By A Correspondent- MDC president Nelson Chamisa and top party officials were yesterday banned from attending the court hearing of organizing secretary Amos Chibaya and deputy Sibusisiwe Masara causing a scene that resulted in heavy deployment of police at the Harare Magistrates Courts.
Chamisa made a surprise appearance at the Harare Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning to offer support to Chibaya and Budha who were appearing before Magistrate Gloria Takundwa.
Chamisa was however only able to sit through the first session before the court adjourned and did not return when the case resumed.
According to the state Chibaya and Budha face allegations of failing to stop the public from engaging in a demonstration when they were legally obliged to do so.
Chibaya and Budha sought refusal of further remand when they appeared before the court, arguing that the State’s witnesses had failed to attend hence the matter was not supposed to be postponed.
Magistrate Takundwa however allowed the postponement, saying that though the State witnesses were not present the court would give the prosecution its last chance.
She ruled that the case continues on March 11, but if the State witnesses were not in attendance, the court would remove Chibaya and Budha from remand.
Chibaya and Budha through their lawyers then submitted that they were applying for Magistrate Takundwa to recuse herself from the matter, arguing that she seemed impartial.
“We have instructions from the accused person that if the matter is proceeding on that day, we will make an application for the magistrate’s recusal.
“The basis of that application is that we are seriously doubting the impartiality of the court,” submitted defence lawyer Obey Shava.
Magistrate Takundwa will rule on the application for recusal on March 11.
Allegations are that on August 6 last year, Chibaya and Budha notified the regulating authority for Harare Central Police district, of an intended public demonstration in central business district (CBD) on August 16 last year, in the terms of section 25 of the Public Order and Security Act.
It is said that on August 15, Chibaya and Budha were served with a prohibition notice by Chief Superintendent Billa James Simbanechako.
The court heard that on August 16, Chibaya and Budha convened a public demonstration or caused members of the public to gather for a public demonstration in the Harare CBD in defiance of the prohibition notice.
It is alleged Chibaya and Budha as the conveners of the public demonstration, failed to comply with the prohibition notice and did not stop the public from engaging in the public demonstration when they had a legal duty to do so. -Wires
By A Correspondent- Social media celeb wars in Zimbabwe have become the norm lately and the latest pair to lock horns is none other than Mai Titi and Lorraine Guyo of the ‘Ndinyengeiwo’ fame.
Yesterday, a furious Mai Titi took to Facebook to drag Lorraine and air her dirty laundry for all to see. This follows a skit done by Lorraine which Mai Titi took offense to.
Although Mai Titi was not mentioned by name in the skit, it was heavily implied that she was the topic of discussion. In the skit Lorraine and her friend talk about an older woman who is dating a younger man.
Mai Titi insisted that they were talking about her and her young lover Zizoe. Lorraine and her friend went on to make fun of her haircut which they said resembled singer Sulumani Chimbetu’s.
By A Correspondent- Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa has accused the private sector of running down the country and holding the nation at ransom.
He singled out SFG of siphoning out forex despite getting first preference from the central bank. The government does not believe in its black citizens.”
By A Correspondent- Controversial Mpumalanga businessman and tycoon in the trucking business Sam “Mshengu” Chabalala’s true identity has been revealed. Court papers exposed that his real name is Gilbert Tachuona and he was born in Zimbabwe.
Sam Mshengu, as popularly known, appeared at the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on a charge of corruption after allegedly trying to bribe a police officer to release his impounded Mercedes-Benz and to make his initial case disappear.
He is alleged to have paid R50,000 as a down payment and further added R70,000.
Mshengu was first arrested in 2019 and charged with fraud, corruption and possession of an unlicensed firearm. The Witbank Magistrate’s Court later released him on R200,000 bail.
Most South Africans had never heard of the young millionaire until he became the face of a flashy convoy of supercars that travelled to the Durban July last year.
The 28-year-old later told Aldrin Sampear on Power FM that he was born in Makwarela, Venda.
However, it was revealed in court that his real name is Gilbert Tachuona and he was born in Zimbabwe.
Daily Sun quoted state prosecutor Eric Sihlangu as saying: “The department of home affairs has indicated that the applicant obtained a South African ID through misrepresentation.”
Mshengu told Power FM that he started working at an orange farm in Limpopo at the age of 11 as a general worker whose responsibility was to pick oranges. He worked hard and earned his boss’ trust and was then moved to the trucking division of the company. There he learnt everything there was to know about trucks and the logistics business.
“I learnt everything about trucks and I loved it. I can tell you everything about a truck. He (my boss) gave me an opportunity to be a truck driver and I started delivering maize and other products for him to Zambia and other neighbouring countries. He then promoted me and I started working as a controller who was in charge of truck drivers,” he said.
The knowledge he acquired from working for his boss encouraged him to start his own trucking business. He registered his company, Sam Holdings Trading, in 2014 and used his boss’ trucks to start his business.
“I got a contract even when I didn’t have a truck at the time. I took my boss’ trucks and registered them. I was getting a commission of R10 at the time. I worked for a long time and raised money to buy my own truck. I could make R300,000 a month with commission and salary at the time.”
He kept working and saving money until it got to R3 million. He used the money to buy three trucks and trailers cash.
“Now I have 52 trucks running on the road with machines and plant hire. That’s how I made my money. I’ve never been involved in anything illegal. I do transport with Eskom, but I’m also venturing into mining now with my own mine. It’s all my mind and planning and the mercy of God,” he said. -Wires
By A Correspondent- Malawi Parliament Monday agreed that the country’s fresh presidential poll should be held on May 19 this year following the constitutional court’s February 3 nullification of the May 2019 presidential poll.
The constitutional court had ordered in its ruling that fresh presidential elections should be held in 150 days and that Parliament should meet in 21 days to make electoral reforms to accommodate the order and adoption of the 50+1 electoral rule.
Following the order, Parliament has also passed the bill to amend the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act (PPEA) to have the next general elections on the third Tuesday of 2025.
The august House also amended the Electoral Commission Act (ECA) to among others allow all political parties represented in the house to nominate Malawi Electoral Commission commissioners.
Parliamentary experts have argued that the amendments of the two Acts alone “are in conflict with the Constitution” and that “any bill/law that is in conflict with the Constitution is unconstitutional therefore cannot be applicable”.
They have further observed that as Section 80 of the Constitution says a Presidential election shall take place concurrently with a Parliamentary election, to have a fresh Presidential election, “there’s need to amend the Constitution with two-thirds majority so that the country votes for the President on his/her own without a vote for MPs”.
Section 67 of the Malawi Constitution stipulates that a general election shall be held 5 years after voting, thus after voting in 2019, the next General election was due in 2024. President Peter Mutharika is yet to assent to the passed bills of the PPEA and ECA amendments.-Xinhua
By A Correspondent- Harare is sitting on a health time bomb as most of its public toilets are in bad shape and no longer fit for use.
While council has refurbished public toilets in some parts of the central business district (CBD), those in high-density suburbs remain a cause for concern.
Most of the toilets no longer have running water and functional washing basins and flushing systems.
Poor maintenance and irregular cleaning have resulted in users shunning these facilities and choosing to relieve themselves outside.
A recent survey showed that most public toilets around the city, especially in busy areas were either out of order or had closed despite being critical infrastructure.
A classic example is that of public toilets at the intersection of Bank and Leopold Takawira streets that have been closed for some time.
The toilets are near a commuter omnibus rank for people going to southern suburbs such as Glen Norah, Chitungwiza and Southlea Park.
The air around the toilet reeks of urine and one has to be careful not to step on faeces.
So putrid is the smell that shoppers who used to walk on nearby pavements have created new crossing points.
At the busy Mbare Musika, only one toilet was functional, though it neither had sinks nor flushing systems.
Human waste was all over as there was no water, while the urinary was out of order.
In Highfield, at Machipisa Shopping Centre, the toilet was closed, but the one at the bus terminus was adopted by Batanai Affirmative Youths Trust.
The youths have turned the facility into a pay toilet and are charging $2.
The toilets are in a good state.
Toilets at Glen Norah B shops, Chitubu Shopping Centre and Specimen at Glen Norah A shops are not working despite all of them being popular spots.
Thomas Mabvire of Glen Norah expressed sadness over the poor state of public toilets in their area, saying council was taking residents for granted.
“These public toilets have been closed for quite some time because there is no water. The toilets were not even maintained and people were relieving themselves everywhere,” he said.
“I do not know why council is hanging on to facilities that are not adding any value to ratepayers. They should refurbish them.”
Another resident who only identified herself as Mai Musara had no kind words as she accused city fathers of spending money recklessly.
“Council is not even apologetic. We are at risk of disease outbreaks here because people are relieving themselves in nearby bushes because the public toilets are not working,” she said.
“The last outbreaks that occurred here were caused by boreholes that were contaminated by human waste due to open defecations. It appears council has not learnt anything from the experience or it’s just a case of our city fathers being arrogant.”
Toilets at Charge Office, Copacabana, Market Square and Chinhoyi Street bus terminuses were fairly maintained with council workers charging $2.
In low-density suburbs, the toilets were maintained and some have been adopted by local businesses.
However, at shopping centres such as Runnivile/Glenroy, Sunridge Shops and Marimba Shops among many others have no public toilets.
City of Harare spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme could not be reached for comment.
Town clerk Engineer Hosea Chisango is on record saying council was working on reviving ablution facilities across the city.
“We are calling on the private sector to come in and partner with us whenever we can. They can put up those pay toilets which are well maintained.
“The city will also be putting special services facilities which are cheaper, but we need to cooperate with the private sector in this regard,” Eng Chisango said.-Statemedia
By A Correspondent- Vice President Kembo Mohadi has withdrawn an application for the dismissal of his ex-wife Tambudzai Muleya’s application for review of a ruling by a magistrate who dealt with the VP’s application for a protection order.
Mohadi was seeking to defend an application by his ex-wife, Tambudzani, seeking termination of protection order he successfully sought against her last year.
Mohadi initially failed to respond to the application by his ex-wife, after his lawyer bungled.
Now he was seeking condonation for late filing of heads of argument, saying the failure was not wilful.
Through his lawyer, Reliance Ndou, Mohadi was seeking upliftment of a bar preventing him from contesting the application by Tambudzani.
“This is an application for the filing heads of argument by the applicant in HC/9929/18 out of time to be condoned and for the bar currently operating against the applicant to be uplifted,” reads a declaration by Ndou.
“The parties in casu have been embroiled in several legal cases. Tambudzani filed an application for review against the decision of magistrate Noah Gwatidzo. When Tambudzani filed her heads in HC/9929/18 they were mistakenly placed in the file for HC 8991/18.
“Heads of argument for HC 9929/18 were filed. However, heads of arguments for HC8991/18 were not filed due to my mistake as I failed to realise in time that these were two different cases in which decisions by the same magistrate were being brought under review.”
The lawyer said he only realised this mistake when the prescribed time period within which Mohadi’s heads of argument had to be filed – June 6, 2019 – had lapsed. He then managed to file on June 10, 2019, out of time.
Tambudzani approached the High Court accusing magistrate Gwatidzo of mishandling the protection order application by Mohadi.
She accused Gwatidzo of conducting a shoddy job and sought an order reviewing the magistrate’s decision.
Mohadi and his wife Tambudzani began divorce proceedings in 2017, before divorce was granted last year. As their fight raged on, Mohadi among other court applications sought a protection order against Tambudzani, accusing his wife of being violent. The Vice President told a court that he fears for his life.
The two have been in and out of the courts and have several pending cases. In one case, Tambudzani is asking a court for $13,000 monthly maintenance.
Tambudzani also sued Mohadi’s new wife, Juliet Mutavhatsindi, for $1,5 million in adultery damages.-DailyNews
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial chairman Biggie Joel Matiza has challenged the party’s leadership in Goromonzi South to unite to reclaim the seat that was lost to the MDC-Alliance in the 2018 harmonised elections.
Zanu-PF candidate and former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Petronella Kagonye was defeated by Mr Reuben Chikudo of the MDC-Alliance in the constituency.
Matiza was speaking at a meeting held at Caledonia and organised by the provincial Zanu-PF youth executive members for the provincial leadership to assess the state of the party in the constituency.
The youth raised several concerns such as the state of the party, lack of co-ordination in terms of food distribution to vulnerable families, lack of empowerment projects for the youths and delays in the allocation of land to the youth.
The Goromonzi South leadership was accused of failing to work with the youth to strengthen the party in the area.
The youth appealed to senior party leadership to regularise the allocation of stands at Melfort, which are meant to benefit the constituency’s youths.
The meeting was organised by the provincial youth league secretary for education, Ndichatsiva Rogers Pote.
Addressing party members at Tongovile Primary School in Caledonia, Matiza said the party will put up proper structures and restore the party to its glory days in Goromonzi South.
He said there was need for discipline among party members to ensure that they reclaimed the seat in the next election.
“We cannot watch the party sinking, while serving the interests of a few individuals,” said Matiza. “The party is bigger than an individual. Discipline in the party is all that we want.
“If there is a gap, we become weak in Parliament because of this. I have heard the issue of land barons and weak leadership in this area. We are going to look into that and ensure unity prevails for the good of the party.”
Turning, to youth empowerment projects in the area, Matiza promised to work with the relevant authorities to ensure projects were regularised.
Mashonaland East Minister of Provincial Affairs Apolonia Munzverengi said they were working to ensure food security at household level was achieved in the area and that food was distributed properly.
Youth League provincial political commissar Lincolin Matare said the youth needed support from the leadership to diligently drive party programmes.
“We expect the party leadership to work with the youth in mobilising people to join the party,” he said. -StateMedia
By A Correspondent- A gang of 10 armed robbers attacked a businessman at his homestead in Gwanda and fled with R15 000 and US$275.
Four of the suspects, Loveness Nyathi (34), Savious Sibanda (30) and Luckmore Siziba (21) all from Makwe area in Gwanda and Mbonisi Moyo (30) from Mpopoma Suburb in Bulawayo were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda, facing a robbery charge.
They were remanded in custody to March 3.
Prosecuting, Ms Glenda Nare said the gang, three of whom are the complainant’s neighbours, invaded the home of Mr Sheunesu Dube who owns a shop at Makwe Business Centre on January 13 at around 9PM.
“The four accused persons together with six others who are still at large went to the complainant’s homestead at around 9PM in a Toyota Hiace while armed with axes and bolt cutters. They cut a perimeter fence and broke the door lock with a bolt cutter and gained entry into the house where Mr Dube was asleep with his wife.
“Mr Dube tried to flee but the robbers struck him twice with an axe while his wife managed to flee. They ransacked the complainant’s bedroom and took R10 000. They went to his car which was parked in his yard, smashed the windows, took R5 000 and US$275 before fleeing the scene in their vehicle,” said.
Ms Nare said the complainant’s wife alerted neighbours of the robbery.
She said villagers pursued the gang in another vehicle and caught up with them in a neighbouring village after a 20km chase.
Ms Nare said the four accused persons were arrested on the spot while their accomplices fled. -Statemedia
By A Correspondent- A Masvingo-based businessman (42) has been arrested for allegedly raping his shopkeeper (18) on two consecutive nights as punishment for having shortfalls from her daily banking from his shop.
Fradeck Nhubu of Chirere business centre under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa.
Mrs Msipa remanded him out of custody on his own cognisance to March 1 for continuation of trial.
In his defence, Nhubu also a soldier, told the court that he had consensual sex with the complainant, whose name is being withheld to protect her identity.
He said the teenager was his lover, part time employee and resided at his shop.
However, the complainant branded Nhubu a liar, saying she was just two days into the job and was not in a relationship with him.
“He said I had a shortfall of $150 the first day before raping me the first night and the following night while my daughter slept by my side. I wasn’t in love with him. I have a boyfriend,” she said.
