By Farai D Hove| As Emmerson Mnangagwa’s popularity and respect crashed within his own party this week,  the ZANU PF politburo yesterday saw its leader announcing that for the 1st time the country will hold its independence celebrations outside the capital city Harare. The function will be held on the 18th April 2020. He (Mnangagwa) called members to prepare for the 40th Independence anniversary, which he then rushed to announce saying will be held “outside Harare” for the first time since 1980. The development comes after ZANU PF leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu, and Lewis Matutu on Monday held a press conference in which they announced that Mnangagwa is tolerating the head of a notorious business cartel led by Constantino Chiwenga aide Kuda Tagwirei. They then threatened to confront him over it. The two revealed 12 layers of corruption which they said has led to “the ship sinking.” The layers are seen below:

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https://youtu.be/Qj_xdpHrP30

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…. https://youtu.be/Qj_xdpHrP30

https://www.facebook.com/ZimEye/videos/2626821580749780/

https://twitter.com/ZimEye/status/1225090464681992193?s=19

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During the anti sanctions march last October, the Mnangagwa led party failed to pull more than 3,000 people inside the National Sports Stadium. With the latest revelations by the 2 youth leaders, it is believed the ZANU PF leader’s popularity has grown worse than it was last year, and so a meeting particularly in Harare will be embarrassing.

https://youtu.be/AieYBjV3uQU

THE 40th Independence anniversary main celebrations, will this year be held in Bulawayo in line with President Mnangagwa’s desire to decentralise national events.

In the past, the main independence celebrations were held in Harare with provinces hosting provincial commemorations.

Briefing the media after yesterday’s Politburo meeting, Zanu PF acting Secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa said the move was in tandem with the Second Republic’s devolution thrust.

“As you might be aware, 2020 marks our 40th year of independence.

We have taken a decision that in future, independence celebrations will rotate from province to province. In the past, the celebrations were held in Harare.

“This is in line with the new dispensation’s thrust on devolution.”-State media

Video loading below….

The Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has slapped down youth members of his party who held a press conference on Monday on what he termed “misguided activism”. He was speaking during a politburo meeting in the capital city on Wednesday that meeting was heated.

Godfrey Tsenengamu, Lewis Matutu on Monday held a press conference in which they announced that Emmerson Mnangagwa is tolerating the head of a notorious business cartel led by Constantino Chiwenga aide Kuda Tagwirei.

The two on Monday revealed 12 layers of corruption which they said has led to the ship sinking. The layers are seen below:

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https://youtu.be/Qj_xdpHrP30

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Graphics: @GodfreyTsenaz, @LewisMatutu clearly mentioned Mnangagwa in the pyramid of corruption that is destroying Zimbabwe @zanupf_patriots @ZANUPF_Official @TafadzwaMugwadi @hwendec pic.twitter.com/3MrqgDAivl

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 5, 2020

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https://youtu.be/AieYBjV3uQU

Farai Dziva| Unknown individuals broke into the house of High Court Judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze in Harare on Tuesday night.

Mawadze is presiding over MDC vice chairperson Job Sikhala’s treason trial.

“The ZRP is investigating a case of unlawful entry and theft in which Justice Mawadze’s Harare home was broken into last night in unclear circumstances.

Coincidentally, the Hon. Justice is the one who is currently presiding over MDC vice-chairman, Job Sikhala’s trial in Masvingo,” police said in a statement.

Farai Dziva|Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe(PTUZ) Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe has said teachers can no longer abide by the Public Service Commission dress code because of Incapacitation.

Majongwe said teachers can no longer afford to buy formal wear due to the escalating economic crisis.

See Majongwe’s letter to PTUZ members:
Following intensive consultations with the generality of membership on dress code, comrades we are reiterating our position earlier communicated to Public Service Commission that due to serious incapacitation it is increasingly becoming difficult to adhere to the prescribed dress code when on duty.

Unlike everyone else who is getting a dressing allowance, teachers are not getting any support in this regard. We have therefore taken a position to say when reporting for duty put on anything that you can afford …

We cannot afford expensive dresses and suits while our stomachs are empty.

Zivanai Macharaga, a staunch Zanu Pf supporter said:

The suspension of Godfrey Tsenengamu and lewis Matutu for publicly naming corrupt business people is wrong and unacceptable. I take a stand against corruption. I know these two guys are brave and honest. I stand with them and its time Zimbabwe stand with those condemning corruption. Zanupf needs to introspect , it cant be viewed to be sanctioning those fighting corruption.

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa Tuesday took a dig at SADC and the African Union (AU for blindly endorsing the result of Malawi’s disputed election last year, an outcome that has since been reversed by the rice producing country’s Constitutional Court.

In a press statement released by his party on Monday, Chamisa urged both SADC and AU and to learn from the Malawian ConCourt and not be quick to endorse elections whose results are still have in dispute.

The MDC leader, who claims he was robbed of poll victory by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2018 elections, congratulated Malawians for showing “courage to nullify the rigged election”

He also had praise for Malawian judiciary and security services “which have stood firm in defence of the Constitution”.

“It’s a reminder that where institutions retain independence & professionalism it is possible to correct wrong politics,” he said.

“For too long, our continent has been plagued by the scourge of unfair elections. It gives hope to see court’s checks & controls curtailing capture & abuse.

“Malawians have a fresh opportunity, courtesy of the courage and wisdom demonstrated by their judges & the support of key institutions, to have a free & fair election.”

He added, “Lest we forget, we here in Zimbabwe have an outstanding matter – the legitimacy of the rigged 2018 election.”

Chamisa said SADC and AU should draw key lessons from events in Malawi and “not to rush to endorse sham elections where people have legitimate concerns over processes”.

“SADC and the AU as institutions of resort deserve a renewal and re-orientation to defend African people’s interests,” he said.

“The generation that rigs elections by violence, manipulation of state institutions, corruption, TIPPEX, EXCEL scandals & dictatorial tendencies by men from the past must be put a stop. Justice demands the young generation to lead the way.”

The con-court of Malawi ordered that the election will be held within 151 days.

THE ZIMBABWE Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has reviewed the Victoria Falls rainforest conservation fees.

The adjustment will see domestic tourists now paying $60 per person, up from $30, while the entry fee to the Zambezi National Park is now pegged at $50 with effect from the 1st of February.

Regional and international fees remain unchanged. The locals who constitute around 25% of the total annual visitors to the rainforest expressed mixed reactions to the adjustment with some describing the revised fees as reasonable while others bemoaned the short notice.

“With everything going up we certainly cannot expect the entry fees to remain constant. When you compare to what the international tourists are paying, the $60 is still reasonable in my opinion,” said one local tourist.

Victoria Falls tourism industry players say the adjustment is reasonable compared to the 30 United States dollars being paid by foreigners and are optimistic the funds will go a long way in enhancing the authority’s operations.

“An adjustment of ZW$30 is somehow justified, considering that a few years ago locals were being asked to pay seven United States dollars. One also has to take into account the fact that the authority has to fund conservation works,” said Fungai Nhau, Director of Afro Honey Guide.

Clement Mukwasi President of the Employers Association for Tourism and Safari Operators also echoed the same sentiments arguing that the rates are reasonable and competitive.

The legendary and breathtaking Mosi-oa-Tunya remains a major drawcard and the most-visited gem in the country, with a total of 357 552 tourists having visited the waterfall in 2019, representing a 5.6% increase compared to 338 472 recorded in 2018.

ZBC

Woman dies gruesome death at Sangoma shrine, making cow sounds after drinking muti. Belinda Sibanda died at the shrine of a sangoma named Belinda Musiyiwa (37), who is also a Bulawayo Polytechnic College examination board member. The deceased had gone to consult the sangoma who lives in Douglasdale as well.

A 25-year-old Bulawayo woman from Douglasdale died after drinking a lethal concoction she got from a Sangoma who has since been arrested.

Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident yesterday. “We are investigating a culpable homicide incident which occurred in Douglasdale suburb where a 25-year-old woman died after drinking a concoction given to her by a traditional healer.

“At the moment we cannot say much as investigations are still in progress. However, the suspect has been arrested and is assisting police with investigations,” said Asst Insp Msebele. She urged members of the public to be cautious when dealing with sangomas and faith healers.

She also urged faith-based healers to take extra precaution when administering medication to their clients to avoid unnecessary loss of lives. According to sources, Musiyiwa is a member of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association (ZINATHA) and also a member of the Bulawayo Polytechnic College examination board.

The source revealed that the deceased had visited the traditional healer with her cousin but the cousin later returned home after realising that the queue was too long. The deceased was served at about 3PM and she was given a mixture to drink and started groaning like a possessed person making cow-like sounds. She also started vomiting while jumping towards the precast wall before falling unconscious,” said the source.

He said Musiyiwa waited for some time before calling her husband to the shrine and they took Sibanda to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Sibanda’s husband Mr Ketumetsi Moyo (26) was in shock and wasn’t aware that his wife was consulting a sangoma.

“I can’t say much because when I arrived there everything had already occurred. For starters I didn’t know that she had visited the traditional healer. He said he was really hurt when they had to call him to the shrine to collect her lifeless body. The couple had two children aged 3 and 1 with the latter still on breastfeeding.

