposition MDC Alliance youth leaders by state security agents, enquiring if his propaganda tweet represented a government position.

Mangwana tweeted that the abduction of the trio was “a poorly choreographed attempt to throw a curve ball at the system.”

“It’s a diversionary tactic. A poorly choreographed attempt to throw a curve ball at the system. But you can’t fool people by playing the same scene many times over and expect to successfully pull wool over their eyes. You have been seen a mile away. Nicole Charity Maodza-Hondo,” posted Mangwana.

But the EU Ambassador questioned if Mangwana’s statement with the regards to abduction reports represented the position of the government.

“Permanent Secretary, is this an official government position?,” responded Olkkonen.

Mangwana has on countless times come under fire from people over his divisive social media posts and failure to separate government positions from personal views.

By A Correspondent- The Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) is conducting quality tests on hand sanitiser and protective clothing and will soon be publishing a list of certified producers following the proliferation of inferior products.

Government enacted Statutory Instrument 92 of 2020 to regulate the production of protective apparel, materials and equipment to ensure the public takes effective measures to protect itself from Covid-19, which has caused global havoc.

The decision by SaZ to conduct the tests came after one of the companies producing sanitiser, Prochem, was this week fined ZW$3 000 over a sub-standard product.

A consumer shared a report from the University of Zimbabwe stating that the 20 litres of sanitiser he had bought only contained 25% alcohol instead of the stipulated minimum of 60%.

SAZ director-general Eve Gadzikwa said the association is working overtime to process the certification of producers.

“We are going to be publishing a list of certified producers on our website. We just need to clear the batches that we are testing at the moment,” Gadzikwa said.

“Since this Covid-19 came into circulation, we have experienced a boom of local producers. Statutory Instrument 92 of 2020 was put in place to protect the community against substandard PPE (personal protective equipment) and sanitisers. These have to go through testing and certification and we have been extremely busy even working on weekends. It is a process.

“We have products that have been seized by the police because they failed to comply with the requisite packaging and labeling disclosures. This is a new law and it also looks into the alcohol content of sanitisers, which should be above 60%. The tests also look at the efficacy in killing the bacteria and germs, apart from the virus.”

Gadzikwa said there are about 70 new producers on the market, with the association also helping out the companies to ensure they comply with the new regulations.

“We have not completed the process and some have already been certified. I would not want to give a number of which products have not met the standard because we are still in the process of testing and also helping the other companies meet the standards,” Gadzikwa said.

“Just yesterday (Monday) we had about 35 new producers and have to go through that batch, so far we have 30 that have already gone through the process, in total we have about 70 local producers. We have SMEs, universities, and different other institutions,” she said.

“We have been visiting their factories to help them put in place proper certification tools and also that they maintain consistency. as you are aware, there are also a number of people who are producing masks, they need to meet the standard as well.”

The Public Health (Standards for Personal Protective apparel, Materials and Equipment) Regulations, 2020, state that: “4. (1) No person shall (a) offer for sale or attempt to offer for sale; or (b) sell by auction; or (c) expose, display or advertise for sale; or (d) sell under an agreement in terms of the Hire-Purchase act (Chapter 14:11) or by means of staggered payments or instalments; or (e) transmit, convey, deliver, distribute, possess or prepare for sale; or (f) barter or otherwise exchange or dispose of for valuable consideration; or (g) import or export; or (h) donate or otherwise dispose of for use by others; or (i) manufacture, assemble or fabricate; non-standard personal protective apparel, materials or equipment.

“(2) any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year to both such fine and such imprisonment.

“(3) In the case of a company or other corporate body, the directors or members of the governing body shall each be liable together with the such company or body to the penalties specified in sub-section (2).”

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC activist Pedzisai Ruhanya has called for an immediate investigation into allegations of sexual harassment on party members, Joannah Mamombe (MP Harare West), Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova who were found in ‘bad shape’ in Bindura on Thursday night.

The trio was abducted on Wednesday in Warren Park during a flash protest and their whereabouts were not known until late last night.

Posting on Twitter, Ruhanya who is also the director of the Harare-based Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) said:

“ALLEGATIONS of torture against Hon MP  @JoanaMamombe ,  @ceechimbiri2 and @MarovaNetsai point to SEXUAL ASSAULT. This requires immediate investigation.”

It is alleged that the three were taken by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). On the day they disappeared, police issued a statement saying that they had arrested the trio but later issued another statement saying that they did not know their whereabouts.

Meanwhile, the three are said to have received emergency medical attention.

By A Correspondent- The three missing MDC A activists, Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova have been found, after they were dumped at Muchapondwa shops in Musana, Bindura South, following alleged torture.

Watch the live video loading below as Maureen Kademaunga narrates the latest developments regarding the trio…

Lawyers, Jeremiah Bamu from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights filed a Harbeas Corpus application to compel the police to determine the whereabouts of the trio, who has been missing for more than a day, within 12 hours of granting a court order.