Prosecutor Mr Kelvin Guvheya told the court that on October 25 last year at around 12.01AM, Nhubu entered the shop where the complainant was sleeping with her 11-month-old daughter and sneaked into the complainant’s blankets and they wrestled for a while.
The court heard that Nhubu overpowered the complainant, tore her under-garments and raped her once.
“The following night at around 10PM, again Nhubu came into the shop where the complainant was fast asleep with her daughter.
“He ordered the complainant to keep quiet and not to report the matter to anyone since he is a member of the Zimbabwe National Army and again raped her,” said Mr Guvheya.
“The complainant again did not tell anyone because Nhubu threatened to file a counter report to the effect that she stole his money.”
The court heard that on October 27 Nhubu phoned the complainant at around 9PM to come to his room but she refused.
She later collected her belongings and went to the Ward councillor’s house where she narrated her ordeal leading to the arrest of Nhubu. -StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Whistleblowers who make false corruption reports to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) will soon be prosecuted, a senior official has said.
ZACC Commissioner Gabriel Chaibva said they were concerned with the proliferation of individuals attempting to use the commission to settle personal scores. He said this during the National Anti-Corruption Strategy validation workshop in Masvingo on Monday.
“We are currently revisiting laws and statutes with the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“In the near future, there shall be a penalty for those that supply ZACC with false information.
“It is worrisome that ZACC is inundated with false corruption reports from politicians, businesspeople and other individuals. This then will force us to waste our resources in pursuance of the false leads,” said Commissioner Chaibva.
Commissioner Chaibva, who was flanked by the University of Zimbabwe economics lecturer Professor Albert Makochekanwa, said some individuals were accusing their enemies of corruption.
“Now, because of this we don’t rush into arresting parties in a case before assessing its authenticity.
“That is why at times we take time to deliver the outcome of the case,” he said.
“Some of these so-called corruption reports are mere political statements from unscrupulous politicians expecting ZACC to settle their scores,” Commissioner Chaibva said.
He emphasised the need for tangible evidence in corruption cases.-Statemedia
By A Correspondent- Former Midlands State University (MSU) bursar Mamelo Moyo and her husband Melusi, who formed a briefcase company that saw the institution of higher learning being swindled of more than US$150 000 through unprocedural business transactions, have approached the High Court challenging their conviction.
Mamelo and Melusi, who is also the university’s former acting director of works, prejudiced the university of US$154 393,05 in underhand dealings.
The couple connived and flouted tender processes by awarding a deal for the supply of stationery and chickens at uncompetitive prices to a private firm in which they had interests.
They were convicted on charges of corruptly concealing from a principal, a personal interest by Gweru regional magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire and sentenced to five years jail each.
The magistrate suspended two years from their sentence on condition that they pay US$4 000 each and a further three years were suspended for five years on condition that they do not within that period commit a similar offence.
Mamelo and Melusi, through their lawyers Mutuso, Taruvinga and Mhiribidi Attorneys, filed a notice of appeal against conviction.
In their grounds of appeal, they argued that the magistrate erred by failing to appreciate that corruption was an essential element of the offence and that the State did not place any evidence of corruption before the court.
They said there was no evidence before the court to prove intention to deceive.
“The court a quo erred and misdirected itself at law by making unfathomable credibility findings on the evidence of accomplice witnesses who had a motive to exaggerate,” argued the lawyers.
Mamelo and Melusi said the court misdirected itself by ignoring the fact that there was an acrimonious relationship between themselves and the university council chairman.
“Failure by the State to call the evidence of the council chairman in rebuttal of the appellants’ defence was a misdirection on the part of the court a quo.
“The magistrate further erred by failing to consider that the appellants had no hand in the awarding of the tenders,” said the lawyers. They argued that they did not participate in adjudication processes in respect of all the 24 transactions.
According to court papers, it was stated that between September 11, 2014, and September 25, 2015, the couple made supplies to MSU via Netabelt Investments through a tender process as well as the competitive quotation bidding process without having declared their interests to the university in violation of the institution’s financial regulations.
Mamelo authorised for 14 of the 19 transactions which were made to Netabelt Investments via bank transfers into its CBZ account.
On October 26, 2015, MSU represented by Mr Erasmus Mupfiga, got a tip-off that the two had an undisclosed relationship with one of the university’s suppliers of stationery and computer accessories called Netabelt Investments Pvt Limited.
The institution then called Deloitte and Touche to investigate the relationship between the couple and the company. On realising that procurement procedures of the university were about to be audited, Mamelo completed declaration of conflicts form and declared that Melusi was her husband and director of Netabelt Investments Pvt Limited.
Mamelo also brought a declaration of conflicts form completed by her husband declaring he was the director of the company. She went on and forced her two subordinates Nyaradzai Kutsira and Jonathan Satande to sign in the forms as witnesses.
The audit, however, disclosed that Melusi also had 30 transactions through Netabelt Investment (Pvt) Limited worth $154 393,05 with MSU for the supply of stationery and food which were preceded through competitive quotation bidding process. Mamelo would authorise the payments made to the company. A report was made to the police leading to the couple’s arrest.-Statemedia
GWANDA-based gold producer, Blanket Mine, has secured a power generation licence from the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) which will allow the mining company to install an 18MW solar power plant.
Last October Blanket Mine, through its parent firm, Caledonia Mining Corporation announced plans to install a solar power plant to further reduce dependence on the national grid as well as reduce operational costs.
Blanket Mine has been a foreign currency cash cow for ZESA as it was settling its huge electricity in US Dollars in order to enjoy uninterrupted power supply.
Caledonia Mining Corporation on its Twitter handle said:
“Caledonia has received a generating licence for the proposed 18MW solar project to supply Blanket Mine and we are evaluating tenders received to build the project.
“In the meantime, we can start work clearing the 38-hectare (approximately 94 acre) site for the project.”
Speaking by telephone from Harare yesterday, Zera acting chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani confirmed the development.
“Yes, we have issued them with a licence to generate power but for own consumption. They will put to the grid what they will not use but we expect that they will use most of the power that they are going to produce,” he said.
The mining group expects to fund the project but the tender process would invite proposals from potential funders who may be able to offer a more cost-effective funding structure.
In the future, Caledonia also projects that Blanket will have blended electricity supply from grid, solar and back-up diesel generators, which would deliver greater operational reliability, lower operating costs and improved environmental sustainability.
Between July and early August 2019, Blanket Mine experienced electricity supply disruptions and the mine had to rely heavily on its installed diesel generator back-up capacity.
Meanwhile, gold production during 2019 was approximately 55 182 ounces, ahead of revised production guidance of 53 000 ounces driven by improved power availability and grade control.
In the quarter ended December 31, 2019, a total of 16 876 ounces of gold were produced — 24 percent higher than the previous quarter — exceeding a prior production record of 16 425 ounces set in the final quarter of 2017.
This year, Caledonia anticipates gold production to be between 53 000 and 56 000 ounces.
The mining group recently increased its stake to 64 percent in Blanket Mine following the acquisition of an additional 15 percent shareholding from Fremiro Private Limited (Fremiro).
Fremiro will now hold approximately 6,3 percent of the miner’s enlarged issued share capital following a US$16,6 million gross consideration for the 15 percent stake.
The deal was settled through the cancellation of a loan — which stood at $11,5 million as at June 30, 2018 — between Fremiro and Caledonia and the issue of 727 266 new shares in Caledonia.
Last year, Caledonia announced it had entered into a legally binding agreement with Fremiro to purchase the 15 percent stake in Blanket.
Fremiro acquired its shareholding in Blanket when Caledonia implemented transactions in 2012 to comply with the Zimbabwean Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act.
As part of the transactions, Caledonia sold 41 percent of Blanket to indigenous Zimbabwean shareholders.
At least 15 percent was sold to Fremiro, 16 percent went to the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Fund, while the Blanket Employee Trust Services (Private) Limited received 10 percent. The financing of these acquisitions was facilitated through an estimated US$30 million of facilitation loans to the above parties apportioned pro rata between the parties based on shareholding.
In addition, 10 percent of Blanket was donated to the local community in the form of the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust.
Following amendment of the Indigenisation Act in 2018 to remove the 51 percent indigenisation requirement for gold mining businesses, Caledonia and Fremiro agreed on a transaction whereby Caledonia would purchase Fremiro’s shareholding in Blanket.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi
POLICE have arrested a serial fraudster who got away with about US$60 000 after swindling illegal money changers in Bulawayo and Harare.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the arrest of Malvirn Mtanda (35) from Harare.
Asst Comm Nyathi did not reveal the number of fraud cases Mtanda is facing but said he allegedly committed the offences between July last year and last month.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police have arrested a serial fraudster for swindling unsuspecting members of the public of more than US$60 000 in Harare and Bulawayo. The suspect Malvirn Mtanda aged 35 years was found in possession of identity particulars in the name of Gerald Magaya aged 36,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said Mtanda would develop good relations with his victims before pouncing on them.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the accused defrauded a money changer from Bulawayo on Monday last week before cops tracked him to his hideout in Harare. “On the 17th of February 2020, the accused approached the complainant and asked him to assist change a substantial amount of money into RTGS. The accused claimed that he had US$ and wanted ZWL cash. The complainant gave the accused person RTGS $105 000 after collecting the money from his colleagues. The accused thereafter said he wanted to change an additional US$4 000 to RTGS through Ecocash,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said after being given the money, Mtanda told his victim to drive to a city hotel where he said he was booked.
Asst Comm Nyathi said upon arrival at the hotel, he told his victim to remain in his car while he went to collect the money but instead he vanished.
He said Mtanda’s victim reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest in Harare.
“It was also established that the suspect had been defrauding people since July 2019 using the same modus operandi. One of the complainants in Harare was swindled of US$35 000,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said the victim who lost the US$35 000 was a businessperson who buys and sells computers.
Asst Comm Nyathi said Mtanda told his victim that he could change his US$35 000 into RTGS but he disappeared with the money.
“Members of the public are implored to engage in legal and clear financial transactions with banks and registered merchants,” warned Asst Comm Nyathi.-
Former Zimbabwe Deputy Finance Minister, Terence Mukupe is involved in a heated verbal fight with the highly controversial ECG Church leader Shepherd Bushiri accusing the self proclaimed prophet of sleeping with his wife and getting her pregnant in the process.
Bushiri has vehemently denied the claims while Mukupe has thrown in what he describes as evidence of the relationship between Bushiri and his wife as the drama rages on.
In the ZimEye.com interview video below, Bushiri’s bodyguards have come forward to reveal shocking “top secrets” and they announce that contrary to Bushiri’s denials, he was truly on the WhatsApp network between 2017-18 and only went on Telegram in 2019. They also speak on Sparkling Waters in Rustenberg where they say they once transported Mukupe’s wife to. The description confirms Mukupe’s account while somewhat proving Bushiri as the liar.
Watch video downloading below:
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The last time Bushiri was in the spotlight over infidelity allegations, his UK based colleague Uebert Angel telephoned ZimEye seeking to bribe for both him and Bushiri. ZimEye reproduces the telephone convo which ended up as a full interview below. We publish all in the public interest as there is a string of several women Angel himself has pleasured himself on, per his own admissions, and one of these, a 23 year old young lady developed a mental illness following the counter.
Answering to the matter, Angel justified himself saying a moral failure is not a crime. He said, “what crime is it what crime is that? You see moral failure is not a crime.
“I am dealing with the law here moral failure is not a crime. And remember I come from Masvingo, you know. We always say don’t cry more than the bereaved, alright?” (Time 40:00 to 41:27).
By Jane Mlambo| Outspoken Norton legislator Temba Mliswa will today hold a press conference to name his own list of corrupt cartels.
This comes hard on the heels of another press conference by former Zanu PF youth leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu who fingered three business people including Billy Rautenbach, Tafadzwa Musarara and Kudakwashe Tagwirei among corrupt cartels bleeding the economy.
Mliswa is likely to resume his battle with Billy Rautenbach following their fall out a few years ago over a deal gone bad.
The firebrand former Zanu PF provincial chair for Mash west has never missed an opportunity to hit at the controversial businessman, a few time questioning his monopoly in the ethanol sector among other issues.
ZimEye will stream live Mliswa’s press conference.
I repeat Emmerson Mnangagwa’s words when he bounced into Zanu PF after being expelled by Mugabe as the State’ s Vice President, I quote ” Zanu PF haisi yemunhu, ukada kuiisa muhomwe haikwani”
Anything that happens in Zanu PF is painted on an individual whilst the system is hidden. The hand of the system is never revealed. The evil painted on an individual whilst the system remains mystery and unsavory.
With Zanu PF they ensure that their institution remains clean and not touched whilst blame is shifted to an individual.
From 1999 to 2017 , opposition spend almost twenty years focusing on an individual which is ” Mugabe”, whilst the system was hidden. What Zanu PF does is that they ensure that the individual suffers major setbacks and becomes desperate to an extend that the individual seeks refuge to the system. They creat that situation.
In 2018 when Mnangagwa was on the edge during the announcement of the results, it is the system that came to his rescue and secured his Presidency. This is how the system works. When you refuse to obey orders, they will simply remind you of your past sins or how they rescued you from the jaws of darkness.
ED’s remarks
Apparently ED meant that anyone can be hounted out of the party but it remains intact. It is difficult to predict Zanu and noone is bigger than the party.
My simple analysis is this is a system which is difficult to dismantle. ED was expelled by Zanu PF and Mugabe in 2017 and the same happened to Mugabe and his wife together with his G40 cabal, and the party remained intact.
I have seen many opposition stalwarts calling for the removal of Emerson Mnangagwa from State Presidency, and the one who succeeds him will still do the same. The problem is not the individual but the entire ” system”.
Basically what this means is that the evil painted on the individual comes from the system.
What opposition don’t understand is that they are dealing with a system which is intact and well oiled. Their focus is not on an individual but on interests. You need to get this right. Zanu PF can offload anyone, they have no problem with that, they can sacrifice anyone, but the system remains intact. The hidden mystery is on the ” system”.
Opposition lacks researchers on why the system remains intact.
Questions can be raised :
1. What is the system?
2. Who is the system?
3. Is the system a human being?
4. Is it a structure?
5. Where is the pivot of the system?
6. Where is the strength of the system?
7. Does the system have pillars ?
8. The historical context of the system?
9. Where does the system operate from ?
10. Who are those who are part of the system?
Even those who are in Zanu PF, not all who understand how it operates. Some were ministers for the past fifteen years and they left without any knowledge of how it operates. Jonathan Moyo joined Zanu PF and left and it is still intact, Grace Mugabe left, Kasukuwere the one who used to call Mugabe ” Mudhara gushungo chinhu ndechenyu ndakachengeta” , some held powerful positions and they left and it is still intact.
” this is cultic”
Brief history on how Mugabe got into power around the 70s will entail how the system operates. Militarization of the state was one of Mugabe’s key strategies of how to remain in power. He created a system which I feel he didn’t understand how it operates.
So for those who are calling for Mnangagwa’ s departure, soon and very soon you will be starting to heep praise on ED.
The problem is not an individual but the “system.” You won’t be surprised that ED could be a face but behind the face a lot is happening which is beyond control.
We need researchers and critical thinkers when defining a problem.
This is a research topic which a think tank can focus on.
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is a Policy Advisor and Researcher and he can be contacted at [email protected]
BYNTANDO MAKHUBU|Religion and the controversy around belief systems has again been thrust into the spotlight, forcing society to ask questions on the who, what and why. Every day we are faced with questions around the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church led by self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri.
He has been in the spotlight, especially since he hit the streets of Pretoria. The first thing that comes to mind is the stampede of worshippers at the Tshwane Events Centre on December 28. Reports were that there were too many people at the gates when the ushers, or whoever does it, opened them for people to go in, and they clambered over one another in their rush to be in front.
As we asked ourselves who is this guy?, we were inundated with videos taken from inside the church of the young religious leader healing the sick and getting the lame up and running.
