By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe on Saturday morning recorded two new coronavirus cases in Harare, according to Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Chamisa posted on microblogging site Twitter that he was informed of the development by City of Harare authorities.

He wrote:

I have just been informed by City authorities that we have two new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Harare this morning. Please take preventive measures and exercise extreme caution wherever you are. We must together ACT to stop the virus from spreading. Remember to always wash your hands.”

By A Correspondent- Aston Villa and Zimbabwe international footballer Marvelous Nakamba has launched the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation back home.

The Hwange-born midfielder also revealed that the Foundation has so far paid tuition and exam fees for 1 000 young people and will continue to offer various kinds of support. The Foundation’s objective is to help and support local people who are in need and to improve the livelihood of young people.

He said:

 Great News! I have successfully launched the Marvelous Nakamba foundation in Zimbabwe. The purpose of the Foundation is to help and support our people in need and improve the livelihood of the young generation.

Through the Foundation, we have managed to fund 1 000 young people with their Education tuition and exam fees. We will continue to reach out to more young people who can benefit from this support.

Earlier this month, Nakamba reportedly applied for land from the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to build a facility that will develop young talent and share life skills with youths.

Although details on the initiative were sketchy, the development came after Nakamba last year told BCC that he believed his move to England will help inspire young Zimbabwean footballers to aim higher.-Wires

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said two of the five armed robbers killed in a shoot-out with police along Glenara Avenue in Harare on Thursday were South Africans, while the other three who were captured alive were Zimbabweans.

However, the gang leader and most wanted suspect, a hardcore criminal named Musa Taj Abdul (alias Musa Mahommed), managed to escape.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi corrected earlier media reports that claimed Abdul, who has been on the police wanted list since 1999, was among those shot dead. Said Nyathi:

Musa Taj Abdul alias Musa Mahommed is not among the arrested or shot gang members. He is still on the police wanted list.

The three dead Zimbabweans have been identified as Dennis Stanley Dube alias Dingola (29), Taurai Chitepo (36) and the other one only identified as Johnson.

The three survivors have been identified as Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Prince Zakeo (25) and Maxwell Stanley alias Dennis Mateta (25). They were all arrested on nine counts of armed robbery and are expected to appear in court this Saturday.

The deceased South African criminals’ identities are yet to be established and ZRP has since asked Interpol for help.-Statemedia

ZIMBABWE United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) workers has called for improvement of working conditions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national disaster and called for strict measures to contain the spread of the virus.

President Mnangagwa in his speech on Tuesday said gatherings of more than 100 people, including those for purposes of worship and weddings stand suspended for the next 60 days after which the suspension will be reviewed.

A ZUPCO driver who plies the CBD-UZ route Johannes Gezi said they were bound to do their job which is to transport the commuters no matter the situation but they were at risk since there were no sanitizers at ranks and in the buses while they ferry more than 100 people in most cases.

“I ferry 80-85 passengers but some go to 100 to meet their targets. We heard about the new development but there is nothing we can do. All the people you are seeing outside want to go to their respective destinations and my job is to take them there,” he said.

Asked if he had any information about the virus, Gezi said:

“We are just hearing people talking about it. We don’t have an idea on how we are going to avoid it. We work with the public day in day out.

“Like now that they are getting into the bus; we don’t have any hand sanitizers; we don’t have anything to keep us safe from this virus but we still just have to work. There is no way we can run away from it.”

He said he always moves around with a tablet of soap that he uses to wash his hands after work.

He also believes there is need for the ministry of healthy to educate the masses.
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“I think the Ministry of health has to chip in and do awareness in our buses because most of us we don’t have enough information of what is really happening out there since we spend most of our time on the road.”

Another driver who spoke on condition of anonymity said:

“We are just trying to make a living here. We are afraid that if there is an outbreak in Zimbabwe we will be the first to be affected because we don’t have protective measures. We are just going to pray because we don’t know who has it and who doesn’t.”

A ZUPCO conductor said they would appreciate if they get hand sanitizers to use before and after they have collected the bus fares.

“The money is being exchanged as usual; we haven’t changed our operations so maybe we would want to have some sanitizers.”

Meanwhile, some commuters have called on the government to increase the number of ZUPCO buses.

They believe once there are enough buses they will be able to maintain the hygiene being called for by the president.

“Maconductor acho anga achitoti itai back to back munhu wese akwane mubhazi, tatouya takapirana musana,” said a commuter who spoke on condition of anonymity

“We will be more than 100. That’s why we are asking for more buses because I know we will just be less than 80 sitting passengers.

“Once we have more busses there won’t be any problem. Just like how the commuter omnibuses operate. Munhu anongosvika opinda mubhazi hapasisina zvekuita pressure.”

A PASTOR from Bulawayo allegedly smuggled heroin, morphine and codeine weighing more than one kilogramme and worth $130 000, wrapped in a parcel that contained a small Bible, bottles of holy water and oil.

Fearless Chitiyo (41) of Nguboyenja whose church was not named in court, allegedly received the drugs from Israel after a Ms Florence Dube sent them to him.

Chitiyo was intercepted by the police at Courier Connect located at Corner 8th Avenue and Fort Street where he had gone to collect the parcel.

He was not asked to plead to possession of dangerous drugs when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure.

Chitiyo was remanded on $1 000 bail to March 31.

He was warned not to interfere with State witnesses, continue residing at his given address and report once a week at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

Chitiyo is being represented by Mr Bruce Masamvu of Mutatu, Masamvu and Da Silva-Gustavo Law Chambers.

Prosecuting, Mr Terrence Chakabuda said sometime in October last year, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics in Bulawayo, received information from Zimra officials that they had intercepted a suspicious parcel from Israel addressed to Chitiyo.

It is alleged that the parcel was opened in Chitiyo’s absence and drugs together with other valuables were recovered.

“The parcel contained a small Bible, 3×300 millilitres of holy oil, 2×300 millilitres of holy water, four small bottles of holy water, yellowish-brown lumps coated with white powder, yellow brown granules and yellowish-brown lumps coated with pink powder,” he said.

Samples were collected from each of the three packets and taken to a Forensic Science laboratory for examination.

A report from the laboratory indicated that the packets contained heroin, morphine and codeine.

On Thursday this week, detectives from CID drugs teamed up with Zimra officials and initiated a controlled delivery which led to the arrest of Selina Makate (37) of North End suburb at Courier Connect in the central business district who had gone to collect the parcel on Chitiyo’s behalf.

She was interrogated about the parcel and she allegedly revealed that it belonged to Chitiyo, her brother-in-law.

This led to Chitiyo’s arrest.

The drugs were weighed, it was established that they weighed 1,293 kilogrammes and are valued at $129 300.

Last year, a woman from Bulawayo and her boyfriend were arrested at Courier Connect for possessing 2kg of crystal methamphetamine, a dangerous drug in the same class as cocaine, worth more than $120 000.

The drug had been smuggled from India concealed under a batch of weaves.

Own Correspondent|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa, who recently banned foreign travels for all his lieutenants and civil servants and discouraged unnecessary travel by citizens is himself jetting out of the country.

Mnangagwa Is this Saturday expected to fly out of the country to Namibia to attend the inauguration of that country’s leader Hage Geingob.

Mnangagwa also assembled thousands of party followers to a Zanu PF rally in Nyanga, a day after he decreed a blanket ban on all gatherings of more than 100 people.

Zimbabwe on Saturday morning recorded two new coronavirus cases in Harare, according to Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Chamisa posted on microblogging site Twitter that he was informed of the development by City of Harare authorities. He wrote:

WILKINS Infectious Deseases Hospital, the main isolation centre for the coronavirus (Covid-19) in Zimbabwe, has once again run out of protective clothing, at a time the government is yet to dedicate funds for the response and containment of the deadly virus.

The hospital, a fortnight ago, received a donation of protective clothing, including space suits that had been given to the country’s Health and Child care ministry by the World Health Organisation (WHO) supported by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID).

Sources at the infectious disease’s quarantine centre told the Zimbabwe Independent that they had only received about 20 space suits which since have run out.
“We have been getting a number of scare (suspected) cases, and we have been using those space suits and the rest dealing with those cases,” the source said.
Healthcare workers require space suits, gloves, gumboots and N95 respirators when attending to Covid-19 patients or suspected cases so that they do not get infected.

After attending to the patient, the clothing should be burnt to stop possible infection.The UK government, through its Department for International Development (DfID), supplied personal protective equipment, computers, data services and television monitoring equipment worth £100 000 (US$128 229).

The hospital is on lockdown and does a thorough screening before admitting or conducting tests for coronavirus. Wilkins Hospital, situated in Harare’s Milton Park suburb, has 35 beds, while Thorngrove Hospital in Bulawayo has 20 for the Covid-19 response, according to Health minister Obadiah Moyo.

City of Harare Health director Prosper Chonzi earlier this month said more room would be created at Wilkins using tents. Wilkins was also not equipped to deal with Covid-19, prompting the Chinese embassy in Harare to renovate the hospital to create an intensive care unit (ICU).

