State Media|The Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) — a grouping of politicians who contested the 2018 presidential elections — yesterday held its maiden Economic Summit which drew together captains of industry, labour unions and development partners.

In his opening remarks, President Mnangagwa once again extended an invitation to parties that have not yet joined the national dialogue to do so.

One such party is MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa.

The President said no one had monopoly on ideas.

“The cornerstone of the Second Republic is dialogue as a means of resolving the challenges that may arise in our nation and the sharing of knowledge among us as Zimbabweans,” he said.

“No one has the monopoly of ideas on how our country can speedily modernise, industrialise, develop and grow. It is only through dialogue and hard honest work that our collective efforts can be fruitful. As you may be aware, POLAD is a platform which seeks to enhance national cohesion, unity and political tolerance.

“In addition, the forum is committed to undertake remedial steps to address identified gaps to enhance economic stability, growth and sustainable development.

“In that spirit, this summit presents us with an opportunity to put our minds together towards the realisation of our national vision and aspirations. We have, as a Government, declared 2020 as the year of productivity and trade; as such, let us work in unity of purpose to achieve our development milestones and ultimately, Vision 2030.”

He said turning around the country’s economic fortunes was not an overnight event, but a process that could take time.

“The economy is an intricate ecosystem that requires our collective effort and hard work. It influences our day to day lives regardless of our creeds, socio-economic status, political or religious persuasions, among other things. I therefore, call upon my fellow countrymen and women to join hands and help chart a better future for the collective good of our country.

“In doing so, let us be realists and acknowledge that, to put our country back on its rails will not be an event, but a process. There are no quick fixes. We must be bold and stay on course, always seeking sustainable means to resolve our challenges. Let us act and speak with the collective good in mind and never be blinded by individual or sectoral benefits.

“In unity of purpose, let us provide proposals and recommendations that stimulate investment, productivity, decent jobs and fight poverty. Innovative ideas which will help Government to develop robust social safety nets for the more vulnerable members of our communities are also welcome.”

The President said his administration would be responsive to the requirements of the market. He urged Zimbabweans to explore ways of increasing productivity and attract local and foreign investment.

“As we consolidate and accelerate our economic recovery, let us be emboldened by the fact that Government is not on sabbatical leave. Policies and programmes are in place on which we can build. I therefore urge delegates, as you engage, not to gloss over the unique, specific realities, which we find ourselves in as a country,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Most of these are unprecedented in other economies. It is through a realistic understanding of our situation that our discourse would be more useful.”

After the President’s address, there were panel discussions chaired by various committee chairpersons.

First was the business panel where captains of industry outlined the challenges they were facing. Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Mr Henry Ruzvidzo said currency and exchange rate stability and policy consistency were key to economic development.

“Perhaps a national currency stabilisation plan which is still and time-bound is necessary,” he said.

Mr Ruzvidzo said the Government was there to protect market distortions and pointed out that uncertainty around business environments discouraged investment.

Ms Rosemary Kariuki of the World Bank acknowledged that 2019 was a difficult year globally and Zimbabwe was no exception.

South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mbaleka Mbete and his Chinese counterpart Guo Shaochun gave detailed accounts of their economic experiences and how their governments managed to overcome the challenges they were facing.

There was another panel discussion on labour and consumers where labour leaders explained the challenges facing workers due to relentless increases in the cost of basic commodities.

Ms Rosemary Siyachitema of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ)said consumers were struggling to transact electronically due system challenges while other traders were refusing to embrace the use of plastic money.

A SOLDIER left many hearts sore and eyes teary when he revealed that he is tired of being beaten up by his wife who always comes back home drunk and in the company of males.

This came out at the Bulawayo magistrates’ court when Noel Moyo of Pelandaba West said in most instances his wife Nhlalwenhle Mqawana also assaults him with dangerous weapons so he decided to seek a protection order from the courts.

“I am applying for a peace order against my wife who is in the habit of assaulting me with dangerous weapons. She uses vulgar language, threatens me with death and is always coming home drunk and in the company of males,” said Moyo.

He added: “When I ask her why she tortures me she threatens me with death.

I work in Harare and most times whenever I delay to come home I get beaten by her. I am tired of being bitter, threatened, abused verbally and emotionally in the presence of my children. I am in the army and I do not want to take things into my hands so may the court grant me a peace order against this abusive woman.”

Western Commonage magistrate Urgent Vundla granted an interim order pending a final decision.-B-Metro

Zimbabwe School Examination Council Public Relation Manager, Nicky Dhlamini said review of examination fees was necessary to fund operations which will result in the successful running of national examinations.

He was responding to concerns from parents over the increase in exam fees amid fears that some pupils will fail to write their Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations.

“The last review was in 2015 which saw fees being pegged at US$15 since then, even though the economy and currency has changed, ZIMSEC did not change its fees.

“The fees review is not based on United State dollar rate but on cost of the running of examinations in Zimbabwean dollars.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare have programmes which will assist the underprivileged candidates whose cases are presented to them.

“ZIMSEC examinations are run based on the number of candidates who register. It is therefore not possible for us to foretell the number of candidates as ZIMSEC does not run on schools.
“ZIMSEC does not review fees autonomously.

There is a board of Directors which thoroughly vets the proposed figures before presenting them to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.-H-Metro

By A Correspondent| Men dressed as Zimbabwe Republic police cops last night raided the pub belonging to former ZANU PF strongman Jeppy Jaboon situated at 11 Luck Street, Harare.

The building is near the NetOne building in the CBD.

The development was told ZimEye minutes after the incident. Pictures below show the pub’s access door smashed in.

At the time of writing the full amount of money stolen could not be established.

“I don’t really understand what happened because these guys just came in their pickup with riot police and they just started arresting people,” said Mr Jaboon.

He continued saying they were

” …arresting people destroying property. I think you have seen the pictures. “

ZimEye asked on the possibility of the uniformed police being civilians who are robbers and we were told,

‘they came with three trucks loaded with riot police officers and they just started eating people and arresting people about 150 people (were arrested). ”

He explained that at the time, people were drinking beer as usual at his pub.

A comment from the ZRP could not be obtained at the time of writing.

Meanwhile ZimEye was perusing evidence submitted on the incident.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Farai Dziva|A prominent twitter user,
Effort Makusha, a perceived Zanu PF sympathiser has dismissed as baseless reports that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has collapsed.

Unconfirmed reports said Chiwenga was rushed to South Africa to seek urgent medical attention.

Makusha said Chiwenga attended a POLAD event in the capital, Harare today.

“President
@edmnangagwa
, VP Chiwenga this morning attended the inaugural economic summit which was held by the economic committee of the Political Actors Dialogue at Rainbow Towers in Harare.

All those reports of the collapse of the VP Chuiwenga are fake,”wrote Makusha on Twitter.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1230554101483630594?s=19

NEWS REVIEW: BITI, MADHUKU, MAWARIRE, MISIHAIRABWI https://t.co/EhjoG2XVDk

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 20, 2020

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hold its crucial meeting on Zimbabwe in Washington DC on Monday next week, businessdigest has learnt.The Bretton Woods institution will discuss the economic performance of the country and the meeting is considered pivotal in deciding the fate of the Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP) following the government’s failure to meet the set targets of the initial agreement.

“The IMF will hold a board meeting on Article IV consultation with Zimbabwe on Monday next week,” a source revealed.”The meeting will discuss the problems Zimbabwe is facing right now and the way forward as well as the SMP. The meeting will be based on the mission’s visit in December last year and there will be a report on the outcome of the meeting that will be published soon after the meeting.”

The IMF has already raised a red flag over the country’s failure to meet targets on inflation and government’s controversial spending, especially on deals with Sakunda Holdings, a company linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s backer, Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

Government has admitted that it failed to meet the targets set in the initial SMP, but feels that the process can still continue.In a prior meeting since the agreement to carry out the SMP was signed, the IMF painted a grim picture of the current economic situation in the country and was critical of government’s disastrous fiscal consolidation measures, which have resulted in a volatile exchange rate and hyperinflation.