Just as we were asking ourselves questions, footage of Bushiri levitating emerged; also some in which he performed miracles by calling on random congregants and revealing intimate details of their lives, or connecting them to relatives far from Tshwane.
Wow!
Who thinks they can fool us by doing the supernatural, my family, friends and I asked, but even as we dismissed him as a charlatan, so did the numbers of those who believed in him grow. The hall he initially used became too small, we heard, so outer halls and areas of the centre’s grounds became his church, and thousands went there, never minding that they would not actually see him. All many wanted was to be in his presence, and then they knew they were right with God, we heard.
The magnitude with which his church grew, to almost 1 million people every Sunday, shocked those who preferred to go to the Anglican Church for a couple of hours every Sunday, and occasionally an hour or so during the week if the need arose.
But as I ignored his popularity, the conversation around his power and ability grew, and as it filtered down a friend of mine approached me, desperate for a miracle as things went south in her life. She asked that I accompany her to Bushiri’s church one Sunday she needed his touch.
I had seen early one Saturday morning while driving to Pretoria west a queue of people lining the fence of Tshwane Events Centre, some still in their sleeping bags, others under blankets, and a few with camp chairs, obviously waiting for something.
I approached security personnel to ask what was happening. They explained that there was a church service the next day and some people had been camping outside the grounds for two nights.
Their words translated to “madness” to me because I could not understand why anyone would do that to themselves.
So I told my friend I could not go with her. I explained that I did not think we would see Bushiri and that camping out from the Thursday evening was taking it too far.
She did go, and a month later, her fortunes changed – she got a new job and a new man in her life, both which brought her much happiness and financial benefit. I was not convinced.
Six months later she was job hunting again and the man she had met after participating in the mass prayer had abused and left her.
As we read about his shenanigans I would like to say to her and many others “I told you so”, because shady dealings mean a shady man. But I will not.
Instead, I react with horror and shock, not at what he does, but at the people who scream his innocence and curse everyone else for his persecution.
Own Correspondent|Arsene Wenger believes Chelsea broke ‘rule number one’ during their Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening.
Frank Lampard’s side had chances to take the lead in the first half but failed to captalise and Bayern’s dominant second-half display saw them run out 3-0 winners at Stamford Bridge.
A quick-fire double from Serge Gnabry gave Bayern a comfortable advantage before Robert Lewandowski sealed the victory.
Chelsea now face a mountain to climb ahead of their second leg in Germany on March 18.
And Wenger admits Frank Lampard’s side were punished as soon as they lost control in midfield.
‘What has he [Lampard] learned… but he knew already, because you don’t lose five home games if your team is superior to every other team,’ Wenger told beIN Sports.
‘But at that level, to give possession away you’re punished at some stage because they make you run too much, and you cannot survive for 90 minutes.
‘In the Champions League, if you lost the midfield you’re in trouble, it’s rule number one.
Bayern Munich finished with the authority of a side with no interest in ever letting Chelsea off the hook again. The gulf in class was enormous from beginning to end and, while there will be no shortage of nostalgia before the second leg takes place at the Allianz Arena on 18 March, it is unlikely to feel like much more than a sightseeing exercise when Frank Lampard’s erratic side visit the scene of their greatest triumph.
The painful truth is that a 3-0 defeat flattered Chelsea and, barring one of the greatest comebacks in the history of this competition, this tie is surely over. Bayern, seemingly on a mission to erase the memories of their inexplicable defeat to Chelsea in the 2012 final, were just as devastating as they were when they smashed Tottenham 7-2 in October. The Bundesliga pacesetters made the side sitting fourth in the Premier League look second-rate and all but secured their place in the last eight of the Champions League during a brutal second half, sealing an emphatic win with two goals from Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski’s 39th goal of the season.
It was Gnabry who took the game away from Chelsea with an electrifying four-minute burst shortly after half-time; to think Arsenal let him slip from their grasp. Gnabry has scored six in his last two visits to London and his understanding with Lewandowski, who created both of the German’s goals, was far too slick for Chelsea.
Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono has lost $310 000 worth of property from his Buhera rural home and this was allegedly stolen by his relatives and a manager.
The suspects appeared before Magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai at Murambinda Magistrate’s Court this week.
George Chihota (41), Langton Choga (35), both from Gavaza Village under Chief Nerutanga in Buhera, Hakuna Panyika (48) of 35 Hesel, Borrowdale, Harare and Tavonga Gono (43) are charged with theft.
THE Zisco board and management are set to beef-up security at the company following reports of rampant looting of resources at the defunct iron and steel giant allegedly by former workers and thieves.
Besides former workers who are well acquainted with the plant, machete-wielding goons popularly known as “Mashurugwi”, have not spared the company as they are reportedly threatening to attack security personnel with machetes to gain entry into the plant.
The world’s longest conveyor belt at one time, measuring 15,6 kilometres, was the first to be stripped down by thieves.
Zisco acting board chairman Dr Gift Mugano confirmed the massive looting at the sleeping giant, saying this was retarding revival of the steel manufacturer.
He said former workers were leading and orchestrating the stealing of assets like cables, pipes and the conveyor belt.
“The situation on the ground is that there is looting at the company by some former workers and thieves who are taking away cables and other material from the plant for resale.
“Machete-wielding thieves have targeted the company as they go and threaten the security with machetes before getting inside the company premises and looting resources,” Dr Mugano said.
Going forward, he said management would beef-up security and carry out a forensic audit to account for stolen property.
“We are going to beef up our security to avoid such happenings from being repeated.
“We are going to carry out a forensic audit and an evaluation of assets so that
we account for every asset,” said Dr Mugano.
He said the parent ministry had already been notified about the need for an audit.
“Plans for an audit are at an advanced stage as we have notified the Ministry of Industry and Commerce about it and any time it can be carried out so that we account for every asset,” he said, adding that investigations would be carried out and those found on the wrong side of the law would be prosecuted.
“Yes, we have suspects and investigations are to be carried out and whoever will be found on the wrong side of the law will be prosecuted.”
The Redcliff-based steel plant closed down at the height of hyperinflation in 2008.
Following its closure, Zimbabwe is importing US$400 million worth of steel and its products annually.
In this light, Government has proclaimed the urgent need to invest and develop anchor industries for strategic sectors.
At its peak in the 1990s, the former steel giant employed over 5 000 people.
Huge continent of MDC leaders who attended the court.
Own Correspondent|Dozens of riot police officers on Tuesday descended on Harare Magistrates’ courts after the leader of the opposition MDC, Nelson Chamisa’s ‘unplanned’ appearance.
It is believed that the police expected a scene as Chamisa and scores of MDC supporters were appearing at the courts in solidarity with their party’s National Organising Secretary and Member of Parliament for Mkoba, Amos Chibaya.
Chibaya is accused of failing to take necessary measures to stop the public from engaging in a protest when he was legally obliged to do so.
Amos Chibaya arriving at the courts with his deputy and several mdc leaders
He had appeared in court this Tuesday in anticipation of the commencement of trial but it failed to kick-off as the state’s witnesses were absent due to a motor-vehicle mechanical fault while the other one could not be reached on his mobile phone.
Magistrate Gloria Takundwa remanded Chibaya to 11 March for a possible trial at the same time warning the state that if their witnesses fail to appear at the next remand date, the court set, they will have to proceed by way of summons.
The defence impressed upon the magistrate that if the State fails to provide witnesses to the case on 11 March, the two must be removed from remand so that the State proceeds with summons, if it so wishes. The magistrate agreed with the defence that if the State fails to provide witnesses, then the two MDC leaders will be removed from remand.
The defence lawyers also asked the matter to be put before a different magistrate on the grounds that the magistrate presiding over the case was not impartial.
The two MDC leaders are part of a huge contingent of party leaders and activists who are being persecuted through prosecution by the Mnangagwa regime.
VETERAN football administrator and FIFA instructor administration and management, Kenny Ndebele, believes the domestic football constituency slept on duty regarding club licensing and this has come to haunt the game.
Another respected football voice, former Warriors team doctor and WADA Southern Africa chairman, Nicholas Munyonga, says there is a tendency to be reactionary, and not proactive, in this country’s football fraternity.
Munyonga said, exactly 20 years after the rights to host the Africa Cup of Nations were taken away from Zimbabwe, there has been no improvement in the quality of the stadiums.
They were reacting to the CAF ban on all domestic football stadiums from hosting international matches.
Ndebele said although he would have loved to see the full report of the recommendations made by CAF on their last visit last year, he believes the same areas which are important in the pillars of infrastructure, in club licensing, were required.
“We have been talking about club licensing since 2010 and this is one facet of club licensing which we are falling foul of,’’ the PSL chief executive said.
“Club licensing was introduced some 10 years ago and its objective is to provide a safe and secure environment.
“I am not too sure what is in the report, the requirements which needed consideration before the match. But FIFA recognise the role of media, and treat them with respect, and that means you must have a tribune fully furnished with internet services.
‘‘An anti-doping room must be equipped with a refrigerator.
“We can’t be sitting on concrete, in this day, and then argue how many people fit into Rufaro. If you don’t have a correct seating capacity, you may overload the stadium and block the seat ways, which should not be blocked, and block movement of people during a match.
“The principles behind club licensing were made to provide a safe and secure environment. Someone was circulating Pitso Mosimane’s backroom staff, which had about 19 people, so you need those big rooms.
“And then the issue of ticketing, CAF and FIFA have a share, so you cannot rely on manual ticketing.
“We do appreciate that the council has bigger issues that are to provide water, good roads and refuse collection to ratepayers so it becomes a challenge to provide these services.’’
Munyonga echoed the same sentiments.
“The challenge that we have is that sometimes we don’t put into action things that we would have been told a long time ago,’’ he said.
“When the rights to host 2000 Africa Cup of Nations were taken away from us, we were told we didn’t have facilities to host and were behind time in terms of renovating the facilities.
‘’That’s exactly 20 years ago.
“If we check, the only resemblance of renovation that took place was related to the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games which were held in Bulawayo, leaving Babourfields in its own category, compared to other stadiums.
“Today, at the National Sports Stadium, players sit on the floor in the changing rooms. It means it doesn’t need CAF to tell us our stadium doesn’t qualify to host. It is something which is given and something that we know.
“When CAF came in and inspected the National Sports Stadium, Babourfields and Mandava last year, they left a list for things to be done and said we will come back to inspect before March and nothing was done.
‘‘Teams need to plan. CAF are entitled to then make a decision that supports best practice where teams must know where they are going to play, condition of the turf, and quality of hotels.’’
He said there was a lot that needed to be done.
“A good facility doesn’t favour the away team but the home team as well. Our squad now consists of international players, playing in some of the good leagues, so they are also affected,’’ said Munyonga.
“If we look ourselves in the eye, I think we have become more of talkers, than doers, and sometimes think that weeding grass in the stands is renovation yet we need to guarantee safety for the players, safety of spectators and everyone, this is why FIFA insists on good stands, facilities and good parking as well as comfortable changing rooms.’’
State Media|WHEN we launched the Fix Our Grounds campaign recently, the reaction from some circles was that we were wrong, and misguided, and we took quite a real battering from them.
But, we also received overwhelming support from others, who felt this was long overdue, concerned citizens who understood the pathetic state of our stadiums.
These are people who, just like us, were fed up with this depressing tale of lies, which we have been fed by those tasked with maintaining our stadiums, who have been promising that they will do something, to bring back glamour to the facilities, but yet did nothing.
Our journey started last December, when this newspaper toured Gwanzura, Rufaro and Dzivaresekwa stadiums and we highlighted the embarrassing poor state of the three facilities.
Gwanzura, which used to be the spiritual home of football in the capital before Rufaro was built, had not hosted a domestic Premiership game for five years after the top-flight league’s bosses were concerned the raw sewage, which was spilling onto the pitch, was now a health hazard to the players and officials.
Gwanzura Stadium
Dzvivaresekwa had been off the radar longer, abandoned even by the Harare City Council officials who were supposed to maintain it, and its stands were collapsing, the security wall was disappearing and the playing surface had not been attended to in more than seven years.
Chibuku in Chitungwiza, Lafarge in Mabvuku and even the National Sports Stadium were also in various states of decay.
Gwanzura stadium
We launched the FOG campaign because we were so sure that, if we highlight the crisis we were facing, this would force authorities to refurbish the country’s football grounds, which had been condemned by the Confederation of African Football.
We highlighted that Gwanzura now appeared like a ghost facility, a stadium left behind by time and the changing seasons, a facility which the authorities left to crumble into something that now looks like a haunted ground, where even vampires won’t dare to play their ball games.
We chronicled how various groups of Harare City Council officials had toured Gwanzura, taken the media on tours of deception and shame, promising they would fix the stadiums, came up with budgets for the refurbishments, and even a time-line of when they would reopen the ground.
And, we revealed that the whole country had been sold a dummy by council officials, preaching the gospel of angels when, in actual fact they were merchants of doom, who painted an image that they were about to renovate the stadiums, only for them to do nothing in the last few years.
We showed that on March 22, 2017, the then Harare City’s acting town clerk, Josephine Ncube, said her council was working on renovating Rufaro and they were expecting to start erecting bucket seats and introducing Wi-Fi at the stadium and, by the end of April, the ground would be ready.
We reminded the nation that she said a contractor, Highmel Investments, had been hired to be part of the Rufaro facelift and there was no need for the domestic football family to continue worrying.
“In terms of Wi-Fi we have an arrangement with a local provider and you will see that Wi-Fi will be available at Rufaro and also at Gwanzura this coming season,” Ncube told The Herald.
“In terms of the bucket seats, they are already on our budget for council and we will start putting bucket seats this year and we are also going to put up an electronic scoreboard at Rufaro.”
That was in 2017, this is 2020, and nothing has moved — there was no Wi-Fi at Rufaro, only a few bucket seats were erected in the VVIP Enclosure, there is no electronic scoreboard at the stadium and the state of the pitch, and other facilities at the ground are worse off than back then.
She wasn’t the only one knitting this gospel of deception. We revealed that in April 2017, Harare City Council officials revealed they had set aside $150 000 to renovate Gwanzura with councillors resolving to invoke the powers vested in the then Mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni, to find the funds for the exercise.
National Sports Stadium
“Following discussions, the committee noted the urgency of the matter and resolved that subject to the approval of His Worship, the Mayor, council approves the refurbishment of Gwanzura Stadium to meet ZIFA and PSL standards at an estimated cost of $150 000 for use during the 2017 PSL season.”
The refurbishments, according to council, would target enlarging the changing rooms, refurbish public toilets, referees changing room and terraces. Council also wants to construct a medical room, ticket room, repair the security wall, and upgrade turnstiles and media area.
It would also replace the playing turf with kikuyu lawn and attend to the sewer backflow challenges.
More than three years later, nothing had happened.
Then, we also revealed, that on October 4 2018, the same Harare City Council said they had committed over $700 000 for the refurbishment of Gwanzura ahead of the 2019-2020 Premiership season.
“The Harare City Council will in the coming weeks start the full-scale refurbishment of one of our sporting facilities, Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield,” Council spokesperson, Michael Chideme said.
“The council has set aside $700 000 for the work. The first aspect is to address the issue of water supply to which the city council has already made payment for borehole drilling.
“The contractor engaged for the turf attendance will be on the ground as soon as the installation of the borehole is completed. The contractor for the turf will also address drainage issues.”
However, more than 14 months later, nothing has changed at Gwanzura and no one knows what happened to the $700 000 which was said to have been earmarked for the refurbishment.
We revealed last month that FIFA were sitting on US$2,4 million of ZIFA’s unclaimed funds, by the end of 2018, the bulk of which could have been used by the association for development of infrastructural projects.
The funds were part of the first cycle of the Forward Development Programme.
We also showed that the Football Association of Malawi renovated their 10 000-seater Mpira stadium, which opened its doors last year, using some of the funds earmarked by FIFA for such purposes.
