Correspondent|MDC secretary for education Fadzayi Mahere has dismissed ZANU PF Youth League leaders, Tongai Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu as lapdogs who are being used by old men.
Matutu and Tsenengamu held a press conference on Monday where they accused prominent businesspeople, among them Kuda Tagwirei and Billy Rautenbach of corruption.
Mahere also warned Matutu and his colleagues that they risk being used and then spit out as happened to Kudzanai Chipanga. Mahere wrote on Twitter:
“Zanu PF youths have no agency of their own. They are lapdogs for the old, wasted men at the top for whom they bark in return for trinkets. Their poorly choreographed slideshows are a weak attempt to distract us from the real issues.
We want food, fuel and forex.
Musatinyaudze!”
“Zanu PF youths learnt nothing from Kudzai Chipanga. These old men will use you then spit you out. You’re better off fighting for a constitutional democracy made of strong institutions so that you are safe when disaster strikes.”
Chipanga was a ZANU PF youth leader towards the end of the Robert Mugabe era and is famous for daring military Generals a few days before the November 2017 coup. He was subsequently arrested and fell out of favour with the ruling party.
READERS PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN UNEDITED – JUMBLED TEXT-ROLL OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY ZANU PF YOUTH LEADERS-
ALSO WATCH THE LIVE COVERAGE BELOW:
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
https://youtu.be/S7yVqBe-pDQ
[2/3, 12:38] ZimEye: my name is Godfrey Tsenengamu representing myself, my children and those to come after me.
And on my left is Lewis Matutu also representing himself and his children, and those to come after us. We are not representing anyone else.
I will continue to mix languages because speaking is difficult so fathers and mothers we are meeting here in this house we have come to you as the children of Zimbabwe with the way we are are suffering as we look into the future for our children and children’s children we decided that if we do not rise to represent those to come those who will go go come after us will come back to us to ask u’s what we have done.
Like we said we are not representing anyone here we are representing ourselves and we decided that we have the right to say what we want what we say might be wrong but we choose to speak so we know that after we have spoken there are many things that might end up happening because what we are now doing will make many people angry they are going to be furious but we have no clue we do not know what theur anger is going to cause or create out of this. We know that all of us are in a ship that is about to capsize. We are looking to the ones who are responsible. We are not able to stand up, so we are comfortable to think while we are sitting here because we have achieved so much in life that whatever conditions we we have have are crucial to our future so we decided that… the nation is at stake so we have come to speak about the act of theft
[2/3, 12:39] ZimEye: We have come to denounce the acts of many people who are greedy, those who are gathering wealth against our future let us see that by now we should have have achieved so much these people have been gaining so much against us but we have decided to say no because if we remain quiet the worst will come because the way they are behaving will destroy us
[2/3, 12:39] ZimEye: Last time we decided but now there are things that we cannot say today we are not talking about these other things which happened in another place
[2/3, 12:40] ZimEye: First let me speak on the story which I would like to narrate, it should not trouble us or be difficult.. but the way in which they are are being greedy is affecting all of us, they are being selfish
[2/3, 12:42] ZimEye: They are all over even here inside here they are are present and we tell them go back and tell them that the whole country is not happy, some people are asking us Youth League when did you become the anti-corruption unit but I don’t have much to say but we will not keep quiet while these things are happening but many times we are raising questions that when will the police and the anti-corruption unit do the job?
[2/3, 12:42] ZimEye: These things and right now as we are speaking if they release 1% of the money that they have a mother who is in the rural areas will cry because of that money but this money where are they getting it today they are arresting children who are in the street calling them money changes but they are leaving the real people who are benefiting at the top
[2/3, 12:43] ZimEye: This is where we have a challenge we have people who are mining gold or other minerals they are taking everything to themselves the old people are there the Young all over so we have said and the problem that they have caused is that even right here inside this room there are some who have been sent to say that we here are the ones who have captured the whole country but we asked them what about how they have captured the country
[2/3, 12:44] ZimEye: These thieves began way back when Joyce Mujuru was around
[2/3, 12:45] ZimEye: They were sponsoring the G14 and the Lacoste factions.. they have never been politicians and where they are stealing they are taking away wealth simply because they are thieves
[2/3, 12:46] ZimEye: We know that there are consequences for the things that we are going to announce today these cartels are very powerful they are not connected to any political party why because they are everywhere because they are gender is that whoever comes into power they will continue stealing so the fight has got nothing to do with a party the fight has got nothing to do with politics for us it is a generational fight we are perishing so this is what has motivated as to come and address you today against the powerful cartels our thoughts are centred on one person once we have named a person we will state who they are they are some hotels in the Diamond some are in the fuel some are in the transport sector some in the retail sector they are all there
[2/3, 12:46] ZimEye: This is the story that I thought to introduce to you you to let you know this is what we have for you you
[2/3, 12:47] ZimEye: So I thought to tell you all that that everyone must bear their cross
[2/3, 12:48] ZimEye: So this behaviour of hiding behind leaders we will not tolerate we cannot allow such a situation so now let me me Bring Out My Relative called Matutu…
Some were now saying Tsenengamu what is he and Matutu up to now?
[2/3, 12:48] ZimEye: You are selling your soul to the devil before because of 20 pieces of silver so now over to you Mr Matutu
[2/3, 12:49] ZimEye: I was on the phone talking to someone who was trying to bribe me and I refused.
[2/3, 12:49] ZimEye: Our problems have got nothing to do with politics or a political party they are all to do with the nation we believe that the nation of Zimbabwe comes first our conduct must reflect Zimbabwe as my self this is what we are here for
[2/3, 12:50] ZimEye: We should not keep quiet because there are some people…. here where we are we we have decided that we will not keep quiet on corruption issues
[2/3, 12:50] ZimEye: My relatives here looking at how old we are we must ask ourselves let’s say you have been given 10000 US dollars then what now
[2/3, 12:51] ZimEye: Ask yourself. We believe in equal distribution of wealth in our country… how then do we get to a situation where one person is the one who is is building toilets who is assembling solar panels
[2/3, 12:52] ZimEye: We as the youth believe that our president Emmerson mnangagwa deserves our genuine support those who believe in him will understand that the president needs genuine support the other people who are stealing who are then going behind that is ending today we want a situation where if I am a thief I must be be dried and sent to prison this is the approach that we are are taking up up we thank the efforts by the government and we are hoping that things improve but are all local people must not teach that that corrupt people must be allowed to continue that is wrong and this is what we want to talk about today
[2/3, 12:53] ZimEye: Some people we once told them. . Whatever the consequences whatever happens today day we are not concerned because the message will have been sent the nation will know what we have said
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: Let me know talk about this man called .. who is in charge of fuel we talked about how he is in command agriculture now we are waiting for him how does an individual go to the banks and withdraw money to the tune of $500,000 to do what
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: The accounts were once frozen but they were unfrozen
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: But what I want to say is that all problems are coming from this person called
[2/3, 12:57] ZimEye: My concern is that the other people who have got nothing to do with this to try and say that there is nothing going on with this person but let him prove his case there are some who are working with him some of them we have talked about them but because we cannot connect things that are unrelated I may not mix two issues now looking at these two issues this person you will see a man who doesn’t even have a heart if you look at the things that are happening in the country the government then you’ll see one person wanting to take advantage and make money on his own for himself but when you do that that let you let people know that you are the one causing all the suffering we want to clarify something there may be political organisations who would want to ride on our struggle against corruption and come up with a narrative no relax this has got nothing to do with politics it is an issue we are just speaking because someone something we have have a speaking on a position of privilege we have seen some people writing on Twitter so this is the first person that I would like to talk about
[2/3, 12:57] ZimEye: Let me tell you about this person I know you are going to talk about him right about this and be bribed by him but I’m not concerned
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: We cannot go and arrest the children in the street while leaving the Big Fish what are inside the officers if you go to the council’s the top of the range of cars that they brought in through a scheme called command this and that you will be shocked because they have been given permission by people in authority to do that so this is where we are now asking leadership asking them to choose to stand with with or to stand with the people this is where we are going asking them to stand with Kuda or you stand with the people..
I have talked about Billy now I should be talking about others this one deals with gold what is his name by the way? AsI am speaking he is unsettled because he is part of the gold cartel. Now let me rest.
Matutu: we are crying because of the judicial services commission is currently on holiday but we are crying because on all these issues of corruption there are three conditions they might not reach that number but what are they doing to the people who are stealing from the country are they part of it is there someone who is telling them not to prosecute perhaps it is so because this is like someone who has been raped they then …appear together with someone who who has raped after two weeks imagine how that will be to the public
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: All of a sudden the technical the now appear as if they know more than anyone else
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: Why are they leaving the people who are committing these crimes
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: I bet the last drop of my blood….
[2/3, 13:13] ZimEye: Inasmuch as we would like to talk about these things it is time that we come open those who want to criticize us should keep quiet because they are people who are bribing
[2/3, 13:13] ZimEye: It is time we take the right direction if we want this country to be a country yes after this it is time something is done.
NAMED ACCUSED PERSONS:
Kuda Tagwirei , Tafadzwa Musara, Pan Pap, Billy Rautenbach, Brighton, phocil agro, Phocil Contracting, Obey Chimuka, Landela Pharmaceutical, Danya, a Congolese.
[2/3, 13:16] ZimEye: Let me finish by a matter which is frightening if if we get to a stage where because of what we have spoken like this we appear as if we have have overstepped the Mark you have all been listening… if anything happens to the two of us don’t keep quiet about these issues we expect people to react but we don’t expect the Voice of Reason to keep quiet some of us are not comfortable of these things and perhaps there are a lot of people who can’t even say but if it sore happens where we have been incapacitated do not keep quiet about this because generations to come will have have to ask we have prepared ourselves we know what what could happen to us but there are reasons why we should push this agenda for us as young as as young people if we are to move together let’s move together to ensure that corruption is dealt with yes they are some things that could bring our nation down so much resources are being taken by a few people so this must end and must End right now My Relative my friend let me now go quiet.
[2/3, 13:18] ZimEye: One matter that I would like to raise his that we have to hold people accountable for whatever they are doing because if we go to the police they will tell you that they arrest if you go to the prosecuting authority they tell you that they do prosecute you go to the judge they tell you that they are not the ones who bring the evidence you go higher and you are told that we are not the ones who should bring the evidence so the people who are supposed to deal with these crimes the commissioner of the anti-corruption commission tells you that they are also worried about the things that are happening this is the chairperson of the Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission we asked the leaders and they told us that they are worried about the catch and release so everyone and you then ask are you responsible for this what will you say about this who is responsible for the catch and release so this fight will not be confined to us alone it is a generational fight for us to fight as the Citizens of Zimbabwe so we are inviting all the zimbabweans to come and join this fight where will they join it ..we have decided to create a platform that we decided to agree all of us as children of Zimbabwe who will have have decided we have we are in anti-corruption commission of our own as citizens we become a own watchdog
[2/3, 13:20] ZimEye: So we are taking this fight to it’s rightful owners the Citizens of Zimbabwe in the next 2 days that platform of citizens and we will need to be having we could do not know the law and everyone who is winning to fight corruption and the next thing that we are going to propose to do is to say let’s organise and anti-corruption conference where we call the national prosecuting authority they’re Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission the police the Justice the Ministry of Justice the judiciary to ask them please come here zimbabweans deserve to know who is the problem and where is the problem and we asked president Emerson and I want to ask him father come here and listen to the problems here that people are speaking and we ask people to come to rainbow Towers or the other international Conference Centre to explain to us us to the people who are giving out tender to only one person why are they doing this they want to benefit on their own please explain to us how money is coming out of the reserve bank of Zimbabwe and going onto the street so when we do that when we are going to invite them in the next few days into the public we are going to invite them
[2/3, 13:23] ZimEye: It’s an all stakeholders Gathering people should know those will not have come why don’t we remove the logs that don’t have smoke and then we decide as citizens we will not invite the Press we want this not to be an event but to be a process of Life to make sure we are up to date with the day-to-day issues that are happening with corruption issues we will create a toll free number that when a person has reported an anti-corruption matter we can follow up with the commission.
It will be an independent commission so we as citizens we have a right to ask and follow up on the matter so the task force will operate on its own and no one can Can Stop Us from doing this because we have freedom of association because the cartels that we have talked about they are well organised so if we fail to organise ourselves we will perish so let me invite those who would like to ask questions you ask questions and we start with you you Blessed…
[2/3, 13:24] ZimEye: Question: Just a few weeks ago the vice-president admitted on his own that he was given a car; in public from the same person, Tagwirei you are naming as corrupt how do you separate?
Own Correspondent|Econet wireless, the country’s biggest mobile phone service provider, has once again reviewed its data bundles charges upward with effect from midnight.
Econet recently announced they would be revising the prices of their data bundles with hopes that the prices were going to come down.
The new daily bundles look like this:
Daily bundles:
Weekly bundles:
Monthly bundles
Considering that POTRAZ approved a tariff increase it was only a matter of time before the mobile networks struck.
Other service providers, Netone and Telecel are also expected to announce their increases soon.
READERS PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN UNEDITED – JUMBLED TEXT-ROLL OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY ZANU PF YOUTH LEADERS-
ALSO WATCH THE LIVE COVERAGE BELOW:
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
https://youtu.be/S7yVqBe-pDQ
[2/3, 12:38] ZimEye: my name is Godfrey Tsenengamu representing myself, my children and those to come after me.
And on my left is Lewis Matutu also representing himself and his children, and those to come after us. We are not representing anyone else.
I will continue to mix languages because speaking is difficult so fathers and mothers we are meeting here in this house we have come to you as the children of Zimbabwe with the way we are are suffering as we look into the future for our children and children’s children we decided that if we do not rise to represent those to come those who will go go come after us will come back to us to ask u’s what we have done.