The IMF said urgent measures needed to be taken to address the situation.”Policy actions are urgently needed to tackle the root causes of economic instability and enable private-sector led growth. The key challenge is to contain fiscal spending consistent with non-inflationary financing and tighten monetary policy to stabilise the exchange rate and start rebuilding confidence in the national currency,” the IMF said in a statement after its visit in September last year.

In his 2020 budget, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said he had missed fiscal reform targets under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and the SMP.
The meeting on Monday comes after the World Bank last week painted a gloomy picture of the country’s economy.

In her presentation at the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries Manufacturing Survey Launch last week,titled The World Bank Outlook on Zimbabwe in the context and of the Regional and Continental Outlook, World Bank senior economist Stella IIieva noted that Zimbabwe has experienced economic decline over the years and with the prevailing currency distortions, its future was uncertain and this could lead to further economic collapse and massive poverty.

“Before 2019, the economy was growing faster than the regional peers, but GDP [gross domestic product] has fallen by 7,5%, this entails that uncertainty about Zimbabwe’s economic outlook is very high,” IIieva said.

“The economic outlook for Zimbabwe is likely to further deteriorate, requiring more social spending.”She said addressing distortions in the market is pivotal to the economy’s revival.

“Addressing price instability and distortions in the forex exchange market will be key to growth prospects, boosting firm productivity, enhancing trade openness and integration, mitigating the impact of the extreme weather, economic adjustments on the poor and it’s important that the poor have access to food and education,” she said.

Flamboyant Harare businessman Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure has been arrested on a fresh charge at the Harare magistrates court where he had come for routine remand for another matter in which he was recently granted bail by the High court.

Kadungure was last week granted $10 000 bail after a two-week stint in remand prison. He is facing fraud charges for allegedly undervaluing excise duty for a Bentley Continental GT to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

On the fresh charge, Ginimbi is accused of forging documents which he used to import a Rolls Royce from South Africa thereby prejudicing Zimra US$90 260.10 for unpaid duty.

Hararae regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya then freed Ginimbi on $5000 bail. As part of his bail conditions, he was ordered to report to police twice a month. He was also ordered to continue residing at his given address and not to interfere with State witnesses.

The matter was remanded to March 19.

Students at the Reformed Church of Zimbabwe (RCZ)-run Pamushana High School in Bikita East have reportedly involved in a beer binge and s.e.x escapades at the school premises after the institution hired a band to belatedly celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Reports said security guards, who discovered empty beer bottles and used c0nd0ms strewn all over school premises, advised the school authorities about the issue. The school authorities have since instituted investigations into the matter in an effort to bring the pupils involved to book.

Pamushana School Development Committee chairperson Charles Musimiki on Tuesday confirmed that students smuggled alcohol onto school premises.

“Children are involved in mischief whenever they are growing and tend to experiment on things. Remember, we are dealing with children who have reached adolescence, they tend to experiment on a lot of things. Yes, some brought in alcohol to experiment, but there is no evidence of sex orgies at the school. The matter is being blown out of proportion to tarnish the good name of the school,” he said.

Musimiki said he had since advised the school authorities to investigate the issue.

“Remember, schools are there to grow these pupils academically, spiritually and in extracurricular activities. The musical function wasn’t even a Valentine’s Day celebration, but they have always been held at the school and there is nothing sinister about them. Honestly, if a child drinks beer, would he be treated as if he has killed a person? The issue of used condoms is out of the question.

I went to the school, but didn’t notice any. As the SDC chairperson, I have a child who is at the school and I wouldn’t be happy to see him drink beer. So the matter is being investigated so that we brief parents on the correct position,” he said.

The school head, Raymond Ndega, said he was in a meeting, but confirmed some misdemeanour by pupils at the show. “The matter is being looked into so that we come up with the true picture. However, it’s a minor thing, but there is a parent who wants to tarnish our image. I will brief you about the facts later,” Ndega said.

A witness said on the day in question, there was a musical show, where a band which was hired by the school authorities performed for pupils as part of belated Valentine’s Day celebrations.

“The function was organised by the school authorities and went on until midnight. However, the night turned out to be a night of beer binge and s.e.x escapades by pupils,” the source said. “Beer was readily available for the pupils. Many pupils got drunk to the extent that they spent the following day sleeping in their dormitories and failed to attend church service.”

A concerned parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of having his child victimised, said: “Yesterday (Sunday), used c0nd0ms were seen all over the schoolyard, indicating that the school was turned into a brothel. The SDC chairman (Musimiki) visited the school and came face-to-face with reality. He saw used condoms all over the school and empty beer bottles and cans. The headmaster of the school was not at the school on the day in question.”

Pamushana was last year caught in the eye of a storm when RCZ disowned a newly-elected SDC after allegations emerged that people were bussed in to vote for the officials.

The minister-in-charge at Pamushana, Reverend Innocent Munenerwa, had to write a letter to provincial schools inspector Zedias Chitiga dismissing the elections won by Musimiki, a former MDC MP, as a sham and unprocedural.

Musimiki is also the chairperson of another school, Duma Primary just a few kilometres from Pamushana.

NewsDay

This govt which has been running our country since 1980 they don't respect the view that the constitution is higher than other laws. They take the view that the constitution is like any other law… And here I am speaking as Lovemore Madhuku the citizen – @ProfMadhuku @HealZim pic.twitter.com/P513ICAvtR

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 20, 2020

https://youtu.be/cUGW86RgYkk

Former MDC legislator Norman Mpofu has said the Bond money in Zimbabwe has been rendered useless and the authorisation of some firms to trade in forex is a clear sign that the local currency is no longer worth.

He said Zuva Petroleum, a Zimbabwe Fuel Company has been allowed to sell fuel  in American Dollars.

“That is a very loud message that bond is for the povo. Another message is that our leaders do not have confidence hence the do as I say not as I do message sent by the Zuva issue,” Mpofu said.

“Again the message is loud and clear that Zimbabwe is an Animal farm Government. Some animals are more equal than others.  Shockingly the same Zuva company represented by Adv Nelson Chamisa won a landmark court ruling reversing all the  gains made by labour unions over years.”

“I refuse to be cheated by other mortals. With immediate effect I will do all my business in foreign currency especially the rand which is common in Plumtree..  I will reluctantly accept the bond worse swipe and Ecocash in my dealings.”

He urged all my customers to openly buy with Rands in his shops.

“I announce that in return I will be buying my neighbours cattle in rands Ngikhathele ngamanga ka Mthuli.( I am tired on Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s lies.)” he said.

Own Correspondent|A Former ZANU PF MP, Irene Zindi has told a gathering that the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) is wasting government resources and playing a role that is meant for Parliament.

Zindi made the remarks while speaking at the start of a three-day capacity-building workshop for the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) Manicaland committee in Mutare on Tuesday.

“Polad was given about $5 million to carry out some duties; are we not wasting government resources? She queried.

“I don’t know the purpose and intention of forming (Polad). Maybe it is for other political reasons.”

“Polad is not in the Constitution. They are now forming thematic committees, what for? This is something which is being done by the Parliament of Zimbabwe.”

POLAD hosted a highly expensive economic summit this Thursday at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).

The summit was attended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, POLAD interlocutors and other stakeholders.

NPRC Manicaland provincial commissioner Patience Chiradza said the objective of the workshop was to capacitate provincial peace committees whose members included stakeholders such as church leaders, political parties, security details, civic society leaders among other stakeholders.

“We are saying let’s sit down and speak to resolve various conflicts we are facing in Manicaland province,” she said.

“We have identified various topical issues such as natural resource governance in the province. As you aware, there are diamonds and gold in the province and it is an area that we need to create peace especially after the emerging issue of illegal miners.”

263chat|Pressure group under the name Defending the Morgan Tsvangirai’s Legacy (DMTL) has come out guns blazing against Movement for Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa accusing him of destroying the party by not joining the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).

Addressing journalists in Harare, group spokesperson Edwin Dzambara accused Chamisa of being a puppet of exiled Generation 40 (G40) members fighting the ruling Zanu PF.

“MDC alliance has been hijacked by ZANU PF G40 members. An example is when the MDC national council tried to pass a resolution to join POLAD last year and the idea was shot down by Kudakwashe Bhasikiti who proclaimed that never should MDC attempt to join hands with the government of Emerson Mnangagwa.