We warned of dire consequences, if people didn’t react to the crisis we were facing and take remedial action but, unfortunately, our pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
Yesterday, our fears came to pass when CAF outlawed all the local stadiums from hosting international matches which means that, for the first time in their history, the Warriors will be forced to play their next AFCON qualifier on neutral soil.
It’s embarrassing and, sadly, it appears, there are some people who simply don’t care.
State Media|THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) says it has identified over US$7 billion in cash and properties stashed outside the country by former and current senior Government officials and captains of industry.
This comes as ZACC intensifies efforts to recover ill-gotten wealth hidden in foreign lands.
According to ZACC, some of the properties and cash were in Switzerland, London, the United States of America, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mauritius and Spain, among other countries.
In an interview on the sidelines of a three-day workshop on asset recovery being held in Harare yesterday, ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said more accurate investigations were now underway.
“Informally, we have now identified over US$7 billion worth of property and cash all over the world which were siphoned by our former leaders, current leaders, private sector and individuals. So this information we only got informally, so now we have to formalise the process so that we start the processes of repatriating the monies back home.
“So the purpose of this training is to equip our officers with the techniques of repatriation of stolen funds. This workshop is sponsored by the World Bank and UNODC and its from Star, which is Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative. So they are going to teach us on the various jurisdictions, how we can interact with those various jurisdictions, who we can engage and who we can actually work with in order to ensure that all those monies are repatriated back to Zimbabwe for the benefit of Zimbabweans,” she said.
The workshop is being sponsored by the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
She assured the nation that ZACC would follow through every normal procedure to ensure that stolen money is recovered.
“When I took Oath of office, I told Zimbabweans that I am really geared to recover most of the stolen money as much as I can go, as far as I can go, I am willing to go in order to ensure that we get back whatever was stolen from the country.”
Mr Vision Moyo of Mapaya and Partners said although there were chances of repatriating the money, ZACC was likely to face a few challenges, including international cooperation in investigations and extradition matters, capacity building and bilateral relations with the countries concerned.
“There are however, some countries that have managed to do this and these include Nigeria, Peru and the Philippines, among others. Philippines did the same process successfully and a substantial amount of money was repatriated back to them,” he said.
The workshop scheduled to end tomorrow is being attended by officers from ZACC, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), Financial Intelligence Unit, Immigration Department and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit.
Turning to the law, Justice Matanda-Moyo said there was need for the legislators to be proactive.
“For example in Britain they have enacted the Unexplained Wealth Orders Act and our counterpart organisation in London can actually call upon persons, the British and even those foreigners to explain on the properties that they have in the UK. So once that power is taken away from ourselves, it means we can no longer interact with the other agencies in order to make use of that particular Act,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
GRAIN Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairman Mr Tafadzwa Musarara yesterday failed to account for US$27 million which the association received from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to import wheat and could not provide evidence that the association used part of the money to repair Grain Marketing Board (GMB) silos.
This came out when Mr Musarara presented oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement chaired by Justice Mayor Wadyajena.
Asked to explain how his association used the money, Mr Musarara told the committee that the association did not get US$27 million, but US$26.1 million.
Mr Musarara said GMAZ gave GMB US$9 million for the maintenance of GMB silos. He said they submitted the information to Parliament last year.
The money, he said was deposited in MetBank Account number 010733244. Under the deal, he said GMAZ agreed with the Ministry of Finance not to charge interest.
For repayment, Mr Musarara told Parliament that, the Government would sell maize to his association at a subsidised price of US$240 per tonne, not the US$270 per tonne which was prevailing on the market.
He said GMAZ engaged Baker Tilly auditors who wrote to the GMB about the funds. But GMB finance director Mr Clemence Guta dismissed Mr Musarara’s claim.
The GMB official denied that the board received anything from GMAZ and said money for silos came from other sources, though some may have been members of GMAZ, but not GMAZ as a whole.
He said GMAZ was buying grain at US$240 per tonne not because of the silos, but that they had negotiated a favourable price.
Mr Guta said if the money GMB got from GMAZ was a loan, they would have gotten it at once, but the money came bit-by-bit. Mr Musarara responded to the GMB by handing out a letter which he said was from GMB to Cde Wadyajena, who however, queried its authenticity because it was not signed.
Asked why the letter was not signed, Mr Musarara said he did not know since it came through auditors.
Quizzed why the loan to GMB was paid out bit-by-bit, the GMAZ boss referred the committee to MetBank because it handled the transaction allegedly with the blessing of the Ministry of Finance. As far as he was concerned, he said the money was paid once and the bank was in a position to explain.
Wadyajena then called a former GMAZ member, Mr Davies Muhambi, to testify.
Mr Muhambi accused GMAZ of being a hoax. He said he was part of GMAZ, but Mr Musarara sidelined him on all GMB deals.
However, another miller, Mr Chirimuuta of Purity Trading, said he knew about the GMB deal and benefited from GMAZ. Wadyajena questioned a previous Press statement issued by the GMAZ public relations officer which claimed that the association never received money from GMB when Mr Musarara had confirmed to having received US$26,1 million.
Musarara said the money was not deposited directly into the GMAZ account, but to individual millers under the GMAZ basket.
Wadyajena said according to documents, GMAZ did not import a single grain, yet it got US$27 million.
At the centre of the dispute were bills of entry produced by Mr Musarara as evidence that the milling body imported wheat into the country.
Wadyajena said the bills of entry were of a private company and not GMAZ which negotiated the funding facility from the central bank.
“We have gathered evidence from Zimra which showed that GMAZ never imported even a single grain of wheat,” said Cde Wadyajena.
In response, Mr Musarara complained that Wadyajena was not giving him time to explain the process they used to import the wheat.
He said some of the evidence that the committee requested was with Manica Freight Agents whom they engaged to facilitate the importation.
“Mr chair (Wadyajena) you are deliberately not giving me the chance to reply,” said Mr Musarara.
Small millers that also appeared before the committee yesterday said despite being GMAZ members, they did not benefit from the facility and were not aware of it. This came after it emerged that only two players in the milling industry — National Foods Limited and Parrogate benefitted from the US$27, 6 million.
However, Mr Musarara said only those who were liquid at the time participated in the scheme.
State Media|ZIMBABWE has lost over US$3 billion to illicit financial flows through tax evasion, smuggling, corruption, fraud, drug trafficking and money laundering, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo has said.
Addressing an asset recovery training workshop in Harare yesterday, Justice Matanda-Moyo said illicit financial flows were among the greatest threats that Zimbabwe was facing as a country.
She said the Commission’s Strategic Plan for 2019-2024 had allocated 60 percent of its resources to investigation and asset recovery.
The workshop which ends tomorrow is being sponsored by the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
“The Financial Intelligence Unit estimated that Zimbabwe lost over US$3 billion to illicit financial flows through proceeds of crimes involving tax evasion, smuggling, corruption, fraud, drug trafficking and money laundering. Africa loses at least US$50 billion a year.
“Illicit financial flows involve money moving illegally across borders as such it is a daunting task following the money trail through different jurisdictions. The investigations are generally complex and it takes years to recover proceeds of crime.
“I am advised by the experts that it took Nigeria about 15 years to identify, freeze and repatriate an estimated US$1,2 billion proceeds of crime of the family and associates of General Sani Abacha, the former Nigerian President. This is just one of the few examples. It requires dedication on the part of the investigators and prosecutors and stakeholders,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
She said fighting corruption was not for the faint-hearted as it requires courageous officers that have integrity and dedication to duty.
“It takes years and dedication for one to be an expert in asset recovery. As the commission we are looking forward to building teams that are sophisticated and technically sound to conduct thorough investigations, asset tracking and asset recovery.
“In addition, we intend to move away from mediocre investigation practices. Corruption is evolving daily and in order to be prepared there is need for continuous training in the new forms of corruption. It is time for a change in the way that we conduct ourselves and our investigations,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
She said the workshop was going to focus mainly on international cooperation and it will provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the current international legal frameworks of combating corruption, asset recovery, and mutual legal assistance among others.
Officers from Zacc, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), Financial Intelligence Unit, Immigration Department and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit are attending the workshop.
MANCHESTER. — Liverpool deserve to win the Premier League this season and already have one hand on the trophy, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has said, adding that it hurts to see his team’s fiercest rivals doing so well.
Liverpool beat West Ham United 3-2 on Monday night to move within 12 points of winning their first league title in 30 years, while United are in fifth place, 38 points behind the Merseyside club.
“They are so way ahead of everyone else,” France international Pogba told ESPN.
“They have not lost a single game yet this season in the league. They already have one hand on the Premier League trophy.”
Liverpool have 26 wins and one draw in 27 league games, and Pogba said Jurgen Klopp’s team had improved continuously over the last few campaigns.
“They have been even better than last season when they won the Champions League and the season before when they (lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid),” the 26-year-old said.
“As a Manchester United player and with the rivalry between us, we don’t want them to win the title.
“We don’t want anyone else to win apart from us, but as a football lover and a respectful player to opposition teams, I have to say that they deserve to be where they are today,” said the France international, who has not played this year due to injury. — SuperSport.
ZANU PF Mashonaland East provincial chairman Biggie Joel Matiza has challenged the party’s leadership in Goromonzi South to unite to reclaim the seat that was lost to the MDC-Alliance in the 2018 harmonised elections.
Zanu PF candidate and former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Petronella Kagonye was defeated by Mr Reuben Chikudo of the MDC-Alliance in the constituency.
Matiza was speaking at a meeting held at Caledonia and organised by the provincial Zanu PF youth executive members for the provincial leadership to assess the state of the party in the constituency.
The youth raised several concerns such as the state of the party, lack of co-ordination in terms of food distribution to vulnerable families, lack of empowerment projects for the youths and delays in the allocation of land to the youth.
The Goromonzi South leadership was accused of failing to work with the youth to strengthen the party in the area.
The youth appealed to senior party leadership to regularise the allocation of stands at Melfort, which are meant to benefit the constituency’s youths.
The meeting was organised by the provincial youth league secretary for education, Cde Ndichatsiva Rogers Pote.
Addressing party members at Tongovile Primary School in Caledonia, Cde Matiza said the party will put up proper structures and restore the party to its glory days in Goromonzi South.
He said there was need for discipline among party members to ensure that they reclaimed the seat in the next election.
“We cannot watch the party sinking, while serving the interests of a few individuals,” said Matiza.
“The party is bigger than an individual. Discipline in the party is all that we want.
“If there is a gap, we become weak in Parliament because of this. I have heard the issue of land barons and weak leadership in this area. We are going to look into that and ensure unity prevails for the good of the party.”
Turning, to youth empowerment projects in the area, Cde Matiza promised to work with the relevant authorities to ensure projects were regularised.-State media
FOR the first time in the history of Zimbabwean football, the Warriors will play competitive home games on foreign soil following Caf’s decision to add Barbourfields Stadium to the list of banned venues that don’t meet the continental body’s requirements.
Barbourfields had provisionally been cleared to host international matches during an inspection held in November last year when the National Sports Stadium and Mandava Stadium were condemned.
The Bulawayo Stadium went on to play host to FC Platinum’s Caf Champions League matches, World Cup qualifiers for the women’s Under-17 and Under-20 teams.
Before yesterday’s announcement to ban Barbourfields, continental champions Algeria were next billed to play the Warriors at the venue in a 2021 Afcon qualifier next month.
Zifa dropped the bombshell of the Barbourfields Stadium ban yesterday through a Press statement, adding that they are searching for an “alternative venue in neighbouring countries to host our upcoming games”.
Bulawayo City Council were caught unaware by the latest decision, with Town Clerk Christopher Dube expressing shock that Barbourfields had been banned from hosting international games at a time they had started the process of revamping the facility to meet Caf standards.
“What delayed the process of improving certain things at Barbourfields Stadium was that there were processes that needed to be followed that include approval of the budget, which was done a couple of weeks ago. Also, some of the things have to be imported and foreign currency isn’t easily available.
As it is, there’s an ongoing Government programme we are hoping to get help from for the development of Barbourfields Stadium,” said Dube.
He said BCC was yet to receive any official communication on the ban.
Dube reiterated council’s commitment to improving the facility and feels they have been unfairly treated in losing the right to host international games at Barbourfields without being given adequate time to work on the facility.
“As Bulawayo we are committed to host international games in the city because that promotes tourism and improves revenue inflows.
We are always ready for international games and I think it was only fair to give us time to attend to any shortcomings.
What is important is to work together with Zifa and Caf and as Bulawayo City Council we can make a written commitment stating the timeline when renovations will be completed and then be held accountable if we miss the deadline,” said Dube.-state media
A self-proclaimed prophet from Gweru allegedly raped a 19-year-old woman in Bulawayo claiming he was cleansing her of an evil spirit.
Merryward Marara (36) from Mkoba 14 suburb allegedly raped the girl from Southwold suburb at his shrine in Westgate area.
Marara pleaded not guilty to rape charges when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Mafios Moyo.
The accused who is also known as Madzibaba Jeremiah, was remanded in custody to Thursday for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said on September 30, 2018, at around 3PM, the girl went to the shrine with her father and they were told she should remain behind for the prophet to cast out evil spirits bedevilling her.
“The complainant’s father left the shrine and the accused person advised the complainant to wait for him while he prayed for others who were in a queue. After the accused person was done with the other people he then attended to the complainant,” said Mr Manyiwa.
He said the prophet ordered the teenager to spread a white cloth, lie on it and to lift up her dress because he wanted to see something.
“The accused person told the complainant that the holy spirit told him that her ex-boyfriend had used some concoction after they had sex so that she will not have any other boyfriend except him,” said Mr Manyiwa.
Mr Manyiwa said Marara ordered the woman to follow him to a secret place where he later raped her once.
The woman reported the rape to her relatives leading to Marara’s arrest.-state media
Farai Dziva| A government official has accused teachers of snubbing normal teaching schedules so that they can charge for extra lessons in foreign currency.
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister
Edgar Moyo warned teachers against the practice.
It is not only the education sector that is facing challenges, according to Moyo.
“What is worrying now is that it seems teachers are not teaching during their normal working hours.
They seem to deliberately delay covering the syllabi so that they have an excuse to conduct extra lessons for a fee.
That should stop forthwith. Everyone is facing challenges, it’s not just the teachers and they should abide by the law,” Moyo told Chronicle.
Police have arrested a serial fraudster who got away with about US$60 000 after swindling illegal money changers in Bulawayo and Harare.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the arrest of Malvirn Mtanda (35) from Harare.
Asst Comm Nyathi did not reveal the number of fraud cases Mtanda is facing but said he allegedly committed the offences between July last year and last month.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police have arrested a serial fraudster for swindling unsuspecting members of the public of more than US$60 000 in Harare and Bulawayo. The suspect Malvirn Mtanda aged 35 years was found in possession of identity particulars in the name of Gerald Magaya aged 36,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said Mtanda would develop good relations with his victims before pouncing on them.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the accused defrauded a money changer from Bulawayo on Monday last week before cops tracked him to his hideout in Harare. “On the 17th of February 2020, the accused approached the complainant and asked him to assist change a substantial amount of money into RTGS. The accused claimed that he had US$ and wanted ZWL cash. The complainant gave the accused person RTGS $105 000 after collecting the money from his colleagues. The accused thereafter said he wanted to change an additional US$4 000 to RTGS through Ecocash,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said after being given the money, Mtanda told his victim to drive to a city hotel where he said he was booked.
Asst Comm Nyathi said upon arrival at the hotel, he told his victim to remain in his car while he went to collect the money but instead he vanished.
He said Mtanda’s victim reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest in Harare.
“It was also established that the suspect had been defrauding people since July 2019 using the same modus operandi. One of the complainants in Harare was swindled of US$35 000,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said the victim who lost the US$35 000 was a businessperson who buys and sells computers.
