By A Correspondent| The ruling ZANU PF party will on Wednesday 4 March 2020 hold an ordinary session of the Politburo.

In a statement on Tuesday, party Secretary for Information and Publicity and Party Spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the session will be held at the Party Headquarters at 10 AM.

The statement reads:

3 March 2020

NOTICE CONVENING THE ORDINARY SESSION OF THE POLITBURO

The Secretary for Administration Dr O.M Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 4 March 2020 at the Party Headquarters commencing 1000 hours.

All members should be seated by 0945 hours sharp.

Cde Ambassador S.K. Moyo
Secretary for Information and Publicity & Party Spokesperson

Following a week of social media hype over the South African based preacher Shepherd Bushiri and Zanu PF member Terrence Mukupe fight over singer Rachel J, her family has now issued a statement attacking the former Harare East legislator for ‘spreading falsehoods’ about their daughter.

The family said Rachel J was never married to Mukupe while accusing him of physically attacking the singer at her residence resulting in her emotional trauma.

Below is the full statement…

“We as the Rachel J family, have decided to come out and address the accusations being levelled against her that are being circulated on social media by a Terence Mukupe.

“It has taken us this long because, we wanted our daughter and sister to give birth in peace, and the fact that Rachel J being the private person she is, didn’t want to get involved in this social media fiasco, and also her dealing with the emotional trauma after she was attacked by Terence Mukupe at one of her residence and she had to seek a protection order against Terence Mukupe.

“We want to state that these are malicious and defamatory statements issued. As you know, Terence Mukupe relies on unseemly and ungodly false attacks on others to maintain relevance.

“These allegations are unequivocally false, totally unsubstantiated and uncorroborated, and it’s a malicious and desperate attack on Rachel J and our family by a disgruntled individual who swore before the Police and witnesses that he would do everything in his power even if it meant fabricating material to destroy Rachel J, anyone close to her as well as discrediting her to her business contacts. He swore if he can’t have Rachel J no one else.

“Reason being Rachel J had terminated their relationship. Because she had discovered that Terence Mukupe had once again impregnated Tracy Winterboer, who just gave birth a week ago a few days before Rachel J’s giving birth.

“This being the second child sired with the same woman during Rachel J’s relationship with Terence Mukupe. What’s disturbing is he secretly moved this woman to South Africa near Rachel’s place of residence so that he can be close to her.

“What hurts us is the treatment she is getting from this man who constantly cheated and humiliated her by siring 4 kids whilst in a relationship with Rachel J, whom she embraced looked after and welcomed into her own home. Rachel has shown love and commitment toward his kids by assisting them with education, food and clothes.

“Terence Mukupe should realise that he is a father, he should stop this humiliating behaviour and take care of his 10 kids. For a man blessed with so many kids, he must stay away from public humiliation and realise that his kids will have no one to look up to and also for a man who claims to love his so called wife but humiliate her in public over infidelity whilst he was sleeping with different women in her office, it is puzzling.

“Terence Mukupe is no stranger to rejecting his unborn babies. He only comes through claiming the paternity after the expenses have been covered. What annoys us is the fact that Terence continues to deny this child in public whilst privately he and his family are requesting to be a part of this child’s life, claiming it’s theirs.”

“On the issue of cultural activity and occultism it’s really shocking coming from a man, with incisions (nyora) all round his waist, who jumps from sangoma to sangoma every weekend trying to attain evil powers to become a President.

“Do not let us spill your beans. Kindly advise us on where we can deliver your tsvimbo and black and red occult (machira emudzimu) cloths which you left at our daughter’s previous residence.

“Do not deny this as your relatives who stayed with Rachel J have all the knowledge of your occult activities. He became violent after Rachel had cut off all financial support towards him, his children and baby mothers. After having lost Rachel everything including vehicles he became a violent man. No one of any gender, adult or child deserves this kind of abuse. Attacking a defenseless pregnant woman is a sign of weakness and should never be supported in our society.”

1. Rachel J was never married to Terence Mukupe, formally or customarily. She is a single woman. As family we have never met Terence Mukupe nor has he ever set foot in any of our houses. He should not confuse dating to marriage. We are grateful for Rachel refusing to marry this man, because of his infidelity and misuse of her wealth. Initially we were shocked because Rachel has never dated a politician. She has always believed in love, and not relationships based on money since she is an independent woman.
2. Because of Rachel’s naivety she allowed this man to move in to her home. Having moved in without anything in his name, she transformed his life into a respectable member of society with something to his name and his family is aware of this. Rachel has always been a serial entrepreneur with vast business interests in the cleaning industry, mining, fashion, media, transport and logistics. She welcomed the idea to work with this man and fought by all means to build a business empire with him.
3. As a family we are in deep shock and distress, with the developments that are taking place, considering the amount of resources poured into the life of Terence Mukupe by Rachel J. Just to name a few we are all aware of what went into the last political campaign which she sponsored from the massive billboards, regalia, media, campaign vehicles, sarongs (mazambia) and newspaper. These resources could have been put to better use as a family. Rachel has always protected Terence reputation in making people believe, he was the one taking care of her. Yet he solely relied and lived off Rachel, funding his 5 baby mother’s, kids and girlfriends.
4. The claims being levelled at Rachel J, of being impregnated by Prophet Bushiri are unbelievable with his evidence stating that they met in 2018, how is it possible for her to carry a pregnancy for two years.

