Ptuz Calls for Critical Thought from Teachers

11 February 2020

a) Government mutilated teachers’ salaries from an average of US$520 to US$35, thereby creating a dispute of right from teachers.
b) We have clamoured for purchasing power parity, yet Apex engages government for pathetic salary decrease and cushion that never cushions teachers.
c) We have embarked on incapacitation struggle, yet there are some teachers who entrenched themselves in debts incurred in order to report for work.
d) While the government has reduced teachers into vending at their workplace, it falsely sees this as an act of misconduct rather than a real act of poverty and penury.
e) The government has subjected teachers to an anarchic and archaic selective biometric registration when the rest of other civil servants have not.
f) The government also treats teachers in a discriminatory, degrading and servitude manner by denying them 3 months vacation leave enjoyed by other civil servants. Although the government lost a labour court case spearheaded by Ptuz over vacation leave in 2016, it has not fully restored 3 months vacation leave.
g) The government approved exorbitant school fees this year at a time teachers’ salaries have remained in the starvation category thereby making education inaccessible and unaffordable to teachers’ children, yet it is teachers who offer that service.
h) Teachers’ calls for non-payment of tuition fees by at least 3 children of a teacher in a school where teachers are paid by the government have fallen on deaf ears.
i) Other government workers have been rewarded with vouchers to ameliorate hardships but nothing has come the teacher’s way. One wonders why teachers are treated as if they are of no account at a time they have tested positive to poverty, like all other government workers.
j) The government has approved Zimsec exorbitant increase of examination fees at ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels beyond the ability of poor teachers. To imagine how a poor teacher would get more than $4 000 this month for a child in form 4 baffles logic and common sense.

It is clear that the government has unilaterally declared war against teachers, and callously treat them as second class citizens and workers. This is a language teachers must understand very well, unite and collectively nurture, shape and define their actual path, direction and future.

Nothing short of taking a collective stand will liberate teachers. Life is too short to spend it in poverty. Teachers must never appreciate their current enslavement by the employer. We are workers with rights that must be respected and protected.

The only way forward is not agonising but going forward organising, mobilising and agitating for better salaries and conditions of service, and if need be fighting for our dispute of right by any means necessary. We can certainly not salivate at govt’s poisoned carrot of empty promises through Apex Council.

Venceremos

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has increased salaries of members of the police with assistant commissioners expected to get a gross salary of over 7,000 Zimbabwe dollars while the lowest paid constabularies are set to receive just over 3,200 dollars per month.

In a circular dated February 6, 2020, and signed by the chief staffing officer in the Zimbabwe Republic Police headquarters, senior members were informed that the pay increases will be backdated to January 1, 2020.

The circular reads in part, “Please be kindly advised that the Police Service Commission has approved with Treasury concurrence the payment of Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to all Zimbabwe Republic Police members with effect from 01 January 2020.

“… Please be advised that the January 2020 back pay will be paid over a period of 4 months. Matters pertaining to salaries are confidential and are treated as such.”

Members of the police were earning almost half of the salaries and allowances they have been offered by the Police Service Commission.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not reachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.

The government recently announced wage scales of domestic workers with the highest paid taking home less than 200 Zimbabwe dollars per month.

See the new figures in the pictures loading below……

-Wires

Bulawayo Magistrates court on Monday 10 February 2020 ordered the deportation of 21 Ugandan nationals after convicting them for illegally entering into the country.

The 21 Ugandans who include a five year-old minor, who was in the company of her mother, were arrested on Saturday 8 February 2020 after being intercepted by some Zimbabwe Republic Police officers at Nyamandlovu tollgate along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway and charged with failing to appear before an immigration officer as defined in section 32(5)9b) of the Immigration Act.

In court, prosecutors alleged that the Ugandan nationals, who were represented by Jabulani Mhlanga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, failed without just cause to appear before an immigration officer and entered into Zimbabwe on 8 February 2020 at Victoria Falls Border Post in Matabeleland North province.

The Ugandans, prosecutors charged had some valid passports but had unlawfully entered into Zimbabwe without presenting themselves to immigration officials.

The Ugandan nationals include Tomson Barisigara aged 30 years, Martin Katerega aged 28 years, Elizabethy Kisembo aged 48 years, Abdul Katumba aged 44 years, Habiibu Kiggundu aged 36 years, Hamuza Asiimwe aged 27 years, George Willy Ochom aged 26 years, Hassan Kagaba aged 38 years, Rasul Dalausi aged 26 years, Shafic Senyange aged 22 years, Kasango Umar aged 27 years, Adam Kagaba aged 47 years, Nakitende Peninah aged 26 years, Magezi Gadafi aged 38 years, Opio Peter aged 26 years, Muzimba Solomon Ssemakula aged 26 years, Kato Derrick Kimera aged 29 years, Alex Kiganda aged 25 years, Ramazan Masereka aged 23 years and Mugerwa Sulaiman aged 29 years.

Bulawayo Magistrate Tinashe Tashaya convicted the Ugandans and sentenced them to serve three months in prison, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence within the same period.

Magistrate Tashaya also ordered that the Ugandan nationals be deported in terms of Zimbabwean laws to their country of origin.

Government has reviewed the price of subsidised roller meal to $70 from $50 per 10 kilogrammes with immediate effect.

In December 2019, Government introduced a roller meal subsidy pegged at $50 per 10kg bag in order to protect vulnerable members of society.

However, the wide gap between the market and the subsidised price has created arbitrage opportunities for unscrupulous players in the industry, resulting in market and supply distortions. Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube said the implementation of the new subsidy price is with immediate effect.

“In view of the above, I am pleased to announce that Government has reviewed upwards the subsidised price from $50 to $70 per 10kg bag of roller meal against the prevailing market price of the product. Government will announce a strengthened targeting system in due course such that deserving vulnerable citizens as intended by the subsidy policy benefit,’ said the Minister.

FOUR machete-wielding robbers attacked workers at a mine in Collen Bawn and stole two cellphones after they failed to get cash.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, confirmed the incident which occurred at Busi Park Mine on Sunday at around 9PM.

He said the gang, which was armed with machetes and knobkerries, attacked the two mine workers in their tents.

Chief Insp Ndebele said the gang then fled after the mine workers teamed up in a bid to retaliate.

“In can confirm that we recorded a case of robbery which occurred at Busi Park Mine in Collen Bawn. Mr Brian Mpinga who is a worker at the mine was sleeping in his tent when he was woken up by noise from the accused persons. He lit a torch and went out to check and met one of the accused persons holding a machete.

“The accused person ordered Mr Mpinga to switch off his cellphone and force-marched him out of the tent to his three accomplices who were armed with machetes and knobkerries.

They took Mr Mpinga’s cellphone and demanded money from him but he indicated that he didn’t have any,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele said Mr Mpinga managed to flee and hid in the bushes.

He said the gang moved to another tent belonging to Mr Khulekani Zhou where they demanded cash and threatened to kill him.- State media

Farai Dziva|Nurses at Gweru Provincial Hospital are on strike as they protest at poor working conditions.

Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union president, Robert Chiduku, quoted by NewsDay said :

What I can say is that the nurses have resolved that they want to be addressed by the hospital’s management before they assume any duties.

As we speak, there are no duty rosters in the wards and no communication has been made formally over that issue. So what I can say is there is confusion here.

Since we resolved to work for only two days a week, there is a lot that is being said in the informal circles purportedly coming from management.

As a result, the nurses have said let the management come and address us and set the record straight.

One person died after he was swept away following floods that hit Matabeleland North’s Binga district, while 34 families were rescued.

The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) swiftly deployed rescue teams to evacuate marooned villagers between Monday evening and yesterday. Rescue efforts continued yesterday concentrated on areas that could not be accessed on Monday.