“This means that Chamisa uses G40 members to fight against ZANU PF factional fights, because no one challenged or objected this because Chamisa had rubber stamped it,” he said.

Dzambara said the admission through social media by exiled former cabinet Ministers that they funded the Chamisa was a clear testimony that he has been captured.

“Chamisa is being funded by the G40 members, particularly Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao as evidenced by their recent admission on the twitter social platform that they donated US$6 000, there could be more funds which are yet to be revealed,” he said.

However, addressing the media yesterday, Chamisa dismissed POLAD as a charade and choir whose choirmaster is President Mnangagwa.

He also labelled POLAD a monologue where Mnangagwa will be speaking to himself.

Meanwhile, DMTL members promised to take unspecified action against Chamisa, saying they now have support from people aligned to Tsvangirai who are very disappointed with the way the party is being handled.

Mary had a stint in the cells after she was initially denied bail over allegations of externalisation of money and attempting to kill her ex-husband Vice President Chiwenga.

Female inmates at Chikurubi Female Prison have said Marry Mubaiwa was an introvert during her stint behind bars.

The women expressed their wish to have interacted with her. Speaking on the sidelines of the handover ceremony of a consignment of goods donated by Member of Parliament for Chivi South Killer Zivhu yesterday, inmate Pamela Chikami said:

“We wished to talk to Marry as our mother but we had no access to her. “We only saw her during her arrival and departure time.

“We also wished to socialise with her and have time to ask questions about how she also felt about being in prison,” said Pamela. Kayla Dlamini also expressed her concerns over Marry’s behaviour during the time she was in prison.

“Marry isolated herself when she was in prison. “We could not even talk to her since she was always in her room.

“We were happy the time she arrived as we thought that our meals were going to be different as compared to other days. “Unfortunately nothing changed when Mary was around us; we only had normal meals and services like any day before. “But we already miss her since she gave us hope as prisoners,” said Kayla.

H-metro

THREE machete wielding robbers have been arrested for allegedly attacking and robbing miners and villagers in Collen Bawn of over R25 000 and gold.

Philani Ndlovu (30) from Nkayi, Erick Sibanda (27) and Brighton Nyathi (24) both from Gwanda were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing six counts of robbery. They were remanded in custody to February 26.

Prosecuting, Miss Faith Mutukwa said the gang which was armed with machetes, axes, knobkerries, catapults and stones invaded two mines and a store in Collen Bawn.

More details to follow…

Own Correspondent|THE trial of Njube-Lobengula MP Gift Banda, who is facing charges of forging signatures of a Bulawayo man resulting in him losing a residential stand worth US$60 000, has been set for 3 March.

MDC president Nelson Chamisa recently threw Banda, a former Bulawayo deputy mayor, under the bus when he declared that his party will investigate circumstances leading to him clandestinely acquiring a 3,5-hectare piece of land at Ascot race course.

Chamisa while professing ignorance on the purchase, said he was shocked that Banda was allowed to go ahead as this was against the principles of the opposition party.

He has since built town houses on the land. He revealed that they will investigate the circumstances leading to the purchase.

The sentiments by Chamisa came at a time when Mr Banda was out on bail in the case where he is accused of conniving with a local real estate company to forge signatures to sell a residential stand in Selbourne Brooke in Bulawayo.

“Going forward, within the party, certain elements have to be subjected to interrogation and enquiries so that we maintain the highest of standards, so there will be no sacred cows. Now that I am aware that is what the former deputy mayor did, we shall get to the bottom of it.

Banda, who is jointly charged with Mbonisi David Nkomazana (33) of Bard Real Estates on Thursday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya facing forgery charges. He was remanded to 03 March for commencement of trial.

Banda and Nkomazana allegedly forged Mr Nkululeko Ndlovu’s signature purporting that he had agreed to sell his stand in Selbourne Brooke Bulawayo to the MP.

More details to follow…

Health Minister Obadiah Moyo says government has taken adequate measures to curb coronavirus. ..

Watch video below. ..

Farai Dziva|The Permanent Secretary in the Information Ministry Nick Mangwana has stressed that no dialogue will take place outside POLAD.

Argued Mangwana :
Zimbabwe does not have a binary political system where there is one political party in Government and another which is the opposition.

Our system is quite plural; so we recognise every political party that is there.

All we are hearing now is that MDC can only come to discuss anything with Zanu-PF or President Mnangagwa when other people are excluded, making it a bilateral issue. No! We are including everyone.

By A Correspondent- The deputy minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Mike Madiro told parliament that there are only 3 pathologists in Zimbabwe.

He was responding to a question from Honourable Mpofu who had asked the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to inform the House why there are no pathologists in the Midlands Province, a situation which resulted in bodies having to be taken either to Bulawayo or Harare thereby causing more suffering to bereaved families who have to endure protracted periods of mourning before burying their loved ones.

Said Madiro:

“I wish to inform the House that there are only three pathologists in the whole country.  There are two in Harare and one in Bulawayo.  There is little doubt that such a situation is unhealthy and we believe that the Ministry of Health may wish to look into this matter so that it is improved.”

 

Farai Dziva|A prominent twitter user,
Effort Makusha, a perceived Zanu PF sympathiser has dismissed as baseless reports that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has collapsed.

Unconfirmed reports said Chiwenga was rushed to South Africa to seek urgent medical attention.

Makusha said Chiwenga attended a POLAD event in the capital, Harare today.

“President
@edmnangagwa
, VP Chiwenga this morning attended the inaugural economic summit which was held by the economic committee of the Political Actors Dialogue at Rainbow Towers in Harare.

All those reports of the collapse of the VP Chuiwenga are fake,”wrote Makusha on Twitter.

By A Correspondent- Mr Reginald Shoko, the CSC-Boustead Beef company consultant based in Bulawayo has clarified on reports that workers from the Cold Storage Company (CSC) are fighting an imminent loss of jobs under the new investor, Boustead Beef Zimbabwe.

Below his statement.

Following reports that workers from the Cold Storage Company (CSC) are fighting an imminent loss of jobs under the new investor, Boustead Beef Zimbabwe, there is a need to clarify certain issues to the public.

First of all, it is true that we are in process of retrenchment and it is born out of the fact that the CSC workers are on secondment to Boustead Beef who are a new concession holder of the defunct CSC through a joint venture with the Government of Zimbabwe.

As Boustead Beef rolls out its operations it must recruit workers and the seconded workers must be officially terminated from the previous working contracts and be appointed to the Boustead Beef contracts if they fit the requirements. It is natural that you cannot have two contracts in one employment hence the reason for the retrenchment processes underway. For the record we are almost concluding the negotiations with the majority of the workers.

Boustead Beef were seconded 177 permanent workers country wide and that includes Wet-blue Industries. Every permanent worker is being retrenched regardless of skill, age etcetera, as the legal requirement to officially terminate the previous status in order to create a new working conditions.

It must be noted that the secondment status is a disadvantage to the workers as the current employer cannot alter the previous conditions of employment. Worse in these inflationary conditions of the economy, the workers will always be struggling to survive hence the importance of terminating that status and creating a new environment.

If you are to engage the workers we are negotiating with, they will update you on the positions we are negotiating on. There is a legal guideline of retrenchment as directed by the Labour Act and all those have been followed. The negotiations have gone well and we will be concluding in the next few days. A number of issues have been agreed upon in principle and we are just waiting for stakeholder feedback.

The unions have also been involved in the process to help the workers in the negotiations. I think there is serious misunderstanding of the retrenchment process we are engaged in. It is part and parcel of the transition from the CSC to Boustead Beef and there is nothing sinister nor illegal about it.

As Boustead Beef restructures the former meat giant to a profitable and commercial viable entity, we cannot avoid that process due to a number of reasons ranging from the advancement in age of the current human resource, developments in the industry and the nature of Boustead Beef being a private entity.

It is different from the defunct CSC, which was a state enterprise. It is unfortunate that some of the workers have the audacity to utter such words given that this very company has not been operating for close to two decades, and they have also been selling its assets through court processes to recover their owed salaries.