“We are confidently waiting for Terence Mukupe to through for a DNA test. Terence statement that Rachel asked for forgiveness is false.

“The claims that Terence Mukupe ceded R100 000 are totally baffling for a man who doesn’t even have a property to his own name and was failing to pay school fees for his children by that time.

“Whose house was repossessed by the bank. Rachel has been paying rentals for his family to still be able to continue living in that property. He has been failing to clear his debts and the lawyers have been communicating with Rachel who has been helping him to clear those debts.”

“Terence Mukupe should give us evidence of the plane tickets he paid for Rachel to go to Malawi, and also evidence of him expressing interest to do business with Prophet Bushiri whom he has never met. No one stands to gain from publicly humiliating someone, instead it leaves scars.

“Terence Mukupe should realise that Rachel J is not only a business woman but also a mother, and the damage he has caused is irreparable. He has caused great emotional pain to her daughter and this will leave a scar for life. Regardless of the fact that Rachel J has decided to stay in recluse and quiet over this issue we felt it in our best interest as a family to come out and clear a few issues which were raised.

“This is a truly hurtful time for us, because we know the type of a person Rachel is who has done nothing but show love and commitment to this man. Wisdom is understanding that relationships come to an end, and this should be done amicably without abusing the other partner. We should be the ones fighting and humiliating him, because he never looked after Rachel instead it was vice versa to a man who showed no love and appreciation.

“We pray that God guides Terence Mukupe in the right path. The more that we choose not to talk about domestic violence, the more we shy away from the issue, the more we lose.”

By Own Correspondent| The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) said the increase in money supply as the government borrows to fund its excessive expenditure is stoking inflation.

A CZI official urged the government to desist from making one-off payments to its suppliers, but rather pay in tranches so that they won’t rush to the parallel market to but foreign currency.

Speaking before the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Parliamentary Committee on Monday, CZI chief economist Tafadzwa Bandama said:

The problem we are having in the economy is the growth in the money supply. Just to highlight that in the last quarter of 2019, the money supply was $35 billion and in the first quarter of 2020, it is now at $46 billion, which is quite a huge growth in the money supply.

We also want to highlight as CZI that supply of services to the government must be rationalised, especially when it comes to payment. If say a supplier does a job for $3 million, for example, instead of giving them the whole $3 million which they will use to rush to the parallel market, it’s better to pay in tranches so that we do not have a run on the exchange rate.

Several business executives who appeared before the Committee blamed government policies for the economy’s poor performance.- Newsday

By Jane Mlambo| Opposition supporters in Bikita could be in trouble once again following the nomination of former Zanu PF Political Commissar Engelbert Rugeje to assume the role of Chief Charamba in his home village.

Rugeje, a former army boss with a history of terrorising opposition supporters, assumed the role following the death of his father.

With Zimbabwe’s history of traditional leaders meddling in politics and siding with the ruling Zanu PF, Bikita villagers could be forced to tow the line or risk being either denied food aid or displaced.

Rugeje has since confirmed the new development, saying his appointment was in line with their Duma custom.

“It is not that I have been appointed substantive chief because there are still many processes that have to be followed for one to be a substantive chief that will culminate with the sealing of approval from the President,’’ said Lt-Gen Rugeje (Rtd).

‘‘What happened was in line with the Duma traditions and customs whereby after the death of a chief, there is a person who is appointed to look after the late chief’s family and responsibilities (sarapavana),” Rugeje told the Herald.

According to the Herald, Rugeje is not the first retired army general from Bikita to become chief.

Retired Major-General Gibson Mashingaidze, who also hails from the same district, was a few years ago appointed Chief Mkanganwi and is also part of the Duma clan.

Correspondent|Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti has cornered the state to investigate suspected rights abuses of 12 opposition supporters who were Chitungwiza over the weekend following violent clashes between police and residents.

The 12 who include MDC Youth Assembly Spokesperson Stephen Chuma among others appeared before Chitungwiza magistrates court today.

The dozen’s lawyers, Moses Nkomo, Jeremiah Bhamu and Job Sikhala had told the court that the accused persons were denied access to their lawyers.

They also said that even the lawyers were denied to talk to the accused persons when they arrived at St Mary’s police station and also that the accused were not notified of the charge which they were being arrested for until the end of the day since morning.

“This is a serious violation of the law. The state must investigate and bring the findings in the next court remand date without fail,” said magistrate Muchuchuti.

However, asked to respond to the allegations, the state said that they will investigate the matter as it was their first time to hear of issues.

The dozen were arrested on Saturday following violent clashes between riot police and alleged MDC supporters in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza.

Source: All Africa

Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC Secretary for Legal Affairs and former Education Minister, David Coltart has attacked Education Minister Cain Mathema’s unpopular sentiment that schools should be turned to be of economic value to the country.

Coltart demanded for government to leave children to learn not turn them into labourers.

The proposal by the new Minister of Education to turn schools into special economic zones must be rejected. Pupils find it hard enough as it is passing exams without having to work for profit. Let schools be schools not businesses. pic.twitter.com/MNAuQ879yb

— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) March 2, 2020

State Security Minister Owen Ncube declined to answer a question from a Senator who had posed a question in Ndebele saying he does not understand the language.

