A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) has urged the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) to consider suspending penalties for motorists who failed to renew their vehicle licences by March 31, 2020, saying they were hindered by the lockdown.

A statement released by the Forum read in part:

The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration is demanding penalties of $150 from motorists who failed to renew their vehicle licences by the 31st of March 2020, when the licence registration term expired.

Zinara closed its offices from March 30, 2020, when the lockdown commenced and remained closed until May 4.

As a result, members of the public whose vehicle licences expired on March 31, 2020, were unable to renew.

The Forum has since written to Zinara demanding a reversal of the penalties for those affected by the lockdown.

In particular, the Forum noted in the communication to Zinara that Zinara placed an advert in the local media advertising few places in Harare only where licensing of motor vehicles could be done during the lockdown period.

However, only motorists with vehicles engaged in essential services, or those permitted to move by the regulations could renew their licences.

-Daily News

By A Correspondent- The fight for MDC-T presidency has taken a new turn amid reports of a plot to push out acting party leader Thokozani Khupe from the race because of her close association with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).

Khupe’s MDC-T and several other fringe opposition parties are members of the Mnangagwa-initiated platform to resolve the country’s political contestations, but MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has sarcastically dismissed the platform as a “Zanu-PF choir”.

Khupe has since threatened to take over Chamisa’s party on the strength of a recent Supreme Court ruling that recognised her as acting party president and ordered the warring factions to revert to the MDC-T structures of 2014.

But Douglas Mwonzora, who assumed the post of MDC-T secretary-general following the Supreme Court ruling, has reportedly started campaigning for the party presidency against two other contenders, Morgen Komichi and Gift Chimanikire. Mwonzora is in charge of organising an extra-ordinary congress (EOC) to choose the MDC-T’s substantive executive.

“The structures are clear that Khupe can’t be our president because she is too compromised, she is seen as a Zanu-PF project and they don’t even want her to remain acting president for three months, they want the EOC to be done faster,” a Mwonzora aide said.

“Khupe has never been in the contention for MDC presidency, she was vice at (founding leader) Morgan (Tsvangirai)’s death, that entitled her to act pending EOC. But it ended there. She has to be re-
alistic. The moment is not hers,” the source said.

Former MDC-T secretary-general Nixon Nyikadzino, who has appointed himself acting party president, said Khupe stood no ground against Mwonzora and Komichi.

“She has thrown herself to the wolves. They are using her to satisfy their own ends. For instance, Komichi can’t claim to be a constitutionalist now, when he was the one who presided over the elevation of Chamisa to the position of president. She has fired herself from our party and she is going to fall by the wayside in Mwonzora’s MDC, it’s a dog eat dog affair,” Nyikadzino said.

But Komichi insisted he was well grounded to take over the party leadership.

“In Gwanda, people are phoning me, in Binga they are also calling me. They are committing themselves to come, they are prepared even to sell their goats and cattle to come and attend this congress. They are prepared to come and sleep outside for the sake of this congress. Some people are saying to me ‘Morgan Tsvangirai has risen from the dead’. They are saying our party is back on track,” he
said.

Komichi, however, said it was up to the people to elect him into the presidency.

“It is up to God and the people to decide the position they want for me. That question is, therefore, really difficult for me to answer, it is up to the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chamisa has ramped up his MDC Alliance party structures to ring-fence his position and those of his allies, with his close confidante Jameson Timba saying they would stop Mwonzora’s machinations.

“We are not worried about Mwonzora, he is a small boy. He will be stopped politically. We are looking for solutions that will change the country and not to satisfy a few individuals who are power hungry. This matter will be decided by the people,” Timba said.

On Saturday, Chamisa’s loyalists gathered at the party headquarters in Harare with legislator Johanna Mamombe where they vowed to defend their youthful leader as lawyers brainstormed over a legal solution to the leadership wrangle in the MDC camp.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema has threatened to deregister private schools demanding “extortionist” fees for e-learning programmes, taking advantage of the current lockdown.

Schools were supposed to open last week for the second term, but remain closed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak which has kept millions of learners globally out of the classroom.

A number of private schools have commenced e-learning, but there are complaints from parents and guardians that the fees demanded, even in foreign currency, were exorbitant.

The schools say they need the funds to cover fixed costs.

Mathema said some of the fees and levies being charged by some schools border on criminal activity.