Asst Comm Nyathi said Mtanda told his victim that he could change his US$35 000 into RTGS but he disappeared with the money.
“Members of the public are implored to engage in legal and clear financial transactions with banks and registered merchants,” warned Asst Comm Nyathi.- Chronicle
A 27-year-old man in the rural area of Lilongwe, Malawi was stoned to death by fellow villagers on allegations of stealing green maize cobs in a garden.
According to Kanengo Police Station deputy spokesperson Salomy Chibwana, the deceased, who has been identified as Bester Kholora, was murdered on Tuesday at Chiponde village in the district.
It is alleged that Khorola was caught with 50-kilogram bag stealing the maize in Alimi Leviyosi’s garden.
The matter was referred to the village headman who instructed community members to bring him to his court, but the now-deceased fled and the mob gave chase.
Chibwana added:
In the process of chasing him, community members started stoning and beating Kholora until he was killed before reaching the village headman house.
Currently, the police are investigating the matter so that those who took part in the killing must face the law. We are still urging the general public not to take the law into their hands when suspecting someone of having committed crime.-Maravi Post
Now,His Excellency the president @edmnangagwa approached the milling industry saying that the Command Agriculture at that time was very successful, a big harvest was being expected but the silos needs to be funded and he advised that the treasury didn't have funding@JusticeMayorW pic.twitter.com/oAyDBD5aIT
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa approached the under-probe Grain Millers Association for funding, its President Tafadzwa Musarara told parliament today.
Mnangagwa and the former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa have been sucked into the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe saga, where there is controversy surrounding an estimated US$9 million which was purportedly used for the refurbishment of silos by the parastatal Grain Marketing Board.
Now,His Excellency the president @edmnangagwa approached the milling industry saying that the Command Agriculture at that time was very successful, a big harvest was being expected but the silos needs to be funded and he advised that the treasury didn't have funding@JusticeMayorW pic.twitter.com/oAyDBD5aIT
Presenting oral evidence before the portfolio committee on Agriculture led by Justice Mayor Wadyajena Tuesday morning, GMAZ Chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara implicated Mnangagwa and Chinamasa alleging that the duo requested funding from the GMAZ to refurbish the silos which were set to hold grain being produced under Command Agriculture.
However, Musarara could not furnish the portfolio committee with the supporting documents to authenticate that the then Vice president who is now the current Zimbabwean president made the request on behalf of government.
Said Musarara:
“… sometime in 2017, the chairperson of the cabinet committee………now his Excellency the President, approached the milling industry and said that the command agriculture at that particular time was very successful, a big harvest was being expected but the silo situation was not eer… the silos needed to be funded and he advised that the treasury didn’t have funding at that particular time so we were later approached by the then minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa who advised us that government was desirous to seek a loan from the millers ….for the funding of the repairs of the silos …..and as millers we provided a funding arrangement through a turn sheet, we signed an agreement with the minister of finance which we have submitted to this committee….”
Watch the live video loading below for this and more…….
A Masvingo-based businessman (42) has been arrested for allegedly raping his shopkeeper (18) on two consecutive nights as punishment for having shortfalls from her daily banking from his shop.
Fradeck Nhubu of Chirere business centre under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa.
Mrs Msipa remanded him out of custody on his own cognisance to March 1 for continuation of trial.
In his defence, Nhubu also a soldier, told the court that he had consensual sex with the complainant, whose name is being withheld to protect her identity. He said the teenager was his lover, part time employee and resided at his shop.
However, the complainant branded Nhubu a liar, saying she was just two days into the job and was not in a relationship with him.
“He said I had a shortfall of $150 the first day before raping me the first night and the following night while my daughter slept by my side. I wasn’t in love with him. I have a boyfriend,” she said.
Prosecutor Mr Kelvin Guvheya told the court that on October 25 last year at around 12.01AM, Nhubu entered the shop where the complainant was sleeping with her 11-month-old daughter and sneaked into the complainant’s blankets and they wrestled for a while.
The court heard that Nhubu overpowered the complainant, tore her under-garments and raped her once.
“The following night at around 10PM, again Nhubu came into the shop where the complainant was fast asleep with her daughter.
“He ordered the complainant to keep quiet and not to report the matter to anyone since he is a member of the Zimbabwe National Army and again raped her,” said Mr Guvheya.
“The complainant again did not tell anyone because Nhubu threatened to file a counter report to the effect that she stole his money.”
The court heard that on October 27 Nhubu phoned the complainant at around 9PM to come to his room but she refused.
She later collected her belongings and went to the Ward councillor’s house where she narrated her ordeal leading to the arrest of Nhubu. –Chronicle
Daisy, widow to the late Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, says she still needs time to mourn her late husband.
Oliver “Tuku’ Mtukudzi died on January 23 age 66 and was declared national hero.
Tuku Music board chairperson Tungamidzai Simango has vowed to keep the departed crooner’s legacy alive.
And a year and few days after his death, Tuku‘s widow still needs time to mourn.
She opened up last Saturday when she laid wreaths on her husband’s grave.
“I can’t believe Tuku is gone, each time I am alone at home, I feel like he will come back.
“When I visit the parking lot back home (Norton), I feel like he will come back and still park his car.
“For the greater part of the year, I have been mourning him,” she said.-H-Metro
The trial of the MDC Organising Secretary Hon. Amos Chibaya and his deputy Hon. Sibusisiwe Masara, who are facing trumped up charges of failing to stop a demonstration in 2019, has been postponed to 11 March 2020.
The defence impressed upon the magistrate that if the State fails to provide witnesses to the case on 11 March, the two must be removed from remand so that the State proceeds with summons, if it so wishes.
The magistrate agreed with the defence that if the State fails to provide witnesses, then the two MDC leaders will be removed from remand.
The defence lawyers also asked the matter to be put before a different magistrate on the grounds that the magistrate presiding over the case was not impartial.
The two MDC leaders are part of a huge contingent of party leaders and activists who are being persecuted through prosecution by the Mnangagwa regime.
The trial of the MDC Organising Secretary Hon. Amos Chibaya and his deputy Hon. Sibusisiwe Masara, who are facing trumped up charges of failing to stop a demonstration in 2019, has been postponed to 11 March 2020.
The defence impressed upon the magistrate that if the State fails to provide witnesses to the case on 11 March, the two must be removed from remand so that the State proceeds with summons, if it so wishes.
The magistrate agreed with the defence that if the State fails to provide witnesses, then the two MDC leaders will be removed from remand.
The defence lawyers also asked the matter to be put before a different magistrate on the grounds that the magistrate presiding over the case was not impartial.
The two MDC leaders are part of a huge contingent of party leaders and activists who are being persecuted through prosecution by the Mnangagwa regime.
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak – ousted by the military in 2011 – has died in Cairo at the age of 91.
Mubarak spent three decades in office before a popular uprising swept Egypt.
He was found guilty of complicity in the killing of protesters during the revolution.
That conviction was overturned and was freed in March 2017.
His death was confirmed by Egyptian state news on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, the Al-Watan website reported that he died at a military hospital.
Mubarak underwent surgery in late January and was photographed with his grandson as he recovered.
On Saturday, however, Mubarak’s son Alaa said that the former president remained in intensive care.
Who was Mubarak?
Born in 1928, Mubarak entered the air force as a teenager and went on to play a key role in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
He became president less than a decade later, following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat, and played a key role in the Israel-Palestinian peace process.
But despite the billions of dollars in military aid Egypt received during his time in office, unemployment, poverty and corruption continued to grow.
Discontent boiled over in January 2011, after similar protests in Tunisia led to the overthrow of the president there. Mubarak was forced to step down 18 days later.
Just over a year after Mubarak’s overthrow, Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist politician, won Egypt’s first democratic presidential election.
The new president lasted less than a year in office. Amid mass protests, he was ousted in a military coup led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Gen Sisi went on to win two presidential elections. Morsi died in prison in 2019.
In 2012, Mubarak was sentenced to life imprisonment over the deaths of some of the 900 protesters who were killed by security forces during the uprising a year earlier.
Both he and his two sons were also convicted of corruption.
But the more serious charges against Mubarak were later overturned and he was released in 2017.-BBC
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak – ousted by the military in 2011 – has died in Cairo at the age of 91.
Mubarak spent three decades in office before a popular uprising swept Egypt.
He was found guilty of complicity in the killing of protesters during the revolution.
That conviction was overturned and was freed in March 2017.
His death was confirmed by Egyptian state news on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, the Al-Watan website reported that he died at a military hospital.
Mubarak underwent surgery in late January and was photographed with his grandson as he recovered.
On Saturday, however, Mubarak’s son Alaa said that the former president remained in intensive care.
Who was Mubarak?
Born in 1928, Mubarak entered the air force as a teenager and went on to play a key role in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
He became president less than a decade later, following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat, and played a key role in the Israel-Palestinian peace process.
But despite the billions of dollars in military aid Egypt received during his time in office, unemployment, poverty and corruption continued to grow.
Discontent boiled over in January 2011, after similar protests in Tunisia led to the overthrow of the president there. Mubarak was forced to step down 18 days later.
Just over a year after Mubarak’s overthrow, Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist politician, won Egypt’s first democratic presidential election.
The new president lasted less than a year in office. Amid mass protests, he was ousted in a military coup led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Gen Sisi went on to win two presidential elections. Morsi died in prison in 2019.
In 2012, Mubarak was sentenced to life imprisonment over the deaths of some of the 900 protesters who were killed by security forces during the uprising a year earlier.
Both he and his two sons were also convicted of corruption.
But the more serious charges against Mubarak were later overturned and he was released in 2017.-BBC
A top Harare gynaecologist, Dr Ashel Marume, has been slapped with a $400 000 lawsuit by his patient, who is accusing him of removing her uterus without her consent while she was delivering a baby at a local hospital.
In the summons now before the High Court, Nyasha Chiweshere cited Queen of Peace Hospital as the second respondent.
The $400 000 is for psychological and emotional trauma ($150 000), future medical expenses ($50 000), loss of income ($100 000) and loss of dignity ($100 000).
According to Chiweshere, she discovered about it four days later after she had asked Dr Marume the best contraceptive method to use.
However, Dr Marume informed her that she no longer had a womb.
The incident caused her emotional and psychological damages, she alleges.
Chiweshere says she is now unable to carry out some of her duties as a farmer after she sustained some burns at the hospital when nurses placed unwrapped hot water bottles on her bed to warm her.
“The actions of the defendants (Dr Marume and the hospital) resulted in plaintiff (Chiweshere) getting psychological and emotional trauma.
The plaintiff is still nursing wounds sustained and her left side most often gets numb and she will be unable to use her left hand,” reads part of her summons.
Circumstances are that sometime in March 2019, Chiweshere visited Dr Marume for her routine pregnancy check-ups.
When she was about to deliver, he suddenly referred her to Queen of Peace Hospital where the tragic incident took place despite being aware that she had registered with West End Hospital.-state media
BAKERS have increased the price of bread for the first time this year by about 17 percent from $18 to $21 for a standard loaf citing increased production costs and challenges in procurement of flour.
The increase came into effect over the weekend and by yesterday most shops had adjusted to the new price.
A snap survey by Business Chronicle in Bulawayo revealed that retailers — Greens, OK, TM Pick n Pay, Oceans, Choppies and Zapalala — had already switched to the new price. Brands such as Lobels, Baker’s Inn, Proton and Oceans are being sold for between $20 and $21.
National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr Dennis Wallah, attributed the increase in the price of bread to the challenges regarding the flour subsidy as well as escalating costs linked to foreign currency shortages.
“The price of bread has been stable from November to date. We don’t have subsidised flour available hence the market forces are now at play,” he said.
Mr Wallah said because most of the raw materials are imported, changes in the exchange rate also affect the production costs and this had forced bakers to adjust prices.
Consumer Rights Association spokesperson, Mr Effie Ncube, said the latest increase means that the price of bread which is a basic commodity, is now beyond the reach of many families.-state media
MAPHISA growth point in Matobo District, Matabeleland South province, just a few kilometres from the late Former Vice President Joshua Nkomo, has gone for six months without electricity with hospitals, schools, farmers and businesses being the hardest hit.
A nearby business centre has reportedly gone for about three years without power.
The major cause of the challenge has been copper cable theft.
Local leaders have since called for replacement of copper cables with aluminium power lines.
Copper cables were stolen sometime last year, however, the replacement process seems to have hit multiple snags.
Nurses at Maphisa General hospital said they had resorted to working at hospital wards by candlelight, which they said was not safe and unsustainable as candles had become expensive.
By Tapiwanashe Chiriga|In 2013, an unprecedented majority voted yes to a brilliant Constitution that was a product of robust and inclusive consultation of the citizens at all levels of society. The level of engagement and consultation made the Zimbabwean 2013 Constitution a true reflection of the will of the People. It can aptly be called the voice of the people and if one remembers well, the occupant of Number 1 Chancellor Avenue loves calling such the voice of God.
What naturally was supposed to follow was the alignment of all laws applicable in Zimbabwe to the National Constitution as chosen overwhelmingly by the people. The recent bill gazetted by Governmnent seeking to amend the National Constitution in at least 22 ways at one time exposes the extent to which the group of people that calls itself a government is willing to go in as far as power consolidation is concerned. This comes on the backdrop of the controversial first amendment that was shoved on our throats by the ruling elite.
The Constitution of the Republic is the foundation on which the country’s governance, democracy (real, imagined or mutilated) and laws lie. It thus follows that even a single amendment to the Constitution is a direct and unequivocal attempt to shake and rearrange the foundations and such should happen in rarest of circumstances. Mugabe in the 37 years that he misgoverned Zimbabwe, amended the Lancaster Constitution 20 times, the 20th of which was the birth of the 2013 Constitution and even this number itself considered dangerous and too many by many.
The 2nd Amendment Bill to the Constitution of Zimbabwe essentially and for all intents and purposes has nothing to do with the people of Zimbabwe or making right anything in the form, structure and culture of the governance systems of Zimbabwe. This is not even about the Constitution itself. This is about the consolidation of stolen power by an insecure and illegal clueless holder of office in the form Mnangagwa. It is about making Mnangagwa have the powers equivalent to those of a 12th century imperial king.
Mnangagwa is acting, as always on paranoia. He is afraid of and feels threatened by the thought of a Chiwenga Vice Presidency that would have roots in the power of “electoral legitimacy”. He is afraid of getting toppled and will want a submissive Vice President who will serve at his pleasure. While this is politically convinient for Mnangagwa, we surely cannot allow any man nomatter what scary reptile name they give themselves for self-importance, to sacrifice our Constitution on the altar of political expediency and cleanse themselves of paranoia using the blood of our democracy. If Mnangagwa is afraid of how the Presidency is structured, he can kindly excuse himself from it, he won’t be missed after all. He surely cannot ask to amend a provision that is even yet to be put to test.
Another classic example of how all this charade is nothing more than the consolidation of absolute power by the visibly corruptible is the intention to contaminate and pollute the independence of our Judiciary. The first test of democracy and the rule of law in any structured society is the independence of the Judiciary and for Mnangagwa to seek to make Judges to serve at his pleasure and the nation’s peril, is an arrogant confirmation that we have in our faces a politician who wants absolute power at whatever cost, even if such costs include the desecration of our sacred institutions. Had it been in his power and ability, Mnangagwa would even abolish the Judiciary and make himself the entire Judiciary. Mnangagwa even seeks to appoint the Prosecutor General himself. After dismally failing to wield enough power to haunt political enemies through his unconstitutional Special Prosecution Unit in his own office, he now wants to directly appoint the PG who will be micromanaged for such purposes. Having at many times clashed with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission a Chapter 17 Commission, over his penchant for suppressing and abusing rights, Mnangagwa has come up with a masterstroke of a plan, only problem is that the plan has the sophistication as deep as a fingerbowl. Mnangagwa is seeking to take away some of the powers of the Human Rights Commission, the majority of which are centred around the abuse of citizens by state apparatus and individuals acting on behalf of the “system” and give them to a new creature which shall serve at his pleasure. He is trying to call that creature a public protector.
