“We have recently managed to develop a vaccine, against theileriosis, and we are using it …”

By Simba Chikanza| In a story that could be a real relief to many Zimbabweans, the minister of Agriculture, Perrance Shiri has announced a breakthrough saying the government has developed a cure for the disease that has seen many cattle being killed in various parts of the country.

He made these revelations during the cabinet briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

“We have experienced quite a number of cattle deaths and mostly due to 3 causes: anthrax, foot and mouth disease, and theileriosis,” he began.

He continued saying anthrax is very difficult to identify its source.

He went on to say: “The only way around the problem is to vaccinate the livestock in those areas where it would have been identified and that’s exactly what we are doing, thus the statistic of the cattle that has been vaccinated carried out so far.

“And foot and mouth disease, this is a disease which is normally spread by discharges,(sic), they are the carriers of the disease and once they get into contact with the livestock in particular cattle they easily spread that disease, the best way of controlling the mouth disease is by erecting fences, so as to separate the farming areas, and the National Parks areas; we can also carry out vaccinations once there is an outbreak in an area as we have been doing exactly like that.

“Then the last one is theileriosis which has accounted to most of the deaths, this is a tick bone disease, of which the ticks, are the type of tick which causes theileriosis, is prevalent during the rainy season, which is the month of December to March hence farmers are expected to keep their cattle frequenting the dips; we are looking at once every week so as to eliminate the ticks.

“We have recently managed to develop a vaccine, against theileriosis, and we are using it in the affected areas as for the exact statistics for the number involved and where the deaths occurred you can come to the ministry.”

It could not be established at the time of writing how many cattle have been treated using this developed vaccine. The name of the vaccine could neither be established at the time of writing. Furthermore, it was not clear if the vaccine has been professionally peer reviewed. VIDEO:

• HAVE YOU UTILISED THIS BREAKTHROUGH VACCINE? – TELL US OF YOUR EXPERIENCE: ZIMEYE.COM. +447426863301

ZIFA have secured Orlando Stadium as the venue for the Warriors’ 2021 AFCON qualifier against the Desert Foxes while the association continue to sell the nation a dummy that they are battling to have the match played in Zimbabwe.

Authoritative sources in South Africa told The Herald yesterday that ZIFA chief executive, Joseph Mamutse, yesterday sealed a contract with his South African Football Association counterparts for the match to be held at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

This is in sharp contrast to the song which the ZIFA officials have been singing in public saying they were confident of getting the Confederation of African Football to give the greenlight to Barbourfields to host that blockbuster showdown.

A number of ZIFA officials have, in the past few days, given an impression that they are waiting for CAF to make a decision, possibly this week, amid hopes in their camp that the big game will be played here in Zimbabwe.

However, The Herald can reveal that Mamutse, who is in South Africa on business, signed an agreement with his SAFA counterparts for the match to be held at Orlando Stadium.

‘‘Mamutse is here in SA for a FIFA workshop, he met with SAFA (officials) today and signed the agreement, the match is at Orlando Stadium,’’ said the sources.

‘‘Some ZIFA guys are likely to travel to Johannesburg on Wednesday or Thursday to work on the logistics.’’

ZIFA have been sending signals to the Government, which intervened with a massive programme to renovate the National Sports Stadium and Barbourfields, that they were hoping to get the match played in Zimbabwe.

The Government and other stakeholders have been working overtime with the owners of the stadium, Bulawayo City Council, to get the stadium ready for inspection.-State media

A SOUTH AFRICAN man was sentenced to six months imprisonment for unlawful entry after he was found sleeping in the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) church in Nkulumane 12 suburb.

Cougo Tsenang (31) who was residing in Nkulumane suburb was found asleep inside the baptism post by one of the congregants Ms Clara Tobaiwa (58) of the same suburb.

Tsenang pleaded guilty to unlawful entry when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove.

The magistrate slapped him with six months imprisonment which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offense within the period.

Prosecuting, Mr Kenneth Shava said on March 4 at around 8PM, Ms Clara and a Mrs Dube went to the church and realised that the window was open.

“The complainant unlocked the main door and entered the church and discovered that the accused person was hiding inside the baptism post,” said Mr Shava.

Ms Tobaiwa and Mrs Dube escorted Tsenang to the police station where they filed a report leading to his arrest.

By A Correspondent- A 26-year-old Thai national who on Sunday evaded health officials at Wilkins Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, before he could be tested for COVID-19, has surrendered himself to hospital authorities.

Harare City’s Health Director, Dr Prosper Chonzi told a local publication that the man is being kept until his results come out.

Said Chonzi:

We are keeping him until we get results. Physically his temperature is normal and he doesn’t have any symptoms. The police are happy that he is now back at Wilkins Hospital.

Following the man’s escape from the hospital on Sunday, health officials reported the matter to Marlborough Police Station and police officers had launched a manhunt before the suspect resurfaced at Wilkins.

Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC party has suspended Victoria Falls Ward 10 Councillor Nkanyiso Sibindi making him to be the second councillor to be suspended in as many weeks.

Sibindi was suspended from being councillor in the local authority and also removed from his position as Youth Secretary General for Hwange West District.

He is accused of insulting the party’s Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Prince Dubeko Sibanda.

Sibindi is accused of writing a letter titled, “Dictatorship Signs Emerging,” in which he labelled Sibanda a dictator.

“This is to notify our provincial chairman Dubeko Sibanda that we thought you came to visit Victoria Falls for consultative meetings whilst you came to meet your Zanu-PF colleagues to tell us what to do, and we will never accept such nincompoopery,” reads part of the letter.

“We thought you are a good father, but you have proven beyond doubt that you are full of yourself and you think being a chairman will make you turn Matabeleland North into an army barrack and we won’t listen to you. Go back to the drawing board and revise your leadership skills.”

Sibanda responded by suspending the councillor for undermining his authority.

“Your conduct is prima facie disrespectful and seeking to undermine an elected official of the party and in contravention of section 2 (1) (0) of Annexure C (Disciplinary code of conduct and Regulations of the party constitution,” read part of the suspension letter.

Speaking to journalists on the suspension, Sibindi said Sibanda is still holding a political grudge that he did not support his bid for the provincial chairperson`s post at the party’s congress.

“I have always told him that let’s prioritise service delivery and put politics aside and it seems it’s something hard for him to do,” he charged.

“He has no powers to even suspend me according to the constitution and to me, that is a null and void letter. On Friday instead of him attending the meeting with the residents, he secretly went to meet with the Town Clerk (Ronnie Dube) and other Zanu-PF cadres to impose a candidate to replace Somvelo Dhlamini as mayor.

“I refused that arguing that it was against the constitution and the following day l was told that l have been suspended.”

Own Correspondent|Media has recently been awash with reports that former MDC Vice President Morgen Komichi was unhappy and wanted out of the party.

Komichi has not been attending MDC events across the country, and was recently reported to have closed ranks with the family of party founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai which he visited without the party leadership’s knowledge.

A resignation letter from the party, purportedly written by Komichi was circulated on social media.

The MDC quickly labelled FAKE the letter.

MDC official twitter handle tweeted a photo with the letters FAKE inscribed on top of the letter that was circulating on social media claiming Morgan Komichi has resigned from the party:

In the video downloading below, Komichi has finally opened up on the matter:

Own Correspondent|A national alert has been raised on the disappearance of a Chinese couple on Valentine’s Day after visiting a friend in Eastlea, Harare.

Lei Ding (35) and his wife Chi Lifen (30), went missing after visiting a friend, but their vehicle was later found dumped along Arcturus Road, with keys in the ignition.

Their whereabouts since then remain unknown.

A national alert has since been raised and is being run on national television and radios offering ZWL$1 million to any one who may provide information leading to their discovery, dead or alive.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the disappearance of the two Chinese nationals,

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

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

Zimbabwe has strongly objected to the European Union’s calls for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to shed light on the fate of abducted pro-democracy activist and journalist, Itai Dzamara, who was abducted by suspected state security agents five years ago.

In a tweet, the European Union in Zimbabwe said, “Five years after his abduction, Itai #Dzamara remains missing. We call on Govt to shed light on his fate & serve justice, and to tackle all human rights violations decisively, in line with #Zimbabwe’s repeated commitment to human rights, freedoms & national healing.”

In a swift response posted on its twitter handle, Zimbabwe’s Information Ministry criticized the E.U, saying its tweet implied that the government had a hand in the abduction of Dzamara, the leader of Occupy Africa Unity Square, who wanted the late former president Robert Mugabe to resign for failing to properly run the country.

“Government feels strongly that no Zimbabwean should disappear without a trace and sympathizes with the Dzamara family in their quest for their loved one’s safe return. To this government, every Zimbabwean counts. It is therefore diplomatically unhelpful and misleading to insinuate that government does not intend to shed light into Mr. Dzamara’s disappearance, as if it had a hand in it.

“Government remains open to engagements with all diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe and provide clarity on any matter of mutual interest using agreed formal channels.”

