By A Correspondent- The ZRP this morning blocked the launch of a clean up campaign by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa telling him to join President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the rest of the nation and clean up Zimbabwe the first Friday of the month.

A senior MDC official from Chitungwiza confirmed to ZimEye that the police had initially consented to the clean up program slated for unit L shops in Chitungwiza today (Friday) only to send their police details armed to the tooth to disperse party supporters who had gathered for the event.

Said the source:

“The police were armed and they even had dogs as early as 7am and party supporters gathered at the venue were left agitated and confused. The police told us that the program had been cancelled and we were supposed to join ED and the rest of the nation and clean up the country the first Friday of the month.”

In his Agenda 2020 address at Stoddart Hall in Mbare, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa said he would soon launch Tsvaira Zimbabwe, a clean up campaign which aimed at not only sweeping and cleaning up the nation in both urban and rural areas but would also clean up the social, economic and political ills bedevilling the nation.

Efforts to get a comment from the MDC and police were futile by the time of writting.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

Farai Dziva|MDC official Antony Taruvinga has said there are strong indications that Zanu PF will steal the 2023 polls.

See Taruvinga’s argument below:

I shall stand strong in support of President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

Let’s look at Nelson Chamisa’s revival of the 2018 election question.

Without doubt, Chamisa beat Mnangagwa by at least 600 000 votes. We have no single guarantee that 2023 polls will not be stolen again. All the machines, persons and institutions that were used to rig elections are still intact.

Elections are the primary source of the poverty and hardships Zimbabwe is experiencing.

Without giving a lasting solution to that, we will remain stuck in the vicious cycle of poverty while other nations are experiencing economic booms.

Forget about Mthuli’s deceptive promises full of lies and non achievables , they can not simply tell you they have failed completely.

They have no capacity, political will and mandate to turn around Zimbabwe. They are in just to milk Zimbabwe drier.

Zimbabwe’s revenue is being pumped out and stashed in other countries so that in the event they lose power, they have something elsewhere. Billions have been pumped out.

Illegitimate leadership suffers from uncertainty. Same applies to coups and dictatorships.

The Association of Private Security Owners of South Africa (TAPSOSA) has called on authorities to look into the plight of Zimbabwean security officers being abused by some unscrupulous companies in the neighbouring countries.

The issue came to light this week when a company owned by Walter Stander, who was convicted for murdering his wife in 1999, was exposed for hiring untrained and unregistered 16-year-olds.

TAPSOSA secretary general Moses Malada said hundreds of fly-by-night companies were hiring untrained, undocumented and unregistered officers from Zimbabwe to take advantage of them.

“In the case of Zimbabweans it’s worse because these employers take advantage of them knowing they can’t report since some are undocumented in South Africa. Many of them aren’t paid the national minimum wage and, in some cases, they don’t even receive their salaries,” Malada explained.

He said TAPSOSA was engaging the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) to investigate unlawful business practices and shut down non-compliant companies.

“The reason these companies get away with unlawful business practices is because most of their contracts are in the private sector where there’s no tendering system. For companies doing business with government, they are under the microscope as they go through rigorous tendering processes,” he added.

In the case of Stander’s company, Sniper Protection Services, he is under investigation for hiring 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds. The law is clear that only persons who are over the age of 18 can be registered as security officers.

“16-year-olds must be in school, PSIRA must take stern action against companies doing this,” Malada said.

Some employees at the company have confirmed they were paid between R2500-R3000. According to the national minimum wage, the lowest paid security officer should be earning R3 643.

A Zimbabwean security officer guarding a complex south of Johannesburg confirmed the abuse

“We’ve no choice but to take these jobs because things are tough back home and we have families to take care of. Sometimes our salaries aren’t paid, but we can’t take it up with the department of labour because we don’t have documents to live and work in South Africa,” he said.

PSIRA have said they will engage the department of labour to investigate the matter.

-BNcube

By A Correspondent- Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s trial over abuse of office charges will take place on 13 February after he successfully objected to having the matter heard on Saturday, 1 February 2020.

Mphoko, through his attorney, Zibusiso Ncube, objected to having to face trial on a Sabbath Day (Saturday), their religious conviction as Seventh Day Adventists do not allow them to “work” on a Saturday.

Said Ncube:

We cannot compromise on the issue of the Sabbath.

Our conditions are that we do not work on Sabbath and on this one we believe in a higher authority, God.

According to the State, on May 6, 2016, Mphoko, while still the Vice President, stormed Avondale Police Station and ordered the release of two Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) officials David Norupiri and Moses Juma.

The duo had earlier that say been arrested at the instigation of the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission (ZACC) on fraud allegations.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- A photo of MDC leader Nelson Chamisa together with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special advisor Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa has surfaced on social media.

The picture, reportedly shot at an unknown location shows Chamisa and Mutsvangwa chatting to unidentified persons.

Chamisa was in South Africa recently where he was on a SADC offensive as revealed in his 2020 Agenda where he said he will engage the Southern Africa block for intervention in resolving Zimbabwe’s crisis.

Mutsvangwa on the other hand is one of the key brains behind the November 2017 coup that toppled the late President Robert Mugabe.

During the coup, he coordinated the implementing of the Northgate declaration, an agreement that detailed the intelligence operation which involved members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation who are based in South Africa.

It could not be immediately established whether the duo met by coincidence or if it was a planned meeting.

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

By A Correspondent- The former Foreign Affairs minister during the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia era David Mukome, has died aged 77. He succumbed to heart failure on Saturday and is set to be buried on Sunday at the Warren Hills Cemetry.

Family spokesperson and daughter Veronica Mukome-Marume confirmed the development to a local publication saying that a memorial service will be held on Saturday (tomorrow) at the Anglican Cathedral in the central business district. She said:

On Saturday, we will be conducting a memorial service at the Anglican Church in the CBD, and all those who want to pay their last respects are invited..

He served as Foreign Affairs Minister in 1979 in the short-lived government led by then Prime Minister Abel Muzorewa.

Mukome is survived by his wife, seven children and 14 grandchildren.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Zapu member of the council of elders Beven Senda was laid to rest at Athlone cemetery in Bulawayo on Thursday.

Senda died on January 23 in Bulawayo at the age of 72.

Spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa said Senda went to Siwazi, Wanezi and Matopo Mission. 

“He did not write Form 4 as he was prevented for having protested against being fed on beans that were not properly cooked . Wrote the following year. That seemed to be the beginning of his political activism,” he said.

“He worked for a long time in the health sector including under Bulawayo City Council. Has been a an active member of Zapu  staring from branch upwards.”

Maphosa said Senda ‘s  last structure was the Council of Elders at Gwabalanda Luveve. 

“He served in the 2015/16 Congress Planning Committee, Health Subcommittee providing first Aid,  and enduring hygienic operations of the Congress. Dedicated , fearless, soft spoken who went  door to door talking about the situation in the country. An unflinching Christian.   6 children, 15 grand children and.2 great grandchildren,” Maphosa said.

“He leaves widow, children, grand and great grandchildren.”

By A Correspondent- Three men pounced at Mbonqane Primary School on the outskirts of Bulawayo and tied a security guard to a tree before they got away with school property and cooking oil.

A teacher at the school who requested anonymity said the three men descended on the school last week on Sunday at around 1am.

“The security guard was busy with his duties when the thieves pounced at the school. They headed straight to the security guard who was taking a walk around the school with his lit torch,” said the source.

The source added: “They hit him with a log on the head and on the body. 

“He fell down. They ordered him to rise up and lead them to where the school safe was but he professed ignorance about where the safe was kept.”

The source went on to say failure to disclose where the safe was angered the thieves who then took turns to hit him with open arms.

“They didn’t believe that he did not know where the safe was kept and they stuffed pieces of cloth into his mouth and hit him with open hands. 

“He led them to the headmistress’s office where they took a wheelbarrow, solar inverter and 12 litres of cooking oil. They tied him to a tree with a rope and left with the school property,” said the teacher.

A report was made to the police.

Deputy Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident: 

“I can confirm that we are investigating a robbery case that took place at Mbonqane Primary School where thieves got away with a wheelbarrow and a solar inverter and 12 litres of cooking oil.”

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- A security guard at a local hotel has been arrested after he allegedly pummelled a drunk client who urinated in a guard room.

The incident happened last week on Friday.

It is said Payford Masunda spotted Joshua Mapfumo urinating in a guard room.

Masunda who is employed to maintain order and guard the premises rushed to scene.

The court heard he found Mapfumo who was heavily drunk still urinating in the guard room. It is said Masunda handcuffed the complainant and dragged him inside.

The fuming Masunda, the court heard, turned Mapfumo into a punching bag. He hit him with open hands and left him lying on the floor gasping for air. Masunda, the court heard, released him after an hour.

Mapfumo, who was still intoxicated, staggered to Bulawayo Central Police Station where he made a police report. Thereafter, Masunda was arrested. 

He appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Stephen Ndlovu facing an assault charge.

He pleaded not guilty.

He took to the stand: “I did not assault him. I only pushed him inside the guard room after I caught him urinating in the guard room. I handcuffed him and left him lying on the floor while I continued with my work,” he said.

Mapfumo, who was nursing a swollen face said: “He saw me standing near the guard room and accused me of having urinated into the guard room. I tried to explain to him that I’m not the one who  urinated in the guard room but he would not accept my explanation. He fumed at me before he handcuffed me and violently pushed me inside the guard room,” he said.

He went on to say: “He hit me with open hands and kicked me all over  the body while accusing me of being  disrespectful. I bled. He released me after an hour.”

The magistrate remanded Masunda out of custody to next week on Tuesday for continuation of trial.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A cheating senior police officer based at Drill Hall’s Traffic Section in Bulawayo, Inspector Jamezweni Masuku recently found out that “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” after his estranged wife, Assistant Inspector Constance Mugomeza-Masuku confronted and beat him together with one of his alleged girlfriends at the police station. 

This was days after the publishing of a story titled “Top cop ‘drills’ married subordinate . . . Hands over ‘underwear gift’ as token to lover’s hubby” in which it was reported  that the Drill Hall boss (40) was caught behind enemy lines following revelations that he was taking his married junior Constable Mejury Gwangwava, among others, for “sex drills” in exchange for favours at work.

With regards to recent developments, we gathered that the derided Ass Insp Mugomeza-Masuku, who is stationed at Entumbane Police Station’s community relations department, was so violent that people failed to restrain her. 

Officers from across all departments are said to have watched helplessly as she went on a rampage.

Seeing one of their own, who was identified as Salne Nhliziyo, being pummelled, Insp Masuku’s other alleged mistresses reportedly summoned all their athletics skills and were not seen at the police base until their fuming supremo’s wife had long disappeared.

However, some reports suggested that the other female officers were deployed on official duty outside the station on the day hence their absence during the incident.