The government wants an amendment of Section 327(3)of the Constitution to the effect that the the President and his executive will need the approval of Parliament in agreements that place fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe with “international organizations” only. The attempted deletion of “foreign organizations” from this list is a clear indication of the intention. This effectively means that Mnangagwa wants to formalize and legalize his dirty deals with cartels in the Middle East and the mortgaging of Zimbabwe to China. Mnangagwa is seeking to entrench a culture of impunity and clothe it with a veneer of Constitutionality, which is probably the most shameful thing any creature occupying the Presidency could do.
These amendments have nothing to do with the people of Zimbabwe, neither is it anything near a genuine cause to make right any perceived flaw in the Constitution. This is all about Mnangagwa and the consolidation of power. Not even ZanuPf itself stands to benefit from these amendments, they are a personal power move by a selfish misleader who views himself as a 12th century Chief in some medieval polity.
This government has failed in an exceptionally dismal manner to implement the Constitution in many progressive ways. They have flat out failed to reform and align dozens of pieces of repressive and unprogressive legislation to the Constitution. Having failed to implement and follow the Constitution, they have only one solution, twisting it to their liking. They will need to be reminded, for they seem to forget, that the Constitution is sacrosanct and should be for generations and never the property of a ruling elite of a particular limited time. If Mnangagwa and his fellows feel uncomfortable with the Constitution of the Republic to which they are bound as duty and office bearers, they are free to vacate the offices and as sure as the sun shall rise from the east tomorrow, they will not be missed.
It is incumbent on all progressive and patriotic Zimbabwean to protect the sanctity of our Constitution from getting defiled by politicians. It is our collective duty to reject in the loudest and firmest of voices the mutilation of our Constitution by people who have failed to implement it. The people shall stand firm in defense of their Constitution and Democracy.
Tapiwanashe Chiriga is the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU). He can be contacted on cell +263778402734, email [email protected] and also on Twitter @tapchiriga97
Own Correspondent| Former Zimbabwe Deputy Finance Minister, Terence Mukupe is involved in a very messy social media verbal fight with ECG Church leader Shepherd Bushiri accusing the self proclaimed prophet of sleeping with his wife and getting her pregnant in the process.
Bushiri has vehemently denied the claims while Mukupe has thrown in what he describes as evidence of the relationship between Bushiri and his wife as the drama rages on.
In the ZimEye.com live video below, Bushiri’s bodyguards have come forward to reveal shocking top secrets.
FORMER Zanu PF youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu has questioned the party’s secretary for administration Obert Mpofu’s Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PHD) qualifications and his source of wealth while responding to a $10 million defamation suit filed against him by the senior party official.
Mpofu initiated litigation against Matutu in June last year, after the former youth leader addressed a press conference at Zanu PF headquarters in which he accused the former Home Affairs minister of corruption.
However, in his response, Matutu demanded further particulars to Mpofu’s claim.
“To enable him to plead, defendant (Matutu) requests the following further particulars: On what basis is the plaintiff (Mpofu) referred to as a doctor, which institution conferred him with the doctorate degree, a confirmation of his credentials to this effect is requested?” Matutu queried.
Matutu further questioned who his audience was when he made the alleged defamatory statement and the line of business Mpofu was in as well as how he managed to raise capital for the business.
The former youth leader also asked Mpofu to divulge the number of businesses that he had before holding public office and the ones he acquired after holding public office.
Matutu also asked Mpofu to list the number of properties that he had in Zimbabwe, clearly separating the ones he acquired before and after holding public office, as well as explain how he managed to raise the funds to acquire the properties.
“What fame does the plaintiff have in the eyes of the public?” Matutu further queried.
In response, Mpofu said he was a Doctor of Philosophy in Policy Studies, which he obtained from the Zimbabwe Open University in 2011.
In relation to questions raised by Matutu over how he managed to acquire his properties, Mpofu said: “The particularity requested in all these paragraphs is not necessary for purposes of pleading.
The request is an inquisitorial foray calculated to abuse the procedure of requesting for further particulars. Further, and in any event, these are issues of evidence and the defendant is not handicapped from pleading,’ Mpofu charged.
Matutu, however, further demanded how and when Mpofu got to know about the alleged defamatory statement.
“What steps, if any, did the plaintiff take to have his position known with regards to the allegations before approaching the courts?” Matutu further questioned.
In his court papers, Mpofu said Matutu’s statements were defamatory in that he claimed that despite the country’s ample human and natural resources, corrupt individuals like the former Home Affairs minister were continually perpetuating “alarming socio-economic imbalances” and were undoing the gains brought by war of liberation heroes.
“The statement, in its defamatory, false and misleading allegations states the following about the plaintiff: that the plaintiff has violated the very foundation of the fight for democracy in Zimbabwe because of his corrupt proclivities, that the plaintiff’s corrupt inclinations continue to undermine socio-economic transformation in
Zimbabwe and, as a corollary, the defendant’s generation is suffering immensely,” Mpofu said in his court affidavit.
Four Chinese nationals who were arrested on February 9th for allegedly caning Kenyan workers at a Nairobi restaurant have asked the court to deport them.
The four; Deng Hailan, Chang Yueping, Ou Qiang and Yu Ling made the application when they appeared before High Court Justice Luka Kimaru on Tuesday.
The foreigners told the court that they were willing to be deported back to their country because they are suffering but the DCI opposed their application, terming it an abuse of the court process and an attempt to defeat justice. The DCI asked the court to dismiss the application and allow the case to continue.
“The investigations against the suspects is ongoing and critical since we are still pursuing the employer /owner of the hotel who has since gone into hiding having learned of the arrest of the suspects,” the DCI said in an affidavit.
On February 13th, Principal Magistrate Hellen Okwany allowed police to detain the four for 15 days for investigations to be completed. Hours later, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i signed a deportation order for the four but the order was suspended by Justice Kimaru on February 19th after the suspects challenged the removal.
The four were arrested after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raided Chez Wou Restaurant in Kileleshwa, Nairobi on February 9th.
The raid came hours after a video clip showing Hailan, a chef at the restaurant, canning a Kenyan waiter went viral on social media. After the arrest, it was discovered that Hailan did not have a valid work permit.
Yueping and Qiang, who are both chefs at the restaurant, were holding expired visas while Yu Ling, a cashier, was holding a visitor’s visa but without a work permit, according to the DCI.
They are all facing charges of assault and causing actual bodily harm.
Highlanders fans captured hanging dangerously on an undesignated area at Barbourfields Stadium
Own Correspondent|CAF requirements for banned local stadiums to host international games
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has informed ZIFA about what is needed to be improved at local stadiums so that they meet minimum standards to host the international games.
The continental body banned the use of all local stadiums including Barbourfields Stadium which was banned on Tuesday.
CAF revealed some of the things needed to be maintained at Barbourfields Stadium.
CAF STADIUM REQUIREMENTS
Pitch condition must be improved and the surface must be green and marked clearly in white.
In-field goalposts must be easily removable and spare goalposts must be available for quick installation.
The two covered benches should be at pitch level.
For evening matches, the floodlights LUX capacity must be according to the Caf CL match requirements. A minimum 1 200 Lux should be provided all over the pitch, covering uniformly every area of the playing field.
A uniform signage system around the stadium to facilitate entry or exit of people. It also wants clear adequate signposts to guide spectators to their sectors.
Entry gates, exit gates and doors must be operational and similarly clearly indicated by signs which are universally understood.
Installation of stadium specific sign-age from media entrance to all the various facilities for the media.
Installation of sign-age around the medical facility and throughout the stadium to notify supporters.
Barbourfields Stadium, to add “five individual seated toilets” in the dressing rooms, a massage table in each dressing room, a tactical board (white board/flip chart with pens) as well as good ventilation or air-conditioning.
A doping room which must be near the teams’ dressing rooms and must be “inaccessible to any person that is not involved with the doping control process”. It must be equipped with a television set, a refrigerator equipped with non-alcoholic drinks, sealed mineral water bottles, waste-paper bin for bottles, a ventilator and sufficient seating for at least eight people.
The toilet area must be immediately next to the doping control room with direct private access
Numbered bucket seats fixed to the floor at Barbourfields as well as a safety certificate from the concerned authorities in which they will set the permitted capacity for the stadium together with detailed terms and conditions that the stadium management must comply with in order to operate the stadium at its permitted capacity.
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Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa will be addressing Zimbabweans at a press conference that will be held the Wednesday 26 February.
Mliswa’s address will be held under the theme: Zimbabwe in the Iron Grip of Cartels whilst the Majority Suffer – Who are these Cartels?
The event which will start at 1000hrs will be held at Media Centre, 2nd Floor Bothwell House, 66 Jason Moyo Avenue, cnr. First Street/Jason Moyo Avenue.
The organizers of the address say it will be a no holds barred exposé as Mliswa will say out loud what many only dare to think.
The firebrand lawmaker has in the recent past accused businessman Billy Rautenbach and Innscors’ Mike Flower of running cartels that have captured the state.
Mliswa’s come after two ZANU PF youth leaders Godfrey Tsaenengamu and Lewis Matutu were suspended for fingering out some businesspeople as leaders of cartels.
THE exhumation and reburial of Gukurahundi victims should be overseen by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) and not the State which is a conflicted party, activists and analysts have said.
This comes after Justice ministry permanent secretary Virginia Mabiza told State media recently that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will superintend the implementation of resolutions made at his initial meeting with Matabeleland Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in March last year.
She also added that the president will soon convene a consensus-building indaba with Matabeleland chiefs to craft a way forward on the exhumations.
The meeting resolved, among other things, that government must expedite the issuing of birth and death certificates to those affected by Gukurahundi in addition to reburying and exhuming the remains of the massacres.
Activists and analysts who spoke to the Daily News yesterday, however, said Mnangagwa wants to usurp the role of NPRC.
NPRC is constitutionally mandated to deal with post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation as well as recommending legislation to ensure that assistance, including documentation, is rendered to persons affected by conflict, pandemics and other circumstances.
“It is not proper for Mnangagwa to preside because he is conflicted. Besides, there is a constitutional body mandated to deal with this subject, the NPRC. What Mnangagwa is doing is usurping the mandate from the responsible body.
“It is not done to bring healing to affected communities, but as a public relations tool to score political points … How do you fast-track the exhumations? Will they be chaotic like the fast track land reform?
“If he was sincere about addressing this, Mnangagwa must empower the NPRC, help on truth telling, assist families on their abducted relatives,” Mbuso Fuzwayo from Matabeleland-based pressure group, Ibhetshu likaZulu, said.
Another activist, Mbonisi Gumbo from Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), said exhumations cannot be conducted by a compromised government.
“We cannot allow a compromised government to do exhumations. We have no problem with the process being done by a purely independent, non-partisan body that is why MRP at some point was comfortable working with Ukuthula Trust,” Gumbo said.
Ukuthula Trust is an independent Bulawayo-based pathological expert. Last year, the organisation exhumed the remains of a Tsholotsho couple that was killed by the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade.
“If the government is sincere, it must unconditionally apologise to the people of Matabeleland. The government cannot decide what is appropriate on behalf of grieving people before consulting them.
“The current efforts are nothing but a waste of taxpayers’ money,” Gumbo added. Political analyst Dumisani Nkomo weighed in, saying the process needs a neutral arbiter so that it is a credible process.
“The process must be led by a neutral arbiter or institution. The role of the NPRC in the exhumation process appears vague though it is constitutionally mandated to deal with such issues,” Nkomo said while urging the government to entrench the process in legislation.
Speaking during the president’s second engagement meeting with CSOs on February 14, Mabiza emphasised that exhumation must be done in an orderly manner and in terms of the law but highlighted that some families had attempted to illegally exhume their loved ones.
It was brought to our attention that there were some who had attempted to carry out illegal exhumations.
Independence Day organisers, which will on Mnangagwa’s instruction be held in Bulawayo for the first time, are gunning for the biggest crowd possible at Barbourfields Stadium and they have tabled a proposal for a football match pitting Highlanders and Orlando Pirates of South Africa.
According to reports, Ministry of Sports Chief Director, Benson Dube confirmed the development and said his ministry was working towards bringing the match to Barbourfields Stadium where President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to be the guest speaker.
“We are working on arranging a match between Highlanders and Orlando Pirates for Zimbabwe at 40 celebrations,” said Dube.
“We are very much prepared to promote sports in the city and in the country. This match match will also bring tourists who will bring foreign currency into the country,” said Dube.
The two teams share some things in common like the traditional black and white colours as well as the trademark symbol of crossing one’s arms in the shape of an “X”.
Both teams have got a huge fan-base in Bulawayo and a majority of Highlanders supporters favour Orlando Pirates in the ABSA Premiership, South Africa’s top football league.
The last time The Buccaneers visited Bulawayo, Barbourfields was filled to the rafters with a total of 23 164 fans when they played Zimbabwean champions FC Platinum in the CAF Champions league. Over 75% of the stadium was supporting the Soweto based team in a match which ended on a goalless draw.
“We want to mobilise the people of Bulawayo and the country as a whole so that we enjoy the match as one. Let us show the people out there that we are united. We are one and we have respect for each other,” Dube added.
ZIFA Statement|CAF’S DECISION ON THE USE OF LOCAL STADIUMS IN HOSTING INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation that it has received correspondence from the Confederation of African Football that our stadiums do not meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards to host international matches.
Consequently, CAF has made a decision to bar ZIFA from using local stadiums in all upcoming international matches.
The decision by CAF comes against the background of a CAF stadium inspection which was conducted in November 2019 and the subsequent inspection report circulated on the 1st of December which stipulated areas of improvement for our three stadiums, Barbourfields, Mandava and the National Sports Stadium (NSS), to be fully homologated. While Mandava and NSS were completely struck off the roster, Barbourfields was provisionally certified on the condition that issues raised in the inspection report would be addressed.
Stadium authorities were notified of CAF’s position and the urgent nature of the situation at hand. To date, neither of the three stadium authorities has requested us to invite CAF for another inspection, a position which CAF has said led to the decision to bar all three stadiums from hosting international matches.
While ZIFA is engaging CAF with a view to appeal this decision, we have asked stadium authorities to send us commitment letters detailing timelines on work that needs to be done before CAF comes for another inspection. Once we receive such commitment, we will send to CAF.
In this moment we urge all stakeholders to work for a common cause for us to quickly right this wrong which takes away our sovereignty. We have been using stadiums which do not meet CAF and FIFA standards for a while now, but we need to put our heads together as a country to ensure that our stadiums are renovated to meet required standards.
We unreservedly apologise to all football stakeholders for inconveniences that the decision has brought.
We are hopeful that everyone who has influence to expedite the process of bringing our teams back home will do their part.
Meanwhile , we have also started the process of looking for an alternative venue in neighbouring countries to host our upcoming matches.
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE ZIMBABWE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: – XOLISANI GWESELA, COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPETITIONS MANAGER.
Heartbreaking news!!
Our match against Algeria will no longer be played at BF!
CAF has advised us to 'select homologated stadiums in countries of other CAF members' for the match set for 29/3
Material fact ... Justice Thompson Mabhikwa had a court judgement obtained against him by a pension fund, and failed to comply with it
A lawyer appointed as a High Court judge in 2017 failed to disclose that a judgment was obtained against him for failing to pay rentals to a pension fund for his legal practice.
Newly-obtained court records show that in October 2015, the High Court issued an order against Justice Thompson Mabhikwa – then a lawyer in private practice – for the settlement of rental arrears amounting to US$23,306.73 in favour of the Construction Industry Pension Fund.
By June 2016, Mabhikwa – who had failed to pay rent on two properties in Gwanda and Esigodini – had still not complied with the court order prompting the pension fund to return to the High Court to apply for a writ of execution.
