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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.

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.

By A Correspondent- Fire broke out at Kurima House in Harare, ZimEye can exclusively reveal.

The fire which emanated from the fifth floor at the complex which houses ZIMRA offices started around 12pm.

When our reporter visited Kurima House, the fire had been extinguished as the fire brigade reacted quickly in attending to the scene.

Said a witness who refused to be identified:

“There was pandemonium at this entrance as people ran for dear life and assembled at Africa Unity Square.

For the first time, the fire brigade was very quick to come and they put out the fire, but i am not sure how it started.”

Watch the live video loading below….

It could not be immediately established how much property was damaged in the inferno.

ZIMRA superiors refused to entertain our reporter referring them to their head office.

This is a developing story

By A Correspondent- The MDC leader trashed reports that there is turmoil in the party while addressing the media Wednesday at Morgan Tsvangirai House, the party’s headquarters in Harare.

Chamisa said the false allegations of rifts in the party over the “Thabitha Khumalo” issue are the shenanigans of Varakashi meaning Zanu Pf’s hired social media stalwarts.

He said:

“…. but as Vaonesi (light bearers), we are trying to show them the right path.”

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

By A Correspondent- MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has trashed claims that there is a fallout in the party over an alleged decision to remove Thabitha Khumalo as leader of parliament and replace her with the party’s Vice President Lynette Karenyi.

The state media reported that Khumalo has not been officially demoted yet to an ordinary National Assembly member, alleging that sources within the party have indicated that Chamisa wants to replace her with Karenyi.

Watch the live video loading below…..

Watch the live video loading below…..

By A Correspondent- Suspended former Zanu PF Youth League deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and his associates have been denied access to a farm in Kwekwe belonging to Mr Onsimo Zhavairo on the orders of the high court.

This follows after Mr Zhavairo applied to to the court after his farm was invaded by the Zanu-PF youths led by Matutu who was the first respondent, with the minister of Lands being the second respondent. Matutu and his associates were ordered not to enter subdivision 7 of Bezuidenhouts Kraal in Kwekwe and refrain from being violent towards Mr Zhavairo, his family and employees.

According to Mr Zhavairo, he has been living on the farm for the past 14 years before Matutu and his gang allegedly annexed it. They are said to have allegedly slaughtered a pig and four goats before harvesting butter-nuts. They are also said to have allegedly chased Mr Zhavairo’s farmworkers off the property and forced them to sleep on the road.

Meanwhile, there are reports that ZANU-PF National Chairperson and Minister Of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri is reportedly mobilizing members of the Central Committee in a bid to confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the party’s decision to suspend Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu.

According to a source in the ZANU-PF circles, party Commissar Victor Matemadanda had assured Matutu and Tsenengamu that the National Chairperson was mobilising Central Committee members to stand with them in their anti-corruption fight.

Addressing the media at Morgan Tsvangirai house, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said:

“Ultimately the people have the right to protest but we will provide the oxygen for that.

Last year we had 18 prohibitions…. but this year we will take no tomfoolery. The people’s time has come.

I hear a lot of people saying focus on 2023… No, We have been down this road. We can’t wait for a 5 year cycle to repeat the same mistake.”

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

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said the people of Zimbabwe are crying for a legitimate government and not an imposed one.

Addressing the media at Morgan Tsvangirai House, Chamisa said his tour of the country revealed a nation and a people hungry for a legitimate government.

He said :

“The people of Zimbabwe want responsible and accountable leadership.”

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

https://youtu.be/UaaNXVKshVY

https://youtu.be/UaaNXVKshVY

By A Correspondent- The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has said that Cabinet has approved the request to allow those with free funds to pay for their passports in foreign currency.

Speaking to members of the media on Tuesday following a Cabinet meeting, Kazembe Kazembe said:

That has been approved by Cabinet and we are waiting for the Statutory Instrument to be in place. We have received requests from various people with free funds and we are waiting for the Statutory Instrument to be in place then we can allow them.

Speaking at the same event, Information and Publicity Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa announced that the Treasury had availed US$6 796 500; 580 200 Euros and ZW$11 781 900 towards meeting the cost of clearing the passport backlog.

She also announced that passport fees had been reviewed up as follows:

• ordinary currently pegged at $53 be increased to ZW$150
• emergency passports and $253 be increased to ZW$600.

The passport backlog which dates back to 2018 is reportedly at 400 000. This has allegedly promoted corruption at the Registrar General’s office as the desperate passport seekers would do anything necessary and unnecessary to get the travelling document.

The deteriorating state of affairs has coerced Zimbabweans to apply for passports as they, at all costs, want to escape the crisis.

Watch the video below for the full text of the post cabinet press statement……

-ZimEye/Newsday

DESCENDANTS of the newly revived Mambo Dynasty have clashed with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) over the local authority’s recent decision to rename some of the city’s streets and suburbs in honour of Ndebele kings while ignoring other kings who lived in the city before colonisation.

BCC last month renamed some of the city’s major streets and buildings in a move the local authority says was meant to preserve the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial history and heritage of the country’s second capital.

But the move has apparently angered descendants of the Lozwi kingdom which existed in the city before the arrival of King Mzilikazi.

The clan recently installed Mike Moyo (50) as its king in an effort to revive their kingship.

Moyo argues that the recent renaming of some council roads and buildings is not a true historical reflection of the city as it side-lines other pre-colonial Kings.

“We are calling on national government to intervene and reverse this diabolical process or we are going to pull down the new King Lobengula Street plaques in demonstration of our anger.

“We are giving the authorities 21 days to reverse this process, a deadline which if not met, we are going to hold a protest march to the City Hall,” Moyo said Tuesday.

The Lozwi monarch claimed repeated efforts to engage the Bulawayo City Council over the issue has yielded nothing as the city fathers have allegedly refused to entertain their concerns.

“The council was invidious in that they ignored our requests to have a meeting with them in 2018 and 2019 over this same process.

“We approached the mayor and he agreed that we should meet to discuss the issue but then he went behind our backs and decided on new street names without making any consultations,” claimed Moyo.

He said the local authority was supposed to have consulted several stakeholders before coming up with the new names.

“They talk of preserving Bulawayo’s founding and colonial history but they fail to recognise the fact that there were settlements around the city that also deserve to be recognised.

“They simply ignored and failed to make consultations even now when they decided to go ahead with their process which was not inclusive,” said Moyo.

The Lozwi monarch further argued that several Ndebele icons have already been honoured through renaming them after suburbs, schools and art centres.

“We do not see why one of the Lozwi Kings should not have the Mzilikazi Street named after him. We have been subject to colonisation first by Mzilikazi and then the whites.

“Mzilikazi oppressed us, creating a caste system in which the Nguni were regarded as first class citizens while those incorporated along the way were in the second strata and our people that he found here were in the lowest rung , being referred to as amahole,” added Moyo.

Bulawayo City Council Mayor, Solomon Mguni could not be reached for comment.

By A Correspondent- Matobo Rural District Council has been accused of delaying the approval of a site for the construction of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo School of Tourism and Hospitality in the area.

The accusations are being made by Lalangwe Mbambangwe Memorial Trust, a non-governmental organisation founded by a former ZPRA cadre, Linganiso Mdabuko Nyathi, in honour of the late former Vice President Joshua Nkomo.

Nyathi told News Day that the Trust engaged the Council back in 2011 but nothing has happened to date. He said:

Despite Matobo RDC’s retrogressive attitude of not pegging our site, we are focused. Their action is viewed as deprivation of development to the community.

Since 2011, the local authority has been dragging its feet in approving the site for us.

Meanwhile, Matobo RDC chief executive officer Elvis Sibanda said that he could not remember the project and would have will have to reconsult his records and respond to the matter on Monday when he comes back to office.

Own Correspondent|MDC Vice President and ex-Finance Minister Tendai Biti has told Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya to consider shutting his mouth than make a fool of himself through presenting a meaningless monetary policy statement.

This comes after the central bank chief on Monday took time to present his statement which, according to observers, was less inspiring considering the country’s myriad problems, a result of government’s muddled up economic policies.