Ncube, a close ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was acting Leader of the House during Senate’s question and answer last Thursday when MDC Senator Siphiwe Ncube asked him a question in Ndebele.

“I would like to ask the Minister if they are aware that teachers have letters of agreement with schools that teachers should go to school once a week giving reasons that the money that they get is only equivalent for them to be coming to school for teaching lessons once a week,” asked Sen Ncube.

The State Security Minister, also from Mnangagwa’s Midlands province, responded saying:

“Unfortunately I did not get the question as I do not understand Ndebele,” he said.

The deputy president of the Senate Michael Nyambuya asked for any government official to answer tree question.

Deputy Defence Minister Victor Matemadanda , also from the Midlands province, responded to the question but first asked if he could speak in Shona.

Said Nyambuya after objections from the floor, “Minister you are right. You do not demand they talk in that language. You chose Ndebele and he is choosing Shona, but anyway you may answer the question in Ndebele.”

Parliament was on Wednesday forced to adjourn earlier than planned when MDC MPs angrily voiced their disapproval over the ‘shallow’ manner with which State Security minister Owen Ncube was responding to questions

ZBC has told the parliamentary portfolio committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services that it will soon enact a policy that prohibits its staffers from contesting in future political elections.

This comes after the State broadcaster came under fire after some of its employees contested in the 2018 harmonised elections on Zanu-PF ticket and many critics said this compromised their objectivity when covering events.

“We are working on a policy which will change the culture of the organisation.

“We are aware of the concerns raised pertaining to the employees who dabbles in politics and the new policy which is being crafted is going to change that,” ZBC acting chief executive officer Wisdom Hombarume told the Prince Sibanda (Binga North) chaired committee yesterday.

In 2018, the ZBC staffers, who included Tendai Munengwa, Andrew Neshamba (Zanu-PF Mt Darwin South) and Richmond Siyakurima (Zanu-PF Uzumba), among others, participated in political elections.

ZBC board chairperson Josaya Tai said there was no law that prohibited journalists from participating in any election.

Turning to the State broadcaster’s operations, Tai said his board was determined to transform ZBC into a competitive news organisation.

“We are here for culture change. Our thrust is on rebranding the public broadcaster,” Tai said.

He said ZBC is bedevilled by a number of problems, chiefly poor funding.

“We need foreign currency in our operations and it is a challenge to access it.

“There is poor funding mechanisms considering that licensing contributes only five percent of total revenue.

“To make matters worse, the licences fees were last reviewed in 2009.

“Non-payment of ZBC by government agencies or arms further bleeds the broadcaster. As a result, the broadcaster has a service debt of about $100 million,” Tai said.

“Owing to poor funding, the State broadcaster is being accused of bias towards a certain political party.

“They say he who pays the piper dictates the tune.

“The staffers are not well remunerated hence some of them will end up being compromised by certain individuals in politics,” he said.

Correspondent|Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has threatened to drive out all non-local teachers in Matebeleland, accusing them of contributing to low pass rates while blaming authorities for failing to address the issue of recruitment.

The party argues that in line with government policy, school children especially those in the Early Childhood Development classes have to be trained or taught in their mother language so they understand better.

This issue has been raised numerous times by a number of stakeholders in Matebeleland while authorities have been reticent about it.

Addressing a rally at Tshabalala Hall, Saturday, MRP leader, Mqondisi Moyo, declared ‘2020 as the year of radical change’ and vowed the party would address systematic unfairness.

“The pass rate in Matebeleland is continuously dropping because our children don’t understand when taught by Shona teachers. We were once arrested in Lupane for speaking out against a non- Ndebele speaking headmistress. Now to our surprise we heard Lupane West Member of Parliament, Martin Khumalo, saying he doesn’t want Shona teachers yet he wasn’t arrested,” he said.

Moyo questioned why opinion leaders in Matebeleland were termed tribal when they spoke about such issues.

“Current minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Cain Mathema also confirmed that government policy was children should be taught in their mother language, yet he has not been arrested. Nkayi South MP, Stars Mathe has also spoken about the issue.

“Even President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he was at Bulawayo State House recently, concurred the policy said children should be taught in their mother tongue. How come these individuals have not been arrested unlike us, is it because they are in Zanu-PF? Be geared, we are chasing away Shona teachers who can’t speak local languages this year,” Moyo claimed.

In 2016 at Lupane, some MRP members including villagers and the school development chairman were arrested after they demanded the removal of a non-Ndebele speaking headmistress, Millet Bonyonge, from Mlamuli Secondary School.

The headmistress was later transferred with six other teachers from the same school by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

Recently, members of Parliament took the education Minister, to task on the government’s skewed teacher recruitment policy, which they said favoured outsiders at the expense of locals but Mathema failed to answer satisfactorily.

Meanwhile, the MRP leader also said the party would reclaim land, mines and building that had been possessed at the expense of locals.

“People from other areas were resettled here such as in Umguza. We will carry out our own land reform programme. We are also looking at mining claims that were given to outsiders and buildings were locals have been pushed out,” Moyo underscored.

