POLICE are keen to get to the bottom of a case where a Harare woman scalded her husband with cooking oil and left him battling for life.
Angela Nhekairo claims she scalded her husband Benson Nhekairo with cooking oil in a desperate bid to escape a beating.

However, holes are being poked into her story as witnesses come through and the police have since confirmed that investigations into the matter are well underway.

The case is being handled at Borrowdale Police Station under case number CR457/01/2020.

But as the police do their job Benson Nhekairo insists this is a case of attempted murder by a wife he labelled a pathological liar.

In an exclusive hospital bed side interview with H-Metro over the weekend an ailing Benson recalled the day he “almost died.”

“I was seated in the lounge when she poured the heated cooking oil on me. All this happened in full view of my 20 –year old daughter as well as maid,” he said.

“I am in pain and would want to rest while thanking God for saving my life but Angela’s lies cannot go unchallenged.

How does a woman who is being beaten get time to heat cooking oil for that long? She is on a mission to tarnish my image and that of the church.

“I am not an abusive husband and neither am I an elder at the church, ndingori mwana wesangano. I don’t know where the church is coming in…this a marital issue that is now being handled by our very able Zimbabwe Republic Police”
Benson, who has skin from his entire back and part of the face peeling off, claims his wife was out to take his life as part of an elaborate plan that she hatched in cahoots with a man she is allegedly having extra marital affair with.

“I am not a law expert but this is attempted murder. For 15-20 minutes she heated two litres of cooking oil before pouring it on me. It was planned. How cruel can a person be,” said Benson, struggling to contain his tears.

“I overheard my wife talking to her lover Farai Musiya… ,who she normally refers to as Baba Norm, planning to take our kids to Canada and decided to play it cool. On the fateful day I looked for my passport as well as those of the kids and could not find them in the drawer we always have them stored.

“I asked Angela about the whereabouts of the passports and she could not give a satisfactory answer. Instead of confronting her I went and sat in the lounge where the next thing I felt was a stinging heat that sent shivers down my spine.

“I have never felt such pain in my life. I took off my clothes in front of my daughter and maid, and yelled for help. We rubbed margarine and eggs on my skin in a desperate bid to reduce the pain.

As all this was happening Angela was on the phone with Cherly … and Farai Dhla… telling them that “it is done I have fixed him.”
“Clearly this thing was pre-meditated, she wanted to kill me but God is faithful, I am healing.

However, I am worried about the mental state of my daughter…she is traumatized because she watched all this unfolding,” said Nhekairo.-H-Metro

Below is Musarara’s statement released on Tuesday, February 4:

1. On Monday 3rd February 2020, Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu held a press conference in Harare whereat they made allegations that I am a corrupt businessman who is engaging in unethical business practices. They said I am working with a clique of white people to divert maize meal to the black market and consequently that I am responsible for the current shortage of maize meal in the shops. It was suggested that I have abused the Government subsidy programme on maize meal.

2. The statement is false, malicious and defamatory.

3. I, as an individual or through my company, have not participated in the subsidy programme.

4. It is common cause that the country is presently experiencing a shortage of maize induced by drought. I am working, through Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, on a private sector initiative to augment Government efforts in the importation of maize.

Contrary to the suggestion that I am responsible for the shortage of maize meal I am working to ensure that the current shortages are addressed must point out that the brands produced by my company are not available on the black market.

5. Given the irresponsible statements that have been issued which as I have said above are false, malicious and defamatory, I have instructed my legal practitioners to institute legal proceedings against the 2 gentlemen to vindicate my rights.

TAFADZWA MSARARA CHAIRMAN OF GRAIN MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE

BINDURA South legislator Remigious Matangira (Zanu PF) and his driver Tichaona Svinurai (32) are in soup after they allegedly assaulted an MDC activist.

The matter came to light at Bindura Magistrates’ Courts where the duo appeared before the provincial magistrate Tinashe Ndokera on Thursday last week.

They were remanded out of custody to February 11 for continuation of
trial.

The State alleges that on June 22 Matangira (66) and his driver came across Saymore Mashokoro (45), an MDC activist, who was walking with a friend Evamore Kakurira and insulted the activist.

Mashokoro advanced towards the two and Matangira grabbed him by the collar while stepping on his foot, and his driver slapped the activist once in the face before releasing him.

He sustained a swollen foot and face. Mashokoro filed a police report resulting in the arrest of the suspects.

Clement Kuwanda prosecuted.-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf youth leaders have accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of failing to plug the corruption hole which was threatening the existence of the Zanu Pf led “sinking ship”.

The youths did not mince their words naming Mnangagwa’s advisor Kuda Tagwireyi as one of the forces behind the country’s economic demise.

Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu said corruption was behind the country’s economic woes adding that failure to plug the leakages had disastrous consequences for the country.

Said Matutu who trashed social media allegations that he was pushing a narrative of the West and its allies:

“I have not been bought by anyone… its all social media.. I am not pushing anyone’s agenda especially not the West…Like we said we are not representing anyone here we are representing ourselves and we decided that we have the right to say what we want.

What we say might be wrong but we choose to speak so we know that after we have spoken there are many things that might end up happening because what we are now doing will make many people angry.

They are going to be furious but we have no clue we do not know what their anger is going to cause or create out of this. We know that all of us are in a ship that is about to capsize we are looking to the one who is leading the ship to come and plug the hole which is bringing the water to our sinking ship…

But the problem is that those responsible are not able to stand up and plug the hole… Also because the majority of us are comfortable to think while we are sitting here because we have achieved so much in life that whatever conditions we have, we are ok.

But we have to remember that the decisions that we make today are crucial to our future… so we decided that whatever we do we have to think Zimbabwe first, our nation is a stake so we have come come to speak about the act of thefts and corruption that is tearing our future, our hopes. …”

By A Correspondent- Chairman of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), Tafadzwa Musarara has refuted allegations made against him by ZANU PF Youth League leaders, that he was diverting maize meal to the black market resulting in the shortage of the product on the formal market.

Below is Musarara’s statement released on Tuesday, February 4:

1. On Monday 3rd February 2020, Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu held a press conference in Harare whereat they made allegations that I am a corrupt businessman who is engaging in unethical business practices.

They said I am working with a clique of white people to divert maize meal to the black market and consequently that I am responsible for the current shortage of maize meal in the shops. It was suggested that I have abused the Government subsidy programme on maize meal.

2. The statement is false, malicious and defamatory.

3. I, as an individual or through my company, have not participated in the subsidy programme.

4. It is common cause that the country is presently experiencing a shortage of maize induced by drought. I am working, through Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, on a private sector initiative to augment Government efforts in the importation of maize.

Contrary to the suggestion that I am responsible for the shortage of maize meal I am working to ensure that the current shortages are addressed. must point out that the brands produced by my company are not available on the black market.

5. Given the irresponsible statements that have been issued which as I have said
above are false, malicious and defamatory, I have instructed my legal practitioners to institute legal proceedings against the 2 gentlemen to vindicate my rights.