Like we said we are not representing anyone here we are representing ourselves and we decided that we have the right to say what we want what we say might be wrong but we choose to speak so we know that after we have spoken there are many things that might end up happening because what we are now doing will make many people angry they are going to be furious but we have no clue we do not know what theur anger is going to cause or create out of this. We know that all of us are in a ship that is about to capsize. We are looking to the ones who are responsible. We are not able to stand up, so we are comfortable to think while we are sitting here because we have achieved so much in life that whatever conditions we we have have are crucial to our future so we decided that… the nation is at stake so we have come to speak about the act of theft
[2/3, 12:39] ZimEye: We have come to denounce the acts of many people who are greedy, those who are gathering wealth against our future let us see that by now we should have have achieved so much these people have been gaining so much against us but we have decided to say no because if we remain quiet the worst will come because the way they are behaving will destroy us
[2/3, 12:39] ZimEye: Last time we decided but now there are things that we cannot say today we are not talking about these other things which happened in another place
[2/3, 12:40] ZimEye: First let me speak on the story which I would like to narrate, it should not trouble us or be difficult.. but the way in which they are are being greedy is affecting all of us, they are being selfish
[2/3, 12:42] ZimEye: They are all over even here inside here they are are present and we tell them go back and tell them that the whole country is not happy, some people are asking us Youth League when did you become the anti-corruption unit but I don’t have much to say but we will not keep quiet while these things are happening but many times we are raising questions that when will the police and the anti-corruption unit do the job?
[2/3, 12:42] ZimEye: These things and right now as we are speaking if they release 1% of the money that they have a mother who is in the rural areas will cry because of that money but this money where are they getting it today they are arresting children who are in the street calling them money changes but they are leaving the real people who are benefiting at the top
[2/3, 12:43] ZimEye: This is where we have a challenge we have people who are mining gold or other minerals they are taking everything to themselves the old people are there the Young all over so we have said and the problem that they have caused is that even right here inside this room there are some who have been sent to say that we here are the ones who have captured the whole country but we asked them what about how they have captured the country
[2/3, 12:44] ZimEye: These thieves began way back when Joyce Mujuru was around
[2/3, 12:45] ZimEye: They were sponsoring the G14 and the Lacoste factions.. they have never been politicians and where they are stealing they are taking away wealth simply because they are thieves
[2/3, 12:46] ZimEye: We know that there are consequences for the things that we are going to announce today these cartels are very powerful they are not connected to any political party why because they are everywhere because they are gender is that whoever comes into power they will continue stealing so the fight has got nothing to do with a party the fight has got nothing to do with politics for us it is a generational fight we are perishing so this is what has motivated as to come and address you today against the powerful cartels our thoughts are centred on one person once we have named a person we will state who they are they are some hotels in the Diamond some are in the fuel some are in the transport sector some in the retail sector they are all there
[2/3, 12:46] ZimEye: This is the story that I thought to introduce to you you to let you know this is what we have for you you
[2/3, 12:47] ZimEye: So I thought to tell you all that that everyone must bear their cross
[2/3, 12:48] ZimEye: So this behaviour of hiding behind leaders we will not tolerate we cannot allow such a situation so now let me me Bring Out My Relative called Matutu…
Some were now saying Tsenengamu what is he and Matutu up to now?
[2/3, 12:48] ZimEye: You are selling your soul to the devil before because of 20 pieces of silver so now over to you Mr Matutu
[2/3, 12:49] ZimEye: I was on the phone talking to someone who was trying to bribe me and I refused.
[2/3, 12:49] ZimEye: Our problems have got nothing to do with politics or a political party they are all to do with the nation we believe that the nation of Zimbabwe comes first our conduct must reflect Zimbabwe as my self this is what we are here for
[2/3, 12:50] ZimEye: We should not keep quiet because there are some people…. here where we are we we have decided that we will not keep quiet on corruption issues
[2/3, 12:50] ZimEye: My relatives here looking at how old we are we must ask ourselves let’s say you have been given 10000 US dollars then what now
[2/3, 12:51] ZimEye: Ask yourself. We believe in equal distribution of wealth in our country… how then do we get to a situation where one person is the one who is is building toilets who is assembling solar panels
[2/3, 12:52] ZimEye: We as the youth believe that our president Emmerson mnangagwa deserves our genuine support those who believe in him will understand that the president needs genuine support the other people who are stealing who are then going behind that is ending today we want a situation where if I am a thief I must be be dried and sent to prison this is the approach that we are are taking up up we thank the efforts by the government and we are hoping that things improve but are all local people must not teach that that corrupt people must be allowed to continue that is wrong and this is what we want to talk about today
[2/3, 12:53] ZimEye: Some people we once told them. . Whatever the consequences whatever happens today day we are not concerned because the message will have been sent the nation will know what we have said
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: Let me know talk about this man called .. who is in charge of fuel we talked about how he is in command agriculture now we are waiting for him how does an individual go to the banks and withdraw money to the tune of $500,000 to do what
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: The accounts were once frozen but they were unfrozen
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: But what I want to say is that all problems are coming from this person called
[2/3, 12:57] ZimEye: My concern is that the other people who have got nothing to do with this to try and say that there is nothing going on with this person but let him prove his case there are some who are working with him some of them we have talked about them but because we cannot connect things that are unrelated I may not mix two issues now looking at these two issues this person you will see a man who doesn’t even have a heart if you look at the things that are happening in the country the government then you’ll see one person wanting to take advantage and make money on his own for himself but when you do that that let you let people know that you are the one causing all the suffering we want to clarify something there may be political organisations who would want to ride on our struggle against corruption and come up with a narrative no relax this has got nothing to do with politics it is an issue we are just speaking because someone something we have have a speaking on a position of privilege we have seen some people writing on Twitter so this is the first person that I would like to talk about
[2/3, 12:57] ZimEye: Let me tell you about this person I know you are going to talk about him right about this and be bribed by him but I’m not concerned
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: We cannot go and arrest the children in the street while leaving the Big Fish what are inside the officers if you go to the council’s the top of the range of cars that they brought in through a scheme called command this and that you will be shocked because they have been given permission by people in authority to do that so this is where we are now asking leadership asking them to choose to stand with with or to stand with the people this is where we are going asking them to stand with Kuda or you stand with the people..
I have talked about Billy now I should be talking about others this one deals with gold what is his name by the way? AsI am speaking he is unsettled because he is part of the gold cartel. Now let me rest.
Matutu: we are crying because of the judicial services commission is currently on holiday but we are crying because on all these issues of corruption there are three conditions they might not reach that number but what are they doing to the people who are stealing from the country are they part of it is there someone who is telling them not to prosecute perhaps it is so because this is like someone who has been raped they then …appear together with someone who who has raped after two weeks imagine how that will be to the public
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: All of a sudden the technical the now appear as if they know more than anyone else
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: Why are they leaving the people who are committing these crimes
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: I bet the last drop of my blood….
[2/3, 13:13] ZimEye: Inasmuch as we would like to talk about these things it is time that we come open those who want to criticize us should keep quiet because they are people who are bribing
[2/3, 13:13] ZimEye: It is time we take the right direction if we want this country to be a country yes after this it is time something is done.
NAMED ACCUSED PERSONS:
Kuda Tagwirei , Tafadzwa Musara, Pan Pap, Billy Rautenbach, Brighton, phocil agro, Phocil Contracting, Obey Chimuka, Landela Pharmaceutical, Danya, a Congolese.
[2/3, 13:16] ZimEye: Let me finish by a matter which is frightening if if we get to a stage where because of what we have spoken like this we appear as if we have have overstepped the Mark you have all been listening… if anything happens to the two of us don’t keep quiet about these issues we expect people to react but we don’t expect the Voice of Reason to keep quiet some of us are not comfortable of these things and perhaps there are a lot of people who can’t even say but if it sore happens where we have been incapacitated do not keep quiet about this because generations to come will have have to ask we have prepared ourselves we know what what could happen to us but there are reasons why we should push this agenda for us as young as as young people if we are to move together let’s move together to ensure that corruption is dealt with yes they are some things that could bring our nation down so much resources are being taken by a few people so this must end and must End right now My Relative my friend let me now go quiet.
[2/3, 13:18] ZimEye: One matter that I would like to raise his that we have to hold people accountable for whatever they are doing because if we go to the police they will tell you that they arrest if you go to the prosecuting authority they tell you that they do prosecute you go to the judge they tell you that they are not the ones who bring the evidence you go higher and you are told that we are not the ones who should bring the evidence so the people who are supposed to deal with these crimes the commissioner of the anti-corruption commission tells you that they are also worried about the things that are happening this is the chairperson of the Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission we asked the leaders and they told us that they are worried about the catch and release so everyone and you then ask are you responsible for this what will you say about this who is responsible for the catch and release so this fight will not be confined to us alone it is a generational fight for us to fight as the Citizens of Zimbabwe so we are inviting all the zimbabweans to come and join this fight where will they join it ..we have decided to create a platform that we decided to agree all of us as children of Zimbabwe who will have have decided we have we are in anti-corruption commission of our own as citizens we become a own watchdog
[2/3, 13:20] ZimEye: So we are taking this fight to it’s rightful owners the Citizens of Zimbabwe in the next 2 days that platform of citizens and we will need to be having we could do not know the law and everyone who is winning to fight corruption and the next thing that we are going to propose to do is to say let’s organise and anti-corruption conference where we call the national prosecuting authority they’re Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission the police the Justice the Ministry of Justice the judiciary to ask them please come here zimbabweans deserve to know who is the problem and where is the problem and we asked president Emerson and I want to ask him father come here and listen to the problems here that people are speaking and we ask people to come to rainbow Towers or the other international Conference Centre to explain to us us to the people who are giving out tender to only one person why are they doing this they want to benefit on their own please explain to us how money is coming out of the reserve bank of Zimbabwe and going onto the street so when we do that when we are going to invite them in the next few days into the public we are going to invite them
[2/3, 13:23] ZimEye: It’s an all stakeholders Gathering people should know those will not have come why don’t we remove the logs that don’t have smoke and then we decide as citizens we will not invite the Press we want this not to be an event but to be a process of Life to make sure we are up to date with the day-to-day issues that are happening with corruption issues we will create a toll free number that when a person has reported an anti-corruption matter we can follow up with the commission.
It will be an independent commission so we as citizens we have a right to ask and follow up on the matter so the task force will operate on its own and no one can Can Stop Us from doing this because we have freedom of association because the cartels that we have talked about they are well organised so if we fail to organise ourselves we will perish so let me invite those who would like to ask questions you ask questions and we start with you you Blessed…
[2/3, 13:24] ZimEye: Question: Just a few weeks ago the vice-president admitted on his own that he was given a car; in public from the same person, Tagwirei you are naming as corrupt how do you separate?
State Media|The Chinese government has urged its citizens visiting coronavirus hotspots like Wuhan in Hubei province to suspend travelling to Zimbabwe until the epidemic is contained.
Addressing the media at the Chinese Embassy in Harare yesterday, Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Guo Shaochun said China was making frantic efforts to ensure the virus did not spread to other countries.
“We have requested Chinese nationals coming to Zimbabwe to cooperate with quarantine measures at Zimbabwean ports of entry and issued four consular notices to provide recommendations for epidemic prevention,” said Mr Guo.
“We have called on the local Chinese communities and Chinese businesses and institutions to remind their members and employees who have returned to China for holiday, to raise the awareness of prevention.
“Those who have returned to the most affected regions in China, such as Hubei Province are advised to hold off coming back to Zimbabwe to reduce the risk of bringing the virus to Zimbabwe.
“Those who have returned to Zimbabwe from the worst hit areas in China are requested to undergo a self-quarantine of two weeks at home, not to go to public places, offices or any gatherings.”
China has placed Hubei province, the epidemic’s hotspot, on lockdown.
To date, 17 205 confirmed cases in Mainland China have been recorded and the death toll is at 361.
Outside China, 23 countries have recorded 146 cases, including one death.
Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, has already convened a joint Inter-Agency Coordination Committee for Health (IACCH) meeting or Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) taskforce.
The team is responsible for setting up priority areas in response to the coronavirus threat.
No cases have been reported in Zimbabwe.
Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Agnes Mahomva said the ministry had stepped up the monitoring process by screening everyone coming from affected areas.
The surveillance team remains on high alert at all points of entry and health facilities.
By A Correspondent| Hopes of MDC President Nelson Chamisa joining Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Polad club were dashed early this morning when a senior MDC official said the MDC remains resolute.
Speaking during an early morning discussion on Tuesday (with analyst Wilbert Mukori, the MDC North America Chairman, Chief Svosve (Tawanda Dzvokora), said the MDC has not moved away from its position in July 2018.
Chief Svosve said: “… as MDC we are still where we were on July 30, 2018 that the elections were rigged.
“And this election was rigged twice at the same time, we were rigged by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and the election was rigged by the constitutional court; and we haven’t moved away from that.
“And we are still pursuing this issue and of course following a political agenda and like I said if there is a possibility any hope that this case can be opened with the new evidence that was talked about by president Chamisa and the new evidence that was brought about by the publication of Jonathan Moyo’s book and also what happened in Malawi today; if there is any hope that lawyers legal experts, legal minds, can sit down and try to see if there is that possibility, I’m sure it will be welcome.
“But as a party we haven’t lost hope, we will continue to follow every channel and other means to ensure that what happened in 2018 does not happen again.”
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"…as MDC we are still where we were on July 30, 2018 that the elections were rigged…if there's a possibility … evidence that was talked about by president Chamisa and the new evidence that was brought about by the publication of @ProfJNMoyo' s book – @Chiefsvosve1pic.twitter.com/NAz3Gb29kh
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s urgent chamber appeal hearing challenging the recent High Court decision to allow his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, to have custody of the couple’s three minor children has been deferred to tomorrow.
It emerged yesterday that the hearing was moved to tomorrow to allow lawyers to file their heads of argument by today.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba directed VP Chiwenga’s lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, instructed by Manase and Manase law firm, to file his heads of argument yesterday while Mubaiwa’s lawyers Mtetwa and Nyambirayi Legal Practitioners are expected to file today, according to sources close to the matter.
