STATE broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) yesterday told Parliament that government’s numerous programmes were draining its coffers, resulting in the current financial crisis.

ZBC board chairperson Josiah Tayi poured his heart out when his board appeared before the Prince Dubeko Sibanda-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media to give oral evidence on the state of affairs at the public broadcaster.

Tayi told Parliament that licence fees charged by ZBC could not sustain its operations, resulting in the institution failing to appropriately remunerate its staff, with some workers earning as low as $300 per month.

“Hybrid operations created confused funding models and the corporate lost its government grant from funding scheme and licensing was presumed to be enough to fund the broadcaster,” he said.

“Licensing is meant to be a gatekeeper and buffer on the budget, but demands of diaries by government departments and ministries are perceived wrongly that the services were free and such an approach created a downward spiral on ZBC with a disastrous end.

“The national mandate constitutes 80% of ZBC costs and 5% of funding to ZBC is licence costs, of which payment of licences has dwindled and yet they are supposed to be part of the funding model.

Another problem with licensing is that it has not been reviewed for a long time. It is sad that broadcasting licences are not reviewed regularly just like what happens with tollgates and other service providers.”

The ZBC board chairman said despite an increase in operational costs, there was little support from the fiscus and yet 60% of costs they incurred were of imports of broadcasting components.

Tayi said some of the major challenges experienced by the ZBC included electricity outages, non-payment by government departments, non-taking over of their legacy debt by government, high indebtedness on medical aid and employee pensions and acute foreign currency shortages and non-acquittals of foreign currency purchases of equipment.

The committee expressed concern over political and commercial interference at ZBC.

ZBC head of programmes Gilbert Nyambabvu said inadequate equipment and poor salaries exposed staff to manipulation and bribery.

“If people are not paid well, they are vulnerable to cheque book journalism. Do we also have regulations to ensure editorial independence?” Nyambabvu asked.

But Sibanda could have none of his explanations, saying lack of equipment was no excuse for being biased.

-Newsday

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has denied allegations that it gave President Emmerson Mnanagwa’s daughter Farai Mnangagwa US$250 000 on Friday without any receipts.

RBZ was responding to allegations raised by Professor Jonathan Moyo who had said, “Farai Mlotshwa (nee Mnangagwa) was today given USD250K in cash by the Dealers Section of @ReserveBankZIM ‘s Treasury Division. On 19 February 2020, RBZ was ordered to pay her USD 5m in tranches of USD 1m over five weeks. There’re no invoices for the transactions! 

Farai Mnangagwa is married to lawyer Gerald Mlotshwa.

RBZ in a statement posted on Twitter responded denying the allegations saying no such transaction had happened.

“The Reserve Bank would like to dismiss the article circulating on social media on USD250 000 as fake news. The Reserve Bank only deals directly with Banks and Bureaux de Change.”

Fake News on USD250 000 Cash
The Reserve Bank would like to dismiss the article circulating on social media on USD250 000 as fake news. The Reserve Bank only deals directly with Banks and Bureaux de Change.

Moyo responded to RBZ statement saying it was a fake denial.

“FAKE DENIAL. It’s known that Shavano and Mawire directed communications to deny, deny & deny some more. Mawire even sought to have staff involved in the Farai Mnangagwa transaction detained, but was stopped by security’s Muradzikwa who warned the detention would confirm the deal.”

The MDC-T, notes with great disappointment and disdain a tweet from Professor Jonathan  Moyo, which purports that the MDC-T through its President Dr Khupe, sought funding from  a ZANU PF, faction going by the name of G40 through her then aide Mr Witness Dube.

The truth of the matter is that Prof Moyo has relations with many Zimbabweans including those in opposition politics and even those close to Dr Khupe.

The MDC-T would like to put it on record that at no stage did the Party ever sought funding  from any ZANU PF, faction directly or through a proxy.  The meeting between Prof Moyo and Mr Witness Dube, took place at the request of Professor  Moyo, in which he sought to appeal to Mr Witness Dube, that he (Witness) persuades Dr Khupe, to ignore the violent and unconstitutional ascendancy of Mr Chamisa to the MDC-T leadership.

It is common knowledge that Dr Khupe, dismissed that proposition with the contempt it deserves and went ahead to call for an extraordinary congress the following month in which Adv Gutu, was then elected Vice President thus the movement splitting into two after the said meeting.

It cannot therefore, be correct, that Prof Jonathan Moyo, arranges a meeting with Mr Witness  Dube, on the 28th March 2018, on the strength of his private relationship with Mr Dube, and  that personal meeting somehow constitutes a delegation (plural) for funding by the MDC-T,  which had its extraordinary congress on the 21 April 2018.

What is apparent for everyone is that Prof Jonathan Moyo, is clutching at straws in his desperate attempt to hide from the general public that MDC-A is either a ZANU PF G40  project or has been taken over by the same.

A meeting with Mr Dube, who happened to be one of DR Khupe’s aides at the time, will not be enough to implicate Dr Khupe, and the MDC-T, in Prof Moyo’s absurd accusations.

The issue of the legitimate successor to the late MDC-T President Dr. Tsvangirai, was dealt  with at the Bulawayo and Harare High Courts and both Courts ruled in favour of President Dr  Khupe. Therefore Prof Moyo must stop with the mischief of inserting Mr Kuda Tagwirei, in  some tenuous conspiracy theory and instead Prof Moyo, must accept that he wasted his  money trying to launder an illegitimate person and the long arm of the law has caught up with his imposter president of the MDC-T.

The illegitimate ED regime has gone utterly berserk in Chitungwiza, with heavily armed police sealing off St Mary’s, persecuting party leaders and indiscriminately arresting party youths in this high density area of Chitungwiza.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Among those arrested is National Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma while the MP for the area and MDC Deputy National Chair Hon. Hon Sikhala was summoned to the police for no clear reason.

The police went on an orgy of violence in St Mary’s, breaking doors and barging into private homes in search of anyone suspected to be MDC.

No reason was given for the siege and the State-sanctioned violence. Last week, Zanu PF distributed fliers mobilising their supporters to siege the rural home of President Nelson Chamisa in Gutu as well as the urban homes of Vice President Tendai Biti and Deputy National Chairperson Hon. Sikhala.

The MDC regards the siege in St Mary’s and the incessant harassment of party leaders as needless persecution. The regime is treating the MDC as a terrorist organisation when it is a legitimate political party represented in Parliament and running the majority of local government councils.

The MDC has declared 2020 as the year of Action and no amount of intimidation will cow the nation from sonorously expressing their displeasure at the illegitimate regime that has dismally failed to address the challenges facing the people.

It is the people who are truly sovereign and terror tactics will not work. State-sanctioned violence will not stop any idea whose time has come.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

HARARE Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa will on Monday 2 March 2020 hand down a ruling on a bid by the State to keep Kuwadzana East constituency legislator Hon. Chalton Hwende under prosecution without
being put on trial on charges of plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

When Hon. Hwende appeared before Magistrate Mugwagwa at Harare
Magistrates Court on Friday 28 February 2020, it was anticipated that
the State would indict him for trial at the High Court.

But prosecutors from the National Prosecuting Authority told Magistrate Mugwagwa that the State was not ready to do so and applied that the opposition MDC Alliance party Secretary-General’s matter be postponed to 16 March 2020.

However, the application for postponement of the matter was vigorously opposed by Hon. Hwende’s lawyer Harrison Nkomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who argued that the opposition legislator should be
removed from remand as the state had taken close to a year without
putting his client on trial.

Magistrate Mugwagwa will hand down her ruling on both the state’s bid
to keep Hon. Hwende under prosecution and his lawyers’ challenge of
further remand.

Hon. Hwende was arrested on 5 March 2019 and charged with subverting
constitutional government as defined in section 22(2)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly posting some messages on Twitter encouraging members of the public to revolt against President Mnangagwa’s government.

Prosecutors allege that Hon. Hwende posted some messages on Twitter
between 28 December 2018 to 31 December 2018, which had the effect of
inciting people to revolt against and overthrow President Mnangagwa’s
government.

In response to Hon. Hwende’s messages, the state alleged, members of
the public committed various acts of public violence and hooliganism
throughout Zimbabwe between 14 January 2019 to 16 January 2019 after
they were incited to engage in mass protest.

By A Correspondent| Everything has been shut in Chitungwiza following running attacks against civilians in Chitungwiza.

13 people who had simply visited their MP, Job Sikhala had been reported arrested at the time of writing.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW.

Zengeza MP Job Sikhala told ZimEye, ‘the battle is still ongoing, everything has been shut down in Chitungwiza and St Mary’s, and there are no buses nothing is moving.”

He was asked to comment about possible casualties and he said, “injuries I haven’t received anything but what I heard is that the police without moving hunting door-to-door, trying to hunt for MDC persons, MDC members houses in St Mary’s and what I understand is that 13 of those people who visited my house were arrested.”