“They are far from finishing because every time we get a scare they stop. There was no ICU at the isolation unit so that is what they are trying to create,” the source told the Independent.

The Chinese embassy pledged to refurbish Wilkins Hospital to make it comfortable for patients.Wilkins hospital is also short-staffed, with health personnel working long hours.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday cancelled national events, such as Independence celebrations and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) so that the money can be diverted towards the Covid-19, response. Unlike other countries, Mnangagwa fell short of announcing how much the country was committing towards fighting the virus.

“Government has decided to postpone, curtail or cancel public events, gatherings and activities. In that respect, government has postponed the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, all national independence celebrations previously planned and pending international sporting fixtures until the threat of coronavirus recedes. All these activities will resume as soon as we are satisfied that our nation is no longer at risk,” Mnangagwa said while presenting his State of the Nation Address in Harare this week.

“Resources originally earmarked for these events will now be redirected towards strengthening our defences against the coronavirus and towards drought mitigation.” — independent

Correspondent|SECESSIONIST Mthwakazi Republic Party (M11RP) has embarked on a bid to secure 20 000 signatures in the next month to petition the government, the African Union and United Nations to allow the restoration of the Mthwakazi kingdom.

The party also intends to petition neighbouring countries, the British government as well as the Queen of England.

Speaking at the launch of the petition at the Bulawayo Media Centre Monday, party president Mqondisi Moyo said the controversial move was inspired by UN resolutions minority groups must be afforded their autonomy and self-determination.

He said the UN position called for self-determination of all minority groups whose human rights were being denied and their dignity trampled on by majority ethnic groups anywhere in the world.

“We are a proud and law-abiding nation Kingdom that was established by King Mzilikazi Khumalo bringing together many ethnic groups and creating a sense of singular nationhood amongst them, that he then called Mthwakazi kingdom state.

“The colonisation of our state was never associated with that of Mashonaland or Zimbabwe as we were still a sovereign state at the time this region of Southern Africa was colonised in 1890.

“Therefore, our decolonisation could not have synchronised and associated with that of Mashonaland or Zimbabwe,” reads part of the petition.

Moyo accused the British government of fighting against the Mthwakazi Kingdom’s restoration cause.

“The British Crown also legalised the continued occupation of our kingdom state illegally by proclaiming the Matabeleland Order-in-Council on the 19th of July 1894 where it was claimed that our kingdom has been broken and replaced by a better system. Such a declaration was racist and false,” the petition also reads.

Moyo said the party intends to have secured the signatures by the end of April this year.

“We will be moving door to door securing the signatures from our membership. So far, we have already secured 1 504 signatures from our members in the diaspora. We are confident that we will reach our target,” added Moyo.

According to Moyo, the Mthwakazi kingdom is made up of Aba-Thwa, San, Asians , Chewa , Nyanja, coloureds, BaKalanga, Karanga of Mthwakazi , Nambya , Nguni , Shangwe , Dhombe Sotho, Tonga , Tswana, BaVenda, BaLemba, BaSankwe , BaHlengwe, White African and Xhosa tribes.

State Media|Two of the five armed robbers killed in a shoot-out with police along Glenara Avenue in Harare yesterday were South Africans, while the other three who were captured alive were Zimbabweans; but the gang leader and most wanted suspect, the notorious Musa Taj Abdul (alias Musa Mahommed), managed to escape.

Abdul, who is believed to be the chief architect of a spate of robberies committed in Zimbabwe between August last year and this month, has been on the police wanted list since 1999.

He was initially reported to be among the five dead robbers, but it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

“Musa Taj Abdul alias Musa Mahommed is not among the arrested or shot gang members. He is still on the police wanted list,’’ said national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in a statement.

The three dead Zimbabweans have been identified as Dennis Stanley Dube alias Dingola (29), Taurai Chitepo (36) and the other one only identified as Johnson.

Three survivors of the shoot-out — Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Prince Zakeo (25) and Maxwell Stanley alias Dennis Mateta (25) — were arrested on nine counts of armed robbery and are expected to appear in court today.

Police believe the gang was based in South Africa, just coming north to conduct its Zimbabwean raids.

The South African pair is yet to be identified and the Zimbabwe Republic Police has since asked Interpol to help establish their identities.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said investigations were linking the gang to the nine robberies.

“The police have successfully linked the gang to the nine cases of armed robbery. Some of these include the armed robbery which occurred on December 20 last year at Wessel Shop in Msasa, Harare, where they disarmed a security guard and stole a special Amadeo Rossi revolver, $160 000 and an Isuzu KB240 single cab vehicle.

“On February 5 this year, the gang went to Makoni Shopping Centre, Chitungwiza, armed with pistols, an AK47 rifle and robbed unsuspecting complaints of US$19 000, $30 000, cellphones and a Toyota Allion vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Glen View,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

He said on February 26, the gang robbed another person in Harare of US$40 000, jewellery, several pairs of shoes, a laptop, cellphones, a star pistol and Hyundai vehicle. The gang proceeded to the victim’s workplace and robbed him of US$227 250 and R28 000 but police have so far recovered US$10 000.

At the scene of the shoot-out on Thursday, police recovered a 9mm CZ pistol, a Star pistol, Bruno pistol, .38 special Amadeo Rossi revolver, FN Browning pistol, 20x9mm rounds of ammunition and 4×7.65mm live rounds.

President Mnangagwa yesterday launched Zimbabwe’s US$26 million preparedness and response plan for coronavirus aimed at building an integrated and coordinated strategy on preventing the spread of the virus causing Covid-19 and mitigating its effects.

He said coronavirus was almost certain to reach Zimbabwe, hence the need for a detailed plan to minimise its effects and spread.

“It is no longer a matter of if or but when our country will have these cases”.

The total budget will be spent in eight areas identified by the Ministry of Health and Child Care with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The areas and their allocations are:

• Planning, monitoring and coordination US$1 424 100;
• Risk communication and community engagement US$1 098 500;
• Surveillance, rapid response and case investigation US$4 159 890;
• Points of entry US$112 440;
• National laboratory system US$3 119 454;
• Infection prevention and control US$238 850;
• Case management US$4 090 540; and
• Logistics, procurement and supply management US$12 144 606.

The plan was crafted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care with technical support from other partners based on eight pillars set by the World Health Organisation.

Launching the plan, President Mnangagwa said no country was immune to the disease and Government was committed to stopping Covid-19 in its tracks.

He said given the fast rate at which coronavirus was spreading, Zimbabwe could no longer afford to continue with a “business as usual approach” and so should step up its efforts to be prepared.

“As Zimbabwe, we cannot continue with business as usual approach, as it is no longer a matter of if but when our country will have these cases,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Around 200 000 people have tested positive to the coronavirus globally and around 7 000 have died due to the disease worldwide. Closer home, around 30 or more African countries have confirmed cases of Covid-19 and in our region, seven out of 16 Sadc countries have confirmed cases.

“Considering the scale and magnitude of the spread of this virus, it is very clear that no country is immune from the disease and its impact. With our HIV prevalence of 14 percent in Zimbabwe or slightly below and malnutrition and other non-communicable diseases, especially among children, we are deeply concerned about the impact Covid-19 could have in Zimbabwe.

“This situation is a real threat to the citizens of our mother country. My Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care has put in place and continues to enhance measures to minimise the import of COVID-19 into the country and ensure health safety of citizens of our country.”

President Mnangagwa said the world over, Governments had activated emergency modes, as the number of cases, the number deaths and the number of affected countries had increased significantly.

He said although Covid-19 was first reported in China, the total number of cases and deaths outside China had now overtaken the total number of cases in China with Europe now being the epicentre of the pandemic.

Said President Mnangagwa: “The national emergency preparedness and response mechanism and surveillance and early detection of any possible cases was activated and will remain active until after the World Health Organisation has removed the global health alert. Our preparedness measures have been stepped up through heightened surveillance systems at national, provincial and district levels with special focus on all ports of entry throughout the country with mandatory screening of all visitors having already started and all our Government buildings and infrastructure should be screened with immediate effect.

“In addition, active surveillance and follow ups continue to be done to minimise the spread of the Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

“As of March 13 2020, around 10 000 travellers had been screened at our ports of entry and put on surveillance. All our hospitals remain on high alert for the Covid-19. Work is in progress to strengthen the capacity of identifying isolation centres that are able to manage severe cases throughout the country.

“There is no confirmed case yet in Zimbabwe but considering the volume of traffic and other countries in the region and internationally, we need to step up and enhance our preparedness and response to the scourge.”

The launch of the Zimbabwe preparedness and response plan at State House was also attended by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Cabinet Ministers, United Nations officials and diplomats affiliated to the country.

Zimbabwe last night confirmed its first Covid-19 case, a foreigner living in Victoria Falls who appears to have been infected in Britain but who acted responsibly on his return to Zimbabwe this week by quarantining himself as a returning traveller from an affected country and then continued isolating himself when he felt ill.

Minister of Health and Child Care Obadiah Moyo announced the first confirmed case saying the foreigner had travelled back into Zimbabwe from Manchester, United Kingdom but that the patient had been identified in timely fashion.

