A robbery gang comprising two policemen, a soldier and cellphone dealers that had unleashed a reign of terror in Chitungwiza and Kuwadzana, using guns, machetes and axes, was yesterday remanded in custody.

During its criminal operations, the gang allegedly stole $29 350, US$6 310 and R12 000 from five victims.

Golden Magunje (30), based at Zimbabwe National Army Headquarters, is jointly charged with Watson Magodhi (37) stationed at Support Unit armoury and Ayanda Gumbo (28), also stationed at Support Unit Zulu Troop.

They allegedly committed the crimes in connivance with two cellphone dealers — Norest Hombarume (23) and Brendon Kupeta (23) — both based at Huruyadzo Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza.

Their alleged accomplices remain at large.

According to the State, Magunje bought a CZ pistol he was using to commit the crimes from Gumbo.

Magunje is facing other related charges and committed the latest offences while on bail.

The gang appeared before magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing five counts of armed robbery.

They were remanded in custody to March 30, with instructions to approach the High Court for bail due to the gravity of their offences.

Harare lawyer Mr Tawanda Takaindisa from TK Takaindisa legal practitioners is appearing on their behalf.

Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti alleges that on August 26 last year, the gang went to a house in Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza, at 11pm and waylaid the victim who had just drove into her yard.

As she was closing the gate, the gang emerged from its hiding place and forced her to open the gate.

The victim ran away towards her house but was struck on the left shoulder with an axe and sustained a deep cut.

Another gang member fired a shot at her, but missed, it is alleged.

As she lay on the ground in a pool of blood, the gang allegedly searched her car and stole $6 700, various clothing items and 20 packets of dried kapenta.

They tried to break the door of her house with an axe and failed before running away.

The following day, the suspected armed robbers went to a house in Granary, in Harare, around midnight and broke in while the complainant was asleep.

While in the house, the State alleges that the accused persons who were armed with pistols, fired shots demanding the complainant to surrender cash.

The complainant surrendered US$20, $500, a television set, DVD recorder and cellphones.

After getting the loot, they drove away from the scene.

It is the State’s case that on January 4 this year, the gang proceeded to a house in St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, at around 8pm and pounced on an unsuspecting victim who was driving into her yard and confronted her just after parking.

The State alleges that the gang, fired shots demanding the complainant to get off the wheel.

One of them took over and kidnapped the woman before dumping her after some distance.

They allegedly stole her vehicle and cash amounting to $20 000, R12 000 and US$900 and mobile phones.

Using the same tactic, the gang allegedly connived and broke into a house in Kuwadzana around 0130hrs on February 7 while the complainant and her two daughters slept in separate bedrooms.

They broke the door using machetes and hammers and again fired shots at the woman, but slightly missed her.

The complainant was manhandled before they demanded money, prompting the complainant to surrender US$1 500.

A rapist of a 15-year-old destitute Chitungwiza girl will serve an effective 17 years in jail, just over six weeks after he was apprehended by two men who reacted swiftly to the girl’s screams.

Kudakwashe Tigere (26) pleaded not guilt to rape, but was convicted after a full trial by regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire who imposed a 20-year sentence, but suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecuting, Mr Edmond Ndambakuwa, proved that on January 31 this year, at around 9am at Manyame Leisure Centre, an outdoor facility in Chitungwiza, the girl, who is a destitute, was drying her clothes on top of a rock.

Tigere called her over, but she ignored him.

He climbed the rock she was on, grabbed her and dragged her to a bushy area and raped her without protection, while she was screaming.

Two men praying nearby ran over to find Tigere assaulting the girl.

He ran off, but the two men took the girl to the police where she made her report.

The police later arrested Tigere and the girl was taken straight to hospital for the medical report that proved she had been raped.

State Media|Police have completed investigations into the charges faced by Marry Mubaiwa for attempted murder, fraud and money laundering and are waiting for relevant documents from South Africa to complete the prosecution docket.

Mubaiwa, who is the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, yesterday appeared before magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere for her routine remand.

She was remanded to May 8 after the State led by Mrs Tinashe Makiya told the court that although local investigations were complete, there were outstanding documents to be obtained from South Africa.

Mrs Makiya said there had been remarkable progress in the cases.

“Your Worship, I am in possession of the dockets for the fraud and money laundering charges,” she said.

“Local investigations are complete and what is outstanding is obtaining documents from South Africa, which are being obtained through mutual legal assistance.

“The position is the same with the attempted murder docket.”

Mubaiwa, through her lawyer, agreed to the proposed remand date, but said she was still giving notice to make an application for refusal of further remand.

She gave the notice on 14 February, but has yet to give the date when she may file the application.

Mubaiwa did not give a specific date as to when she would file the application which she gave notice on February 14.

Mr Mberewere routinely remanded Mubaiwa to May 8.

Authorities are intensifying efforts to ensure that no sick animals are accepted for slaughter and no uninspected meat is put on sale.

Officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Ministry of Health and Child Care and local authorities, among others are coordinating an upgraded operation code-named, “Nyama Yabvepi”.

Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri said yesterday that the authorities had noted with concern recent reports on social media of unscrupulous operators in the beef value chain.

“Following shocking postings on social media that abattoir operators, butcheries and supermarkets were selling uninspected meat derived from sick and dead animals, a team of veterinary public health officers carried out extensive investigations to verify the authenticity of the allegations.

“The team could not find evidence to support the claims that meat derived from sick and dead cattle was entering the human food chain,” said Minister Shiri in a statement read on his behalf by his Permanent Secretary Dr John Bhasera.

He said the Department of Veterinary Services in his ministry had the mandate to ensure public food safety through the inspection of cattle at farms or dip tanks of origin with permits only issued for the movement of healthy animals.

“Under no circumstances are movement permits issued to move sick or dead animals. The department is also charged with the responsibility of abattoir inspections and registrations as well as ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections at registered abattoirs.

“Meat inspectors from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and local authorities also carry out meat inspections at abattoirs not covered by veterinary personnel,” Minister Shiri said.

“If sick or dead animals are detected at ante-mortem inspections, those animals are not processed through the abattoirs, but are condemned and destroyed by burning under the supervision of the meat inspector. This is done to ensure infected or contaminated meat is not sold to unsuspecting public.

“Only meat that is inspected and found to be unconditionally fit for human consumption is released for sale to the public and such meat is roller marked. The public is therefore advised to buy and consume meat that is roller marked in blue ink.”

Minister Shiri said such meat was available in reliable supermarkets and butcheries in and around urban centres countrywide.

Supermarket chains and butcheries are legally obliged to source their meat only from registered abattoirs.

It is a criminal offence for any meat outlet to sell or display for sale meat that has not been processed in a registered slaughterhouse and inspected and certified as fit for human consumption.

On the current situation of tick-borne diseases, Minister Shiri said Government was very concerned about cattle losses and was doing all in its power to provide the requisite dipping services and urged farmers to be proactive and protect their cattle against January disease (Theileriosis) and other tick-borne disease like heartwater, redwater and gall sickness.

He said whenever they were no dipping chemicals at the communal dip tanks, farmers were expected to procure their own dipping chemicals from registered veterinary chemical suppliers and distributors.

“Private dipping sessions can be done effectively using registered dipping chemicals at dilutions indicated by the manufacturers. The recommended dipping regime in Zimbabwe is once every week in summer and once every two weeks in winter or dry season.

“In summer season, tick activity is usually very high. In cases of outbreaks of tick borne diseases in an area an intensive dipping regime is recommended, 5-5-4-day dipping interval regime, meaning animals are dipped three times in two weeks,” he said.

He said January Disease was difficult to treat, especially when treatment is started in the late stages of the disease while successful treatment was dependent on early diagnosis and early treatment.

“Dead animals should be immediately burnt and buried. It is an offence to sell for direct slaughter sick animals as this poses a huge public health risk,” Minister Shiri said.

He said awareness campaigns were currently underway to educate the public to desist from eating and buying meat from unlicensed sources.

The Department of Veterinary Services was working closely with the police to bring any perpetrators to book and the public should come forward with information.

Reports can be made at the nearest police station or senior veterinary officials on the following numbers: head office 0772 260 724/0712 806 710, Mashonaland West on 0773 055 175, Mashonaland Central on 0772 223 216, Mashonaland East on 0772 311 817, Manicaland on 0773 047 102, Masvingo on 0773 066 031, Matabeleland South on 0775 169 544, Matabeleland North on 0712 608 404 and Midlands on 0772 114 571.

VICE President Chiwenga has said the court cannot place his three minor children in the custody of his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, who requires to be under constant care of a surgeon, physician and a psychiatrist.

High Court judge, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda, early this year granted Mubaiwa custody of the children and restrained the VP from interfering with her access to the Borrowdale Brooke home.

But VP Chiwenga said Mubaiwa should be in hospital for the intricate and life-saving treatment.

This emerged during the appeal in which VP Chiwenga is challenging the High Court decision to allow Mubaiwa to have custody of the couple’s three minor children.

Through his lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri, instructed by Mr Wilson Manase of Manase and Manase, VP Chiwenga, told the court that having relied on her medical affidavit to secure her freedom, and without alleging that the condition had been resolved, the balance of convenience was tilted against her.

Mubaiwa was granted bail after submitting a sworn statement confirming that she “must be under the care of surgeon, physician and a psychiatrist”.

“The court cannot as uppermost guardian of the children endanger them in the circumstances,” argued Adv Uriri.

“The court saw the affidavit. Its attention was specifically drawn to it. It is the uppermost guardian of the child.

“It should, once it decided to assume jurisdiction, enquire into the matter and make findings in the interest of the children.”

The three judge panel-led by Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza heard that the court was mandated by the Constitution to take into account the best interests of the children.

Adv Uriri urged the court to have custody of the children placed on VP Chiwenga on the strength of Mubaiwa’s medical report.

In the High Court, Mubaiwa sought an order of spoliation, claiming VP Chiwenga abducted the couple’s children.

But Adv Uriri told the court that children could not be the subject of spoliation proceedings, as the law provides the proper course to charter and the remedies available where unlawful “abduction” is alleged.

“The children were not abducted,” he said.

“They were in need of care when the respondent was in prison.

“The appellant owes the children a duty of care. His sole custody was thus not unlawful abduction.”

Adv Uriri dismissed as incorrect Mubaiwa’s claims that minor children were abducted.

VP Chiwenga, he argued, took custody of the children as the mother was in prison.

Further, Adv Uriri argued that the lower court judge erred in his judgment when he failed to address the issue of spoliation, which Mubaiwa sought. Arguing for Mubaiwa, Adv Taona Nyamakura said despite having a medical affidavit indicating that his client needed medical attention, the doctor did not conclude that she was incapable of taking care of her children.

It was Adv Nyamakura’s submission that in terms of custodianship of children, Mubaiwa was denied access to children despite formally notifying VP Chiwenga that she was now out of jail.