What was the point of that Monetary Policy Statement ?Some institutions and individuals must learn to shut up when they have nothing useful to say . Which is essentially one way of saying they must permanently shut up.

— TENDAI BITI (@BitiTendai) February 18, 2020

By A Correspondent- Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe has announced that it will be closing two of its branches, Chitungwiza and Beitbridge effective March 31, 2020, to pave way for a digitisation strategy.

The intended closure was announced by Stanbic Bank chief executive, Mr Joshua Tapambgwa, who told the state media that the digitisation strategy would leave the financial player with a physical footprint of 17 branches across the country.

He said:

The model we are following has been adopted by many financial and non-financial institutions in other parts of the world but very few in Southern Africa.

The new banking technologies we are introducing continue to bring ease ofbanking to our customers, which gives us the confidence to move to the next level of banking.

He added that customer accounts which are being maintained at these two branches will be safely migrated to Southerton and Bulawayo Joshua Nkomo Street branches, with the option of visiting any one of their 17 branches should they need service from physical branch facilities.

Tapambgwa also highlighted that all the staff members currently working in these two branches will be redeployed to other departments of the bank, which are driving the digital bank strategy.

POLITICAL Actors Dialogue (Polad) partners have upped the stakes on President Emmerson Mnangagwa, threatening to walk out on him if his government does not withdraw the Constitutional Amendment Bill gazetted by Justice minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi early this year.

Chairperson of the Polad’s gvernance and legislative agenda subcommittee, Lovemore Madhuku, said his committee had recommended to the group to have the Constitutional Amendment Bill withdrawn.

He said the recommendation was adopted as a resolution, meaning Mnangagwa should now instruct his minister to withdraw the Bill.

Madhuku warned that if Mnangagwa did not enforce the resolution, it would be a clear sign that the platform was not effective and would therefore not need to continue.

“Given that the recommendations on the Constitutional Amendment Bill are unanimous, a refusal by government will be a disbanding of Polad. There will be no Polad to talk about. Zanu PF is part of Polad. It runs the government. If it is sincere in being part to the Polad recommendations, it has to influence the government to accept the Polad position,” Madhuku said.

Parties in Polad are increasingly under pressure from their supporters to record some wins and stop behaving like they were owned by Zanu PF.

Madhuku said apart from recommending the withdrawal of the Bill, the committee also said there was no need for government to change the terms and conditions of judges.

“We found that the Bill has areas that you would accept, they are very few but many of the areas that are in the Bill, we feel they are unacceptable and not to be debated further,” he said.

“I need to say here the one which is of interest to the public, which has come out of Polad is the area related to the Judiciary. All the proposed changes to the Judiciary which are contained in the Bill we totally recommended a rejection of those proposals, so that we remain with the current constitutional provisions of the Judiciary, meaning that there must not be a change to the retirement age of 70. There must not be that provision which is suggesting yearly extensions up to five years for judges of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, which we have made clear.”

Polad said it would also write its own Bill on electoral reforms, making it the third such effort after Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn) which has since submitted a draft to Speaker of the House of Assembly Jacob Mudenda and the MDC which said it’s in the process of coming up with its own Bill.

Zanu PF representative in Polad Paul Mangwana was not immediately available for comment as his number was unreachable, while Ziyambi was not picking calls.

NewsDay

AFP|Lesotho’s ruling party gave its embattled prime minister an ultimatum to resign by Thursday after his wife was charged in connection with the murder of her rival.

Thomas Thabane’s current wife Maesaiah Thabane, 42, appeared in court Tuesday over the murder of the prime minister’s previous wife, who was gunned down two days before the premier was sworn into office in 2017.

The supreme decision-making body of Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC) party met on Monday and agreed on a deadline for the 80-year-old Thabane to step down.

“We… have decided that the PM should leave office by Thursday,” Montoeli Masoetsa, the party spokesman said.

“We cannot afford to have him any longer in office and we think it’s only for the best,” he told AFP.

The party had last month urged the premier to resign, after police investigations linked his mobile number to communication records from the scene of the murder of his estranged wife.

Lilopelo Thabane, who was 58, was gunned down by unknown assailants on the outskirts of the capital Maseru in June 2017.

The prime minister promised to leave on grounds of advanced health, but did not give a timeline for his resignation.

“This is no longer about waiting for him to give us a date but it’s the decision of the (party) that he should go by 20 February,” said Masoetsa.

The prime minister was also questioned by police last month over his estranged wife’s murder.

The long unresolved murder of the prime minister’s previous wife has stunned the small southern African kingdom surrounded by South Africa.

Opposition parties in the country of 2.2 million people, also want Thabane gone.

Kwekwe and Mutare town councils have proposed to rename some of their streets after Zimbabwe’s former Prime Minister, the late Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.

The local government authorities say that the renaming of roads after Tsvangirai will be in recognition of his contribution to democracy in the country.

Speaking to the Southern Eye, Kwekwe Deputy Mayor, Mr Shadreck Tobaiwa said that the proposal to name some streets after Tsvangirai will be on the next council’s meeting agenda where a resolution is expected to be made. He said:
“We expect a resolution to regularise the naming of one of our streets after Morgan Richard Tsvangirai to be made at our next full council meeting expected at the end of this month. The proposal or motion to that regard was made at our last council meeting and it was unanimously adopted by the councillors. No councillor opposed the proposal.

Mutare town council is also reportedly mulling the same.

The development comes three weeks after Kwekwe renamed Robert Mugabe Way to Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Street.

Analysts have however argued that there should be no contest or competition between the central government and local authorities over such a matter but they should be pushing to modernise the same roads they are scrambling for.

Own Correspondent|Government has announced several measures that will be put in place in a bid to clear the backlog of passport applications one of which is to her staff at the passport processing office to work night shifts.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister Kazembe Kazembe made the remarks at a post-cabinet briefing in Harare last night.

“Printing two thousand passports a day will not clear the backlog but we are working to raise capacity to 8 000 passports a day. To be on the safe side, we need up to around mid-year to clear the backlog once we get all the consumables.

“We even have the capacity to have our manpower work night shift to have work done,” he added.

He also announced that ordinary and emergency passports fees have been revised upwards in order for government to acquire material to process the passports.

The Government has also approved for the use of foreign currency by those with the currencies to get their passports processed even quicker.

Kazembe said his ministry is only waiting for Finance minister Prof Mthuli Ncube to come up with a Statutory Instrument governing the approval.

“Clearing our passport backlog that currently stands at ‪400 000‬ is not going to happen soon. However, as government we are subsidising the issuance of passports because it is a basic right for citizens to have the identification documents.

“We have revised upwards our ordinary and emergency passport fees application from RTGS$53 and RTGS$253 to RTGS$150 and RTGS$650, respectively.

“Because we are subsidising the production of passports, cabinet has also approved that citizens can make their applications using foreign currency. We are just waiting for Finance Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube to come up with a Statutory Instrument,” said Kazembe.

Among other interventions announced by Minister Kazembe in clearing the passport backlog, the Finance ministry is providing a USD$1 million debt settlement facility, which “will be maintained.”

SELF-EXILED former minister and Zanu PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo is seeking to apologise to Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga after accusing him of using a ghost writer for his doctoral thesis.

On July 11, 2017, four months before Chiwenga led a coup that toppled long time ruler, the late Robert Mugabe, Moyo alleged that the then Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces did not write the thesis for his doctorate from the University of KwaZulu Natal. Chiwenga sued and demanded $5 million in defamation claims.

But yesterday, Moyo’s lawyers confirmed the two parties were in touch over the matter with the hope of concluding it cordially despite it being before the courts.

Moyo’s lawyer, Chris Mhike of Atherstone and Cook said legal representatives of the respective parties were “still mutually and amicably seized with the matter, with a view to concluding it cordially.”

“It is highly regrettable that correspondence which was designed to be strictly private and confidential has been widely publicised on social media, apparently for mischievous and malignant reasons,” Mhike said.

“It must be noted that the High Court case remains pending, and is therefore sub judice. We are therefore unable to meaningfully comment on the issue. The furthest we can go at this stage, in terms of commentary, is to confirm that the legal representatives of the respective parties are still mutually and amicably seized with the matter, with a view to concluding it cordially.”

