Paul Nyathi|The Masvingo High Court on Monday postponed MDC Vice National Chairperson Job Sikhala’s treason trial to 14 February 2020 to allow the court to make a judgement on the defence’s application for an exception.

Justice Garainesu Mawadze will make a ruling whether the case will go for a full trial or dismiss the charges against the Zengeza West legislator.

This is after Sikhala,who was represented by Ms Beatrice Mtetwa had made an application for exception  arguing that according to the constitution the accused’s utterances did not constitute a crime.

Hundreds of MDC supporters thronged the court to give their party’s Deputy Chairperson solidarity.

Watch video downloading below:

Own Correspondent|Marry Chiwenga Mubaiwa’s family members have revealed stunning allegations giving the case a new twist.

The family claims that their daughter was framed in order to be sent back to prison.

Marry was sent back to the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Prison on Saturday after the court denied her bail on the assault charges.

Marry is accused is alleged to have assaulted family maid Delight Munyoro.

Munyoro filed a police report alleging that Mary had assaulted her at Hellenic School following a heated argument over the custody of Marry and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s three minor children.

Munyoro claims to have sustained a cut on her lips after being struck by Marry. She is also claiming that some of her teeth are loose and are now shaking following the alleged assault.

However, Marry’s family is quoted by sources accusing Munyoro of having connived to frame Marry.

Online publication Kukurigo indicated on Monday that the family claims that Marry did not even touch Munyoro. Instead, they allege that Munyoro was actually slapped by a soldier in order to tarnish Mary’s image and paint her as an out of control violent person.

A family member who spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity said, “First of all, Mary weighs 65kg and is much smaller than Delight. She did not even touch her. Delight was hit by a soldier and then ran and started screaming in front of Marry. Bogus witnesses immediately gathered to claim they had seen the alleged assault,”

Following the alleged assault, Marry was denied bail by a Harare Magistrate on Saturday and sent back to Chikurubi Prison.

Correspondent|FORMER Delta Beverages sales representative, Togara Chikonzo, has taken his ex-employer to the High Court seeking an order compelling the bottling company to pay him compensation for his 5 000 shares and to deliver to him 74 drinkage vouchers.

Through his lawyers Hungwe and Partners Legal Practitioners, Chikonzo recently filed a court application accusing Delta Beverages of failing to comply with a court order which compelled it to pay him after terminating his employment contract in 2013.

“I hold 5 000 shares in respondent’s (Delta Beverages) company under employee share empowerment scheme of 2008. The shares were allocated to me as a then employee of respondent,” Chikonzo said.

“Upon termination of the contract of employment with respondent, it did not settle the value of my shares in monetary terms. I have ascertained the value at the time of making this application to be $17 700 … despite demand, both verbal and written, respondent has failed, neglected, refused or failed to settle my 5 000 shares in the sum of
$17 700.”

Chikonzo also said upon termination of his contract, he agreed with his former employer through their lawyers that Delta Beverages would give him 74 drinkage vouchers and the agreement was recorded by Labour Court judge Justice Godfrey Musariri, who handled his labour matter.

In his founding affidavit accompanying the court application, Chikonzo quoted Justice Musariri as having said: “I record herein that the parties’ attorney agreed that respondent shall deliver to applicant (Chikonzo) drinks worth 74 vouchers. Accordingly, the item was dropped from the calculations.”

Chikonzo, however, insisted that the vouchers in the current case are claimable as a matter of agreement (contract) which was made between legal practitioners representing him and his former employer and, as such, it was still binding and enforceable.

The matter is yet to be set down for hearing.

Paul Nyathi |Zanu PF Youth League leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu have named and shamed controversial businessman Kuda Tagwirei as the leader of a cartel responsible for Zimbabwe’s economic woes.

Speaking in an explosive press conference, the two ZANU PF Youth Leaders did not want to directly associate their press conference to the ruling party.

Apart from Tagwirei, the youths also named, Tafadzwa Musara and Billy Rautenbach as key people behind corruption that has destroyed the country.

Watch video downloading below:

By A Correspondent- Two Zanu PF Youth League leaders in their own capacities held a press conference in Harare on Monday afternoon, taking turns to name and shame corrupt bigwigs, whom they accused of running down the country through corruption.

Youth League vice-chairperson Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu attributed the country’s economic woes to corruption arguing that while sanctions had their effects on the country, corruption was the main reason why the country was at a standstill economically.

Said Matutu:

“… Sincere apologies for the delay in addressing you. I was on the phone with one of the corrupt bigwigs who was trying to bribe me and i refused….

Think about it, if you get the money, the US$10k now to spy on us and not speak against corruption, are you doing anyone a favour? What next when that money is finished? We have to take a stand and think about Zimbabwe first.

….The majority of our problems come from this one person called Kudakwashe Tagwirei, he’s the source of our problems.

This has nothing to do with politics. It’s an issue of young people taking charge of their future.

There’s a second person called Tafadzwa Musarara (Grain Millers Association). He and a clique of other connections that he’s working with are looting (through the mealie meal subsidy).

Imagine government has created subsidies for mealie meal but him (Musarara) and a few other are sabotaging the whole exercise.

Our judiciary system is on holiday….. When this whole corruption fight started, we have not had more than three convictions. If they don’t want to work anymore they must resign from their jobs.

… We expect people to react, but we don’t expect the voice of reason to be silenced. If it so happens that we have been incapacitated or whatever, do not keep quiet about this. We have prepared ourselves, we know what might happen.

The President is definitely not captured. There’s no-one, right now, who has the capacity to capture that man. Tagwirei has no capacity to capture that man.”

Youth League national political commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu weighed in, accusing businessmen Billy Rautenbach and Kuda Tagwirei of being at the centre of the cartels.

He said:

“Billy Rautenbach (Green Fuel), why him alone enjoying a monopoly of fuel blending and selling ethanol at high prices?

Tagwirei has bought mines at Shamva, Mazowe, Freda, Bindura through one of his companies (he can’t recall the name readily).

Tagwirei has a car import company (name not audible). He works with a guy called Brighton. When the government needs 40 cars, he imports 100 and the others come in duty-free.

Kudakwashe Tagwirei uses a Congolese woman called Dalia (not sure on spelling), for illegal forex trade. Let him deny, and we will bring out the V11s.

If you go to Tagwirei’s car sales, he has top of the range vehicles he brought in under corrupt Command Agriculture schemes. He has done this because leaders have allowed it. Our leaders must now choose whether they want to stand with Tagwirei or the people.

The justice system has failed – the police, prosecutors and judiciary are all trading accusations and you wonder who’s failing the public. This is a generational fight. We have created a platform, a citizen anti-corruption taskforce.”

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

By A Correspondent- A Harare woman has gone into hiding after threatening to expose her church elder husband’s hidden secrets, who she scalded with cooking oil.

Angela Nhekairo nee Mnaba, 39, on Wednesday said she feared for her life after continuous threats and beatings from her husband – Benson Nhekairo, 47 – and she felt it was time she spills the beans.

Angela, who has three children with Nhekairo, said she had not known peace since Nhekairo’s love scandal was unearthed.

Angela has threatened to expose the shenanigans in church.

She said she had reported three cases of domestic violence at Borrowdale Police Station and sometimes they would often end at counselling stage

Angela said she scalded her husband with cooking oil as she wanted to escape from a beating he got home around 4am.

On his part, Nhekairo said he was going to handle his issues at a family level.

Nhekairo said his wife was bringing problems into the home while opting to keep the scalding issue at family level.

“Angela is the one in a secret love affair and not me.

“She is the root of all our problems. I will not take this scalding issue with police because it does not get me anywhere neither does it benefit me,” he said.

Angela said, “I have known no peace in our home for the past years and we are now known at Borrowdale Police Station over cases of domestic violence.

“I have wanted our marriage to work but now I feel it is high time that everything gets to be known; I know what has been happening in church and I am ready to expose it if this violent behaviour does not stop.”

She said she would only return home at the intervention of ‘powers that be’.

“I have been beaten several times and when I scalded him I was defending myself as my husband was reaching for an object while he twisted my wrist,” she said.

Angela said Nhekairo had come back home around 4am yesterday where an argument over US$10 600 she had once given him ensued.

“I was surprised to see him angry over the money I had loaned him. He became violent when I refused to sell the Range Rover I have been using; I told him to sell it and just give me my money.

“He then twisted my hand as I struggled to free myself. As he reached for an object, I scalded him with cooking oil that was on the stove as we wanted to prepare for the children to take to school,” she said.

She said Nhekairo had once spent the night in police holding cells after he beat her.

“Because we have children together, I had him released but this has gone too far now.

“This, I have to tell so that people know our story that we had kept in closet for a long time,” she said.

Angela said there was a pending domestic violence case before the courts but Nhekairo had never shown remorse.