Source: Byo24

PUBLIC NOTICE

All Fuel Sector Companies

SELECTION OF SITES FOR DIRECT FUEL IMPORTS (DFI) AND TRADING IN FOREIGN CURRENCY

Petroleum companies are requested to submit proposed sites to sell fuel in foreign currency procured through free funds based on the following criteria: –

1. A maximum of two (2) sites in Harare and Bulawayo per petroleum company: and

2. A maximum of one site in all the other towns and cities.

Please note that selected sites will be expected to do 100% direct fuel imports (DFI). For companies that do not hold procurement licences, the submissions should include the name of the supplier of the fuel to be traded in foreign currency.

Petroleum companies are advised to make submissions before the end of day on Tuesday, 3 March 2020.

PRESS STATEMENT

Diesel supply

In view of the significant decrease of the diesel price on the international market, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) met the oil marketing companies (OMCs) on 29 February 2020 and deliberated on the impact of the decrease on the local market.

The OMCs made a commitment to continue supplying diesel to consumers at the new price.

Zimbabwe is a net fuel importer, hence any movement on the global market has an effect on the local price.

ZERA is working closely with OMCs to ensure the country has adequate supply.

Surveillance on possible hoarding of fuel is being carried. The public is urged to continue using fuel efficiently.

ONLY one machete gang is still to be accounted for as all the others have been arrested across the country, the Minister of State for National Security in the President’s Office, Owen Ncube has said.

There has been an increase in cases of marauding gangs attacking and robbing people using machetes in the country in recent months.

Of late, the gangs have also been targeting law enforcement agents and recently a terror gang killed a police officer in Kadoma, Mashonaland West province.

Police responded by launching operations targeting the gangs, especially in mining areas and banning the carrying of dangerous weapons that include machetes in public.

Responding to a question posed by Senator Bekithemba Mpofu in the Senate last week on what his Ministry is doing about the machete-wielding gangs as they are a security threat, Minister Ncube said the issue of machete gangs is being dealt with.

“I would like to thank the Hon Member for asking such a pertinent question. The issue of MaShurugwi has been dealt with. I think we are only left to account for one group. All the other groups have been arrested. They have appeared in court and some of them have been sentenced. I thank you,” said Minister Ncube.

According to Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Deputy Minister Michael Madiro at least 35 people were killed and 15 women were raped in the last 13 months by the machete-wielding gangs.

A total of 382 people were assaulted and 225 robberies were 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,” Deputy Minister Madiro told Parliament last week.

He said police have stepped up efforts and launched a massive operation code named “Isitsheketsha kasiphele/Chikorokoza Ngachipere/ and No to Machete Gangs whose activities he blamed on lack of order within the country’s mines.

Cde Madiro 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.

GOVERNMENT is set to increase the price of subsidised roller meal following last week’s review of the maize producer price from $4 000 to $6 958 per tonne.

The imminent increase in the price of mealie-meal comes at a time when there is a serious shortage of the product countrywide.

This will be the second increase in the price of the subsidised mealie-meal after Government reviewed the price of a 10kg bag to $70 from $50 last month. The subsidised roller meal shortages have seen unscrupulous individuals hoarding stocks that they are selling on the black market at exorbitant prices.

The twelve members of the MDC Youth wing who were arrested at party Vice Chairman Job Sikhala’s home on Saturday have been denied bail.

The twelve were arrested while guarding Sikhala’s home leading to other party members of the opposition party taking to the street to resist the address.

Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro remanded them in custody to March 12.

As the twelve appeared in court, some of their colleagues in opposition party picketed around the court and barricaded access roads to the courts.

Police officer commanding Harare Province, Commissioner Bernard Dumbura, confirmed receiving the report.

“We received a report that the road had been barricaded and when our officers arrived, there was no one at the scene,” he said.

According to police, no one was injured neither was there any damage to property.

Police said they would remain firm on the ground to thwart any criminal activities and to ensure sanity prevailed.

The court heard bail applications from four defence lawyers, including MDC deputy chairperson Job Sikhala, but resolved to lock up the suspects after finding them allegedly unsuitable for bail.

Ms Muchuchuti ruled that there was strong evidence linking the 12 to the offence and that they deserved to be in custody in the public interest.

AN employee at the Registrar-General’s Office stationed at the Passport Office was jailed for 16 months yesterday after he was found guilty of conning a passport seeker of US$320.

Jowwett Zinyemba (48) was initially jailed for five years when he appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Yeukai Chigodora on fraud charges.

Mrs Chigodora set aside six months on condition that he paid back the US$320 to Dorcas Mazokera before or on March 13.

Zinyemba was convicted after a full trial.

For the State, Mr Strike Matongora said on January 6 this year at around 7am, Zinyemba approached Ms Mazokera who wanted to apply for her child’s passport and told her that he could facilitate.

Zinyemba reportedly told her that he was in a position to ensure that the passport was fast-tracked.

He convinced Ms Mazokera that he worked in room number 7 where passport applications were processed.

It was the State’s case that Zinyemba demanded US$320 for the services before disappearing.

Upon realising that Zinyemba had taken too long before returning, Ms Mazokera reported the matter to the police.

Zinyemba was arrested outside Makombe Building.

State Media|Supreme Court judge, Justice Francis Bere, is in trouble over allegations that he interfered with a pending civil court case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) and his relatives.

President Mnangagwa has since set up a three-member tribunal to inquire into his fitness to continue holding the esteemed office.

The tribunal will be chaired by retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako.

Justice Mubako will work with two lawyers — Advocate Takawira Nzombe and Mrs Rekayi Maphosa.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said the inquiry would start after the swearing in of members of the tribunal.