Mbare times

Correspondent|Reports coming through from the volatile ZANU PF politburo meeting held in Harare on Wednesday indicate that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga walked out of the meeting after a heated debate over a press conference by the youth league on Monday where they released names of businesspeople involved in a “corrupt cartel.”

The move was, however, seen as an attack on Chiwenga who is reportedly linked to the three. “Reports from the politburo are that a furious Chiwenga stormed out of the meeting after the debate over cartels,” said a senior Zanu-PF member.

This is a developing story

Own Correspondent|The ZANU PF Politburo met at the party headquarters in Harare on Wednesday purportedly to discuss issues of national concern and price increases on basic commodities according to party Spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo before the meeting.

Results from the meeting, however, indicate that, as speculated, the main reason why the party’s biggest decision making body between congresses met was to deal with truant youth league leaders who held an unsanctioned press conference on Tuesday.

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Youth League Deputy Secretary Lewis Matutu and National Youth Commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu held their Press conference at the Media Centre in the city centre, with party insiders saying they had been ordered not to use the Zanu PF HQ by top party officials who described their conduct as an attack on President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The youth leaders labelled President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally Kuda Tagwirei “the most corrupt person in the country” at an extraordinary Press conference that also exposed growing factionalism in the party after they were barred from using the ruling party’s headquarters for their address.

Matutu and Tsenengamu also named Green Fuels boss Billy Rautenbach and Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara, who they said with the help of the central bank, they had monopolised the economy, fiddled with foreign currency exchange rates, while allegedly corruptly grabbing all government

The two were later supported by Secretary for Youth in the Politburo, Pupurai Togarepi.

We support everyone who speaks against corruption, against dirty business ethics. Whether that person speaks from the church or in their individual capacity, we support them.”

As a punishment for their actions, the politburo stripped Togarepi of his position as well as Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu.

Matutu and Tsenengamu were suspended for a year and ordered to undergo a compulsory ideological course for three months

Own Correspondent|Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, has upheld the appeal made by Vice President Chiwenga seeking Mubaiwa’s bail variation; particularly that she provides another address of residence and that she submits her other diplomatic passport.

Justice Kwenda barred Mubaiwa from returning to her matrimonial Borrowdale mansion until her matters before the courts are finalised.

“The respondent’s husband, who is the complainant in the attempted murder case, is living at the matrimonial home.

“I only became aware of that through this application. I would not have allowed a situation where the parties live under the same roof and expect them to peacefully co-exist under one roof especially considering that there is a pending attempted murder against the respondent.

“I, therefore, find that it is in the interests of justice to vary the accused person’s residence on the two bail orders under the circumstances. Consideration must be given that the respondent cannot reside at two different addresses at the same time,” ruled Justice Kwenda.

Own Correspondent|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa Chiwenga will remain in custody until Friday when her bail application will be heard before High Court judge, Justice Erica Ndewere.

The High Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing to Friday to allow the State to make its own submissions and the judge to also go through the submissions.

“The matter was not on the roll and the appellant (Mubaiwa) submitted over 133 pages that I must read through. There is a danger in rushing things, therefore, I am postponing the matter to February 7,” said Justice Ndewere.

Mubaiwa, who is in remand prison for allegedly assaulting a maid, lodged a bail appeal at the High Court.

Mubaiwa was on Saturday remanded in custody after a Harare magistrate found her unsuitable for bail.

She is accused of assaulting the family’s maid at Hellenic School in Borrowdale following an altercation over the custody of children last week.

Harare regional magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande on Saturday denied Mubaiwa bail on the basis that she had a propensity for violence.

The assault allegedly occurred while Mubaiwa was on bail for attempted murder, money laundering and fraud.

In her bail application, she is seeking the setting aside of Ms Makwande’s decision.

Own Correspondent|Unknown people broke into the home of High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze in Harare on Tuesday night in unclear circumstances, according to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, police said coincidentally, Justice Mawadze is currently presiding over the trial of MDC national vice-chairperson Job Sikhala. The statement read:

The ZRP is investigating a case of unlawful entry & theft in which Justice Mawadze’s Harare home was broken into last night in unclear circumstances. Coincidentally, the Hon. Justice is the one who is currently presiding over MDC vice chairman, Job Sikhala’s trial in Masvingo.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) February 5, 2020

Justice Mawadze postponed Sikhala’s treason trial to February 14 when he appeared at the Masvingo High Court on Monday.

This was done to give the court ample time to make a judgement on the defence’s application for an exception.

DAVID COLTART SPEAKS:

NEWSDAY ARTICLE NOT A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE AUDIT CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AT HARVEST HOUSE.

The MDC is implementing international best practice in its financial systems

The report in today’s issue of Newsday about $2 million missing from MDC coffers is false, misleading and alarmist.

For the record, the party has implemented adequate systems to ensure that party funds are used in a transparent and professional manner for the good of the party.

In order to enhance and engender a culture of transparency, which is one of the party’s cardinal values, the MDC has contracted a firm of auditors in line with its Congress resolutions to conduct an audit of the party’s accounts for the year ended 31st December 2019.

The audit currently underway is the first of such routine audits, which has nothing to do with the false reports of any missing funds. This is the first time any political party in Zimbabwe has subjected its accounts to an audit, and is the part of a wider programme to transform the MDC into a party which meets the best international standards of internal governance.

All political parties should do the same in the interests of transparency and accountability because these are taxpayers’ funds received by political parties under the Political Parties Finance Act. Currently being conducted is a routine audit to ensure that the party’s finances and accounting systems are given a thorough check in the true spirit of transparency and accountability. I stress this is not a forensic audit.

Neither the Treasurer-General nor the Secretary – General has received reports of any missing funds. Since the MDC is a party of excellence, the findings of the party audit will be furnished to all relevant authorities and organs, including Parliament.

If anything untoward is revealed in the audit, such issues will be addressed then.

Senator David Coltart
MDC Treasurer-General

Correspondent|A DRUNK soldier from Bulawayo’s Imbizo Barracks Monday drove into a group over 100 colleagues who were on a routine early Monday morning jog, injuring 30 in the process.

The unnamed soldier is said to have sneaked out of the barracks and come back drunk just as a troop of about 100 officers was jogging outside Mbizo Barracks.

“There are no fatalities yet, only one is being treated for head injuries. The rest are being treated for a few broken bones and ribs. They are all being evaluated by orthopaedic surgeons at Mpilo general hospital.

“No detail was shared as to where the driver is. We only got information that he is a soldier and was rushing back to Mbizo after fleeing his night duties,” said the source who requested anonymity.

“The soldier’s Nissan Sylphy lights were off and those jogging did not see him until he had driven into them.”

The 30 are admitted at Mpilo’s Casualties Ward.

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has emerged victorious in the chaos at public hospitals after he managed to get key personnel in the form of doctors and nurses clashing against each other.

The health sector has for the last year been heavily crippled as both n doctors and nurses engaged in massive industrial actions calling for better salaries and working conditions.

In solving the disputes, Mnangagwa managed to separate the two groups and held separate negotiations between them.

He deliberately allowed nurses to work for three days a week as a means of cushioning them. Doctors were denied the same privilege instead got themselves a hefty salary increase plus a supplement from Strive Masiyiwa’s Higher Life Foundation.

Nurses have since demanded that government also brings down to them the Masiyiwa benevolence allowances.

A fact-finding visit to Harare’s two biggest hospitals by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health yesterday exposed the acrimonious working relations between the nurses and doctors who traded accusations of absenteeism and indolence before stunned lawmakers.

At Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (formerly Harare Central Hospital), the two parties issued conflicting statements on the status of the machinery that was recently imported from India, with doctors claiming that most of it was not functional while nurses said the opposite.

At Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, nurses and doctors clashed over flexible working hours that were introduced, resulting in nurses working between two and three days a week.

Doctors said the system was presenting challenges as there was a time when patients were left unattended.

Nurses, on the other hand, accused doctors of not working hard, but leaving most of the work to them.

They said doctors were supposed to work for eight hours, but most of the times they were not available and nurses had resorted to calling them whenever there was an emergency.

Tempers flared as staff held different views over the equipment imported from India.

Doctors said the equipment was not functional, while nurses said they were using the machines.

Hospital chief executive officer Dr Tinashe Dhobbie said the arrangement for nurses to work less hours was not sustainable.

“We want to lobby Parliament so that we can get more money and resources. The flexible hours are not what we want. We are relying on the system as we wait for things to improve. I hope fundamentals are going to be addressed soon so that we have smooth transition from one nurse to another,” he said.

Parirenyatwa chief executive Mr Enock Manyawu said he would take into consideration the suggestions that came up during the meeting for the smooth running of the institution.

Senior staff at Parirenyatwa expressed concern over the deterioration of working conditions and said it was worrying that the institution was training specialist nurses who were leaving the country.

Senior Government officials that were present ended up calling on stakeholders in the health sector to join hands and come up with sustainable solutions to challenges facing the industry.

Own Correspondent |Treasurer General of the opposition MDC says that he has hired independent auditors to conduct a standard routine audit on the party’s finances.