Chiwenga’s lawyer, Wilson Manase was not picking his calls yesterday.

Moyo and Chiwenga were embroiled in vicious clashes during the height of factionalism in Zanu PF between a faction aligned to then Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa under the moniker, Lacoste and another better known as G40 that coalesced around the former First Lady Grace Mugabe.

While Moyo was a key G4O proponent, Chiwenga was said to be the power behind the Lacoste faction led by Mnangagwa.

Chiwenga accused Moyo of being a war deserter who fled from the liberation struggle, a claim that angered the former Information minister.

Moyo snapped back on Twitter:

“Finally, I’m happy that Chiwenga wants pre- and post-independence disclosures about who was who, who did what and so forth. That’s good.

“Meanwhile, I take that to mean he wants the disclosure of who contributed what to his doctorate and who really wrote his KZN PhD. Again, the Shona wisdom that kunyarara kurinani panekutaura, applies. #Handeitione,” Moyo said in the statement that triggered the lawsuit.

Moyo is now in exile after escaping the crackdown by the army during the coup that led to Mugabe’s ouster.

NewsDay

Former Zanu PF Youth League deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and his associates have been barred by the High Court from entering or occupying a farm in Kwekwe belonging to Mr Onsimo Zhavairo.

Justice Pisirayi Kwenda recently handed down a final order interdicting Matutu and his associates after he granted an interim interdict and spoliation order in December last year.

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement was cited as the second respondent in the application by Mr Zhavairo after his farm was invaded by Zanu-PF youths led by Matutu who was the first respondent.

Justice Kwenda ordered that Matutu and his associates should not enter subdivision 7 of Bezuidenhouts Kraal in Kwekwe and refrain from being violent towards Mr Zhavairo, his family and employees.

Mr Zhavairo, in his court papers, said he had been living on the farm for the past 14 years and had an offer letter issued in November 2015.

The invaders allegedly slaughtered a pig and four goats before harvesting butter-nuts.

They allegedly went ahead to chase away Mr Zhavairo’s workers, forcing them to sleep on the road.

THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has issued a final warning to two fuel firms who risk losing their licences without a hearing if they wantonly increase fuel prices in future based on fake news from social media.

Zera acting chief executive officer, Mr Eddington Mazambani, said this in an interview here on the sidelines of the ongoing annual general and annual conference of the Regional Energy Regulatory Association of Southern Africa (RERA).

The companies concerned, which Mr Mazambani declined to name, immediately increased the fuel price to $23 for diesel on Sunday following the generation and circulation of the fake news report on social media.

“Without giving names, yes, there was one or two outlets which had increased prices of fuel based on social media fake news, which was circulating,” he said.

“But they managed to correct the prices in a short period of time after we engaged them. This is the second time that it is happening and we have spoken with the outlets concerned that any future indiscretions of that nature, will result in us revoking the license without us entering into any negotiations.

“Normally, what we do when someone has broken the regulations, we give them what we call a compliance order, which gives them time to correct whatever wrong they would have done. But we have said to these guys that this is the final time they have done this. Any indiscretions in future we just cancel the license without affording them any opportunity to comply.”

On Sunday, many service stations stopped selling fuel when doctored messages, allegedly from Zera, started circulating warning of a massive price increase of $23 from $19,55 per litre for diesel. Many motorists rushed to service stations supposedly to buy the product before prices were adjusted, resulting in unusually long queues in most parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the RERA conference went into full swing yesterday with side events, which are specific topics of interest to the energy sector that are discussed by the membership. Two key topics on gender mainstreaming and the creation of a regional energy regulatory authority were discussed. Presently, RERA is an association, made of regional energy regulators but they now want to set up an authority. In terms of gender mainstreaming, a presentation was done on the impact of energy to women since they are the ones who do most of the social work at home, such as looking for energy sources and food preparation. Discussions also centred on electricity tariffs, especially in so far as they affect low income earners, since the rich will migrate to alternatives such as solar and gas.

Today, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi is expected to officially open the conference, a development described by Mr Mazambani as indicative of Government’s commitment to energy issues.

Energy Deputy Minister Magna Mudyiwa arrived yesterday while Permanent Secretary Dr Gloria Magombo sat through most of the discussions yesterday.

The conference started on Sunday and ends of Friday with an AGM.

VICTORIA Falls Mayor, Councillor Somvelo Dlamini has been slapped with a $300 000 lawsuit by a local resident accusing him of engaging in an adulterous relationship with his wife.

Mr Shaktya Nyathi, is accusing Clr Dlamini, who is also MDC Alliance councillor for Ward 9 in the resort town, of having a love affair with his wife Mrs Sithabile Nyathi (nee Sibanda).

Mr Nyathi said their marriage was solemnised in terms of Chapter 5:11 of the Marriages Act before a priest at St Kizito Roman Catholic Church in Victoria Falls. The marriage date was however, not stated in court papers.

Mr Nyathi, through his lawyers Ncube Attorneys, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court under case number 351/20, citing Clr Dlamini as a defendant.

In papers before the court, Mr Nyathi said his wife has since deserted their matrimonial home following his discovery of the illicit affair. He alleged that on various occasions and at different places, Dlamini and his wife Ms Sibanda committed adultery.

“On various occasions and at places not known to the plaintiff, the defendant and the plaintiff’s spouse committed adultery and a result of that, the plaintiff suffered contumelia damages, loss of comfort and his wife has deserted him due to wrongful and intentional actions by the defendant,” said Mr Nyathi’s lawyers.

He is seeking a total of $330 000 in damages for contumelia, loss of the comfort, society and services.

“Wherefore plaintiff claims judgment against the defendant for an order for payment of $180 000 for loss of consortium, $150 000 in damages for contumelia as well as payment of five percent interest on the total amount calculated from the date of summons to the date of full and final payment,” read the summons.

Mr Nyathi also wants the court to direct Clr Dlamini to pay the legal costs he incurred.

Clr Dlamini is yet to respond. He was recently arrested by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) for alleged abuse of office.

He is accused of forging title deeds of a housing stand in 2013 before illegally selling the stand for US$ 20 000.

Clr Dlamini acquired the residential stand for US$7 962 in Aerodrome area when he was first elected as a councillor in 2013.

He then allegedly sold the stand to one Ms Memory Sithole for US$20 000 in September 2017 without first paying for it at Victoria Falls Town Council.

He had bought the stand at 40 percent discount, but sold it to Ms Sithole at full charge.

Investigations established that at the time Clr Dlamini sold the stand to Mrs Sithole in 2017, there was no development and the accused had corruptly acquired a title deed which was used by the buyer to obtain a loan from CABS.

Clr Dlamini was remanded to February 25 on $1 500 bail.

State Media|CABINET yesterday approved strategies to clear the passport backlog which will see the fees going up and those with free funds being allowed to pay in foreign currency. A Statutory Instrument is being crafted to allow payment in foreign currency.

With immediate effect, fees for an ordinary passport go up from $53 to $150 while an emergency passport will cost $600, up from $253.

The move seeks to clear the backlog of 400 000 passports in the next six months and cater for new applicants.

Briefing journalists in Harare after yesterday’s Cabinet session, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the Government had approved a huge budget towards the clearance of the passport backlog.

“Cabinet considered and approved the strategies to clear the passport backlog at the Central Registry as presented by the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage,” she said.

“The strategies are as follows, that the costs of ordinary and emergency passports currently pegged at $53 and $253 respectively, be increased to ZW$150 for an ordinary passport and ZW$600 for an emergency passport.

“That Treasury avails US$6 796 500; 580 200 Euros and ZW$11 781 900 towards meeting the cost of clearing the passport backlog.”

Asked why the Government was not allowing those with free funds to pay for their passports in foreign currency, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said: “That has been approved by Cabinet and we are waiting for the Statutory Instrument to be in place. We have received requests from various people with free funds and we are waiting for the Statutory Instrument to be in place then we can allow them.”

Minister Kazembe said the current backlog would be cleared in six months, adding that the procurement of consumables took at least 16 weeks to complete.