TAFADZWA MSARARA CHAIRMAN OF GRAIN MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE

By A Correspondent- Marry Chiwenga has accused her husband, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga of influencing their childminder to lay assault charges against her so that she is sent back to prison.

Marry was denied bail by a magistrate last Saturday but has gone to the High Court to push for her freedom.

In her bail application through her lawyers Nyambirai and Mtetwa, Mubaiwa denied that she assaulted her maid, Delight Munyoro.

Her lawyers said:

At the end of the day on January 27, 2020, the appellant (Mubaiwa) received reports from her older children that the younger children had shunned them. When she asked about their behaviour, they advised that Delight Munyoro, the woman who looks after them, had strongly warned them not to speak to their older siblings.

On January 28, 2020, when she went to collect the older children from school, she saw the complainant (Munyoro) sitting in a vehicle with the usual security details from the army and Central Intelligence Organisation.

She asked the complainant why she had instructed the younger children not to speak to their siblings and the complainant responded that applicant should be thankful that she was caring for the children as their father obviously cannot look after them. There was no physical contact as the complainant had armed personnel and was also sitting in the car.

By A Correspondent- A security guard allegedly stole 180 metres of Telone cables while on duty at the Telone Mabuthweni Exchange in Bulawayo.

Prosper Mhlanga (22) of Njube employed by the Cobra Security Company has been locked up in remand for theft of Telone cables.

He appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya and will be back in court on February 6.

On December 26 at 11pm, Mhlanga was at work at Telone Mabuthweni Exchange doing his routine duties when he seen by Michaels Servias (55) carrying a sack with the cables.

Servias intercepted him but he threw the sack down and stood before Servias discovered that the sack had Telone cables.

Servias reported the matter to  the security guard’s superiors and a report made to the police led to Mhlanga’s arrest.

Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa says the court ruling on the disputed elections in Malawi raises hopes of suffering Zimbabweans.

See Chamisa’s statement below:
I wish to congratulate the people of Malawi on the historic verdict of their judiciary which has shown courage to nullify the rigged election.

I commend their institutions, including the judiciary & 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.

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.

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

SADC & AU are urged to draw key lessons from events in Malawi 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.

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 to a stop.

Justice demands the young generation to lead the way.

Let us build a NEW AFRICA! #PeoplesGovernment

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s adviser, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, is a name-dropping wealth accumulator who has amassed a fortune on the back of weak governance systems and buying the silence of politicians, investigators and journalists, the Zanu-PF Youth League said on Monday.

Tagwirei’s alleged corrupt business practices straddle fuel, mining, transport, retail, and construction, the youths said at a news conference curiously held at the Media Centre in Harare, and not the party headquarters.

“We are in a ship where some individuals are busy drilling holes for it to sink,” Youth League political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu told the news conference called to name corrupt businesspeople.

“The reason we are doing this is to pile pressure on authorities to act,” added Lewis Matutu, the League’s deputy secretary, even as he warned that such was Tagwirei’s influence they might lose their positions in the party.

“We have prepared ourselves for this, whatever the consequences it doesn’t matter, the message has been sent. This has nothing to do with politics, it’s an issue of young people protecting their future.”

Matutu insisted that Mnangagwa was “definitely not captured” by Tagwirei, the local partner of Singapore commodities firm, Trafigura, through his Sakunda Holdings company.

Matutu also batted away suggestions that outing Tagwirei was an attack on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who recently admitted in an affidavit filed in ongoing divorce proceedings from his wife that Tagwirei gifted him a US$75,000 Mercedes Benz E350 for his personal use, and that he also received a US$120,000 Lexus LX 570 under the government’s opaque Command Agriculture programme bankrolled by Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings.

Describing Tagwirei as “the cause of our suffering and poverty”, Matutu said: “How is it that he is the supplier of fuel; he runs Command Agriculture… he’s everywhere? Even the money on the streets (parallel market) is his. How does an individual go to banks to withdraw US$500,000 cash, to do what?

“As far as we are concerned, the majority of our problems come from this person called Kuda Tagwirei. He’s the source of our problems. Our challenge is that he pretends to have someone’s protection… so, we have come here to shake the tree to see if someone will come to its rescue.”

Tagwirei, a recluse who shuns the media spotlight, is a “merciless man who doesn’t even have a heart,” Matutu charged.

“If you look at what’s happening in our country, the effort that’s being made by the government, and then you have a man taking advantage of that effort just to enrich himself, we have a problem,” Matutu said.

The youths also called out Grain Millers Association chairman Tafadzwa Musarara and Green Fuel boss Billy Rautenbach for alleged corruption in the maize meal supply chain and fuel blending respectively.

Said Matutu: “Musarara is there in the importation of maize, he’s there in the milling and he’s there in the selling of mealie-meal. But there comes the problem. There’s more maize meal on the black market than on supermarket shelves.

“The government is subsidising the price of mealie-meal, but you can’t get it from the shops. You tend to wonder what’s taking place. He can’t continue to accumulate wealth, while the population is suffering. Him and a clique of white people that he’s working with, I think they must just stop what they are doing.”

Tsenengamu said Rautenbach was enjoying a monopoly in blending petrol and ethanol, which the government has decreed to be mandatory.

“Why him alone?” asked Tsenengamu. “Why is Billy enjoying that monopoly, on top of that overpricing his ethanol to a point that fuel prices are unaffordable? Why are we creating opportunities for just one man to get rich at our expense? We have to ask if this is what our liberation war heroes died for; was it so that just a few people can eat on behalf of everyone else?”

The Zanu-PF youths have previously released a list of allegedly corrupt individuals, prompting Mnangagwa to establish a Zanu-PF committee to investigate.

Matutu said the committee had never met, and no action had been taken.

Tagwirei Corruption

Tsenengamu claimed a company linked to Tagwirei, which he did not name, had bought several mines across the country – including Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, Freda Rebecca Mine, Trojan Mine in Bindura and Shamva Mine.

“When he arrives there, he tells the shareholders that he is working with so and so, lying,” Tsenengamu said, before adding that Tagwirei typically claims to be fronting Mnangagwa or Chiwenga.

Tsenengamu said Tagwirei also had a company called PanJap, which was involved in importing government vehicles, but was now a conduit for importing vehicles for his car sales in Harare duty free.

“Let’s say there’s a government scheme to import vehicles, let’s say a 100 vehicles. He will import 40 cars for the government, and then 60 for himself. He’s working with a guy named Brighton,” Tsenengamu claimed.

Another of Tagwirei’s companies, Fossil Agro, is deeply involved in the government’s Command Agriculture, an opaque farmers’ support scheme in which a parliamentary committee says the government lost US$3 billion without trace.

“When the government said Command Agriculture will now be run through CBZ bank, Tagwirei followed and CBZ is now his. The government said fuel should no longer go through PUMA, but Trek… Trek is his,” Tsenengamu charged.