CPU director Mr Nathan Nkomo last night said reports from the ground were that one person died in Nsungwale area under Chief Sinakoma after he was swept away while 34 families were evacuated.
“From the latest report that I got from the District Government Coordinator there is one fatality, an old man who got swept away. That is the only fatality I know of. But as of now, those who were marooned have since been rescued,” said Mr Nkomo.

“Initially when they (team on the ground) did their rapid assessment, they had estimated the figure to be 100 but when he spoke to me, he told me that the exact number is 34. That is the number of affected families. But we still think it might be 100 because they have not done a thorough assessment.”

Women assess the damage caused by floods which hit Binga District recently

He said two Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopters that were sent to the ground could not operate due to unfriendly weather which forced them to be temporarily grounded in Gokwe North.

Mr Nkomo said the grounding of the helicopters has not stopped rescue efforts as water levels had already subsidised yesterday.

He said after calling for help, organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) immediately responded.

“There is a lorry full of kitchen equipment, tents and blankets which will be given to every affected family because when one’s house is swept away, they lose everything including food, utensils, medication and many more. So, we continue to appeal that even the health sector can also assist with medication for those who are chronically ill so that they can continue with their medication,” he said.

Mr Nkomo said the CPU will remain alert as it makes efforts to get everyone to safety.

Binga North MDC-Alliance MP Mr Prince Madubeko Sibanda recognised Government’s efforts to rescue marooned villagers. He said it was unfortunate that a life had been lost.

Mr Sibanda said the focus should now shift to ensuring that every victim is assisted to start afresh.

“If everyone has been rescued from wherever they were marooned then we need assistance in terms of temporary shelter until such time that they find something permanent. We also want to see help in terms of food because these people had their food washed away. We also anticipate help in terms of warm clothes because these guys have been exposed to rain,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said although Binga has previously experienced flooding, the area has not suffered the magnitude of the prevailing situation.

Meteorological Service Department Principal Meteorologist Mr James Ngoma said it was unfortunate that Binga district, despite receiving the lowest rainfall in Matabeleland region, experienced flooding.

“Despite receiving the least amount of rainfall Binga experienced flash floods because it is in a flood plain which is more of a low-lying area. It is where the sources of water along areas such as Gokwe, Lupane as well as Hwange going to Zambezi Valley pass through. Therefore, if heavy rains occur either on the Zambian side or the Zimbabwean side Binga will still be prone to flash floods as a low-lying area,” said Mr Ngoma.

In a statement yesterday, the acting Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Christopher Shumba said it is possible that more people were affected considering the general settlement patterns in Binga District.

Mr Shumba said the emergency services sub-committee had mobilised two helicopters and the ZRP Sub-Aqua Unit stationed at Fairbridge in Bulawayo to assist the affected families.

He said the District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) was directed to intensify their assessment until they ascertain the actual number of people affected and those in need of assistance.

The Civil Protection Department is also dispatching 100 tents and blankets to Binga.

“Short term measures for consideration include the following; quick evacuation of the affected families to areas of safety and mobilisation of non-food and food items considering the level of destruction mostly of their pole and dagga houses and stored food. The DCPC is to continuously monitor the general health and welfare of the people for possible outbreaks of waterborne related diseases,” Mr Shumba said.

He said the long-term measures include possible relocation of affected families backed by a robust rural housing delivery programme to address the issues of sub-standard materials used.

Others are capacitation of all civil protection organisations such as the Air Force of Zimbabwe, Sub-Aqua Unit and Department of Civil Protection with all-weather equipment to enable them to timeously respond to the vagaries of climate change. Acting Binga District Development Coordinator, Mr Farai Marinyane, who also chairs the Binga District Civil Protection Committee, said the rescue operation is continuing.

He said the floods have since subsided but indicated that the DCPC has a lot of work to do in dealing with the aftermath of the flash floods.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister, Richard Moyo said he has since dispatched a team to assess the situation with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, saying efforts were being made to assist the affected people to reach safer zones. -state media/Chronicle

Farai Dziva|Former Zanu PF Youth League Political Commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu has vowed to expose corrupt cartels in spite of rampant intimidation.

“We aren’t anyone’s stooges. Those days are long gone. This is our fight. Indeed a few people can’t monopolize everything and hold us hostage.

Zimbabwe and its resources are for us ALL. We are no second class citizens here #Cartels/CorruptionMustFall,” tweeted Tsenengamu.

“Corruption is killing us especially the young. We commit to fight this scourge to the bitter end.

The leadership has a choice to make either to be with the people or with thieving cartels. It is a defining moment. Suspensions and threats won’t silence us.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Secretary for Elections Jacob Mafume has cited vote-buying and intimidation of villagers as factors that contributed to the opposition party in the Mwenezi by-election.

“People were called to come and collect rice on the day of voting, Zanu PF was drilling a borehole a few metres from the polling station,” said Mafume.

“These are not elections. It is manipulation of people’s poverty.

Weaponising poverty and food is the biggest challenge that we have.”

A married woman’s alleged illicit affair with her brother-in-law was exposed after she clashed with her workmate for bedding the same person on Saturday.

Rudo Makoni clashed with her workmate only identified as Lucy after the former discovered that they were both bedding their boss Joseph Toendepi who is husband to Rudo’s sister based in the United Kingdom.

Makoni reportedly bought a new cellphone for Lucy after she learnt of her shenanigans with Toendepi and the latter approached their boss informing him about the secret she kept and the two fell in love as well.

When H-Metro visited the two at their boutique located at Karigamombe Building, tempers flared as the two exchanged harsh words accusing each other of lose morals.

Lucy confirmed bedding Toendepi while showing this publication a photograph of him resting on her bed.

She said it was that photograph of Toendepi resting in her bedroom that affected Makoni.

“Zvamanzwa mukwasha ndizvo zvekuti tiri kunetserana boss vedu nekuti tese tinodanana navo,” said Lucy.

“This is Toendepi’s photograph sleeping on my bed in my room and that is the cause of my differences with Makoni.

“Makoni bought a new phone for me after I discovered that she was bedding her sister’s husband and I kept the secret.

“On our boss’ return to the country, I approached him over the issue and we ended up in an affair where we had quality time at my house.-H-Metro

By A Correspondent- A married woman’s alleged illicit affair with her brother-in-law was exposed after she clashed with her workmate for bedding the same person on Saturday.

Rudo Makoni clashed with her workmate only identified as Lucy after the former discovered that they were both bedding their boss Joseph Toendepi who is husband to Rudo’s sister based in the United Kingdom.

Makoni reportedly bought a new cellphone for Lucy after she learnt of her shenanigans with Toendepi and the latter approached their boss informing him about the secret she kept and the two fell in love as well.

When H-Metro visited the two at their boutique located at Karigamombe Building, tempers flared as the two exchanged harsh words accusing each other of lose morals.

Lucy confirmed bedding Toendepi while showing this publication a photograph of him resting on her bed.

She said it was that photograph of Toendepi resting in her bedroom that affected Makoni.

“Zvamanzwa mukwasha ndizvo zvekuti tiri kunetserana boss vedu nekuti tese tinodanana navo,” said Lucy.

“This is Toendepi’s photograph sleeping on my bed in my room and that is the cause of my differences with Makoni.

“Makoni bought a new phone for me after I discovered that she was bedding her sister’s husband and I kept the secret.

“On our boss’ return to the country, I approached him over the issue and we ended up in an affair where we had quality time at my house.

“Makoni discovered that I was in love with boss and felt jealous but she is married,” said Lucy.

Makoni forced Lucy to return the phone she bought for her in the presence of H-Metro and told this publication that the phone was just a present to Lucy and she was withdrawing it since they had some differences.

She denied bedding Toendepi saying her confession about her affair with the boss to Lucy was a joke.

“It is true that I confessed to her that I was bedding my sister’s husband but it was a joke I was sharing with her,” said Makoni.