Own Correspondent|Missing activist Itai Dzamara’s wife, Sheffra, has expressed dismay over the manner in which the government is handling the issue.

She told reporters on Tuesday that “there is nothing being done by the government to find my husband.

“It appears as if someone can just be abducted like that with the government not doing anything to find the person. It’s very sad. My children are always asking me about their father and I’m at the same time asking the government to provide answers to what happened to my husband.”

She sent a letter to President Mnangagwa on Tuesday appealing for his help to find her husband, who was abducted by people in an unregistered vehicle while he was at a barbershop in Glenview, Harare.

Nick Mangwana, permanent information secretary said since Dzamara’s disappearance on March 9, 2015, a taskforce of “skilled detectives was put in place to investigate the matter.”

The ministry said a reward of US$10,000 from the Zimbabwe Republic Police is on offer on information on Dzamara’s whereabouts.

“The police have regularly issued public appeals for information including in recent times. They have also submitted nine reports to the High Court of Zimbabwe in compliance with the order of that court. These reports are publicly available.”

Own Correspondent|Econet Wireless, the largest mobile telecoms operator in Zimbabwe, has announced that it will be reviewing its internet data prices upwards effective tomorrow, 11 March 2020.

The company advised its customer via SMS:

“Dear Customer. Please take note, bundle prices for Data & SMS will be reviewed effective 11 March 2020. Dial *143# to buy Data or *140# to buy SMS Bundles.“

The foreigners, many of who were Zimbabweans, were allegedly accused of stealing jobs meant for locals.

The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in Johannesburg has heard how foreign nationals employed as long-distance truck drivers were identified before being attacked during violent protests.

The foreigners, many of who were Zimbabweans, were allegedly accused of stealing jobs meant for locals.

Chair of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa Ngqabutho Mabhena appeared before an SAHRC inquiry on Tuesday, which was looking into violent attacks in which long-distance truck drivers were targeted.

Mabhena said Zimbabwean truck drivers were identified through their failure to speak isiZulu fluently.

He said in the majority of the attacks, which happened in KwaZulu-Natal, foreign drivers were stopped and asked to produce driving licences and other documents of identity. In most cases, they would produce their Zimbabwean driving licences and passports, leading to them been attacked.

“Some Zimbabwean drivers who couldn’t speak fluent isiZulu would then reply in English. We were also worried that Tshivenda- and Xitsonga-speaking drivers from South Africa would also be in trouble because they could not speak fluent isiZulu,” he said.

“Following an outbreak of violence in the freight industry, we were approached to intervene. Our first point of entry was to have a meeting with Zimbabweans about their challenges. We were informed violence emanated from Africa Truck Drivers Association representing SA truck drivers.

“We were told that there was competition between migrant drivers and South African drivers. We also established that a number of Zimbabweans were working in the industry. What we didn’t establish was why employers preferred Zimbabwean truck drivers.”

Mabhena said they also discovered that Zimbabwean truck drivers were not members of a trade union.

“We then sought a meeting with Africa Truck Drivers Association. We then discussed it telephonically with their representative, who told us that Zimbabwean drivers are not allowed to work in the industry.

“The other issue raised was that Zimbabweans and other migrant drivers preferred to work long hours while South African drivers worked normal hours. Zimbabwean drivers would do more shifts with three drivers exchanging the wheel to earn more hours,” said Mabhena.

They were also told that migrant drivers wanted to perform the work of truck mechanics instead of using freight companies’ mechanics.

Busisiwe Goba from the Road Freight Association (RFA) said they wanted to establish the root cause of attacks on truck drivers.

“We wanted to know about businesses affiliated to the RFA who have employed non-nationals. There is legislation which states that if companies employ non-nationals, they must have proper documents, and are complying. We don’t dictate to companies affiliated to the association,” Goba said.

“Every business entity has its own policies and would comply with legislation. Employees are afforded an opportunity to belong to various labour unions.

“We received 463 reports of violent attacks. About 155 attacks that were not related to non-nationals were also reported.”

She said some business premises were targeted by groups of people who prevented them from operating.

HUNDREDS of illegal money changers marched to Bulawayo Central Police Station yesterday in protest of what they called laxity in police investigations over the death of their colleague who was ambushed and killed by unknown assailants last Thursday night.

The demonstrators, popularly known as osiphatheleni marched along 8th Avenue from Tredgold Building to Bulawayo Central Police Station waving the late Madakwa Admire Mapako’s picture.

Mapako (48), an illegal money changer was killed outside Continental Lodge in Khumalo Suburb, Bulawayo on Thursday.

The demonstrators demanded that the assailants be brought to book while saying police were not doing enough to account for them as the suspects were known.

“Police know the assailants. In fact, the suspect stalked Admire for more than two weeks and they know it because it was reported. They did not arrest the criminals even after he was killed,” said an Illegal money changer who declined to be named.

Mapako’s younger brother and family spokesperson, Pardon, told The Chronicle that police knew his brother’s assailants as a police officer positively identified him on CCTV footage.

He said the footage that was recorded at night on February 21, this year and it shows two masked men armed with a gun trying to lure Mapako out of his house.

“Police know everything. In fact, they positively identified one of the suspects as Dingani when we showed them the CCTV footage. It is painful that this gang is known but they have not been arrested. It’s a gang of 12 guys and on Saturday one of them was seen here in the city,” he said.

Pardon said police removed his brother’s body of from the scene in the absence of relatives, which further infuriated them.

‘What also worries us is that none of the relatives was at the scene when police removed the body. So, we are not sure whether what the police are saying is true because even the alleged woman whom we hear was with my brother is not known. We were only made to identify the body at United Bulawayo Hospital Mortuary’ he said.

Bulawayo Police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube could not give a comment as he was not in the office.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people who included Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) President, Dr Aspher Madzinyire, musician Sandra Ndebele attended a funeral service for Mapako held at Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour in Doninngton, Bulawayo, yesterday.

He will be buried today at Zimuto Village in Masvingo.

Own Correspondent|In a back ground where all pointers point at government’s state security agents for the disappearance of activist Itai Dzamara five years ago, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana has unashamedly declared that government is doing everything possible to locate him.

Mangwana said government put in place a taskforce of skilled detectives to investigate thoroughly the disappearance of Dzamara of which the skilled team has not produced anything five years later.

Mangwana said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) was also offering a US$10 000 reward to anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dzamara and was also making regular appeals to the public for those with information to come forward.

Mangwana was reacting to comments by the European Union (EU) on their Twitter handle in which they urged the Government of Zimbabwe to “shed light and serve justice” on the disappearance of Mr Dzamara.

He added that ZRP had also submitted more than nine reports to the High Court of Zimbabwe in compliance with an order of that court. The reports are also available for the public.

“Government feels very strongly that no Zimbabwean should disappear without trace and empathizes with the Dzamara family in their quest for the safe return of their loved one,” said Mr Mangwana.

He added that it was therefore undiplomatically unhelpful and misleading to insinuate that the Government of Zimbabwe did not intend to shed light on Mr Dzamara’s disappearance, as if it had a hand in it.

“The Government remains open to engagement with all diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe and provide clarity on any matter of mutual interest using the agreed formal channels,” said Mr Mangwana.

Correspondent|Outspoken Zimbabwean preacher Apostle Talent Chiwenga was arraigned before a Mutare Magistrate Nottbuglar Muchineri today facing smuggling charges.

Muchineripi granted Chiwenga ZWL$400 bail to March 31

Prosecutor Perseverance Musukuto told the court that on December 11 last year Chiwenga drove from Mozambique to Zimbabwe through the Forbes Border Post in the company of Lovemore Kanyuru and Darlington Moyo.

The court was told that Chiwenga completed the immigration papers and passed through the customs and clearing counter without declaring the goods he was in possession of.

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority official then asked Chiwenga to take his goods for scanning, where it was discovered that the goods were not declared, leading to his arrest.

The goods which were not declared include five Kenwood two-way communication radios, solar battery chargers and teargas injectors, among others.

Chiwenga was represented by his lawyer, Tariro Paul Machiridza.

Own Correspondent|Cabinet has just completed its weekly meeting for this week and Minister of Information Monica Mutsvangwa is giving a live update of what cabinet resolved.

Watch the live video downloading below:

Own Correspondent|Vice-President Kembo Mohadi’s former wife, Tambudzani Muleya, has lost her US$13 394 per month maintenance claim after the High Court dismissed her application declaring that her motive is nothing but to hit back at her former husband for dumping her.

Mohadi and Muleya’s marriage was dissolved in March last year and soon after the nullification, Muleya approached the court seeking post-divorce maintenance, but High Court judge Justice Ester Muremba would not have any of that.

The judge said there was no need for her former husband to continue maintaining her following the nullification of the couple’s marriage last year.

“… What is evident is that the applicant (Tambudzani Muleya) does not want to live off her own assets, but on the respondent’s (Kembo Mohadi). The impression the applicant creates is that she wants to fix the respondent for leaving her and eventually divorcing her…,” the judge said.