He said Mubaiwa has the right to have custody of the children as their mother.

After hearing submissions from both parties’ counsel, Deputy Chief Justice Gwaunza sitting with Justices Paddington Garwe and Chinembiri Bhunu reserved judgment.

Her bail order has since been varied and she is now residing at her parents’ home until all her matters are finalised.

President Mnangagwa, in a formal statement, has stressed that coronavirus responsible for the global outbreak of Covid-19 is a purely natural phenomenon, is no one’s fault and needs scientific solutions to prevent its spread.

He expressed empathy, solidarity and support for all countries already affected, and has strongly urged all Zimbabweans to follow strictly the medical advice already given while scientists work on solutions and the Government intensifies its already considerable efforts to prepare Zimbabwe to cope with any outbreak.
“This is the worst global pandemic in our lifetimes, perhaps the greatest threat to humanity since the great wars of the last century. We have all seen the news. We have all witnessed the tragic scenes in China, Iran, Italy and other countries around the world.”

He specifically urged Zimbabweans “to make sure that this is not our next Cyclone Idai”, referring to the last damaging natural phenomenon to hit Zimbabwe almost exactly a year ago when hundreds were killed, homes and infrastructure damaged and destroyed in Chimanimani and surrounding areas, and there was economic disruption whose effects are still afflicting the country.

The Presidential statement comes in the wake of off-the-cuff and personal remarks made at the weekend by Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri that have circulated widely on social media and have been misinterpreted in some circles as reflecting the views of Zimbabwe, its Government and its people.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was speaking at a Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators Association meeting in Chinhoyi on Saturday.

She said in Shona: “This coronavirus that has come are sanctions against the countries that have imposed sanctions on us.

God is now punishing them now and they are staying indoors now, while their economy is screaming like what they did to ours by imposing sanctions on us.

(US President) Trump should know that he is not God. They must face the consequences of coronavirus, so that they also feel the pain.”

But President Mnangagwa said: “We expect science to come up with solutions to this problem soon. Pandemics of this kind have a scientific explanation and like any other natural phenomena cannot be blamed on anyone and know no boundary.

We send our condolences and our solidarity to all those who are already suffering; and strength and good health to those in need.”-State media

VICE President Chiwenga has said the court cannot place his three minor children in the custody of his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, who requires to be under constant care of a surgeon, physician and a psychiatrist.

High Court judge, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda, early this year granted Mubaiwa custody of the children and restrained the VP from interfering with her access to the Borrowdale Brooke home.

But VP Chiwenga said Mubaiwa should be in hospital for the intricate and life-saving treatment.

This emerged during the appeal in which VP Chiwenga is challenging the High Court decision to allow Mubaiwa to have custody of the couple’s three minor children.

Through his lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri, instructed by Mr Wilson Manase of Manase and Manase, VP Chiwenga, told the court that having relied on her medical affidavit to secure her freedom, and without alleging that the condition had been resolved, the balance of convenience was tilted against her.

Mubaiwa was granted bail after submitting a sworn statement confirming that she “must be under the care of surgeon, physician and a psychiatrist”.

“The court cannot as uppermost guardian of the children endanger them in the circumstances,” argued Adv Uriri.

“The court saw the affidavit. Its attention was specifically drawn to it. It is the uppermost guardian of the child.
“It should, once it decided to assume jurisdiction, enquire into the matter and make findings in the interest of the children.”

The three judge panel-led by Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza heard that the court was mandated by the Constitution to take into account the best interests of the children.

Adv Uriri urged the court to have custody of the children placed on VP Chiwenga on the strength of Mubaiwa’s medical report.

In the High Court, Mubaiwa sought an order of spoliation, claiming VP Chiwenga abducted the couple’s children.-State media

Farai Dziva|Staff members at Gutu Mission Hospital are in deep trouble after a nurse claimed she was being victimized by a medical doctor for being sympathetic to Zanu PF.

Sources said the nurse, a declared Zanu PF sympathiser, was summoned to a hearing by the senior medical doctor but she refused.

“The nurse went to the Central Intelligence Offices in Gutu town and made a report stating that she was being victimized by the senior doctor because of her devotion to Zanu PF.

CIO operatives then came to the hospital and threatened the doctor and several staff members.

We are living in fear because we are under surveillance . Individuals in dark glasses are seen here during odd hours so we don’t know what they are planning to do,” said a nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Zanu PF activists are also threatening to deal with us and we are living in fear,” she added.

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa said pandemics like coronavirus (Covid-19) cannot be blamed on anyone since they have a scientific explanation, and called on Zimbabweans to empathise with those affected.

In a statement, the President sent his condolences and solidarity to all those who were already suffering due to the effects of the deadly virus.

“Pandemics of this kind have a scientific explanation and knows no boundary, and like any other natural phenomenon cannot be blamed on anyone,” he said.

“We have all witnessed the tragic scenes in China, Iran, Italy and other countries around the world. We stand with our friends in the international community. My Government empathises with the affected people around the globe and stands ready to assist in whatever ways within our capacity.”

The President’s statement comes in the wake of remarks by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri who at the weekend insinuated that COVID-19 was God’s response to countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was speaking at a Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators Association meeting in Chinhoyi on Saturday.

She said in Shona: “This coronavirus that has come are sanctions against the countries that have imposed sanctions on us. God is now punishing them now and they are staying indoors now, while their economy is screaming like what they did to ours by imposing sanctions on us.

“Trump should know that he is not God. They must face the consequences of coronavirus, so that they also feel the pain.”

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe stands by the international community in fighting the Covid-19, and that it was time to look after each other, especially the weak and vulnerable.

He said even though the virus was yet to strike in Zimbabwe, it was important not to “rest on our laurels”.

COVID-19, said the President, was the worst global pandemic, and perhaps the greatest threat to humanity since the great wars of the last century.

“My Government empathises with the affected people around the globe and stands ready to assist in whatever ways within our capacity. As a nation we must stand strong. Strong and united. Strong and vigilant. We must act early and we must act sensibly.”

President Mnangagwa said Government was working to ensure doctors and nurses had the necessary know-how and equipment to deal with the Covid-19 threat.

He advised people to seek early treatment if they developed symptoms of the virus. Covid-19 has claimed more than 6 000 people worldwide, after it was first noticed in China’s Wuhan city in December last year.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Two nurses stationed at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo allegedly abandoned an expecting mother and left her to give birth unattended, leading to the newly-born baby falling from the bed and dying.

Sekerai Museka (41) and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu (36) pleaded not guilty to the charge of culpable homicide when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Lizwe Jamela on Friday.

They were remanded out of custody to March 26 for trial.

The court heard that on November 20, 2019 at 3am, the complainant Purity Dube of Cowdray Park was admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital when she experienced labour pains.

It is alleged that Dube called for help from Museka and Ndlovu who were on duty, but the two failed to attend to her.

As a result, she ended up delivering a baby girl on her own.

However, the baby slipped from the bed and landed on the floor just before the two nurses entered the room.

Museka cut the umbilical cord from the baby and took Dube who was unconscious to the resuscitation room. The doctors came to attend to the baby in the resuscitation room.

However, the two did not disclose to the doctors that the baby had fallen from the bed.

At around 5am, the baby was transferred to the neo-natal intensive care unit.

Dube was later told that her baby had passed on. A post-mortem report revealed that the cause of death was intracranial haemorrhage and head injury.

A police report led to the arrest of the two nurses.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun has dismissed Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri’s statement alleging that the virus is God’s punishment on Western countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Speaking at the press conference held in Harare today Shaochun said the virus was a pandemic that had struck the world which needed unity of everyone globally.

“I do not agree with the notion that this is God’s  punishment rather it a natural disaster that could hit anywhere henceforth there is need for us to unite and strategize enough vetting systems at all border post,” he said.

He further testified that there is no Zimbabwean residing in China that has been affected by the virus yet.

Speaking at the same press conference minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe said there is no need to panick because there is no danger for Zimbabwe as far as the virus is concerned.

By A Correspondent- Acting chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi has called for the decongestion of Tredgold House in Bulawayo by removing some government departments operating there to allow more space for the provincial and regional courts.

Mutevedzi made the plea during a tour of the premises by Local Government minister July Moyo, his Justice counterpart Ziyambi Ziyambi and Chief Justice Luke Malaba on Friday.

He said other government departments which were not part of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) must be relocated to create adequate space for court officials.

“There is massive overcrowding in this building by various departments, for instance Deeds Office, Surveyor-General, the district (co-ordinator) for Umguza district and District Development Fund, among others,” Mutevedzi said.

“It was our hope, with resources permitting, when other challenges would have been overcome, measures could be taken to decongest the building so that our members work in an enabling environment.”

Mutevedzi said the congestion had resulted in the proliferation of illegal activities inside the building, adding he could not rule out corruption under the circumstances.

In response, the Local Government minister said: “I am happy to say that as we continue to build here in Bulawayo, we will look at how to relocate other departments in the building.

We will have a window of opportunity to look into Tredgold once other offices have moved to their respective places.”

Justice Malaba warned illegal forex dealers operating in front of the court building that the long arm of the law would soon catch up with them.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Former Chiredzi boxer, Charles Jackson (45) was last week sentenced to 35 years over the cold blood murder of his live-in girlfriend, Ndaizivei James.

The incident happened sometime in March last year.

Jackson, popularly known as Charo in the boxing circles, pummelled his girlfriend to death over an undisclosed beerhall dispute.

Masvingo High Court judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze handed down the long custodial sentence after it emerged that Jackson had a history of violence.

Jackson committed the gruesome murder barely two years after his release from prison on a kidnapping offence.

Justice Mawadze said the boxer deserved a deterrent sentence after it emerged that he had a knack for violence. He once kidnapped Wonder Mabika, a taxi driver in Chiredzi and robbed him, which earned him a seven-year sentence.

The court heard that on the fateful day, Jackson and Ndaizivei were on a beer-drinking binge at Chigarapasi Beerhall when they had a misunderstanding. Jackson hit his girlfriend with fists before he was restrained by some revellers.

The two eventually left the beerhall for their home where Jackson continued to beat his defenceless girlfriend with fists, booted feet and various other objects. He later used a blunt object to beat the now-deceased all over the body until she died.

After realising that he had killed his girlfriend, he vainly tried to shove a handful of tablets down Ndaizivei’s throat so that she would appear as having committed suicide. The body was taken to Bulawayo for post-mortem which concluded that Ndaizivei succumbed to multiple fractures, including broken ribs and loss of blood.-Newsday

Farai Dziva|An opposition leader who contested against Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2018 Presidential election stunned all and sundry when he exposed his manhood to female employees.

Read below the full story that was by H-Metro:

New Patriotic Party leader and 2018 Presidential aspirant has been admitted to the hospital for psychiatric care after exposing his erect manhood to some female workmates during a wellness program held in the provincial town.