He claimed Tagwirei was also enjoying a monopoly in road construction through a company called Fossil Contracting where he was using Obey Chimuka as a “front”.

“He also has another company called Sotic International, which he is using to loot platinum. Let him come out and deny,” Tsenengamu continued.

“Then there’s another company called Landela, which is into pharmaceuticals and cooking oil. When hospitals run out of medicines, he’s the one who supplies.”

Tsenengamu also claimed Tagwirei was an active player on the foreign currency black market, where he is allegedly employing a Congolese woman named only as Danya.

He added: “Let him come out and deny, let him say we are lying and we will release all the V11s (evidence). Why we are saying this is not because we hate an individual, but imagine here is a guy who controls a pipeline that brings fuel into the country, and yet there’s no fuel in the country. He’s everywhere.

“Tagwirei is doing these things, and he’s getting this money from the RBZ. Why do they continue to give tenders to one person? We can’t be arresting small time forex dealers in the street, while leaving the RBZ vault open to Tagwirei.”

Tsenengamu said there was no correlation between the money spent by the government on Command Agriculture, and the output.

He added: “If you go to Tagwirei’s car sales, you will find top-of-the range vehicles he brought in through PanJap, under the guise of importing Command Agriculture vehicles. You will be shocked.

“This is happening because those in authority have allowed it. This is where we are also now asking leadership, to say you must choose whether you stand with Kuda, or stand with the people.”

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

By A Correspondent- Former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo’s medical aid has been cancelled by Health International, a company which provides health insurance for members in various southern African countries, because his name is on the list of local leaders placed on the sanctions list by the USA.

Chombo, who is facing a raft of corruption and abuse of office charges, has been fighting to travel to South Africa for medical treatment.

Chombo is on remand on various charges including conniving to corruptly transfer a Glen Lorne property, allocating residential stands at Whitecliff Farm and demanding and receiving a bribe from the land owner to help remove illegal settlers.

Chombo was last year allowed to travel by magistrate Elijah Singano.

He was one of the first G40 members to be arrested and brought to the courts following the 15 November military intervention which was said to be targeting criminals surrounding former President Robert Mugabe.

Although he has not yet been tried and convicted, ironically his former colleague Sarah Mahoka singled Chombo out as the only criminal.

In an interview with the Standard yesterday she said: “Even when they said they are targeting criminals around the President, I have not seen any criminal except Chombo, who is not yet tried and convicted. So all the tanks came out for one person? I was here at home; I have never stolen anything from government.”

-DailyNews

By Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Peter Mutasa has condemned SADC for hurriedly endorsing the Malawi elections when there were glaring discrepancies that have forced the Constitutional Court to order a re-run.

Responding to SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Tax, Mutasa said SADC should be ashamed of itself over its actions.

“You must be ashamed of yourself. You hurriedly endorsed this fraud and said MEC followed the electoral laws and the Constitution. Now without apologising, you want to appear you side with citizens while you are the defender of dictators in the region,” said Mutasa.

By A Correspondent- Prices in the coronavirus hit area of Wuhan are skyrocketing making it difficult for Zimbabwean students in China to afford food.

In an exclusive interview with ZimEye, a Zimbabwean student in China said evacuation was the solution to assist the stranded students.

Watch the live interview loading below…..

Bikita – In a shocking murder case, an 11-year-old boy from Bikita allegedly killed his 10-year-old uncle and school mate recently for not picking him up from home to go to school.

The boy, a student at Zengeya Primary School, got annoyed that his young uncle, Abel Chiba, did not pass through his home to call him up to go to school together.

He angrily confronted Chiba in his classroom for an explanation and, after not getting a satisfactory answer, picked up an iron bar and struck him once on the forehead.

Chiba bled profusely from a deep cut he sustained, and later lost consciousness.

The school took the injured boy to nearby Silveira Mission Hospital from where he was later transfered to Masvingo General Hospital due to the severity of the injury.

Chiba succumbed to the injury a day later in Masvingo, leading the school to report the crime to police.

The alleged murderer is in Grade five, and the victim, Grade three.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A man from Bulawayo’s Mabuthweni suburb was stabbed to death with an Okapi knife while trying to intervene in a fight.

Donovan Dlamini (26) bled to death after he was allegedly attacked by Leeroy Lovejoy Mafu.

Mafu and Dlamini were part of a group of patrons who were drinking beer at Makalanga Beer Garden on Saturday night when a misunderstanding arose before it degenerated into a fight.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway.

“I can confirm that Donovan Dlamini was stabbed to death with an okapi knife by the accused after a dispute. The victim was playing snooker at the beer garden with his friend during which they had a misunderstanding with the suspect over an undisclosed issue,” he said.

Ass Comm Nyathi said soon after the incident, Mafu fled only to be arrested a few hours later.

“A misunderstanding arose between the accused and other patrons whose details are yet to be verified and Dlamini intervened with the intention of stopping the fight,” said the police spokesperson.

He said Mafu immediately turned the heat on Dlamini, stabbing him once on the neck.

Sources said Dlamini sustained a deep cut and bled profusely before he collapsed and died on the spot.

“Other patrons tried to apprehend the suspect, but failed as he outpaced them and disappeared into the night. An ambulance was called but found the victim already dead,” said the source.

Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public to desist from violence.

“We urge members of the public to exercise self-restraint whenever there is misunderstanding. We encourage people to embrace the spirit of dialogue,” he said.

The Chronicle visited the beer garden on Sunday and sources said Dlamini was a known gangster who was in the habit of terrorising patrons whenever they bet at the snooker.

“Late last year, he struck someone with an axe on the head over an undisclosed issue. The matter was swept under the carpet since the victim was also a criminal on police’s wanted list,” said the source.

Another witness, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation, said he was with the deceased drinking beer before he was called by his friends to go and play snooker.

“We were busy drinking beer and chatting when one of his friends came and took him so that they could play snooker. A few minutes later, I was shocked to hear that he had been stabbed to death on the other side of the bar,” said the witness.

A family member who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were still shocked.

“This is brutality at its highest level. How can someone be killed in a brutal manner? The perpetrators should be dealt with in a harsh manner,” he said.

-Statemedia

FIVE notorious Shamva machete-wielding robbers have been arrested for stabbing and robbing a couple.

The five, Onias Sindura aged 30, Lameck Mabhiza(24), Brendan Mutasa(19), Kudakwashe Karima(23), Kushinga Munemo were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly at Bindura Magistrate court this Monday for stabbing a couple before robbing them of around USD40 000 in goods and cash.

However, there are three other suspects who are still at large.

The quintet was remanded in custody to this Wednesday.

The accused persons are facing charges of unlawful entry into premises in aggravating circumstances.

According to state papers, it was stated that on 30 0ctober last year, the accused armed with machetes descended on Simbarashe Dhenya’s(complainant) residence and ordered them to surrender all their possessions.

The complainant’s wife resisted the demands and was stabbed in the stomach.

Dhenya who also attempted to escape was stabbed both legs by some of the robbers manning the house.

