The Coronavirus Nonsense Was Clearly Caused by State Capture, Can Any Nation Survive When It’s Captured By Politicians ChiwengaStyle?

Last month, the South African government told ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa to his face, the country is now lawless and unsafe for investments.

This no holds barred statement was delivered by the South African ambassador, Mphakama Mbete who said Zimbabwe is now lawless on 10 fronts. He was speaking during last week’s Polad economic summit at the HICC where he said Zimbabwe:

  • Has non working Public Institutions.
  • is now totally lawless – no rule of law at all.
  • Now has extractive political and economic institutions.
  • Now run by rent-seekers and political manipulators.
  • Has no security of tenure .
  • Does not protect investments.
  • Does not honour of bilateral trade and investment agreements.
  • Does not service its debts.
  • The will of the people is suppressed, and active citizenry low.
  • Investments are not safe

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Ambassador Mphakama Mbete told the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) economic summit last week,

“In terms of active citizenry would believe that this is a very important factor of a thriving democracy. Ultimately it is the will of the people that must prevail for any democracy to be sustained.”

He however began his speech outlining the following:

“A comment on Public Institutions. We believe that Public institutions are key to proper economic management and must be allowed to pursue their mandate in line with the policy framework and legislation that establishes them. These institutions are important to provide a stable and predictable economic environment for business to thrive,” Mbete said.

Business, particularly through Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe, has accused government of dragging the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe into quasi-fiscal activities and allowing it to print or generate money for political expediency and resultantly undermine the local currency.

Mbete said research showed that governments which manipulated institutions led generally poor nations.

“Nations with extractive political and economic institutions are likely to be poor compared to those with inclusive economic institutions, where the rule of law is protected against rent-seeking and political manipulation,” he said.

Mnangagwa’s government has been posturing, telling its African and international audiences that sanctions were affecting economic development in the country and hindering foreign direct investment (FDI), but Mbete sang from a different hymnbook.

“Zimbabwe has presented itself to be open for business, which we believe is an appropriate approach to developing this country and economy. However, in order to attract significant flows of direct investment, it is import that Zimbabwe improves its record concerning the following issues; security of tenure and investment protection; repatriation of proceeds by investors; the honouring of bilateral trade and investment agreements; the need to open up the economy to competition and establishment of new credibilities, lastly optimal debt servicing,” he said.

Zimbabwe has been writing laws to protect local industries from competition, especially by enforcing punitive import tariffs and closing out some sectors to foreign competition.

These include Statutory Instrument (SI) 64 of 2016, whose objective was to boost domestic production by protecting local industries from unfair competition from foreign firms.

The SI resulted in the removal of 43 products from the Open General Import Licence.

Zimbabwe, however, repealed SI 64, all its predecessors and consolidated their contents into SI 122 of 2017 with import controls, though relaxed, still haunting the nation.

The laws came under scrutiny after the country joined the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will remove economic borders and bring fierce continental competition.

Mbete told government that without addressing these issues, FDI would seek safer destinations.

“We believe that in a highly competitive environment for FDI, these are but a few of the basic conditions that must be upheld at all times. In our view, failure to do so means that investment capital will always look past Zimbabwe to other safer havens,” he said.

Touching on the core of economic decay, Mbete said the shortages of energy, fuel and water in Zimbabwe were not making matters any better.

“Zimbabwe has an industry base that has been neglected for long and needs reinvestment and re-calibrating. This neglect undermines government revenue collection potential since industry is operating below its potential. Industry and the economy by extension triumphs when basic services such as energy, fuel, water, bulk services, for example, are provided in a consistent and predictable way, this is essential for long-term planning by the productive sectors,” he said.

“We think it is important for all members of society to enter into a social contract wherein government, business, labour and citizens rally behind a common vision of the country of Zimbabwe.
Success requires mutual co-operation of all players as no one section of society can do it alone.”

Added Mbete: “South Africa, we believe, has had a very successful social contract through the National Economic Development Labour Council.”

What Causes Birth Defects?

World Birth Defects Day Article

Compiled by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

Celebrated all over the world on the 3rd of March.

It is a day set aside to raise awareness of the serious global problem and advocate for more surveillance, prevention, care and research to help babies and children. Birth defects contribute to child mortality and in some families may cause divorce or even family separation.

Many birth defects are preventable but once a baby is born with them curing them is difficult.
Prevention: Couples can avoid unnecessary emotional trauma of having a baby with congenital birth defects by: Planning a pregnancy in advance and talk to your doctor about what one should be doing.

This includes taking supplements, vaccinated, stop smoking and alcohol intake, stop all teratogenic drugs or switch to other drugs, make sure chronic conditions like Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus are well controlled. All this helps reduce the incidence of birth defects.

Pregnant woman

During pregnancy regular visits to the doctor or health practitioner for checkups is also important. If problems are to arise they are detected early and medical interventions can also be done early. Health seeking behavior is also important.

Pregnancy comes with its physiological changes and for the first pregnancy one might not be able to tell the normal from the abnormal but if you visit a health facility one might be advised on what to do early.

Husbands and even relatives at home should support pregnant women. Stressful environment is not good and might also affect the mother affecting the foetus and might contribute to birth defects. If one is not sure whether they are pregnant or not always notify when new drugs are prescribed or when an X-ray is offered as exposure to these also contribute to birth defects. The most crucial months of all are the first three to four months (1st Trimester). This is the period the foetus is developing therefore any disturbance to this process causes birth defects.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed by World Health Organization (WHO) goal 3 says: Good health and well being for people. It aims to reduce under five mortality in every country. Birth defects contributes a percentage to those deaths therefore fighting against birth defects is fighting for well being. Prevention is better than cure.

Let’s fight birth defects.

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LIVE: Meet The Blind Man Who’s Busy Transforming Zimbabwe Into A Garden Of Eden, Literally

By Own Correspondent| ZimEye interviews Mr Sibonile Marwirana Myambo, a visually impaired man who has a vision to turn Zimbabwe into a garden of Eden, literally, and has has ready started this by creating a large conservation hectarage in Chimanimani, now set to become a major national tourist attraction.

“My vision is to create another Garden of Eden as a way of averting the causes of global warming,” said Mr Myambo.

He began this project 6 years ago and having successfully built this massive garden, he now wants the whole country to implement his concept.

He said instead of focusing on addressing the impact and symptoms of global warming and environmental degradation, his aim is to address and redress the root causes of the problem.

Working with 10 other villagers, Sibonile Mwarwirana has vowed that being blind will not deter his vision for a clean and environmentally sustainable community.

Watch the live video loading below for this and more…

WORLD HEARING DAY:Don’t Let Hearing Loss Limit You

Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

On the 3rd day of March, the nation will commemorate and raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing so as to promote hearing across the world.

This day shall be celebrated under the theme; “Hearing for life.don’t let hearing loss limit you.An ear is the organ for hearing.

In monkeys, cats, and dogs the vestibular inner part of the ear also plays a definite role in the postural fixation of the head, orientation of the animal in space and reflexes accompanying locomotion and less in human where the vestibular organs are sometimes called the sense organs of balance.

Sound energy is transmitted into the ear through air as a disturbance of air molecules which means without the air molecules and such disturbance there is no sound to be heard.

When these disturbance take place we call it sound wave; for a brief overview of the anatomy and physiology.

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MDC To Hold Training Programme For Councillors

The MDC will next week host the much-awaited Smart Councils Summit at which will the party’s deployees to rural and urban local authorities will congregate to exchange ideas and get direction from the party leadership on how they can improve service delivery to ratepayers.

The People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa announced the dates for the long-awaited Smart Councils Summit at a Mayors Forum in Harare last Friday. The summit will be held in the capital from the 11th to 12th of March 2020.

The event will draw participants from all councils, including councilors from the country’s rural wards.

The People’s President will outline and unveil the Smart Cities Agenda as well as the Smart Rural Initiative.

Last week, President Chamisa encouraged the party’s deployees to the various urban and rural councils to hold feedback meetings and to maintain an organic relationship with the ratepayers who elected them.

The Movement for Democratic Change controls most of the urban local authorities and a significant number of rural councils in the country.

ChangeThatDelivers

MDC Communications

MDC

Seven Perish In Musina Crash

Seven people including a two-year-old toddler, with some of them believed to be Zimbabweans perished on Sunday evening when the vehicle they were travelling in rammed into a haulage truck trailer in the area  between Musina and Beitbridge Border Post along the N1 highway.

Limpopo police  confirmed the news this morning and said they were investigating a case of culpable homicide after a Musina bound Toyota Fortuner rammed into a haulage truck that was travelling towards the border.

South Africa Police Services provincial spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the incident adding that they were yet to identify the deceased.

“The Police in Musina have registered a case of culpable homicide after seven people lost their lives when a Toyota Fortuner smashed into the side of a truck on the N1 road between Musina and Beitbridge at around 2130 hours on Sunday night,” he said.

“The truck had reportedly just moved from the Petros Truck Stop which is located next to the road, turning onto the N1 road towards Beitbridge when the Fortuner, coming from the northerly direction towards Musina, rammed into its trailer.

Emergency personnel had to remove the deceased from the wreckage of their vehicle that was trapped under the truck. All the deceased, a baby boy aged about two years, three women and three men, were in the Fortuner. The truck driver was alone and did not sustain any injuries”.

-Online

Lead By Example, Chamisa Tells MDC Councillors

Farai Dziva|MDC president Nelson Chamisa will next week address party councillors in a bid to bolster their operations in their respective local authorities.

See statement below:

MDC will next week host the much-awaited Smart Councils Summit at which will the party’s deployees to rural and urban local authorities will congregate to exchange ideas and get direction from the party leadership on how they can improve service delivery to ratepayers.

The People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa announced the dates for the long-awaited Smart Councils Summit at a Mayors Forum in Harare last Friday. The summit will be held in the capital from the 11th to 12th of March 2020.

The event will draw participants from all councils, including councilors from the country’s rural wards.

The People’s President will outline and unveil the Smart Cities Agenda as well as the Smart Rural Initiative.

Last week, President Chamisa encouraged the party’s deployees to the various urban and rural councils to hold feedback meetings and to maintain an organic relationship with the ratepayers who elected them.

The Movement for Democratic Change controls most of the urban local authorities and a significant number of rural councils in the country.

ChangeThatDelivers

MDC Communications

We Must Cause Change To Happen -Chamisa

Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said every Zimbabwean has a role to play in the struggle for change.

According to Chamisa, Zimbabweans “should not be in such a mess.”

“Zimbabwe has too many smart, educated and talented people to be in such a mess.Zimbabweans are running the world all over but our country has been run down.

We must all give our country a new life,a new direction& a new image.Change will not just happen.We must cause it to happen,” tweeted Chamisa.

Time To Give Our Country A New Direction-Chamisa

Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said every Zimbabwean has a role to play in the struggle for change.

According to Chamisa, Zimbabweans “should not be in such a mess.”

“Zimbabwe has too many smart, educated and talented people to be in such a mess.Zimbabweans are running the world all over but our country has been run down.

We must all give our country a new life,a new direction& a new image.Change will not just happen.We must cause it to happen,” tweeted Chamisa.

Nelson Chamisa

Seven Perish In SA Accident

Seven people including a two-year-old toddler, some of them believed to be Zimbabweans died on Sunday evening when the vehicle they were travelling in rammed a haulage truck trailer between Musina and Beitbridge Border Post along the N1 highway last night.

Police in Limpopo, this morning, said they were investigating a case of culpable homicide after a Musina bound Toyota Fortuner rammed
a haulage truck that was travelling towards the border.

South Africa Police Services provincial spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the incident adding that they were yet to identify the deceased.

“The Police in Musina have registered a case of culpable homicide after seven people lost their lives when a Toyota Fortuner smashed
into the side of a truck on the N1 road between Musina and Beitbridge at around 2130 hours on Sunday night,” he said.

“The truck had reportedly just moved from the Petros Truck Stop which is located next to the road, turning onto the N1 road towards
Beitbridge when the Fortuner, coming from the northerly direction towards Musina, rammed into its trailer.

Emergency personnel had to remove the deceased from the wreckage of their vehicle that was trapped under the truck.

All the deceased, a baby boy aged about two years, three women and three men, were in the Fortuner. The truck driver was alone and did not sustain any injuries”.

Brigadier Mojapelo added; “The process of identifying the deceased has already begun as they are unknown at this stage.

Police investigations into the circumstance of this incident are unfolding”.

The N1 highway is one of the busiest roads which links South Africa with the rest of Sadc especially those from Malawi, DRC,
Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The road has become a death trap with over 60 people including Zimbabweans and Malawians having died in accidents in the last 24 months.

In November 2018, five Zimbabweans died following a collision between a Toyota Quantum and Sable Class bus (cross-border) they were travelling in near the same spot.

The Toyota Quantum and the bus were travelling to Zimbabwe from Johannesburg when the driver of the former made an abrupt U-turn in front of the bus resulting in the collision.-State media

WATCH- Blind Man’s Vision For A Better Community

By Own Correspondent| “My vision is to create another Garden of Eden as a way of averting the causes of global warming,” said the blind man from Chimanimani.

He said instead of focusing on addressing the impact and symptoms of global warming and environmental degradation, his aim is to address and redress the root causes of the problem.

Working with 10 other villagers, Sibonile Mwarwirana has vowed that being blind will not deter his vision for a clean and environmentally sustainable community.

Watch the live video loading below for this and more…

Full Text:CHAN 2020 Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers
Simbarashe Chinani, Ariel Sibanda, Nelson Chadya, Talbert Shumba

Defenders

Xolani Ndlovu, Qadr Amini, Frank Makarati, Partson Jaure, Peter Muduwa, Liberty Chakoroma, Ian Nekati, Rapheal Muduviwa
Midfielders
Malon Mushonga, Moses Muchenje, Devon Chafa, Trevor Mavhunga, Kelvin Madzongwe, Phenias Bamusi, Juan Mutudza, King Nadolo, Wellington Taderera, Ishmael Wadi, Valentine Kadonzvo, William Manondo, Kelvin Chibunyu (Cranborne Bullets).

Strikers
Prince Dube, Obriel Chirinda, Stanley Ngala

MDC Youths Were Sponsored By NGOs To Cause Havoc In Chitungwiza, Claims Togarepi

Farai Dziva|In a desperate attempt to redeem his waning political career, demoted Zanu PF youth league leader
Pupurai Togarepi, has accused NGOs of “sponsoring violent protests in Chitungwiza.”

Contrary to Togarepi’s assertion, overzealous ZRP cops assaulted hapless citizens in Chitungwiza as government agents attempted to raid MDC deputy chairperson, Job Sikhala’s house.

“Zvinozikamwa ndozvokupwanya mabhazi. Zvanzi vana ve Zimbabwe varwadziwe vagovhotera zvimbwasungata.

Mabhazi haanei ne politics ndeeruzhinji. Ndozvinonetsa zvinhu zvekirango motungamidza chidhakwa chinongoda kuona zvakapwanyika.

Svinurai vanoda ma picture kunopuwa mari nama NGOs
Vandalising buses is what they do best, they think if they inflict pain on Zimbabweans they will vote for puppets. Buses have nothing to do with politics.

Those are problems that emanate from abusing drugs and letting a drunkard lead them who only wants to see things vandalised. Wake up, these people need pictorial evidence to convince NGOs to give them money,” claimed Togarepi.

Togarepi Blames MDC For Chitungwiza Skirmishes

Farai Dziva|In a desperate attempt to redeem his waning political career, demoted Zanu PF youth league leader
Pupurai Togarepi, has accused NGOs of “sponsoring violent protests in Chitungwiza.”

Contrary to Togarepi’s assertion, overzealous ZRP cops assaulted hapless citizens in Chitungwiza as government agents attempted to raid MDC deputy chairperson, Job Sikhala’s house.

“Zvinozikamwa ndozvokupwanya mabhazi. Zvanzi vana ve Zimbabwe varwadziwe vagovhotera zvimbwasungata.

Mabhazi haanei ne politics ndeeruzhinji. Ndozvinonetsa zvinhu zvekirango motungamidza chidhakwa chinongoda kuona zvakapwanyika.

Svinurai vanoda ma picture kunopuwa mari nama NGOs
Vandalising buses is what they do best, they think if they inflict pain on Zimbabweans they will vote for puppets. Buses have nothing to do with politics.

Those are problems that emanate from abusing drugs and letting a drunkard lead them who only wants to see things vandalised. Wake up, these people need pictorial evidence to convince NGOs to give them money,” claimed Togarepi.

Warriors Provisional Squad For CHAN Finals Out

The newly appointed Warriors coach Zdavko Logarusic and his technical team have named a 28 provisional squad for the 2020 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals set for 4-25 April in Cameroon.

Preparations will run from 8-18 March when the technical team will shift focus to back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Algeria.

Zimbabwe is drawn in group A with host Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The Wariors play in the opening match on the 4th of April againstthe hst host nation Cameroon.

Zimbabwe then face Burkina faso on the 8th at 7pm and final group match against Mali on the 12th again at 7pm.

The provisional squad has Goalkeepers Simbarashe Chinani, Ariel Sibanda, Nelson Chadya, Talbert Shumba. Defenders Xolisani Ndlovu, Qadir Amin, Frank Mukarati, Partson Jaure, Peter Muduwa, Liberty Chakoroma, Ian Nekati, Raphael Muduviwa. Midfielders are Marlon Mushonga, Moses Muchenje, Devon Chafa, Trevor Mavhunga, Kelvin Madzongwe, Phineas Bamusi, Juan Mutudza, King Nadolo, Wellington Taderera, Ishmael Wadi, Valentine Kadonzvo, William Manondo, Kelvin Chibunyu (Cranborne Bullets). Strikers are Prince Dube, Obriel Chirinda and Stanley Ngala.

Matanda-Moyo Dismisses Matutu, Tsenengamu Corruption Cartel List

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Loice Matanda Moyo has dismissed claims by suspended Zanu PF Youth league leaders Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu that business tycoon Kuda Tagwirei is corrupt and leading a corruption cartel that has captured the government.

She told the weekly Sunday Mail that the allegations by Matutu and Tsenengamu were baseless.

Matanda-Moyo confirmed that Matutu had formally reported the controversial oil mogul to the commission, but the information he brought failed to basic meet requirements to trigger any probe.

“What happened was that only one of the two came to ZACC and made a general report and said that so and so is corrupt,” said Matanda-Moyo.

“As ZACC, those are not the sort of reports that we expect. There are standards that have to be met. You have to meet basic standards to enable ZACC to open a file.

“Imagine if ZACC was to open a file based on a general allegation that so and so is corrupt, how many files would we have? We do not just take opinions, they must be some basis for saying someone is corrupt,” she said.

“We are not a political outfit. ZACC is apolitical and we do not want to be used in any political fights. If people have evidence and positive leads, we are their friends,” she added.

“But let me categorically state that we have never received any solid complaints regards their cases. What they said was just an allegation without any prima facie evidence. So whatever matters we are investigating are not because of them.”

JUST IN- Satanism Scare Concern Meeting Convened At Chiremba Primary School This Morning

ZimEye will be doing a catch up LIVE update on the:

Satanism Scare Concern Meeting Convened At Chiremba Primary School In Ruwa This Morning.

So far the head master has said the children began falling down after being given some vaccination pills. But they started falling down a week before the said pills were administered, a parent told ZimEye.

ZimEye will make an update shortly. (Also watch last night’s program below).

Social Media Rebuke For Mwonzora Over Tsvangirai Praise

By Jane Mlambo| Manicaland Senator and former MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has ignited a social media war following his post in which he hailed the late founding party leader Morgan Tsvangirai for what he described as selflessness and his vision for unity.

Mwonzora vowed to resist any machinations to divide the movement while hailing Tsvangirai for ‘making sure the people’s struggle was centred on people issues.’

“With President Tsvangirai in one of his meet-the-people tours in Ruwa. He abhored selfishness and made sure that the people’s struggle was centered on people issues. We shall follow his vision. We will no tolerate any attempts to divide our great Movement,” said Mwonzora.

The message was construed as an attack on current party leader Nelson Chamisa with hordes of social media attacking the veteran politician for seeking to push personal vendetta against current leadership following his congress loss to Charlton Hwende.

Leading the pack was motormouth journalist Hopewell Chin’ono who accused Mwonzora of seeking to divert the attention of Zimbabweans from bread and butter issues and nursing a 2019 congress grudge.

“Zimbabweans DON’T need this at this point in time @DMwonzora. We have NO water, electricity, jobs, medical care, hospitals have no medicines & a main opposition functionary is investing in factional battles?! Do you accept the MDC Congress outcome or not?” wrote Chin’ono.

“Someone was butchered and arrested and always on the runs with Zanu pf brutality and tgen someone was enjoying the benefits of destroying Tekere and ZUM.He got another assignment go and destroy MDC and with MDC’s naivity he was embraced and now he is still trying.anyangira yaona,” responded another Twitter user.

