Correspondent|Zimbabweans have to do away with the two-thirds majority in Parliament and vote for multiple political parties in order to stop politicians from abusing their authority, Professor Welshman Ncube has said.

Prof Ncube argued that a supermajority in Parliament has made it easier for the Zanu-PF led government to amend the country’s constitution ‘unnecessarily.’

He said without a two-thirds majority, it would take time for one political party to amend the constitution as it would require the by-in of other groupings and ultimately their constituents whom they represented.

Speaking at a public opinion space meeting on the proposed Constitution Amendment (No.2) Bill held Wednesday in Bulawayo, Prof Ncube, a constitutional expert underscored that without a two-thirds majority, political parties would trade as equals and not impose their interests on others.

“The provisions to change the constitution normally requires what we call supermajority, in our case in Zimbabwe, we need two-thirds majority, as it’s assumed it is difficult for anyone to garner two- thirds majority. But in Zimbabwe we know our elections and that Zanu-PF has had two-thirds majority successively,” he said.

Prof Ncube, who is also the vice president of the MDC, remarked that part of the problem emanated from the electorate.

“That is a part of the problem because we-the-people must always be slow to give any political party that much power but we gave them, now they are changing the constitution without any consultative consensus process. The amendments went through Zanu-PF processes, go to Cabinet then afterwards a bill emerges, which we see for the first time when it has been published. That is problematic,” he quipped.

The most important thing to make sure of was that no one has a two-thirds majority, Prof Ncube reiterated.

“No single political formation must have a two-thirds majority to be able to unilaterally on their own, effect change. If you don’t have a two-thirds majority an amendment is not necessary, it means you have to reach out to others, persuade them and everybody will be ultimately answerable to the electorate. Before these players agree to what they are proposing they will look back and say ‘will our constituency accept this’ because we all have to face the electorate at end of day,” he explained.

Prof Ncube said doing away with the two-thirds majority was the ‘surest’ point of minimising unnecessary amendments, which consolidated and accumulated power for those in power.

“They believe ‘the moment I have two thirds, I will do what I can because the people voted for me therefore, I can do it’,” the constitutional lawyer posited.

“When you know there is a political price to pay for doing something, even if you have a two-thirds majority, you will think twice before doing something. But if there is no political price to pay you will do it anyway, which is why citizens must resist so that we don’t have these willy-nilly amendments.”

A legal practitioner, Lactricia Mumba, asserted that when it came to elections, voters must know there were consequences to their vote.

“The problem we have now is deeper than discussions, it starts from how we vote. When we conduct voter education, we start six months before elections and we teach people how to mark their ‘x’ inside the box so it’s not a spoilt ballot. But we forget that ‘x’ is just a formality on paper,” she said.

“Voter education should go to the root to what your vote means, even those in rural areas should know what their vote means. To vote means the person I am voting for, I am sending them with my views, not to bring me rice or seed, but to enact laws in parliament.”

Mumba emphasised that two-thirds majority went to the root of voter education, noting if people knew voting represented something bigger, they would be empowered.

“When I vote for someone to represent my views, I don’t need to beg for seed but I would be empowered to buy my own seed. The problem of two-thirds majority is not at the top but at the bottom, from voter education. We must not cry after these amendments have been made but we must empower people to know what their votes means,” the lawyer opinioned.

Chairperson of the Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association, Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa says it is high time MDC Alliance leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa to join the political actors dialogue (Polad) if his party is serious about rebuilding the economy.

Watch video downloading below:

Media Statement|As Zimbabwe’s economy sinks to plumbing depths, with the country’s hospitals and clinics without basics such as gloves, bandages and painkillers, fringe political leaders under the POLAD banner will spend millions of scarce foreign currency visiting global capitals on a purported international re-engagement drive.

It is unfathomable that POLAD comedians could spend US$4, 5 million in scarce for-ex on useless trips to Brussels, Washington, London and Paris while innocent Zimbabweans are dying at home.

That money would have been put to better use if it had been used to procure basics for the country’s major referral hospitals or importing food for the starving millions.

These POLAD actors are real actors in the literal sense of the word. An African proverb asserts that a man should not chase rats when his house is burning. And spending scarce foreign currency on trips to foreign capitals while the nation starves is akin to doing precisely that.

Zimbabwe is on a precipice. There is starvation in the countryside. Civil servants and our uniformed forces are suffering. Villagers, students and urbanites can barely survive while these fringe political actors burn scarce money on ill-advised trips.

This heartlessness is all the more reason why President Chamisa said he will not join this POLAD charade. In the middle of this suffering, we cannot have politicians spending scarce money on foreign travels that bring no dividend to despondent Zimbabweans.

We must engage nationally first in a sincere, honest and credible dialogue process that will move the country forward. Politicians should engage the situation in the country first before purporting to engage the international community about the so-called sanctions, which Zanu PF invited on the nation by killing innocent citizens and repressing people’s rights.

Zimbabwe needs a true people’s government that the nation voted for in 2018.

thepeoplesgovernment.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

State run Herald newspaper claims that suspended Zanu PF Youth League executives Pupurai Togarepi, Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu said they will abide by the Politburo’s decision to demote them from their positions.

On Wednesday, the Politburo removed Togarepi as the party’s secretary for Youth Affairs, and suspended for a year, his deputy Matutu and Tsenengamu was the Youth League Secretary for Commissariat.

In separate interviews with The Herald this morning, Togarepi said he respects the decision taken by the party leadership to demote him from his position.

“I am a cadre of the party and I respect the decision of the party. I am a steward servant of the party and I serve at the pleasure of the President who appointed me to that position. The party is supreme and I’m therefore guided accordingly. I will continue to serve my party with the commitment and unquestionable loyalty expected of every cadre of the revolutionary party.

“I grew up in this party and I respect its decision,” he said.

Matutu said he respects the decision taken by the Politburo to suspend him.

“I remain loyal to the party and its leadership. I will never ever join any political party, which is not Zanu PF. Social media was awash with reports that I am joining MDC-A. Why should I join MDC-A. I am a Zanu PF card carrying member and I am ready to serve the party at any capacity as assigned by President Mnangagwa and party leadership.”

Tsenengamu has accepted the decision to suspend him and pledged to remain loyal to the party.

“I accept the position taken by the Politburo. I am now a card carrying member and I will not contest the decision and I do not have any intensions to join any political organisation.”

Own Correspondent|SUSPENDED Zanu PF Deputy Youth Secretary, Lewis Matutu has reported business mogul Kuda Tagwirei to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption (ZACC) for corruption.

His fellow suspended Zanu PF youth leader, Godfrey Tsenengamu revealed the detail while addressing a press conference in Harare on Friday.

“Matutu has reported the issue to ZACC today. We are still waiting for feedback. We are not foolish to report issues without supporting evidence,” said Tsenengamu.

Matutu And Tsenengamu were suspended for a period of 12 months after holding a press where they attacked Tagwirei for allegedly leading cartels that have bled the country’s economy through corruption.

Watch video of Tsenengamu press conference downloading below:

The Zimbabwe National Army has responded to ZimEye inquiries on alleged deployments across the country, and also on why it has not been seen doing anything to address the mashurugwi menace which has seen hundreds of people killed, a comparison being made to the 1 Aug military brutality in which the military sot and killed civilians under the guise that they were protesters.

ZimEye reached out to the ZDF on Tuesday, a day after the Zengeza MP Job Sikhala’s trial in Masvingo. WATCH BELOW –

“In view of the increasing media queries on ZDF deployments against machete-wielding gangs, the so-called “Mashurugwi”, members of the public should be made aware that it is purely the responsibility of the ZRP to deal decisively with the menace. We are convinced that the ZRP will be equal to the task and bring all the culprits to book.“

FULL TEXT –

ZNA NEWS RELEASE

07 February 2020

MEDIA RESPONSE ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT FALSE DEPLOYMENT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE MILITARY

The Zimbabwe National Army would like to categorically refute the false allegations published by the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper of 07-13 February 2020 in an article titled “Panicky army chiefs, deploy special forces.” It is not true that the military has deployed as alleged by this malicious newspaper article, which is false in all respects, hence it cannot go unchallenged.

Besides being malicious, the news article raises some serious allegations, which are outright falsehoods against the Zimbabwe National Army. It should be therefore noted that the Zimbabwe National Army is apolitical and its roles and duties are clearly spelt out in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and amplified in the Defence Forces Policy.

The Army is a professional national institution that is guided by the country’s Constitution. When it deploys, the nation is accordingly informed. There is, therefore, no secret deployments as falsely alleged in the newspaper article.

In view of the increasing media queries on ZDF deployments against machete-wielding gangs, the so-called “Mashurugwi”, members of the public should be made aware that it is purely the responsibility of the ZRP to deal decisively with the menace. We are convinced that the ZRP will be equal to the task and bring all the culprits to book.

The ZDF are committed to ensuring that peace and security are maintained throughout the country. Members of the media should, therefore, feel free to clear any doubts on any issues involving our members that may have the potential to destabilise the security situation in the country. The clearance can be done with relevant military authorities nearest to them.

Alphios Makotore

Lieutenant Colonel

MDC top official Tracy Mutinhiri has quit politics ending her long political career that saw her flirting with both the ruling Zanu PF party and the main opposition movement.

The firebrand politician, who once served as Labour minister, joined the MDC when it was still led by the late founder Morgan Tsvangirai after being expelled from Zanu PF in August 2011 on allegations of going against party policies and directives.

Mutinhiri announced her decision to leave the MDC and political arena in a letter dated February 5 and addressed to party leader Nelson Chamisa.

“This letter serves to inform you that I am tendering my resignation from your party with immediate effect. I would like to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely the late Morgan Tsvangirai who accepted me and accommodated me when I was expelled from Zanu PF and indeed yourself in the MDC family. I wish your party the best luck in its endeavours,” the letter read.

After crossing the floor, Mutinhiri faced criticism from the MDC family who accused her of being a spy sent to destroy the party from within.

She, however, held different posts including being a member of the national executive council which she held until her resignation.