In her claim, Muleya had demanded that Mohadi pays expenses for her driver, gardeners for two houses, domestic workers for two houses, fuel for all her travels, security, groceries, cellphone and airtime allowances; over and above all the other movable and immovable properties that Mohadi had earlier offered her in their divorce consent paper.

However, her demands and assertions were dismissed by Justice Muremba. The judge said Muleya was simply refusing to accept reality.

“The argument by the applicant that respondent’s current wife enjoys all amenities and benefits she is claiming is a clear testimony that the applicant is refusing to come to terms with the fact that respondent is no longer her husband that someone else is now in her former place. She resents the fact that the new wife is enjoying the benefits she ought to have been enjoying,” the judge stated.

“I do not think that the applicant was being truthful with the court. The applicant’s list of expenses shows that she wants the respondent to pay for each and every item of her expenditure. She wants him to pay for her food, fuel, driver, workers, old cars, utility bills, dog feed, medication and holidays … the parties having shared assets by mutual consent, I do not see why the applicant now wants to benefit from the respondent’s assets and not from hers …”

Justice Muremba further said while Muleya is fairly advanced in age and had greatly diminished prospects of marriage, she, however, was awarded capital assets following the divorce.

“She got three pieces of real estate, two of which are developed, more than 500 herd of cattle, a motor vehicle, a Discovery 4 Land Rover, 50% share in a company, more than US$25 000 in value of farm assets and household goods. There is no doubt that these assets can provide her with the income she needs to support herself. She can still live comfortably even if she does not dispose of any of the two houses awarded to her,” she said.

“With the assets awarded to her, the applicant cannot claim that she is now living a miserable life and that she cannot afford a decent meal. She is a legislator and she earns income every month. She has no rentals to pay and she has no dependents at all.”

In a similar dirty divorce, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has also been accused by the court of public opinion of fighting to fix her former wife Marry who he has gotten arrested on several occassions and having been repeatedly dragging each other to court.

By Farai D Hove| The Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa does not trust the Zimbabwe National Army anymore, some military sources have maintained.

One source was unequivocal on this going to the point of speaking about the man’s podium layout, saying he has violated all presidential decorum.

“Can you not see how he is now guarded at podiums by air force officers instead of ZNA or ZRP?,” they alleged.

One of the sources said, ” Do you not see that at many times he is now seen being guarded by airforce officers? Why airforce of all? “

“He has broken presidential decorum, this is a clear shift,” they continued.

The development comes as other state agents however said there is nothing unusual because at events such as Gutu, Mnangagwa would have been flown in so the presence of airforce officers is not a surprise.”

When he traveled Gutu, Masvingo Province during his clean up campaign, he was closely guarded by an airforce officer just as he said “very soon village inspectors will start going from house to house, if they find cockroaches, you will be given first warning and on the second we will arrest anyone found with cockroaches.” (See video)

Continue reading “Mnangagwa No Longer Trusts PresidentialGuard, “He’s Now Protected By Airforce” | PICTURES, VIDEO”

By A Correspondent- There was confusion Tuesday afternoon when the Health Minister Obadiah Moyo told the Senate the Wilkins patient who fled the institution yesterday, is missing and needs to be found.

Minister Moyo was addressing the Senate when he said, “So we are looking for that absconded patient. …We still want that patient, we still want him to come back and we want to test that patient. So, on WhatsApp there are some messages coming through saying that someone fitting that description might have been seen at Chisipite and immediately harassed by environment officers to follow up with the police,” he added.

But at the time of the hearing, the man had 2 hours before been re-admitted at Wilkins Hospital.

Obadiah Moyo narrates how Wilkins Patient fled hospital yesterday, but also says they are still to be found. – Video credit @263Chat pic.twitter.com/YThK2aBz0y

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 10, 2020

He was spotted by a ZimEye reader who quickly alerted police.

It could not at the time of writing be established if the police are the ones who influenced or caused him to return to the hospital.

Our contributor told ZimEye: “just to let you know that l am the one who took those pictures and sent … them around. I also alerted the police so they are aware and taking action. Hope l find you well. The pharmacist confirmed that they were buying medicine that linked to the virus and that the pharmacy did not have all of it.

“I alerted the pharmacist that there was a patient who is suspected of having contracted the disease but ran before they were tested and confirmed. The description on the article matched the people l met that’s why l alerted my friends as well as the police. So just for your info and not confirming that this was the patient on the run, l confirm that it’s true an incident like that happened in the morning.”

Meanwhile, the latest development was confirmed by the City of Harare Health Director, Dr Prosper Chonzi who said:
“We are keeping him until we get results. Physically his temperature is normal and he doesn’t have any symptoms. The police are happy that he is now back at Wilkins Hospital.”

Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi speaks on Marriage Bill-see video below :

Farai Dziva|Movement for Democratic Change founding president Morgan Tsvangirai’ s legacy lives on…

The opposition party has released a statement on the late former Prime Minister’s birthday.Tsvangirai was born on March 10, 1952.

“In celebration of his life and unquestionable contribution to the democratic struggle.

Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai would have been 68 today,”said the party in a brief statement.

“Yes, my late boss Morgan Richard Tsvangirai would have turned 68 today. A friend, a boss, a father, an icon, a patriot.

Indeed, you left a legacy of service and sacrifice. Rest in power, Pakuru,” posted Luke Tamborinyoka on Facebook.

“We are keeping him until we get results. Physically his temperature is normal and he doesn’t have any symptoms. The police are happy that he is now back at Wilkins Hospital.”

By A Correspondent – The suspected coronavirus patient who escaped from Harare’s Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital yesterday has returned to the institution.

The 26-year-old Thai man had earlier on been spotted at a pharmacy in Chisipite looking for medication for coronavirus. He was at the time in the company of his father.

He was spotted by a ZimEye reader who quickly alerted police.

It could not at the time of writing be established if the police are the ones who influenced or caused him to return to the hospital.

Our contributor told ZimEye: “just to let you know that l am the one who took those pictures and sent … them around. I also alerted the police so they are aware and taking action. Hope l find you well. The pharmacist confirmed that they were buying medicine that linked to the virus and that the pharmacy did not have all of it.

“I alerted the pharmacist that there was a patient who is suspected of having contracted the disease but ran before they were tested and confirmed. The description on the article matched the people l met that’s why l alerted my friends as well as the police. So just for your info and not confirming that this was the patient on the run, l confirm that it’s true an incident like that happened in the morning.”

Meanwhile, the latest development was confirmed by the City of Harare Health Director, Dr Prosper Chonzi who said:
“We are keeping him until we get results. Physically his temperature is normal and he doesn’t have any symptoms. The police are happy that he is now back at Wilkins Hospital.”

A man from Gokwe last week axed 5 people to death touched and torched a hut for reasons yet to be ascertained, The Chronicle reports.

The incident happened in Binga ‘s Lusungu area on Friday.

The deceased were identified as
Mr Sibanda’s 7 year old Shan, Mr Admire Nyangarai, his wife Ms Bibeat Munsaka, the couple’s one-year-old baby Loice Compassion Nyangarai, who was axed while on her mother’s back and Ms Chiravigwa Shumba, whose age not given but originally from Makope Village under Chief Sayi in Gokwe.

All of the victims lived in close proximity to 20-year-old Christopher Gotore of Marapira area under Chief Jiri in Gokwe who was living at the Nyangarais when he committed the heinous crime.

ZRP confirmed the incident, Gotore is in custody at the moment.-State media

The regional soccer body CAF has reportedly snubbed ZIFA’s plea to reinspect Zimbabwe stadia after it banned the later from hosting any international matches on the banner that they don’t conform to standards.

“Chances of convincing Caf now look very minimal but not all hope is lost.

Consultations are still on going because there’s a feeling that since there was a Government guarantee, evidenced by work that is being done at Barbourfields Stadium , maybe we may get some reprieve,” a source said.

Meanwhile, ZIFA has secured South Africa’s Orlando stadium for upcoming Zimbabwe versus Algeria CHAN 2020 Qualifier to be played early next month.-State media

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of illegal money changers marched to Bulawayo Central Police Station yesterday in protest of what they called laxity in police investigations over the death of their colleague who was ambushed and killed by unknown assailants last Thursday night.

The demonstrators, popularly known as osiphatheleni marched along 8th Avenue from Tredgold Building to Bulawayo Central Police Station waving the late Madakwa Admire Mapako’s picture.

Mapako (48), an illegal money changer was killed outside Continental Lodge in Khumalo Suburb, Bulawayo on Thursday.

The demonstrators demanded that the assailants be brought to book while saying police were not doing enough to account for them as the suspects were known.

“Police know the assailants. In fact, the suspect stalked Admire for more than two weeks and they know it because it was reported. They did not arrest the criminals even after he was killed,” said an Illegal money changer who declined to be named.

Mapako’s younger brother and family spokesperson, Pardon, told The Chronicle that police knew his brother’s assailants as a police officer positively identified him on CCTV footage.

He said the footage that was recorded at night on February 21, this year and it shows two masked men armed with a gun trying to lure Mapako out of his house.