He said access to travel documents was a basic right and Government was subsiding them to ensure they were affordable.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fidelity Printers to acquire 600 000 securitised inner passport papers, enough to clear the current backlog.

Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Mr Aaron Nhepera signed on behalf of the ministry, while Fidelity Printers was represented by its general manager Mr Fredrick Kunaka.

Said Mr Nhepera: “The contract involves the acquisition of about 600 000 securitised inner passport papers, which will be enough to clear the backlog and also provide enough material to cater for the new applications until the end of the year.

“We are going to get 600 000 consumables from Fidelity. It’s going to be an ongoing process, but this is just an initial batch we are getting, but we will be working with Fidelity going forward in that regard. We do have contracts with other suppliers to supply other consumables that are required in the production of passports.”

Said Mr Kunaka: “We promise to do the job to the best of our ability to ensure that we deliver to the benefit of our nation.

“The MoU basically is meant to ensure that we produce the feedstock for the production of passports as per the order required by the Registrar-General’s Office. This is going to be an ongoing exercise and they will always be giving us additional.

“The initial figure we will start with is 600 000 and there will always be an additional as per requirements, given the uptake of the consumables.”

State Media|Grain Marketing Board (GMB) senior executives were yesterday accused of allocating subsidised maize to millers who are allegedly diverting it to the black market and countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In the last National Budget, Government switched from subsidising maize to roller meal actually milled and distributed to ensure that markets continue to operate properly for farmers and importers.

But in hearings, legislators heard that some trucks plying the Sadc region had been ferrying Zimbabwe’s subsidised maize allegedly issued through a named senior GMB executive who was allocating grain to some millers beyond their plant capacities.

The millers were giving evidence before Parliament’s Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Resettlement Portfolio Committee chaired by Gokwe Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu-PF).

The committee heard that trucks, upon offloading copper in South Africa from DRC, would return and be cleared at the Zimbabwean border ostensibly carrying maize only to pick the grain in Harare before heading for Kinshasa.

The committee sought to understand how a US$27 million wheat import facility from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) was used.

a miller, Mr Wayne Moss of Mr Brands, said he had seen subsidised maize being sold on the black market in several areas and in Mozambique.

“The abuse is rife. It is so serious that it has to be dealt with. There is abuse within GMB which you are already dealing with on who gets what allocation. People are using roller meal maize to process other commodities. There is maize going to DRC,” said Mr Moss. “I have been in Mozambique, in Mutare if you go to a retailer and I have evidence, there is (10kg) mealie-meal which is being sold at $110 transfer. I have got the receipt.

“If you are in the milling industry, if you are importing maize, you cannot sell it at $110. It can only be subsidised maize, which is for roller meal, and not super refined.”

Another miller, Mr Davies Muhambi of United Milling Company said some millers were getting maize allocations from GMB beyond their plant capacities and would offload the excess on the black market.

He said excess maize would either be sold to bigger millers or exported to neighbouring countries.

“GMB would inspect your plant and they had ratings of the plant and they would give you a certain rating of capacity and that was supposed to be used to allocate maize.

“The guy with the biggest capacity should get the biggest allocation because he can utilise it, and a smaller guy should get proportionately less.

“From the list of allocations I saw, I realised that certain millers with a plant capacity of milling, say 200 tonnes per week, would get 600 tonnes per week.

“This is where you need to inquire. Where was that balance going because every week, you have to submit returns to justify the next allocation?” said Mr Muhambi.

“That list was controlled by Lawrence Jasi of GMB. This is what led the Government to change the whole scenario of the subsidy programme. We hear so many stories that some of the maize would be sold to bigger millers who would use it for other processes like stockfeeds, porridge and remember the subsidised maize is cheap.”

He said trucks were carrying subsidised maize to DRC after buying the grain for a song.

“That was the maize that was then being loaded to DRC. Trucks that carry copper from the north which is Zambia and DRC, going to South Africa, they come back empty. But at the border they are stamped to have cargo which is maize from South Africa. They come through Harare, pick up that maize, exit Chirundu with Zimbabwean subsidised maize. This is what has been happening. But we are not an investigative arm. If I go to those organisations involved and ask for certain documents I will not get, so it will be hard to have evidence. But if you give us a team, we will give you leads,” he said.

National Foods group chief executive officer Mr Mike Lashbrook said the millers’ relationship with the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) led by Mr Tafadzwa Musarara was helping millers in lobbying to get good terms from Government for their business.

He was responding to suggestions that GMAZ had been captured by big millers with a huge financial muscle who were benefiting at the expense of smaller and struggling millers.

Earlier on, some smaller millers had indicated that they were getting a raw deal from GMAZ which they said was being run by huge milling businesses.

A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy died after he was hit by a commuter omnibus while attempting to cross a street in Bulawayo.

The incident happened on Monday at around 4PM at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Fort Street.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident but could not reveal the identity of the deceased as his next of kin have not been formally notified of his death.

He said the commuter omnibus, a Toyota Hiace, failed to stop as the driver was turning right into Fort Street.

He then struck the deceased who sustained serious head injuries and body bruises.

“I can confirm that we attended to an accident involving a pedestrian and a motor vehicle where a nine-year-old boy died on the spot after being hit by a commuter omnibus.

The incident happened on Monday afternoon and the deceased was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are still investigating the matter,” said Insp Ncube.

He called for sanity on the roads, saying most accidents in the Central Business District are a result of human error.
“We appeal to motorists to drive with caution.

That area has a lot of school children who will be crossing from McKeurtan and Robert Tredgold schools.

“It is one of the busiest intersections in town and motorists, especially drivers of public service vehicles, are in the habit of speeding along that road, especially when they cruise through the Lobengula Street robots along 3rd Avenue and make a sharp turn into Fort Street. It’s very dangerous behaviour and will continue to cause loss of life if it is not addressed,” he said.-State media

Farai Dziva|A senior government official has claimed political dialogue in Zimbabwe does not require an external mediator.

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba, quoted by Daily News last week said:

“Why would he (Mnangagwa) need to invite President Mbeki? Who wants President Mbeki to mediate?

I don’t know about the South African embassy because that (Mbeki) is their national. They can expect him in the country anytime.

What would be wrong is for anyone to create an impression that the political dialogue in Zimbabwe requires external mediation.”

“That position has been made clear to all and sundry, including local players and well-wishers.

The former president of South Africa is aware of that position by the government of Zimbabwe.

He is also aware of the standing arrangement of interaction among parties which is called POLAD and that there won’t be any other.

As for the claims that President Mnangagwa did not make a call, or did not receive a call from or to President Mbeki, the truth of the matter is that there was no need for a call from either side.

If anything, the two met on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) strictly from a position of camaraderie … briefing a colleague about political developments in the country, economic developments … but more critically … about sanctions,” added Charamba.

Two pedestrians have died, one on the spot and another later at Chinhoyi Provincial hospital after being hit by a truck which veered off the road in a bid to avoid a pothole along the Harare-Chirundu Highway near Vuti Secondary School.

The accident was confirmed on Monday by Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Ian Kohwera who said that four passengers, who were aboard the truck, were injured and ferried to Karoi District Hospital for treatment and were discharged.

He said:
The truck driver tried to avoid one of the two potholes on the highway when the accident occurred. The truck veered off the road before hitting two pedestrians which saw one passing on on the spot. The truck went on to hit a tree and rolled once before landing on its roof. One of the accident victims was affected when the tree was uprooted.-Credit :NewsDay

Five family members were struck to death by lightning in the Muzvezve area of Sanyati District.

Tragedy struck when the family, which was tending their maize field, sought refuge under a tree when it started raining yesterday afternoon in Village 6, Muzvezve 1.

A lightning bolt hit the tree. The five who died went under one tree while three other family members who survived went under another nearby tree.

Sanyati District civil protection unit officer, Mr Amigo Mhlanga confirmed the development saying the unit has since been activated to offer assistance.

“Five members of the same family have died after being struck by lightning while being sheltered under a tree. The district CPU has been activated and we are going to the area to assess the situation while also looking at how the family can be assisted because of the magnitude of the tragedy,” said Mr Mhlanga.-State media

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

“When people are brave and they stand up to it, guns will not work, the sound of the gun will not be heard.”

