Own Correspondent|Civil Society Organisations from Matabeleland have demanded that President Emmerson Mnangagwa apologises for his role in the Gukurahundi atrocities of the mid eighties.

In a no holds barred meeting held at the State House in Bulawayo on Friday, Civil Society Organisations and organisations falling under the Matabeleland Collective banner took turns to demand that Mnangagwa should be the first to own up to the atrocities before victims of the genocide are invited to speak on the issue.

The activists told Mnangagwa that the Gukurahundi can never be wished away without it being fully attended to with him in the lead.

Over 20 000 people in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands provinces were killed by the Gukurahundi soldiers in an era which former President Robert Mugabe described as a moment of madness.

Watch video downloading below:

Jane Mlambo| Two people are feared dead after another mine collapse at Motsi mine in Kwekwe just after Truckers Inn.

This follows another mining accident which killed two people last week at Global Phoenix mine in Kwekwe after the shaft collapsed while miners were inside, two died, two escaped and another was seriously injured.

More to follow….

NewsDay|The family of the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday challenged President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to swallow their pride and urgently settle their political differences to end the country’s economic meltdown.

In an interview with NewsDay ahead of commemorations to mark the death of the late former Premier two years ago, Tsvangirai’s younger brother, Manase, said his elder brother agreed to enter into a unity government with the later former President Robert Mugabe in 2009 after defeating him in March 2008 to save the nation from sinking into the abyss.

“The people are suffering. The current situation should bring everybody on board,” Manase said.

“It was not the dream of Morgan Tsvangirai to see the people suffering. That is why after defeating Mugabe in March 2018, he accepted to enter into a unity government with him to save people from suffering. He was a selfless leader who put people first in all his decisions.

“I am challenging President Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to put people first and swallow their pride and enter into dialogue.”

Tsvangirai died on February 14, 2018 in South Africa, where he was undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

He was succeeded by Chamisa, who represented the party in a watershed poll in July 2018, but refused to accept defeat to Mnangagwa.

Pressure has been mounting on Mnangagwa and Chamisa to engage in talks that could end the country’s economic challenges characterised by hyperinflation, shortage of goods like fuel mealie-meal, among others, and extortionate prices against sub-economic salaries.

Former South African leader Thabo Mbeki was in the country in December last year to try and cajole the two into dialogue, which is expected to arrest the country’s political and economic downfall.

“The two (Mnangagwa and Chamisa) should swallow their pride and enter into dialogue to stop people’s suffering. This does not even need a foreign envoy. The dialogue should simply be anchored on sincerity. Zimbabweans problems can be resolved internally,” Manase said.

He said Tsvangirai could have outrightly won the 2018 elections against Mnangagwa and urged Zimbabweans to redefine their destiny.

“Zimbabwe is not a private property, it does not belong to Zanu PF, and neither does it belong to MDC. It belongs to everybody. Once we understand that, the bickering will stop. Zimbabwe will be there forever. We had Mugabe, he is gone, so was Tsvangirai, but Zimbabwe is still there. We should think deeply about what we want to leave for our children,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chamisa has said today should be declared Tsvangirai day to commemorate the life of the former Prime Minister.

In an interview yesterday, Chamisa, who was in Bulawayo to meet party structures, said the day could not go unnoticed in the eyes of the MDC.

He said the opposition party had lined up provincial in-house activities to celebrate and commemorate the life of the founding party president.

“Tsvangirai is the founder, an icon of the democratic movement in Zimbabwe and our honour and respect is to do with his accomplishments, his contributions but more importantly the values that he set. February 14 is a day of love,” Chamisa said.

“His love for humanity is what caused him to dedicate his whole adulthood to the struggle. We will celebrate him in style and so we have lined up a number of activities because, for us, February 14 is the Morgan Tsvangirai Day.”

Former Health Minister David Parirenyatwa should explain whether he had the authority to make appointments at Natpharm during his tenure as the minister, the court has said.

Harare regional magistrate Elijah Makomo said Parirenyatwa should also prove to court that he did not show favour when he ordered the appointment of Newman Madzikwa as the pharmaceutical company’s acting managing director when he knew that he was once dismissed from work over misconduct.

Magistrate Makomo said this when making a ruling in Parirenyatwa’s application for discharge at the close of State’s case. Parirenyatwa in his application had argued that the State had failed to produce enough evidence that warranted him to be put to his defence. He is facing criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly ordered NatPharm board chairman George Washaya to terminate Flora Nancy Sifeku’s contract as managing director, saying that he required her services at the ministry’s headquarters in Harare.

The former minister is also alleged to have directed Washaya to appoint Newman Madzikwa as acting managing director of NatPharm with effect from June 1, 2018. Parirenyatwa is expected to be back in court on February 27.

By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe’s top barrister and the MDC Deputy President Tendai Biti received death threats over the now acquitted Zengeza MP Job Sikhala, it has emerged.

This was revealed by Sikhala himself as he narrated his ordeal having been abducted.

Below is Sikhala speaking in Masvingo today:

Excuse me president and all the leadership 1st of all president please allow me to thank the people of Zimbabwe for standing with me from the days this story started Emmerson Mnangagwa wanted to put me into a sack.

I am not even celebrating with all the people who are celebrating my acquittal… I lost my freedom for over a year and I could not travel around the world to represent my clients; they took my passport they charged me over $5000 today when I go to collect it, all that money is now a piece of paper now; once collect that money I am going to distribute it to provinces here, Nikita, Masvingo, and so forth This is money that president Emmerson Mnangagwa withheld so I am going to distribute it to the people; because the people freedom can not be Criminalised.

Some people have said that I was reckless by making these statements but it is Mnangagwa who is reckless who is reckless. He has robbed the people of this country I knew myself as a lawyer that there is nothing wrong in what I have said.

The problem we have in Africa is that we think that a president is untouchable; for a long time in Africa Mobutu Seseko. He was equated to Zaire…

ED is not equal to the government of Zimbabwe or equal to the people of Zimbabwe.

President, when you come to see all these people assembled here, this is a sign of the hope that we must take the bull by its horns.

The time of compromising with dictatorship is over … we all know the day when he conducted the coup on the 15th of November 2017 we know it was illegal; when Robert Mugabe wrote the letter of resignation he was under threat to be killed.

When I was arrested and I was put in Harare Central, I was put in police cells for 3 days. As I was being taken around, there was a team of 7 lawyers assembled.

Someone said there is a spirit of death here, they want to kill this man that is, myself.

Biti and Gonese, these men were told that if they continue following me they will be killed…

I was taken by one person called Daniel Joseph and then I was taken into another car and then blindfolded.

So I said these people are now going to kill me…

WATCH THE FULL SPEECH HERE:

Blantyre — Protesters in Malawi have shut down offices of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in 10 districts in an attempt to force all commissioners to resign.

The move comes 10 days after the Constitutional Court nullified last May’s presidential elections because of “widespread” irregularities and ordered new elections. But commissioners have appealed the ruling and are refusing to step down.

In Blantyre, protesters used steel-iron chains and huge locks to seal the gate of the main entrance to MEC headquarters.

“What we are trying to mean here is that no one should get here as long as they are not resigning. All we need is [for MEC chairperson] Jane Ansah to resign and now we have included all the commissioners of the MEC because they have proven to be incompetent. We need people to have the competence,” said Masauko Thawe, the southern region coordinator for the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), which organized the protests.

The Constitutional Court said the irregularities showed the MEC’s incompetence in handling the presidential elections and ordered new elections in 150 days.

This week, members of parliament questioned the election commissioners at a public hearing to determine if they are capable of running a new poll.

The commissioners, including chairperson Ansah, dismissed accusations of incompetency.

Some said they will resign only if the Supreme Court of Appeal faults them, while others said they will not resign at all.

But HRDC’s Thawe says mechanisms are in place to safeguard the shutdown.

“We are going to monitor each and every day. You come, you check, you will see people here monitoring. And we are not stopping here.  It’s a continuous demonstration until we see these commissioners including the CEO [Chief Elections Officer] resign,” Thawe said.

Mustapha Hussein, who teaches political science at the Chancellor College of the University of Malawi, told VOA shutting down the MEC offices is ill-timed.

“Because the case of MEC is in the courts and we heard about the judgment which shows that there are solutions being put forward to what is happening. So, in that sense I would say that the act of shutting down the offices might be going too far and might not auger well with the laws of Malawi,” he said.

Hussein also said the shutdown would affect MEC preparations for the new elections expected to be held in June.

Ansah told parliament Wednesday that the electoral commission is currently working on the budget for the new elections.

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“When people are brave and they stand up to it, guns will not work, the sound of the gun will not be heard.”

Nelson Chamisa, 14th February 2020.

Below is a side transcript of MDC leader Nelson Chamisa at Masvingo on Friday. Chamisa spoke at length saying his party is demanding a people’s government not one created by a constitutional court.

He also said he refuses to be forced into action by people with agendas. He said, “Some people I hear them saying Nelson Chamisa you must lead from the front, but this is the struggle; I have come a long way … but when we do our thing we will not be forced to do things.”

FULL TEXT: When people are brave and they stand up to it guns will not work the sound of the gun will not be heard.

You don’t debate about solidarity; we must go together, fight together, we weep together and we enjoy together. So now Mai Sikhala we want to thank you. Some of you do not know that for the struggle to move there are heroes, thank you very much. I thank you all, these are the people who when there are problems they are there. I saw them where the police were.

Excuse me our Secretary-General and all the leadership assembled here, the chair of the women and the youth.

I was once a youth and I used to refuse to be used. I would sing Hatidi zvekupihwa order nemasaskamu!

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I think you the whole standing committee…

We said this is not Valentine’s Day it is Morgan Tsvangirai Day.

The second thing we are gathered here; we are gathered here because one of our heroes had been arrested… another one will be appearing in court on the 28th of February. When you arrest one of us you have arrested all of us.

So we have come here for this party is now large. There is no party which is greater, larger than this one the whole of the African continent. It is a fact that the MDC has 28 out of 30 mayors in the whole of Zimbabwe. It is a fact that this party was voted in by more than 2.6 million people.

Some people I hear them saying Nelson Chamisa you must lead from the front, but this is the struggle; I have come a long way … but when we do our thing we will not be forced to do things.

I said for people to do what they should do they do it according to the right timing.

When I came here I found the police waiting and some of my people told me president if your go through this way you will be teargassed so I passed through the middle of them.

We will not allow police to be used for wrong things, a police officer has a badge of honour. That is why you see the police, their badge it says for the law, for the people, and for the country, so the police must not be used to assault us. Our people after throwing targas at me they don’t have a bag of tea, after throwing teargas at me they don’t even have an underwear to wear. After throwing targas at me, their shoe is still opened wide.

Mr Sikhala I saw your zvidobi. They are zvidobis of the struggle. Aaah Maiguru, are these the dobis you are getting at home? LAUGHTER.

The first thing is love the second thing is hope the third thing is sacrifice. This is the life of Morgan Tsvangirai.

Everywhere I go people are saying Nelson Chamisa Morgan Tsvangirai left you directions to the way.

I will not be misled.

Mnangagwa does not have a clue. Chiwenga has no clue.

Today as we speak what Morgan tsvangirai talk about hope he said no matter how difficult life becomes you remain holding onto hope you will get there. We will get there we will get there when we get there.