29 February 2020

Sydney Barson | At least 38.1％ of orphans in Zimbabwe are in Matabeleland North Province where 17 Grade 7 girls from the same school dropped out of school to get married, if a 2009 study is anything to go by.

Speaking at the launch of the Zimbabwe Education Fund Trust (ZIMEFU) in Lupane yesterday, Econet Sales and Marketing Manager Thandekile Chibanda applauded the launch of ZIMEFU as an important development to assist orphans and curb teen pregnancies so rampant in the province.

‘’According to a 2009 study, 38.1％ of all orphans in Zimbabwe were living in Matabeleland North Province, these statistics could be more by now. Therefore the launch of ZIMEFU will go a long way alleviating the plight of thes young ones.‘’ said Chibanda.

She highlighted several successful people who impacted the world yet grew up as orphans.

Speaking at the same occasion Kusile Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer Mr. Chuma said ZIMEFU is a welcome development in Lupane and urged the new organisation to work alongside government as partners and not competitors.

Founded by Gibsom Mwinde ZIMEFU was registered as a Trust in January 2020 and to date the organisation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the local authority.

The newly instituted Trust seeks to provide sanitary wear in schools in Lupane and Binga, pay school fees and provide uniforms for orphans and vulnerable children.

Board member Laison Mwinde also highlighted that 17 Grade 7 girls dropped out at some school where he was teaching in Binga to get married hence the rationale to change mindsets in such communitites.

In a solidarity message Lupane Women Development Trust Manager Mrs Mufukare urged the new organisation to remain focussed and leave politics to politicians before donating a sewing machine and 40 reusable sanitary towels. They also received donations in form of clothes, and more sanitary wear from other players.

Their mission statement is to eradicate poverty in Africa through sustainable education and empowering every school going girls and boys in remote areas

ZIMEFU’s motto is Inspire orphans,inspire your world.

Todate the Trust shall be operating in Lupane and Binga only though plans for expansion are there.

The trustees are Naome Nkiwane, Tamuka Nyoni, Laison Mwinde, Sithembekile Riyano while Gugulethu Nkomo is the District Coordinator.

Farai Dziva|Masvingo based actor and drama icon, Sabhuku Vharazipi, whose real name is David Mubaiwa in Collaboration with the Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) produced a video skit calling for fair distribution of government aid by public officials.
The video skit provides an overview of how the government aid is being used for retributive purposes.

Public officials continue to use political lenses in the selection of beneficiaries of government aid.
The video also shows the inherent flaws and popular criticisms of aid distribution systems in Zimbabwe and Masvingo province in particular.

Specifically, it shows that the aid beneficiary selection process is not always based on equal opportunity or either guided by vulnerability but determined by political affiliation and power.

Consequently, most of those who are supposed to get aid fail to access it due to their political affiliation.

The actors point out that public officials must serve everyone under their jurisdiction regardless of their political affiliation.

The video also encourages public officials to consult the people during the process of selecting beneficiaries.

Masvingo is hit by severe drought and most people require food aid.

Government has been providing rice and maize to vulnerable families.

The selection processes for beneficiaries remain high jacked by traditional leaders and elected official who use the aid to punish their critics.

A COTRAD official, Ishmael Kupfuwa has also said there is need to involve VIDCOs and WADCOs and the general citizenry starting from the beneficiary selection process up to the distribution point for transparency and accountability purposes.
“Traditional leaders should rigorously undergo human rights trainings so that they understand and acclimatize to the human rights based approach when executing their paramount roles and responsibilities bestowed to them,” said Kupfuwa.
Click the link below to view the video: https://youtu.be/eUSgaU4P3kQ

By A Correspondent| Zimbabwean students studying in the Chinese city of Wuhan have accused the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa of abandoning them in the midst of a deadly coronavirus outbreak.

A Zimbabwean student who spoke to a local publication on condition of anonymity revealed that some countries within the Southern African region are assisting their nationals in the Chinese city while they have received nothing from their government.

Said the student:

Zimbabweans are desperate. The coronavirus situation is bad. Everything is closed and some people have run out of food. Government is not helping. Some countries are helping their students who are here.

Zambia, Botswana, Ghana and Namibia gave their nationals some money, and we have not received a cent from the government. For us, we now survive from the benevolence of some Zimbabweans living in China to complement the help we get from the Chinese government.

We managed to get the ambassador (Martin Chedondo)’s contacts a few days ago and we spoke to him, but he did not promise anything, while other countries are giving financial assistance to their distraught citizens.

The students, who are estimated to be around 350, were caught up in the COVID-19 outbreak which occurred in the middle of December.

Chinese authorities have restricted movement in parts of the country to curb the spread of the flue-like ailment.-Newsday

By A Correspondent| Bulawayo City Council has suspended ambulance, refuse collection, attendance to water and sewer faults due to fuel shortages for the second time in just over two months.

In a statement on Thursday, Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube told residents that Council will not be able to offer them ambulance services as well as the collection of refuse and other services until the fuel situation improves.

Said, Dube:

The City’s Fire and Emergency Services will be prioritising calls and responding to critical emergencies in terms of the following services;

Road traffic accidents referred Council clinic maternity cases and public collapses. The public is advised to use alternative means until the situation improves.

The City of Bulawayo would like to advise residents that there may be an interruption in numerous services such as the collection of refuse, attendance to water and sewer faults due to fuel shortages.

Residents are advised that Council is working on ensuring a speedy delivery of fuel supplies so as to resume normal services.

BCC issued a similar statement on 29 December last year. However, the suspension did not come into effect as the situation immediately returned to normalcy.-Statemedia

By Own Correspondent| The government has given police and magistrates’ courts the green light to impose fines of between $200 and $120 000 for various criminal offences.

The new fines schedule was published in the Government Gazette on Friday and comes into effect immediately.

Admission of guilt fine for levels one to three offences has been hiked to $200 from $20.

Levels 4 to 14 offences now attract between $1 500 and $120 000. The maximum charge used to be $10 000.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi gazetted the new standard scale of fines under Statutory Instrument (SI) 57 of 2020.

He said:

This notice may be cited as the Criminal Law Codification and Reform (Standard Scale of Fines) Notice, 2020. The First Schedule to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act is repealed and the following is substituted “First Schedule (Sections 2(1) and 280) Standard Scale of Fines.

The officer in charge will determine what the accused will pay for level one to level three and the fine will range between $200 and $500.

Some of the crimes under this level include driving without due care, public drinking and/or public fighting.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| A teacher suddenly collapsed and died in front of colleagues and pupils at a primary school in Bulawayo’s Njube suburb on Friday.

The deceased teacher, identified as Freddy Murimirajaoba (53), was forced to abandon a Physical Education lesson after complaining of a headache and was taken to the headmistress’ office at around 9 AM where he collapsed and died.

Bulawayo police spokesman Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.

He said:

“I can confirm that police are investigating the sudden death of a 53-year-old teacher at Mtshede Primary School who collapsed and died in the office of the headmistress.

We have information that the teacher had not been coming to school for a few weeks owing to poor health, and the headmistress had called him in to understand more about his health troubles when he suddenly died.

Murimirajaoba was from Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central Province and had been at the school for 10 years. He was taking the Grade 3 class

TWO Bulawayo MDC activists, who were facing charges of fatally stoning a police officer during the January 2019 protests against fuel price hikes, were yesterday placed off remand after the State indicated that it was not yet ready to prosecute the matter.

Charles Thomas (54), of Njube, and Bernard Sibanda (18), of New Lobengula, were being charged with the murder of Constable Alexio Maune (32).

Through their lawyer Dumisani Dube, the two successfully sought to be placed off remand, arguing that the State had failed to formally charge them 13 months after their arrest.

State allegations were that the two activists stoned Maune in Entumbane on January 14, 2019, but the pair denied the charge, claiming they were victims of a dragnet arrest by police officers.

They both argued that they were not at the scene of the crime on that particular day.

GOVERNMENT has ordered a probe into issuance of passports at the Lupane registry office in Matabeleland North province following reports of underhand dealings and alleged victimisation of whistleblowers.

Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe told Southern Eye on Thursday that he ordered the probe after receiving complaints from some junior officers, who claimed harassment by their superiors for daring to expose the vice.

The junior officers claimed passport applicants were being made to bribe their way to get the travel document.

“You can neither confirm nor deny (the allegations) until you investigate, but yes, I have received a couple of letters. I don’t throw away the letters because information is power, I always make a follow-up. It is a matter under investigation,” Kazembe said.

“We have a couple of letters that I have sent to the (Home Affairs) permanent secretary to investigate. Dealing with corruption is a collective responsibility of everyone and, as such, we would want the informers to also come forward with more information. We will conceal their identities, even an anonymous call will help as we need that information,” Kazembe added.