After they were shown the safe, the accused ransacked the house and took possession of properties which include a plasma television, mobile phones, cash and smelted gold weighing 168grams and departed .

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A 42 year old Silobela man has been sentenced to five years in prison for fatally assaulting his 15-year-old daughter using a fan belt accusing her of having a boyfriend.

Appearing yesterday before Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese, sitting at the Gweru High Court Circuit, facing one count of murdering his daughter was Benjamin Mpanduki of Village Mabhena, Mpinda 3, Chief Malisa in Silobela.

Mpanduki pleaded not guilty to murder but to a lesser charge of culpable homicide.

Justice Makonese sentenced him to five years in prison.

He said for the murder of his daughter, Pamela Believer, Mpanduki was going to serve four years.

Justice Makonese said the other 12 months were brought from a sentence that was suspended when Mpanduki was handed a 24-month sentence for domestic violence in 2017.

“In 2017, the accused appeared before a magistrate and was handed a 24 month sentence for assaulting his wife. 12 months were suspended on condition of good behavior and the remainder was suspended on condition he performed 360 hours of community service. The accused was then arrested before he completed his community service and he committed another crime involving violence before five years elapsed meaning the court has brought in the 12 months. So, the accused is sentenced to five years,” said Justice Makonese.

The judge said parents should exercise restraint when they discipline their children.

He said after assaulting his daughter until she could no longer cry, Mpanduki went and slept in his tuck-shop instead of taking her to receive medical attention.

“It will be a miscarriage of justice if the accused got a non-custodial sentence. Children have rights too especially the right to life even if they have erred in the eyes of their parents,” said Justice Makonese.

Prosecutor Mr Mandla Ndlovu told the court that on July 11, 2017 and at about 9PM, the now-deceased was at home in the company of her mother, Loriate Mupasa and her two siblings.

He said Mpanduki arrived and indicated that he wanted to discipline her claiming that she was having an affair with a certain Pride Chando, a young man from the same village.

“It is said that on July 11 at around 9PM Pamela Believer Mpanduki was at home with her mother and siblings when her father Benjamin Mpanduki started accusing her of having an affair with a local boy. The father started assaulting Pamela all over the body with a grinding mill belt made of rubber several times all over her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said Pamela’s mother tried in vain to restrain Mpanduki.

After the assault, the court heard that Ms Mupasa took her daughter to her bedroom hut whilst Mpanduki went and slept in their tuck shop.

“The following morning at about 6AM the mother went to check on her daughter only to find her dead. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and observed injuries on her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said Mpanduki was arrested after being on the run for some time.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has commended Malawi’s judiciary for its historic and uncaptured verdict regarding last year’s rigged elections.

Said Chamisa:

I wish to congratulate the people of Malawi on the historic verdict of their judiciary which has shown courage to nullify the rigged election. I commend their institutions, including the judiciary & security services, which have stood firm in defence of the Constitution.

2/5 It’s a reminder that where institutions retain independence & professionalism it is possible to correct wrong politics.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.

3/5 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. Lest we forget, we here in Zimbabwe have an outstanding matter – the legitimacy of the rigged 2018 election.

4/5 SADC & AU are urged to draw key lessons from events in Malawi 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.

5/5The 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.Let us build a NEW AFRICA!#PeoplesGovernment

Malawi court nullified their 2019 elections and said they were not free and fair and ordered that the country hold fresh elections.

By A Correspondent- A Bikita grade 5 pupil in a fit of rage struck his young cousin which resulted in the grade 3 pupil bleeding till he subsequently lost his life, New Ziana reports.

According to the publication:

The boy, a student at Zengeya Primary School, got annoyed that his young uncle, Abel Chiba, did not pass through his home to call him up to go to school together.

He angrily confronted Chiba in his classroom for an explanation and, after not getting a satisfactory answer, picked up an iron bar and struck him once on the forehead.

Chiba bled profusely from a deep cut he sustained, and later lost consciousness.

The school took the injured boy to nearby Silveira Mission Hospital from where he was later transfered to Masvingo General Hospital due to the severity of the injury.

Chiba succumbed to the injury a day later in Masvingo, leading the school to report the crime to police

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

USD = ZWL$17.3868
ZWL$ = RAND0.8628
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$24.7 zimrates
USD = ZWL$24.5 zwl365
USD = ZWL$24.5 bluemari
USD = BOND19.2 zimrates

– Marketwatc

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of illegal miners (popularly known as Mashurugwi in street lingo) were rounded up and arrested in Mutasa district, Manicaland province after the police launched  ‘Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere‘ in a bid to eradicate illegal mining operations.

Officer Commanding Police Support Unit Assistant Commissioner, Bazibi Dube  revealed that a lot of equipment has also been recovered proving that the illegal mining activities have huge sponsorship from highly placed cartels.

Bazibi vowed that the police will not move out of mining areas until they stamp out all illegal mining activities.

Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri also visited the mining area where the operation is taking place.

She commended the police and the members of the Manicaland Joint Command for spearheading the operation that seeks to restore normalcy and sanity in mining areas.

Minister Muchinguri says there is however need for the ministry of mines to urgently come on board and support the regularisation of mining activities shortly after Chikorokoza Ngachipere operations to pave way for controlled and environment-friendly mining activities.

Minister Muchinguri  also toured some of the areas which illegal mining activities have been taking place to assess the level of land degradation where she emphasized the urgent need to rehabilitate the affected mining areas.

Meanwhile in other news, 5 notorious Shamva machete-wielding robbers were arrested yesterday for stabbing and robbing a couple.

The five, Onias Sindura aged 30, Lameck Mabhiza(24), Brendan Mutasa(19), Kudakwashe Karima(23), Kushinga Munemo stabbed a couple before robbing them of around USD40 000 in goods and cash.

-Statemedia

I wish to congratulate the people of Malawi on the historic verdict of their judiciary which has shown courage to nullify the rigged election.

I commend their institutions, including the judiciary & 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.

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.

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

SADC & AU are urged to draw key lessons from events in Malawi 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.

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 to a stop.

Justice demands the young generation to lead the way.

Let us build a NEW AFRICA! #PeoplesGovernment

By A Correspondent- Two Zimbabwe Republic Police officers have here been arraigned before Gutu resident magistrate Mr Victor Mahamadi for allegedly clearing seven stolen cattle.

Vincent Tinarwo, 32, and Rodrey Mukaro, 27, both stationed in Gutu, were recently arrested after they cleared the beasts allegedly stolen from Gutu Mission Hospital.

The two were charged with criminal abuse of office. They were admitted to $300 bail to February 7. Magistrate Mahamadi said the court would establish whether or not the two police details followed legal procedures for stock clearance.

Prosecutor Ratchel Murape told the court that on December 29, 2019 at around 3pm, Tinarwo, who was on duty at Gutu Police Station, received a call from one Kudzai Murima, a well-known cattle buyer who intended to clear his cattle from Mazongororo Village.