VP Chiwenga’s appeal to the Supreme Court follows Justice Christopher Dube-Banda’s ruling granting Mubaiwa the relief she sought, and restraining the VP from interfering with her access to the Borrowdale Brooke mansion.
Mubaiwa had approached the High Court seeking custody of the minor children after VP Chiwenga allegedly took the children and barred her from accessing the matrimonial home.
However, VP Chiwenga did not agree with the High Court ruling resulting in him approaching the superior court.
The noting of the appeal by the VP effectively suspended the order for him to surrender custody of the children to Mubaiwa until the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Own Correspondent|The Zanu PF Youth League yesterday said the corruption allegations made by its deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu against some businessmen were not their views.
Matutu and Tsenengamu convened a Press conference in Harare yesterday where they accused three leading businessmen of bleeding the economy through corruption.
Godfrey Tsenengamu
They accused the three of controlling the fuel, mining, transport, retail, construction and grain milling industries.
Own Correspondent|The Zanu PF Youth League deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu have described their party as a sinking ship made worse by un-curtailed corruption activities by a few people close to the top leadership of the country and party.
Matutu and Tsenengamu convened a Press conference in Harare yesterday where they accused three leading businessmen of bleeding the economy through corruption.
They accused the three of controlling the fuel, mining, transport, retail, construction and grain milling industries.
Matutu and Tsenengamu said they were speaking in their individual capacities.
“We are in a ship where some individuals are busy drilling holes for it to sink,” said Tsenengamu.
“Our action to name and shame the corrupt are driven by our patriotism. This a generational fight because if we leave this to continue, future generations will curse us for turning a blind eye to a cancer which is tearing the social and moral fibre of our country.
“These corrupt cartels are very powerful and have been left to do as they please for a long time. Their actions are driven by greed. They are fuelling all black market activities and claim that they are related or close to the national leadership. They have become the untouchables.”
Matutu said the country’s leadership deserved genuine support.
“Some of these people take advantage of their closeness to the leadership to loot resources,” he said.
“Why is it an individual is almost everywhere, be it fuel or Command Agriculture? How come some individuals are allowed to withdraw as much as $500 000 from the bank. Most of our problems are coming from this heartless individual.”
Turning to the gold sector, Tsenengamu said they had managed to identify some of the companies buying gold from machete gangs.
“Some of the artisanal miners are now being jailed for up to two years, yet the big players in illegal gold activities are not being held accountable for their actions,” he said.
“We are happy that the national leadership has come in to deal with this problem. Individuals are now having a major stake in gold mining companies through their proxies. They are now controlling the whole mining sector.”
HIGHLANDERS trained with a full squad for the first time this year, with defender Peter Muduhwa being the last to report for pre-season.
Bosso are in their third pre-season week and Muduhwa, who cited “pressing family commitments” as the reason for joining camp late, alongside another late comer Mbekezeli Sibanda, who started training on Friday, will work “extra shifts” to catch up with the rest of the squad.
Other late comers that will join the “catch-up” programme are defensive midfielder Adrian Silla and central midfielder Divine Mhindirira, who clocked in last Wednesday.
Brian Banda and winger Cleopas Kapupurika make up the final contigent of late comers.
“It’s good to have all players in camp. Some are already a gear up and for those that came late we will design a special programme that they have to follow to catch-up with the rest of the players.
We’ve been balancing ball work and physical exercises, training twice a day, but this week we’re reducing the workload, training once for all the other days so that the players recover. While the rest of the squad trains once a day, those who reported late will train twice,” said a member of the technical team.
With coach Mark Harrison waiting for his work permit, assistant coaches Mandla Mpofu and Bekithemba Ndlovu, goalkeepers’ trainer Julius Ndlovu, as well as developmental coach Melusi Sibanda, who heads Bosso 90, have been taking charge of the team’s pre-season training.
Highlanders’ spokesperson Ronald Moyo said the technical team will continue assessing trialists as well as players from their developmental side.
Ex-Kaizer Chiefs striker Mitchel Katsvairo (30), veteran striker Mkhokheli Dube, who turns 37 in June, 24-year-old goalkeeper Chris Mverechena, who was discarded by Caps United, 21-year-old Aces Youth Academy product Collin Mujuru from Harare City last season and Humphrey Ncube (27) from Bulawayo City are training with Bosso.
Bosso are reportedly closing in on reuniting with striker Obidiah Tarumbwa, who is presently with Talen Vision in the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.-State media
NATIONAL University of Science and Technology (Nust) Vice Chancellor Professor Mqhele Dlodlo has said suicide cases in the country must be treated as a looming national crisis amid revelations that 1 641 people took their lives in 2018.
Addressing delegates during a two-day Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Seminar at the University campus which focused on mental health issues and finding ways to prevent them, Prof Dlodlo said statistics showed that 1 641 cases of suicide were recorded in 2018 while 1 838 people perished through road traffic accidents the same year.
University students are part of the statistics although it could not be established exactly how many of them have taken their lives.
“According to WHO, 1,3 percent or 1 641 deaths were due to suicides. To put this in perspective, in the same year, 2018, it was reported that 1 838 people died due to road accidents. What this clearly indicates is that we must treat suicides in Zimbabwe as a looming crisis just the way we do road traffic accidents,” said Prof Dlodlo.
He added that most cases of suicide were by hanging.
“Most such deaths are by hanging. Police reported 142 such cases in the first three months of 2019,” Prof Dlodlo said.
The Nust Vice Chancellor said the seminar was the first one to be held and hoped that similar programmes were going to be implemented in other institutions.-State media
A MAN from Bulawayo’s Mabuthweni suburb was stabbed to death with an Okapi knife while trying to intervene in a fight.
Donovan Dlamini (26) bled to death after he was allegedly attacked by Leeroy Lovejoy Mafu.
Mafu and Dlamini were part of a group of patrons who were drinking beer at Makalanga Beer Garden on Saturday night when a misunderstanding arose before it degenerated into a fight.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway.
“I can confirm that Donovan Dlamini was stabbed to death with an okapi knife by the accused after a dispute. The victim was playing snooker at the beer garden with his friend during which they had a misunderstanding with the suspect over an undisclosed issue,” he said.
Ass Comm Nyathi said soon after the incident, Mafu fled only to be arrested a few hours later.
“A misunderstanding arose between the accused and other patrons whose details are yet to be verified and Dlamini intervened with the intention of stopping the fight,” said the police spokesperson.
He said Mafu immediately turned the heat on Dlamini, stabbing him once on the neck.
Sources said Dlamini sustained a deep cut and bled profusely before he collapsed and died on the spot.
“Other patrons tried to apprehend the suspect, but failed as he outpaced them and disappeared into the night. An ambulance was called but found the victim already dead,” said the source.
Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public to desist from violence.
“We urge members of the public to exercise self-restraint whenever there is misunderstanding. We encourage people to embrace the spirit of dialogue,” he said.-State media
A 42-YEAR-OLD Silobela man has been sentenced to five years in prison for fatally assaulting his 15-year-old daughter using a fan belt accusing her of having a boyfriend.
Appearing yesterday before Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese, sitting at the Gweru High Court Circuit, facing one count of murdering his daughter was Benjamin Mpanduki of Village Mabhena, Mpinda 3, Chief Malisa in Silobela.
Mpanduki pleaded not guilty to murder but to a lesser charge of culpable homicide.
Justice Makonese sentenced him to five years in prison.
He said for the murder of his daughter, Pamela Believer, Mpanduki was going to serve four years.
Justice Makonese said the other 12 months were brought from a sentence that was suspended when Mpanduki was handed a 24-month sentence for domestic violence in 2017.
“In 2017, the accused appeared before a magistrate and was handed a 24 month sentence for assaulting his wife. 12 months were suspended on condition of good behavior and the remainder was suspended on condition he performed 360 hours of community service. The accused was then arrested before he completed his community service and he committed another crime involving violence before five years elapsed meaning the court has brought in the 12 months. So, the accused is sentenced to five years,” said Justice Makonese.
The judge said parents should exercise restraint when they discipline their children.
He said after assaulting his daughter until she could no longer cry, Mpanduki went and slept in his tuck-shop instead of taking her to receive medical attention.
“It will be a miscarriage of justice if the accused got a non-custodial sentence. Children have rights too especially the right to life even if they have erred in the eyes of their parents,” said Justice Makonese.
Prosecutor Mr Mandla Ndlovu told the court that on July 11, 2017 and at about 9PM, the now-deceased was at home in the company of her mother, Loriate Mupasa and her two siblings.
He said Mpanduki arrived and indicated that he wanted to discipline her claiming that she was having an affair with a certain Pride Chando, a young man from the same village.
“It is said that on July 11 at around 9PM Pamela Believer Mpanduki was at home with her mother and siblings when her father Benjamin Mpanduki started accusing her of having an affair with a local boy.
The father started assaulting Pamela all over the body with a grinding mill belt made of rubber several times all over her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said Pamela’s mother tried in vain to restrain Mpanduki.
After the assault, the court heard that Ms Mupasa took her daughter to her bedroom hut whilst Mpanduki went and slept in their tuck shop.
“The following morning at about 6AM the mother went to check on her daughter only to find her dead.
The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and observed injuries on her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said Mpanduki was arrested after being on the run for some time.-State media
Analyst Wilbert Mukori and MDC North America Chair Chief Svosve early this morning debate over the court victory in Malawi over the stolen 2019 Presidential elections.
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HUGE BLOW FOR MNANGAGWA AS SUPREME COURT ….
Malawi’s Supreme Court yesterday annulled last year’s disputed presidential election results (which ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa had endorsed as free and fair) citing “widespread” irregularities and ordered a new vote.
The election last May returned the sitting president to power, leading to deadly confrontations and widespread unrest.
The development is a loss to not only him, but his regional backers.
Furthermore the verdict serves as a judicial precedent that can be used in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Legal experts said that with the recent revelations submitted in writing before Zimbabwe’s Parliament by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission concerning the 2018 polls, the Malawi development could combined strengthen chances of a new ConCourt appeal by MDC President Nelson Chamisa. Constitutional Court expert Dr Lovemore Madhuku told ZimEye, Chamisa can certainly appeal based on new evidence (click here to listen).
Speaking during his nation address in Mbare last week, Chamisa announced how there is now new evidence officially submitted by ZEC that shows the 2018 polls were illegally conducted. In an appeal, the Malawi case can now be cited. Mnangagwa had endosed Malawi’s polls as free and fair
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
https://youtu.be/4Wxg6HceEjY
Peter Mutharika (who had earlier been announced winner) has been an Emmerson Mnangagwa backer and when Zimbabwe’s own elections were held amid complaints over vote rigging in 2018, he celebrated Mnangagwa. He said “Through the elections, Zimbabweans have demonstrated their will to entrench democracy and good governance in Zimbabwe and in the region,”
Zimbabwe’s electoral commission declared Mnangagwa the winner with 50.8 percent of the vote — avoiding a run-off by the narrowest of margins.
MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa was announced as having 44.3 percent of the vote.
Mutharika said in giving governance mandate to Mnangagwa, “the people of Zimbabwe have shown that they have confidence in the maturity and experience of His Excellency President [Emmerson] Mnangagwa to lead them towards achieveing greater economic prosperity for all Zimbabweans.”
Dynamos are set to take their pre-season preparations beyond the Zimbabwe borders as the club announces a tour of South Africa.
The Glamour Boys will play a couple of practice matches against top-flight teams as well as those from the lower leagues. The games are likely to be played behind closed doors as the South African season is still underway.
Club spokesman Tinashe Farawo confirmed the news to the Herald, saying: “We are holding several camps in the country’s resorts and next week we will continue with those bonding camps in Shamva. Of course, we will tour several countries in the region including South Africa this pre-season.
“Plans for the team to go to South Africa for a pre-season camp where we will play practice matches against both top-flight and lower division teams in that country are advanced.”
Farawo also said Dynamos will sign partnership agreements with some of the region’s big teams which will see the country’s biggest and most successful team exchanging notes and personnel with those clubs.
“The idea is to make Dynamos a big entity. So we are strategising on how we will go about it. There are teams in the region, including of course in South Africa, which we are talking to at the moment.
“We will partner some and twin with others. Football needs modern strategies and that is one of the ways to go,” he said.-Soccer 24
A 42-year old Silobela man has been sentenced to five years in prison for fatally assaulting his 15-year-old daughter using a fan belt accusing her of having a boyfriend.
Appearing yesterday before Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese, sitting at the Gweru High Court Circuit, facing one count of murdering his daughter was Benjamin Mpanduki of Village Mabhena, Mpinda 3, Chief Malisa in Silobela.
Mpanduki pleaded not guilty to murder but to a lesser charge of culpable homicide. Justice Makonese sentenced him to five years in prison.
He said for the murder of his daughter, Pamela Believer, Mpanduki was going to serve four years.
Justice Makonese said the other 12 months were brought from a sentence that was suspended when Mpanduki was handed a 24-month sentence for domestic violence in 2017.
“In 2017, the accused appeared before a magistrate and was handed a 24 month sentence for assaulting his wife. 12 months were suspended on condition of good behavior and the remainder was suspended on condition he performed 360 hours of community service. The accused was then arrested before he completed his community service and he committed another crime involving violence before five years elapsed meaning the court has brought in the 12 months. So, the accused is sentenced to five years,” said Justice Makonese.
The judge said parents should exercise restraint when they discipline their children. He said after assaulting his daughter until she could no longer cry, Mpanduki went and slept in his tuck-shop instead of taking her to receive medical attention.
“It will be a miscarriage of justice if the accused got a non-custodial sentence. Children have rights too especially the right to life even if they have erred in the eyes of their parents,” said Justice Makonese.