Coltart confirmed that a team of independent auditors would start work this week amid unconfirmed reports that some money may have been abused in the party.

Coltart dismissed the theft rumour indicating that the ongoing audit has not necessarily been influenced by the rumour of financial irregularities. Coltart said he personally was not aware of any financial irregularities which if any would be exposed by the audit.

“We are starting an audit today because the party, at my request, has agreed to have an audit. We will have a standard audit and until maybe the audit reveals the irregularities, I am not aware of such,” Coltart said.

“Whether it is $190 000 or $1,9 million, I am not aware of any irregularities. I am not saying they are not there. I am not an auditor and that is why we have an audit. An independent firm will be doing the audit of the MDC books since 2019 and it is the first for the MDC and for any political party. It is the first time a political party has subjected itself to an audit.”

Last year, the MDC received more than $4 million under the Political Parties Finance Act.

Government released more than $12 million to both the MDC and Zanu PF to share according to the numbers garnered in the 2018 harmonised elections.

By A Correspondent| Police officers ran for dear life after a group of armed men pounced on money changers at Makoni shopping centre Wednesday afternoon.

The robbers, who according to an eyewitness arrived in a white double cab which had no plates were wearing masks when they disembarked from their vehicle in a typical movie style.

They were holding AK47 riffles and they allegedly fired shots in the air before pouncing on the money changers robbing them of their forex, bond notes and a Toyota Allion belonging to one of the money changers.

Said the witness:

“Police details mounting a roadblock a few metres away from where all the drama took place ran for dear life when the robbers started firing into the air. They took off their luminous green bibs and like everyone else took to their heels when they heard gunshots.”

It could not be immediately established how much the robbers went away with but eyewitnesses alleged that most of the money changers who operate near Chicken Inn Makoni were robbed.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for details.

BREAKING- Armed robbers pounce on money changers at Makoni shopping centre. Get away with a car (Toyota Allion) and an undisclosed amount of money.

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 5, 2020

Own Correspondent| Zanu PF Secretary for youths in the politburo Pupurai Togarepi has also been stripped of his position together with Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu.

Togarepi appeared to support Matutu and Tsenengamu when they addressed a press conference where they named business people they said were bleeding the economy through corrupt dealings.

The politburo which is currently sitting has replaced Togarepi with Tendai Chirau.

It remains to be seen if Togarepi will maintain his Zanu PF Chief Whip position in parliament.

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF has suspended youth league officials Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu.

Matutu and Tsenengamu have been suspended after holding a news conference in the capital.

Matutu and Tsenengamu have also been speaking out against corruption. The two also threatened to expose party stalwarts behind corruption.

Pupurai Togarepi has also been stripped of his position in the youth league.

Own Correspondent| News filtering from the ongoing politburo meeting indicates that Zanu PF Youth League Deputy Secretary Lewis Matutu and Political Commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu have been suspended from the party for one year on charges of not following laid down procedures in their fight against corruption.

According to unconfirmed reports, Matutu is alleged to have walked out of the Politburo meeting in protest.

Their suspended reportedly came after President Emmerson Mnangagwa told the politburo meeting that he will not tolerate activism that threatens party unity.

Youth league Secretary for Information Tendai Chirau takes over the leadership of the organ.

More to follow…

Flamboyant church leader, Prophet Passion Java has splashed $30.000 (United States Dollars) on purchasing three brand new customized iPhones.

The youthful man of cloth who is not new to controversy over his extravagant lifestyle torched a storm on social media as some of his critics accused him of showing off.

PASSION Java is known for his flamboyance
Prophet Passion’s personal assistant Ashel Muchuchu said his boss simply decided to buy the customized cellphones because he can afford.

“Prophet Passion is one person who loves having finer things in life and those cellphones are just part of the many expensive things that he owns so I don’t know why people are making a fuss out of it.

“Few months back he (Prophet Passion) received a birthday present of a similar customized phone and he decided to give it away but now God has blessed him with three more phones.

“There are people who think prophet Passion spends money on myself to prove something to his critics or to compete with other wealthy people but the truth is he spoils himself simply because he can afford to do so.-H-Metro

Farai Dziva| Unknown individuals broke into the house of High Court Judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze in Harare on Tuesday night.

Mawadze is presiding over MDC vice chairperson Job Sikhala’s treason trial.

“The ZRP is investigating a case of unlawful entry and theft in which Justice Mawadze’s Harare home was broken into last night in unclear circumstances.

Coincidentally, the Hon. Justice is the one who is currently presiding over MDC vice-chairman, Job Sikhala’s trial in Masvingo,” police said in a statement.

According to Chitungwiza North Member of Parliament Gift Sithole, heavily armed robbers today pounced on Chicken Inn Makoni Chitungwiza armed with AK47 and have robbed money changers of undisclosed money.

More to follow….

Farai Dziva|MDC vice president Tendai Biti has said Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is directly responsible for the MaShurugwi menace.

Addressing MDC supporters in Masvingo on Monday Biti said:

Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s record of cruelty is well documented.

He is directly responsible for the MaShurugwi menace.

Mnangagwa created those gangsters.We are going to use legal and Constitutional means to make sure MaShurugwi are brought to book,” said Biti.

Farai Dziva|Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe(PTUZ) Secretary General, Raymond Majongwe has said teachers can no longer abide by the Public Service Commission dress code because of Incapacitation.

Majongwe said teachers can no longer afford to buy formal wear due to the escalating economic crisis.

See Majongwe’s letter to PTUZ members:
Following intensive consultations with the generality of membership on dress code, comrades we are reiterating our position earlier communicated to Public Service Commission that due to serious incapacitation it is increasingly becoming difficult to adhere to the prescribed dress code when on duty.

Unlike everyone else who is getting a dressing allowance, teachers are not getting any support in this regard. We have therefore taken a position to say when reporting for duty put on anything that you can afford …

We cannot afford expensive dresses and suits while our stomachs are empty.

By A Correspondent- In a terrifying incident, a 27-year-old South African man allegedly murdered his two-month-old infant in a what is suspected to be a ritual inspired killing.

Speaking to the South African publication, Sowetan, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lt General Mondli Zuma confirmed the ghastly crime and strongly condemned the evil deed. 

This painful and senseless act took place on Tuesday, 28 January 2020, at KwaMhlanga at approximately 2pm.

Police in Mpumalanga have arrested 27-year-old Irvin Lotta Mahlangu following the death of the baby.

It is regrettable to hear of incidences where children, like this little one, are allegedly murdered by their own parents who are supposed to be protecting them. Children are the future and a home is regarded as the first line of defence where children should be nurtured as well as protected.

The accused was not asked to plead when he appeared at the KwaMhlanga magistrate’s court last Thursday facing a charge of murder. Mahlangu was remanded in custody until February 6 for formal bail application. 

According to prosecution, Mahlangu, on the day in question had a heated argument with the mother of the baby over alleged rituals he was performing on the child.

A scuffle is reported to have ensued and Mahlangu who was armed with a knife stabbed the toddler. The 22-year-old mother became so terrified as Mahlangu threatened to kill her as well.

She, however, broke her silence by screaming for help as well as broke windows in an effort to get attention from people and fortunately neighbours notified police, but unfortunately, the child was certified dead on the scene. Police opened a murder case and Mahlangu was immediately arrested.

VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry, who is in custody over charges of allegedly assaulting her house maid, has accused her husband of engineering the allegations after his initial failed attempts to have her locked up for failing to surrender a second passport in the attempted murder charge.

Marry said Chiwenga was using State resources to ensure that she is incarcerated at all costs and even on flimsy charges. Marry said this in her bail appeal application filed at the High Court on Monday this week and the matter is set to be heard today.

Through her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa Marry said: “She (magistrate Bianca Makwande) also misdirected herself in her failure to consider and take into account that the charges are mere allegations engineered by a disenchanted spouse (Chiwenga) and that the presumption of innocence still operates. She also erred and misdirected herself in equating allegations of common assault to attempted murder.”

“The applicant (Marry)’s husband had attempted to engineer a breach of her bail conditions by pretending she was in possession of a passport which was actually in his possession. The likelihood of his having engineered the assault charge in order to achieve what he failed to do by lying about the passport was a factor the magistrate ought to have taken into account.”

Last Saturday, Marry was remanded in custody by Makwande, who ruled that she had a propensity to commit violent crimes, an assertion dismissed by Mtetwa.

“She (Makwande) also erred and misdirected herself in her conclusion that two alleged incidents arising from circumstances where one spouse is fighting another constitute evidence of “propensity” to commit violent crimes, particularly where no evidence of such propensity was led in respect of incidents unconnected with the acrimonious end of marriage,” Mtetwa said.

In her defence, however, Marry said it was not possible for her to assault the complainant in the matter, one Delight Munyoro, taking into account that she has a swollen hand and also the sitting position of Munyoro who was in her vehicle at the time of the alleged assault.