-HMetro

Zanu PF Youth Commissar has alleged that business mogul Kudakwashe Tagwireyi is linked to the now cordoned off Jumbo mine in Mazowe which made headlines following machete wars between illegal gold panners.

Tsenengamu added that Tagwirei has now bought shares in CBZ Bank following the move by government to use the bank to fund the command agriculture scheme.

He further alleged that government assigned Trek petroleum to handle fuel for command agriculture but they have since realised that Tagwirei owns it.

Watch press conference loading below…

By Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF Deputy Secretary for Youths, Lewis Matutu has once again drawn knives against controversial mogul Kudakwashe Tagwireyi whom he accused of being everywhere and flooding the streets with money buying foreign currency on the black market.

Matutu is currently addressing a press conference which he said is aimed at naming corrupt cartels derailing government’s economic progress.

WATCH VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

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

• USD to ZWL$: 17.3868
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.8628

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

• OMIR 40.82
• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com 24.60
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com 24.40
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 24.30
• USD to BOND: zimrates.com 19.10

More: marketwatch.co.zw

Chinhoyi (Telegraph-New Ziana) – The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe has warned people to stop offering bribes to officers at the Register General’s Office as this was fueling corruption.

Speaking in Chinhoyi during a familiarization tour of Mashonaland West Province, he also warned officers from the Registrar General’s Office, particularly passport department, not to solicit for bribes, saying identity documents were a basic human right for citizens.

“The need to eradicate corruption cannot be over emphasized and I always say there is no smoke without fire, if we are engaging ourselves in corrupt activities it’s time to stop because we will definitely apply the law and it will definitely catch up with you, so do not be an example,” Kazembe said.

“I know things are difficult but that is not an excuse to be corrupt, am not saying we are all corrupt, there might be one or two but we all end up being painted with the same colour, with the same brush,” he said.

There have been persistent reports that officers at the Registrar General’s Office in most parts of the country demand bribes for services such as issuance of birth certificates and passports.

“Once again I appeal to Zimbabweans as I am told that sometimes the public itself offers bribes to the officials and it takes two to commit a crime. I appeal to citizens that please let’s not fuel corruption, its killing our country and our economy, and two wrongs don’t make a right,” Kazembe said.

He also appealed to staff in the Registrar General’s Office to treat customers with dignity, amid reports the officers were often rude to people seeking services.

“Even though we have challenges in terms of consumables, but when we serve our people lets serve them with a happy face and treat them with all the respect and dignity they deserve. Let’s try and clear the backlogs so that these people will not have to hustle to have their documents as we are there to see that our citizens have access to identification documents which is a human right.”

-State Media

During the ongoing trial of MDC legislator Job Sikhala in Masvingo today, the state has accused the firebrand legislator Job Sikhala of planning a coup when he made remarks at a Zaka rally that they would remove President Emmerson Mnangagwa and replace him with Nelson Chamisa.

Below is an update from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)…

SikhalaTrial: Prosecutor Tawanda Zvakare makes a bold statement in court claiming that Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala intended to stage a “coup” when he told MDC Alliance party supporters in 2019 that the opposition party will remove Emmerson Mnangagwa’s govt before 2023.

Keep refreshing for more updates….

By A Correspondent- The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo, last week told a media briefing that 82 people were being monitored in Zimbabwe after entering the country from affected areas.

Highlanders striker Prince Dube is among 82 Zimbabweans placed under surveillance for the deadly Coronavirus whose death toll in China now stands at more than 300 with more than 14 000 infections confirmed. They however have all tested negative. Dube has been on trial with a Chinese second-tier club Shaanxi Chang’an Athletic, which is based in Xi’an, about 785km from Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly virus.

He was still in China when the outbreak started and returned to Zimbabwe on January 21. Medical doctors that spoke to Chronicle on condition of anonymity, said the 22-year-old starlet has been on the surveillance radar since landing from China. He is, however, showing no symptoms of the virus.

“He is on 14-day round-the-clock surveillance. Everyone is on high alert but so far nothing serious has been detected. He is also aware of this and is taking all necessary precautions which is making everyone’s concerns less stressful,” said the doctor.

“Like what has been stressed by authorities, no one should be worried about this procedure and I want to emphasise that no Coronavirus has been detected in Zimbabwe and we remain on high alert.”

Bulawayo City Council director of health services Dr Edwin Sibanda confirmed that Dube is under surveillance for Coronavirus. He, however, could not give detailed information, saying he was out of town. “I can confirm that Highlanders’ striker, Prince Dube, who was recently in China, is under surveillance for Coronavirus. I don’t have much details as I am out of town,” he said.

Health authorities at Zimbabwe’s ports of entry have moved to reduce the possible spread of the deadly Coronavirus by screening visitors and monitoring threats. Last week, Dr Moyo urged Zimbabweans not to panic over the virus as necessary surveillance and precautionary measures have been put in place at all ports of entry.

He said although no case has been detected so far in the country, Zimbabwe was on high alert as it takes a coordinated global response. Dr Moyo said all 26 ports, eight of which are airports and 18 inland border posts, have screening facilities. He said Zimbabwe was not at risk as it does not have direct flights to China and other affected countries.

Meanwhile, the number of suspected cases of Coronavirus recorded in neighbouring Botswana has risen to five. Zimbabwe and Botswana share a common border and there is a lot of movement of travellers between the two countries.

In a statement, Botswana’s Ministry of Health and Wellness said the five suspected patients of Coronavirus who presented flu-like symptoms arrived in the country through Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SKIA).

The first case was registered last Thursday at SKIA.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- The family of 3 people who died in a fire in Bulawayo‘s morning side suburb during the burial of their loved, appealed to the first lady to help them rebuild their home which was destroyed by the fire that claimed the lives of a 57-year-old grandmother and her 2 grandchildren.

At the burial ceremony of the victims, the family spokesperson said:

The structure that has been left has no roof, no ceiling, no bed, no chair, no cup, no teaspoon and so it must be reconstructed so that the children can have a home.

We are therefore appealing to those that can assist especially the First Family to help in reconstructing the house. We always see the First Lady helping others in society so we are appealing to her to extend that kind of help to us as well. I know that the First Lady is very responsive and she will do it.

Bulawayo Provincial Minister confirmed receiving the appeal and said she will pass it on to the First Lady.

-Statemedia

Zanu PF Youth league leaders Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu will today hold their much hyped press conference at an unfamiliar ground after dumping their party headquarters for the Media Centre which usually hosts civil society events.

Could their fight against cartels be the reason why the ruling party did not accomodate them at its headquarters where they also released a list of corrupt individuals last year.

Below is the Zanu PF conference invitation to the media.

Attention: Media

You are all invited to a Press Conference today Monday 3 February 2020, to be addressed by ZANU PF YOUTH LEAGUE leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu & Lewis Matutu). Details are as follows;

Date: Monday, 3 February 2020

Time: 1400hrs

Venue: Media Centre, 2nd Floor Bothwell House, 66 Jason Moyo Avenue, cnr. First Street/Jason Moyo Avenue

By A Correspondent- Three police officers manning a roadblock along the Harare-Masvingo road allegedly pulled out a firearm and threatened to shoot a 10-year-old farm girl together with her parents after the minor picked up their plastic bag containing “bribe” money hidden in a rubbish pit.

The three cops later appeared before a police tribunal and were convicted after a full trial in terms of the Police Act and each sentenced to 14 days imprisonment at the detention barracks. Prior to the applicants being charged in terms of the Police Act, they had already been charged in terms of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act before the charges were withdrawn before a Harare magistrate due to lack of evidence.

This emerged when the three police officers, only identified as Assistant Inspector Mahleka, Sergeant Ndlovu and Constable Hamadziripi, through their lawyer Mr Norman Mugiya of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an order nullifying their conviction and sentence.

They cited the trial officer, Superintendent Donald Robson and Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, as respondents. Former High Court judge, Justice Francis Bere, now on the Supreme Court bench, dismissed their application and condemned their conduct.

“Disciplinary proceedings under section 35 of the Police Schedule to the Police Act are an essential aspect of maintaining discipline in the police force. Police officers must be reminded that just like any other employee are subject to disciplinary action by their superiors.

“The court cannot be used as a shield against impending disciplinary action and will only step in where there had been a clear violation of the police officer’s rights,” he said.  Justice Bere said evidence tendered before the disciplinary hearing suggested that it sustains a criminal conviction against the three cops.

“There is no sound reason why the criminal prosecution has not been pursued to finality. I strongly recommend that the Prosecutor-General revisit this case if it had been closed for lack of evidence. The evidence of criminal conduct is there in abundance,” he said.

Justice Bere said there was nothing wrong with a police officer being charged in terms of the criminal law and then being disciplined in terms of the Police Act.

“There is no double jeopardy or dual prosecution to talk about as the two processes are meant to achieve different results. The conduct exhibited by the applicants, in this case, must be condemned by all fair-minded people and it must continue to be exposed because shielding it will result in the creation of a rotten and corrupt police force, which is a serious threat to the maintenance of law and order in the country. Accordingly, the application is dismissed with costs,” ruled the judge.

