By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police have reported that their details have recovered an amount of  USD$ 229 000 of the USD$400 000 which was reportedly stolen at a security company.

The police said the money was shared among 5 company employees and 4 of them have been arrested and referred to court while one suspect  Edward Kapfuya is on the run.

The security company which is based in Waterfalls, Harare had reported that they lost cash amounting to US$400, 000 in a suspected inside job involving employees. The stolen money was in a cash box that went missing from the company vault.

The cash box was later recovered outside the company premises without the money.

This is a developing story…

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo serial robbers have been taken to court for robbing several residents property worth $11 500.

Nick Ngwenya (23) and Malcon Ngondo (18) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Lizwe Jamela where they pleaded guilty.

They will be back in court on February 28.

On February 18, Nothando Ncube (20) of Killiney Bulawayo was walking along the tared road when the two in the company of another one still at large pounced on her. They were abode Honda fit vehicle.

Ngwenya disembarked from the vehicle and strangled Ncube while Ngondo was searching her handbag and took her Hisense, Huawei Y3, Silver mobicel mobile phone, earphones, cash R1550 US$24 and $28.

It is alleged that they dragged Sibanda while the car was in motion.

She sustained several injuries on her body.

The total value of property and cash stolen was $7500 and $600O worth of it was recovered.

In another offence on February 18 in Parklands suburb, Gladys Murove (21) was near Choppies Supermarket in the suburb when Ngwenya and Ngondo used violence in order to rob her of Samsung note 8 cell phone.

The total value of property was $4000 and nothing was recovered.

In the footage below Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda reprimands Zanu PF MPs :

Farai Dziva|
Zimbabwean Hip-hop gospel artist,
Mudiwa Hood, has come to the rescue of a teacher who reportedly stole maize cobs to feed his family.

According to Hood, the teacher is based in Harare, contrary to claims that he is from Mutoko.

He has started helping the man and also appealed to those who want to help him to get in touch.

Posting on Facebook, Hood said:

Good News Zimbabwe? … I visited Mr Chatikobo today jus to hear and verify the story…it was him and we will go back formally to help him big…

He teaches at a private school in Harare, not in Mutoko as rumoured.

I sat in his class while he teaches his students, mmmm pure Genius!

I settled the compensation demanded by maize cobs owner and he is a free man and promised me to stay out of trouble.

Among other things, I will pay school fees for all his 3 kids, he needs it ma cousins….the man is a highly qualified science teacher…who is nothing but a genius…he did everything our parents always asked us to do…”Dzidza mwanangu”…

He is a genuine family man. On Saturday I am taking him out for lunch, and will bless him again with few other things.

Those who want to assist, we (me and him) for accountability purposes we agreed that his closest person in his life, will manage all donations and EcoCash…if you want to send cash kindly send to Faustine Svuvure on 0772999156.

Information Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi has scoffed at MDC leader Nelson Chamisa after the main opposition president’s lawyer, Thabani Mpofu hinted that there is new evidence sourced from Professor Jonathan Moyo’s Book that could be filed before the Constitutional Court to challenge Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s 2018 presidential result ruling.

However, posting on Twitter, Mutodi said it was laughable that a party like MDC wants to rely on Moyo’s book to launch another court challenge against Mnangagwa’s win.

THE MDC has expelled Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dlamini from the main opposition party and as the resort town’s mayor on charges of breaching party obligations and instructions.

In a letter dated 24 February 2020, party secretary general Chalton Hwende wrote to Dlamini Monday informing him that the party’s highest decision making body in between congresses, the National Council, had resolved to boot him out of the party for disobedience. 

Hwende’s letter Dlamini did clearly state the exact breaches the latter made.

“This letter serves to inform you and confirm the termination by the National Council of your membership of the party with immediate effect as per the resolution of the National Council of 23rd November 2018,”Hwende wrote.

“Your expulsion is in terms of Article 5.11(a)of the Movement for Democratic Change Constitution as read with unanimous National Council resolution of 23rd November 2018.

“Consequently, the party is immediately invoking the provisions of section 278 (1)of the Zimbabwe Constitution as read with Section 129 of the same to have you removed from the position of Councillor of the Victoria Falls Municipality,” reads part of the letter.

MDC Local Government Deputy Secretary Clifford Hlatshwayo confirmed the expulsion and said Dlamini was not taking residents’ issues seriously.