Insp Jamezweni Masuku

A source identified the four fleeing officers. However, highly placed police sources said the Press inquiries had sent panic through the station as it seemed that all female officers deployed by Masuku were now alleged to have been in a relationship with him, raising fears that there were some officers keen on damaging others’ reputations and relationships.  

Contacted for comment one of the alleged lovers said: “Who gave you my number? I’m going to hunt for you. You cannot ruin my marriage just like that.”

Later, in a repentant mood she said: “Can you please do me a favour, come to my office. It’s office number  . . . I was never in a relationship with Insp Masuku.”

Interestingly, the second officer was not keen to tell her side of the story only to ask this reporter to shed light on how Nhliziyo was caught and manhandled.

“I can’t comment on that . . . where did you get that from? Was Nhliziyo beaten, please tell me more,” was all that the laughing officer said on the other side of the phone.

Spirited efforts to get hold of the third officer on her mobile phone drew a blank. 

The philandering Insp Masuku continuously disconnected his phone when this reporter introduced himself for a comment on the latest scandal that rocked the police station. Before the most recent Drill Hall drama we published that the top police officer was accused of being involved in a six months long steamy relationship with Constable Gwangwava.

The illicit relationship was discovered by Gwangwava’s husband, Ebony Nyoni, after he stumbled on love messages and audio recordings of the two adulterers.

During their alleged extra-marital affair, Insp Masuku, probably as a way of showing his affection towards his married subordinate, was pampering her with t-shirts which are usually reserved for senior members in the police force.

In exchange, among other things, Gwangwava bought her superior-cum-lover half a dozen of male mini briefs.

After their love boat was capsized by Gwangwava’s husband, the police supremo reportedly confessed that he was indeed exploring the hidden goodies of his married workmate.

After being confronted he burnt five of the undergarments and brazenly handed over the remaining one to Nyoni because he had never donned it.

Gwangwava openly confirmed the adulterous relationship saying she was madly in love with her boss before the illicit relationship was discovered by her husband.

Shockingly, she said she had lost count of the occasions the senior cop had poked her.

“It’s true that I have been involved in an extra-marital relationship with Inspector Masuku for the past six months until it was discovered by my husband (Ebony) through text messages and audio recordings which we were exchanging. As a way of showing my undying love for him I bought him six undergarments. I also did it so as to gain favours like being assigned to do VID duties and getting time off duty. I slept with Inspector Masuku countless times and I regret doing it. I know that I am not the only female constable that Inspector Masuku was seeing,” we quoted a remorseful Gwangwava as saying.

Nyoni demanded R15 000 from Insp Masuku as compensation for bedding his wife and he was given R5 000. 

Ass Insp Mugomeza-Masuku, said her husband was a notorious “womaniser” and she wondered what was fuelling his amorous character. 

“He is a womaniser. Five years ago, he was transferred from Harare after it was discovered that he was in love with someone’s wife. It took me over a year to come and join him here in Bulawayo. Sometimes I wonder what is really pushing him to engage in extra-marital relationships. We have three children together and I have never heard of this woman (Gwangwava). She is not on the list of women that I know that my husband is seeing behind my back,” she said.

-BMetro

By A Correspondent- A 30-year-old woman from Gweru’s Mkoba suburb allegedly committed suicide over her boyfriend’s alleged infidelity.

The woman, Blessing Chizanga, hanged herself from the roof after discovering that her boyfriend was cheating on her.

Zimbabwe Republic Police Midlands Spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident saying they are still investigating the case.

“l can confirm that police in Midlands are investigating a case of sudden death by hanging, of the deceased Blessing Chizanga, a female adult aged 30,” he said.

Insp Goko said Chizanga was complaining to her sister Shyleen about her boyfriend’s shenanigans.

“She was complaining to her sister Shyleen about her boyfriend’s infidelity. Shyleen then tried to counsel her and she seemed to have cooled down after the counselling session.

“Shyleen left the deceased alone in the house proceeding to their sister’s house who also stays in the same neighbourhood.

“Upon her return she found all doors locked and she had to use the back door to get into the house. While inside, she stumbled upon her sisters’ body hanging from the roof,” said Insp Goko.

Meanwhile, Insp Goko said they are also investigating another case of suicide in the province.

In another case, Inspector Goko said Kwekwe where a man was found dead with a suicide note which only stated his preferred area of burial.

“We are also investigating a case of sudden death in Kwekwe where the body of Tendai Mupamhanga was found near Kwekwe General Hospital. It is suspected that the deceased drank poison and his body had bruises,” he said.

Insp Goko appealed to the public to seek assistance from third parties.

“As usual we are appealing to the members of the public that if they are involved in domestic disputes they should seek assistance of a third party,” he added.

-Statemedia

VP Chiwenga & his wife Marry's case will be heard by CJ Malaba on 3 February 2020 as an urgent matter. Marry is on record pleading with the courts to stop the VP from abusing the courts. Do you think that the VP is now using his powers to influence & compromise the courts?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 31, 2020

By A Correspondent- A photo that is circulating on social media shows a civil application document that says Chief Justice Malaba will hear the case between VP Chiwenga and his estranged wife Marry in his urgent chambers on Monday.

The civil application document in circulation on social media reads:

Take note that the above urgent chamber(between CGND CHiwenga and M Mubaiwa Chiwenga) will be heard before the honourable Malaba CJ in chambers at Mashonganyika Building on Monday the 3rd of February 2020 at 11am or so soon thereafter as council maybe heard.

Advocate Fadzayi Mahere commenting on the issue on Twitter said:

I have no skin in the game & I’m unaware of the salient facts but the CJ has no jurisdiction under the Supreme Court Act to hear an appeal sitting as a single judge in Chambers. This is more likely an application to determine whether the actual appeal should be heard urgently.

By A Correspondent- Three Bulawayo men have appeared in court for allegedly assaulting two police officers who had arrested them for public drinking.

Basil Pfule (65) of Lobengula West suburb allegedly connived with Onwell Mandizvidza (49) and Willias Mandizvidza (47) both of Emganwini suburb and attacked a Constable Homo and a Sergent Gumoreyi based at Tshabalala Police Station.

The trio pleaded not guilty to assaulting or resisting a peace officer.

They were remanded out of custody to Monday for continuation of trial.

Onwell pleaded with the court to send one of the police officers for eye examination saying his vision had deceived him.

He said they were just unfortunate to be among a group of people who were drinking alcohol.

Prosecuting, Mr Kenneth Shava said on January 25 this year at around 2PM, Cst Homo was at Mnethi Shopping Centre in Nkulumane suburb where Pfule and his accomplices were drinking beer.

“The complainant tried to handcuff the third accused person (Willias) for public drinking but the first accused person (Basil) pushed the police officer and held him by the neck,” he said.

“The second accused person (Onwell) also came and pushed Sgt Gumoreyi who was trying to assist Cst Homo arrest the first accused person.”

The court heard that in the ensuing melee, Willias grabbed Sgt Gumoreyi by the neck and threatened to assault him.

Two other police officers came to the scene and provided reinforcements leading to the arrest of the trio who were taken to Tshabalala Police Station.

-Statemedia

War Veterans have made the following demands during the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services public hearing at Entumbane Community Hall in Bulawayo on the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill.

Here is a list of the demands they made at the public hearings:

1. The government should foot the bill of their members who will seek decent medical care in private hospitals outside the country with the assistance of the Ministry of Defence.
2. Government ministries must employ 10-20% of their children with degrees.
3. Their members to also access medical care locally, given free access in private hospitals.
4. Decent accommodation in growth points and urban areas,
5. Pensions above the poverty datum line or at par with the least paid civil servant
6. Free education for their children and war veterans who wish to study,
7. Free legal representation
8. Medals for Zipra combatants.
9. Diplomatic passports
10. Duty exemption at border posts
11. 60 % of land to be distributed should be set aside for them.

-Cite

By A Correspondent- A divorced woman from Shurugwi has refused to vacate her ex-husband’s house for four years now resulting in her falling preg_nant by another man.

The woman, Kenita Bangure, is now arguing that she cannot leave her ex-husband’s house as she did not know who among her three boyfriends was responsible for the pregnancy.

The matter came to light when Tapiwa Tatisa dragged his ex-wife Bangure, to court, before Shurugwi magistrate Sitabile Zungula seeking to evict her from their matrimonial home following their divorce in 2016.

Since their divorce, four years ago, Bangure has been refusing to leave Tatisa’s cottage at Peak Mine Primary School where he works as a teacher.

Tatisa was demanding that his estranged wife moves out of his cottage to a man who got her pregnant after their divorce.

“Your Worship, l separated with this woman in 2016. Since then she has been refusing to move from my house until she got pregnant by another man.

“I therefore seek that this honourable court orders this woman to go to the father of her child because l cannot take care of another man’s child,” he said.

In her defence, Bangure said she could not move out of Tatisa’s cottage as she did not know who her baby’s father was.

“Your Worship, I don’t know who the father is because l had three boyfriends when she was concei_ved.

“I plead with this honourable court to let me stay with my ex-husband maybe we can try and resolve our issues.

“Besides, it’s my husband’s fault that l had to have extra marital affairs which resulted in preg_nancy as he was starving me se_xually.

“If he had done his part, I was not going to think of having other men,” she said.

Magistrate Zungula ordered Bangure to leave Tatisa’s house with immediate effect.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- An unsettled President Emmerson Mnangagwa, seeking to strengthen his grip on power and coup-proof his regime, has yet again changed commanders of the Presidential Guard (PG), the infantry battalion which, together with the Mechanised Brigade, played a critical role in the 2017 military coup that toppled former president Robert Mugabe.

The PG, responsible for providing protection to the president and securing Harare, is a specialised force trained to fight in built up areas. It consists of two battalions, the 1 PG Battalion commonly known as State House Battalion and the 2 PG Battalion situated in Dzivaresekwa.

Then under Brigadier-General Anselem Sanyatwe — who was commander of the coup on the ground and seen as loyal to Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga — the unit played the most important role in the military operation that catapulted Mnangagwa to power.

Chiwenga was the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces during the coup. He was Mnangagwa’s ally, but their relationship deteriorated after the coup, as they differed on government appointments and transitional arrangements, among other issues.

Mnangagwa has, however, been strengthening his grip on power since the coup by removing both high-level and middle-level commanders who played a role in the coup as part of a strategy to contain Chiwenga, who harbours presidential ambitions.

A fortnight ago, Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry, disclosed in court papers that her husband has presidential ambitions. Military sources revealed that Mnangagwa last month made changes in the PG by naming Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt-Col) Chicha as the commander of 2 PG Battalion.

Chicha took over from Lt-Col Regis Mangezi, who was moved to command the 1 PG Battalion following the elbowing out of Lt-Col Solomon Murombo from the unit.