Prosecutor Mr Mandla Ndlovu told the court that on July 11, 2017 and at about 9PM, the now-deceased was at home in the company of her mother, Loriate Mupasa and her two siblings.
He said Mpanduki arrived and indicated that he wanted to discipline her claiming that she was having an affair with a certain Pride Chando, a young man from the same village.
“It is said that on July 11 at around 9PM Pamela Believer Mpanduki was at home with her mother and siblings when her father Benjamin Mpanduki started accusing her of having an affair with a local boy. The father started assaulting Pamela all over the body with a grinding mill belt made of rubber several times all over her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said Pamela’s mother tried in vain to restrain Mpanduki. After the assault, the court heard that Ms Mupasa took her daughter to her bedroom hut whilst Mpanduki went and slept in their tuck shop.
“The following morning at about 6AM the mother went to check on her daughter only to find her dead. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and observed injuries on her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said Mpanduki was arrested after being on the run for some time. state media/Chronicle
Matebeleland North Provincial Elections Officer, Mr Mark Ndlovu, has retired.
Speaking at a farewell party attended by family members, friends and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Matabeleland North staff in Bulawayo on Saturday, Mr Ndlovu said he was retiring a satisfied man after serving his country well in various capacities and portfolios.
“I am leaving a happy man having liberated this country, served in the Zimbabwe National Army and joined Zec and now am going home leaving a good legacy,” he said. Mr Ndlovu said working in Zec is challenging because contesting parties are difficult to satisfy.
“Elections are so contextual, those whom we serve are all our stakeholders and it is difficult for them to be satisfied. They will say they are not happy with the way you have conducted the elections but on our part, we do everything within the confines of the laws of the country,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said he was going to venture into farming and contribute towards the national economy. “I like new challenges and from here I am going into full time farming. I want to contribute to the turnaround of the economy,” he said.
Mr Painos Buligwamano, Binga District Elections Officer, said Mr Ndlovu was leaving a legacy of hard work and dedication.
“Mr Ndlovu is leaving a legacy of hard work, commitment and working within the legal framework. It was a pleasure working under him and we even nicknamed him ‘Mr legal framework’ because of his commitment to constitutionalism,” he said.
Another colleague, Mr Sifelani Mhlanga said Mr Ndlovu was a hard worker who wanted things done correctly every time.
“He is a man who always emphasised on punctuality. He always said ‘do the right thing the first time. There is no room for mistakes,” he said.
Family members said though retired, Mr Ndlovu was not tired. “Yes, my father is retiring but he is not tired,” said one of his children Saziso.
An official who preferred anonymity said Mr Ndlovu is retiring because he has reached the retirement age.
“It’s a normal procedure in the commission. When one reaches retirement age its automatic,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu was born on January 31, 1955 in Bulilimamangwe District. He joined the liberation struggle in 1976.
Upon independence, he was attested into the army and rose through the ranks to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He retired in 2005.
He then joined the then Electoral Supervisory Commission in 2005 until its reconstitution into Zec in 2007. state media/Chronicle
The Zanu PF Youth League yesterday said the corruption allegations made by its deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu against some businessmen were not their views.
Matutu and Tsenengamu convened a Press conference in Harare yesterday where they accused three leading businessmen of bleeding the economy through corruption.
Tsenengamu
They accused the three of controlling the fuel, mining, transport, retail, construction and grain milling industries.
In a statement on Twitter the Youth League said: “We dissociate ourselves from the ongoing presser by Matutu and Tsenengamu.
“Views expressed don’t represent Zanu PF Youth League, but personal opinions.
“We urge anyone with incriminating evidence against anyone to approach lawful authorities and responsible agencies.”
Matutu and Tsenengamu said they were speaking in their individual capacities.
“We are in a ship where some individuals are busy drilling holes for it to sink,” said Tsenengamu.
“Our action to name and shame the corrupt are driven by our patriotism. This a generational fight because if we leave this to continue, future generations will curse us for turning a blind eye to a cancer which is tearing the social and moral fibre of our country.
“These corrupt cartels are very powerful and have been left to do as they please for a long time.
Their actions are driven by greed. They are fuelling all black market activities and claim that they are related or close to the national leadership. They have become the untouchables.”
Matutu said the country’s leadership deserved genuine support.
“Some of these people take advantage of their closeness to the leadership to loot resources,” he said.-State media
MDC National Youth Spokesperson Stephen Chuma has said the opposition party will continue to fight for democracy despite intimidation by the police. ..
World Cancer Day is celebrated on the 4th of February everywhere in the world.
It is an international day marked to raise awareness and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment. Cancer can affect anyone of any age, race, gender or ethnicity as well as any part of the body from head to toe.
Some cancers have known causes or risk factors while others are not known to what causes them.
Infections, genetic make up and day to day lifestyle are some risk factors and causes of cancer.
These cancers are divided into 2 main groups -benign (those that do not spread and one can be cured) and malignant (those that spread from their site of origin and difficult to treat.
Most cancers are not painful in the early stages and many people tend to ignore anything that does not cause pain until they seek for medical help later on and it’s too late for them to get any treatment. If there is a a family history of any cancers and any suspicious lumps or masses one should seek for medical attention to avoid spreading of the cancer.
Risk factors that causes cancer one can stop to avoid developing cancer include stopping smoking and alcohol intake, health eating, exercise and health seeking behaviour.
Treatment of cancer depends on the type of cancer, site and stage of the cancer.
Some can be completely cured after treatment while others can not be cured.
In the developed world the most common cause of cancer is sedentary life style while in developing countries infections such as HIV, HPV are on the rise of causing cancers.
These infections are usually spread through unprotected sexual intercourse therefore safe sexual practices can also help reduce one’s chances of getting cancer.
For more information follow/like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Malawi’s Supreme Court has annulled last year’s disputed presidential election results (which ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa had endorsed as free and fair) citing “widespread” irregularities and ordered a new vote.
The election last May returned the sitting president to power, leading to deadly confrontations and widespread unrest.
The development is a loss to not only him, but his regional backers.
Furthermore the verdict serves as a judicial precedent that can be used in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Legal experts said that with the recent revelations submitted in writing before Zimbabwe’s Parliament by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission concerning the 2018 polls, the Malawi development could combined strengthen chances of a new ConCourt appeal by MDC President Nelson Chamisa. Constitutional Court expert Dr Lovemore Madhuku 2 weeks ago told ZimEye, Chamisa can certainly appeal based on new evidence (click here to listen).
Speaking during his nation address in Mbare last week, Chamisa announced how there is now new evidence officially submitted by ZEC that shows the 2018 polls were illegally conducted. In an appeal, the Malawi case can now be cited. Mnangagwa had endosed Malawi’s polls as free and fair
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
https://youtu.be/4Wxg6HceEjY
Peter Mutharika (who had earlier been announced winner) has been an Emmerson Mnangagwa backer and when Zimbabwe’s own elections were held amid complaints over vote rigging in 2018, he celebrated Mnangagwa. He said “Through the elections, Zimbabweans have demonstrated their will to entrench democracy and good governance in Zimbabwe and in the region,”
Zimbabwe’s electoral commission declared Mnangagwa the winner with 50.8 percent of the vote — avoiding a run-off by the narrowest of margins.
MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa was announced as having 44.3 percent of the vote.
Mutharika said in giving governance mandate to Mnangagwa, “the people of Zimbabwe have shown that they have confidence in the maturity and experience of His Excellency President [Emmerson] Mnangagwa to lead them towards achieveing greater economic prosperity for all Zimbabweans.”
World Cancer Day is celebrated on the 4th of February everywhere in the world.
It is an international day marked to raise awareness and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment. Cancer can affect anyone of any age, race, gender or ethnicity as well as any part of the body from head to toe.
Some cancers have known causes or risk factors while others are not known to what causes them.
Infections, genetic make up and day to day lifestyle are some risk factors and causes of cancer.
These cancers are divided into 2 main groups -benign (those that do not spread and one can be cured) and malignant (those that spread from their site of origin and difficult to treat.
Most cancers are not painful in the early stages and many people tend to ignore anything that does not cause pain until they seek for medical help later on and it’s too late for them to get any treatment. If there is a a family history of any cancers and any suspicious lumps or masses one should seek for medical attention to avoid spreading of the cancer.
Risk factors that causes cancer one can stop to avoid developing cancer include stopping smoking and alcohol intake, health eating, exercise and health seeking behaviour.
Treatment of cancer depends on the type of cancer, site and stage of the cancer.
Some can be completely cured after treatment while others can not be cured.
In the developed world the most common cause of cancer is sedentary life style while in developing countries infections such as HIV, HPV are on the rise of causing cancers.
These infections are usually spread through unprotected sexual intercourse therefore safe sexual practices can also help reduce one’s chances of getting cancer.
For more information follow/like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Malawi’s Supreme Court has annulled last year’s disputed presidential election results (which ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa had endorsed as free and fair) citing “widespread” irregularities and ordered a new vote.
The election last May returned the sitting president to power, leading to deadly confrontations and widespread unrest.
The development is a loss to not only him, but his regional backers.
Furthermore the verdict serves as a judicial precedent that can be used in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Legal experts said that with the recent revelations submitted in writing before Zimbabwe’s Parliament by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission concerning the 2018 polls, the Malawi development could combined strengthen chances of a new ConCourt appeal by MDC President Nelson Chamisa. Constitutional Court expert Dr Lovemore Madhuku told ZimEye, Chamisa can certainly appeal based on new evidence (click here to listen).
Speaking during his nation address in Mbare last week, Chamisa announced how there is now new evidence officially submitted by ZEC that shows the 2018 polls were illegally conducted. In an appeal, the Malawi case can now be cited. Mnangagwa had endosed Malawi’s polls as free and fair
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
https://youtu.be/4Wxg6HceEjY
Peter Mutharika (who had earlier been announced winner) has been an Emmerson Mnangagwa backer and when Zimbabwe’s own elections were held amid complaints over vote rigging in 2018, he celebrated Mnangagwa. He said “Through the elections, Zimbabweans have demonstrated their will to entrench democracy and good governance in Zimbabwe and in the region,”
Zimbabwe’s electoral commission declared Mnangagwa the winner with 50.8 percent of the vote — avoiding a run-off by the narrowest of margins.
MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa was announced as having 44.3 percent of the vote.
Mutharika said in giving governance mandate to Mnangagwa, “the people of Zimbabwe have shown that they have confidence in the maturity and experience of His Excellency President [Emmerson] Mnangagwa to lead them towards achieveing greater economic prosperity for all Zimbabweans.”
annuls last year’s disputed presidential election results, citing “widespread” irregularities and ordered a new vote.
The election last May returned the sitting president to power, leading to deadly confrontations and widespread unrest.
The development is said to reflect a loss to not only him, but his regional backers.
Furthermore the verdict serves as a judicial precedent that can be used in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Legal experts said that with the recent revelations submitted in writing before Zimbabwe’s Parliament by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission concerning the 2018 polls, the Malawi development could combined strengthen chances of a new ConCourt appeal by MDC President Nelson Chamisa. Constitutional Court expert Dr Lovemore Madhuku told ZimEye, Chamisa can certainly appeal based on new evidence.
Peter Mutharika (who had earlier been announced winner) has been an Emmerson Mnangagwa backer and when Zimbabwe’s own elections were held amid complaints over vote rigging in 2018, he celebrated Mnangagwa. He said “Through the elections, Zimbabweans have demonstrated their will to entrench democracy and good governance in Zimbabwe and in the region,”
Zimbabwe’s electoral commission declared Mnangagwa the winner with 50.8 percent of the vote — avoiding a run-off by the narrowest of margins.
MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa was announced as having 44.3 percent of the vote.
Mutharika said in giving governance mandate to Mnangagwa, “the people of Zimbabwe have shown that they have confidence in the maturity and experience of His Excellency President [Emmerson] Mnangagwa to lead them towards achieveing greater economic prosperity for all Zimbabweans.”
Correspondent|MAZOWE ward 13 councillor Edward Mutyavaviri (ZANU PF) is alleged to have chased a St Albans primary school head away after receiving a donation from a MDC official on their speech and prize giving day last year.
The school head Cleopas Nembawari left the school last week Monday with Anglican officials who came to enquire about the matter.
Mutyavaviri is reported to have threatened the head with unknown actions.
The councillor confirmed conducting the meeting with various village heads who unanimously agreed to chase the head away.
“We held a meeting with a number village heads who were disgruntled with the conduct and informed the Anglican officials who then took him away after the meeting,” said Mutyavaviri before switching off his phone.
MDC chairperson George Gwarada who was part of the guests on the speech and prize giving day and donated two tonnes of cement to the school expressed disgust on the behavior of Mutyavaviri and has since filed a police report.
“As MDC we are very disturbed with this Zanupf councillor the speech and prize ceremony was a non political and my donation was for the development of the school but we begin to wonder when we see such rogue councillors victimizing civil servants,” fumed Gwarada.
“We have since filed a police report at Glendale police station under CR 10042 /01/20 and we hope police will act on the matter.”
Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe could neither confirm nor deny the case saying he will look into the matter.
“I have not received that case but let me look into the matter and will get back to you as soon l get the details,” Mundembe said.
An Anglican Church official who declined to be named said the situation was tense hence they had to take their head away fearing for his life.
“The councillor was very furious about the donation and mobilized village heads who vowed to deal with the head if he remains in charge of the school so we had no choice than to withdraw him from there because we never knew what they would do to him,” said the source.
High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court in the presidential election nullification petition which has annulled the result of last year’s presidential election, citing irregularities, and ordered a new one within 150 days, has ordered that former vice president Saulos Chilima should revert to his position essential removing the current veep Everton Chimulirenji elected with President Peter Mutharika in the cancelled vote.
The panel of five judges ruled that the presidency will revert to the pre-May 2019 elections status.
With the ruling President Peter Mutharika will remain in office together with Chilima as President and Vice-President until the next elections.
Selmor Mtukudzi this past weekend proved that she is the rightful heiress to Tuku Music with a successful album launch.