Makoni was subsequently arrested for snatching H-Metro’s news gathering equipment and is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Toendepi denied bedding Makoni and could not confirm nor deny bedding Lucy after H-Metro sent him a photograph claimed to be of him resting on Lucy’s bed.

“Allegations that I bedded Makoni are false and unfounded,” said Toendepi.

“As for Lucy I am aware of alleged schemes to plant pr0stitutes in service to generate news and some work is underway to establish historic connections between H- Metro with the said subject,” said Toendepi.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Chimanimani traditional healer (76) who was recently arrested for illegally cultivating 500 plants of dagga survived a long jail term after a Chipinge magistrate considered her old age.

Ruth Mutete appeared before Mr Joshua Nembaware facing charges of growing dagga without a license.

She pleaded guilty.

It was the state’s case led by Mrs Portia Matereke that on January 31 police in Chimanimani received a tip off from an informer that Mutete was cultivating dagga in her garden.

The cops searched her garden and found 500 plants measuring 1,5m.

Asked why she was cultivating mbanje by the magistrate, Mutete said she wanted to sell them.

Mr Nembaware jailed Mutete for 2 years but he suspended the sentence considering her age.

Own Correspondent|HIGH Court judge Pisirayi Kwenda has stopped former Tourism and Hospitality minister Prisca Mupfumira’s trial, pending the hearing of her application challenging the Magistrates’ Court’s decision to throw out her application excepting to the criminal charges she is facing.

The ruling comes after Mupfumira, who is facing three counts of criminal abuse of office as a public officer, through her lawyer — Zivanai Makwanya — approached the High Court seeking recourse.
Makwanya confirmed the ruling yesterday.

“I confirm that an order for stay was handed down by the High Court on Friday,” Makwanya said.

Mupfumira is accused of conniving with retired Labour ministry permanent secretary Ngoni Masoka to purchase two cars that the ex-minister was not entitled to.

When she appeared for her trial before the Magistrates’ Court, Mupfumira filed an application for exception to the charges, which was however, dismissed by acting chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi. This prompted her to file the current High Court application seeking an order reviewing Mutevedzi’s ruling.

In the application, Mupfumira cited Mutevedzi, Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi, the National Prosecuting Authority and Masoka, as respondents.

“This is an application seeking the review of a ruling made by the first respondent (Mutevedzi) on the 5th of February 2020 dismissing an exception filed on my behalf to the criminal charges preferred against me.

“The application seeks an order setting aside the ruling (Mutevedzi’s ruling) … and in its place the quashing of the three criminal charges which are being preferred against me,” she said.

She said Mutevedzi’s ruling failed to address fundamental contradictions which exist in the charges, adding his decision was “grossly unreasonable”.

“It validates charges which are themselves invalid according to the law. Having received further particulars, it became apparent that the charges, the State outline and the further particulars did not disclose any cognisable offences at law.

“For the foregoing reasons, the ruling of the first respondent dismissing the exception was arrived at unprocedurally and without regard to material documents which formed part of the charges. The ruling itself is grossly unreasonable at law. The first respondent saw valid charges where no such charges ever existed,” Mupfumira said.

Source: Daily News

All Africa|Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) commissioner John Makamure says the anti-graft body was too understaffed and the current investigators were incapacitated to tackle high level corruption in the country.

Currently, ZACC has 89 employees who include 38 investigators, a number which Makamure said was insignificant in fighting corruption at the highest level.

“We are not capacitated in terms of members of staff and we have come up with a new structure and presented it to the Treasury,” he said.

“There is no way ZACC can investigate many cases with the current staff that we have.”

He was speaking at a Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) workshop on Capacity Building held in Bulawayo Monday.

According to Makarame, ZACC has 770 cases they need to deal with and 73 of them are high profile cases. At least 42 of the cases are still pending in court.

“We need to investigate, arrest and convict more of those who do corruption in order to send a message out there that Zimbabwe says no tolerance to corruption.”

He said ZACC was also keen on strengthening and restructuring its Assets and Money Recovery Unit which at the moment has only four lawyers and one investigator.

“ZACC investigators are peace officers and we also have the ability to arrest, we also have for a long time worked hand-in-hand with the police because we can order the police to make an investigation on a certain individual but we also need to expand the catchment area.

“We have also signed some Memorandum of Understanding with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Auditor General’s office and the Transparency International Zimbabwe so as to rope in the civil society,” said Makamure.

ZACC has arrested several public figures for abuse of office.

Among those arrested is former Cabinet minister Prisca Mupfumira for fraud involving US$95 million and Vice President’s Constantino Chiwenga’s wife Marry, who is facing charges of money laundering and externalisation.

By Nelson Chamisa|It is a call to action when the country’s Prosecutor General confirms that cartels have captured state institutions.

This reflects a captured and compromised state and that the regime is not fit for purpose.Politics aside,we must now unite in this BIG fight against corruption.

The PG confirms the serious and systemic nature of rot permeating the State. As ever, the fish rots from the head.If the top prosecutor is moved to make such public complaints then he is not getting support from the political leadership to perform his constitutional role.

The anti-corruption rhetoric is a mere facade designed to hoodwink Zimbabweans and the world. Over the past two years,the level of corruption & state capture has escalated to obscene levels.There can not be sustainable prosperity when national wealth is in the hands of a few.

Opposition MDC Member of Parliament for Njube-Lobengula Constituency Gift Banda has appeared in court facing allegations of forging signatures of a Bulawayo man resulting in him losing a residential stand worth US$60 000.

Banda, who is jointly charged with Mbonisi David Nkomazana (33) and Bard Real Estates represented by Mbonisi David Nkomazana appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Tinashe Tashaya.

The court heard that Banda and his accomplice allegedly forged Nkululeko Ndlovu’s signature purporting that he had agreed to sell him his stand in Selbourne Brooke Bulawayo.

Magistrate Tashaya postponed the matter to February 20 after Banda’s legal representatives requested to have a copy of the alleged forged signatures from the Question Document Examination department as they were not filed in the State papers.

According to the State papers as presented by George Rufumoyo, Ndlovu bought his stand in February 2015 where he signed a memorandum of agreement of sale with Bulawayo Glass and Allied Products Pvt Ltd, represented by Sipho Mhlanga who is the land developer and owner of the stand.

Rufumoyo said the agreement was drafted by Bard Real Estates represented by Nkomazana.

The prosecutor added that sometime during 2017, Banda approached Ndlovu and offered to buy the stand from him, promising to purchase for him a bigger stand in Paddonhurst.

Rufumoyo said Banda and Nkomazana also forged an agreement of sale of the stand between Banda and Bulawayo Glass and Allied Products.

He said the document was drafted by Nkomazana using the Bard Real Estates logo.

“Banda and Ndlovu settled their agreement verbally. Banda failed to keep his end of the bargain of securing another stand in Paddonhurst and instead offered to pay Ndlovu cash for his Selbourne Brooke stand. He again failed to settle the cash payment,” said Rufumoyo.

He said on July 21 2017, Ndlovu sent Banda a WhatsApp message informing him that he no longer wanted to sell his stand to him.

The court heard that despite the cancellation by Ndlovu, Banda went on to deposit $2000 into Ndlovu’s Steward Bank account and proceeded to start construction at the stand.

“On realisation that Banda was defiant, Ndlovu, through his lawyers, wrote a letter instructing him to cease his construction but he did not adhere. Ndlovu and his lawyers then made an application to the High Court declaring the sale null and void since it was against City Council’s regulations to sell an undeveloped stand,” said Rufumoyo.

“Banda in turn tendered at the High Court a cessation agreement which was drafted by Nkomazana in his official capacity as a sales agent for Board Real Estates. The cessation agreement purported that Ndlovu had ceded all interest and rights of the stand to Bulawayo Glass and Allied Products.”