The three police officers said they were not supposed to have been subjected to a disciplinary hearing after being tried in a fully-fledged criminal trial, arguing that it was tantamount to double prosecution.

They further argued that in terms of the law, a single officer had no jurisdiction to try them by virtue of having been charged in terms of ordinary law on the same allegations.

However, the respondents through lawyers from the Civil Division in the Attorney-General’s Office, contended that the constitution fully recognised a court or tribunal that deals with cases under disciplinary law to the extent that the jurisdiction is necessary for the enforcement of discipline.

They argued that dual prosecution was permissible as it relates to the Police Act and criminal law arising from the same conduct. According to court papers, it was stated that sometime in December 2013, the three police officers were assigned to man a roadblock near Manyame River along the Harare-Masvingo road.

Not far from where the three cops were manning their roadblock, the 10-year-old girl from nearby Gilstone Farm in Beatrice picked up a plastic bag at a dumpsite and took it home.

Upon opening the bag, the girl’s mother discovered that it contained money in several denominations of various currencies. The money was wrapped up separately in khaki and white paper. It later turned out that the “parcel” which was picked by the girl had been hidden in the dumpsite by the three cops.

Upon discovering that their money was missing, the three police officers went to the farm where they allegedly pulled out their service rifle and threatened to shoot their suspects.  They allegedly handcuffed the girl and her parents and threatened to assault them with a baton stick in the event that the money was not recovered.

Out of fear, the suspects returned the money. However, upon the three cops’ arrest, there were suspicions behind the possible origins of the money and how some security items in the form of Z65J documents went missing at their roadblock.

-Statemedia

Attention: Media

You are all invited to a Press Conference today Monday 3 February 2020, to be addressed by ZANU PF YOUTH LEAGUE leaders Godfrey Tsenengamu & Lewis Matutu).

Details are as follows;

Date: Monday, 3 February 2020

Time: 1400hrs

Venue: Media Centre, 2nd Floor Bothwell House, 66 Jason Moyo Avenue, cnr. First Street/Jason Moyo Avenue

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police instructed MDC supporters gathered at Masvingo magistrates court to stop chanting their songs.

The development comes as Job Sikhala, the MDC national vice chairperson’s trial commences at Masvingo High Court, Monday morning.

Watch the video loading below for this and what transpired….

By A Correspondent- Two bodies of missing law enforcement agents who drowned in Kariba Dam recovered. The bodies of Kudzanai Dewa (32), a member of the ZRP and Charles Kahara (36) of the ZPCS were discovered between Kariba Lake Harvest bream cages and Nyaodza Fishing Camp.

Police in Kariba have retrieved bodies of two members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) who drowned on Tuesday night after the boat they were travelling in capsized in Lake Kariba.

Strong winds caused the boat, which had four people on board, to capsize and everyone temporarily managed to hang onto the boat, but Dewa later complained of being tired before letting go.

Kahara tried to help her, but she reportedly pulled him down. The other two occupants of the boat were rescued about four hours later by another crew on its way to the fishing camps.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident. “The body of Kudzanai Dewa was retrieved on Wednesday and that of Charles Kahara was found on Thursday,” he said.

“We are treating this case as an accident and investigations are still in progress. “We are advising those who travel with boats to travel during the day and ensure safety at all times.” The two were headed for Nyaodza Fishing Cooperative in Kariba to buy fish.

According to the police, the boat left Lake Harvest Harbour and they encountered strong winds at around 7pm, which resulted in some water getting into the boat which later capsized.

-StateMedia

A group of Matabeleland activists assisting aspiring nurse trainees from the region with the recruitment processes is petitioning Parliament to push for an overhaul of the enrolment exercise they condemn as biased.

The Child and Health Care ministry’s online recruitment has been marred by accusations that it is “rigged” against aspiring nurse trainees from the region, resulting in protests at the nurse training institutions in Bulawayo and Plumtree.

It all began on October 9, 2019 when reports surfaced that Mpilo Central Hospital recruited 24 nurse trainees, and 20 were from outside Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South.

The same read for United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where 23 out of 27 trainees were from outside Matabeleland. Learning began on October 7, 2019.

A member of the Volunteers Team 2020, the umbrella term used by a group of Matabeleland activists who were in the forefront in assisting thousands of potential applicants from the region with the Health and Child Care ministry’s e-application said the problem remains unresolved till today.

“The statistics of nursing students at all nursing training institutions from the Zambezi to the Limpopo, Victoria Falls to the Eastern Highlands, clearly showed that there was under-recruitment of people from Midlands and Matabeleland. That problem remains unsolved up to today,” said Discent Collins Bajila.

“All we have done through this exercise is to learn and have live experience of the structural and deliberate marginalisation of people from these particular areas.

“We have learnt and we will soon compile a document on the issues learnt with a view of making recommendations to Parliament and government.

“Already 29 young people we assisted have made written submissions on their experience and made some recommendations. Once we have completed studying them, we will compile a document and make it public.”

The Health ministry introduced the online e-recruitment exercise for aspiring nurses following allegations that the previously used centralised system at its head offices in the capital, Harare, was open to abuse and corruption.

This was after Matabeleland activists protested against what they described as questionable recruitment of nurse trainees at Mpilo, UBH and Brunapeg Mission Hospital in Matabeleland South.

A number of Zapu leaders were also arrested recently for forcing the temporary closure of Brunapeg Mission Hospital as they protested the unfair recruitment of nurse trainees.

-The Standard

State Media|The media in Zimbabwe has been described by others as polarised, while some say the media laws are draconian.

To find out more and the 2020 prospects, Kudakwashe Mugari (KM) had an interview with Mr Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana (NM), Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

KM: The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services held its 2020 Strategic Planning Meeting workshop in Darwendale. What was the outcome and what can we expect from the ministry this year?

NM: The nation should expect enhanced communications through encouraging citizen participation in national development, social media usage in this regard will be pivotal in increased positive publicity through mobilisation of local and foreign media houses to cover key and topical national events.

We will be bridging the rural urban divide through provision of contemporary technologies as well as old styles of engagement where people don’t really have the technology. The ministry will deploy mobile outreach vans and information huts to bring information to the people. 

You will also see the licensing of community radio stations, with priority being given to far flung and formerly marginalised areas. We will broaden areas of television and radio coverage to close the information gap and also bring diversity, variety and choice with a view to industrialising the information sector. In this regard, Zimbabwe Digital Broadcasting will seek to accelerate the completion of the project by installing gap fillers and new transmitter sites were necessary.

KM: Stakeholders in the industry feel the amendments to Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) remain draconian and hinder freedom of the press. What is the Government’s response to that assertion?

NM: Let me start with POSA. This was not amended, but repealed and replaced by a law called Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) which matches any law in any other modern democracy and jurisdiction. Its provisions match its British, South African and Australian equivalents. The model law came from Civil Society and you don’t hear our usual foreign detractors attacking MOPA as a piece of legislation. 

Moving on to the laws that are replacing AIPPA. Government invested a lot in the consultative process. These Bills had so much input from our stakeholders as we embarked on an inclusive approach. Even after many consultative engagements, when Parliament took the Bills around the country for citizens input, we took those views on board. Only in situations where people wanted to dilute constitutional provisions did we point out that we could not do that. 

A case in point is where others wanted the ZMC not to have certain responsibilities, which are provided for by the constitution. So, the short response is that so far no journalist has had a problem with MOPA. I don’t remember a case where a member of the Press was arrested under the provisions of MOPA. There is no evidence whatsoever that MOPA stifles Press freedom. As for the other Bills, the Zimbabwe Media Commission and Freedom Information, they are still before Parliament and everyone is still free to lobby with legislators for the refinement of any provisions they find offending, but there is nothing draconian about them. 

In any case, which media practitioner has fallen foul of the amended AIPPA in the last two years? Who has been charged under the provisions of the outgoing AIPPA since the advent of the Second Republic because I don’t know anyone. 

KM: Others say there is polarity in the media, what is your take on that?

NM: Yes, there is polarity in the media and this is something that stakeholders and Government have to work together on in order to de-polarise our media, as a way of also de-polarising the nation at large. The media affects individual views and political behaviour. There are common perspectives that are cultivated by the media. So, if certain sections of the media choose that they will never publish anything about a certain political entity of policy unless it is negative and another takes an inverse view, that breeds polarisation of both the media and society. 

The media gets into the space where they don’t publish things as they are, but only if they fit into certain political conveniences and narratives. While this can happen in any country in Zimbabwe there is professional dumbing down which probably is a reaction to citizen journalism and the other competing digital platforms, which are run by non-professionals. A polarised media is toxic and a threat to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic environment. One of the areas we have been looking at through the Zimbabwe Media Commission is bringing back professionalism to the media. A code of Ethics or Professional Code would go a long way in ensuring that our media treats itself with respect and is treated with respect by all. But the platforms which are run by non-professionals will always pose a massive challenge.