Engineer Peter Munyanduri left female employees shell-shocked and trumatized by his indecent exposure.
Munyanduri is a member of POLAD.

“The incident happened during a wellness program exercises that we held here at the offices
“Munyanduri saw some ladies who were wearing sporting attire and immediately went to them and exposed his manhood saying that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with them leaving the female employees in a state of shock and disbelief,” said the source.

After the incident, Munyanduri was them taken to the Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital psychiatric care unit for assessment by two medical doctors.

Another employee who requested anonymity said that they were shocked when they saw Eng Munyanduri advancing towards female employees and without warning exposed his erect manhood to them.

“Hapana munhu akazvitarisira kuti Munyanduri angaita zvakadaro.

I was shocked and I am yet to come to terms with what he did,” he said.

Another female employee who saw the shocking incident said that she was still in a state of shock.
“I am yet to come to terms with what Eng Munyanduri did.

“Ndiro rinonzi shura chairo rwakaitwa navaMunyanduri,” she said.

She said that they felt at home when Eng Munyanduri was taken to hospital and admitted to the psychiatric care unit.

“Ndakanzwa kutya nokunyara zvikuru nezvekaitwa naEng Munyanduri,” she said.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent| If Zimbabwe is not distorting Coronavirus statistics what else is it doing? The local United Nations office also misled the public last week when they claimed that there are no Coronavirus cases to worry about in Zimbabwe.

A Chinese national who travelled all the way from the Asian country, was fully tested positive for coronavirus, has obtained a certificate of negative testing from Zimbabwe’s health institution, Wilkins Hospital, a top official at the infirmary announced today.

The unnamed official was speaking to MDC President Nelson Chamisa during a visit today. The development confirms an investigation by ZimEye.com revealing that there is a secret contract entered into by Health Minister Obadiah Moyo and the Chinese government over the expansion of Wilkins Hospital, which it is funding. China has reportedly demanded that Zimbabwe must suppress its reportage of Coronavirus and its links with China in exchange of the Chinese building Wilkins Hospital. The development may explain why Zimbabwe’s Coronavirus statistics have remained at a dramatic zero since the pandemic began 3 months ago.

While a comment could not be obtained from the health minister he is on record while on video saying that he will never quarantine Chinese citizens ‘because they have been very good to us.’

Linking in with the revelations, Moyo, today, announced that he opposes the shutting down of borders and closing of schools because we have ZERO COVID 19.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

We won't close borders or shut down schools because we are still at ZERO COVID-19, says minister Obadiah Moyo @MoHCCZim pic.twitter.com/nRUYHrLuuw

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 16, 2020

In another case, Moyo today confirmed a Coronavirus positive patient finally tested in UK but was tested negative while in Victoria Falls when she visited as a tourist, and back then told she was reacting to malaria treatment.’

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

As he refused to shut Zim borders, Health Minister Obadiah Moyo today confirmed a Coronavirus positive patient finally tested in UK but was tested negative while in Victoria Falls when she visited as a tourist, and back then told she was reacting to malaria treatment,' pic.twitter.com/zmAF3DFsDR

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 16, 2020

Former police Assistant Commissioner Gideon Baloyi has exposed the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)’s alleged underhand dealings, including cover-ups for officers who committed murder and other various offences.

Baloyi made the exposé in a court application filed on March 3 this year, in which he is challenging his dismissal by then-Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri in 2015 after accusing his boss of covering up high-profile criminal cases and rewarding corruption.

In his court challenge, Baloyi said he was forced to retire from the police force at gunpoint after he spilt the beans over his bosses’ shenanigans in court. At the time of his dismissal, he was in charge of operations in Masvingo province.

In a letter dated May 1, 2015 addressed to the Home Affairs Minister and copied to the late former President Robert Mugabe, Justice minister, ZRP Commissioner-General, Public Service Commission, director-general in the President’s Office and the Prosecutor-General, Baloyi said he was puzzled as to why the ZRP did not pursue murder reports that had been filed against police officers.

“I wrote a letter to the Commissioner-General (Chihuri) on December 7, 2014 and I am sure you (minister) had a copy to that effect, sir. It was my hope and trust that the Commissioner-General would favour me with a response, but he chose not to. Why he chose not to respond to my letter is unknown to me,” Baloyi said.

“A follow-up correspondence dated March 26, 2015 was delivered to his office and I am sure you were also given a copy to that effect, Sir. All the same, the Commissioner-General chose not to respond to my letter once again. Why he could not favour me with that much-needed response still remains unknown to me.”

Baloyi said as a result of the bad blood between him and Chihuri, the latter caused his arrest on trumped-up charges, and he was later acquitted by the High Court.

He continued: “Sir, what I am humbly asking is for you to pressure the Commissioner-General of Police to take his child killer to court for justice to take its course. Paragraph 5 of my letter dated December 7, 2014, here attached says it all and how the killer was shamelessly rewarded for killing a street kid…

our Commissioner-General is busy protecting such heartless murderers in the organisation. If it means that the murderers’ appearance in court would also drag the big boss, so let it be.” Besides the murders, Baloyi also said several other top police officers were protected by Chihuri after committing various crimes.

“Defeating the course of justice, according to my understanding applies equally to all public office holders, police officers included. Nobody is being charged for the above crime for having accepted his resignation letter knowingly enough that he had committed a crime,” he said.

Daily News|LINGERING health concerns forced Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, pictured, to abandon his State duties last week, compelling his doctors to order him to rest at home, the Daily News can reveal.

This comes as speculation and conspiracy theories swelled last week after the powerful VP failed to attend a field day that was hosted at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm in Kwekwe.

It also comes as Chiwenga is embroiled in an acrimonious divorce with his ex-model wife Marry – whom he has stunningly accused of attempting to kill him last year, during the time he was hospitalised at a top South African hospital.

Called for a comment, presidential spokeperson George Charamba confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that the VP had “temporarily taken leave of absence on the advice of his doctors”.

“What I know is that he complained of fatigue and is resting at home. He is in the country. He was not feeling too well and he wanted a bit of rest … that is the real issue.

“Now, he is much, much better. I spoke to him and he is doing well, not that speculation that there is bad blood between him and the president. That is nonsense,” he said.

Although the former military commander – who spent the better part of last year in hospital in China – had appeared fit and well last Tuesday, when he attended the weekly Cabinet meeting and a subsequent function at State House, it later emerged that he was “under the weather”.

This saw him failing to attend the field day at Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm in Kwekwe on Thursday, where he was billed to be the guest of honour.

Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri ended up standing in for him.
Chiwenga was also conspicuously absent during a handover ceremony of model houses to victims of Cyclone Idai in Chivhu, where he was represented by the minister of Agriculture, Perrance Shiri.

The 63-year-old retired army general – who led the dramatic November 2017 military coup which toppled the late former president Robert Mugabe from his long and ruinous tenure in power – was taken ill in July last year, before being airlifted to South Africa first, and then to China where he spent 123 days in hospital.

He returned home on November 23 last year, looking remarkably recovered, just before the ruling Zanu-PF held its annual conference in Goromonzi.

Mnangagwa later met Chiwenga at his private residence the same day, with the two men appearing to be on very good terms despite the continuing speculation about their relationship.

“He has returned. He is looking strong and he is very clear, raring to go … my colleague is back to assist me on national projects.

“I am not concerned about him resuming duty. My concern is on his health, that he has recovered. He is strong. That is my concern.

“Even if he resumes duty, he should do light work and incrementally … Ukamuona unoona kuti munhu anechiedza, akachena kumeso (if you see him you will notice that he has recovered),” Mnangagwa said then.
On his part, Chiwenga said he was grateful that Mnangagwa had facilitated his medical treatment in China.

“Up to yesterday, from the time I left, I had spent 123 days in hospital. When I got there it was the 21st of July and I got my discharge certificate later on after 123 days.

“I feel strong and I am raring to go to work … Everything possible was done. They left no stone unturned … I am very fit and happy.

“Once again I want to thank the president. He didn’t act as the president, but acted as my brother to ensure that I survived,” Chiwenga said.

He added that if Mnangagwa had not intervened “I could have been history by now”.

Since leading the coup that toppled Mugabe from power, Chiwenga has been a larger-than-life character in the country’s body politic.

However, his health has been a source of concern over the past two years – with the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander tracing his physical woes in 2018 to the days when he orchestrated Mugabe’s fall.
At one time, he said he was suffering from “nhuta”, which he claimed had caused his complexion to lighten – triggering speculation that he was bleaching his skin.

“It was during that time (the coup days) that I fell ill. I had this skin sickness (nhuta) that affected my whole body from beneath my feet to my back, and the journalists started saying I was using skin lightening creams.

“But that was not the case. I was sick. I have decided to talk about it because that is what you see … but you should know that everything that happens comes with a price.

“We then sent everything to South Africa to find out what was causing the sickness, but they failed to treat it,” Chiwenga said.

“It was then that my (late) sister Margaret approached Sister Redemptor (Roman Catholic nun) and was given herbs that I began taking until I was healed.

“But before I took the medication, they also prayed for me,” he said at the burial of Margaret.
After his return from his lengthy treatment in China, Chiwenga also told people at his Wedza rural home that he had undergone treatment for idiopathic oesophageal stricture.

“I was telling colleagues that I spent close to six months without seeing the sun. I only saw it this last Saturday upon returning home,” he said.

“I want to thank you all for your prayers. Those prayers made me survive.

“Since I started falling sick in October last year, there were not many who thought I would heal completely. There were not many who thought I would be standing before you like this.

“The sickness is called idiopathic oesophageal stricture. It means that you cannot take in food and also you cannot even vomit.

“It involves blocking of the oesophagus and I spent a lot of time in the intensive care unit,” Chiwenga said.
Meanwhile, the VP has also stunningly accused his wife Marry of allegedly wanting to kill him in June last year, while he was gravely ill in a top South African hospital.

Marry has denied the allegations, going on to make her own stunning counter-claims.

We won't close borders or shut down schools because we are still at ZERO COVID-19, says minister Obadiah Moyo @MoHCCZim pic.twitter.com/nRUYHrLuuw

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 16, 2020

A Bulawayo family has reportedly been put under self-quarantine after a South African doctor who was visited by a family member tested positive to coronavirus.

The development was announced by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo on Monday during a press conference to update the nation on the Coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, there are reports suggesting that a tourist who left Zimbabwe on March 10 via South Africa also tested positive upon his return to his home country in the United Kingdom.

The Herald reports that the government has since started tracing those who interfaced with the tourist in Victoria Falls.

There are no officially registered coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe yet.

President Mnangagwa today said pandemics like coronavirus (Covid-19) cannot be blamed on anyone since they have a scientific explanation, and called on Zimbabweans to empathise with those affected.

In a statement, the President sent his condolences and solidarity to all those who were already suffering due to the effects of the deadly virus.