Tsvangirai represented sacrifuce. He used to eat bans and cream soda. He was a basic man. That is what I said no matter how broke we are we must never compromise the struggle.

Our only gift to the people is to lead them and deliver the struggle. Real love is to represent the people and to do what they want.

Yes, we will correct the problems of Masvingo party leadership. We want to ensure we get 26 out of 26 not what we saw in Mwenezi(sic). Can ZANU win over here?

Tsvangirai was a man of love and unity he told me to unite with Biti and Welshman. The vision has got nothing to do with too many people a vision is with one person. So to all those who follow when I say jump you must jump when I say run you must run. That is why you see soldiers are told to march left right left right.

We said that this year we have 5 critical zones:

Number 1 – the fight we have is that there must be a people’s government not this one of the constitutional court not this one of Emmerson Mnangagwa.

When people are brave and they stand up to it guns will not work the sound of the gun will not be heard.

Mnangagwa tells people that they must eat potatoes and vegetables while he himself is feasting on meat while he is on a private jet.

Number 2 – We are fighting for a people’s budget not the kind of life that we are seeing when people cannot afford basics we want our dignity returned to the people.

Number 3 – We want to address the problem of corruption. We are missing $3bln. Who is responsible Mr Biti?

Biti replies: it is Mnangagwa!

I said those people I will tell you myself. They know what we are doing.

The 4th thing – is the one that we have come here such as this one of Sikhala. We are struggling with this issue of Mashurugwi. We must not call them that. They are Mnangagwa’# people.

Number 5 – is the issue of the constitution Emmerson Mnangagwa is messing with the constitution; he is now possessed with the demons of Ian Smith and Robert Mugabe. Mugabe changed this 19 times, Mnangagwa wants to change it 27 times in one year.

So what is the way forward the way forward is for you and me where you are, looking at me, let us fix our country there is no one else with powers more than you as an individual, everyone let us fix the country we don’t want to get to May, June while we are in this problem, we can fix it. Until when will we drink from boreholes? While we use generators?

What kind of a country is that in which: school fees rtgs; a whole government forming a committee of roller meal! A whole government setting up a committee for mealie meal.

If you give us this thing we will not take a day before you start enjoying the country and getting suffocated with goodness.

I told Emmerson Mnangagwa why don’t we use the United States dollars while we fix the country? give the soldiers the US dollar give the police officers the US dollars so that people can survive, why do you want the people to live on rtgs dollars?

Let us not insult others. MDC let us be full of love.

My last words that I leave you the people of this province that one has been on this issue of dialogue. I told him I am ready to talk, I had been sent by our council. We want to give peace a chance and so I told Emmerson Mnangagwa let us agree, you stole the elections we are not going to go ahead to 2023 before we are clear that you stole the elections.

There will be no elections in this country until we resolve this issue. The elections must be respected. This year we have a right to fix the country all of us all of us all of us all of us all of us all of us.

Emerson Mnangagwa will not be able to run this country he is refusing dialogue. And now he is busy saying Nelson Chamisa is the problem. I am advising him that this country is burning. I am saying to him hear me so that we can fix this country before it is too late.

Following the announcement by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube that government was introducing the coupon system for roller meal, ZimEye ran a poll to establish whether the move was a good or bad move.

Below is the outcome of the poll where 83 percent of the respondents said it was a bad move while only 17 percent believe that the move was good.

Government introduces roller meal coupon system to help vulnerable families access the commodity at subsidised prices. Is this a GOOD or BAD move?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 13, 2020

The MDC is vindicated by the upholding of The Exception filed by Lead Counsel Beatrice Mtetwa to the scandalous charge of Subverting a Constitutional Government preferred against Honourable Job Sikhala by the illegitimate government of Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The consequences of the Ruling are that since Honourable Sikhala had pleaded not guilty to the charge he was entitled to a verdict and accordingly The Court so found

Put simply this was a charge that never was and in legal parlance you cannot find something from nothing and the words that formed the basis of the charge do not constitute an offence, notwithstanding whether they are admitted or not .

The persecution of Honourable Sikhala has thankfully come to an end but we lament the fact that countless citizens of Zimbabwe are facing baseless allegations in spite of the pretence that we are in a new dispensation.

The deception must be exposed for what it is and it is regrettable that the Prosecutor General s Office made a spirited attempt to defend the indefensible.

As the MDC, we now call upon the illegitimate regime to withdraw the numerous allegations of treason and Subverting a Constitutional Government which have been preferred against our leaders such as Secretary General Honourable Charlton Hwende and trade unionists Peter Mutasa and Obert Masaraure as well as numerous civil society and political leaders.

Unfortunately the regime has no shame and they will continue flogging a dead horse in the miraculous hope that it will be somehow resucitated.

The bottom line is that the persecution of the people and suppression of their rights must come to an end. The reason why the people will continue to protest is that their suffering is now unbearable and they can hardly make ends meet.

As The MDC we are very clear that the resolution of the crisis lies in engagement and genuine dialogue to return the country to legitimacy. Until the illegitimate regime wakes up to smell the coffee and comes to its senses, the country will remain in a mess.

Change is coming and no amount of repression and brutalization will deter us from leading the people to Canaan under the able leadership of the people s choice, Pastor Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

Innocent Gonese
MDC Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs

State Media|MINISTER of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando was yesterday found in contempt of the High Court and sentenced to 90 days in prison.

Minister Chitando, according to the court, did not comply with two court orders issued in a mining claims dispute pitting RioZim Limited and North Rand Private Limited.

However, High Court judge, Justice David Mangota gave the minister seven days to comply, failure of which he will serve the jail term.

The court ordered the minister to ensure transfer of ownership of some mining claims from North Rand into the name of RioZim, but he did not comply.

Justice Mangota’s order reads:

“The first respondent (Minister Chitando) is found in contempt of the orders that were granted by this honourable court on the 6th of June, 2018 and the 10th of October, 2018 under HC4957/18 respectively.

“The first respondent be and is hereby committed to the Harare Remand Prison for a period of three months.

“The warrant of committal is, however, suspended seven days on condition that the first respondent shall faithfully and dutifully comply with the orders given in this court in Case Number HC4957/18 granted on the 6th of June and HC8198/18 granted on the 10th day of October 2019”

Harare lawyer Mr Liberty Ndangana and Advocate Thabani Mpofu represented RioZim.

The court slapped the minister with an order for costs on a higher scale.

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SIKHALA SAYS: THIS YEAR WILL NOT END BEFORE MNANGAGWA HAS RESIGNED @MuzvareBetty @MakomboreroH @nelsonchamisa @DrNkuSibanda pic.twitter.com/BP4Cctb21G

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 14, 2020

https://youtu.be/USi3zhzwa5U

By A Correspondent- Addressing party stalwarts at Mucheke stadium in Masvingo at an event to remember the late party’s founding father Morgan Richard Tsvangirai who died on 14 February 2018, a ZINASU representative said it was justified for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to leave power as he had failed.

He said:

“We are here as students in solidarity with the values held by the late Morgan Tsvangirai. We are here because we believe in access to education, access to good health and buying bread at a cost of a dollar for two. This is why we are saying Mnangagwa must go.”

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

By A Correspondent- In a drama-filled incident a man assaulted his father-in-law at a funeral wake that was punctuated by pushing, shoving and hurling of insults.

Bulawayo’s Matshobane suburb residents were treated to a three-hour “movie” on Saturday over the burial of a woman who died in the neighbouring country — South Africa.

Salia Amidu (51)’s father Hanock Nkatha said a violent Geoffrey Amidu caused chaos after he barred his in-laws from viewing his wife’s body and the in-laws abandoned the funeral wake. 

He said up to today he was not sure if it was his daughter who was in the coffin and whether her body parts were intact or not, assuming she was the one.  He said a seething Amidu left the funeral wake at his home in a huff and stormed his in-laws’ home in the same suburb. 

He said his son-in-law hurled insults at everyone much to the shock and disappointment of mourners who had gathered to comfort them.

“We were really embarrassed as a family. I have been of poor health so I requested that my son-in-law should bring my daughter’s body to my house so that I pay my last respects. For some reason, the simple request turned things nasty. 

“At an alarming speed, he skidded to a stop in his car outside the gate and barged into my bedroom. He peppered me with insults and said I was a poor and ungrateful man. He said I should remember that he took care of me when I was sick in South Africa,” said the heart-broken elderly man.

The frail-looking Nkatha said when the argument got to a head his son-in-law poked him with a finger on the head.

“He tapped me on the forehead with his forefinger and bragged that he did us (family) a favour by bringing his wife’s body to Zimbabwe for burial so that I could attend the funeral. A relative swiftly intervened and pushed him away. Even then he continued to spew unspeakable obscenities,” said the dejected Nkatha.

Nkatha said his son-in-law changed his mind and decided to bring his daughter’s coffin to his home. 

“He came for the second time in a cortège but refused to open the casket. When the family members moved out of the house to receive the casket —  my son-in-law appeared to have second thoughts. With a squeal of tyres, he sped off movie-style and the other cars that he came with, including the one with the coffin followed suit, leaving the mourners shell-shocked,” said Nkatha.

A relative who spoke on condition of anonymity said Nkatha’s family then rushed to Kingdom Blue Funeral Parlour to block the burial.

“Kingdom Blue manager tried to engage them but they refused declaring that they wanted to bury our daughter on the particular day. What shocked us was why they were rushing the process when the storage was for free at the parlour,” said the relative.

She added: “We are not sure whether the body that was in the coffin was of our daughter. Assuming it was the one we are not even sure whether her body parts were still intact.”

He said they then rushed to report the matter to the police.

“Police came and tried  to talk  to them so that we understand each other but they stood their  ground insisting that they  were going ahead to bury her  because they wanted to return to South Africa. They left us at the parlour and went ahead and buried her,” said the relative.

B-Metro caught up with Amidu but he was reluctant to talk.

“Salia was my wife. I paid the bride price and I believe you know what that means. All being said and done I did what I wanted! I did not cause a scene but they are the ones who are a problem. Please I do not want this matter to be published in a newspaper,” he said.

Senator for Bulawayo Metropolitan province Hellen Mpofu said: “I had to call the police who stopped the pushing and shoving that was taking place. After that sanity prevailed although their son-in-law was a problem. I would like to urge residents to live in harmony,” she said. 

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Mufakose woman who was reported missing by her family after she left for work has returned home after 4 days with no recollection of events which took place from when she was presumed missing.  

Thandiwe Chipamhadze, 32 who is a mother of 3 is reported to have turned up at her sister’s home in Kuwadzana 3 at around 3AM.

Her sister, Emelia confirmed her return to local media:

“She was cold and crying. She spoke very little. She said all she remembered was catching a lift on Saturday, and then the people who gave her a lift refused to let her disembark after taking her phone.

“The next thing she remembers was finding herself on Bulawayo road in Kuwadzana Extension. That’s when she walked to my house.”

The police have launched a formal investigation into Chipamhadze’s  mysterious disappearance and interviewed her before she was referred to the hospital.

Said her sister:

“We went to hospital and they conducted some tests. She has also been seeing a counsellor but she’s just broken. She won’t stop crying.”

Thandiwe who works in Chisipite as a hairdresser left her home in Mufakose on Saturday to commute to work.