“She further erred and misdirected herself when she failed to consider and take into account the visible festering wounds and a swollen hand displayed to her making it unlikely that such a swollen hand and arm would have been used to assault the complainant (Delight Munyoro). Any use of such visibly damaged hand and arm would have resulted in more pain for the appellant (Marry) than to the complainant, who is a stout and well-rounded woman,” Mtetwa said.

“She erred and misdirected herself when she failed to take into account the physical difficulties of a backslap on the left cheek using the left hand on a person who was sitting in a motor vehicle whose right cheek would have been nearer to the applicant”.

Mtetwa further said the magistrate failed to consider and take into account the many weaknesses in the State allegations and instead treated the allegations as if they were proven fact in both cases.

“In all of these circumstances, appellant contends that the magistrate’s many misdirections led her to come to the wrong conclusion and that this court set aside her ruling as being based on the wrong bail principles and that the State provided no compelling reasons why she should not have been admitted to bail.”

In her chronological order of events, Marry said on January 28, 2020 she went to collect her children from school following the ruling by the High Court and when she got there, she saw Munyoro sitting in a vehicle in the company of security details from the army and the Central Intelligence Organisation.

Marry said she then asked Munyoro why she had instructed her (Marry) younger children not to speak to their siblings and Munyoro responded that she (Marry) should be grateful and thankful that she was caring for the children as Chiwenga could not look after them.

“Although there was a verbal exchange between them, there was no physical contact as complainant had armed personnel and was also sitting in the car,” Mtetwa said, adding her client was surprised to later learn that she was wanted by the police for questioning on charges of assault.

-Newsday

Trafigura has bought out Kudakwashe Tagwirei from Sakunda, which could help the company, one of the world’s largest oil and metals brokers, to stave off the likely impact of growing Western and local pressure on its long-time Zimbabwean partner.

Trafigura held a minority stake of 49% in Trafigura Zimbabwe, with Tagwirei’s Sakunda, which operated Puma Energy, holding the controlling interest.

“In December 2019, Trafigura Pte Ltd signed an agreement to become the 100% owner of fuel supply business Trafigura Zimbabwe. This follows the purchase of Sakunda Holding’s 51% stake in the company which is currently awaiting final regulatory approval,” a spokesman for Sakunda said in a statement.

Puma Energy is jointly owned by Trafigura and Sonangol, the Angolan fuel company.

The company says, despite the shareholding change, it remains in the Zimbabwe fuel business, despite a continuing forex crisis.

“This will bring improved clarity on Trafigura’s activities in the country, an opportunity for more robust financing of Trafigura Zimbabwe and aims to help improve the security of supply of fuel to Zimbabwe.”

The company adds: “USD liquidity remains tight, contributing to a challenging business environment for suppliers and consumers. Nevertheless, Trafigura is committed to continuing to work closely with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to provide credit and flexibility, notwithstanding its limited commercial role in the country.”

Government sources suggest Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and Tagwirei separately met Trafigura officials in Switzerland in January. An attempt by Tagwirei to hold a joint meeting, presumably to stave off the forced buyout, had failed after Ncube declined, officials say.

Sakunda has been at the centre of several controversies regarding Government spending, including its involvement in fuel procurement and commodities under the Command Agriculture scheme.

Government has been under pressure to loosen Sakunda’s grip on commodities supply, both for grain and fuel. Plans are under discussion within Government on how to end the company’s control of fuel distribution, despite strong political fighting over the future of Tagwirei’s ties to top figures in the administration.

US sanctions threat
Recently, the two US senators wrote to the American State Department and Treasury to add to the sanctions list the names of those involved in “public corruption”, raising talk that Sakunda and Tagwirei could be listed.

Tagwirei has been the target of strong criticism from the US Ambassador Brian Nichols, who has described his relationship with the Government as corrupt.

“An American firm won the tender for the construction of the Dema Power plant in 2016, but the government cancelled the contract and awarded it to Sakunda Holdings, which had not even placed a bid,” Nichols complained last year.

The Sakunda deals, under which the company received US$366m in Treasury Bills for Command Agriculture in 2018, was also subject to criticism by the IMF in 2019. Maturity of the bills, the IMF team noted privately to Treasury officials, had driven money supply by as much as 80% last year.

Zimbabwe is running a Staff Monitored Programme with the IMF, under which its implementation of the Transitional Stabilisation Probramme (TSP) is being monitored. However, Zimbabwe has missed many targets under the SMP, which the IMF will make public in a report expected shortly.

Trafigura’s PR push
In October 2019, Trafigura was forced to release a statement saying it had nothing to do with Sakunda’s operations outside of the fuel business.

“Trafigura Zimbabwe is only involved in petroleum supply and distribution, and the joint venture company was renamed from ‘Sakunda Supplies’ to ‘Trafigura Zimbabwe’ to differentiate our joint activities marketing fuel, from that of the wider Sakunda group of companies – in which Trafigura has no involvement,” Trafigura said then.

This was the first sign that the company was keen on distancing itself from the Tagwirei controversies.

Trafigura has, for over the past decade, been working hard to clean up its image worldwide after a series of scandals. The most prominent of these was the dumping of toxic materials off the coast of Ivory Coast, which led to the arrest and jailing of senior executives in 2006. Since then, the company has appointed new management, and has run a strong PR campaign to win back credibility.

US sanctions on a business partner would hurt the Trafigura’s image.

Based in Geneva, the company is owned by 600 top employees and turns annual profits of about US$1 billion from its commodity broking around the world.

Tagwirei’s recent deals
Tagwirei has been deepening his investment in mining, and has made several deals over the past year.

Through his Landela Mining, Tagwirei has recently become the local 50% partner in Great Dyke Investments, which is developing the US$500 million Darwendale platinum project. Landela and Afromet JSC now have equal 50% stakes in the project. Afromet JSC is 100% owned by Russia’s investment and industrial group Vi Holding, which has spearheaded the Darwendale project since its inception in 2013.

Obey Chimuka, MD of Fossil Contracting, a company associated with Tagwirei, now sits on the GDI board. Chimuka has in the past sat on the boards of the ZMDC and Marange Resources. He also sat on the board of Sakunda Supplies, according to his company’s website.

In October 2019, Sotic International, a Mauritius-based commodities company in which Tagwirei and Trafigura are partners, bought UK-listed Asa Holdings’ controlling 74.13% stake in Bindura Nickel Corporation. Bindura then appointed three Tagwirei associates to the board; Christopher Fourie, a director of Sotic International, Jozef Behr, the commodity company’s head of trading, and Chimuka.

It remains unclear whether Trafigura will also unwind this partnership.

Tagwirei already has an interest in Africa Chrome Fields and has been tied to a bid for ferrochrome producer Zimbabwe Alloys.

At the ongoing Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Tagwirei’s Landela Mining and BNC, together with Freda Rebecca, hosted an investment event and a cocktail for the Ministry of Mines.

-NewzWire

By Jamwanda| The Zanu-PF Politburo has just begun at the Party Headquarters and the President and First Secretary, Emmerson Mnangagwa is making his opening remarks.

He urged the Party to be more hands-on in supervising Govt, and to show discipline in all it does.

He hinted at Party mid-term review to allow the Party to reflect and introspect. Noting challenges of the year gone by, the President and First Secretary assured the Nation that Zimbabwe will be guaranteed food security in spite of the regional drought. Food distribution has to reach all reach all citizens regardless of political affiliation.

The President also noted the impact of the drought on livestock, hinting that a Livestock Saving and Recovery Programme will be announced soon. The fight against inflation and for sustainable mono-currency regime would be intensified in the year. He was very strident in urging all Party structures to abhor violence in the mining sector, calling those involved “malcontents”.

The President reiterated that Zimbabwe which turns 40 in April this year, will for the first time hold and observe the anniversary outside Harare.

The fight against corruption would be intensified, said the President, urging members of the Party to show leadership in that fight. He stressed all organs of the Party had to serve the Party, and to do so with discipline.

The text above has been extracted from George Charamba’s Twitter account @jamwanda2

By A Correspondent- A 25-year-old Bulawayo woman from Douglasdale died after drinking a lethal concoction she got from a Sangoma who has since been arrested.

Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident yesterday. 

“We are investigating a culpable homicide incident which occurred in Douglasdale suburb where a 25-year-old woman died after drinking a concoction given to her by a traditional healer.

“At the moment we cannot say much as investigations are still in progress. However, the suspect has been arrested and is assisting police with investigations,” said Asst Insp Msebele. She urged members of the public to be cautious when dealing with sangomas and faith healers.

She also urged faith-based healers to take extra precaution when administering medication to their clients to avoid unnecessary loss of lives. 

According to sources, Musiyiwa is a member of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers’ Association (ZINATHA) and also a member of the Bulawayo Polytechnic College examination board.

The source revealed that the deceased had visited the traditional healer with her cousin but the cousin later returned home after realising that the queue was too long. The deceased was served at about 3PM and she was given a mixture to drink and started groaning like a possessed person making cow-like sounds. She also started vomiting while jumping towards the precast wall before falling unconscious,” said the source.

He said Musiyiwa waited for some time before calling her husband to the shrine and they took Sibanda to the United Bulawayo Hospitals where she was pronounced dead on arrival. 