The current investor has been paying their salaries even without production as seconded employees. The company has been busy with the retooling and re-engineering the business for the past four months and most of the equipment is being imported of which some is already in the country and will see production in the next eight weeks.

As for capacity we are more than able and already sitting in over US$500 million signed export orders. And we have only been in this company for a year and we must perform miracles in equipment that has not worked in over 15 years.

The Boustead business model is very viable and its anchored on the export market, unfortunately we have been forced to look for the cattle from other countries as the previous management had destroyed the company herd, and also the current drought related challenges facing the national herd.

The company will be exporting in the first quarter of this year after overcoming the teething challenges of transforming a state enterprise to a private entity. Retrenchment is the last process before we start production, we will be recruiting soon, including from the retrenched workers and the greater part of Bulawayo.

Our model is that we will start with the Bulawayo and move to Masvingo and other operating areas across the country. We have already done a significant work on the ranches that we have had access to so far.

By A Correspondent- As the timeline to the event unfolds and people are trying to piece together how and why the father of four children decided to end his children’s lives, another shocker has emerged.

It is alleged that police turned away the mother, Sylvia Monyela when she went to report that he had taken the children without her consent on Saturday – four days before they were found dead.

The Phasha children – Katlego, 9, Joyce, 7, Tshepo, 5, and Adel, 3 – were found dead at two separate locations in GaPhasha-Selatole village outside Burgersfort in Limpopo on Tuesday.

“The bodies of the three children [Katlego, Joyce and Tshepo] had five-inch nails in their heads and necks, while the youngest one was bludgeoned to death with a huge stone,” said the father’s relative Nkwane Phasha.

On a fateful day, the violent father is said to have arrived at the house where the mother was staying with her grandmother, Deborah Monyela, on Saturday armed with a panga and a knife. He demanded to take the kids and Sylvia would not do anything as she knew he was a very violent person.

Phasha, 47, said while they were searching for the man and the children and could not find them, he received an SMS from the father informing him about the death of the children and the location of their bodies. True and behold, they found the three children placed at one spot and the other one not too far away.

He said the family suspected that the father had used either a hammer or stone to push the nails into the children’s heads and necks.

Mojapelo (police brigadier) said the 52-year-old father was arrested for murders on Tuesday night.

“He accused his wife of cheating and that she would go for days and he would not know her whereabouts, leaving the children under his care. He insisted that his wife had pushed him to kill the children and he was ready to pay for his crimes.”

A few hours before the murders took place, the suspect posted a status on social media, accusing his girlfriend of 10 years of cheating and named the man he claimed she was involved with.

The children’s mother was taken to a place of safety on Tuesday after the bodies were discovered. She has not returned home

By A Correspondent- Makokoba residents in Bulawayo were treated to free drama last week on Thursday after a man ran berserk and thrashed his half-naked wife for failing to bring him food at his community service post — the courts.

Mathias Mabhena (26) who is serving his community service sentence at Bulawayo’s Tredgold courts for a sentence of physically abusing his wife Evilia Millian (25) which he committed last year in December, allegedly fumed at his wife for failing to bring him sadza for lunch.

It is said when Mabhena got home last week on Thursday he accused his wife of disrespecting him.

As a result, the court heard, an argument ensued and at the height of it Mabhena turned violent.

He reportedly grabbed his wife by the neck and pushed her against the wall.

“His wife who was packing clothes bolted out of the house. Mabhena followed in hot pursuit and caught up with her. He battered her several times all over the body with a rope,” the court heard.

It is said an elderly man intervened and quelled the situation which had gotten ugly.

Millian made a report at Mzilikazi Police Station leading to Mabhena’s arrest.

Appearing before magistrate Stephen Ndlovu at the Tredgold Magistrates Court, Mabhena pleaded guilty to an assault charge.

He took to the stand: “I’m really sorry for what I did. I got angry when she told me off after I asked her why she did not bring me food at the court where I’m doing community service for a crime I committed last year. I had to beat her and I did that out of love.”

Moyo took to the stand: “He is abusive. Whenever an argument arises he beats me with open hands and he emotionally abuses me as he is fond of insulting me in front of our children. Last week he beat me in full view of the public while I was wearing a bra and a skirt.”

He was remanded out of custody to next week on Tuesday for sentencing.-statemedia

By A Corrrespondent- Chivi South Legislator Killer Zivhu who donated a consignment of groceries and sanitary pads urged the inmates not to lose hope because of their situation in prison saying he had passed through the same institution in his life but managed to be successful later. Chikurubi Female inmates yesterday received groceries worth $35 000.

“I was once in prison in 2003 and I have learnt a lot, not to lose hope and this paved way to be where I am today. “It is my great pleasure to donate groceries to convicts and give hope to some of you.

“The groceries are key in maternal health and I will keep on handing over these groceries to you. “I want to assure you that there is life after prison and you should not lose hope because you’re in prison.

“I assure you that I will visit you every month and give life and hope to you.” He urged the inmates to be strong and determined. “You must see success now that you’re in prison and you should have strength. “You should learn something in prison which will help you to succeed in life.

“I have decided to celebrate my birthday with you in partnership with Mambo’s Chicken and I am happy for that. “We will continue to prioritise you and all charity homes. “I am also happy that you’re united and you are disciplined.

“As such, this donation resonates well with our efforts to ensure that all our prisons are adequately equipped with basic needs and this is very important as it is one of the keys to an enhanced health service system,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga collapsed in his office last week Wednesday and was flown to South Africa instead of his usual destination of China because of the coronavirus.

Sources privy to the development confirmed that the former army general was treated and discharged.

He was then spotted in Pretoria over the weekend in the company of his nieces Memory Chakuinga and her twin sister Evelyn.

We also understand the VP visited two properties that were allegedly bought by his estranged wife Marry Mubaiwa using what Chiwenga claimed was externalised and laundered money.

Chiwenga is locked in a bitter divorce with Marry and last year got her arrested on charges of attempted murder, fraud and money laundering. The case is before the courts.

Chiwenga claimed his wife tried to kill him while he was on a hospital bed in South Africa before he was airlifted to China. He then spent four months receiving ‘life-saving’ medical treatment in China.

A fresh-faced Chiwenga then flew back by private jet to Zimbabwe in November 2019 and was met at the airport by the Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Chiwenga’s relatives.

Political temperatures within Zanu-PF rose in November 2019 after a fresh looking Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga arrived back in Zimbabwe from China where he spent four months receiving ‘life-saving’ medical treatment after he was airlifted from South Africa in July.

The defence argument has always been that Chiwenga did not report the alleged attempted murder to authorities in South Africa, where the VP was said to be on life-support.

In a bizarre turn of events, Nehanda Radio has been informed that Chiwenga over the weekend went to a police station in Pretoria to file charges of attempted murder against his estranged wife over 7 months after the alleged incident to try and rectify the weaknesses in his case against her.

The VP is now back in Zimbabwe.

Marry has maintained that Chiwenga is suffering from “acute paranoia brought about by his poor health” and “his being under heavy doses of drugs, including un-prescribed opiates.”

Her defence team has argued that; “The primary evidence is said to be a medical report that shows the common cause fact that the Vice-President was in hospital. We are not told that the medical report corroborates the facts alleged by the State. The report is completely and utterly useless to the State. That the Vice-President was ill and hospitalised is a notorious fact.

“We would have expected the State to produce a report from the doctors who allegedly resuscitated the Vice-President. This is impossible because such reports do not exist, for the simple reason that the incident did not occur as alleged or at all. No doctor who respects his professional standing will be made to perjure himself,” the lawyers argued in their defence outline.

“Laughable is the so-called last exhibit. The State says it has a photograph of a bloodied T-shirt that the Vice-President was wearing. Surely an exhibit of that nature, despite it being merely of circumstantial relevance would have been kept and safeguarded. A photograph of a bloodied T-shirt remains a photograph, it proves nothing and cannot override primary evidence.”

“Either the State is not telling the truth or Zimbabwe should be seriously worried about the state of security personnel who guard important individuals. The probability that this allegation is a recent fabrication is, therefore, high,” Marry’s bail application papers read.