She resides with her husband and their three children.

Her last known communication was a text to her niece at around 7AM.

In the text she told her niece that she was having transport difficulties and was worried she would be late for work.

However Thandiwe never made it to work on that day.

Emelia, who also works at the same hair salon presumed her missing and made desperate appeals on social media to help in finding her sister.

“We are just glad to have her back in one piece. The rest we will figure out as we go and help her regain her confidence,” said Emelia

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By A Correspondent- Harare City Council has barred doctors in private practice from handling any suspected cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Harare city health director Dr Prosper Chonzi told the state media that all suspected cases of the virus will be handled by public health institutions.

He said:

Private practitioners should not deal with infected patients at their surgeries. They should refer them to public institutions and we isolate them to protect the public.

We are training them and sensitizing them about this condition because they are the ones who are mandated to deal with infectious conditions.

Zimbabwe has started the training of local medical professionals in dealing with COVID-19 cases.

Reports indicate that 96 representatives from all over the country are at Wilkins Infectious Hospital undergoing training.

The Health Ministry announced recently that a total of 1 741 people are on surveillance for coronavirus after having entered the country from countries with confirmed cases of the viru

-statemedia

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

• USD to ZWL$: 17.7095
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.8433

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com 28.00
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com 27.50
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 27.40
• USD to BOND: zimrates.com 21.80

More: marketwatch.co.zw

https://youtu.be/upPZfIi4-wA

Below is the Herald story published following the acquittal of MDC deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala.

The state owned paper accused MDC supporters of throwing teargas inside the court room.

…..

The Herald reports comes despite LIVE footage which shows peaceful civilians being teargassed near the court building.

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FULL TEXT:

Movement for Democratic Change Alliance vice national chairperson Job Sikhala has been acquitted of subversion charges by Masvingo High Court Judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze today.

Meanwhile, proceedings at the Masvingo High Court where MDC Alliance’s trial for subversion is taking place today temporarily stopped this morning after tear smoke filtered into the courtroom.

Justice Mawadze, lawyers,journalists and other people in the courtroom had to leave the court room as tear smoke wafted into the packed room. The tear smoke is believed to have been thrown by MDC Alliance thugs who had massed outside the court room chanting party slogans while Justice Mawadze was delivering his ruling on the application to exception by Sikhala.

Areas around the High Court precincts were in complete lock down as police and belligent MDC Alliance supporters were involved in a cat and mouse game.

https://youtu.be/upPZfIi4-wA

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Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC legislator Job Sikhala has been cleared of his treason charges after Masvingo High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze upheld the application for exception of charges.

More to follow…

Freedom for Job. Masvingo High Court Judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze rules that Zengeza West MP Hon. Job Sikhala represented by @ZLHRLawyers is not guilty and acquitted of charges of plotting to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa. pic.twitter.com/MJj0P9a9up

— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) February 14, 2020

By A Correspondent- Guruve villagers were left shell-shocked on Tuesday when a self proclaimed prophet Kennie Mazviyo drowned holding a clay pot while trying to perform church rituals.

The 28 year old prophet had taken his two clients Shephard Kamujariwa (48) and Tariro Mazviyo (43) to the river for ritual purposes.

Upon entering the river while holding a clay pot covered with a white cloth he drowned and Kamujariwa tried to rescue him but failed.

A witness Jasper Zhemu told a local publication on the scene of the incident that the prophet was used to perform his rituals in this river but somehow on the fateful day he drowned.

“We were all shocked to hear that madzibaba drowned because we knew him as a regular visitor of this river, that is where he took his clients all the time so the whole village is shocked,” Zhemu said.

The body of the deceased was retrieved Thursday afternoon by police sub-aqua unit.

By A Correspondent- Socialite and businessman Genius Kadungure, who is in custody, has filed a bail appeal with the High Court after Acting Chief Magistrate Mr Munamato Mutevedzi denied him bail last week.

High Court judge Justice Webster Chinamora subsequently ordered Kadungure to pay an additional US$58 000.

Through his attorneys, Venturas and Samukange Legal Practitioners, Kadungure argued that Mr Mutevedzi erred in concluding that he committed an offence whilst on bail and that he was not a suitable candidate for bail.

The lawyers argued that this was despite the absence of a criminal record, and his incarceration negated the presumption of innocence applying to all pending charges. 

The court failed to note that the same matter had been resolved at the High Court recently, they argued.

“The court a quo erred and misdirected itself in failing to give due regard to the fact that the charge against the appellant (Kadungure) pertained to an issue already determined by the High Court and that there was no prejudice to the fiscus with duty having been reassessed and paid, thus rendering the offence to lose its sting and a prosecution mala fide,” said Kadungure’s lawyers.

They argued that Kadungure was not a flight risk since he had handed himself over to the police. 

“The State case is weak if regard is to the fact that appellant had since complied with the High Court order from which the present matter emanates,” they said.

The case is yet to be heard.

By A Correspondent- The United States embassy in Harare will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2020, in observance of Presidents’ Day.

The embassy posted a short message on its Twitter handle that reads:

The Embassy is closed on Monday, February 17, 2020, in observance of President’s Day.

The Presidents’ Day is a public holiday in most states in the United States of America. The day commemorates past presidents of the USA.

The holiday first started in 1885 to mark the February 22 birthday of George Washington, the first president.

The holiday is on the third Monday of February each year, but records show that Washington was born on February 22.

Another eminent US President, Abraham Lincoln, was also born in mid-February.

More: USEmbassy

https://twitter.com/BitiTendai/status/1228247429847363585?s=19

By A Correspondent- Morgan Richard Tsvangirai died on 14 February 2018 at a private South African hospital where he was receiving treatment for colon cancer. MDC President Nelson Chamisa said the day is very significant for the party.

The MDC has lined up several provincial activities to commemorate the death of its founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai this Friday.

“We will celebrate him in style. We have lined up a number of activities to celebrate his (Tsvangirai) life. His love for humanity is what caused him to dedicate his whole adulthood to the struggle,” Chamisa told journalists in Bulawayo this week.

He said his predecessor sacrificed a lot for the main opposition party and deserved to be remembered. The main event is expected to be held in Masvingo Town where Chamisa will deliver a lecture on Tsvangirai’s life before hundreds of party supporters and invited guests.

“The late Morgan Richard Tsvangirai created an alternative movement which has grown big. So as we reflect on his painful journey that he has travelled, our duty is to make the party bigger and stronger.”

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of party supporters are currently at Masvingo High court in solidarity with the party’s deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala.

The supporters were beaten up by the police and were dispersed using water canons but they trickled back vowing “solidarity with their treason accused” party senior.

Watch the live video loading below…….

Violence broke out at Masvingo High court Friday morning.

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

By A Correspondent | MDC supporters were this morning beaten and chased away from the High Court where they were giving solidarity to MDC deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala.

The police have barricaded the roads leading to Masvingo High Court.

Said an MDC official:

“Job Sikhala is being persecuted for freedom of speech but Mnangagwa is vindicating what the people of Zimbabwe have said that he is not in total control of the state but it is the army…….we are under military rule….he (Mnangagwa) has surpassed the Robert Mugabe era and he has even gone beyond Ian Smith’s era…We have never witnessed such cruelty, we’ve never witnessed such barbaric…that innocent Zimbabweans can be tortured, can be beaten just for sitting more than 200m away from the court, waiting for the judgement of Job Sikhala, that’s pathetic on the part of the government…”

Watch the two live videos loading below for this and more…..

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Police have just used water canons to disperse opposition MDC supporters who had gathered outside Masvingo High Court awaiting the handing down of judgement Job Sikhala’s application for exception of charges.

ZimEye managed to film the first 22 minutes before the dramatic moments-

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..

More to follow….

Happy Valentines to you darling Morgan….) can’t believe you have been gone for 2 years yet I still miss you every day and it’s always more difficult in this month of February when the anniversary of your death is approaching. In fact, the actual day, the 14th of February is easier than the weeks prior. Though the pain isn’t as profound as it was the first year, it still cuts deep when I take a moment to pause and reminisce. When I open my archives to revisit the events of your last days when I would visit you at 2 am just to assure you that it was going to be alright, my heart just breaks with pain.

The 14th of February used to be one of our favourite dates on the calendar. I used to remind you about Valentine’s from the 1st day of February until the 14th little did I know that I will be reminded of this day with so much pain.

I know people say it gets better with time but it doesn’t get any better, it just becomes different in how I have to deal with things. I still feel robbed, I always question why me, I still wonder how this plays into God’s plan for me? How could this be part of any plan? But I’m always reminded of Job when he tried to question God (Job 38:4) “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation’? Tell me, if you understand… that statement alone humbles me, I know God remains faithful and your soul is in a better place.

Rest in eternal peace, my love.

By A Correspondent- MDC supporters have turned up in their numbers to support treason accused Job Sikhala at Masvingo High Court.

MDC President Nelson Chamisa is also expected to attend the trial in solidarity with the Zengeza West legislator.

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

By A Correspondent- Police in Masvingo used water canons on MDC supporters who had gathered at Masvingo High court in solidarity with treson accused party deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala.

Sikhala is set to get his judgement delivered today and indications are that MDC president Nelson Chamisa will attend the court case in solidarity.

Said an MDC official:

“Mnangagwa is just vindicating what the people of Zim have been saying that he is not in total control of the state it is the army…

We have never witnessed such cruelty we’ve never witnessed such barbaric act that innocent Zimbabweans can be tortured, can be beaten just for sitting more than 200m away from the court, waiting for the judgement of Job Sikhala, that’s pathetic on the part of the government.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..

By A Correspondent- The trial of treason accused opposition MDC Deputy national Chairperson continues today at Masvingo Magistrates court.

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

By A Correspondent- The trial of opposition MDC Deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala continues at Masvingo magistrates court today.

There was heavy police presence in Masvingo this morning.

Watch the video loading below for this and more..

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

Zimbabwe has announced that it will now have targeted subsidies for locals.

It will have mealie meal coupons for what it decides are vulnerable people across all provinces.

Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said this:

A targeted coupon scheme for the vulnerable is in the offing with the compilation of a database at an advanced stage

Who is in that database is not clear as the policy was just announced without the public being educated via mass distribution systems as far as we know of where one can register for the coupons. On top of that, nothing is said of one gets onto this database which prompted the biggest opposition party MDC to say the targeted people for subsidies wouldbe members of Zanu-pf.

The politics aside, the coupons themselves create another path for corruption. The subsidies themselves had essentially made a commodity like mealie meal a currency of its own, with those accessing it reselling the product for more.

The same way fuel coupons in the 2000s and now became a form of payment a coupon could become something that can be exploited as well. The corrupt will simply get a book of coupons and sell them off for say $50. With fuel officially at $70 as the government chases the black market price for some reason, a person will find a $20 save as significant. And if coupon maize is more guaranteed than the one in the shop because it is vulnerable people who are targeted it will make it gold dust.

With Zimbabwe obsessing about how it is a mono-currency, finding other ways for people to trade seems like a walk in a different directions.

This move also balkanises the population by parceling it out distinctly by those who can access certain products other than others. Whereas in other countries social services that support the most vulnerable have clear statutes, procedures and are backed by laws, this feels a little made up in a fit of panic.