Some of the junior staffers said they were recently suspended or transferred from Lupane by the provincial registrar Willard Sayenda, to ostensibly conceal the alleged illicit dealings.

But Sayenda refused to comment over the matter, saying it was confidential.

In one of the letters addressed to the Registrar-General Clemence Masango, the disgruntled workers said the alleged scam involved everyone, “including the head”.

“We would pay a tollgate fee to our boss (Sayenda) and we would do our passport applications (sic) as many as we want without even restrictions of the daily limited application which you had put,” the letter read.

“Lupane had few applicants and we had to heavily rely on Bulawayo clients who could not come to Lupane. We would take their fingerprints from Bulawayo, which is not procedural, but just an act of unlawful practice.”

Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appealed for help in pulling his debt-ridden country out of “financial isolation” across the country, Zimbabwe.

According to Emmerson Mnangagwa,he made his passionate call for international funding after he failed to secure new loans from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, African Development Bank and the paris club due to outstanding foreign debts of $8bn (£6.2bn).

Addressing the Africa forum on sustainable development in Zimbabwe’s northern town of Victoria Falls this week he said: “Our five-year national development plans running up to 2063 will endeavour to achieve an upper middle-income status by 2030“The need to remain alive to the shocks of drought and the impact of climate change through the necessary social safety nets cannot be overemphasised,” he said. “We appeal for multilateral support to augment our efforts.”

According to the president,the country is also facing rising.poverty levels and hyperinflation. Mnangagwa knows that only immediate political and economic reforms will secure fresh funding but he has stressed that change will cost money.

The government has given police and magistrates’ courts the green light to impose fines of between $200 and $120 000 for various criminal offences.

The new fines schedule was published in the Government Gazette on Friday and comes into effect immediately.

Admission of guilt fine for levels one to three offences has been hiked to $200 from $20.

Levels 4 to 14 offences now attract between $1 500 and $120 000. The maximum charge used to be $10 000.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi gazetted the new standard scale of fines under Statutory Instrument (SI) 57 of 2020. He said:

This notice may be cited as the Criminal Law Codification and Reform (Standard Scale of Fines) Notice, 2020. The First Schedule to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act is repealed and the following is substituted “First Schedule (Sections 2(1) and 280) Standard Scale of Fines.

The officer in charge will determine what the accused will pay for level one to level three and the fine will range between $200 and $500.

Some of the crimes under this level include driving without due care, public drinking and/or public fighting.

Former Cabinet Minister and ZANU PF Politburo member Jonathan Moyo has claimed that ZANU PF-linked controversial fuel mogul, Kuda Tagwirei has been plotting to use US$2.4 million to buy Justice Garwe, who is said to be drafting the judgment in the Khupe vs Chamisa case so that he gives MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe control of MDC properties. Said Moyo:

One momentous development this February is that Kuda Tagwirei has been plotting, with hypocrites who have maliciously alleged “G40” links with #Chamisa, to use USD 2,4m to buy the Supreme Court judgment for Thokozani Khupe in her case against #Chamisa to control the #MDC!

Kuda Tagwirei has been scandalously pledging to use cartel money “to compromise” Justice Garwe, whom they say is allegedly drafting the judgment in the Kupe case. A well-known co-conspirator in the matter has been calling the Supreme Court daily, asking for the judgment!

In 2018 the MDC secretary for Gokwe Sesame district, Elias Mashavira approached the High Court seeking an order that declares that Chamisa is neither the acting president nor president of MDC party.

This came after Chamisa had taken control of the MDC following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai in February of the same year. Mashavira is considered Khupe’s proxy in her battle to take control of MDC properties.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is investigating circumstances leading to the release of a top Registrar General’s Office staffer Gorden Tsuro from jail, amid complaints of an irregularity.

Tsuro, who was in 2012 jailed three years for attacking his wife with an axe, unlawfully enjoyed freedom for seven years following the dismissal of his criminal appeal until last year when The Herald unearthed the scandal.

He was in November last year arrested and locked up in prison, but a month later the prosecution consented to the reinstatement of his 2013 appeal.

The prosecution, in a space of days after reinstatement of the appeal, again consented to Tsuro’s release on bail.

The Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) last week asked ZACC to investigate circumstances surrounding the release of Tsuro on bail, saying the prosecution might have acted improperly.

This week, ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo confirmed receipt of a complaint from SACU, saying investigations had already begun.

“We have opened investigations into the matter”, said the ZACC boss.

Head of SACU, Mr Thabani Mpofu, last week wrote to Justice Matanda-Moyo asking her to look into how an officer in the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) consented to the reinstatement of Tsuro’s appeal and release on bail after the appeal had been struck off the roll because he (Tsuro) had missed deadlines to pursue his appeal.

The Herald exposed the irregularity last year after Tsuro, who was sentenced to three years in jail in 2012 for attacking his wife with an axe, had his appeal dismissed by the High Court in 2013 after he failed to pursue the matter.

After the dismissal of the appeal, he was supposed to be sent back to the magistrates’ court to be committed to prison to serve his sentence, but he continued enjoying his freedom for six years with some thinking he had been acquitted by the High Court.

He was only arrested and committed to prison at the end of last year.

Investigations by The Herald revealed that Tsuro briefly showed up at work upon his release this year and went into his office, much to the surprise of his colleagues who thought he was serving jail time.

Authorities at the RG’s Office immediately suspended Tsuro to allow them to have an appreciation of his case after they read in The Herald that he had been committed to prison to serve his three-year-jail term.

Tsuro (49) was on June 26, 2012, convicted of seriously injuring his wife, Ms Rosemary Charlie, after striking her with an axe during a domestic dispute.

He was initially charged with attempted murder, but then Harare regional magistrate Mr William Bhila found him guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

On the same date, Tsuro’s lawyers, Mupindu & Mugiya, filed a notice of appeal against both conviction and sentence at the High Court, but this was not pursued.

In terms of the law, such a dismissal of the appeal must be followed by the issuance of a warrant of arrest to apprehend the convict and commit him or her to prison.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has announced fuel prices effective Friday 28 February 2020.

Government has advised members of the public to be cautious when buying tinned fish, especially the Pilchards brandimported from South Africa after the suppliers, West Point Processors, announced a recall of their 400-gramme cans last Saturday, citing a canning deficiency that may make the product unfit for human consumption.

The recall relates to cans with the batch codes starting with ZST29 and ZSC29.

A survey carried out by The Herald on Thursday indicated that most shops in Harare did not have the affected cans, but had 155-gramme and 425-gramme cans of the brand.

Acting Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Gibson Mhlanga on Thursday said they had not received reports of tinned Pilchards being withdrawn in Zimbabwe.

“There is a system and protocol that health inspectors follow,” he said.

“This ensures the safety of imports ranging from edibles to other commodities. Our Expert Health Data System (EHDS) checks if food imports are correctly labelled and engage in a systematic process that does follow-ups on various food items to ensure the health and well-being of Zimbabweans nationwide.

“There has not been any case of the products being recalled in Zimbabwe; rather the assumptions of faulty canning could be a domestic issue for South Africa.”

Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Raj Modi urged people to be cautious when buying the canned product.

“We are telling people to be aware of the dangers of consuming such food,” he said. “We are advising retailers that may have the affected products to withdraw them from the shelves and list them.

“We will engage our South African counterparts so that we can be able to return the contaminated cans and ensure the affected retailers can be refunded.”

Pick n Pay Joina City branch manager, Mr Daniel Moyo, said they put in place measures to ensure the safety of consumers.

Necessary precautions have to be applied when grocery shopping.

“Consumers tend to overlook aspects they find minor and these are some of the things that can either support life or cause death,” he said.

“Things such as expiry dates of commodities are some of the important details that consumers need to pay attention to.”

Zambian Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa says water levels in the Kariba Dam are not rising as expected this rainy season because the facility is over-generating electricity from the little water available.

And Nkhuwa says power generation at Kafue Gorge Upper has increased to 700 megawatts.

Meanwhile, Nkhuwa disclosed that the country will continue receiving power from South Africa’s Eskom until the US$5 million that the power utility is still owing Zambia from the US$20 million paid prior to the first power importation in November is exhausted.

Updating Parliament on the country’s electricity generation, Wednesday, Nkhuwa said the Kariba Dam was not doing well and that government was expecting that the dam would only be filled up if the country had about three consecutive years of good rainfall.

“The water levels in Kariba are not rising as we expected. One of the reasons that water is not rising so much is that we are over-generating power on the Kariba, therefore, we are depleting the water. But also, the floods which we had in Eastern Province are after the Kariba Dam, therefore, water that goes into the Luangwa River actually ends up getting into Cabora Basa and without getting into the Kariba because that part of the country is on the lower side and sending the water into Mozambique. The Zambezi River starts from Mwinilunga and it goes through into Angola and comes back into Zambia,” Nkhuwa said.