Nelson Chamisa, 14th February 2020.

Below is a side transcript of MDC leader Nelson Chamisa at Masvingo on Friday. Chamisa spoke at length saying his party is demanding a people’s government not one created by a constitutional court.

He also said he refuses to be forced into action by people with agendas. He said, “Some people I hear them saying Nelson Chamisa you must lead from the front, but this is the struggle; I have come a long way … but when we do our thing we will not be forced to do things.”

FULL TEXT: When people are brave and they stand up to it guns will not work the sound of the gun will not be heard.

You don’t debate about solidarity; we must go together, fight together, we weep together and we enjoy together. So now Mai Sikhala we want to thank you. Some of you do not know that for the struggle to move there are heroes, thank you very much. I thank you all, these are the people who when there are problems they are there. I saw them where the police were.

Excuse me our Secretary-General and all the leadership assembled here, the chair of the women and the youth.

I was once a youth and I used to refuse to be used. I would sing Hatidi zvekupihwa order nemasaskamu!

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

https://youtu.be/USi3zhzwa5U

I think you the whole standing committee…

We said this is not Valentine’s Day it is Morgan Tsvangirai Day.

The second thing we are gathered here; we are gathered here because one of our heroes had been arrested… another one will be appearing in court on the 28th of February. When you arrest one of us you have arrested all of us.

So we have come here for this party is now large. There is no party which is greater, larger than this one the whole of the African continent. It is a fact that the MDC has 28 out of 30 mayors in the whole of Zimbabwe. It is a fact that this party was voted in by more than 2.6 million people.

Some people I hear them saying Nelson Chamisa you must lead from the front, but this is the struggle; I have come a long way … but when we do our thing we will not be forced to do things.

I said for people to do what they should do they do it according to the right timing.

When I came here I found the police waiting and some of my people told me president if your go through this way you will be teargassed so I passed through the middle of them.

We will not allow police to be used for wrong things, a police officer has a badge of honour. That is why you see the police, their badge it says for the law, for the people, and for the country, so the police must not be used to assault us. Our people after throwing targas at me they don’t have a bag of tea, after throwing teargas at me they don’t even have an underwear to wear. After throwing targas at me, their shoe is still opened wide.

Mr Sikhala I saw your zvidobi. They are zvidobis of the struggle. Aaah Maiguru, are these the dobis you are getting at home? LAUGHTER.

The first thing is love the second thing is hope the third thing is sacrifice. This is the life of Morgan Tsvangirai.

Everywhere I go people are saying Nelson Chamisa Morgan Tsvangirai left you directions to the way.

I will not be misled.

Mnangagwa does not have a clue. Chiwenga has no clue.

Today as we speak what Morgan tsvangirai talk about hope he said no matter how difficult life becomes you remain holding onto hope you will get there. We will get there we will get there when we get there.

Tsvangirai represented sacrifuce. He used to eat bans and cream soda. He was a basic man. That is what I said no matter how broke we are we must never compromise the struggle.

Our only gift to the people is to lead them and deliver the struggle. Real love is to represent the people and to do what they want.

Yes, we will correct the problems of Masvingo party leadership. We want to ensure we get 26 out of 26 not what we saw in Mwenezi(sic). Can ZANU win over here?

Tsvangirai was a man of love and unity he told me to unite with Biti and Welshman. The vision has got nothing to do with too many people a vision is with one person. So to all those who follow when I say jump you must jump when I say run you must run. That is why you see soldiers are told to march left right left right.

We said that this year we have 5 critical zones:

Number 1 – the fight we have is that there must be a people’s government not this one of the constitutional court not this one of Emmerson Mnangagwa.

When people are brave and they stand up to it guns will not work the sound of the gun will not be heard.

Mnangagwa tells people that they must eat potatoes and vegetables while he himself is feasting on meat while he is on a private jet.

Number 2 – We are fighting for a people’s budget not the kind of life that we are seeing when people cannot afford basics we want our dignity returned to the people.

Number 3 – We want to address the problem of corruption. We are missing $3bln. Who is responsible Mr Biti?

Biti replies: it is Mnangagwa!

I said those people I will tell you myself. They know what we are doing.

The 4th thing – is the one that we have come here such as this one of Sikhala. We are struggling with this issue of Mashurugwi. We must not call them that. They are Mnangagwa’# people.

Number 5 – is the issue of the constitution Emmerson Mnangagwa is messing with the constitution; he is now possessed with the demons of Ian Smith and Robert Mugabe. Mugabe changed this 19 times, Mnangagwa wants to change it 27 times in one year.

So what is the way forward the way forward is for you and me where you are, looking at me, let us fix our country there is no one else with powers more than you as an individual, everyone let us fix the country we don’t want to get to May, June while we are in this problem, we can fix it. Until when will we drink from boreholes? While we use generators?

What kind of a country is that in which: school fees rtgs; a whole government forming a committee of roller meal! A whole government setting up a committee for mealie meal.

If you give us this thing we will not take a day before you start enjoying the country and getting suffocated with goodness.

I told Emmerson Mnangagwa why don’t we use the United States dollars while we fix the country? give the soldiers the US dollar give the police officers the US dollars so that people can survive, why do you want the people to live on rtgs dollars?

Let us not insult others. MDC let us be full of love.

My last words that I leave you the people of this province that one has been on this issue of dialogue. I told him I am ready to talk, I had been sent by our council. We want to give peace a chance and so I told Emmerson Mnangagwa let us agree, you stole the elections we are not going to go ahead to 2023 before we are clear that you stole the elections.

There will be no elections in this country until we resolve this issue. The elections must be respected. This year we have a right to fix the country all of us all of us all of us all of us all of us all of us.

Emerson Mnangagwa will not be able to run this country he is refusing dialogue. And now he is busy saying Nelson Chamisa is the problem. I am advising him that this country is burning. I am saying to him hear me so that we can fix this country before it is too late.

DURBAN  – The ANC said on Tuesday that the sincerity of an apology made by former president FW de Klerk following offensive comments about apartheid would be visible through his actions. 

This as the Nelson Mandela Foundation on Tuesday said it welcomed de Klerk retracting the statements that apartheid was not a crime against humanity. 

De Klerk first made the statements during a television interview two weeks ago, which caused consternation at Thursday’s state of the nation address (SONA), with EFF MPs demanding that he leave parliament, where he was seated as a guest. 

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe:  “The sincerity of Mr de Klerk’s apology will be tested by his posture to selflessly commit both in words and in deeds towards the advancement of the ongoing reconstruction and development project through nation building in his local community.

“The ANC has consistently maintained, in line with the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, that apartheid was and remains a crime against humanity,” said Mabe. 

He said the convention adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1973 declared that apartheid was a crime against humanity, “and that inhuman acts resulting from the policies and practices of apartheid and similar policies and practices of racial segregation and discrimination … are crimes violating the principles of international law, in particular the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations, and constituting a serious threat to international peace and security”.

Mabe said that “unfortunate and inconsiderate utterances” went against the spirit of unity that was trying to be fostered in South Africa, and were ” unhealthy for our young democracy”. 

“It is therefore expected of our elders and statesmen to carry the moral duty of helping to unite and reconcile all of South Africa’s people with an unequivocal measure of humility. 

“The callous brutality, oppression, indignity and destruction that apartheid brought to millions of black South Africans should never be trivialised by anyone in our country regardless of their political affiliation, beliefs, skin colour and station in life,” he said.

Any form of denying apartheid was a crime against humanity was an affront “to the lived reality of the majority of South Africans and a complete digression from the noble cause of social cohesion”, said Mabe. 

“Our new democratic society is based on the values of non-racialism, national unity, and acknowledgement of the brutality and injustices of our past”. 

Meanwhile, Sello Hatang, the chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, slammed de Klerk and called for dialogue. 

“We believe that this kind of statement (the retraction and the apology) does not take us anywhere in terms of the nation-building, reconciliation path that Nelson Mandela put us on, but also in tackling the difficult systemic issues the nation is dealing with.” 