“Pandemics of this kind have a scientific explanation and knows no boundary, and like any other natural phenomenon cannot be blamed on anyone,” he said.

“We have all witnessed the tragic scenes in China, Iran, Italy and other countries around the world. We stand with our friends in the international community. My Government empathises with the affected people around the globe and stands ready to assist in whatever ways within our capacity.”

The President’s statement comes in the wake of remarks by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri who at the weekend insinuated that COVID-19 was God’s response to countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was speaking at a Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators Association meeting in Chinhoyi on Saturday.

She said in Shona: “This coronavirus that has come are sanctions against the countries that have imposed sanctions on us. God is now punishing them now and they are staying indoors now, while their economy is screaming like what they did to ours by imposing sanctions on us.

“Trump should know that he is not God. They must face the consequences of coronavirus, so that they also feel the pain.”

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe stands by the international community in fighting the Covid-19, and that it was time to look after each other, especially the weak and vulnerable.

He said even though the virus was yet to strike in Zimbabwe, it was important not to “rest on our laurels”.

COVID-19, said the President, was the worst global pandemic, and perhaps the greatest threat to humanity since the great wars of the last century.

“My Government empathises with the affected people around the globe and stands ready to assist in whatever ways within our capacity. As a nation we must stand strong. Strong and united. Strong and vigilant. We must act early and we must act sensibly.”

President Mnangagwa said Government was working to ensure doctors and nurses had the necessary know-how and equipment to deal with the Covid-19 threat.

He advised people to seek early treatment if they developed symptoms of the virus. Covid-19 has claimed more than 6 000 people worldwide, after it was first noticed in China’s Wuhan city in December last year.

By A Correspondent- Zapu has rapped Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, Zimbabwe’s minister of defence over her claims that the coronavirus that has seriously affected parts of the western nations is punishment from God for their imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Thembani Maphosa said on behalf of the Zapu and indeed on behalf of all sane Zimbabweans, he dissociates all from  utterances made by  Muchinguri concerning #Covid-19.

“It is never the view or belief of any sane Zimbabwean that the disease is form of any punishment from any god for any reason. We wish the world know and understand that Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri is only but articulating the Zanu PF government’s general views of the world and is also representative of their policy of non cooperation and non conformation to what is standard coexistence with the world member countries,” he said.

“Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri is displaying the general state of Zanu PF minds, that of derangement, arrogance and ignorance that is often celebrated by them. We as sane Zimbabwe citizens join the world in the concerted efforts to fight this global pandemic.”

He said Zapu urges the people of Zimbabwe to follow all precautionary measures to combat the spread of the disease causing virus.

“These include practising high degree of personal hygiene, avoid unnecessary travel especially to hotspot areas around the world, avoid unnecessary or risky mass gatherings, self isolation or quarantining when suspicious of infection or when one shows symptoms, seeking urgent testing and treatment when suspicious or affected,” he said.

“In the same breath, we once again advise the government of Zimbabwe to suspend immediately all public gatherings that include sporting events, the independence celebrations in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe International Trade Fair also in Bulawayo. We advise suspension of church services and gatherings especially for the coming Easter season. We urge our people using public transport, especially Zupco buses to be weary of their surrounding environment in those buses and where possible avoid overcrowded buses.”

Maphosa said the government must ban all travel abroad and also quarantine all returning and incoming visitors for 14-21 days.

By A Correspondent- The government of Zimbabwe has been urged to scrap examination fees in total for children especially those in Government of public Schools.

This was said by Tag a life International (TaLI) after the government gazetted into law the new Education Amendment Act on the 6th of March 2020.

We present TALI’s full statement below.

16 March 2020

Education Amendment Act of 2019, Exam Fees

Every Child In School #ECIS Campaign welcomes the new Education Amendment Act which was gazettes into law on the 6th of March 2020. As a critical partner that pushed for the release of this law through petitioning parliament, ECIS wishes to congratulate the Zimbabwean government for putting to law its legal obligation to fulfill this basic human right. This is also a build up to the policy that the government released last year, the ‘Secretary’s Circular of 2019, again something that ECIS worked in partnership with parliament and the ministry to be put in place, with the goal of ensuring access to education for every child. We also acknowledge the response to ECIS request from the minister through our press statement dated 24 February where we requested the government to move exam fee due date for June exams from the 28th of February to a further date due to the disturbances that had occurred due to exam fee changes. We note in the press statement of the 11th of March that the Minister moved June registration to the 30th of March.

A short while ago the minister cancelled the exam fee increase which ZIMSEC had imposed which was too far from the reach of many. Just when we thought our voices that spoke against this increase had been heard, the Minister came back on the 11th of March with new fees that he reduced downwards with 53%. The news exam fees are $125 for grade 7, $90 per subject for ordinary level and $165 per subject for advanced level.

We wish to let the government know that these fees are against the basic right of the child to access state funded basic education:

1. The state continues to shift the 47% of exam fees to be responsibility of parents, despite the constitution section 75 A, and the education amendment act 2019 being clear that it is the primary responsibility of this government to provide state funded basic education, therefore this is unacceptable and illegal.
2. The government seems to continue to be highly detached from the suffering of citizens. Zimbabwe has more than 95% informal employment, meaning most families are living from hand to mouth. We have a significant percentage of children who are failing to get into formal education system despite the availability of the policies and laws that now allow these kids access, many are resorting to ‘private collages’. These private colleges are poorly run and are mainly attended by poor families who have been either refused enrollment due to lack of money or pushed out of government schools. Through its grading, the government is regarding these children as being in ‘private colleges/schools’ and deserving of paying full exam fees which is an absolute violation of their rights and discrimination. If the government did it’s homework, it would have classified these colleges as deserving of same benefits the other government school children have. Many of the children will not seat these exams if the state does not fully fund examination fees for the largely poor children who constitute more than 70% of its learners.
3. While the state has provided the progressive policies; Circular of 2009 which disallows children to be sent back home for failing to pay fees, circular 3 of 2019 which comprehensively allows children access to enrollment and outlines grounds for discrimination, as well as through the recently signed education amendment act, imposing exam fees is taking away from all these provisions. Why should a child be allowed access into school and kept without money for all these years only to be discriminated upon when it comes to be tested for what they have gained in knowledge through exam fees which they cannot pay? It is showing a glaring absence of  the respect for the constitution, the education amendment act and all policies that promote child education. This discrimination of exam fees is glaring and the government must immediately address it.
4. State funded basic education is not just about putting in place laws, it is about respecting, mechanizing and funding for infrastructure seriously and earnestly to achieve those provisions. Zimbabwe is the only government in the Southern African region whose children still pay for basic education.
5. Every Child In School therefore urges the government of Zimbabwe to review its position and scrap examination fees altogether for children especially those it classifies as Government Schools, Local Authority Schools and Non Profit Mission Schools as well as the mushrooming private colleges.
6. We further encourage the government to fund basic education seriously by allocating adequate funds to meet these costs. In the past the ministry of education has received large sums of the fiscal allocation that only meet personnel costs, and little has been done to resource the commitments directly for learners. Schools remain under funded forcing them to go against the government policies that promote access to state funded education.
7. We reiterate that this government must put practical measures to ensure children have access to state funded basic education, and that in its actions the government shows its realisation of what the law says in its responsibilities to ensure state funded basic education. Imposing such exam fees is not one of actions showing that responsibility, abolishing exam fees will ultimately ensure Zimbabwe children begin to enjoy their right to state funded basic education.

By A Correspondent- Former police Assistant Commissioner Gideon Baloyi has accused former Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri of underhand dealings, including concealing murder and a bevvy of other offences by police officers during his tenure.

He made the allegations in a court application filed on March 3 this year, in which he is challenging his dismissal by Chihuri in 2015 after accusing his boss of covering up high-profile criminal cases and rewarding corruption.

In a letter dated May 1, 2015, addressed to the Home Affairs Minister and copied to the late former President Robert Mugabe, Justice minister, ZRP Commissioner-General, Public Service Commission, director-general in the President’s Office and the Prosecutor-General, Baloyi said:

Sir, what I am humbly asking is for you to pressure the Commissioner-General of Police to take his child killer to court for justice to take its course. Paragraph 5 of my letter dated December 7, 2014, here attached says it all and how the killer was shamelessly rewarded for killing a street kid… our Commissioner-General is busy protecting such heartless murderers in the organisation. If it means that the murderers’ appearance in court would also drag the big boss, so let it be.

Baloyi was in charge of operations in Masvingo province at the time of his dismissal.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe government has for the first time in a year released inflation figures, with the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) reporting that the price of goods and services went up by an average of 540.16% over the past 12 months.

“The month on month inflation rate in February was 13.52% gaining 11.29 percentage points on the January rate of 2.23%. The year on year inflation rate (annual percentage change) for the month of February as measured by the all items CPI stood at 540.16%,” said Zimstat on its Twitter account yesterday.

“The consumer Price Index for the month ending February 2020 stood at 640.16 compared to 563.90 in January 2020 and 100 in February 2019.”

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube last year stopped the publication of annualised inflation figures, saying since the country had introduced a new currency, there was need to wait for a year so inflation figures could be calculated on a like by like basis.

Although the government was not announcing year on year inflation figures, analysts calculated that the January 2020 figure was around 470%.

Renowned American economist, Steve Hanke, places the yearly inflation rate at more than 1 096%.

According to the non-governmental organisation ACT Alliance, headquartered in Switzerland, the introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar has not relieved the situation either as the banning of the multi-currency regime has even worsened the situation.-Wires

By A Correspondent- The Apex council has said it would be approaching Government for an emergency meeting to negotiate for better salaries for civil servants as their incomes have been eroded by price hikes.

In January, Government increased civil servants’ salaries by between 133 and 177 percent, a development that resulted in the lowest-paid worker earning $2 500 per month with the highest paid getting $4 631.  Apex council, which is the umbrella body for all civil servants said their salaries have been eroded by inflation.

In an interview, Apex council secretary general Mr David Dzatsunga said recent developments that have seen the prices of goods and services going up means that an emergency meeting with Government must be convened to discuss issues relating to their welfare.  He said they would be approaching Government this week.  

“We should now be getting into another round of negotiations to find a way of restoring the value that has been lost. That is a lot of value actually. As we have indicated earlier, we hope that Government will be able to talk about matching the value of wages to exchange rates,” said Mr Dzatsunga.

“This is a demand that we have made. We are not happy about that after our last round of negotiations we agreed that it (salary hikes) should be an agreement that is premised on what happens in the market and we hope and I think we will be making overtures to Government to come to the table.”

He said employees feel that the meeting must be held as a matter of urgency considering what is obtaining in the economy.  

“This is a development that happened very fast and we believe that it is high time we reach out to them and ask for an emergency meeting,” said Mr Dzatsunga.  

Prior to the January pay hike, some civil servants unions had declared incapacitation to go to work. Speaking in the National Assembly on Thursday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said Government was committed to addressing the plight of its employees.  