“Police know everything. In fact, they positively identified one of the suspects as Dingani when we showed them the CCTV footage. It is painful that this gang is known but they have not been arrested. It’s a gang of 12 guys and on Saturday one of them was seen here in the city,” he said.

Pardon said police removed his brother’s body of from the scene in the absence of relatives, which further infuriated them.

‘What also worries us is that none of the relatives was at the scene when police removed the body. So, we are not sure whether what the police are saying is true because even the alleged woman whom we hear was with my brother is not known. We were only made to identify the body at United Bulawayo Hospital Mortuary’ he said.

Bulawayo Police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube could not give a comment as he was not in the office.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people who included Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) President, Dr Aspher Madzinyire, musician Sandra Ndebele attended a funeral service for Mapako held at Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour in Doninngton, Bulawayo, yesterday.

He will be buried today at Zimuto Village in Masvingo.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- A Chivi family woke up recently to find its only two herd of cattle axed to death in their kraal, and a kitchen hut torched in a suspected crime of passion.

The incident occurred on January 30 in Madamombe Village in Chivi North when the elderly Bhogo couple found its two heifers axed to death, and a message scrawled on the walls of the burnt kitchen hut demanding back R 5 000 allegedly spent on the family in anticipation of securing a wife from it.

“Plese 5 000 rand ndoida no fani. Mukadzi regai henyu ndewa sekuru venyu wekwa Purazeni. Ndoenda South (Africa) ndodzoka mari yangu ndoida. By Walasi.” (Please I want my 5 000 Rand and I’m not joking. You can keep the wife because it is apparent she belongs to your uncle from Purazeni area. I’m going to South (Africa) but when I come back I want my money,” read a message signed off as written by Walasi.

“Maindipa Vongai maronga muchiti haana murume wani mukamudzosera kwaPurazeni. Muudze sekuru venyu vekwaPurazeni kuti ndoda kuvauraya nokuti ndovanenge vamakapa wamanga mati ndoenda naye South Africa.” (You arranged to give me Vongai claiming she did not have a husband but went on to return her to Purazeni, so tell your uncle from Purazeni that I want to kill him because he is the one you handed over the wife that you had promised I would take to South Africa,” the message added.

Although the suspected arsonist refers to her as Vongai, a source said at the centre of the matter appears to be the middle aged couple’s granddaughter known as Fungai, who was living with them at a time she was estranged from her husband and father to her child who is from the Purazeni area of Madamombe.

The source said that at the time Fungai was living with her grandmother at the Bhogo homestead, she got romantically involved with another man with the tacit approval of the grandmother, and this new suitor showered the family with presents from South Africa where he lived.

But contrary to the belief by the suspect that Fungai had gone back to her husband from Purazeni, the source said, this was not the case as the woman was instead now living with another man at nearby Mhandamabwe Business Centre along the Masvingo-Zvishavane highway.

“Imagine what women are capable of, she is at Mhandamambwe living it up with another man not her husband from Purazeni; jumping from the arms of one man straight into another man’s.”

The matter was reported to Mashava police who briefly detained Fungai’s former husband for questioning but released him without charge.-Statemedia

– ORIGINAL ARTICLE –

The military taskforce set up by government to oversee Zupco operations following the fuel price protests in January last year, is furious with company bosses over the IT server handling the database for the tapcard system. This comes amid shocking weekly revenue shortfalls detected in an audit conducted by the company’s Risk Department.

ZimEye reveals the massive looting at the current rate showing for instance at at least $22,000 in the snap audit cited 2 weeks ago.

Where do you think they are hiding the Zupco IT server? 

Where do you think Directors are hiding the Zupco IT server?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 1, 2020

– ORIGINAL ARTICLE BELOW –

readers advised – there were frantic efforts from many quarters in both Zimbabwe and UK to stop this report from being published.

By Simba Chikanza | PART 1 | Within 3 days of Emmerson Mnangagwa striking a deal with the Belarusian government on the 17th Jan 2019, revenue money had already started disappearing from the transport company, ZUPCO, an exclusive ZimEye investigation based on the latest internal risk audit reveals.

In this documentary, several offices are probed by ZimEye and they include [see the satellite map below], the company’s Willowvale, and Belvedere buildings. 

 – military taskforce

 –embarrassing cash leaks detected

-shortfalls on scan machines

-machine discovered inside a toilet with no ID number

-Zupco’s Tagwirei speaks to ZimEye [interview]

Fearing rising protests, Mnangagwa had launched the “noble” venture of purchasing hundreds of buses in order to lower the burden of transport costs. This would have worked well and the quality of life improved. But the multi million dollar investment is now set for another disappointment, as an embarrassing audit in ZimEye’s possession reveals how more than $22,000 vanished, the looting beginning right within 72 hours of the Belarus meeting. The conclusion from the snap audit are that the company policy on the timing of banking revenue receipts was violated.

At the centre of Zupco’s scandal, is the notorious collusion of two directors, the CEO and the Director of Operations:

– The Acting CEO – [substantive post, Financial Director], Mr Everisto Madangwa.

– The Marketing (Acting Divisions Operations Manager) Tito Chirau … he is Madangwa’s enforcer of corruption.

Chirau has gained the reputation of being the ZUPCO Tagwirei, as it were, – a man who has taken over operations, marketing, and accounting, and the 5th department he is now in charge of is the HR department.

Military led taskforce

There is a task force team in ZUPCO appointed early last year by the minister of Defence through the Ministry of Local Government. The taskforce oversees the safety of buses, and it comprises, the ZDF, the police, and the CIO. The head of the taskforce delegation is Col Richard Mapanda, and he is deputised by Ass Comm Moyo, and DIO Ndabezihle Ndoro. This team was generally effective in the first few weeks of 2019, but from around April time they were rendered inept by a systematic cartel comprising at least three bigwigs: The chairman of ZUPCO, Dr Talon Garikai, is the Vice Chancellor of Harare Institute Of Technology. Everything happening in ZUPCO is now being run from the HIT. The tap card system came from HIT. Stationery supplies are coming HIT. The booking of Intercity buses system, is being run by the HIT, which means that ZUPCO is now literally operating from HIT.

Embarrassing Cash leaks detected

The cash amount of leaks detected from the snap audit are respectively:
– RTGS 19267.00, ZAR 2070.00 and RTGS 378.

In a summary, the report says: “the Accountant and Cashier were invited to explain and justify the departure from the company’s policy regarding the timing of banking revenue receipts. In their written responses, they attributed this departure to the temporary shift of the cash office from Willowvale Depot to Belvedere Depot as well as transport problems to transmit the cash receipts to the bank.

“It was however established that the temporary shift took place on 20 January 2019. Willowvale cash office resumed its operations on 12 February 2019. Their explanation does not hold water as the delays in banking continued beyond the 12 February 2019 when CIT – cash in transit services were available to the Depot.”

When a decision was passed to bring in the police and the anti-corruption commission, ZACC, to investigate, an accountant was then used to make some diversionary responses, on the 15th October 2019.

• shortfalls on scan machines

• machine which was discovered inside a toilet with no ID number inside it

Further to all this, there was last year a scandal of shortfalls on scan machines, which resulted in machine number 8 which leaked thousands to an unknown receiving account. This happened in October 2019. There is machine number 8 which was stationed at Willowvale Depot, it caused shortages running up to the thousands. That machine was tracked by IT, it was found the machine was not sending money to accounts, it was sending somewhere else. When the audit was being conducted Chirau blocked that investigations. There is a machine which was discovered inside a toilet, and was found without an identification number, and no sim card in it, but found inside a toilet. The identification number and the sim card would have made it easy to track the operator and the account number where the money is being routed.

Zupco has since fired its Risk, & Audit Control Manager, a Mr Chimbanda in the first week of February. Mr Chimbanda who had been appointed Risk Manager on the 1st August 2019, was suddenly fired within 6 months just before commencing a human resources audit. Impeccable sources revealed to ZimEye, he had at the time attempted to do an indepth risk audit, following several scandals in the human resources department, that have seen unqualified drivers being employed. This comes amid the rising spate of accidents. The CEO and the Operations Division blocked the audit and rushed to remove Chimbanda from the post.

The audit comes as it is revealed Chirau drafts what he terms a non renewal list through which long serving employees are randomly lined up for dismissal, and in their place, his own personal handpicks are given the jobs.

After Chimbanda was removed, he (Chimbanda) raised a complaint with the Task Force, but they did nothing at all.

Hot Questions the two ZUPCO bosses must answer are as follows:

– Has the more than $22,000 bankage shortage between Jan and June 2019 been finally restored?

– How come this shortage was not publicly declared?

– Why did you fire the Risk Control manager, Mr Chimbanda at a time when the June audit findings are still to be addressed?

– Why did you block the HR audit when it was needed seeing the number of non qualified drivers and rising number of accidents?

– Why did you block the HR audit and then you start firing people using your own non renewal list not based on an audit?

– Why have you allowed Eng, Talon Garikai to continue holding multiple posts without declaring his asset s according to the Companies Act ?

– In your estimation how many weeks does Zupco have before it requires capital injection from government?