“I confirm that I am no longer with the MDC. I am now concentrating on my farming business,” she told NewsDay yesterday.

She owns a farm outside Marondera. Mutinhiri is not the first to leave the opposition party from the province.

NewsDay Zimbabwe.

Businessman Genius Kadungure has been denied bail at the Harare provincial magistrates court.

Harare regional magistrate Crispen Mberewere denied Kadungure his liberty to be tried while out of custody on the basis that he showed dishonesty after committing the offence while on bail on other similar offences.

Kadungure is facing fraud charges after he allegedly undervalued his Bentley upon its importation into the country from South Africa and prejudiced ZIMRA of nearly US $58 665 in import duty.

Correspondent|Police have recovered a Toyota Allion which was used as a getaway car by armed robbers who pounced on illegal forex dealers at Makoni Shopping centre on Wednesday afternoon.

The vehicle which belonged to one of the illegal money changers Jairos Jeke was found dumped in Glenview. Jeke’s car was taken by the robbers after robbing him of his money. According to witnesses the nine robbers, who were wearing masks, jumped out of a Toyota Hilux truck armed with pistols, rifles and a machete before one of them ordered the foreign currency dealers, who trade outside the Simbisa Fast-food outlet to lie on the ground.

Fast-food and confectionery outlets Chicken Inn and Baker’s Inn had to temporarily close their doors, with customers abandoning their food, as the heist unfolded. Some people who were queueing for cash at Mukuru.com scurried for cover, while others lay on the ground. The robbers targeted two brothers who are forex dealers. They robbed the two of their cash, before taking one of the brother’s car and sped off with it.

National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said when the vehicle was recovered, the keys, one tyre and the battery were missing.

“Police has recovered the vehicle which was taken by armed robbers who robbed forex dealers at Makoni Shopping Centre on Wednesday. The Toyota Allion was abandoned outside ZRP Glenview this morning (Thursday). The car has since been identified, however, one tyre, battery and keys were missing. We are still investigating the case,” he said.

Ass-Comm Nyathi said it seemed the robbery was well coordinated and the robbers had full information on their targets. He urged the public to desist from illegal activities, which include illegally dealing in forex.

President Mnangagwa has left Harare for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he will attend the 33rd Ordinary Summit of the African Union.

The summit commenced on January 21.

He was seen off at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Home Affairs Kazembe Kazembe, Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Oliver Chidawu, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, defence chiefs and other senior Government officials.

The first statutory meeting of the summit was that of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), which was held from January 21 to 22.

The outcomes of the PRC deliberations were considered by the executive Council which has been meeting since yesterday. The Executive Council is charged with preparing the documents and drafting the decisions and declarations that will be considered by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, who will meet from February 9 to 10.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 33rd Ordinary Summit of the African Union.

He was received at Bole International Airport by Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Ethiopia Ambassador Albert Chimbindi and embassy officials. A guard of honour was mounted by the Ethiopian army.

Correspondent|Members of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) will spend at least US$4.5 million this year visiting global capitals that include Washington, Brussels, London and Paris on what Government says is an international re-engagement drive meant to spruce up the country’s image in the face of the elusive global capital and investment.

According to a report by the Zimbabwe Independent, as part of its international travels, the POLAD re-engagement sub-committee will be in the US from March 24 to 26, where it will, among other tasks, lobby for the removal of sanctions.

The committee comprises Thokozani Khupe (chairperson), Willard Mugadza (deputy chairperson), Kwanele Hlabangana (rapporteur), Aplonia Munzverengwi (committee member) and Khaliphani Phugeni (spokesperson).

It will also visit South Africa, United Kingdom, and several other European countries.The team has so far met with the European Union (EU) ambassador Timo Olkkonen, British ambassador Melanie Robinson and American embassy officials.

According to a POLAD handbook, the removal of sanctions “will go a long way in diffusing perceptions about Zimbabwe and give a new impetus to both the economy and opportunities for its people”.

Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba said the cost associated with the POLAD re-engagement committee’s mission was nothing compared to the cost of Western sanctions.

“Now you say ZW$80 million. How much is that compared with the cost of sanctions? They are chasing a programme to have the sanctions removed. And remember they are going to be paying in United States dollars where they are going, they need to pay for accommodation, food, travel,” Charamba said.

“It is a mission, and they are actually pulling a pillar policy of the Second Republic. It is part of their commitment on areas they wanted to look at, including the legislative reforms, policy reforms, uniting the nation and economic recovery. It is part of a solution to a common challenge.”

Roslyn Gubsin promised papers for UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, and Canada in the process conning a number of people.

The advert read:

Now recruiting those who want to come and work in care , driving and cleaning here in Europe you pay $300 it is for administration purposes we get you the job and you will be given 5 years Visa
Counties are
Belgium ??
Sweden ??
Canada ??
Germany ??
Northern Island ?
Netherlands ??
We are recruiting now we have a target to meet you don’t need any qualifications but you should be good at English

Airfare is paid for
Accommodation for 4 months after that you can get accommodation of your own choice.
You are bound to work for the Company for one year after that if you don’t like it you can move to another company.
If you like you continue
With your Visa during your leave days you can travel up and down

All serious candidates are considered.

Watch the original ZimEye.com expose in the video downloading below:

Own Correspondent|A Victoria Falls man who was conned of a huge amount of money by a constar who was promising access to overseas jobs has managed to recover his money following a ZimEye.com expose of the clandestine dealings.

A UK female pastor Roslin Gibson duped desperate Zimbabweans promising them immigration papers in Europe.

Following a ZimEye article profiling the first victims who are based in UK, new victims soon learnt they could approach ZimEye to get thwir stories published.

They were charged 300 US dollars each.
Gibson is a pastor.

Following the latest article, Gibson has refunded the first victim.

At 3.39pm she wrote to 7 of her victims, saying:

“Thank you guys like I said I am now refunding you from my on money . I am sorry for taking long but we all thought it would still work . Yours is coming soon guys like I said after all I will support you with projects home have a good day we are now family’

The Vic Falls based victim speaks to ZimEye.

Watch Live video downloading below:

Zimbabwe’s Chimurenga music maestro Thomas Mapfumo on Thursday took a dig at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s chants in which he claimed 2030 will see him still in power.

For the record, Mnangagwa infamously said: “2030, ndendichipo (In 2030, I will still be President).

In an interview with Nehanda TV, Zimbabwe music icon Mapfumo had invaluable advice for the veteran politician, imploring him to step down, while also describing his continued stay in power as disastrous.

“Do not stay in power when you are not able to lead.

“What are you doing?

“You say 2030 you will be there; doing what, when people are dying of hunger?” Mapfumo queried.

WATCH Thomas Mapfumo lay into President Emmerson Mnangagwa in video downloading below:

Source: Nehanda Radio

MARRY Chiwenga, has once again been freed on $1 500 bail by High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere.

Marry was jailed last week after she allegedly slapped her children’s nanny Delight Munyoro at Hellenic Primary School where the maid was picking up the three minors.

She was denied bail and remanded in custody.

Justice Ndewere ruled that Magistrate Bianca Makwande had erred in relying on mere common assault allegations as proven facts.

She also ruled that Marry had no previous convictions and her freedom cannot be sacrificed based on allegations.

“No evidence was led by the State or placed before the court neither was there any previous convictions presented,” the judge said.

“The State only relied on allegations which she denied. An accused who has not admitted to the allegations is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” ruled Ndebele before she freed her.

Marry will continue staying at her parents’ home as part of bail conditions. She was also ordered not to interfere with Munyoro and another witness Batsirayi Furukiya.

She is also on bail on other charges of attempting to murder the VP, money laundering and externalisation.

Suspended Zanu PF Youth League members Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu addressed another news conference in the capital on Friday: see video below

By A Correspondent| Marry Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, has this afternoon been granted $1 500 bail coupled with stringent conditions.

Mubaiwa who has been in custody since last Saturday after being denied bail by Harare magistrate Mrs Bianca Makwande is facing assault charges.

She allegedly assaulted the family’s maid Delight Munyoro at Hellenic School in Borrowdale following an altercation over custody of the children last week.

High Court Judge Justice Erica Ndewere upheld the appeal against the decision by Mrs Makwande of denying her bail on the basis that she had a propensity for violence.

Mubaiwa was also ordered to stay at her parents’ residence in Glen Lorne until the matter was finalised and not to interfere with state witnesses including Munyoro and Batsirayi Furukiya.

She is required to report once every fortnight on Fridays at the Borrowdale Police Station.

– StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Vice President Kembo Mohadi wants the court to dismiss his ex-wife Tambudzani Mohadi application in which she is demanding $13 000 monthly maintenance accusing her of seeking to reap where she did not grow.

Mohadi, who is being sued for US$13 394 post-divorce maintenance by his former wife, Tambudzani Bhudagi Muleya, has accused her of playing games with the court and attempting to embarrass him.

Mohadi and Tambudzani’s marriage was dissolved in 2018 and just after the nullification, Tambudzani petitioned the court seeking maintenance.

Tambudzani argues that while she was staying with Mohadi before their marriage irrevocably broke down, the couple purchased various business entities which were now being controlled by the VP and she was now surviving on a meagre allowance from her position as senator.

But in his response to the application Mohadi, said Tambudzani was a woman of means and was simply trying to play games with the court.

“The applicant (Tambudzani) is not entitled to maintenance post-divorce as she has no dependants to support. All children born out of the marriage relationship between the applicant and respondent (Mohadi) are adults. Applicant has no rentals to pay as she was awarded two houses when the marriage was dissolved which she is leasing and realises about US$1 000 per month from rentals,” Mohadi said.

“The consent paper signed by the applicant and the respondent shows that the applicant has other several properties of a substantial value and over 400 herd of cattle. She is not poor as she purports to be in the proceedings and is not in need of any maintenance.”

The VP further said an examination of Tambudzani’s requirements for maintenance as laid out in her founding affidavit does not give the impression that she was struggling and needed money for her upkeep.