The State alleged that the document had Ndlovu’s forged signatures and also tendered at the High Court was an acknowledgement of payment which was drafted by Nkomazana in his capacity as a sales agent of the accused company.

Correspondent|LONG Cheng Plaza’s engineering section manager appeared in court last week for allegedly sodomising a general hand at the popular shopping mall in Belvedere, Harare.

Yichun Wang (46), who is being represented by lawyer Oscar Gasva, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with aggravated indecent assault.

Wang is denying the charges.

Prosecutor Constance Ngombengombe alleges that sometime in 2015, Wang called the general hand (name withheld) to his office and ordered him to report for night duty.

It is alleged that when the general hand reported for duty, Wang started asking for sexual favours from him saying he would protect him at work for any misdemeanour.

The man turned down Wang’s request, but he insisted.

Ms Ngombengombe alleges that the general hand eventually yielded to Wang’s demands.

It is alleged that on the first encounter, Wang paid $3.

The court heard that since that day, Wang would sodomise the man twice per week until he reported the matter to the deputy general manager.

It is said that the deputy general manager failed to take action, prompting the victim to lodge a complaint with the police leading to Wang’s arrest.

He is expected to appear in court on February 27 for trial.

Magistrate Amos Mubobo is presiding over the matter.

Own Correspondent|Ousted ZANU PF Youth League leader Godfrey Tsenengamu has remained defiant on his move to name people he alleges have brought the country down due to corruption.

The outspoken politician also made sensational claims some Zanu PF officials have tried to bribe him into stopping his anti-corruption campaign but he has refused.

Tsenengamu was last Wednesday summarily suspended together with party youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu for alleged indiscipline.

Watch ZimEye.com live discussion with him in the video downloading below:

MDC Youths have distanced themselves from youth gathering that is set to be held on the 21st of February at the Robert Mugabe Square.

A poster that has been circulating on social media has a line up of speakers including MDC leader Tererai Obey Sithole, Promise Mkwananzi, Jabulani Sibanda and embattled ZANU PF youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu.

In a statement issued by MDC Deputy Spokesperson  Womberaiishe Nhende the youth said they will not be part of the ZANU PF factionalism.

Read the full statement below:

We have learnt with deep shock the inclusion of our party into a factional battle gone wrong at Jongwe house and as the MDC Youth we stand firmly guided by our own struggle and principles . I would like to state it here and now , categorically clear that the MDC Youth Assembly is not part neither is it parcel of the event that has been dubbed the Multi Party National Youth Convention to be held on the 21st of February.

We will not sanitize a sham process that has nothing to do with the people of Zimbabwe but everything to do with individuals who have been sidelined in the grand matrix of systematic and organised cartel looting and they want to condomise their fight using the gullible youths who have been hoodwinked to think it’s a generational fight yet it’s personal upliftment escapade by the loud mouth youth leaders .

As MDC we have been and we remain committed to the fight against corruption and state capture , that has been our perennial gospel which is meant to redeem Zimbabweans and we will not be misled by a faction that portrays itself as holier than the other in ZANU PF . The whole institution of ZANU PF is in need of corruption exorcism starting from number 1 right down to the branch chairperson in Nembudziya . Alternatively as MDC we call upon all progressive Zimbabweans to unite against ZANU PF the system and the characters, that way we can defeat the cartels that have been exposed by Prosecutor General Hodzi .

Moreover 21st February has been chosen deliberately to honour RG Mugabe the author of this system that remains haunting the citizenry of Zimbabwe with it’s sophisticated and shrewd institutionalised cartels , and as such they want to honour him with a borrowed hoodwinked crowd but as the MDC we are distancing ourselves from this non event.

The Citizen|President Cyril Ramaphosa has had a rough start to his first chairing of the African Union, threatening to leave an ordinary session before it concluded in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

At about 03:00, Ramaphosa was so fed up with diplomats and heads of state taking issue with the translation of adoptions that he threatened to leave the summit early to prepare for his State of the Nation Address which he will deliver on Thursday before a joint sitting of Parliament.

The session, which was meant to take place over two days, was plagued by several delays as state leaders and their diplomats were unable to adopt decisions due to disagreements over translations.

It took more than four hours for the 140-page document to be translated into French and Arabic. Several African leaders were seen leaving the African Union headquarters before the second day’s session concluded.

The two-day gathering, which was meant to end at 21:30 – with Ramaphosa delivering his closing address before facing the media – was called off at 03:00. Ramaphosa was unable to make his closing address or brief the media.

Ramaphosa, who took over the chairmanship of the AU from Egyptian President Mohamed al-Sisi, scored a significant diplomatic victory on Monday after his chief negotiator Wamkele Mane was elected as the new secretary of the Africa free trade agreement area.

Correspondent|Suspended ZANU PF Youth League political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu said he surrendered a Ford Ranger vehicle that he was given by the party for his use as a fulltime deployee.

Tsenengamu further denied accusations that he was being sponsored by the United States of America’s dreaded Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or by local politicians. He said:

“When we started, I posted on Facebook saying desperate times (call for) desperate measures. I said it was too late to soil our names because we had picked it that when they sat, they agreed to create a conspiracy theory that we are being funded by the (Central Intelligence Agency) CIA and the Americans.”

“Some are saying we have been sent by ED (President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa), others are saying we have been sent by General (Constantino) Chiwenga, others are saying we have been sent by Tyson waBantu (Saviour Kasukuwere), others are saying we have been sent by (Christopher) Mutsvangwa and we now have others saying we have been sent by the CIA and others say Temba Mliswa is sending us…”

Tsenengamu was suspended from the party together with deputy youth secretary Lewis Matutu after they accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Billy Rautenbach and Tafadzwa Musarara of corruption that has run Zimbabwe’s economy aground.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Dambudzo has arrived back home from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he was attending the 33rd Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) which ended today.

Below is the picture of his return…..

Correspondent|Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe Chairman Tafadzwa Musarara has slapped former ZANU PF Youth leaders Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu with a  ZWL10 million lawsuit arising from their press conference where they accused him of working with a cartel of white people to divert maize to the black market and causing a shortage of maize meal in the country.

The embattled pair have been given 10 working days to respond to the summons if they  wish to defend their statements in court.

Through his lawyers, Wintertons Musarara, Musarara said the statements uttered by the suspended ZANU PF Youth leaders were meant to tarnish his image and brand him as a corrupt businessman who was abusing state resources to enrich himself at the expense of the general populace.

On Monday we exclusively revealed that Tsenengamu and another suspended Youth leader Pupurai Togarepi accused Musarara of being corrupt in June 2019 and in December of the same year they approached him to seek funding for their projects.

Musarara supported their charity initiatives.

The Harare based businessman has been hailed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as one of the youthful people who are assisting the government to curb the maize meal shortage in the country.

GRAIN Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has submitted a fourth letter to parliament in a bid to evade being grilled by legislators under the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement over US$27 million they received from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

GMAZ is led by Tafadzwa Musarara, who is among the three businessmen named by suspended Zanu-PF youth leaders as wreaking havoc and causing untold suffering among citizens through corruption and looting of State resources.

GMAZ was set to appear for hearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement this Tuesday but did not turn up.

The parliamentary portfolio committee members are demanding answers as to how the US$27 million received by GMAZ between 2017 and 2019 was used. The money was availed by the government towards the purchase of wheat.

Responding to questions from journalists following a no show by GMAZ, Gokwe Nembudziya legislator, Justice Mayor Wadyajena who chaired the meeting said the committee resolved to summon the organisation despite having sent several letters through their lawyers.

“They wrote to parliament through Winterton Lawyers and they think the committee is being unfair on them. They have engaged their lawyers to fight us. The committee resolved that they need to appear so we are going to send summons,” said Wadyajena.