“So, we are getting a bit of rainfall through Angola which is helping us a bit for it to rise. But I must also say that the water levels of the Kafue are far much better, even at the worst position, we only lost about 35 per cent generation. The Kafue upper which is supposed to produce 990 megawatts could now produce 600. But now we have gone up to about 700 megawatts. So the Kafue is doing well, meaning that the Itezhi-tezhi and the Kafue Upper and when the Kafue Lower comes in, we will be able to do much better. But the Kariba is not doing well and if the rainfall was good, we expect to fill up the Kariba in about three years. With three years of good rainfall, we can fill up the Kariba. But as for now, that Kariba catchment area is not well Mr Speaker.”

And responding to Bwana Mkubwa member of parliament Dr Jonas Chanda who wanted to find out what mechanism the ministry was using to give the right information to citizens on the electricity supply situation in the country to avoid misinformation, the minister said his ministry had instructed the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) to be giving the nation updates fortnightly on water levels.

“Zambezi River Authority has been instructed to be giving a report to the nation every two weeks. So every fortnight, Zambezi River Authority do go to the radio, they do hold a press briefing in their offices to announce to the people the water levels and so on. Even further, there is a team of Zesco Public Relations department going round the country and sensitizing the people on the usage of electricity and the shortage of water in the Kariba. So both Zesco and Zambezi River Authority, with my ministry, are on top of things making sure that we sensitise the Zambian community,” Nkhuwa explained.

Meanwhile, giving an update on the load shedding status, he said power imports from Eskom would continue until the upfront money paid is exhausted.

“We began to import 300 megawatts of power from Eskom power company of South Africa in November, 2019 and this power import was a mitigation measure to cushion the impact of the power deficit on the economy. However, due to similar power challenges Zambia and the Republic of South Africa experienced during the same period, we only managed to import an average of 218 megawatts of non-thermal power daily from 22:00 hours to 05:00 hours until 3rd December, 2019 at a total cost of USD $15.5 million. You may recall that we had made an initial payment of USD $20 million prior to the importation. Therefore, this implies that we shall continue to get power from Eskom to exhaust the remaining balance,” Nkhuwa said.

He said the country’s power deficit currently stood at 810 megawatts while load-shedding for a minimum of 10 hours had been scheduled for different customer categories under distribution.

“In order to cushion this [power] deficit in the short term, the following projects and interventions are expected to be actualised: Kafue Gorge Lower is set to commission the first unit at 150 megawatts generation by end of quarter two, 2020; Lusiwasi upper is expected to be commissioned before end of quarter one, 2020; load-shedding for minimum of 10 hours is scheduled for different customer categories. Zero-rated taxes on solar equipment and gas stoves has been introduced. We have banned the use of incandescent bulbs. We have also developed a resource map for solar and we need to quicken and encourage investment in solar and wind. Mr Speaker, Zambia’s economy is largely dependent on the energy sector and electricity is the major source of energy. In this regard, government, through my ministry, will continue to implement measures that will accelerate the generation of electricity countrywide,” said Nkhuwa.

1/21 #NovemberInFebruary
“For keen students of Zimbabwean history, this February is threatening to replace November as the month of momentous events!”.
29 January 2020

Strangely but tellingly, some took this metaphoric tweet as a prediction of a military coup in February. Ok!

2/21 The words of the tweet speak for themselves, despite the misplaced but understandable attempts to squeeze blood out of them. Zimbabwe is at the crossroads. The country is pregnant with change. Something is afoot. But there’s no telling what it is or when it will be born!

3/21 I used the November metaphor to capture & convey the gestalt of the moment. Besides its sacred Shona myths, November has historical significance in Zimbabwe as the month of momentous events. The pioneer column of Cecil John Rhodes moved on King Lobengula in November 1893!

4/21 Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence was in Nov 1965. The so-called Tsholotsho Declaration was in November 2004. Black Friday, when the Zim dollar first crushed in value & lost 72% against the USD was in November 1997. The military coup was in November 2017!

5/21 Because of ZanuPF’s dominance of state politics in Zimbabwe since 1980, the fact that it holds its congress or annual conference in December, has guaranteed that November is a month of momentous events when all manner of power shenanigans and skulduggery politics take place!

6/21 While November did not disappoint in 2019, what with the foiled military coup, political intrigue in ZanuPF did not play out as usual, in the runup to the party’s Goromonzi annual conference. Chiwenga’s unexpected return in November flatfooted plotters & changed everything!

7/21 Due to the foiled military coup, trigerred by simmering grievances among middle & lower ranks in the army; coupled with Chiwenga’s surprise return from China, political programs that were meant for November 2019 were pushed back to play out in February; after the holidays!

8/21 Momentous events that usually happen in November were seen this February like bolts from the blue. The dismissal from the politburo of two key youth leaders, Togarepi & Matutu was momentous; as was the dismissal of Matutu & Tsenengamu from the party’s central committee!

9/21 Even more momentous were the reasons for the dismissal of the youth leaders: their calling out gross corruption by fuel & mealie meal “cartels” fronted by Kuda Tagwirei, Billy Rautenbach & Tafadzwa Musarara; all godfathered by Mnangagwa. This was November stuff in February!

10/21 The November in February was not only in ZanuPF. When @EdmundKudzayi, @PatrickZhuwao & I were pushed to disclose our support for the MDC-ALLIANCE in the 2018 elections, #ZanuPF & other detractors pounced on the disclosure to allege this was “G40” support for @nelsonchamisa!

11/21 And @GutuObert became a #ZanuPF voice; lying that our disclosure had vindicated him & “proved” alleged “G40” links with #Chamisa. Yet we had secured a ticket & accomodation for Thokozani Kupe’s aide, Witness Dube, who was sent to ask for funding from us on 28 March 2018! https://t.co/ELNw6IIm4B

12/21 And, for a perspective, on 28 December 2017; @PatrickZhuwao sent me a WhatsApp msg inviting me to a meeting, the next day, with @DMwonzora & Theresa Makoni who said they’d been sent by #Tsvangirai to get the “G40” to arrange a meeting for him with Pres Mugabe in Singapore!

13/21 Besides the delegations from Thokozani Kupe’s MDC-T who wanted resources, and the high powered team of @DMwonzora & Theresa Makoni, we received, on two separate occasions in February 2018 & April 2018, visitations by senior leadership from Joice Mujuru’s Rainbow Coalition!

14/21 It should be clear that encounters & engagements in politics do not constitute relationships. February claims that the so-called G40 forged permanent links with @nelsonchamisa in 2018 are false and hypocritical, as they have come from hypocrites who sought our support!

15/21 One momentous development this February is that Kuda Tagwirei has been plotting, with hypocrites who have maliciously alleged “G40” links with #Chamisa, to use USD 2,4m to buy the Supreme Court judgment for Thokozani Kupe in her case against #Chamisa to control the #MDC!

16/21 Kuda Tagwirei has been scandalously pledging to use cartel money “to compromise” Justice Garwe, whom they say is allegedly drafting the judgment in the Kupe case. A well known co-conspirator in the matter has been calling the Supreme Court daily, asking for the judgment!

17/21 Meanwhile the November in February politics have been hectic for Mnangagwa who has a momentous decision to make: does he resign & take the lucrative exit package on the table; or does he press on, fight it out as some of his cronies are urging him & risk being forced out!

18/21 The garrison shops in February, which are off budget, are evidence of Mnangagwa’s desperate inclination to fight on. But it’s a case of too little too late, as the horses have bolted. Soldiers do not live by bread alone. Where are the garrison schools, clinics & hospitals?

19/21 Another example of Mnangagwa’s continued digging in a hole, when he should be getting out, is his appointment of his nephew, Edwin Manikai, as the chairman of PAC. The scandalous appointment is being fiercely resisted by the few remaining neutrals in Mnangagwa’s cartels!

20/21 But it seems the bravado to fight on is in fact a dummy to facilitate the massive looting of assets and externalisation of forex by Mnangagwa’s cronies & family members. For example, his daughter, Farai has used @ReserveBankZIM to externalise USD 5m since 19 February 2020!

21/21 While all this has been happening, the real sign of November trouble in February is that army Commanders have been sleeping at KGVI, Tongogara Barracks. The last time they did that in November 2017, there was a coup. The country’s security situation is on a knife-edge!

TWO soldiers, who allegedly led armed robbery gangs in incidences that occurred in Kuwadzana and Chitungwiza last week appeared in court yesterday.

The soldiers, Emmanuel Tafirenyika Kambanje, 28, who is employed at 53 Infantry Battalion, Kwekwe and Rwatirera Zunde, 40, of Msasa Base Workshops appeared before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko yesterday.