Murombo was in the news in July last year after an audio recording of an enraged First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was leaked. Mnangagwa’s wife accused Murombo of spying on her and plotting to kill the President. Her outburst betrayed the first family’s fears and concerns about their security. Murombo has been shunted off to Zimbabwe Defence House.

The PG Brigade is under the command of Brigadier-General Fidelis Mhonda, who took over from Sanyatwe. Following the coup, Sanyatwe was initially promoted to the rank of major-general before he was retired from the military and posted to Tanzania as Zimbabwe’s ambassador. During the coup days, the 1 PG Battalion was commanded by Lt-Col Never Jones Makuyana, who was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Mnangagwa’s Aide de Camp. Like Murombo, Makuyana was transferred to Defence House although he is reportedly not out of favour.

At Mechanised Brigade, Brigadier-General Gwekwerere — who headed the Mechanised Brigade during Operation Restore Legacy — was in June last year reassigned to the post of brigadier-general in charge of general staff at Army Headquarters.

The Commanding Officer of 1 Mechanised Battalion during the coup, Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Dube, handed over the command of the unit to Lt-Col Colleen Mafika in January 2018, as Mnangagwa got rid of key coup players.

Military officials revealed that the fact that both the 1 PG and the 2 PG battalions have each had three separate commanders since the November 2017 coup was an indication of Mnangagwa’s insecurity. A number of low-ranking officers from the Dzivaresekwa-based battalion have also been transferred to 1 PG while those that were at 2 PG were transferred to 1 PG. Military sources told the Zimbabwe Independent that the latest changes were part of the ongoing drive by Mnangagwa to coup-proof his regime, while whittling down Chiwenga’s influence.

“In the case of the Presidential Guards, Sanyatwe is believed to have had a lot of influence particularly at 2PG (Dzivaresekwa) where he stayed for many years as he rose through the ranks until he commanded the brigade,” a security source said.

“The chops and changes are meant to dilute that influence. Initially after the coup, Mnangagwa’s restructuring of the army was seen as a way to reward commanders who played key roles in the coup. But the promotions were also used to remove some powerful commanders, like Sanyatwe, out of key positions so that they are not able to be the backbone of Chiwenga’s presidential bid.”

Members of the military at 2 PG also said members of the Regimental Police who control movement in and out of the barrack are also now being periodically shifted.

The Independent last week asked ZDF spokesperson Overson Mugwisi to explain what was necessitating the sweeping changes being instituted in the command element of the Presidential Guard.

He referred the paper to Major Alex Zuva in charge of the Zimbabwe National Army communications department. Zuva requested questions in writing, but had not responded by the time of going to press.

In 2018, Mnangagwa, then seeking to rid the army of elements perceived loyal to Mugabe as well as Chiwenga, promoted a number of senior officers including Sanyatwe, thereby removing him from the PG. He also promoted the Head of Military Intelligence Thomas Moyo from Brigadier-General to Major-General.

Last year, Mnangagwa retired several top commanders by shunting them off into the diplomatic service. These included former Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) chief-of-staff (administration) Douglas Nyikayaramba, chief-of-staff responsible for service personnel and logistics Major-General Martin Chedondo, and Air Vice-Marshal Sheba Shumbayawonda.

The latest changes, as reported by this newspaper in its exclusive series of articles around the state of affairs within the army, come at a time the millitary is engulfed by growing discontent among the rank-and-file troops over the worsening economic environment and poor remuneration.

Also, as part of the coup-proofing measures, Mnangagwa has elevated commanders from his ethnic Karanga clan, mostly from the Midlands, to the top echelons of most security organisations.

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is now under the command of Phillip Valerio Sibanda, while the Air Force of Zimbabwe is being commanded by Elson Moyo. Both are from the Midlands, Mnangagwa’s home province.

The Zimbabwe National Army is under the command of Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo, also a Mnangagwa ally from Masvingo. Mnangagwa appointed his close Midlands ally, Owen Ncube, as State Security minister. Ncube oversees the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), which is under the control of another Midlands ally, Isaac Moyo.

By A Correspondent- The proposed constitutional amendments that were recently gazetted by the government have received an endorsement from members of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) forum.

POLAD members had previously raised concern over the government’s decision to gazette the amendments without POAD members looking into them first.

The government then presented the proposed amendments to the forum which then established subcommittees tasked to look into the amendments.

Commenting on the proposed removal of the Presidential running mate clause, Prof Lovemore Madhuku who chairs Polad’s subcommittee on governance and legislative reforms said that the clause was dangerous to a sitting president.

He said:

There were people who were feeling that clause is a dangerous clause as a person who is a running mate and waiting to become President may actually harm the existing President. It creates instability, because if you know that I’m going to be the next President and it’s guaranteed by the Constitution it tends to create problems.

Meanwhile, some legal experts including Alex Magaisa, a law lecturer in the United Kingdom said that the proposed amendments were a blow to democracy and independence of the judiciary.

The opposition MDC has also called upon members of the public to join the party in opposing the adoption of the proposed amendments.

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Alliance legislator for Makokoba, Mr James Sithole has, together with two accomplices who were accused of embezzling US$4 250 and R10 000 belonging to a local burial society he chaired, been cleared by the courts.

Sithole and three accomplices, Jacob Manyange, Raymond Gombedza all from Makokoba suburb and Manyara Muzamani appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja facing theft of trust property charges after they allegedly turned Makokoba Burial Society’s money into personal use.

The four were also accused of squandering US$4 250 which was restituted by the Burial Society’s treasurer, Ms Sibindi following her conviction and sentence for stealing the burial society’s money.

Mr Munjanja acquitted Sithole, Gombeza and Muzamani on both counts and he dismissed Manyange’s application for discharge at the close of the State case and placed him on his defence in relation to the second count.

The magistrate ruled that the State had failed to present compelling evidence against the accused persons.

The Burial Society was formed in 2010 by members of the MDC.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- A six-year-old boy, Admire Makazhange reportedly jumped off a moving vehicle and sustained a deep cut in the head which eventually killed him.

The Chronicle reports that Admire was aboard a pick-up truck travelling from Tsholotsho to Bulawayo when he jumped off.

He was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where he died four days after admission. The incident was confirmed by Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese who said police are still unaware of what really transpired.

She said:

The minor was travelling in the back of a pick-up truck with seven other passengers on board from Tsholotsho to Bulawayo. As the driver approached the 40km peg along Bulawayo-Tsholotsho road, he realised through the rearview mirror that the late Admire Makangadze had jumped off the moving vehicle. When he stopped the vehicle to check, he observed that the deceased had sustained a deep cut to the head.

After jumping out of a moving vehicle he sustained a deep cut on the head. He was admitted to Mpilo Hospital where his condition deteriorated and he passed away on January 25, 2020.

Makonese urged members of the public to report all road traffic accidents to the police.

-Statemedia

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), the country’s largest teachers’ body has appealed to the government to accommodate workers who were on strike over measly salaries.

This comes after workers and the employer have finally agreed on a salary rise which will see lowest-paid government employee receiving $2500 a month and the highest-earning $4 631 from $1 885 with effect from next month.

ZIMTA secretary-general, Tapson Sibanda on Wednesday said that the teachers welcomed the outcome and appealed to all members to return to work with immediate effect. Sibanda said:

We appeal to our members to do everything possible to deliver the public services required of them.

We further encourage authorities to accommodate our members who were unable to deliver lessons due to their incapacitation state to assist them to resume duty without sanctions or reproachment.

Some teachers have not been reporting for duty since 14 January when schools reopened for the first term of 2020 citing incapacitation.

Others reportedly went to their workplaces only to convince the employer that they were working when they were actually not.

Since last year, workers have been pushing the government to increase their salaries saying the soaring inflation had eroded their current ones thereby incapacitating them to execute their duties and responsibilities.

By A Correspondent- In a dramatic incident a police officer stationed at Western Commonage police station became a centre of attraction after he allegedly bashed his wife accusing her of communicating with her ex-boyfriend.

The privy source said while Kudzanai Chiutswa (25) was relaxing on the sofa at their matrimonial home at Rose Camp, his wife Jane Maseko (24) was engrossed in her phone.

“This is a fairly new couple and it happened that last week on Friday Chiutswa noticed that his wife was fully absorbed in her chats and had spent an hour chatting on the phone and was ignoring him,” said the privy source.

Chiutswa, the source said, got suspicious and pried over his wife’s phone and noticed that his wife was communicating with her ex- boyfriend.

The source said that did not go down well with Chiutswa and he questioned her over that. “As a result an argument ensued between the two, at the height of it Chiutswa turned violent and grabbed his wife by the neck and hit her with open hands,” said a source. A close friend to the couple said Maseko managed to free herself from the tight grip of her husband and fled towards Mzilikazi Police Station.

“Chiutswa followed her in hot pursuit and caught up with her and hit her several times with open arms. Maseko retaliated by throwing stones at him and hit him on the tummy,” the source said.

In her warned and cautioned statement Maseko said: “ I was telling my ex- boyfriend that he must not communicate with me and sternly warned him that if he continues I will report him to the police.

“But my husband got suspicious and thought I was cheating on him but I was not and I would never do that because I love him and I’m committed to the marriage.”

Maseko reported the physical abuse case under case number RRB number 3761639 at Mzilikazi Police Station.

-Bmetro

By A Correspondent- Esther Moyo (54) of Coolmoreen Farm, who fatally assaulted her 3 year old grand daughter with a switch for messing her clothes heaved a sigh of relief after a Gweru magistrate sentenced her to community service for killing the minor.

She committed the offence in 2015, and appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese who is on circuit in Gweru.

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

The State concurred with the plea and Justice Makonese sentenced her to an effective 420 hours of community service.

In passing judgement, Justice Makonese said he had taken into consideration delays in dealing with the case as the woman committed the offence nearly five years ago.

“The child died due to subdural haematoma, skull fracture and severe head trauma due to beating. Postmortem shows that you used extreme force.

“This attack was senseless as it was brutal and the young person suffered a painful death. The courts will not tolerate this kind of behaviour. Any life whether old or young is important and the courts should guard against such loss of life,” said Justice Makonese.

“Although the moral blameworthiness is high, the only fact which saves you is the delay in dealing with this case. A delay, in any case, is unacceptable and the court urges the prosecution office to review all pending cases so that they are dealt with in time.

“Had you been sent to jail at that time you might have completed serving. I agree with the defence that the custodial sentence would not make justice after this delay.”

Prosecutor, Mr Mandla Ndlovu told the court that on March 18 in 2015 at about 6AM, the now-deceased Rejoice Moyo and her brother were asleep when their grandmother woke them up so that they could relieve themselves.

Rejoice, the court heard, messed her clothes. “This prompted her grandmother to take a switch that she used to assault her all over the body. The deceased cried in agony and continued to wail up to the time when her grandmother went to work,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said moments after the grandmother had left for work Rejoice collapsed and died. The matter was reported to the police leading to the woman’s arrest.