– Why haven’t you addressed the conflict of interest in the TapCard system managed by the ZUPCO Board chairman’s other organisation, HIT ?

– Why did you reject the task force member from the CIO who was appointed to work with the HR officer… and investigate allegations of job seekers being made to pay bribes of 20 USD to get jobs?

– In October 2019, Mr Chirawu and Madangwa you promised the sacked Lewis Matutu that you were going to fire 100 conductors to replace them with 100 Zanu PF youths. Why have you continued in this course of action and is this not abuse of office?

– To Mr Chirau, records show that you on the 22nd January 2020, you telephoned HR department to reinstate Mr Liberty Masomere, (work ID 9083), who is colonel Richard Mapanda’s secretary’s brother, was that not abuse of office?

Zupco’s Tagwirei speaks to ZimEye [interview]

While efforts to get a comment from the demoted Risk Manager were fruitless, ZimEye managed to get a hold of the Operations Director, Mr Tito Chirau who briefly spoke to ZimEye. He at first denied the existence of the audit report, saying the only persons who can be called auditors are external auditors. He also said the Risk & Audit Control Department does not conduct any audits. Towards the end of the interview, he once again discredited the audit report this time however acknowledging its existence saying it was truly prepared by the Risk Department.

Will this money which leaked, the $22,000 be returned?, he was questioned. He replied saying,
“Eeeeh, please speak to the CEO,” he said.

He continued loudly charging, “ you can call the CEO and speak to him.”

But you are the Operations Director Mr Chirau, he was asked, and he went on to reply saying:
“What I can tell you right now is that there is nothing factual from all that you are saying, but anyway, I will just refer you to the CEO.”

The audit is not factual?, he was asked. He said, “yes it’s not factual, everything that you have there it’s people who don’t want to see ZUPCO succeeding, and the funny thing is you are just being verbose and loud, but when we speak about numbers, numbers don’t lie.

“And I can tell you right now that all those things that you are speaking about, if you are humble enough to speak to the CEO and gather facts, then you are going to see that it’s just people who are just trying to smear ZUPCO for their nefarious means.

“ZUPCO is one of the most successful government initiatives and a lot of people don’t like it, and you can tell that from your tone, you seem to have just believed those people who don’t want to see ZUPCO succeed.

“So please go speak to the CEO and I am sure if there is merit at what you are asking, he will be able to prove to you that it is all lies, the bunch of people who are probably aggrieved for wrong reasons, who are peddling these things they are all over the place. Speak to the CEO, and he will help,” he ended.

So the copy of the June audit that you have which one is it?, he was asked.

He answered saying, “the problem that you have is you are trying to be high sounding and clever for nothing. Eeh, what is an audit report? What is an audit report?

“An audit is done by approved auditors and the auditors they produce a report and this is a public company; those reports are there for government they are there for everyone to see.

“So when you speak of an audit, you see … you are trying to fight a battle for people who are aggrieved, and I am shocked I don’t know which country you are living in. ZUPCO is the biggest success story of the government; buses are on the road, and more buses are coming. So when you begin to say these things I wonder what agenda you are trying to drive at.”

Why do you say so? This is an audit by your Risk department, he was asked.

He replied:
“So you see in this conversation all you are mentioning is the Risk department, and the Risk department is the one that has been featuring in all those articles that you are talking about. So you guys are fighting the battle of one aggrieved department, or one aggrieved worker without probably going directly to ZUPCO,” he said.
I am not fighting any battle for a worker, ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza said. To this he hit back saying,
“You are, the thing that you are raising you are trying to be high sounding, but I think you didn’t take time to go through the questions that you want to ask, for example you are talking about an audit, an audit, an annual audit is done by big companies that went to tender and was chosen that’s the company that does audits for ZUPCO. So if you are talking about an internal audit report that was generated by someone, and you are saying that the Risk department generates audit report, which company has got a Risk department that generates audit reports?

“No I am telling you now, I am calling you now, audit reports are done by the office of the auditor, the Risk department does not do audits. So if you come to ZUPCO,” he concluded just before putting the phone down.

Efforts to get a comment from the CEO, and the Zupco board Chair were fruitless up to the time of publishing.

– THIS ARTICLE IS ONLY PART 1 OF THIS SERIES: EXPOSING CRIMINALS STATIONED AT ZESA. JUMP ONTO ZIMEYE.COM FOR MORE

For the full interview:
AUDIO LOADING BELOW – ZIMEYE.COM

THE Parliamentry Portfolio committee on Foreign affairs has visited the United State Embassy in Westgate where they addressed the anti-sanctions lobby group which has been camped at the embassy for 348 days.

Addressing members of the Broad Alliance Against Sanctions Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee Kindness Paradza says their visit to the USA embassy is in response to a petition by the anti – sanctions group to parliament on the adverse impact of illegal sanctions on Zimbabweans.

Paradza says his committee assessment shows that the Broad Alliance Against Sanctions lobby group has a genuine cause which calls for parliament attention.

He said the foreign affairs committee is awaiting the attorney general’s legal advice on how best to address their concerns citing the Vienna Convention which gives guidelines on handling diplomatic intercourses between nations.

Paradza took a swipe at MDC Alliance MPs who were conspicuous by the absence. The committee rescheduled the meeting with the anti sanctions protesters to Tuesday next week.

A South Africa man was sentenced to six months imprisonment for unlawful entry after he was found sleeping in the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe (AFM) church in Nkulumane 12 suburb.

Cougo Tsenang (31) who was residing in Nkulumane suburb was found asleep inside the baptism post by one of the congregants Ms Clara Tobaiwa (58) of the same suburb.

Tsenang pleaded guilty to unlawful entry when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove.

 The magistrate slapped him with six months imprisonment which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offense within the period.

Prosecuting, Mr Kenneth Shava said on   March 4 at around 8PM, Ms Clara and a Mrs Dube went to the church and realised that the window was open.

“The complainant   unlocked the main door and entered   the church and discovered that the accused person was hiding inside the baptism post,” said Mr Shava.

 Ms Tobaiwa and Mrs Dube escorted Tsenang to the police station where they filed a report leading to his arrest.

By Jane Mlambo| United Kingdom Ambassador to Zimbabwe Melanie Robinson has stocked pressure on the government of Zimbabwe over the disappearance of political activist Itai Dzamara saying the state should ensure his family gets answers on his whereabouts.

Dzamara was abducted by suspected state security agents five years ago and has not been found.

Posting on Twitter, Robinson said they were concerned that Dzamara remains missing five years after his abduction on March 9 2015.

“Deeply concerned that five years on Itai Dzamara remains missing. His family deserves answers and justice. There can be no impunity for abductions and human rights violations,” said Robinson.

The Daily News reports that Aston Villa are unwilling to release Warriors midfielder Marvelous Nakamba as a precaution against the deadly coronavirus (CIVID-19).

The Warriors take on the Desert Foxes of Algeria on March 26 and 29 in back-to-back 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

Villa are reportedly wary of letting Nakamba travel to Algeria which has at least 19 confirmed cases of the disease.

The English club wants concrete assurances and the preventive measures that the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is going to take in order to protect their player from contracting the disease while playing for the national team.

The Algerians will host Zimbabwe in Blida where the coronavirus outbreak started in Algeria.

In what is probably the most vicious and bloody of killing scenes this year, a 20-year-old man from Gokwe axed to death five people, including a mother and her one-year-old baby that was strapped on her back.

He extended the axe attack on a cow and its calf, while a couple whose seven-year-old son was killed, evaded death by a whisker. 

The murders happened in Lusulu, Binga, last Friday.

Christopher Gotore of Marapira area under Chief Jiri in Gokwe also torched a bedroom hut at Mr Bruce Sibanda’s homestead in Marangana Village under Chief Sinamagonde, where the attack took place.

Gotore was staying at the homestead but it is still not clear how he was related to any of the deceased or Mr Sibanda. 

The motive for the killings could not be ascertained yesterday.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and said police were preparing a comprehensive statement.

The deceased are Mr Admire Nyangarai, whose age was not given, his wife Ms Bibeat Munsaka (23) and the couple’s one-year-old baby Loice Compassion Nyangarai, who was axed while on her mother’s back.

Others are Ms Chiravigwa Shumba, whose age not given but originally from Makope Village under Chief Sayi in Gokwe and Mr Sibanda’s seven-year-old son, Shan.

Mr Sibanda and his wife fled from the scene after failing to disarm the accused who charged at them.

Their other son, Tawanda, narrowly escaped when Gotore allegedly axed Shan in a bedroom hut they shared with the accused.

 “On March 6 and at around 8PM, the accused proceeded to Mr Nyangarai’s homestead armed with an axe. Upon arrival he set a bedroom hut on fire. 

“Seeing that his house was on fire, Mr Nyangarai went outside with a cellphone torch and Gotore allegedly struck him twice on the right shoulder, and he fell and died at the doorstep,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said Gotore then proceeded to a bedroom hut which he shared with Tawanda and Shan, where he allegedly fatally struck Shan twice on the head. 