“It boggles the mind why the applicant would want US$1 834 per month for holidays and what she calls church trips. This simply shows that the applicant is playing games with this honourable court. She is simply not serious. The applicant merely filed the present application to embarrass and harass the respondent,” he said adding that no justification has been given by Tambudzani for items listed on the purported schedule of expenses.

In her application, Tambudzani insisted that it was just and equitable for her to be awarded the sum of $13 394 as maintenance, an amount that would enable her to enjoy and maintain a standard of living reasonably comparable to the standard of living she used to enjoy while living with Mohadi.

But the VP dismissed her line of argument, saying it seems as if Tambudzani was alleging that he was obliged to maintain her after divorce, on the basis of the marriage vows that he made.

“It is common cause that for over 19 years she has been fending for herself without any support from the respondent. During that period she did not deem it fit to approach the courts for assistance. It is clear that she has been able to sustain herself and she can continue.

“She did not apply for maintenance because she was able to sustain herself and is still able to sustain herself,” Mohadi said.

-DailyNews

Addressing the media at Media centre in Harare Friday afternoon, ousted Zanu Pf youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu said he had received information that there was a plot to kill him and he had informed his lawyers about the development.

The vocal former youth league leader however did not disclose further details regarding the plot hinting that it would expose the whistleblowers.

“… even if they kill me, they will not kill the message… but what you should know is that within those circles, there are others who feel that what is about to happen is not right… of course we are all going to die anywhere but i would have died for a cause…. i will not say a lot about this because it will blow my cover, but i have since advised my lawyer about everything and if i die, yes i will be buried. I will be gone, but my lawyers will then take it further..”

Watch the live video loading below for the full text of what Tsenengamu told the media…..

“If you could sit down and negotiate with Ian Smith, what is stopping you from sitting down with your fellow countryman Nelson Chamisa?” ousted Zanu Pf youth leader Godfrey Chamisa has pleaded with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

By A Correspondent- Ousted Zanu Pf leader Godfrey Tsenengamu has revealed that the leadership should be accountable to the citizens over corruption.

At a press conference held in Harare, Tsenengamu said he is not fazed by being chucked out of the party revealing that a corruption summit is on the cards.

“We want the leadership to be accountable. Come and tell us where the problem is….hose that we have elected into leaders have turned into looters. Its a generational curse which is on either side. We will announce a whatsapp number for this. We will not stop to expose the rot. Even ZACC itself was rotten. We got rid of Mugabe and corruption didnt stop. it is a connection. Kunenge kuri kuatmbisa munyu kurunga matatya. these looters are well connected.

You can sue Tsenengamu but we will see if you can sue the citizens. We are now taking the corruption fight national we are not backing down on the allegations we made to the individuals. We will not just speak without any V11, takadzidza kuti you can only speak without evidence. Just like in a war, you do not use all your weapons, we move stage by stage… and we will move with you until mati eke.”

Watch the live video loading below for this and more…

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa today flew to Kuwadzana in Banket for his monthly clean up campaign.

Said Mnangagwa in a facebook post:

“Ending the week with another National Clean Up day, this time in Banket. This land belongs to us all and we must all take responsibility for keeping it clean. Wishing everyone a blessed weekend.”

By A Correspondent- While giving testimony to the Parliamentary Committee on Health lead by Ruth Labode, doctors said US$3.5 million donated by wellwishers for a cath-lab at Parirenyatwa Hospital disappeared and the cath-lab was never delivered.

Dr Azzah Mashumba, and SHDA President Dr Shingai Nyaguse, who reportedly broke down in parly narrated sad stories of what’s taking place at the country’s largest referral hospital.

A surgeon that spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity reportedly said:

I have been at Parirenyatwa for 37 years and I have never seen a hospital coming to rock bottom because the equipment purchased has no service contracts (guarantee for servicing) and there is no accountability in terms of equipment purchased and drugs.

Capital equipment is disappearing because we are not accounting for it. I asked for a cath-lab to be purchased in 2018 and US$3,5 million was availed by a donor for its purchase, and I saw the money, but that cath-lab has not been delivered and the money disappeared

The senior doctors have also accused deputy health minister of buying non-usable hospital eqquipment in India.

By A Correspondent- Ousted Zanu Pf youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu has vowed that he will not stop the corruption fight despite being chucked out of the party.

“I am upright ideologically and i will not attend Herbert Chitepo school of Ideology. There are individuals yes who want to pit the leadership against each other… I am not fighting on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s corner neither am i fighting on the corner of VP Chiwenga…. You are misinformed.

We have these cartels working with the leadership and trust me whoever will come into power, before you are inaugurated, they will be on your doorstep. They go where the power is….”

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

By A Correspondent- MDC-T legislator Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (proportional representation) yesterday said the 2018 elections were handled better than previous elections and praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a reformer.

Speaking after meeting visiting Norwegian leader of the standing committee of foreign affairs and defence, Anniken Huitfeldt at Parliament Building, Misihairabwi-Mushonga, who was representing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs, said even election observers endorsed the 2018 polls as “better than before”.

“I speak from an opposition point of view and want to say this is the first time I had a peaceful election. In previous elections, I used to go into hiding because the situation was risky,” she said.

The MP, from the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T, said even international observers were allowed into the country during the 2018 elections.

However, the legislator said there were post-electoral problems like the August 1, 2018 violence, which resulted in the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry being set up to investigate the shooting to death of six civilians by the military.

She told Huitfeldt that some of the recommendations by the Motlanthe Commission were that there must be political reforms.

Misihairabwi-Mushonga then praised Mnangagwa as a reformer, adding that people must acknowledge him for the work that he was doing.

“The President is one of the reformers and if he moves in a particular direction and if there is no acknowledgement of the changes that he is making, then we are strengthening the hardliners also. The Foreign Affairs minister (Sibusiso Moyo) is one of the reformists we have and he has pushed for reforms,” she said.

Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the international community was hostile to Zimbabwe because they did not like the late former President Robert Mugabe.

“They had a problem with the individual and not the party,” she said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The announcement was made by the Energy and Power Development minister Fortune Chasi on his official Twitter account. ZESA Holdings acting chief executive officer Patrick Chivaura has died on Friday morning with details of his death still unknown.

“Sadly, Mr Chivaura an eminent electrical engineer who served as acting CEO at zesa and was due to retire this month passed on this morning. Highly professional, god fearing, honesty MHSRIP. So long Mukanya!” Chasi tweeted.

Arrangements for his funeral are currently underway amid revelations that family members are still being notified of the death. 

ZESA is yet to issue a comment on the matter.

By A Correspondent- The police in Beitbridge have nabbed 3 notorious robbers believed to be behind hammering spikes on the Harare-Beitbridge highway to deflate motorists’ tyres before they pounce on them.

According to a local publication:

Acting on a tip-off soon after some spikes were on Wednesday hammered on the Harare-Beitbridge Highway just 15km outside the border town, police immediately intensified their hunt.

They nabbed a suspect, who reportedly led them into arresting two others in the Tshitauze suburb, where a firearm was recovered.A video of the highway spikes used by the notorious robbers went viral on social media this week.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- While giving testimony to the Parliamentary Committee on Health lead by Ruth Labode, doctors said US$3.5 million donated by well wishers for a cath-lab at Parirenyatwa Hospital disappeared and the cath-lab was never delivered.

Dr Azzah Mashumba, and SHDA President Dr Shingai Nyaguse, who reportedly broke down in parly narrated sad stories of what’s taking place at the country’s largest referral hospital.

A surgeon that spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity reportedly said:

I have been at Parirenyatwa for 37 years and I have never seen a hospital coming to rock bottom because the equipment purchased has no service contracts (guarantee for servicing) and there is no accountability in terms of equipment purchased and drugs.

Capital equipment is disappearing because we are not accounting for it. I asked for a cath-lab to be purchased in 2018 and US$3,5 million was availed by a donor for its purchase, and I saw the money, but that cath-lab has not been delivered and the money disappeared

The senior doctors have also accused deputy health minister of buying non-usable hospital equipment in India.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- In his application for bail, Kadungure said the High Court ordered him to pay US$58 665 to Zimra as additional vehicle import duty which he did, leaving the State with no tangible allegations against him.

Samukange said the order compelled the complainant not to confiscate Kadungure’s vehicle, but the police violated the ruling.

Samkange said Kadungure is on remand over a US$5 million case and could not flee a case involving US$58 665. Socialite and businessman Genius Kadungure, who is accused of fraud, was yesterday remanded in custody to today for his bail ruling. Kadungure, who was represented by Jonathan Samukange, appeared before magistrate Chrispen Mberewere.

The investigation officer Erasmus Mazhawidzi said Kadungure had a propensity to commit similar offences while on bail, but Samukange argued that he never committed any offence because he was currently facing mere allegations.

Samkange said Kadungure is on remand over a US$5 million case and could not flee a case involving US$58 665. But the State opposed the application, saying Kadungure could interfere with investigations in South Africa as he always travels to that country.

But Samukange said the Bentley company, where his client bought the car at the centre of controversy, was an international company and the State must provide the names of people who he must not communicate with.

Samukange said there was no basis to deny his client bail as the accused voluntarily went to the police station despite knowing the charge. Mberewere will deliver his ruling today. The complainant is the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) represented by Lovemore Chigwanda.

Allegations are that sometime in 2019, the accused went to LSM Distributors, trading as Bentley Johannesburg and bought a Bentley for R3 281 784. When he arrived at the Beitbridge Border Post, Zimbabwe side, Ginimbi allegedly connived with his agent Alexander Gumbo and forged the vehicle’s value to read R1,9 million.

They allegedly scanned the forged documents before uploading them on the Zimra Asycuda system for duty processing on December 22 last year. Zimra then acted upon the misrepresentation to charge duty amounting to US$81 000 instead of $139 665, leading to an actual prejudice of $58 665. George Manokore appeared for the State.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- A teen boy, whose age could not be immediately established was this morning hit by a kombi at Manyame bridge along Seke road while jogging.