KM: There seems to be a slow pace in the finalisation of the media reforms since last year. What is delaying the process?

NM: I came into office in October 2018, the Minister came in September, Deputy Minister also came into office in September as well. November 2018 we had started asking for position papers on what we felt needed to be done as far as reforming our media sector was concerned. We held all stakeholders round tables from 26 to 28 November 2018, and in December 2018 we brought together stakeholders and drafters to iron out kinks, debate, discuss and find each other in realigning media laws to the Constitution. Of the four Bills: the Zimbabwe Media Commission and Freedom of Information are in Parliament for their Second reading; the Broadcasting Services Act Amendment is headed to the Inter-Ministerial Committee this February, and finally the Protection of Personal Information is still under consultation. 

Certainly one cannot say that this is a slow pace. 

KM: What is the latest on the proposed licensing of six television stations and 10 community radio stations?

NM: Presently we await regulations from the Attorney General’s Office which are closing the gaps in the law that have to do with the licensing and operations of private television stations and community radio stations. We are currently carrying out sensitisation outreach engagements. Next week we are visiting three provinces to conscientise citizens so that we can’t leave no one behind. We are going to Binga, Hwange, Plumtree, Gwanda and Chikombedzi. These are communities which we have on our Frequency Allotment Plan as priority in terms of licensing.

KM: How far has the Government gone with the revival of the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust?

NM: The revival of the Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust is right on course. As you are aware, the ZMMT is mandated with overseeing the operations of State-owned media companies. The Trust has not been in place since 2001. We have identified those who will assume the role of Trustees and now we wait for His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, to make the appointment. It is now a matter of weeks if not days. 

Much like the rest of the work we are carrying out in the media sector, the revival of the ZMMT will go a long way in reforming our media through strengthening ethical and professional conduct in the industry. The Second Republic is big on governance.

KM: What are you going to do on content development as well as the empowerment of independent producers of content?

NM: We are very much excited about this new chapter of the country’s media landscape, as we are going to see and hear new voices and ideas. As part of empowering content producers, we will be commissioning them to produce feature films, skits and jingles. We are also providing studio space and equipment at subsidised rates and training workshops. We have a Draft Film Policy already before Cabinet. This speaks to the issues of the development of content production.

KM: Polad actors requested for perks from Government, will the Government honour their demands?

NM: It is unfortunate that Polad is misrepresented by some quarters either intentionally or out of a lack of understanding on what exactly it is about. Polad is a grouping of political parties that have put aside partisan interests to engender a culture of peaceful engagement as a mechanism to deal with issues affecting the country, it seeks to promote national healing and reconciliation, restore and rebuild trust among communities, strengthen confidence in public institutions, as well as influence Government policies towards people’s empowerment and poverty reduction. 

Government is providing fiscal support towards Polad’s programmes and is not giving perks to those involved in the dialogue. Like I indicated, it is unfortunate that some choose to play to the gallery by insinuating, misrepresenting and mischievously spreading false information possibly as a way of seeking to devalue Polad. 

This lie that “Mnangagwa’s Polad members demand luxury cars, allowances” came from a local daily which failed to provide an ounce of proof to back its assertion, and true to form, the gullible and those with ulterior motives chose to run with it. For the avoidance of doubt, Polad never asked for any perks. I was at the function they are alleged to have tabled that request and nothing of the sort happened. 

The President simply said that Polad work is of national interest and brings people together and unifies the nation. It is, therefore, important that its activities be funded by the fiscus. How does this translate into luxury cars and other perquisites? 

KM: There are conflicting statements by teacher organisations about the situation in schools. Some are saying teachers are not going to schools and are on industrial action while others say it is business as usual. What is the correct position in our schools?

NM: The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has carried out inspections in rural and urban schools and our teachers are at work as usual. Personally, I believe industrial action should be the last resort. It is the nuclear option of any labour dispute. Not the weapon of choice. Dialogue should be the default. Government and its employees have platforms, which both parties can use to bargain instead of taking to the streets and prejudicing learners. We have to learn to find each other. 

KM: We have seen some teachers coercing students to demonstrate in schools, don’t you think there’s a hidden political hand to this? How is Government going to deal with such elements?

NM: We have had one incident in Bulawayo where a teacher is alleged to have incited students to demonstrate, and I believe the police are investigating the matter. Where a crime has been committed, the law will take its course, where the matter is purely disciplinary and a violation of the code of conduct the appropriate authorities in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will take the necessary steps. But teachers should respect parents who send their children to school for them to learn and not be converted into political fodder by malcontents.

KM: The country has been battling the scourge of machete thugs popularised as MaShurugwi or Mabhudi, some say these machete criminals are politically connected, what is your assessment? Don’t you think these criminals are a creation by the third force to destabilise the country and tarnish the good work being done by the Second Republic?

NM: The term ‘maShurugwi’ is not only stereotyping, but derogatory to people who come from Shurugwi. It’s an epithet that is meant to ostracise those that come from that district. The chiefs from the area have already registered their displeasure. Not everyone from Shurugwi carries a machete and very few members of the machete gangs are from Shurugwi. This is why the chiefs take offence to this and view it as a tribal epithet.

If you look at the so-called ‘maShurugwi’, who have been arrested so far, their villages of origin are not concentrated to Shurugwi, but from all parts of the country. It is unfortunate that some media houses and persons have chosen to label marauding machete-wielding criminals that way, with no empirical evidence supporting such a label.

The police have now moved in and brought back law and order in areas where these machete criminals had become a menace to society. As you are aware, every gold rush attracts all sorts of characters and this increases criminal activities in gold rich areas. In Mashonaland Central under the Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere, over 1 600 illegal miners and 91 touts have been arrested, while 189 unregistered taxis have been impounded. Of these, 77 people have so far been sentenced to two years each in jail for machete-related crimes. 

Criminal activities also provide opportunities and cover for others with nefarious agendas; so it cannot be discounted that where criminality occurs those who think that they can take advantage of this for political mileage or expedience. These take advantage of impressionable young people to make political points, but there is currently no evidence of that in these cases.

Own Correspondent|MDC supporters in Masvingo have literally brought the city to a standstill as they accompanied the party’s deputy national chairman to the High Court for the start of his treason trial.

The opposition supporters marched through the city with Sikhala singing songs discrediting the country’s justice system and showing their support for Sikhala popularly known as Wiwa.

Watch video downloading below:

Own Correspondent|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says that he is failing to control the country’s economy because it is infested with demons.

The President pleaded with churches to come on board and help to fight the ‘demons’ haunting the country.

Speaking at the National Day of Prayer at the Indigenous Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZIICC) at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Saturday, Mnangagwa told the churches to pray very hard to get rid of the demons.

“We continuously depend on the church for the spiritual guidance, shaping and moulding of individuals and societal moral values,” he said.

“I urge churches to continue fasting and interceding for us in leadership as well as for the realisation of our national vision. God does not give nations bad plans. God gives us good plans to prosper as a country but we need to pray to God for that blessing.

“Through your prayers, fight spiritual wars which our mortal bodies cannot fight. We ask you, churches and the leaders, we ask you to fight those wars spiritually in our country so that we are healed as a country.”

Mnangagwa urged Zimbabweans to refrain from committing sin, bad ways.

“2 Chronicles verse 7-14. ‘If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves; and pray and seek my face; and run away from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’ Mnangagwa said reading from the bible.

Jane Mlambo| MDC Secretary General Charlton Hwende yesterday said he was praying for the treason-accused party deputy national Chairperson Job Sikhala who will from today till Friday undergo trial with a conviction condemning him to prison cells for 20 years.

Job Sikhala’s trial will kick-off at Masvingo High Court today and is being represented by top human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa and Jeremiah Bhamu.

“I dedicated my prayer today to my Brother Job Sikhala who will appear tomorrow at Masvingo High Court Charged with Treason and facing 20 years in Prison. I have known Job since 1996 he is courageous, fearless and a committed fighter for his people who does not waiver,” said Hwende.

Own Correspondent|The Constitutional Court in Lilongwe will today Monday, 3^rd February 2020 deliver the much awaited ruling on the high profile presidential elections case which opposition UTM and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Petitioned the courts to annul May Presidential Polls.

Independent body, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika as a winner with 1,940,709 votes representing 38.57 percent seconded by MCP Candidate Lazarus Chakwera who scored 1,781, 740 votes representing 35.41 percent.

According to earlier communiqué from the Judiciary, a panel of five judges who were hearing the case namely Justice Healey Potani, Ivy Kamanga, Dingiswayo Madise, Redson Kapindu and Mike Tembo will start delivering the verdict at 9 O’clock in the morning.

Meanwhile, Malawi Police Service (MPs)  and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) are conducing joint patrols in Lilongwe and other major cities in the country as a major of beefing up security in the ahead of the ruling.