Gotore left the hut and went to a shed across the same homestead where Mr Sibanda was sitting with his wife Ms Gotore and Ms Shumba. 

Upon arrival at the shed, police said, Gotore struck Ms Shumba once on the collarbone and the woman collapsed and died on the spot.

Mr Sibanda tried to disarm him but was overpowered.

Mr Sibanda and his wife fled from the scene with the accused in pursuit. He failed to catch the couple, police said.

Gotore allegedly walked back towards the homestead and proceeded to the cattle pen where he tied a cow to a tree before axing it to death. He also axed a calf. The two beasts belonged to Mr Sibanda.

Ms Munsaka, with her one year old baby strapped to her back, screamed for help while running towards Mr Sibanda’s bedroom hut to seek help after seeing that her husband had died, not knowing the couple had fled from the scene.

Police said Gotore chased after her into a maize field where after catching up with her, struck her with an axe several times causing her instant death. The baby was still on its dead mother’s back when Gotore struck it once on the shoulder causing its instant death.

The deceased’s bodies were taken to Bulawayo for postmortem while the axe was recovered. 

Gotore was arrested and is detained at Lusulu Police Station on allegations of murder.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- SADC has decided that all their meetings must be held virtually through technological equipment like video teleconferencing etc, in the wake of the novel coronavirus which has killed over 3000 people worldwide.

The development was communicated by SADC secretariat member Ms Mapolao Mokoena who said:

Considering the recent developments regarding the coronavirus outbreak, a number of countries and institutions have taken responsible precautionary measures to prevent the risk of exposure to contracting and spreading of the deadly virus,” she said.

In this phase of preparedness and uncertain moment, the SADC Secretariat regrets to inform you that all planned SADC events around this period have been put to hold until further notice, when the situation has normalised and this global pandemic has been contained.

By A Correspondent- Two Zimbabweans nationals were arrested in South Africa for allegedly stealing fuel worth R3million at a Transnet station in Warden, the Free State Province.

The duo, Owen Muterede (38) and Huggins Nyamutamba (43), were denied bail at the Warden Magistrate court and their trial has been postponed to March 24.

They have been in remand prison since their arrest on December 29, 2019, and could not appear in court as the prosecution failed to get a Shona interpreter.

Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn told reporters on Sunday that the Zimbabwean nationals were denied bail and further remanded in custody.-StateMedia

She said:

Both accused persons have been denied bail and the case has been postponed further until the 24th of March 2020. They are in custody.

According to Warrant Officer Steyn, Muterede and Nyamutamba had loaded the fuel in four tankers and were arrested while transporting the fuel to Gauteng following a tip-off.

They were accosted near a farm in Presentkraal Street and seized pending further investigations.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF politburo member Perrance Shiri has called for harmony on the squabbles between Mashonaland Central province Members of Parliament and War Veterans.

Shiri was part of the hot  emergency Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting held in Mvurwi last  Friday.

Mashonaland Central which was formerly ZANUPF’s strong hold is being snubbed by the presidium due to poor mobilization of the party supporters by the Kazembe Kazembe led provincial leadership.

Shiri warned MPs and War Veterans to desist from “fighting”in public.

“ZANU PF is one both MPs and War Veterans you should not be seen fighting in the press, let us all work towards building our party and our province, pamberi nekubatana!” Bellowed Shiri.

War Veterans are bitter with Kazembe whom they are accusing of holding meetings with MPs and influencing them to use presidential food handouts for their selfish gains.

Kazembe forced the war veterans executive out of the PCC meeting as tempers flared, war veterans leader Sam Parinyatwa declared that they will not sit and watch while the province is being let down by Kazembe and his allies.

By A Correspondent- The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) at the weekend led political parties and villagers in a Zapu-organised memorial for 11 Gukurahundi victims.

Three of the victims were believed to be teachers and the others were either villagers or Zapu supporters killed on February 17, 1983 and buried in two shallow graves at Zibungululu Secondary School in Tsholotsho.

Meanwhile, the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has said it has started laying the groundwork for the process that will culminate in Gukurahundi exhumations, with President Mnangagwa expected to participate in an indaba to map the way forward.

The NPRC has since started training provincial peace committees that will engage people leading to public hearings and exhumations. President Mnangagwa has encouraged citizens to openly speak on Gukurahundi and has reiterated that no subject should be made taboo in resolving conflict.

The President has so far held two meetings with civil society and a separate one with chiefs to promote national healing.

The NPRC is expected to lead the exhumation and reburials of Gukurahundi victims, some of  whom were buried in mass and shallow graves at the height of the 1980s disturbances largely concentrated in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.-Newsday

The CAF ban, which was effected in all the country’s stadia has forced the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to move the Warriors’ next home match against Algeria on March 29 to Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This follows CAF’s refusal to a plea by ZIFA to have a re-look at their decision after the local football governing body had been given reassurances by the government which last week injected $37,7 million towards the refurbishment of three stadiums including the National Sports Stadium.

Coventry tweeted this morning confirming CAF’s refusal to give ZIFA a reprieve while reaffirming her ministry’s commitment to look after the 60 000-seater National Sports Stadium.

“ZIFA have failed to assure CAF that work we are doing in the stadiums will safeguard our national teams playing home games in Zimbabwe. ZIFA now have to come up with a stadium outside of Zimbabwe…

“It has finally been agreed that the ownership and operations of the National Sports Stadium in Zimbabwe will now be transferred to the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation. We have the experience and passion to now use this opportunity for Zimbabwe to become a sporting powerhouse,” she said.

State Media

By A Correspondent- Higher Education, Science and Technology Development, Innovation and Tertiary Education Minister, Amon Murwira has defended the recent tuition fees hike by local universities.

Murwira on Monday told the Parliament’s portfolio committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology Development, Innovation and Tertiary Education that it is a fact that low-income civil servants have never been able to pay fees for one semester at a go. He said:

In order to answer the question of affordability, sustainability and reasonability of fees based on what the public can afford, it is important to note that in the past decade, low-income civil servants have never been able to honour the tuition fees using one month’s salary as is being published in the papers, such things are a fallacy and I will prove it.

For instance, the bulk of the civil servants in 2017 had a salary range of between US$298 and US$350 a month and at that time universities were charging fees of up to US$1 200, so we just want to make it very clear that there was never a time when they managed to pay the fees at one go.

Murwira also said that the current tuition fees being paid in the country are the cheapest in the region as they are a mere 30 per cent of what other universities are charging

By Jane Mlambo| Following pressure from international bodies including Amnesty Interntional and European Union on the whereabouts of missing government critic Itai Dzamara, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of information, media and broadcasting services, Nick Mangwana has claimed they are doing everything to find him.

Dzamara went missing in March 2015 and has not been seen amid allegations that it was the work of state security agents.

Mangwana said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) was also offering a US$10 000 reward to anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mr Dzamara and was also making regular appeals to the public for those with information to come forward.

“Government feels very strongly that no Zimbabwean should disappear without trace and empathizes with the Dzamara family in their quest for the safe return of their loved one,” said Mangwana.

He added that it was therefore undiplomatically unhelpful and misleading to insinuate that the Government of Zimbabwe did not intend to shed light on Mr Dzamara’s disappearance, as if it had a hand in it.

The Government remains open to engagement with all diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe and provide clarity on any matter of mutual interest using the agreed formal channels, said Mr Mangwana.

By A Correspondent- A man from Gokwe last week axed 5 people to death, axed a calf and a cattle and touched a hut for reasons yet to be ascertained.

The incident happened in Binga‘s Lusungu area on Friday.

According to the publication, the deceased includes:

Mr Sibanda’s 7 year old Shan, Mr Admire Nyangarai, his wife Ms Bibeat Munsaka, the couple’s one-year-old baby Loice Compassion Nyangarai, who was axed while on her mother’s back. Ms Chiravigwa Shumba, whose age not given but originally from Makope Village under Chief Sayi in Gokwe.

All of the victims lived in close proximity to 20-year-old Christopher Gotore of Marapira area under Chief Jiri in Gokwe who was living at the Nyangarais when he committed the heinous crime. ZRP confirmed the incident, Gotore is currently in police custody.-Statemedia

MDC Youth Assembly statement on Morgan Tsvangirai’s birthday :

Long live the Revolutionary and Undying spirit of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai

On this day 68 years back a hero was born, Morgan Tsvangirai, the doyen of democracy, the father of democracy in post independent Zimbabwe. A man who lived a humble life of service and sacrifice epitomizing the struggle for a new Zimbabwe which would be anchored on rule of law and an end to misrule by ZANU PF.

Morgan Tsvangirai was a dedicated leader and a selfless cadre who initiated the journey for the national democratisation agenda in the late 90s having led a life which was dedicated towards uplifting and ensuring collective bargaining for the workers in Zimbabwe through his relentless efforts at ZCTU .

As we mourn your departed soul dear father Democracy but we applaud your life achievements ,recognise your legacy and we are dedicated to punctuate the national democratic revolution under the able leadership of the President you left for us , Nelson Chamisa .