He urged the nation to remain calm and practise best hygiene as his Ministry continued tracing all contacts.

“Today, 20 March, 2020, National Microbiology Reference Laboratory at Sally Mugabe Central confirms that a suspected case of Covid-19 had tested positive. This is the first case of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

“The patient is a 38-year-old Caucasian male and resident of Victoria Falls who had travelled to Manchester, United Kingdom on 7 March and returned to his home in Victoria Falls on 15 March via South Africa.

“After arrival he put himself in self quarantine at home as per our advice that all travellers from Covid-19 affected countries. On realising that he was not feeling too well he contacted his medical practitioner by telephone advising him that he had a persistent cough and sneezing.

“The general practitioner alerted the local Covid-19 rapid response team from the Ministry of Health and Child Care who immediately went to assess him and recommended that he continues with self isolation at home.

“Specimens were also collected and ferried to reference laboratory for testing and continued with self isolation at home and he is showing signs of recovery after some positive management at home.

“As a result of our preparedness we managed to identify this first case in a timely fashion and ensure that he was appropriately managed. Our teams are now being assisted by the patient himself. The nation be calm as we deal with this case of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

“Let us continue with good personal hygiene,” he said.

Watch video downloading below:

State Media|Government will invoke the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act to fight high-profile corruption cases as part of a cocktail of measures to combat graft, legislators have heard.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said conviction of high profile individuals has not been easy because most of them had the means to fight back.

He said invoking the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act was one of the easiest routes to fight graft because it places the onus on the accused person to prove their source of wealth.

Minister Ziyambi said this in the National Assembly on Wednesday while responding to questions from legislators during the Question and Answer Session.

Proportionate Representative MP, Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC-T) had asked why there was not much conviction of high profile cases.

She said legislators were beginning to doubt the seriousness and political will of Government to fight corruption.

In response, Minister Ziyambi said Government was committed to fighting corruption, but there were many legal processes involved.

“What we also have to appreciate is that those that are termed ‘high profile’ are people with means that can use every available legal recourse at their disposal.

“So we would find that in most of the high profile cases, several court applications are made by the accused and that is legal because those processes are allowed,” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said they have noted the need of close working relations between the arresting details and the prosecution to avoid premature arrests.

However, Minister Ziyambi said he was happy that the National Assembly had passed an amendment to the anti-money laundering law to have a provision for asset forfeiture.

Said Minister Ziyambi: “This is an easy route to follow where the onus is on the person to prove where they got the wealth from and if they fail, then those assets are forfeited to the State.

“So we are going to use several avenues to ensure that we deal with corruption cases, but indeed, corruption cases are not very easy to prosecute as they involve people with means and those people will use every available legal process to ensure that they stall the process.”

Norton MP Mr Temba Mliswa also asked Minister Ziyambi to respond to comments attributed to Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi that some State institutions were captured.

But Minister Ziyambi said Mr Hodzi had told him that he had been quoted out of context.

“The first thing that I want to say is that the Prosecutor-General never said that ‘the prosecution is captured’.

“Secondly, the Prosecutor-General believes that he was quoted out of context. Thirdly, Mr Speaker, if I am captured, it does not translate to the Prosecutor-General being captured.

“As an individual, I am answerable for my own deeds, so if I do some misdemeanors, perhaps that is what the Prosecutor-General referred to, but in conversation with him, he believes that he was misquoted and what was reported which is what the Honourable Member is quoting — he was misquoted because they did not take in context what he was saying,” said Minister Ziyambi.

Jane Mlambo| The MDC has written to ZEC Chief Election Officer Utoile Silaigwana complaining over the disqualification of their candidate for Umzingwane ward 14 candidate whose name was allegedly changed to another ward.

According to MDC Secretary General Charlton Hwende, Nkululeko Sithole was the party’s ward election candidate in the 2018 elections but his name has since been moved to another ward.

“It has come to our attention that our candidate for Umzingwane ward 14 Nkululeko Sithole, Identification Number *** has been discovered to be from another ward,notwithstanding that he stood for the same ward 14 in 2018.

“The officers at Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) have now indicated that they discovered he belongs to another ward. One of the many ways that ZEC seeks to assist Zanu PF in these elections,” said Hwende.

Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda has suspended public hearings for the controversial constitutional amendment bill number two in line with a government decision to ban all public gatherings for 60 days.

The public hearings were due to start on the 29th of March to 4 April.

Parliament has also adjourned to the 5th of May while schools and tertiary institutions are set to shut down on Tuesday the 24th of March.

Zimbabwe has since recorded its first coronavirus case in Victoria Falls, according to health minister Obadiah Moyo.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says it will ensure President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decree banning gatherings of more than 100 people is religiously followed by “conducting patrols, surveillance and checks to ensure compliance,” as the threat of coronavirus mounts after neighbouring countries South Africa and Zambia recorded cases of the pandemic.

South Africa has so far recorded 118 confirmed cases, while Zambia has two.
The police warning comes after Mnangagwa yesterday launched a national awareness and preparedness campaign in which he indicated that “it was not business as usual because the virus is coming to Zimbabwe”.

“In view of the coronavirus pandemic and the measures put in place by the government of Zimbabwe and ZRP will ensure that all government directives and regulations meant to step up the safety and security of citizens are prioritised.

“The ZRP is working closely with relevant arms of government and appeals for co-operation from members of the public.

“The government’s ban of 100 or more people be it at church, music, soccer and any other gatherings should therefore be observed. Police are conducting patrols, surveillance and checks to ensure compliance,” said the ZRP in a statement yesterday.

Speaking at State House in Harare, Mnangagwa warned that the virus was heading to Zimbabwe.

“This is an issue of a serious disease which we can’t afford to ignore. In the last few weeks, we have had a dramatic decline in economic activities with our major trading partners.

“Indeed, this pandemic surpasses all that we experienced in Zimbabwe. In the Sadc region, seven countries out of 16 have confirmed cases of coronavirus.

“As Zimbabwe, we cannot continue with business as usual as it is no longer a matter of if, but when our country will have this disease, considering the scale and the magnitude of the spread of this virus. It is very clear that no country is immune to the disease or will be spared of its impact.

“With our HIV prevalence rate of 14 percent in Zimbabwe or slightly below, malnutrition and other non-communicable diseases among children, we are deeply concerned about the impact Covid-19 could have on the country. This situation is a real threat to all the citizens of our mother country,” said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa said the national emergency preparedness and response mechanism and early detection of possible cases was activated and will remain active until after the World Health Organisation removed the global health alert.

“There is no confirmed case yet in Zimbabwe but considering the volume of traffic between Zimbabwe and other countries in our region and internationally, we need to step up and enhance our preparedness. This calls for extraordinary measures and responses.

“So far, the pandemic has largely affected countries with advanced health systems.

“They also struggled to control this pandemic. Lessons learnt from China have shown that doing the right things at the right place and at the right time is critical in controlling the coronavirus.”

He said the country’s preparedness measures have been stepped up through heightened surveillance systems at national, provincial and district level with special focus an all ports of entry.

“Mandatory screening of all visitors entering through our ports of entry has started and all our government buildings and structures should be screened with immediate effect.

“We call upon all stakeholders to contribute to this national cause, this call to action, every sector and individual must be involved in this national response to Covid-19.

The current circumstances require extraordinary measures to curb the spread of infections. Together, we will overcome this global health challenge. We have the knowledge, the means and the resources to fight this disease. If we act swiftly, collectively, we can limit the effects of coronavirus.”

Mnangagwa added that all Zimbabweans must put aside their differences to fight the coronavirus epidemic.

“As enshrined in our Constitution, our major priority is to safeguard the health of all Zimbabweans regardless of gender, religion, age or political persuasion.

“I strongly believe that we can continue to act together and put our differences aside to do the right things … we will overcome the Covid-19.”

Daily News

SULTRY songstress Vimbai Zimuto yesterday said her forthcoming single Kupakichwa — scheduled for release next week —was meant to be a soundtrack for couples in love.

Zimuto told NewsDay Life & Style that her fans were to decide the meaning of the track based on their own interpretations.

“On this song, I will let the audiences decide the meaning but I have made a turn in my sound. Kupakichwa in Zezuru dialect means kudyiswa… The name came from my own Shona research,” she said.

She, however, said she was still playing around with different concepts for the video, but they had already shot two scenes and were still to work on the other two.

Zimuto’s fans might be hoping for something close to her 2019 single, Hapana Kwaunoenda, whose steamy visuals saw it clocking over a million views on YouTube in no time.

The dancer, who drove social media into a meltdown last year when she displayed her nudes on her social media timelines to promote the novel nude art popular in the Western world, said her latest offering was centred on love.

“The message in the track is the power of love. It portrays a man’s love for his woman. Basically the lady is talking about how her husband pakicha her,” she said.

Kupakichwa, which is a rich Zimbabwean sound, traditional and ethnic track, was recorded and produced by Track Records aka Spencer Masango and Zimuto herself.