Sibanda’s husband Mr Ketumetsi Moyo (26) was in shock and wasn’t aware that his wife was consulting a sangoma.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, commended the Malawi Constitutional Court for upholding the Constitution and urged all stakeholders to respect its judgment on an electoral petition.

In a statement issued a day after the Constitutional Court in Malawi handed down its ruling, Mnangagwa said:

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) acknowledges the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Malawi that was delivered on 3rd February 2020, which nullified the results of the Presidential Election held on 21st May 2019. SADC notes that the Constitutional Court also ordered that a fresh election be held within 150 days.

SADC commends the Constitutional Court for upholding the Malawian Constitution, and the electoral law in the conduct of the petition.

SADC urges all stakeholders to respect the judgment of the Constitutional Court, and maintain peace and tranquillity, whilst the relevant national institutions prepare for fresh elections.

SADC will continue to support the Republic of Malawi in the election process, as guided by the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, and will remain seized with the developments in Malawi.

Trafigura Pte Limited has parted ways with its Zimbabwean partners Sakunda Holdings owned by businessman Mr Kuda Tagwirei.

Trafigura Pte Limited now owns 100 percent of Trafigura Zimbabwe after acquiring Sakunda Holdings’ 51 percent stake.

Trafigura Zimbabwe supplies fuel through Puma, Redan and Sakunda service stations and reportedly has interests in the Feruka Oil pipeline.
However, the deal awaits regulatory approval.

Further, Trafigura expects the transaction to improve clarity on the company’s local operations.
Trafigura Pte, which is head-quartered in Switzerland, held a minority 49 percent stake in Trafigura Zimbabwe through Puma Energy, while Sakunda Petroleum had the controlling stake of 51 percent, in line with local content laws that applied at the time of the investment.

The Second Republic has since tweaked the local content laws to attract more investors under the policy, “Zimbabwe is Open for Business”.

Trafigura Zimbabwe was only involved in petroleum supply and distribution.
The joint venture company was renamed from Sakunda Supplies to Trafigura Zimbabwe to differentiate the joint activities of marketing fuel, from those of the wider Sakunda Group of companies.
Mr Tagwirei’s mobile phone went unanswered last night and had not responded to a text message by the time of going to print.

However, a Trafigura Pte Ltd spokesperson yesterday confirmed Trafigura, Tagwirei part ways the transaction.

“In December 2019, Trafigura Pte Ltd signed an agreement to become the 100 percent owner of fuel supply business Trafigura Zimbabwe. This follows the purchase of Sakunda Holding’s 51 percent stake in the company which is currently awaiting final regulatory approval,” said the spokesperson.

“This will bring improved clarity on Trafigura’s activities in the country, an opportunity for more robust financing of Trafigura Zimbabwe and aims to help improve the security of supply of fuel to Zimbabwe.

Trafigura Zimbabwe will continue to ensure that petroleum products are made available in line with ZERA (the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority)’s regulated price build-up and quality standards.

“USD liquidity remains tight, contributing to a challenging business environment for suppliers and consumers. Nevertheless, Trafigura is committed to continuing to work closely with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to provide credit and flexibility, notwithstanding its limited commercial role in the country.”

The Trafigura spokesperson assured interested parties in Zimbabwe that the ownership change will not “cause any interruption to Trafigura’s supply of fuel to Zimbabwe”.

ZERA acting chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani could neither confirm nor deny the transaction.

“Trafigura is not a licensee so ZERA wouldn’t have their shareholding structure. Trafigura or Sakunda are best placed to comment,” he said.

-State Media

Lesotho’s first lady is set to be charged with murder in connection with the 2017 killing of her husband’s ex-wife.

Maesaiah Thabane, who fled the country on 10 January to escape arrest, returned to the African kingdom on Tuesday afternoon and handed herself in to police in the capital Maseru.

Officials said she had been hiding in neighbouring South Africa. Thabane fled the country on 10 January to escape arrest.

Deputy commissioner of police Mokete Paseka said Thabane would be kept in custody and taken to court once the director of public prosecutions has prepared the charge sheet.

An arrest warrant for the first lady was issued the day she fled the country after refusing to report to police for questioning in connection with the death of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s former wife Lipolelo.

The killing occurred two days before the prime minister’s inauguration for a second term, and two years after a court ruled that Lipolelo was the lawful first lady and entitled to benefits.

Mr Thabane married his current wife some two months after Lipolelo’s death.

Two weeks ago, police interrogated the prime minister over the alleged use of his mobile phone to communicate with whoever was at the scene of the killing.

Outgoing prime minister Thomas Thabane was questioned by police two weeks ago.

The 80-year-old prime minister last month announced he planned to step down as his ruling party said he was no longer fit to lead the southern African nation.

He did not specify when he would resign, adding it would occur “when all is in order”.

-SkyNews

The First Lady of Lesotho has been charged with murdering the prime minister’s previous wife.

Maesaiah Thabane turned herself into police on Tuesday and is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

Her husband, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, has also been questioned.

His estranged wife, Lipolelo Thabane, was shot dead outside her home in the capital Maseru two days before his inauguration in 2017.

The couple were involved in bitter divorce proceedings at the time.

By A Correspondent- Namibian Police (Nampol) have arrested another Zimbabwean for the alleged murder of his friend in a dispute over Namibian $20 (USD$1.34) in the Oshakati area.

Legton Meki (41), who went on the run on Sunday after allegedly fatally assaulting Botham Chipuriro (51) with a brick in the head was arrested on Monday afternoon as he tried to escape to Zimbabwe.

The police said the suspect was picked up while walking along the Ohangwena-Eenhana main road. Nampol spokesperson responsible for community affairs division Warrant Officer Frieda Shikole told the media that the incident occurred around 11:40pm.

“Indications are that the two Zimbabweans (both male) were passengers in a taxi they hired from Ondangwa. Along the way, the suspect paid the taxi fee on behalf of the deceased, but the driver gave the change to the wrong man and an argument ensued,” said Warrant Officer Shikole.

He said the argument resulted in a fistfight between the two men when they got to their destination. During the fight, Meki allegedly picked a brick and repeatedly assaulted his compatriot in the face and head. He then disappeared from the crime scene on foot.

According to the police, the suspect has been detained at the Ondobe Police Station pending transportation to Oshakati where he will be charged and tried for murder.

The incident comes a few days after three Zimbabweans were arrested for killing, mutilating and burning the body of a nine-year-old girl in Windhoek.

Two of the accused persons Rachel Kureva, the mother of the minor, and Caroline Nkata have since appeared in the Windhoek magistrate court charged with murder, obstructing the ends of justice and violating a dead body.

They were remanded in custody to April 17 for trial, while another suspect Edward Nkata is yet to be charged and recuperating from the hospital under police guard.

Edward was injured after a vehicle transporting him from Otjiwarongo to Windhoek was involved in a road traffic accident. 

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- The committee, which is chaired by Ruth Labode, was investigating reports of the deteriorating state of healthcare, conditions of service of medical personnel, as well as lack of equipment and essentials at the country’s public health institutions.

Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (formerly Harare Central Hospital) was almost deserted yesterday as MPs in the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Health toured the institution.

Sally Mugabe Central Hospital chief executive officer (CEO) Tinashe Dhobi yesterday confirmed that the 1 200-bed hospital was now operating at around 45% capacity compared to the 70% of a few months ago.

The hospital was severely affected by a strike by doctors which began in September last year, while lack of water and high consultation fees have also resulted in deterioration of services.

“Normally, our bed occupancy is between 50% to 70%, but due to industrial action we dropped to even less than 20%, but as we speak we are at 45%,” Dhobi said. “Besides those who are admitted at the hospital, which is around 700 patients, we see 1 700 patients in casualty and after the industrial action some departments are about to open.”

Dhobi told MPs that around 1 500 maternity cases used to be handled by the hospital per month, but these have now declined to an average 400 cases. The hospital is also underfunded, and has severe water problems which has resulted in only four theatres out of 15 working. It is also straddled with a debt of $32 million.

The hospital CEO was, however, at loggerheads with MPs after he responded to their questions evasively and in an antagonistic manner resulting in the committee warning him that Parliament had powers to charge him with contempt. Dhobbi also downplayed some issues that specialist doctors were raising at the hospital, which included lack of equipment and that most theatres were not in working condition.

But the hospital clinical director Christopher Pasi admitted there was serious shortage of equipment, water and nursing staff, severely crippling theatre operations.

-Statemedia

WINDHOEK – The ruling in the legal battle over the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) without verifiable paper trails and the results of the November 2019 presidential election, will be made public in the Supreme Court early next month.

Chief Justice Peter Shivute, after having listened to arguments and counter-arguments by lawyers representing the two parties in the matter, said the Supreme Court will deliver judgement on 06 February 2020.

In the matter, five candidates who contested the presidential election – independent candidate, Dr Panduleni Itula; Henk Mudge of the Republican Party; Epafras Mukwiilongo of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters; Ignatius Shixwameni of All People’s Party; and Mike Kavekotora of the Rally for Democracy and Progress – are claiming in their papers before the Supreme Court that the presidential election was allegedly rigged in the favour of Swapo’s Hage Geingob.