Kambanje is being charged with robbery while Zunde faces armed robbery charges and he was advised to approach the High Court for bail. Kambanje will be back in court tomorrow for his bail application.

The first complainants are Percy Kureva and Universe Mapati of Chitungwiza. Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa alleged that on February 17 around 9pm Kureva arrived home from work and left the kitchen door unlocked.

Zunde and his three accomplices, who are still at large, followed Kureva into the house and manhandled him at gun point.

They allegedly demanded US$200 000 and ordered complainants to lie before they were tied hands and legs with electric cables.

The court heard that Kureva surrendered US$150 and $100 and told them that that was the only money he had before they dragged his wife to the bedroom and threatened to rape her.

It was alleged that she reached for her purse and surrendered $20 but Zunde continued insisting that there was US$200 000 hidden somewhere in that house.

They allegedly ransacked the house and stole the couple’s clothes, three cell phones and various other valuables valued US$1 350.

At that moment, detectives at Chitungwiza Police Station received an anonymous call alerting them of the robbery and swiftly rushed to the scene.

They fired warning shots on arrival and the gang managed to flee from the scene but left their Toyota Premio which had been parked in the yard.

The car was searched and police recovered a cell phone with an Econet line and had a screen saver of Zunde’s picture and he was subsequently arrested on February 20.

Searches conducted at Zunde’s house led to the recovery two Emulites tubes and Ignitor code explosives hidden under his bed.

He was positively identified by Kureva and Mapati during a parade.

The other incident occurred on February 22 at Sifra Shopping Centre, Kuwadzana in Harare.

Kambanje was in the company of his four accomplices Tatenda Nyakudyano and one Richard and Silas, who are still at large.

They approached the complainant (name not supplied) who was seated in his car, a silver Toyota Allion and began assaulting him accusing him of illegally dealing in foreign currency.

The court heard that Kambanje dragged the complainant out of his car and teamed up with his accomplices to assault him.

They allegedly searched him and stole US$20 000 and $420 before the complainant fired a warning shot causing the gang to flee.

However, Kambanje was apprehended with the assistance of the public and was taken to Kuwadzana Police Station.

— DailyNews

Fuel supplies should be stabilised urgently for industry and farmers to access it and increase production to ensure food security and conservation of foreign currency, experts have said.

Businesses and farmer organisations fear that the sale of fuel in foreign currency by some service stations will lead to redollarisation, which could affect the competitiveness of industry.

They said they no longer get special treatment in terms of fuel allocation and were spending production hours in queues like any other motorist.

At fuel stations, corruption has become the order of the day, as attendants connive with some customers and demand kickbacks.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) immediate-past president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe said the shortage of fuel, which is a major economic enabler, has adversely affected production.

Said Mr Jabangwe: “Fuel is the enabler of everything and should be stabilised. From agriculture to mining, everyone heavily depends on fuel.

“Yes, Government has allowed those with free funds to import fuel and sell it in forex, but this should be a temporary measure.”

He said selling fuel in forex will only benefit those who accessed it, while the majority who earn the local currency will continue to struggle.

“There should be no segregation in accessing fuel,” he said. “Those who import using their money want to recoup their expenses and they will continue selling in hard currency.”

Selling fuel in forex, added Mr Jabangwe, would lead to redollarisation, which the country is not ready to adopt.

“It is very difficult for the economy to redollarise,” he said. “We do not have enough forex reserves to sustain that because it will mean that one needs hard currency to buy basics like tomatoes.”

Farmers’ union representatives said maize farmers required at least 100 litres of diesel per hectare from land preparation up to harvesting, while their tobacco counterparts require about 200 litres per hectare.More in Home

Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said agriculture produced 60 percent of the raw materials needed by the manufacturing sector and should be prioritised in fuel allocations.

“Sixty percent of the raw materials that power the manufacturing sector come from agriculture. In the past, farmers would get special fuel supplying facilities and would buy it at wholesale price, but now we are being made to queue for long hours just like any other motorist and this is adversely affecting production,” he said.

Mr Chabikwa said his membership had the potential to increase production if they got the necessary support from the Government and stakeholders.

“We should not reinvent the wheel and we should not kill the hen that lays the golden egg. Tobacco farmers are the most affected by the prevailing fuel shortages. Those with an irrigated crop are now busy harvesting. There is a lot of trailer work involved at this crucial stage and this requires a lot of fuel as tobacco has to be transported from the fields to curing barns and then to the auction floors.”

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Mr Shadreck Makombe said farmers should be allowed to access fuel directly from the National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC).

-State media

The leader of a gang of illegal gold panners, whose group recently stormed Redwing Mine in Penhalonga and attacked security guards with machetes and axes, has been slapped with a three-year jail sentence.

Zondai Urayayi (24), was found guilty of public violence and theft by Senior Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe, who acquitted three other suspects as there was no incriminating evidence against them.

Urayayi will, however, serve 30 months behind bars after six months of the sentence were set aside on condition of good behaviour.

Theophilus Gapara (28), Godfrey Dzingirayi (42) and Darlington Mutsingo (26), who where Urayayi’s alleged accomplices — were acquitted.-State media

Zambian Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa says water levels in the Kariba Dam are not rising as expected this rainy season because the facility is over-generating electricity from the little water available.

And Nkhuwa says power generation at Kafue Gorge Upper has increased to 700 megawatts.

Meanwhile, Nkhuwa disclosed that the country will continue receiving power from South Africa’s Eskom until the US$5 million that the power utility is still owing Zambia from the US$20 million paid prior to the first power importation in November is exhausted.

Updating Parliament on the country’s electricity generation, Wednesday, Nkhuwa said the Kariba Dam was not doing well and that government was expecting that the dam would only be filled up if the country had about three consecutive years of good rainfall.

“The water levels in Kariba are not rising as we expected. One of the reasons that water is not rising so much is that we are over-generating power on the Kariba, therefore, we are depleting the water. But also, the floods which we had in Eastern Province are after the Kariba Dam, therefore, water that goes into the Luangwa River actually ends up getting into Cabora Basa and without getting into the Kariba because that part of the country is on the lower side and sending the water into Mozambique. The Zambezi River starts from Mwinilunga and it goes through into Angola and comes back into Zambia,” Nkhuwa said.

“So, we are getting a bit of rainfall through Angola which is helping us a bit for it to rise. But I must also say that the water levels of the Kafue are far much better, even at the worst position, we only lost about 35 per cent generation. The Kafue upper which is supposed to produce 990 megawatts could now produce 600. But now we have gone up to about 700 megawatts. So the Kafue is doing well, meaning that the Itezhi-tezhi and the Kafue Upper and when the Kafue Lower comes in, we will be able to do much better. But the Kariba is not doing well and if the rainfall was good, we expect to fill up the Kariba in about three years. With three years of good rainfall, we can fill up the Kariba. But as for now, that Kariba catchment area is not well Mr Speaker.”

And responding to Bwana Mkubwa member of parliament Dr Jonas Chanda who wanted to find out what mechanism the ministry was using to give the right information to citizens on the electricity supply situation in the country to avoid misinformation, the minister said his ministry had instructed the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) to be giving the nation updates fortnightly on water levels.

“Zambezi River Authority has been instructed to be giving a report to the nation every two weeks. So every fortnight, Zambezi River Authority do go to the radio, they do hold a press briefing in their offices to announce to the people the water levels and so on. Even further, there is a team of Zesco Public Relations department going round the country and sensitizing the people on the usage of electricity and the shortage of water in the Kariba. So both Zesco and Zambezi River Authority, with my ministry, are on top of things making sure that we sensitise the Zambian community,” Nkhuwa explained.

Meanwhile, giving an update on the load shedding status, he said power imports from Eskom would continue until the upfront money paid is exhausted.

“We began to import 300 megawatts of power from Eskom power company of South Africa in November, 2019 and this power import was a mitigation measure to cushion the impact of the power deficit on the economy. However, due to similar power challenges Zambia and the Republic of South Africa experienced during the same period, we only managed to import an average of 218 megawatts of non-thermal power daily from 22:00 hours to 05:00 hours until 3rd December, 2019 at a total cost of USD $15.5 million. You may recall that we had made an initial payment of USD $20 million prior to the importation. Therefore, this implies that we shall continue to get power from Eskom to exhaust the remaining balance,” Nkhuwa said.

He said the country’s power deficit currently stood at 810 megawatts while load-shedding for a minimum of 10 hours had been scheduled for different customer categories under distribution.