Another user by the name @TellinCalvin wrote, “I think we “ordinary supporters” hve tolerated you for too long Douglas… Don’t cry foul when we finally decide to shake nhata off our murivoooooo.”

But Mwonzora was not without his own supporters who hailed him for what they described as telling it as it is.

“The kind of LEADERSHIP that has disappeared in our party. Now we have someone WHO KNOWS IT ALL, who has EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL and has THE TOTAL SUPPORT of HIS GOD who IS IN IT TOO,” another user responded in support of the underfire Manicaland Senator.

Man In Soup Over Elephant Tasks

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man landed himself in trouble after he was found in possession of six elephant task at a business centre in the city.

Police confirmed that  Shepherd Chivaka (48) was arrested by police following a tip off by public that he was dealing in ivory and they had spotted him looking for buyers at the shops.

According to a police tweet when the police visited the shopping centre they spotted his car which they pounced on and searched it and found the six horns. –

“Kamba Is Turning In His Grave At Heartbreaking Oppression” – Rubbish, Never Bothered Him Alive

By Patrick Guramatunhu- It was the Spanish-American writer and philosopher George Santayana who said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it!”

We, in Zimbabwe, have yet to sit down and learn from the last 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship. And before we have even started, we are being bombarded by village idiots not only falsely claiming there is a material difference between the Zanu PF dictatorship under Mugabe to the same under Mnangagwa but worse still portray the former period as a golden age of unparalleled peace, justice, tranquility and economic prosperity! 

“In just one year, the human rights environment has deteriorated to such an extent that it is heartbreaking for me.

“I am sure for Walter Kamba, had he been alive, he would see so much suffering and the hopes for Zimbabweans for a better future under a new government dashed,” said Ms Navanethem Pillay in a recent Walter Kamba memorial lecture.

Whilst no one would deny the human rights situation in Zimbabwe is heartbreaking. Still, the present is situation is but a continuum of the past which, if the late Walter Kamba had been as conscientious and prudent as Ms Pillay is portraying him to be, would have been equally appalled. If he was appalled, he certainly did not show it much less do anything to stop it. 

Indeed, as the chairperson of the Election Supervision Commission in post independent Zimbabwe and Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe Walter Kamba was placed in an opportune position to nip in the bud the curse of rigged elections. He chose to turned a blind eye to it all. 

Even after the blatant vote rigging and near fatal shooting of an opposition candidate, Patrick Kombayi, in the 1990 elections all Kamba and his fellow commissioners ever did was write a report! 

A report Mugabe ignored as he went on to pardon the two CIO operatives convicted of the attempted murder of Kombayi. The two were acting in the interest of the late Simon Mudenda, the Zanu PF candidate in that election. They never even spent one night in prison! 

Ms Navanethem Pillay is a South African top lawyer and human rights defender and a former United Nations Human Rights Commissioner. She is no stranger to Zimbabwe and its culture of political violence. She visited Zimbabwe in her UN capacity in 2012 and commented on this very scourge of election violence.

“I was able to raise many areas of concern from a human rights point of view, such as nonrecurrence of violence that occurred in the last elections and what steps are being taken to protect ordinary people from such violence,” Pillay said, following her meeting with Zimbabwe GNU leaders in May 2012.

She was warned that no meaningful reforms had been implemented and that time was fast running out! She did not listen and instead produced a wishy-washy report suggest everything was fine and the next elections would be free, fair and credible. All nonsense as we now know!

“In every facet of life, deterioration of civil and political and economic social and cultural rights has reached crisis proportions,” Ms Pillay told her Walter Kamba lecture audience.

As if to suggest during Mugabe’s day, when she was here last, things had never ever “reach crisis proportions”!

Trying to compare Mugabe’s Zimbabwe to what the country asunder Mnangagwa is just as futile as comparing a cobra and a black mamba – these are deadly snakes, there is no such thing as being better off being bitten by one and not the other!

For your own information, Ms Pillay, the late Walter Kamba was just one of the many Zimbabwean professionals who have compromised their professional ethics and self-respect for thirty pieces of silver. 

He knew that Zanu PF was a party of corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs, he knew the regime appointed him to spruce up its tarnished image. He accepted the cushy job and pinched his nose. Of course, Kamba is a sell-out and he knew it himself. 

When Kamba finally stepped down as Vice Chancellor of UZ, he complained of “interfering hands in the running of the University”. He did not have to say it himself because everyone was saying it to themselves “And throughout your tenure as VC, you have done nothing to stop those interfering hands!”  

To be fair Walter Kamba was not the only sell-out Zimbabwean professional; both Mugabe and Mnangagwa have had little trouble recruiting professionals to spruce up the image of the party and government. There is Professor Jonathan Moyo, Professor Mthuli Ncube, Tendai Biti and his MDC friends, Minister Kirsty Coventry, etc., etc. 

Hacking off the 37 Mugabe years; sanitised them as having been better than the last 3 Mnangagwa years; will help us forget and forgive Mugabe. But if we are to learn all the important lessons from the Zanu PF dictatorship, then discard the Mugabe years; they are not just the Genesis of the dictatorship but the Old Testament! 

“Kakangamwira Mugabe, kukanganwa chezuro nehope!” (To forgive and forget Mugabe is to forget yesterday’s trials and tribulations with night’s sleep!) as one would say in Shona.

We in Zimbabwe must remember Robert Mugabe as a corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous tyrant. Mnangagwa was his pupil who learnt well from the dictator and has taken over from where he left off. As for Walter Kamba, he was just one of the many sell-out Zimbabwean professionals; we have the great misfortune of having many, dead and alive.

The true purpose of history is to teach us the lessons of the past. Those who speak kindly of the dead to the point of falsifying the past are therefore doing a great disservice to the nation and the living by denying the living the opportunity to learn from the past.

Falsifying the historic facts for no end and purpose as the dead are dead and gain nothing from good name spoken in truth or falsehood. 

Vendors Invade Rufaro Stadium

Council officials have clashed over vendors operating at Rufaro Stadium premises, mostly those selling potatoes on the back of their trucks.

Some of the officials wanted council to formalise the vendors’ operations and start levying them, but others felt the move would set a wrong precedence, and at the same time paint a bad picture of the stadium.

Speaking during a full council meeting last week, Finance and Development committee chairperson councillor Luckson Mukunguma said vendors at Rufaro Stadium should be formalised.

“Instead of confiscating their wares, let us formalise them and start charging them for operating at Rufaro premises,” he said.

“These people are operating in the car park and l see no problem if council levies them because as it stands, the system of confiscating leaves room for our officials to engage in corruption.”

But Councillor  Denford Ngadziore opposed the move, saying it would reduce the city officials to a laughing stock.

“For us to sit down and gazette that lorries be allowed to come and sell their potatoes at Rufaro Stadium premises, we would reduce ourselves to low levels as decision-makers of this honourable house,” he said.

-State Media

EMA Shuts Down 6 Illegal Mines In Mat South

By A Correspondent- The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has closed six illegal mines in Matabeleland South as it intensifies its war against illegal mining activities in a bid to address land degradation.

Additionally, the environmental watchdog has ticketed 18 mines for environmental degradation and not complying with the law.

EMA national spokesperson Amkela Sidange told the Chronicle that between Monday and Wednesday last week, the parastatal conducted 300 inspections in several districts. She said:We have issued about 18 tickets to those found on the wrong side of the law that includes those operating without an EIA, those who are operating in a manner that harms the environment. We have issued six environmental protection orders for the cessation of operations until operators formalise their operations through the EIA process.

We have done more than 300 inspections and we have also done what we call environmental audits. An Environmental audit is when we get to a place where there is a project and audit key environmental elements such as issues of land degradation, issues of whether operators have the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and all other things that concern the environment.

Sidange added that EMA is concerned over the use of dangerous chemicals by some illegal miners which are harmful to them.

She also bemoaned the degradation taking place at Nugget mine in Matobo district where law enforcement agents are finding it difficult to arrest illegal miners.-Statemedia

Byo Man Hauled To Court For Kidnapping Fellow Resident At Knifepoint

By A Correspondent- A man from Douglasdale in Bulawayo has appeared in court for kidnapping, detaining and assaulting a fellow resident at knife point.

Nqobizitha Moyo (29) pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and assault when he appeared before  Bulawayo regional magistrate Mafios Moyo.

He is alleged to have kidnapped  Rangarirai Chinyota Nyoni (35) from his home, detained and assaulted him.

It is alleged that on September 10, 2019, Moyo kidnapped Nyoni from his home  and took him to his home where he detained and assaulted him.

Nyoni was only released after he promised to give Moyo money.

Nyoni reported to the police leading to Moyo’s arrest.

LIVE: After Saying MDC Youths Teargassed Sikhala’s High Court Hearing, Police Now Say MDC Youths Stoned This ZUPCO Bus At The Weekend, But Live Video Shows The Nonsense | WILL INVESTORS EVER TRUST ZRP?

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Republic Police has blamed MDC youths in Chitungwiza for stoning this ZUPCO bus in Hon Job Sikhala’s constituency. The evidence they present is this picture, nothing else. Last month the same police blamed MDC youths for teargassing the High Court building during Sikhala’s hearing in Masvingo.

The stoned ZUPCO bus

There are live videos and fully investigated reports showing many incidents the police has been doing this since 1983. For 37 years to date this has been the case – the state security killed 22,000 civilians saying they were after one man, Richard Gwesela, a fictitious invincible human being, who was only “killed” 4 years later when ZANU PF was now wanting to sign the unity accord with the late ZAPU leader, Joshua Nkomo. His killing was sensationally announced by the state controlled media 3 days afterwards.

The 1 Aug 2018 military crackdown was another stager by the police and fortunately through pressure, ZimEye managed to get the police and military to testify before the Motlanthe Commission resulting in the secrets spilling into the public showing how it was all state managed political instability to justify violence. ZBC live video evidence shows Mnangagwa leading the announcing of the military and police deployment clearly announced that it was for the purpose of changing the electoral result to make it “greater than the one we did in 1980,” (Christopher Mutsvangwa, Harare).

Last month, the South African government told ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa to his face, the country is now lawless and unsafe for investments.

This no holds barred statement was delivered by the South African ambassador, Mphakama Mbete who said Zimbabwe is now lawless on 10 fronts. He was speaking during last week’s Polad economic summit at the HICC where he said Zimbabwe:

  • Has non working Public Institutions.
  • is now totally lawless – no rule of law at all.
  • Now has extractive political and economic institutions.
  • Now run by rent-seekers and political manipulators.
  • Has no security of tenure .
  • Does not protect investments.
  • Does not honour of bilateral trade and investment agreements.
  • Does not service its debts.
  • The will of the people is suppressed, and active citizenry low.
  • Investments are not safe

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Ambassador Mphakama Mbete told the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) economic summit last week,

“In terms of active citizenry would believe that this is a very important factor of a thriving democracy. Ultimately it is the will of the people that must prevail for any democracy to be sustained.”

He however began his speech outlining the following:

“A comment on Public Institutions. We believe that Public institutions are key to proper economic management and must be allowed to pursue their mandate in line with the policy framework and legislation that establishes them. These institutions are important to provide a stable and predictable economic environment for business to thrive,” Mbete said.

Business, particularly through Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe, has accused government of dragging the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe into quasi-fiscal activities and allowing it to print or generate money for political expediency and resultantly undermine the local currency.

Mbete said research showed that governments which manipulated institutions led generally poor nations.

“Nations with extractive political and economic institutions are likely to be poor compared to those with inclusive economic institutions, where the rule of law is protected against rent-seeking and political manipulation,” he said.

Mnangagwa’s government has been posturing, telling its African and international audiences that sanctions were affecting economic development in the country and hindering foreign direct investment (FDI), but Mbete sang from a different hymnbook.

“Zimbabwe has presented itself to be open for business, which we believe is an appropriate approach to developing this country and economy. However, in order to attract significant flows of direct investment, it is import that Zimbabwe improves its record concerning the following issues; security of tenure and investment protection; repatriation of proceeds by investors; the honouring of bilateral trade and investment agreements; the need to open up the economy to competition and establishment of new credibilities, lastly optimal debt servicing,” he said.

Zimbabwe has been writing laws to protect local industries from competition, especially by enforcing punitive import tariffs and closing out some sectors to foreign competition.

These include Statutory Instrument (SI) 64 of 2016, whose objective was to boost domestic production by protecting local industries from unfair competition from foreign firms.

The SI resulted in the removal of 43 products from the Open General Import Licence.

Zimbabwe, however, repealed SI 64, all its predecessors and consolidated their contents into SI 122 of 2017 with import controls, though relaxed, still haunting the nation.

The laws came under scrutiny after the country joined the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will remove economic borders and bring fierce continental competition.

Mbete told government that without addressing these issues, FDI would seek safer destinations.

“We believe that in a highly competitive environment for FDI, these are but a few of the basic conditions that must be upheld at all times. In our view, failure to do so means that investment capital will always look past Zimbabwe to other safer havens,” he said.

Touching on the core of economic decay, Mbete said the shortages of energy, fuel and water in Zimbabwe were not making matters any better.

“Zimbabwe has an industry base that has been neglected for long and needs reinvestment and re-calibrating. This neglect undermines government revenue collection potential since industry is operating below its potential. Industry and the economy by extension triumphs when basic services such as energy, fuel, water, bulk services, for example, are provided in a consistent and predictable way, this is essential for long-term planning by the productive sectors,” he said.

“We think it is important for all members of society to enter into a social contract wherein government, business, labour and citizens rally behind a common vision of the country of Zimbabwe.
Success requires mutual co-operation of all players as no one section of society can do it alone.”

Added Mbete: “South Africa, we believe, has had a very successful social contract through the National Economic Development Labour Council.”

– NewsDay / ZBC/ Additional Reporting

Diarrhoea Claims Teen Boys

By A Correspondent- The Gweru City Council has declared its water is safe for drinking after laboratory tests showed it was not contaminated after two teenage boys died of diarrhoea last week.

There was a diarrhoea outbreak in Mkoba 12 that affected an undisclosed number of people and killed two 17-year-old boys.

Residents were living in fear of a possible repetition of 2018 where Mkoba 15, 18 and 20 high density suburbs were hit by a diarrhoea and typhoid outbreak, which killed 11 people and left more than 2 000 requiring medical attention.

Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe said although the water tests have come out clean, laboratory test results from stool samples taken from some of the affected people in the area were still to come out.

“After we got the report that there was a diarrhoea outbreak and two people had died, we sent the stool samples and water samples to Government laboratories through the office of the provincial medical director (Dr Simon Nyadundu). Ideally, we do not do it on our own for authenticity and transparency. However, since its rainy season we cannot dismiss a possible cross contamination in the area.

What happened is that the affected people are from the same suburb and we suspect that because of the incessant rains that we received recently, the water might have been contaminated probably at household level. We are not completely ruling out a possibility of typhoid because we are still waiting for the results from stool samples,” he said.

Gweru City Council public relations and communications officer Ms Vimbai Chingwaramuse, said the two teenage boys were from Mkoba 12 Infill and died in the past 10 days.

“I can confirm that we noticed that two boys aged 17 succumbed to what looks like a bout of diarrhoea and are both from Mkoba 12 Infill suburb. The deaths were recorded around 17 February.

We received information through our weekly disease surveillance report from our clinics that there were two deaths which occurred and it is suspected that the deaths could be linked to diarrhoea,” said Ms Chingwaramuse.

She said the city health rapid response teams have been deployed to Mkoba suburbs to take samples for laboratory testing.

“The city health response team is on the ground collecting stool samples and water samples in Mkoba suburbs and especially in Mkoba 12 Infill suburb where these two cases were recorded. We are still waiting to get results which will guide us to know the problem.

We also need to find out how the two boys could be linked. Meanwhile, we urge all residents with diarrhoea symptoms to immediately visit their nearest health institutions for medical attention.

At the same time we urge residents to ensure that they drink clean water from clean sources and to consume well cooked food after washing their hands before eating and after visiting the toilet,” said Ms Chingwaramuse.-Statemedia

Mash West’s Ideology Workshop For Zanu Pf Cadres Ends

By A Correspondent- A three-day training workshop to equip Zanu-PF cadres in Mashonaland West Province with the party’s ideology in line with President Mnangagwa’s call for unity ended in Chinhoyi yesterday.

The workshop was facilitated by the Chitepo School of Ideology and drew delegates from the provincial coordinating committee (PCC), Central Committee, National Consultative Assembly (NCA), war veterans and collaborators and Members of Parliament. It was held at Chinhoyi University of Technology.

Chitepo School of Ideology principal, Munyaradzi Machacha, said the workshop was not for academic purposes, but for imparting knowledge to party cadres on how to view and analyse events.

“The course’s package included party ideology, party structures and leadership, international relations, national and party history, media communications, business and economics, defence and security, party and Government policy as well as current affairs,” he said.

Mashonaland West was the third province to undergo the training workshop after Mashonaland Central and Manicaland. The remaining provinces will be covered soon, said Machacha.

Mashonaland West chairperson, Ziyambi Ziyambi, said the workshop came at an opportune time, as the province was moving towards attaining a united Zanu-PF in line with President Mnangagwa’s growing call for unity.

“We made a resolution as a province to ensure that our cadres attend the orientation and ideology training workshop so that we impart the necessary party ideologies to them,” he said.

“We are hoping that the whole province will be united in the aftermath of the workshop.” Ziyambi revealed that the workshop, which had been slated for five days, was done in three days to allow members to attend to other issues.

“The workshop had a crash programme, which was done within a space of three days instead of the initial five to allow our members to attend to other party, personal and national issues,” he said. Delegates thanked the Zanu-PF leadership for arranging the programme.

Provincial Women’s League chairperson, Josephine Mangove-Shava, commended President Mnangagwa and the national party leadership for facilitating the ideological training workshops, saying women in the province managed to learn more about the party’s ideology, structures, history, business and economics.

Provincial youth commissar, Tapiwa Chitate, said the workshop had created a firm base for political stability and unity within the Youth League.

“As youths, we have been given enough orientation and I am quite positive the youth leadership will be rejuvenated as they work on party issues,” he said.

Chitate said many youths from all the seven districts in the province had managed to attend the workshop, adding that the youth leadership would soon arrange meetings in their various administrative districts and constituencies to disseminate the information learnt for the purpose of consolidating unity and mobilising voters for the 2023 elections.-Statemedia

National Dress To Be Worn On Independence Day

By A Correspondent- Stakeholders from Matabeleland South Province have welcomed the national dress set to be worn for the first time at this year’s Independence Celebrations in Bulawayo, saying it will serve as a source of identity for the nation.

This emerged during a Matabeleland South provincial stakeholders consultative meeting on the national dress which was held in Gwanda Town on Wednesday where stakeholders selected emerald lime as the suitable fabric for the national dress.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Gwanda District Development Co-ordinator, Ms Kiliboni Ndou said there was a need for the entire province, especially youths to embrace the national dress.

“We had discussions as a province and chose emerald lime as the suitable fabric for the national dress. The fabric we chose encompasses all cultures not only in Matabeleland South but the entire nation. It has colours of the flag, the Zimbabwean bird and the chevron pattern which makes it suitable.

“We will embrace the national dress and we hope youths will embrace it as well. The national dress is very important as it signifies unity and identity just as the national flag. We hope that as time goes on the national dress will not only be worn during State functions but we will have designated days where all citizens wear it,” she said.

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe programmes officer for Matabeleland South, Mr Percy Vela said the national dress was an important aspect of the nation’s culture. He urged designers to come up with designs that will be relevant to all age groups.

Speaking during the meeting, acting Matabeleland South provincial development officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small to Medium Enterprise Development, Mr Nhlanhla Magagula said each province had been tasked to select one fabric from four different samples which they saw fit for the national dress.

He said the most popular fabric will be used to make the national dress. Mr Magagula said a fashion show was going to be held in Harare on a date yet to be advised where designers will showcase various designs for the national dress using the chosen fabric and one design was going to be selected and adopted.

“The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small to Medium Enterprise Development has been engaged to focus on the issue of the national dress working together with the office of the First Lady. Each province has been tasked to select a fabric from four different materials which they see best to be used for the national dress. Once the fabric has been selected a fashion show will be held where designers will come up with designs they will showcase then one will be selected which will be the national dress. The national dress will be worn at this year’s Independence celebrations,” he said.

Mr Magagula said designers would be expected to come up with designs for executive, traditional and sports category.

The search for the national dress started in 2005 but did not yield any results, prompting the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa to take it upon herself to ensure the programme succeeds.

Speaking on the matter in Harare recently, the First Lady said the national dress should reflect a lot more on the country’s traditions, history, national heritage and aspirations. She said it also had to be a tool that unites Zimbabweans as a people despite different cultural values and help in celebrating the country’s cultural diversity.-Statemedia

Heavily Armed Police Details Block Opposition Members From Entering Courtroom

Farai Dziva|The 12 MDC members who were arrested in Chitungwiza on Saturday are still in holding cells.