“I must say that we continue to support our civil servants on the issue of their perks and living standards and we have negotiated to increase their salaries by 140 percent so far. I have been before this House to say that we always stand ready to keep negotiating and cushioning our civil servants,” said Prof Ncube.

He said the Public Service Commission would introduce a loan scheme for civil servants that will enable them to borrow at low interest rates as opposed to what they are getting from some loan sharks.-Wires

Farai Dziva|Staff members at Gutu Mission Hospital are in deep trouble after a nurse claimed she was being victimized by a medical doctor for being sympathetic to Zanu PF.

Sources said the nurse, a declared Zanu PF sympathiser, was summoned to a hearing by the senior medical doctor but she refused.

“The nurse went to the Central Intelligence Offices in Gutu town and made a report stating that she was being victimized by the senior doctor because of her devotion to Zanu PF.

CIO operatives then came to the hospital and threatened the doctor and several staff members.

We are living in fear because we are under surveillance . Individuals in dark glasses are seen here during odd hours so we don’t know what they are planning to do,” said a nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Zanu PF activists are also threatening to deal with us and we are living in fear,” she added.

By A Correspondent| Tomorrow the 17th of March, the High Court is hearing the lawsuit of the Edward Pfugari Estate vs the son of a small house who arrived after nearly half a century to begin calling himself the late businessman’s son (pushing away 4 siblings), chop off 50% of the estate’s business, and in recent days has ‘forged’ a birth certificate to claim he is Zimbabwean so to get a Residency Permit. He has also begun claiming that he got his schooling at Prince Edward High School, Harare.

The property mogul, Edward Pfugari died last year February at the age of 82.

His so called “son,” a South African, now alleges that he owns 50% of the late father’s businesses. He came 39 years later (in 1997) to suddenly begin claiming child rights and soon after the father’s death, he began saying he owns 50% of the father’s business. There are five children in this fight apart from Edward, who was born of another mother:

Edward (born 1958) the South African.

Stephen (born 1968)

Naomi (born 1968)

Henrietta, (born 1971)

Itai (born 1973)

• 

• 

To date he has reportedly wiped out USD 8million liquid cash from the estate’s bank accounts.

The Pfugari Estate is suing Edward Nyanyiwa for faking ID documents for a residency permit application. His application includes claims that he was born in Zimbabwe, of a Zimbabwean mother, that he has a Zimbabwean sister, that he went to Prince Edward School, Harare, and that he was employed by a Zimbabwean company.

In his pleading, he is saying ‘I did not at all discover my father in 1997 as previously reported, I was in touch with my father all along.’

He signed a company CR14 document saying he was a Director of his father’s business back in 1995. He began to claim he is a surviving director of his supposed father’s business. He said this entitles him to 50% shareholding.

Later, he somewhat realised that to be a surviving director does not at all mean he owns 50%.

It was established at a family meeting last year when it was asked ‘who are the directors?,’ and Edward did not claim himself a shareholder. He labelled himself a surviving Director.

Then on the 9th April 2019, he announced that he had shares in the company because he was a subscriber. He said ‘I had shares by virtue of being a subscriber of the company.’

It then turned out that the only subscribers were two lawyers and at that point, …on the 13th May 2019, a sister discovered the documents which show that the subscribers were two lawyers, which insantly dismissed Edward”s story. He however continued calling himself a shareholder. To date he has since submitted documents saying he was a Director in 1995.

Questions will be – if you were born in Zimbabwe, went to school here, and were a director and a shareholder since 1995, why are you looking for a Residency Permit a year after your “real” father’s death? The case is set to open a can of worms on the corruption at The Master of the High Court office, previously exposed by ZimEye.com.

By A Correspondent- Zera has buckled under pressure from indigenous petroleum companies and withdrawn an earlier announcement of a hike in fuel procurement licences by 8 600%.

After a two-month wait, Zera announced last week that fuel licences for 2020 were now $2 million per annum and further out a $30 million performance bond as a licensing requirement. Fuel dealer’s licences, whose lifespan is one year, expired on December 31 2019.

In a circular to the petroleum sector gleaned by this publication, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) said fuel retailing licences for urban and rural operators had been increased to $10 000 and $4 000 respectively.

The wholesale licence fee was pegged at $122 400 whereas the fuel blending licence was put at $76 500.

Production licence for biodiesel was pegged at $306 000.

“A procurement licensee shall have a supply contract from a trader at the time of application for a licence. A procurement licensee shall have/own at least 25 sites and should provide evidence of such ownership. A procurement licensee should provide a performance bond with a value of ZWL$30 million before licensing,” read some of the requirements from Zera.

The hike in procurement licence fees has alarmed indigenous fuel players who see the increase in fees as an attempt to muscle out small fuel dealers and the creation of a monopoly in the sector.

Zera acting chief executive Eddington Mazambani did not respond to questions sent via email and WhatsApp.

Numerous efforts to call him yielded no result.

Zera recently allowed fuel companies to sell fuel in foreign currency, restricting them to two service stations per dealer in urban centres in yet another clear sign that the economy is redollarising.

The central bank yesterday issued a statement saying it has availed to oil companies fuel finance facilities valued at US$25,24 million for the week ending March 15, 2020.

In recent weeks fuel has remained elusive on the market with desperate motorists spending hours in long-winding queues countrywide.

Diesel is currently trading at $18,66 with petrol selling at $18,76 on the local market.

Mushrooming unregistered fuel dealers have taken advantage of the fuel crisis to sell the product on the parallel market in hard currency. As the fuel crisis deepens, motorists are forced to buy fuel sold in forex as it is always available.

Zimbabwe has six major oil-importing entities which include the Indigenous Petroleum Association of Zimbabwe Ipaz, Zuva Petroleum, Puma Energy, Total Zimbabwe, PetroTrade (Pvt) Ltd and Engen Petroleum Zimbabwe.

Sakunda and Redan were some of the key members of Ipaz until they were taken over by Singaporean-based Trafigura group, one of the world’s leading commodity companies, which trades under Puma Energy and Trek in the country.

By A Correspondent- The police have roped in Interpol and Chinese security to assist in investigating the whereabouts of a Harare Chinese Couple who mysteriously vanished on Valentine’s Day.

Their friends and relatives have since offered a $1 million reward for anyone with information of their whereabouts. There are also ‘Missing’ posters of the couple on local media and the $1 Million reward attached to it.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is now part of of a joint task force with International Police Organisation (Interpol) and their Chinese counterparts in searching for the couple.  Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide is handling the case. Ding was the director of a local company, Yafei Building Material and Mining.

The CCTV footage from their Borrowdale home showed the couple leaving at around 11:48am in a white Mercedes Benz ML registration number AFA 3322. They visited a friend in Highlands, also a Chinese national and spoke outside his house at around 12:38pm before they left for an unknown destination.

Their vehicle was discovered by officers from Mabvuku Police Station while parked along Arcturus Road, with keys in the ignition. In the vehicle was the couple’s house keys, US$12 and $9 and Ding’s firearm certificate for cash-in-transit, but the gun was missing.

They then checked their database and discovered that the vehicle was registered in Ding’s name and got his home address. Finding no one at the couple’s house, they managed to locate Ding’s sister who is in Zimbabwe. They conducted another search in the house and there was nothing missing or out of place.

In an interview, Ding’s sister, who preferred anonymity, said her brother had been coming in and out of the country since 2008. “He first visited Zimbabwe in 2008, but would normally stay for at least two years and then relocate to other countries for business,” she said.

“But since 2018, Ding had been staying in Borrowdale Brooke with his wife.” National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations on their whereabouts are still ongoing.

“We are still appealing to anyone who may have information on their disappearance or possible location to contact their nearest police station or the national complaints desk on (0242) 703631.” Those with some information can also contact CID Homicide on 0242 758031.

By A Correspondent-  The UK based Dadirayi is said to be the woman who came between Zizoe and Mai Titi claiming that she called dibs on him first.

The woman alleged to be behind social media influencer Mai Titi’s break up with her lover, Zizoe Pamyk has been identified as one Dadirayi Masibanda.

Last week, a tearful Mai Titi grabbed the headlines after announcing that her much-publicized relationship with Zizoe was over because of infidelity. Mai Titi admitted that she still loved Zizoe but wished him well in his new relationship.

Meanwhile, fellow social media influencer and gender activist Tatelicious held a live video session and spilt the beans on Mai Titi and Zizoe.

Tatelicious claimed that Mai Titi was paid to bring over Zizoe to the UK according to a ‘relative of Zizoe who had been in contact with Tatelicious.

Mai Titi, however, was furious with Tatelicious’ claims and threatened to visit her wrath on him, going in as far as threatening to shoot him.

The UK based Dadirayi is said to be the woman who came between Zizoe and Mai Titi claiming that she called dibs on him first. The woman alleged to be behind social media influencer Mai Titi’s break up with her lover, Zizoe Pamyk has been identified as one Dadirayi Masibanda.

Last week, a tearful Mai Titi grabbed the headlines after announcing that her much-publicized relationship with Zizoe was over because of infidelity. Mai Titi admitted that she still loved Zizoe but wished him well in his new relationship.

Meanwhile, fellow social media influencer and gender activist Tatelicious held a live video session and spilt the beans on Mai Titi and Zizoe.

Tatelicious claimed that Mai Titi was paid to bring over Zizoe to the UK according to a ‘relative of Zizoe who had been in contact with Tatelicious.

Mai Titi, however, was furious with Tatelicious’ claims and threatened to shoot the socialite.

By A Correspondent- Popular Mutare businessman Kumbirai Khumbula was yesterday morning shot dead by suspected robbers who stormed into an all-night prayer meeting at his home in Darlington low-density suburb.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tavhingwa Kakokwa confirmed the incident, but could not provide finer details.

“The robbers tied the businessman’s family and some church members who were at the house for an all-night prayer,” Kakohwa said.

“It is still unclear why the robbers shot him. Reports suggest that they demanded cash from him.” 

Khumbula ran a chain of retail outlets in the eastern border city and sources privy to the incident said the shooting occurred at around 5 am.

No arrests had been made at the time of going to print last night.

A ZimEye reader who has just crossed the Beitbridge border post illustrates how the deadly Coronavirus could leak into the country anytime.

Zimbabwe is only testing people with passports while South Africa is conducting tests at vehicle level. There are millions of Zimbabweans and other nationals (Chinese included) in the neighbouring country who transverse the border without passports. VIDEO:

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1239472581125853184?s=19

By A Correspondent- When it comes to initiating sex, for some women, that’s easier said than done.

This is because society has decided that the onus is mostly on men to start up or initiate sex at all times.

But a Bulawayo woman Bridget Thabisile Mubikah seems to have reversed that belief after her ex-business partner Mandisi Dumezweni Khumalo sensationally claimed she allegedly enticed him into a sexual relationship when she reportedly asked to experiment with him to see how strong and good he was in bed.