The musician said after experimenting with different sounds in 2019, she has identified her trajectory.

– Newsday

MDC vice chairperson, Job “Wiwa” Sikhala, has written to the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) to register his fears about suspected security agents he says are trailing him.

This comes as Sikhala and other hardliners within Zimbabwe’s main opposition have called for radical action against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government, in a bid to force them to act on the country’s worsening economic rot.

The firebrand politician-cum-lawyer is claiming that since his acquittal on treason charges, he is being trailed by people he suspects are State goons.

“The write-up will serve the Law Society of Zimbabwe to have a proper and clear perspective as requested by your honourable office, of the current circumstances around myself.

“It is my humble submission, that as a member of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, it is important that the society protects and safeguards its members not to be impeded from executing their duties through political harassment,” Sikhala said in his letter to the LSZ.

“Furthermore, the exercise of my duties as per the oath I took when I was sworn in should be distinguished from my political convictions.

“My political life is totally and absolutely divorced and different from my professional duties. The two do not mix. There is no political activism in arguing a rape case in court.
“The threat to the legal profession in our country has its precedence in countries that threw fundamental principles of the rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy through the window,” Sikhala further said.

LSZ spokesperson Richard Chidza confirmed that the society had received Sikhala’s letter, adding that they were looking into the matter.

Sikhala has claimed that since his acquittal on the treason charges in February, he no longer had “a private life” due to his being trailed “24/7” by suspected security agents.

“After my acquittal on the 14th of February, State security agents came to OK Supermarket where we were buying groceries for my school children, whom I wanted to visit on the 15th.

“I did not come out of my car, but they asked some people who were around which car I was in. When my security details got wind of this, they confronted them and they rushed to their car and drove away.
“When we left on our way to my village in Gutu, they trailed us and when we got to Nyika, they parked right next to my vehicle at the Highway Shops,” Sikhala told the Daily News recently.
“When we left for home, they followed us along the dusty mountainous road to my village and it was now at night, at around 9pm. Unbeknown to them, we had two vehicles with more than 30 people.

“When we resolved to stop our vehicles in the bush to confront them, after switching off the lights, they made a U-turn and sped off,” he added.

He also claimed that during the court appearance of one of his clients in Karoi, he had been placed under heavy surveillance throughout his time in the town, until he returned to Harare.

“I did not stay in Harare as soon as I arrived on Sunday from the village. I had a court case to dispose of in Karoi.
“The matter was a trial which had been due for a long time, as I was not able to attend to it because of the exigencies of the treason trial.

“When they found out that I was at Karoi Magistrates Court, they deployed all the CIOs and members from the military intelligence in Mashonaland West there,” Sikhala claimed.
“I did not care and went on to cross examine the witness the whole day on Wednesday.
“When we decided to leave after we postponed the matter to another day, for other witnesses to come, they trailed us all the way from Karoi to my house in Harare.

“When they flagged my driver to stop between Zvimba and Norton, I wanted us to stop and hear what their problem was, but my driver refused to stop,” Sikhala added.

The fearless Zengeza West legislator was arrested in October last year on charges of subverting a constitutionally-elected government — after he told an MDC rally in Bikita East that he would work to overthrow Mnangagwa’s administration before the next elections that are due in 2023.

On February 3 this year, he filed an application for an exception to the charges, arguing that the utterances he had made at the political rally at Mandadzaka Business Centre did not constitute a crime.
Judge Garainesu Mawadze agreed with him and acquitted Sikhala after he upheld the burly politician’s application.

However, the State has since appealed against his acquittal.

LANDS, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri yesterday cleared the air on Government’s recently gazetted Statutory Instrument 62, which was being interpreted as seeking to reverse land reform.

Minister Shiri said SI62 had generated misinterpretations with some people concluding that Government was reversing the land reform, which he said was irreversible adding that only indigenous farmers and those under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) would get the opportunity to have their land back.

By indigenous individuals, Government is referring to people of Zimbabwean origin who were previously marginalised before 1980 and had acquired land either through direct purchase or through Government commercial farm schemes before the land reform.

These farmers will either get their land back or get full compensation for both the agricultural land acquired and improvements that were done on the farms.

Section 295(1) subsection 2 of the Constitution also provides for the full compensation of persons whose agricultural land was acquired yet it was protected.

“The Land Reform Programme is final and irreversible. Any sentiments to the contrary are false and are to be disrespected with the contempt they deserve.

“It is false to say that there is an intention to return land to the previous white commercial farmers and reverse the gains of the land reform. It is equally false to state that the SI62 is designed to evade paying compensation to indigenous farmers; rather it creates an avenue for these farmers to exercise that option to acquire title deeds and continue with farming activities or opt for compensation,” he said.

The minister said some of the outspoken individuals who were suggesting that Government was reversing the land reform were latter day revolutionaries who were trying to be more revolutionary than Zanla and Zipra.

“They are the same people who are shedding crocodile tears. They are not genuine and need to understand the SI62. The ruling Zanu PF and Government never supported that land belonging to indigenous people be acquired,” he said.

He said a total of 440 farms belonging to indigenous people were acquired under the Land Reform Programme and 350 such farmers were still on the acquired land while 90 farms had resettled farmers.

Minister Shiri said the 350 farmers would have their titles re-instituted while Government would consider if the 90 farmers are interested in acquiring their farms.

These will apply to a committee that will consider the pros and cons of handing back the land.

For those farms where A1 farmers were resettled, the indigenous former owners can be given alternative land since it can be costly for Government to remove resettled farms.

Government has identified farms through the land audit, which can be used for resettling the indigenous farmers.

The development of the Statutory Instrument in question was guided by the following constitutional provisions:

“Section 72, which provides for the rights to agricultural land and the vesting of all agriculture land in the State, Section 289, which provides the guiding policy on agricultural land, Section 290 that provides for the continued vesting of agricultural land in the State, Section 293, which provides for the alienation of land by State including the alienation for value, transfer of ownership and lease of agricultural land and Section 295, which provides for the compensation of indigenous Zimbabweans whose agricultural land was acquired and person whose agricultural land was protected by a Government to Government agreement at the time of acquisition,” he said.

A committee will be put in place to deal with all applications for compensation and considerations will be made in line with the SI.

The committee will decide whether or not there are individuals settled by Government on the farms. It will also consider whether or not the applicant is in occupation of the farm or part of it, whether granting the application would be contrary to the interests of defence, public safety public order, public morality, public health, regional and town planning or the general public interests and whether the State in its own discretion prefers to pay monetary compensation.

“The alienation of land in lieu of compensation is not an automatic right and each applicant will be considered on case by case basis. The alienation or disposal will only be recommended in cases where it is reasonable and appropriate to do so. The SI only expands the options open to Government in the compensation of the mentioned two categories. The people of Zimbabwe are empowered by the supreme law of the land to reassert their rights to ownership of their land,” he said.

For BIPPAs, Minister Shiri said Zimbabwe was living in a global village and had to be predictable as a Government.

“When we sign agreements, we should honour the agreements. If we are in the habit of changing goal posts no government will still do business with us,” he said.

-State media

By Takavafira Zhou| Yes, it’s now official that schools are closing earlier than had been enunciated by President Mnangagwa.

We want to thank teachers for the bold statement that we had taken to close schools on our own if the government had failed to give heed to our professional advice.

We want to thank the thousands of pupils who were ready to follow our modus operandi.

Our gratitude also goes to parents who had made bold steps to withdraw their children with effect from Monday.

We want to thank the government for accepting professional advice, and whoever is ill-informing the President must learn from this ‘Fashoda’ crisis that engagement is better than unilateralism.

To our members, we want to reiterate that vigilance demands that we must always be resilient every time. To all teachers in Zimbabwe, we must always learn to unite as brothers and sisters so that we don’t perish as fools.

We are indeed managers of the world’s greatest asset, viz, children, and must never be treated as if we are of no account, or immune to a health pandemic.

The health and safety of teachers and pupils matter

A SERIAL rapist from Bulawayo who attacked and raped a woman from Cowdray Park suburb who was coming from fetching firewood with her two neighbours was yesterday sentenced to death.

Peter Nyathi (31) of Cowdray Park struck Ms Shella Moyo (42) with a log as she was coming from fetching firewood with her neighbour before raping her as she lay unconscious.

The deceased succumbed to the injuries two days later while admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital.

Nyathi has been linked to a series of rape, unlawful entry and theft cases in Cowdray Park and Luveve suburbs.

He broke into several houses and raped women in bushy areas between the two suburbs.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese yesterday convicted Nyathi of murder with actual intent.

In passing the sentence, the judge condemned Nyathi’s actions saying he deserved to be permanently removed from society.

“You brutally cut short the life of an innocent and defenceless woman by striking her with a log resulting in her collapsing and losing consciousness.

Not satisfied with the attack, you decided to quench your bizarre sexual appetite by raping her as she lay unconsciously on the ground,” said Justice Makonese.