Heavily armed police details are blocking people from entering the courtroom.

The 12 are expected to appear in court today.

MDC Youth Assembly spokesperson, Stephen Chuma, who is among the 12 MDC members who were arrested on Saturday said :
“We are not going to be intimidated by this evil regime’s fascist antics.

We know they are trying to frustrate us by unlawful arrests. They will not break our spirits and will to see a just society. As we said before, we are prepared to pay the ultimate prize for our people’s freedom.”

Stephen Chuma

Garrison Shops Get 2.5% Civil Servant Slave Wage Subsidy – Wafer-thin Differential To Fool Poverty Stricken Soldiers

By Patrick Guramatunhu- “Public Service Commission (PSC) Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said that the scheme which is voluntary mobilises savings by Government employees for the purpose of wealth creation adding that Civil Servants can benefit through concessional loans to assist them with wealth creation projects and other requirements. He said that those who opt to join the scheme will contribute 2.5 percent of their basic salary,” reported Bulawayo 24.

“Wutawunashe said that members of the fund will withdraw the totality of their contribution with accrued interest upon termination of employment.”

This is just nonsense, the civil servants are on slave wages already and therefore are living from hand to mouth. These people should be receiving welfare support and not be expected to save. 

My gut feeling is the scheme will not be voluntary.

Unless the interest rate paid on the savings in variable and above the hyperinflation rate at all times. At present Bank interest rates are double digit and yet inflation is top end of the three digit, at least. The interest accrued is likely to be pegged on the Bank rates. In this case, it will be unwise to join the scheme because you will pay in a cow and get back a goat, a chicken, an egg or one single grain of maize; the long you stay in the scheme the worse you will be! 

The only reason why one would join the scheme is so that you borrow as much as possible up front and pay back as late as possible. The skewed interest rate charged on the loan and the bloated hyperinflation rate will work in your favour then. Be warned, everyone would want to do the same and in Zimbabwe’s corrupt system the ruling elite will benefit and the poor will lose big time!

“Wutawunashe said that Cabinet also initiated the operationalization of Garrison Shops for the Uniformed Services, namely Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Zimbabwe Police Service and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service to ensure convenient access to reasonably priced commodities,” continued the report.

“He said that the Garrison Shops are based on a self-financing model as they entail selling of goods to customers.”

If these Garrison Shops source their goods from the same suppliers as the other shops then it hard to see where Garrison Shops will be making their savings to justify charging their uniformed service customers lower prices. Some reports said Garrison Shops prices will be subsidised by an addition 2.5% tax on civil servant wages. 

Most civil servants are on slave wages already and whilst they will feel the 2.5% additional tax it is doubtful uniformed service personal will note a great deal of price difference. 

The only advantage to having the Garrison Shop will be when there are shortages. The Garrison Shops will be well supplied!

The Garrison Shops are meant to make those in the uniformed service feel they are favoured about the rest of the civil servants who, by virtue of having a job, are luckier than the millions unemployed, pensioners, vendors and right at the bottom of the packing order the rural peasants. 

In a video that has gone viral, Hopewell Chinono rightly asked if there is going to be a Garrison School, Garrison Hospital, Garrison Bank, etc. for the uniformed services personal. Even if government was to added one or two of these things, there is a limit. Sooner or later the soldier, Police officer or whoever will have to step outside the Garrison bubble and come face to face the ever rising tide of abject poverty sweep the land. 

So the true purpose of the Garrison Shops is to all these in the uniformed services feel they are a cut above the masses or being it by this wafer-thin 2.5% differential. The most cynical part, cabinet is cocksure the soldiers, Police officers, etc. will not notice they are sliding down the greasy pole into abject poverty, same as everyone else, as long as the wafer-thin differential is maintained!

Coronavirus: Global Death Figures Surpass 3000

he number of deaths globally in the new coronavirus outbreak passed 3 000 on Monday, as China reported more 42 deaths.

The new fatalities were all in the virus epicentre Hubei province, the National Health Commission said, bringing the overall toll in mainland China to 2 912.

Health officials also reported the lowest daily tally of fresh infections since late January, with 202 new cases.

In China, the number of reported new cases has gradually been declining, and there were only six confirmed new infections outside Hubei.

One worker at a time, virus-hit China’s factories sputter back online

Chinese factories are struggling to resume full operations amid virus-induced travel disruptions and safety measures. The situation in Wenzhou, a trade entrepot for centuries and now a major producer of much of the world’s shoes, eyeglasses and cl…

The virus emerged late last year in Hubei in central China, but has now spread to more than 60 countries around the world.

The United States and Australia reported their first fatalities over the weekend, while infections nearly doubled in the past 48 hours in Italy, Europe’s hardest-hit country.

The World Health Organisation said on Sunday that the virus appears to particularly hit those over the age of 60 and people already weakened by other illness.

The agency noted that most people with the COVID-19 illness only experience mild symptoms, while around 14% suffer severe disease like pneumonia and 5% become critically ill.

It said the mortality rate in the outbreak appears to be between two and five percent.

The seasonal flu has an average mortality rate of about 0.1% but is highly infectious, with up to 400 000 people worldwide dying from it each year.

Other strains of coronavirus, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), have established mortality rates of 9.5% and 34.5%, respectively.

-AFP

“The Court Is Out Of Bounce”: Police Tell MDC Stalwarts

By A Correspondent- Heavily armed anti riot police Monday morning descended on Chitungwiza magistrates courts where 12 MDC supporters are set to appear in court following their arrest on Saturday barring other party stalwarts from entering the courtroom.

The 12 spent the weekend behind bars after they were arrested in St Marys Chitungwiza following clashes between anti riot police and suspected MDC supporters.

Unconfirmed reports allege that the police went on a rampage assaulting civilians before arresting known MDC stalwarts, including the party’s national youth assembly spokesperson  Stephen Sarkozy Chuma. Those arrested were reportedly picked up from their homes.

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

Harare Battling Disorder As Illegal Structures Resurface Again

Illegal businesses on roadsides and at shopping centres in Harare, which were demolished by council in January, have resurfaced.

City of Harare destroyed illegal structures in Westlea, Dzivaresekwa, Waterfalls, at Zindoga Shopping Centre, Mbudzi roundabout area, Sunningdale and Mbare, as part of an exercise to clean the city.

Municipal police, together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, also descended on businesses operating illegally along Tynwald Road in Westlea and Solomon Mujuru Drive (formerly Kirkman Drive) and along Bulawayo Road.

Those affected by the blitz included car dealers and those selling cabins, bricks, pre-cast walls, flowers, goats, sheep, cement and charcoal.

Yesterday, The Herald saw new tuckshops and other new structures at Zindoga Shopping Centre where people were cooking food for sale.

At Tynwald Road and Solomon Mujuru Drive, all the demolished cabins had been replaced and it was business as usual.

A car dealer along Solomon Mujuru Drive, who requested anonymity, said he had no choice but to re-establish his business since it was the one sustaining his family.

“I set up the business of breaking vehicles and selling parts on this spot about eight years ago and that is where I get my income,” he said.

“My whole family, wife and children are taken care of by this business, so I had no choice than to come back and continue with my business.”

Another dealer, Thomas Sengu, who sells bricks said, “We thought council was going to allocate us another place to operate from, but they went quiet, so we cannot let our families suffer. Business has to go on.”

Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said those who re-established the illegal structures risked losing out.

“We will not get tired of removing such structures no matter how beautiful the new structures look,” he said.

“We are actually encouraging them to start removing their structures because when we come we will just demolish the properties and it will be a loss on their investment. We will not rest until the city of Harare is clean.”

Those operating along Solomon Mujuru Drive expressed sadness over the demolitions.

They claimed paying rates at council district offices.

Chairman of the Kirkman Traders Association Mr Fidelis Magava said they were not served with eviction notices.

“When we started these projects, we paid rates to council and we agreed to pay $300 every month to operate our businesses,” he said.

“Council then told us that there were people operating under electricity lines and they needed to be removed. We were shocked to see a front-end loader coming to destroy our businesses structures.

“If the clean-up is meant to create a safe environment for us, we have no problem with it. What worries us is that we have lost our property and council did not give us any notice.”

Addressing a Wetlands Indaba last month, Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba warned that the demolition of houses built on illegal sites was imminent.

-State Media

Just In: Govt Says Traveller From China Who Was Under Observation Has Tested Negative to Coronavirus

Government has announced that a traveller who was under observation after arriving into the country from Hunan Province of China has tested negative to the deadly virus.

Posting through the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, government made the announcement, dispelling fears of that the country could have recorded its first case.

VP Chiwenga Surrenders All Kitchen Utensils

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga says his estranged wife Mary could get all their kitchen utensils, a bed and three cars while the cash in her FBC Bank account (US$245 428) belongs to him.

This was revealed in a summons filed by Chiwenga’s lawyer, Wilson Manase at the High Court, where the former army general is seeking an order terminating their customary-law marriage.

Chiwenga is also demanding to be granted custody of the couple’s three minor children and half of Orchid Farm on Domboshava Road on the outskirts of Harare.

He also wants Marry to vacate his Borrowdale Brooke home on Nick Price Drive, to which he secured rights during his previous marriage to Jocelyne Chiwenga.

Marry was arrested in December last year and charged with money-laundering, fraud and attempted murder, charges which she denies.

She was later freed on bail after spending several weeks in custody but re-arrested on assault allegations involving a domestic worker.-Statemedia

Ziyambi Fights Madhuku Over Constitutional Amendment Bill

There is no going back on the constitutional amendment process and any organisation with a view on how to improve the supreme law should do so within the context of ongoing consultative processes, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) had no authority to stop the Government from amending the Constitution.

He said the forum was free to make representations about its views on the Constitutional Amendment Bill that was gazetted in January.

Minister Ziyambi made the remarks in response to calls by Polad, led by Professor Lovemore Madhuku, imploring the Government to withdraw the Bill.

Prof Madhuku said the proposed amendments fell short of what the Constitution should address.

He used various platforms to say Polad had adopted a position that the Constitutional Amendment Bill should be withdrawn and fresh consultations begin.

Prof Madhuku had also argued that the current Constitution-making process embarked upon by the Government was not “people-driven”.

However, Minister Ziyambi said  such suggestions were misdirected.

“The current Constitution was a product of compromise,” he said. “Who is the people that Prof Madhuku is referring to? Laws are made by parliamentarians who are the representatives of the                                    people.

“With respect to a Constitution, it is gazetted and people are given three months to allow any person or institution to give input should he or she so wish before it can be debated in Parliament.

“Polad is not a statutory instrument. It is a platform for dialogue which like any other person or institution should submit its views about the Bill and it will be up to Parliament to take it up. So, suggestions to withdraw the Bill are misdirected.”

Minister Ziyambi

Minister Ziyambi said Zanu PF carries the mandate of the people.

“A Government is formed through a political party that would have won an election,” he said.

“A political party represents the people and in this case Zanu PF won elections and it carries the mandate of the people, so any suggestion that the current process is not people-driven is misplaced.”

Prof Madhuku criticised the proposed clause in the Bill which seeks to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges from 70 to 75 years.

Minister Ziyambi said there was need to differentiate between retirement age and term limits for office bearers or individuals.

“To start with, who said that the proposed clause would benefit the present judges?” he said.

“His argument is not founded on law and he knows it. Judges have no term limits like independent commissions and the office of the President where one cannot be allowed to go beyond given term limits.

“Independent commissions and the office of the President have term limits where they can only serve for a maximum of two terms and that does not apply to judges, they have retirement ages. So, Prof Madhuku is lost on both fronts.”

On the appointment of judges, Minister Ziyambi said the President has always been the appointing authority.

“The President has a dual role,” he said. “He is Head of State and Government. When he appoints judges, he does so as head of Government.

“All what we are saying is, there is no need to interview sitting judges, except those individuals coming from outside the bench.”

Minister Ziyambi accused Prof Madhuku of double standards after he campaigned for the rejection of the current Constitution in the run-up to a referendum, only to turn around to push for its retention.

-State Media

All Laws To Be Aligned To The Constitution By The End Of The Year

By A Correspondent- Government expects to complete aligning all laws to the Constitution before year-end, with the outstanding 50 statutes to be tabled before Parliament within the next three months.

The enactment of the Constitution in 2013 meant more than 400 laws which were out of sync with some of the refreshed provisions of the supreme law had to be aligned, while 63 needed to either be repealed, extensively amended or redrafted.

Out of the 63 laws, 10 have been passed by Parliament and assented to by the President.

The General Laws Amendment (Statutory Bodies and Gender Parity Provisions) Bill No. 1 provided for minor amendments to 125 laws, while the General Laws Amendment (Statutory Bodies and Gender Parity Provisions) Bill No. 2 — which is still being developed — provides for minor amendments to 66 laws.

The Sunday Mail gathered that an Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMT) on the Alignment of Legislation to the Constitution, which was created to expedite the process, is also updating Cabinet weekly, while all State law officers have been trained in legal drafting.

The Centre for Applied Legal Research (CALR) — a research institution that offers specialised legal training and technical support — oversaw the training.

Secretry for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabiza said the task force is using a real-time Bill Tracker to expeditiously gazette new Bills.

“The Attorney-General is the driver of the alignment process and he is also the chief drafter,” said Mrs Mabiza.

“I agree he has been doing a lot on the ground, including developing a Bill tracking mechanism which they are using to quicken the process.

“We only have less than 50 pieces of legislation that require alignment and we are working on a strategy to table these Bills before the end of June.”

The IMT has divided laws requiring alignment into 10 different clusters —media and information laws; citizenship and movement of people; security; local government; social services; environment and natural resources; justice delivery; economic services; political and civil rights; and the cross-cutting clusters.

Under the media and information laws cluster, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act is being repealed and will be replaced by the three separate pieces of legislation —the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill, the Freedom of Information Bill and the Protection of Personal Information Bill.

Both the ZMC Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill are before Parliament, while the Protection of Personal Information Bill will be tabled this month, according to IMT Bill Tracker.

Also under the same cluster, the draft Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill has been developed and stakeholder consultations were undertaken after principles for the Bill were approved in May 2019.

Under the citizenship and movement of people cluster, principles for the Citizenship of Zimbabwe Bill were approved by Cabinet on February 26 2019 and the draft Bill was prepared.

It is now awaiting submission to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation (CCL).

“Principles for the Immigration Amendment Bill were approved by Cabinet on February 5 2019. A draft Bill was prepared and is awaiting submission to the CCL,” reads the Bill Tracker.

Laws awaiting alignment under the security cluster include amending the Official Secrets Act, the Police Act, the Unlawful Organisations Act, the Defence Act, the Emergency Powers Act, the Interception of Communications Act, National Security Council Act and the Prisons Act.

“The Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill repeals and replaces the War Veterans Act and Ex-Political Detainees and Restrictees Act.

“The Bill was approved by Cabinet on September 10 2019 and was gazetted on November 1 2019.

“The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill was assented to on January 5 2018 and is now an Act of Parliament,” according to the last information from the Bill Tracker.

In addition, six laws will be aligned under the local government cluster to facilitate devolution.

Principles of the Provincial Councils and Administration Bill were approved by Cabinet in November 2018 and the draft Bill has been forwarded to the AG’s Office.

The Bill is now awaiting the outcome of the proposed Constitutional amendments for it to be completed.

According to CALR, 13 laws have now been aligned to the Constitution.

“CALR is providing technical and financial support to the Government for the alignment process.

“The technical support entails: technical legal research to identify gaps in laws that line Ministries administer; legislative drafting – development of draft Bills; stakeholder consultations – technical and grassroots; technical support to the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on the Alignment of Legislation to the Constitution (IMT)

“On the number of laws that have been aligned to the Constitution, there is a difference between alignment, reform and law revision.

“The IMT is concerned with alignment, which means ensuring that existing laws are in conformity to the provisions of the Constitution.

“IMT developed an IMT Bill Tracker which outlines the priority laws that need to be aligned and the stage that these laws are at.

“In terms of the Bill Tracker, 13 laws have been aligned; 50 laws are remaining.” -StateMedia

Zimbabwe Isolates 2nd Case Of Suspected Coronavirus

By A Correspondent- A second case of suspected coronavirus has been put under isolation at Wilkins Hospital while tests are being conducted.

Harare City Council Health Services director Dr Prosper Chonzi confirmed that there was a suspected case of a Chinese national who had been taken to the isolation facility.

“Yes there has been a suspected case of a person travelling from Hunan, China, who has been put under isolation facilities.

“A Chinese national arrived in Zimbabwe this afternoon (yesterday). At the time of arrival people thought the traveller had symptoms of corona virus.

We picked the person at the Robert Mugabe International Airport and isolated the traveller. As we speak the traveller is admitted at Wilkins Hospital under isolation while investigations are being carried out.  

We are waiting for the results and the traveller is in a stable condition and is not showing any symptoms or fever.

“We have to follow protocol as ascribed by the World Health Organisation and adopted by the Zimbabwean Government. The first suspected case involved a 27-year old Harare woman who was suspected to have contracted the disease after visiting Wuhan, China. The suspected patient was coming from another province.

When there is rumour of a suspected corona virus case, we investigate,”  said Dr Chonzi. The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services yesterday afternoon tweeted a statement on the matter:  

“Government would like to inform the public that today, a traveller from Hunan Province in China was flagged up as needing assessment for corona virus. Full WHO Protocols were deployed. The traveller has now been taken to designated Isolatiossn Facilities where tests are being conducted.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), coronaviruses belong to a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).  

The virus is highly contagious and there is no cure for corona virus as with most viral infections. So far, only experimental treatments have been used in China with success in stabilising patients.

An ARV, Kaletra (ritonavir and lopinavir) has been used.  Corona virus symptoms include pneumonia, high fever, flu like symptoms, chest pains, diarrhoea and shortness of breath. Precautions include covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing hands the same way as people do when guarding against cholera and typhoid.  Although Zimbabwe is located thousands of miles away from the source of the corona virus, it remains at great risk considering the volume of traffic the country gets from China for tourism and business.

Zimbabwean and Chinese authorities are encouraging travellers between the two countries to either delay or cancel unnecessary journeys to stop the spread of the novel corona virus (2019-nCoV), which has killed 81 people in the Asian country from 2 886 confirmed cases of infection in the past month.

Surveillance systems in Zimbabwe have also been activated with special focus being put at the main ports of entry and exit — Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Joshua Nkomo International Airport and Victoria Falls and Beitbridge ground ports. -Statemedia

Corona Virus Miracle: Vietnam Says It Has Cured All Its Coronavirus Patients

Authorities in Vietnam have announced that all 16 infected coronavirus patients in the country have been cured of the infection and discharged from hospital.

On Wednesday the 29th of February 2020, all 16 patients, including the oldest who is 73, had been cured and discharged from the hospital.

The Vietnamese government also detected no new cases for the past few 15 days including Friday.

“If fighting COVID-19 has been a war, then we have won the first round but not the entire war because the situation can be very unpredictable,” Vietnam’s Ministry of Health quoted Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam as saying, referring to the illness caused by the coronavirus, during an online conference with city and provincial officials on Tuesday.

All over the world, the outbreak has already killed almost 3,000 and infected more than 83,000 as of Saturday.

It is a different story, however, in Vietnam. World Health Organization (WHO) officials and health experts said the government’s swift response to the emergency was crucial in containing the crisis at the early stage.

By Wednesday, the Vietnamese government declared that the 16th and final patient infected with the virus had been discharged from the hospital.

Malema And His Wife Sueing ANC’s Mamabolo For R2m

JOHANNESBURG – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said on Sunday its leader Julius Malema is going to court this week not only to make African National Congress (ANC) MP Boy Mamabolo pay for defaming him for R2 million damages claim but also to ensure justice for Malema’s wife and children.

Last month, Mamabolo apologised on social media after accusing Malema of abusing his wife during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address in Parliament.

The EFF said Mamabolo’s refusal to apologise to Malema and his wife Mantoa was “boyish”.

EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo said according to them, Mamabolo’s Facebook post was a mere attempt at an apology.

“What we have seen all over Facebook and Twitter is him insisting that he is not apologising. He has openly said he is going to defend himself in court, so there is no apology in that regard,” Pambo said

Pambo said there should be a consequence for Mamabolo’s utterances.

“For as long there has not been an apology and justice, there will always be a cloud hanging over the Malema family because of some nonsensical fool who just wants to grandstand and score cheap political points,” he said.

Pambo also said reports that the Malema family prescribed to Mamabolo what he should say in his apology were not true.

“There has never been an apology. The only conversation that has happened between Mamabolo and the Malema family was through lawyers. The is no relationship that is shared by the Malema family and Boy Mamabolo. There has never been a relationship of such nature. So, there is no way that the Malema family say to him ‘write in this fashion’.”

The Malemas will take the matter to the Polokwane High Court on Wednesday.