The driver of the kombi, which was coming from town, reportedly lost control of his vehicle and ploughed into the side track of the bridge where the boy was jogging and hit him while at the same time destroying iron bars at the bridge.

The boy reportedly fell into the bridge and was badly injured and he was rushed to Chitungwiza referral hospital.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the boy is a student at Zengeza 3 High while others alleged that he had just finished his Ordinary levels in 2019.

Watch the video below for this and more…..

By A Correspondent- Ousted Zanu Pf youth leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu will at 11am hold a press conference at the Media centre in Harare.

The duo, who were suspended from their leadership positions in the party’s youth wing will address the media in what is a potentially explosive statement regarding their party Zanu Pf and developments surrounding their suspension.

Reacting to a statement by Patrick Chinamasa that the duo should attend Hebert Chitepo school of Ideology for their indiscipline, Tsenengamu scoffed at his superiors and said he would only attend Herbert Chitepo school of Ideoplogy as a lecturer and not a student.

He revealed that the latest developments in his party was a clear indication of who needed schooling on what the late Herbet Chitepo stood for as a liberation icon.

“Only as a lecturer will I go to Chitepo school of Ideology for I identified my students yesterday. Chitepo was neither a thief nor a looter.”

ZimEye will be live streaming the presser

The development has so far attracted mixed reactions from the community with one wing of the public saying that the youths are not genuine at all they are puppets just like those who work inside the Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission and those in the political actors dialogue club, Polad. A video of the Zanu-pf leader is recalled in which he announces that his party is the army, the police, the air force, and everything that you can imagine.

Another sector of the community however says that the flow of events is real and on Monday the first public impeachment as it were, of the ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa, was read out. This wing explores how the two laid open what is now known as the pyramid of corruption whose base is Emmerson Mnangagwa himself. The two have announced they will confront Mnangagwa head on concerning his support for cartel kingpin Kuda Tagwirei.

ZimEye will be live streaming the presser.

Refresh this page for latest updates on this story and more latest news.

The Zimbabwe Independent has revealed intriguing details of Wednesday’s politburo meeting that expelled youth league leaders Pupurai Togarepi, Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu.

According to the weekly paper, President Emmerson Mnangagwa single handedly pushed for the suspension of his colleagues arguing that their activism against corruption was likely to threaten party unity.

Insiders said Wednesday’s meeting provided the clearest evidence yet of the post-coup fault lines as some top officials like Zanu PF chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, secretary for information communication technology Chris Mutsvangwa, secretary for women’s affairs Mabel Chinomona, secretary for security Lovemore Matuke and committee member Tsitsi Muzenda openly opposed Mnangagwa’s suggestion to expel the youth league leaders from the party, arguing it would signal that Zanu PF was not committed to the anti-corruption fight.

Mnangagwa and his backers were adamant that the youths be dismissed. But other party leaders, most notably Mutsvangwa, argued that the youths had raised valid points which should not be swept under the carpet.

Zanu PF heavyweights, including Mnangagwa, Chiwenga, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa and committee member Perrance Shiri suggested that the youths should be expelled from the party.

Mutsvangwa said the politburo should not be seen protecting corrupt people at the expense of its youth, adding that the allegations they had raised “had substance”.

Sources said Mnangagwa set the ball rolling as he came out guns blazing from the outset, accusing the belligerent Young Turks of defying the party’s leadership by failing to adhere to laid down procedures when tackling corruption.

Officials said a visibly irate Mnangagwa reserved his harshest rebuke for Togarepi, whom he personally stripped of his responsibilities during the meeting.
“The President spoke first and he was brutal in rebuking the youths, particularly Togarepi. He openly told Togarepi that he appointed him to lead the youths despite the fact that, at 56, he was not qualified to do so. He told Togarepi that he owed his position to his benevolence and he was expecting him to provide good leadership to the youths, but seeing that he had dismally failed to do so, he was going to relieve him of the duties so that he remains as an ordinary card-carrying member of the party,” a politburo member said.

“The President further said his decisions did not even need to be discussed by the politburo since he served purely at his pleasure.”After he was done with Togarepi, sources said, Mnangagwa then turned to Matutu, telling him that he had gone offside and was going to ask the meeting to recommend an appropriate sanction although he would have personally favoured an outright expulsion from the party. He then opened the matter for discussion.

Sources said Chiwenga, throwing his hands as a gesture of anger, told the meeting that the only befitting punishment for the errant youth league leaders was expulsion.

“He appeared very angry. He told the meeting that he believed the youths could only have acted on behalf of someone and so they deserved to be expelled to send a clear message to their unidentified handler. Mohadi, Mpofu and Chinamasa also concurred with the proposed sanction.”

However, as an indication of the widening fissures, the group opposed to expelling the youths argued that they had a point in raising a red flag over corruption.

They also argued that if the party expels the youths, this would appear to the public as if it was a condonation of corruption.“Muchinguri-Kashiri said while she recognised that the youths had not followed procedure, she was worried about the sort of image the move would give to the country about its commitment to fighting corruption. She said the party cannot afford to ignore the corruption allegations. She got immediate support from Mutsvangwa, who said they party had no history of slapping harsh sanction on errant young people even during the days of the liberation struggle,” a source said.

“Chiwenga, incensed by Mutsvangwa’s argument, suddenly interjected and ordered Mutsvangwa to hold his peace and receive a lecture from him on the history of the party. He told Mutsvangwa that he had no right to lecture them on the history of the party since he only joined the war in 1975 and was therefore a junior. Chiwenga then took a lot of time explaining in detail his own role in the liberation war from the time he received military training at Mgagao Camp in Tanzania,” the source added.

“Basically, all female politburo members spoke against expelling the youths and argued for a more lenient punishment like suspension. It was the women’s league secretary Chinomona who first made that suggestion and got backing from Tsitsi Muzenda and Lovemore Matuke. They said an outright expulsion would be too harsh, considering that they had raised valid complaints which were of concern to many people even outside the party,” another party official said.

However, Shiri weighed in, saying there no need to be lenient with them since they spoke like people who were fed up with the party.“Shiri said he was of the opinion that they should be expelled. He said judging by their fiery language at the press conference on Monday, they spoke like people who were already on their way out of the party and the only thing that could be done was to aid them on the way,” the source added.

At that juncture, Togarepi and Matutu, who were present at the meeting, were asked to give their responses.Togarepi said he only expressed his solidarity with Matutu and Tsenengamu in the fight against corruption without necessarily subscribing to their radical statements.

He, however, received a strong backlash from Mnangagwa for going to the extent of causing the publication of a retraction in the state-controlled Herald, for a story in which the youth league was distancing itself from Matutu and Tsenengamu.

“Togarepi dissociated himself with Matutu and Tsenengamu’s statements but said he made his expressions based on the party and the President’s well-known stance against corruption,” a politburo member said.

“However, the President was not amused by the response. He was clearly incensed and told Togarepi that by causing the retraction in the Herald, he had gone too far and his offence was unpardonable. He then asked him to pack his belongings and leave the room immediately.

“Matutu began his defence by stating that since they had only expressed their own personal views and had not targeted any of their superiors in the party, they had not committed any offence. He then said he believed he was doing the right thing to speak against corruption since the party had a known stance against graft. He said he had expressed his personal opinion and was not asked to do so by anyone.

“This was however strongly rebutted by Chinamasa, who spoke figuratively saying that the only time when someone stands on his own was when he is sleeping in his bedroom and not in a public place.”

When it came to the final discussion, sources said, Muchinguri-Kashiri moved that, at worst, Matutu and Tsenengamu be suspended from the party for a year, which decision was adopted by the meeting.

Rugeje then immediately suggested that as part of their punishment, the two be sent to the Chitepo School of Ideology for a six-month re-orientation programme.
He got support from the school’s principal, Munyaradzi Machacha.

As he left the meeting following the decision, sources said, Matutu was asked to leave behind keys for the official party vehicle he has been using, a luxurious all-terrain Toyota Land Cruiser VX model.

Additional reporting from the Zimbabwe Independent.

Own Correspondent|The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has NOT at all stripped Leopold Takawira of the honour of having one of its major roads named after him as reported in some media.

There has been claims going around that the City Council has renamed Leopold Takawira Street to King Mzilikazi Road with some claiming its been changed to 7th Avenue.

Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni clarified the renaming of Leopold Takawira Avenue, saying part of the street retains the name.

“For Leopold Takawira it is just the section from Samuel Parirenyatwa Street to Umguza River Bridge along Gwanda Road (renamed King Mzilikazi Rd), it is not the entire road, the other section before Samuel Parirenyatwa remains as Leopold Takawira Avenue,” he said.

The wide road leading to South Africa past the Centenary Park and Ascot mansions – originally known by its colonial name, Selbourne Avenue – was renamed Leopold Takawira Avenue, after the former deputy president of ZANU who rebelled from Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU in 1963, during the early years of colonialism resistance.

Bulawayo councillors also resolved that all Avenues in the CBD will maintain their numbering format from 1^st Avenue to 15^th Avenue, defying a government directive last year to rename the city’s busiest road, 6^th Avenue, to Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Way.

The road links the city centre to the Western suburbs.

Defying the government directive, the councillors have, instead, resolved to rename George Avenue – which runs from Harare Road to Old Gwanda Road past Holiday Inn hotel – after Mnangagwa.

A FRESH power struggle has erupted in Zanu PF, with senior officials clashing over the suspension of Youth League leaders during Wednesday’s stormy politburo meeting in what insiders have described as the widening of post-coup political fault lines.

Secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi, his deputy Lewis Matutu and the wing’s firebrand national political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu were relieved of their duties following a heated discussion about their much-publicised anti-corruption crusade which saw them implicating businessmen and top Zanu PF benefactors Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Billy Rautenbach at a press conference on Monday.

The youths last year also mentioned Tagwirei, a close associate of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, among the people they accused of corruptly destroying the economy.