Wadyajena said the committee is pursuing GMAZ to clarify what they used the US$27 million they got from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for.

“We need information from them, they got US$27 million from the government and we want to know what they used it for.

“They got US$27 million from RBZ between 2017 and 2019. We have confirmation from RBZ that they received this amount of money. They must appear and explain to Zimbabweans what they used the money for.

“There are two issues here, one is the issue of US$27 million from RBZ and the rehabilitation of silos as well because GMB is refuting claims that GMAZ has rehabilitated silos,” he added.

According to a letter dated 18th of March 2019 signed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr John Mangudya, the grain millers received the US$27 million.

“Please find attached the information requested on foreign exchange allocations to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe and other suppliers of fertiliser, seed and agro-chemicals,” reads parts of the letter.

GMAZ through their lawyers Wintertons indicated that the committee must seek government approval for them to furnish parliament with terms of the agreement.

“The transaction in question was captured in an agreement that was entered into between our client and Government of Zimbabwe, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development executed on the 7th of June 2017.

“There is a confidentiality clause in the agreement which bars our client from disclosing the terms thereof without the consent of the government of Zimbabwe. The committee should, therefore, obtain government approval for our client to furnish it with a copy of the agreement,” reads part of the letter.

Asked by journalists on exactly whom they are targeting in this whole saga, Wadyajena said they want any representative of the organisation to clarify on the questions that members of the committee have and its nothing personal.

“These are not personal issues hence we don’t need a specific person but representative of GMAZ. The lawyers wrote about four letters and the recent one saying they don’t want me to chair the committee and they prefer appearing before the public accounts committee,” he said.

ZBC

By A Correspondent- Footprints led to the discovery of a hidden pushcart used to carry 300kg of stolen copper cables valued at more than US$9 000 by two Mvurwi men.

Lloyd Jimu and Isaac Inosi were sentenced to 10 years in jail after being convicted of stealing copper cables from a ZESA Holdings transformer at a farm.

They pleaded not guilty to theft charges, but were convicted after a full trial.

Guruve resident magistrate Mr Shingirai Mutiro sentenced the pair to 12 years in prison before suspending two years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence.

Prosecutor Mr Albert Charehwa told the court that on November 1 last year, the pair hatched a plan to steal ZESA copper cables using a pushcart.

The court heard that they went to Barbra Chirara’s homestead at night and stole her pushcart before proceeding to a ZESA transformer in the same farm.

They dismantled the transformer and stole 300kg of copper cables which they loaded into the cart and escaped barefoot.

In the morning, a villager, Jacob Chigando Mhlanga, noticed that the transformer had been dismantled and alerted other villagers.

The villagers went to the scene and saw the pair’s footprints whereupon a group of villagers followed the footprints and recovered the pushcart covered with grass in Jimu’s garden.

They took the duo to the police leading to their arrest; the cart and transformer were taken as exhibits.

-Statemedia

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

This prohibition will relate to both types of marriages, customary and non customary. Anyone assisting or committing a child to marry be liable to criminal charges, Ziyambi announces proposed bill @womensvoicezw@veritaszimwomen@MuzvareBetty pic.twitter.com/gva5O7pEjF

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 11, 2020

By A Correspondent- The parliament of Zimbabwe today sat for the first time in 2020.

Watch the live video loading below and hear what the legislators said as parliament resumed sittings……

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF party has embarked on a mass mobilisation drive on the streets of neighbouring South Africa, as the former liberation movement targets five million registered voters by the next national elections in 2023.

The state-owned Herald newspaper reported that Zanu-PF, which is aiming to secure 65 percent of the vote at the polls, had established a database of its members living outside Zimbabwe’s borders to create a direct link between party headquarters and structures outside the country.

Zanu-PF spokesman in South Africa Kennedy Mandaza told the newspaper that a party meeting in Johannesburg last week attracted over 30 new members who joined its diaspora structures.

Several Zimbabwean civic groups and political parties have representation in South Africa, home to millions of Zimbabweans who fled political strife and an economic meltdown back home.

The leader of the People’s Progressive Party of Zimbabwe (PPPZ), Pastor Timothy Chiguvare, says he has for many years advocated for the rights of his compatriots based in South Africa.

“Well before 2016, our party has gone international via social media networks with a PPPZ official message appealing to all Zimbabweans and former Zimbabweans in the diaspora to come aboard the PPPZ’s glorious victory train,” Chiguvare told African News Agency in Pretoria.

Zimbabwe’s former foreign affairs minister Walter Mzembi, now also based in South Africa, has been appointed interim president of a new political formation, the People’s Party.

The MDC notes with concern that government has gazetted paltry wages of 160 RTGS per month for all domestic workers, contrary to representations and agreements government had reached with the relevant sector.

Given the parlous state of the economy, that figure is enough to a bundle of vegetables.

Domestic workers are the most lowly paid in Zimbabwe and the Industry is very much unregulated as they do not fall under an Employment Council. Their wages are negotiated under a Labour Advisory Board, mostly with the Zimbabwe Domestic Allied Workers Union and with some Employers of Domestics picked by government.

The Domestics representatives had a very plausible figure of ZWL$1200 and after negotiations they settled for the following figures

1. Gardener ZWL$385
2. Housekeeper ZWL$400

All with an Allowance of ZWL $385.00 for transport, accommodation and other ancillaries. The figures that have been published are not the ones agreed upon between the Parties at the Advisory Board.

The MDC is disappointed that we have a government that has no empathy with the poor, they are simple not trustworthy as they change goal posts after agreeing with workers representatives. Figures which they had agreed with workers representatives were higher than what government eventually gazetted.

The present situation on the ground shows that rentals for a room in high density areas costs an average of ZWL$200 while a kilogramme of economy beef is going for ZWL$120.

Only a people’s government is able to improve the dignity of the citizen and to care for their livelihoods.

#ThePeoplesGovernment.

Hon Gideon Shoko
Secretary for Labour & Social Security
Movement For Democratic Change

Farai Dziva|Former Zanu PF Youth League Political Commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu has vowed to expose corrupt cartels in spite of rampant intimidation.

“We aren’t anyone’s stooges. Those days are long gone. This is our fight. Indeed a few people can’t monopolize everything and hold us hostage.

Zimbabwe and its resources are for us ALL. We are no second class citizens here #Cartels/CorruptionMustFall,” tweeted Tsenengamu.

“Corruption is killing us especially the young. We commit to fight this scourge to the bitter end.

The leadership has a choice to make either to be with the people or with thieving cartels. It is a defining moment. Suspensions and threats won’t silence us.”

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP) Commercial Crime Unit (CCU) working with the Zimbabwe United Passengers Company’s (ZUPCO) Risk Control Department have arrested a Harare man for allegedly manufacturing fake ZUPCO staff identification cards (IDs).

The arrests came after a tip off that one Farai Sangombe was in the business of illegally manufacturing fake ID cards for ZUPCO and other private owned bus companies. Efforts to get a comment from the police were fruitless, however a high placed official at ZUPCO said after a tipoff, ZUPCO’s risk team set a trap where one of the staff members engaged the fraudster and asked him to make an ID for him.

The fraudster would the sell the IDs to members of the public who would in turn use them to access free rides on ZUPCO buses. A docket has since been opened under case number CR701/02/2020. Allegations are that the ZUPCO official was charged $80 for the service.

“After the fake ID was produced, the police arrived and identified themselves, including the ZUPCO official. Sangombe was subsequently arrested. He is now in police custody,” said the official who refused to be named.

He said after the arrest, police recovered fake IDs for ZUPCO, Inter Africa and for other buses concealed in Sangombe’s bag.

“The trap money which he received from the ZUPCO risk team official was also recovered.”