“There will be a security operation today on Monday in and around the Lilongwe High Court in order to felicitate smooth deliver of the Judgement,” said National Police Spokesperson James Kadadzera.

The National Police Spokesperson Kadadzera further urged members of the general public to follow the court proceedings in their respective homes and offices as they will not be allowed near the court premises.

ZANU-PF youths are expected to take to the streets today in protest over business “cartels” sabotaging the economy.

The ruling party’s deputy youth league secretary, Lewis Matutu, told the Daily News on Sunday that some corrupt Zimbabweans fronting business cartels are benefiting from the suffering of the majority.

“We are having an all-youth stakeholders’ meeting on Monday; this is about the young generation. We want to stop individuals who are sabotaging this economy.

“The issue is not about Zanu-PF but it’s about us the young people of Zimbabwe. The meeting is going to be held at a neutral venue in Harare,” said Matutu.

He said the business cartels were duping the country’s leadership by pretending to support government initiatives.

“As young people, we are not going to watch as they destroy our future. It’s enough and it must end now. The last and final message from here is that we are taking action to defend our future.

“I might be poor but I am very powerful in thought and spirit because I believe in the wishes and aspirations of the Zimbabwean people,” added Matutu.

Zanu-PF youth league political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu said they were ready to fight economic saboteurs.

“Cartels must go and they will go. A few individuals can’t manipulate the whole of Zimbabwe. We have suffered enough but not anymore.

“We will pay the price either for fighting the blood-sucking cartels or for smiling at them while they suffocate us. I choose to fight,” Tsenengamu said.

This comes after recent revelations that a Zanu-PF commission of inquiry set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in August last year to investigate party bigwigs accused of corruption by the youth league, has not met at all to deal with the matter.

Mnangagwa directed all provinces to nominate central committee members to the 10-member commission following a decision by the Zanu-PF youth league to name and shame people accused of corruption in the country.

Zanu-PF politburo member Tshinga Dube, who is one of the members of the commission of inquiry, told the Daily News last week that the group had not met since its appointment.

“We never sat as a committee, it’s true. When the president appointed us, we were happy to take up the task but we needed some leadership. We didn’t know who was to lead this group. We are waiting to hear from the president.

• Daily News

NATIONAL Constitutional Assembly (NCA) president Professor Lovemore Madhuku has slammed MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa for calling for protests while not participating in them.

Mr Chamisa has been urging his party supporters to participate in protests that have previously led to the loss of life and property.

Prof Madhuku said in the fight for the country’s democracy, Mr Chamisa was beneath him and some of the founding MDC leaders including the late party president Morgan Tsvangirai who led from the front. 

He was speaking during a Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) media briefing at a Bulawayo hotel on Friday where the political players also criticised the MDC Alliance and its allies for calling for illegal sanctions. 

“Chamisa is not in our league, we led the demonstrations, we led the struggle for democratisation here at the most dangerous phase of the development of our country. You can’t go around saying we have to do what Chamisa is doing, he has not led a single demonstration as far as I know,” said Prof Madhuku.

He said calling for demonstrations was totally different from leading the protests.

Prof Madhuku recalled how together with the late Tsvangirai they were bashed in 2007 under the administration of the late President Robert Mugabe.

He said the same cannot be said about Mr Chamisa who is enjoying the foundation they laid back in the day.

Meanwhile, Polad has slammed non-progressive opposition elements who want to use people’s suffering for political expediency and personal gain. 

Polad spokesperson Mr Khaliphani Phugeni said while they want the best for the nation, some individuals were busy promoting divisions.

“We understand the opposition to this noble idea by ‘the lone voices in the wilderness’ because their political programme depends on the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe which in turn is good fodder for them to agitate for civil unrest, create an environment of lawlessness and mayhem and use the general public as human shields in their running battles with security services. 

“They then use those images to scapegoat “reforms” in justifying the retention of the devastating sanctions against our country,” said Mr Phugeni.

He said some of them are always seen at international platforms calling for illegal sanctions. 

“While other political players have elected to travel to Europe and Washington persuading investors not to invest in Zimbabwe and also advocate for the imposition of crippling sanctions against our people, we at Polad have decided to sit around the table and dialogue as Zimbabweans on the best way forward for our country,” Mr Phugeni said.

State Media|THREE police officers manning a roadblock along the Harare-Masvingo road allegedly pulled out a firearm and threatened to shoot a 10-year-old farm girl together with her parents after the minor picked up their plastic bag containing “bribe” money hidden in a rubbish pit.

The trio allegedly pointed the firearm at the victims to instill fear in them and handcuffed them before threatening to assault them with a baton in an effort to recover their loot.

The three cops later appeared before a police tribunal and were convicted after a full trial in terms of the Police Act and each sentenced to 14 days imprisonment at the detention barracks.

Prior to the applicants being charged in terms of the Police Act, they had already been charged in terms of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act before the charges were withdrawn before a Harare magistrate due to lack of evidence.

This emerged when the three police officers, only identified as Assistant Inspector Mahleka, Sergeant Ndlovu and Constable Hamadziripi, through their lawyer Mr Norman Mugiya of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, filed an application at the Bulawayo High Court seeking an order nullifying their conviction and sentence.

They cited the trial officer, Superintendent Donald Robson and Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga, as respondents.

Former High Court judge, Justice Francis Bere, now on the Supreme Court bench, dismissed their application and condemned their conduct.

“Disciplinary proceedings under section 35 of the Police Schedule to the Police Act are an essential aspect of maintaining discipline in the police force. Police officers must be reminded that just like any other employee are subject to disciplinary action by their superiors. The court cannot be used as a shield against impending disciplinary action and will only step in where there had been a clear violation of the police officer’s rights,” he said.

Justice Bere said evidence tendered before the disciplinary hearing suggested that it sustains a criminal conviction against the three cops.

“There is no sound reason why the criminal prosecution has not been pursued to finality. I strongly recommend that the Prosecutor-General revisit this case if it had been closed for lack of evidence. The evidence of criminal conduct is there in abundance,” he said.

Justice Bere said there was nothing wrong with a police officer being charged in terms of the criminal law and then being disciplined in terms of the Police Act.

“There is no double jeopardy or dual prosecution to talk about as the two processes are meant to achieve different results. The conduct exhibited by the applicants in this case must be condemned by all fair-minded people and it must continue to be exposed because shielding it will result in the creation of a rotten and corrupt police force, which is a serious threat to the maintenance of law and order in the country. Accordingly, the application is dismissed with costs,” ruled the judge.

The three police officers said they were not supposed to have been subjected to a disciplinary hearing after being tried in a fully fledged criminal trial, arguing that it was tantamount to double prosecution.

They further argued that in terms of the law, a single officer had no jurisdiction to try them by virtue of having been charged in terms of ordinary law on the same allegations.

However, the respondents through lawyers from the Civil Division in the Attorney-General’s Office, contended that the constitution fully recognised a court or tribunal that deals with cases under disciplinary law to the extent that the jurisdiction is necessary for the enforcement of discipline.

They argued that dual prosecution was permissible as it relates to the Police Act and criminal law arising from the same conduct.

According to court papers, it was stated that sometime in December 2013, the three police officers were assigned to man a roadblock near Manyame River along the Harare-Masvingo road.

Not far from where the three cops were manning their roadblock, the 10-year-old girl from nearby Gilstone Farm in Beatrice picked up a plastic bag at a dumpsite and took it home.

Upon opening the bag, the girl’s mother discovered that it contained money in several denominations of various currencies. The money was wrapped up separately in khaki and white paper.

It later turned out that the “parcel” which was picked by the girl had been hidden in the dumpsite by the three cops.

Upon discovering that their money was missing, the three police officers went to the farm where they allegedly pulled out their service rifle and threatened to shoot their suspects.

They allegedly handcuffed the girl and her parents and threatened to assault them with a baton stick in the event that the money was not recovered.

Out of fear, the suspects returned the money.

However, upon the three cops’ arrest, there were suspicions behind the possible origins of the money and how some security items in the form of Z65J documents went missing at their roadblock.

Own Correspondent|Teachers and students in Bulawayo are today expected to close down schools in a major demonstration against high school fees and poor remuneration for teachers.

Bulawayo schools have been mobilising to stage a demonstration today as part of a follow up to the recent incident where a Science teacher at Njube High School, Brian Mutsiba, allegedly mobilised and incited 153 Form One, Form Three and Form Six pupils to demonstrate against purported “fees increase and poor teachers” remuneration among other issues.

A panicking Provincial Affairs Minister Judith Ncube urged teachers to shun today’s planned demonstrations saying such actions contributed to poor academic performance in some local schools.

Mutsiba has been on the run since last month’s protests which, according to latest information, were stage managed.