The album, Dehwe ReNzou, produced by South Africa’s Steve Dyer has 11 tracks —Mandidzimbira, Mbodza, Zvine Basa Rei, Unconditional Love, Tanda Mbizi, Wadzipwa, Uchafinhwa, Tawanda Sei?, Ngoma Ngaitsve, Usareve Nhema and Babe Can I?
Performing in front of an appreciative audience at the RM Garden Hall Exhibition Park in Harare on Friday evening, it was clear Selmor is destined for dizzy heights as she performed like a professional.
Sulumani, son of the late Simon Chimbetu wowed the audience after he made a cameo appearance on stage and helped Selmor sing one of her late father’s tracks. After the performance, he said he could not resist joining Selmor on stage as her show reminded him of when his father died.
“I just want to say to my sister Selmor and her husband, this road that you’re walking is the same as the one I travelled after the death of my father. My advice to you is just be cool, humble, stay focused and you’ll go forward.
“You have the support of the fans and ours so you’re doing just fine,” said Sulumani.
Moments after Sulumani left the stage, Selmor was joined on stage by Sungura maestro, Alick Macheso for yet another cameo appearance. He also performed one of her father’s tracks with her and the crowd went into a frenzy.
Interestingly, it was later revealed that Macheso who closed off the show, refused to be paid for his performance.
“When we asked Macheso how much he’d want for his performance, he refused saying Selmor was his daughter so he would just come to perform as a way of supporting her career,” event promoter, Josh Hozheri said while commending Macheso for his gesture.
But as fate would have it, Macheso may just have left with more money than he would have been paid by the promoter as people who were in the VIP and VVIP sections kept pulling him to the side during his performance to put US dollars into his pockets.
After Selmor concluded her performance, she, unlike other artistes, took time to meet and greet fans as well as pose for photos, something which endeared her to the fans.
Correspondent|Khama Billiat has filed court papers to bar the mother of his alleged love child from ‘harassing’ him.
According to the Sunday Sun, the Kaizer Chiefs star wants the 22-year-old to stop calling him, visiting his work or home and to do interviews with media regarding her relationship with him.
A friend of the young mother confirmed to the Sunday newspaper that the unnamed baby mama went to Chiefs’ training grounds to speak to Billiat, but he refused to come out.
“It’s not easy to get in there. When you arrive at the gate, they have to call him first. If he refuses to grant you entry as a visitor, then security doesn’t allow you to come in,” the friend is quoted as saying by the Sunday Sun.
Amakhosi communication manager Vina Maphosa confirmed he has met Billiat’s baby mama.
“I don’t have reports. I will find out,” said Maphosa.
“The lady once came to the Village and just like any other walk-ins I received her, listened to her query with utmost compassion and gave her advise on the club protocols of dealing with private matters.”
By Ezra Tshisa Tshisa Sibanda|To suggest Highlanders player Prince Dube is under surveillance for coronavirus disease because he was in China recently is misplaced and laughable. Prince Dube has been in the country for a while now after his trial stint at a Chinese Team located over 700 Kms from Wuhan, the Coronavirus origination point. He was never prone to the disease which broke out after he had left China.
The reports about Highlanders superstar being on surveillance has left Prince being prone to name calling, abuse and causing unnecessary panic especially to his team mates and instilled fear amongst his family, friends and supporters of this great club. Definition of the word surveillance is very clear. It means close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal. How & why is that process “done” on Prince Dube yet he is not of interest to anybody. If anyone suspected he might be infected with this deadly disease, they should have done blood tests on him at the airport, checked symptoms if indeed they suspected him, then isolate him for at least 3 days to MONITOR him and others from China. Suspected people are closely monitored and isolated by health professionals and no surveillance is unleashed on them because following someone cant stop infection spreading.
The health official who “confirmed”, if indeed he did, that Prince was on surveillance is a shame to the Health Profession and Ministry. He should have said the Ministry is monitoring the virus on people who recently returned from China just like other countries are doing. No trained person, professional or doctor would mention, let alone confirm any health doubts or illness of anybody to 3rd parties or to the press. This was reckless from ministry official and those who believe in that official. Leave Prince Dube from unnecessary gossip and pressure. The boy wants to play his football and concentrate on winning things with Highlanders FC.
Lets not lie to the public, no one can see the disease with a naked eye, not even those torches used at the airports, whatever you call them can detect the virus.
There are more than 17,000 confirmed cases of
the virus in China. Some 361 people have died
in the mainland alone. Outside China, there are more than 150 confirmed cases of the virus and one death, in the Philippines. No reports from Zim Government indicating any one infected or any victims that have died from the disease.
Struggling Polokwane City’s woes continue after they succumbed to yet another defeat, this time a 0-1 loss to fellow relegation candidates AmaZulu.
The Limpopo-based side, home to the Zimbabwean trio of George Chigova, Walter Musona and Charlton Mashumba, have lost 14 of their last 16 games in all competitions, sinking in the murky waters of relegation places in the process.
In fact, Rise and Shine are now bottom of the ABSA Premiership table with a paltry 17 points from 21 games.
Yesterday’s game presented City with a golden chance to move off the bottom of the table as they played AmaZulu, whom they are now 3 points adrift as the relegation battle escalates.
MARITZBURG United’s Zimbabwe winger Gabriel Nyoni has been praised for his sportsmanship after his hearty apology to Cape Town United goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh on Friday night.
Nyoni was shown a straight red card five minutes before the break when he planted a boot into Leeuwenburgh’s face during an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
The Zimbabwean had been released by a through ball from Daylon Claasen and with the scores at 0-0, Nyoni stretched his leg hoping to get there first.
It was an ill-timed decision and the referee had no option but to send the Maritzburg winger off.
There was a 10-minute stoppage as medics attended to Leeuwenburgh, who had taken a serious blow to his nose. In the end, the Cape Town goalkeeper had to be replaced by Sage Stephens as he could not finish the game.
After the game, Nyoni made it a point to visit the Cape Town changing room to offer his apologies to Leeuwenburgh and the rest of his teammates.
“I pray and wish Peter Leeuwenburgh a quick recovery. I apologise for my misjudgment on the pitch which led to his injury and am sorry that he couldn’t finish the match because of it. I also extend my apologies to his family, friends and Club,” Nyoni wrote on Twitter. Respected South African sports broadcaster Robert Marawa commended Nyoni’s action. “Speedy recovery Peter…And you Nyoni will continue to fly like the bird that you are. Class,” he wrote.
SuperSport broadcaster Mpho Letsholonyane, who is married to former Kaizer Chiefs star Reneilwe, was also impressed with Nyoni’s conduct in the aftermath of the sending off.
“It was a genuine mistake on your part. No malice intended…Speedy recovery to Peter. Keep your head up. Some lessons are tough but we grow from them,” she wrote.
After the sending off, the Team of Choice, who had been the dominant side, had to switch gear and it was no surprise when Cape Town took the lead nine minutes after the break. Thabo Nodada tapped in from close range after he was left unmarked to meet Bradley Ralani’s cross and beat United goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
Despite being a man down, the Team of Choice refused to crumble as they finally got back into the game courtesy of Jeremy Brockie’s equaliser 17 minutes from time.
The draw saw United remain in sixth place on the log with 27 points from 20 games to trail leaders Kaizer Chiefs by 18 points. Maritzburg coach Eric Tinkler was pleased with how his team responded following Nyoni’s red card.
“I thought we didn’t take our chances. Our transitions in the first half were very brilliant, I think we should have taken the lead in the first 20-30 minutes,” Tinkler said.
“We were always threatening from the diagonals and the balls from the wings but we didn’t put the ball in the back of the next. “I think the game completely changed when Gabriel got sent off. “We had to go into defensive mode, we had to change the system but I’m very proud of my boys.
“They worked their socks off tonight which is something I asked and I requested and they gave it to me tonight so they can be very proud of themselves to come back after going 1-0 down and still showed the character.”
Correspondent|Patrick Zhuwawo, a nephew to the late former President Robert Mugabe, has warned Zimbabweans to be careful not to be used (kuitiswa) again this February.
Zhuwawo issued the warning following a press conference addressed by senior ZANU PF Youth League leaders, Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu in Harare on Monday afternoon.
The duo gave the names of several individuals they said were cartel kingpins who are at the centre of the country’s economic problems.
Zhuwawo opined that Matutu and Tsenengamu were announcing the creation of a new movement to rival the Emmerson Mnangagwa ZANU PF party and government for failing to tackle corruption.
The fact that two, who hold positions in the ZANU PF politburo and Central Committee addressed the media at the Media Centre rather than at the party’s headquarters, and their stated readiness to leave ZANU PF indicates that a new formation has been created which will lead to the party’s implosion, asserted Zhuwawo.
The exiled former cabinet minister holds the view that Zimbabweans were used in November 2017 to sanitise a military coup and are about to be used again this month.
Own Correspondent|The Malawian Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), whose leader Peter Mutharika is first respondent in ithe presidential election petition case, has encouraged supporters to abide by the law, and accept whatever outcome the court will come up with.
DPP’s Brown Mpinganjira (left), Wa Jeffrey and other top brass: Party to abide by the law
UTM Party president Saulos Chilima was the first petitioner while his Malawi Congress Party counterpart Lazarus Chakwera was the second petitioner in the case seeking nullification of the May 21, 2019 presidential election results citing irregularities, whose ruling is still being read out at the time of writing.
The case was being heard by a five-judge panel in the High Court in Lilongwe that was sitting as a Constitutional Court.
DPP secretary general Greselder Jeffrey said: “Our supporters are being urged to support the outcome of the court.”
She says people are at liberty to listen to the verdict either at home or at their workplace.
“ The court wanted us to give them 10 names of people who will attend the session, and we did, so everybody, if you stay at home, be home, if you work, be at work, be at your businesses, and listen to the verdict, let us be peaceful,” said Jeffrey.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared Mutharika winner of the presidential race with 1 940 709 votes or 38.57 percent. He was trailed by Chakwera with 1 781 740 votes (35.41 percent) and Chilima with 1 018 369 votes or 20.24 percent.
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.
Gokwe Town secretary, Melania Mandeya, who is facing abuse of office charges was on Monday denied bail by Gokwe Magistrate, Mr Musaiwona Shortgame who argued that she faces serious charges and was a flight risk.
Mandeya, who is facing four counts of abuse of office, was represented by Mr Solomon Kangambeu of Chitere and Chidawanyika Legal practitioners.
She was remanded in custody to February 14 but her lawyers hinted they would appeal.
The State case led by prosecutor, Mr Michael Mhene was that sometime in 2015, Mandeya deliberately gave her relative, one Ms Zvichapera Zunzanyika a contract to supply new curtains for the town house without following proper procedures and the council paid her.
On the second count, Mr Mhene said some time in March last year, Mandeya invited tenders for catering services and about four companies provided their quotations.
The court heard that Mandeya, who preferred one of the four companies, Irene’s Kitchen inflated the figures on the other three bids and proceeded to award the tender to her preferred company without involving the council procurement management unit.
Mandeya also went to the housing department in December 2017 and ordered the officials in the department to allocate her a stand (number 155 in Kambasha), which was adjacent to her official stand (Number 156).
She signed a lease agreement but never paid money for the stand as stipulated in the lease.
The local authority was prejudiced of over $4000. The court heard that Mandeya also used her position to directly procure and order the installation of a solar system from Nerenchia Power Rite company for the town house and used the same company to install a solar power system at her house.
It is the state’s case that Gokwe Town council paid $325 435 for the services but could have saved a huge chunk of that amount of money if proper procedures had been followed.
Chiwenga family maid Delight Munyoro and Marry Chiwenga
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.
Own Correspondent|The Malawian Constitutional Court sitting in Lilongwe has dismissed Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) argument that monitors were supposed to come and testify themselves in court on electoral irregularities and illegalities.
Attoney General Kalekeni Kamphale who represented MEC in the case at the Court-pic by Lisa Kadango
The judges, Healey Potani, Mike Tembo, Dingiswayo Madise, Ivy Kamanga and Dr Redson Kapindu are delevering judgement in which opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM are asking court to nullify the May 2019 presidential elections.
MEC’s key argument in the case is that no monitor testied for the petitioners to challenge the validity but Judge Ivy Kamanga said the monitors were not important in this case.
“There was no reason for monitors to testify where forms 66c and 66a had different results,” she said.
The court said the Presidential Parliamentary Elections Act (PPEA) distinguishes between the presence of monitors and presiding officers. For monitors it’s voluntary, while the presiding officers is mandatory, therefore, MEC cannot solely rely on monitors for a record of what transpired at a polling station.
In the ruling, the court finds that from the evidence in totality, there are indeed some result sheets that were not signed by presiding officers.
“The signing by the presiding officers is stated in Section 93.10 (b) of the PPEA, where it says the presiding officer must prepare a brief summary, which he must sign. This is mandatory.”
The court finds that failure to sign the presiding officers undermined the integrity of the elections.
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.
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.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed the Africa Cup of Nations be played after every four years instead of the current two-year interval.
Infantino made the proposal at a seminar held in Rabat, Morocco on Saturday on the development of African football.
“What I’m asking you, and it’s your decision, is to discuss and consider moving to a Nations Cup every four years,” he told African football leaders, who were delegates from each of the 54 member associations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“The AFCON generates 20 times less than the Euros. Having the AFCON every two years, is that good at the commercial level? Has this developed the infrastructure? Think about spending it every four years,”
The FIFA boss also promised to create a pan-African Super League with 20 permanent member clubs.
“I want to create a real pan-African league that would feature 20-24 clubs with a maximum of maybe two clubs per country that would still play in their national leagues but that would play during the year so we can really crown the club champions of Africa,” he said.-Soccer 24
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…..
Tottenham Hotspur were too good for Manchester City and eventually won the drama-filled encounter 2-0 on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s charges missed a first half penalty which sparked chaos after Hugo Lloris dived to his left to deny Ikay Gundogan from 12 yards and Raheem Sterling tried to convert the follow up, going down courtesy of a Lloris challenge in the process.