Mabhikwa was among 51 lawyers who applied to become judges to fill eight vacancies and went through public interviews in October that year, before eventually being sworn in as a judge by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2017.
Legal experts say Mabhikwa would likely have failed the interviews conducted by the Judicial Services Commission if he had disclosed that he had a High Court judgement against him, with which he also failed to comply for more than a year.
“The judge brought the legal profession into disrepute particularly as it is alleged that civil imprisonment proceedings were also brought against him as a result of his incessant failure to obey a court order,” a lawyer told ZimLive on condition they were not named for fear of reprisals.
“You have to wonder why Justice Mabhikwa’s orders must be complied with by anyone given his affinity for disobedience that he has shown. What exacerbates the situation is that his actions caused immediate prejudice to pensioners and it doesn’t help matters that this default clearly shows that the judge cannot handle his own personal issues and reflects on the fact that he was doing badly in practice which has a bearing on his independence.”
Lawyers said it is unethical for legal practitioners to fail to pay their rentals and the Law Society of Zimbabwe has in the past taken action against such lawyers, including de-registering them.
Rental arrears … The 2015 judgement obtained by a pension fund against the defaulting Justice Mabhikwa
Another lawyer said Mabhikwa’s actions fell foul of the Legal Practitioners (Code of Conduct) By-laws 2018 which impose a duty on lawyers to “ensure that… his or her practice of firm is efficiently and properly administered, including in relation to due payment for practising certificates and other lawfully imposed fees and levies…”
The same code of conduct describes as “unprofessional, dishonourable or unworthy conduct” any actions that are likely “either to diminish public confidence in the legal profession or the administration of justice or to bring the legal profession into disrepute.”
“The revelations raise serious questions on Justice Mabhikwa’s fitness to remain in such an office of public trust and responsibility,” said another lawyer who read the judgement against Mabhikwa.
“There is no record of the judge having made a disclosure, during the public interviews, of the fact that he had a judgement taken against him. The judge’s failure to disclose this material fact is fraudulent and may nullify his appointment.
“A Judicial Services Commission which prides itself in delivering world class justice must immediately become seized with the matter and a tribunal to consider Justice Mabhikwa’s fitness to continue holding judicial office must be appointed.”
Failure to comply … Justice Mabhikwa did not comply with the terms of the 2015 judgement leading to a writ of execution being issued a year later
Matabeleland Liberation Organisation leader Paul Siwela says the government of Zimbabwe must pay an amount of USD$100 billion to the people of Matabeleland for plundering the resources of the region.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday Siwela said:
For the benefit of all, the following Demands were presented to the Zimbabwe government in October 2015 and still stands.
Little wonder you find the government of Zimbabwe is today trying to appease the Matebeles, hoping the above demands can be forgotten or changed. That would not happen.
For the record, the Demands will never be forgotten or changed and shall stand until they have been met in full.
1.0 Restoration of Matebeleland State as at 3 November 1893
1.1 Reparations equivalent to One hundred billion United States Dollars for genocide and gross abuse of Matebeles, stealing and plundering of Matebele resources.
Siwela’s statement comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledge to compensate victims of Gukurahundi Genocide and to assisted them rebury their dead relatives.
May people from Matabeleland and Midlands has called for an official government apology before any reburial can be done.
Gukurahundi claimed more that 20 000 people during the period of 1983 to 1987.
Nhlambaloyi Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has come under from Matabeleland activists who have accused him of being off side when he tweeted about Gukurahundi Genocide recently.
Ndiweni had posted a tweet saying Gukurahundi was not done by Shona people but was done by the government against the Ndebeles and the Gukurahundi operation included plenty of Ndebeles like his relative Enos Nkala whom he said he has forgiven.
Opposition MLO leader Paul Siwela said, “Can someone meet Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni and tell him to remain in his cultural lane and stop meddling in politics for cheap publicity.”
Kalanga cultural activist Ndzimu Unami Moyo posted a video which purported to show that Shona people were actively involved in the operation.
“May those that know one Chief Ndiweni please show him this video if indeed the words ascribed to him are true. Zanu or its Government the whole Gukurahundist gang did not rise out of the dust.
“It was aided and abetted by Shona people who actively demanded the destruction of Dr. Joshua Nkomo, Zapu and their supporters, who happened to be Citizens of Matebeleland. These views are still very current today among Shonas.”
However, Lovemore Fuyane said the people of the region must unite and not allow of them to be crucified.
“I don’t think we are at the stage where we must outright condemn & crucify one of the few voices that are at least trying to shake the tree. If we do that we risk waiting for generations for that perfect messiah.
“Let people exchange ideas with him and persuade him otherwise for the time being. The enemy is waiting for us to suck the energy out of each other and self destruct while they sit back and munch on popcorn. What unites us is far more important.” Said Fuyane.
Farai Dziva|Norman Mapeza has said that there are areas Chippa United need to improve ahead of their Nedbank Cup tie against Bidvest Wits.
The Chilli Boys have been failing to maintain consistency in their recent games and are coming from a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend.
Speaking to Backpage TXT, the Zimbabwean gaffer said: “We have to keep on working hard if you look at our position [in the league], we’re still in the woods, each and every week we try to work on those mistakes which we picked up during the games.
“We didn’t defend well, we didn’t have enough creativity in the final third, so those are the things we gonna back and try work on before Wits.”
The cup clash will be played at Bidvest Stadium. Kick-off is 7:30 pm.
Vincent Kompany was one of six players to find the back of the net for Anderlecht as they hammered KAS Eupen 6-1 in the Belgian League on Sunday.
The pre-match discussions were dominated by the ineligibility of Zimbabwean striker Knowledge Musona, who is an Anderlecht player on loan at Eupen until the end of the current campaign.
Michael Murilo, Marko Pjaca, Francis Amuzu and Michel Vlap were also among the goals for Anderlecht as they ended a two-game winless run.
The win sees them go eighth on the table with 37 points from 27 games.-Soccer 24
The Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City might be for some just another football match but for Zimbabwean fans, it’s another historic milestone worth cherishing.
If selected to play in the clash, slated for Sunday at Wembley, Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba will become the first Zimbabwean to play in a Cup final on English soil.
Coming from a football-crazy country with a population of about 15 million people, the former Club Brugge man, who has admitted to English media the exetent to which people back home look up to the national team and players who play for it, will know that despites odds firmly against Villa, Zimbabweans will be gued to their television sets for the clash.
The Warriors midfielder, has had ups and downs in the English top flight since joining the Birmingham-based side last year in August but all that will be cast side as focus shifts on a once in a lifetime Wembley experience.-Soccer 24
Former Dynamos forward Tawanda Macheke is happy at Black Rhinos and promises a good performance this season.
Macheke joined Rhinos early last month after the expiry of his contract with the Glamour Boys in December last year.
“I am happy I have a new home now. I am happy here, I wanted a new environment and new challenges too.
“I joined Rhinos just for change. I also wanted to come out and experience new difficulties and new struggles that will help me build my career.
“Everything is going on well and I can’t complain. I am at a team where I am loved,” said Macheke.
The 23 year-old joined Rhinos together with former Dynamos teammates of Walter Sande, Stephen Chimusoro and Edgar Mhungu.
He reunites with Marvelous Mukumba and Blessing Mwandimutsira who left Dynamos at the beginning of last season.
He said having players he once worked with before helped him settle well.
“I have settled well. I had players who I once worked with before. They were also other new players that I have been with before too.
“I don’t feel new anymore I already feel at home, I was well welcomed and I am happy here.
“I won’t be feeling lonely there is love and unity here and I am grateful for that,” he added.-H-Metro
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Nick Mangwana has announced that Zimbabwe has launched the African Women Leaders Network.
Posting on Twitter, Mangwana said that the members of the AWLN chapter in Zimbabwe are:
Dr Stembiso Nyoni- chair
Hon Monica Mutsvangwa
Dr Joice Mujuru
Dr Thokozani Khupe
Dr Nyaradzai Gumbodzvanda
Ruvarashe Miti -Youth Activist
Dr N Ncube -Youth chapter
According to the United Nations Women, the AWLN is an action-oriented initiative that seeks to enhance the leadership of African women in bringing transformative changes focusing on peace, security and development in the continent.
The Network further aims to harness the wealth of African women’s experiences of leadership, build on other existing and emerging networks of women leaders, as well as develop new partnerships to strengthen the capacity of women, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU Agenda 2063, a visionary framework for the socio-economic transformation of Africa.
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps keep and improve people’s health and well being. It focuses on elements like: healthy eating, stop substance abuse and smoking, stress management, safe sexual behaviour and exercising regularly. All these elements are important for healthy living.
A healthy lifestyle is a simple way with health insurance as illness and visits to a health practitioner are markedly reduced.
Healthy eating: This is eating a meal that have all nutrients required by the body to function that is protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and mineral salts. One should take heavy meals during the day and at night take smaller meals.
Drink more water at least 2litres per day unless specified by a doctor to limit the amount of fluids per day. Salt and oil when cooking should be adequate as these also contribute to diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. With health eating one should also consider weight management. One should have a BMI (body mass index) between 18.5 to 24.9.
Stop smoking: Smoking is hazardous to health and is a risk factor for many cancers. Alcohol intake should be reduced. Binge drinking and using drugs should be stopped as it is not good for health.
Stress management: People manage stress in different ways and peace of mind is required for healthy living.
One should get enough sleep at least 6 to 8 continuous hours per day. Spend time with loved ones and if you have problems share with someone you trust or a counselor.
Safe sexual behaviour: Sticking to one partner is safe and reduce the risk of contracting STIs. Always use a condom and reduce STIs and unplanw ned pregnancy.
5.Exercising: Regular exercise of at least 30mins to 1hour per day for 3 to 4 days per week can be adequate. Exercises differs from just walking to strenuous or anaerobic exercises.
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By A Correspondent| The trial of the MDC Organising Secretary Amos Chibaya and his deputy Sibusisiwe Masara, who are facing charges of failing to stop a demonstration in 2019, has been postponed to 11 March 2020.
Said the MDC Communications department:
The defence impressed upon the magistrate that if the State fails to provide witnesses to the case on 11 March, the two must be removed from remand so that the State proceeds with summons, if it so wishes.
The magistrate agreed with the defence that if the State fails to provide witnesses, then the two MDC leaders will be removed from remand.
The defence lawyers also asked the matter to be put before a different magistrate on the grounds that the magistrate presiding over the case was not impartial.
The two MDC leaders are part of a huge contingent of party leaders and activists who are being persecuted through prosecution by the Mnangagwa regime.”
Farai Dziva|MDC secretary for public service and social welfare, Maureen Kademaunga says members of the opposition party and Zimbabweans in general should unite and fight for justice.
“Justice is clearly at odds with legality.
Democracy activists and opposition leaders are forced to deal with a compromised legal system – when apprehended we simply can not disregard it yet we are fully aware of it’s incompetencies and incapacity to deliver justice.
I think we are left with no option but to use the courts as a site of struggle; whenever one of us is under trial, let’s turn up in numbers and demand justice,” said Kademaunga.
Now,His Excellency the president @edmnangagwa approached the milling industry saying that the Command Agriculture at that time was very successful, a big harvest was being expected but the silos needs to be funded and he advised that the treasury didn't have funding@JusticeMayorW pic.twitter.com/oAyDBD5aIT
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa approached the under-probe Grain Millers Association for funding, its President Tafadzwa Musarara told parliament today.
Mnangagwa and the former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa have been sucked into the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe saga, where there is controversy surrounding an estimated US$9 million which was purportedly used for the refurbishment of silos by the parastatal Grain Marketing Board.
Now,His Excellency the president @edmnangagwa approached the milling industry saying that the Command Agriculture at that time was very successful, a big harvest was being expected but the silos needs to be funded and he advised that the treasury didn't have funding@JusticeMayorW pic.twitter.com/oAyDBD5aIT
Presenting oral evidence before the portfolio committee on Agriculture led by Justice Mayor Wadyajena Tuesday morning, GMAZ Chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara implicated Mnangagwa and Chinamasa alleging that the duo requested funding from the GMAZ to refurbish the silos which were set to hold grain being produced under Command Agriculture.
However, Musarara could not furnish the portfolio committee with the supporting documents to authenticate that the then Vice president who is now the current Zimbabwean president made the request on behalf of government.
Said Musarara:
“… sometime in 2017, the chairperson of the cabinet committee………now his Excellency the President, approached the milling industry and said that the command agriculture at that particular time was very successful, a big harvest was being expected but the silo situation was not eer… the silos needed to be funded and he advised that the treasury didn’t have funding at that particular time so we were later approached by the then minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa who advised us that government was desirous to seek a loan from the millers ….for the funding of the repairs of the silos …..and as millers we provided a funding arrangement through a turn sheet, we signed an agreement with the minister of finance which we have submitted to this committee….”
Watch the live video loading below for this and more…….
By A Correspondent- A 27-year-old man in the rural area of Lilongwe, Malawi was stoned to death by fellow villagers on allegations of stealing green maize cobs in a garden.
According to Kanengo Police Station deputy spokesperson Salomy Chibwana, the deceased, who has been identified as Bester Kholora, was murdered on Tuesday at Chiponde village in the district.
It is alleged that Khorola was caught with 50-kilogram bag stealing the maize in Alimi Leviyosi’s garden.
The matter was referred to the village headman who instructed community members to bring him to his court, but the now-deceased fled and the mob gave chase.
Chibwana added:
In the process of chasing him, community members started stoning and beating Kholora until he was killed before reaching the village headman house.
Currently, the police are investigating the matter so that those who took part in the killing must face the law. We are still urging the general public not to take the law into their hands when suspecting someone of having committed crime.-MaraviPost
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak – ousted by the military in 2011 – has died in Cairo at the age of 91.
Mubarak spent three decades in office before a popular uprising swept Egypt.
He was found guilty of complicity in the killing of protesters during the revolution.
That conviction was overturned and was freed in March 2017.
His death was confirmed by Egyptian state news on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, the Al-Watan website reported that he died at a military hospital.
Mubarak underwent surgery in late January and was photographed with his grandson as he recovered.
On Saturday, however, Mubarak’s son Alaa said that the former president remained in intensive care.
Who was Mubarak?
Born in 1928, Mubarak entered the air force as a teenager and went on to play a key role in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
He became president less than a decade later, following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat, and played a key role in the Israel-Palestinian peace process.
But despite the billions of dollars in military aid Egypt received during his time in office, unemployment, poverty and corruption continued to grow.
Discontent boiled over in January 2011, after similar protests in Tunisia led to the overthrow of the president there. Mubarak was forced to step down 18 days later.
Just over a year after Mubarak’s overthrow, Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist politician, won Egypt’s first democratic presidential election.
The new president lasted less than a year in office. Amid mass protests, he was ousted in a military coup led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Gen Sisi went on to win two presidential elections. Morsi died in prison in 2019.
In 2012, Mubarak was sentenced to life imprisonment over the deaths of some of the 900 protesters who were killed by security forces during the uprising a year earlier.
Both he and his two sons were also convicted of corruption.
But the more serious charges against Mubarak were later overturned and he was released in 2017.-BBC
There is a thunderous applause from participants at the @AWLN_Zim launch as Dr Khupe states that women are creators of wealth and are hard workers. #ARFSD2020pic.twitter.com/O6TKNnGyJO
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) February 25, 2020
Farai Dziva|The price of bread has gone up from $18 to $21 for a standard loaf.
Commenting on the new price National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe president, Dennis Wallah, said flour was not subsidised hence market forces were at play.
“The price of bread has been stable from November to date. We don’t have subsidised flour available hence the market forces are now at play.”
However Consumer Rights Association spokesperson, Effie Ncube, quoted by Chronicle, said:
The latest hike in the price of bread means that most families are now food insecure as they can no longer afford basic foodstuffs.”