Save we have some misguided elements who have derailed from the party position and think they can use your name in cohoots with ZANU PF to perpuate their agenda to destroy the party. As the MDC Youth Assembly we would want to state it very clearly that ,this party will not have any leadership determined by the courts or by any rogue elements who masquerade as the Tsvangirai legacy torch bearers to such demonic extends of taking traditional healers to Humanikwa gravesite yet when Morgan Tsvangirai was still alive the same were rebellious more than four times making headlines but now they want to be more Tsvangirai than the party and the people you left in the party who stood by you in turmoil and in tenacity.

Today we celebrate your birthday cognizant of what ought to be done in the confrontation of the regime towards a democratic agenda which will usher in a new trajectory for our teapot shaped nation.

We stand with the President you left us with as you departed mother earth, we can safely confirm that the party has grown , the voters doubled in 2018 under the able leadership of President Nelson Chamisa .

May your departed soul rest in eternal power as we punctuate the democratic struggle as you commissioned us before your untimely death .

Long Live the Revolutionary Spirit of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai Long Live

Womberaiishe Nhende
MDC Youth Assembly National deputy spokesperson

By A Correspondent- The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has pleaded with Parliament to assist its members settle a US$43m owed to wheat suppliers for 2017-2018 period.

In letter penned by Tafadzwa Musarara after his recent appearance before the committee of Agriculture, Lands, Water and Rural Resettlement chaired by Justice Mayor Wadyajena, the GMAZ boss said grain millers owe international suppliers USD$43m.

“We humbly submit that the portfolio committee hearing meeting held on 25 February 2020 did not adequately afford us time to elucidate a number of key issues that are necessary to assist the parliamentary portfolio committee to come up with an informed decision,” Musarara wrote to Parliament.

The GMAZ head said his organization did not abuse any foreign currency availed to members for wheat procurement.

“This wheat purchasing structure was completely above board and most certainly in the national interest. In fact, it has saved the country from unprecedented bread shortage that could have degenerated into food riots,” Musarara said.

“We would appreciate if this esteemed committee could assist us in the payment of our foreign debts of individual millers for wheat supplied three years ago.

“Currently an amount of USD$43 million is still owed to foreign wheat suppliers for wheat supplied in 2017-2018,” Musarara said.

The GMAZ team appeared before the Justice Wadyajena-chaired committee and had a torrid time trying to explain how the funds they received from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe were used.

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa’s wife yesterday launched the first-ever women and youth driver training program in Goromonzi.

The state media reported that:

Auxillia who is the National Transport and Drivers Association (NTDA) patron, speaking at the launch of the program which will be run in conjunction with Traffic Safety Council Of Zimbabwe said;

Today, we have gathered here to officially launch a driver training programme where we would like to train youth and women how to drive.

The quality of drivers we intend to produce is the ideal driver who is courteous, cautious, and responsible.

The main objective of such a programme is to empower both women and youth in Zimbabwe. We would like to produce competent drivers in order to reduce and even better, to eliminate road carnage in Zimbabwe

During the 2019 festive season, the First lady would intercept motorists and interact with them on the need to observe road rules according to the publication.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s former aide and State House principal director, Douglas Tapfuma, has exposed how senior government and Zanu-PF officials allegedly abused the free-duty vehicle scheme for self-aggrandisement.

He added that some of the vehicles he is being accused of importing were used for campaign purposes in Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency.

Tapfuma named Youth deputy minister Tinoda Machakaire, who runs TinMac, a logistics company, as one of the many government and party officials who abused the scheme.

The facility was also used to buy campaign vehicles for Zanu-PF’s Vongai Mupereri in Mbizo constituency.

Tapfuma, who is facing a criminal abuse of office charge for allegedly abusing a government facility to import five personal vehicles, was testifying in court yesterday where he accused several Zanu-PF and government officials of using the facility for their personal projects.

He said some of the projects were meant to be “a good gesture to my principal, the President, Emmerson Mnangagwa”.

“Everyone in government and Zanu-PF has been doing it,” Tapfuma said.

“I wrote a letter to Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Ray Ndhlukula requesting him for duty free exemption letter and the request was granted through the letter he signed. If there were any doubts of my requests, he would have declined, but due to the fact that everyone was doing it, I see no problems with that.”

He told the court that several officials connected to the system, that include Mupereri and Machakaire, imported their personal vehicles through the duty-free facility of the Office of the President and Cabinet.

“It is a system that has been in existence for long to import personal vehicles through the Office of the President and Cabinet under the vehicles duty-free facility. TinMac Company has done exactly what I am accused of and using the same documents that I used. Mupereri also used the same documents. These kinds of transactions have been in existence for a long time,” Tapfuma said.

He added that there were many high-profile personalities he could not name in court who have imported several personal vehicles using the duty-free facility.

He said he assisted in the importation of Mupereri’s two vehicles which are being used as an ambulance for his Mbizo constituency to prop up his political campaign so that he retains the seat for the Zanu-PF party and please Mnangagwa in the process.

Mupereri, however, lost the seat to MDC’s Settlement Chikwinya.

“When I assisted Mupereri, I wanted him to be seen as doing a wonderful thing by donating ambulances to his constituency and win a seat for the Zanu-PF party, which would be a good gesture to my principal, the President, Emmerson Mnangagwa,” Tapfuma said.

Quizzed by prosecutor Clement Chimbari why Mupereri did not use his Constituency Development Fund allocated by Treasury to pay duty for the vehicles instead of seeking for a duty free facility, Tapfuma said: “I made use of the facility for my benefit and also for the benefit of my principal, who is the President.”

Chimbari asked how the principal (Mnangagwa) would have benefited from his personal vehicles to which Tapfuma said the vehicles went to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s former constituency, Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe.

He said the vehicles were also used in the preparations for elections in the constituency “and that would also be a good gesture to my principal”.

On why he did not use the Zanu-PF party channels when importing the vehicles to campaign, Tapfuma said he had to use his privilege as State Residences director.

He said his downfall was orchestrated by Ndhlukula, who did not want him to be occupying his position as per appointment by Mnangagwa.

He said when Mnangagwa was appointed Vice-President in 2014, Ndhlukula refused to do an induction for them because he felt that they were people seconded by Mnangagwa and not the Office of the President.

Tapfuma described the allegations against him as malicious, accusing Ndhlukula of wanting to second his own people to such key positions.

The former State Residences director said his department and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority had never complained about the importation of the vehicle via the facility and that there had not been any disciplinary procedures by his employer based on the issue.

The matter was remanded to March 26 for judgment.-Newsday

Sowetan|Multimillionaire trucker businessman Sam “Mshengu” Chabalala has gone missing and has sent his wife and some of his employees a “suicide note”, claiming that his life was in danger.

Sources in the Hawks said the note, which he apparently sent to his wife on March 3, Chabalala said he never wronged anyone and does not know what he has done to “deserve this”.

Chabalala is a wanted man after a warrant of arrest was issued for him on Friday when he failed to appear in the Witbank magistrate’s court in connection with charges of corruption, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal entry and remaining within the borders of SA, and providing false information to be granted entry into the country.

He was out on R200,000 bail, which was granted in September.

Chabalala is also out on R500,000 bail on a separate matter and faces charges of corruption and bribery after he allegedly attempted to bribe a senior police officer to return his vehicle and make his docket disappear in the initial case.

The matter was being heard in the Middelburg magistrate’s court and was postponed to March 30.

In the note seen by Sowetan, Chabalala wrote to his wife, Lerato Legodi, saying he was scared that he was going to be killed. He sent the same note to some of his employees at Sam Holdings.

I-Harare|Terence Mukupe’s ex-wife Rachel J who was allegedly impregnated by Bushiri gives birth: Pics. With all the drama that has been surrounding these 3, that is Rachel J, ex-Minister Terence Mukupe and ECG founder prophet Bushiri there has been a good thing that has come out of it. Yes, there is a baby that has been produced and we are so happy.

Its a shame though that a baby was born in such a way where there are so much controversy and hype and even drama. The singer who is behind the song Ngoro which she collaborated with Enzo Ishall has just given birth to a bouncing baby girl.

Social media has been flooded by pictures of the baby in which the singer posted as she shared the news. Check the pictures below

She was in a beautifully decorated room, that we almost got confused about whether she was in the hospital or she delivered at home. The setup was just nice…

MPILO Central Hospital nurses yesterday demonstrated against the chief executive officer Mr Leonard Mabandi’s directive for them to start working four-day shifts instead of the two days they agreed on with the Government.

Nurses used to work seven days a week but adopted the two-day weekly shifts due to incapacitation.

The Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association (Zina) signed an agreement with the Government last year which gave provision for nurses to work two days of 12-hour shifts per week, which are flexible working hours that were also adopted by staff in other health institutions.

The nurses however said Mr Mabandi issued a circular on Monday last week instructing them to revert to a four-day weekly shift despite their agreement with the Government.

Hospital business came to a standstill as nurses staged a four-hour protest between 8AM and 12pm yesterday.