The five applicants, in their court papers, also included a 126-page affidavit and annexures in which they outlined why the results of the presidential election should be nullified and a re-run be organised as soon as possible.

The applicants want the Supreme Court to issue an order declaring that the presidential election is null and void and also for the court to overturn the final results ‘on the grounds of irregularities in connection with the use of the EVMs’.

Chief Justice Shivute heard the case alongside judges Sylvester Mainga, Elton Hoff, Dave Smuts and Baiitse Nkabinde.

South African senior counsel Jeremy Gauntlett represented the five applicants.

William Mokhari, also a South African senior counsel, appeared for the Electoral Commission of Namibia and the Namibian government.

– Nampa

More than 300 foreigners await deportation after they were arrested last year, the Department of Immigration in Zimbabwe has said.

The Immigration Department’s spokesperson Mrs Canisia Magaya said 300 were Malawians en-route to South Africa.

Two Nepalese were arrested for illegally dealing in drugs in Emerald Hill, Harare.

“The Nepal nationals, Rai Membar Dhwoj (29) and Rai Naba Raj (38) were apprehended recently while staying with a local drug dealer who has a previous conviction.

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

USD = ZWL$17.4454
ZWL$ = RAND0.8499

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$25 zimrates
USD = ZWL$25 zwl365
USD = ZWL$24.7 bluemari
USD = BOND19.5 zimrates

– Marketwatch

HEALTH minister Obadiah Moyo was yesterday grilled by Parliament over Zimbabwe’s preparedness to deal with the coronavirus should it be detected in the country.

Moyo had appeared before the Ruth Labode-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health to respond to a petition by the Senior Doctors Hospitals Association (SDHA) on the dearth of Zimbabwe’s health system and other grievances by doctors pertaining to conditions of service.

SDHA president Shingai Nyaguse doubted the country’s preparedness, but later when Moyo appeared before the committee, he said Zimbabwe was well prepared.

“Our laboratories are not at a stage of testing for the coronavirus. What it means is that the World Health Organisation (WHO) will be taking samples of suspected cases to laboratories in South Africa. Our infectious diseases hospitals should also be prepared with oxygen,” Nyaguse said.

But Moyo said all the ports of entry, and airports were ready to tackle the virus should it emerge.

“We have adequate thermo scanners at our borders. As far as isolation is concerned, we make sure that all visitors are well checked and should there be symptoms, we will put them in quarantine. The best quarantine facility is in Victoria Falls, where there are tourists,” he said.

“We are aware that the treatment utilised is antiretroviral drugs which works. The coronavirus emanates from animals and is transmitted to persons. It is a respiratory illness. We must educate people to always cover their mouths when coughing and wash hands.”

Moyo said his ministry had identified equipment for testing of the coronavirus.

“The equipment is there, but what is missing are test kits so that we do not continue to send samples to South Africa,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR), in a statement, said the government must enforce adequate surveillance measures at all ports of entry into the country.

“Such mechanisms must be in place to diagnose suspected patients, provide treatment facilities which minimise further spread to others and/or health workers and to do contact tracing for all suspected traces. Active surveillance, prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of infected individuals have been shown to be the mainstay of containing outbreaks,” ZADHR executive director Calvin Fambirai said.

He said this called for health workers to be mobilised, trained, equipped and well protected to deal with any suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus.

-Newsday

ZIMBABWE’s tobacco output is expected to decline by 13 percent to 225 million kilogrammes this year from a record high of 259 million kilogrammes in the last season due to drought.

The 2019/20 summer cropping season has of late been hit hard by the extremely hot weather conditions, which have largely affected output across the agriculture sector as some crops such as maize have wilted while deaths caused by drought in livestock have been recorded across the country in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Masvingo, among others.

Speaking by telephone yesterday, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chairperson Mr Patrick Devenish said initial estimates indicate that 225 million kilogrammes of tobacco would be delivered to the auction floors this year.

“The earliest estimate of the crop is approximately 225 kilogrammes although the irrigated crop is very good in quality, the dry land crop suffered the effects of drought and also the planting season began late because of the late onset of the rainy season,” he said. 

“The irrigated crop (tobacco) is of very good quality and the dry land crop, not all of it but quite a lot of it is suffering as a result of drought and it needs a bit of some rains.” 

In a separate interview, TIMB chief executive officer Dr Andrew Matibiri said together with Agritex they were presently undertaking a crop assessment, which exercise would be complete in the next two weeks.

“We are currently undertaking a crop assessment together with Agritex which will give us the date when the 2020 tobacco marketing season will start. 

“So far, what we have observed during the crop assessment is that the tobacco crop is now growing well after the rains most parts of the country have received,” he said. 

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said the irrigated crop established in the first week of September was ready for marketing while a majority of the dryland crop was largely affected by the dry spell.

“The irrigated crop planted on the 1st of September last year is ready for marketing; reaping and curing was done in December. On the other hand, a majority of the dryland crop was affected by the dry spell. 

“However, the crop stands a chance of a huge recovery if the rains that are being received in some parts of the country continue,” he said.

The golden leaf is one of Zimbabwe’s top foreign currency earners and the country generates an estimated US$1 billion annually from exporting the crop across different parts of the world.

Statistics from TIMB indicate that the hectarage planted under tobacco as at December 2019 spiked by 2,8 percent to 81 977.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Two men from Ntabazinduna in Matabeleland North appeared in court for allegedly stealing a solar panel worth $15 000 from a homestead.

Brian Sibanda (27) and Mkhokheli Ndlovu (20) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Lizwe Jamela charged with theft.

The court was told that on January 29, at around 10pm, Sibanda and Ndlovu connived and went to Fiso Bernard’s homestead at village 1 Battlefields to steal solar panel which was in the yard.

They were traced by Saul Masuku and Mike Mpofu who followed their foot prints leading to their residence.

A report was made to police which led to the arrest of Sibanda and Ndlovu after recovering the solar panel at their bedroom.

The value of the stolen property is $15 000 and was recovered.

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Chiwenga nee Mubaiwa, who is in remand prison for allegedly assaulting a maid, yesterday took her freedom bid to the High Court where she challenged a Harare magistrate for denying her bail.

Mubaiwa was on Saturday remanded in custody after a Harare magistrate said she was unsuitable for bail.

She is accused of assaulting the family’s maid at Hellenic School in Borrowdale following an altercation over the custody of children last week.

Harare regional magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande on Saturday denied Mubaiwa bail on the basis that she had a propensity for violence.

The assault allegedly occurred while Mubaiwa was on bail for attempted murder, money laundering and fraud.

In her bail application, she is seeking the setting aside of Ms Makwande’s decision.

“Appellant (Mubaiwa) therefore prays that the court a quo’s ruling be set aside and that she be admitted to bail on the following terms and conditions; that bail terms and conditions set in ACCCRB No25 and 26/19 be and are hereby extended to cover the assault charges.

“That the appellant not interfere with Delight Munyoro, Batsirayi Furukiya and all other named witnesses and any other condition that the court may deem necessary and appropriate in the interest of justice.”

Mubaiwa accused the magistrate of failing to take into account, the background and the full circumstances of the case, including the fact that a superior court had granted her bail on more serious charges.

-Statemedia

LILONGWE, Malawi – Malawian President Peter Mutharika plans to challenge a court decision overturning his 2019 poll victory, his spokesman said on Wednesday, in a move that could spark fresh opposition protests.

After six months of hearings that gripped the southern African country, five top judges on Monday ruled that Mutharika was “not duly elected”, citing massive and widespread irregularities including the use of correction fluid on results sheets.

The judges ordered a fresh poll within 150 days.

But Mutharika’s spokesman, Mgeme Kalilani, described the ruling as “a serious miscarriage of justice and an attack on the foundations of the country’s democracy”, telling AFP that Mutharika would appeal.

He did not say when Mutharika would bring the challenge, but the 79-year-old president has up to six weeks to appeal.

On Tuesday, Lazarus Chakwera, the leader of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party, who came a close second to Mutharika, hailed the landmark verdict as a victory for democracy and Africa.

Addressing more than 10,000 jubilant opposition supporters who thronged his party’s Lilongwe headquarters, Chakwera said “this is a great day”.

“It is democracy that has won. It is Malawi that has won. It is Africa that has won. And now justice has been served,” he said.

Mutharika was declared the winner of the May 21 election with 38.5 percent of the vote, Chakwera losing by just 159,000 votes.

Chakwera went to court to challenge the result.

In their unprecedented ruling, the constitutional court judges concurred that “the irregularities and anomalies have been so widespread, systematic and grave… that the integrity of the results has been seriously compromised”.

The court said only 23 percent of the result sheets had been able to be verified, and that the outcome announced by the electoral commission “cannot be trusted as a true reflection of the will of the voters”.

It is the first time a presidential election has been challenged on legal grounds in Malawi since independence from Britain in 1964, and only the second African vote result to be cancelled, after the 2017 Kenya presidential vote.

Allegations of vote-rigging sparked protests across the normally peaceful country shortly after results were announced.

Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) urged citizens to “maintain peace and order”.