“He was also failing to implement party SMART policy document.Councillor Patricia Mwale is the acting mayor. We have written to the Minister of Local Government (July Moyo) and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission informing them of the latest development,” said Hlatshwayo. 

Party President Nelson Chamisa, recently threatened to wield the axe on all corrupt councillors. 

The government of Zimbabwe will soon roll out “garrison or cantonment shops” for serving security sector members as a way of cushioning them from the vagaries of inflation.

In a weekly post-cabinet briefing to journalists in Harare, Finance and Economic Development minister Prof. Mthuli Ncube said the cantonment shops are different from silo or people’s shops which government promised to introduce last year but have not taken off.

Under the scheme, those serving in the security sector will be “issued with a card or credit limit to buy what they want monthly”.

Watch Mthuli Ncube speak in the video below:

THE Government has awarded its pensioners a Cost of Living Adjustment (Cola) that will be backdated to January.

In a statement on Wednesday Public Service Commission Ambassador Jonathan Wutaunashe said the payments will be made from next month.

“The Public Service Commission notifies Government pensioners that procedures relating to Cost of Living Adjustment for all pensioners have been finalised and the adjustment will be effected in March 2020, backdated to January 2020,” he said.

This comes as the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) also doubled the payouts for pensioners from a minimum of $80 to $200 while workers compensation scheme moved from $80 to $200 last year in November.

The increases were backdated to October 2019.

While the payouts were increased, pensioners lamented that they were failing to access cash at the bank which has seen the senior citizens spending at least two nights in a queue trying to access their money.

However, the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) says pensioners receiving annual pay outs of less than $6000 dollars can salvage their earnings by applying for lump sums.

IPEC said the prevailing hyper inflationary environment posed a threat to the preservation of pension values and it was an option to get a lump sum instead.

Zimbabwean socialite and businesswoman Pokello Nare is reported to have found herself in Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC)’s crosshairs over a property she allegedly acquired in Dubai. The entrepreneur who owns an upmarket boutique at Sam Levy’s Village and keeps her cards close to her chest is alleged to have exploited her proximity to stepfather and former finance minister Ignatius Chombo and benefited from his illicit dealings through online Zimorningpost reports.

The anti-graft body recently revealed that vast amounts of wealth were siphoned outside the country and the entrepreneur’s name has been hauled onto the list of the alleged culprits. An insider at ZACC divulged the details.

‘Yes, Pokello is on the list for a property she bought in Dubai. We have since instituted investigations, and we want to make sure we do not commit an error at law, hence we are being thorough,’ said the source.

This comes a week after ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda Moyo told state media that they discovered US$7 billion in cash and properties stashed outside the country by former and current senior Government officials and captains of industry.

Informally, we have now identified over US$7 billion worth of property and cash all over the world which was 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.

This also comes after the former big brother Africa contestant sent tongues wagging late last year after buying a Range Rover Luxury SUV, 2019 edition, which is estimated to cost over US$ 100 000. Social media users were left wondering who bankrolled the luxurious car with some alleging that it had been bought for her by her ‘mystery’ lover.

MOVEMENT for Democratic Change (MDC) ‘s councillor for Chipinge rural’s Ward 2, Agrippah Mayanga has been arrested by the Chipinge Criminal Investigation Department after he was found in possession of large quantities of stolen TelOne Copper cables.

Police suspect that the accused has a hand in several reported cases of stolen telephone cables in the district.

According to police records, the accused is also being implicated in a syndicate that reportedly sells copper cables in neighbouring South Africa.

Mayanga who is in police custody will appear before the Chipinge Magistrate courts this Thursday for initial hearings.

TWO senior officials in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Sekesai Zinyowera and Crossman Mayavo, who were attached to the National Microbiology Reference Centre (NMRC), today appeared in court facing criminal abuse of office charges.

Zinyowera was employed as a coordinator while Mayavo was employed as an administrator at NMRC. The Ministry of Health is alleged to have lost US$61 143 paid in allowances to NMRC employees after Zinyoweni and Mayavo made a resolution to apportion 60 percent of user fees to the NMRC while 40 percent was to be shared among employees.

Zinyoweni and Mayavo are said to have made the resolution without approval from the Ministry of Finance and knowledge of the permanent secretary in the Health ministry. The duo are also standing accused of issuing fuel to undeserving employees and paying tuition fees for one of the NMRC staff members at Midlands State University resulting in the ministry losing a total of $95 592.