The appetite for the dangerous in this economy is a bit strange.

Windhoek — Monica Geingos is on a mission to change the image of African first ladies and tackle sexism and inequality in Namibia, the world’s second most unequal country

Promising to give away all her wealth – estimated at $3 million – to charity when she dies, Monica Geingos is on a mission to change the image of African first ladies and tackle sexism and inequality in Namibia, the world’s second most unequal country.

Geingos married Hage Geingob on Valentine’s Day in 2015 – a month before he was sworn in as president of the southern African desert nation, which gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 but remains starkly unequal.

The couple then voluntarily declared their combined assets of some 110 million Namibian dollars ($7.44 million), a popular move in a continent where politicians and their wives, like Zimbabwe’s Grace Mugabe, grab headlines over unexplained riches.

“I strongly believe that inheritance is one of the biggest drivers of inequality,” the 43-year-old lawyer and former head of Namibia’s first and largest private equity fund, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview at State House.

“If I’m telling poor children that they must be well educated, have the right attitude, and they must stay away from self-destructive behaviour and they’ll be fine, then surely that message should apply to my kids too?”

About 6% of Namibia’s 2.5 million people are white. They dominate businesses and land ownership, a legacy of German and South African colonial rule, along with a growing black elite.

Her veteran politician husband, who is about 30 years her senior, both have children from previous marriages.

Geingob faced criticism last year over the ‘fishrot’ scandal involving allegations that two ministers received kickbacks from an Icelandic fishing company in exchange for fishing quotas. Both men were arrested.

PRIVILEGE

While presidents’ wives are often portrayed as promiscuous, materialistic or political meddlers, said Geingos, her contemporaries are in reality doctors, economists and academics “who ran very productive lives before they became first ladies”.

Geingos has thrown her weight as first lady behind the One Economy Foundation, which she founded in 2016, and plans to leave all her money to it when she dies.

“Of all my achievements, the title of first lady resonates the least with me because it’s the one title that I have really done nothing to deserve, that I got by virtue of marriage,” said Geingos, whose husband won a second and final term in November.

“It is, to me, a form of unearned privilege but … it has changed a lot of my views on socio-economic issues in the country,” she said, adding that it felt “schizophrenic” to witness both wealth and poverty in her life and work.

Geingos’ parents were only allowed a basic primary education under Namibia’s racially segregated regime – an injustice which she said drives her to make the most of her life.

Her charity lends money to entrepreneurs, gives grants to students and supports victims of gender-based violence. Its board members include a security guard and a domestic worker.

Geingos offered free legal and psychosocial support to victims of sexual harassment last year when Namibia’s own #MeToo movement went viral on social media, with hundreds of women naming and shaming sexual predators.

Namibia ranked 12 out of 153 surveyed countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap, beating Denmark and France.

But Geingos said sexism remains common in Namibia’s private sector and media, which is quick to tear down prominent women like Isabel Dos Santos, Africa’s richest woman and daughter of Angola’s former president, recently accused of corruption.

“I am not saying she isn’t guilty. But there is a lack of consistency (in media coverage),” Geingos said adding that she and Geingob will soon update their wealth declaration.

“You will always be accused of everything under the sun in these kind of roles. But what you can do is put the information out there and let people decide themselves.”

She denied rumours of her presidential ambitions.

“I am not available for any executive political function … I am very convinced that you do not need to be a politician to effect change,” she said. “But I do feel this deep need that I can and I must do more.”

Own Correspondent|Farmers have expressed mixed feelings over delays in the distribution of Command Agriculture inputs from their local Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots.

Farmers say the slow pace at which they were receiving inputs like fertilizer from the GMB was disturbing.

In an interview with Zim Morning Post at the Norton GMB Depot where they had camped for a week while waiting for inputs, some Mashonaland West farmers said they had not got the promised fertilizers, adding the programme had been hi-jacked by corrupt people within Zanu PF and the government.

“We have been told since last month to come and collect our fertilizers but we are now being told different thingd,” Tawanda Makwembere, a Mashonaland West farmer, said.

“We are reading in the Press that people in Harare – who are not farmers – are being seen transporting tonnes of Command Agriculture programme fertilizers.

“What is going on?” Makwembere queried.

Albert Mubaiwa of Waterfalls was allegedlly found in illegal possession of fertilizer meant for the government’s Command Agriculture scheme by Mbare police officers.

Mubaiwa allegedlly confirmed to police that the 27 tonnes of fertilizers he was in possession of were Command Agriculture inputs, adding that he however had all the requisite papers.

“What is this,” said Makwembere.

Currently, Zimbabwe is under the throng of a biting drought, with the country having to import grain and other basic commodities from countries such as Zambia and Tanzania.

Source: Zim Morning Post

A headman drowned in Mbire, while at least 13 learners at Chitenje Secondary School in Karoi were yesterday struck and injured by lightning as heavy rains wreak havoc in different parts of the country.

Houses, livestock and property were destroyed in Chinhoyi.

This followed the death of one person in Binga on Tuesday and the extensive damage to infrastructure in the area and in Chimanimani, where 181 homes were destroyed, while two bridges were swept away.

The Department of Civil Protection Unit said it was on high alert and will continue to work with relevant authorities, including the police, Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), education officials, relief agencies and traditional leaders to see how they can reduce the damage caused by floods and heavy rains.

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has forecasted scattered afternoon and evening thundershowers to continue today in all Mashonaland, Harare, Midlands and northern parts of Manicaland provinces, while the rest of the country is expected to start experiencing a decline in rainfall activity starting today.

There were widespread rains across the country on Wednesday, with considerable amounts recorded at Mukandi (94 millimetres), Sutsuku 92mm, Nyakomba 75mm, Chimhanda 67mm, Nyanga 62mm and Mutasa 56mm.

“Zimbabwe has been experiencing significant rains since February 6, and these rains persisted in most parts of the country,” said MSD yesterday. “Heavy downpours greater than 100mmm in 24 hours were recorded at a number of stations.

“The rainfall was not evenly distributed as some had localised heavy downpours, while some areas could receive much less rainfall. The significant reduction in rainfall activity is expected starting today with southern areas, including Matabeleland North, Bulawayo metropolitan southern areas of Midlands as well as Masvingo.

“The intensity of the rainfall is expected to decline as we move into Saturday and Sunday.”

Department of Civil Protection director Mr Nathan Nkomo yesterday urged people in Chimanimani, Manicaland, and Mashonaland Central to be on high alert as the ground had reached saturation levels which will result in floods.

He said in Binga, rescue operations were continuing.

“We are liaising with Petrotrade, the

only company which is running a fuel station there to ensure that supplies are in place to ensure mobility of rescue teams,” said Mr Nkomo.

“We had a successful stakeholders meeting this afternoon (yesterday) where it was agreed that focus on disaster preparedness activities should not only be focused on Binga, but Manicaland and Mashonaland Central, as the risk of flooding is high because heavy rains are still expected there until Saturday.”

In Masvingo, hundreds of schoolchildren across the province’s seven administrative districts have over the past few days failed to attend lessons after failing to cross flooded rivers.

While provincial education director Mr Zedious Chitiga could not give exact figures of affected schoolchildren, he said the development was worrisome.

Mr Chitiga said they were still waiting for reports from districts indicating the extent of the problem.

“We have noted with concern that pupils are foregoing school as they fail to cross flooded rivers in most areas and it’s a sad scenario,” he said.

Some of the flooded rivers blocking schoolchildren from learning include Mutirikwi and Pokoteke in Masvingo District, Runde and Chiredzi rivers in Chiredzi and Devure and Mungezi rivers in Gutu.

Masvingo District Civil Protection Unit chairman, Mr Roy Hove said: “The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) is on high alert for tragedies likely to emanate from the heavy rains and river flooding.

“The CPU will continue to work hand-in-glove with the police, education officials and traditional leaders in this regard.”

Acting Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa urged parents to accompany their children to school to prevent flood risks associated with crossing flooded rivers.

In Mashonaland Central, one person drowned in Mbire, while several people in five villages in Muzarabani were displaced due to the rising water levels in Hoya River.

The province has already activated its civil protection committees.

The CPU is on standby for evacuations in Mbire and Muzarabani, which are the two flood prone areas that are now at risk.

Bindura District development coordinator Mr Richard Chipfuva yesterday said a house was struck by lightning, while another collapsed in Mbire.

“The incessant rains have caused dam levels to rise, especially in low-lying areas of Mbire and Muzarabani,” he said.

“There is imminent threat to settlements downstream. A village head in Mbire, Mr Kapembere, drowned while trying to cross Hunyani River.

“One house was struck by lightning in Kanyemba and all properties were lost. Seven members of the family were not injured.”

In the same area, a house collapsed leaving three family members homeless.

Water levels in Hoya, Musengezi and Nzoubvunda rivers were reported to be rising rapidly, affecting villages in Chadereka, while some families have started moving to higher ground.

Areas like Kairezi, Chiwenga, Mutemapungu are now cut off because there is no bridge that can connect them.

“In Chadereka, five homesteads were razed to the ground and one man was injured when the house he was sleeping in collapsed,” said Mr Chipfuva. “Livestock and a granary were swept away. Most of the crops in the fields were destroyed.”

Civil protection units in Mbire and Muzarabani have stocked non-food items and require assistance with foodstuffs.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority latest dam level update shows that the national dam level average has risen to 50,4 percent up from 49, 6 percent on February 6, 2020.

Independent|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 2023 election campaign, which has been underway since the Zanu PF Esigodini Conference in 2018, is increasingly coming under scrutiny within government, the ruling party and security establishments, amid growing concerns that he has failed to inspire an economic turnaround and has been captured by powerful and corrupt cartels bleeding the country.

In briefings this week, senior Zanu PF and government officials also revealed the post-coup administration was in disarray because of Mnangagwa’s alleged failure to ensure there was equitable distribution of the “patronage” cake, hence the ongoing power struggles in the party.

Zanu PF was plunged into turmoil last week following the suspension of deputy youth league secretary Lewis Matutu and political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu after they accused Mnangagwa’s allies and Zanu PF benefactors — Sakunda Holdings boss Kuda Tagwirei, Green Fuel boss Billy Rautennach and Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Musarara — of corruption.

The politburo also demoted youth league boss Pupurai Togarepi for showing solidarity with the suspended youths. The decision, however, divided the party as some officials believed the youths had raised genuine issues, which need to be addressed, given the toll that corruption was taking on the economy.

Party officials also believe Mnangagwa has been captured Gupta-style by Tagwirei, whom they say is the major beneficiary of the November 2017 coup, which toppled former president Robert Mugabe. The Gupta scandal rocked South Africa during the last years of former president Jacob Zuma’s presidency. It involved three wealthy Indian brothers, Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh Gupta, who, using their closeness to the presidency, were accused of seizing control of the state apparatus while enriching themselves.

According to findings of the state capture commission of inquiry, the Guptas used their ties to Zuma and, with the help of leading international firms like KPMG, McKinsey and SAP, drained the national treasury of as much as US$7 billion. Following the inquiry, Zuma was forced to resign. McKinsey offered an extraordinary public apology for its role in the scandal, while the Guptas fled to Dubai.

Sakunda has been implicated in alleged abuse of funds under the controversial command agriculture scheme amid claims that there are no records and accountability of how close to US$3 billion was disbursed under the scheme.