EWN

ZANU PF Youth Withdraw Threat To Occupy Chamisa’s Home

Zanu PF Youth Aligned Youth Group Shelves Plan To Besiege Chamisa, Biti Homes

Correspondent|YOUTHS belonging to a pressure group aligned to Zanu PF, who had threatened to occupy the homes of MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa and his aides over the weekend, have shelved the plan and instead, claimed the opposition was trying to use them in its factional wars.

Last week, the Concerned Citizens Forum, a pressure group linked to Zanu PF, had threatened to camp at Chamisa’s rural Gutu home, that of his deputy Tendai Biti in Harare and party vice chairperson Job Sikhala’s Chitungwiza residence.

The group was adamant the three top politicians were responsible for sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe by the West and the US.

The restrictive measures, the Concerned Citizens Forum claimed, were behind the worsening economic situation in Zimbabwe.

However, the forum’s spokesperson, Taurai Kandishaya said the plan had been shelved after the youths had noticed that MDC politicians would have seized the opportunity to use them as pawns to settle their factional fights and perpetrate violence.

“We have stopped the citizens from going as we discovered that MDC politicians wanted to take advantage of the programme and perpetrate violence. The citizens are not stupid and we realised that MDC wanted to involve us in their factional fights,” he said.

“Our plan is not a demonstration but we are saying to these politicians that they have called for sanctions to remain and as such, we want them to feed us, provide us with accommodation and pay school fees because they are the ones that are receiving the funds that Zimbabwe was supposed to get,” Kandishaya said.

He could however not reveal the group’s next plan.

Former PSL Official Donates 100 Bags Of Cement For BF Renovations

Former Premier Soccer League fixtures-secretary, Beadle Musa Gwasira, has donated 100 bags of cement towards the developments that need to be done at Barbourfields Stadium.

Speaking to The Herald on Sunday, Gwasira said he has also pledged to provide the fridges needed in the dressing rooms for the match officials and doping experts. He said:

This is what has driven me to come up with this initiative hoping that if I can help Bulawayo City Council, as a proud citizen of this country, start working on the repairs needed at Barbourfields, others will also chip in because this is now a national cause.

… We can’t leave everything in the hands of the Bulawayo City Council, even though they own the stadium, we have to help them because this is a national cause now and every individual or company who cares about football should come together in this challenging hour.

Meanwhile, the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA), is reportedly lobbying the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to reverse the ban on the use of Zimbabwean stadiums for international matches.

The stadiums were banned as they do not meet the minimum requirements established by CAF, forcing the Zimbabwe Football Association to look for alternative venues in neighbouring countries.

Open Letter To Fortune Chasi, “strife and disappointment has forced me to take this “pen””

Jairos Saunyama

Dear Fortune Chasi

I have known you as the man who reaches out.

Your humour and personality projected through your social media posts is simply outstanding. Your public relations record must be the “how to” manual for many office bearers.

In short, I admire that side of you which relates to people. Unfortunately that is where our story of love ends. Beyond it, you are saddled with key national responsibilities which make me criticise you every day.

As a seasoned scribe, I would have put together a moving article that would in the most colourful and well-coordinated English words put bare what I am going through, but I thought maybe, let me do it the old-fashioned way — and so it as just as a citizen, not an esteemed member of the fourth estate.

It is thus the reason I write this open letter to you.

Like I said earlier, I fell in love truly, madly and deeply with your communication skills on Twitter. I declared you are different and perhaps the best minister in the new dispensation. It was a happy day in my life when the news of your appointment to be minister reached my ears. Your declarations of skinning snakes alive and zeal on social media were so impressive.

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I, however, had to wait for action, needless to say I am still waiting.

Back in the days I was a doyen of scribbling love letters at school and for the sake of it and also pure poetic privilege, allow me to travel back in time, the days when letter writing was still an art and there was pleasure in being a wordsmith.

Dear Chasi, strife and disappointment has forced me to take this “pen” and force it to dance disco on this piece of “paper”, you might see words but to me it’s the outpouring of my heart.

I could have written this a long time ago, but I couldn’t because I had to join a fuel queue (and I have been doing that for months now). I could have written this piece at home but the candle is only bright at romantic dinners not when you need to write to an Honourable Minister. I could also have done it at the office, but the sound of the generator is not exactly the prescribed soundtrack in moments of creativity.

I hope you understand!

As I write to you, the only source of light is from my laptop — thanks to a prayerful neighbour, who allowed me to recharge it using the solar system. A bolt of lightning struck and according to Zesa officials, the transformer developed a fault. An official said it takes months or a year to supply a transformer. Indeed, I am not puzzled that in this 21st century the parastatal is struggling to secure a transformer.

Oh I get it, there is the issue of fuel to be concluded.

Dear minister, my ex-Jap vehicle is now decorated with petrol stains below the fuel cap as I have become a serial buyer on the black-market. Recently, your colleague from Zera said the fuel situation would improve but that was a blatant lie. You have changed, Chibabest. I think you have failed to skin the live snake. Or you have been bitten by it? Is the venom confusing you? Do you think you deserve the title Chibabest now?

Minister, I think this is the best time you resorted to your Zimdancehall stage name Mudhara Chasi. The tag Chibabest has been obscured by the current crisis in the country.

I am only a layman, but I want to ask you: What is the problem on the issue of fuel availability? So, all these months you have failed to come up with a solution to this crisis?

I miss those moments when you were hands-on as the Transport and Infrastructure deputy minister. You would post pictures of you behind some road works across the country. It has been long since you posted any meaningful achievement in your new ministry. I wish one day you would post a picture of you at a service station without cars queuing for fuel. I would love to see you posting pictures of you at Hwange Thermal Power Station telling the nation that the upgrade is now complete. For some time now, the upgrade is always at 35-40% complete.

Mudhara Chasi, you have become a genius on counting stolen transformers — leave that to police. May you please focus on critical issues. The nation needs adequate fuel supplies. I know you will blame the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe or either your colleague Mthuli Ncube who deals with finances. As I peep into my phone, it is bad news as usual. You have approved the hiking of electricity fees. It is okay, so what is next? I can predict that it will be another fuel price hike. I could have continued writing, but there is less power now as I need to use the remaining to recharge my mobile phone.

Please if you see your colleague in the Primary and Secondary Education ministry, tell him that I am also writing to him on how the education system is in the doldrums after a survey I did in Mashonaland East province.

It is a season of letters.
Yours truly
Jairos Saunyama

City Of Harare Not Winning The Fight Against Illegal Structures

Michael Chideme 

Illegal businesses on roadsides and at shopping centres in Harare, which were demolished by council in January, have resurfaced.

City of Harare destroyed illegal structures in Westlea, Dzivaresekwa, Waterfalls, at Zindoga Shopping Centre, Mbudzi roundabout area, Sunningdale and Mbare, as part of an exercise to clean the city.

Municipal police, together with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, also descended on businesses operating illegally along Tynwald Road in Westlea and Solomon Mujuru Drive (formerly Kirkman Drive) and along Bulawayo Road.

Those affected by the blitz included car dealers and those selling cabins, bricks, pre-cast walls, flowers, goats, sheep, cement and charcoal.

Yesterday, The Herald saw new tuckshops and other new structures at Zindoga Shopping Centre where people were cooking food for sale.

At Tynwald Road and Solomon Mujuru Drive, all the demolished cabins had been replaced and it was business as usual.

A car dealer along Solomon Mujuru Drive, who requested anonymity, said he had no choice but to re-establish his business since it was the one sustaining his family.

“I set up the business of breaking vehicles and selling parts on this spot about eight years ago and that is where I get my income,” he said.

“My whole family, wife and children are taken care of by this business, so I had no choice than to come back and continue with my business.”

Another dealer, Thomas Sengu, who sells bricks said, “We thought council was going to allocate us another place to operate from, but they went quiet, so we cannot let our families suffer. Business has to go on.”

Council spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said those who re-established the illegal structures risked losing out.

“We are actually encouraging them to start removing their structures because when we come we will just demolish the properties and it will be a loss on their investment. We will not rest until the city of Harare is clean.”

Those operating along Solomon Mujuru Drive expressed sadness over the demolitions.

They claimed paying rates at council district offices.

Chairman of the Kirkman Traders Association Mr Fidelis Magava said they were not served with eviction notices.

“When we started these projects, we paid rates to council and we agreed to pay $300 every month to operate our businesses,” he said.

“Council then told us that there were people operating under electricity lines and they needed to be removed. We were shocked to see a front-end loader coming to destroy our businesses structures.

“If the clean-up is meant to create a safe environment for us, we have no problem with it. What worries us is that we have lost our property and council did not give us any notice.”

Addressing a Wetlands Indaba last month, Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba warned that the demolition of houses built on illegal sites was imminent.

Marvellous Nakamba Was A “Stand-out Performer For Villa At Wembley,” Says Top Football Critic

Marvellous Nakamba

Aston Villa’s valiant effort wasn’t enough to topple Manchester City at Wembley.

Early goals from Sergio Aguero and Rodri put Pep Guardiola’s side in a commanding lead – only for Mbwana Samatta to strike before half-time to give Villa hope.

And hope it remained up until Bjorn Engels’ bullet header with just four minutes left on the clock. The Belgian’s header was palmed onto the post by Claudio Bravo from point-blank range.

However, it was City’s day but it wasn’t for the want of trying.

Here’s how BirminghamLive club writer rated the Villa players…

Orjan Nyland, 7

In from the start as Smith stuck with the cup goalkeeper following the Norwegian’s heroics in the semis. Aguero’s opener was made all the more awkward for Nyland after Mings’ deflection while, for City’s second, the goalkeeper stood no chance. Saved brilliantly to get down low to stop Rodri scoring a second with a little over 15 to go. Saved well again from Bernardo Silva late on in what was a confident performance with both hands and feet.

Frederic Guilbert, 7

The Frenchman’s selection was vindicated just moments in, with Guilbert’s abundance of pace used to keep up and halt Raheem Sterling. Had Elmo in front of him for protection for large parts but he did relish that battle with Sterling and, in all fairness, kept the England wing wizard quiet.

Bjorn Engels, 7

Back in for his first start since that stoppage-time error against Spurs a fortnight ago. Put in a combative display alongside partner Mings, often putting his head where it hurts in brave attempts to City’s goal-bound efforts on goal. Assured in possession, often making the right call whether to pass short or long. Leaped like a salmon with just moments left and was almost – almost – Villa’s saviour – only for Claudio Bravo to pull of a wonderful point-blank save to divert Engels’ header onto the post.

Tyrone Mings, 6.5

Villa’s leader among men at the back – but it was his deflection which helped Aguero’s opener into the net. Mings did everything he could to stop City and put in a solid show. He’s a lot better than City’s crop of centre-halves, it has to be said. Booked late on.

Matt Targett, 5

Allowed Phil Foden far too much time for City’s opener, the youngster getting the better of Targett before heading to Aguero for City’s first. Foden, though, continued to dominate this battle, with the youngster duly being rewarded man of the match. As for Targett, his awareness was lacking and gave City far too much room down their right-hand side. Guilbert, on the other side, was much stronger.

Marvelous Nakamba, 7

Villa’s best midfielder in that central area, looked bang up for it and put in crucial blocks and made interceptions for fun. Had a classy look about him, picking apart some of City’s slack passes while, in the second half, put in a crunching tackle on Aguero to get the Villa faithful fired up. Stand-out performer for Villa at Wembley, for me. Needs to find that consistency now.

Douglas Luiz, 5.5

Up against his old club and was Villa’s driving force from midfield on many a occasion. Lacked that final ball, though, and was wasteful in good areas. Did OK up against the likes of Rodri and David Silva.

Jack Grealish, 5

Not the skipper’s day at all and looked a shadow of his former self. Much more dangerous when Smith pushed him in his usual inside forward position late on. That No.8 role didn’t suit him, didn’t have enough room to manoeuvre and, on his fifth appearance at Wembley, failed to light it up as he promised. Grealish’s standards are that high now, though. A disappointing day and, after the full-time whistle, sank to the floor before being consoled by City players. Was this his last chance to win something with Villa? Who knows.

Ahmed Elmohamady, 6

In for his first start since mid-January, last starting in the 6-1 defeat by City. Played ahead of Guilbert for protection and to give Villa an aerial threat from pumped balls out wide. Tracked back when needed while putting in his usual dangerous crosses which failed to find their intended destinations. Him and Guilbert stopped Zinchenko and Sterling, resulting the pair of them to nothing.

Mbwana Samatta, 7

Powered home a brilliant diving header, launching himself at El Ghazi’s cross to give Villa a lifeline at the break. It was a tough afternoon’s work for the Tanzanian, who rarely had a kick amid City’s dominance in possession. When asked, though, he came up trumps but was often tasked with playing on the toes of Rodri in midfield. Villa struggled to get bodies around him – but what a goal it was as well but, in the end, it was all in vain. Now scored two in his last four appearances and the 28-year-old will be vital for Villa’s survival hopes in the weeks to come. Subbed off for Davis after running himself into the ground.

Anwar El Ghazi, 6

Back in after coming off early last week – and it was El Ghazi’s ball which found Samatta for Villa’s goal back. The Dutch winger caused City problems in the opening stages and latched onto Stones’ comical error. Fired a shot straight down Bravo’s throat after the break in a rare attempt on City’s goal. Was replaced by Hourihane, though, with 20 to go in a ploy to push Grealish further upfield.

Subs

Trezeguet (on for Elmohamady, 69), 4

Came on for his mate Elmo with 20 left but failed to hurt City. Didn’t get in behind enough as City dominated.

Conor Hourihane (on for El Ghazi, 69), 5

A surprise not to start this one after Smith’s cry for changes last week. Hourihane put in the corner for Engels late on – only for Bravo to dig out that save.

Keinan Davis (on for Samatta, 78), 4

Chucked on with a little over 10 to go. Barely touched the ball, though.

“Liverpool Sold That Match.”

Dejected Liverpool

Correspondent|Soccer fans both here in Zimbabwe and around the world still dont want to believe how Watford could beat trailblazing Liverpool by three goals.

“Livepool sold that match,” was the reaction of one of the football fans around the world on Saturday after Liverpool lost woefully to a relegation-challenged team.

Watford Football Club thrashed Liverpool Football Club 3 – 0. Three unreplied goals. This is a Liverpool side that has been unbeaten in the league this season, lost only once in the league through out last season and currently sitting comfortably on the top of the English Premier league with a 22 points margin over second placed defending champion, Manchester City.

This, as believed, is what prompted a fan to post on his facebook with the username “Micky Lilsabsjr” that the match was sold

And atleast a few people agree to that.

Ismail Sarr was the hero of the day with a brace of two goals within 6 minutes and an assist for the third goal scored by Deeney.

Although this does not change the fact that Liverpool have the League in their hands already as it is safe to say it is impossible for any other team to overtake them but it was a painful defeat for a team who thought they were set to break the Arsenal “Invincible” record of winning the league without a defeat

a feat achieved by the club under the managerial leadership of their former coach, Arsene Wenger.

Chiwenga Says Marry Can Take All The Kitchen Utensils But Wants His US$250k In Marry’s Possession

Chiwenga Wants His US$250k from Marry

Correspondent|Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is willing to let his estranged wife Mary Mubaiwa get all their kitchen utensils, a bed and three cars in their divorce.

But he draws the line at cash that he says belongs to him – US$245,428 that is kept in Mubaiwa’s FBC Bank account.

Chiwenga makes the disclosures in a summons filed by his lawyer Wilson Manase at the high court, where he is seeking a divorce order terminating their customary-law union.

The summons was filed in December but kept as a security file at the high court. The Sunday Times has now seen it.

Chiwenga is demanding that he be granted custody of the couple’s three minor children, with Mubaiwa being given “reasonable” access to them on weekends.

He also wants half of Orchid Farm on Domboshava Road on the outskirts of Harare. The farm was acquired while they were married.

ZIFA Appeals CAF Decision

ZIFA president Felton Kamambo

ZIFA are keeping their fingers crossed as they await CAF’s response this afternoon after the country’s association wrote to the continental football governing body seeking some reprieve over the blanket stadium ban imposed on the country’s facilities last week.

All stadiums in the country were last week deemed unfit to host international matches in a development which will see the Warriors’ Afcon qualifier against Algeria late this month played on neutral soil.

But after getting assurances from stadium authorities who have committed to address faults at both the National Sports Stadium and Barbourfields, ZIFA last Friday wrote to CAF inviting them to re-inspect both venues in three weeks time.

ZIFA have been under increasing pressure following the blanket ban although the association do not own any stadium in the country.

Critics have argued why the mother association have not been working hand-in-glove with both the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Public Works as well as the Bulawayo City Council who own the National Sports Stadium and Barbourfields respectively.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ZIFA Northern Region Division One awards night last Friday, ZIFA president Felton Kamambo said all hope is not lost as the association has pleaded with CAF to consider coming for re-inspection of the two facilities.

“As the whole country is aware that all our stadiums were banned from hosting any international games. We sent our letter on Friday since grounds authorities have reassured us that they would have fixed the stadia by the time we are required to host Algeria. We are hopeful CAF will consider our plea and we will be successful so that we can host play our match against Algeria either at Barbourfields or the National Sports Stadium,” said Kamambo.

He said ZIFA has been given reassurances by both the Local Government Ministry as well as the Bulawayo City Council that all the flaws at both venues would have been addressed in the coming three weeks.

“Authorities have committed to renovate and address flaws noted by CAF inspection teams at both the National Sports Stadium and Barbourfields. Authorities who own both these facilities have given us up to the 20th of March as the time they would have done everything with the exception of the bucket seats.

“That is the time which we also need CAF to come and conduct inspections of both facilities so that they can be approved to host our match against Algeria.”

Although Kamambo remains confident CAF will temporarily lift the ban and reconsider coming for the inspections before the Algeria match, ZIFA are also looking at the possibilities of taking the game to either South Africa or Zambia.

In fact, the ZIFA board are expected to arrive at the final decision this afternoon after receiving CAF’s correspondence.

“If the plea is not accepted by CAF, well we are also making arrangements so that our match is played either in Zambia or South Africa.

“By Monday (today) we will be in a position to know whether we will be playing our game against Algeria in Zimbabwe, Zambia or South Africa.

“If it is not in Zimbabwe, we are saying it has to be South Africa or Zambia because we have so many Zimbabweans living in both those countries so in terms of logistics, we won’t have it very difficult.

“Logistically, it is easier to play in Zambia. But we haven’t decided as yet. The board will sit down and deliberate on the issue on Monday (today) after we hear what CAF says of our appeal.”

Zimbabwe play Algeria in back-to-back ties later this month in what could be the deciding run in their bid to nail a berth at the 2021 AFCON finals scheduled for Cameroon. Zimbabwe are second in their qualifying group with four points, two behind Algeria while Botswana who have collected a single point and Zambia with no points after two rounds of fixtures will be angling to find their way back when they engage in back-to-back ties of their own.

Warriors May Play At Barbourfields After All

Highlanders fans captured hanging dangerously on an undesignated area at Barbourfields Stadium

A RAY of hope has filtered through the dark cloud hanging over Zimbabwe football with revelations the Warriors’ blockbuster 2021 AFCON qualifier against Algeria could still be played at Barbourfields as originally scheduled.

The match is set for the end of this month and appeared set to be moved to a neutral venue, amid reports it was likely to be played in South Africa, after the Confederation of African Football banned all local stadiums from hosting games of such magnitude.

But, The Herald can reveal today that a diplomatic offensive, led by the COSAFA bloc, has been underway since last week to convince CAF to change their hard-line approach and allow the Warriors to host the Desert Foxes at Barbourfields.

The COSAFA bloc, it has since emerged, were worried that should this match be played elsewhere, it could set a precedent in which no international football would be held in this country until a new stadium was built. They first reached out to CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad, who directed them to the organisation’s deputy General Secretary in charge of football and development, Anthony Baffoe, setting in motion negotiations which this weekend provided hope the match could still be played in Bulawayo.

Sports and Recreation Commission director-general, Prince Mupazviriho, as the representative of the regulator of sport in this country, was informed of the negotiations this weekend and what is needed for the country to regain its rights to host an international football match. The focus of those negotiations have been the need for Barbourfields, which had initially been given provisional clearance to host international matches, to undergo urgent renovations to, at the least, satisfy the bare minimum requirements of CAF.

There is agreement that this can be done within the next two weeks, and a CAF inspector would be dispatched to Zimbabwe to make an assessment, with the country’s third biggest football stadium likely to pass the test.

More work, according to the negotiations, would have to be carried out at Barbourfields after the match against the Algerians and bring the stadium in full compliance with CAF requirements by the time the next round of AFCON qualifiers are played in June.

“There has been a lot of negotiations going on behind the scenes to try and salvage the situation since this decision was announced last week,” sources told The Herald. “The first thing was to reach out to the CAF president Ahmad to try and convince him to have his organisation review their decision for the sake of the football loving people of Zimbabwe.