Togarepi was demoted to a central committee member while Matutu and Tsenengamu were both handed one-year suspensions. They were demoted to ordinary card-carrying members, but will be eligible to contest for positions of their choice at the expiry of their suspension periods, albeit only after having displayed good behaviour and undergone ideological schooling at the party’s Chinese-modelled Chitepo School of Ideology.

They have, however, vowed not to attend the college unless as lecturers. In off-the-record briefings, politburo members told the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday that heated exchanges characterised the explosive meeting, where bigwigs took sharply divergent positions not only on how to sanction the youths but also how to roll out the anti-corruption fight.

Until now, there have only been factional undercurrents pitting President Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, who is widely viewed as harbouring presidential ambitions. Officials revealed the meeting laid bare the fact that Mnangagwa has lost the support of some of his backers, who were key players in the 2017 coup.

Insiders said Wednesday’s meeting provided the clearest evidence yet of the post-coup fault lines as some top officials like Zanu PF chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, secretary for information communication technology Chris Mutsvangwa, secretary for women’s affairs Mabel Chinomona, secretary for security Lovemore Matuke and committee member Tsitsi Muzenda openly opposed Mnangagwa’s suggestion to expel the youth league leaders from the party, arguing it would signal that Zanu PF was not committed to the anti-corruption fight.

Mnangagwa and his backers were adamant that the youths be dismissed. But other party leaders, most notably Mutsvangwa, argued that the youths had raised valid points which should not be swept under the carpet.

Zanu PF heavyweights, including Mnangagwa, Chiwenga, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa and committee member Perrance Shiri suggested that the youths should be expelled from the party.

Mutsvangwa said the politburo should not be seen protecting corrupt people at the expense of its youth, adding that the allegations they had raised “had substance”.

Sources said Mnangagwa set the ball rolling as he came out guns blazing from the outset, accusing the belligerent Young Turks of defying the party’s leadership by failing to adhere to laid down procedures when tackling corruption.

Officials said a visibly irate Mnangagwa reserved his harshest rebuke for Togarepi, whom he personally stripped of his responsibilities during the meeting.
“The President spoke first and he was brutal in rebuking the youths, particularly Togarepi. He openly told Togarepi that he appointed him to lead the youths despite the fact that, at 56, he was not qualified to do so. He told Togarepi that he owed his position to his benevolence and he was expecting him to provide good leadership to the youths, but seeing that he had dismally failed to do so, he was going to relieve him of the duties so that he remains as an ordinary card-carrying member of the party,” a politburo member said.

“The President further said his decisions did not even need to be discussed by the politburo since he served purely at his pleasure.”After he was done with Togarepi, sources said, Mnangagwa then turned to Matutu, telling him that he had gone offside and was going to ask the meeting to recommend an appropriate sanction although he would have personally favoured an outright expulsion from the party. He then opened the matter for discussion.

Sources said Chiwenga, throwing his hands as a gesture of anger, told the meeting that the only befitting punishment for the errant youth league leaders was expulsion.

“He appeared very angry. He told the meeting that he believed the youths could only have acted on behalf of someone and so they deserved to be expelled to send a clear message to their unidentified handler. Mohadi, Mpofu and Chinamasa also concurred with the proposed sanction.”

However, as an indication of the widening fissures, the group opposed to expelling the youths argued that they had a point in raising a red flag over corruption.

They also argued that if the party expels the youths, this would appear to the public as if it was a condonation of corruption.“Muchinguri-Kashiri said while she recognised that the youths had not followed procedure, she was worried about the sort of image the move would give to the country about its commitment to fighting corruption. She said the party cannot afford to ignore the corruption allegations. She got immediate support from Mutsvangwa, who said they party had no history of slapping harsh sanction on errant young people even during the days of the liberation struggle,” a source said.

“Chiwenga, incensed by Mutsvangwa’s argument, suddenly interjected and ordered Mutsvangwa to hold his peace and receive a lecture from him on the history of the party. He told Mutsvangwa that he had no right to lecture them on the history of the party since he only joined the war in 1975 and was therefore a junior. Chiwenga then took a lot of time explaining in detail his own role in the liberation war from the time he received military training at Mgagao Camp in Tanzania,” the source added.

“Basically, all female politburo members spoke against expelling the youths and argued for a more lenient punishment like suspension. It was the women’s league secretary Chinomona who first made that suggestion and got backing from Tsitsi Muzenda and Lovemore Matuke. They said an outright expulsion would be too harsh, considering that they had raised valid complaints which were of concern to many people even outside the party,” another party official said.

However, Shiri weighed in, saying there no need to be lenient with them since they spoke like people who were fed up with the party.“Shiri said he was of the opinion that they should be expelled. He said judging by their fiery language at the press conference on Monday, they spoke like people who were already on their way out of the party and the only thing that could be done was to aid them on the way,” the source added.

At that juncture, Togarepi and Matutu, who were present at the meeting, were asked to give their responses.Togarepi said he only expressed his solidarity with Matutu and Tsenengamu in the fight against corruption without necessarily subscribing to their radical statements.

He, however, received a strong backlash from Mnangagwa for going to the extent of causing the publication of a retraction in the state-controlled Herald, for a story in which the youth league was distancing itself from Matutu and Tsenengamu.

“Togarepi dissociated himself with Matutu and Tsenengamu’s statements but said he made his expressions based on the party and the President’s well-known stance against corruption,” a politburo member said.

“However, the President was not amused by the response. He was clearly incensed and told Togarepi that by causing the retraction in the Herald, he had gone too far and his offence was unpardonable. He then asked him to pack his belongings and leave the room immediately.

“Matutu began his defence by stating that since they had only expressed their own personal views and had not targeted any of their superiors in the party, they had not committed any offence. He then said he believed he was doing the right thing to speak against corruption since the party had a known stance against graft. He said he had expressed his personal opinion and was not asked to do so by anyone.

“This was however strongly rebutted by Chinamasa, who spoke figuratively saying that the only time when someone stands on his own was when he is sleeping in his bedroom and not in a public place.”

When it came to the final discussion, sources said, Muchinguri-Kashiri moved that, at worst, Matutu and Tsenengamu be suspended from the party for a year, which decision was adopted by the meeting.

Rugeje then immediately suggested that as part of their punishment, the two be sent to the Chitepo School of Ideology for a six-month re-orientation programme.
He got support from the school’s principal, Munyaradzi Machacha.

As he left the meeting following the decision, sources said, Matutu was asked to leave behind keys for the official party vehicle he has been using, a luxurious all-terrain Toyota Land Cruiser VX model.

-Zimbabwe Independent

Correspondent|NetOne Board Chairman Mr. James Mutizwa and 2 other board members have resigned with immediate effect.

The board Chairman who was appointed less than 8 months ago resigned last night under unclear circumstances while two more board members ( names not yet supplied) have handed over their resignation letters.

More details to follow……..

Independent|MILITARY commanders have deployed large numbers of officers from the Zimbabwe Intelligence Corps (ZIC), commonly known as military intelligence (MI), the elite Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Investigations Branch (SIB) in communities throughout the country to gather intelligence as the rapidly deteriorating economy poses heightened risk to national security.

The deployments come at a time situation reports (sitreps) generated by the security service indicate that there is low morale among the rank and file as a result of economic hardships and unfulfilled promises from the 2017 military coup which toppled president Robert Mugabe and propelled President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power.

Military sources told the Zimbabwe Independent that the troops, who are embedded in the communities, are also gauging Zanu PF support and Mnangagwa’s popularity.

The MI uses information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist commanders in their decisions. This is achieved through an assessment of data from a range of sources, directed towards the commanders’ mission requirements or responding to questions as part of operational or campaign planning.

The commanders’ information requirements are first identified before they are incorporated into intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination.

Areas of study may include the operational environment, hostile, friendly and neutral forces as well as the civilian population in an area of interest.

“Information gathered is then used for scenario mapping or scenario planning. The information can be used to predict events, which means it can be used to prepare responses or contingent measures,” a security official said.

“For example, the information can be used to predict that riots are likely to break out if the economic situation continues to deteriorate, and so on. The fact that this is happening shows that the military is worried about the state of affairs.”

The SAS is a highly skilled special forces unit based at Kabrit Barracks along the Harare-Chitungwiza highway.It undertakes a number of roles, including covert investigations, counter-terrorism, direct action, hostage taking and hostage rescue.

It is the most highly trained military unit with cutting-edge expertise in weapon use, parachuting, skydiving and hijack reversal.

“Their deployment in large numbers suggests that the commanders are concerned,” a source said.The SIB is mainly used to conduct probes within the rank and file of the military as well as to carry out what a source described as “localised investigations within camps and in the cantonment proximity”. Each military unit has SIB members.

Security sources told the Independent this week that army commanders are panicking over the widespread apprehension in the country, owing to the deteriorating economic situation, characterised by skyrocketing prices, high cost of living and hyperinflation, which has rendered salaries worthless.

Commanders’ worst fear at the moment, sources said, is that the worsening hardships could trigger civil unrest.“Basically, they have been deployed into the communities to gather intelligence and gauge the national mood given the likelihood of civil unrest. So they have deeply embedded themselves in society and it is difficult to recognise them since they don’t wear army uniforms. In the case of the SAS, it includes relatively mature people with vast experience in intelligence gathering. They are highly trained and very efficient,” the official said.

“They can very easily blend into communities and the majority can speak all local languages and are familiar with diverse cultures. They can carry out covert operations for periods of up to 20 years. SAS is the best-trained in all military skills and they do a lot of covert operations. They are part of the elite forces together with commandoes and the parachute regiment.”

Besides deploying the special forces, the army has also embarked on large-scale internal surveillance of its officers amid concerns over rampant indiscipline and agitation among troops.

The internal surveillance, being undertaken by the MI and the military police, has been necessitated by growing disquiet within the rank and file of the military over the rising cost of living, poor salaries and difficult working conditions.

Commanders fear that there is a realistic possibility of mutiny if the situation is not urgently addressed.“The generals are worried that during this period of a deteriorating economic situation in the country, soldiers are in a desperate condition: ill-disciplined, disorganised, poorly fed and poverty stricken,” an officer in the army said.