Zinyoweni and Mayavo were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before Harare regional magistrate Hoseah Mujaya who remanded them March 17 for their routine appearance. Zinyoweni was granted $2000 bail while Mayavo is on $1000 bail.

Mrs Tinashe Makiya prosecuted.

Norton Member of Parliament has called upon  Zimbabweans to wage a revolution against white people who have captured the state through its cartel system.

In an address to the nation on Wednesday Mliswa said, “I have come to compliment Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu’s noise. They did not have the evidence, but now I have it….we must start a revolution to reclaim what is ours from the white monopoly.”

Mliswa said white people like Billy Rautenbach had captured the police, the state and July Moyo.

“Police without a court order, with the support unit armed with AKs removed people from their land because they support Billy Rautenbach…July Moyo has told Mnangagwa that Billy Rautenbach has title deeds.” Mliswa said. “Billy Rautenbach has captured police and some government officials. The white man will never be arrested yet ZACC says we must report cases of corruption.”

Mliswa said he is ready to die for the war against white monopoly which includes Innscor.

“I’m ready to die. I don’t care about that. We have comrades who say they went to war but today they are selling out as they work with Billy Rautenbach. Former prosecutor General Ray Goba was captured by Innscor Africa. Who controls food distribution in this country? Who owns National Foods? It’s not black people.

“Innscor Africa, Bakers Inn, Colcom, Irvines, are all a white monopoly. Don’t tell us that blacks are destroying the economy. Now they are into the mining sector. How do we have a situation where Insscor Africa controls the entire food sector? Why is the government allowing that? 40 % of everything that we buy goes to Insscor. Where does that money go? Does it go to a black person? No. It is a white monopoly.”

Watch video downloading below:

Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council has won an appeal against a High Court decision blocking it from ordering a re-write for the 2017 Ordinary Level English Paper 2, which had leaked resulting in the widespread cheating by candidates who sat for the examination in that paper.

Though the appeal by Zimsec seemed academic considering the fact that affected students have since moved on, it has a strong bearing in future examinations in the event cheating occurs. The examination body had approached the Supreme Court challenging the judgment by the then High Court Judge Justice Loice Matanda Moyo who presided over the matter along with Justice Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa.

The two judges reversed the Zimsec decision to order a rewrite for the 2017 Ordinary Level English Paper 2 saying it was inconsiderate.

They, however, agreed that the court cannot condone criminality as cheating had indeed taken place and confirmed the decision to nullify the results for the English Language Paper 2.

Two parents, Mr Victor Mukomeka and Mr Chingasiyeni Govhati — representing two minor children who wrote their Ordinary Level examinations in 2017— had challenged the decision by the then Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Professor Paul Mavima to nullify the results and filed an urgent chamber application.

In its appeal, Zimsec wanted the Supreme Court set aside the decision refusing it to direct a resit of that examination which had been scheduled February 16, 2018.

Justice Bharat Patel allowed the appeal.

“The application to set aside the first respondent’s decision to have the Ordinary Level English Paper 2 examination retaken be and is hereby dismissed,” he said.

The judge found that Zimsec decision to nullify the results and order a rewrite of the examination, were entirely concordant with the provisions of Section 34(1) of the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council Act.

The Section empowers Zimsec to annul the results of any examination which is flawed by a specified irregularity, while the provisions of the Interpretation Act extends that power to address the consequences and exigencies of any such nullification.

First Lady Auxilla Mnangangwa on Tuesday threw caution to the wind after she ordered her driver to pursue a speeding Zupco bus at the 370 kilometre peg near Shangani according to Zim Morning Post.

The First Lady went on to confront the speeding Zupco driver in an incident that occurred around 4pm.

In an exclusive interview with Zim Morning Post, Auxillia told of how she had spotted a speeding Zupco bus along the Bulawayo-Shangani Road.

She instructed her driver to flash several times, signalling the bus to stop. The driver ignored, she said.

“I saw a Zupco bus speeding as if it was in a race,” Auxillia told Zim Morning Post.

“I was shocked at the speed at which it was traveling at. I instructed my driver to flash the bus notifying it to stop but to no avail. It continued moving at its despicable speed,” she said.

“I quickly instructed my driver to go in hot pursuit of the bus. My vehicle overtook the bus and we had to flag it down from in front of it. The driver then stopped,” she explained.