“Ahmad then directed us to Baffoe, who is in charge of football and development at CAF, and we got in contact with him and he gave us his side of the story and what needs to be done because these are issues of compliance.

“We looked at some of the conditions and felt they could be met, at least, at the bare minimum so that the next match for the Warriors is played in Zimbabwe. Because Barbourfields is the best stadium in this country, in terms of meeting the bare minimum of the requirements and given it has been provisionally cleared, we felt that it should be the focus of everything, for now.

“Whatever work that should be done there should be done as a matter of urgency with people working in shifts, 24 hours a day, and we believe the facelift can then meet the minimum of CAF requirements.

“Here, you are talking about enlarging the changing rooms, improving the parking area, having the doping room, having a proper media enclosure, having fridges in the referees dressing rooms, fridges in the doping room and the teams’ dressing rooms.

“You are talking about having internet connectivity, at the stadium, so that the media and the officials can be connected to the internet as they do they jobs and you are talking about improving the floodlighting system.

“All this can be done within the shortest possible time and that’s what has provided us with hope, especially the position taken by CAF, that they are ready to send an inspector this month to look at the situation.

“We think that what escaped the attention of many, including the Zimbabwean media, is that if the next game is played away from Zimbabwe, it would be very, very difficult to get international football back in the country without a new stadium being built.”

The COSAFA bloc also provide CAF with its president, Ahmad, and third vice-president, Danny Jordaan. This gives it an influential voice, in times of crisis, while the regional organisation has always regarded qualification for the AFCON finals as a sign of progress by its members. They feel Zimbabwe, which is one if their three strongest football nations, the other ones being South Africa and Zambia, could be at a huge disadvantage if the Warriors don’t use home advantage in their Nations Cup qualifiers.

Ironically, the Warriors were the only COSAFA representative at the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon while Chipolopolo have missed the last two Nations Cup finals.

Meanwhile, former Premier Soccer League fixtures-secretary, Beadle Musa Gwasira, who has emerged as a voice of reason since the stadium crisis erupted, has set the ball rolling by donating 100 bags of cement for use in the work to be done at Barbourfields.

He has also pledged to provide the fridges needed in the dressing rooms for the match officials and doping experts.

“We have to show as a nation that we can get things done and keep our national teams at home and that can only be done through action and not talking because time is flying,” he said. “This is what has driven me to come up with this initiative hoping that if I can help Bulawayo City Council, as a proud citizen of this country, start working on the repairs needed at Barbourfields, others will also chip in because this is now a national cause.

“I have been following the conversation on radio and in the newspapers and I believe that the time for talking, and blaming others, is over and we have a crisis which we need to deal with as a nation.

“The starting point should be sorting out Barbourfields because it has the least of requirements and that is why I have chipped in with this donation and I believe that two weeks is a long time to us to get everything, or at least what is acceptable, in order.

“Admittedly, we were all shocked by what happened but now the time is to fix the problem and it won’t be fixed by endless talk but real action because we just have to get our team to play at home, that is the most important thing, and we can only do that by improving our stadium.” Gwasira is a former Harare City Councillor who used to own Premiership side Lengthens who once represented Zimbabwe in the CAF Confederation Cup.

He said the challenge to get things fixed no longer just rested with the Bulawayo City Council but with the entire football family.

“We can’t leave everything in the hands of the Bulawayo City Council, even though they own the stadium, we have to help them because this is a national cause now and every individual or company who cares about football should come together in this challenging hour.”

Bulawayo Artists Grab Most Awards At NAMA – See Full List Of Winners

Artists from Bulawayo pose for a picture with their awards

ARTISTES from Bulawayo were the toast of the show as they bagged the most awards at this year’s National Arts Merit Awards (Nama).

Ten artistes from the city walked up the podium on Saturday night to receive gongs for excellence.

This year’s Nama was different as it belonged to Bulawayo given the number of artistes that were honoured for excelling.

First to warm up the stage from Bulawayo was Dadirai Mupandawana who grabbed the Outstanding Dancer accolade.

Theatre goddess, Charmaine Mudau, was honoured for the outstanding performance in theatre play, Imbokodo and walked away with the Outstanding Actress award.

Ronald Sigeca scooped the the Outstanding Actor award. The Outstanding Music Album went to Willis Wataffi.

All-female Imbube cast, Nobuntu walked away with the Arts Personality Award. Artist in the Diaspora award went to (Vusa Mkhaya), Outstanding Exhibition award was won by Talent Kapadza and Shuna Herscovitz while Outstanding Female Dancer award went to Antoinette Sango.

Percy Soko was this year’s Outstanding film actor and Sithembile Siqhoza Ndebele was the Outstanding poet.

The theme for this year’s Nama was “Taking it back to the People”.

The well attended event confirmed that the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has upped the game to meet international standards.

Run by Jacaranda Culture and Media Corporation, the 19th edition gave confidence to artistes that the platform is a barometer for their peformance.

Closing the ceremony, Jah Prayzah who has been starving his fans of an album that is set to be released in April, left fans thrilled with his top-drawer performance.

Minister of Youths, Arts, Sports and Recreation Kirsty Coventry who was also in attendance joined the crowd in dance

Prominent artistes and socialites that attended the event include Albert Nyathi, Sithandazile Dube, Nqobile Malinga, Ginimbi and Lorraine Guyo among others.

Below is a full list of the winners

Outstanding Newcomer – Ishan

Outstanding Female Musician – Tamy Moyo

Outstanding Male Musician – Ti Gonzi

Outstanding Song- Kure – Ishan ft. Ti Gonzi

Outstanding Album – Uhuru – Willis Wataffi

Outstanding Music Video – Sunshine City– Flying Bantu

Outstanding Fiction Book- Out of Darkness, Shining Light – Petina Gappah

Outstanding Children’s Book- Songs of the Little Creature – Phumulani Chipandambira

Outstanding First Creative Published Book – A People’s Fight – Fradreck Hombiro

Outstanding Female Dance–Dadirai Mupandawana – Ezimnyama Dance Group

Outstanding Male Dancer– Selemani Mpochi – Ochestra Mberikwazvo

Outstanding Theatre Actress– Charmaine Mudau – Imbokodo

Outstanding Screen Production (Television Series) – Muzita Rababa – Shem Zemura

Outstanding Screen Production – Short Film – Redefining the Road – Tapiwa Gambira

Outstanding Mix Media Work — Distorted History – Anthony Bumhira

Outstanding 2 Dimensional Work – Cyclone Idai where is Mommy? – Calvin Chimutuwah

Outstanding 3 Dimensional Work– Tribute to the mother of generations – Stanley Mutanga

Outstanding Exhibition- Pieces for Peace, Pieces, Revolutionary Freshness – Talent Kapadza & Schuma Herscovitz

Outstanding Journalist (Print) – Tafadzwa Kachiko – Newsday

Outstanding Journalist (TV)– Masceline Bondamakara – ZBC

Outstanding Journalist Radio

Anesu Masamvu – ZiFM

Yvonne Tivatye – Star FM

Thulani Munyandu – National FM

Outstanding Online Media- Zimbojam

Outstanding Comedian– Long John

Outstanding Poet – Sithembile Siqhoza Ndebele

Outstanding Actor (Film and TV) – Percy Soko – Mandla

Outstanding Actress (Film and TV)– Antoinette Sango – Mandla

Outstanding Screen Production (TV) – Mandla – Solomon Mandaza

Outstanding Screen Production (Short Film)– Redefining the Road – Tapiwa Gambura

Outstanding Screen Production (Full-length Film) – Stay with Me – Nick Zemura

Artist in the Diaspora – Vusa Mkhaya

Outstanding Promoter of the Year– D & G Promotions

Personality of the Year– Nobuntu

Service to the Arts Award– Solomon Guramatunhu

Lifetime Achievement Award– Stella Chiweshe

People’s Choice Award – Winky D

Second Case Of Coronavirus Isolated At Wilkins Hospital In Harare

A SECOND case of suspected coronavirus has been put under isolation at Wilkins Hospital while tests are being conducted.

Harare City Council Health Services director Dr Prosper Chonzi confirmed that there was a suspected case of a Chinese national who had been taken to the isolation facility.

“Yes there has been a suspected case of a person travelling from Hunan, China, who has been put under isolation facilities.

“A Chinese national arrived in Zimbabwe this afternoon (yesterday). At the time of arrival people thought the traveller had symptoms of corona virus. We picked the person at the Robert Mugabe International Airport and isolated the traveller. As we speak the traveller is admitted at Wilkins Hospital under isolation while investigations are being carried out. We are waiting for the results and the traveller is in a stable condition and is not showing any symptoms or fever.

“We have to follow protocol as ascribed by the World Health Organisation and adopted by the Zimbabwean Government.

The first suspected case involved a 27-year old Harare woman who was suspected to have contracted the disease after visiting Wuhan, China.

The suspected patient was coming from another province.

When there is rumour of a suspected corona virus case, we investigate,” said Dr Chonzi.

The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services yesterday afternoon tweeted a statement on the matter:

“Government would like to inform the public that today, a traveller from Hunan Province in China was flagged up as needing assessment for corona virus. Full WHO Protocols were deployed. The traveller has now been taken to designated Isolatiossn Facilities where tests are being conducted.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), coronaviruses belong to a family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The virus is highly contagious and there is no cure for corona virus as with most viral infections.

So far, only experimental treatments have been used in China with success in stabilising patients.

An ARV, Kaletra (ritonavir and lopinavir) has been used.

Corona virus symptoms include pneumonia, high fever, flu like symptoms, chest pains, diarrhoea and shortness of breath.

Precautions include covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing hands the same way as people do when guarding against cholera and typhoid.

Although Zimbabwe is located thousands of miles away from the source of the corona virus, it remains at great risk considering the volume of traffic the country gets from China for tourism and business.

Zimbabwean and Chinese authorities are encouraging travellers between the two countries to either delay or cancel unnecessary journeys to stop the spread of the novel corona virus (2019-nCoV), which has killed 81 people in the Asian country from 2 886 confirmed cases of infection in the past month.

Surveillance systems in Zimbabwe have also been activated with special focus being put at the main ports of entry and exit — Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Joshua Nkomo International Airport and Victoria Falls and Beitbridge ground ports.

Coronavirus Update: Chinese City To Pay £1100 To Everyone Who Comes Forward To Test For Coronavirus

A CHINESE city is paying its citizens up to £1,100 if they report symptoms of the coronavirus and then test positive for the deadly disease.

Residents in the Chinese city of Qianjiang, 90 miles from the stricken provincial capital of Wuhan, are being offered rewards as officials attempt to encourage members of the public to attend medical checks. Qianjiang has reported a total of 197 cases so far and is stepping up efforts to ensure its infected people are confined and treated for the coronavirus

The Qianjiang task force handling the epidemic said in a notice that residents who test positive for coronavirus can receive a payment of 10,000 yuan (£1,100).

Citizens who have previously been diagnosed with the killer disease will not be eligible.

Residents not immediately ruled out as suffering from the disease will be given £110 (1,000 yuan), while citizens in “suspected” cases will earn £220 (2,000 yuan).

Qianjiang is the latest of a number of regions to offer cash rewards to encourage members of the public to volunteer for medical checks.

Hubei has reported over 65,000 cases and more than 2,600 deaths from the epidemic.

Worldwide, the death toll is about 2,800 and about 80,000 have been infected.

Hopes the coronavirus would be contained to China vanished on Friday as infections spread rapidly around the world, countries started stockpiling medical equipment and investors took flight in expectation of a global recession.

Officials at WHO said it would be a “fatal mistake” for any country to assume it will not be hit by the coronavirus, and rich countries that might have thought they were safer should expect surprises.

In Europe, the number of people who tested positive for the illness in Italy increased by more than 200 to 650.

Germany, which warned of an impending epidemic, has about 27 cases, France around 18 and Spain 15.

While, Greece announced tighter border controls.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Disneyland and Osaka-based theme park Universal Studios Japan have confirmed they will shut their doors from Saturday to March 15.

And Tokyo Olympics organisers will make a decision later next week on how they plan to hold the ceremonial torch relay.

Express.co.uk

Gigantic Job Sikhala Says He Was Saved From Abductors By The Biggest Fart In His Life

Job Sikhala

The MDC national vice chairperson and Zengeza West Member of Parliament (MP) Job Sikhala, who on Valentine’s Day was acquitted of subversion charges by Masvingo High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze, has vowed to sue President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the alleged torture he went through since he was arrested in July last year.

Sikhala had been charged with treason over alleged utterances he made in Bikita West last year in which he said he wanted to remove President Mnangagwa from power before the end of his term, a charge which Justice Mawadze ruled to be constitutional.

Addressing hundreds of MDC supporters at the Morgan Tsvangirai memorial soon after his acquittal, Sikhala narrated the harrowing incidences which he underwent during his incarceration saying he was abused, tortured and lost his liberties.

“I will never forgive them for the torrential abuse, persecution and torture on myself. When I get back into my office, I am going to sue Mnangagwa and his people for over US$50 million. I lost my liberty for almost a year. They took my passport which restricted me from going abroad to represent my other clients so that I could fend for my family.

“They charged me a RTGS$5 000 bail before devaluation so I paid an equivalent of US$5 000. Today the money has no value at all. When I go to collect my bail, RTGS$1 000 is going to Bikita East, RTGS$1 000 to Bikita West, RTGS$2 000 Masvingo central, RTGS$1 000 Chivi North and Masvingo West. This money was being held by Mnangagwa and must go to the people,” said Sikhala.

He said he does not regret to call for the ouster of President Mnangagwa saying he does not like the man and no one can force him to.

“Some people came out saying no, Sikhala you were reckless to say that statement but those people are the ones who are reckless because they want to protect Mnangagwa. 

“Mnangagwa has killed the future of the people of this country and he has to go. That is a clear and simple message. I knew myself as a lawyer that there was no case. To say Mnangagwa must go is not a crime because I don’t like him. I don’t think there is anyone who wants Mnangagwa to still be President until 2023,” said Sikhala.

He said he was abducted from holding cells at Harare Central police station by alleged state security agents and the army who threatened his lawyers with death if they followed.

“When I was arrested and put at Harare Central, the police told my legal team to go to Rotten Row High Court and that they were going to transport me there. I was left with Biti (Tendai) and Gonese (Innocent).

“While at the police station, a team of formally dressed man came and ordered me to come with them. I then told Biti and Gonese to follow me but they were threatened with death and they backed off.

“I was taken to the car park and I saw two Toyota trucks with members of the army and state security agents. There was also a Toyota Quantum minibus which had armed soldiers. I was then bundled into one of the Toyota trucks and my face was covered from there. I was driven for three hours without knowing where I was or was going.

My lawyers did not know where I was and so did the whole country so I had to act fast or that was my end,” said Sikhala.

Being a gigantic man in stature, Sikhala said he summoned the biggest fart ever which spoiled the air in the car forcing it into a halt with his alleged abductors allowing him to use the toilet.

“I told the people in the car that I could not breathe because the plastic which was covering my face was suffocating me. They did not listen and I had to hatch another plan.

“I then told them that I had to relieve myself and again they did not listen. I then had to summon the biggest fart ever and I sprayed the whole car and they then stopped because of the terrible smell. I knew that once they let me out of the car people would see me and alert others.

“They let me out of the car and I realized I was already in Gutu yet my lawyers were waiting for me at the Rotten Row court. People saw me and took pictures which then went viral on social media,” said Sikhala.

Ziyambi Ziyambi Tells Off Madhuku And His POLAD Committee – “Who Are You?”

Ziyambi Ziyambi

There is no going back on the constitutional amendment process and any organisation with a view on how to improve the supreme law should do so within the context of ongoing consultative processes, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) had no authority to stop the Government from amending the Constitution.

He said the forum was free to make representations about its views on the Constitutional Amendment Bill that was gazetted in January.

Minister Ziyambi made the remarks in response to calls by Polad, led by Professor Lovemore Madhuku, imploring the Government to withdraw the Bill.

Prof Madhuku said the proposed amendments fell short of what the Constitution should address.

He used various platforms to say Polad had adopted a position that the Constitutional Amendment Bill should be withdrawn and fresh consultations begin.

Prof Madhuku had also argued that the current Constitution-making process embarked upon by the Government was not “people-driven”.

However, Minister Ziyambi saidsuch suggestions were misdirected.

“The current Constitution was a product of compromise,” he said. “Who is the people that Prof Madhuku is referring to? Laws are made by parliamentarians who are the representatives of thepeople.

“With respect to a Constitution, it is gazetted and people are given three months to allow any person or institution to give input should he or she so wish before it can be debated in Parliament.

“Polad is not a statutory instrument. It is a platform for dialogue which like any other person or institution should submit its views about the Bill and it will be up to Parliament to take it up. So, suggestions to withdraw the Bill are misdirected.”

Minister Ziyambi said Zanu PF carries the mandate of the people.

“A Government is formed through a political party that would have won an election,” he said.

“A political party represents the people and in this case Zanu PF won elections and it carries the mandate of the people, so any suggestion that the current process is not people-driven is misplaced.”

Prof Madhuku criticised the proposed clause in the Bill which seeks to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges from 70 to 75 years.

Minister Ziyambi said there was need to differentiate between retirement age and term limits for office bearers or individuals.

“To start with, who said that the proposed clause would benefit the present judges?” he said.

“His argument is not founded on law and he knows it. Judges have no term limits like independent commissions and the office of the President where one cannot be allowed to go beyond given term limits.

“Independent commissions and the office of the President have term limits where they can only serve for a maximum of two terms and that does not apply to judges, they have retirement ages. So, Prof Madhuku is lost on both fronts.”

On the appointment of judges, Minister Ziyambi said the President has always been the appointing authority.

“The President has a dual role,” he said. “He is Head of State and Government. When he appoints judges, he does so as head of Government.

“All what we are saying is, there is no need to interview sitting judges, except those individuals coming from outside the bench.”

Minister Ziyambi accused Prof Madhuku of double standards after he campaigned for the rejection of the current Constitution in the run-up to a referendum, only to turn around to push for its retention.

Nurses And Doctors Run For Dear Life As Coronavirus Suspected Patient Is Brought To Parirenyatwa

THERE was pandemonium at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on Wednesday as doctors, nurses and patients scurried for cover. Apparently the sight of a woman who was recently held in isolation at Wilkins Hospital as authorities tested her for the Corona virus spooked most people.

However, it turned out to be a false alarm. The 27-year old woman, who was certified Corona Virus free, had been brought to the hospital to consult a mental health expert.

It was only after this was revealed that business returned to normal. However, a fire had been set and was raging on social media with wild claims that a woman had tested positive for the Corona Virus at one of Zimbabwe’s major referral hospitals.

The furore caused by the incident stung Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals into issuing a statement aimed at setting the record straight. “We wish to confirm that the patient who was originally isolated at Wilkins Hospital for suspected COVID 19 presented at Parirenyatwa on 26 February. “The patient was brought in by the City of Harare to our Mental Health Hospital where it was decided that the patient had to be seen by a physician first.

The psychiatrist followed up the patient and attended to her in our casualty department. “Since the consultations with the City of Harare were continuous throughout the process, the two parties eventually resolved that the patient should be referred back to Wilkins Hospital where she currently admitted for comprehensive evaluation and treatment,” reads part of the statement. Parirenyatwa further highlighted that the manner in which how the patient was handled was a subject of investigation. “A meeting was immediately called with key departments to review how the case was handled and to assess the hospital’s preparedness to handle similar cases in the future. “The meeting among other issues resolved that the rapid response team should improve in their communication, a screening tent should be set up outside casualty so that any suspected cases is immediately referred to Wilkins Hospital,” said the hospital. Commenting on the incident Harare City Health Director, Dr Prosper Chonzi: “This woman is still under (corona virus) surveillance even though she tested negative three times. “It was after we had been informed that she had tried to commit suicide that we sent a team to take her to the mental hospital for assessment. The visit had nothing to do with the corona virus.”

| ZTN

SugarDaddy Minister Says Schools Can Boost Economy

Cain Mathema (76) with his young 23 year old wife he took as a student

Schools should be turned into Special Economic Zones as they have unlocked commercial value that can transform the education sector, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema has said.

A Special Economic Zone is an area in a country that is subject to unique economic regulations to attract investment.

Addressing district schools’ managers from the northern part of the country who had come for a week long training on modern ways of managing schools, at Ilangeni Training Centre in Bulawayo last Friday, Minister Mathema said Government pins a lot of hope on the education sector to transform the country’s fortunes.

“The President has introduced a new concept of dialogue. No school can succeed without working with the parents and Member of Parliament (MP). The Ministry, the country and the President have invested their trust in you, so let us deliver. By endeavouring to equip you with 21st century school leadership skills we want you to drive this economy through quality education using the competence-based curriculum,” he said,

“My wish would be to see each school engaging in commercial farming, commercial manufacturing. So, let us lead them, let us assist them and work with them. Each school must be a Special Economic Zone.”

