Farai Dziva|The trial of MDC deputy chairperson Job Sikhala has been postponed to 03 – 07 February, the party has said.

The trial was scheduled for January 27-30.

“The Treason trial of the MDC Deputy National Chair Hon JobSikhala that was scheduled to kick off on Monday 27-31 January 2020 has been postponed to 03 – 07 February for the State has indicated its unpreparedness on the case,” said the Movement for Democratic Change in a statement.

It was at the time of writing believed the National Prosecuting Authority intends to cook up evidence against Sikhala having failed to prove a prima facie against him for treason.

The latest decision comes barely 3 days to his trial on allegations of subverting or attempting to overthrow a constitutional government.

This is a charge according to the State papers which emanates from a purported video downloaded from the Twitter account of one Jones Musara, a ZANU PF activist based in Toronto, Canada.

In the video aforesaid Jones Musara purports that Sikhala addressed people urging them to overthrow Mnangagwa.

A constitutional government is that which drives its authority from the governed through a free and fair election devoid of manipulation and fraud.

A number of ZANU PF activists and their surrogates were celebrating that the hour of Sikhala fix had come.

Sikhala has been arrested 63 times from 2000 to present. Records show he was never convicted on any case from rape to murder. All turned out to be persecutions disguised as prosecutions.

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS:

One good soul in this party of the deranged once said that the late Robert Mugabe was different from this clown we currently have among ourselves masquerading as a President.

Mugabe would not interfere with the judiciary. He would only interfere on matters that directly threatened his power, like the Presidential election petition challenging his legitimacy. That he would not mind how the judiciary deals with other matters outside threat to his power. So he goes on to say that, that’s why the late Morgan Tsvangirai was acquitted on two crucial cases.

One when he threatened to remove Mugabe violently if he didn’t want to go peacefully.

The second one being the Ari Ben Manashe drama which was packaged as a Treason trial. He further says that our present clown phones directly Public Prosecutors and judiciary officers to give instructions.

The charge Sikhala is facing is a specie of Treason. It has a mandatory sentence of 20 years in prison without an option of a fine.

The demented ones in the club of fools, which ZANU PF people are, waffle that you deserve what you are getting because you were not supposed to say what you said. In the State papers the overzealous “unknown reward” seeking ignorant police officers say that by threatening to remove Mnangagwa from power Sikhala was seeking to change the hands of power before his term expires in 2023.

In the study of constitutionalism, an individual does not constitute a government. A government is constituted by its three branches, that is, the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature. Mnangagwa is an individual who is not all or any of that. He can go today, the Executive may remain as constituted minus him, the Judiciary will remain the same, so is the Legislature. When individuals turn themselves into governments, you must know that, that country is cursed. And let it be known that Mnangagwa is not government. Government is instituted in terms of the constitution with its distinct branches.

Mnangagwa is not all that. He is just a Sherwood Farm fish farmer who occupies an office which is not defined to belong to him. It can be occupied by anyone if he perishes today.

So anyone in his or her perverted disposition who thinks that this trial is going to be sadza eating jamboree should take a strange dog for a wife.

Those extractors of the purported documentary from a ZANU PF malcontent living far away in Canada must be prepared for the nightmare of their lives.

We saw the overzealous ones during the Treason trial of Morgan Tsvangirai behaving as if everybody was borrowing the air we breath from them including Augustine Chihuri. When you meet them in streets today they look pathetic and deranged, with nothing to show for the bombastic self they were demonstrating during the material time. Since time immemorial, Sikhala has never received the level of solidarity, prayers and encouragement like what he is currently receiving. This is a demonstration that the people of Zimbabwe are not fools as envisaged by someone who encourages everyone to feed on vegetables daily until Kingdom comes.

Be reassured that gloves are off. The titanic battle has begun. In his life he has lost battles but not a war. This is a war, not a war for myself but for everyone who believes in a free and democratic Zimbabwe.

By A Correspondent- Two sons to former Masvingo transport mogul Tanda Tavaruva who ran his fleet of buses under the name Mhunga bus company were reportedly involved in a near fatal accident along the Masvingo- Beitbridge highway last night.

The duo, were on their way from South Africa.