“Some very high fees and levies that have been brought to my attention, including in foreign currency, appear extortionist and we should not have this in education. Section 17 of the Education Act provides for the cancellation of registration by the secretary,” Mathema told journalists on Saturday.

“Section 21 of the Education Act provides that no responsible authority shall charge any fee or levy or increase any fee or levy without the approval of the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. This is not an issue that was ever considered necessary given the co-operation that existed in the education sector. However, the spirit of some of the non-State players in the sector is no longer clear.”

“What the nation has experienced recently, where such school initiatives appear to be construed as part of the second school term, with schools giving deadlines to parents and guardians for the payment of unapproved fees or levies, is not acceptable. I would want all of us to work as a team for the good of our children,” he said.

“I cannot emphasise enough the need for all schools to abide by the law and culture of consultation. We have a responsibility to be fair to our learners, parents and guardians. No school should attract our attention by doing wrong things.”-Newsday

By A Correspondent- At their peak, commuter omnibus drivers and conductors bragged about netting double the salary of teachers within a month, but the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) has pauperised and silenced the raucous individuals.

Their story mirrors the larger image of society, where many people who survive on “less than a dollar a day”, are finding it hard to make ends meet during the national lockdown.

“For the six weeks that I have been at home I have used all the money which I had. When the lockdown started, we had not anticipated it would take this long and every cent that I had saved has been wiped out.

“I normally get paid every week, and the money goes straight to food and rent. I have no bank account, where I can say I had any savings, like some businesspeople and well-paid people do. Right now I have been struggling to buy food or even pay rent, because I have no other means of making money,” 36-year-old Trymore Gumbo, a commuter omnibus driver, said.

When he went through a similar experience in 2008, when the country suffered a serious economic meltdown, Gumbo briefly fled to South Africa, where he got a job to meet the demands of his family.

However, with the coronavirus pandemic, the borders are closed and there is no other option, leaving Gumbo and millions others at the mercy of the trials and tribulations brought about by the virus which originated in Wuhan Province, China, and traversed all the corners of the world.

He said his story resonates with that of his peers, who have also been grounded over the past six weeks.

While the government relaxed the lockdown regulations last Friday, which allowed formal commercial and industrial businesses to open, commuter omnibuses have not been allowed to operate, except for a few government-registered buses owned by the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) and a few private players registered under the government-owned company arrangement.

With over 85 percent unemployment rate, Zimbabwe’ s economy is largely informal, with millions owning vending stalls and involved in informal money-making businesses.

All these people have not yet been allowed to operate under the relaxed conditions, inflicting more misery in their lives in an already bad economic situation.

This was also made worse by the government’ s decision to demolish stalls of illegal vendors, who have been surviving on these market places.

Namibia-based political analyst Admire Mare said the lockdown regulations had disrupted people’ s livelihoods and spelt doom for many in the informal sector.

“Most of the people will not be able to restock after the lockdowns while others will have no market stalls to go back to after they were demolished.

“The situation presents a cocktail of socio-economic crises that the country will have to deal with once lockdown is lifted.

“Some of the informal traders will struggle to send their children to school and pay rentals because they survive from hand to mouth,” Mare said.

Without a precise direction on when the current lockdown measures are likely to be lifted and though it is a necessary evil, it has left a number of families in limbo, with no idea where to get the next meal.

Another political analyst, Maxwell Saungweme, said the lockdown was pushing people into a poverty abyss, with chances of triggering civil strife due to economic desperation.

“The lockdown just pushed people into deeper poverty as most people were just a day or $1 away from abject poverty. It’ s sad.

“We are likely to have civil strife as a result of economic desperation if nothing is done to provide relief and bailouts to small businesses and social grants to the poorest people,” he said.

Rashweat Mukundu, a political analyst, said the lockdown was a devastating economic blow to the majority of the people in Zimbabwe, especially those who survive through the informal sector.

“And for some strange reason when the government talks about relaxing the lockdown measures, this does not accommodate the mainstream economy in Zimbabwe, which is in fact the informal sector and not necessarily the formal sector.

“There is increased lack of food, leading to malnutrition, leading to complications amongst those vulnerable groups in our society, many of whom were already suffering from a lack of public service, be it water and other amenities,” Mukundu said.

He said Zimbabwe has a significantly high rate of people living with HIV who need food, medicine, water and other basic necessities.