“There is serious soul-searching and candid talk within the party. People are asking if the coup promises are being fulfilled and, sadly, Mnangagwa has failed to deliver. Corruption is increasing, but as you know corruption in itself is not a problem in Zanu PF, but the problem is that only a few individuals are being allowed on the gravy train,” an official said.

“There is concern that the economy is worse off than it was in 2017 and there is a genuine worry that Mnangagwa has been captured. There is also anger that a three or four-man kleptocracy has been created following the coup. Unlike during the Mugabe era when the cake was shared amongst many such that those far away from the centre would get crumbs, Mnangagwa has opened the door only to his family and a few individuals.

“That is why the likes of (Chris) Mutsvangwa (Mnangagwa’s former advisor) are angry. Besides Mnangagwa’s failure, he is angry the president’s cartels have shut him out of the energy sector and that is a grievance shared by many.”

Mutsvangwa, in an interview with our sister paper The Standard last weekend, revealed that problems arose in Zanu PF mainly because of fights for control of strategic national resources which are now concentrated in just a few hands.

However, the party’s acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa this week took a swipe at Mutsvangwa alleging sour grapes.“I have heard him (Mutsvangwa) say that, but I am not privy to that competition for a resource. The fact that it’s a competition; you cannot say its corruption. Let’s define corruption correctly. If he (Mutsvangwa) has evidence, he must go to Zacc (the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission). If he thinks that whatever happens in that fight for the resource is corruption, he must go to Zacc and report it. He will be a key witness. In this case he mentions the pipeline, but I don’t understand what the issue is.

It’s like hitting at your rivals. He has no reason to tarnish those who are competing against him and label them corrupt either because you have lost the tender or failed to get a deal,” Chinamasa said.

Pressure on Mnangagwa

The ruling party officials said the growing concerns had resulted in Mnangagwa’s position coming under scrutiny, with many processes already underway to pile pressure on him ahead of the party’s 2022 elective congress.

Although the number one resolution at the Esigodini Conference was the “Reaffirmation of President Mnangagwa as the Party’s Presidential Candidate for 2023 Elections”, the Zimbabwe Independent was told there are discussions at various levels focussing on Mnangagwa’s viability as a candidate, given his failure to inspire an economic turnaround and his association with cartels. The 18th Zanu PF conference in Goromonzi last year also affirmed the President as the party’s sole candidate in 2023, but the position is gradually changing, insiders said.

“Besides the question of whether Mnangagwa should be allowed to contest the 2023 elections, there are also questions about whether he should actually be allowed to complete his term, which has been disastrous so far,” a senior party official said.

At a press conference yesterday, Zanu PF youth secretary for information and publicity, Yeukai Simbanegavi, said party youths were ready to defend Mnangagwa “at all cost”.

“One of the main issues discussed here is the issues of discipline. We have emphasised that as the youth league, we need to be very disciplined and we also need to be defending the party and the revolution as well as our President, Comrade ED Mnangagwa at all cost and without fail,” she said.

Simbanegavi said the youths supported the politburo decision to suspend Matutu and Tsenengamu. She also said they strongly supported his 2023 bid.

Chinamasa also insisted that Mnangagwa would still be the party’s candidate in the 2023 polls. “There is no faction at the moment. We have taken a position as a party to say in 2023 our candidate is President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Why we are doing that is to kill any divisions within our party,” he said.

Party sources, however, said despite efforts to mask divisions, discontent had cascaded to the military and other security organisations.

As reported by the Zimbabwe Independent last week, army commanders have deployed intelligence personnel into communities to, among other things, gather intelligence, assess the national mood and gauge Mnangagwa’s popularity. These include members of the Special Air Services based at Inkomo Barracks and military intelligence personnel based at Kabrit.

Military sources said the deployment, which is apolitical and not a military operation was not for purposes of executing a November 2017-style coup, but to understand better the situation obtaining on the ground for scenario mapping and planning. Following last week’s story, Zimbabwe National Army national spokesperson Alphios Makotore issued a statement saying the army was apolitical.

“The Zimbabwe National Army is apolitical and its roles and duties are clearly specified in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and amplified in the Defence Forces Policy. The army is a professional national institution that is guided by the country’s constitution. When it deploys, the nation is accordingly informed. There is therefore no secrecy on its deployments,” Makotore said in the statement.

Available options

According to sources, there are three options which are currently being weighed in the party, government and outside government.

The first option, which is in line with the proposed Sadc-driven mediation by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, is to nudge Mnangagwa into an agreement with MDC leader Nelson Chamisa which may result in a government of national unity.

“This is why the suspended youths are pushing a multi-party and multi-interest youth conference on Friday next week. This could kick-start the process,” an official said.

There are, however, concerns that an inclusive government may present the same problems as those experienced between 2009 and 2013, when there was lack of unity and cohesion in state operations. The other option is that Mnangagwa should not be re-elected at the party’s 2022 congress while others believe he should step down even before his tenure is completed to allow for someone else, preferably Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga to complete the term. Those against Chiwenga’s rise believe he is also captured by the Sakunda boss, whose company had given him vehicles to monitor the command agriculture programme.

Tagwirei also bought Chiwenga another vehicle for personal use.“Besides, in terms of the governance system, nothing much would have changed under Chiwenga,” an official said.

The third option, which is not popular in Zanu PF, but is being discussed by neutrals and in diplomatic circles, is that a National Transitional Authority (NTA) takes over and prepares the groundwork for elections.

The NTA would oversee a number of electoral, constitutional and political reforms for an agreed period before a general election is held. However, sources indicated that many Zanu PF officials are against the idea as it would result in the loss of power and also leave the preparations for elections out of the party’s hands.

State Media|Masvingo senior High Court Judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze is today expected to deliver his ruling on an application for exception to the charge of subversion made by MDC-Alliance national vice chair Job Sikhala.

Sikhala, who is also Zengeza West legislator, is facing charges of subverting a constitutionally-elected Government, after he allegedly told his party’s rally in Bikita East last year that he would overthrow President Mnangagwa’s administration before the next elections due in 2023.

He is out of custody on $5 000 bail coupled with stringent conditions.

Sikhala applied for exception on February 3 through his defence team led by Ms Beatrice Mtetwa.

Justice Mawadze postponed the matter to today to allow him ample time to assess the heads of argument by both the defence and prosecution led by senior law officer Mr Tawanda Zvekare.

In his application for exception, Sikhala, who denied the subversion charge when his trial kicked off, through his lawyer is arguing that the utterances he made at the political rally at Mandadzaka Business Centre, did not constitute a crime.

Mr Zvekare told the court that Sikhala was indeed serious about his utterances as he emphasised that there was going to be a war against the incumbent.

“According to Section 89 of the Constitution, President Mnangagwa is Head of State and Government and Commander-In-Chief of the Defence Forces, and that is inseparable,” he said.

“My Lord, the point I want to drive home is that you cannot separate him (President Mnangagwa) from Government as the defence counsel wants the court to believe.

“The accused indeed was directing his utterances to President Mnangagwa and his Government. It will be naive, therefore, for the defence counsel to suggest that the President and Government are two separate things.”

Ms Mtetwa had argued that Sikhala’s utterances were directed to President Mnangagwa as an individual and not necessarily the Government he represents.

“My client indeed made the said utterances, but they were directed to President Mnangagwa and not his Government,” she said. “President Mnangagwa is separable from his Government as provided for in the Constitution.

“The accused, as a Member of Parliament has the privilege of passing a vote of no confidence on the President and his utterances were reflective of such privileges in Parliament not by any means to be implemented violently.”

Ms Mtetwa argued that what Sikhala said was not criminal since common cause was that the language of politicians was loaded with words which did not normally constitute a crime.

FINANCE and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has backed calls for public and private sector wage increases to cushion workers from price escalation linked to foreign currency exchange rate distortions.

Although Government has established the interbank exchange market, speculative parallel market activities continue to pile pressure on the pricing structure of the economy.

In his latest economic update this week, Prof Ncube admitted wage compression has become a contentious issue in the economy as buying power constantly trails price increases.

“In the current environment, both wages and purchasing power have taken a big hit. Government, therefore, has a responsibility to support consumers and the private sector as a whole,” he said.

“As part of the currency reform agenda, we have had inevitable wage compression. This is part of the liberalisation process. We have responded by propping up the wages of the civil servants, and we hope the private sector acts in kind.”

Recently, Government increased monthly pay for its workers to about $2 500 for the least paid from about $1 033. Despite the return of the Zimbabwe dollar last July, the minister said the dollarisation hangover remains high with several businesses still pricing in US dollars and simply translating it to the local currency.

“This is squashing the purchasing power of current wages. We are closing that gap by allowing wages to rise,” he said.

As Government focuses on growing the economy this year, the minister said reining in inflation “as quickly as possible”, was his key target. This is crucial for investment, he said, adding that the new dispensation’s drive to create more jobs was dependent stable inflation.

He noted that while month-on-month inflation was stabilising, recently settling at approximately 16 percent, annual inflation remains high.

“That is what happens when you liberalise a currency. But this process of reforms is a long-term necessity for our economy. We are taking steps to prop up the currency, drip-feeding in cash injections in a non-inflationary manner,” said Prof Ncube.

He expressed optimism that the country’s economy will overcome the numerous hurdles towards desired prosperity. He, however, stressed the need for hard work and proper planning backed by prudent monetary and fiscal discipline. The negative impact of climate change and subsequent droughts, which have hampered food security as well as sanctions, are among the top barriers to growth. Prof Ncube said measures were already being put in place to “climate proof” the agriculture sector as well as double efforts with international partners.

Despite all the hurdles and all the barriers, Zimbabwe in 2019 leapt 15 places on the Global Ease of Doing Business rankings. The country is keen to improve this year with privatisation being part of a bigger picture.

State Media|MINISTER of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando was yesterday found in contempt of the High Court and sentenced to 90 days in prison.

Minister Chitando, according to the court, did not comply with two court orders issued in a mining claims dispute pitting RioZim Limited and North Rand Private Limited.

However, High Court judge, Justice David Mangota gave the minister seven days to comply, failure of which he will serve the jail term.

The court ordered the minister to ensure transfer of ownership of some mining claims from North Rand into the name of RioZim, but he did not comply.

Justice Mangota’s order reads:

“The first respondent (Minister Chitando) is found in contempt of the orders that were granted by this honourable court on the 6th of June, 2018 and the 10th of October, 2018 under HC4957/18 respectively.

“The first respondent be and is hereby committed to the Harare Remand Prison for a period of three months.

“The warrant of committal is, however, suspended seven days on condition that the first respondent shall faithfully and dutifully comply with the orders given in this court in Case Number HC4957/18 granted on the 6th of June and HC8198/18 granted on the 10th day of October 2019”

Harare lawyer Mr Liberty Ndangana and Advocate Thabani Mpofu represented RioZim.

The court slapped the minister with an order for costs on a higher scale.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

ZANU PF is against corruption but we just want order, says Youth League leader, Chirau | TRUTH OR TOTAL NONSENSE?

ZANU PF Party. ZANU PF UK

https://youtu.be/GaiKsW5BOPg

Zimbabwe will start publishing year-on-year inflation statistics from this month, with the February 2019 to February 2020 figure expected next month.