Read a statement doing the rounds which is yet to be confirmed by the police:

Ex, Masvingo bus and haulage transport magnet, Tanda Tavaruva’s two sons were last night involved in a near fatal and horrific accident while they were travelling from South Africa heading home.

Godfrey GT, Tavaruva and Shepherd Chikepe Tavaruva were ferried to Masvingo General Hospital. Godfrey broke his hip and is said to be in stable condition while his young brother Chikepe is in a critical condition.

A close relative said plans are underway to transfer Chikepe to Harare.

The two who were driving a Toyota Wish, side swapped with, a haulage truck that crossed into their lane while avoiding a hump near Stevens shops, along the Masvingo-Beit bridge road.”

The Tavaruvas remain a household name in the province following years of blissful bus and haulage transport business that eventually crumbled due to several factors including the economic collapse in the country.

LATE notorious armed robber Edmund Edgar Masendeke’s two siblings have been arrested by the police crack team targeting machete gang leaders after they allegedly assaulted and robbed a motorist of US$300 in Kwekwe last week .

The Masendeke brothers — Edward, Kudzai and two accomplices were arrested over the weekend after robbing a motorist (not named in police records) along the Kwekwe-Harare Highway.

They produced machetes, dragged the motorist out of the car before assaulting and robbing him of hard currency

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he would get back to NewsDay after getting details of the case.

The case was reported at Kwekwe Central Police Station under RRB 4031491.

Allegations against the Masendeke brothers, Edward (42) of 449 B Section 6 and his sibling, Kudzai (26) of 180 Section 5 Mbizo suburb and their two accomplices, Lovemore Magorimbo (28) of Riffle Range Road Chegutu, Nesbert Banda (39) of Flat 4 D, Amaveni, Kwekwe, are that on January 11 at around 11:30am they followed the complainant who was driving a Honda Fit vehicle along the Kwekwe-Harare Highway.

He parked his vehicle at a truck inn. Before he disembarked, the robbers arrived in a Mercedes Benz with South African registration numbers.

They produced machetes and dragged the motorist out of the car, assaulted him and robbed him.

On Saturday, a police crack team hunting machete gang leaders received information that the four were involved in the armed robbery.

Acting on the tip-off they arrested Magorimbo who admitted that he, indeed, robbed the complainant and implicated Banda, leading to his arrest.

Banda also implicated Magorimbo and Edward.

He then led detectives to Edward’s hideout who also reportedly admitted committing the offence.

It was also discovered that all the suspects had been released from remand prison on bail last year on charges of murder and armed robbery.

It has emerged that Edward is on bail pending murder trial.

He had been on the run since 2013 and was arrested in September 2018 after he resurfaced at his elder brother Elson’s funeral.

Edward, together with accomplices Walter Mahofa and Justice Mukarati, allegedly assaulted Jonathan Mpofu and his siblings Ernest and the late Elson following a misunderstanding in a bar in 2013.

Mpofu died on the spot from the assault.

— NewsDay

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is deeply concerned with the various constitutional amendments that were recently proposed by the Zanu PF regime.

Indeed, despite all the grave concerns and strong reservations that were raised by many quarters of society, the raft of amendments were Gazetted on the 31st of December 2019 under Amendment 2 – HB23/2019.

The MDC is strongly opposed to the amendments since they are by and large a mere mutilation and an unjustifiable attack by the regime on an inclusive Constitution which represents fully, the varied political will of the people of Zimbabwe.

By so doing, the regime seeks to reverse the democratic gains of the 2013 Constitution by abusing its Parliamentary Majority to steam-roll the horrendous defacement of our people’s Constitution.

Of particular concern to the MDC are the proposed amendments which seek at their core, to unbridle key judicial and electoral safeguards as well as the integrity of important constitutional on institutions.

This tends to taint every other amendments included in the raft of amendments with the same mischief and as such, the entire raft must be rejected.

Firstly, the proposed amendments will allow the President to appoint judges and the Prosecutor General directly without the Judicial Services Commission conducting public interviews.

These proposals by the regime, are against both international and regional best practices which recommend rigorous interviewing and vetting processes to ensure that judicial appointments are according to merit.

As such, what is clear therefore is that the regime’s motivation for this lack of transparency is merely to place political puppets at the helm of our judiciary.