“We will come out of this Covid-19 pandemic with significantly increased cases of extreme poverty, amongst the majority of our people, which may exacerbate social tensions, which may result in more polarisation, protests and of course attacks on the government for its failures to address the economic problems,” he said.

The analysts’  sentiments also come after the Women’ s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) recently raised concerns over the demolitions of vendors’  stalls.

“We condemn in the strongest terms, the demolition of vending stalls in markets in Harare, we recommend a progressive and consultative approach to the sector that literally holds over 60 percent of Zimbabwe’ s economy.

“We remind government that in all provinces across Zimbabwe, informal traders are highly organised and fully capable of meaningful and progressive engagement. Government should therefore play an appropriate role in facilitating and supporting a broad-based engagement practice.

“We call upon government to resist the temptation, to set a standard, of the re-organisation of the informal trading spaces, which is driven and facilitated by a non-consultative and non-response approach,” WCoZ said.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Interim MDC president Thokozani Khupe has said that the party will hold its extraordinary congress on July 31, this year.

This comes as rival Nelson Chamisa has dispatched his close allies to the party’ s structures around the country, in a bid to retard Khupe’ s recent momentum.

Preparations for the extra-ordinary congress are said to be at an advanced stage.  

A council meeting held by Khupe also resolved to set up a committee to investigate malpractices by Chamisa team members and anyone found on the wrong side of conduct will be dealt with accordingly.-DailyNews

Government has urged private transport operators to register with Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) in order to resume their services during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

told ZBC News during an assessment exercise of health facilities in Bulawayo on Saturday, that for private transport operators to be classified as official service providers they have to register with Zupco so that they can operate during the lockdown period.

“We have talked to Zupco management to say in order for commuter omnibuses (kombis) to be on the road they should surrender under ZUPCO so it can be managed as one.

Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo said government wants to re-organise the transport system so that it also tax compliant.
“All we are trying to do is organise so that we have proper transportation networks.

“When the President announced the lockdown he said official business will remain open.

“Official business is one that is paying tax. We must slowly as a country go back to that system. We don’t want our kombi operators to die of hunger. The kombi remains yours. Zupco brands it and gives it routes. Same applies to those with buses,” Moyo said.

-Online

By A Correspondent- Government has urged private transport operators to register with Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) in order to resume their services during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

A senior government official made the call during an assessment exercise of health facilities in Bulawayo on Saturday, adding that for private transport operators to be classified as official service providers they have to register with Zupco so that they can operate during the lockdown period.

Said the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo

“We have talked to Zupco management to say in order for commuter omnibuses (kombis) to be on the road they should surrender under ZUPCO so it can be managed as one.

“All we are trying to do is organise so that we have proper transportation networks.

“When the President announced the lockdown he said official business will remain open.

“Official business is one that is paying tax. We must slowly as a country go back to that system. We don’t want our kombi operators to die of hunger. The kombi remains yours. Zupco brands it and gives it routes. Same applies to those with buses.”

Meanwhile, ZUPCO has donated over 2 million Zimbabwean dollars towards the fight to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

-online

By A Correspondent- Prominent businessman and cleric Shingi Munyeza continues to go against the grain by speaking out against the government and the political system in the country.

Munyeza who is one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisers due to his position as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) warned that the “toxic and oppressive political system” which is ruling Zimbabwe is about to self destruct.

Munyeza made the spirited remarks during a sermon to his Borrowdale Community Church which was streamed online. In the hard-hitting sermon, Munyeza did not mention any names, but likened President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Biblical Egyptian Pharoah, in the Old Testament.

The Pastor even quoted lyrics from popular musician Winky D’s hit song ‘Ijipita’ (Shona name for Egypt). Said Munyeza in part,

“At a national level, Zimbabwe has been ruled by a toxic and oppressive political system. Enough is enough! The occult cannot continue to subjugate, abuse and oppress us as a people anymore because God wants to deliver us as a nation.

“The Egyptians of old had a system of slavery in the days of Moses, they had a system of how they had to put the entire children of Israel under subjugation, under abuse, under brutality. We have the same system even in our time, in our nation, we have an Egyptian system.

“Winky D once sang ‘Ijipita’ (Shona name for Egypt), that is a cry of a society that knows bondage. That is a cry of communities that have suffered immensely under a system of subjugation, brutality, corruption and lack of leadership to take them out of their squalor and poverty.” as per Zimlive.