Apparently, after being satisfied with the casual tryst and how quickly and strongly Khumalo does the deed, that was the start of something great when Mubikah subsequently fell in love with him.

The two reportedly co-owned New Vision Promotions in New Luveve suburb.

Trouble, however, started when Mubikah who seemed to have got lost in the heat of the beautiful moment, phoned Khumalo’s wife telling her about their “illicit” relationship.

As punishment for alerting his wife, Khumalo who is also a teacher, decided to end the relationship much to the chagrin of Mubikah.

Mubikah who also seemed to have failed to overcome rejection when their whirlwind romance ended, before it had a chance to be as amazing as she expected, last week approached the Bulawayo Civil Court seeking a restraining order against Khumalo claiming he was threatening to bewitch her.

“I am applying for a peace order against Mandisi Dumezweni Khumalo for the following reasons: On 27 January he threatened to hire a traditional healer from Chipinge to kill me or bewitch me so that I go insane.

“We were in a relationship and also been business partners but he is now barring me from entering the premises we were operating from saying I am not named as a tenant on the lease.

“This is despite the fact that I also  injected capital into the business,” bitterly complained Mubikah. 

She charged that Khumalo should give her back the money she invested in the business while adding that he should also not talk to her anymore.

In response, Khumalo argued that when they ended their relationship, Mubikah was the one who threatened him with unspecified action saying she had been in that (love) game for so long.

“It is not true that I threatened to bewitch her. What happened is that one day she visited me at my business unannounced and said she wanted to see how strong I was sexually. 

“That is how we started our sexual relationship until she phoned my wife and told her about it.

“After she revealed details of our relationship to my wife, that is when I told her I was no longer continuing with the relationship. 

“She then started threatening me saying I was young in this (love) game. She also threatened me saying I was going to be arrested,” said Khumalo.

Mubikah, however, rubbished Khumalo’s claims that she was the one who initiated their sexual relationship.

She said she fell in love with him after he lied to her that his wife was married to someone.

In her judgment presiding magistrate Adelaide Mbeure granted a reciprocal order which compels both parties not to abuse or threaten each other in any way.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The University of Cape Town (UCT) took a decision on Sunday to break immediately for term 1 vacation and to suspend classes as from and including Monday.

In a statement on Sunday night, UCT’s leadership said it was persuaded of the importance of this step as a “precautionary, proactive measure to minimise the risk of spreading the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Watch video loading below for the latest ministers’ urgent briefing following the announcement of strict measures by South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa…

“The most important public health principle is containment of the disease as far as possible, including avoiding social gatherings as much as possible and minimising groups of people gathering in one space.

“UCT will therefore, in the context of the declaration of a national disaster, close the residences. Students must therefore vacate the residences within the next 72 hours from 16 March.”

The term 1 vacation would have started on Saturday but will now commence immediately.

“Term 2 was set to commence on Monday, 30 March, but UCT will confirm the beginning of term 2 after an assessment of prevailing and quickly changing circumstances.

“UCT has now turned the focus on different ways to continue teaching and learning when term 2 commences. The university will communicate a broader plan with respect to online learning by the end of the week, or as soon as possible thereafter.”

Postgraduate students were advised to continue working with their supervisors and to work off campus as far as possible. Any students with questions relating to their specific situations could contact their respective departments.

“In terms of staff, UCT has to ensure that work continues. Every member of the leadership lekgotla has been charged to give attention to those services and activities in their portfolios where staff can work remotely. Essential services will have to continue on campus, but gatherings and work meetings will be minimised while ensuring work continues wherever possible.

UCT confirmed that they had a confirmed case of the virus on campus.

“The university was this afternoon made aware that a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. The staff member is in isolation at home.

“The Western Cape Department of Health has begun the contact-tracing process and is contacting all those who were in close contact with the staff member as per the protocol prescribed by the provincial and national health agencies.

“Members of the university community who are well and who have been in close contact with the staff member have been instructed to remain in quarantine for 14 days while being monitored for symptoms.

“Currently the recommended action for a single case in a school or university is not closure. Closure is only recommended if there are several cases. UCT has, however, for a variety of reasons, decided to bring term 1 vacation forward and suspend contact classes immediately.”

UCT said they understood that such decisions had a significant impact and affected people in many ways.

“The executive believes that in line with national and international information and events, it is important to be proactive and to work to assist the government in trying to prevent the virus from spreading.

“The university is also working with the provincial and national agencies to establish appropriate quarantine facilities for asymptomatic people. Any case where a person is symptomatic will be dealt with via the provincial and national guidelines and protocols.

“UCT has already made public the decision to review plans for all large events and mass gatherings, whether hosted by UCT or by external service providers. The university has reassessed travel and events, such as conferences and symposiums. The chancellor’s installation that was to be held on Monday has been postponed, and the March graduation ceremonies which were scheduled to start on Thursday have been suspended.

“The registrar’s office will send details to graduands about how they can receive their graduation certificates. UCT is also engaging with external service providers and event organisers about scheduled events for our campus and are considering alternative options.”

UCT had agreed to cancel or postpone any UCT-related conferences and events until the end of June 2020.

“The executive will review this decision if necessary. In line with a number of other organisations, UCT has suspended the approval of any university-related international travel until the end of June. Consistent with these decisions, please note that the 2020 Two Oceans Marathon and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2020 have been postponed.”

The university urged staff and students to continue to follow hygiene precautions.

– Citizen

By A Correspondent- Former Higher, Tertiary, Science and Technology deputy Minister Godfrey Gandawa has apologized to all the countries which have suffered the effects of coronavirus over the statements made by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri celebrating that the virus is a punishment from God to the western countries which imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.

“On behalf of the people of Zimbabwe, I would like to apologise to those countries that have been affected by the coronavirus; the provocative and ignorant comments by the Defence Minister do not reflect the thinking of the generality of Zimbabweans who wish you a speedy recovery,” Gandawa said through his tweet.

A new political party will be officially launched at Hillbrow Theatre in Johannesburg on Saturday 28 March.

Mthwakazi Democratic Alliance (MDA) will compete for the Matebeleland vote with parties like Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) and Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF).

The formation of MDA was revealed in an invite sent to Media houses by the party’s Secretary General, Thulani Sibanda.

Nothing much has been revealed about the party’s leadership and its ideologies.

The other Matebeleland parties are pursuing the agenda of dividing Zimbabwe into two after realising that the Zanu-PF led government was not willing to equally serve the people of Matebeleland region.

Ever since Zimbabwe attained independence from colonial rule, people in Matabeleland have been treated as second-class citizens particularly in all sectors of economic development.

The gruelling history dating back from the Gukurahundi atrocities and a plethora of other forms of grim disregard of rule of law against the people of Mthwakazi has forced them to rise up for their rights and secede from Zimbabwe along known and accepted national boundaries.

OPPOSITION National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Lovemore Madhuku has predicted that the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 2 will not sail through Parliament as some Zanu PF MPs were unhappy with the proposed law and will, accordingly vote against it.

Zanu PF enjoys a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

However, addressing members of the Young Journalists Association (YOJA), Madhuku said MPs from both the MDC and Zanu PF were questioning the spirit of a Bill that seeks to centralise power around President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Yes there are MPs in Parliament who are opposed to the Bill and they can achieve a lot. It is not a question of numbers,” said Madhuku.

“First, they must persuade the conscience of the other MPs. Secondly, they must oppose every clause with good reasons.”

He said citizens also had an opportunity to approach the Constitutional Court to block the passing of the Bill if they were not allowed to give their opinions at public meetings as required by the law.

“Zanu PF has a very thin two-thirds majority, winning over a few MPs from that side will stop the Bill. In the Senate, we only have to convince two traditional chiefs for the Bill to fail.”

Madhuku said some Zanu PF MPs were of the view that voting for the proposed Bill was putting ahead their political party’s interests ahead of national interests and felt it was necessary to vote against it.

“If they put effort into this approach, the Bill will fail,” he said.

“In my view, most of the proposed amendments are undemocratic. Always remember that different people have different views on democracy.”

Madhuku has been very vocal against the new amendments and last week, he gave Mnangagwa his views on the proposed Bill through the Political Actors Dialogue’s (POLAD) Governance and Legislative Agenda committee.

The proposed new amendments seek to give the president powers to appoint judges in higher courts without any public interviews, extend the tenure of judges past their retirement age and also scrap the running mate clause agreed on in 2013.

ZANU-PF continues to maintain its dominance in rural constituencies on the main opposition MDC in two by-elections held in Matabeleland South and Manicaland on Saturday.

The by-election in Mangwe’s Ward 17 in Matabeleland South was held to fill a vacancy that arose following the death of a Zanu-PF councillor, Clement Alfred Majahana in January this year. Matabeleland South Provincial Elections Officer, Mr Rabson Nyoni declared Zanu-PF’s candidate Onthibile Ndlovu as the new councillor for Ward 17 after collation of results at Tjedza Primary School which was the ward command centre.

“Onthibile Ndlovu polled 313 votes while Sindisiwe Phuthi polled 201. Votes rejected were only two. The total registered population in Mangwe District Ward 17 is 1 220 and 516 voted. The total voter turnout was 42 percent,” said Mr Nyoni.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman, Rabelani Choeni said the victory showed that the ruling party was the people’s party and is always on the ground with the voters.

“We are the people’s party and we will always win elections. We are a party which tells the truth not the other parties that survive on lies. So, we will always be winning because we are always on the ground,” he said.

He however, attributed the low voter turnout to various reasons that include working in the fields by the voters.

“Some people decided to stay in their fields working, so they did not vote. Others have no registration documents while some are just ignorant. So, a lot of education needs to be done especially for people who live along the borders. It is our duty to take such challenges to government,” said Cde Choeni.

In the Chimanimani Ward 16 by-election, also held on Saturday, the ruling party candidate Cde Charles Chinamira polled 1 587 while Erasmus Brighton of MDC got 226. The seat fell vacant after the death of Zanu-PF councillor, Mr Tendayi Nyabaya in December last year.

A statement released by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) yesterday said both the Mangwe and Chimanimani by-elections were peaceful.

“The political environment in the wards had been reported to be serene with no incidents of violence or malpractices having been observed or reported,” said the statement.

Last month Zanu-PF also retained Mwenezi Ward 15 seat after polling 1 811 votes against MDC-Alliance’s 27 votes.

TWO bodies of a man and woman have been recovered at a farm owned by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, about 60km from Beitbridge border town.

The farm is where Mohadi chased his estranged wife around with an axe while police details looked on until he got tired.

Police said the bodies were of lovers that were involved in a love triangle. A source who attended the scene said the woman is suspected to have double-crossed her lover with another man who had promised to take her to sungura artiste Alick Macheso’s show.

Macheso performed in Beitbridge on March 6.