It is the State case that Tinarwo met the cattle buyer at Hwiru location in Gutu, where they allegedly connived to complete the livestock clearance book in the absence of the alleged seller Jonathan Mangoro.

On the day in question, three cattle were cleared and were transported to Masvingo for slaughter. Furthermore,on January 1, 2020 at around 2pm, the other police officer, Mukaro received a phone call from the same buyer indicating that he wanted his four more cattle from Mazongororo village to be cleared.

The two again met at Hwiru where they completed clearance book (ZRP 392) for the four cattle in absence of the alleged seller of the cattle Mangoro.

The two officers were both arrested after members of the public through investigations, got wind that Mangoro never sold any cattle to Murima and that cattle belonged to authorities at Gutu Mission.

-statemedia

The Chinese government has urged its citizens visiting coronavirus hotspots like Wuhan in Hubei province to suspend travelling to Zimbabwe until the epidemic is contained.

Addressing the media at the Chinese Embassy in Harare yesterday, Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Guo Shaochun said China was making frantic efforts to ensure the virus did not spread to other countries.

“We have requested Chinese nationals coming to Zimbabwe to cooperate with quarantine measures at Zimbabwean ports of entry and issued four consular notices to provide recommendations for epidemic prevention,” said Mr Guo.

“We have called on the local Chinese communities and Chinese businesses and institutions to remind their members and employees who have returned to China for holiday, to raise the awareness of prevention.

“Those who have returned to the most affected regions in China, such as Hubei Province are advised to hold off coming back to Zimbabwe to reduce the risk of bringing the virus to Zimbabwe.

“Those who have returned to Zimbabwe from the worst hit areas in China are requested to undergo a self-quarantine of two weeks at home, not to go to public places, offices or any gatherings.”

China has placed Hubei province, the epidemic’s hotspot, on lockdown.

To date, 17 205 confirmed cases in Mainland China have been recorded and the death toll is at 361.

Outside China, 23 countries have recorded 146 cases, including one death.

Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, has already convened a joint Inter-Agency Coordination Committee for Health (IACCH) meeting or Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) taskforce.

The team is responsible for setting up priority areas in response to the coronavirus threat.

No cases have been reported in Zimbabwe.

Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Agnes Mahomva said the ministry had stepped up the monitoring process by screening everyone coming from affected areas.

The surveillance team remains on high alert at all points of entry and health facilities.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf youth league chief whip Pupurai Togarepi has issued a warning against The Herald saying it should not publish articles aimed at dividing the ruling party’s youth league.

Togarepi tweeted:@HeraldZimbabwe should not attempt to drive a wedge in the Zanu-PF Youth League by extracting news from shadowy twitter groups.

I hope the paper will correct its dubious story without delay unless there are ulterior motives. Our position : No to corruption in all its manifestation.

The Herald today published an article that said Zanu PF Youth league distances itself from Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu who claim Kuda Tagwirei is a corrupt individual wrecking the economy. 

It is still not clear if Togarepi is referring to this particular article since he did not specify the article the publication should correct.

THE Government is set to embark on a national crop and livestock assessment programme as part of its strategy to explore ways of saving livestock and crops through evaluating their condition, water supply and prevalence of diseases.

This comes after erratic rains were recorded in various parts of the country between October last year and this month, especially in the southern provinces.  The assessment also comes after the 2018/19 drought that resulted in the death of livestock and wildlife due to a lack of pastures and water and destruction of crops due to moisture stress.

The southern region has over the past 12 months or so lost more than 30 000 head of cattle due to the effects of the drought with Matabeleland South being the worst affected with 17 000 deaths.

In an interview yesterday, the Deputy Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Vangelis Peter Haritatos said the Government is worried about the effects of climate change.  This has resulted in erratic rainfall and cattle succumbing to drought and poor yields in the fields. 

“Any time from now we will start the first round of national crop and livestock assessment. The underlying reason is that most field crops such as maize, soya beans, cotton, groundnuts and small grains would have been planted and the planting window closed for these crops. The purpose of this exercise is to enable the Government to establish which areas planted these different crops,” he said. 

“Primarily, we want to establish the stages and condition of crops, assess disease prevalence and the overall prospects for the season including outcomes and benefits.”

Cde Haritatos said the programme seeks to provide early warning to decision makers on the possible outcome of season and identifying areas of intervention as they relate to saving the season’s crop and livestock and make recommendations.

“We want to identify areas that need to be addressed in future farming seasons and also address gaps in terms of crop and livestock production, and possibly come up with interventions for the livestock sector. Data collected will help us in our second round of crop and livestock assessment,” he said.

Cde Haritatos said the second round of crop and livestock assessment, which will be done between March and April, will effectively come up with yield and production estimates when crops would have matured at the end of the farming season.

He said dehydration due to water shortage as water sources continue to dry up earlier in most parts of the country because of drought, contributed immensely to the increase in the number of cattle deaths. 

“Our Ministry is looking into urgently drilling boreholes at strategic places in order to solve the water problem caused by the current drought. It is important to note also that this programme will have a double benefit as it will also stop cattle from straying into neighbouring countries such as Botswana in search of water,” he said.

Cde Haritatos said the Department of Veterinary Services has already vaccinated cattle in drought stricken and low-risk foot and mouth disease (FMD) areas so that they can move to other areas for relief grazing. 

“We would also like to highlight that livestock can be a lucrative business if managed correctly. In times of drought we encourage our farmers, through our extension officers, to destock slightly in order to be able to generate funds to buy stock feed so that the remaining livestock remain healthy and productive. 

-State Media

This Factsheet is based on a summary of concerns and recommendations by several International, regional and local election observation missions who observed the 2018 Harmonised elections in Zimbabwe.

The electoral concerns and recommendations are captured under the theme ‘Electoral Framework’ in the 2018 Compendium of Election Observers Recommendations and the ZESN 2018 Harmonised Elections Report.

This is a general comment on ZEC’s mandate of voter’ registration under section 239 of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe.

In essence, this Factsheet aims at highlighting several concerns that need redress in a bid to improve the general procedural and substantive issues in Zimbabwe’s electoral cycle.

Key Recommendations:

Time frame to avail the Voters Roll Access to the final voters’ roll must be improved and guaranteed for all contestants as provided by law, and within a specific time-frame.

ZEC should avail the voters roll to stakeholders in time to enhance transparency. In this vein, the Electoral Law should be amended to include specific timelines when the voters’ roll ought to be made available to stakeholders.

Further, the law must establish clear timelines for the production and distribution of the preliminary and final voter rolls, which provide meaningful opportunities for a serious audit of the quality of the voters list which should be made available prior to the nominations process.

Notification process

The electoral law must compel ZEC to inform registrants who are removed from the voters’ roll. Those put on the exclusion list must be notified, and there must be a less cumbersome process for redress.

Availing a clean and updated Voters Roll Copies of the roll must be availed to party agents at polling stations, and ZEC must invest in the procurement of integrated systems that allow one gadget to be used for multiple purposes, such as enrolling voters, voter verification on Election Day and transmission of results.