This follows the building of data on prices in the mono-currency system for 12 months.

The development will help investors and businesspeople to make informed decisions.

The Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZimStat), which collects and publishes the data, has indicated that it will widen the collection of prices data to involve more stakeholders.

Year-on-year inflation data is critical in salary negotiations, court judgments, pricing of assets and liabilities such as bank loans.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube suspended the publication of year-on-year inflation data in July last year for 12 months from the February switch in currencies, a time limit that elapses this month.

It was felt that it was difficult to compare prices from the multi-currency period and the period after the liberalisation of the foreign currency market and the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar.

Prices would, in effect, be compared in two currencies under two systems.

Monthly inflation rates were still being published.

ZimStat director-general Mr Taguma Mahonde yesterday said the organisation was ready to release data on year-on-year inflation.

“In February 2019, the Government of Zimbabwe introduced the RTGS dollar at an exchange rate of US$1:2,5RTGS,” he said.

“This was followed by Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 that ushered in a mono-currency regime.

“These monetary policy reforms impacted on the computation of consumer price indices, as prices for the period prior to the introduction of the RTGS dollar were informed by multi-currency. As such, computation of year-on-year rate of inflation was no longer comparing like with like.

“Resultantly, computation and publication of the year-on-year rate of inflation was deferred for a period of 12 months to February 2020.

“Given that now ZimStat has a full base year of RTGS consumer price indices, computation and publication of year-on-year rate of inflation will resume from the month of February 2020, to be published in March 2020. Further, ZimStat will enhance its prices data collection exercise to engage more stakeholders across all the districts of Zimbabwe.”

Economist Mr Eddie Cross said publishing year-on-year inflation data was “important as it guides market makers and others”.

Another economist Mr Persistence Gwanyanya said it was now possible for ZimStat to start publishing annual inflation statistics as Zimbabwe had “now reached full financial cycle, which is necessary for comparison purposes”.

“In simple terms, we can now compare like to like,” he said.

“We can now compare apples to apples; we can now compare oranges to oranges; we can now compare RTGS$ to RTGS$.

“It is important to publish year-on-year inflation because a number of economic and financial decisions are based on this statistic. Take for example wage negotiations, court judgments, pricing of assets and liabilities such as bank loans and investments, Treasury Bills and other financial instruments.

“As we witnessed, if you stop publishing official annual inflation as a country, others will do so and you will leave the market with no chance but to follow them, even dubious ones, which has far-reaching consequences for the economy as the market uses whatever they want, for whatever they want to achieve.”

During the time that Government was not releasing year-on-year inflation data, economists such as US-based Professor Steve Hanke, started publishing what they thought were the inflation statistics.

Prof Hanke’s figures were questioned by other economists who doubted the methodology he used.

Stopping publication of annual inflation statistics is not new in Zimbabwe, as it was done before adoption of the multi-currency regime in 2009.

State Media|Government has gazetted a Frequency Allotment Plan and Regulations that enable the establishment of 19 on-campus radio stations to be operated by institutions of higher learning, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

She said the Second Republic is committed to opening up the airwaves, promoting freedom of expression and dissemination of diverse views.

Addressing journalists and residents gathered to commemorate the World Radio Day at the Gweru Civic Centre yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa said institutions of higher learning should embrace Government’s commitment to opening up the airwaves by applying for the radio licences. The commemorations were hosted by the Midlands State University (MSU).

“We believe in the power of radio. It is a policy objective of my Ministry to have campus radio stations in Zimbabwe. To this end we have gazetted a Frequency Allotment Plan and Regulations that enable the establishment of about 19 campus stations in this country. Our institutions of higher learning are advised to make use of what we have made available for them. We are a Government that walks the talk,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said her Ministry has grasped and embraced the importance of radio as it is a right for the people of Zimbabwe.

“Those who follow what we are doing can testify that we have made commitments to bring more broadcasters and a diversity of players to this landscape. It is a commitment we ask you to judge us by when we meet again on this day next year. Our law envisages a three-tier broadcasting system. This incorporates Public Broadcasting, Commercial Broadcasting and Community Broadcasting. Currently we have both public and commercial but we are yet to license community broadcasters. Let me make this point clear, we are going to license community stations, we are about to license community radio stations,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said licensing of community radio stations was a priority agenda for her Ministry in line with the devolution agenda pushed by the Second Republic. “His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Government adopted devolution as one of its flagship policies in the Second Republic. This is why you noted Cde Larry Mavima here who is the Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution. We believe that everyone should have access to information. We realised that for everyone to participate in development more so, at a devolved level, their voices should be heard,” she said.

Evidence gathered by the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI), Minister Mutsvangwa said, indicated that radio is the most popular platform of information in Zimbabwe, particularly in rural communities.

“To develop at grassroots level, people should take pride in their communities and inculcate a sense of community that propels them to take ownership of their own development. It is here that community radio will play a critical role. For this reason, there is no turning back on rolling out community stations,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government has closed the gap that existed in law which hindered the establishment of community radio stations.

“Last week we closed the legal gap that existed in law which hindered the establishment of the community radio stations. We gazetted regulations which set the framework for the licensing authority to call out for applications and I am advised they are preparing their callout right now. Broadcasting in Zimbabwe is founded on the Broadcasting Services Act. We are in the process of amending this law. This will align this primary legislation to the Constitution as well as modernize it to embrace new technology,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said as newspapers become more expensive, radio continues to dominate as the main source of information for the people.

“This is why, today as the day set aside to celebrate and raise awareness on what radio has done, what it is doing and what it will do to our communities, we say let’s all come together in one accord and commemorate this great platform,” she said.

Touching on the theme of the commemorations, “Radio, Diversity and Development”, Minister Mutsvangwa said there is need for radio stations to uphold diversity.

She said radio stations should have diversity of communities they serve especially at national level.

In our diversity, Minister Mutsvangwa said, the spirit of Ubuntu/ Hunhu must be the core. 

“This should range from gender, to race, culture and language. Let our studios be friendly to those with disabilities. Let them have easy access and let their voice be also heard on our radios. Let vulnerable groups find their voice and expression on our stations,” she said.

To date the country has six national and 10 regional commercial radio stations.

Own Correspondent|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa arrived in Bulawayo on Thursday to meet a highly divided civil society from Matabeleland region at State House on Valentine’s Day.

The President last year acceded to requests for a meeting with the Matabeleland Collective to discuss a number of issues affecting the region ranging from development to reconciliation and inclusivity.

Matabeleland Collective has since split into two warring factions with the new faction being led by former MDC stalwart Paul Temba Nyati calling itself the Matabeleland Forum.

The reason behind the split emanated from the meeting with Mnangagwa after some organisations blamed the Jenny Williams led Matabeleland Collective of failing to fully deliver the Matabeleland issues and endorsing Mnangagwa as a credible President to Matabeleland.

The organisations that have since declared that they will boycott Mnangagwa’s meeting tomorrow claim that the Matabeleland Collective failed to get Mnangagwa to account for his involvement in the Gukurahundi atrocities.

Today’s meeting has been expanded to accommodate organisations outside the ambit of the Matabeleland Collective and also include traditional leaders.

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission has also been invited for the crunch meeting. Other notable invited guests to the meeting is the ZIPRA former veterans which claims a major stake in the Gukurahundi atrocities.

Addressing a press conference in Bulawayo yesterday evening, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabhiza who is also head of secretariat in the engagement and dialogue with Matabeleland civil society organisations, said the President will receive feedback on the progress of engagement last year.

“It is an opportunity for the President to receive feedback on the engagement that the Government has so far had with civil society. I’m sure you know that sometime last year and in fact on the 21st of March 2019, His Excellency came here to Bulawayo and dialogued with civil society.

“So, as a listening President, His Excellency has taken time to travel and hear personally the voice of the people of Matabeleland so that he strengthens the relationship and continues to build the trust,” said Mrs Mabhiza.

“By honest and frank dialogue, he hopes to improve interaction between civil society and Government. In fact it is the prime purpose for such dialogue.”

Mrs Mabhiza said after the initial engagement, the Government and civil society organisations developed a matrix on various areas of implementation.

“May I say at this point that the matrix is one of the key issues on the agenda and I would not like to pre-empt what we are going to discuss,” said Mrs Mabhiza. “When we initially came here it was upon the invitation of a specific grouping which is the Matabeleland Collective hence his Excellency had to have a dialogue with that grouping.

“However, as we progressed with engagement and dialogue for the sake of dialogue and peace-building it was seen fit that we can expand to any other interested civil society organisation from the same region to assist us.”

President Mnangagwa landed at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport accompanied by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe and other Government officials.

He was welcomed by Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Judith Ncube, National Peace and Reconciliation Commission chairperson Retired Justice Selo Nare, his deputy Commissioner Lillian Chigwedere and commissioner Mr Lesley Ncube, senior government officials and service chiefs.

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ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has sold off land the size of the entire Mutare city urban to Belarus, a European report attributed to the respected Reuters news agency says. In return, Zimbabwe has received ZUPCO buses.

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…

Instead of contracting the Belarusians so they come manufacture inside Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa has sold off the whole land to them including the raw materials underneath.

When ZANU PF received the country from UK, Zimbabwe used to assemble most major vehicle brands, today, the leaders are selling the whole land in exchange for a few buses.

In February last year, Emmerson Mnangagwa gave Belarus 10 000 ha of land for agricultural production in Zimbabwe in a deal whose details were not fully published .

The land is directly administered by the Office of Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko.

Experts from Belarus came into the country to select the plots of land, test the soil and identity the type of fertilizers needed. They also studied the matters of irrigation and logistics and how to transport agricultural machines and equipment from Belarus to Zimbabwe.

Belarusians reportedly planned to grow maize and soya first and rice and wheat later. They also planned to build a dairy farm for 1000 cows by the end of last year.

Cattle for the project were to be brought from New Zealand. Simultaneously, a meat and milk processing line was to be launched.

Mnangagwa visited Belarus in January 2019. He invited Belarus President, Lukashenka to pay a visit to Zimbabwe in a surprise new cosy relationship.

The land deal could have been one of the bills that were signed when Zimbabwe and Belarus signed secretive deals worth US$350 million in September last year.

Mnangagwa witnessed the signing ceremony in Harare.

In return he received a paltry 300 buses a parallel report suggests.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Busi Moyo represented Zimbabwe while Chief of Presidential Affairs General Colonel Victor Sheiman represented Belarus.

Mnangagwa said as a result of a short period of preparation, only two out of six agreements had been completed and signed.

He said the rest of agreements on the part of the Belarus delegation have been completed, but Zimbabwe side still wanted to go through some legal processes such as the public agreements committee and going through Cabinet.

“Once that is achieved I think the Minister of Finance (Professor Mthuli Ncube) and other team from agriculture will travel to Belarus and will have those agreements signed,” he said then.

At the signing ceremony Minister Moyo said the agricultural agreement between Belarus and Zimbabwe on the development of an agricultural project was to enable the country to grow maize, wheat and soya beans for internal consumption.

“As you are aware the joint permanent commissions are meant to focus on economic issues and bilateral issues in a more detailed way, some of which could be a Bi-National Commission so that we can maximise benefits resulting from our relations with Belarus,” he said without disclosing details.