“Please be advised that His Excellency, the President has appointed a Tribunal to inquire into the question of removal from office of Honourable Justice Francis Bere,” said Dr Sibanda in the document.

“The inquiry is expected to commence soon after the swearing in of the members and is to be concluded within three months from date of commencement.”

Justice Bere, reportedly telephoned Zinara lawyer Mr Itai Ndudzo of Mutamangira and Associates, asking him to consider settling a civil dispute pitting Zinara and Fremus Enterprises (owned by the judge’s relatives).

The complaint was first raised before Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza during a court hearing before Mr Ndudzo was asked to make the complaint in writing.

“The learned judge, indeed contacted me telephonically,” said Mr Ndudzo.

“The commercial dispute between my client (Zinara) and Fremus Enterprises Pvt Ltd was discussed in the course of the conversation.

“The learned judge’s relatives are co-directors of Fremus Enterprises Pvt Ltd. The learned judge inquired whether or not there would be possibility of payment being expedited to Fremus Pvt Ltd.

“I declined the request and the conversation ended abruptly on that note.”

Justice Bere responded to the complaint denying the allegations.

In a response to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), he said he only contacted Mr Ndudzo in the context of their personal relationship dating back to the days when they were both members of the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Ethics Committee.

“In 2015, I was chairman of the ZIFA ethics committee and Mr Ndudzo was legal advisor to ZIFA,” he said. “We developed a personal relationship through ZIFA.

“I spoke to Mr Ndudzo in the context of the said personal relationship before litigation had commenced, and in circumstances wherein litigation was not apparent.

“This was prior to my transfer to Bulawayo High Court to head that court following the passing on of the late Mr Justice Mutema.”

Justice Bere said he visited his aunt, who, together with her husband, are co-directors of Fremus Enterprises.

“My aunt was critically ill,” he said. “The directors of Fremus wished to take my aunt to South Africa for immediate medical attention, but did not have the required resources.

“In talking to them, my sister’s husband disclosed that if only Mr Ndudzo had honoured his promise to release money owed to Fremus, they would not have been in that predicament.”

Justice Bere said he was relieved that his relatives were talking about Mr Ndudzo whom he knew through interaction at ZIFA.

“I reacted by immediately calling Mr Ndudzo whose number I already had by reason of the personal relationship we had developed,” he said.

“I inquired of him, whether or not there was any possibility of him expediting the payment to Fremus given the dire situation at hand.”

Justice Bere described the complaint as a falsehood meant to taint his clean record.

“In this exciting phase that we are in as a country, and in view of the much spoken about confrontation against the vice of corruption, there will always be excitable individuals who would wish to create some relevance in this noble fight,” he said.

“They are the greatest threat to this noble endeavour and stand in the path of, and indeed in this way obstruct, the genuine fight against corruption. It is in this spirit that the false complaint against me must be looked at.”

Mr Ndudzo, in a follow up letter, stuck to his story, saying he had no reason to frame Justice Bere.

“My client is a public institution to which the value of the matter would not in any way diminish its standing even in the face of an adverse outcome,” he said.

“There would under those circumstances, have been no reason or incentive for me to make unfounded allegations against the learned judge in the name of deriving an advantage.”

Mr Ndudzo denied having a personal relationship with Justice Bere, saying he was surprised to receive a call from him.

“I was not a legal advisor to ZIFA in the period in question (2015) and could not have developed a personal relationship with the learned judge based on this assertion,” he said.

“For the sake of completeness, I did not hitherto form a personal relationship with the learned judge even after I became legal advisor of ZIFA in 2016.

“It was against this backdrop that I was startled upon receiving the telephone call from the learned judge in 2017 as I had not had any prior communication with him.”

Meanwhile, Justice Bere has made headlines in the news over other allegations of conflict of interest in a ruling he made in the more than $2 million consultancy dispute between the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed Meikles Limited and Widefree Investments.

Widefree is linked to industrialist Mr Joseph Kanyekanye, a long standing client of Bere Brothers, a law firm founded by the judge.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba recently ordered investigations into alleged violation of judicial ethical conduct by Justice Bere after Meikles executive chairman Mr John Moxon filed a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that Justice Bere was conflicted in giving a ruling against Meikles under Case Number SC 503 /18.

Meikles, which entered into a consultancy agreement with Widefree Investments trading as Core Solutions in December 2013, lost the case both at the High Court and Supreme Court.

The obligation of the agreement was that Core Solutions would assist Meikles in recovering funds owed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Chief Justice Malaba acknowledged receipt of the complaint against Justice Bere, saying it raised issues relating to ethical conduct of the imputed judge and ordered investigations into his conduct.

“We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 20, 2018 addressed to Honourable Chief Justice, which has been referred to the Chief Justice for response,” read the letter dated September 28, 2018 and signed by Ms Anita Tshuma, the registrar of the Constitutional and Supreme Court.

“The Chief Justice has requested us to inform you that your complaint raises issues relating to the ethical conduct of the judicial officer concerned, which will need to be investigated by the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee.”

In a letter written to Chief Justice Malaba in September 2018, Mr Moxon said he had information of Mr Kanyekanye’s links with Justice Bere.