“When he was in China, the applicant’s husband requested the President arrange to have her to be sent to him. He even sent his personal security with US$30 000 for her personal upkeep and use. All this happened after July 2019 and in applicant’s assertion, it is inconceivable that this would have happened that she tried to murder her husband. This case is as weak as it is fabricated.”

“On the charge of externalising money to China, the State has only evidence of one witness that the appellant will challenge at trial. She will state that the witness would not have any basis to assume or allege that the money was moved illegally nor is the witness telling the truth.

“The money does not belong to the appellant and, in fact, was money belonging to her husband, who should be the person in the dock, assuming an offence was committed.” -NehandaRadio

By Patrick Guramatunhu- “They will arrest and kill some of us, but no gun is more powerful than a conscious mind. Some people are saying why don’t you focus on 2023. That is foolishness. Foolishness is doing the same thing with no results. There has to be a radical approach, a disruptive approach,” said Nelson Chamisa, leader of MDC. 

Hah! So Chamisa has finally accepted that it is insane to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result! After 20 years on the political centre stage, elected there to delivery the democratic changes the nation has been dying for, and yet has nothing to show for it. 

The tragedy here is what he is calling “a radical approach, a disruptive approach” is nothing but the same foolishness, same s***t different day.

Mr Chamisa and his MDC friends were warned of the folly of participating in elections without first implementing the reforms – Zanu PF will rig the elections leaving the country stuck with the same corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical regime. 

“MDC President Nelson Chamisa says his party will engage in a radical approach and hold demonstrations to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the negotiation table and the implementation of political reforms ahead of the 2023 elections,” New Zimbabwe reported.

Chamisa wants him and Mnangagwa to the negotiate a power sharing arrangement in which he, Nelson Chamisa, and a few of his MDC friends will be allocated some cabinet positions in a Zanu PF and MDC joint cabinet.

This will be a replica of the Government of National Unity (GNU) of 2008 to 2013 except that Chamisa is insisting in calling it a National Transition Authority (NTA). He is welcome to call the power sharing arrangement whatever he pleases, it is whether or not it will delivery any change. 

“It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white so long as it catches mice!” said Chairman Deng Xiaoping, the man credited with the modernising of China after the decades of chaos and misguided socialism ideological madness of Chairman Mao Zedong.

The acid test of the NTA is to implement the democratic reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections. The NTA is doomed to fail for two reasons:

1) Even if the mixed cabinet was to agree on the need for democratic reforms, it is for parliament to debate and agree on the details of the proposed reforms. 

Zanu PF, with its 2/3 majority in parliament, will never pass any meaningful reforms. Zanu PF will never ever reform itself out of office; this is obvious but clearly not to Chamisa and company.

2) Zanu PF has all the four Aces up its sleeve! Zanu PF knows that MDC will demand to have the reform implemented and make all manner of threats of what the party will do if reforms are not implemented. But when the chips are down Chamisa et al will participate in the 2023 elections even if Zanu PF has not implemented even one token reform. 

MDC and the rest in the opposition camp have participated in flawed and illegal elections even when Zanu PF had failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll. Since the 2008 GNU, Zanu PF has learnt that the party can rig the elections all it wants and still have opposition participating to give the process legitimacy as long as it allowed them to win a few seats. And Zanu PF is going to spice up its bait!

Zanu PF is going to amend the constitution to create “the official leader of the opposition and shadow cabinet” who will be rewarded with ministerial limos and perks. The very thing Chamisa and company are ferreting for right now!

There is the added attraction of another well funded Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) for the losers. The 2023 elections will be a hotly contested affair even with no reforms, no verified voters’ roll, etc. and Chamisa and his MDC will be right there in the thick of it!

We have all heard of the anecdotal story of the mental patient watering the garden using a leaking bucket and making no progress. Once in a while the penny will drop, the patient will acknowledge the problem of the leaking bucket but it is what he/she does next that will show they are not a full shilling!

“I will carry the bucket on my head!” And off they go with renewed vigour and enthusiasm!

For the last 20 years, the people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders to power on the understanding the party will implement the democratic reforms and end the Zanu PF dictatorship. Not even one reforms has been implemented. Not one! 

The nation is still stuck with this corrupt, incompetent, voting rigging and tyrannical Zanu PF regime. And after 40 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and lawlessness; the country is in economic ruins, millions now live in abject poverty. The nation is desperate for a solution to end the Zanu PF dictatorship! 

“No gun is effective against a people who are resolute. We have given peace a chance. The regime must not take us for granted,” said Chamisa. And off he goes with his leaking political bucket!

This is not a solution; we are just stuck in a rut, running round and round like headless chickens! We are desperate to do something right and not be doing the same foolish thing and pretend it is not only different but, better still, that we are making progress.  

“Hupenzi inyama yegakava!” (The insane are stubbornly single track minded!)

By A Correspondent- Mary had a stint in the cells after she was initially denied bail over allegations of externalisation of money and attempting to kill her ex-husband Vice President Chiwenga.

Female inmates at Chikurubi Female Prison have said Marry Mubaiwa was an introvert during her stint behind bars.

The women expressed their wish to have interacted with her. Speaking on the sidelines of the handover ceremony of a consignment of goods donated by Member of Parliament for Chivi South Killer Zivhu yesterday, inmate Pamela Chikami said:

“We wished to talk to Marry as our mother but we had no access to her. “We only saw her during her arrival and departure time.

“We also wished to socialise with her and have time to ask questions about how she also felt about being in prison,” said Pamela. Kayla Dlamini also expressed her concerns over Marry’s behaviour during the time she was in prison.

“Marry isolated herself when she was in prison. “We could not even talk to her since she was always in her room.

“We were happy the time she arrived as we thought that our meals were going to be different as compared to other days. “Unfortunately nothing changed when Mary was around us; we only had normal meals and services like any day before. “But we already miss her since she gave us hope as prisoners,” said Kayla.

–Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Two men from Bulawayo’s Queens Park suburb have been sentenced to a combined 42 months in prison for stealing alcohol and cigarette lighters worth more than $1 000 from a sports bar in the same suburb.

Marvelous Ndlovu (28) and Mandlenkosi Tshuma (30) stole from Guzzlers Sports Bar belonging to Mr Lennox Muhlambi. The two accused were convicted on their own plea to unlawful entry committed in aggravating circumstances by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Lizwe Jamela.

The accused were also being charged with illegal possession of dagga to which they both pleaded guilty. Tshuma was however acquitted of the charge after Mr Jamela ruled that according to the facts in the State outline it was Ndlovu who was found in possession of the dagga.

Ndlovu was sentenced to 24 months in prison for unlawful entry committed in aggravating circumstances and three months were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence.

“A further three months in prison is suspended on condition that the accused person restitutes the complainant $677 before March 30 this year,” said Mr Jamela.

Two months in prison was added to Ndlovu’s sentence from his previous conviction in 2016 and as such he will serve an effective 20 months in prison. Ndlovu was further fined $400 or he risks being in prison for 30 days for possession of dagga.

Tshuma was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three months were suspended for five years on condition he does not within that period commit a similar offence.

A further three months was suspended on condition that he restitutes Mr Muhlambi $677 before March 30. He will serve an effective 12 months in prison.

Prosecuting, Mr Terrence Chakabuda said on Sunday last week at around midnight, Ndlovu and Tshuma went to Guzzlers Sports Bar where they forced open the door.

“While inside the bar, the accused persons stole 3x750ml of Viceroy, 5x750ml of Chateau, 2xGold Blend whisky, 4×750 Gold Black whisky, 2×750 Heritage whisky, 19 cigarette lighters and left,” he said.

Mr Muhlambi discovered the offence and reported the matter to the police. Investigations were carried out leading to the recovery 1x750ml Viceroy, 1x750ml Gold Blend Whisky, 1×750 Gold Black whisky and 15 cigarette lighters at Ndlovu’s house.