“As Bulawayo metropolitan province, we need the highest pass rate in our schools. I therefore want to appeal to the parents, teachers and the entire local community to desist from abusing pupils to further their personal agendas through engaging them in illegal demonstrations. In fact, let us support our children in moulding their future so they become good leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

“Children should focus on their education rather than these illegal demonstrations which at the end of the day affect their studies and contribute to a decline in terms of pass rates in our schools.”

Minister Ncube urged parents through their school development committees to consult widely before implementing some of the decisions that end up affecting the education of their children.

“Again, I also urge parents to first consult widely before implementing some of these decisions, which end up creating problems in our schools,” she said.

Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela yesterday said she was yet to receive a formal report from their Bulawayo offices in relation to the planned demonstrations.

“We don’t rely on social media reports and if anything of that nature is likely to happen, our officials in Bulawayo would have contacted us,” she said.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was not aware of the planned demonstrations.

Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo recently warned teachers against sacrificing learners to advance their personal interests, saying there were many lawful channels to air their grievances without involving the learners.

He said he was convinced that some anti-Government elements wanted to use minors as a shield to cause anarchy in the city.

Moyo urged parents to discourage their children from participating in illegal protests.

Mr Mutsiba, who is facing charges of mobilising children to partake in action outside the school’s authority and that of their parents, is still on the run.

He has been absent from work for several weeks without justified reason.

In terms of Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000, if someone is absent from work for a continuous period of 14 days without good cause or without permission, his salary is supposed to be stopped and he or she would then be charged for absenteeism.

State Media|THE increase in the number of learners who passed last November’s Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council Ordinary Level examinations has caused serious Form Five enrolment challenges, as most potential learners are struggling to secure places.

More than 63 000 pupils obtained Grade C or better in at least five subjects with schools, especially those that offer boarding facilities, already over-subscribed.

With most schools expected to start Lower Six lessons this week, many learners are still stranded and are hopping from one school to the other armed with recommendation letters in the vain hope of securing places.

In selecting learners for Form Five, schools usually give first preference to their excelling O-Level learners with good disciplinary records.

They also take into consideration the subject combinations the learners want and it is done on a first come, first serve basis.

Those from other schools should have a recommendation letter from their previous school explaining their disciplinary record, while church-run schools also give first preference to learners from their denomination.

Although the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Edgar Moyo, said they are still to receive the actual enrolment figures of Form Five learners, education secretaries for different churches confirmed that demand for places is high.

“We are hearing that recruitment is going on well at most schools. Securing places at boarding schools is usually a challenge because of the high demand.

“We cannot rule out the issue of over-subscription of Form Five classes because of the low numbers that are recruited.

“Schools that score high marks are usually overwhelmed by demand for places as parents want their children to get the best education. Those who are facing challenges in securing places should approach provincial education directors and district inspectors’ offices for assistance as they have better knowledge of schools within their jurisdictions. They will advise them on other alternatives,” said Cde Moyo.

Seventh Day Adventist Church East Zimbabwe Conference education director, Dr Robert Muzira, said from the reports they are getting from their schools, it shows that demand for Form Five places is high this year.

“Our schools are still recruiting and I do not have the actual enrolment figures with me right now. The number of e-mails we are getting from people asking us to assist them in securing places for their children is overwhelming. The reason why there is high demand for places is that usually Form Five classes are fewer than Form Four classes. Schools might have three or four form four classes, but at A-Level, it is usually a single or two classes depending on the combinations of subjects. We are also using a template availed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in recruiting the learners,” he said.

On measures they are taking to address the shortage of places, Dr Muzira said they are turning some of their schools like Katenga in Makoni and Handina Adventist schools into boarding schools.

“Most boarding schools are oversubscribed and we are working on increasing the number of boarding schools under our administration. At Katenga, we are building boarding facilities and we have applied to the education authorities in Rusape to transform Handina Adventist School into a boarding one. We want to have more schools in near future,” said Dr Muzira.

Roman Catholic Church Gweru Diocese education secretary, Father Augustine Chirikadzi, said recruitment is going on well in the diocese.

“We are managing the recruitment process well. Each school is looking at the number of As obtained by a learner at O-Level, but demand for boarding places is high,” he said.

Mutare Diocese education secretary, Mr Lawrence Chibvuri, said the screening process is transparent although most schools are already over-subscribed.

“We use a first come, first serve approach in recruiting Form Five learners. At day schools like St Dominic’s and St Joseph’s in Mutare, we asked them to recruit on the same day because we realised that some parents have a tendency of going to all schools trying to secure places for their children and this ends up creating a lot of confusion on the part of schools administrators as a learner can be offered places at more than one school.

“The issue of combinations also comes into play because some of the combinations that the learners want are not offered at particular schools. Combinations help shape a child’s future and we want learners to enrol for the best combinations.

“As a church institution we also value discipline and we look at recommendation letters of learners coming from other schools.

At times it is a puzzle to find a high flier not being accepted by his or her former school and this can result in one failing to secure a place as his discipline may be questionable. Headmasters should be honest and tell the truth of one’s disciplinary record,” said Mr Chibvuri.

State Media|There has been an increase in filling stations that are illegally selling fuel in foreign currency in Harare, despite the promulgation of laws which make the local currency the sole legal tender.

This has made it difficult for motorists to access fuel.

Fuel is being sold in foreign currency for anything between US$1,25 per litre and US$1,50. A litre of petrol fetches US$2 on the black market.

Statutory Instrument 212 of 2019 (Exchange Control (Exclusive Use of Zimbabwe Dollar for Domestic Transactions) Regulations, 2019) allows guests of the State only to buy petrol, diesel or other petroleum products in foreign currency, but only at designated outlets.

Last Friday, Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Magna Mudyiwa said the sale of fuel in foreign currency was unlawful.

“It is only those few designated service stations that can sell in foreign currency. They exclusively sell to diplomats and guests of the State,” she said.

“All other service stations doing that are violating the law and we shall, through the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), enhance our surveillance system.

“It has to be clear to every trade, service stations included, that the Zimbabwe dollar is the only legal tender applicable in our economy except those who fall in the category I have made reference to.”

The sale of fuel in foreign currency has drawn mixed feelings from consumers with some complaining that they were being ripped off, while those with access to foreign currency viewed it as a better option.

A survey carried by The Herald showed that some filling stations, particularly those in outlying areas of the central business district (CBD) were selling fuel in foreign currency.

Last year, the Government liberalised the importation of fuel and gave companies with free funds permission to import fuel for their own use.

The move was expected to augment supply gaps in the market.

The envisaged beneficiaries of that policy were mining companies and those in the farming sector.

Deputy Minister Mudyiwa said the Government, through the central bank, was finalising the renewal of letters of credit.

“I have not heard enough briefing from my officials since I am out of office, but I know the challenge relates to the finalisation of the letters of credit, but what we need to emphasise as a ministry is that we have enough fuel in the country at Msasa and Mabvuku depots,” she said.

Letters of credit are guaranteed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) that payment will be made in future, and oil firms are allowed to pay in local currency for fuel to be delivered.

They help reduce payment risks on international trade transactions, and with a letter of credit, a company’s bank can guarantee payment to a seller if certain criteria are met.

Most major oil companies like Total Zimbabwe, Engen, Petrotrade, Zuva Petroleum and Puma have adopted the use of these letters of credit to circumvent foreign currency shortages.

The letters of credit were most effective during the festive season when they helped with the disappearance of queues as fuel became readily available, albeit for the few days.

By Simba Chikanza | A video has emerged of ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa boasting that he is better than the Harare City Council. The clip was released by the Information Ministry which has blamed the capital city’s water problems on the MDC run authority.

The Information Ministry says Mnangagwa’s government has moved swiftly to address the water crisis. In their advertorial they said: for long residents of the city struggled to get clean consistent running water, the problem seems to be a result of Council’s failure to provide a solution. Action was desperately needed and the government has moved swiftly to address this challenge.

In the older clip, the ZANU PF president is seen saying, “we want this problem to be behind us. And for it to be behind us all the stakeholders have been at the meeting so each stakeholder will do his or her part and government will do its part in terms of financing. Isu ve hurumende, tisu tichabvisa mari kuti zvigadzikwe vigogadzikwa! – we are the government shall do the fixing of everything by releasing all the funds needed, ” he said.

Harare City Council’s water problem began in the 1990s when the government squandered money meant for the construction of Kunzvi dam expansion works. Compounded with this was the government’s destructive work of stripping local councils of their autonomy to effectively run all operations from government.

“All these years (24), Kunzvi has had notice placards announcing that works are in progress,” the Harare mayor His Worship Herbert Gomba told ZimEye in an interview.

To this day, councils are run from the ZANU PF headquarters.

Added to the water issue, the government back in the 1980s also stripped the Harare city council of its bus network, Harare United, as well as the local council’s electricity authority, to form separate companies run along party lines. Meanwhile, the ZANU PF creations – ZUPCO, and ZESA have since been run down amid massive corruption, since the 1990s.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Own Correspondent| No Zimbabwean should suffer in the ongoing coronavirus crisis – ZimEye is committed to facilitate networking among all our precious citizens scattered across China so there is support, every time, every where.