“In terms of engaging with the FW de Klerk Foundation, we believe that that is the only way forward. The rise of racism and the rise of the denial of crimes such as apartheid is something that we see progressing. 

“If we are to do anything right, it is to continue to engage those kind of voices with a view to ensuring that we can then transform our nation into one that [sees clearly],” he said.

De Klerk on Monday apologised for his reluctance to fully accept the classification of apartheid as a crime against humanity and said he concurred with the wording of the Statute of Rome, which describes it as such.

The climb-down came amid a furore after his eponymous foundation last Friday likened to “Soviet agitprop” the pressure on De Klerk over recent remarks where he, like in the past, appeared to take issue with the definition of the racial oppression of South Africa’s black majority as crime against humanity.

That statement came a day after the EFF disrupted the opening of parliament with a demand that South Africa’s last white president leave the National Assembly, terming him a “murderer” and apartheid apologist.

“I have taken note of the vehement reaction to our response to the EFF’s attack on me at the State of the Nation address on Thursday night,” De Klerk said.

“I agree with the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation that this is not the time to quibble about the degrees of unacceptability of apartheid.  It was totally unacceptable. The FW de Klerk Foundation has accordingly decided to withdraw its statement of 14 February unconditionally and apologises for the confusion, anger and hurt that it has caused,” De Klerk said on Monday.

He added that while apartheid was dismantled by 1994, when the Statute of Rome was adopted four years later, it was ranked as a crime against humanity and defined it as “inhumane acts …committed in the context of an institutional regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group or groups and committed with the intention of maintaining that regime.”

“The FW de Klerk Foundation supports this provision,” De Klerk said.

African News Agency 

The Bulawayo City Council has the powers to change street names in the city contrary to claims by deputy local government minister Marian Chombo that the local authority cannot effect the name changes.

Two weeks ago, Chombo, reacting to a report that BCC had changed street names, said the local authority had no authority to make the changes.

However, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has clarified that local authorities can change street names.

“The naming of streets name places is in two parts.  There are those that are done by local authorities subject to approval and gazetting,” said Ziyambi in response top a question from MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe who had asked who has legal powers to change street names.

Added Ziyambi Ziyambi, “Then there are some that are named by central Government subject to the relevant procedures and approval by Cabinet, gazetting and then the names will be changed or named accordingly.”

Some of the effected changes are as follows:

Leopold Takawira Avenue (from Samuel Parirenyatwa Street to Umguza River Bridge along Gwanda Road) which is now King Mzilikazi Road, Nketa Drive is now Queen Lozikheyi Dlodlo Drive, Athlone Avenue is Simon Vengai Muzenda Road and 23rd Avenue is Landa John Nkomo Road.

Lady Stanley Avenue is now Mama Joanna Mafuyana Avenue, Steeldale Road and Anthony Tylor Road is now Albert Nxele Road, Dunde Drive has been renamed Sikhanyiso Duke Ndlovu Drive, Fife Street is now Nikita Mangena Street and Fort Street has been renamed Lookout Masuku Street.

Old Khami Road is Sydney Malunga Road, Basch Street is Dumiso Dabengwa Road, Waverley Road is  Jairos Jiri Road while Fairbridge has been renamed Erick Bloch Way.

Other roads renamed are Hillside Road which is now Sir Garfield Todd Road, Van Riebeck Road is Joseph Msika Drive, Connaught Avenue is Cephas Cele Avenue, Collenbrander Road is Daniel Madzimbamuto Road, Manchester Road is now George Nyandoro Road, Vera Road is now Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu Road, Birkenhead Road has been renamed Sikanjaya Muntanga Road and Doncaster Road is now Maria Msika Road.

Lobengula Street has been corrected to King Lobengula Street, together with Moffat Road in Hillside which has been corrected to Robert Moffat Drive and Leander Road in Hillside which is now Dr Leander Star Jameson.

State Media|MDC-Alliance legislators must be charged with contempt of court for their failure to respect President Mnangagwa during Parliamentary proceedings after the Constitutional Court ruled that he was duly elected as Head of State and Government, Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said.

He said the MDC-Alliance lawmakers were also in violation of the Constitution which they swore to uphold as Members of Parliament.

Advocate Mudenda said this in his affidavit filed at the High Court where he was defending his decision to dock five months sitting allowances for opposition lawmakers for constantly walking out each time President Mnangagwa comes to Parliament.

The legislators have approached the High Court challenging Adv Mudenda’s ruling directing that they forfeit five months allowances.

“The applicants must be charged with contempt of court , in particular the highest court of the land, the Constitutional Court. Their walking out on the President and refusal to rise in respect of the President is contemptuous not only of the Office of the President, but also the Constitutional Court which ruled that the President was duly elected,” said Adv Mudenda in his court papers.

This followed a ruling by the Constitutional Court which dismissed an election petition filed by MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa challenging the 2018 harmonised election result won by President Mnangagwa.

Adv Mudenda said there was need for the opposition lawmakers to uphold the law.

“The applicants are in violation of the provisions of the Constitution and the oath of office they took before assumption of office as Members of Parliament. In terms of the Constitution, Members of Parliament are required to take the oath of an MP before he or she sits in Parliament. The need to agree under oath, to uphold the Constitution is an unequivocal requirement to holding public office as a Member of Parliament. In simple terms, if you uphold something such as the law, a principle, or a decision you must support and uphold it,” he said.

Adv Mudenda said the opposition legislators remained seated when they should have stood up and walked out when they should have remained in the Chamber in utter contempt of the Head of State.

“The applicants are aware of the procedures that need to be followed in regard to demonstrations and the House was not such a platform,” he said.

Adv Mudenda said at one point the MDC Alliance sent some emissaries led by Ms Tabitha Khumalo, Mr Prosper Mutseyami, Mr Amos Chibaya and Ms Lilian Timveous to apologise for their conduct.

Adv Mudenda said he acted within his powers in terms of Standing Rules and Orders when he stopped payment of their allowances.

“I invoked the provisions of Standing Order 206 in my capacity as the only authority who could do so in the circumstances. The Members of the MDC-Alliance tested my patience beyond reasonable measure and yet I had previously let their actions slide without any immediate censure,” he said.

Five family members were struck to death by lightning in the Muzvezve area of Sanyati district.

Tragedy struck when the family, which was tending their maize field, sought refuge under a tree when it started raining yesterday afternoon in Village 6, Muzvezve 1. A lightning bolt hit the tree. The five who died went under one tree while three other family members who survived went under another nearby tree.

Sanyati district civil protection unit Mr Amigo Mhlanga confirmed the development saying the unit has since been activated to offer assistance.

“Five members of the same family have died after being struck by lightning while being sheltered under a tree. The district CPU has been activated and we are going to the area to assess the situation while also looking at how the family can be assisted because of the magnitude of the tragedy,” said Mr Mhlanga.

More to follow…

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa linked ZUVA Petroleum on Tuesday announced that eight service stations will be accepting foreign currency payments across the country.

The arrangement was made under the Direct Fuel Import scheme which means these sites are likely to have guaranteed fuel supplies.

Here are the USD fuel prices:

• Harare: $1.25 Diesel – $1.22 Blend
• Mutare: $1.23 Diesel – $1.20 Blend
• Bulawayo: $1.25 Diesel – $1.24 blend
• Beitbridge: $1.26 Diesel – $1.25 Blend
• Victoria Falls: $1.29 Diesel – $1.28 Blend

Posting on Twitter earlier in the day, the company said:

We are excited to announce 8 Zuva DFI Service Stations that will be accepting foreign currency payments across the country as follows:

• Harare: Lorraine, Groombridge, Pendennis, & Valley
• Bulawayo: Macs Garage
• Beitbridge: Oasis
• Mutare: Palmerstone
• Victoria Falls: Zambezi

OPPOSITION MDC president Nelson Chamisa yesterday conceded that he was under “immense pressure” from restless party supporters who want to confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa over his handling of the country’s economy.

Zimbabwe is facing its worst economic crisis in a decade, with prices of basic goods soaring and shortages of medicines, fuel and electricity, while rising inflation has wiped out wages.