By A Correspondent- A 30-year-old woman from Gweru’s Mkoba suburb allegedly committed suicide over her boyfriend’s alleged infidelity.

The woman, Blessing Chizanga, hanged herself from the roof after discovering that her boyfriend was cheating on her.

Zimbabwe Republic Police Midlands Spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident saying they are still investigating the case.

“l can confirm that police in Midlands are investigating a case of sudden death by hanging, of the deceased Blessing Chizanga, a female adult aged 30,” he said.

Insp Goko said Chizanga was complaining to her sister Shyleen about her boyfriend’s shenanigans.

“She was complaining to her sister Shyleen about her boyfriend’s infidelity. Shyleen then tried to counsel her and she seemed to have cooled down after the counselling session.

“Shyleen left the deceased alone in the house proceeding to their sister’s house who also stays in the same neighbourhood.

“Upon her return she found all doors locked and she had to use the back door to get into the house. While inside, she stumbled upon her sisters’ body hanging from the roof,” said Insp Goko.

Meanwhile, Insp Goko said they are also investigating another case of suicide in the province.

In another case, Inspector Goko said Kwekwe where a man was found dead with a suicide note which only stated his preferred area of burial.

“We are also investigating a case of sudden death in Kwekwe where the body of Tendai Mupamhanga was found near Kwekwe General Hospital. It is suspected that the deceased drank poison and his body had bruises,” he said.

Insp Goko appealed to the public to seek assistance from third parties.

“As usual we are appealing to the members of the public that if they are involved in domestic disputes they should seek assistance of a third party,” he added.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- The BBC reports that the new coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China.

“The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The concern is that it could spread to countries with weaker health systems.

Meanwhile, the US has told its citizens not to travel to China.

The State Department issued a level four warning – having previously urged Americans to “reconsider” travel to China – and said any citizens in China “should consider departing using commercial means”.

At least 213 people have died in China – mostly in Hubei province where the virus emerged – with almost 10,000 cases nationally.

The WHO said there had been 98 cases in 18 other countries, but no deaths.

Most international cases are in people who had been to the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei.

However, there have been eight cases of human-to-human infection – in Germany, Japan, Vietnam and the United States.

Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, Dr Tedros described the virus as an “unprecedented outbreak” that has been met with an “unprecedented response”.

He praised the “extraordinary measures” Chinese authorities had taken, and said there was no reason to limit trade or travel to China.

“Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China,” he said.

But various countries have taken steps to close borders or cancel flights, and companies like Google, Ikea, Starbucks and Tesla have closed their shops or stopped operations.

The US Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, has said the outbreak could “accelerate the return of jobs to North America”.

Own Correspondent|The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has rejected the salary increment offer by the government which the Apex Council has since agreed to.

ARTUZ says that the salary is still insignificant and cannot capacitate teachers to execute their duties and responsibilities.

As per the new deal, the lowest-paid government employee receiving $2500 a month and the highest-earning $4 631 from $1 885 with effect from next month.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA), the country’s largest teachers’ body has accepted the increment.

We present ARTUZ’s statement in full below.

As Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) we reject an agreement reached by the Apex Council to accept a salary increment offered by Government, while alleged negotiations for a better package continue as a said compromise for “the sake of civil servants who are in a desperate situation”.

We believe Apex council has sold out on the workers it purport to represent. As ARTUZ we are demanding a salary in US$ indexed to the interbank rate. Our salaries should be in tandem with the changing economic environment. What has been agreed is a far cry from our demands.

Our members, mostly based in rural areas are heavily incapacitated go to work. We have received unfortunate reports of harassment of our incapacitated members that are failing to report for duty, this is unwelcome, and we are taking legal measures to stop that insanity. The government must stop victimizing incapacitated teachers.

As ARTUZ we are resolute that our members deserve better salaries that are commensurate with their labour. We will not go back on our demand for a US$ indexed salary to the interbank rate.

Cecilia Alexander of Apex Council said there had been progress in their negotiations as the Government had agreed to backdate the salaries to January 1 as opposed to effecting the increase from February 1. This is not what we want.

To save our country from the current economic malaise, we urge the government to urgently restore the purchasing power parity of civil servants to stimulate productivity.

The genocide in the education sector was brought by the underpayment of teachers. Destroying our education staggers the developmental plans of our nation. It is imperative that we urgently reverse the erosion of our education system.

A 57-year-old woman and her two grandchildren were on Wednesday night burnt to death when their Morningside home in Bulawayo was gutted by fire triggered by an electrical fault.

The fire that occurred at about 9PM, killed Prisca Mushore, the mother of 2015 Miss Tourism Bulawayo pageant winner Nadia Gori, and her grandchildren Stacey Mushore (13) and Brendon Moyo (9) who were burnt beyond recognition.

Property worth millions of dollars was reduced to ashes.

The family’s spokesperson Mr Thabani Moyo said they were at a loss for words following the tragic incident.

“None of us was here to witness what really transpired. We received a phone call from one of our nephews based in Harare telling us that there was fire in the house after being contacted by the police. We rushed here and by the time we arrived, the roof had collapsed and my sister, my nephew and my niece who lived in the house had been killed in the fire and property burnt to ashes,” said Mr Moyo.

He said the family was devastated and wondered how the fire broke out and prevented the three from escaping.

“This is a painful experience especially losing all the family members who lived in the house with no one to help them. At least if one of them survived, we would have known how the fire broke out. But as it stands it’s a painful loss because there is no story to be told,” he said.

Mr Moyo said Bulawayo Fire Brigade promptly reacted but could not save the trio.

He said the two minors were burnt beyond recognition while his sister suffered serious burns, but was still recognisable.

Mr Moyo dismissed claims circulating on social media yesterday that the fire was caused by a gas explosion.

“The Fire Brigade and the Zimbabwe Energy Regulation Authority dismissed that the fire could have been caused by fuel because there is no fuel that is kept here. But we are yet to get a report from Zesa to consolidate the findings. However, the fire was not caused by gas. The gas cylinder is still intact and it was empty. So, the gas explosion that is being speculated is dismissed,” said Mr Moyo.

A relative said bodies of the three victims were found in different parts of the house.

“The granny’s body which did not suffer serious burns was found in the bathroom while the boy was in the corridor and the girl’s body was found at the front door. Both minors were burnt beyond recognition. Police retrieved their bodies this (yesterday) morning,” said the relative.

Neighbours said they were still shocked as to how the fire spread so fast without anyone noticing. One of them said she watched helplessly as the fire consumed the house.

“At first, I could hear their voices as they screamed for help. Their voices kept fading until I could not hear them anymore. I guess they had died,” said the neighbour who declined to be named.

Bulawayo acting Chief Fire Officer Mr Linso Phiri said the fire was caused by an electric fault.

He said the inferno was compounded by dust that had gathered in the house’s ceiling.

“Our preliminary investigations have concluded that the fire was caused by an electric fault. We also believe that dust which had gathered in the ceiling over a period of time caused the fire to quickly spread across the house. The electrical wires were also naked as the house was not tubed (cables not insulated), just like many of the houses that were built a long time ago. This could have also compounded the fire,” said Mr Phiri.

Independent|AN unsettled President Emmerson Mnangagwa, seeking to strengthen his grip on power and coup-proof his regime, has yet again changed commanders of the Presidential Guard (PG), the infantry battalion which, together with the Mechanised Brigade, played a critical role in the 2017 military coup that toppled former president Robert Mugabe.

The PG, responsible for providing protection to the president and securing Harare, is a specialised force trained to fight in built up areas. It consists of two battalions, the 1 PG Battalion commonly known as State House Battalion and the 2 PG Battalion situated in Dzivaresekwa.

Then under Brigadier-General Anselem Sanyatwe — who was commander of the coup on the ground and seen as loyal to Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga — the unit played the most important role in the military operation that catapulted Mnangagwa to power.

Chiwenga was the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces during the coup. He was Mnangagwa’s ally, but their relationship deteriorated after the coup, as they differed on government appointments and transitional arrangements, among other issues.

Mnangagwa has, however, been strengthening his grip on power since the coup by removing both high-level and middle-level commanders who played a role in the coup as part of a strategy to contain Chiwenga, who harbours presidential ambitions.

A fortnight ago, Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry, disclosed in court papers that her husband has presidential ambitions.Military sources revealed that Mnangagwa last month made changes in the PG by naming Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt-Col) Chicha as the commander of 2 PG Battalion.

Chicha took over from Lt-Col Regis Mangezi, who was moved to command the 1 PG Battalion following the elbowing out of Lt-Col Solomon Murombo from the unit.

Murombo was in the news in July last year after an audio recording of an enraged First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was leaked. Mnangagwa’s wife accused Murombo of spying on her and plotting to kill the President. Her outburst betrayed the first family’s fears and concerns about their security. Murombo has been shunted off to Zimbabwe Defence House.

The PG Brigade is under the command of Brigadier-General Fidelis Mhonda, who took over from Sanyatwe. Following the coup, Sanyatwe was initially promoted to the rank of major-general before he was retired from the military and posted to Tanzania as Zimbabwe’s ambassador. During the coup days, the 1 PG Battalion was commanded by Lt-Col Never Jones Makuyana, who was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Mnangagwa’s Aide de Camp. Like Murombo, Makuyana was transferred to Defence House although he is reportedly not out of favour.

At Mechanised Brigade, Brigadier-General Gwekwerere — who headed the Mechanised Brigade during Operation Restore Legacy — was in June last year reassigned to the post of brigadier-general in charge of general staff at Army Headquarters.

The Commanding Officer of 1 Mechanised Battalion during the coup, Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Dube, handed over the command of the unit to Lt-Col Colleen Mafika in January 2018, as Mnangagwa got rid of key coup players.

Military officials revealed that the fact that both the 1 PG and the 2 PG battalions have each had three separate commanders since the November 2017 coup was an indication of Mnangagwa’s insecurity. A number of low-ranking officers from the Dzivaresekwa-based battalion have also been transferred to 1 PG while those that were at 2 PG were transferred to 1 PG. Military sources told the Zimbabwe Independent that the latest changes were part of the ongoing drive by Mnangagwa to coup-proof his regime, while whittling down Chiwenga’s influence.

“In the case of the Presidential Guards, Sanyatwe is believed to have had a lot of influence particularly at 2PG (Dzivaresekwa) where he stayed for many years as he rose through the ranks until he commanded the brigade,” a security source said.

“The chops and changes are meant to dilute that influence. Initially after the coup, Mnangagwa’s restructuring of the army was seen as a way to reward commanders who played key roles in the coup. But the promotions were also used to remove some powerful commanders, like Sanyatwe, out of key positions so that they are not able to be the backbone of Chiwenga’s presidential bid.”