Despite his position on the President Advisory Council, Munyeza has of late been going against the grain and speaking out for the people citing the economic and political woes in the country. Munyeza called on the young people to rise up saying that those who sustain evil will fall on their swords.

“When systems of brutality and oppression are in place, the strongmen and women running them don’t think the day will end. Pharaoh didn’t know that this system was about to end when Moses arrived on the scene. When the enemy is seeing us as slaves, as those that are down and out, God in his sovereignty is going to start seeing us as a mighty army. As a people, as communities, as families and indeed as a nation, we are going to rise up as a mighty army of God.

“It’s going to happen because of the younger generation. Our young people need to rise-up. I’m praying that the strongmen and strong women who have sustained evil and brutality will fall on their own sword, like Haman who had orchestrated the annihilation of Jews (in the Book of Esther).

“Haman had prepared gallows for Mordecai because he was the leader of the Jews. But the tables turned overnight, and guess who was found hanging in a not-so-distant future, overnight? It was Haman himself. I would like to say these strongmen and strongwomen must hang from their own gallows, the gallows they prepared for others.

“They have no point of return because they are satanic, and eventually they go into self-destruction. They don’t turn back. They continue to go forward to their end, to self-destroy. We’re going to see the same thing in our time, even in our very nation, we’re going to start seeing the brutality, agents of darkness, agents of strongholds of brutality falling one by one. This is what God says,”

By A Correspondent- Martha Muzira (75) from Matoto village under chief Serima in Chatsworth, Gutu district, succumbed to the venom of the serpent, reputed to be one of the deadliest on the African continent after it struck her on the hand and head, but not before wrestling and killing it.

An elderly woman from Serima in Chatsworth, about 58 kilometres north of Masvingo died on Monday after she was bitten by a Black Mamba which she stumbled on in her granary.

Masvingo police confirmed the incident which occurred as the elderly woman was selecting some beans in her granary. Provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said that Muzira was alone at her homestead when the incident occurred.

Chief Insp Mazula said Muzira was selecting beans in her granary when the snake first struck her on the hand and she started battling with it whilst holding it with bare hands.

During the commotion, the snake struck Muzira again on the forehead before she eventually killed it but soon succumbed to the snake’s venom.

As Muzira battled the serpent, a 14-year-old boy who was passing by her homestead saw her and rushed to inform her neighbour, Ronika Chihota, (70), who rushed to the scene and found Muzira still alive but losing consciousness. Chihota performed some first aid on Muzira but it failed and she died on the spot.

Police havebeen deployed at our Bulawayo Provincial offices. Last week Mwonzora wrote to the Police requesting for their assistance to forcefully take our offices. We are monitoring the situation. We have occupation and title to the offices which cannot be violated by brute force pic.twitter.com/uvZO0uf310

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) May 10, 2020

Government has urged private transport operators to register with Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) in order to resume their services during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Speaking to ZBC News during an assessment exercise of health facilities in Bulawayo on Saturday, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works Cde July Moyo said for private transport operators to be classified as official service providers they have to register with Zupco so that they can operate during the lockdown period.

“We have talked to Zupco management to say in order for commuter omnibuses (kombis) to be on the road they should surrender under ZUPCO so it can be managed as one. All we are trying to do is organise so that we have proper transportation networks. When the President announced the lockdown he said official business will remain open. Official business is one that is paying tax. We must slowly as a country go back to that system. We don’t want our kombi operators to die of hunger. The kombi remains yours. Zupco brands it and gives it routes. Same applies to those with buses,”

Meanwhile, ZUPCO has donated over 2 million Zimbabwean dollars towards the fight to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has reinstated former Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Somveli Dlamini as a councillor for Ward 9 after reversing his earlier decision declaring the seat vacant.

This comes as the other 10 Victoria Falls councillors met as a full council last Thursday and elected Ward 5 Cllr Richard Mguni (55) as the new mayor to replace Cllr Dlamini despite objection by management. Cllr Mguni (55) who has been a councillor since 2013, beat Ward 4 Cllr Patricia Mwale by six votes to four.

Cllr Mwale had been acting mayor since the expulsion of Cllr Dlamini. Minister Moyo reinstated Cllr Dlamini on the basis of a letter written by Mr Douglas Mwonzora who is secretary general of the MDC-T of 2014, as per the recent Supreme Court ruling which recognised Dr Th okozani Khupe as the party leader.