“In order to cushion this [power] deficit in the short term, the following projects and interventions are expected to be actualised: Kafue Gorge Lower is set to commission the first unit at 150 megawatts generation by end of quarter two, 2020; Lusiwasi upper is expected to be commissioned before end of quarter one, 2020; load-shedding for minimum of 10 hours is scheduled for different customer categories. Zero-rated taxes on solar equipment and gas stoves has been introduced. We have banned the use of incandescent bulbs. We have also developed a resource map for solar and we need to quicken and encourage investment in solar and wind. Mr Speaker, Zambia’s economy is largely dependent on the energy sector and electricity is the major source of energy. In this regard, government, through my ministry, will continue to implement measures that will accelerate the generation of electricity countrywide,” said Nkhuwa.

Financial Times has reported that the relationship between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Zimbabwe is now at risk after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe secretly resumed printing of the Zimbabwe Dollar.

The IMF which was overseeing the country’s reform drive had advised the central bank to stop printing the money.

The fund on Wednesday, however, said that the programme was “off-track” adding that there was “uneven implementation of reforms, notably delays and missteps in FX and monetary reforms,” resulting in failure to restore confidence in the new currency.

Of great concern to the fund, according to senior officials in the Zimbabwean government,  was a recent discovery which showed that RBZ had, against the IMF’s advice, resumed printing the Zimbabwe dollar to provide state subsidies to gold producers.

The gold subsidy that was intended to support miners who are required by the central bank to convert much of their US dollar export earnings at the official exchange rate, was reportedly one of the central reasons that the IMF came to a conclusion that the programme is off-track.

The publication was further told that the subsidy has now been stopped and a plan to continue monetary reforms without IMF oversight is being crafted.

Some members of the MDC youths have vowed not to participate in any future demonstrations unless they have been paid their stipend in advance.

Rungano Dzikira cited by the Zimbabwe Mail reports that the youths were promised US$300 for the recent unannounced demos but were shocked to receive only RTGS$300. They said:

Our youth leader from Budiriro told us that Wiwa (as Job Sikhala is affectionately known among the youths’ circles) had assured that we would be paid US$300 soon after the demos.

We did everything in accordance to instructions but surprisingly we only received RTGS $300. Manje next time hatibvumi, tinotoda mari yedu upfront tisati taenda kubasa because even gen’a reku Glen-Norah rati rakapihwawo mabond notes iwawa. Vajaira kutiitisa varume ava (next time we won’t do their dirty work unless they pay us upfront first because other youths from Glen-Norah are also disgruntled. Misleading us has become a habit for them).

They reportedly tried to visit Sikhala at his offices but were blocked by the security with reports that they would not be paid the said money as they had failed to mobilise promised large numbers.

FORMER Cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo who is facing several criminal abuse of office charges, was Friday granted access to his passport, which he was seeking to travel to South Africa for cancer treatment.

On Friday, High Court judge, Justice Moses Foroma ordered the immediate release of the passport before he instructed Chombo to return it to the Clerk of Court on March 16 2020.

“The application for revival of a temporary variation of applicant’s (Chombo) bail conditions granted in judgment No.753/19 succeeds with no order as to costs,” Foroma said.

“Accordingly, the applicant’s passport is temporarily released to him for the period March 3, 2020 to March 16, 2020. The Clerk of Court, Harare Magistrates Court is ordered to immediately release the applicant’s passport as aforesaid to be returned on March 16, 2020.

“In lieu of the release of the passport, the applicant shall surrender to the Clerk of Court, Title Deed No.6205/88 to Stand 461 Malborough Township Extension 3 Malborough in the name of Nimrod Willard Chiminya, and the title deed to be given back to the applicant upon return of the passport.” 

He had surrendered the passport to the Clerk of Court as part of his bail conditions when he was arrested in 2018.
Chombo told the court last year that he was battling from cancer and needed access to his passport to travel to South Africa for treatment.

TWO soldiers, who allegedly led armed robbery gangs in incidences that occurred in Kuwadzana and Chitungwiza last week appeared in court yesterday.

The soldiers, Emmanuel Tafirenyika Kambanje, 28, who is employed at 53 Infantry Battalion, Kwekwe and Rwatirera Zunde, 40, of Msasa Base Workshops appeared before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko yesterday.

Kambanje is being charged with robbery while Zunde faces armed robbery charges and he was advised to approach the High Court for bail. Kambanje will be back in court tomorrow for his bail application.

The first complainants are Percy Kureva and Universe Mapati of Chitungwiza. Prosecutor Sabastian Mutizirwa alleged that on February 17 around 9pm Kureva arrived home from work and left the kitchen door unlocked.

Zunde and his three accomplices, who are still at large, followed Kureva into the house and manhandled him at gun point.

They allegedly demanded US$200 000 and ordered complainants to lie before they were tied hands and legs with electric cables.

The court heard that Kureva surrendered US$150 and $100 and told them that that was the only money he had before they dragged his wife to the bedroom and threatened to rape her.

It was alleged that she reached for her purse and surrendered $20 but Zunde continued insisting that there was US$200 000 hidden somewhere in that house.

They allegedly ransacked the house and stole the couple’s clothes, three cell phones and various other valuables valued US$1 350.

At that moment, detectives at Chitungwiza Police Station received an anonymous call alerting them of the robbery and swiftly rushed to the scene.

They fired warning shots on arrival and the gang managed to flee from the scene but left their Toyota Premio which had been parked in the yard.

The car was searched and police recovered a cell phone with an Econet line and had a screen saver of Zunde’s picture and he was subsequently arrested on February 20.

Searches conducted at Zunde’s house led to the recovery two Emulites tubes and Ignitor code explosives hidden under his bed.

He was positively identified by Kureva and Mapati during a parade.

The other incident occurred on February 22 at Sifra Shopping Centre, Kuwadzana in Harare.

Kambanje was in the company of his four accomplices Tatenda Nyakudyano and one Richard and Silas, who are still at large.

They approached the complainant (name not supplied) who was seated in his car, a silver Toyota Allion and began assaulting him accusing him of illegally dealing in foreign currency.

The court heard that Kambanje dragged the complainant out of his car and teamed up with his accomplices to assault him.

They allegedly searched him and stole US$20 000 and $420 before the complainant fired a warning shot causing the gang to flee.

However, Kambanje was apprehended with the assistance of the public and was taken to Kuwadzana Police Station.

— DailyNews

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s desire to amend the Constitution continues to face resistance as legal and political experts have called upon citizens to reject the proposed Constitutional Amendments during public hearings which are expected to be conducted by parliament between 29 March and 4 April 2020.

They argue that the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2 is largely about enhancing the power of the executive, consolidating dictatorship, weakening parliament oversight and negatively impacting on the independence of the judiciary and the principle of separation of powers-a view that is shared by several stakeholders across the country.

Speaking at a recent public dialogue meeting organised by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Election Resource Centre and the Heal Zimbabwe Trust, the experts accused Mnangagwa of hurriedly proposing amendments to the Constitution before its full implementation.

The development has also left Mnangagwa isolated as key members of his Political Actors Dialogue forum (POLAD), which has been accused of singing praise to Mnangagwa, dismissed in totality his
proposed amendments. So grave is the matter that some of the POLAD members have threatened to pull out of the dialogue forum if Mnangagwa proceeds with his proposed amendments.

Professor Lovemore Madhuku, a law expert and President of the National Constitutional Assembly and also POLAD member accused Mnangagwa and his ZANU PF party for proposing amendments “for
nothing less than to show that they are in power and control of the government.” He added: “A Constitution is not a simple document that can just be amended at will. “It must be somewhat sacred. “Now it does not mean that it must not be changed but simply that it must be a fairly respectable document which you ordinarily ought not to interfere with.

“And when you visit it, you ought to realise that this document has nothing to do with the government of the day, that these set of rules go beyond the government of the day. “It will be extremely rare for those that you elect for a five-year term to think about amending the Constitution.”
Madhuku also reminded citizens that what Mnangagwa is doing is not new as his ZANU PF party has been securing its interests through amending the Constitution. “We have a problem with the government that has been running our country since 1980.

“They don’t respect the view that a constitution is higher than other laws. “They take the view that a constitution is like any other law and if elected (their) my first target is the constitution just to show that they are in power and in control of the government.”
The professor also clarified that the reason why the constitutional amendments should be rejected is that they are being driven by the government of the day of which has no business in amending the Constitution as the amendment process should be people-driven.

“We are saying no to an amendment that is dominated by the government of the day but yes to an
amendment that is dominated by the people”, said Madhuku in closing.
Jealousy Mawarire, a political analyst and Spokesperson of National Patriotric Front indicated that there is no basis for Mnangagwa’s proposed amendments hence they should be rejected.
“In refusing the amendments being promulgated by Amendment no.2 Bill, you look at some of the
issues around the appointment of judges.

“The president wants powers to appoint and even appoint beyond the prescribed age of 70 years.