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has seized dialysis equipment donated to Mpilo Central Hospital over unpaid customs duty amounting to 3 000 pounds, a development that has affected an ongoing training programme for doctors and nurses who will use the equipment.

Zimra is demanding duty upfront before it can release the medical equipment comprising peritoneal dialysis catheters, renal biopsy, needles, sutures, suturing trays and sterile packs to be used in the treatment of patients with kidney complications.

The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) donated the equipment, which was supposed to be used to interpret kidney biopsies, as well as perform peritoneal dialysis for kidney patients.

After the training of medical staff, the donated equipment will remain at Mpilo for use in treating patients. ISN educational ambassador Dr Nitin Kolhe together with two senior nurses, Sisters Carol Rhodes and Claire Mcguire from the United Kingdom, are at Mpilo Central Hospital to conduct the programme, which started yesterday and ends on Friday.

In an interview, Mpilo Central Hospital’s head of the renal unit Dr Shepperd Kajowa said the seizure of the equipment by Zimra impacted negatively on the ongoing training programme, which is aimed at equipping doctors and nurses who will use the equipment in the treatment of patients with requisite skills.

He said after the training programme, the health institution will be able to offer, for the first-time, peritoneal dialysis for kidney patients in the Matabeleland region as the equipment will remain in use at the hospital.

“The other aspect is on biopsies which will enable us to start offering that service and it will help us improve our diagnostic ability when dealing with patients with kidney related ailments. Biopsy involves taking a very tiny piece of the kidney and examining it under a microscope so that we are able to get the exact diagnosis from the histology,” said Dr Kajowa.

“It is very essential in that it helps us find what exactly would be wrong with the patient, something that we are not offering at the moment.”

Dr Kolhe said failure to release the equipment would be a major blow to the training as they need to use the machines for demonstration purposes for those who will be using it.
“Zimra has kept the machines and this has so far affected our training session.

If the equipment is not released, we would have travelled over 400 miles to Bulawayo for nothing. They are saying we should deposit a duty of 3 000 pounds. I bought an Ultra Sound Machine because I was not sure if they had such equipment in Bulawayo and we will be taking the machine back but the rest of the things they are supposed to be used by the institution after the training programme,” he said.

Dr Kolhe said they had been advised that Mpilo Hospital had sent a letter to Zimra and were hopeful that the equipment would be released soon.

Mpilo Central Hospital chief executive officer Mr Leonard Mabandi said they had already applied to Zimra for the equipment to be released.

“What l can say is that we are expecting the equipment be cleared because we have already applied for free clearance. We had to learn on Sunday, the day they were flying, the value of the equipment they were carrying,” he said.

Zimra Commissioner-General Ms Faith Mazani said she was not aware of the development.
“I don’t have facts and therefore it would be difficult for me to comment.

However, if Mpilo Central Hospital has an issue they can contact me and then I can assist them. Even if the equipment has been seized by Zimra, I need to first know the reason why It was confiscated,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Chamunorwa Mangwiro said he was yet to be furnished on the matter.

“I am not privy to that issue as I am yet to be informed. Mpilo Central Hospital chief executive officer is supposed to write a detailed report and send it to us then we take it up from there,” he said.-State media

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.

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.

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• 

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…

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.

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

Own Correspondent|The story of a bitter love rivalry between two Zimbabwean women based in South Africa which ended with the violent haircut with a knife is still fresh in the minds of many people.

One Tamuka attacked her rival, Belinda, in the love triangle cutting her hair with a knife in the process.

News received indicate that the man who was in the centre of the squabble was on Monday shot dead.

Follow details on the murder in the live ZimEye video downloading below:

Own Correspondent |The Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe reached a deal with the Chamber of Mines that will result in members’ salaries being almost tripled in the first quarter of 2020.

“We managed to cobble out an agreement for the mining industry covering January to March 2020,” AMWUZ President Tinago Ruzive said in a statement. “The increase is based on the dollar value principle for those miners who may be paying above the minimum due to various reasons or merit.”

The increment in the southern African country grappling with triple-digit annual inflation rates and food shortages will result in the lowest-earning employee receiving ZW$3,450 ($192.20) a month, compared with ZW$1,200 previously.

The mining sector has 40 000 registered employees, according to the Chamber of Mines. The union had initially sought a 67% increase for its lowest-paid members.

MIDLANDS State University (MSU) lecturers have joined the growing list of State universities’ workers who have downed tools in the past few days following a meeting on February 28.

MSU employees on Friday wrote a letter to the university’s council and Vice-Chancellor informing them about the decision to suspend lectures until their grievances are addressed.

“We write to advise that we had a joint general assembly meeting for both teaching and non-teaching staff today (28-02-2020) in the Great Hall at the main campus. Members made and adopted the following resolution: That all employees at Midlands State University are incapacitated to come to work with immediate effect,” read part of the resolutions by the workers.

The lecturers also resolved that they will only report back to work after they have been capacitated.

“That all members will be waiting for the employer to capacitate them so that they report for work. That all heads of departments should allow subordinates to receive capacitation before coming to report for duty and should not force or victimise them,” the workers said.

The workers also demanded their salaries should tally with what regional universities are paying fellow lecturers.

The MSU’s job action comes after students from National University of Science and Technology (NUST) last year staged a demonstration and 15 students were arrested for protesting against the continued industrial action by lecturers who are demanding a pay hike.