Further searches led to the recovery of 65 grammes of dagga. This led to the arrest of the accused persons. The value of the stolen property is $1 904 and only $550 worth of alcohol was recovered. -statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) suspended or dismissed at least 176 officers between 2016 and last year for allegedly smuggling 433 vehicles into the country, according to a recent Zimra Integrity Management Report.

Yesterday, the fifth floor at Kurima House in Harare which houses ZIMRA was gutted by fire but officials at the premises denied our reporter entry to capture the extent of the damage.

Watch the live video loading below…….

The state media reported that among the affected workers are six data capture clerks, 14 revenue officers, 10 supervisors, seven unregistered clearing agents, one police officer while one incident was recorded under crossfire smuggling.

“Six data capturing clerks were suspended on allegations of smuggling 400 vehicles, while 14 revenue officers were axed for smuggling 70 vehicles.

“Seven unregistered clearing agents were nabbed after they allegedly cleared 11 vehicles and 10 supervisors were implicated for the smuggling of two vehicles. Data capturing clerks have the highest impact on vehicles that are imported into the country without payment of duty. They are now a corruption hotspot,” reads the report.

The report says a police officer was implicated for allegedly smuggling a vehicle while one vehicle is said to have illegally entered the country through crossfire smuggling. According to the report, at least 433 vehicles were found to be fraudulently registered and 108 vehicles have since been seized by Zimra.

“About 485 vehicles were identified as having been fraudulently registered; 52 of these had data capturing errors that were verified and found to have been correctly cleared; 433 of these were finally published in the print media calling for owners to report to Zimra for verification of the clearance details.”

The report indicates that the project will make a huge impact on revenue collection.

“It is estimated that $70 000 000 will be recovered directly from this project. The project is expected to improve compliance which will be a major factor in the long term.”

Zimra head corporate communications Mr Francis Chimanda said the organisation was instituting security measures to curb revenue leaks.

“The authority reviewed the vehicle clearance system and recommended replacement of manual clearance systems with electronic clearance system. This is now underway.

“The authority also constituted an integrity committee whose main responsibility is to ensure systems are continuously reviewed to plug loopholes. The authority is adopting a proactive approach and ensure that opportunities for corruption are eliminated,” he said.

He also said 182 vehicles impounded during a joint Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and Zimra operation are not included among the 433.

However, he said the 11 Zimra officers recently arrested by ZACC are included in the 176. The recently launched joint operation by the anti-graft body and the tax collector is targeting 2 400 vehicles suspected to have been smuggled in recent months with most of them now being sold by car dealers.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said the country was prejudiced of foreign currency through excise duty evasion and they were working on measures to curb such activities.

“We signed an MoU with Zimra to collaborate in the fight against graft and these are some of the fruits.”-Statemedia

We have never been a terror group- Border Gezi Youths pic.twitter.com/5IjpVWSWrG

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 20, 2020

THE High Court has ruled that the State dismally failed to prove its case beyond reasonable that Bulawayo businessman Oricious Moyo killed Tawanda “MaPecca” Moyo (43), a former member of Siyaya Arts Group. 

Moyo (41) of Emganwini suburb was initially charged with attempted murder but the charges were altered to murder after his victim later succumbed to the injuries.

Moyo, who was alleged to have shot MaPecca, his lover’s husband, was acquitted by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese yesterday following a full trial with three State witnesses giving their testimonies.

The witnesses included the investigating officer, Assistant Inspector Charles Nyamukubva and MaPecca’s two friends Mr Stewart Nyathi and Mr Leeroy Malunga.

The deceased’s wife, Ms Jacqueline Moyo with whom Oricious was allegedly having an extra-marital affair, denied that she was having an affair with the accused person.

 She also denied having been in the company of Oricious on the day of the shooting of her husband.

In his judgment, Justice Makonese said there was no evidence led by the State on how MaPecca met his death.

He said the accused person gave an explanation which the State failed to rebut through the evidence adduced from its witnesses.

“The State was evidently seriously handicapped in that the only person who could have shed light on what actually happened between Oricious and Tawanda was the deceased’s wife who, however chose not to cooperate with the police. The accused person’s version therefore, remained uncontroverted at the end of trial,” said the judge.

“The cardinal rule is that no onus rests on an accused to convince the court of the veracity of any explanation which he may give in his defence. 

“A court may only convict an accused person if it is satisfied that, not only that his explanation improbable, but that it is beyond reasonable doubt false.”

Justice Makonese said the allegations against Oricious were largely speculative.

“There are gaps in the evidence of the State case and the only version on what led to the fatal shooting is the accused’s version. The allegations against the accused person are largely speculative and when all the evidence has been assessed, we are satisfied that the State failed to prove its case, and consequently we find the accused person not guilty on the charge of murder and acquitted,” ruled the judge.

In his defence, Oricious said he acted in self defence as he believed that he was under attack from his assailants who intended to rob him.

He also denied allegations of engaging in an extra marital affair with Jaqueline, the deceased’s wife, telling the court that the deceased and his accomplices cooked up the charges as a way of trying to cover up for their attempted robbery.

Allegations against Oricious were that on July 25 at around 9PM, he parked his motor vehicle at his residence waiting for the gate to be opened.

He was allegedly in the company of Jacqueline, with whom he was having an extra-marital affair.

Jacqueline was also an employee at Fish and Chicken City owned by Moyo and was the deceased’s estranged wife.

“While still parked at the gate, the now deceased Tawanda Moyo confronted the pair and inquired about their relationship,” alleged Mr Kudakwashe for the state.

It was stated that at that moment Moyo started his car in an attempt to flee but Tawanda clung to the front passenger’s door.

This resulted in Moyo producing a pistol and shooting Tawanda once on the right side of ribcage and he fell down.

Mr Jaravaza said Moyo later reported the incident to the police accusing Tawanda of trying to rob him. Police attended the scene and summoned an ambulance which took Tawanda to hospital.

On August 28, an operation was conducted on Tawanda who still had a bullet lodged in his body near the spinal cord. However, after the operation, Tawanda’s condition deteriorated and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit where he died the following day.

Tawanda’s post mortem report shows that he died due to septic shock, septic laceration, gunshot wounds and assault.

Moyo, through his lawyer Mr Robert Ndlovu of R Ndlovu and Company, counter-accused Tawanda and his two friends Steward Nyathi and Leeroy Malunga of attempting to rob him, resulting in the shooting incident.

Nehanda Radio reports that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who was airlifted to a South African hospital last week, recovered from a health scare and over the weekend went to a police station in Pretoria to file charges of attempted murder against his estranged wife over 7 months after the alleged incident to try and rectify the weaknesses in his case against her.

The VP is now back in Zimbabwe.

Chiwenga is locked in a bitter divorce with Marry and last year got her arrested on charges of attempted murder, fraud and money laundering. The case is before the courts.

Chiwenga claimed his wife tried to kill him while he was on a hospital bed in South Africa before he was airlifted to China.

Marry has maintained that Chiwenga is suffering from “acute paranoia brought about by his poor health” and “his being under heavy doses of drugs, including un-prescribed opiates.”

Her defence team has argued that; “The primary evidence is said to be a medical report that shows the common cause fact that the Vice-President was in hospital. We are not told that the medical report corroborates the facts alleged by the State. The report is completely and utterly useless to the State. That the Vice-President was ill and hospitalised is a notorious fact.

“We would have expected the State to produce a report from the doctors who allegedly resuscitated the Vice-President. This is impossible because such reports do not exist, for the simple reason that the incident did not occur as alleged or at all. No doctor who respects his professional standing will be made to perjure himself,” the lawyers argued in their defence outline.

“Laughable is the so-called last exhibit. The State says it has a photograph of a bloodied T-shirt that the Vice-President was wearing. Surely an exhibit of that nature, despite it being merely of circumstantial relevance would have been kept and safeguarded. A photograph of a bloodied T-shirt remains a photograph, it proves nothing and cannot override primary evidence.”

“Either the State is not telling the truth or Zimbabwe should be seriously worried about the state of security personnel who guard important individuals. The probability that this allegation is a recent fabrication is, therefore, high,” Marry’s bail application papers read.