They stood at the administration block where Mr Mabandi’s office is, chanted slogans against the CEO, who is said to be in Harare.

It was a sea of white as nurses waved placards with messages that read: “No to slavery, Asidli Vaya (we don’t eat Vaya – a reference to $1 transport that the hospital organised for workers to cushion them against $7 charged by kombis).”

In an interview during the demonstration, Zina provincial chairperson, Mr Nicholas Chidora said since last week the nurses were being forced to work for four days.

During the demonstration the nurses accused the CEO along with the Administration department of mismanagement.

“Zina last year agreed with the Government to allow nurses to work for two days of 12-hour shifts. We adopted the working schedule which was agreed by Government during the period when the doctors were on strike.

“However, on Monday last week Mr Mabandi issued a circular instructing nurses to go back to normal duties without even addressing our issues. As nurses we are demonstrating today to send a message that we will not revert to the normal working hours until the institution addresses our grievances as nurses,” said Mr Chidora.

He said nurses were working under very difficult conditions as a result of shortage of resources.

“The hospital is not adequately prepared for any emergencies including coronavirus itself. As nurses we have not undergone training to equip us with adequate knowledge about the virus and how to address it.

“I can tell you that in the event that there is an outbreak of the virus today, the patients will suffer because the institution is not well prepared for it. This is a very infectious environment but we are forced to work without resources to protect ourselves from the infections,” said Mr Chidora.

President Mnangagwa has restricted international travel especially outside Africa, while civil servants have been banned from foreign trips as Government takes measures to minimise the risk of exposure to Covid-19, which is caused by coronavirus.

In Zimbabwe more than 6 000 people have been screened of the virus at ports of entry, mainly Robert Gabriel Mugabe International and Victoria Falls International airports. All 26 ports, eight of which are airports and 18 inland border posts, have screening facilities.

The concern by Mpilo nurses comes at a time when South Africa reported yesterday that it now has seven confirmed cases of coronavirus. According to the Sabc, the four new cases were among the group of people who were travelling from Italy.

In Zimbabwe, the Chinese government has committed to upgrading facilities at Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital which will be used as a centre to quarantine and treat patients in case of an out break in Bulawayo and is doing the same for Wilkins Hospital in Harare.

Mpilo Central Hospital acting CEO Mr Thomas Nyikadzino referred questions to Mr Mabandi who could not be reached on his mobile phone.

State Media|THE National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has said it has started laying the groundwork for the process that will culminate in Gukurahundi exhumations, with President Mnangagwa expected to participate in an indaba to map the way forward.

The NPRC has since started training provincial peace committees that will engage people leading to public hearings and exhumations.

President Mnangagwa has encouraged citizens to openly speak on Gukurahundi and has reiterated that no subject should be made taboo in resolving conflict.

The President has so far held two meetings with civil society and a separate one with chiefs to promote national healing.

The NPRC is expected to lead the exhumation and reburials of Gukurahundi victims, some of whom were buried in mass and shallow graves at the height of the 1980s disturbances largely concentrated in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.

Provincial peace committees that consist of various societal groups who are players on issues to do with conflict resolutions are playing a role in the process.

When the Bulawayo provincial peace committee was constituted last year, it identified issues of concern in the city that include Gukurahundi, importation of labour, non-enrolment of students from Matabeleland region at tertiary institution in the region and resuscitation of the city’s industries among others.

Addressing a Press conference during the Bulawayo provincial peace committee training workshop yesterday, NPRC chairperson Justice Selo Nare said the provincial peace building committees will the lay the groundwork for public hearings and exhumation processes.

“Presently, as a commission, we are not sitting idle; we are working hard. That is why we are taking the matters further. This training session of the peace committees and hearing the other side and how to look into it (exhumations) and after that we can come to a stage where we are going to be conducting hearings that are important so that we know exactly what the people are saying,” said Justice Nare.

Justice Nare said the President is expected to hold an inclusive meeting with various players from the region to tackle Gukurahundi matters.

“We do believe in the most recent future as the President said we would be holding a meeting that will include various stakeholders including the chiefs in order to map the way forward. Chiefs are a very important stakeholder group with regards the interesting subject of exhumations,” said Justice Nare.

He said President Mnangagwa’s engagements with civil society organisations from Matabeleland region complements peace building efforts.

Justice Nare said although NPRC was not part of the first meeting between the President and Matabeleland Collective, they were later incorporated into the discussions as issues that arose from that engagement touched on their constitutional mandate.

He said while many people are demanding answers on when exhumations should be conducted, due processes have to be followed to effectively deliver on lasting peace.

Yesterday, the Bulawayo provincial peace committee was holding its first training workshop after being constituted last year.

Commissioner Leslie Ncube, who is assigned to Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, leads the provincial peace committee and is deputised by Ms Nokuthula Dube from Ukuthula Trust.

The three-day training workshop which ends tomorrow is being conducted under closed doors due to the sensitivity of conflict issues to allow participants to effectively contribute in the peace building processes.

He said Gotore then proceeded to a bedroom hut which he shared with Tawanda and Shan, where he allegedly fatally struck Shan twice on the head.

Gotore left the hut and went to a shed across the same homestead where Mr Sibanda was sitting with his wife Ms Gotore and Ms Shumba.

Upon arrival at the shed, police said, Gotore struck Ms Shumba once on the collarbone and the woman collapsed and died on the spot.

Mr Sibanda tried to disarm him but was overpowered.

Mr Sibanda and his wife fled from the scene with the accused in pursuit. He failed to catch the couple, police said.

Gotore allegedly walked back towards the homestead and proceeded to the cattle pen where he tied a cow to a tree before axing it to death. He also axed a calf. The two beasts belonged to Mr Sibanda.

Ms Munsaka, with her one year old baby strapped to her back, screamed for help while running towards Mr Sibanda’s bedroom hut to seek help after seeing that her husband had died, not knowing the couple had fled from the scene.

Police said Gotore chased after her into a maize field where after catching up with her, struck her with an axe several times causing her instant death. The baby was still on its dead mother’s back when Gotore struck it once on the shoulder causing its instant death.

The deceased’s bodies were taken to Bulawayo for postmortem while the axe was recovered.

Gotore was arrested and is detained at Lusulu Police Station on allegations of murder.

The trial of former Health and Child Care Minister David Parirenyatwa on charges of criminal abuse of office will now continue, with him presenting his defence after yesterday’s attempt to delay the trial failed.

Parirenyatwa, through Advocate Depak Mehta, unsuccessfully applied for the next stage of his trial to be delayed further until the High Court reviewed the dismissal by the Harare Magistrates Court of an earlier application for discharge after the State case.

The presiding magistrate had ruled that the State had made a strong enough case to require Parirenyatwa to defend his actions.

Yesterday, Harare Provincial magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo dismissed Parirenyatwa’s application for a delay until the review and put him to his defence.

Allegations are that Parirenyatwa abused his position as a public officer and directed NatPharm board chairperson Dr George Washaya to terminate the contract of Ms Flora Sifeku as managing director, allegedly showing favour to Mr Newman Madzikwa, who had once been sacked from the pharmaceutical company for reportedly selling donated drugs.

At the time he was fired in September 2009, Mr Madzikwa was NatPharm’s Masvingo branch manager.

The indictment revealed that Parirenyatwa had indicated that he required Ms Sifeku’s services at the ministry’s head office for an indefinite period.

The board, it is alleged, complied with Parirenyatwa’s directive and gave Ms Sifeku and Mr Madzikwa six months contracts each as managing directors.

It is alleged that Parirenyatwa’s conduct created double dipping on NatPharm funds as the company was paying two salaries towards the managing director’s position, thereby prejudicing it of a total of $30 006. The State further alleges that Parirenyatwa’s actions were prejudicial to the good administration of NatPharm and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Farai D Hove| The outgoing Egyptian Ambassador, Mohamed Fahmy, has said up until the day reforms are implemented, Zimbabwe has no future to talk about. He described it as a “promising future,” that can only come after institutional reforms are completed.

He was speaking soon after meeting ZANU PF president Emmerson Mnangagwa and his comments come barely days after South Africa’s ambassador to Harare said for Zimbabwe to succeed, politicians must take their hands off the national institutions.

The state media twisted ambassador Fahmy’s words to mean he is saying Zimbabwe’s economic future is bright. But he clearly said the future will only come “after the reform process is completed.”

He also added saying “investors from the private sector are waiting” for that stage to be accomplished.Wr

He said in full:

“I have to say that my end of mission report back to my Government will definitely emphasise the very promising future for Zimbabwe after the reform process is completed and I am very aware that some investors from the private sector are waiting,” he said.

“Now you have the new investment authority. I was informed by His Excellency (Emmerson Mnangagwa) that we will have some people from finance where they can meet directly with investors coming in different specialised sectors, so all my best wishes for your beautiful country.”

Meanwhile, ambassador Fahmy also threw another shot at Mnangagwa’s regime known for hiring people who are past the retirement age. He said he would retire as he was going to reach the mandatory retirement age of 60 in the next few days.