 “Her live-in-lover, who was a guard at Mohadi’s farm, intercepted messages about the proposed trip and kept quiet,” said the source.

“When the woman requested money ostensibly to go and order trinkets from Musina in South Africa, he asked her to join him in their room where he locked the door and killed her before shooting himself.”

Police recovered the deceased lovers’ bodies at the bloody scene.

The man, who must have blown his head by firing under his chin, was still holding on to his murder-suicide weapon when their remains were recovered.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying it was part of a worrying trend of people dying in crimes of passion.

“We have previously issued a statement on those deaths,” he said. “In Beitbridge [at Mohadi’s farm] it was a tragic end of a love triangle dispute.

“In the last eight days there were several deaths, including two men who fatally clashed over a woman in Manicaland.”

Nyathi said the alleged murderer was arrested when he returned to roast maize at the murder scene the following day and found detectives waiting. 

Police said during the same week, a man in Lusulu, Binga, hacked to death five people including a baby.

The suspected murderer has since been identified as Christopher Gotore.

He allegedly killed Admire Nyangarai, whose age was not given, his wife Bibeat Munsaka (23) and the couple’s one-year-old baby Loice Compassion Nyangarai, who was axed while on her mother’s back. Standard

TOURISM operators are opposed to the idea of travellers producing Covid-19 health clearance certificates when entering Zimbabwe.

They say improving precautionary measures and thorough screening at ports of entry is a better option.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, tourism industry executives said the certification path was too stringent and would negatively affect the sector.

Shearwater Adventures public relations manager, Mr Clement Mukwasi, said there was no place in the world where people can just get into a hospital and demand to be tested for Covid-19.

He said tourists normally travel for a long time and pass through other destinations, which makes it cumbersome for travellers to meet that requirement.

“There is no place in the world where you would walk into a hospital and ask to be tested for Covid-19. Not even here in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, tourists traverse different countries over a long period of time. From which country should they have health certificates,” said Mr Mukwasi.

Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe regional spokesperson, Mrs Barbra Murasimwa, said the tourism sector has suffered a lot due to cancellations made because of Covid-19, which broke out in China and has spread to nearly 100 countries.

The percentage of tourist arrivals has dropped drastically, she said.

“As the tourism sector we have suffered a lot. For now we’re not ready to show our statistics to the public but looking at the statistics that were being compiled we have dropped to 30 percent. This is due to cancellations,” said Mrs Murasimwa.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority acting chief executive, Mr Givemore Chidzidzi, said the economy is dependent on the tourism sector as one of key forex earners. He said tourists need assurance that they are safe if coming to Zimbabwe.

“We need to assure the industry visiting us that they are safe here,” he said.

A senior director from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Mr Paul Chinakidzwa, said while Zimbabwe has only suspected cases of Covid-19, there are no confirmations yet.

“In Zimbabwe we had only suspects of people with the virus but they tested negative. To date Zimbabwe has not confirmed any cases of Covid-19,’’ he said.

By A Correspondent| In a shocking case of conflict of interest, 4 prison officers stationed at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison were on Friday found guilty by a Harare magistrate for assaulting an inmate by the name, Masiwa Vhitorini who is the young brother of the provincial magistrate Vhitorini.

Vhitorini is said to have played a key role to influence the conviction of the four officers, the four officers convicted. The four are in custody at Harare remand prison waiting for sentence today on Monday 16 March.

The four officers are APCO (Assistant Principal Correction Officer), Sgt Char CO(1) Nyandowe and CO(1) Nyoni of the special tactics unit.

ZimEye is following up on the case this morning.

Government has come under spotlight for allowing a Grade 3 set book containing false  information that celebrated musician Lovemore Majaivana is dead to be distributed to schools.

Majaivana is alive and lives in the United States.

MDC Alliance said they were appalled by the embarrassing error as they called for the book to be withdrawn.

“We’re appalled that a book that is “approved by the Ministry of Education” contains embarrassing errors like this. Lovemore Majaivana is not ‘late.’ He’s alive. There should be no room for such sloppiness in the school curriculum. The book must be recalled and corrected,” said the party in a statement.

Respected Academic Dr Alex Magaisa said the book is toxic to children.

“The authors, publishers and the Ministry of Education which approved this book decided to “kill” music legend Lovemore Majaivana. He is late, they say. Whatever happened to basic fact-checking? What other poison are they feeding the kids in the name of education?” he said.

CABINET is set to decide tomorrow on the fate of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and Independence Day celebrations at a time the leadership of host city for both events, Bulawayo, has called for a suspension of all public gatherings amid Covid-19 threats.

In his state of the nation address last night, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said his country had recorded 61 Covid-19 positive cases and had decided to close 32 of its 72 ports of entry consisting of land, air and sea ports. He said schools will close on Wednesday until the end of Easter and that visits to prisons had immediately been suspended.

He said after consulting widely they had imposed a travel ban on those coming from high risk countries — Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China as from 18 March.

One case had been confirmed in Eswatini. On Saturday, Namibia cancelled independence celebrations slated for March 21 following confirmation of two cases of Covid-19 in that country. The country also suspended in and outbound travel from Ethiopia, Germany and Qatar with immediate effect.

Zimbabwe has no confirmed cases of Covid-19 yet, although more than 8 700 people who entered the country entry as of last Friday have been placed under surveillance for the virus. So far, Government has cancelled a high-level conference organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that was scheduled for Victoria Falls later this month.

On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) postponed the 57th Committee of Sadc Stock Exchange (CoSSE) meeting and Second Brokers’ Networking Session that was scheduled for this week in Victoria Falls due to coronavirus fears.

Speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, Bulawayo Mayor Solomon Mguni said while the upcoming Independence Day celebrations and ZITF were important for the city and the country as a whole, the health of citizens had to take precedence. He said the country has a lot to learn from countries such as the United States, China, and Italy which are on lockdown to stem Covid-19.

“It’s a very risky situation to have such high people traffic in the city at such a time. Personally, I think that all big gatherings must be suspended for at least two months. City of Bulawayo should suspend all public national gatherings, starting with the 2020 independence celebrations and ZITF 2020 until we are sure that our people are safe from Covid-19. This is my opinion. As people we must debate around this thing and ensure that we reach the safest conclusion,” said the mayor.

He said the country must take precautionary measures and learn from countries that had suspended public meetings as a preventive measure against Covid-19.

“If you look at global trends, they are suspending all of these activities maybe for a month or two as they observe. If we are not fully equipped to deal with this pandemic, why don’t we suspend these activities maybe until end of May. It’s my opinion. I have shared my view so that the people may debate around that thing. Look at China, Italy, Germany, they are suspending these things and have shut down. ZITF is the riskiest because you have people coming from all corners of the globe, including the hotspots, so it may be safer to take extreme measures for now,” said the mayor.

He said BCC was still awaiting a report from the city’s Health Services Department for advice on the way forward and assessment of the city’s preparedness to host the ZITF and independence celebrations in light of the Covid-19 threat. In an interview yesterday, the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo said a decision would be made tomorrow on Bulawayo’s hosting of independence celebrations and ZITF.

“Let’s wait until Tuesday that is the time when a decision will be made at the higher level on the hosting of the big events. Until then, members of the public must continue to heed calls from the ministry to adhere to high standards of hygiene, avoid unnecessary travel, stay safe, and report to health facilities if not feeling well,” he said.

As of last Friday, the Health Ministry said more than 8 700 people who entered the country through the country’s ports of entry had been placed under surveillance for Covid-19.

In a statement, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva said the travellers will be continuously monitored for up to 21 days as per protocol.

She assured the nation that despite the growing number of people under surveillance no positive cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the country.

Dr Mahomva said the two suspected cases of coronavirus which were reported at Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) last week came out negative as they did not meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of a suspected case. Two Zimbabwean women who returned to Bulawayo via South Africa were last week taken to Mpilo and UBH with flu-like symptoms.

Dr Mahomva said at both hospitals the Covid-19 Rapid Response team reacted swiftly to the cases.

“The Ministry would like to report a 39-year-old female patient who was presented to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) with a history of chest pain and fever. On presentation she declared that she suspected that she had Covid-19 disease. The Covid-19 Rapid Response team immediately went to assess her and found that she did not meet the WHO case definition of a suspected case,” she said.

“A female adult who travelled from United Arab Emirates on March 4 on route to Zimbabwe via South Africa reported contact with someone with a flu-like illness in South Africa. She arrived in Zimbabwe on March 10 and was presented to Mpilo Central Hospital with a flu-like illness on Thursday last week. Upon assessment she did not meet the WHO case definition of a suspected case.”

Dr Mahomva said the Health Ministry continues to strengthen surveillance at all ports of entry in the country in line with the implementation of the National Preparedness and Response Plan.

The United Kingdom has given the country protective kits that include masks, goggles among others worth £100 000. The UK is also spending £1,7 million on the construction of a National Response Centre which is situated at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare that will be completed within two weeks.

On Wednesday last week, the Global Fund said it will avail US$25 million to help Zimbabwe fight Covid-19 and the money will be used for among others emergency response preparations at infectious diseases hospitals, including at Bulawayo’s Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital.

Zimbabwe’s defence minister has called the coronavirus pandemic a “punishment” of the US and Europe for imposing sanctions against members of the ruling regime over human rights abuses.

Coronavirus has infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed almost 6,000 since it was first detected in China last December.

“Coronavirus is the work of god punishing countries who imposed sanctions on us,” said Zimbabwe’s defence minister Oppah Muchinguri on Saturday, speaking at a rally in the northern town of Chinhoyi.

“They are now staying indoors. Their economies are screaming just like they did to our economy.”

The United States and the European Union first imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe during the despotic rule of the country’s late ex-president Robert Mugabe, ousted by the military in November 2017.

The measures were aimed at high-ranking officials and government institutions, including travel bans on Mugabe and his inner circle.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been battling to re-engage with the West since he took office in 2017.

But the US extended sanctions this month to two security officials accused of orchestrating a violent crackdown on protests over a delay in election results in 2018, killing six.

Muchinguri said the novel virus would teach US President Donald Trump that “he is not God”.

“They must feel the effects of coronavirus and understand our pain,” she said.

Trump declared a national state of emergency on Saturday. At least 2,700 people have tested positive in the US and more than 50 have died.

Sub-Saharan Africa has so far escaped the worst of the pandemic, with fewer than 100 cases confirmed in more than 20 countries.

Zimbabwe has not yet detected any cases.

Neighbouring South Africa announced 13 new cases on Sunday, bringing the country’s tally up to 51.

On Twitter, many Zimbabweans said they were appalled by Muchinguri’s words.

“To say I’m gobsmacked is an understatement,” tweeted law professor Alex Magaisa. “How does a senior minister utter such rubbish?”

Others criticised the government for not taking the pandemic seriously enough.

“Namibian President… has cancelled Independence Celebrations,” tweeted journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.