“When he was in China, the applicant’s husband requested the President arrange to have her to be sent to him. He even sent his personal security with US$30 000 for her personal upkeep and use. All this happened after July 2019 and in applicant’s assertion, it is inconceivable that this would have happened that she tried to murder her husband. This case is as weak as it is fabricated.”

“On the charge of externalising money to China, the State has only evidence of one witness that the appellant will challenge at trial. She will state that the witness would not have any basis to assume or allege that the money was moved illegally nor is the witness telling the truth.

“The money does not belong to the appellant and, in fact, was money belonging to her husband, who should be the person in the dock, assuming an offence was committed.”

• Nehanda Radio

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Mnangagwa must be thankful that pic.twitter.com/uABolMVmMB

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 20, 2020

https://youtu.be/UaaNXVKshVY

Own Correspondent|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga collapsed in his office last week Wednesday and was flown to South Africa instead of his usual destination of China because of the coronavirus according to a report by Nehanda Radio.

According to Nehanda Radio, sources have confirmed that the former army general was treated and discharged.

He was then spotted in Pretoria over the weekend in the company of his nieces Memory Chakuinga and her twin sister Evelyn.

We also understand the VP visited two properties that were allegedly bought by his estranged wife Marry Mubaiwa using what Chiwenga claimed was externalised and laundered money.

Chiwenga is locked in a bitter divorce with Marry and last year got her arrested on charges of attempted murder, fraud and money laundering. The case is before the courts.

Chiwenga claimed his wife tried to kill him while he was on a hospital bed in South Africa before he was airlifted to China. He then spent four months receiving ‘life-saving’ medical treatment in China.

A fresh-faced Chiwenga then flew back by private jet to Zimbabwe in November 2019 and was met at the airport by the Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Chiwenga’s relatives.

Source: Nehanda Radio

State Media|The resuscitation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe received a major boost yesterday after Government guaranteed the payment of US$1,5 million required to facilitate the delivery of 100 wagons and 40 locomotives by a Russian firm, United Wagon Company, the second largest manufacturer of railway rolling stock in the world.

National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) requires about $2 billion to be fully revitalised and transformed.

In the medium term the organisation needs $500 million to restore its infrastructure to acceptable levels.

NRZ and the United Wagon Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding during President Mnangagwa’s visit to Sochi, Russia last year.

The deal is two pronged as it involves the setting up of a plant to assemble wagons and locomotives in Zimbabwe for sale to other Sadc countries and the provision of rolling stock for NRZ.

In three years, NRZ is expected to have received 300 wagons from Russia.

With regards to the local assembling of the wagons and the locomotives, NRZ said it had a workshop in Bulawayo that could be upgraded to meet the standards required by the Russian company.

Yesterday, United Wagon Company deputy chief executive (commerce and marketing) Mr Boris Myagkov, accompanied by NRZ chairman Advocate Martin Dinha, met Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at his Munhumutapa Office.

Mr Myagkov also met Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda.

Advocate Dinha said: “We have been allocated money by Government. We are looking for an equivalent of US$1,5 million and we are glad that our meeting with the VP has brought positive results towards unlocking that funding. We are happy that we are receiving support at the highest level so that NRZ can be fully capacitated.

“We are getting support from our Minster Joel Biggie Matiza and our President His Excellency Cde ED Mnangagwa and the VP as you can see here. We want to turn around NRZ. Whatever plethora of challenges we have should be a thing of the past. We want to realise Vision 2030 with a modern and efficient railway network in Zimbabwe that will not only serve Zimbabwe, but the region in freight and passenger.

“We have signed for 100 wagons at a cost of US$10 million and we require 300 wagons in the next three years. We also require 20 to 30 locomotives to go with that.”

Adv Dinha said the Russian company had a strong footing both in the European and African markets adding that very soon it would start designing a prototype suitable for Zimbabwe.

Said Adv Dinha: “We are also looking at production in Zimbabwe for assembling, for welding, for fabrication and various industrial processes so that Zimbabwe becomes the link throughout the Sadc region.

“We have a workshop in Bulawayo that can be upgraded to the standards that they require for that so it’s a twin project — industrialisation through manufacturing of wagons in Zimbabwe and provision of rolling stock that is wagons and locomotives to enhance the capacity NRZ.”

Mr Myagkov said: “In Russia, rail is one of the most important means of connection with all the regions not only for freight, but also persons. That is why we fully understand the importance of developing railway in Zimbabwe for the development of the economy.

“Our company is the best in the world in terms of capabilities and the second biggest in the world in terms of manufacturing capacity. Our research and design institute has already designed the prototype design for Zimbabwe. So once we settle the financing scheme we will initiate production of the first lot that will be delivered here for trial operation.”

State Media|The Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust, dormant for almost 20 years, has been resuscitated with the appointment of six trustees by President Mnangagwa.

Veteran lawyer and former Trust chairman and Zimpapers chairman Mr Honour Piniel Mkushi will chair the trust again.

The other members are: current Zimpapers board chairman Mr Tommy Sithole, Ms Patience Gawe, former police spokesperson Ms Charity Charamba, historian and educationist Mr Pathisa Nyathi, and former Midlands State University Vice Chancellor Professor Ngwabi Bhebe.

Although it is laid down in the Deed of Trust that the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust is self-perpetuating, with surviving trustees choosing who will fill any vacancies, the President is empowered to appoint trustees when there are no trustees in office, which was the position when President Mnangagwa acted.

In a statement yesterday Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana said the appointment is with effect from February 10.

The appointment of the six was in accordance with the ZMMT founding Deed of 29 January 1981 and its amendments.

Mr Mkushi is the senior partner of Sawyer and Mkushi, is a businessman, and chairs or has chaired the boards of 10 major Zimbabwean companies.

A veteran journalist, international and local sports administrator, and civil and military pilot, Mr Sithole previously served in Zimpapers as Editor of Chronicle and The Herald, Editor-in-Chief of Zimpapers and Business Development Director. He was president of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, worked with the International Olympic Committee. He has also served as Secretary-General of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.

Ms Gawe is with the National Defence University.

Ms Charamba is the former national spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police and a retired senior assistant commissioner.

Mr Nyathi is a writer, author and publisher. He has served in many posts that further arts, culture and heritage and is well-known as a major driver of Ndebele writing in particular.

Prof Bhebe is a well-known historian and academic administrator, having lectured in history at several universities inside and outside Zimbabwe and in his administrative career reaching Pro-Vice Chancellor of UZ from 1992 to 1995 before being appointed as founder Vice Chancellor of Midlands State University which he developed rapidly into a major State university.

He has been elected into other leadership roles in academia regionally and internationally.

The ZMMT was established by Government in 1981 to bring Zimbabwean ownership to the largest media house, the Zimbabwe Newspapers (Zimpapers) group and the national news agency, Ziana, by buying out the controlling South African shareholdings, but without imposing direct Government control. The funds for buying the shares were a gift from Nigeria.

The Deed of Trust lays down that after the first appointment of trustees, their successors would be appointed by those still in office with only the President allowed to appoint a new set of trustees if at any time there were none in office.

Farai Dziva|The leader of Calvary Prayer Group, Prophet Isaac Makomichi says it is now time for the church to take the initiative in revealing the truth about Gukurahundi atrocities.

Speaking to ZimEye.com, on Tuesday Makomichi said he was in the process of setting up a church initiated commission of inquiry into the Gukurahundi atrocities- to get to the bottom of the matter.

“Our thrust as Calvary Prayer Group is to stand for the truth so we are saying politicians have failed to deal with the Gukurahundi issue.

In actual fact there is a lot of politicking on the matter and we are saying politicians should not take advantage of the sensitive matter to score political marks.

There is a lot of blame shifting on the matter but we want to get to the bottom of the matter,” said Makomichi.

He added:”The commission of inquiry can be established physically or spirituality but the bottom line is we will reveal the truth about the Gukurahundi atrocities.

The truth will be revealed very soon.Whether the person behind Gukurahundi is dead or alive, we will get to the bottom of the issue.

The unfortunate part is that there are some people who are being blamed for the atrocities – hence there is raging debate on the matter.”

State Media|THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has provided funds to enable oil companies access fuel stocks that were already in the country, but needing payment to be released. Deliveries to service stations were expected to improve from today.