Watch the live video loading below….

Kademaunga however said the trio were in very bad shape and they told horrendous tales of torture and abuse.

“Mamombe and Marova are having difficulty in walking while Chimbiri is complaining of severe head pains, ” said MDC spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka in a statement.

He said they are currently being assisted to check into a medical facility in the presence of lawyers and the police.

Added Tamborinyoka….

“After receiving a distress phone call from the dumped cadres who had been accommodated by a sympathetic villager in Muchapondwa, a group of MDC officials that included Secretary for Welfare Maureen Kademaunga and deputy organisinf secretary Happymore Chidziva immediately alerted lawyers and the police and drove to the area in Bindura South where they found the three cadres in very bad shape.”

Kademaunga revealed that the trio confrmed being arrested and taken to Harare Central Police station before they were taken in a black toyota wish and being covered by sacks so that they could not see where they were going.

Said Kademaunga:

“We have more than 10 police details hovering around the medical facility where we have taken them and we are worried because the same people that arrested them handed them over to those that tortured them and yet they claimed that they did not know where they are. This is very worrying because the girls want nothing to do with the police.”

This is a developing story, Refresh this page for latest details

By A Correspondent- Spencer Banda’s s.e.xual abuse storm gets hotter as many students claim they lost v!rg!n!ty to him.

This comes as current and former students at Sodbury High School made numerous allegations that Banda s.e.xually abused them.

Sodbury High School is a family-run school owned by the Banda family. The allegations were made on Wednesday night during a Facebook live streaming show on the page Sis Melly’s Diaries.

ZimEye exclusively interviewed Banda over the allegations and he confirmed being hauled to court over rape allegations claiming that he was not guilty hence he had been acquitted.

He said that the allegations being made by the more than 20 former Sodbury students was a move by his enemies who had a sinister agenda against him.

Watch the live video loading below…..

Reports are that the students alleged that Banda used to rape and s.e.xually abuse them when they were underage. The broadcaster is alleged to have s.e.xually molested 7 minors at Sodbury High School between 2001 and 2007.

One of the victims alleged that Banda r@ped her when she was 14-years-old and claimed that she had lost her v!rginity during the heinous act. Another of the girls alleged that Banda used to conduct his shenanigans at Sodbury High School’s sports department. Yet another one alleged that Banda was brazen enough to visit the girls’ hostel at night where he would abuse his targets.

The alleged victims revealed that they had formed a WhatsApp group to help them cope and to discuss means of seeking justice. They claimed that they added Banda to the group so that they could confront him.

Spencer Banda is said to have denied the allegations. However, Banda is alleged to have contacted the victims individually through private messages and apologised for his conduct claiming that he had been young and immature when he molested them.

He was in his mid-twenties at that time. Banda is alleged to have profusely apologized and pleaded with the former students, who are now parents, to forgive him.

By Jane Mlambo| The European Union in Zimbabwe (EU) has called for an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the torture of three MDC youth leaders during their forced disappearance.

Posting on Twitter, EU said it was relieved that the trio had been found though they expressed deep concern about reports of torture and humiliation during their abduction.

“Relieved that three MDC officials were found, but deeply concerned about reports of torture and humiliation during their #enforceddisappearance. We urge authorities to sincerely and swiftly investigate, and bring those responsible to justice! @JoanaMamombe#NoZimpunity,” said EU in Zimbabwe.

Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe, Youth Assembly deputy chairperson Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were on wednesday arrested at a roadblock near Long Cheng Plaza on their way back from a protest in Warren Park.

Reports indicate that they were taken to Harare Central Police station before being taken by a Toyota Wish with men who tortured them before dumping them out of Harare.

By A Correspondent- First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa was treated by her hubby and sons on Mother’s day with an unusual gift any person could think of.

Many mothers were being spoilt and treated as the whole world commemorated Worlds Mother’s Day.

This ceremony happens every year in the month of March or May as a sign of respect to all the mothers and appreciates what they do to make a family stand and function well. In Shona, they even say Musha Mkadzi.

So like many mothers, Mai Mnangagwa was treated to a surprise which she was not near of ever expecting little alone suspect about.

The President and his sons surprised the First Lady with a Nissan Sunny box car which the first lady used in the 90s.

They had the car pimped and retain to its original form. The father and his sons presented it to the First Lady at State House.

By A Correspondent- The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture, chaired by Gokwe Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu PF), this Thursday booted out officials from the Ministry of Agriculture after they failed to present documents with regards to contracts awarded to different companies for winter wheat programme.

The officials, Remigio Makoni (acting director of procurement) and Peter Mudzamiri (director of finance) had appeared before the portfolio on behalf of Lands and Agriculture secretary John Bhasera who was supposed to give oral evidence on the state of financing and preparedness for the 2020 winter cropping season.