The Video Assistant Referee was consulted as the City players appealed for another penalty which they were denied by the technology.
Neither team could break the deadlock as they went into the break level.
The stadium erupted in the 56th minute when debutant Steven Bergwijn thrust Jose Mourinho’s men ahead through a brilliant chest and shoot which sparked wild celebrations.
Son doubled Spurs’ advantage minutes later and City’s misery was further compounded by the dismissal of Oleksandr Zinchenko on account of a second bookable offense.
The result means run away leaders Liverpool are now a staggering 22 points clear at the summit of the Premier League table.-Soccer 24
Dynamos are set to take their pre-season preparations beyond the Zimbabwe borders as the club announces a tour of South Africa.
The Glamour Boys will play a couple of practice matches against top-flight teams as well as those from the lower leagues. The games are likely to be played behind closed doors as the South African season is still underway.
Club spokesman Tinashe Farawo confirmed the news to the Herald, saying: “We are holding several camps in the country’s resorts and next week we will continue with those bonding camps in Shamva. Of course, we will tour several countries in the region including South Africa this pre-season.
“Plans for the team to go to South Africa for a pre-season camp where we will play practice matches against both top-flight and lower division teams in that country are advanced.”
Farawo also said Dynamos will sign partnership agreements with some of the region’s big teams which will see the country’s biggest and most successful team exchanging notes and personnel with those clubs.
“The idea is to make Dynamos a big entity. So we are strategising on how we will go about it. There are teams in the region, including of course in South Africa, which we are talking to at the moment.
“We will partner some and twin with others. Football needs modern strategies and that is one of the ways to go,” he said.-Soccer 24
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.
READERS PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN UNEDITED ROLL OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY ZANU PF YOUTH LEADERS-
ALSO WATCH THE LIVE COVERAGE BELOW:
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
https://youtu.be/S7yVqBe-pDQ
[2/3, 12:38] ZimEye: my name is Godfrey Tsenengamu representing myself, my children and those to come after me.
And on my left is Lewis Matutu also representing himself and his children, and those to come after us. We are not representing anyone else.
I will continue to mix languages because speaking is difficult so fathers and mothers we are meeting here in this house we have come to you as the children of Zimbabwe with the way we are are suffering as we look into the future for our children and children’s children we decided that if we do not rise to represent those to come those who will go go come after us will come back to us to ask u’s what we have done.
Like we said we are not representing anyone here we are representing ourselves and we decided that we have the right to say what we want what we say might be wrong but we choose to speak so we know that after we have spoken there are many things that might end up happening because what we are now doing will make many people angry they are going to be furious but we have no clue we do not know what theur anger is going to cause or create out of this. We know that all of us are in a ship that is about to capsize. We are looking to the ones who are responsible. We are not able to stand up, so we are comfortable to think while we are sitting here because we have achieved so much in life that whatever conditions we we have have are crucial to our future so we decided that… the nation is at stake so we have come to speak about the act of theft
[2/3, 12:39] ZimEye: We have come to denounce the acts of many people who are greedy, those who are gathering wealth against our future let us see that by now we should have have achieved so much these people have been gaining so much against us but we have decided to say no because if we remain quiet the worst will come because the way they are behaving will destroy us
[2/3, 12:39] ZimEye: Last time we decided but now there are things that we cannot say today we are not talking about these other things which happened in another place
[2/3, 12:40] ZimEye: First let me speak on the story which I would like to narrate, it should not trouble us or be difficult.. but the way in which they are are being greedy is affecting all of us, they are being selfish
[2/3, 12:42] ZimEye: They are all over even here inside here they are are present and we tell them go back and tell them that the whole country is not happy, some people are asking us Youth League when did you become the anti-corruption unit but I don’t have much to say but we will not keep quiet while these things are happening but many times we are raising questions that when will the police and the anti-corruption unit do the job?
[2/3, 12:42] ZimEye: These things and right now as we are speaking if they release 1% of the money that they have a mother who is in the rural areas will cry because of that money but this money where are they getting it today they are arresting children who are in the street calling them money changes but they are leaving the real people who are benefiting at the top
[2/3, 12:43] ZimEye: This is where we have a challenge we have people who are mining gold or other minerals they are taking everything to themselves the old people are there the Young all over so we have said and the problem that they have caused is that even right here inside this room there are some who have been sent to say that we here are the ones who have captured the whole country but we asked them what about how they have captured the country
[2/3, 12:44] ZimEye: These thieves began way back when Joyce Mujuru was around
[2/3, 12:45] ZimEye: They were sponsoring the G14 and the Lacoste factions.. they have never been politicians and where they are stealing they are taking away wealth simply because they are thieves
[2/3, 12:46] ZimEye: We know that there are consequences for the things that we are going to announce today these cartels are very powerful they are not connected to any political party why because they are everywhere because they are gender is that whoever comes into power they will continue stealing so the fight has got nothing to do with a party the fight has got nothing to do with politics for us it is a generational fight we are perishing so this is what has motivated as to come and address you today against the powerful cartels our thoughts are centred on one person once we have named a person we will state who they are they are some hotels in the Diamond some are in the fuel some are in the transport sector some in the retail sector they are all there
[2/3, 12:46] ZimEye: This is the story that I thought to introduce to you you to let you know this is what we have for you you
[2/3, 12:47] ZimEye: So I thought to tell you all that that everyone must bear their cross
[2/3, 12:48] ZimEye: So this behaviour of hiding behind leaders we will not tolerate we cannot allow such a situation so now let me me Bring Out My Relative called Matutu…
Some were now saying Tsenengamu what is he and Matutu up to now?
[2/3, 12:48] ZimEye: You are selling your soul to the devil before because of 20 pieces of silver so now over to you Mr Matutu
[2/3, 12:49] ZimEye: I was on the phone talking to someone who was trying to bribe me and I refused.
[2/3, 12:49] ZimEye: Our problems have got nothing to do with politics or a political party they are all to do with the nation we believe that the nation of Zimbabwe comes first our conduct must reflect Zimbabwe as my self this is what we are here for
[2/3, 12:50] ZimEye: We should not keep quiet because there are some people…. here where we are we we have decided that we will not keep quiet on corruption issues
[2/3, 12:50] ZimEye: My relatives here looking at how old we are we must ask ourselves let’s say you have been given 10000 US dollars then what now
[2/3, 12:51] ZimEye: Ask yourself. We believe in equal distribution of wealth in our country… how then do we get to a situation where one person is the one who is is building toilets who is assembling solar panels
[2/3, 12:52] ZimEye: We as the youth believe that our president Emmerson mnangagwa deserves our genuine support those who believe in him will understand that the president needs genuine support the other people who are stealing who are then going behind that is ending today we want a situation where if I am a thief I must be be dried and sent to prison this is the approach that we are are taking up up we thank the efforts by the government and we are hoping that things improve but are all local people must not teach that that corrupt people must be allowed to continue that is wrong and this is what we want to talk about today
[2/3, 12:53] ZimEye: Some people we once told them. . Whatever the consequences whatever happens today day we are not concerned because the message will have been sent the nation will know what we have said
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: Let me know talk about this man called .. who is in charge of fuel we talked about how he is in command agriculture now we are waiting for him how does an individual go to the banks and withdraw money to the tune of $500,000 to do what
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: The accounts were once frozen but they were unfrozen
[2/3, 12:54] ZimEye: But what I want to say is that all problems are coming from this person called
[2/3, 12:57] ZimEye: My concern is that the other people who have got nothing to do with this to try and say that there is nothing going on with this person but let him prove his case there are some who are working with him some of them we have talked about them but because we cannot connect things that are unrelated I may not mix two issues now looking at these two issues this person you will see a man who doesn’t even have a heart if you look at the things that are happening in the country the government then you’ll see one person wanting to take advantage and make money on his own for himself but when you do that that let you let people know that you are the one causing all the suffering we want to clarify something there may be political organisations who would want to ride on our struggle against corruption and come up with a narrative no relax this has got nothing to do with politics it is an issue we are just speaking because someone something we have have a speaking on a position of privilege we have seen some people writing on Twitter so this is the first person that I would like to talk about
[2/3, 12:57] ZimEye: Let me tell you about this person I know you are going to talk about him right about this and be bribed by him but I’m not concerned
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: We cannot go and arrest the children in the street while leaving the Big Fish what are inside the officers if you go to the council’s the top of the range of cars that they brought in through a scheme called command this and that you will be shocked because they have been given permission by people in authority to do that so this is where we are now asking leadership asking them to choose to stand with with or to stand with the people this is where we are going asking them to stand with Kuda or you stand with the people..
I have talked about Billy now I should be talking about others this one deals with gold what is his name by the way? AsI am speaking he is unsettled because he is part of the gold cartel. Now let me rest.
Matutu: we are crying because of the judicial services commission is currently on holiday but we are crying because on all these issues of corruption there are three conditions they might not reach that number but what are they doing to the people who are stealing from the country are they part of it is there someone who is telling them not to prosecute perhaps it is so because this is like someone who has been raped they then …appear together with someone who who has raped after two weeks imagine how that will be to the public
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: All of a sudden the technical the now appear as if they know more than anyone else
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: Why are they leaving the people who are committing these crimes
[2/3, 13:12] ZimEye: I bet the last drop of my blood….
[2/3, 13:13] ZimEye: Inasmuch as we would like to talk about these things it is time that we come open those who want to criticize us should keep quiet because they are people who are bribing
[2/3, 13:13] ZimEye: It is time we take the right direction if we want this country to be a country yes after this it is time something is done.
NAMED ACCUSED PERSONS:
Kuda Tagwirei , Tafadzwa Musara, Pan Pap, Billy Rautenbach, Brighton, phocil agro, Phocil Contracting, Obey Chimuka, Landela Pharmaceutical, Danya, a Congolese.
[2/3, 13:16] ZimEye: Let me finish by a matter which is frightening if if we get to a stage where because of what we have spoken like this we appear as if we have have overstepped the Mark you have all been listening… if anything happens to the two of us don’t keep quiet about these issues we expect people to react but we don’t expect the Voice of Reason to keep quiet some of us are not comfortable of these things and perhaps there are a lot of people who can’t even say but if it sore happens where we have been incapacitated do not keep quiet about this because generations to come will have have to ask we have prepared ourselves we know what what could happen to us but there are reasons why we should push this agenda for us as young as as young people if we are to move together let’s move together to ensure that corruption is dealt with yes they are some things that could bring our nation down so much resources are being taken by a few people so this must end and must End right now My Relative my friend let me now go quiet.
[2/3, 13:18] ZimEye: One matter that I would like to raise his that we have to hold people accountable for whatever they are doing because if we go to the police they will tell you that they arrest if you go to the prosecuting authority they tell you that they do prosecute you go to the judge they tell you that they are not the ones who bring the evidence you go higher and you are told that we are not the ones who should bring the evidence so the people who are supposed to deal with these crimes the commissioner of the anti-corruption commission tells you that they are also worried about the things that are happening this is the chairperson of the Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission we asked the leaders and they told us that they are worried about the catch and release so everyone and you then ask are you responsible for this what will you say about this who is responsible for the catch and release so this fight will not be confined to us alone it is a generational fight for us to fight as the Citizens of Zimbabwe so we are inviting all the zimbabweans to come and join this fight where will they join it ..we have decided to create a platform that we decided to agree all of us as children of Zimbabwe who will have have decided we have we are in anti-corruption commission of our own as citizens we become a own watchdog
[2/3, 13:20] ZimEye: So we are taking this fight to it’s rightful owners the Citizens of Zimbabwe in the next 2 days that platform of citizens and we will need to be having we could do not know the law and everyone who is winning to fight corruption and the next thing that we are going to propose to do is to say let’s organise and anti-corruption conference where we call the national prosecuting authority they’re Zimbabwe anti-corruption commission the police the Justice the Ministry of Justice the judiciary to ask them please come here zimbabweans deserve to know who is the problem and where is the problem and we asked president Emerson and I want to ask him father come here and listen to the problems here that people are speaking and we ask people to come to rainbow Towers or the other international Conference Centre to explain to us us to the people who are giving out tender to only one person why are they doing this they want to benefit on their own please explain to us how money is coming out of the reserve bank of Zimbabwe and going onto the street so when we do that when we are going to invite them in the next few days into the public we are going to invite them
[2/3, 13:23] ZimEye: It’s an all stakeholders Gathering people should know those will not have come why don’t we remove the logs that don’t have smoke and then we decide as citizens we will not invite the Press we want this not to be an event but to be a process of Life to make sure we are up to date with the day-to-day issues that are happening with corruption issues we will create a toll free number that when a person has reported an anti-corruption matter we can follow up with the commission.
It will be an independent commission so we as citizens we have a right to ask and follow up on the matter so the task force will operate on its own and no one can Can Stop Us from doing this because we have freedom of association because the cartels that we have talked about they are well organised so if we fail to organise ourselves we will perish so let me invite those who would like to ask questions you ask questions and we start with you you Blessed…
[2/3, 13:24] ZimEye: Question: Just a few weeks ago the vice-president admitted on his own that he was given a car; in public from the same person, Tagwirei you are naming as corrupt how do you separate?
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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.
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.
[2/3, 11:32] ZimEye: I saw our Organising Secretary in the court, let us wait for him while we sing, says Sikhala
[2/3, 11:34] ZimEye: Let us give the floor to our national spokesperson of the party, Daniel Molokole…
At first we want to start by thanking the province you are all done well I want to say say what you have done today is huge we say to the province well done keep it up secondly we want you to know no he is not standing on his own he is representing the whole country
[2/3, 11:35] ZimEye: You say this matter has nothing to do with legal issues it is all to do with politics this man is a nationalist what he is being trialled for is a national
[2/3, 11:35] ZimEye: Being the spokesperson of the country as the Masvingo province we are asking you you to remain resolute we have been told to come back on the 14th of February.