“It is very clear why they are doing that, they have compromised the judiciary even after the coup. “They do not want the burden of starting to compromise new people, so they would rather carry on
with those that are already compromised.
“So the easiest way is to amend the Constitution so that they remain with Malaba and all the other
judges that are compromised.
“We have judges that presided over an application that the coup was constitutional. “I have never seen a constitutional coup because what I know in any coup that I have read about is that the first thing that you subvert is a constitution.

“We have heard honourable (Job) Sikhala being arrested for suggesting that we should remove ED (President Mnangagwa) and some of the people that are saying you can not remove a constitutionally elected President were the ones that were at the forefront in November 2017 removing a constitutionally elected president and you wonder, do we read the same constitution? “…let us take the opportunity,
seize the opportunity that has been opened up about these purported amendments to discuss the discourse on amending the constitution that we have but let us not allow ZANU PF to run with the agenda of amending the constitution. Let us resist that.
“We do not want a situation where if someone is afraid of Chiwenga (VP), he says no I do not want a running mate because if we win Chiwenga would kill me and take over
me.

“So in order for me to circumvent that let me change the Constitution from the current running mate clause and give myself powers to appoint. “That is not a principle that I think we should entertain as citizens and political players,” said Mawarire.

MDC Alliance Legislator Hon Khucaca Phulu argued that there is no basis for Mnangagwa’s proposed amendments except that of weakening all other institutions and strengthening the president.
“If you look at the amendments, they tend to strengthen the president and weaken the judiciary.
“They weaken everyone else. “So this amendment is a symptom of an illegitimate president who is attacking the constitution.

“A legitimate president will not attack the constitution. “So we are seeing the evidence of the illegitimacy in the manner how he treats the constitution. “We are consolidating the coup, there was also the stolen election and now we are consolidating the power of the stolen election.
“We, therefore, reject Constitutional Amendment No2 hook line and sinker.

“If there are any journeying amendments that we feel ought to come back then those amendments must come respectfully. “Our message is to let us implement, learn lessons and come back to talk about these amendments.” He added: “This (Constitutional Amendment Bill No.2) document I characterise it as a dangerous document, a document formulated by someone who is illegitimate and who is trying to deflect from the crises of governance that we have as a country.

Representing MDC-T, Ms Priscilla Misihairambwi said:“We can not go for this amendment without changing the electoral system. “These are the conversations that we need to begin making. “If this amendment is going to come back, let it be the answer to the electoral system.”

The Zimbabwean

More than 115 touts have been arrested in Harare and are today set to appear at the Harare magistrates court following a blitz carried out yesterday.

Harare City Council (HCC) is struggling to control traffic in the capital, resulting in the sprouting of illegal ranks and an increase in the number of touts.

Some of the touts even drive the kombis while searching for passengers on behalf of the transport crews at undesignated sites.

The touts are expected to appear in batches before Harare province magistrates charged with touting.

More to follow…

A tussle between Harare City Council and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) holdings has reached alarming levels as council is set to repossess all its buildings occupied by the power utility.

The buildings include Wynne Street offices, National Control Centre, Zesa Metering Section and Harare Thermal Station among others. The plan by the local authority to repossess its buildings comes at a time when the two service providers last year publicly traded barbs with Zesa demanding that Harare settles its debt while the latter demanded the same.

Zesa handed over a list of its creditors to Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi who urged mining, commercial, agriculture, domestic and local authorities (Harare included) to clear their debts which had accrued to over $1 billion. Harare Mayor councillor Herbert Gomba responded saying the power utility owed them over $135 million for rentals, royalties and way-leaves.

According to recent council minutes, Harare now wants to repossess its buildings under Zesa occupation.

“The Acting Chamber Secretary reported that the (City Valuer and Estates Manager) under the Finance Department was seized with the matter regarding the repossession of buildings from ZESA and as soon as that was resolved, council would take necessary action to repossess its buildings from ZESA.

“During discussion, the Committee agreed to refer the matter to the Finance and Development Committee to look into issues of repossessing the buildings and that of outstanding payment,” read the minutes.

More to follow…

TEACHERS and learners at Valaban College in Ward 16 in Chiwundura area are operating in fear of attacks by machete gangs, who invade the school going after female learners, school authorities have said.

In an interview, the institution’s director — Micah Chirau, said machete gangs were invading the school pursuing female students.

“They come here holding machetes going after female students to propose love to them. In fear of being attacked by machetes, the students agree to the proposal.

“So, when they date a girl from school, they will come everyday to take her during school time and go with her. The female students who turn down their proposals are victimised during classes. If teachers try to stop them, they are also terrorised with machetes,” he said.

College Principal Nomore Nhamoinesu said some teachers had resorted to leaving the school in fear of the machete violence.

“We have a number of female teachers who have since left the school following a spate of such incidents as they fear for their lives,” he said.

Nhamoinesu said the matter had been reported countless times to the police but nothing had been done to date.

“We reported all the incidents to the police but they haven’t done anything until now. They promised to come but up to now we haven’t seen them. We are therefore appealing to the Government and responsible authorities to make sure that this issue is dealt with,” he said.

He also said the school was concerned with the welfare of learners, as they were also targeted.

Nhamoinesu appealed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police and relevant authorities to intervene in the matter.

The school learners expressed their worry over the matter saying it was disturbing their learning.

“We are very scared to even go to school because we have witnessed some learners being tortured by these criminals. The school environment is no longer safe for us,” said one learner.

Harare City Council is under scrutiny for allegedly abusing US$9,3 million availed to it by Government last year for urgent works at Manyame and Warren Control Pump stations that should have been completed last month.

Government released the funds for purchase of new pumps to replace those at Manyame and Warren Control pumps stations.

According to acting director of water works Engineer Mabhena Moyo the purchased pumps are being manufactured in South Africa while City spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme said they are being manufactured in Germany.

Apart from conflicting statements on where the pumps are being manufactured, Harare City Council is also failing to give a complete breakdown of how the money was used.

More details to follow

Correspondent|The wives of traditional leaders from Matabeleland and the Midlands on Thursday literally bowed down to First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa begging her to increase their husband’s allowances and other perks.

The wife to Chief Sikhobokhobo of Nkayi, Ntombizodwa, said their income is not enough to cater for their family needs.

“The income we get is very little, we have families and school children who are supposed to be going to school but the money is very little,” she lamented.

“Our allowances are very little we are failing to send our children to school, as I am speaking some children are not going to school because as chiefs we are failing to send them to school. Usually, children are not allowed entrance to the school when we have not paid their school fees, sometimes the situation is very hard for us as we wont be having means to send them to school.”

Chief Sikhokhokhobo`s wife added that they want a separate fund so that they are able to take care of certain projects in their areas.

“Even when it comes to donor aid in the area, as chiefs’ wives we are often sidelined, the chief is not given anything, you just hear them saying your community should recommend your name,” she said.

“We also want donor aid specifically directed for us chiefs, we receive visitors as chiefs’ wives and I have to ensure that they eat but at times you find that I will be drowning in my own poverty hence they have to sleep hungry,” she said.

Chief Siphoso`s wife said they were not immune to the challenges faced by the country.

“We have people in communities looking up to us, even children who want to be assisted but we are also suffering, donors are not taking care of us as the Chiefs’ wives, they think we have money but we do not have it,” she said.

“We try as women to sell this and that but when we do that we have to abandon our household duties so that our children can go to school,” she said.

MDC President Nelson Chamisa has told President Emmerson Mnangagwa to reform or deform.

Chamisa was addressing members of the western diplomatic core and party members at the launch of the 20 Principles for reliable Inclusive and Credible Elections In Zimbabwe (PRICE).

Chamisa said ZANU PF and Mnangagwa cannot reform itself from power but the people of Zimbabwe will make sure that they reform or deform as they approach the 2023 plebiscite.

“Freedom is not a father Christmas affair, it is not a donation, we cannot expect ZANU PF to be the donor, they cannot donate what they do not have, they are not a source of freedom,ZANU PF and Mnangagwa must reform or deform.

“If you do not reform you will deform and when you deform you are out,” Chamisa said.

The MDC has been calling for reforms since time immemorial without getting an ear from ZANU PF.

Political analyst Tafadzwa Makuya told Zim Morning Post that researches and policy documents which are being launched by the MDC were necessary but there is high need of advocacy especially in Parliament.

“The researches and policy papers are good especially for academic purposes I expect the MDC to push for reforms from Parliament thus the only place where they can win this war,” Makuya. 

• Zim Morning Post

Own Correspondent|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is set to join POLAD after allegedly dumping the idea of an external mediator in Zimbabwe’s political dialogue, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Spokesperson George Charamba has said.

On Thursday Chamisa said the country could not out-source solutions as local leaders had to sit down and find home-grown solutions.