Members of the military at 2 PG also said members of the Regimental Police who control movement in and out of the barrack are also now being periodically shifted.

The Independent last week asked ZDF spokesperson Overson Mugwisi to explain what was necessitating the sweeping changes being instituted in the command element of the Presidential Guard.

He referred the paper to Major Alex Zuva in charge of the Zimbabwe National Army communications department. Zuva requested questions in writing, but had not responded by the time of going to press.

In 2018, Mnangagwa, then seeking to rid the army of elements perceived loyal to Mugabe as well as Chiwenga, promoted a number of senior officers including Sanyatwe, thereby removing him from the PG. He also promoted the Head of Military Intelligence Thomas Moyo from Brigadier-General to Major-General.

Last year, Mnangagwa retired several top commanders by shunting them off into the diplomatic service. These included former Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) chief-of-staff (administration) Douglas Nyikayaramba, chief-of-staff responsible for service personnel and logistics Major-General Martin Chedondo, and Air Vice-Marshal Sheba Shumbayawonda.

The latest changes, as reported by this newspaper in its exclusive series of articles around the state of affairs within the army, come at a time the millitary is engulfed by growing discontent among the rank-and-file troops over the worsening economic environment and poor remuneration.

Also, as part of the coup-proofing measures, Mnangagwa has elevated commanders from his ethnic Karanga clan, mostly from the Midlands, to the top echelons of most security organisations.

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is now under the command of Phillip Valerio Sibanda, while the Air Force of Zimbabwe is being commanded by Elson Moyo. Both are from the Midlands, Mnangagwa’s home province.

The Zimbabwe National Army is under the command of Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo, also a Mnangagwa ally from Masvingo.Mnangagwa appointed his close Midlands ally, Owen Ncube, as State Security minister. Ncube oversees the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), which is under the control of another Midlands ally, Isaac Moyo.

Own Correspondent|President Mnangagwa is tomorrow expected to attend a national prayer meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Interdenominational Council of Churches at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

ZICC is a grouping of 110 churches chaired by Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi of the Zion Christian Church.

The prayer meeting comes barely a week after President Mnangagwa attended another church service at the ZAOGA Forward in Faith Ministries in Harare where he with the help of Ezekiel Guti manipulated worshippers at the church.

Organisers of tomorrow’s church service said 401 buses will be deployed to the provinces.

ZICC spokesperson Pastor Richard Takaendesa said they hired 192 buses.

“In Manicaland, our members have already hired and paid for 54 buses, Masvingo 18, Mashonaland West 16 and Bulawayo already has hired 20 buses.

“Members in Midlands Province have so far paid for 27 buses, Harare has 46, Mashonaland Central four, while Mashonaland East has seven. We are going to add more buses to cover the shortfall of 209 buses.”

Pastor Takaendesa said the service is expected to be attended by other political leaders, traditional leaders, provincial heads and other high ranking personalities.

Source: State Media

State Media|POLITICAL Actors Dialogue (Polad) members have endorsed the proposed constitutional amendments that were gazetted recently but appealed to Government not to fast-track the process.

Polad consists of political parties that participated in the 2018 harmonised elections, minus MDC Alliance which has chosen to stay away.

Polad’s subcommittee on governance and legislative reforms met in Bulawayo yesterday to deliberate on the proposed constitutional amendments.

Constitutional lawyer and National Constitutional Assembly president, Professor Lovemore Madhuku chairs the subcommittee.

The deliberations by the members touched on several clauses that include the proposed removal of the Presidential running mate clause, increase in the number of non-constituency MPs who can be appointed Cabinet ministers and extension of the women’s quota beyond 2023 elections.

Polad members said in principle they agree that the Constitution should be amended with respect to identified clauses, although some areas need fine-tuning.

Prof Madhuku said the Presidential running mate clause was dangerous as it could lead to the running mate plotting against a sitting President for political expediency.

“There were people who were feeling that clause is a dangerous clause as a person who is a running mate and waiting to become President may actually harm the existing President. It creates instability, because if you know that I’m going to be the next President and it’s guaranteed by the Constitution it tends to create problems,” said Prof Madhuku.

He said Parliament should be the one which elects an individual to succeed a President in case the incumbent dies or resigns as opposed to the existing system where a political party selects who should be seconded to the top post.

MDC-T Bulawayo Proportional Representation MP Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the subcommittee’s technical team also supports the proposal to increase the number of non-elected Cabinet ministers.

She said while the proposed constitutional amendments give the President the power to appoint seven unelected individuals into Cabinet instead of five as is the case now, they suggested that the number be increased to eight or more.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga said the proposed Constitutional changes should be biased towards the inclusion of women and the youth ministers.

“We are just agreeing in principle but we will get good drafters who will draft it in a manner that the aspect of young people would be included and that it is not just aspirational but is actually in the context that they are included. In summary, we agree but we want gender representation and we want youth representation,” she said.

During the deliberations some members said there should be a cap on the number of people who will constitute the Cabinet.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga said Polad also agree that the women’s quota system must be extended beyond 2023.

She said in extending the women’s quota system, Government should consider including women who belong to independent parties as opposed to the existing system where they are selected from political parties.

Own Correspondent|The Chinese Embassy in Harare has issued the following statement on the outbreak of Coronavirus in their country and measures in place on Zimbabwe.

In recent days, there has been an outbreak of pneumonia in China caused by a novel coronavirus. The Chinese government attaches great importance to fighting the epidemic.

President Xi Jinping has repeatedly given important instructions on its containment and mitigation, and personally chaired a meeting on the first day of the lunar New Year for further deployment and mobilisation of resources.

China has built an all-round and multi-level containment and mitigation system focusing on Wuhan and Hubei and covering governments at all levels. All aspects of work are open and transparent.

China is speeding up progress in a scientific and orderly manner. The Chinese nation has withstood many tests in its history. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, the people of the whole country will unite as one and are fully capable and confident in winning this battle at an early date.

Fighting the spread of the epidemic is a common concern of the international community. China is willing to work with other countries to actively respond to the epidemic. We have informed the World Health Organisation, relevant countries, and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan of the latest epidemic situation, and have shared information on virus gene sequences with all parties at the earliest time possible. A World Health Organisation (WHO) expert group has arrived in Wuhan for a field visit and highly praised the effective measures taken by China to deal with the epidemic.

The WHO director-general also fully affirmed China’s response. We thank the international community, including Zimbabwe, for its full understanding and support for China.

Life comes first. The Chinese government is committed to safeguarding the safety and health of the Chinese people. We will also honour our responsibility in ensuring the safety of every foreign nationals in China, including the Zimbabweans, and address their legitimate concerns in a timely manner.

We will continue to strengthen communication and coordination with the international community and work closely with international partners to contain and mitigate the epidemic.

The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe is making an all-out effort to prevent the virus from spreading to Zimbabwe. We have informed Zimbabwean authorities in health, foreign affairs, airport, and other ports of entry of the latest developments of the epidemic and established an information-sharing mechanism with them.

We have requested Chinese nationals coming to Zimbabwe to cooperate with the screening measures of the Zimbabwean authorities at the ports of entry and issued three consular notices to provide information updates and recommendations for epidemic prevention.

We have called on the associations of the Chinese community and Chinese businesses and institutions in Zimbabwe to raise the awareness of their members and employees who have returned to China for holiday, asking them to protect themselves against infection.

Those who have returned to the most affected regions in China, such as Hubei, are advised to hold off coming back to Zimbabwe until the situation eases to reduce the risk of bringing the virus to Zimbabwe. The Embassy is stepping up efforts to gather information.

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.

If suspected symptoms appear, they are asked to immediately seek medical help and report to the Embassy. Should there be confirmed cases in Zimbabwe, China stands ready to work closely with the Zimbabwean government and provide all possible support to jointly treat the patients and contain and mitigate the situation.

The Chinese medical team in Zimbabwe has put together a special task force for this purpose.

The Chinese Embassy will stay in close communication and work hand-in-hand with the Zimbabwean Government to contain and mitigate the impact of the epidemic.

State Media|Businessman Mr Tawanda Nyambirai lost 123 cattle worth nearly $1,4 million after his security guard allegedly laced stockfeeds with a poisonous herbicide, for undisclosed reasons.

The farm had 544 cattle of various breeds and those that succumbed to the poison were 47 of mixed breed, 21 heifers mixed breed, 46 heifers Brahman, 21 mixed breed and nine steers valued at $1 365 000.

A total of 421 cattle that survived are reportedly in a dire state.

Paradzai Kamwaza (18), who was employed as a security guard at Marvel Farm livestock, yesterday appeared before magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.

He was remanded in custody to February 7 pending a determination of his age. Court papers indicated that Kamwaza is aged 18, but when he appeared in court he said he was 17.

Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that between December 29 last year and this month, Kamwaza and his alleged accomplice Timothy Katsekete, who is still at large, allegedly connived to kill the cattle by poisoning.

The court heard that the pair would mix stockfeeds and the poisonous herbicide during feeding, resulting in the death of 123 cattle.

On January 28, at around 2pm, Kamwaza, the court heard, was found with a container full of Paraquat herbicide by Joshua Nyambirai, one of the farm managers who handed him over to the police after he failed to explain what he needed it for.

Upon interrogation, the teenage guard implicated Katsekete, saying he was the one who would administer the poison to the cattle.

Paraquat is one of the most widely used herbicides for weed control and is also used as a defoliant on crops such as cotton prior to harvest. Investigations showed that the farm does not use the recovered herbicide at all.

Samples of carcasses were taken to a Government veterinary surgeon who confirmed that death was as a result of the poisoning. Kwamwaza failed to give a satisfactory explanation as to why he had the herbicide.

A GWERU woman who fatally assaulted her three -year-old granddaughter using a switch after she messed her clothes heaved a sigh of relief after she was ordered to perform community service.

Esther Moyo (54) of Coolmoreen Farm, who committed the offence in 2015, yesterday appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese who is on circuit in Gweru.

She pleaded not guilty to murder, but admitted to a lesser charge of culpable homicide.

The State concurred with the plea and Justice Makonese sentenced her to an effective 420 hours of community service.

In passing judgement, Justice Makonese said he had taken into consideration delays in dealing with the case as the woman committed the offence nearly five years ago.

“The child died due to subdural haematoma, skull fracture and severe head trauma due to beating.

Postmortem shows that you used extreme force.

“This attack was senseless as it was brutal and the young person suffered a painful death. The courts will not tolerate this kind of behaviour. Any life whether old or young is important and the courts should guard against such loss of life,” said Justice Makonese.

“Although the moral blameworthiness is high, the only fact which saves you is the delay in dealing with this case.

A delay in any case is unacceptable and the court urges the prosecution office to review all pending cases so that they are dealt with in time.

Had you been sent to jail at that time you might have completed serving. I agree with the defence that custodial sentence would not make justice after this delay.”