“Yet in Zimbabwe the regime is pushing ahead with Independence celebrations… whilst hospitals are dilapidated!”

To date only government officials and staff have been banned from foreign travel in Zimbabwe.

Minister Oppah Muchinguri ws very ill advised & ill informed when she said ‘#COVIDー19 is God’s way of punishing the West over Zim sanctions’. BTW, didnt it start in China?
Is Zim/AFRICA off the hook as yet?
Oppah, thou shalt not speak too soon as the wheel is still in spin! pic.twitter.com/j7HTLh6Ap3

— Violet Gonda (@violetgonda) March 15, 2020

State Media|GOVERNMENT has commissioned Kasambabezi Border Post in Binga, in a development set to catapult Matabeleland North province to development through tourism and trade with neighbouring Zambia.

The border post is one of Government projects spearheaded through the 100-day cycle under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).

Besides opening trade links between Binga and Mamba town in Zambia across the Zambezi River, the border post reconnects the BaTonga people on either side of the river, thereby enhancing unity between the two neighbouring countries.

Vice President Kembo Mohadi commissioned the facility on Friday, soon after commissioning the Binga Community Craft Centre, which was renovated by Government last year.

VP Mohadi said Kasambabezi Border Post situated on the edge of the Zambezi River, about six kilometres north-east of Binga centre, was a trump card for Binga and Government.

“It’s going to help in many ways,” he said.

“First and foremost, the river Zambezi and Kariba Dam separated the two Tonga communities on either side.

“All this time they didn’t have something that links them. When they had cultural activities they needed to attend, they had to cross via Victoria Falls, which was problematic.”

VP Mohadi said the facility would ease traffic between the two countries.

“They have been clamouring for it and as Government we said let’s make it happen,” he said.

“So, it’s one of the things that’s going to give us mileage in terms of trade as well. A lot of maize is grown on the southern side of Zambia and it will be shorter for maize to come into Zimbabwe through Binga rather than going to Livingstone and Kariba.”

The border facility has makeshift offices for the Immigration Department, while the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is expected to move in soon. A 400-metre road from the offices to the harbour is being cleared.

Already, travellers are being attended to at the facility and use the police harbour, while construction of an immigration harbour will commence soon.

VP Mohadi said the harbour will be developed once a bill of quantities was prepared.

“Documents are currently being processed at the offices and people are taken to the police harbour to cross,” he said.

“We await the bill of quantities from the officials and once they tell us what’s needed, we will then provide.”

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary Mr Aaron Nhepera said Government would expedite operationalisation of the border post.

He said water, electricity and road facilities would be ready before the end of the month.

Senator Chief Siansali of Binga said the facility was a welcome development, which had been long overdue for the people of Binga.

“There has been a long wait for Binga people to connect with Zambia because we are one people divided by the river,” he said. “This will ensure people visit their folks and also pave way for development.”

The missing Chinese couple, which disappeared on Valentine’s Day, stayed in Borrowdale Brooke, Harare, with the husband running a company involved in mining and building materials.

The details on the couple emerged as police have engaged Interpol and Chinese authorities to widen their investigations to establish the whereabouts of the two.

Lei Ding (35) and his wife Chi Lifen (30) disappeared on Valentine’s Day after visiting a friend in Highlands, Harare.

Their friends and relatives have since offered a $1 million reward for anyone with information that might assist in the search.

Advertisements with pictures of the couple have since been published in all local media announcing the reward.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is now working with the International Police Organisation (Interpol) and their Chinese counterparts in searching for the couple.

Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide is handling the case.

Sources close to the investigations said Ding, a director of a local company, Yafei Building Material and Mining, and his wife were staying in Borrowdale Brooke.

Information obtained from the CCTV at their house in Borrowdale Brooke showed the couple leaving at around 11:48am in a white Mercedes Benz ML registration number AFA 3322.

They were visiting a friend in Highlands.

They met their friend, a Chinese, outside his house at around 12:38pm before they left for an unknown destination.

The following day, their vehicle was discovered by officers from Mabvuku Police Station while parked along Arcturus Road, with keys in the ignition.

The Chinese couple’s vehicle which was discovered by officers from Mabvuku Police Station while parked along Arcturus Road, with keys in the ignition

Police recovered the couple’s keys to their house, US$12 and $9.

Also found was Ding’s firearm certificate for cash-in-transit, but the gun was missing.

Detectives from the CID Vehicle Theft Squad (VTS) attended the scene.

They then checked their database and discovered that the vehicle was registered in Ding’s name and got his home address.

When they went to the house, they found no one. They managed to locate Ding’s sister who is staying in Zimbabwe and she also assisted with investigations.

They went back to the house and conducted searches, but nothing was missing inside the house and the couple’s valid passports were also found.

The passports have valid visas (business/investors permits) which expire in June this year.

In an interview, Ding’s sister, who preferred anonymity, said her brother had been coming in and out of the country since 2008.

“He first visited Zimbabwe in 2008, but would normally stay for at least two years and then relocate to other countries for business,” she said.

“But since 2018, Ding had been staying in Borrowdale Brooke with his wife.”

She confirmed that the CCTV indeed showed the couple had left home around 11.48am.

The sister said whenever Ding left home, he would carry his gun and a certain amount of cash with him.

“From what I know, he would carry some cash and most of the time he would also carry his gun with him, which is also missing,” she said.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations to ascertain the whereabouts of the two were still ongoing.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is still investigating the case involving those two Chinese nationals who were last seen on February 14, 2020 in Eastlea after visiting a friend,” he said.

“We are still appealing to anyone who may have information on their disappearance or possible location to contact their nearest police station or the national complaints desk on (0242) 703631.”

Those with some information can also contact CID Homicide on 0242 758031.

State Media|New Patriotic Front (NPF) leader and losing presidential candidate in the 2018 harmonised elections, Engineer Tendai Peter Munyanduri, who anchored his election campaign message on providing milk, eggs, bacon and honey, is admitted at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital’s psychiatric ward after he suffered a mental breakdown.

In his election campaign message, he had also promised to appoint only two Government ministries and declared that former Vice President Joice Mujuru and MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa were incapable of running the nation.

Eng Munyanduri, who is employed by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) at its Chinhoyi Megawatt offices, is alleged to have suffered a mental breakdown while at work early last week.

Inside sources at the Megawatt offices who requested anonymity said he indecently exposed himself to female members of staff during an internal wellness programme.

Some male workers, the source said, quickly moved in to cover him and took him to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where he is admitted at the psychiatric ward.

When The Herald visited Eng Munyanduri, he was visibly emotional.

He admitted that he was sick, but denied that he had indecently exposed himself to fellow staffers.

He said the allegations were being peddled by detractors who wanted to destroy his political career.

“Yes, I am not feeling well, but the claim that I indecently exposed myself is a lie,” he said.

“All these rumours are aimed at tainting my political imagine as I am a force to reckon with.”

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Eng Munyanduri also exposed himself to female members of staff at the hospital.

Efforts by the state media to get comment from ZETDC spokesperson, Fullard Gwasira, were futile by the time of going to print, while Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital superintendent, Collet Mawire, could not divulge any information citing hospital-patient confidentiality.

State Media|Coronavirus (covid-19), whose effects are being felt across the world, has impacted on projects in Zimbabwe, with construction of the New Parliament building in Mt Hampden slowed after 100 technocrats failed to return from China.

The epidemic has also delayed the delivery of essential equipment for the project from the Asian country.

The absence of the technocrats and equipment is affecting work at the mega project, where construction of the super structure is now complete and focus is shifting to the interior.

The 100 technocrats, among them project engineers, had gone back home for their annual leave.

Some of the equipment that is stuck in China comprise of transformers, furniture, air conditioners and distribution boxes.

The project is being carried out by the Shanghai Construction Group of China under a government to government agreement.

Completion of the six storey circular building is expected to solve issues of space affecting the current Parliament Building, which has 270 legislators against a capacity of 120.

The new building has capacity to hold 600 people.

At the moment, legislators in the National Assembly are failing to follow proceedings due to unavailability of enough space in the Chamber.

The Herald news crew on Friday visited the site housing the new building designed to accommodate all members of the National Assembly and Senate members in comfort and observed notable progress.

The joint-structure has taken shape with roof installation finished, focus is now on plastering, which is underway on the walls that would be sound proofed.

Pillars signifying the Great Zimbabwe monuments that will have the symbolic Zimbabwean bird on top have already been erected.

Speaking at the site, Shanghai Construction Group company project manager Mr Cai Libo said coronovirus has had an effect on the project.

“There are more than 100 people, including some project engineers, stuck in China due to coronavirus as they are being restricted to travel,” he said.

“Also, factories that are supposed to supply us with equipment like elevators were closed down for almost a month, affecting production and this has delayed the delivery of equipment here.”

Mr Cai expressed optimism that they will still meet their March 27 deadline to complete the 30-month project, which started on September 28 in 2018.

At the moment, focus is on the floors for the Senate chamber and the ceiling for the National Assembly chamber.

There is also work on the firefighting equipment, plumbing, electricity and telephone cables being installed.

The air conditioning systems are being installed and fire alerts are almost complete.

Unlike the current Parliament Building, the new building’s sitting arrangement will be circular, with a table at the centre.

When complete, both the Senate and National Assembly chambers will be sound proof.

Apart from the two chambers, workmen are working on fittings for the committee rooms and offices in the co-joined building that will house the office for the Head of State and Government.

The project is being undertaken on a 6-hectare stand on the high ground in Mount Hampden, about 20 kilometres from the city centre.

Situated on a hilltop, the New Parliament building is a six storey circular building co-joined between two and four part blocks, housing the two chambers that cover the two-storey part.

When complete, the new parliament will have features resembling the Great Zimbabwe monument and a fountain that signifies one of the world’s seven wonders, the scenic Victoria Falls.

The funding and construction of the imposing structure is being done by the Chinese government.

President Mnangagwa and his two Vice Presidents, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, have visited the new building twice to assess progress and expressed satisfaction with the work being carried out.

Chief Mathema, a traditional leader in Gwanda has criticised president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for repealing the Indigenisation Act saying the move robbed communities of shares from resources extracted from their areas.

The Act was repealed after some analysts said that it was scaring away investors who were now opting for other countries with fewer demands. Chief Mathema asserts that the move promotes looting of national resources.

He said:
The repeal of the Indigenisation Act put in place by Mugabe’s regime has sent CSOTs into extinction.

We have decided to form an association to share ideas on how we can survive now that we no longer have the government support and that of companies which are looting our resources.

The Indigenisation Act had resulted in the establishment of community share ownership trusts to ensure that the indigenous communities benefited from national resources with minerals topping the agenda.

Zimbabwe was not the first country to have such a policy as the USA, China, France, Italy, Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Taiwan and South Africa still have such policies in various forms which might not be as direct as the compulsory 51/49 shareholding adopted by Zimbabwe.-The Standard