“We are there to solve our own problems. We have the answers to our problems. We can’t have South Africa solving our problems, it has its own problems to take care of,” said Chamisa. “Americans can’t have a solution for this country as it has its own domestic problems to solve. We can’t out-source solutions for this country. I have heard people talking of President Mbeki saying this and that. We should solve our own problems.”

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Republic Police have banned the Zengeza MP Job Sikhala’s upcoming constituency meeting.

The ban comes short in the heels of Sikhala’s win against the state for treason earlier this month. The meeting was slated for next week 7th March. The ZRP in their refusal, said the meeting does not meet the requirements of a public meeting according to the MOPA legislation.

Commenting on the development, Hon Sikhala said: “the program and plan by the regime to ban any activities related to MDC is now in full swing.

“The right to political choice is not only under threat but extinguished by the despotic regime supritending on our affairs.

“It is with shock that as a Member of Zengeza West I notified the police of my intention to convene a Constituency Feedback Rally at Zengeza 2 on the 7th of March 2020, for the Officer Commanding, Chitungwiza to inform me that my application does not meet the requirements of a public meeting. He did not disclose that which qualifies as a public meeting.

“This is an assault on the democratic rights of our citizens. Resistance to evil and authoritarianism is our calling.”

Farai Dziva|A government official has claimed efforts are being made to ensure that international matches are played in the country.

The Permanent Secretary in the Information Ministry Nick Mangwana has assured citizens of the soccer- crazy nation international games will be played in the country.

Mangwana was evasive in claiming frantic efforts to rectify the matter were in progress.

“Regarding the stadia that have been deemed fit not for purpose; Govt has already come up with a plan to ensure that Zimbabweans will watch international matches at home.

An announcement will be made within the next few days,”claimed Mangwana.

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

USD = ZWL$17.9594
ZWL$ = RAND0.8693

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$31 zimrates
USD = ZWL$30.80 zwl365
USD = ZWL$30.50 bluemari
USD = BOND24.10 zimrates

– Marketwatch

SOME people will do anything possible to gain wealth, but one Gokwe man took to it to strange levels when he acted on the advice of an inyanga to have sex with a goat to make money.

When he was about to complete a sex session with a goat, Dickson Mutakati (28) ran out of luck.

A source said a villager, Trymore Mpofu — who was searching for his missing cow was disturbed by the bleating of the goat and headed where the sound was coming from. He caught Mutakati busy like a rabbit on the goat.

The incident which has become a subject of discussion at Sothile Village in Gokwe ward 25, Chisina 3 — happened last week on Wednesday.

Speaking to B-Metro , Mpofu said at first he assumed the goat had been attacked by wild animals.

“I was disturbed by the
bleating of the goat, as such I had to swiftly move in the direction where the sound was coming from and I got shocked when I found Mutakati having sex with Charles Simbi’s goat.

Upon seeing me he fled into the bush leaving his belt and a pair of shoes,” said Mpofu.

Mpofu said he reported the matter to village head Madison Masendu.

Masendu who also
doubles up as Chief Njelele’s personal assistant confirmed
the incident: “We launched a manhunt and arrested Mutakati at Gokwe Business Centre last week on Friday.

When asked why he had sex with a goat he said he was instructed by an inyanga to have sex with it so as to get money since he was leading a life of abject poverty.”

Ward 25 councillor Shungu Maruza said: “I would like to advise villagers to always keep a watchful eye on their livestock and I would like to condemn in the strongest terms acts of bestiality.

I would like to warn community members that whoever is caught will be punished severely,” he said.-B-Metro

The trumped-up treason case against the people’s Secretary-General Hon. Chalton Hwende has been postponed to Monday 2nd March at 2.15 pm.

A million thanks to all those who managed to come out in full solidarity with our esteemed MDC Secretary-General this morning.

Special thanks to the people’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa who was also at the court today.

When the case resumes on 2 March, the court is expected to make a ruling on a strong request from the defence lawyers for the case not to be postponed again and for Hon. Hwende to be placed off remand.

MDC Communications

The leader of a gang of illegal gold panners, whose group recently stormed Redwing Mine in Penhalonga and attacked security guards with machetes and axes, has been slapped with a three-year jail sentence.

Zondai Urayayi (24), was found guilty of public violence and theft by Senior Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe, who acquitted three other suspects as there was no incriminating evidence against them.

Urayayi will, however, serve 30 months behind bars after six months of the sentence were set aside on condition of good behaviour.

Theophilus Gapara (28), Godfrey Dzingirayi (42) and Darlington Mutsingo (26), who where Urayayi’s alleged accomplices — were acquitted.-State media

Coronavirus: How come Walter Magaya, Shepherd Bushiri, TB Joshua etc don’t travel to Wuhan and do their powerful ‘miracles’ there?

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

By A Correspondent- Africa’s famous prophets are conspicously silent on dealing with the coronavirus.

The development has raised questions on whether their miracles are genuine or not.

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

By A Correspondent- The leader of a gang of illegal gold panners, whose group recently stormed Redwing Mine in Penhalonga and attacked security guards with machetes and axes, has been slapped with a three-year jail sentence.

Zondai Urayayi (24), was found guilty of public violence and theft by Senior Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe, who acquitted three other suspects as there was no incriminating evidence against them.

Urayayi will, however, serve 30 months behind bars after six months of the sentence were set aside on condition of good behaviour.

Theophilus Gapara (28), Godfrey Dzingirayi (42) and Darlington Mutsingo (26), who where Urayayi’s alleged accomplices — were acquitted.

Jane Mlambo| Yesterday, the MDC launched its Principles for Reliable Inclusive and Credible Elections in Zimbabwe (PRICE).

The document proposes how the party will push for electoral reforms to free the field ahead of the 2023 plebiscite.

The document can be downloaded on the link below.

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo woman Seabale Sibanda from the Tshabalala suburb claims that her husband Mandlenkosi Sibanda has been abusing her since they got married in 2006 and beats her with a belt in front of the children. 

Sibanda her husband’s abuse in her application for a protection order at the Bulawayo Civil Court saying at one time he locked her outside the house at night while she was in her nightgown.

“I am legally married to Mandlenkosi Sibanda since August 2006. He has been aggressive and violent throughout our marriage.

He is physically abusive in that he slaps me and beats me up with a belt. He abuses me in front of our children. He is also emotionally abusing me. 

“He also neglects me and is no longer involving me in any family issues.

Recently he locked me out of our house at night while in my nightgown and I had to go to the police station in that state. He is also constantly fighting with our eldest child. 

“As a result of his abusive behavior, I hereby pray that he should be ordered not to verbally and physically abuse me,” begged Sibanda.

In response, Mandlenkosi dismissed his wife’s claims saying she was the one who was abusing him by not cooking and washing for him.

“I last assaulted her in 2009. All was well in our marriage until she started disrespecting me. She is very stubborn. She doesn’t listen to me and she wants all things to be done her way. She does not cook or wash for me and she delegates all those duties to the children. She also doesn’t want to go to our rural home,” complained Mandlenkosi.

He said his wife did not want to talk to him as she was always on the phone.

Turning to allegations that he locked her outside the house at night and he was always fighting with their eldest child, Mandlenkosi said:

“My son came home late and we had a misunderstanding.

He then destroyed five windowpanes and ran away. I locked the doors before my wife who was not happy with that demanded to go outside the house and sat by the gate.

It is not true that I locked her outside at night. She went out on her own.”

In a bid to save the couple’s relationship which is seemingly on the brink of collapse, the presiding magistrate Adelaide Mbeure referred them for counseling.BMetro

By A Correspondent- A Gokwe man was caught having sex with a goat last week Wednesday after he was advised by a n’anga that the act would help him make money and became wealthy.

Dickson Mutakati (28) of Sothile Village in Gokwe was caught in the act when he was about to complete the session by Trymore Mpofu who was in search of one of his lost cow.

Mpofu said at first he assumed the goat had been attacked by wild animals when he heard noises and decided to go and check where the sound was coming from that is when he caught Mutakati making out with the goat.

“I was disturbed by the  bleating of the goat, as such I had to swiftly move in the direction where the sound was coming from and I got shocked when I found Mutakati having sex with Charles Simbi’s goat.

Upon seeing me he fled into the bush leaving his belt and a pair of shoes,” said Mpofu.

Mpofu said he reported the matter to village head Madison Masendu. Masendu who also  doubles up as Chief Njelele’s personal  assistant confirmed  the incident:

“We launched a manhunt and arrested Mutakati at Gokwe Business Centre last week on Friday. When asked why he had sex with a goat he said he was instructed by an inyangato have sex with it so as to get money since he was leading a life of abject poverty.”

Ward 25 councilor Shungu Maruza said:

“I would like to advise villagers to always keep a watchful eye on their livestock and I would like to condemn in the strongest terms acts of bestiality. I would like to warn community members that whoever is caught will be punished severely,” he said.