Prosecutor, Mr Mandla Ndlovu told the court that on March 18 in 2015 at about 6AM, the now deceased Rejoice Moyo and her brother were asleep when their grandmother woke them up so that they could relieve themselves.

Rejoice, the court heard, messed her clothes.

“This prompted her grandmother to take a switch that she used to assault her all over the body.

The deceased cried in agony and continued to wail up to the time when her grandmother went to work,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said moments after the grandmother had left for work Rejoice collapsed and died.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the woman’s arrest.-State media

A 57-year-old woman and her two grandchildren were on Wednesday night burnt to death when their Morningside home in Bulawayo was gutted by fire triggered by an electrical fault.

The fire that occurred at about 9PM, killed Prisca Mushore, the mother of 2015 Miss Tourism Bulawayo pageant winner Nadia Gori, and her grandchildren Stacey Mushore (13) and Brendon Moyo (9) who were burnt beyond recognition.
Property worth millions of dollars was reduced to ashes.

The family’s spokesperson Mr Thabani Moyo said they were at a loss for words following the tragic incident.

“None of us was here to witness what really transpired. We received a phone call from one of our nephews based in Harare telling us that there was fire in the house after being contacted by the police. We rushed here and by the time we arrived, the roof had collapsed and my sister, my nephew and my niece who lived in the house had been killed in the fire and property burnt to ashes,” said Mr Moyo.

He said the family was devastated and wondered how the fire broke out and prevented the three from escaping.

“This is a painful experience especially losing all the family members who lived in the house with no one to help them.

At least if one of them survived, we would have known how the fire broke out. But as it stands it’s a painful loss because there is no story to be told,” he said.
Mr Moyo said Bulawayo Fire Brigade promptly reacted but could not save the trio.-State media

President Mnangagwa is tomorrow expected to attend a national prayer meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Interdenominational Council of Churches at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

ZICC is a grouping of 110 churches chaired by Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi of the Zion Christian Church.

The prayer meeting comes barely a week after President Mnangagwa attended another church service at the ZAOGA Forward in Faith Ministries in Harare where he preached peace and nation building.

The President said churches played a critical role in creating a peaceful, prosperous, corruption-free and united nation.

Organisers of tomorrow’s church service said 401 buses will be deployed to the provinces.

The national prayer service will be held under the theme: “Joining hands, minds, hearts and voices together in Christ to serve, build and strengthen our nation.”

ZICC spokesperson Pastor Richard Takaendesa said they hired 192 buses.

“In Manicaland, our members have already hired and paid for 54 buses, Masvingo 18, Mashonaland West 16 and Bulawayo already has hired 20 buses.

“Members in Midlands Province have so far paid for 27 buses, Harare has 46, Mashonaland Central four, while Mashonaland East has seven.

We are going to add more buses to cover the shortfall of 209 buses.”

Pastor Takaendesa said the service is expected to be attended by other political leaders, traditional leaders, provincial heads and other high ranking personalities.-State media

By A Correspondent- Hearing in the disputed estate of late national hero Kumbirai Kangai did not commence yesterday after one of the lawyers failed to turn up.

The case, which has been on the High Court roll for four years, was adjourned last year.

Justice Webster Chinamora will preside over the matter which has been postponed to March 16 with the consent of both parties.

The key issue of contestation pertains to the shareholding structure in the Luna Estates company between the wife and the surviving 10 children.

In an interview, the lawyer representing Mrs Miriam Kangai, Mr Volte Muza, confirmed the adjournment.

“The matter failed to take off today because Ms Hativagone’s lawyer, Mr Chako of Sinyoro and Partners, is physically indisposed. So with the consent of both parties the case is expected to start on March 16, 2020,” he said.

Kangai, who died in 2013, left a will stating that everything that belonged to him be shared between his wife and 10 children.

Two of the children — Muchatenda and Fungai — are fighting in one corner with Mrs Kangai, while the liberation war veteran’s eldest daughter — Ms Mara Hativagone — is on the other side backed by six other children — Eanea, Manyika, Ngwarirai, Rwatinyanya, Musadaro, Tiriwamambo and Freedom.

Mrs Kangai in her court papers filed at the High Court said she was seeking a fair deal, while the Ms Hativagone-led team wanted her cut out of the estate.

The dispute spilled into the courts after the Master of the High Court authorised release of proceeds for a land development project to Mrs Kangai.

But Mrs Hativagone approached the High Court in March 2014 challenging the decision.

She wanted an order declaring that 100 percent shareholding in Luna Estates (Pvt) Ltd, should remain in the name of their late father.

She claimed among other things that Mrs Kangai was not entitled to 50 percent of Luna Estates.

After being served with the notice of opposition, Mrs Hativagone’s lawyers were supposed to file an answering affidavit within a month of service, but failed to do so.

On March 20, Tiriwamambo, who is fighting on the same side with Mrs Hativagone, filed a separate application seeking the setting aside the Master of High Court’s decision granting 50 percent shareholding of Luna Estates to Mrs Kangai.

He also asked for an order that the Master of the High Court be compelled to treat immovable assets vested in Luna Estates as if they were Ms Pauline Mandigo’s (in her capacity as an executor of the disputed estate) personal assets for purposes of distribution to beneficiaries.

Again, no response was made to notice of opposition filed by Mrs Kangai’s lawyer. 

-Statemedia

Three family members from Bulawayo’s Morningside suburb were on Wednesday night burnt to death after their house was gutted by fire around 9 pm.

A 55-year-old woman, her 13-year-old niece and nine-year-old nephew died on the spot following the inferno.

The cause of the fire has not been revealed.-State media

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) we reject an agreement reached by the Apex Council to accept a salary increment offered by Government, while alleged negotiations for a better package continue as a said compromise for “the sake of civil servants who are in a desperate situation”.

We believe Apex council has sold out on the workers it purport to represent. As ARTUZ we are demanding a salary in US$ indexed to the interbank rate.

Our salaries should be in tandem with the changing economic environment. What has been agreed is a far cry from our demands.

Our members, mostly based in rural areas are heavily incapacitated go to work. We have received unfortunate reports of harassment of our incapacitated members that are failing to report for duty, this is unwelcome, and we are taking legal measures to stop that insanity. The government must stop victimizing incapacitated teachers.

As ARTUZ we are resolute that our members deserve better salaries that are commensurate with their labour. We will not go back on our demand for a US$ indexed salary to the interbank rate.

Cecilia Alexander of Apex Council said there had been progress in their negotiations as the Government had agreed to backdate the salaries to January 1 as opposed to effecting the increase from February 1. This is not what we want.

To save our country from the current economic malaise, we urge the government to urgently restore the purchasing power parity of civil servants to stimulate productivity.

The genocide in the education sector was brought by the underpayment of teachers.

Destroying our education staggers the developmental plans of our nation. It is imperative that we urgently reverse the erosion of our education system.

Farai Dziva|Former MDC T deputy president has urged MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to join POLAD as it is the right platform for dialogue.

Gutu claimed that by joining POLAD Chamisa would speak from a well informed point of view .

“I think they are missing a huge opportunity to impact purposefully in the governance of this country because if you just lambast and trash POLAD without you understanding what it is about, it does not make sense to me and for any right thinking person.

We are saying POLAD is for those political parties that had a Presidential candidate in the 2018 harmonised elections.

I believe the best thing you have to do is say okay I am not happy with POLAD but I want to join then use that opportunity to say I am not happy with it because of A, B, C, and D. Don’t just throw tantrums, no one will listen to you.

I believe POLAD can be improved upon but conceptually it is a brilliant opportunity for Zimbabwe to come together,” Gutu told a state run daily paper.

By A Correspondents|ZimRights director and political analyst, Okay Machisa, commenting on VP Chiwenga accusing Justice Chiweshe  of being compromised because he is related to Marry said the VP was arm twisting the judiciary especially Justice Chiweshe to resign.

Speaking to the publication, Machisa said:

What’s given is actually the breach of the law. To have the Executive interfering, it’s fundamentally wrong for the VP to do so. If you look at Justice (Christopher) Dube-Banda’s judgment, it’s clear on how the VP should behave, not to use the military in his personal divorce case.

What he is doing is to arm-twist the Judiciary, especially Justice Chiweshe to resign. These are threats being given to the Judiciary. Let’s not talk of the Judge President, but the Judiciary which has been dented. Let’s observe the independence of the Judiciary and not force it to dance to our gallery. We are perpetually denting our Judiciary in the eyes of the world

The VP this week wrote to Justice Chiweshe wanting to know how details of his ruling found its way into the media after a judgement by Justice Chiweshe headlined on several publications before it was officially handed down in court.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is set to go digital in line with 21st-century trends of digitalisation operations.

This was revealed in an interview with ZACC Chairperson Justice Loice Matanda Moyo who said:

We discussed several measures that can be immediately taken on board by ZACC to ensure that they improve their operations and one of these areas is to effectively ensure that they utilise technologies that remove the human interface. This will be critical in fighting graft.

Justice Matanda Moyo was speaking after her meeting with visiting Ugandan Judge Justice Lawrence Gugudu who was in the country to train Zimbabwe’s judiciary on how to fight corruption.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent|Gokwe Town Secretary, Melania Mandeya (49) has been arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office.

Mandeya was nabbed over a slew of allegations among them, flouting tender procedures, inflating costs on payment for external services and nepotism.

She is currently in police custody.

Acting police spokesperson for Midlands, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said she was yet to get details of the arrest.

Gokwe town Chairman, Mr Never Gwanzura however confirmed the arrested.

He said police had picked up Mandeya in her office this morning.

“I can confirm that our Town Secretary has been picked by police and is currently assisting them with investigations over allegations of abuse of office,” he said.

This is a developing story. Refresh this pagr for latest details….

Whilst doomsayers are salivating at the prospects of a so-called spontaneous popular uprising against the Gvt of Zim, they will be thoroughly disappointed because that's not gonna happen, not tomorrow, not next month, not even in the foreseeable future. #ZimbabweWillRise ??

— Obert Gutu (@GutuObert) January 30, 2020

By A Correspondent- A passport seeker has today revealed that Registrar General’s office is charging an additional ZWL$200 on top of the $53 to expedite the production of passports.

The source said that the top-up is for the passport to be issued after three working days instead of the initial six (6) months.

Some have however revealed that the top-up was introduced on 14 November 2019 when the queue of passport seekers had become approximately 1km long.

The development after Home Affairs Minister, Kazembe Kazembe recently suggested that passport seekers may have to apply online to quicken the application process.

Kazembe also said that the Registrar-General’s office has to clear off the passport backlog which dates back to 2018.

The office is overwhelmed by demand and is performing below capacity due to a huge deficit in foreign currency which is requisite for the procurement of consumables needed for passport printing.