Last semester, MSU lecturers were reportedly conducting lectures from Monday to Wednesday only, while NUST lecturers were only conducting lessons for the conventional students.
On Tuesday, lecturers at NUST in Bulawayo stopped conducting lectures citing incapacitation.

Lecturers at the Zimbabwe Open University have also reportedly informed authorities that they were downing tools.

Bankers have called for the economy to minimise the use of cash in the wake of acute cash shortages while also calling for the enforcement of Bank Use Promotion Act that compels businesses to deposit cash at the end of a trading day.

BAZ chief economist Ms Dephine Mazambani said this while giving oral evidence before Parliament’s Portfolio committee on Budget and Finance chaired by Chikomba Central Legislator Fellex Mhona this afternoon.

Bankers also called for a level playing field between them and mobile money transfers. Mrs Mazambani said while bankers and mobile money transfers provide similar services of a platform of cash movement, their regulatory terrain was different. She said mobile money transfers were regulated by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) while bankers fell under the central bank.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chief executive Mr Chris Mugaga said the economy was re-dollarising despite spirited denials by the central bank. He said evidence on the ground showed that the economy was indeed re-dollarising.

Mr Mugaga said business was being affected by what he called political noise in the country. He said the impression created when one goes out of the country was that there was no peace in the country.

ZNCC has also expressed concern on the disparities between subsidised prices and market prices which they said was too high and open to arbitrage.

They said another concern was that despite there being subsidies, the products and services were not there particularly, maize meal and transport.

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.

……. 

RETWEET! – Mnangagwa in Mwenezi clearly threatened brutality against doctors and lawyers also threatening to shorten the lives of people who make noise. pic.twitter.com/fJx5dOemL5

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 17, 2019

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VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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:

What has changed in Zimbabwe since Gukurahundi apart from the signing of the Unity Accord and the signing of Robert Mugabe's resignation letter? | @PeoplesPartyZim @DrNkuSibanda @LloydMsipa @ZANUPF_Official. @edmnangagwa

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 24, 2020

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.

The high fees have also exposed female students to sexual predators who take advantage while other students had either dropped out or had deferred their studies.

This was said by students from several different universities and polytechnic colleges across the country including teaching trade union representatives while giving oral evidence before Parliament’s portfolio committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology Development, Innovation and Tertiary Education.

The committee chaired by Hwange Central MP Mr Daniel Molokele (MDC Alliance) wanted to know the impact of recent fees hike in tertiary institutions.

Government, through Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development Minister Prof Amon Murwira pegged the fees at between $3 500 and $5 000 per semester depending on one’s programme arguing that there was need to balance the desire for quality education and affordability.

In their evidence, the students said there was need for the Government to reduce the fees and pegged at salaries that subsisted among civil servants.

They said loans that were introduced by the Government were not sustainable because they would become due for repayment after a semester or a year yet the concerned student would not have completed his or her learning.

Midlands State University Student Representative Council acting president, Mr Leon Mutakura said most students were struggling to raise the fees.

“At MSU, the fees have been pegged at $5 700, which is higher than what the Minister had gazetted. It is a threat and an assault on higher education. It is almost five times more than most parents’ salary. More than 400 students have deferred at MSU owing to the high fees,” said Mr Mutakura.

Zimbabwe National Students Union president, Mr Takudzwa Ngaidzore said Prof Murwira did not consult with relevant students but only convened a meeting after he had announced the new fee structure.

“The fee hike is not timely. Female students are being taken advantage of by ‘blessers’. Our survey showed that at least 50 percent of students had not registered,” said Mr Ngaidzore.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Dr Takavafira Zhou said reduction in number of enrolled students owing to fees had a ripple effect on universities as they will fail to fund important sectors like research, innovation and development.

“University lecturers will be no better than high school lecturers. There is also likely to be lowering of standards of learning and teaching at universities,” said Dr Zhou.

He said the new fees would create a situation where children from richer families would access tertiary education while the poor would languish at home destined to become employees of children from richer families.

PTUZ secretary general, Mr Raymond Majongwe said the worst affected by the fee hikes were children from disabled parents.

He said while others would hustle through moonlighting or look for sex work, disabled persons had no any other alternative to raise fees.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive, Dr Sifiso Ndlovu said teachers were unable to further their studies owing to high fees.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo today teamed up with stakeholders in a tour of the National Sports Stadium in Harare as Government moves to resolve stadium crisis.

Minister Moyo, was accompanied on the inspection visit by the Deputy Minister of Youth, Arts, Sports and Recreation, senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, Sports and Recreation Commission, ZIFA, sports administrators and a team of technocrats comprising architects and engineers.

Minister Moyo, whose ministry is directly in charge of the giants facility, was accompanied on the inspection visit by the Deputy Minister of Youth, Arts, Sports and Recreation Tinoda Machakaire, senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, Sports and Recreation Commission, ZIFA, sports administrators and a team of technocrats comprising architects and engineers.

The National Sports Stadium was condemned late last year by CAF after it failed to meet minimum requirements to host international matches.

As a result, Zimbabwe have been barred from playing their next Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Algeria at home after the other stadiums – Barbourfields and Mandava – were also deemed unfit.

Of all the stadiums, Barbourfields Stadium was initially approved but later banned for minor repairs. Logic would have seen July Moyo and the team rushing to Barbourfields Stadium to do the little renovations needed and get the stadium ready for the month end tie with Angola. The National Sports Stadium needs a lot to be done and can not be expected to be ready by month end.