The arrest of Sangombe comes hardly a week after another bogus ZUPCO employee was arrested for defrauding innocent people of cash on the pretex that he would facilitate employment for them at the organisation.

“Again, the Risk Department set a trap for this person and nailed him. Kingston Choto went to the extent of advertising on social media that he is an agent for ZUPCO and was recruiting conductors, especially those without five ‘O’level passes. The risk team got a tip off and set a trap and he was caught. He was arrested and has since appeared in court.”

He said Choto was charging US$15 for his alleged illegal services.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- The parliament of Zimbabwe today sat for the first time in 2020.

Watch the live video loading below and hear what the legislators said as parliament resumed sittings……

By A Correspondent- Nurses at Gweru Provincial General Hospital on Monday staged a sit-in at the hospital demanding to be addressed by management.

The nurses, who last week resolved to work for two days a week, were protesting the absence of duty rosters for those who had reported for work.

Speaking to a local publication on Monday, Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union president, Robert Chiduku confirmed the development.

He said:

“What I can say is that the nurses have resolved that they want to be addressed by the hospital’s management before they assume any duties.”

As we speak, there are no duty rosters in the wards and no communication has been made formally over that issue. So what I can say is there is confusion here.

Since we resolved to work for only two days a week, there is a lot that is being said in the informal circles purportedly coming from management. As a result, the nurses have said let the management come and address us and set the record straight.

The publication was informed by its sources that the management at the hospital intended to victimise all the nurses who were not reporting for duty and also planned to fire those suspected to have been the ringleaders in the job action.

By A Correspondent- Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Chair, Justice Mayor Wadyajena has said that it is not necessary for Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) to engage lawyers but just account for the US$27 million it was given for wheat importation.

His remarks come after GMAZ has reportedly refused to appear before Wadyajena’s committee which is probing how the organization used $27 million it received from government preferring to appear before the Tendai Biti Public Accounts Committee.

Posting on Twitter following the development, Wadyajena said:

GMAZ cannot dictate to Parliament which Committee they want to appear before, having been given USD$27milliion for wheat importation. There is absolutely no need to engage lawyers when all we seek is accountability.

The country last year experienced acute bread shortages with authorities saying that wheat reserves had dried up.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe then disbursed the US$27 million in question for the importation of wheat.

The MDC expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased passengers in the ZUPCO bus disaster that occurred a few kilometers outside Kwekwe on Monday.

Seven people have been confirmed dead while several were injured after the bus they were travelling in developed a mechanical fault and rammed into a private car and a Kombi before hitting a tree.

The MDC wishes the injured a speedy recovery and hopes that the skeletal hospital staff at our government medical institutions would find it in their hearts to assist.

We in the MDC continue to believe that such accidents are avoidable if the government would observe set out procedures of ensuring that all passenger vehicles are road-worthy.

The argument currently proffered by government spokesperson Mr. Nick Mangwana that the bus was “newish” and hence did not require any Inspection by VID is not only insensitive to the situation at hand but speaks to an uncaring government that has no sense of imagination and appreciation of how dangerous an un-roadworthy vehicle can be to passengers and other road users.

The MDC reiterates its position that due to the high costs of medical care for the injured and funeral costs for the deceased and more so the costs of keeping up the families of those left behind by the deceased, a Road Accident Victims Fund should be actualised without delay to take care of costs for the victims of such circumstances.

This call has been made since 2018 but the current uncaring government continued to ignore such a genuine policy that will ensure some modicum of care to victims of road accidents.

An MDC government would have established such a Road Accident Victims Fund from proceeds of an agreed percentile of Road access fee without necessarily passing on the burden of cost to the motorist.

Drivers of mass passenger vehicles are once again reminded to observe all road rules to minimize increasing the risk of accidents claiming many lives in the event of any occurrence.

May the souls of the deceased rest in peace while we pray for those injured to recover with speed.

#ThePeoplesGovernment.

Hon Settlement Chikwinya

Secretary for Transport
Movement For Democratic Change

Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi yesterday made startling revelations that the corrupt cartels in the country have captured the media, judiciary and the prosecuting authority making the corruption fight difficult to execute.

He made the remarks during a Political Actors Dialogue workshop in Bulawayo.

Below are Hodzi’s remarks…

The cartels are responsible for most of the high-level incidences of corruption and the nature of the cartels cuts across all the institutions, the media, the legal profession, the judiciary, the NPA itself and all other institutions that are mandated to fight corruption. Members of the public and business people are also involved in those cartels.

We will need to approach our fight against corruption in a thoroughly scientific manner. We have been fighting corruption in a very blind manner hence the challenges we have been facing,” he said adding that he understood the frustration from the public as far as corruption matters are concerned.

They have got strategies and you need to have a holistic and integrated bi-scientific approach. You need to know exactly what you are doing at the end of the day. It’s like performing brain surgery, you might be emotional that somebody needs to be operated on. But if everyone gets into the operating room, they might end up causing more damage than intended.

Farai Dziva|MDC Secretary for Elections Jacob Mafume has cited vote-buying and intimidation of villagers as factors that contributed to the opposition party in the Mwenezi by-election.

“People were called to come and collect rice on the day of voting, Zanu PF was drilling a borehole a few metres from the polling station,” said Mafume.

“These are not elections. It is manipulation of people’s poverty.

Weaponising poverty and food and it is the biggest challenge that we have.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Secretary for Elections Jacob Mafume has cited vote-buying and intimidation of villagers as factors that contributed to the opposition party in the Mwenezi by-election.

“People were called to come and collect rice on the day of voting, Zanu PF was drilling a borehole a few metres from the polling station,” said Mafume.

“These are not elections. It is manipulation of people’s poverty.

Weaponising poverty and food and it is the biggest challenge that we have.”

“The road that leads to the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s rural home in Zvimba is better than most roads in and around Harare and other big towns.”

Watch the video loading below and share your views on whether this assertion is true or false?

ZimEye is hearing of an accident in Beatrice road, Harare after the Mbudzi roundabout.

BEATRICE RD BUS ACCIDENT: To get moment by moment updates – subscribe here https://t.co/RMz9FsvEJW pic.twitter.com/KwgPtzC6B7

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 11, 2020

A caller said: there is an accident involving ZUPCO bus along Beatrice road just after Toll gate; the bus is overturned and people are in mud; the situation is very bad, no ambulance no help, nothing. Police is there they just look helpless. We couldn’t stop because our bus didn’t stop. Spread the message.

It’s raining situation very bad.

Vanhu kuumburuka my madhaka very bad situation.

ARE YOU AT THE ACCIDENT? – CONTACT ZIMEYE RIGHT NOW.

The MDC members led by Ward 31 Councilor Tonderai Chakaredza have taken it upon themselves to rehabilitate pot-holed Harare roads as party of their community service.

The volunteers used gravel to fill potholes that had made the roads impassable.

By Own Correspondent| Hwedza South MP Tinoda Machakaire has challenged Zanu PF youths to be content with the positions they are occupying and ready to ‘serve and defend’ the party.

Machakaire’s said this following last weeks’ politburo decision to suspend youth league leaders Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenangamu for indiscipline after they had went on and named people who they alleged are cartel kingpins in the country.

“There is a wind of indiscipline that is blowing among the youths, I urge the youths not to be blown by that wayward wind. Lets us respect the party’s leadership. We should do away with the spirit of hatred and that spirit of making unsanctioned utterances,” said Machakaire.

Machakaire who is also deputy minister of Arts, Youths, Sports and Recreation said he was contend with the position he currently hold both in party and government.

“I am satisfied with the position that I am currently occupying. It is up to the leaders to appoint people not to the youths to demand positions. Even in the house there is a laid down hierarchy,” he said.

Machakaire said the youths should also desist from using their positions to extort from other people.

“There are people who go around extorting using their positions in the party. We must work hard to get what we want in life,” he said.

Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi today dented any hopes that cartel ring-leaders will be prosecuted when he startlingly revealed that they have captured key State institutions including the judiciary, the media, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the police and political parties.

Hodzi, who is mandated to prosecute crimes in the country, told local radio station StarFM News that it is difficult to deal with cartels because of their stranglehold on key State institutions.

That the country’s PG would make such revelations exposes the octopus links that the criminal cartels have on State institutions, key among them the country’s Presidium.  

While Zanu-PF has gone hoarse lying to the world that sanctions are the problem in the country, recent revelations by Zanu-PF senior officials, including the startling admission by the PG himself, have exposed the fact that at the heart of the country’s rot is the unbridled culture of sleaze, avarice and corruption by the well-heeled and the politically connected.

It is chastening that some in Zanu-PF–and now the PG—are now in agreement with the MDC, which recently unveiled the five fights that Zimbabweans must wage in 2020, key among them being the fight against corruption. We have always maintained that it is Zanu-PF and its cartels that are at the epicenter of the national rot and recent developments have vindicated us.  

The Prosecutor-General was unwittingly revealed his impotence because of the intricate web of connections that these cartels have, including with the judiciary. It was lost on Hodzi that as an officer of the court, he was also implicating himself through his revelation that the judiciary is part of this festering rot.

Only a legitimate people’s government can deal with this stinking national decay.

#thepeoplesgovernment

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission (ZACC) says cartels fuelling corruption are well-known and need to be broken.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure urged all those with evidence against the cartels to bring it forward so that they can be nailed. He said:

The issue of cartels, we fully agree as Zacc that corruption is fuelled by cartels. So, we need to break those cartels. We can only break the cartels if one: there is a national consensus in the country on what the causes of corruption are and accepting the existence of cartels as a reality.

That is the only way in which stakeholders and citizens can report to Zacc suspected cases of corruption because cartels are well known. What Zacc and other law enforcement agents are looking for is evidence that we can then use during our investigations and compile dockets. Again, it’s a stakeholder issue.

Recently, ZANU PF youth league leaders accused oil mogul Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairperson  Tafadzwa Musarara and Billy Rautenbach of being behind the cartels.

-Statemedia

A local civil society organisation has slammed government’s poor planning and reactive approach to natural disasters saying the alleged loss of lives in the Binga floods is greatly disturbing.

Community Water Alliance said government should do more towards mitigation and resilience strategies in the face of climate change which has made flooding a common feature in the country.

According to reports, over 100 people are currently stranded in Binga due to the ongoing floods caused by incessant rains.

Find below Community Water Alliance statement on Binga floods….

Community Water Alliance family is greatly disturbed by loss of livelihoods and alleged loss of lives in Binga emanating from floods.

The floods in Binga expresses how extreme whether conditions are destroying livelihoods in the same manner Cyclone Idai left a sad epitaph in Manicaland.

Community Water Alliance urge government departments responsible for physical planning to take a proactive role in planning settlements for both rural and urban areas. The planning should recognize the important role played by wetlands in providing flood attenuation services.

It is high time all government actions and citizen mindset focus on mitigation and resilience strategies against extreme weather conditions emanating from varying and changing climatic patterns.

By A Correspondent- MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has described the persecution of the opposition party’s vice-chairperson Job Sikhala as a desperate attempt by Emmerson Mnangagwa to silence democratic voices.

Chamisa made the remarks during a heated provincial meeting in Masvingo on Sunday.

“I asked Honourable Sikhala to go to Bikita to represent the party.

If you persecute Sikhala then you are persecuting me as well.

If you arrest Sikhala it means you have arrested me because he went Bikita to campaign for the party,” said Chamisa.

“I also want to stress that we are not interested in the formation of another GNU.What we want is a Transitional Authority. POLAD was created to serve Mnangagwa’s interests so we will not join the discredited platform,” added Chamisa.”

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is snubbing former South African leader, Thabo Mbeki and he is no longer taking phone calls from the ex-statesman, MDC Vice President Tendai Biti has claimed.

Mbeki was in Zimbabwe in December last year where he met both Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa separately in a bid to bring the two rivals to the negotiating table and help solve the country’s worsening political and economic crisis.

During his visit, Mbeki also met political leaders who are part of the Political Actors’ Dialogue (POLAD).

However, speaking to NewZimbabwe’s Agenda Programme Monday in Harare, Biti said Mnangagwa was now snubbing Mbeki.

“Emmerson is not interested in dialogue. President Mbeki was here in December. Emmerson said to President Mbeki he needed time to consult his party that was in December, we are now in February,” he said.

“Mnangagwa is no longer even taking President Mbeki’s calls.”

Biti further warned that Mnangagwa’s government risked removal from office through mass protests as chances for dialogue between Chamisa and the President were fading.

“Zimbabweans, we must direct the future of where we want to go. I have got a feeling personally that the majority of Zimbabweans are no longer interested in dialogue, what they want are reforms. What they want is the constitutional, peaceful removal of this government.

“So we must bite the bullet and go in the streets because the Constitution allows us as the door for dialogue might be too late,” Biti said.

NewZimbabwe.com failed to get a comment from Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba who is with his boss in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the African Union’s 33rd Ordinary Summit.

Last week, suspended Zanu PF youth commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu threatened to drag both Chamisa and Mnangagwa to the negotiating table saying the two should meet to find answers to the troubled country’s challenges.

-Newzimbabwe

By A Correspondent- A 45-year-old jealousy woman allegedly burnt her husband’s Nissan Caravan to ashes after she had suspected him of cheating on her, it has been learnt.

Close sources said in the morning of January 31, Rudo Chakanyuka, who is married to Denfod Mazorodze (39) went to Chitima market for some business.

While at the market, Mazorodze asked his wife for the car keys so that he could charge his cell phone.

Chakanyuka reportedly refused to hand-over the keys and threatened to burn the car as she suspected her husband wanted to communicate with his girlfriend.

She later drove the vehicle alone without her husband’s knowledge and when he called to find out where she was, Chakanyuka boldly answered that she was now at Mucheke Stadium to burn the car.

Mazorodze rushed to the scene and found Chakanyuka standing by as the burning vehicle, with all the doors locked and windows shut.

The vengeful woman then told her husband that she was now going home to burn all his clothes.

The matter was reported to the police and the value of the goods damaged were said to be worthy US$ 6 000.

Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa encouraged members of the public to find counseling in the event of disputes and to resolve domestic differences peacefully.-TellZim

By Correspondent- The Public Service Commission has ordered all workers on government payroll to update their biometric details before the end of the month or risk being struck off the Salary Service Bureau paysheet.

“All members who remained non-compliant as at 28 February 2020 will be struck off the payroll,” Labour permanent secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe said in a statement yesterday.

“Please further note that the affected members should direct any issues arising through the ministry.”

Government embarked on a project to validate the government payroll through a biometric authentication process last year. The authentication process requires that every member on the payroll has biometric attributes in the Registrar-General’s database.

The RG’s department captured biometric attributes of citizens since the introduction of the new biometric compliant polythene identity cards as well as during the issuance of the new passport. All the records were sent to the Salary Service Bureau payroll for analysis of biometric attributes and members whose data was not inputted were notified.

The exercise, first conducted from August 2019 to September 31, 2019, was extended to October 31, 2019 before being further extended to February 28 this year.

“Verification and re-verification is part of the methodology being implemented to mitigate the consequences of error,” the statement read.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Barely a week after the suspension of Zanu PF youth secretary Pupurai Togarepi and his other top lieutenants ,there  are  already spirited campaigns by some young politicians in the party to take over with names like that of the former deputy finance minister Terrence Mukupe being thrown in.

According to one ruling party activist who requested anonymity the controversial Terence Mukupe is one of the many names of individuals who are poised to take over from the underfire Pupurai Togarepi.