The law must provide for the publication of the de-duplication process to enhance transparency.

Independent Audit

In order to build public confidence, the ZEC should commission independent external audits to assess the quality of the voters’ roll. These must be done at key times prior to voting.

Address System

In order to ensure universal and equal suffrage as well as the right to vote, there is a need to review procedures for the identification of voter addresses (lessening the over-use of pre-commissioned affidavits), to ensure the correct allocation of polling station / ward / constituency for each voter, and to ensure a consistent format for the capturing and registering of voter addresses.

Data Publication

The preliminary (provisional) and final voters roll should be made available to contestants and other relevant stakeholders electronically and in a form that allows the data to be analysed/sorted easily and enables an audit/verification of the accuracy of the roll.

Location on Inspection centres and under-registered groups

The ZEC should enhance citizen access to the voters roll inspection process through more localized inspection centres or by placing lists of registered voters at specific polling stations.

There should be more permanent registration centres established in urban areas in view of the lowest registration statistics in Harare and Bulawayo in particular; and these should be open throughout the electoral cycle.

Conclusion

ZEC is mandated by section 239 of the constitution to facilitate voter registration, as such, ZEC has a duty to adopt a voter registration process that is transparent and accessible to the public and many other stakeholders to encourage inclusive participation in the process and promote legitimate democratic outcomes.

The Zimbabwean voter registration system has undergone various changes scientifically with the adoption of the BVR system, and progressively, can lead to more democratic outcomes if proposed changes and improvements are made.

In addition, ZEC must improve by adopting regional best practices and norms from the international system must be incorporated in the Voter Registration framework for purposes of enhancing democratic processes and outcomes which are legitimate and credible.

We are interviewing the ZDF on the military presence in Masvingo yesteday and the absence of the military in Kwekwe where the mashurugwis have co tinued to terrorise people. @hwendec
@mimmitwit
SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS –

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 4, 2020

By A Correspondent- Self-exiled former Zanu-PF minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has defiantly stood by his stance that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be ousted by a coup this month, and took a scathing attack on critics who dismiss his insinuations as mere ‘prophecy’.

Responding to an internet user who had tweeted that, ‘February was prophesied’ by him, the former Higher and Tertiary Education minister retorted:

“Don’t bastardise political analysis. There’s no prophecy in political science!”

Previously considered the spin-doctor of Zanu-PF politics, Moyo recently asserted that, this time around a coup will not occur in November but this February. The late long-ruling Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe was dramatically ousted by a military coup that propelled Mnangagwa to the presidency in November 2017.

Following Mugabe’s ouster, Moyo and a host of other Zanu-PF heavyweights aligned to the extinguished G40 cabal purportedly fronted by Mugabe’s wife Grace, fled the country. Moyo has been vaguely saying that Zimbabwe will be plunged into something unthinkable this month.

“For keen students of Zimbabwean history, this February is threatening to replace November as the month of momentous events! Varakashi and their boss need running shoes. Their time to run run run run is coming; soon and very soon! The ideology of varakashi is Mnangagwa; and their policies are Mnangagwa, whose only objective is that 2030 anenge achipo. The varakashi phenomenon is just a whole lot of bull expletive”, said Moyo in comments posted on his Twitter handle.”

Presidential aspirant in the 2018 harmonised elections, Bryn Mteki, has claimed that he received death threats from one of his employees after he lodged a police complaint over the way they were mishandling his business affairs.

Mteki, who recently rejoined the ruling Zanu-PF party, took Kelvin Tapera, Belinda Toro, Charles Mutusva, Oline Musuwo and Cleopas Madzemwa (who is Toro’s husband) to the Harare provincial magistrates’ court where the employees denied ever threatening Mteki and another complainant, Tonderai Nyagunzu.

Prosecutor Ms Linda Gadzikwa said on January 24 at around 3:30pm, the five went to Mteki’s BrynBands offices in Harare, intending to serve him with papers prepared by their lawyer detailing their grievances against him. Mteki is said to have refused to entertain them.

Allegations are that Tapera then started shouting at Nyagunzu before Toro allegedly threatened him by saying “unofira mahara. Ndiwe wakatisungisa uye tichapedzerana (You are going to die. You caused our arrest and we will deal with you).”

The court heard all the five charged towards Nyagunzu, forcing him to close his screen door. It is said after hearing the noise, Mteki came out of his shop to see what was taking place. One of the five is alleged to have poured beer on Mteki in a fit of anger.

Madzemwa is said to have shouted at Mteki saying: “Ndiwe munhu watiri kuda, wakacreator macharges kuti vanhu vasungwe and uri kuseenzesa Tonderai mahara, mese muchafira mahara (You are the person we want to deal with. You caused our arrest on false charges).”

Through their actions, the five were said to be in violation of their bail conditions as they had other pending cases against Mteki before the same court.

They are expected to be back in court on February 18 for trial.

A Harare magistrate has expressed disquiet over “delay tactics” being employed by the defence team of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, who is facing charges of criminal abuse of office.

The trial was supposed to start on Thursday last week, but his lawyer Mr Zibusiso Ncube sought a postponement to enable a new advocate to handle the case.

This was the fifth time the matter was deferred at the instigation of the defence, which cited various reasons each time the matter was brought to court for trial.

The postponement did not go down well with both the trial magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya and the prosecution which accused the defence of playing games with the court.

Mphoko, who all along was being represented by Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara, advised the court that he had sought the services of Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba.

In this regard, he requested for a postponement to February 13 to allow Adv Magwaliba to familiarise himself with the case and prepare the defence.

Mr Mujaya asked: “Will this trial ever commence in this lifetime. We cannot continue postponing this matter. All we seem to do is gather here and look at each other and leave the court. We need progress.

“It is not only about the interest of your client, the interest of justice requires to be protected. I am worried about these several postponements.”

Mr Mujaya then requested that the trial commences on February 1, which was a Saturday last week.

“I am against the date you proposed,” he said. “Court is willing to have the matter start on February 1 and inconvenience myself and everyone else so that we put a start to the matter. Courts are allowed to express displeasure and demand some sort of progress.”

In response, Mr Ncube rejected the date proposed by the court, saying they were members of the Seventh Day Adventist church, hence they did not work on a Saturday.

He said he could not compromise on the Sabbath.

Representing the prosecution, Mr Lovert Masuku and Mr Andrew Kumire said they were ready to proceed to trial.

Mr Masuku said: “Your Worship, the record speaks for itself. The defence has been making several applications for postponements. We are opposed to their application. They promised to serve us with the defence outline on January 24, but up to now they have not served us.”

After several arguments and submissions, the State and the defence reached a consensus and agreed that the matter be remanded to February 13 for trial.

Mr Mujaya then remanded Mphoko to the agreed date.

Mphoko allegedly instructed junior officers at Avondale Police Station in Harare to release from detention cells, former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma, who was facing abuse of office charges.