Chamisa said supporters wanted to take to the streets, a sentiment he said was popular with the party faithful during his whirlwind tour of provinces that began two weeks ago.

The opposition leader told NewsDay yesterday that in all places he had been, which include Bulawayo, Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonaland Central and others, there were overwhelming calls for action to deal with the crisis in Zimbabwe.

“I have been to Gweru, Bulawayo and Masvingo, the sentiment I got is that there is pressure among people to go on the streets,” Chamisa said.

“People want to be on the street as early as yesterday to protest against government. Considering that people are suffering and dying while crossing the flooded Limpopo to South Africa looking for opportunities that are deprived back home, the pressure is unbearable. People want to be in the street as early as yesterday to have the situation resolved.

“They look forward to the political leadership to resolve the crisis, which is not happening. But what I want to assure people is that change will come and it is not far. This situation is not sustainable, it cannot subsist for a long time.”

Efforts to have Mnangagwa and Chamisa dialogue to end the Zimbabwean crisis, characterised by fuel shortages, cash crisis, mealie-meal shortages, hyperinflation, power cuts among other issues, have hit a brickwall.

This is despite the intervention by former South African President Thabo Mbeki to try and bring the warring parties to the table.

Mnangagwa has been accused of failing to deal with the deepening economic crisis, with observers saying dialogue was the only way out.

Chamisa has insisted on talks, but hinted he was giving up on any prospect for dialogue as Mnangagwa has not been forthcoming, to the extent of ignoring moves by Mbeki.

While Mnangagwa remains adamant that dialogue will only happen under the Political Actors’ Dialogue banner, Chamisa has said he will not join a captured project.

There have been calls from within the MDC for a more combative approach to the current situation with mainly protests being one of the key points.

Said Chamisa: “Mnangagwa has not been taking an olive branch we extended to him on dialogue, and now we don’t have a choice, but take action.

“It is foolhardy to continue talking about elections that are not elections, elections whose outcome is predetermined. We have been down this road since 2000, people voting and being cheated and their vote being disregarded as was the situation in 2008.

“We cannot continue with this national deception and global deceit. The people have the total sovereign power to resolve their problems; it is through elections that executive authority is driven, legislative as well as judicial.”

Job Sikhala, the MDC deputy national chair, said time was fast ripening to bring down the Mnangagwa dictatorship.

“Zimbabwe cannot survive further with these people (Mnangagwa and Zanu PF). Their time is up and a thunderstorm of anger is gathering. Let me make this promise. Very soon, from the forefront, we are going to liberate our country,” Sikhala said in his message thanking the MDC family and people for their support during his treason trial.

Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged on why Chamisa suspended the James Gumbi-chaired Masvingo executive last week as it was revealed that the leadership was not in touch with reality on the ground, neglecting some districts, leading to a paltry 27 votes in the Mwenezi by-election held recently.

Zanu PF garnered 1 811 votes, while the MDC got only 27 in the by-election as the top leaders of the Masvingo executive are all based in Harare, with the chairman working full time in the capital together with the secretary, who is a lawyer in Harare.

“They are visitors in Masvingo and we got complaints from the districts on the matter, so we had to act,” a senior MDC official said.

“Senior members in the executive stay in Harare and they never set their feet in Mwenezi to campaign, yet Zanu PF was visible and well represented. The people ended up voting for Zanu PF because they had no protection from their leaders in the province,” the insider said.

“If they decide to go to Masvingo, before they reach Mbudzi roundabout, Zanu PF officials would have arrived for meetings in the province and we can’t have that kind of leadership now. People were used to impunity and we said now, we are drawing a line in the sand.”

NewsDay

Correspondent|FIVE people, including an opposition MDC councillor, are under police custody following the skirmishes that marred the acquittal of opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) vice-chairman, Job Sikhala, on treason charges.

Law enforcers allege the individuals damaged a police vehicle and destroyed property when Sikhala appeared at the High Court in the ancient town of Masvingo last Friday.

Police arrested the suspects, including Godfrey Kurauone, the MDC councillor for Masvingo Central, on Sunday.

His co-accused are Peter Chigamba, Kissmaker Mapote, Daniel Mberikunashe and Olivia Tobaiwa.

They have been charged with malicious damage to property under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers alleged that they threw stones at a police vehicle and damaged windows at some retail shops during the court appearance of Sikhala, who is also a legislator of Zengeza West in the capital Harare.

The appearance was marred by tensions with law enforcement agents firing teargas canisters to disperse people who had gathered outside the courthouse to follow proceedings.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has secured the release of the suspects.

They are to appear in court by way of summons.

Meanwhile, High Court Judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze, last Friday acquitted Sikhala on charges of plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

The outspoken Sikhala was arrested in July last year following a political rally he addressed in the mining town of Bikita in Masvingo Province.

He was alleged to have declared MDC would have removed Mnangagwa from power before the next elections.

Own Correspondent|Cabinet recently declared that it was beginning its 2020 business paperless following the launch of the e-Cabinet project by President Mnangagwa.

The President said the e-Cabinet project will also speed up decision-making in Cabinet.

“Today’s event marks the completion of phase one of the e-Cabinet project which will see the Cabinet secretariat carry out paperless administrative and secretarial functions,” he said.

“This is indeed part of the contemporary ways of conducting meetings and storage of information. Through this system, members of Cabinet will now be able to conduct all their work within the Cabinet room on an electronic platform that should expedite decision-making, information analyses and the execution of action plans.

“Furthermore, the e-Cabinet system will result in a robust database which facilitates easy access to stored records of Government.”

However, in a surprise turn of events, cabinet Ministers appeared in Tuesday’s cabinet briefing with hoards of papers which Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube battled to surf through.

Watch full briefing in video downloading below:

Government has announced an increase in the charges for passport applications. Ordinary passport goes up from ZWL$52 to ZWL$150. Cabinet briefing pic.twitter.com/pvOyMZAqP7

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 18, 2020

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) representative to the European Union (EU), Grace Kwinjeh, has resigned from her post to focus on her studies in South America.

Nehanda Radio understands the veteran journalist turned human rights activist and politician has secured a scholarship to study global politics for the next two years. Kwinjeh has over 20 years experience in communications, lobbying and advocacy, at national, regional and international levels.

She rose to fame in the late 90s as one of the young Zimbabweans, led by the late founding MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who challenged ZANU PF’s political hegemony.

Kwinjeh became a vocal champion for human rights, suffering long periods of persecution under regime of the late Robert Mugabe. Pictures of her badly beaten body along with that of Sekai Holland went viral in 2007 cementing her legacy as one of the brave fighters of her generation.

Kwinjeh is also an experienced editor who has studied theology and International Relations and has worked with news agencies and national newspapers, in Africa and Europe. 

In 2015 Kwinjeh co-authored a book with Liberia’s former President Sirleaf Johnson and other female leaders representing the African continent titled, Women’s Leadership in Peace Building: Conflict, Community and Care. She is also published in leading academic journals. 

• Nehanda Radio

The lefthand just doesn’t seem to know what the right hand is doing in Zimbabwe as senior government officials practise opposing polices.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa linked Zuva Petroleum has announced 8 service stations that will be selling fuel in foreign currency across the country.

The arrangement was made under the Direct Fuel Import scheme which means these sites are likely to have guaranteed fuel supplies.

Posting on Twitter Zuva Petroleum said:

We are excited to announce 8 Zuva DFI Service Stations that will be accepting foreign currency payments across the country as follows
Harare: Lorraine, Groombridge, Pendennis, & Valley
Bulawayo: Macs Garage
Beitbridge: Oasis
Mutare: Palmerstone
Victoria Falls: Zambezi pic.twitter.com/6DHG0YM6J4

— Zuva Petroleum (@zuva_petroleum) February 18, 2020

We are excited to announce 8 Zuva DFI Service Stations that will be accepting foreign currency payments across the country as follows:

• Harare: Lorraine, Groombridge, Pendennis, & Valley
• Bulawayo: Macs Garage
• Beitbridge: Oasis
• Mutare: Palmerstone
• Victoria Falls: Zambezi

ZANU PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri is reportedly mobilizing members of the Central Committee to back her in a bid to confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the party’s decision to suspend two ZANU PF Youth leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu.