In a letter dated May 5 seen by Chronicle and written to Cllr Dlamini and Victoria Falls Municipality, Minister Moyo said the former mayor has been reinstated with immediate effect without loss of benefits.

“Following receipt of a letter from the secretary general of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) stating that it is reversing your recall, I hereby withdraw my letter of 25 March 2020 dismissing you from council. You are hereby re-instated as councillor for Ward 9 Victoria Falls Municipality without loss of allowances,” said Minister Moyo.

He did not say anything about the mayoral position. On March 25, Minister Moyo wrote to Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube advising that ward 9 was now vacant in terms of Section 278(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as read with Section 129 (1) (k) of the same document, following expulsion of Cllr Dlamini by his party MDC –Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa.

Minister Moyo had said the seat had been rendered vacant in terms of Section 121 of the Electoral Act and advised the local authority management to notify the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the vacancy. Th e notice to Zec was made and Minister Moyo ordered that the municipality recovers all assets in Cllr Dlamini’s possession. It emerged Cllr Dlamini had written a resignation letter to Mr Dube on March 20 indicating that he was resigning from the position of mayor of Victoria Falls with effect from July 31, 2020.

The former mayor said he resigned following extensive consultation with his party leadership.

Cllr Dlamini did not attend last Thursday’s council meeting held at the Rest Camp to allow for social distancing as the usual council boardroom is too small to observe the one-metre apart sitting arrangement.

Mr Dube said: “We recognised the recall and we recognise the reinstatement.” Ward 6 Cllr Ephias Mambume moved a motion to elect a new mayor although municipal management had requested deferment of the matter to allow for time to further consult.

“The letter by the Minister is for us to take note of developments and there is very little we can do. However, aft er the former m a y o r ’ s resignation, the office becomes vacant and we should elect a replacement,” said Cllr Mambume.

Cllr Dlamini was expelled by MDC Alliance through a letter written by the party’s secretary Mr Charlton Hwende on February 24 on allegations of violating party rules and undermining protocol. Th is was the third time the Nelson Chamisa led party had fired Cllr Dlamini for allegedly defying his superiors before re-instating him since 2018.

MDC Alliance leadership wanted Cllr Dlamini to resign from his position as Victoria Falls Mayor to pave way for the party’s preferred candidate Cllr Margaret Valley of Ward 1.

Cllr Valley did not contest the Thursday election.

Cllr Dlamini approached the High Court challenging his party’s decision to recall him but later withdrew the lawsuit.

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) will institute internal disciplinary proceedings against six police officers who allegedly brutalised two women from Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb for allegedly violating lockdown regulations.

Simbarashe Bvekwa, Tichaona Zariro, Patson Gumoreyi, Zibusiso Masuku, Elizabeth Denhere and Christabel Munyondo were arrested on Friday for allegedly assaulting the two siblings aged 30 and 36 years.

The suspects were briefly taken to Western Commonage Magistrate Court on Saturday but the case could not start as the case was referrred back for further investigations as prosecution noted contradictions between victims’ accounts and evidence before the court.

In an interview yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the suspects who are facing criminal charges will also be subjected to internal disciplinary process.

“Certainly they will be subjected to internal disciplinary process. I can’t specify when investigations will start because that would be tantamount to revealing their charges before the officers are served. What is important is that they will face charges,” he said.

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) last week initiated investigations leading to the arrest of the police officers.

The commission condemned the alleged police heavy handedness saying it was unwarranted.

The women detailed how the officers assaulted them and detained them overnight at Cowdray Park Police Base after refusing to let them pay fines.

The siblings, names withheld, were arrested on April 16 at a supermarket in the suburb where they had gone to buy food for their children.

Pictures of the battered and bruised women have since gone viral on social media.

The women alleged three cops picked them out from a queue at the supermarket and cuffed their hands behind their backs.

The officers allegedly force-marched the victims through a bush to Cowdray Park Police Base, making frequent stops along the way to beat them with the batons.

Commenting on the incident last week, Asst Comm Nyathi said police officers should be professional while executing their duties.