The First Lady asked the driver to get out of the bus and explain why he was over-speeding, putting lives at risk.

“I was angry at the driver. I asked him why he was putting passengers’ lives at risk,” she said.

Moyo Hombarume, the driver of the Zupco bus number 596, could not look the First Lady in the eye after he was confronted.

First Lady said she went on to contact the Harare Zupco headquarters to ascertain the qualifications of the named driver.

She said passengers should urge their drivers not to put their lives at risk through over-speeding and reckless driving.

Zim Morning Post

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda threats eject Zanu PF MPs from Parliament.Watch video below. ..

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF youths say they will visit MDC vice president Tendai Biti’s house because he is the one who invited sanctions.

Taurai Kundishaya, leader of Zanu PF-aligned Zimbabwe Citizens Forum and member of the ruling party Harare youth league, quoted by NewsDay said:

“Tendai Biti said he would make sure the Zimbabwe government would not get a penny from the international community.

Had it been that government got such pennies we could all be benefiting.

Now that nothing came, we are suffering so we assume he got it himself or that he has other means of surviving.

We are going to his place and eat what he is eating.

The reason for going to their houses is because they said this in their individual capacities. It is at our homes where we are suffering; it is to their homes where good living exists. We are just visitors, but in huge numbers.”

Biti responded:
“The desperate actions of a desperate rogue regime. Zanu PF is truly sick, Emmerson has lost his marbles.”

Farai Dziva|
Zimbabwean Hip-hop gospel artist,
Mudiwa Hood, has come to the rescue of a teacher who reportedly stole maize cobs to feed his family.

According to Hood, the teacher is based in Harare, contrary to claims that he is from Mutoko.

He has started helping the man and also appealed to those who want to help him to get in touch.

Posting on Facebook, Hood said:

Good News Zimbabwe? … I visited Mr Chatikobo today jus to hear and verify the story…it was him and we will go back formally to help him big…

He teaches at a private school in Harare, not in Mutoko as rumoured.

I sat in his class while he teaches his students, mmmm pure Genius!

I settled the compensation demanded by maize cobs owner and he is a free man and promised me to stay out of trouble.

Among other things, I will pay school fees for all his 3 kids, he needs it ma cousins….the man is a highly qualified science teacher…who is nothing but a genius…he did everything our parents always asked us to do…”Dzidza mwanangu”…

He is a genuine family man. On Saturday I am taking him out for lunch, and will bless him again with few other things.

Those who want to assist, we (me and him) for accountability purposes we agreed that his closest person in his life, will manage all donations and EcoCash…if you want to send cash kindly send to Faustine Svuvure on 0772999156.

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

USD = ZWL$17.8953
ZWL$ = RAND0.8509

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$28.60 zimrates
USD = ZWL$28.40 zwl365
USD = ZWL$28.50 bluemari
USD = BOND22.30 zimrates

– Marketwatch

By A Correspondent- Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has said he will reveal a twitter thread exposing bribe taking journalists.

Mliswa singled out state media editors alleging that he knows a couple of them who were given residential stands to “kill corruption stories”.

Watch the live video loading below for this and more……..

By A Correspondent- Asa UK Plc chairman David Murangari has passed on after a short illness. He was 79.

Murangani passed on yesterday at Avenue Clinic in Harare. Murangari’s son Tangai confirmed this morning to The Anchor.

“Yes the big man passed on yesterday at Avenues Clinic after succumbing to  an illness.”

Murangari was one of the leading minds in the Zimbabwean mining industry which saw him serve as Mines permanent secretary from 1988 to 1997. He was Chamber of Mines chief executive officer from 1999 to 2007. He also worked in Zambia and the United States of America before independence.

At the time of his death, he was was serving as a Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) board member, and served in the boards of Bindura Nickel Corporation, the Mineral and Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe.

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.

Watch the skit below which got Mai Titi furious..

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.”

Watch the live video loading below…..

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- Independent legislator for Norton has spilled the beans on the power behind the cartels.

Said Mliswa:

“….We don’t have confidence in giving the media information anymore because the media is also captured…

But who are these cartels? who are these people that have captured every sector?…..”

Watch the live video loading below for this and more…..

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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.

Kagonye polled 18 821, while Mr Chikudo managed 34 243 votes.

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

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.-

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.

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.

– Mirror

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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 lessons 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.

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.

MDC Communications

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.

More to follow . . . 

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.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…