Before dismiss the duo, Wadyajena said:

The information on the contracts that you submitted is insufficient. We ask you to go back and tell your ministry secretary (Bhasera) that we want him here and that he must bring the information on the contracts as Parliament business takes precedence over other business.

It is strongly believed that the Ministry of Agriculture in the past failed to account for funds meant for Command Agriculture programme.

This comes when the country is facing starvation due to El Nino drought and poor agriculture policies in the past two decades.

-Newsday

A pyramid scheme promising to double contributors’ money in days backfired for unsuspecting fortune-seekers who lost close to $2 million when the inevitable collapse occurred.

The suspected conmen are siblings Romeo (25) and Tinashe (29) Samhungu.

The brothers devised a plan to swindle people using the pyramid scheme and promised investors lucrative returns over very short periods of time.

Pyramid schemes work by giving older investors money from new investors and rely on far more newcomers joining at each step than people already in the scheme; they collapse when there are not enough newcomers.

To lure investors, the brothers allegedly advertised the scheme on social media platforms saying they were offering 100 percent profit to anyone who paid into their EcoCash account using their merchant code.

Romeo and Tinashe initially appeared in court on Tuesday before Mrs Barbra Mateko charged with fraud after they allegedly swindled a Harare woman, Gina Makosa, of $33 000.

They were granted $500 bail each.

The pair was however, back in court yesterday facing fresh charges of a similar nature.

They reportedly swindled several victims of $1 552 427 through the pyramid scheme before using the money to buy forex on the black market.

This time the brothers were not so lucky as they were remanded in custody to today for bail ruling after prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti strongly opposed bail.

Mr Mutsokoti argued that the State had a strong case against the brothers who faced a serious offence and were likely to face a prison term if convicted, hence this would induce them to abscond.

Mr Mutsokoti added that the pair were also wanted by other police stations following reports by several others who have complained they were scammed.

In response, Romeo and Tinashe argued they were proper candidates for bail saying they were of fixed abode. They distanced themselves from the criminal act arguing they were also victims of the pyramid scheme having invested their money.

After hearing submissions from both parties, magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko rolled over the matter to today for ruling.

When they appeared in court on Tuesday, the brothers were being accused of receiving $33 000 through their EcoCash merchant code 017223 from Makosa.

After depositing the money, Makosa is said to have called the two who promised to pay back her full amount plus profit the following day.

The pair, the court heard, switched off the mobile phones they were using to communicate with her and also blocked their merchant line. After one week, Makosa tried to call them but they were unreachable prompting her to make a police report.

On the fresh charges yesterday, it is alleged that between April 1 and 20, Romeo and Tinashe hatched a plan to defraud unsuspecting individuals and posted an advert on Facebook through their company Getrich Investments offering 100 percent profits to anyone who would deposit money through their EcoCash merchant number.

However, after receiving the money from several people, they allegedly switched off their mobile phones.

-State Media

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

• USD to ZWL$: 25.00
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.7381

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

• OMIR $69.29
• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com  $51
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com $49
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info $45.00
• USD to BOND: zimrates.com $37.20

More: marketwatch.co.zw

In the first case of its kind, a Harare man has been taken to court for disclosing another person’s Covid-19 positive status on a WhatsApp group in contravention of the Public Health Act, which provides for patient confidentiality.

Jimmy Mhlanga (40), who resides at 41 Divaris Flats, Bluffhill, is employed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and is stationed at its Eastlea Depot.

He appeared before magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko on Saturday charged with contravening section 39(2) as read with section (3) of the Public Health Act, chapter 15:17 “disclosing information relating to one’s health status, treatment or stay in health establishment.”

He was granted $500 bail and would be back in court on June 4 for his routine remand.

According to the prosecution led by Mr Terence Mashaire, Mhlanga reportedly used his mobile phone to disclose the positive status of a Covid-19 patient, her particulars and also revealed details of police members suspected to have made contact with the patient on a WhatsApp platform group named ‘Think Tank No under 18.’

Mhlanga reportedly disclosed the information without the consent or authority of the patient, the court heard. It is the state’s case that the cellphone used to commit the crime was recovered from him, while the WhatsApp message was also found in his cellphone and is being held as an exhibit.

According to the state, members of the group who received the said message will be called as state witnesses.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A picture of Parirenyatwa hospital nurses weraing bedsheets is doing the rounds on social media.

The deveopment comes at the backdrop of massive resignations by nurses from public health institutions due to potential exposure to the novel coronavirus and poor salaries.

Citizens here have blasted government over its falure to provide the health care givers with PPEs.

Hopewell Chin’ono, a journalist claims that this is as a result of massive looting of national resources by a company close to president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

He alleged:

These are nurses at Zimbabwe’s BIGGEST hospital, Parirenyatwa, wearing BEDSHEETS as an alternative form of Personal Protective Equipment.‬ ‪This is in a country where a company close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa has LOOTED BILLIONS of dollars, yet Mnangagwa can’t provide PPE for nurses and doctors!