“Your actions were utterly disgusting and sadistic and worse still you even went to great length to cover up your conduct by peddling lies upon being asked by your wife when she discovered blood stains on your clothes and again this was a clear sign of lack of remorse.”

Justice Makonese said the murder was committed in aggravating circumstances warranting capital punishment.

“This was a murder committed in aggravating circumstances and we find you to be a callous, calculative and cruel person. The only appropriate sentence is to permanently remove you from society,” ruled the judge.

On being asked why a death penalty should not be imposed on him, Nyathi who appeared unfazed pleaded for lenience, saying he was a sole breadwinner taking care of his wife, their minor child and his 84-year-old grandmother.

Justice Makonese reminded the accused person of his automatic right of appeal against both conviction and sentence at the Supreme Court.

Prosecuting, Mr Trust Muduma said on October 22 in 2018 at around 1PM, Moyo as well as two sisters, Lilly and Laiza Gumede left Cowdray Park suburb to fetch fire wood at Esiphaziphazi Hills in the north western side of Cowdray Park.

At around 5PM on their way back, they were attacked by Nyathi and they fled in different directions. Nyathi managed to catch up with Moyo and he struck her on the head with a log and she fell unconscious.

“Nyathi dragged the now deceased to a maize field where he raped her once and fled from the crime scene.

The now deceased was rescued by Cowdray Park residents and was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where she later succumbed to her injuries on October 24,” said Mr Muduma.-State media

Government will invoke the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act to fight high-profile corruption cases as part of a cocktail of measures to combat graft, legislators have heard.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said conviction of high profile individuals has not been easy because most of them had the means to fight back.

He said invoking the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act was one of the easiest routes to fight graft because it places the onus on the accused person to prove their source of wealth.

Minister Ziyambi said this in the National Assembly on Wednesday while responding to questions from legislators during the Question and Answer Session.

Proportionate Representative MP, Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC-T) had asked why there was not much conviction of high profile cases.

She said legislators were beginning to doubt the seriousness and political will of Government to fight corruption.

In response, Minister Ziyambi said Government was committed to fighting corruption, but there were many legal processes involved.

“What we also have to appreciate is that those that are termed ‘high profile’ are people with means that can use every available legal recourse at their disposal.

“So we would find that in most of the high profile cases, several court applications are made by the accused and that is legal because those processes are allowed,” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said they have noted the need of close working relations between the arresting details and the prosecution to avoid premature arrests.

However, Minister Ziyambi said he was happy that the National Assembly had passed an amendment to the anti-money laundering law to have a provision for asset forfeiture.

Said Minister Ziyambi: “This is an easy route to follow where the onus is on the person to prove where they got the wealth from and if they fail, then those assets are forfeited to the State.

“So we are going to use several avenues to ensure that we deal with corruption cases, but indeed, corruption cases are not very easy to prosecute as they involve people with means and those people will use every available legal process to ensure that they stall the process.”

Norton MP Mr Temba Mliswa also asked Minister Ziyambi to respond to comments attributed to Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi that some State institutions were captured.

But Minister Ziyambi said Mr Hodzi had told him that he had been quoted out of context.

“The first thing that I want to say is that the Prosecutor-General never said that ‘the prosecution is captured’.

“Secondly, the Prosecutor-General believes that he was quoted out of context. Thirdly, Mr Speaker, if I am captured, it does not translate to the Prosecutor-General being captured.

“As an individual, I am answerable for my own deeds, so if I do some misdemeanors, perhaps that is what the Prosecutor-General referred to, but in conversation with him, he believes that he was misquoted and what was reported which is what the Honourable Member is quoting — he was misquoted because they did not take in context what he was saying,” said Minister Ziyambi.

-State Media

A POLICE officer left vendors and passersby in stitches when he ran for his dear life after a man accused him of allegedly instigating his arrest last year and pummelled the law enforcer all over the body.

Gratitude Muritika (25) was walking along 6th Avenue heading to Ross Camp when his accuser Prince Siziba(23)
spotted him when he was about to cross Herbert Chitepo Street.

The fuming Siziba rushed to him and pushed him.

When Gratitude was trying to figure out what was happening Siziba hit him with an open hand while accusing him of instigating his arrest some time last year.

Touts and vendors gathered around the pair while some people whistled at the spectacle.

Being spurred on by the crowd Siziba landed a fist on the hapless police officer while the agitated crowd cheered on.

Gratitude managed to escape from Siziba’s volleys and ran for his dear life while holding his hat in his hand. Siziba followed in hot pursuit. Gratitude exhibited his athletic skills as he outpaced him and ran to Mzilikazi Police Station.

He made a report of assault at the station leading to the arrest of Siziba.

Appearing before Bulawayo magistrate Amanda Ndlovu facing an assault charge, Siziba pleaded guilty.

Siziba took to the stand: “ Your Worship, I’m sorry, I was too drunk on that particular day and I can’t clearly remember how I beat this police officer. Kindly forgive me I’m the bread winner, if I go to jail my siblings will suffer.”

The magistrate remanded him out of custody to next week on Tuesday for sentencing.-B-Metro

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF must respect basic democratic principles before calling for the removal of targeted restrictive measures, MDC has said.

The opposition party distanced itself from Glen View South MP Vincent Tsvangirai’s remarks about sanctions.

MDC spokesperson, Daniel Molokele, quoted by Daily News said Vincent Tsvangirai’s position was not the party’s position.

“What Honourable Tsvangirai said is not the party’s position.

As the people’s party, the MDC remains clear and unequivocal in its stance.

We are more focused on the lifting of ‘domestic sanctions’ that the illegitimate regime has imposed on the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe.

Zanu PF must focus on opening up the democratic space at home first, and then the so-called international sanctions will naturally fall away.

Those are not economic sanctions, but they are targeted at individuals who are violating human rights.”

A ZANU PF councillor for ward 13 in Chipinge will spend the next 12 years in jail for raping a mentally-challenged patient, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, on three different occasions after threatening her with death.

David Chivhovho (49), who resides in Chief Mutema’s area, pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was convicted by Chipinge regional magistrate Chrispen Maturure.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, of which three years were conditionally suspended for five years.

Prosecutor Tembelani Dhliwayo told the court that sometime last month, Chivhovho went to the complainant’s homestead and found her carrying out her household chores.

He demanded sex from her, but she refused and he dragged her into her bedroom hut and raped her once. On another date but in the same month, he found her alone in her bedroom hut.
Chivhovho again demanded sex from her, but she refused and he pinned her to the ground, threatening her with death.

Out of fear, the complainant complied and he went on to rape her before he left the homestead unnoticed and ordered her not to tell anyone about the issue.

Using the same modus operandi, Chivhovho again in the same month demanded sex from her, but she refused.

Chivhovho went on to pull her by her blouse and dragged her into her bedroom hut.
While inside, he raped her again. He left the homestead after threatening to kill her if she divulged the incident to anyone.

However, the matter came to light after she advised other villagers about her abuse at the hands of Chivhovho.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest.
— NewsDay

All schools, colleges and universities must close next Tuesday as the Government steps up efforts to ensure any outbreak of coronavirus in Zimbabwe is controlled and minimised.

So far, no case has been confirmed yet.

While originally the Government was prepared to let the normal term end, President Mnangagwa yesterday said, in a statement, that the Government’s new decision was informed by concerns raised by parents and the education sector.

The President said while Zimbabwe had not recorded any case of the virus to date, Government thought it prudent to err on the side of caution, more so since teaching institutions had high levels of human concentration and contact.

“The decision is part of the general precautionary measures the country is taking in light of the worldwide outbreak and rapid spread of the coronavirus,” he said.

On Tuesday, President Mnangagwa said Government would advise on dates for the reopening of all schools and colleges in the country once the threat of the virus is judged to have receded.

He said March 24 should allow for an orderly closure of the institutions and for parents to arrange for the safe travel of pupils and students to their homes.-State media

Own Correspondent|Health Minister Obadiah Moyo has officially confirmed the first case of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Zimbabwe after a man tested positive for the deadly virus in Victoria Falls late Friday evening.

Minister Moyo made the announcement on national television during the main news bulletin.

Below is the Minister’s full statement:

Zimbabwe has recorded its first coronavirus case, according to Health and Child Care minister Dr Obadiah Moyo.

Moyo who appeared on national television said the infected person is a 30 year-old caucasian man from Victoria Falls who traveled to Zimbabwe from Manchester, United Kingdom.

Moyo added that the man after coming back home from UK on the 15th of March, put himself under self quarantine as per government and WHO guidelines.

Zimbabwe has had upto 14 suspected that were tested and came out negative. This case is likely to cause panic among Citizens considering the deplorable health sector in the country.

More to follow…

Own Correspondent|ZimFirst Leader Maxwell Zeb Shumba has expressed dismay over President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some churches’ defiance to both government and health experts warning for people to stop mass gatherings.

Below is full text of Shumba’s outburst posted on his Facebook page.

Very Disturbing! All the parent Churches in Western Countries are taking heed of the advice of experts on need to social distance to help contain the dissemination of the Corona Virus by canceling church service and mass. What do off-shoot of these churches and other religious mushrooms in Zimbabwe do?