Minister Mathema said to achieve the economic transformation of schools, he has asked all schools to provide a report on the size of land they occupy.

The Minister said after gathering the necessary statistics it would then be established how the land can be utilised for commercial purposes. He said turning schools into commercial entities will change the face of some learning institutions, which have been dilapidated for years.

“We have schools with no laboratories, no classroom blocks, they have no teachers’ cottages. How can we have teachers who share a house, 20 of them in one house? It’s embarrassing. We have had satellite schools since independence. Let’s turn them into proper schools,” he said.

Minister Mathema said Government can even engage local authorities to provide adequate land to some schools that might not have it.

He said the Bulawayo City Council is warming up to allocating Mpopoma High School a piece of land for commercial purposes as the school does not have adequate space on its premises. Speaking during the same event, Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela said the Minister was putting the education sector’s vision back on track.

“You know one time we were talking about running the school as a business. We were training school development committees. Somehow the traction got lost. The Minister is saying let us go back to that concept that the school is a Special Economic Zone. It’s a business in more ways than just wealth creation. It’s a business because that is where your social investment is being done, your human capital is being created, social skills are being created,” said Mrs Thabela.

She said teachers have an important role of promoting value addition through education. Chronicle-state media

Mashurugwi Kill 35, Rape 15 Women

At least 35 people were killed while 15 women were raped in the last 13 months by infamous machete wielding gangs commonly known as MaShurugwi, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Michael Madiro has said.

Speaking in the Senate during a Question and Answer session last week, Deputy Minister Madiro said machete-wielding gangs have become a problem across the country, attacking and robbing members of the public.

He said between January last year and last week, the criminal gangs had assaulted 382 people with 225 robberies having been recorded during the same period.

“Throughout the country, from January 2019 to date, a total of 35 murders, 225 robberies, 382 assaults and 15 rape cases were committed by machete-wielding gangsters.

“However, there are numerous ongoing measures in all the provinces aimed at containing violent crimes perpetrated by artisanal miners,” he said.

Out of the 35 murders, 20 occurred in Silobela in the Midlands province.

Cde Madiro, who was responding to legislators who had quizzed him on what police were doing to arrest the illegal gold panners’ menace, said police have stepped up efforts and launched a massive operation code named “Isitsheketsha kasiphele/Chikorokoza Ngachipere/ and No to Machete Gangs.”

“Isitsheketsha kasiphele/Chikorokoza Ngachipere and No to Machete Gangs, commenced on 14 January 2020 after resources for the first phase of the operation were made available. The operation is ongoing in all provinces and is aimed at arresting machete-wielding criminals,” he said.

The Deputy Minister said a National Task Force led by the ZRP Support Unit has since been set up, targeting one province at a time.

He said so far Mashonaland Central, Manicaland and Mashonaland East have been cleared of illegal panners in areas which were heavily concentrated.

Deputy Minister Madiro said from March 4, 2019 to date, 6 229 illegal artisanal miners and 1 922 offenders were arrested and either made to pay fines or referred to court for possessing dangerous weapons. He attributed the machete gang menace to lack of order within the country’s mines.

Cde Madiro said police are conducting spot checks to arrest people found with machetes, knives, iron bars and other dangerous weapons that can be used to murder, rob or harm innocent people.

Deputy Minister Madiro said police have issued prohibition orders against carrying dangerous weapons to curtail violent crimes.
He said Government was aware that illegal miners were not just harming citizens but the environment as well. – Chronicle- state media

Sabhuku Vharazipi Denounces Politicization Of Food Aid


Farai Dziva|Masvingo based actor and drama icon, Sabhuku Vharazipi, whose real name is David Mubaiwa in Collaboration with the Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) produced a video skit calling for fair distribution of government aid by public officials.
The video skit provides an overview of how the government aid is being used for retributive purposes.

Public officials continue to use political lenses in the selection of beneficiaries of government aid.
The video also shows the inherent flaws and popular criticisms of aid distribution systems in Zimbabwe and Masvingo province in particular.

Specifically, it shows that the aid beneficiary selection process is not always based on equal opportunity or either guided by vulnerability but determined by political affiliation and power.

Consequently, most of those who are supposed to get aid fail to access it due to their political affiliation.

The actors point out that public officials must serve everyone under their jurisdiction regardless of their political affiliation.

The video also encourages public officials to consult the people during the process of selecting beneficiaries.

Masvingo is hit by severe drought and most people require food aid.

Government has been providing rice and maize to vulnerable families.

The selection processes for beneficiaries remain high jacked by traditional leaders and elected official who use the aid to punish their critics.

A COTRAD official, Ishmael Kupfuwa has also said there is need to involve VIDCOs and WADCOs and the general citizenry starting from the beneficiary selection process up to the distribution point for transparency and accountability purposes.
“Traditional leaders should rigorously undergo human rights trainings so that they understand and acclimatize to the human rights based approach when executing their paramount roles and responsibilities bestowed to them,” said Kupfuwa.
Click the link below to view the video: https://youtu.be/eUSgaU4P3kQ

Logarusic Names CHAN Squad

Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic has picked his provisional squad for the 2020 African Nations Championships.

Zimbabwe will be taking part in this year’s edition to be held in Cameroon from 4 April until the 25th. They are in Group A along with the hosts, Burkina Faso and Mali.

With the 2020 PSL campaign yet to kick-off, the Croatian gaffer has little time to assess the local players and took a nationwide tour last month, visiting some PSL clubs who have already started their pre-season preparations.

He held wide consultations with the coaches who helped him to select his men for the tournament which is only reserved for locally-based players.

ZIFA communications manager Xolisani Gwesela confirmed to the Sunday Mail that Logarusic submitted his squad list and also revealed when it is expected to be announced.

“The coach submitted his list and we are now contacting the clubs, it’s an ongoing process but the squad should be announced next week (this week),” he said.Soccer 24

Everything Mnangagwa Has Said from 1983 to 2020 & It’s All About Unleashing Terror And Killing People…..

The below summarises everything that the Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has communicated offguard at podiums from 1983 to 2020 and it is all about carrying out terror attacks against civilians, the first statement which resulted in the economy crashing between 1983 and 1985 got 22,000 civilians killed under the guise of searching for an individual man named Richard Gwesela, back then, said to be an immortal and was only killed 4 years later, and whose passing away was sensationally announced by the state-controlled-media 3 days after the supposed death.

4th April 1983 – I’ll send the army on you if you collaborate with protesters, dissidents

……. 

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Lloyd Msipa, People’s Party Secretary General.

By A Correspondent | Video evidence to prove that Emmerson Mnangagwa is guilty for Gukurahundi is available, and still, what has changed in Zimbabwe since Gukurahundi apart from the signing of the unity accord and the signing of Robert Mugabe’s resignation letter 2017? This is all the more proof that the Gukurahundi massacre did not at all end in 1984, it is still ongoing, proven by Mnangagwa’s statements before the 1 August crackdown, those just after the January 2019 killings while in Mwenezi, and those as late as last month while in Kuwadzana, Harare.

The People’s Party has since called Mnangagwa to order over the killings. The party says there is a clear continuation of a process of murder. It said:

We note with concern plans by the Emmerson Mnangagwa regime to fast-track the exhumation and reburial of victims of the Gukurahundi atrocities in which over 20 000 Ndebele civilians were killed.

Those who were killed were not possessions of the State but came from families that have the right to direct the manner and speed with which the exhumation and reburial of their loved ones must be conducted.

Mnangagwa in particular must take a step back from any process aimed at resolving Gukurahundi because he was one of the chief architects of the killings. At the time, serving as State Security Minister, he flatly denied that there were any such killings. Video evidence is available to support this claim. What has changed?

Gukurahundi cannot be resolved with a piecemeal approach. For there to be healing, reconciliation, unity and peace, the truth must lead together with justice and meaningful compensation.

The People’s Party believes that a national shrine equivalent to the Heroes Acre, and a memorial in the mold of the Holocaust Museum, must be setup for the reburial of all unidentified remains as well as those whose family members wish to have their loved ones buried there. This monument should serve as a reminder to future generations.

Further, it is important that the facts be litigated on national television in the same manner the Motlanthe Commission was broadcast after the killing of six unarmed civilians on August 1, 2018. The people of Matabeleland must be allowed to speak and be heard.

We believe that these substantive actions can open the path to healing from this great injustice that must never again be visited on the people of Zimbabwe.

I Lied About My Age To Impress Scouts:Soccer Star Confesses

Ex-Senegal star Guirane N’Daw has admitted he lied about his age to gain the chance to play in Europe.

The midfielder who is registered as a 35-year old has played in Europe for the last eighteen years, featuring for the likes of Real Zaragoza, Saint-Etienne, Nantes and Lens.

He also made 41 appearances for his national side.

N’Daw now plays for French sixth division side AS Algrange after, having initially retired at the age of ’31’, four years ago.

Speaking in an interview with Senegalese radio IGFM as cited by Kick-Off, the player insisted 99% of footballers from his country do the same.

He said: “What is certain is that in Senegal, 99% of players have reduced their age.

“Senegalese [players] are generally very small and when he goes to Europe at 20, he will see that young people of 15 are stronger than him.

“Like all Senegalese, I lowered my age to be professional.

In Africa, the player who does not lower his age cannot be professional [in Europe], it’s a reality.”-Soccer 24

Kamba Is Turning In His Grave At Heartbreaking Oppression” – Rubbish, Never Bothered Him Alive

By Patrick Guramatunhu| It was the Spanish-American writer and philosopher George Santayana who said, “those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it!”

We, in Zimbabwe, have yet to sit down and learn from the last 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship. And before we have even started, we are being bombarded by village idiots not only falsely claiming there is a material difference between the Zanu PF dictatorship under Mugabe to the same under Mnangagwa but worse still portray the former period as a golden age of unparalleled peace, justice, tranquility and economic prosperity!

“In just one year, the human rights environment has deteriorated to such an extent that it is heartbreaking for me.

“I am sure for Walter Kamba, had he been alive, he would see so much suffering and the hopes for Zimbabweans for a better future under a new government dashed,” said Ms Navanethem Pillay in a recent Walter Kamba memorial lecture.

Whilst no one would deny the human rights situation in Zimbabwe is heartbreaking. Still, the present is situation is but a continuum of the past which, if the late Walter Kamba had been as conscientious and prudent as Ms Pillay is portraying him to be, would have been equally appalled. If he was appalled, he certainly did not show it much less do anything to stop it.

Indeed, as the chairperson of the Election Supervision Commission in post independent Zimbabwe and Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe Walter Kamba was placed in an opportune position to nip in the bud the curse of rigged elections. He chose to turned a blind eye to it all.

Even after the blatant vote rigging and near fatal shooting of an opposition candidate, Patrick Kombayi, in the 1990 elections all Kamba and his fellow commissioners ever did was write a report!

A report Mugabe ignored as he went on to pardon the two CIO operatives convicted of the attempted murder of Kombayi. The two were acting in the interest of the late Simon Mudenda, the Zanu PF candidate in that election. They never even spent one night in prison!

Ms Navanethem Pillay is a South African top lawyer and human rights defender and a former United Nations Human Rights Commissioner. She is no stranger to Zimbabwe and its culture of political violence. She visited Zimbabwe in her UN capacity in 2012 and commented on this very scourge of election violence.

“I was able to raise many areas of concern from a human rights point of view, such as nonrecurrence of violence that occurred in the last elections and what steps are being taken to protect ordinary people from such violence,” Pillay said, following her meeting with Zimbabwe GNU leaders in May 2012.

She was warned that no meaningful reforms had been implemented and that time was fast running out! She did not listen and instead produced a wishy-washy report suggest everything was fine and the next elections would be free, fair and credible. All nonsense as we now know!

“In every facet of life, deterioration of civil and political and economic social and cultural rights has reached crisis proportions,” Ms Pillay told her Walter Kamba lecture audience.

As if to suggest during Mugabe’s day, when she was here last, things had never ever “reach crisis proportions”!

Trying to compare Mugabe’s Zimbabwe to what the country asunder Mnangagwa is just as futile as comparing a cobra and a black mamba – these are deadly snakes, there is no such thing as being better off being bitten by one and not the other!

For your own information, Ms Pillay, the late Walter Kamba was just one of the many Zimbabwean professionals who have compromised their professional ethics and self-respect for thirty pieces of silver.

He knew that Zanu PF was a party of corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs, he knew the regime appointed him to spruce up its tarnished image. He accepted the cushy job and pinched his nose. Of course, Kamba is a sell-out and he knew it himself.

When Kamba finally stepped down as Vice Chancellor of UZ, he complained of “interfering hands in the running of the University”. He did not have to say it himself because everyone was saying it to themselves “And throughout your tenure as VC, you have done nothing to stop those interfering hands!”

To be fair Walter Kamba was not the only sell-out Zimbabwean professional; both Mugabe and Mnangagwa have had little trouble recruiting professionals to spruce up the image of the party and government. There is Professor Jonathan Moyo, Professor Mthuli Ncube, Tendai Biti and his MDC friends, Minister Kirsty Coventry, etc., etc.

Hacking off the 37 Mugabe years; sanitised them as having been better than the last 3 Mnangagwa years; will help us forget and forgive Mugabe. But if we are to learn all the important lessons from the Zanu PF dictatorship, then discard the Mugabe years; they are not just the Genesis of the dictatorship but the Old Testament!

“Kakangamwira Mugabe, kukanganwa chezuro nehope!” (To forgive and forget Mugabe is to forget yesterday’s trials and tribulations with night’s sleep!) as one would say in Shona.

We in Zimbabwe must remember Robert Mugabe as a corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous tyrant. Mnangagwa was his pupil who learnt well from the dictator and has taken over from where he left off. As for Walter Kamba, he was just one of the many sell-out Zimbabwean professionals; we have the great misfortune of having many, dead and alive.

The true purpose of history is to teach us the lessons of the past. Those who speak kindly of the dead to the point of falsifying the past are therefore doing a great disservice to the nation and the living by denying the living the opportunity to learn from the past. Falsifying the historic facts for no end and purpose as the dead are dead and gain nothing from good name spoken in truth or falsehood. – SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com

Musona Rediscovers Scoring Prowess

Warriors captain Knowledge Musona returned to the KAS Eupen starting eleven and made an instant impact after his second-half goal sealed maximum points for in a 2-1 win over R Excel Mouscron in the Belgian League on Saturday.

The 29-year-old had missed his side’s defeat to Anderlecht last week due to contractual stipulations between Eupen and his parent club.

Musona’s teammate, defender Olivier Verdon broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when he beat his own goalkeeper to hand Mouscron the lead.

The lead only lasted 3 minutes as Bosnian Smail Prevljak restored parity for Eupen just before the referee could blow for half time.

‘The Smilling Assasin’ completed the come back and sealed maximum points for his side in the 67th minute, his second goal for his side since he joined on loan from Anderlecht.-Soccer 24

“MDC Is Not A Terrorist Organisation”

The illegitimate ED regime has gone utterly berserk in Chitungwiza, with heavily armed police sealing off St Mary’s, persecuting party leaders and indiscriminately arresting party youths in this high density area of Chitungwiza.

Among those arrested is National Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma while the MP for the area and MDC Deputy National Chair Hon. Hon Sikhala was summoned to the police for no clear reason.

The police went on an orgy of violence in St Mary’s, breaking doors and barging into private homes in search of anyone suspected to be MDC.

No reason was given for the siege and the State-sanctioned violence.

Last week, Zanu PF distributed fliers mobilising their supporters to siege the rural home of President Nelson Chamisa in Gutu as well as the urban homes of Vice President Tendai Biti and Deputy National Chairperson Hon. Sikhala.

The MDC regards the siege in St Mary’s and the incessant harassment of party leaders as needless persecution. The regime is treating the MDC as a terrorist organisation when it is a legitimate political party represented in Parliament and running the majority of local government councils.

The MDC has declared 2020 as the year of Action and no amount of intimidation will cow the nation from sonorously expressing their displeasure at the illegitimate regime that has dismally failed to address the challenges facing the people.

It is the people who are truly sovereign and terror tactics will not work. State-sanctioned violence will not stop any idea whose time has come.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

Herald Says Warriors Involved Breakthrough Local Match Move| TRUTH or PURE LIES?

Barbourfields-Stadium

There are promising moves to convince CAF to change their hard-line approach and allow the Warriors to host the Desert Foxes at Barbourfields, the Herald says. 

The state media story comes however when it was announced that local matches will be impossible at present. Last week the football body was busy in meetings seeking to play at stadiums in Johannesburg.

IS THE STATE MEDIA TELLING THE TRUTH?

BELOW IS THE STORY:

The COSAFA bloc, it has since emerged, were worried that should this match be played elsewhere, it could set a precedent in which no international football would be held in this country until a new stadium was built. They first reached out to CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad, who directed them to the organisation’s deputy General Secretary in charge of football and development, Anthony Baffoe, setting in motion negotiations which this weekend provided hope the match could still be played in Bulawayo.

Sports and Recreation Commission director-general, Prince Mupazviriho, as the representative of the regulator of sport in this country, was informed of the negotiations this weekend and what is needed for the country to regain its rights to host an international football match. The focus of those negotiations have been the need for Barbourfields, which had initially been given provisional clearance to host international matches, to undergo urgent renovations to, at the least, satisfy the bare minimum requirements of CAF.

There is agreement that this can be done within the next two weeks, and a CAF inspector would be dispatched to Zimbabwe to make an assessment, with the country’s third biggest football stadium likely to pass the test.

More work, according to the negotiations, would have to be carried out at Barbourfields after the match against the Algerians and bring the stadium in full compliance with CAF requirements by the time the next round of AFCON qualifiers are played in June.

“There has been a lot of negotiations going on behind the scenes to try and salvage the situation since this decision was announced last week,” sources told The Herald. “The first thing was to reach out to the CAF president Ahmad to try and convince him to have his organisation review their decision for the sake of the football loving people of Zimbabwe.

“Ahmad then directed us to Baffoe, who is in charge of football and development at CAF, and we got in contact with him and he gave us his side of the story and what needs to be done because these are issues of compliance.

“We looked at some of the conditions and felt they could be met, at least, at the bare minimum so that the next match for the Warriors is played in Zimbabwe. Because Barbourfields is the best stadium in this country, in terms of meeting the bare minimum of the requirements and given it has been provisionally cleared, we felt that it should be the focus of everything, for now.

“Whatever work that should be done there should be done as a matter of urgency with people working in shifts, 24 hours a day, and we believe the facelift can then meet the minimum of CAF requirements.

“Here, you are talking about enlarging the changing rooms, improving the parking area, having the doping room, having a proper media enclosure, having fridges in the referees dressing rooms, fridges in the doping room and the teams’ dressing rooms.

“You are talking about having internet connectivity, at the stadium, so that the media and the officials can be connected to the internet as they do they jobs and you are talking about improving the floodlighting system.

“All this can be done within the shortest possible time and that’s what has provided us with hope, especially the position taken by CAF, that they are ready to send an inspector this month to look at the situation.

“We think that what escaped the attention of many, including the Zimbabwean media, is that if the next game is played away from Zimbabwe, it would be very, very difficult to get international football back in the country without a new stadium being built.”

The COSAFA bloc also provide CAF with its president, Ahmad, and third vice-president, Danny Jordaan. This gives it an influential voice, in times of crisis, while the regional organisation has always regarded qualification for the AFCON finals as a sign of progress by its members. They feel Zimbabwe, which is one if their three strongest football nations, the other ones being South Africa and Zambia, could be at a huge disadvantage if the Warriors don’t use home advantage in their Nations Cup qualifiers.

Ironically, the Warriors were the only COSAFA representative at the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon while Chipolopolo have missed the last two Nations Cup finals.

Meanwhile, former Premier Soccer League fixtures-secretary, Beadle Musa Gwasira, who has emerged as a voice of reason since the stadium crisis erupted, has set the ball rolling by donating 100 bags of cement for use in the work to be done at Barbourfields.

He has also pledged to provide the fridges needed in the dressing rooms for the match officials and doping experts.

“We have to show as a nation that we can get things done and keep our national teams at home and that can only be done through action and not talking because time is flying,” he said. “This is what has driven me to come up with this initiative hoping that if I can help Bulawayo City Council, as a proud citizen of this country, start working on the repairs needed at Barbourfields, others will also chip in because this is now a national cause.

“I have been following the conversation on radio and in the newspapers and I believe that the time for talking, and blaming others, is over and we have a crisis which we need to deal with as a nation.

“The starting point should be sorting out Barbourfields because it has the least of requirements and that is why I have chipped in with this donation and I believe that two weeks is a long time to us to get everything, or at least what is acceptable, in order.