In Zomba, the former colonial capital and now fourth-largest city, opposition supporters sang and danced in the streets on Tuesday, calling on Mutharika to step down following the historic ruling.

The Southern African Development Community commended the court for “upholding the Malawian constitution” and pledged to “support… the election process”.

Mutharika, 79, will remain president until the new election, the court ruled.

“It is a good time to be alive in Malawi. We have demonstrated that democracy does and can work in Africa. And this victory is not for us, it is for generations to come,” said Lameck Hango, who celebrated with his friends in Lilongwe.

Another Lilongwe resident, Johnson Banda, said he was “very happy with this judgement”.

“It’s a true indication that Malawi has true democracy.”

But Mutharika supporter Chimpele Tsamwa was less pleased.

“The judgement is not what I expected nor wanted — but then all in all we trust the courts and have to go with what they have said. That’s the beauty with democracy,” he said.

The international community has urged calm.

“We call upon all Malawians to respect the decision of the court and to adhere to the path outlined in Malawi’s constitution and electoral laws, including on the right to appeal,” said Tibor Nagy, the top US diplomat for Africa.

-AFP

By A Correspondent- The Meteorological Services Department has forecasted that heavy rains, thunder and lightning will hit Matabeleland North, Harare and Midlands starting today.

A statement published by the MSD said:

For tomorrow (today) we are expecting isolated thunderstorms for Matabeleland North, Midlands, Harare, all Mashonaland and Northern Districts of Manicaland Province with sunny and hot conditions. Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and southern districts of Manicaland Province are expected to be sunny, hot and dry, with lower chances of isolated rains.

Meanwhile, some parts of the country have not yet received decent rainfall since the onset of the rainy season.

-Statemedia

MDC has reportedly suspended one of its Bulawayo councillors, Ward 9 councillor Donaldson Mabutho from all party activities for allegedly ‘selling out internal information to members of the intelligence.’

Mabutho who is also the MDC Bulawayo Provincial Youth Organising Secretary is said to have been suspended two weeks ago by the National Youth Assembly.

Pending a hearing to determine his fate, Mabutho has allegedly been excused from all party activities but still retains control of his ward seat that covers areas of Mpopoma, Matshobana and Kelvin North 2.

According to well-placed sources within MDC provincial structures, Mabutho was suspended for allegedly parcelling out party information to operatives from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).

Sources said, “He was suspended for his alleged collaboration to hostile security agents and was also trying to recruit some CIO members from Magnet House.”

 “A date for his hearing has not been determined but his sitting before the party’s National Disciplinary Committee must be within two months,” sources claimed.

In an interview with CITE, Councillor Mabutho denied the suspension claims, insisting he had not received any letter to such effect.

“The first thing is those who said such about me must provide the documentation proving that I was suspended. I have not received any letter written from the party’s national office and whoever said so is lying,” he said

Mabutho noted that he was going about his duties both in the party and city council.

“As it is, I am in my office,” he said.

Reached for comment, MDC Bulawayo Provincial Chairperson, James Sithole, said he heard the suspension reports but could not confirm the claims.

“I have heard the rumours and I say these are unofficial because such wouldn’t happen without my knowledge. If this is true then the suspension would have been done by officials on top,” he said.

MDC Bulawayo Provincial Spokesperson, Swithern Chirowodza, said he does not comment “on security matters of the party” while National spokesperson, Daniel Molokele, who is out of the country said he was unaware of the matter.

-CITE

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Chiwenga nee Mubaiwa, who is in remand prison for allegedly assaulting a maid, yesterday lodged a bail appeal at the High Court.

Mubaiwa was on Saturday remanded in custody after a Harare magistrate found her unsuitable for bail.

She is accused of assaulting the family’s maid at Hellenic School in Borrowdale following an altercation over the custody of children last week.

Harare regional magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande on Saturday denied Mubaiwa bail on the basis that she had a propensity for violence.

The assault allegedly occurred while Mubaiwa was on bail for attempted murder, money laundering and fraud.

In her bail application, she is seeking the setting aside of Ms Makwande’s decision.

“Appellant (Mubaiwa) therefore prays that the court a quo’s ruling be set aside and that she be admitted to bail on the following terms and conditions; that bail terms and conditions set in ACCCRB No25 and 26/19 be and are hereby extended to cover the assault charges.

“That the appellant not interfere with Delight Munyoro, Batsirayi Furukiya and all other named witnesses and any other condition that the court may deem necessary and appropriate in the interest of justice.”

Mubaiwa accused the magistrate of failing to take into account, the background and the full circumstances of the case, including the fact that a superior court had granted her bail on more serious charges.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists that Cabinet on Tuesday held is first meeting for the year 2020.

Flanked by the Chief Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, Finance & Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, Public Service, Labour & Social Welfare, Professor Larry Mavhima, Health & Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo, Minister of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the government‘s priority is to guarantee food security and ensure every effort is being directed towards that front.

Addressing the first Cabinet Decisions Matrix for the year, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said President Emmerson Mnangagwa acknowledged challenges facing the nation.

“While noting the progress registered by the Second Republic, particularly the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), His Excellency the President acknowledged the challenges that the people had bravely endured,” she said.

“He then laid out the business for 2020 based on set principles. He stated that the year 2020 heralded the era of productivity, economic growth and employment creation. His Excellency the President reiterated that as Cabinet, our immediate priority must be to guarantee food security and directed that all efforts be focused on that front,” she highlighted.

Senator Mutsvangwa noted that President Mnangagwa encouraged cabinet ministers and government officials as well as other political leaders to spend more time with the rural and marginalised people to ensure nobody starves due to the drought and lack of food and ensure they improve the quality of life of the people in rural areas.

She said Cabinet also resolved to support a monocurrency economy, competitive pricing and products while the Security sector was implored to deal decisively with machete gangs and other malcontents bent on causing disorder and chaos.

Senator Mutsvangwa said the Minister of Energy & Power Development, Advocate Fortune Chasi had also tabled a report on the proposed Amendment of the Electricity Act Chapter 13.9 which relates to wanton damage and theft of electricity equipment and infrastructure. The proposed amendment advocates stiffer penalties for damage to ZESA’s infrastructure or vandalism and /or theft of transformers, transformer oil and copper cables which has become rampant.

She said a total of 929 transformers in the Northern Region, 625 in Western , 525 in Harare alone while 24 in the Eastern region were either damaged or vandalised during the past year.

The Amendment seeks to Renew part of the Electricity Act and penalties to make them more deterrent, advocating for mandatory sentences of up to 30 years in jail as opposed to fines.

“There is need for deterrent sentences for would-be-offenders and to ensure adequate surveillance and even the introduction of electronic monitoring gadgets to ensure better security,” said Senator Mutsvangwa.

Another report was also tabled on the country’s successful participation at the just ended World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland . A Zimbabwe delegation which was headed by Finance & Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube attended the 50th edition of the WEF held in Davos from 20-24the January 2019 which discussed zero tolerance to corruption, competitive level playing field among other important issues as well as a Zimbabwe Investment Forum which was attended by a number of international investors, companies and interested persons in Switzerland.

Responding to questions from journalists during the post-cabinet briefing, Professor Ncube said ZWL$11 billion had been set aside for agriculture both the command and presidential inputs programmes as the country did not receive the expected rains.

“We are importing 100 metric tonnes of grain and opened up credit lines, so far so good and we hope to build adequate reserves at GMB targeting non-GMO Genetically Modified Organic maize and GMOs for immediate consumption, as part of efforts to ensure food security we are also working with organisations such as World Food Programme (WFP) among others on that front, and am glad we are on top of the situation with efforts of the government,” said Professor Ncube.

Senator Mutsvangwa said Professor Larry Mavhima, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare also reported on the Tripartite National Forum (TNF) to Cabinet outlining progress made so far on key socio-economic issues in the country.

“The idea of a TNF is for the country to come together and seek solutions to challenges, industrialise and find each other as government, employers, employees-labour to come up with strategies that move the country towards the aspirations for the country to be middle income economy by 2030.

“The report recommended the Need to develop and come up with monitoring mechanism for maintaining fiscal policy that target inflation, while discussion also included productivity issues, full operationalisation of the TNF, Expediting labour reform, income policy, salaries and wages, social services, development programme and shared economic vision, and more importantly the Social contract,” she said

Senator Mutsvangwa said the main TNF meeting is set for this Wednesday at NSSA House where several government officials including Ministers of Finance & Economic Development, Health & Child Care, Industry & Commerce, Justice, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs, Lands & Agriculture, Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services would take part.

On Power Supply & Development, Engery & Power Development Minister, Advocate Fortune Chasi also gave an update on electricity generation in the country which he described as still depressed due to low rainfall received in the country.

The firts 2020 cabinet meeting was preceeded by the commissioning of the e-Cabinet system in the Cabinet room at Munhumutapa which was presided over by President Mnangagwa.

The Digital method of running government business is aimed at activating more productivity and growth. The Government is going paperless to accelerate the improvement and expedite government business.

By A Correspondent- The 2020 tobacco output is expected to dip 13% following the drought that ravaged the country last year.