They dismiss expert advice and continue to gather dangerously and selfishly exposing people to a virus that has no cure at a time when our healthcare system is in comatose. To all religious practitioners who continue to recklessly continue to call people to prayer gatherings, please take heed of expert advice, stay at home or social distance and save the your life and the lives of your congregants.

Religious zealotry is equally dangerous. So stop it. Enough of the hogwash that prayer will stop the spread of the virus . Stop it!

Same applies to President ED- holding a rallies in the midst of this scare is heartless and selfish. For example the Nyanga rally you held a day after you had declared an emergency shows how hypocritical and lack of regard of your own laws and human life you and your party are. This is no way to run a nation. Think of the people of Zimbabwe first.

The rest of the nation please take heed. Please take heed I reiterate .

See-All flights out of Zimbabwe are departing full to capacity with people escaping Zimbabwe. Why? Because they say if the virus hit shore (Zimbabwe) the results will be horrifying given the untenable state of the country’s healthcare system.

Thank you

Research into recently held by-elections in Chimanimani and Mangwe by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has shown that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)’s campaigns in both wards were “low key” compared to those of the ruling ZANU PF.

In its report, the ZESN has established that, unlike the MDC, ZANU PF sent senior party officials to preside over rallies in both wards, with Senator for Chimanimani, Monica Mutsvangwa and the ZANU-PF National Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda making their campaign vibrant.

Last week, Zanu PF enhanced its grip on the rural vote after retaining the Chimanimani Ward 16 council seat in a by-election with its candidate Charles Chinamira amassed 1 589 votes against MDC’s Erasmus Brightwell Murada who got only 231 votes.

On the same day, ruling party candidate Ndlovu Onthibile won with 339 in Mangwe against opposition’s Phuthi Sindisiwe who lost with 201 votes.

ZESN report has accused the opposition party for “low key” campaigns and failure to comprehensively deploy its agents in both wards.

“While ZANU-PF and MDC-Alliance contested both by-elections, only ZANU PF campaigns were more visible. ZESN observers reported that MDC Alliance campaigns in both wards were ‘low key’.

“ZANU-PF campaigns on the other hand were reported to be more vibrant. The party’s rallies were addressed by senior party officials.

“For instance in Chimanimani ward 16, Senator for Chimanimani, Monica Mutsvangwa and the ZANU-PF National Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda and the Member of Parliament for Chimanimani East Constituency, Joshua Sacco addressed the rally that was held at Duri Business Centre

“On election-day ZESN observers reported that polling stations opened on time with all the essential polling materials and due processes were followed in accordance with laid out procedures.

“ZANU-PF comprehensively deployed party agents in both by-elections, while the MDC Alliance only did so in Mangwe. In Chimanimani the MDC Alliance only had party agents at two of the 5 polling stations where ZESN had static observers” read the report.

MDC has been finding it difficult to win the rural vote with and it admits that it is supposed to up its game to dislodge ZANU PF from power.

However, MDC National Secretary for Elections, Jacob Mafume said: “The call for political and electoral reform is more significant now than before.

“The By-elections in Chimanimani and Mangwe both had irregularities, a skewed environment with absence of remedies for all the MDC’s calls for redress.”

“That Zanu PF declares some places no go areas is unlawful and unacceptable in a modern society. MDC polling agents were violently chased away by Zanu PF vigilantes at four polling stations in Chimanimani, exactly the same way it happened in the 2018 election,” Mafume said.

Meanwhile, the ZESN revealed that there was low voter turnout in the by-elections where it was below 50%. Turnout was 46% and 42% for Chimanimani and Mangwe respectively.

The report cited the following recommendations for the political parties:

1) Political parties should comprehensively deploy party agents during by-elections so that they can authoritatively comment on the voting process. iii. Political parties should mobilise their supporters to register as this will assist ZEC’s task of re-aligning constituency boundaries which have experienced vast demographic changes since the last (2008) delimitation exercise.

2) ZESN is of the opinion that all electoral stakeholders, including political parties need to do more to mobilise voters in their respective constituencies to register to vote and not wait for the periodic voter registration blitz that is conducted by ZEC at different intervals.

3) In light of the impending boundary delimitation exercise it is pertinent that political parties mobilise their supporters to register as this will assist ZEC’s task of re-aligning constituency boundaries which have experienced vast demographic changes since the last delimitation exercise which was conducted in 2008. Nehanda Radio

ZIMBABWE’S war veterans have demanded high government office posts and want legislators in both the National Assembly and Senate to sing the national anthem before the beginning of each parliamentary sitting.

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Defence and Home Affairs chairperson Levi Mayihlome made the revelations on Tuesday when he presented a report on the Veterans of the Liberations Struggle Bill which is currently at second reading stage in the National Assembly.

The Bill, gazetted in September 2019, seeks to repeal the War Veterans Act (Chapter 11:15), the Ex-Political Prisoners Detainees and Restrictees Act (Chapter 17:10) and provide for one consolidated Act called the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act.

Parliament sessions usually begin with a prayer which is read by the Speaker of the National Assembly and Senate president.

“War veterans are concerned that the national anthem is not sung at the beginning of each parliamentary sitting in both the National Assembly and Senate,” Mayihlome said.

Those employed in government also want immediate promotion to lofty posts in government where they are employed to boost their retirement and pension benefits.

The ex-combatants are also demanding a 20% quota share in Parliament, State institutions and in the recruitment of their children in the army, police and other State institutions.

The report on public hearings held in January also shows that ex-combatants demanded diplomatic passports, comprehensive medical cover “by a reputable medical aid company”, exemption in paying land tax, vehicle import duty and tollgate fees, among other benefits.

“A proposal was made to include a clause on automatic promotion of veterans of the liberation struggle currently working in government institutions. They suggested that serving members due for retirement should be promoted one step up in order to boost their retirement packages and pension benefits, as is the case with retiring military personnel,” Mayihlome told parliamentarians on Tuesday. 

The Bill also provides for all categories of veterans of the liberation struggle who are provided for in section 23 of the Constitution as “those who fought, those who assisted and those who were imprisoned, detained or restricted”.

“The veterans of the liberation struggle called for the Bill to have a clause which clearly states that there should be a 20% quota for war veterans in Parliament and all government institutions, as is the case with women and youth … will ensure that their welfare concerns are fully addressed, while at the same time safeguarding revolutionary values and interests,” Mayihlome added.

“Another proposal made in honour of veterans benefitting posthumously was that 20% of their children, including those of living veterans, should be offered jobs by the Public Service Commission. To this end, a call was made to incorporate a clause to read, ‘Employment of children of veterans of the liberation struggle in the public service, that is, the Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Prisons Services and other government institutions’.”

The ex-combatants are also demanding that a 20% quota of the presidential and other national scholarship schemes be reserved for their children and dependants of veterans of the liberation struggle. War veterans also said “…the Bill should incorporate a clause to address issues of exhumation of those who perished during the liberation struggle.

“They claimed that the State should take maximum responsibility on identifying the deceased and spearheading the exhumation process, thereby rendering them decent reburial at the Heroes’ Acre or their respective home shrines,” Mayihlome said.

“The same clause should seek to address gaps on adherence and reverence to cultural practices such as traditional cleansing in order to appease and put to rest the spirits of fallen heroes and heroines whose remains lie neglected either in foreign lands or from within our borders.

“War veterans called for the Bill to have a clause wherein the liberation fighters will be recognised and honoured through awarding of bravery medals as is the case with chiefs … to accord due respect, honour and recognition to veterans of the liberation struggle. In addition, new identity cards should be processed and given to each veteran of the liberation struggle.”

In 2011, exhumations of fallen ex-combatants allegedly belonging to Zanla were initially carried out by members of the Fallen Heroes Trust, a group linked to the ruling Zanu PF party, before government officials took over.

Zanla was the military wing of Zanu during the liberation struggle. The High Court stopped the exhumations following a court challenge by Zipra guerrilla war fighters. Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Philanthropist traditional healer, Sekuru Banda has successfully reconciled celebrated street theatre actors Freddy Manjalima and Charles Milisi who became household names in the late 90s as Kapfupi and Marabha respectively.

The two actors’ relationship had broken down over what called irreconcilable differences with Kapfupi pursuing a solo music career while Marabha fell on hard times after being attacked by robbers.

Speaking to ZimEye, Sekuru Banda said he was moved to act as he strongly believes in the importance of living in peace and harmony.

“It’s not proper for one to go to sleep while holding a grudge against one another. When one gets angry against a person, you would have cursed yourself and the person you have a grudge against.

“That’s why bad omen is the order of the day among many people. It’s a result of keeping grudges against each other. The curse becomes worse when one party dies without having resolved the differences. It’s very important to settle matters when both parties are still alive. The soul of a person who dies while holding a grudge does not rest. As advice, let’s resolve any differences while we are still alive,” Sekuru Banda.

After realising that the popular comedians had split, Sekuru Banda took it upon himself to look for the two in the dusty streets of Epworth. Using leads from residents, he finally located them after sacrificing some time off his busy schedule.