“Admittedly, we were all shocked by what happened but now the time is to fix the problem and it won’t be fixed by endless talk but real action because we just have to get our team to play at home, that is the most important thing, and we can only do that by improving our stadium.” Gwasira is a former Harare City Councillor who used to own Premiership side Lengthens who once represented Zimbabwe in the CAF Confederation Cup.

He said the challenge to get things fixed no longer just rested with the Bulawayo City Council but with the entire football family.

“We can’t leave everything in the hands of the Bulawayo City Council, even though they own the stadium, we have to help them because this is a national cause now and every individual or company who cares about football should come together in this challenging hour.” Herald/state media

Boy Killed By Crocodile

An 11-year-old boy from Binga was killed by a crocodile while swimming in a stream at Binga Centre.

Munkuli Amusomi (11) a Grade Five pupil at Malube Primary School was swimming with other kids when a crocodile allegedly dragged him into the deeper part of the stream.

Acting Binga district coordinator, Mr Farai Marinyane, confirmed the incident which happened last week on Friday at around 5PM.

“I can confirm receiving a report of a fatal crocodile attack. A young boy was dragged into deep waters at a stream at Binga Centre.

“Police attended the scene and retrieved the body,” said Mr Marinyane. Mr Marinyane said the crocodile has been causing havoc in the area as it moves from one stream to another targeting goats and cows.

“The crocodile has been a problem in the Siabuwa area, attacking villagers’ animals especially during the rainy seasons and it’s sad that this time it has taken human life,” he said.

Mr Marinyane said the increasing number of deaths due to crocodile attacks were worrying and warned villagers to be careful.

Last year in November, an 11-year-old boy from Binga was killed by a crocodile while fishing at Back Harbour in Lake Kariba.

The crocodile was shot dead by Zimparks rangers while it was still holding onto the boy’s body but some body parts had already been devoured. –Chronicle/state media

Overzealous Cops Attack Civilians

The illegitimate ED regime has gone utterly berserk in Chitungwiza, with heavily armed police sealing off St Mary’s, persecuting party leaders and indiscriminately arresting party youths in this high density area of Chitungwiza.

Among those arrested is National Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma while the MP for the area and MDC Deputy National Chair Hon. Hon Sikhala was summoned to the police for no clear reason.

The police went on an orgy of violence in St Mary’s, breaking doors and barging into private homes in search of anyone suspected to be MDC.

No reason was given for the siege and the State-sanctioned violence.

Last week, Zanu PF distributed fliers mobilising their supporters to siege the rural home of President Nelson Chamisa in Gutu as well as the urban homes of Vice President Tendai Biti and Deputy National Chairperson Hon. Sikhala.

The MDC regards the siege in St Mary’s and the incessant harassment of party leaders as needless persecution. The regime is treating the MDC as a terrorist organisation when it is a legitimate political party represented in Parliament and running the majority of local government councils.

The MDC has declared 2020 as the year of Action and no amount of intimidation will cow the nation from sonorously expressing their displeasure at the illegitimate regime that has dismally failed to address the challenges facing the people.

It is the people who are truly sovereign and terror tactics will not work. State-sanctioned violence will not stop any idea whose time has come.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

Gweru Mayor Speaks On “Banned” Meeting With EU

The government blocked Gweru mayor councillor Josiah Makombe from meeting the European Union ambassador Timo Olkkonen on Tuesday.

Officials from Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima informed Makombe a few minutes before the scheduled meeting with Olkkonen that the government had not cleared it [the meeting].

Reports suggest that the government was afraid that the EU will fund projects in Gweru that will, in turn, boost the profile of the MDC Alliance-led council.

Said Makombe:
Everything had been set for the meeting and actually all councillors had taken their seats in the parlour waiting for the arrival of the EU ambassador.

However, I got a call informing us that the meeting had not been cleared.
It was shocking.

We had planned to reach out to the EU for funding of critical projects such as revamping our water system and revival of self-help projects for vulnerable members of our city.

During his visit to Gweru, Olkkonen toured Whawha prison to assess conditions at the facility.

Meanwhile, secretary for the
Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana said government blocked the meeting because it was not cleared by the Ministry Foreign Affairs Affairs.-The Standard

Why Government Blocked Gweru Mayor Meeting With EU

The government blocked Gweru mayor councillor Josiah Makombe from meeting the European Union ambassador Timo Olkkonen on Tuesday.

Officials from Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima informed Makombe a few minutes before the scheduled meeting with Olkkonen that the government had not cleared it [the meeting].

Reports suggest that the government was afraid that the EU will fund projects in Gweru that will, in turn, boost the profile of the MDC Alliance-led council.

Said Makombe:
Everything had been set for the meeting and actually all councillors had taken their seats in the parlour waiting for the arrival of the EU ambassador.

However, I got a call informing us that the meeting had not been cleared.
It was shocking.

We had planned to reach out to the EU for funding of critical projects such as revamping our water system and revival of self-help projects for vulnerable members of our city.

During his visit to Gweru, Olkkonen toured Whawha prison to assess conditions at the facility.

Meanwhile, secretary for the
Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana said government blocked the meeting because it was not cleared by the Ministry Foreign Affairs Affairs.-The Standard

Government Blocks MDC Mayor Meeting With EU Officials

The government blocked Gweru mayor councillor Josiah Makombe from meeting the European Union ambassador Timo Olkkonen on Tuesday.

Officials from Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima informed Makombe a few minutes before the scheduled meeting with Olkkonen that the government had not cleared it [the meeting].

Reports suggest that the government was afraid that the EU will fund projects in Gweru that will, in turn, boost the profile of the MDC Alliance-led council.

Said Makombe:
Everything had been set for the meeting and actually all councillors had taken their seats in the parlour waiting for the arrival of the EU ambassador.

However, I got a call informing us that the meeting had not been cleared.
It was shocking.

We had planned to reach out to the EU for funding of critical projects such as revamping our water system and revival of self-help projects for vulnerable members of our city.

During his visit to Gweru, Olkkonen toured Whawha prison to assess conditions at the facility.

Meanwhile, secretary for the
Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana said government blocked the meeting because it was not cleared by the Ministry Foreign Affairs Affairs.-The Standard

Villagers “Buy” Food Aid

By Own Correspondent| Villagers in Silobela are reportedly parting with various amounts of money to access food aid in the district as Zanu PF officials and village heads are demanding that they give them money to access food aid.

A villager from Jekiseni shopping center Ward 23 in Silobela spoke to the Southern eye said:

It is a sad situation here. Orphans, widows, under-privileged members of the society are not benefiting from the government food aid scheme.

The food aid is being abused and we see trucks getting into homesteads of a few people who are currently stocking the rice and maize in their backyards yet people are suffering.

A  local councillors’ aid is reportedly charging $45 per household which he says is for transporting the donated food from the DDF depot to their village for them to access the donated rice from China.

Most beneficiaries are being denied food aid because they can’t afford to pay the required $45. Similar cases of alleged food aid abuse have also been reported in Khoza, Bharange and Matimba villages.-Standard

Demoted Former Youth League Leader Tears Into MDC

By Own Correspondent| Demoted Zanu PF youth official Pupurai Togarepi using the microblogging site Twitter took a jab at MDC supporters who allegedly vandalised a bus in Chitungwiza yesterday.

Togarepi tweeted:

Zvinozikamwa ndozvokupwanya mabhazi. Zvanzi vana ve Zimbabwe varwadziwe vagovhotera zvimbwasungata. Mabhazi haanei ne politics ndeeruzhinji. Ndozvinonetsa zvinhu zvekirango motungamidza chidhakwa chinongoda kuona zvakapwanyika. Svinurai vanoda ma picture kunopuwa mari nama NGOs

Vandalising buses is what they do best, they think if they inflict pain on Zimbabweans they will vote for puppets. Buses have nothing to do with politics. Those are problems that emanate from abusing drugs and letting a drankard lead them who only wants to see things vandalised, Wake up, these people need picture evidence to convince NGOs to give them money.

Togarepi was referring to a group of MDC youths who clashed with ZRP in Chitungwiza yesterday, a ZUPCO bus was vandalised during the scruffle. 

Zimbabwe Needs “New Men” With Renewed Mindsets

The mistake we made in Zimbabwe was we built our post liberation culture on the colonial blueprint: western values, education, ambitions, desires, materialism, individualism, the desire to be highly paid slaves [employees] who seek quick riches through crony capitalism based on walking over those who are not as connected, in the same way our white masters did.

We also forgot about our cultural values of communism and that simply recreated the crony capitalist system with blacks now becoming the exploiters of other Zimbabweans and Zimbabwean resources to make quick wealth and to live like their colonial masters.

We then went further to find societal role models and symbols in immoral white millionaires like Tiny Roland, overnight black millionaires like Paweni, Chiyangwa, Pamire, Mawere, Kamushinda, Chanakira and Mutasa who built their businesses on patronage, exploitation, nepotism, corruption of government officials and systems.

Instead of frowning on them, we looked up to them for breaking all our cultural values and laws to make money. We watched these people build their empires by transferring wealth from whites and state, while the nation was not growing and we applauded.

The process corrupted future generations, citizens, judges, law enforcers, entrepreneurs and politicians in equal proportion.

Now, this culture has become ingrained, second nature and the way of doing things. In everything we do we seek privilege to get what others don’t have or to get more, even if it means stealing from others and depriving them.

It is in us now, it is the only way we know how to live. To fight this decadence will require transformation or a total social revolution and re-engineering of our society to break this 30 year addiction to wrong values and role models.

This will require us to stop watching DSTV and western media that reinforces the corrosive, exploitative, corrupt and consumptive culture that is dragging down Zimbabwe and the world.

We must expose all those who made their money in this way and denounce them to reset our definitions of role models. From here we need to read, watch and learn new information that builds a culture of communal participation, production, innovation to build common wealth and making people understand that money doesn’t come overnight.

Once people start collectively contributing to a common wealth, those people become possessive custodians of what they have built, which will cause a spontaneous inclination to fight corruption.

The sad part is, I don’t believe Zimbabweans are ready for that, hence people even fight us for fighting sanctions or defending our common wealth and because of that corruption has been catalysed by sanctions.

Corruption and sanctions are like siamese twins. You cant denounce one & uplift the other. It can’t and it won’t. The sad reality is that our people’s hearts are not ready for the total transformation.

I know our people lack the discipline and endurance to undertake this deep process that is going to take a generation or two to cleanse before we can reform ourselves out of corrupt aspirations, desires and behaviors.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
LEAD President

Reprieve For Chombo, As Court Temporarily Reverses Order On Passport

By A Correspondent|Former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo  has been temporarily granted his passport by the court to allow him to travel to South Africa to seek medical help.

Chombo has been in court since May last year trying to get his passport as he said he wanted to go seek medical attention in South Africa.

The judgement that released his passport reads:

The application for revival of a temporary variation of applicant (Chombo)’s bail conditions granted in judgment No 753/19 succeeds with no order as to costs.

Accordingly, the applicant’s passport is temporarily released to him for the period March 3, 2020 to March 16, 2020. The clerk of court, Harare Magistrates’ Court, is ordered to immediately release the applicant’s passport as aforesaid to be returned on March 16, 2020.

In lieu of the release of the passport, the applicant shall surrender to the clerk of court title Deed No 6205/88 to Stand 461 Marlborough Township Extension 3, Marlborough, in the name of Nimrod Willard Chiminya and the title deed to be given back to the applicant upon return of the passport

Chombo’s passport was seized by suspected state security agents at RGM international airport in May last year.-Newsday

Gwesela Was An Immortal Human Being For A Whole 4 Years And Was Only Killed “By Herald Newspaper” When ZANU PF Wanted To Sign Unity Accord.

  • In silence, onlookers walked past his body sprawled beneath a wanted poster offering $30,000 for him, dead or alive.
  • New twist.
  • ZIMBABWE, THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING CROP ECONOMY SUDDENLY CRASHED FOLLOWING MNANGAGWA’S PRONOUNCEMENTS

By Staff Correspondent| ZIFA’s spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela has responded to allegations by some quarters in Matebeleland who attack him saying that he is the son of the notorious so called dissident, Ranson or Richard Gwesela.

Gwesela is an infamous “immortal” character who the Zimbabwean military claimed they were after between 1983 and 1987 when they continued to kill civilians until a total more than 22,000 people were massacred. He was immortal for a whole 4 years and only “killed” when ZANU PF now wanted to sign a unity accord with Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU party in 1987.

Thousands of people sensationally flocked to a police station in Gweru on the 18th November 1987 for a glimpse of the bullet-riddled corpse of Zimbabwe’s most wanted “fugitive.”

Zimbabwe Republic Police say Richard Gwesela, a former guerrilla fighter, was a gang leader who terrorized the people of two provinces for four years.

Gwesela was alleged to have murdered 20 people in the Midlands and neighbouring Matabeleland provinces. He also was said to have raped women and robbed villagers.

In silence, onlookers walked past his body sprawled beneath a wanted poster offering $30,000 for him, dead or alive.

The state media said Gwesela was the country’s most wanted man, and was killed in a gunbattle with Zimbabwean security forces near Gweru “on Sunday,” earlier.

His death was reported for the first time three days later, on the Wednesday. There were no independent investigations to confirm the state media report.

His mother and an uncle identified the corpse as Gwesela, and police fingerprints confirmed the identity, according to the state media report.

″Gwesela had killed more than 20 people since he started operating in the area,″ Enos Nkala, home affairs minister in charge of police, told reporters. ″Now he is going to join them, whether in heaven or hell, we don’t know,” he said.

NEW TWIST.

33 years later, some Mthwakazi activists have begun claiming ZIFA’s Gwesela was rewarded the sports job for a sterling role the supposed father played as an insider who staged for Emmerson Mnangagwa during Gukurahundi in order to kill civilians, pursuing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s terror operation to kill people under the guise of flushing out dissidents.

One activist makes the above chilling allegations (pic).

Responding however, ZIFA’s Mr Xolisani Gwesa told ZimEye, the so called Gwesela was not even a real Gwesela.

He said: “This writer is waffling. I am shocked by these ghastly falsehoods.

“I am the son of the late Chief Gwesela whose real name was Cornelius Nobody Gwesela Ndebele who died in 1996.He was never a dissident. The so called “dissident Gwesela” was never a Gwesela and his real name was Zedious Mangena.

“I am holder of a Masters Degree in Media and Society studies, Post grad Diploma in Media , Bsc Honours degree , Diploma in Management and Diploma in Sport Management.

“I have over 15 years experience in media management and sport management and events coordination. I joined Zifa purely on merit.

“The Gweselas are also from Zhombe and not Lower Gweru. The Gweselas are also from Zhombe and not Lower Gweru.”

ZIMBABWE, THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING CROP ECONOMY SUDDENLY CRASHED FOLLOWING MNANGAGWA’S PRONOUNCEMENTS

Rhodesia, was once the worst hit African economy by both United Nations sanctions and a debilitating 14 year running civil war from within, and yet by 1976, it had been hailed as the world’s fastest growing crop economy. So what really went wrong? Soon after 1980, it was handed over to Robert Mugabe and his state security minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, who less than 3 years later launched a military crackdown against civilians who he personally described as cockroaches who must be wiped out using DDT. That operation destroyed the economy in ways exactly similar to the recent 1 Aug 2018 military crackdown (which the Finance Ministry has told The Motlanthe Commission has cost the nation USD16 billion.) Zimbabwe’s economy began crumbling following Mnangagwa’s words on the 4th April 1983:

“Blessed are they who will follow the path of the Government laws, for their days on earth will be increased. But woe unto those who will choose the path of collaboration with dissidents for we will certainly shorten their stay on earth.”

As Minister of State Security, Mnangagwa was in charge of the brutal massacre of more than 22 000 Ndebele. He labeled dissidents ‘cockroaches’ and the killers of the Fifth Brigade army unit as ‘DDT,’ an insecticide.

Economy data shows how the country’s GDP crashed down following the operation, and effects were immediately felt from 1983 all the way to 1985.

Fast forward to the period 2004 – 2018 more evidence shows the correlation between economic performance and the rule of law, specifically human rights adherence.

A UK based academic investigates human rights violations and economic decline. In the graphs below revealed by ZimEye.com, it is displayed that for instance in the 14 years since 2004, investor interest has either risen or declined in a direct consequential correlation with Human Rights.   Dr Admore Tshuma from Kent University was asked by SABC: What were you aiming to achieve?, and he answered as follows: “the study is a socio-economic perspective. The study explores how the future in South Africa may unfold if expropriation of land without compensation goes ahead. “The aim is not to take a side in this argument, but to unpack the perspective, of human rights and economic paradigms. This is the first time that such a question has been examined by social science using an objectively collected data. The main aim is not to diminish claims for redistribution of land, but to highlight the detriment of the expropriation of land without compensation. “In this study I am very mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of land and I am also aware that there is little consensus of what benefit expropriation of land will produce for South Africa.

“Hence the basic aim is to suggest an alternative and progressive policy on what could constitute an economically sensible cause of action if South Africa is to pursue.

“In this case Zimbabwe remains an empirical case study, for such a social policy, a public policy. The primary focus in this study is to illustrate the interaction between human rights and the economy, also to highlight the model of retributive Justice in response to growing calls for the land question in South Africa as what happened in Zimbabwe.

“And some of my objectives basically are to raise awareness of the potential long term social economic harm that may result in the expropriation of land, it is also to show the interaction, the inter-twinement … the globalisation of the world, how world nation states have become smaller: how the international law has become supreme…part of what I am looking into, and basically the project in the end, it demonstrates the growing recognition that deep-rooted problems of Human Rights violation… are most likely to affect the economy, it is a very broad subject…”

– AP/ZimEye

Nakamba Goes Down Fighting In Wembley Cup Final

Own Correspondent|Manchester City added the League Cup to the Community Shied they won earlier in the season.

Manchester City secured their third League Cup win in succession – and their fourth in five years – with victory over Aston Villa at Wembley.

Pep Guardiola’s side won an historic treble of domestic trophies last season with the Premier League and FA Cup, and they thoroughly deserved their triumph despite a spirited effort from Aston Villa.

Manchester City looked like they would stroll to victory when Sergio Aguero’s strike and Rodri’s header from a corner that was hotly contested by Villa put them in complete control inside 30 minutes.

Villa, while strictly second best, offered themselves a lifeline when Mbwana Samatta headed in from Anwar El Ghazi’s cross four minutes before the interval.

City continued to dominate as they sought a third goal and Villa were agonisingly close to forcing extra time when Bjorn Engels saw his header from a corner turned on to the woodwork superbly by keeper Claudio Bravo.

It was their last chance and City closed out the win their superiority merited.

Iranian MP Dies Of Coronavirus

A Tehran Municipality worker cleans a bus to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 illness on February 26, 2020. Iran said Tuesday its coronavirus outbreak, the deadliest outside China, had claimed 15 lives and infected nearly 100 others -- including the country's deputy health minister. The Islamic republic's neighbours have imposed travel restrictions and strict quarantine measures after reporting their first cases in recent days, mostly in people with links to Iran. ATTA KENARE / AFP

An Iranian member of parliament died on Saturday after becoming infected with coronavirus, one of nine new fatalities.

The death toll in Iran is now 43, the highest outside China, and the total number infected has risen to 593. 

Several, including a vice president, the deputy health minister and five MPs, have tested positive for the virus as the outbreak forced the regime to close the parliament and impose internal travel bans.

Tehran has also ordered the shutting of schools until Tuesday and extended the closure of universities and a ban on concerts and sports events for a week. Authorities have also banned visits to hospitals and nursing homes.

Iran is at the center of the spread of the coronavirus through the Middle East. Qatar and Oman both reported their first cases on Saturday, both linked to travel from Iran. The UAE suspended nursery classes and school trips.

Saudi Arabia is now the only Gulf Arab state not to have reported any cases of the coronavirus, but pharmacies in the Kingdom are nevertheless struggling to meet the demand for face masks.

“Despite assurances by the Ministry of Health, people have been demanding face masks, and I’m seeing more people wearing them in public,” pharmacist Adel Abdul Shakoor told Arab News. “We are out of masks now and usually we have full shelves.”

The Ministry of Health said all measures had been taken to protect the Kingdom against the virus and confirmed that there have been “no known cases” of infection.

Since December the virus has infected more than 85,919 people and killed 2,941, mostly in China.

The first death from the virus in the US was confirmed on Saturday night  in Washington state, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency on Saturday.

Gov. Jay Inslee directed state agencies to use “all resources necessary” to prepare for and respond to the outbreak. The declaration also allows the use of the Washington National Guard, if necessary.

Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a Seattle and King county health official who works with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the person who died was a man in his 50s.

President Donald Trump described the person as having a high medical risk. He said healthy Americans should be able to recover if they contract the new virus.

Health officials in California, Oregon and Washington state worried about the novel coronavirus spreading through West Coast communities after confirming at least three patients were infected by unknown means. The patients had not visited an area where there was an outbreak, nor apparently been in contact with anyone who had.