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa have been sucked into the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe saga, where there is controversy surrounding an estimated US$9 million which was purportedly used for the refurbishment of silos by the parastatal Grain Marketing Board.
Now,His Excellency the president @edmnangagwa approached the milling industry saying that the Command Agriculture at that time was very successful, a big harvest was being expected but the silos needs to be funded and he advised that the treasury didn't have funding@JusticeMayorW pic.twitter.com/oAyDBD5aIT
Presenting oral evidence before the portfolio committee on Agriculture led by Justice Mayor Wadyajena Tuesday morning, GMAZ Chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara implicated Mnangagwa and Chinamasa alleging that the duo requested funding from the GMAZ to refurbish the silos which were set to hold grain being produced under Command Agriculture.
However, Musarara could not furnish the portfolio committee with the supporting documents to authenticate that the then Vice president who is now the current Zimbabwean president made the request on behalf of government.
Said Musarara:
“… sometime in 2017, the chairperson of the cabinet committee………now his Excellency the President, approached the milling industry and said that the command agriculture at that particular time was very successful, a big harvest was being expected but the silo situation was not eer… the silos needed to be funded and he advised that the treasury didn’t have funding at that particular time so we were later approached by the then minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa who advised us that government was desirous to seek a loan from the millers ….for the funding of the repairs of the silos …..and as millers we provided a funding arrangement through a turn sheet, we signed an agreement with the minister of finance which we have submitted to this committee….”
Watch the live video loading below for this and more…….
Farai Dziva| A government official has accused teachers of snubbing normal teaching schedules so that they can charge for extra lessons in foreign currency.
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister
Edgar Moyo warned teachers against the practice.
It is not only the education sector that is facing challenges, according to Moyo.
“What is worrying now is that it seems teachers are not teaching during their normal working hours.
They seem to deliberately delay covering the syllabi so that they have an excuse to conduct extra lessons for a fee.
That should stop forthwith. Everyone is facing challenges, it’s not just the teachers and they should abide by the law,” Moyo told Chronicle.
A 27-year-old man in the rural area of Lilongwe, Malawi was stoned to death by fellow villagers on allegations of stealing green maize cobs in a garden.
According to Kanengo Police Station deputy spokesperson Salomy Chibwana, the deceased, who has been identified as Bester Kholora, was murdered on Tuesday at Chiponde village in the district.
It is alleged that Khorola was caught with 50-kilogram bag stealing the maize in Alimi Leviyosi’s garden.
The matter was referred to the village headman who instructed community members to bring him to his court, but the now-deceased fled and the mob gave chase.
Chibwana added:
In the process of chasing him, community members started stoning and beating Kholora until he was killed before reaching the village headman house.
Currently, the police are investigating the matter so that those who took part in the killing must face the law. We are still urging the general public not to take the law into their hands when suspecting someone of having committed crime.-Maravi Post
By Business Reporter | There were fireworks inside the Parliamentary Portfolio for Agriculture session in which the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Musarara is under the grill for alleged misappropriation of funds and gross corruption.
The development follows the whistleblowing by the former youth leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu’s expose’ which threw into the open the alleged pyramid of corruption that is destroying the fabric of Zimbabwe’s institutions.
The chairperson of the portfolio, Justice Wadyajena was accused of failing to give adequate time for substantive responses from the accused.
The trial of the MDC Organising Secretary Hon. Amos Chibaya and his deputy Hon. Sibusisiwe Masara, who are facing trumped up charges of failing to stop a demonstration in 2019, has been postponed to 11 March 2020.
The defence impressed upon the magistrate that if the State fails to provide witnesses to the case on 11 March, the two must be removed from remand so that the State proceeds with summons, if it so wishes.
The magistrate agreed with the defence that if the State fails to provide witnesses, then the two MDC leaders will be removed from remand.
The defence lawyers also asked the matter to be put before a different magistrate on the grounds that the magistrate presiding over the case was not impartial.
The two MDC leaders are part of a huge contingent of party leaders and activists who are being persecuted through prosecution by the Mnangagwa regime.
The trial of the MDC Organising Secretary Hon. Amos Chibaya and his deputy Hon. Sibusisiwe Masara, who are facing trumped up charges of failing to stop a demonstration in 2019, has been postponed to 11 March 2020.
The defence impressed upon the magistrate that if the State fails to provide witnesses to the case on 11 March, the two must be removed from remand so that the State proceeds with summons, if it so wishes.
The magistrate agreed with the defence that if the State fails to provide witnesses, then the two MDC leaders will be removed from remand.
The defence lawyers also asked the matter to be put before a different magistrate on the grounds that the magistrate presiding over the case was not impartial.
The two MDC leaders are part of a huge contingent of party leaders and activists who are being persecuted through prosecution by the Mnangagwa regime.
By Business Reporter | There were fireworks inside the Parliamentary Portfolio for Agriculture session in which the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Musarara is under the grill for alleged misappropriation of funds and gross corruption.
The development follows the whistleblowing by the former youth leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu’s expose’ which threw into the open the alleged pyramid of corruption that is destroying the fabric of Zimbabwe’s institutions.
The chairperson of the portfolio, Justice Wadyajena was accused of failing to give adequate time for substantive responses from the accused.
Daisy, widow to the late Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, says she still needs time to mourn her late husband.
Oliver “Tuku’ Mtukudzi died on January 23 age 66 and was declared national hero.
Tuku Music board chairperson Tungamidzai Simango has vowed to keep the departed crooner’s legacy alive.
And a year and few days after his death, Tuku‘s widow still needs time to mourn.
She opened up last Saturday when she laid wreaths on her husband’s grave.
“I can’t believe Tuku is gone, each time I am alone at home, I feel like he will come back.
“When I visit the parking lot back home (Norton), I feel like he will come back and still park his car.
“For the greater part of the year, I have been mourning him,” she said.-H-Metro
A top Harare gynaecologist, Dr Ashel Marume, has been slapped with a $400 000 lawsuit by his patient, who is accusing him of removing her uterus without her consent while she was delivering a baby at a local hospital.
In the summons now before the High Court, Nyasha Chiweshere cited Queen of Peace Hospital as the second respondent.
The $400 000 is for psychological and emotional trauma ($150 000), future medical expenses ($50 000), loss of income ($100 000) and loss of dignity ($100 000).
According to Chiweshere, she discovered about it four days later after she had asked Dr Marume the best contraceptive method to use.
However, Dr Marume informed her that she no longer had a womb.
The incident caused her emotional and psychological damages, she alleges.
Chiweshere says she is now unable to carry out some of her duties as a farmer after she sustained some burns at the hospital when nurses placed unwrapped hot water bottles on her bed to warm her.
“The actions of the defendants (Dr Marume and the hospital) resulted in plaintiff (Chiweshere) getting psychological and emotional trauma.
The plaintiff is still nursing wounds sustained and her left side most often gets numb and she will be unable to use her left hand,” reads part of her summons.
Circumstances are that sometime in March 2019, Chiweshere visited Dr Marume for her routine pregnancy check-ups.
When she was about to deliver, he suddenly referred her to Queen of Peace Hospital where the tragic incident took place despite being aware that she had registered with West End Hospital.-state media
Own Correspondent| The trial of the MDC Organising Secretary Amos Chibaya and his deputy Subusisiwe Masara, who are facing trumped up charges of failing to stop a demonstration in 2019, has been postponed to 11 March 2020.
The defence impressed upon the magistrate that if the State fails to provide witnesses to the case on 11 March, the two must be removed from remand so that the State proceeds with summons, if it so wishes. The magistrate agreed with the defence that if the State fails to provide witnesses, then the two MDC leaders will be removed from remand.
The defence lawyers also asked the matter to be put before a different magistrate on the grounds that the magistrate presiding over the case was not impartial.
The two MDC leaders are part of a huge contingent of party leaders and activists who are being persecuted through prosecution by the Mnangagwa regime.
Qu. Musarara- What is your relationship between yourself and national foods?, "I think that's a personal question and I refer to section 23," It's not a personal question, says @JusticeMayorW . "I don't think you can coach me what I should say…but let me answer" – ZimEye pic.twitter.com/Xme4b2DETB
By Jane Mlambo| MDC Spokesperson Daniel Molokele has dismissed claims of fissures in the party leadership over action to take to pressurize government to address the economic crisis in the country.
According to story published by some online media, party vice President Tendai Biti and Job Sikhala organised flash demos held in Harare last week without the knowledge of their President Nelson Chamisa.
But Molokele said the reports was nothing but hogwash as everyone in the party leadership was aware of the new stance by the party to hold random protests against Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy.
Below is Molokele’s full response;
Hogwash. Everyone in the leadership knows about these flash demos which are being organised by the party. . We have collectively drawn a line in the sand as a leadership that henceforth we will not notify the police. You will notice last night the Women’s Assembly did their flash demo and we are all aware and solidly behind them. Someone thinks they can drive a wedge between he leadership through such silly stories when the whole leadership is duly behind 2020 being the Year of Action as announced by the people’s President whom is now being said to be fearful of the very action he personally announced. It is none other than President Chamisa who declared 2020 to be the year of Action so how can he be against that which he personally announced to the Nation? He was clear at last week’s presser that everyone throughout his provincial tours is fully behind action. In any case, how can a credible story with such allegations not have the MDC voice, or President Chamisa’s voice for balance? Is this journalism or something else? For the record, the leadership is united behind President Chamisa and his call for 2020 to be the year of action. And these flash demos are the beginning of something much bigger and more sonorous.
The South African government last week told ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa to his face, the country is now lawless and unsafe for investments.
This no holds barred statement was delivered by the South African ambassador, Mphakama Mbete who said Zimbabwe is now lawless on 10 fronts. He was speaking during last week’s Polad economic summit at the HICC where he said Zimbabwe:
Has non working Public Institutions.
is now totally lawless – no rule of law at all.
Now has extractive political and economic institutions.
Now run by rent-seekers and political manipulators.
Has no security of tenure .
Does not protect investments.
Does not honour of bilateral trade and investment agreements.
Does not service its debts.
The will of the people is suppressed, and active citizenry low.
Investments are not safe
Ambassador Mphakama Mbete told the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) economic summit last week,
SA advises Mnangagwa: "In terms of active citizenry, we believe that this is a very important factor of a thriving democracy. Ultimately it is the will of the people that must prevail for any democracy to be sustained." VIDEO CREDIT @ZBCNewsonline@ProfMadhukupic.twitter.com/UiGR8SgRWa
“In terms of active citizenry would believe that this is a very important factor of a thriving democracy. Ultimately it is the will of the people that must prevail for any democracy to be sustained.”
He however began his speech outlining the following:
"A comment on Public Institutions. We believe that Public institutions are key to proper economic management and must be allowed to pursue their mandate …. These institutions are important to provide a stable and predictable economic environment for business to thrive…" -SA pic.twitter.com/GZuEtbDEQ9
“A comment on Public Institutions. We believe that Public institutions are key to proper economic management and must be allowed to pursue their mandate in line with the policy framework and legislation that establishes them. These institutions are important to provide a stable and predictable economic environment for business to thrive,” Mbete said.
Business, particularly through Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe, has accused government of dragging the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe into quasi-fiscal activities and allowing it to print or generate money for political expediency and resultantly undermine the local currency.
Mbete said research showed that governments which manipulated institutions led generally poor nations.
“Nations with extractive political and economic institutions are likely to be poor compared to those with inclusive economic institutions, where the rule of law is protected against rent-seeking and political manipulation,” he said.
Mnangagwa’s government has been posturing, telling its African and international audiences that sanctions were affecting economic development in the country and hindering foreign direct investment (FDI), but Mbete sang from a different hymnbook.
“Zimbabwe has presented itself to be open for business, which we believe is an appropriate approach to developing this country and economy. However, in order to attract significant flows of direct investment, it is import that Zimbabwe improves its record concerning the following issues; security of tenure and investment protection; repatriation of proceeds by investors; the honouring of bilateral trade and investment agreements; the need to open up the economy to competition and establishment of new credibilities, lastly optimal debt servicing,” he said.
Lastly, optimal debt servicing. We believe that in a highly competitive environment for FDI, these are but a few basic conditions that must be upheld at all times…In our view failure to do so, investment capital always look past Zimbabwe to other safer havens… @ZBCNewsonlinepic.twitter.com/PF1mBYgys9
Zimbabwe has been writing laws to protect local industries from competition, especially by enforcing punitive import tariffs and closing out some sectors to foreign competition.
These include Statutory Instrument (SI) 64 of 2016, whose objective was to boost domestic production by protecting local industries from unfair competition from foreign firms.
The SI resulted in the removal of 43 products from the Open General Import Licence.
Zimbabwe, however, repealed SI 64, all its predecessors and consolidated their contents into SI 122 of 2017 with import controls, though relaxed, still haunting the nation.
The laws came under scrutiny after the country joined the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will remove economic borders and bring fierce continental competition.
Mbete told government that without addressing these issues, FDI would seek safer destinations.
“We believe that in a highly competitive environment for FDI, these are but a few of the basic conditions that must be upheld at all times. In our view, failure to do so means that investment capital will always look past Zimbabwe to other safer havens,” he said.
Touching on the core of economic decay, Mbete said the shortages of energy, fuel and water in Zimbabwe were not making matters any better.
“Zimbabwe has an industry base that has been neglected for long and needs reinvestment and re-calibrating. This neglect undermines government revenue collection potential since industry is operating below its potential. Industry and the economy by extension triumphs when basic services such as energy, fuel, water, bulk services, for example, are provided in a consistent and predictable way, this is essential for long-term planning by the productive sectors,” he said.
“We think it is important for all members of society to enter into a social contract wherein government, business, labour and citizens rally behind a common vision of the country of Zimbabwe. Success requires mutual co-operation of all players as no one section of society can do it alone.”
Added Mbete: “South Africa, we believe, has had a very successful social contract through the National Economic Development Labour Council.”
The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) is currently appearing before parliamentary committee on lands and agriculture to explain on the USD$27 million from government meant for wheat imports.
GMAZ has previously failed to appear before the committee as they argued that they had supplied all the paperwork needed earlier.
They also said the USD$27 million was not from government as they bought the money from banks at the prevailing interbank rate at that particular time.
Last week, some millers appeared before the same committee and made various claims including alleging that subsidized maize was finding its way to DRC.
It remains to be seen what GMAZ will say today. Follow the live feed on the video loading below. Bear with us if it is taking long to load it could be network issues.
By Own Correspondent| Harare Magistrate Yeukai Chigodora on Monday 24 February 2020 ended the lengthy detention of pro-democracy campaigner Makomborero Haruzivishe and Allan Moyo, who were arrested last week by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers and charged for allegedly participating in an illegal demonstration.
Haruzivishe and Moyo were arrested on Thursday 20 February 2020 by some ZRP officers who charged them with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 (1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors claimed that Haruzivishe and Moyo, who were represented by Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), participated in an illegal demonstration allegedly staged by some MDC Alliance party youths on Wednesday 19 February 2020 in Harare’s central business district.
During the demonstration, prosecutors charged that the protesters who included Haruzivishe and Moyo held placards inscribed “Respect our own Constitution,” “ED enda,” “ED must go,” among other posters and sang some protest songs with the lyrics “Hatichada kunyengerera,” “hatipihwe order nemasaskamu.”
The duo according to prosecutors were identified while allegedly committing the offence on some video footage, which was reportedly circulated on social media platforms and which will be produced in court as an exhibit when their trial commences.
Magistrate Chigodora ordered Haruzivishe and Moyo to pay ZWL$1 000 each as bail money and to report twice a week on Mondays and Tuesday at Harare Central Police Station, to reside at their given residential addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses until the matter is finalised.
By Jane Mlambo| The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has finally appeared before the Justice Mayor Wadyajena parliamentary committee on lands and agriculture to clarify on the USD$27 million funds from government towards procurement of wheat.