As the number of affected reached 17,205 (and 361 deaths) on Monday morning, Zimbabweans predominantly students have told ZimEye they would like to fly back home but they are stranded as they do not have enough money to make thee multiple trips.

This came about as the Government Spokesman Nick Mangwana told ZimEye on Sunday night, “there is no current program to repatriate Zimbabweans. The risk of bringing in exposed people will be higher if we take that route. China is more equipped to deal with the outbreak than us. Hence taking that route is not in our current plans. As for updates, there has been no change in circumstances since the last Statement on Friday by the Health Ministry after the suspected Botswana case.”

Sunday night LIVE discussion on the conditions of Zimbabweans in China.

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Farai Dziva| A Zimbabwean bishop has urged MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to accept the outcome of the 2018 polls because God “approved” Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory.

Bishop Roderick Makusha of Deeper Life Ministries suggested that God “may have approved the rigging.”

“Sometimes even if you lose after being rigged you have to be realistic and accept the result because God would have given his stamp of approval.

You have to accept the results so that the nation can move forward.

You have to focus on the future because one day if you are still alive you will rule Zimbabwe,” said Bishop Makusha.

The MDC Youth Assembly joins the MDC family in celebrating the birth of People’s President and the Commander of our National Democratic Struggle, Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

As the MDC Youth Assembly we would like to wish our visionary leader hearty congratulations for reaching the 42 years milestone.

For us as an Assembly, the day is not only a mark of age but a reflector of the journey we have traveled as a generation.

President Chamisa is not only our vision bearer but a true repository of a generation in need of change.

More importantly President Chamisa’s political journey from being a student leader to become a charm of the nation is a story of inspiration to the Assembly and young people in general.

Simply put President Chamisa is a paragon of excellence who has proved beyond an ounce of doubt that young people have the capacity to excel as leaders.

Barely after turning 40 two years ago, our youthful President found himself confronted with a Herculean task of representing the party as a presidential candidate following the demise of founding President, Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.

So taunting and challenging was the task to fill Dr Tsvangirai’s big shoes especially given the gerontoctratic nature of our society that is so imbibed in the illusionary notion that leadership is only a preserve of the grey haired.

So phenomenal is President Chamisa’s political tale that he dared to run for the country’s top office and emerged victorious.

Despite spirited efforts by Emmerson Mnangagwa and his military cabal to stifle and muzzle the democratic space after stealing elections, President Chamisa remains resolute and true to the people’s cause.

Indeed, it is game on and with a capable and astute leader like President Chamisa, we can dare to dream again!

South Africa attained its freedom with a Nelson and equally too Zimbabwe can with its own Nelson.

A new Zimbabwe is possible in our lifetime!

Happy birthday, Our President, Our very own Nelson!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

By Farai D Hove| Nelson Chamisa is clueless, Marry Chiwenga’s uncle has said.

Speaking at the weekend, Mr Hannington Mubaiwa said Chamisa “has no strategy, we once offered to advise him and he refused. ”

He said the MDC leader’s recent trips to South Africa are evident of a ship which has lost its campus. VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By Own Correspondent| A rural high school in Matobo District, Whitewater has made history by producing the first female  to attain 14 points in Science subjects at A-level.

While 14 points in Science subjects at A-level is no longer a big achievement for some boarding and urban schools who are producing more than one candidate with 15 points and above, the school is celebrating this as a big achievement since it is a first at the institution.

A local publication caught up with the candidate, Moeti Makwaiba who got As in Crops Science and Geography and a B in Biology in the 2019 Zimsec A-level examinations.

“Yes, I did well and I got 14 points in the three subjects that I was doing. I am very happy about this because it’s not about my school only but my background.

My mother used to struggle to raise school fees but she persevered and here I am today. I have not yet made up my mind on what to study but definitely I want to proceed to university.

I am just worried my mother will not afford the fees and I hope I can get a scholarship,” she said.

-statemedia

By Kudzai Mtisi| Zimbabwe’s problems started in the banking service when a total of 20 Banks closed in the last 20 years. That is one bank every year!!!

The Zimbabwe’s currency has changed several times with the latest being the ZWL, depositors have lost millions of dollars due to bank closures and yet no one has been arrested or convicted.

It is in the public domain who the thieving directors and executives are. Zimbabwe’s problem is not the cartels but the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe(RBZ) which is Zimbabwe’s central bank.

The role of the central bank is to control the money supply in Zimbabwe’s economy. It is responsible for issuing currency on behalf of the government. These are two problems that Zimbabwe is suffering from.

It is common knowledge that financial services collapsed in Zimbabwe due to executives, directors, managers and well-connected politicians taking depositors’ funds as insider loans,non-performing loans(NPLs)  but never bothered to pay back.

This is a typical case of the greedy robbing the poor and doing it with impunity. This process has now moved from the financial services to the central bank.

The so-called cartels had access to the banks and have now grown their tentacles to a stage that they now have access to the central bank coffers and can now operate their thieving activities with impunity.

If only the state had arrested the banking executives who looted depositors funds that led to bank closures this rot would not have moved to RBZ which has now been captured by the so-called cartels.

In November 2016, the former CEO of DPC, John Chikura, said they were suing former directors of Interfin for USD$136 million. However, this promise was never fulfilled.

If a listed bank, interfin could be looted until its coffers are empty, yet RBZ was the supervisor and the bank was audited twice a year and the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) also taking a supervisory role.

It should scare the living daylight on what is happening at our RBZ!!! 

This obvious corporate corruption is not only harmful to the financial service, but the economy and our moral fabric as well.

Zimbabweans in general have so much mistrust in the financial and banking systems in Zimbabwe today.

Corporate corruption is now a disease especially if it’s perceived to be happening at the central bank and something must be done urgently to get rid of the disease, otherwise all the efforts to try and sanitise our economy will never yield any desirable results. 

Own Correspondent|Government Spokesman Nick Mangwana told ZimEye on Sunday, “there is no current program to repatriate Zimbabweans. The risk of bringing in exposed people will be higher if we take that route. China is more equipped to deal with the outbreak than us. Hence taking that route is not in our current plans. As for updates, there has been no change in circumstances since the last Statement on Friday by the Health Ministry after the suspected Botswana case.”

Watch video of the live discussion on the conditions of Zimbabweans in China.

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Own Correspondent|It’s been confirmed that two white rhino have been killed by poachers at a private game reserve north of Harare that’s popular with diplomats and visiting business executives.

Earlier this week, poachers shot and killed a young rhino and made off with its two tiny horns. Another rhino was shot and wounded and later died.

Thetford Private Game Reserve posted a picture on its Facebook page of a funeral pyre it made for the two slain rhinos.

This isn’t the first tragedy of its kind to hit the reserve. Four years ago poachers shot and killed a 37-year-old white rhino in the park.

The reserve commended the work of what it called “very good people” in the police and parks authority who have already arrested seven people.

Alongside two rifles, the authorities also recovered the two tiny pieces of horn taken from the youngest of the rhino victims, which was only two and a half years old.

According to the statistics, water level in the Kariba Dam was at 476,75 metres translating to 8,64 percent of the dam capacity on Thursday last week.

The water level was 1,25 metres above the minimum 475,50m recommended for power generation.

“The Kariba Lake is designed to operate between levels 475,50m and 488,50m (with 0,70m freeboard) for hydro-power generation. The lake level has been decreasing due to reduced rainfall activities around and on the lake to close the period under review at 476,75m (8,64 percent usable storage) on 30 January 2020. Last year on the same date, the lake level was 481,73m (44,83 percent usable storage),” Zambezi River Authority said in the update.

According to the figures, inflows into the dam increased from 476,67m (8,09 percent full) from 17 January to 476,82m (9,18 percent full) on 25 January.

However, since 26 January levels started going down, dropping to 476,75 metres by Thursday.

Compared to last year, the water levels are a massive 36 percent apart.

Kariba has the capacity to produce 1 050MW of electricity but on Friday it was only generating 306 MW, according to the Zimbabwe Power Company.

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi said that it was unfortunate that the country and others in the region that feed into the Zambezi River have not received significant rains that have brought notable changes to the water levels in the lake.

“Of course, the rains that we have been receiving have not brought much change to the levels in Kariba Dam so we still do not have enough water to improve power generation at Kariba. We are still hopeful but remember the issue of rain is also beyond our control.”

According to the Zambian Meteorological Department, in the period between December and this month, no meaningful rainfall is expected in the country. Zambia also feeds water into Kariba.

“The northern half of the country has a high chance of receiving normal to above normal rainfall while the southern half is likely to receive normal to below normal rainfall. This part of the season will be characterised by reduced rainfall due to dry spells around February,” the department announced in its forecast for the December to February period.

However, Minister Chasi said the Government will not sit and mourn about Kariba as it has put in place alternatives to improve power generation in the country.