The MDC is dismayed by the clear miscarriage of Justice in the case of Honourable Charlton Hwende in terms of which the Court handed down a ruling granting the State’s application for a postponement.

The case was further remanded to the 18th March 2020.

It is our considered view that the Judgment is devoid of merit and smacks of a political ruling and ignores the well-articulated submissions of the Defence Counsel.

We are at a loss as to why the State’s prevarication, which State stood to suffer no prejudice if the Accused had been removed from remand.

To the contrary, Honourable Hwende has been deprived of his freedom for almost a year and it is apparent the State’s house is not in order. We believe that this is an appropriate case to have a judicial review of the matter so that justice can be done

The persecution of our Members continues unabated. Several of our youths are appearing at the Chitungwiza Magistrates Court on yet more spurious charges. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the courts will do the right thing but past experience cautions us to brace for the worst.

We yearn for a just society where the rule of law prevails and the National Prosecuting Authority is not abused to harass and persecute people for political reasons.

We yearn for a truly people’s government that respects the rights of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution.

Innocent Gonese
MDC Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs

ZANU-PF politburo member and former army general Retired Lieutenant Engelbert Rugeje has been nominated to temporarily act as Chief Charamba of Bikita following the death of his father.

Rtd Lt Gen Rugeje (58) is a Zanu PF Politburo member and once served as the ruling party’s National Political Commissar following his retirement from the army.

President Mnangagwa promoted Rtd Lt Gen Rugeje from the rank of Major General upon his retirement to enter full time politics.

His nomination to act as Chief Charamba came by virtue of him being the oldest surviving son of the late Chief Charamba, Mr Timothy Charamba.

The late substantive Chief Charamba died on July 16 last year at the age of 97.

Rtd Lt Gen Rugeje on Monday confirmed the new development, adding that the move was in line with their Duma custom.

He said the Charamba family chose him by virtue of being the oldest surviving son of the late chief.

“It is not that I have been appointed substantive chief because there are still many processes that have to be followed for one to be a substantive chief that will culminate with the seal of approval from the President,” said Rtd Lt Gen Rugeje.

“At the moment what happened was in line with the Duma traditions and customs whereby after the death of a chief there is a person who is appointed to look after the late chief’s family and responsibilities. The family sat down and agreed that as the oldest surviving son I get the appointment but it’s not a final decision as there are many processes to follow.”

The Charamba chieftainship belongs to people of the Duma clan who dominate Bikita District.

The Duma clan members in Bikita unofficially fall under the paramount chieftainship of Mazungunye a descendant of the great ancestor of the Dumas.

Rtd Lt Gen Rugeje is not the first retired army General from Bikita to become chief.

Retired Major General Gibson Mashingaidze who also hails from the same district was a few years ago appointed Chief Mkanganwi and is also part of the Duma clan.

By A Correspondent- The ongoing Grain Marketing Board US$9 million saga, which has sucked in President Emmerson Mnangagwa and former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, may be just a tip of the iceberg considering how corruption has become so widespread and indicates that chances of success in our fight against the problem may be next to nil.

Then the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) identifies US$7 billion worth of properties belonging to former and current leaders in government and captains of industry stashed away in Switzerland, US, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mauritius and Spain.

The disturbing revelations on GMB, which emerged when Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) boss Tafadzwa Musarara appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture show that perhaps all the talk about fighting corruption by top government officials is a mere public stunt with no matching action on the ground. This is so because many of the politicians are the beneficiaries of graft in one way or the other.

This is quite a depressing development as it demonstrates beyond doubt that there is no sincerity in what our leadership is doing, as many of them are in it just for the benefit. Their involvement in politics has got nothing to do with having the interests of the country at heart but they are just there for the filthy lucre that has cost the country dearly.

It is also sad that the money was meant to rehabilitate GMB silos to be able to store grain, but someone saw an opportunity to help themselves to the money at the expense of an entire nation, which would benefit from the restoration of those silos.

This kind of culture has been allowed to go on for too long. And now it is quite clear that the problem has been treated with kid gloves because those who are supposed to spearhead the fight against corruption are actually beneficiaries of the vice.      

The very same people that should be spearheading the fight against corruption are the ones fuelling it. So in simple terms, there is no fight against corruption.

There is just one big deception that they are fighting corruption when they are actually fuelling and propagating it. It is a tragedy on a grand scale.-Newsday

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.

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• 

• 

• 

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…

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

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.

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

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…

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.

By A Correspondent| A blind man from Chimanimani is leading a team of 10 others to create an innovative conservation project in his area.

Watch the live video loading below to hear his story and more….

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.”

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.

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. –

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.”

Heavily Armed Police Details Block Opposition Members From Entering Courtroom

The 12 MDC who were arrested in Chitungwiza on Saturday still in holding cells.

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 2, 2020

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

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..

Heavily Armed Police Details Block Opposition Members From Entering Courtroom

The 12 MDC who were arrested in Chitungwiza on Saturday still in holding cells.

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 2, 2020

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

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.

Govt would like to update the Nation that the traveller from Hunan Province of China who was under observation at Wilkins Hospital, has tested negative to the Coronavirus(Covid-19).

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) March 2, 2020

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

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