“That is typical transactional diplomacy.”

Details on what happened to the land are however still sketchy and these will be published as soon as they are available. 

A comment from state house was still be obtained at the time of printing.

 

Three school children from Ngundu perished while the 4th one was seriously injured when a tractor in whose trailer they were sitting in overturned along the Ngundu-Tanganda road New Zaina reports.

The trailer unhooked from the hitch and hit the tractors’ rear wheel causing it to overturn, killing the pupils on the spot.

Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Kudakwashe Pferedzai (15), Opportunity Lisenga (13) who learnt at Nyahanga Primary School and Delight Mlambo (16) who attended Mutandwe Secondary School.

Their bodies were ferried to
Chiredzi General hospital for post mortem.- New Ziana

Farai Dziva|LEAD president Linda Masarira has accused her former boss Thokhozani Khupe of working with Zanu PF to destabilise opposition parties in the country.

Masarira argues she quit MDC T because it is a Zanu PF creation.

Masarira further claimed Khupe received funding from the ruling party to destabilise Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance.

“We were receiving money from Zanu PF. I don’t know who was the direct contact person who was bringing the money, but we got funding for the party from Zanu PF.

We were not a real opposition, this is why I took a picture of myself wearing Zanu PF regalia in Zambia and posted it on social media because I wanted to tell a story,” Masarira told a daily publication.

Farai Dziva|A Senior MDC T official has dismissed LEAD president Linda Masarira’ s argument that the party is a Zanu PF sponsored project.

MDC-T secretary-general Nickson Nyikadzino was responding to Masarira’s allegations that his party has been receiving money from the ruling ZANU PF party.

Said Nyikadzino:
“We have not received any funding from anyone. We do not wish to receive funding from anyone except ourselves.

The only funding that we have received is the 48 000 votes which we got from the people of Zimbabwe and we wish to remain an independent democratic party set up to serve the people of Zimbabwe.”

Farai Dziva|Controversial political figure Linda Masarira has described POLAD as a pet project created by Emmerson Mnangagwa as a way of seeking legitimacy.

“The Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), is a dialogue platform consisting of fringe political parties created by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019.It is a ZANU PF pet project,” Masarira told a daily publication.

Masarira, who now leads an opposition party called LEAD, was fired from the MDC-T after she was pictured wearing ZANU PF regalia.

However, Masarira has accused MDC T of working with Zanu PF to dilute genuine opposition voices.

Pole dancer Zoey Sifelani says fans enjoy it when she is in competition with the recently married Beverly “Bev” Sibanda.

In an interview with H-Metro, Zoey said Bev encouraged her to work harder.
“It is exciting when you have someone that you compete with, it motivates you to do better, you know zvinotonakidza kana muchita competition hauzvizive.

“Having someone you compete with also pushes fans to be there, ndizvo zvinotoita kuti mafans edu arambe achitouya manje,” said Zoey.

Zoey also expressed concern on rumours that she is struggling since she has no one to compete with as Bev is focusing both on dancing as well as family.

“I’m not struggling at all, things are flowing, and everything is ok on my side.

“These days we are doing most of our shows out of Harare. In Harare they only get to see us on every Tuesdays only.

“Out of Harare that’s when we are being needed more, out of Harare ndiko kwatikunyanya kudiwa.

“So people in Harare are now saying we have gone silent but it’s not the case since we are doing most shows out of Harare.” she said.

She added:
“Currently, I’m keeping myself busy with my dance group as well as my massage parlour.”

Zoey also mentioned that she has a lot of shows lined up for the year 2020 and is promising her fans fireworks.-H-Metro

The mystery of what happened to the Toyota Cressida that transported former President Nelson Mandela to the Cape Town City Hall on the day of his release from prison 30 years ago, has been allegedly solved.

It is believed that the car is in Lesotho but the current owner says he is in advanced negotiations to sell the car to an overseas dealer.

This is the car that is believed to have been used 30 years ago by none other than Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela as he left the Pollsmoor Prison.

But now the owner who does not want to be identified says despite several attempts to alert South Africa’s government about the location of the car, he is now in advanced negotiations with an overseas dealership.

While the owner says that he would have preferred that the car remains in African soil, he has now opted to release the car to whoever sees the most value in it.

The SABC has been promised an interview later this week as soon as negotiations with a potential client have been concluded.

THREE Zanu-PF legislators in Mashonaland Central province have been accused of stifling the police’s crackdown on illegal gold miners and machete gangs.

The countrywide police blitz, dubbed Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere, has seen over 1 000 illegal miners and machete gangs arrested.

Police sources in Mashonaland Central said efforts to arrest illegal miners were being frustrated by legislators Patrick Dutiro (Guruve South), Campion Mugweni (Mazowe North) and Remigious Matangira (Bindura South).

They accused Dutiro of mobilising illegal miners to cause havoc and illegally mine at Eureka Mine. Contacted for comment, the MP said he only tried to intercede in a dispute between the police and illegal miners.

“I conducted a meeting with villagers because there is bad blood between the local police and villagers. So my meeting was for them to engage the police and mine owners so that they reach a consensus,” Dutiro said.

It is further alleged that Dutiro was capitalising on the incident to gain political ground ahead of the forthcoming Zanu-PF district co-ordinating council (DCC) elections in Guruve, where he is reportedly eying the chairperson’s position.

“My meeting was genuine. I am not campaigning as alleged because my ground is already even,” he said.

Mugweni is accused of previously working with the management of Mazowe Mine to extract gold ore while using his constituency-branded vehicle.

Contacted for comment, Mugweni said: “Wherever that car is seen, it has nothing to do with you. It will be doing party business.”

He, however, declined to respond to reports of his alleged links with Mazowe Mine management.

The MP is also reportedly canvassing for support ahead of DCC elections.

In Bindura, Matangira is accused of funding machete gangs who were allegedly robbing illegal miners of their gold ore at Kitsiyatota.

Matangira refuted the claims, saying he was also a victim of machete gangs.

“That is very nonsensical. How can I fund MaShurugwi when I have been victimised by the MaShurugwi as a small-scale miner myself. I lost my mines at Mukaradzi in Mt Darwin, so labelling me in such a manner will be unfair,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF youths in the province said they were not happy with the on-going police blitz against illegal panners and machete gangs, which has seen thousands of them arrested, particularly at Mazowe Mine, where people from all walks of life were earning a living.

Bloomberg|A one-stop border post that will fast-track trade between South Africa and Zimbabwe will be fully operational at Beitbridge in 2024, according to South African Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

The crossing is one of Africa’s busiest land borders, with about 25,000 people and 500 trucks passing though daily. However, delays and congestion mean it can take as long as four days to receive clearance from customs officials, according to a Global Economic Governance report. A one-stop border would harmonize customs clearance procedures between the two countries.

“We all know the frustration of travelers when they go through Beitbridge: the long queues, the long waiting times, the congestion,” Motsoaledi said in an interview. “Now, the one-stop border post is going to do away with all that because it involves massive infrastructural changes, not just operational changes.”

The upgrade is one of four projects that President Cyril Ramaphosa last week said the government would fast-track to facilitate greater regional and continental trade, after the country assumed the chairmanship of the African Union.

Construction will include a building for immigration officials and separate traffic lanes for commercial, private and public vehicles as well as a pedestrian pathway. The minister didn’t provide a cost estimate for the project as private companies would bear the costs.

The appointment of an international consulting firm is imminent and five consortia — SPG-CHEC JV, Border Post Consortium, Fast Post SA, Hlanganani Consortium and CSCEC Imbani Consortium — are on the short-list to undertake the project that will include a 20-year concession for the winning bidder to cover the costs, Motsoaledi said.

Similar projects are also planned at South Africa’s borders with eSwatini, Mozambique, Lesotho and Botswana, he said.

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda has accused the ruling Zanu PF party of wanting to divert attention from its own internal fights and failures by spreading rumours that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa had fallen out with the party’s national chairperson, Thabitha Khumalo, Nehanda Radio can report.

In an interview with Nehanda Radio, Sibanda accused Zanu PF top officials of wanting to divert attention from issues of corruption bedevilling the country.

Sibanda said Chamisa was currently on a countrywide meet-the-people outreach programme.

“Zanu wants to divert attention from its internal (squabbles) and from corruption.

“The real story around the president is that this week he has shown himself to be the people’s champion.

“(He has stood) with (MDC) branches in Masvingo’s Provincial Assembly; (has held) hands with the people’s provincial leadership in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and today the Midlands.

“No leader in this country has taken time to consult and relate with the party like president (Chamisa),” Sibanda added.

There is widespread speculation in political circles that Chamisa wants to replace Khumalo with one of his deputies, Lynette Karenyi.

Reports also claim that Khumalo’s sympathisers on Tuesday dumped flyers at the MDC Alliance Bulawayo provincial offices and different parts of the central business district, rejecting the alleged decision by Chamisa to oust Khumalo from her current post.

When asked about the flyers, Sibanda accused “desperate” State agents of attempting to penetrate the MDC.

“This leaves me with a simple, logical conclusion that these flyers did not emanate from the people of Matabeleland or members of the party, but perhaps desperate State agents.

“That is my theory; these are State agents trying to stoke fires that do not exist. This is an attempt by State agents to abrogate to themselves the president’s prerogative in terms of making appointments.

“The president has not made any statement, at least in terms of appointments,” he said. 

• Nehanda Radio

• 

• 

• 

ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has sold off land the size of the entire Mutare city urban to Belarus, a European report attributed to the respected Reuters news agency says. In return, Zimbabwe has received ZUPCO buses.

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…

Instead of contracting the Belarusians so they come manufacture inside Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa has sold off the whole land to them including the raw materials underneath.

When ZANU PF received the country from UK, Zimbabwe used to assemble most major vehicle brands, today, the leaders are selling the whole land in exchange for a few buses.

In February last year, Emmerson Mnangagwa gave Belarus 10 000 ha of land for agricultural production in Zimbabwe in a deal that was not apparently clearly exposed to the country.

The land is directly administered by the Office of Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko.

Experts from Belarus came into the country to select the plots of land, test the soil and identity the type of fertilizers needed. They also studied the matters of irrigation and logistics and how to transport agricultural machines and equipment from Belarus to Zimbabwe.

Belarusians reportedly planned to grow maize and soya first and rice and wheat later. They also planned to build a dairy farm for 1000 cows by the end of last year.

Cattle for the project were to be brought from New Zealand. Simultaneously, a meat and milk processing line was to be launched.

Mnangagwa visited Belarus in January 2019. He invited Belarus President, Lukashenka to pay a visit to Zimbabwe in a surprise new cosy relationship.

The land deal could have been one of the bills that were signed when Zimbabwe and Belarus signed secretive deals worth US$350 million in September last year.

Mnangagwa witnessed the signing ceremony in Harare.

In return he received a paltry 300 buses a parallel report from the state media says.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Busi Moyo represented Zimbabwe while Chief of Presidential Affairs General Colonel Victor Sheiman represented Belarus.

The President said as a result of a short period of preparation, only two out of six agreements had been completed and signed.

He said the rest of agreements on the part of the Belarus delegation have been completed, but Zimbabwe side still wanted to go through some legal processes such as the public agreements committee and going through Cabinet.