[2/3, 11:36] ZimEye: Gonese: we thank you for coming to to strengthen our vice chairman I want to speak with gratitude and give you an update of what happened today as you have been told by the spokesperson
[2/3, 11:36] ZimEye: The issue we are gathered here has got nothing to do with legal issues it is all cheap politics
[2/3, 11:37] ZimEye: What our lawyer did today she submitted to the court that that they is no fault by by the man the issues raised today do not disclose any offence
[2/3, 11:37] ZimEye: It is all nonsense this is what was submitted inside Court those who were listening you so the legal issues being presented the prosecutor began fidgeting
[2/3, 11:38] ZimEye: We are saying this is not a fault at all there is nothing that happened that requires any Court to attend to
[2/3, 11:39] ZimEye: Hon Sikhala was asked to plead and he said there is no fault on his part whatsoever we shall now wait for the 14th because this case is just like that of Evan that ended up in the Supreme Court and it was revealed that according to the law we do have the constitutional right to remove a president at any time
[2/3, 11:39] ZimEye: Let us wait to see what will happen on the 14th of February it will be a Valentine’s Day hearing
[2/3, 11:39] ZimEye: This is my update thank you very much
[2/3, 11:40] ZimEye: Sikhala stands up and says I have only stood up to thank you all let the vice-president speak
[2/3, 11:41] ZimEye: Biti: today we come here in solidarity with him
[2/3, 11:45] ZimEye: Biti: These are unfounded charges, saying Mnangagwa go away is not saying the government should go away, so I think this shows that this family is full of love because when you are inside that box it is difficult but when you are people with people who love you it is is good please do do applaud yourselves. It is not a crime to say Mnangagwa must go, we have not said we are going to remove them by Force but we’re going to remove them through democratic means.
[2/3, 11:46] ZimEye: Now he (Mnangagwa) has roped in the machete boys. No one in this country does not know that the Mashurugwis belong to Emmerson Mnangagwa….
These are the wounds of the struggle…
These are the wounds of the struggle…
[11:26] Outside court
[11:14] Prosecutor Tawanda Zvakare uses two dictionary definitions to in a bid to convince the Presiding Judge to appreciate the definition of the word “overthrow”
[11:10] SikhalaTrial: Prosecutor Tawanda Zvakare says 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…
[11:02] Trial of MDC Vice Chairperson Job Sikhala is in progress at Masvingo High Court.
Sikhala’ s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa currently presenting facts before the judge. ..
[11:01] Honest Makanyire: Trial is in progress…
Job Sikhala with the MDC supporters on way to court
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.
[2/3, 11:32] ZimEye: I saw our Organising Secretary in the court, let us wait for him while we sing, says Sikhala
[2/3, 11:34] ZimEye: Let us give the floor to our national spokesperson of the party, Daniel Molokole…
At first we want to start by thanking the province you are all done well I want to say say what you have done today is huge we say to the province well done keep it up secondly we want you to know no he is not standing on his own he is representing the whole country
[2/3, 11:35] ZimEye: You say this matter has nothing to do with legal issues it is all to do with politics this man is a nationalist what he is being trialled for is a national
[2/3, 11:35] ZimEye: Being the spokesperson of the country as the Masvingo province we are asking you you to remain resolute we have been told to come back on the 14th of February.
[2/3, 11:36] ZimEye: Gonese: we thank you for coming to to strengthen our vice chairman I want to speak with gratitude and give you an update of what happened today as you have been told by the spokesperson
[2/3, 11:36] ZimEye: The issue we are gathered here has got nothing to do with legal issues it is all cheap politics
[2/3, 11:37] ZimEye: What our lawyer did today she submitted to the court that that they is no fault by by the man the issues raised today do not disclose any offence
[2/3, 11:37] ZimEye: It is all nonsense this is what was submitted inside Court those who were listening you so the legal issues being presented the prosecutor began fidgeting
[2/3, 11:38] ZimEye: We are saying this is not a fault at all there is nothing that happened that requires any Court to attend to
[2/3, 11:39] ZimEye: Hon Sikhala was asked to plead and he said there is no fault on his part whatsoever we shall now wait for the 14th because this case is just like that of Evan that ended up in the Supreme Court and it was revealed that according to the law we do have the constitutional right to remove a president at any time
[2/3, 11:39] ZimEye: Let us wait to see what will happen on the 14th of February it will be a Valentine’s Day hearing
[2/3, 11:39] ZimEye: This is my update thank you very much
[2/3, 11:40] ZimEye: Sikhala stands up and says I have only stood up to thank you all let the vice-president speak
[2/3, 11:41] ZimEye: Biti: today we come here in solidarity with him
[2/3, 11:45] ZimEye: Biti: These are unfounded charges, saying Mnangagwa go away is not saying the government should go away, so I think this shows that this family is full of love because when you are inside that box it is difficult but when you are people with people who love you it is is good please do do applaud yourselves. It is not a crime to say Mnangagwa must go, we have not said we are going to remove them by Force but we’re going to remove them through democratic means.
[2/3, 11:46] ZimEye: Now he (Mnangagwa) has roped in the machete boys. No one in this country does not know that the Mashurugwis belong to Emmerson Mnangagwa….
These are the wounds of the struggle…
These are the wounds of the struggle…
[11:26] Outside court
[11:14] Prosecutor Tawanda Zvakare uses two dictionary definitions to in a bid to convince the Presiding Judge to appreciate the definition of the word “overthrow”
[11:10] SikhalaTrial: Prosecutor Tawanda Zvakare says 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…
[11:02] Trial of MDC Vice Chairperson Job Sikhala is in progress at Masvingo High Court.
Sikhala’ s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa currently presenting facts before the judge. ..
[11:01] Honest Makanyire: Trial is in progress…
Job Sikhala with the MDC supporters on way to court
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.
By Wilbert Mukori- It is one thing for political leaders to attend church services but another for them to then use the church pulpit to spread their political propaganda! Sadly, this has now become the norm in Zimbabwe!
“The Bible commands us to pray and to give thanks in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 17-18 Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,” President Mnangagwa preached to the congregation attending the Zimbabwe Indigenous International Council of Churches (ZIICC) National Day of Prayer at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
“We must always commit all our national aspirations to the Almighty God; casting our burdens to him for surely he shall sustain us.”
There is no denying that Zimbabwe is facing the toughest times in the country’s history with unemployment a nauseating 90%, the country’s education and health services have all but collapsed, an economy in total meltdown, shortages of fuel, medicine and food, etc. 90% of our people now live in poverty with 34% of them living in abject poverty, according to a recent WB report.
The root cause of the country’s economic meltdown and political paralysis resulting the country’s failure to pull itself out of the mess is bad governance, a man-made problem. 40 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and rank lawlessness has reduced the country to a banana republic in economic ruins.
The people of Zimbabwe have watched whilst Zanu PF destroyed the country’s economy these last 40 years, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction, because the party rigged the elections. When some people dared to protest the July 2018 rigged elections, President Mnangagwa ordered the soldiers to shoot to kill! The message he intended to send is crystal-clear, Zanu PF will not tolerate any dissent!
So the circumstance Zimbabweans find themselves in today is serious economic meltdown, abject poverty and political helplessness after 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical oppression. Those behind the corrupt and tyrannical oppression are arguing that “The Bible commands us to pray and to give thanks in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in.” They have even found verses in the Bible to support their position.
This is just propaganda nonsense of the highest order! When Moses pointed to the land beyond the River Jordan, the Promised Land, God did not command the Children of Israel to “pray and give thanks in whatever circumstance” they found themselves in. The Bible is replete with stories of the Israelites having to fight for every inch of the Promised Land.
After the Zimbabwe attained her independence in 1980 we have had to fight our own battles against an enemy within our midst – those seeking to rid roughshod over others denying them their freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country and even the right to life!
The moral of the countless stories in the Bible, especially those in the Old Testament, is that the children of Israel, God’s Chosen People, had to fight for the Promised Land. It is therefore nonsense to suggest that we, in Zimbabwe, can have a just, peaceful and prosperous nation without having to fight the corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs hell bend on turning the country into hell-on-earth.
President Mnangagwa is not the first character to quote the Bible out of context for his own sinister purposes.
“Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 4: 5 to 7.
“I have declared the Year 2020 as a year of productivity and trade. I, therefore, call upon the leadership of all churches in Zimbabwe to engage, teach and encourage their congregants to be hard working and productive. God has given us abundant natural resources throughout the country,” Mnangagwa argued.
“We must harness these natural endowments to improve the quality of life for our people.”
Indeed, Zimbabwe is a rich country endowed with fertile land and good wealth to produce food in great abundance and with vast mineral wealth and other resources. The only reason there is poverty, strive and despair in Zimbabwe is because of greed and misrule.
Zimbabwe is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs and 40 years of misrule have reduce the nation to banana republic with a few filthy rich tyrants and millions upon millions of filthy and political powerless paupers.
As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state there will be no meaningful economic recovery. No amount of praying or hard work by the poor will revive the economy; it has not worked these last 40 years. The solution is to end the pariah state by demanding the holding of free, fair and credible elections and thus end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance.
Zimbabwe’s economic and political crisis is a man-made problem, a problem of bad governance, and well within you and me, ordinary mortals, to solve. To pray for God to stop Mnangagwa rigging elections is tantamount to putting God to the test because He does not do what man can do for himself!
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
By A Correspondent- Ms Mercy Hanyani has approached the High Court seeking an order that permits the distribution of assets acquired by the parties during the subsistence of their customary union.
Former Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora’s ex-wife is fighting to get a 50 per cent share of the wealth they accumulated together.
The two had one child together and Dokora paid lobola and performed other cultural rites in 2016, although they later divorced in September 2019. According to an application filed by her lawyers, Gutsa and Chimhoga Attorneys, when the two separated, Dokora allegedly retained all of the couple’s acquired assets and only left her with the child and their clothes.
She argued that during their union, they acquired various assets, including an immovable property at 172 Carrick, Creagh Township of Section 4 of Borrowdale Estate measuring 4 000 square metres registered in Dokora’s name.
Ms Hanyani claims that she made direct and indirect contributions to the acquisition of the assets.
She said she contributed all her personal earnings and supported Dokora in his political career. Ms Hanyani said Dokora already had a farm in Bindura when they started living together where they grew maize and engaged in livestock production, keeping cattle, goats and chickens for sale, as well as a commercial stand in Rushinga where they ran a general dealer and a bottle store.
She wants to be given either a Mercedes Benz or Ford Everest, Kawasaki motorbike and some household property.
“It will be a share distribution of assets if plaintiff (Ms Hanyani) is to be awarded 50 percent of immovable property listed and defendant (Dokora) retaining 50 percent thereof, with the defendant having an option to buy out the plaintiff’s share within four months of the distribution order, failing which the piece of land be sold and proceeds shared equally between the parties,” the application reads.
Ms Hanyani is demanding 45 percent of the value of the general dealer and bottle store in Rushinga. The couple owned a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Navara, Toyota Prado, Land Rover Discovery and Massey Ferguson tractor, among other movable property and household goods.
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- 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.
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.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police deployed water canons in Masvingo as Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) national vice-chairperson Job Sikhala is brought before the High Court facing charges of treason.
Hundreds of party supporters and citizens gathered at Masvingo High Court singing and chanting “Siyanai naye Wiwa” meaning leave Job Sikhala alone in solidarity with Sikhala whom many believe is simply being persecuted for belonging to the opposition.
Below are the pictures of current settings in Masvingo.
Anti Riot PoliceAnti riot police
Watch the live video below as citizens and party supporters break into song and dance in solidarity with Sikhala….
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.
Job Sikhala with the MDC supporters on way to court
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.
Grade Inflation: What Needs to be Done? By Professor Athur Mutambara| On the subject of grade inflation, we must not deploy cheap, opportunistic and baseless decolonisation and anti-Western aspersions. The scourge of grade inflation must be addressed not to please outsiders but in pursuit of our national interest, period. Let me restate what needs to be done:
What is the way forward?
We can disregard any reference to elite or Ivy League Schools – Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, etc. – or any foreign interests for that matter. Grade inflation is bad for Zimbabwe, period. The case against grade inflation has nothing to do with trying to please elite or Ivy League Schools. Don’t hide behind cheap, primitive and unsophisticated decolonisation or anti-imperialism arguments. We have been independent for 40 years and running our own education system in those years. As free Zimbabweans – proud Africans – we have created this problem. We must solve it to please ourselves and nobody else.
We need to rethink, re-engineer, re-imagine and redesign ZIMSEC. We need creative, resourceful and imaginative backed by sophistication in marking and grading. The lack of rigour and tenacity in both developing and grading the examinations are the key drivers of grade inflation. We need quality examiners who understand grade dynamics, all grounded in quality teaching and curriculum understanding. ZIMSEC must not tolerate inefficient and incompetent markers. Curriculum development, teaching and the examinations, thereafter, must be anchored in learners’ pursuit of competencies such as problem-solving, learning how to learn, mastering how to think, and blended learning; all rooted in a multidisciplinary approach to education.
We need to rethink, reimagine, re-engineer and redesign ZIMSEC. We need meaningful examination results which we can effectively use as a country and which also allow us to interface with other jurisdictions meaningfully. We must eliminate any elements of direct or indirect political interference which compromise the quality of our education system and its products. There should be no place for scoring cheap political mileage by awarding inflated grades. This is ruinous and detrimental to our children. We must protect the brand, opportunities and impact of our education products – our priceless human capital. In doing so, we can pick up lessons from other jurisdictions that have addressed the grade inflation challenge. Zimbabwe can fix this scourge. However, we must first accept that it exists. A problem realised is a problem half-solved.
We must jealously guard the globally renowned quality and efficacy of our entire education system from Primary School to Tertiary Education. We must find ways of restoring institutional and individual integrity, pride in good work ethics, discipline and quality work across the entire education sector.