Contacted for comment, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) spokesperson Overson Mugwisi said: “I am not aware of the said deployments. I need to find out from those responsible.”

To survive the hardships, an increasing number of soldiers have turned to money-spinning activities such as gold panning while others have turned to crime, including armed robbery and theft.

In November last year, ZNA commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo convened an emergency staff meeting where he read the riot act over rampant indiscipline, theft of rations and criminal activities involving soldiers.

The Independent has been consistently reporting on the rising tension in the military since the start of last year.The army’s Directorate of Signals has over the past 13 months been receiving alarming sitreps from various units, showing growing discontentment among the troops. Reports from the directorate show that morale has hit rock bottom.

At the height of economic turmoil in 2008, restless soldiers looted shops in Harare’s central business district as the country grappled with acute shortages of basic commodities.

Independent|A FRESH power struggle has erupted in Zanu PF, with senior officials clashing over the suspension of Youth League leaders during Wednesday’s stormy politburo meeting in what insiders have described as the widening of post-coup political fault lines.

Secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi, his deputy Lewis Matutu and the wing’s firebrand national political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu were relieved of their duties following a heated discussion about their much-publicised anti-corruption crusade which saw them implicating businessmen and top Zanu PF benefactors Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Billy Rautenbach at a press conference on Monday.

The youths last year also mentioned Tagwirei, a close associate of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, among the people they accused of corruptly destroying the economy.

Togarepi was demoted to a central committee member while Matutu and Tsenengamu were both handed one-year suspensions. They were demoted to ordinary card-carrying members, but will be eligible to contest for positions of their choice at the expiry of their suspension periods, albeit only after having displayed good behaviour and undergone ideological schooling at the party’s Chinese-modelled Chitepo School of Ideology.

They have, however, vowed not to attend the college unless as lecturers. In off-the-record briefings, politburo members told the Zimbabwe Independent yesterday that heated exchanges characterised the explosive meeting, where bigwigs took sharply divergent positions not only on how to sanction the youths but also how to roll out the anti-corruption fight.

Until now, there have only been factional undercurrents pitting President Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga, who is widely viewed as harbouring presidential ambitions. Officials revealed the meeting laid bare the fact that Mnangagwa has lost the support of some of his backers, who were key players in the 2017 coup.

Insiders said Wednesday’s meeting provided the clearest evidence yet of the post-coup fault lines as some top officials like Zanu PF chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, secretary for information communication technology Chris Mutsvangwa, secretary for women’s affairs Mabel Chinomona, secretary for security Lovemore Matuke and committee member Tsitsi Muzenda openly opposed Mnangagwa’s suggestion to expel the youth league leaders from the party, arguing it would signal that Zanu PF was not committed to the anti-corruption fight.

Mnangagwa and his backers were adamant that the youths be dismissed. But other party leaders, most notably Mutsvangwa, argued that the youths had raised valid points which should not be swept under the carpet.

Zanu PF heavyweights, including Mnangagwa, Chiwenga, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa and committee member Perrance Shiri suggested that the youths should be expelled from the party.

Mutsvangwa said the politburo should not be seen protecting corrupt people at the expense of its youth, adding that the allegations they had raised “had substance”.

Sources said Mnangagwa set the ball rolling as he came out guns blazing from the outset, accusing the belligerent Young Turks of defying the party’s leadership by failing to adhere to laid down procedures when tackling corruption.

Officials said a visibly irate Mnangagwa reserved his harshest rebuke for Togarepi, whom he personally stripped of his responsibilities during the meeting.

“The President spoke first and he was brutal in rebuking the youths, particularly Togarepi. He openly told Togarepi that he appointed him to lead the youths despite the fact that, at 56, he was not qualified to do so. He told Togarepi that he owed his position to his benevolence and he was expecting him to provide good leadership to the youths, but seeing that he had dismally failed to do so, he was going to relieve him of the duties so that he remains as an ordinary card-carrying member of the party,” a politburo member said.

“The President further said his decisions did not even need to be discussed by the politburo since he served purely at his pleasure.”After he was done with Togarepi, sources said, Mnangagwa then turned to Matutu, telling him that he had gone offside and was going to ask the meeting to recommend an appropriate sanction although he would have personally favoured an outright expulsion from the party. He then opened the matter for discussion.

Sources said Chiwenga, throwing his hands as a gesture of anger, told the meeting that the only befitting punishment for the errant youth league leaders was expulsion.

“He appeared very angry. He told the meeting that he believed the youths could only have acted on behalf of someone and so they deserved to be expelled to send a clear message to their unidentified handler. Mohadi, Mpofu and Chinamasa also concurred with the proposed sanction.”

However, as an indication of the widening fissures, the group opposed to expelling the youths argued that they had a point in raising a red flag over corruption.

They also argued that if the party expels the youths, this would appear to the public as if it was a condonation of corruption.“Muchinguri-Kashiri said while she recognised that the youths had not followed procedure, she was worried about the sort of image the move would give to the country about its commitment to fighting corruption. She said the party cannot afford to ignore the corruption allegations. She got immediate support from Mutsvangwa, who said they party had no history of slapping harsh sanction on errant young people even during the days of the liberation struggle,” a source said.

“Chiwenga, incensed by Mutsvangwa’s argument, suddenly interjected and ordered Mutsvangwa to hold his peace and receive a lecture from him on the history of the party. He told Mutsvangwa that he had no right to lecture them on the history of the party since he only joined the war in 1975 and was therefore a junior. Chiwenga then took a lot of time explaining in detail his own role in the liberation war from the time he received military training at Mgagao Camp in Tanzania,” the source added.

“Basically, all female politburo members spoke against expelling the youths and argued for a more lenient punishment like suspension. It was the women’s league secretary Chinomona who first made that suggestion and got backing from Tsitsi Muzenda and Lovemore Matuke. They said an outright expulsion would be too harsh, considering that they had raised valid complaints which were of concern to many people even outside the party,” another party official said.

However, Shiri weighed in, saying there no need to be lenient with them since they spoke like people who were fed up with the party.“Shiri said he was of the opinion that they should be expelled. He said judging by their fiery language at the press conference on Monday, they spoke like people who were already on their way out of the party and the only thing that could be done was to aid them on the way,” the source added.

At that juncture, Togarepi and Matutu, who were present at the meeting, were asked to give their responses.Togarepi said he only expressed his solidarity with Matutu and Tsenengamu in the fight against corruption without necessarily subscribing to their radical statements.

He, however, received a strong backlash from Mnangagwa for going to the extent of causing the publication of a retraction in the state-controlled Herald, for a story in which the youth league was distancing itself from Matutu and Tsenengamu.

“Togarepi dissociated himself with Matutu and Tsenengamu’s statements but said he made his expressions based on the party and the President’s well-known stance against corruption,” a politburo member said.

“However, the President was not amused by the response. He was clearly incensed and told Togarepi that by causing the retraction in the Herald, he had gone too far and his offence was unpardonable. He then asked him to pack his belongings and leave the room immediately.

“Matutu began his defence by stating that since they had only expressed their own personal views and had not targeted any of their superiors in the party, they had not committed any offence. He then said he believed he was doing the right thing to speak against corruption since the party had a known stance against graft. He said he had expressed his personal opinion and was not asked to do so by anyone.

“This was however strongly rebutted by Chinamasa, who spoke figuratively saying that the only time when someone stands on his own was when he is sleeping in his bedroom and not in a public place.”

When it came to the final discussion, sources said, Muchinguri-Kashiri moved that, at worst, Matutu and Tsenengamu be suspended from the party for a year, which decision was adopted by the meeting.

Rugeje then immediately suggested that as part of their punishment, the two be sent to the Chitepo School of Ideology for a six-month re-orientation programme.

He got support from the school’s principal, Munyaradzi Machacha.

As he left the meeting following the decision, sources said, Matutu was asked to leave behind keys for the official party vehicle he has been using, a luxurious all-terrain Toyota Land Cruiser VX model.

Gweru Provincial Hospital nurses on Monday temporarily downed tools to protest against deteriorating working conditions at the government health institution among other grievances.

The nurses said they were not happy with their working conditions and also accused hospital authorities of corruption and alleged looting of resources at the institution.

Provincial medical director, Simon Nyadundu confirmed the demonstration, but said the nurses had since returned to work after submitting their grievances to the Health Services Board (HSB).

“The nurses demonstrated over their working conditions (on Monday) before writing their concerns to the Health Services Board,” Nyadundu said.

“They, however, went back to work on the same day (Monday).”

Some of the nurses, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, accused hospital management of diverting resources for personal gain.

They alleged that the hospital officials were ignoring their plight concentrating on “amassing wealth” through the institution’s resources. “Top officials at the hospital are amassing wealth and property using resources at the institution,” alleged one nurse.

“We demand better working conditions, but they are not being addressed by the corrupt top management. We hope government will intervene and address our grievances.”

State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday assured the international community that Government will accelerate the implementation of the reform agenda this year, but called for patience as the process progresses.

He said this at a luncheon he hosted for diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe at State House in Harare.

The President stressed his position that Zimbabwe will this year focus on productivity.

“The Transitional Stabilisation Programme will now focus on production, trade, job creation and economic growth. As the year progresses, elaborate plans will be implemented to achieve our key objectives.

“Key among these is the acceleration of our reform agenda so that there are visible benefits that accrue to the majority of the people. We urge you all to be patient as we implement these reforms,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said the reforms were dependent on all arms of the State, which sometimes slowed down the pace of implementation.

He said Government’s desire was that economic and political reforms progress in tandem and that this was however, not the case due to several factors.

“You will appreciate that the three arms of the State operate with their own calendars and at their own pace. More importantly, we must carry our people with us, as we reform,” he said.

The President acknowledged the challenges ordinary people were going through, but expressed Government’s determination to continue until the state of the economy improved for the benefit of citizens, even without international financial support.

“You will be aware that most jurisdictions which have undertaken structural macro-economic reforms such as those we have begun, enjoy immense financial support from international financial institutions.