This was revealed in an interview with TIMB Chairman Patrick Devenish who said:

The earliest estimate of the crop is approximately 225(million) kilogrammes although the irrigated crop is very good in quality, the dry land crop suffered the effects of drought and also the planting season began late because of the late onset of the rainy season

The irrigated crop (tobacco) is of very good quality and the dry land crop, not all of it but quite a lot of it is suffering as a result of drought and it needs a bit of some rains.

Last year farmers sold 259 million kilogrammes at the auction flows, a record all-time high.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent– The Zanu-PF politburo will today sit in a potentially explosive meeting, two days after members of the party’s youth league accused some of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies of corruption and for being responsible for part of the economic crisis facing the country.

Zanu-PF youth league deputy secretary, Lewis Matutu and political commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu on Monday held a Press conference at the Media Centre where they alleged Mnangagwa’s ally and fuel mogul, Kuda Tagwireyi, among others, were allegedly the faces of corruption in the country.

Sources said Matutu was prepared to defend himself over the comments.

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (Gmaz) chairperson, Tafadzwa Musarara, who was also yesterday alleged to be corrupt, said the statements by Matutu and Tsenengamu were false, malicious and defamatory.

Musarara said his company or himself have never participated in the maize meal or grain subsidy initiative.

“It is common cause that the country is currently experiencing a shortage of maize induced by drought. I am working, through a Gmaz private sector initiative, to augment government efforts in the importation of grain,” he said.

“Contrary to suggestions that I am responsible for the shortage of maize meal, I am actually working to ensure that the current shortages are addressed.”

Following the shock name-dropping by Matutu and Tsenengamu, there are reports that factions were emerging in Zanu-PF.

Insiders alleged party chairperson Oppah Muchinguri, backed by some politburo members were looking to push out the military component in the party and leave Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga exposed.

Posters were doing the rounds on Zanu-PF social media groups, insinuating that cutting off Tagwirei from government tenders and governing inner circles would cripple Chiwenga’s power bid.

In court papers, Chiwenga’s estranged wife Marry said the Vice-President harboured presidential ambitions.

Matutu and Tsenengamu, however, distanced themselves from the factions saying their project was not sponsored.

Matutu, however, refused to discuss politburo issues ahead of the meeting saying the naming and shaming had been done outside the party’s jurisdiction.

“I don’t discuss politburo meetings outside where they are not supposed to be discussed, we will answer any questions if raised in the meeting,” he said.

Tsenengamu said he was aware of people within the party who were trying to use them to push an agenda to set out Chiwenga against Mnangagwa.

“We have seen the attempt to build factions so that we are distracted from the bread and butter issues which is basically corruption. That won’t work. This person has funded G40, has funded Gamatox, he will get into bed with anyone who has power, we are aware of that and hence not moved,” Tsenengamu said.

Zanu-PF secretary of administration Obert Mpofu said the naming and shaming was not an agenda item because the two did not issue the statement on behalf of the party.

“We are not aware of the factions that you are talking about and from the information that I have, they addressed the Press conference in their individual capacities and did not speak for the party. The party is not part of that and it’s not part of this,” he said.

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe defence forces yesterday vehemently shot down complaints from residents of Mvuma, Bulawayo and Gweru over military jets allegedly tormenting them since Zengeza MP Job Sikhala’s trial in Masvingo on Monday.

Added to the mention of jets were sightings of soldiers jogging in the streets while holding a military flag accompanied by a bullet proof military truck.

Watch video- Soldiers toy toying at the Masvingo High Court as Job Sikhala' s treason trial commences pic.twitter.com/jIWsISoX4g

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 3, 2020

Responding to the complaints, military spokesman Overson Mugwisi told ZimEye his position is there is nothing unusual with the military presence.

He said the sightings were happening near Thornhill Airbase in Gweru and the jogging was a mere routine exercise. (Listen to the brief interview below).

” No no no no we dont want to create stories you are saying that the soldiers were jogging? Where were they jogging?”

In Masvingo, near the High Court our reporter replied.

“Where update supposed to jog and end?,” he replied.

” We might be wasting time talking nothing here, soldiers jog and train every morning, And they can take any direction and if you ask me why the soldiers are jogging…”

Jogging with a flag, our reporter retorted.

Col Mugwisi then asked, “were they jogging in court?”

He then hit back with a question, “what flag?”

The soldiers are clearly seen in the below video jogging while holding a military flag.

On the airforce jets, Col Mugwisi said there is nothing new as this was done around the area near Thornhill Airbase.

However replying to Col Mugwisi’s comment, a resident reiterated to ZimEye saying:

“What I do know these planes are different to the jets that normally fly out of Thornhill. I’ll try and find out what they look like from someone whose house they fly over to land.

“Normally when the jets are flying around for training they stay close to the base and we know it’s the jets, because they fly around. These planes come in and land and then leave about 2 – 3 hours later. They are big planes ✈️ that make lots of noise on take off”

By A Correspondent | Marry Chiwenga’s cousin, Genius Kadungure was unreachable early Wednesday morning a development that led to confirmed revelations that he has been arrested.

ZimEye was at pains to establish the man’s whereabouts at 7.am. His Whatsapp status said he was last online at 2.50pm on Wednesday.

A male Mubaiwa family member told ZimEye, “I haven’t talked to him ever since his mum passed away.”

Soon after that, his lawyer, Jonathan Samkange confirmed he has been arrested.

“Yes it’s true my client has been arrested. He’s currently detained by the police CID Anti-Corruption Unit for fraud after they suspected that his Bentley vehicle was undervalued to misrepresent on the payment of duty,” he said.

Police investigations allege that around the 22nd December last year, Kadungure allegedly undervalued the cost of a vehicle so that he pays less duty.

The report says he connived with a clearing agent and manufactured a purchase invoice which they tendered to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

Kadungure was last year ordered to pay an additional US$58 655,09 duty on top of another US$81 469 already paid to Zimra for his recently imported Bentley Continental GT vehicle.

Papers say the vehicle in question is valued at R1,9 million.

The development comes after Kadungure streamed up [online] a video of himself buying a two-seater Ferrari 488 Spider sports car for US$350 000.

Meanwhile, Ginimbi also has a pending case on money-laundering still to go for trial.

All this comes as his cousin , Marry was facing a pile of incriminating allegations from her husband, Constantino Chiwenga, a development that has seen her being returned to prison.

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has engaged independent auditors after at least $1,9 million was withdrawn by top party officials from the bank accounts last year and spent on personal projects while the party has been failing to pay its workers and fund key party programmes.

“We are faced with that challenge whereby $1,9 million was stolen and used for other purposes,” a source told NewsDay.

Last year, the MDC received more than $4 million under the Political Parties Finance Act.

Government released more than $12 million to both the MDC and Zanu-PF to share according to the numbers garnered in the 2018 harmonised elections.

MDC treasurer-general David Coltart confirmed to NewsDay that a team of independent auditors would start work this week after unconfirmed reports that the money had been abused by unnamed top officials and individuals.

He could, however, not be drawn into confirming or denying the theft reports.

“We are starting an audit today because the party, at my request, has agreed to have an audit. We will have a standard audit and until maybe the audit reveals the irregularities, I am not aware of such,” Coltart said.

“Whether it is $190 000 or $1,9 million, I am not aware of any irregularities. I am not saying they are not there. I am not an auditor and that is why we have an audit. An independent firm will be doing the audit of the MDC books since 2019 and it is the first for the MDC and for any political party. It is the first time a political party has subjected itself to an audit.”

This is not the first time the MDC has been in the eye of a storm over alleged abuse of funds.

In 2014, the party split into two distinct camps amid accusations that donors were not happy with how the leadership had used funds.

As a result of alleged lack of accountability in party finances, the insiders said donors had withdrawn financial support to the main opposition following the 2014 allegations leading into a serious financial crisis.

-Newsday

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

https://youtu.be/LnzdGyx561Y

TEARS FOR ED https://t.co/QCXzCEiyTv

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 4, 2020

Own Correspondent|Uncompromising MDC Deputy National Chairman Job Sikhala on Monday told President Emmerson Mnangagwa that he should not think that he will be in power forever as will soon be out of office.

Sikhala said this while impromptuly addressing hundreds of MDC supporters who thronged Masvingo High Court to show solidarity with him at his treason trial.

Sikhala said Mnangagwa should leave his job, insisting Zimbabwe did not belong to the Zanu PF leader’s mother.

The MDC deputy national chair said the Zanu PF led government has turned university graduates into money changers (illegal foreign currency dealers) yet they could be entrepreneurs and professionals working in their right jobs to help develop the troubled country.

“As long as long as Emerson Mnangagwa is there, we shall remain under the auspices of a dictator.

“Africa had a problem of individuals who have been accommodating dictatorship, Africa has been betrayed because it’s people have been threatened by dictators.

“We want to develop this country. No longer should a Zimbabwean be frightened by Emmerson Mnangagwa to demand what is rightfully yours,” Sikhala said.

He added that the time was now for Mnangagwa to leave office.

“He will go whether he likes it or not. This is not his mother’s country,” he said.

Sikhala is set to appear again in Masvingo on 14 February at the High Court.