Sorting out the mess and rot at ZIMSEC – the disgraceful and shameful grade inflation – is a national imperative.
Yes, we can solve this challenge in pursuit of our national interest.
Own Correspondent|There has been a high level of anxiety in Malawi as people wait for a panel of five top judges to make a ruling on last May’s presidential election.
Many schools have been closed and some public transport has been suspended ahead of Monday’s decision on whether the result should be annulled.
President Peter Mutharika won a second term with 38.6% of the vote.
But opposition candidate Lazarus Chakwera went to court to argue that he should have been declared the winner.
According to the official results he won 35.4% of the vote as the flag bearer for the Malawi Congress Party.
A former ally of the president, Saulos Chilima, who came third with 20.2%, is also challenging the election result. He was the candidate for the United Transformation Movement.
What were the allegations?
The losing candidates alleged that the electoral process, especially the way the results were handled, was full of irregularities.
In court, their lawyers said that correction fluid – known locally by the brand name Tipp-Ex – had been used on some of the tallying forms sent in by polling stations.
The changes were made after they had been signed by party agents, they said.
The lawyers also said that in some cases polling officials sent in the wrong copy of the results sheet to the main tallying centre.
They also found some mathematical errors in a small number of cases.
Though in each case there were not a huge number of errors, the lawyers said that the evidence pointed to a flawed process.
What was the response?
In court, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) defended its handling of the vote as being in keeping with the law.
It said that on the few forms where correction fluid had been found, it had not been used to change a result, but to alter procedural information that had been incorrectly entered.
The commission said it had not supplied the Tipp-Ex.
The MEC’s lawyers also argued that while the wrong copy of the results sheet had been submitted in some cases, that copy had been signed off by party agents and the tally itself was correct.
Outside the court proceedings, backers of Mr Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party often mentioned reports of international observers, which were largely favourable, as evidence that he won the vote fairly.
How interested have Malawians been in the case?
The court proceedings, which lasted more than three months, were keenly followed.
Four radio stations broadcast the sessions live and on public transport passengers sometimes demanded that the radio be switched on so they could follow what was happening.
Groups of people gathered round radio sets to hear the latest from the court.
Why is it such a big deal?
The level of anger is unprecedented here.
Since the disputed results were announced last May, there have been regular anti-government protests. Some of these have resulted in looting and the destruction of property, including government offices.
Two people – one police officer and one civilian – are known to have been killed during the demonstrations.
Malawi’s Human Rights Commission said that in October, during a security crackdown following a protest, police officers raped and sexually assaulted women, some of them in the presence of their children.
There have also been reports that there were attempts to bribe the five judges overseeing the case, which sparked a large demonstration in the capital, Lilongwe.
The situation has not been helped by the fact that the police is not seen as neutral or professional. For the most part, it has been the military which has been going onto the streets to help bring order.
What will happen after the court rules?
The court can rule by a majority decision and it is not clear which way the judges will go.
Opposition supporters have taken encouragement from the 2017 Kenyan court decision to annul the presidential election there.
But if the court does not cancel the result there is the fear of more violence.
The government, the security forces, church organisations and diplomats have all issued statements pleading for calm.
Both Mr Chakwera and Mr Chilima have urged Malawians to respect the court verdict.
As the judgement is being delivered many people are planning to stay indoors, but the main parties are expected to bus supporters into the main urban centres for celebrations.
Masvingo High Court will be a busy place today with opposition MDC heaveyweights descending on the ancient city for the trial of Job Sikhala being charged with treason.
MDC Organising Secretary arriving at Masvingo High CourtMDC members gathering outside Masvingo High Court ahead of Sikhala trialMasvingo High Court entrance
Selmor Mtukudzi performs with the help of Picky Kasamba (left) and her husband Tendai Manatsa (right) at the RM Garden Hall Exhibition Park in Harare on Friday evening during her album launch
State Media|AT this point, there is no turning back for Selmor Mtukudzi who this past weekend proved that she is the rightful heiress to Tuku Music with a successful album launch.
The album, Dehwe ReNzou, produced by South Africa’s Steve Dyer has 11 tracks —Mandidzimbira, Mbodza, Zvine Basa Rei, Unconditional Love, Tanda Mbizi, Wadzipwa, Uchafinhwa, Tawanda Sei?, Ngoma Ngaitsve, Usareve Nhema and Babe Can I?
Performing in front of an appreciative audience at the RM Garden Hall Exhibition Park in Harare on Friday evening, it was clear Selmor is destined for dizzy heights as she performed like a professional.
It was an intimate affair as she, from time to time, thanked those who attended the launch for believing in her. She also promised not to let them down.
It was clear she was overwhelmed and did not take the live and TV audience for granted. The show was broadcast live on ZBCtv. As a way of showing her appreciation, she delivered a flawless, well-choreographed act that won her many new fans.
With the support of her husband, Tendai Manatsa, her sister Sandra, Black Spirits’ Picky Kasamba and Never Mpofu on bass, there was no way Selmor was going to fail the litmus test. Also supporting her in the crowd were her in-laws — the Manatsas and her biggest financier, Impala Car Rental boss Thompson Dondo.
She spiced up her set by performing her old hits — Nguva Yangu and Hangasa as well as her father’s yesteryear hits. From time to time, she would sample some of her new tracks with Zvine Basa Rei being the crowd’s favourite. She also performed Mandidzimbira — a tribute to her father, Uchafinhwa and Mbodza.
This event was very different from other album launches because from the onset, it was clear Selmor was more interested in seeing people have a good time as she allowed them to get into the venue with their cooler boxes at no charge. This was a welcome development for most and it saw the crowd loosening up.
As if that was not enough, all those who attended the launch were given free copies of the new album, a good way Selmor dealt with piracy.
Sulumani, son of the late Simon Chimbetu wowed the audience after he made a cameo appearance on stage and helped Selmor sing one of her late father’s tracks. After the performance, he said he could not resist joining Selmor on stage as her show reminded him of when his father died.
“I just want to say to my sister Selmor and her husband, this road that you’re walking is the same as the one I travelled after the death of my father. My advice to you is just be cool, humble, stay focused and you’ll go forward.
“You have the support of the fans and ours so you’re doing just fine,” said Sulumani.
Moments after Sulumani left the stage, Selmor was joined on stage by Sungura maestro, Alick Macheso for yet another cameo appearance. He also performed one of her father’s tracks with her and the crowd went into a frenzy.
Interestingly, it was later revealed that Macheso who closed off the show, refused to be paid for his performance.
“When we asked Macheso how much he’d want for his performance, he refused saying Selmor was his daughter so he would just come to perform as a way of supporting her career,” event promoter, Josh Hozheri said while commending Macheso for his gesture.
But as fate would have it, Macheso may just have left with more money than he would have been paid by the promoter as people who were in the VIP and VVIP sections kept pulling him to the side during his performance to put US dollars into his pockets.
After Selmor concluded her performance, she, unlike other artistes, took time to meet and greet fans as well as pose for photos, something which endeared her to the fans.
Own Correspondent|Organisers of the Star FM Music Awards have responded to the wide growing concerns expressed by music fans following the release of the nominations.
Fans, critics and musicians alike were quick to notice something unusual on the 2020 nomination list, chief among them the absence of a Sungura category as well as Winky D and Gemma’s hit single Mugarden was missing from the Song of the Year nomination.
General manager of the Zimpapers Radio Broadcasting Division, under which Star FM falls, Mr. Comfort Mbofana said that despite calls for entries and an extension of the entries deadline, some artists were not forthcoming.
“We approached all artists including Winky D (through his management) who we deemed eligible for this year’s award process and asked them to submit their entries,” he said.
“We even facilitated resources at the station to assist in the submission processes.
“We had a good number of artists enter the awards and we had some who —for reasons best known to themselves — would not enter, “he said.
However, Zimbuzz investigations revealed that the Submission Website was not working most of the time and this resulted in some artists getting frustrated with the technology thereby deciding not to submit.
We, however, can not confirm this to be the main or sole reason why some artists did not submit.
Turning to the Sungura Category, Mr. Mbofana said there were no entries.
“It was also unfortunate that there were no entries for the Best Sungura Song category and we could not manufacture entries if there were none,” he added.
Another bone of contention was that artists should not be made to submit for Awards when they already submit their songs for airplay.
Artists and fans were arguing that the Station should use music and statistics from their library to determine nominations.
“There have been concerns raised about the submission requirement with some asking why artists have to enter themselves into an awards process,” quizzed Mr. Mbofana
“We looked at other music awards in the region and internationally and there is a universal requirement for the artists to enter the awards process by submitting their music for adjudication.”
Zimbuzz can also confirm that this is a standard requirement in most music Awards. In the region, we looked at how the Metro FM awards are done since these are directly related to Star FM as both are Radio Station Awards.
For one to enter into the Metro FM awards an artist is required to submit their entry. However, Metro FM has not held an Award ceremony for the past two years.
The Star FM Music Awards event will be held on the 22nd of February 2020 at Manna Resort in Glen Lorne and attendance is by invite.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the prayer session.
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.
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. #Godisinitpic.twitter.com/l3PKzEx25M
— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) February 2, 2020
Own Correspondent|The Constitutional Court in Lilongwe will today Monday, 3rd 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.
Pressure is mounting on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to stabilise the government’s shaky finances and rescue an economy teetering on the brink of recession.
Since taking office in February last year, Ramaphosa has repeatedly pledged to ignite growth and reverse nine years of misrule by his predecessor Jacob Zuma. His ability to undertake reforms has been constrained by a ruling party faction that wants the government to play a greater role in the economy and by powerful labor unions opposed to state-spending and job cuts.
Warnings that South Africa is on a precipice have come from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, business executives and economists from Absa Bank and other lenders. Even Tito Mboweni, Ramaphosa’s finance minister, has taken to Twitter to vent his frustration at the slow pace of reform.
Here are samples of the growing drumbeat:
The IMF
When Ramaphosa took office, “market expectations for growth-enhancing reforms were high,” the fund said in a January 30 statement. “However, sluggish implementation and persistent policy uncertainty did not validate those expectations, and business confidence is now close to all-time lows.”
“Weak growth momentum has reflected an array of overlapping constraints,” the lender said January 8. “These include persistent policy uncertainty, constrained fiscal space, subdued business confidence, infrastructure bottlenecks — especially in electricity supply — and weakening external demand, particularly from the euro area and China.”
Absa economists Peter Worthington, Miyelani Maluleke
“In addition to clean governance, South Africa needs better economic policies in the form of structural reforms across a broad set of activities and sectors,” the economists said Jan. 20. “Frustrations continue to mount about a perceived slow pace of change.”
“I know that our president inherited a very difficult situation, but to be clear and blunt he also hasn’t made some of the difficult decisions that need to be made,” Froneman said in an interview January 28. “It’s time government acted in the national interest and not in the interest of the one party.”
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni
“If you cannot effect deep structural economic reforms, then game over!” Mboweni said on his Twitter account January 10. “Structural economic reforms inertia is frustrating. Let’s get on with it. Movement!! Many steps at a time!!”
Ramaphosa says he’s committed to getting the economy on track, clamping down on graft and making the government more efficient. He can point to some progress since taking office, including appointing a new chief prosecutor and head of the national tax agency, and replacing the boards and management of several state companies. He’s also embarked on a drive to attract $100 billion in new investment over five years, with a substantial portion of that already committed.
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga cautions that Ramaphosa hasn’t gone far enough, largely because he is pandering to competing interests within the African National Congress, which has ruled South Africa for 25 years.
“Unfortunately, the president is going to fail everyone equitably if he doesn’t take a position. He is seen as not to be willing to pick a fight,” Mathekga said. “I think we are having a presidency here that is resigning itself to being a crisis manager instead of a reformer.”
Ramaphosa’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment. The government is committed to fostering economic growth, creating jobs, turning state companies around and ensuring it appoints suitably qualified people, he told leaders of the ruling party in Pretoria on January 20.
“We have been frank about the extent of the difficulties in our country,” Ramaphosa said. “We acknowledged where we have fallen short in the implementation of our policies and have devised realistic measures to address these.”
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.
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.
A CHIPINGE Rural District Council representative for Ward 13 Cllr Daniel Dhliwayo Chivhovho (63) was last week dragged to court on allegations of raping a mentally challenged woman thrice.
Cllr Chivhovho, of Grassflats Farm, in Chief Mutema’s area, appeared before Mr Poterai Gwezhira facing three counts of rape.
He was not asked to plead and the matter was remanded awaiting trial.
Mr Gift Bikita prosecuted.
He said sometime in February 2019, Chivhovho went to the complainant’s house intending to see her husband.
“When he arrived at the complainant’s homestead during the day, he found the complainant alone washing plates outside. The accused person grabbed the complainant by the stomach, demanding se_x. The complainant refused, but the accused promised to give her some bags of maize after se_x,” he said.
“The accused (allegedly) pinned the complainant on to the ground and the complainant could not scream for help since she had been threatened with a knife by the accused.
“Chivhovho then rap_ed the complainant once and threatened her with death if she disclosed what had happened to anyone,” said Mr Bikita.
Mr Bikita said the second incident also occurred in February 2019 when Chivhovho allegedly went to the complainant’s homestead and found her alone sweeping the kitchen hut.
“The accused person entered the hut and once more demanded se_x to which the complainant refused. He forced the complainant to lie down. She did not resist as she was afraid of the accused. Chivhovho then had se_xual intercourse with the complainant without her consent,” added Mr Bikita.
On the third occasion Chivhovho allegedly found the complainant carrying some plates outside the house.
“He ordered her to get back into the bedroom and she is said to have refused, but he held the complainant by her blouse and dragged her into the hut where he rap_ed her.
“After the act, the complainant ran to her husband’s sister some four kilometres away and narrated what had transpired.
“A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the suspect,” said Mr Bikita.
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.