By A Correspondent- A Belvedere man was ordered by Harare Magistrate Isabel Nyoni to pay $100 for name-calling President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Tapiwa Chiroodza, a self-employed car washer at Divaries Shopping Centre in Belvedere, Harare, on Wednesday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts for sentencing.

On January 17, around 3pm, Clyde Manyame the complainant and Chiroodza were at Divaries Shopping Centre, drinking beer.

The convicted allegedly started to insult Manyame.

“Your President is an ass who tells people to eat vegetables,” Chiroodza said.

At first, the complainant allegedly appeared to take no notice of Chiroodza on the belief he would stop the insults.

On the same day at around 6pm at the shopping centre, Manyame had a conversation with the Zanu PF councillor for Belvedere, Abudulman Sapa, who was parked by the roadside.

When Sapa left, Chiroodza again started to insult the complainant.

“You and your councillor are asses and your President as well is an ass,” Chiroodza added.

It was then that Manyame proceeded to report the matter.

Chiroodza was charged with disorderly conduct as defined in Section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, chapter 9:23.

-ZimMorningPost

By A Correspondent- Leader of Mugodhi Apostolic Church, Bishop Washington Mugodhi has urged church members to attend the interface with President Emmerson Mnangagwa this Saturday at the National Sports Stadium.

Christians from more than one hundred denominations that are part of the newly formed Zimbabwe Inter-Denominational Council of Churches whose patron is bishop Nehemiah Mutendi will have an opportunity to interface with country’s president.

In an interview this Wednesday ahead of the interface meeting in Harare, Bishop Mugodhi said the gathering comes at a time when the church is enjoying cordial relations with the country’s leadership that values peaceful co-existence as opposed to violence.

Church members from all denominations are being encouraged to attend reported the state run ZBC.

-StateMedia

Parents and guardians of pupils at Highlands Junior stormed the school demanding that the head resigns or be transferred to another school.

Ncelani Mandeya, the head of school, stands accused of misappropriating the institution’s funds, including failure to run the school efficiently.

The parents became livid after an audit statement by the Education ministry revealed that 200kg of meat and more than 800 000 litres of water were unaccounted for in the period extending to two years.

Parents accused Mandeya of inflating prices and misrepresenting information, leading to the school losing large amounts of money.

“How can you explain a situation where ZWL200 000 disappeared with no trace from the school accounts. How come she claims to have bought water for use at the school, while there is no water to clean the toilets. That’s not acceptable,” charged another parent who identified herself only as Natasha.

Speaking to Zim Morning Post, chairperson of the School Development Committee, Jonathan Chandaengerwa, said the headmistress was acting corruptly.

“The parents had suggested that there be two separate accounts, one for tuition fees and the other for levy,” said the SDC chairperson.

According to the chairperson, Chandaengerwa, the levy account was supposed to be managed by the SDC.

Despite that, Mandeya reportedly sat on the papers that would have allowed an SDC representative to be signatory to the school’s levy account.

He also said the headmistress would abuse her position by authorising irregular payments not approved by the SDC, with most of the payments inflated.

“Whenever the SDC disapproved the purchasing of something, Mandeya would go behind us and process the purchases. We think that’s how she would inflate the prices,” Chandaengerwa added.

The SDC chairperson added that school vehicles were no longer functional although parents were paying enough to ensure that vehicles were serviced.

“Schools have just opened, but the boarding side is already serving rice with cabbage and royco, yet we just paid the fees,” charged another parent.

Teachers and ancillary staff at Highlands Junior also accused Mandeya of running the school single-handedly,accounting for the school’s deteriorating standards.

Another general hand at the installation alleged the headmistress was not professional as she would often make them fetch water from a swimming pool within the premises to clean the toilets, yet parents were buying water for use by the installation.

“We clean toilets with water we are fetching from the pool yet she lies to parents that she is buying water,” said another school employee who declined to disclose his name in fear of victimisation.

“We are surprised that a lot of money is said to have disappeared, yet we are only paid ZEL300.”

Speaking to Zim Morning Post, the Provincial Education Director, one CC Katerere, said he was not aware of the complaints by parents at the school.

“I am not aware of that demonstration, and I have not been informed. Either way, I am just an employee just like any other teacher. I, therefore, cannot comment on issues involving my colleagues,” Katerera said. Zim Morning Post

Arthur Mutambara|I have seen press reports about this years’ Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examination results all over the place. I want to congratulate all the students, schools and teachers who excelled. Makorokoto makuru (Congratulations)!

However, on the ZIMSEC Advanced Level Examination results, there is a slight problem of grade inflation – a pernicious and ruinous national cancer. How do you get one school getting 79 students with 15 points (or more) out of 140 students? This is 56% of the students getting the same top examination outcome. This is shameless grade inflation. Throughout the country, some schools have such results as 37, 25 or such large numbers of 15-pointers each. While these achievements must be celebrated and the students applauded, there is a problem.

How do you differentiate these multitudes of 15-pointer kids? The very top students (the superstars) are now hidden and buried in the 79, 37 and 25, for example. You cannot tell who they are. How do you get them scholarships or secure places for them into top universities such as Oxford, Harvard or Cambridge, when there are a 1000 students with 15 points from Zimbabwe. It is meaningless. You probably have to give them another examination to distinguish and differentiate them.

The 2019 ZIMSEC Advanced Level Examination results do not follow a standard normal distribution curve. How do you get 56% of the students from one school get the same top examination outcome? These results are a disservice to the best and brightest students. In fact, they are a disservice to all the students.

Grade inflation is not a good idea. I have received a lot of requests from these students with fifteen or more from this year’s results, asking for opportunities at top universities across the world. While I congratulate the high achievers and I am excited for them, It is very tough to sell their outstanding results to great institutions outside Zimbabwe, because of the obvious and disgraceful grade inflation. Do you approach Oxford or Harvard with 1000 such 15-pointers from Zimbabwe? It is a joke.

Why do we say this? When you present 1000 students with 15 points from one country (obtained in one sitting) to a university like Oxford or Harvard, it is meaningless because the 1000 students are not differentiated. You cannot tell who is in the top 10 or 20 among the 1000 outstanding students. You put the top university in an invidious situation. They cannot admit them, and yet some of the 1000 students would definitely qualify to study in these top and globally competitive programmes. However, you do not know who they are. You might have to give the 1000 students another examination to rank them. This is the challenge that is presented by grade inflation.

ZIMSEC must sort out this mess.

For sure, getting 35 points or 25 points is an indicator of differentiation. However, the standard Advanced Level Examination is three subjects. So, attaining 15 points from 3 subjects (3As) becomes the ultimate and uniform measure of the highest excellence. Yes, you can say the 35- pointer has differentiated himself or herself. Agreed. However, taking more than three subjects is not the standard format of the Advanced Level Examination. Very few students do that. And when they do not take more than three subjects, that act/choice must not count against them in terms of excellence.

Now, how about the 1000 with three As (who only took three subjects) each? Are they all equal? How do top universities choose the best among these 1000 students? How do you differentiate these 1000? Surely some of them are superstars who qualify to enter Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard or Stanford. But we cannot tell who they are from the 1000. This is the challenge presented by grade inflation that I am flagging.

Globally grade inflation is a well-known concept. There have been cases in African countries (e.g. Nigeria), the United States, and Europe. In the High School sector, the UK has been effectively grappling with it by having several private examination boards that compete, thus shaming and minimising the occurrence of this scourge.

In analysing the ZIMSEC outcomes, it is clear that certainly, our children are not getting too smart. That is not the issue. The problems are the standard of the examination, the marking systems and grading thereafter. It is a ZIMSEC problem. Those who took Cambridge Advanced Level Examination in 2019 do not have this grade inflation problem.

Our challenge is that we have one national (incompetently state-run) examination body. We need to rethink, reimagine and re-invent ZIMSEC. They must understand the meaning and impact of grade inflation. In the UK, as already indicated, there have several privately run examination bodies that compete and thus mitigate and manage the occurrence of grade inflation.

By the way, once they are admitted into top global universities, students from our great country, generally distinguish themselves. With the tremendous and world-renowned Zimbabwean work ethic and drive, they usually take care of business. Sometimes, getting into these top schools is now the problem, and not performance once admitted. I sit on the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee. Getting the Scholarship does NOT guarantee you a place at Oxford University. There is a separate application process into Oxford.

About five years ago, one of our two Rhodes Scholarship choices: A First Class Degree in Computer Science from UZ could not get a place at Oxford University! They asked the selected Rhodes Scholar to spent a year at the lower-ranked Brookes University (next door to Oxford) for a year, and prove himself first, then apply again to the University of Oxford.

Of course, the young man was shuttered and humiliated. But he braved it, spent the year at Brookes, and eventually gained entrance into Oxford. He is now a proud Oxonian. But can you imagine the ordeal and psychological trauma that the young man, had to go through? Was it necessary?

Now, do you know why the University of Oxford did this to our Rhodes Scholar? Because UZ gave a PhD to Grace Mugabe after three months, Oxford basically discounted the young man’s First Class to a Third!

These are the things we do to undermine our superstar students! We ought to stop.

We must protect the brand, opportunities and possibilities for all our students (the country’s future human capital), starting from Primary School, through High School right up to Tertiary Education. Sorting out the mess at ZIMSEC – the disgraceful and shameful grade inflation – is a national imperative.

Prices of goods and services in Zimbabwe are set to go up in the coming weeks as the economy continues to rot according to experts, the Daily News reports. The situation has been exacerbated by the plummeting of the ZWL against the USD this week.

This was echoed by business leaders and experts who spoke to the publication and said:

This is going to push price hikes, as that is what inflation is all about. The government should deal with the black market activity and also ensure that all imports are paid for at the interbank rate to stabilise the situation – Economist John Robertson

We are facing exchange rate-induced inflation. It will not take us much more time to be in a situation similar to 2008. As a result, the economy is, unsurprisingly, re-dollarising on its own … and the market will continue to reject the Zimbabwe dollar as a medium of exchange – Economist Gift Mugano

The loss of value is going to continue until we reach the 2008 hyper-inflation madness, unless something happens. Nothing other than re-dollarisation or the adoption of the South African rand is going to result in currency stabilisation, as a currency is all about confidence and trust. – Peter Mutasa ZCTU

The Zimbabwe Dollar was introduced on 24 June 2019 trading at 6.5 against the USD but closed the year trading at 16.5 against the USD.

Own Correspondent|Gokwe Town Secretary, Melania Mandeya (49) has been arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office involving a slew of allegations among them, flouting tender procedures, inflating costs on payment for external services and nepotism.

Mandeya is currently in police custody.

Acting police spokesperson for Midlands, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said she was yet to get details of the arrest.

Gokwe town Chairman, Mr Never Gwanzura however confirmed the arrested.

He said police had picked up Mandeya in her office this morning.