This was said by acting Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) chief executive Mr Eddington Mazambani in an interview on the sidelines of the 16th annual general meeting of the Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA) underway in Victoria Falls.

“True, there have been some constraints regarding, one, logistical arrangements, and two, funding arrangements, which have now since been addressed through the Reserve Bank and we are made to believe that uplifting of fuel will improve starting probably tomorrow (today),” said Mr Mazambani.

“There have been allocations to some indigenous fuel companies which we expect will result in improving availability. The indigenous companies are many in number and their reach is wider than the big oil companies. We expect that the fuel situation will improve as the week progresses.”

Fuel shortages have resulted in long queues at service stations.

Cashing in on the shortage, black market dealers were charging up to $50 a litre, more than double the approved price.

Many kombis are in fuel queues, prompting the few operators on the road to increase fares claiming they were buying fuel from the black market.

Zupco buses are operating, but the fleet is grossly inadequate with conductors allowing in more standing passengers and in some cases desperate commuters are climbing onto bus roofs to get a ride.

Mr Mazambani said going forward, fuel availability would stabilise as the RBZ was working on long-term measures to deal with the supply side.

He said the 2020 Monetary Policy Statement announced on Monday allowed people with access to foreign currency to import fuel directly on their own to sell to motorists with foreign currency.

“At the moment, as Zera, we are crafting regulations to ensure that arrangement is up to life. Very soon we will be publicising outlets which are allowed to sell in foreign currency. And that on its own will relieve pressure of sourcing fuel because those with foreign currency will get their own fuel and sell in foreign currency and the Reserve Bank will cater for the general public who have no access to foreign currency. So availability should definitely improve,” said Mr Mazambani.

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi, who was in Victoria Falls to officially open the RERA AGM and conference, said the Government was working tirelessly to address the shortages.

“We are always in the mode to deal with shortages of fuel. Actually, you understand the genesis of our fuel shortages, which is heavily linked to shortages of foreign currency.

“As a result, until such a time we have foreign currency sufficiency, it makes sense to say we have some level of shortages of fuel which is consistent with the available foreign currency.

“I said there shall be light in Zimbabwe. We will come to a time when we have plenty of supplies into the country,” he said.

Minister Chasi said there were many things that had to be addressed, including the supply chain.

“The issue of the capacity of our financial sector to provide sufficient Letters of Credit to enable us to import as much as we can with what we have needs to be addressed. So it’s a huge mix of issues that we have.”

In Harare, there were occasional deliveries to Zuva and Puma service stations that sell in local currency, but queues could be measured by the kilometre.

Even filling stations licensed to sell in foreign currency had fairly long queues.

State Media|The Zimbabwean woman, who was quarantined at Wilkins Hospital’s specialised unit in Harare yesterday for a suspected case of Coronavirus (COVID-19), had tests coming out negative last night, which means the country is yet to record any case of the disease.

Social media went abuzz late yesterday afternoon with reports that the hospital had been sealed off, with medical personnel attending to the 27-year-old woman who arrived in the country on Tuesday from China.

Ministry of Health and Child Care epidemiology and disease control director Dr Portia Manangazira had earlier on been quoted in the media as saying: “Yes, we have the case of a 27-year-old Zimbabwean who is being held at the Wilkins Hospital’s specialised unit in isolation.

“She was in Wuhan and passed through Guangzhou where she was certified to be Coronavirus negative and has a certificate to show for it.

“When she arrived, we were aware that she was coming because the Chinese authorities had alerted us and we took the precautionary steps of putting her in isolation. She is presently being monitored by a team of experts, including Chinese physicians. We will keep the nation updated.”

In a statement late last night, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said results of the tests carried out on the woman came out negative.

“I can safely confirm that the Zimbabwean traveller was identified through our surveillance system at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport having noted that she had been to the epicentre of this Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan,” he said.

“In order to protect our nation, the candidate had to be isolated immediately. To me, this shows that our system is working well and is a sign of good preparedness.”

Minister Moyo said the tests showed that the country’s laboratory testing for COVID-19 was also fully functional.

“Our scientists managed to test the traveller and confirmed her to be negative for COVID-19 like what the authorities in China had also confirmed,” he said.

“So, we can still guarantee the nation that there is no Coronavirus in Zimbabwe. We will, however, as per protocol, continue to monitor this candidate for the 21-day prescribed period.

“Our protocol continues to be stringent and protective of our nation and to further strengthen our surveillance. We are now following a scientific approach requiring all travellers coming from China to be screened and quarantined for 14 days in China and if they are found to be safe they will be issued with a clearance certificate to travel.

“When they come to Zimbabwe, they will still be subjected to a further 21-day self-quarantine.”

Minister Moyo said case management training of trainers had started at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital and a total of 70 healthcare workers were trained (17 doctors, 19 nurses, six laboratorians, two health promotion officers, three surveillance officers and three environmental health officers.)

“We will continue to educate our population through the media and information, education and communication materials,” he said.

Minister Moyo’s statement put to rest speculation that another case had been reported in Rusape.

China is grappling with the COVID-19 virus and by the end of Tuesday there had been 74 185 confirmed cases, while 5 248 were suspected to have been infected with the virus.

A total of 2 004 deaths had been recorded.

On Tuesday alone, 136 deaths were recorded and of the deaths, 132 were recorded in Hubei Province, one in Heilongjiang, Shandong, Guangdong and Guizhou, respectively.

Tuesday also saw 14 376 people being discharged from hospital after recovering. However, the country recorded 1 794 new cases.

Own Correspondent|Police were on Wednesday caught completely off guard when citizens went on a spontaneous demonstration in the Harare CBD against rising cost of living in the country.

Anti riot police were quickly summoned to quell the sitiation where they wantonly fired teargas during the evening rush hour trying to disperse the hundreds of people who took up in the demonstration.

The group of people who can not immediately be aligned to any political formation marched downtown carrying placards denouncing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

Truckloads of police officers caught up with them around Copacapana bus terminus and were forced to fire choking smoke to disperse the group.

Some of the demonstrating youths

Watch video downloading below:

Farai Dziva|Two MDC members have been hospitalized after inhaling tear gas smoke, it has emerged.

The two inhaled tear gas smoke as police violently dispersed MDC members in Masvingo during Job Sikhala’s trial on Friday.

“In Masvingo we have two women who were affected by tear gas smoke and they are seeking medical care.

We suspect there are many citizens who were affected by the smoke.

Police are to blame for attacking peaceful citizens.

Violence erupted when a reckless police officer ordered the firing of teargas canisters on peaceful citizens,”said former Masvingo Central MP Jeffryson Chitando.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has dismissed talk of a possible split in the opposition party…see video below :

Farai Dziva|Controversial former MDC T deputy president Obert Gutu has claimed that the opposition will not win the 2023 polls.

“We’re now focusing on 2028 because, as I have already stated, 2023 is a CASE CLOSED. The impending implosion and inevitable split of the main opposition political party in Zimbabwe is also pointing to another NO contest in 2028. It is what it is,” claimed Gutu.

“It’s always dangerous and foolhardy to hunt with the hounds and run with the hares! Be real! Choose which side you’re! You can’t have your cake and eat it! You can’t blow hot and cold! You can’t approbate and reprobate!

A few days ago, I tweeted that 2023 is done and dusted! I repeat, here and now : 2023 is already a done deal! A fait accompli! Let’s now focus on 2028, which apparently, is mostly likely going to produce a similar result!”

A Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) student hacked into the university’s Examination Results database and forged results for himself and seven other students who had failed their semester exams last year.

The student received varying amounts in United States dollars from the students who had failed in courses such as financial management, commercial law, computer organisation and architecture and operating systems among others. 

Some of the students had failed multiple courses and paid amounts ranging from US$20 and US$80. The 20-year-old student also altered his August to December 2018 results where he was supposed to rewrite a failed course and went on to proceed with his studies.

He is currently in Level 2.2 at the university and allegedly accessed the CUT Examination Computer Database Server using a Python Script called SQLMap.

The matter was discovered and he has since been arrested.

Details to follow…