“However, Zimbabwe has not enjoyed the same privilege. My Government shall, however, continue to expedite the various programmes we have begun to turn around the fortunes of our economy,” said President Mnangagwa.

Government aims to engage the international community not as beggars but as partners who are competitive, attractive and a stable investment destination.

“The pursuance of our reforms which consolidate the peace, unity and national cohesion remains at the core of my Government’s agenda. In this regard, the Political Actors’ Dialogue (POLAD) is making notable strides and positively contributing to promoting sustainable dialogue, a culture of peace, tolerance, unity, national healing and reconciliation as well as rebuilding trust and confidence in our national institutions,” he said.

President Mnangagwa also told the diplomats that parties participating in Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) had met in December to review activities held in 2019 and developed a strategic plan for 2020.

He said all parties within POLAD were determined to improve the effectiveness of the platform going forward.

“Our arms remain outstretched to welcome those political actors who are yet to join,” he said.

The President urged the diplomats to continue with their collaborations with Zimbabwe. “I invite you to strengthen your perspective partnerships and collaborations with us as we seek to consolidate our democracy, as well as transform, industrialise and modernise our economy.

“A peaceful, democratic, stable and economically prosperous Zimbabwe is indeed of greater benefit to the people of this country and the broader global community. Let us together, explore ways of boosting trade during the year through greater focus on economic diplomacy between and among ourselves towards a shared future and achieving development which leaves no one behind.

“In doing so, I exhort us to strive to engage with each other on the basis of mutual respect.”

He said Government had achieved most of the set targets under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), though there were some challenges brought by the drought and Cyclone Idai.

This affected agriculture production in most parts of the country.

Government’s immediate priority is to guarantee food security by ensuring that all vulnerable households throughout the country have food. President Mnangagwa repeated promises that there shall be no politicisation of food distribution.

In his remarks, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, DRC Ambassador Mwawapanga Mwanananga, thanked President Mnangagwa for hosting the luncheon.

“This ceremony is very important. It is very crucial and very important as you embark on re-engagement,” said Ambassador Mwanananga.

“It might seem a simple thing to do, but it is very important.”

Ambassadors that attended the event later greeted the President to mark the New Year.

State Media|THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has no powers to change street and buildings names but can only submit proposals to Cabinet that has a final say on any name changes, a senior official has said.

On Wednesday, councillors passed a resolution to rename some of the city’s major roads and buildings in a move they said was meant to preserve the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial history and heritage of the city.

However, this came after Government had announced a number of street name changes in the city.

In an interview last night, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Marian Chombo, said Ministry officials had already contacted the city’s Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, to get to the bottom of the matter.

“The town clerk of Bulawayo City Council was contacted by the chief director in my ministry in connection with the name change issue after it appeared in The Chronicle. The Urban Councils Act gives council power to give names to new roads and numbers to houses but only Cabinet has the powers to make name alterations of roads.

“If council builds a new road, they can give it a name but they can’t change the name of an existing one as they don’t have the powers. Local authorities should submit their proposals for name changes to Cabinet for consideration. They have no power whatsoever to effect the name changes without Cabinet approval. If Cabinet gazettes the name changes then that’s final,” said Deputy Minister Chombo.

She said they were now waiting for the local authority to submit their proposals that will then be transmitted to Cabinet.

However, the city’s Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni, defended the move by the councillors, saying they were only carrying out their constitutional mandate and there were no legal loopholes in their move.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Urban Councils Act clearly state the duties and responsibilities of a councillor. We simply took guidance from these two documents and I can assure you that what we did is legally above board.

“Further we did not make this move as a means of opposing the Government. If you look at our list, we included all the people that were honoured by the government. maybe where we differed were the streets allocated but we indeed used the names that government had mentioned as a guiding principle,” said Clr Mguni.

The Mayor also clarified the renaming of Leopold Takawira Avenue, saying part of the street retains the name.

“For Leopold Takawira it is just the section from Samuel Parirenyatwa Street to Umguza River Bridge along Gwanda Road (renamed King Mzilikazi Rd), it is not the entire road, the other section before Samuel Parirenyatwa remains as Leopold Takawira Avenue,” he said.

Commenting on whether the move to rename a heritage site — Stanley Square — to Liberation Legacy Square, followed the necessary procedures considering that the place now fell under the National Museum and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) which manages all heritage sites, NMMZ executive director, Dr Godfrey Mahachi, said he was consulting on the legal provisions of the move.

“You will have to contact me tomorrow (today) as I will have the full picture of the whole issue and I can give you a detailed comment,” said Dr Mahachi.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu, said while the move by councillors was bold and commendable there was a need for councillors to consult more on the matter.

“Yes, it is a good move but what councillors have to realise is that they do not operate in a vacuum. They should have consulted their key stakeholders, who are the residents. As it is there is a need for clarity on what now happens since there was already a Cabinet directive on the same issue, residents have to be put in the loop on what the issues are.

“Further, I feel council should also channel some of their funds in building new infrastructure like roads which they will give these honorary names because we risk a situation where with every generation there will be name changes,” said Mr Ndlovu.

In tabling the initial motion for name changes, ward 17 councillor, Sikhululekile Moyo, said in terms of the Urban Councils Act, councillors have the powers to name, re-name, alter or change names of streets and buildings.

“Section 274 as read with Section 276 of the Constitution constitutes, establishes and confers authority on Urban Local Authorities to represent and manage the affairs of people in urban areas throughout Zimbabwe. “A Local authority has the right to govern, on its own initiative, the local affairs of people within the area for which it has been established, and has all the powers necessary to do so. It is also desirable to preserve the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial history and heritage of the local people of Bulawayo and promote national cohesion, healing, peace and tranquility in a devolved unitary state,” reads part of the motion.

State Media|Two illegal miners died and two others were injured, while more than 20 others are feared trapped underground after a tunnel at Globe and Phoenix Mine in Kwekwe collapsed yesterday.

By the time of going to print, the actual number of trapped illegal miners was not clear, but indications were that about 25 miners were underground at the time of disaster.

Chief Government Mining Engineer Michael Munodawafa, confirmed the accident, yesterday.

He said rescue efforts were ongoing.

Eng Munodafawa said mining inspectors were still trying to gain entry into the collapsed shaft through other channels.

“We can confirm that two artisanal miners died while two others were injured and taken to hospital, after a mineshaft they were working under collapsed,” he said.

“We are still to get more causalities but there is a possibility that those who are said to be missing could have found their way out through other entrances and exit points.

“We are not ruling out the fact that there could be scores others missing, but they could as well have managed to escape; we will give a final update once the operation is over.”

Various groups operating at the mine were trying to account for each other with unconfirmed reports saying at least 20 were still unaccounted for.

It also emerged yesterday that Globe and Phoenix Mine ceased operations in 2007 following an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which showed the shafts, most of which were right underneath Kwekwe central business district (CBD) were posing danger to the city.

Kwekwe District Administrator Mr Fortune Mupungu, who is also the District Civil Protection Unit chairperson, said scores of artisanal miners were operating at the mine illegally.

Some of the artisanal miners were evicted from Gaika Mine.

“We received the sad news that several miners were trapped underground following the collapse of a shaft this morning (yesterday).

“A team which went underground to assess the situation only found two bodies,” said Mr Mupungu.

Police only arrived around 3pm while officials from the Mines and Mining Development Ministry arrived at 4:30pm.

The police were assisted by some artisanal miners to retrieve the bodies from the shaft, before loading them into their van and left.

It was a tense atmosphere with some self-styled security personnel at the scene threatening to beat anyone who dared to take photos.

Some of the artisanal miners who had gathered outside the mine were ordered to leave.

“We don’t want any pictures taken from here. Those who came out of the shafts, please go home. We have stopped operations here. We only want to see relatives of those missing, everyone let’s go,” said one of the security people.

Eyewitnesses said the two miners, whose bodies were retrieved, were crushed by a boulder which fell off the collapsing shaft.

“The two were at the entrance of the shaft so there is a boulder which fell on them as the shaft collapsed, they were cut into halves but we don’t know what became of their colleagues who were inside the shaft, about 20 of them,” said an artisanal miner, Mr Mthokozisi Moyo.

Mr Moyo said the shaft where their colleagues were trapped was over 8km long.

“From outside up to the entrance of the shaft which collapsed, we need to walk for about 4km while underground, but the shaft itself is over 8km,” he said.

Farai Dziva|
Chibi High School head, Bornface Machingauta has died.

The head Reformed Church in Zimbabwe run Chibi High School died on his way to Zvishavane to see a doctor after spending the day with fellow teachers during an athletics zonal competition at Nyaningwe Secondary in Chivi, a source quoted by The Mirror said.

“I met him in the afternoon and he was driving his car although he had difficulties in talking, he was not in his usual high spirits and at around 7pm we heard he died while on his way to hospital…

Machingauta died near Madzivadondo area on his way to Zvishavane,” the source said.

Farai Dziva|Robert Mugabe Way in Kwekwe has been renamed after Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Kwekwe mayor
Angeline Kasipo, quoted by NewsDay said:

Yes, it is true that the street was renamed and there is a sign post on the corner of the street right now.

However, we are going to be discussing that matter to see what happened because we do not have a resolution that paved the way for the renaming.

So at this stage, what I can say is that a position is going to be made at the next full council meeting to see if that development was regular or not.

FORMER Zanu PF Youth League Political Commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu has defied the party’s directive to go for political orientation at the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.

The directive comes as a recommendation by ZANU PF’s Politburo after Tsenengamu and former deputy Youth Affairs Secretary Lewis Matutu held a press conference Monday accusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close allies of corruption.

“Ideologically I am up there, that is why I was elevated to the position I had. We cannot use Cde Chitepo’s name to protect corrupt elements. I am not going there. Those that made the recommendation should be the ones going to the school of ideology.”

Tsenengamu said he does not see where he and Matutu wronged the party.

“I do not see where we wronged the party. They said we flouted procedure yet they are the ones who tampered with the party constitution by failing to serve us with formal communication and give us an opportunity to defend our position before a disciplinary committee.