“The former deputy minister of finance and Harare East MP   was suggested by some. It was said he would use his financial muscle to revive the youth league but however, many view him as lacking leadership qualities, ”said the activist.

The Deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi is also another candidate   being touted for the top post and the former Rhumba singer  once hinted that he won’t hesitate to take the lead if granted such an opportunity.

The acting secretary general Tendai Chirau , Wedza  South MP Tino and Godwin Gomwe  are heavily tipped  to take over .

“Chirau is being   acknowledged because    he is corruption and scandal free. However having served as secretary for administration many accused him of being idle and not initiating programmes beneficial to youths while some crushed  that assertion pointing out he was not the one calling the shots.

“Also in the fray is Godwin Gomwe , the former Harare Youth Chairman boss and current DCC 2 Chairman is the most trending.  At least a 200 groups are passionately pushing for his elevation stating that if he does not become Secretary of youth affairs he shoul at least become the PC as he is energetic ,innovative and with a proven track record of being faithful to the Party. His charisma was regarded as the key ingredient to breath life in the docile youth league.

 “But the most  popular is  Tinoda ‘Tinmac Machakaire’  the  Wedza South MP has impressed many with his inspiring reign as deputy minister of youths , sports, arts and recreation. People expressed that the young and super rich Tinmac is humble and helping ED in uplifting the lives of the citizens and making ZANU PF more popular,” revealed the activist.

Other names   in the race   are John Muchenje, Mayor Wadyajena and Kenneth Pasipamire .

“John Muchenje  who recently scooped the young champion farmer  from Midlands is said to be inspirational and hard working constantly breaking new ground. However the majority said he is ‘too chilled’ and not a politician and recommended he sticks to farming.

“There is also Kenneth Pasipamire  who is a millionaire  based in SA and  is in his early 30s  but his biggest undoing is that he is hardly in Zimbabwe while Wadyajena was discredited for being pompous ,’’cited the mole.

Activist Taurai Kandishaya who fronts Citizens Forum and has been  hogging the limelight for his fiery antics in defending the ED-led administration is also believed to be  poised to take over in one of the roles in the youth league in the event that the trio of Togarepi,Matutu and Tsenengamu are shown the exit.

By A Correspondent- A KFC employee in China working with food preparation and on the counter serving customers has reportedly been diagnosed with coronavirus.

The infected staff member worked at the fried chicken fast-food chain in Xian, Shaanxi province, Daily Mail has reported.

KFC is among a series of US franchises in China that have decided to temporarily close restaurants over fears of the spread of coronavirus that has killed more than 800 people.

Currently, over 37,000 cases of deadly infection have been confirmed worldwide that has struck in 25 countries.

However, KFC said it could not say exactly when the restaurants would reopen and that more stores could close.

Last week the company based in Shanghai launched what it termed ‘contactless’ delivery to avoid spreading the virus through food delivery.

Several vidoes from a Chinese social media site, Weibo, depicted delivery drivers having their temperature taken before donning Hazmat suits and face masks before disinfecting all food packaging and leaving the restaurant.

‘Our top priority is the health and safety of our employees and customers.’We have implemented various preventive measures across our restaurants and other workplaces to help protect our employees and customers. ‘We will continue to monitor this fluid situation and respond accordingly.’ said Joey Wat,

Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi today dented any hopes that cartel ring-leaders will be prosecuted when he startlingly revealed that they have captured key State institutions including the judiciary, the media, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the police and political parties.

Hodzi, who is mandated to prosecute crimes in the country, told local radio station StarFM News that it is difficult to deal with cartels because of their stranglehold on key State institutions.

That the country’s PG would make such revelations exposes the octopus links that the criminal cartels have on State institutions, key among them the country’s Presidium.  

While Zanu-PF has gone hoarse lying to the world that sanctions are the problem in the country, recent revelations by Zanu-PF senior officials, including the startling admission by the PG himself, have exposed the fact that at the heart of the country’s rot is the unbridled culture of sleaze, avarice and corruption by the well-heeled and the politically connected.

It is chastening that some in Zanu-PF–and now the PG—are now in agreement with the MDC, which recently unveiled the five fights that Zimbabweans must wage in 2020, key among them being the fight against corruption. We have always maintained that it is Zanu-PF and its cartels that are at the epicenter of the national rot and recent developments have vindicated us.  

The Prosecutor-General was unwittingly revealed his impotence because of the intricate web of connections that these cartels have, including with the judiciary. It was lost on Hodzi that as an officer of the court, he was also implicating himself through his revelation that the judiciary is part of this festering rot.

Only a legitimate people’s government can deal with this stinking national decay.

#thepeoplesgovernment

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- A Botswana national has appeared in court for allegedly driving off without paying for 20 litres of petrol he had poured at a service station in Bulawayo.

Onius Mark Jakalas (61) from Francistown allegedly went away without paying for the petrol he had poured at Puma service station in Mpopoma suburb.

The service station was represented by its supervisor Ms Mhurai Zhou (35).

Jakalas is a frequent visitor to the country and resides in Mzilikazi suburb during his visits. He was not asked to plead to a charge of making off without payment when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconiah Ncube who remanded him in custody to February 20.

The prosecutor, Mr Tony Kamudyariwa, requested that Jakalas be examined by two mental doctors to ascertain his mental status. On Thursday last week, Jakalas went to Puma service station where he asked the petrol attendant Ms Locadia Rushama to re-fill his Toyota Voxy with 20 litres of petrol.

“The fuel was poured into his car and the accused person was required to make a payment. He handed the petrol attendant US$5 and demanded change. The accused person was advised that the money was not enough and should rather use coupons for the payment but he kept on demanding his change,” Mr Kamudyariwa said.

The matter was reported to the supervisor Ms Zhou who tried to solve the issue but a misunderstanding broke out between her and Jakalas. He then left without making the payment and the matter was reported at Western Commonage police station.

Investigations were carried out and Jakalas was arrested in Mzilikazi suburb. The petrol is valued at $520.

-Statemedia

Correspondent|A KWEKWE City Council worker is reported to have illegally changed Robert Mugabe Road to Emmerson Mnangagwa Road, a decision that has left councillors fuming over the name changes without following procedures.

Speaking after a full council meeting, Kwekwe Deputy Mayor Shadreck Tobaiwa said the city fathers were recently shocked when they discovered that the street’s name had been changed without their authority.

After confronting the city’s management over the issue, the councillors were told that an unnamed council worker had changed the names without authority.

“We were not consulted on the renaming of the road. As councillors, we were kept in the dark of the whole process. We were shocked to wake up one morning and see the road renamed to Emmerson Mnangagwa from Robert Mugabe without any consultation,” Tobaiwa said.

“After we consulted management, we were told that a city employee had changed the road insignia after the Robert Mugabe sign fell following heavy rains. The worker decided to put up a new sign with Emmerson Mnangagwa’s name.

“We are, however, consulting lawyers on the issue on what it entails and what must be done as a way forward.”

Kwekwe is the hometown of Mnangagwa and the new street sign remains in place.

By A Correspondent- A suspected illegal forex dealer was robbed of ZW$5 000 and US$700 by three men wielding an AK-47 rifle in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb on Sunday morning.

Ms Abishel Madika’s home was attacked by the armed robbers while she was asleep. Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube on Monday confirmed the incident. He said:

We are investigating an armed robbery case which occurred in Cowdray Park suburb in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Three armed robbers who we suspect were armed with an AK-47 rifle raided a house in the suburb and demanded cash.

The complainant said the suspects fired shots as they demanded cash and got away with $5 000 and US$700.

Investigating officers who attended the scene retrieved two live rounds from the AK-47 rifle at the scene.

There has been an increase in muggings and housebreaking cases in Cowdray Park suburb of late, and police responded by deploying more officers.

-Statemedia