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

“They should stick to the mandate which the police have in terms of the constitution of the country, in terms of the deployment which would have been done by their commanders. So, anyone who goes outside the deployment order and does their own things will face the full the wrath of the law,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

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

We present his statement in full below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amos Chibaya, a senior official of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change was this Sunday involved in a ‘near-death’ road accident just before the Runde river on his way from Gweru to Zvishavane.

Most people have viewed the accident as an attempt by the President Mnangagwa-led administration to kill the MDC-Alliance organising Secretary.

Among those who suspect foul play is Zimbabwean journalist and filmmaker, Hopewell Chin’ono who is a staunch critic of President Mnangagwa. He posted on twitter saying:

In our country, many opposition leaders/critical voices have been killed through accidents.

Today the MDCA organising secretary Amos Chibaya was involved in an accident.

A stationary car driven by a CIO officer suddenly made a U-Turn & collided with Chibaya according to the MDCA

HIs remarks echo those of MDC activist, Pedzisai Ruhanya also tweeted saying:

ZANU PF politics has graves. The target against MDC Organising Secretary Hon Amos Chibaya is not a mistake. They know he organises the party, supporters and crunch time is waiting Mwonzora, Khupe, Mudzuri and Komichi so MDC @nelsonchamisa must be crippled. Systems footprints.

Eyewitnesses reported that a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative Norman Kujoka made a u-turn in front of Chibaya’s approaching vehicle ramming into the front of the car.

Watch video downloading below:

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

Reaf the party’s statement in full below.

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

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

Below is Chamisa’s Mother’s Day message:

This Mother’s Day…

Mums are the glue that holds us all together.

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

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

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

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

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

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

By Farai D Hove | In a classic Gwesela (1983) style operation, “Dhagi” screaming youths numbering 9, have announced intention to commit a crime.

IN A COUNTRY LIKE ZIMBABWE DURING LOCKDOWN, WHO HAS THE AUDACITY TO STAND OUTSIDE, GROUP THEMSELVES INTO A SMALL CROWD WITHOUT ANY MASKS, SHOOT A VIDEO AND NEVER GET ARRESTED?

The 9 who include a frail young woman in a late night vest, loudly speak while posing on camera full-face -full-body, they are staying over into the night in Highfields where they have heard that Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mashavire are physically present. The mention of the two is an indirect to direct inference to the Nelson Chamisa court case, which matter points the accusing the finger at the MDC Alliance leader that he is the one who sent these youths.

The development comes short in the heels of the famous TV whistleblower Shepherd Yuda, a day before revealing that the military is seeking to blame Chamisa for trumped up terrorism charges using fake criminals who are on assignment to smear Chamisa.

The method has been used by the military since 1983 when they began shooting thousands of civilians saying they were after a fictitious terrorist named Richard Gwesela. The latter was killed by a newspaper article, literally, just before the government signed a unity accord with the opposition political party although this was after the killing of more than 22,000 black Zimbabweans from the Southern region.

If this method succeeds, the military will arrest Nelson chamisa and jail him, says Yuda in a video program on Saturday.

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

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

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

Chibaya was travelling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

He was in the company of three other people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Extraordinary Congress is the only remedy.”

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

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

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

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

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

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commutter omnibus transporters must also belong to bona fide associations.

Passengers Association Of Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Goliati

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

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

Read the statement:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We present his statement in full below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We present the party’s statement in full below.

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

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

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

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

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

He tweeted:

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

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

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

Where did all those megadeals go?

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

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

— Makomborero Haruzivishe (@MakomboreroH) May 10, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the opposition in the National Assembly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

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

This will happen at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

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

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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

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

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

Chibaya was travelling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

He was in the company of three other people.

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

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

Below is Chamisa’s Mother’s Day message:

This Mother’s Day…

Mums are the glue that holds us all together.

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

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

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

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

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

Advocate Nelson Chamisa

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

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

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

Chibaya was traveling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

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

He was in the company of three other people.

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

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

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

Watch the live video loading below…

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

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

——-
Jonathan Maphenduka contact 0772 332 404

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

Chibaya was travelling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

He was in the company of three other people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Standard

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

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

One of the officials said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mathema said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

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

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

Chibaya was traveling from Gweru to Zvishavane.

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

He was in the company of three other people.

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

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 10, 2020

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

Watch the live video loading below…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Said Mugabe:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch the live video loading below…….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Mayorship is acquired through elections by councillors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch the live video loading below…..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Extraordinary Congress is the only remedy.”

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