“We did this as individuals, and not representing the party,” he added.

The firebrand politician accused the Zanu PF hierarchy of playing the role of the “arresting officer, prosecutor, magistrate and prison official.”

“I do not care what will happen next. I am part of society, live in society and know what corruption is doing to the livelihoods of ordinary people. I cannot go against my conscience,” he said.-Credit :Zimbabwe Voice

Suspended Zanu PF League leader, Lewis Matutu has presented an offer letter as proof that he had not illegally invaded someone’s farm as others had suggested.

Matutu was responding to a Twitter post by the Secretary of Education in the opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa, advocate Fadzayi Mahere who had suggested that Matutu’s anti-corruption campaign was to fool people since he was also corrupt. Mahere had posted saying:

There’s no such thing as good Zanu & bad Zanu. They are all corrupt. @LewisMatutu who condemns corruption by his team mates is guilty of taking the law into his hands and grabbing someone’s land unlawfully. When they fight, we must never take sides. The whole thing is rotten.

In response, Matutu said:

Police in Harare on Wednesday raided a house being rented out by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs (Monitoring and Implementation of Government Programmes) Dr Joram Gumbo and recovered illicit brew popularly known as “musombodhiya”.

Musombodhiya is street language used to refer to an illicit brew composed of ethanol or methanol.

The minister’s tenant was arrested while police recovered five drums of ethanol and empty bottles labelled “Two Keys”.

They also recovered a punch imported from Mozambique.

The house at 19 Stellenbosch, Sunridge in Mabelreign had been turned into a brewery.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of the woman and the recovery of the substances.

He said Minister Gumbo was the one who tipped off the police.

“Minister Gumbo came to us reporting that his tenants were involved in the business of brewing illicit beer.

“Police details raided the house and arrested one woman, who is now in custody.

“The woman is implicating her husband, who is yet to be apprehended,” he said.

In an interview with ZBC News, Minister Gumbo expressed shock at how his tenants had turned his house into an illegal liquor centre.

“This is my house, I left here in the early 1990s and it was being rented by these people who have turned it into a brewery.

“I only discovered this when I wanted to drill a borehole for them, but unfortunately, these people have destroyed my house through these shoddy dealings.

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UPDATED: Two illegal miners die, 20 trapped at Globe and Phoenix
UPDATED: 2 killed, 20 feared dead in mine collapse
“I have come here to clear my name because some may report otherwise.

“The people responsible have been arrested,” he was quoted saying.

Although the actual number of suspects who were arrested could not be ascertained by last night, sources close to the investigations said police received a tip-off.

When they went to the house, they discovered some people who were drunk.

They were all taken to Mabelreign Police Station for further questioning and they are likely to be charged with unlawful possession of harmful liquids.

In 2018, a Chitungwiza man was fined $40 for possessing 240 bottles of “musombodhiya”.

Nyaradzai Mazona (33) pleaded guilty when he appeared before magistrate Mr Oliver Mudzongachiso charged with unlawful possession of harmful liquids.

The prosecutor, Mrs Edith Chitapa, proved that on June 5, 2018 at around 9am, a constable Sithole was deployed at Seke depot, manning a roadblock when she stopped a motor vehicle and searched it.

She found 240 bottles x 200ml of the illicit alcohol brew and immediately arrested Mazona.

CHIEF Justice Luke Malaba has postponed to March, hearing in an urgent chamber appeal filed by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga challenging a ruling by the High Court allowing his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa to have custody of the feuding couple’s three minor children.

Chiwenga approached the superior court soon after Mubaiwa was granted access to their matrimonial home including properties and children by Justice Christopher Dube-Banda.

Lawyers representing both parties agreed that the matter should be heard urgently before Malaba postponed the matter.

“The application for the urgent hearing of the appeal in case Number SC26/2020 be and is hereby granted,” said Chief Justice Malaba.

The case was also postponed on the basis that Mubaiwa’s lawyer, Advocate Taona Nyamakura intends to travel to Rwanda and will be back on March 14.

The case was heard in Malaba’s chambers.

Meanwhile, Malaba directed Chiwenga’s lawyers to file and serve heads of argument in case Number SC26/2020 by no later than 4pm on February 19.

He ordered Mubaiwa’s lawyers to file their response not later than March 4.

In addition, the Chief Justice also directed that the matter be heard any time after March 14, when Mubaiwa’s lawyer is expected back in the country.

Chiwenga’s appeal follows Justice Banda’s ruling granting Mubaiwa the relief she sought, after he allegedly barred her from returning to their Borrowdale mansion.

The Vice President also denied her access to their children arguing she was a danger to them.

On Thursday, another High Court judge, Pisirayi Kwenda altered his ruling regarding Mubaiwa’s return to her matrimonial home.

The judge had initially allowed her to go back after granting her bail but now says it will be improper considering that Chiwenga stays at the same address and the allegations that Mubaiwa attempted to kill her husband.

Mubaiwa, currently languishing in remand prison, will reside at her parents’ house until her cases are finalised.

The city of Bulawayo yesterday renamed their roads to replace some of the roads’ pre-colonial era names. Ignoring the cabinet’s road names suggestion Bulawayo renamed their roads as they dimmed fit.

Here is a full list of the new road names:

1. Council resolved to stick to the numbered format for Avenues in the CBD from First to 15th Avenue.
2. Councillors chose to honour the President by renaming George Avenue (from Harare Road to Old Esigodini Road)  Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Avenue
3. Leopold Takawira Avenue (from Samuel Parirenyatwa Street to Umguza River Bridge along Gwanda Road) which is now King Mzilikazi Road,
4. Nketa Drive is now Queen Lozikheyi Dlodlo Drive,
5. Athlone Avenue is now Simon Vengai Muzenda Road
6. 23rd Avenue is now Landa John Nkomo Road
7. Lady Stanley Avenue is now Mama Joanna Mafuyana Avenue,
8. Steeldale Road and Anthony Tylor Road is now Albert Nxele Road,
9. Dunde Drive has been renamed Sikhanyiso Duke Ndlovu Drive,
10. Fife Street is now Nikita Mangena Street and
11. Fort Street has been renamed Lookout Masuku Street.
12. Old Khami Road is now Sydney Malunga Road,
13. Basch Street is Dumiso Dabengwa Road,
14. Waverley Road is now Jairos Jiri Road
15. Fairbridge has been renamed Erick Bloch Way.
16. Hillside Road which is now Sir Garfield Todd Road,
17. Van Riebeck Road is now Joseph Msika Drive,
18. Connaught Avenue is now Cephas Cele Avenue,
19. Collenbrander Road is now Daniel Madzimbamuto Road,
20. Manchester Road is now George Nyandoro Road,
21. Vera Road is now Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu Road,
22. Birkenhead Road has been renamed Sikanjaya Muntanga Road
23. Doncaster Road is now Maria Msika Road.
24. Lobengula Street has been corrected to King Lobengula Street,
25. Moffat Road in Hillside which has been corrected to Robert Moffat Drive and
26. Leander Road in Hillside which is now Dr Leander Star Jameson.
27. Coghlan Avenue which is now Charles Patrick Coghlan Avenue
28. Cecil Avenue which is now Cecil John Rhodes Avenue

COLD Storage Commission (CSC) employees have called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step in and stop alleged asset stripping by a United Kingdom-based investor Boustead Beef (Pvt), claims that have been dismissed by the firm.

In an open letter, the petitioners, who include retrenchees, pensioners and current workers, pleaded with government to investigate the investor.

“Mr President, if possible, set up a small commission of inquiry into this deal comprising lawyers and finance/investment experts to bust this conman. If, indeed, our assessment is correct that Boustead Beef is a scam, then CSC was transferred cheaply and to the wrong person without proper regard to the massive value and income generation capacity of CSC,” the petition read.

In March 2019, government signed an agreement with the UK-based investor to buy into CSC.

Under the deal, Boustead Beef (Pvt) was to also finance the rehabilitation of some CSC farms, where cattle fattening used to take place.

At the time, Boustead Beef (Pvt) promised to complete the resuscitation of CSC within six months before revitalising the Masvingo, Chinhoyi and Marondera branches.

CSC employees called for an audit of the company’s assets.

“There is need for an independent audit up to a cut off point to establish the state of affairs prior to February 22, 2019, the date on which Boustead took over as per the LJFCP [Livestock Joint Farming Concession Project]. Assets verification and documentation is important to safeguard them from plunder through stripping,” the petition by the CSC employees read in part.

“We suspect that after firing the CSC managers, Boustead Beef seeks to destroy all institutional memory of the company, thereby creating a conducive climate to plunder the properties without a trace. In our view, the government must ensure it keeps an audited record of all assets transferred to Boustead Beef in the LJFCP.”

However, Boustead Beef (Pvt) has expressed confidence the company will resume full operations next month after the installation of a three megawatt solar plant, which will be used to power its main plant in Bulawayo in the face of rolling electricity outages.

The firm, which ceased operations and sent employees on forced leave in September 2019 to allow retooling and refurbishments, said it had taken delivery of the solar panels worth $10 million and other ancillary equipment awaiting installation while antiquated equipment and others which have outlived their lifespan have been removed.

Its tanning operations at its Bulawayo’s Wet Blue Industries have resumed less than two months after it was taken out of judiciary management, NewsDay established during a visit to CSC yesterday.

Reggie Shoko, the company’s consultant, said: “It was a retooling process which was taking place at the main abattoir and the canning factory, where we had to replace some of the malfunctioning equipment with new machinery such as the old compressors.

“We are ready to go, though not at a pace that was widely expected as there is a lot of retooling that had to take place. It’s still baby steps, but we are producing, particularly at our tanning factor.”

He added: “There is a lot that we have to deal with, its institutional legacy as a parastatal among others. We are, however, pleased to announce that we have received export orders with our first scheduled for April.”

The company has promised to bring back to life the struggling CSC after promising to inject US$400 million over the next five years to revive the company, which had become dormant in the last two decades.