By Own Correspondent| Chipinge based pressure group Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) Director Claris Madhuku has challenged the Zanu PF youth leaders Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu to go beyond words and confront controversial business tycoon Billy Rautenbach whom they accused of bleeding the economy through corrupt operations.

Posting on Facebook, Madhuku said the call by Matutu and Tsenengamu vindicates his organisation which has over the past decade fought Rautenbach over his ethanol business operations which have displaced thousands of Chisumbanje villagers in Chipinge.

“One of the ‘Take Aways’ from the ZANU PF Youth league is that confirmation on the centrality of Billy Rautenbach in the corruption conundrum in the country.

“Whether diversionary or clear determination, some of us who have been shouting from the mountains are genuinely calling for action beyond those words.If Lewis Matutu and Tsenengamu are ready to be our heroes , we invite them to Chisumbanje and Chinyamukwakwa and surely Billy will not last a day,” wrote Madhuku.

He further invited the Zanu PF duo to visit the affected communities urging them to go beyond words if they are genuine in their fight against corruption.

“I am sending an open challenge to the ZANU PF Youth league…”

Addressing the press in Harare yesterday Matutu and Tsenengamu questioned Billy Rautenbach’s monopoly in the ethanol production, further accused the tycoon of selling the sugar-cane made fuel at very high prices.

Correspondent|Nurses working in the public health system want Strive Masiyiwa’s HigherLife Foundation to grant them a financial package as it has done for doctors.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) president Enock Dongo told Members of Parliament on Monday that the government should talk to Masiyiwa on their behalf so that they also get a golden handshake. Said Dongo:

“We are imploring to the government to say a health delivery system is like a body. There is no way that you can work effectively without the other part. We complement each other.

“So when the doctors were on strike, it seems as if going on strike pays more than those who were at work. Nurses were at work suffering without resources.

“Those who were abandoning patients, going on strike they then come now with an offer they have been given by somebody and say all the nurses come back to work five days a week. Munhu iyeye arikutaura ane ZW$10 000 irikudziya pahomwe umwe haana chaakapihwa.“

Under the Highlife Foundation arrangement, consultants get ZW$10 000, ZW$5 000 for junior doctors, and ZW$7 500 for the seniors, per month.

By Jane Mlambo| In yet another twist to the Zanu PF Youth League confusion over Deputy Secretary Lewis Matutu and Political Commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu’s name and shame list of corrupt cartels in the country, Secretary for Youths Affairs in the ruling party, Pupurai Togarepi has sided with the duo while dismissing a tweet by the youth league.

Following the press conference by Matutu and Tsenengamu, the Zanu PF Youth League Twitter handle posted a message distancing the organ from the duo’s action while urging those with incriminating evidence to approach the law enforcement agents.

The state owned Herald went on to carry a story based on the youth league remarks but Togarepi said the newspaper had extracted news from a shadowy twitter group.

“Herald should not attempt to drive a wedge in the Zanu-PF Youth League by extracting news from shadowy twitter groups. I hope the paper will correct its dubious story without delay unless there are ulterior motives.Our position : No to corruption in all its manifestation,” said Togarepi.

It seems battle lines have been drawn in the youth league and it remains to be seen how things will unfold going forward.

By Nelson Chamisa|I wish to congratulate the people of Malawi on the historic verdict of their judiciary which has shown courage to nullify the rigged election. I commend their institutions, including the judiciary & 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.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. Lest we forget, we here in Zimbabwe have an outstanding matter – the legitimacy of the rigged 2018 election.

SADC & AU are urged to draw key lessons from events in Malawi 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.

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.Let us build a NEW AFRICA!#PeoplesGovernment

Correspondent|MDC secretary for education Fadzayi Mahere has dismissed ZANU PF Youth League leaders, Tongai Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu as lapdogs who are being used by old men.

Matutu and Tsenengamu held a press conference on Monday where they accused prominent businesspeople, among them Kuda Tagwirei and Billy Rautenbach of corruption.

Mahere also warned Matutu and his colleagues that they risk being used and then spit out as happened to Kudzanai Chipanga. Mahere wrote on Twitter:

“Zanu PF youths have no agency of their own. They are lapdogs for the old, wasted men at the top for whom they bark in return for trinkets. Their poorly choreographed slideshows are a weak attempt to distract us from the real issues.

We want food, fuel and forex.

Musatinyaudze!”

“Zanu PF youths learnt nothing from Kudzai Chipanga. These old men will use you then spit you out. You’re better off fighting for a constitutional democracy made of strong institutions so that you are safe when disaster strikes.”

Chipanga was a ZANU PF youth leader towards the end of the Robert Mugabe era and is famous for daring military Generals a few days before the November 2017 coup. He was subsequently arrested and fell out of favour with the ruling party.

Own Correspondent|Econet wireless, the country’s biggest mobile phone service provider, has once again reviewed its data bundles charges upward with effect from midnight.

Econet recently announced they would be revising the prices of their data bundles with hopes that the prices were going to come down.

The new daily bundles look like this:

Daily bundles:

Weekly bundles:

Monthly bundles

Considering that POTRAZ approved a tariff increase it was only a matter of time before the mobile networks struck.

Other service providers, Netone and Telecel are also expected to announce their increases soon.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s urgent chamber appeal hearing challenging the recent High Court decision to allow his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, to have custody of the couple’s three minor children has been deferred to tomorrow.

It emerged yesterday that the hearing was moved to tomorrow to allow lawyers to file their heads of argument by today.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba directed VP Chiwenga’s lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, instructed by Manase and Manase law firm, to file his heads of argument yesterday while Mubaiwa’s lawyers Mtetwa and Nyambirayi Legal Practitioners are expected to file today, according to sources close to the matter.

VP Chiwenga’s appeal to the Supreme Court follows Justice Christopher Dube-Banda’s ruling granting Mubaiwa the relief she sought, and restraining the VP from interfering with her access to the Borrowdale Brooke mansion.

Mubaiwa had approached the High Court seeking custody of the minor children after VP Chiwenga allegedly took the children and barred her from accessing the matrimonial home.

However, VP Chiwenga did not agree with the High Court ruling resulting in him approaching the superior court.

The noting of the appeal by the VP effectively suspended the order for him to surrender custody of the children to Mubaiwa until the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Own Correspondent|The Zanu PF Youth League yesterday said the corruption allegations made by its deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu against some businessmen were not their views.

Matutu and Tsenengamu convened a Press conference in Harare yesterday where they accused three leading businessmen of bleeding the economy through corruption.

They accused the three of controlling the fuel, mining, transport, retail, construction and grain milling industries.

In a statement on Twitter the Youth League said: 

https://twitter.com/ZANU_PF_YL/status/1224323272726151169?s=19

Own Correspondent|The Zanu PF Youth League deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu have described their party as a sinking ship made worse by un-curtailed corruption activities by a few people close to the top leadership of the country and party.

Matutu and Tsenengamu convened a Press conference in Harare yesterday where they accused three leading businessmen of bleeding the economy through corruption.