Kapfupi revealed that it was Sekuru Banda who bought him his first set of musical instruments way back in 2002.

“I am humbled by Sekuru Banda’s generosity. He is like a father figure to me. In 2002 when I was involved in an accident and lost my musical instruments, Sekuru Banda came to my rescue after learning about my plight through the media. I have many other episodes in which I was helped by Sekuru Banda that I am not at liberty to divulge at the moment,” Kapfupi said, holding back some tears.

He appealed to Sekuru Banda to extend the same gesture to all the people in need.

The two artists promised their legions of fans to expect fireworks following their re-union.

NewsDay|A vigilante group called the “Scorpions” has unleashed a reign of terror in Nhwali village in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, where it is accused of viciously assaulting villagers and leaving many injured.

The Scorpions are reported to have the backing and protection of Police Deputy Commissioner-General Learn Ncube, who reportedly comes from Zongwani village in the area.

The gang emerged in the last quarter of 2019 as a neighbourhood watch committees whose duty was to eradicate crime in the area but has since morphed into a terror group that is now imposing dusk to dawn curfew in the area.

Nhlanhla Moyo, one of the victims, was discharged from Gwanda District Hospital on Thursday. He said:

It all happened around 9 pm when I was on my way home. I was accosted by the thugs, who accused me of not heeding to their curfew.

I was made to roll on the ground as they whipped me with a sjambok all over the body after which they used a hammer to break my leg.

Ncube however, professed ignorance about the Scorpions and referred the Southern Eye reporter to Matabeleland South provincial police. He said:

I am not aware of such cases, probably we also have a provincial spokesperson and officer commanding province, you can find out if they received such reports or you can still check with national spokesperson Assistant Commission (Paul) Nyathi.

What I know are cases of stock theft which happen there.

… as for the Scorpions you are asking about, I do not know anything about them.

THE late former Zanu PF politburo member, Kumbirai Kangai’s widow, Miriam Kangai has won a High Court case against her step daughter, Mara Hativagone over distribution of the national hero’s estate.

Hativagone is Kangai’s eldest daughter from another relationship who in 2013, contested the decision by the Master of the High Court to authorise Miriam to use half of the money generated from the family business.

She approached the courts saying Miriam was not entitled to the 50% shareholding in Kangai’s business empire, Lunar Estates.

Hativagone, who is also former Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president, sued the Master of High Court, Eldard Mutasa, for the authorisation which she claimed was made based on fraud.

But the High Court on Tuesday ruled in favour of Miriam. Her lawyer, Vote Muza said the court dismissed Hativagoni’s case and ruled that the national hero’s widow was the major shareholder of the estate.

Judge Justice Jacob Manzunzu ruled that she should retain her 50% shareholding, while the other 50% shares held through Luna Estates, was to be equally shared among the beneficiaries.  Kangai’s former Buhera constituency was allotted 10% shares.

“The case Mara Hativagone brought collapsed after she failed to prove that Mrs Kangai was not entitled to 50% shares in Luna Estates,” the lawyer told NewsDay.

“Mrs Kangai made an application for absolution from the instance which was granted by consent of the plaintiff meaning she agreed that with the fact that she had brought a hopeless case. The position ruled by the master in 2013 that Mrs Kangai was a 50% shareholder therefore stands.”

Muza added: “Almost all of the major assets were held through the company Luna Estates and only a few movables left as residue shall be shared equally between Mrs Kangai and the surviving children of which 10% will go to his former Buhera constituency.”

Since the death of the former Zanu PF politburo member, there has been a protracted fight over Kangai’s property between his wife and children who did not want the widow to access anything from the deceased’s estate.

At one time, Hativagone was reported to the police on allegations of tempering with Luna Estates company registration papers in a bid to elbow the widow from the company.

State Media|A MAN from Tsholotsho who fatally struck a neighbour with an iron bar for having an affair with his under-age niece has been sentenced to a wholly suspended five-year jail term.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo, on circuit in Hwange said Mthulisi Dube (38) of Mlotheni area acted in self defence when he attacked Ntobeko Mathunjwa (21) who had ganged up with other villagers to assault him.

Justice Moyo also said Dube was not fit to serve a jail term because of he was of ill health.

Before start of court proceedings, the judge checked if Dube, who looked frail, was fit to stand trial.

“The court considered that the accused acted in self defence as the deceased was the aggressor who ganged up with others to attack him. The court also considered the accused’s condition hence he is sentenced to five years in jail which is wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit an offence where violence is an element,” said Justice Moyo.

Dube, who was represented by Miss Charity Manyeza of Ndove and Associates pro-deo, had pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to a lesser charge of culpable homicide.

Prosecuting, Mrs Martha Cheda said Dube armed himself with an iron bar intending to beat up Mathunjwa and Mr Millard Tshuma accusing them of having an affair with his 14-year-old niece who was in Form Two.

“On 31 August 2019 and at 6PM, the accused who was carrying a metal rod and Mr Musawenkosi Sibanda went to search for Mr Millard Tshuma who they accused of proposing love to their niece. They found Mr Tshuma at Makhaza Business Centre and confronted him. Mr Tshuma fled from the scene,” said Mrs Cheda.

Mathunjwa and Mr Given Moyo followed up on Dube and Mr Sibanda after being told about what had happened.

They caught up with Dube and Mr Sibanda along a footpath and charged at them. Seeing that Dube was armed, Mathunjwa and Mr Moyo fled, the court was told.

Dube and Mr Sibanda gave chase and caught up with Mathunjwa and struck him once on the head with an iron bar and left him bleeding.

Mathunjwa was rushed to Tsholotsho District Hospital by some villagers before being transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo where he died after admission. Doctors said Mathunjwa died of severe brain damage and skull fracture.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed industrialist and United Refineries Limited chief executive officer, Mr Busisa Moyo, as Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company board chairperson.

He takes over from Ms Ruth Ncube whose term of office ended last December. Industry and Commerce Minister, Dr Sekai Nzenza, announced the appointment of Mr Moyo in a statement today. She said the appointment, which was done in accordance with the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act, was with effect from 13 March 2020.

“The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Dr Sekai Nzenza (MP) with the concurrence of His Excellency, the President E.D. Mnangagwa, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Busisa Moyo as the chairperson of the ZITF Company board in terms of Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act effective 13 March 2020,” reads the statement

Mr Moyo is an accomplished business leader, industrialist, entrepreneur and nation-builder who has been recognised with various awards and accolades both within Zimbabwe and Internationally.

Currently, he is the chief executive officer of United Refineries Limited, one of the giant agro-processing companies in the country based in Bulawayo, and a member of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe board.

Dr Nzenza expressed confidence that Mr Moyo’s business acumen and experience would be resourceful in re-positioning, modernising and transforming ZITF into a formidable regional and international player. She paid tribute to outgoing chairperson, Ms Ncube, for her leadership and dedicated contribution to ZITF Company’s strategic direction with competence and expertise.

Mr Moyo, who is also a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee is a holder of a Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree with the University of South Africa and a holds a Global Executive Masters in Business Administration from IESE Business School (Spain).

Mr Moyo completed his Articles with Deloitte & Touche in 1999 and previously served as the chairman of the Oil Expressers Association of Association, non-executive director of First Capital Bank and president of Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI).

HEALTH experts have raised concern over the Zimbabwe’s lackadaisical approach towards coronavirus screening and detection, amid discord in the President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government on information regarding the deadly virus.

Confirmed cases of the coronavirus this week surpassed the 200 000 mark worldwide, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) urging countries to scale up testing of the virus.

Zimbabwe has been using the WHO case definition of a suspect case guidelines, possibly missing potential cases. This comes as a tourist who initially showed symptoms of the disease while in the country but was not tested because she did not meet the “case definition”, tested positive upon arrival in the United Kingdom.

Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights (ZDHR) said the guidelines had limited the number of people that were being tested.“The majority of people with Covid-19 are a symptomatic and will not meet this case definition. So there is a probability that we might be missing potential cases. Yesterday (Tuesday) WHO urged countries to increase testing more people and do contact tracing. So we urge government to test more people. However we have limited resources to test a lot of people. We have very few test kits donated by WHO, about 200 according to sources, so that’s a limiting factor,” ZDHR secretary general Norman Matara said.

He also pointed out the lack of protective clothing for the health personnel, which has made them reluctant to respond to possible cases.“We do not have adequate personal protective equipment for health workers especially in the provinces and districts. Health workers are not confident of their safety and are sceptical to respond to a suspected case,” he said.

“We also need management protocols to be taught to all the hospitals in Zimbabwe. From data from countries with high cases of Covid-19 we have learnt that about 20% of cases will require ICU admission. In Zimbabwe we have only four functional ICU beds in Harare. The identified isolation centres do not have ICU capability

“We also think that the government should put travel restrictions especially for countries with high prevalence of Covid-19. We also need a proper communication channel to dispel myths and misconceptions and also give the public information on Covid-19. We need a website and a hotline for people to access correct information. Overall we think the government is partly prepared to deal with an outbreak. These gaps need to be addressed for us to have confidence in the response mechanism.”