A highly placed ZANU PF source who spoke to this reporter revealed that ZANU PF Commissar  Victor Matemadanda had assurd the embattled pair  that the National Chairperson was mobilising Central Committee members to stand with Matutu and Tsenengamu in their anti corruption fight.

Said the source, “Oppah Muchinguri is using her position as National Chairperson to whip central committee members into supporting Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu, while Pupurai Togarepi uses his influence on ZANU PF MPs who are also members of Central Committee by virtue of being MPs.

“The game plan is to out number politburo members and out veto  their decision in a bid to bring back Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu who are useful foot soldiers of the Muchinguri bid for Vice Presidency. The group also wants the positions of vice president and Chairperson to be contested positions and not appointees and they seek to propose an ammendment to that effect.”

Chris Mutsvangwa is rumoured to be angling for the National Chairman’s position hence his support towards an Oppah Muchinguri promotion so that she creates space for him in the Presidium.

“The group has already gathered ammunition to use against former Army General Constantine Chiwenga who they say is physically unfit, morally unfit and lacks Probity to hold the second highest office in the ruling party. Marry Chiwenga and her affidavit against Chiwenga will be the cornerstone of their final push against Chiwenga.” The source added

Byo 24

The Officer Commanding
Harare Suburban
Harare Central Police
HARARE

Dear Sir/Madam
NOTICE OF PROTEST MARCH TO PARLIAMENT TO HAND OVER PETITION ON GRADE 7 AND ‘O’ AND ‘A’ LEVEL EXAMINATION FEES HIKES BY ZIMSEC

We write to give notice that The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe shall be marching to Parliament to handover a Petition to seek urgent Parliamentary intervention to reverse/reduce the recent astronomic Grade 7 and ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level examination fees hikes by ZIMSEC.

It is our belief that the duty and obligation to defend and protect the rights of children squarely rests on us as teachers and parents.
The march shall be on Thursday 27 February 2020.

We shall proceed from Harare gardens via Julius Nyerere, through 2nd street to Nelson Mandela and then to Parliament, Building.

The march shall happen between 1 pm – 2 pm.
Expected number of marchers is plus or minus 500.

You may attend if you so wish
Yours Sincerely
Raymond Majongwe
PTUZ SECRETARY GENERAL

The people of Kuwadzana, Harare were the worst brutalised by soldiers in August 2018 when Emmerson Mnangagwa deployed the army to kill many while changing election results, and on the 4th August local clinics told ZimEye.com of how military trucks would arrive at night and officers begin assaulting residents. Being reminded of these atrocities could not be any more hurting.

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VOICE 1 (Talent Chiwenga)- Izvozvi ndichitaura zvandirikuita izvi, havasirivo vaMnangagwa vakatuma ma soldier kupfura vanhu. Nyaya iyoyo irikutovanetsawo but havasikuziva kuti voita sei nayo. … Asi izvozvi zvandirikutaura izvi Mwari vakandiudza kuti havana kumbotuma vanhu.

VOICE 2 (ED) – Asiyo Ka. Deno taiziva kuti vanhu vekuKuwadzana vasingadi kuti mvura inaye, aaah, taingoti army kombai tirove.

Wanzwa here kutapira kunoita izwi raApostle Chiwenga achishandisa bhuku dzvene Bible achinyepera ruzhinji, zvekare achitoshandisa zita raMwari? Zvinoreva chii izvi?

Five family members were struck to death by lightning in the Muzvezve area of Sanyati District.

Tragedy struck when the family, which was tending their maize field, sought refuge under a tree when it started raining yesterday afternoon in Village 6, Muzvezve 1.

A lightning bolt hit the tree. The five who died went under one tree while three other family members who survived went under another nearby tree.

Sanyati District civil protection unit officer, Mr Amigo Mhlanga confirmed the development saying the unit has since been activated to offer assistance.

“Five members of the same family have died after being struck by lightning while being sheltered under a tree. The district CPU has been activated and we are going to the area to assess the situation while also looking at how the family can be assisted because of the magnitude of the tragedy,” said Mr Mhlanga.-State media

Opposition MDC president Nelson Chamisa yesterday conceded that he was under “immense pressure” from restless party supporters who want to confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa over his handling of the country’s economy.

Zimbabwe is facing its worst economic crisis in a decade, with prices of basic goods soaring and shortages of medicines, fuel and electricity, while rising inflation has wiped out wages.

Chamisa said supporters wanted to take to the streets, a sentiment he said was popular with the party faithful during his whirlwind tour of provinces that began two weeks ago.

The opposition leader told NewsDay yesterday that in all places he had been, which include Bulawayo, Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonaland Central and others, there were overwhelming calls for action to deal with the crisis in Zimbabwe.

“I have been to Gweru, Bulawayo and Masvingo, the sentiment I got is that there is pressure among people to go on the streets,” Chamisa said.

“People want to be on the street as early as yesterday to protest against government. Considering that people are suffering and dying while crossing the flooded Limpopo to South Africa looking for opportunities that are deprived back home, the pressure is unbearable. People want to be in the street as early as yesterday to have the situation resolved.

“They look forward to the political leadership to resolve the crisis, which is not happening. But what I want to assure people is that change will come and it is not far. This situation is not sustainable, it cannot subsist for a long time.”

Efforts to have Mnangagwa and Chamisa dialogue to end the Zimbabwean crisis, characterised by fuel shortages, cash crisis, mealie-meal shortages, hyperinflation, power cuts among other issues, have hit a brickwall.

This is despite the intervention by former South African President Thabo Mbeki to try and bring the warring parties to the table.

Mnangagwa has been accused of failing to deal with the deepening economic crisis, with observers saying dialogue was the only way out.

Chamisa has insisted on talks, but hinted he was giving up on any prospect for dialogue as Mnangagwa has not been forthcoming, to the extent of ignoring moves by Mbeki.

While Mnangagwa remains adamant that dialogue will only happen under the Political Actors’ Dialogue banner, Chamisa has said he will not join a captured project.

There have been calls from within the MDC for a more combative approach to the current situation with mainly protests being one of the key points.

Said Chamisa: “Mnangagwa has not been taking an olive branch we extended to him on dialogue, and now we don’t have a choice, but take action.

“It is foolhardy to continue talking about elections that are not elections, elections whose outcome is predetermined. We have been down this road since 2000, people voting and being cheated and their vote being disregarded as was the situation in 2008.

“We cannot continue with this national deception and global deceit. The people have the total sovereign power to resolve their problems; it is through elections that executive authority is driven, legislative as well as judicial.”

Job Sikhala, the MDC deputy national chair, said time was fast ripening to bring down the Mnangagwa dictatorship.

“Zimbabwe cannot survive further with these people (Mnangagwa and Zanu PF). Their time is up and a thunderstorm of anger is gathering. Let me make this promise. Very soon, from the forefront, we are going to liberate our country,” Sikhala said in his message thanking the MDC family and people for their support during his treason trial.

Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged on why Chamisa suspended the James Gumbi-chaired Masvingo executive last week as it was revealed that the leadership was not in touch with reality on the ground, neglecting some districts, leading to a paltry 27 votes in the Mwenezi by-election held recently.

Zanu PF garnered 1 811 votes, while the MDC got only 27 in the by-election as the top leaders of the Masvingo executive are all based in Harare, with the chairman working full time in the capital together with the secretary, who is a lawyer in Harare.

“They are visitors in Masvingo and we got complaints from the districts on the matter, so we had to act,” a senior MDC official said.

“Senior members in the executive stay in Harare and they never set their feet in Mwenezi to campaign, yet Zanu PF was visible and well represented. The people ended up voting for Zanu PF because they had no protection from their leaders in the province,” the insider said.

“If they decide to go to Masvingo, before they reach Mbudzi roundabout, Zanu PF officials would have arrived for meetings in the province and we can’t have that kind of leadership now. People were used to impunity and we said now, we are drawing a line in the sand.”

-Newsday