Fines For Public Drinking And Public Fighting Shoot Up

Public Drinking fine goes up

The fine for public drinking and other penalties has gone up.

The fines for schedules 1 to 3 where public drinking falls into along with public fighting is now between $200 and $500.

It will come across as a hindrance as the fine for public drinking was now the value about one pint of lager in a bottle store which meant it would not be a deterrent for those doing so on street corners as become common in Harare’s Avenues and some suburbs.

It had become a bit weird with people drinking heavily and getting involved in fights, all happening in public spaces. Incidentally being drunk in public alone can be cause for arrest according to the liquor act.

A fine can be paid but one can be detained until the payment is done.

Mash Central Province Wants Tsenengamu Fired From ZANU PF

ZANU PF Mashonaland Central province has disowned their former youth league leader Godfrey Tsenengamu after his suspension by the party  and labelled him an opposition leader.

The provincial spokesperson Alfred Mafunga confirmed the case.

“As Mash Central Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) on Saturday we passed a resolution to expel Tsenengamu because we know him as a Zimbabwe Partenership for Prosperity (ZIPP) leader not ZANU PF,”said Mafunga.

Tsenengamu told Bulawayo24 news that he is not worried about being expelled from the party but they should follow party guide lines.

“Do not be bothered comrades about my expulsion,l am not refusing to be expelled,it is not the first time ,history is repeating its self ,l am waiting for their resolution on all the silly allegations l am facing just like what the G40 did in 2014 and 2015 when l was arrested five times in my view my case is so serious which warrant suspension without hearing,” he said.

Former Minister Who Had A Secret Improper Relationship With Womanizing Jacob Zuma Fails Integrity Test To Be Deployed As Ambassador

Dipuo LetsatsiDuba

Two former intelligence ministers have been denied security clearance and cannot be posted as ambassadors after months of training for the job.

The Sunday Times has reliably learnt that Siyabonga Cwele and Dipuo LetsatsiDuba failed vetting and cannot get security clearance, which is a prerequisite for them to be sent abroad as ambassadors.

The State Security Agency (SSA) flagged what it says was Letsatsi-Duba’s improper relationship with former president Jacob Zuma as one the main reasons she was denied the top-secret clearance.

Cwele was nominated by President Cyril Ramaphosa to be SA’s top diplomat in Beijing — a strategic mission to SA’s biggest trading partner, China — replacing ambassador Dolana Msimang.

Letsatsi-Duba was due to be SA’s ambassador in Ankara, Turkey — an important post for SA’s interests in the Middle East.

Ramaphosa nominated the pair last year after they failed to make it back to the cabinet.

Insiders with knowledge of the matter said the head of the SSA domestic branch, Mahlodi Muofhe, wrote to the director-general of international relations, Kgabo Mahoai, informing him of his decision not to grant Cwele and Letsatsi-Duba clearance.

Insiders said that Muofhe claimed that Letsatsi-Duba lied about a “business relationship” with Zuma dating back to 2005 when she was an MEC in Limpopo and Zuma was deputy president of the ANC.

Letsatsi-Duba has claimed that she bought a number of cars through her family business for ANC activities at Zuma’s request. But Muofhe is said to have poked holes in that story.

The former minister was also accused by the SSA of under-declaring her financial position.

“Muofhe said she lacks integrity and honesty and cannot be trusted,” said a source.

Letsatsi-Duba was appointed intelligence minister in 2018 but axed from the job just a year later.

For more than a decade, Cwele held cabinet posts in various portfolios under presidents Kgalema Motlanthe, Jacob Zuma and Ramaphosa. During his term as intelligence minister under Zuma, Cwele was the subject of controversy when his former wife was jailed for sending a drug mule to Brazil.

The two former ministers are both members of the ANC’s national executive committee and Letsatsi-Duba was instrumental in helping to get Ramaphosa elected ANC president in 2017.

Letsatsi-Duba and Cwele have appealed against the vetting decision to intelligence minister Ayanda Dlodlo.

Letsatsi-Duba also denied the claim that she under-declared her financial position and lied about having R16m in a trust account. She is said to have stated that she only had R200,000 in that account.

She is said to have denied ever having a business relationship with Zuma.

Government insiders said this scandal would leave Ramaphosa red-faced in diplomatic circles and pose trouble for him in the ANC.

Those sympathetic to Letsatsi-Duba said Muofhe was “playing politics” with the SSA and its vetting process.

The former ministers attended four months of diplomatic training at the department of international relations & co-operation (Dirco) last year and completed their courses in December.

Their credentials had already been sent to the two countries ahead of their arrival. Diplomats are not received by a host country if there are questions about their credentials.

State security spokesperson Mava Scott would not answer questions sent to him.

“Vetting is a confidential exercise, which we execute under extreme conditions of confidentiality,” he said.

A senior government official with direct knowledge of the process said it was extraordinary that two former ministers of intelligence didn’t make the cut.

“SSA never discloses the reasons but they always have valid reasons — especially if you consider how senior these people are,” he said. The process was not political and was done by “professionals at SSA who check finances, contacts, activities, liaison, property etcetera. The criteria are applied with no bias.”

Dirco spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele failed to respond to questions sent to him. Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko said the presidency does not comment on vetting issues.

It has previously been reported that Letsatsi-Duba was a paid SSA operative while she was an MEC in Limpopo. The source said this “definitely was part of the reasons why her clearance was rejected”.

Letsatsi-Duba has vehemently denied that she was an agent while an MEC.

She could not be reached for more recent comment. However, sources close to her said she believed intelligence officials are seeking revenge for the changes and decisions she made during her tenure as minister.

“She is going to fight this and appeal it because she believes that there was a conflict of interest. The SSA was not supposed to vet her because of the conflict,” one source said.

The person said she believed the process was politicised.

Cwele was also unavailable for comment. Lobby groups and opposition parties had previously accused Cwele of treason after he was implicated in a report on the collapse of the intelligence agency.

Ambassadors are appointed through a recommendation from the ANC’s deployment committee or the minister of international relations. Once the president agrees, he sends a letter of nomination to the individual. If they accept, they are called to attend a training course of between three and four months’ duration. Government insiders said nominees ought to be vetted before they begin training.

Two South Africans Who Tested Positive For Coronavirus In China To Return Home

Two South African citizens who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) on a Japanese cruise ship will only return to SA once they test negative, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has said.

“We have been assured that they are recovering. When they test negative they will be free to return, except those going through quarantine.

“Thereafter they will return without restrictions,” Mkhize said at a briefing on Sunday in Johannesburg.

The briefing comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday that the government was planning to repatriate South African citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the deadly coronavirus originated.

The 151 citizens who will be returning from Wuhan, China have not tested positive for the deadly virus, Mkhize said. They are healthy, but will still go through a 21-day quarantine period.

The South African government was alerted by Japanese authorities through the South African embassy in Tokyo on February 25, that there were 12 South African crew members working on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship when it was affected by Covid-19.

The two South Africans were part of the crew.

“We are in constant contact with our embassy in Japan and the Diamond Princess parked off the coast of Yokohama.

“Those citizens from the cruise liner are receiving direct contact with our team to monitor their progress,” Mkhize added.

News24 earlier reported the health ministry stated that the remaining 10 crew members who did not test positive would “be permitted to disembark the ship as per the instructions of their employer after they test negative for coronavirus, be subjected to a further 14-day quarantine in Japan, then further tested thereafter to determine if they may be cleared for travel”.

At this stage, South Africa is still free of the virus, with no confirmed case of Covid-19 as of Sunday, Mkhize said.

– News24

I Lied About My Age:Soccer Star Confesses

Ex-Senegal star Guirane N’Daw has admitted he lied about his age to gain the chance to play in Europe.

The midfielder who is registered as a 35-year old has played in Europe for the last eighteen years, featuring for the likes of Real Zaragoza, Saint-Etienne, Nantes and Lens.

He also made 41 appearances for his national side.

N’Daw now plays for French sixth division side AS Algrange after, having initially retired at the age of ’31’, four years ago.

Speaking in an interview with Senegalese radio IGFM as cited by Kick-Off, the player insisted 99% of footballers from his country do the same.

He said: “What is certain is that in Senegal, 99% of players have reduced their age.

“Senegalese [players] are generally very small and when he goes to Europe at 20, he will see that young people of 15 are stronger than him.

“Like all Senegalese, I lowered my age to be professional.

In Africa, the player who does not lower his age cannot be professional [in Europe], it’s a reality.”-Soccer 24

Knowledge Musona Regains Scoring Touch

Warriors captain Knowledge Musona returned to the KAS Eupen starting eleven and made an instant impact after his second-half goal sealed maximum points for in a 2-1 win over R Excel Mouscron in the Belgian League on Saturday.

The 29-year-old had missed his side’s defeat to Anderlecht last week due to contractual stipulations between Eupen and his parent club.

Musona’s teammate, defender Olivier Verdon broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time when he beat his own goalkeeper to hand Mouscron the lead.

The lead only lasted 3 minutes as Bosnian Smail Prevljak restored parity for Eupen just before the referee could blow for half time.

‘The Smilling Assasin’ completed the come back and sealed maximum points for his side in the 67th minute, his second goal for his side since he joined on loan from Anderlecht.-Soccer 24

FULL TEXT- ZHDA AGM SET FOR 14 March

ATT: All bonafide doctors working in government-funded hospitals across Zimbabwe.

The ZHDA Annual General Meeting (AGM) is set to be on Saturday, 14 March 2020.

The AGM was supposed to be held in October 2019. However, because of the industrial action at that time, conditions were not permissive enough to organize the AGM & hence it was postponed to the above-mentioned date. The inconvenience this might have brought to some is sincerely regretted.

You are hereby all invited to the event. The agenda is to elect a substantive National Executive Committee and National Council in accordance with the ZHDA constitution. The venue will be at ZIMA house in Harare and the meeting will begin at 1330, to end at 1600.

Interested candidates should apply now by sending an email of the application letter, curriculum vitae and copies of academic documents. Mention in your letter the position you are contesting for and the hospital you are stationed at.”

Police Terrorize Hapless Citizens

The illegitimate ED regime has gone utterly berserk in Chitungwiza, with heavily armed police sealing off St Mary’s, persecuting party leaders and indiscriminately arresting party youths in this high density area of Chitungwiza.

Among those arrested is National Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma while the MP for the area and MDC Deputy National Chair Hon. Hon Sikhala was summoned to the police for no clear reason.

The police went on an orgy of violence in St Mary’s, breaking doors and barging into private homes in search of anyone suspected to be MDC.

No reason was given for the siege and the State-sanctioned violence. Last week, Zanu PF distributed fliers mobilising their supporters to siege the rural home of President Nelson Chamisa in Gutu as well as the urban homes of Vice President Tendai Biti and Deputy National Chairperson Hon. Sikhala.

The MDC regards the siege in St Mary’s and the incessant harassment of party leaders as needless persecution. The regime is treating the MDC as a terrorist organisation when it is a legitimate political party represented in Parliament and running the majority of local government councils.

The MDC has declared 2020 as the year of Action and no amount of intimidation will cow the nation from sonorously expressing their displeasure at the illegitimate regime that has dismally failed to address the challenges facing the people.

It is the people who are truly sovereign and terror tactics will not work. State-sanctioned violence will not stop any idea whose time has come.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

We Are Not A Terrorist Organisation -MDC

The illegitimate ED regime has gone utterly berserk in Chitungwiza, with heavily armed police sealing off St Mary’s, persecuting party leaders and indiscriminately arresting party youths in this high density area of Chitungwiza.

Among those arrested is National Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma while the MP for the area and MDC Deputy National Chair Hon. Hon Sikhala was summoned to the police for no clear reason.

The police went on an orgy of violence in St Mary’s, breaking doors and barging into private homes in search of anyone suspected to be MDC.

No reason was given for the siege and the State-sanctioned violence.

Last week, Zanu PF distributed fliers mobilising their supporters to siege the rural home of President Nelson Chamisa in Gutu as well as the urban homes of Vice President Tendai Biti and Deputy National Chairperson Hon. Sikhala.

The MDC regards the siege in St Mary’s and the incessant harassment of party leaders as needless persecution. The regime is treating the MDC as a terrorist organisation when it is a legitimate political party represented in Parliament and running the majority of local government councils.

The MDC has declared 2020 as the year of Action and no amount of intimidation will cow the nation from sonorously expressing their displeasure at the illegitimate regime that has dismally failed to address the challenges facing the people.

It is the people who are truly sovereign and terror tactics will not work. State-sanctioned violence will not stop any idea whose time has come.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

Desperate Mnangagwa Government Blocks MDC Mayor Meeting With EU

The government blocked Gweru mayor councillor Josiah Makombe from meeting the European Union ambassador Timo Olkkonen on Tuesday.

Officials from Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima informed Makombe a few minutes before the scheduled meeting with Olkkonen that the government had not cleared it [the meeting].

Reports suggest that the government was afraid that the EU will fund projects in Gweru that will, in turn, boost the profile of the MDC Alliance-led council.

Said Makombe:
Everything had been set for the meeting and actually all councillors had taken their seats in the parlour waiting for the arrival of the EU ambassador.

However, I got a call informing us that the meeting had not been cleared.
It was shocking.

We had planned to reach out to the EU for funding of critical projects such as revamping our water system and revival of self-help projects for vulnerable members of our city.

During his visit to Gweru, Olkkonen toured Whawha prison to assess conditions at the facility.

Meanwhile, secretary for the
Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana said government blocked the meeting because it was not cleared by the Ministry Foreign Affairs Affairs.-The Standard

Gweru Mayor Fumes As Government Blocks Crucial Meeting

The government blocked Gweru mayor councillor Josiah Makombe from meeting the European Union ambassador Timo Olkkonen on Tuesday.

Officials from Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima informed Makombe a few minutes before the scheduled meeting with Olkkonen that the government had not cleared it [the meeting].

Reports suggest that the government was afraid that the EU will fund projects in Gweru that will, in turn, boost the profile of the MDC Alliance-led council.

Said Makombe:
Everything had been set for the meeting and actually all councillors had taken their seats in the parlour waiting for the arrival of the EU ambassador.

However, I got a call informing us that the meeting had not been cleared.
It was shocking.

We had planned to reach out to the EU for funding of critical projects such as revamping our water system and revival of self-help projects for vulnerable members of our city.

During his visit to Gweru, Olkkonen toured Whawha prison to assess conditions at the facility.

Meanwhile, secretary for the
Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana said government blocked the meeting because it was not cleared by the Ministry Foreign Affairs Affairs.-The Standard

Real Madrid, Barcelona El Clasico Squads

Real Madrid and Barcelona have announced their squads for tonight’s El Clasico.

The match is scheduled for Santiago Bernabéu and kick-off time is at 10 pm CAT. It will be broadcast live on SuperSport TV.

The Catalans coach Quique Setién named an 18-man squad for the game, recalling Jordi Alba who passed a fitness test.

The duo of Luis Suárez and Dembélé are still missing due to injury.

Madrid will be without Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio, who are injured while Mariano comes in as a surprise inclusion to replace Luka Jovic.

The 26-year-old striker has been frozen out for the majority of the season, managing just 44 minutes in the Spanish Super Cup.

James Rodriguez is also missing from the squad for today’s Clasico.

Madrid Squad: Courtois, Areola, Fuidias, Carvajal, Militão, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Mendy, Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Isco, Benzema, Bale, Lucas Vázquez, Mariano, Vinicius.

Barca Squad: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Piqué, Rakitic, Sergio, Arthur, Messi, Neto, Lenglet, Griezmann, Jordi Alba, Braithwaite, De Jong, Vidal, Umtiti, Junior, Collado and Ansu Fati.-Soccer 24

MDC Youths Invade Chimanimani East, Engage in Door-to-Door Campaign

Today 29th of February 2020, MDC Manicaland Youth Assembly led by its Chairperson Kelvin Kambiro and other youth provincial members visited Chimanimani East Ward 16 for a door to door campaign program and planning meeting. The team successfully engaged the people despite being threatened and confronted by the ZANU PF MP for Chimanimani East Joshua Sako and military intelligence who were distributing rice, cooking oil and tshirts to the Tiya villagers paChigayo.
This is an attempt to buy votes from poverty stricken Cyclone Idai victims.It clearly shows ZANU PF agenda to rig the by election and thwart the peoples voice. Young children from the ages of 9, some in Grade 4 were frogmarched, forced to attend the rally. The people of Chimanimani East Ward 16 vowed to vote for the MDC young and promising Erasmus Brightwell Murada a.k.a BaDiana on the 14th of March 2020.

The vibrant Youth Chairperson was accompanied by Provincial Youth Secretary Munyaradzi Rimbi, Provincial Youth Organising Secretary Cloud Nengomasha, Secretary for Political Education Daniel Kitano, Secretary for small and medium enterprises Nyasha Rutanhira, Secretary for ICT Privilege Gwatidzo, Deputy Secretary for local government Precious Gwatidzo and Provincial Security Officer Walter Mutwayo.

Together we will make Zimbabwe better again.

Young people are the leaders of today and tomorrow.

We are in charge

MANICALAND YOUTH ASSEMBLY INFORMATION DESK

ZIFA Battles Tight CAF Deadline to Re-Inspect Babourfields

ZIFA have until tomorrow to inform the Confederation of African Football (Caf) if they wish to have Barbourfields Stadium re-inspected or provide the continental body with a venue outside the country for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against Algeria scheduled for the end of this month.

Xolisani Gwesela, the Zifa communications and competitions manager said the initial deadline was last Thursday but they had asked for an extension from Caf up to Monday to provide a way forward. 

“The Caf deadline was 27 February, we asked for extension up to Monday, we will tell them the way forward, that is to re-inspect our facilities or give them an alternative venue,” Gwesela said.

Indications are that Bulawayo City Council are willing to attend to Barbourfields Stadium with the only challenge being that of resources. 

“They (BCC) have demonstrated commitment to fix Barbourfields Stadium, we need to put our heads together to solve this crisis.”

Zifa are said to be looking for an alternative venue in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia for the match to be played on 29 March. BCC have said they have the funds and have already begun rehabilitating the city’s biggest stadium, Barbourfields, to reach standards set by Caf. 

The rehabilitation work, according to the local authority’s senior public relations officer, Nesisa Mpofu will include the floodlights maintenance, signage, dressing rooms, spectator seats, mixed zones, media rooms, parking among other aspects. This comes in the backdrop of events that transpired last week which saw the continental football governing body reportedly banning the stadium from hosting international matches just a month before BF was due to host a Caf Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Warriors and Algeria.

Mpofu revealed that the local authority had long been attending to the issues raised by Caf, noting that they were being guided by the local authority’s vision of ensuring that they attend to all service delivery aspects inclusive of the stadia which are community infrastructure.

“The City of Bulawayo budgeted for the maintenance of the stadium to attend to the issues raised by Caf. We anticipate that all things being equal we should be able to sustain the repairs and maintenance of the stadium. Council will also welcome any funding from its partners to complement its efforts. Some of the issues being attended to include the floodlights maintenance, signage, dressing rooms, spectator seats, mixed zones, media rooms, parking among other aspects,” said Mpofu.

The council spokesperson further reiterated that BCC has over the years been working to ensure that the stadium meets the required standard for hosting of local and international games. Pertaining to the stadium’s floodlights, she revealed that the local authority was working to ensure that the recommended LUX light intensity is reached and maintained. 

“While Barbourfields was constructed in the 1950s we have been having constant upgrades at the stadium to meet the requirements for hosting regional and international games as well as Caf requirements. We believe that we will have significantly attended to most of the matters raised by the time Caf inspectors visit the stadium again. 

“BCC is committed to being a leading, smart and transformative city by 2024. The city’s vision guides its operations in ensuring that we attend to all service delivery aspects inclusive of the stadia which are community infrastructure. The city has also been having periodic infrastructure maintenance of the stadia since its construction,” she said.

Chamisa Clears Air On POLAD

By A Correspondent| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said his party will never join POLAD.

He was responding to a statement by Presidential spokesperson George Charamba who tweeted under his pseudo name Jamwanda and predicted that Chamisa was set to join POLAD.

Said Chamisa:

“Let this be clear, we will never ever join what they call POLAD. That congregation is not meant for solving people’s problems but lift ED and give him false legitimacy. George Charamba must stop feeding people with the lies.

Such cheap propaganda is one of reasons for failure. You lie that oil has been discovered in Muzarabani, an investor has been found and drilling would start in 2020.

We are in 2020, where is the oil, the drilling and that investor of yours?”

BREAKING NEWS: 1 AUG & JAN VICTIMS SLAP BRITISH HOME SECRETARY FOR HARBOURING ZANU PF TERRORISTS OPERATING IN UK

Some victims of the 1 August 2017 and the January military crackdowns have announced they are slapping the British government with legal action over allegedly habouring ZANU PF terrorists in the UK who are encouraging attacks against civilians in Zimbabwe in contravention of the Terrorism Act, 2000.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….