In his state of the nation address on Tuesday, Mnangagwa only discouraged travel to Zimbabwe by people from Covid-19 hit areas, banning gatherings of more than 100 people in the country.

He also said his government was in the process of identifying facilities that could work as isolation centres for the disease.“Kits and other accessories for screening, handling, testing and treatment continue to be availed. More isolation and treatment centres are being identified, designated and equipped appropriately,” Mnangagwa said.

Zimbabwe currently has 55 beds in the country’s main isolation centres at Wilkins Hospital in Harare and Thorngrove Hospital in Bulawayo.

Executive Director, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Itai Rusike described the country’s public health sector as very weak, poorly funded and poorly equipped to deal with a coronavirus outbreak given the low staff morale, perennial drug shortages, antiquated and obsolete equipment.

“The government needs to immediately implement strict measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) including imposing travel restrictions on foreign nationals from the high risk countries.

We were expecting President Emerson Mnangagwa to announce a total lockdown to combat the spread of the disease, such as closure of schools due to the overcrowding nature in public schools,” Rusike said.

“Yes, we do welcome the banning of the public gatherings by the government but if we don’t address the issue of overcrowding in public transportation especially the subsidized Zupco buses, availability of uninterrupted portable water supply for people to regularly wash their hands, protective gear for the health workers, test kits in our health institutions, availability of drugs and ambulance services then the president’s measures will be a futile attempt.”

He said government should recognise the importance of community participation is vital in dealing with Covid-19 pandemic.

“Openness in sharing the information on Covid-19 will allay fear, panic, stigma, discrimination and proliferation of false information that is happening as a result of lack of knowledge, information and awareness programmes on the causes, prevention, signs and symptoms of the Covid-19 disease. The general public just do not have adequate information on the disease hence their overreliance on social media and other unreliable sources of information,” Rusike said.

“This is a new disease and most of our health workers lacks confidence and are equally scared of COVID-19 and are also in need of capacity building and further training.”

Ministries in Mnangagwa’s government have been giving out contrasting information on the disease.Health minister Obadiah Moyo and Tourism minister Mangaliso Ndlovu this week gave contrasting information about the UK tourist who visited Victoria Falls this month. Moyo saying the tourist had tested positive for coronavirus days after leaving Zimbabwe, while Ndlovu said she had not.

Last month the ministries Health and Information clashed over a Thai traveller who at the time was suspected of having the coronavirus. The Information ministry revealed the person had met the WHO case definition while the Health ministry said the traveller had not been tested because of failure to meet the case definition.
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Cases of Covid-19 continues to rise in South Africa as today the 20th of March 2020 two hundred and two of cases and have been confirmed and recorded. The new confirmation of this cases was announced by the minister of health during his media briefing. 

33 new cases in Gauteng, 1 in KZN, 11 in Western cape and 7 in Free State. The Free State has recorded their new first cases today and the Free State health department has ensure the community that they will tackle this outbreak and try by all means to protect them from spreading and affecting them. 

This new cases that are recorded in Free State all of these citizens have travelled internationally and they have been quarantined in a B&B after testing and now they are in self-isolation.

And the health minister has said that 60-70% of people in South Africa will contact this disease but that shouldn’t cause any panic as people are requested to do all they can to protect themselves from this virus by practicing washing of hands daily and social distancing. 

SAA has suspected international flights that runs to and from the US, U.K and Germany immediately until the end of May. Citizens coming from high-risk countries will not be allowed to enter the country as they could be a high risk to the community they might be coming back to.

Farai Dziva| A mentally-challenged Masvingo woman stabbed to death a man who allegedly attempted to rape her last month.

The woman identified as Saru was arrested for killing the 45 year-old man who allegedly attempted to rape her.

“Saru stabbed
Ndara Kageze Musitapa twice on the chest on February 28, 2020, at LC Pharmacy in Masvingo around midnight.

Musitapa tried to force himself on Saru and she resisted.She grabbed a knife stabbed Musitapa twice on the left side of the chest,” police in Masvingo said.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that prisons are the safest places for people to be amid the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) across the world.

This comes on the back of cabinet approving the release of over 6 000 inmates serving jail time for various non-violent crimes.

Responding to a question from a reporter if the amnesty would go ahead amid coronavirus fears, Mnangagwa said the amnesty is not related to measures that have been put in place to curb the spread of the disease. Said Mnangagwa

The amnesty program has no relationship with the pandemic. In other measures, we are discouraging people from visiting their loved ones in prisons, that will be restricted. If there is a safer place now, it is the prison.

Zimbabwe’s prisons have a carrying capacity of 17 000 people but currently are home to 22 000 inmates.

A few months after becoming President, Mnangagwa granted amnesty to 3 000 prisoners in a bid to decongest prisons.

A ZANU PF councillor for ward 13 in Chipinge will spend the next 12 years in jail for raping a mentally-challenged patient, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, on three different occasions after threatening her with death.

David Chivhovho (49), who resides in Chief Mutema’s area, pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was convicted by Chipinge regional magistrate Chrispen Maturure.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, of which three years were conditionally suspended for five years.

Prosecutor Tembelani Dhliwayo told the court that sometime last month, Chivhovho went to the complainant’s homestead and found her carrying out her household chores.

He demanded sex from her, but she refused and he dragged her into her bedroom hut and raped her once. On another date but in the same month, he found her alone in her bedroom hut.
Chivhovho again demanded sex from her, but she refused and he pinned her to the ground, threatening her with death.

Out of fear, the complainant complied and he went on to rape her before he left the homestead unnoticed and ordered her not to tell anyone about the issue.

Using the same modus operandi, Chivhovho again in the same month demanded sex from her, but she refused.

Chivhovho went on to pull her by her blouse and dragged her into her bedroom hut.
While inside, he raped her again. He left the homestead after threatening to kill her if she divulged the incident to anyone.

However, the matter came to light after she advised other villagers about her abuse at the hands of Chivhovho.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to his arrest.
— NewsDay

By A Correspondent- In the wake of discovering that his wife of 12 years has been cheating on him and probably reeling from a storm of emotions, a Bulawayo man took the bold but rather unusual step when he decided to revenge by allegedly demanding se_x from the wife’s lover’s wife.

A deeply hurt Tarirai Chimutwe, a police officer stationed at Hillside Police Station in Bulawayo, incensed that his wife Ronica Chikaanwa, was being “sampled” by Soul Chandigere, decided to retaliate by also seeking a tryst with his (Chandigere)’s wife only identified as Mai Tino.

To Chimutwe time will be the best answer to heal his broken heart, after Chandigere’s wife allegedly turned down his se_x demands.

In a fit of pique, Chimutwe started insulting Chandigere’s wife claiming her husband left her for his wife because she was not bathing and was also boring in bed.

In an emotional response, Chandigere’s wife hit back while bragging that she was now madly in love with another man who was satisfying her adding that her husband was also terrible in bed.

She went on to mock Chimutwe saying his wife and his alleged girlfriends were also leaving him because he had a small “bedroom gun” that is not good enough to satisfy a woman.

Seeing that his revenge mission had hit a brick wall, Chimutwe then sued Chandigere for disturbing his peace by allegedly sleeping with his wife.

In his suit, Chimutwe whose wife’s cheating ways seem to be too much for him passionately pleaded with the court to stop Chandigere from sleeping with his wife.

In a more shocking confession, Chimutwe who stays at Ross Camp said Chandigere and his wife were always meeting at their matrimonial house in Cowdray Park for sex romps.

“I am applying for a peace order against Soul Chandigere who is my wife’s lover so that he stops abusing me by sending insulting messages. I also want the court to stop him from going to our matrimonial house in Cowdray Park where he often goes to sleep with my wife.

“He is also threatening that he will cause my wife to move out of Ross Camp to go and stay in Cowdray Park so that they will freely see each other without disturbances.

“He is also threatening me saying he is a spiritual man and will use his spiritual powers to separate me from my wife. On 29 December 2018 he also headbutted me when we met at Sekusile Business Centre. May the court bar him from going to my matrimonial house where he meets with my wife and has sexual intercourse,” begged Chimutwe while insisting that he still loves his wife despite the fact that she had cheated on him.

Chandigere, however, rubbished Chimutwe’s claims saying he was no longer in love with his wife.

“I did not assault him. He is the one who came together with five other people and attacked me while accusing me of being a thief. He also struck me with a stone.

“I am also no longer in love with his wife and I have never been to his matrimonial house. I, however, admit that I sent him the threatening messages because he was now proposing love to my wife,” responded Chandigere.

Chimutwe was plunged into deep emotional devastation when his application for a peace order was dismissed by the court.

Earlier this month Chimutwe was also shamed by his wife who claimed he forcibly grabbed her private parts before he repeatedly squeezed and pulled them so hard that she was left in excruciating pain and unable to go to the toilet for three days.

This was after his wife allegedly refused to have se_x with him and also as punishment against her for having affairs.-StateMedia