“Once that is achieved I think the Minister of Finance (Professor Mthuli Ncube) and other team from agriculture will travel to Belarus and will have those agreements signed,” he said then.

At the signing ceremony Minister Moyo said the agricultural agreement between Belarus and Zimbabwe on the development of an agricultural project was to enable the country to grow maize, wheat and soya beans for internal consumption.

“As you are aware the joint permanent commissions are meant to focus on economic issues and bilateral issues in a more detailed way, some of which could be a Bi-National Commission so that we can maximise benefits resulting from our relations with Belarus,” he said without disclosing details.

“That is typical transactional diplomacy.”

Details on what happened to the land are however still sketchy and these will be published as soon as they are available. 

A comment from state house was still be obtained at the time of printing.

 

The treason charge against MDC national deputy chairperson and Zengeza West Member of Parliament (MP) Job Sikhala has put the state and defense teams on a collision path over interpretation of subverting a constitutionally elected government with the defense counsel led by top lawyer Beatrice Mthetwa arguing that President Mnangagwa is not the government and can be removed from power before 2023.

Sikhala appeared before the Masvingo High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze early this week facing subversion charges where he threatened to take “the war and fight to President Mnangagwa’s doorstep and overthrow him before 2023 elections”.

The state prosecutors led by Tawanda Zvekare built their case of treason arguing that Sikhala and his party were plotting to topple the government by using violence and force but had to be schooled on the technicalities of the case in which Mthetwa pushed for the exception to trial arguing that the state had a weak case.

The case which was supposed to run for a week was postponed to February 14 pending determination by the court on whether the case should go for a full trial or be thrown out.

The state went to town arguing that the matter should go for a full trial saying that they have video evidence and witnesses to the effect that Sikhala indeed committed treason.

Mthetwa argued that Sikhala never threatened to overthrow the government but was specific saying it was President Mnangagwa he wanted to see gone before 2023.

“Mnangagwa is not the government of Zimbabwe. Sikhala’s statement doesn’t refer to the government as the government does not comprise of one person.

“Sikhala said we are going to overthrow ‘him’ meaning one person. If he had said we are going to overthrow ‘it’, the State would then have had a better case.

“Saying President Mnangagwa will go before 2023 is not criminal because the constitution provides for legal ways in which a sitting President can be removed from office like through impeachment.

“The statement meant that Sikhala being a Member of Parliament, will take the war and fight to President Mnangagwa’s doorstep through mobilizing for an impeachment. There is nothing treasonous about that.

“President Mnangagwa can be removed from office before 2023 because the constitution sets out the process which can make that happen and that is what Sikhala meant,” said Mthetwa.

She gave reference to the removal of former president Robert Mugabe before the expiry of his term, a move which the High Court declared as legal.

Mthetwa said that the state must not be confused by the use of words ‘war’ and ‘violence’ because they do not necessarily mean violence.

She argued that there is nothing in Sikhala’s statement which points out that President Mnangagwa will go through unconstitutional means.

The State, however, argued that Sikhala’s utterances meant that they are going to use violence and force to usurp power from the government.

“President Mnangagwa is the government and if you threaten to remove him it means you have threatened to remove the government.

“He is addressed as the head of state which means everyone in government serves at his pleasure. If you cut off the head everything else falls.

“Sikhala meant that they are going to effect a coup on the government,” said State prosecutor Zvekare.

Farai Dziva|In a tragic incident that has stunned residents of the ancient city of Masvingo, a form two pupil at Ndarama High School stabbed himself to death after his dad had reprimanded him for coming home late.

The incident happened on Wednesday night.

Narrating his ordeal Mr Mbengo, the boy’s father said:

” I lost my first born son yesterday around 8pm at Makurira Hospital .

I wanted to discipline him over a simple matter because he came home around 730 pm.

While I was asking him, he took a knife from the drawer and stabbed himself.”

In a brief statement Ndarama High School said:

“On a sad note…
Mr Mbengo has lost his son Matipaishe.

We have just received the sad news.

We will update you on funeral arrangements..ngativayeukei mumunamato vanyaradzwe.”

Police in Masvingo have confirmed the tragic incident.

Farai Dziva|In a tragic incident that has stunned residents of the ancient city of Masvingo, a form two pupil at Ndarama High School stabbed himself to death after his dad had reprimanded him for coming home late.

The incident happened on Wednesday night.

Narrating his ordeal Mr Mbengo, the boy’s father said:

” I lost my first born son yesterday around 8pm at Makurira Hospital .

I wanted to discipline him over a simple matter because he came home around 730 pm.

While I was asking him, he took a knife from the drawer and stabbed himself.”

In a brief statement Ndarama High School said:

“On a sad note…
Mr Mbengo has lost his son Matipaishe.

We have just received the sad news.

We will update you on funeral arrangements..ngativayeukei mumunamato vanyaradzwe.”

Police in Masvingo have confirmed the tragic incident.

SUSPENDED Zanu-PF youth league political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu is not going down without a fight, and has demanded answers as to why the ruling party’s Politburo has not censored or even suspended President Emmerson Mnangagwa for doing exactly the same things that got the youth leaders suspended last week.

The Politburo moved with speed last week and suspended Tsenengamu and his colleague Lewis Matutu after the duo named and shamed Zanu-PF linked businessmen for alleged corruption and looting of State resources.

In suspending the two, acting party spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said they had not followed party procedures, while President Mnangagwa himself accused the youth leaders of unchecked activism.

Chinamasa followed that by announcing yesterday that where any citizen has evidence of corruption against any person the correct procedure is to report to Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) or Prosecutor General so that the allegations can be investigated.

“Naming and shaming that targets perceived successful business people be they black or white, breeds fertile ground for extortionists, rent seeking behaviour and will have one outcome, that is haunting such people out of the country into exile which will not help this economy whose growth must be driven by local business people.”

But a supercharged Tsenengamu, propelled by an ever-growing social media following, put Chinamasa to task on Thursday, demanding to know why President Mnangagwa was not suspended for also naming and shaming corrupt barons.

President Mnangagwa in March 2018, when he was just four months into the Presidency, publicly named more than 1 800 companies and individuals he accused of illegally stashing hundreds of millions of dollars overseas and not bringing the money home under a now-expired amnesty deal.

Tsenengamu queries how his act last week was any different from what the Head of State did two years ago.

“Dear Cde Chinamasa. Cde Shef when President Mnangagwa named and shamed those who externalized forex you didn’t say it’s not party policy to name and shame.

“You didn’t say it promotes those with extortionist tendencies and rent seeking behaviour.

“You didn’t say he must tow the party line. You didnt say he is dividing the party. You didn’t say he must follow procedure.

“You didn’t suspend him You didn’t say he must attend Chitepo college. You didn’t say he is scaring away investors.

“You didn’t say he must report to ZACC. You didn’t say he must bring evidence. Why me??”

Meanwhile, Tsenengamu declared last week that he would not enrol with the Chitepo Ideological College, a Zanu-PF institution, saying he was already ideologically solid.

— Zimbabwe Voice

A gang armed to the teeth with machetes raided a school on Monday this week in Zhombe, Midlands Province, and robbed teachers of various personal belongings, leaving the usually quiet community shell-shocked.

School authorities and students at Batanai Sesombi Secondary School in Zhombe separately told Zimbabwe Voice that they were still in shock after the gang besieged their school sports grounds on Monday after sunset and detonated explosives in search of gold, with teachers scurrying into the bush for their safety.

In the ensuing melee, some teachers reported that they had their personal belongings looted form their houses when they fled.

Both the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) have confirmed the attack, which occurred even as police in Midlands have banned the carrying of machetes and other dangerous weapons.

“Preliminary investigations show that indeed there were some skirmishes at Batanai Sesombi Secondary School,” said Patrick Zumbo, a public relations officer at the Ministry of Education, in an interview with Zimbabwe Voice. “School authorities have since reported the matter to the area police, who we understand are now carrying their own investigations.”

Zumbo added that normal lessons and other school activities have since resumed at the school.

A teacher who spoke to this publication said the gang members were well-known, and local police were too scared to hold them to account.

“Even the police report had to be made in a very strategic manner to avoid being spotted at the police. The gang seems to have a blank cheque to unleash violence and no-one around here can stop them, It’s a shame really.”

Efforts by Zimbabwe Voice to get hold of Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende were however not successful, but ARTUZ confirmed the disturbances.

“Our comrades at Batanai Sesombi School in Zhombe are under attack from gangs who are openly detonating explosives at the school sports ground. Teachers there are not safe, and have been chased into the forests by the marauding gangs.

“Our schools are no longer safe. Teachers who the communities must cherish and protect are now working under difficult circumstances due to these gangs. Where is the police in all this?” said an officer at ARTUZ.

The disturbances come as Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavima this week called upon all stakeholders to join hands with the police and decisively deal with machete gangs before they become warlords who have a potential to start a civil war.

Speaking on Tuesday at a Gweru (church) Ministers Fraternal-organised meeting on ending violence in the province, Mavima said history was going to charge society harshly for failing to deal with the machete violence menace in the country.

“As society, and the Midlands province in particular, we should begin to ask ourselves: Who are these machete-wielding gangs?” Mavima said.

“The worst thing we can do is fold our arms, watch, sit and do nothing. In other countries, such gangs have become warlords and that is how civil wars start.”

— Zimbabwe Voice

Own Correspondent|In February last year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa gave Belarus 10 000 ha of land for agricultural production in Zimbabwe in a deal that was not apparently clearly exposed to the country.

The land is directly administered by the Office of Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko.

Experts from Belarus came into the country to select the plots of land, test the soil and identity the type of fertilizers needed. They also studied the matters of irrigation and logistics and how to transport agricultural machines and equipment from Belarus to Zimbabwe.

Belarusians reportedly planned to grow maize and soya first and rice and wheat later. They also planned to build a dairy farm for 1000 cows by the end of last year.

Cattle for the project were to be brought from New Zealand. Simultaneously, a meat and milk processing line was to be launched.

Mnangagwa visited Belarus in January 2019. He invited Belarus President, Lukashenka to pay a visit to Zimbabwe in a surprise new cosy relationship.

The land deal could have been one of the bills that were signed when Zimbabwe and Belarus signed secretive deals worth US$350 million in September last year.

President Mnangagwa witnessed the signing ceremony in Harare.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Busi Moyo represented Zimbabwe while Chief of Presidential Affairs General Colonel Victor Sheiman represented Belarus.

The President said as a result of a short period of preparation, only two out of six agreements had been completed and signed.

He said the rest of agreements on the part of the Belarus delegation have been completed, but Zimbabwe side still wanted to go through some legal processes such as the public agreements committee and going through Cabinet.

“Once that is achieved I think the Minister of Finance (Professor Mthuli Ncube) and other team from agriculture will travel to Belarus and will have those agreements signed,” he said then.

At the signing ceremony Minister Moyo said the agricultural agreement between Belarus and Zimbabwe on the development of an agricultural project was to enable the country to grow maize, wheat and soya beans for internal consumption.

“As you are aware the joint permanent commissions are meant to focus on economic issues and bilateral issues in a more detailed way, some of which could be a Bi-National Commission so that we can maximise benefits resulting from our relations with Belarus,” he said without disclosing details.

“That is typical transactional diplomacy.”

Details on what happened to the land are however still sketchy and these will be published as soon as they are available.