“I can confirm that our Town Secretary has been picked by police and is currently assisting them with investigations over allegations of abuse of office,” he said.

More details to follow

Correspondent|A 46-YEAR-OLD Ministry of youth human resources manager was sentenced to 20 days imprisonment by Bindura provincial magistrate Tinashe Ndokera yesterday for illegally transporting gold ore in Bindura.

Godfrey Mashoko (46) of house number 5076 Glenorah B, Harare pleaded guilty to the charge and was lucky to escape jail after the magistrate suspended the jail term on condition he pays $600 fine.

Prosecutor Tariro Janhi told the court that on Monday Mashoko proceeded to Kitsiyatota mining area in Bindura and carried 80 kilograms of gold ore in his Toyota Regis registration number ACY-2867 without authority.

He was intercepted by the police who were on patrol and he failed to produce a licence leading to his arrest.

Mustafa Billiat was nearly detained yesterday for failing to pay monthly upkeep of his six-year old child.

The 56-year-old father to Warriors sensation, Khama, appeared before Harare Civil Court magistrate Nyasha Marufu seeking downward variation of $500 maintenance.

Billiat’s application hit a brick wall for he absconded court on the day his estranged wife, Cynthia Jordan successfully applied for an upward variation from $160 per month to $500.

Billiat has been defaulting, leaving him in arrears of $770. “Court will not take your application into consideration since you have not been paying the amount agreed, leaving you in arrears.

“…Look after your child and pay all what is due or face arrest,” said Magistrate Marufu.  

Billiat left the court in the hands of police and he had to plead with them to be set free and settle the arrears through an electronic transfer. He was given the chance to settle the ‘debt’ and was released.

The elder Billiat’s issues comes just a week after his son a Kaizer Chiefs star and Zimbabwean footballer Khama dragged to a South African police station by a baby mama for failure to pay maintenance for his 9-month-old child.

The maintenance drama started when his baby mama demanded he pays for his child, something he used to do but suddenly stopped after demanding DNA tests to prove the child was his.

The situation became tense as the 23-year-old baby mama got incensed and stabbed Khama Billiat on his hand, causing minor tissue damage.

• Source: H Metro plus own additional reporting.
  

Correspondent|HIGH Court judge, Pisirai Kwenda has blasted Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his lawyer for lying to the court on the whereabouts of Marry Chiwenga’s diplomatic passport.

The judge expressed his disappointment on Vice Chiwenga’s lawyer, Wilson Manase, for “misleading” his client after it emerged in court on Thursday that the VP was in possession of his wife’s diplomatic passport.

Manase and Chiwenga, had over the past two weeks, denied that the VP was in possession of a passport that Marry Mubaiwa had to surrender to the Clerk of Court.

However, it emerged in court today that the passport was in possession of Chiwenga, drawing the ire of Kwenda who accused Manase of improperly advising and exposing the Vice President.

Prosecutor Sharon Fero also admitted Chiwenga was in possession of his wife’s passport.

Chiwenga wanted Marry’s bail conditions revoked so she could be sent back to remand prison as she was in possession of a passport.

In court Thursday, Marry produced pictorial evidence showing a foiled attempt by Chiwenga’s driver trying to drop the passport with Marry at her offices.

After the foiled attempt, Marry’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, wrote to Manase registering her displeasure, but an angry Manase accused Mtetwa of trying to soil Chiwenga’s image.

Mtetwa produced a letter dated January 28 2020 in which Manase denied that Chiwenga was in charge of the passport.

“We refer to your letter of January 28 2020. Please be advised that our client is not a party to the pleadings before the bail court and any attempts to draw us into a mud fight are taken with great exception,” Manase said.

“With respect this attempt to self-create a set of facts to justify your intended course of action is futile in the circumstances. Surely, your client is the custodian of all her passport. The same way she surrendered one of the passports is the same way she must surrender the remaining passports. She has always been in the custody of her documents.

“In an effort to prevent any further mudsliding, side shows and drama which clearly you and your client have been enjoying our client shall not be engaging in any further correspondence of this nature,” he said.

In a supplementary affidavit, Marry said on January 28 2020 she received a phone call from mobile number 0773 159 917, a mobile phone from the Office of the President and Cabinet in Chiwenga’s office. The caller was Chiwenga’s driver called Jenya.

Marry said Jenya told her that he was in possession of a parcel that he wanted to deliver at her office but could not disclose what it was. She then requested that they meet at a public space not in her office.

They agreed to meet at Marry’s offices in Harare’s upmarket Chisipite suburb.

Jenya arrived driving a Range Rover registration number AFE 5378, which is one of the vehicles used by VP Chiwenga.

Mubaiwa said Jenya then gave her employees three passports, one in her name, two belonging to her elder children.

She said her employees called telling her they had been given some passports after which she declined to accept them.

She then called her lawyers and told them of the incident before they wrote to Manase.

When the case was heard Thursday, Prosecutor Fero said: “The complainant’s legal practitioners (Manase and Manase) have confirmed that passport AD 005759 is at the complainant’s office. We requested for it to be brought forward and the lawyers said it will be delivered today before 12 midday.”

In response, Justice Kwenda said he was frustrated over how Manase was handling the matter.

“I want to place on record my frustration in the manner the complainant’s legal practitioners have handled this matter. They persisted with the denial that the complainant was in possession of the accused’s passport in very strong words yet they now admit,” said Kwenda.

“Clearly this conduct is discouraging for court officer of his calibre. A client always needs correct advice. I have no problem with the complainant but my complaint will be against his lawyer who is failing to handle this case properly,” the judge said.

Chiwenga wants Mubaiwa to surrender all her passports with the Clerk of Court as part of her bail conditions.

Initially, she surrendered one passport before Chiwenga raised concern that she might abscond since she is in possession of two more passports.

The Vice President also wants his wife to be barred from returning to their matrimonial home arguing she will likely interfere with him, a key witness in her attempted murder case.

The case was postponed to next Tuesday for ruling.
 

Zimdancehall artiste Enzo Ishall has been trending ever since he decided to leave Chillspot and join Teemak Promotions.

The switch attracted Prophet Passion Java’s interest as he was the man bankrolling the Kanjiva hit maker, paying his rentals over and above buying him a car. Java reacted by posting funny skits on social media throwing cheap jibes at Teemak, who never reacted. But underneath the humour was a heart scorned and feeling betrayed by Enzo.

However, the question needing answers has been, who is this new guy who has made Enzo ditch Mangoma Depot; ditch Levels, Ribe naFantan?
H-Metro spoke to the 23-year-old Teemak – real name Tawona Chipunza – and his reply to the question was he is not new at all.

“People think I’m a guy with money and I just showed up from nowhere to sign Enzo, that’s not true. I’m not new to the music industry, I have been doing events for the past seven years – since I was 16. I did events with Winky D, Killer T, Stunner, Jah Signal, Trevor Dongo and Enzo Ishall himself. All of these events were done in Cyprus and I was the financier of the events.

Sometimes I wouldn’t be there but I was behind everything using one of my guys who is based in Cyprus named Stylez, my business partner.

He is the one people knew because I wanted to be behind the scenes but it was me doing all these events,” said the young Millionaire who only wears white.
He said his relationship with Enzo in particular goes way back.

“I’m the first person to take Enzo out of the country. His first international Visa on his passport is because of me.

I’m the one that took him to Cyprus in January 2019 and that’s when we decided we will work together but before anything was official, I had to be away and other people came in and whatever happened happened. I tried to push for it but it didn’t happen.

“When I came back this time for my other businesses, fortunately he was available enough and we came to this conclusion,” he said.-H-Metro

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) we reject an agreement reached by the Apex Council to accept a salary increment offered by Government, while alleged negotiations for a better package continue as a said compromise for “the sake of civil servants who are in a desperate situation”.

We believe Apex council has sold out on the workers it purport to represent. As ARTUZ we are demanding a salary in US$ indexed to the interbank rate.

Our salaries should be in tandem with the changing economic environment. What has been agreed is a far cry from our demands.

Our members, mostly based in rural areas are heavily incapacitated go to work. We have received unfortunate reports of harassment of our incapacitated members that are failing to report for duty, this is unwelcome, and we are taking legal measures to stop that insanity. The government must stop victimizing incapacitated teachers.

As ARTUZ we are resolute that our members deserve better salaries that are commensurate with their labour. We will not go back on our demand for a US$ indexed salary to the interbank rate.

Cecilia Alexander of Apex Council said there had been progress in their negotiations as the Government had agreed to backdate the salaries to January 1 as opposed to effecting the increase from February 1. This is not what we want.

To save our country from the current economic malaise, we urge the government to urgently restore the purchasing power parity of civil servants to stimulate productivity.

The genocide in the education sector was brought by the underpayment of teachers.

Destroying our education staggers the developmental plans of our nation. It is imperative that we urgently reverse the erosion of our education system.

Farai Dziva|Calvary Prayer Group, led by Prophet Isaac Makomichi, has launched an intercession programme for Zimbabwe in the wake of the deepening economic crisis.

The programme also seeks to eradicate corruption through rigorous prayers.

Makomichi, who is also the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust, has pointed out that the current socio-economic quagmire requires God’s intervention through intercession.

“Calvary Prayer Group comprises Makomichi and several apostles and prophets.I am working closely with Apstole Tapiwa Tongodzai and more than 30 prophets,”said Makomichi.

“People are flocking to the group because of the work that the prayer group is doing,” said one believer.

” Calvary Prayer Group has lined up several programmes meant to seek God’s intervention in the country’s problems.

Let it be known that God can perform great miracles.We were given the authority to declare prosperity in businesses.

Those who lost their lovers are also experiencing great miracles,” said a member of the group in an interview with ZimEye.com.

Farai Dziva|Former MDC T deputy president has urged MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to join POLAD as it is the right platform for dialogue.

Gutu claimed that by joining POLAD Chamisa would speak from a well informed point of view .

“I think they are missing a huge opportunity to impact purposefully in the governance of this country because if you just lambast and trash POLAD without you understanding what it is about, it does not make sense to me and for any right thinking person.

We are saying POLAD is for those political parties that had a Presidential candidate in the 2018 harmonised elections.

I believe the best thing you have to do is say okay I am not happy with POLAD but I want to join then use that opportunity to say I am not happy with it because of A, B, C, and D. Don’t just throw tantrums, no one will listen to you.

I believe POLAD can be improved upon but conceptually it is a brilliant opportunity for Zimbabwe to come together,” Gutu told a state run daily paper.

"Our crisis must be properly diagnosed….ours is a governance crisis": Chamisa pic.twitter.com/2EfkqNnYek

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 30, 2020

ZAOGA church on celebrating ED: We were just praying for @edmnangagwa because only prayer will change Zimbabwe | EMPTY or LOADED PRAYERS?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 29, 2020