“There are efforts that are underway to mitigate the low power generation at Kariba and the one I can safely say is in the pipeline is the Mozambique deal.”

Zimbabwe is importing power from Eskom of South Africa and Hydroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) of Mozambique to mitigate challenges. However, the imports are not enough due to a debt overhang that the country has battled to clear over the years.

“We are expecting the deal with Mozambique to come through by March or April. Right now, I wouldn’t want to divulge much as the negotiation teams are still liaising but I can promise the nation that in one or two months, the power situation would have changed,” he said.

It has also been reported that the deal between Zimbabwe and Mozambique is hinging on Harare clearing its arrears through a US$100-million facility it secured from Afreximbank.

The deal is set to revive a 30-year agreement between the two neighbouring countries as part of immediate-term solutions to stabilise local power supplies.

President Mnangagwa discussed the matter with his Mozambican counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi, during his visit to Maputo last month.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube last week added that Government has set aside $8,5 billion to support electricity generation and imports, as part of efforts to ease load shedding.

A local pastor has urged MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to accept the 2018 presidential result even if it could be proven that the poll was rigged.

Bishop Roderick Makusha of Deeper Life Ministries insinuated that God may have approved the rigging so Chamisa should let bygones be bygones. Said Makusha:

Sometimes even if you lose after being rigged you have to accept the result, you have to accept because God would have given his stamp of approval. You have to accept so that the nation goes forward.

You should let bygones be bygones, you never know maybe one day if you are still alive you will rule Zimbabwe.

Makusha made the remarks while giving a solidarity message during a national prayer held by indigenous churches at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Saturday.

Mnangagwa managed to avoid a runoff in the 2018 presidential election by less than one per cent of the 50+ per cent threshold required. Chamisa refused to accept the outcome, claiming that the whole process was rigged by electoral officials.

Own Correspondent|The Coronavirus wreaking havoc in China and causing worldwide panic is a new strain of the virus, identified as nCoV or novel Coronavirus. Signs of infection include coughing, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), has announced through its official website that there is presently no vaccine for the prevention of the disease caused by this virus.

“Regular washing of hands with sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol, staying away from infected individuals and cleaning of regularly used surfaces” are methods suggested for prevention. The CDC also stated that there was no particular cure or treatment procedure for the Coronavirus.

However, there have been speculation, by certain individuals and corporations, that the cure might lie in Chinese traditional medicine. A spokesman for one of such groups declared that a tentative cure was available and was discovered in ‘garlic’. Although the claim hasn’t been confirmed, the sale of garlic has increased in the last few days, as locals rush to get a potential lifesaver.

News Agents

Own Correspondent|Mary Chiwenga was last week sent back to prison following a fresh assault charge on her husband Vice President Constantino’s childminder.

A confident Chiwenga told journalists as she was taken away to prison that what Chiwenga and court judges were doing on her was not right.

Watch video downloading below:

Johannesburg – Foreign nationals in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, have vowed to stay put despite recent protests where some residents were demanding that those who were undocumented leave the area following the murder of a policeman.

Police also moved in to quell the unrest and to arrest illegal immigrants.

Angry residents blamed illegal migrants for the murder and other crimes committed in the area. Recent crime statistics showed that 62 murder cases and 162 cases of rape were reported in Diepsloot.

Community member Mogomotsi Morake said the killing of the police officer was a wake-up call to fight against crime and undocumented foreigners in the area.

“These people came to our area without proper documents and rob and kill people knowing they won’t be arrested because police can’t trace them, especially Zimbabweans. We are not fighting them, but we want them out of our area. People were robbed and killed by these illegal foreigners,” said Morake.

On Wednesday, when Sunday Independent visited the area shops belonging to the migrants were closed with some fearing being attacks.

Sharon Hadebe, a Zimbabwean who arrived in South Africa in 2004, stood next to her spaza shop and said she supported the residents’ fight against crime. But targeting every foreigner in the area was unfair, she said.

“To be honest, the people are right to fight against crime, and I also support them.

“The people who are killing and robbing people are also from Zimbabwe. But they must stop the crime and live like us look for opportunities, that is why we are running our small business so we can be able to send money back home,” she said.

The 47-year-old mother said she had been living in fear following the rampage last week. “I also had to run because these people were angry and were looking for any foreigner, they didn’t care whether you are a criminal or not. Sometimes I wish I could go back home but there’s nothing, that is why we are here. At least here in South Africa we can survive. Zimbabwe is bad,” added Hadebe, who makes R180 a day and manages to send R750 back home every month.

Her sister Rose Hadebe interjected: “I am tired of having to hide when there are attacks against foreigners. This is not a good life. The reason we are here is because we want to survive.”

Another street vendor, also a Zimbabwean – Mohazad Gama who came to South Africa in 2006 legally and has papers to prove it – said he wasn’t sure whether to leave South Africa or not.

“This is a sad situation because everyone depends on me, even back home. If I leave the country then I am going back home to starve. What brought me here is money to survive, and if the situation in Zimbabwe changes then I will go. Everyone wants to be at home,” said the 29-year-old.

A terrified Somalian, Addis Mohamed, implored Diepsloot residents to understand that migrants were in South Africa to make a living.

“I can’t even sleep at night because these people might launch another attack. They should deal with criminals and leave us. Some of us are here to work, not to offend anyone,” said Mohamed. Gauteng police spokesperson Mathapelo Peters said they would remain in the area until stability was restored.

She said: “157 illegal immigrants were arrested and 23 have since been released after verification of their status in the country by immigration officers. Those confirmed to be illegal have appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court for a deportation decision,” said Peters.

The South African Human Rights Commission spokesperson Gushwell Brooks said documentation was required for non-national persons in and outside South Africa. “On that basis, the state requires documentation for cross-border migration and this should be adhered to and enforced. The commission is of the view that all established bodies, including the police and executive legs of the state such as the Department of Home Affairs should exercise their powers in terms of the law.

“Therefore, since documentation is required to be in South Africa, the responsible departments should ensure that the law is upheld,” said Brooks.

Home Affairs did not respond to questions sent by the Sunday Independent.

IOL

Correspondent|Prominent lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa who is representing Marry Mubaiwa-Chiwenga in the nasty divorce case with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has reportedly claimed Marry was being ditched for a “newer and modern” woman.

Mufaro, an online publication claims that Mtetwa made the remarks when she was arguing for the granting of bail to Marry who is being now in back in remand for allegedly assaulting the family maid, Delight Munyoro.

Mtetwa reportedly further told a Harare magistrate that the court must not turn a blind eye to the fact that the maid was the one who was looking after her children, therefore, she would not have crossed that line.

She added that Marry could not have assaulted Munyoro with her hands as alleged as the accused’s hands were visibly showing injuries.

Meanwhile, four senior prosecutors who were dispatched to oppose Marry’s bail application convinced the court that Marry had the potential to commit similar offences and it would be wrong to free her. They also recommended that she be examined by government doctors as they suspected that she could have a mental problem.

Marry’s mother, Helga Mubaiwa, cried uncontrollably in court after magistrate Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande ruled that Marry could not be granted bail.

Matabeleland North provincial administrator Latiso Dlamini has been dragged into Brigadier General Simo Maseko’s divorce case, with the top army officer’s wife accusing the bureaucrat of wrecking her marriage.

Maseko filed for divorce from his wife, Siboniso Lesley Maseko, on December 20, 2019 at the Bulawayo High Court citing irreconcilable differences.

In summons before the court, Maseko said there was no prospect of restoration of his marriage as the two had stopped living as husband and wife for over three years.

“The parties were married to each other in accordance and in terms of the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11) on December 28, 1998, and the marriage relationship has irretrievably broken down to such an extent that there are no reasonable prospects of restoration of a normal marriage relationship,” the court papers read in part.

Maseko is represented by Dube-Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners legal practitioners.

“The plaintiff has lost all affection for the defendant, which fact is inconsistent with a normal marriage relationship. The parties have not lived as husband and wife for a period in excess of three years.”

In response, Siboniso is suing Dlamini for adultery, accusing her of causing her marriage to collapse and is demanding $500 000 in damages.

Siboniso claims Dlamini started dating her husband in 2017.

However, court papers state that her marriage to Maseko broke down a year before the alleged affair between her husband and Dlamini.

Dlamini is denying the claim, saying she was not responsible for the four-year breakdown in the marriage.

“It is my position that there is no basis for the claim of damages, which are not of my doing,” she said in her opposing papers filed on December 29, through her lawyers Dube-Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners.

In the divorce settlement, Maseko requested a Mazda B1800 single cab, 55 head of cattle and 20 goats, with his estranged wife getting 40% of the market value of the property in Ilanda suburb, Bulawayo, a Forton double cab, all household property in Bulawayo, 15 cows and 10 goats as her sole and exclusive property.

Maseko also wants 60% of the market value of the Ilanda property and a Gweru stand donated to his daughters.