They accused the three of controlling the fuel, mining, transport, retail, construction and grain milling industries.

Matutu and Tsenengamu said they were speaking in their individual capacities.

“We are in a ship where some individuals are busy drilling holes for it to sink,” said Tsenengamu.

“Our action to name and shame the corrupt are driven by our patriotism. This a generational fight because if we leave this to continue, future generations will curse us for turning a blind eye to a cancer which is tearing the social and moral fibre of our country.

“These corrupt cartels are very powerful and have been left to do as they please for a long time. Their actions are driven by greed. They are fuelling all black market activities and claim that they are related or close to the national leadership. They have become the untouchables.”

Matutu said the country’s leadership deserved genuine support.

“Some of these people take advantage of their closeness to the leadership to loot resources,” he said.

“Why is it an individual is almost everywhere, be it fuel or Command Agriculture? How come some individuals are allowed to withdraw as much as $500 000 from the bank. Most of our problems are coming from this heartless individual.”

Turning to the gold sector, Tsenengamu said they had managed to identify some of the companies buying gold from machete gangs.

“Some of the artisanal miners are now being jailed for up to two years, yet the big players in illegal gold activities are not being held accountable for their actions,” he said.

“We are happy that the national leadership has come in to deal with this problem. Individuals are now having a major stake in gold mining companies through their proxies. They are now controlling the whole mining sector.”

Watch video downloading below:

A 42-YEAR-OLD Silobela man has been sentenced to five years in prison for fatally assaulting his 15-year-old daughter using a fan belt accusing her of having a boyfriend.

Appearing yesterday before Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese, sitting at the Gweru High Court Circuit, facing one count of murdering his daughter was Benjamin Mpanduki of Village Mabhena, Mpinda 3, Chief Malisa in Silobela.

Mpanduki pleaded not guilty to murder but to a lesser charge of culpable homicide.

Justice Makonese sentenced him to five years in prison.
He said for the murder of his daughter, Pamela Believer, Mpanduki was going to serve four years.

Justice Makonese said the other 12 months were brought from a sentence that was suspended when Mpanduki was handed a 24-month sentence for domestic violence in 2017.

“In 2017, the accused appeared before a magistrate and was handed a 24 month sentence for assaulting his wife. 12 months were suspended on condition of good behavior and the remainder was suspended on condition he performed 360 hours of community service. The accused was then arrested before he completed his community service and he committed another crime involving violence before five years elapsed meaning the court has brought in the 12 months. So, the accused is sentenced to five years,” said Justice Makonese.
The judge said parents should exercise restraint when they discipline their children.

He said after assaulting his daughter until she could no longer cry, Mpanduki went and slept in his tuck-shop instead of taking her to receive medical attention.

“It will be a miscarriage of justice if the accused got a non-custodial sentence. Children have rights too especially the right to life even if they have erred in the eyes of their parents,” said Justice Makonese.

Prosecutor Mr Mandla Ndlovu told the court that on July 11, 2017 and at about 9PM, the now-deceased was at home in the company of her mother, Loriate Mupasa and her two siblings.

He said Mpanduki arrived and indicated that he wanted to discipline her claiming that she was having an affair with a certain Pride Chando, a young man from the same village.

“It is said that on July 11 at around 9PM Pamela Believer Mpanduki was at home with her mother and siblings when her father Benjamin Mpanduki started accusing her of having an affair with a local boy.

The father started assaulting Pamela all over the body with a grinding mill belt made of rubber several times all over her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said Pamela’s mother tried in vain to restrain Mpanduki.

After the assault, the court heard that Ms Mupasa took her daughter to her bedroom hut whilst Mpanduki went and slept in their tuck shop.
“The following morning at about 6AM the mother went to check on her daughter only to find her dead.

The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and observed injuries on her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said Mpanduki was arrested after being on the run for some time.-State media

https://youtu.be/S7yVqBe-pDQ

MDC vice president Tendai Biti says Emmerson has gone beyond failure…

The Zanu PF Youth League yesterday said the corruption allegations made by its deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu against some businessmen were not their views.

Matutu and Tsenengamu convened a Press conference in Harare yesterday where they accused three leading businessmen of bleeding the economy through corruption.

Tsenengamu
They accused the three of controlling the fuel, mining, transport, retail, construction and grain milling industries.

In a statement on Twitter the Youth League said: “We dissociate ourselves from the ongoing presser by Matutu and Tsenengamu.

“Views expressed don’t represent Zanu PF Youth League, but personal opinions.

“We urge anyone with incriminating evidence against anyone to approach lawful authorities and responsible agencies.”

Matutu and Tsenengamu said they were speaking in their individual capacities.

“We are in a ship where some individuals are busy drilling holes for it to sink,” said Tsenengamu.

“Our action to name and shame the corrupt are driven by our patriotism. This a generational fight because if we leave this to continue, future generations will curse us for turning a blind eye to a cancer which is tearing the social and moral fibre of our country.

“These corrupt cartels are very powerful and have been left to do as they please for a long time.

Their actions are driven by greed. They are fuelling all black market activities and claim that they are related or close to the national leadership. They have become the untouchables.”

Matutu said the country’s leadership deserved genuine support.

“Some of these people take advantage of their closeness to the leadership to loot resources,” he said.-State media

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MDC National Youth Spokesperson Stephen Chuma has said the opposition party will continue to fight for democracy despite intimidation by the police. ..

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Correspondent|MAZOWE ward 13 councillor Edward Mutyavaviri (ZANU PF) is alleged to have chased a St Albans primary school head away after receiving a donation from a MDC official on their speech and prize giving day last year.

The school head Cleopas Nembawari left the school last week Monday with Anglican officials who came to enquire about the matter.

Mutyavaviri is reported to have threatened the head   with unknown actions.

The councillor confirmed conducting the meeting with various village heads who unanimously agreed to chase the head away.

“We held a meeting with a number village heads who were disgruntled with the conduct and informed the Anglican officials who then took him away after the meeting,” said Mutyavaviri before switching off his phone.

MDC chairperson George Gwarada who was part of the guests on the speech and prize giving day and donated two tonnes of cement to the school expressed disgust on the behavior of Mutyavaviri and has since filed a police report.

“As MDC we are very disturbed with this Zanupf councillor the speech and prize ceremony was a non political and my donation was for the development of the school but we begin to wonder when we see such rogue councillors victimizing civil servants,” fumed Gwarada.

“We have since filed a police report at Glendale police station under CR 10042 /01/20 and we hope police will act on the matter.”

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe could neither confirm nor deny the case saying he will look into the matter.

“I have not received that case but let me look into the matter and will get back to you as soon l get the details,” Mundembe said.

An Anglican Church official who declined to be named said the situation was tense hence they had to take their head away fearing for his life.

“The councillor was very furious about the donation and mobilized village heads who vowed to deal with the head if he remains in charge of the school so we had no choice than to withdraw him from there because we never knew what they would do to him,” said the source.