Secondly, the proposed amendments de-couples ZEC’s delimitation function from the population census held every 10 years. The MDC believes that the present clauses on delimitation are progressive and that the regime’s attempt to amend them is mischievous and show its lack of commitment to real electoral reform.

The removal of an elected Vice President as a running mate makes it quite clear that the sole motive of the raft of amendments is personal aggrandizement and the consolidation of internal factional politics by Emmerson Mnangagwa and nothing more. It stems from his illegitimate reign.

Indeed, what we may now be witnessing are the fruits of this illegitimacy in its full blaze.

It is ironic that its first victim is the judiciary which ensconced him in his illegitimate seat.

In his 2020 Agenda setting statement to the nation, the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa highlighted that “the Constitutional amendments seek to restore the Imperial Presidency that we thought we had dealt with decisively in 2013 through the approval in the referendum of a new constitution…the call for alignment of the constitution must be stronger than before.”

Therefore, MDC as the custodian and true promoter of the people’s will, strongly objects to these proposed amendments and will actively resist them.

The MDC is thus calling upon all the people of Zimbabwe to rise up and start to actively resist this raft of proposed changes both during the so-called consultative process and also to utilise their varied means of expression to resist this move and render it illegitimate.

MDC: Change that Delivers

Kucaca Phulu (Secretary for Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs)

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

• USD to ZWL$: 17.2448
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.8333

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

• Subscribe to Pindula Newsletter here

• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com 25.50
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com 25.30
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 25.30
• USD to BOND: zimrates.com 19.30

More: marketwatch.co.zw

By A Correspondent- Acting President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, gained custody of the couple’s three children on Friday last week, as part of an initially agreed out-of-court settlement, which was, however, aborted after the former army chief made a dramatic volte-face on Monday.

Family sources said there were negotiations between the Chiwenga and Mubaiwa families for an out-of-court settlement of their nasty divorce case in which the two are washing dirty linen in public, accusing each other of violence, drug abuse and witchcraft. The custody of the three minor children is one of the issues at the center of the raging divorce case.

Chiwenga last week claimed he took the children out of the country on holiday in 2019 after he found them highly traumatized by what he described as his wife’s witchcraft practices.

According to insiders, the two families held negotiations throughout the day on Friday via an emissary only identified as Mupostori Shumba, who is said to have been asked to mediate by Chiwenga’s friends, among them, tycoon Kuda Tagwirei, who do not want their names tarnished in court.

Tagwirei has already been sucked into the matter after Marry indicated that one of the cars they are wrangling over, a top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz S600 sedan, was bought by the fuel mogul.

Mupostori Shumba, sources said, was chosen as the mediator because he is also well-known to the Mubaiwas. The source said Mupostori Shumba spent the better part of last Friday shuttling between Chiwenga’s secretive Borrowdale house, where he has been staying since his return from a complex medical procedure in China in November last year, and the Mubaiwas.

“He (the mediator) first went to Chiwenga’s new residence before he met Marry and her family at a house in Newlands. All negotiations were conducted through him. He practically spent the whole day moving up and down,” a source said.

“As of Friday night, there was an agreement for an out-of-court settlement and, as part of that, Chiwenga had agreed to let Marry have custody of the children which is now the case. Basically, Marry wanted the general to first withdraw the criminal charges levelled against her and to agree on a property-sharing plan,” the source said. “

The impression we got from Mupostori Shumba was that Chiwenga was amenable to that arrangement as well. Marry actually said that it was not originally in her plans to divorce and say all the nasty things in public but she felt that since he had started it all, she had to respond in kind.

“So at the end of the day everyone thought progress had been made, only for us to get the shock of our lives when his lawyer on Monday told newspapers that Chiwenga was itching for a showdown with her in court,” the source added.

“There are suspicions that may have been influenced by some of his friends between Friday night and Monday to have a change of heart, from the look of things, which is very unfortunate considering the plight of the children in the whole drama.”

The source further said the warring parties had even agreed to allow their lawyers to work on a deed of settlement and finalise it in seven days.

“The negotiations ended with an agreement to allow lawyers from both parties to work on a deed of settlement which was supposed to be deliberated on by both parties over the weekend, but everything now appears to be in jeopardy,” the source said.

Last week, Marry, who was in the company of her lawyer Advocate Taona Nyamakura, appeared before High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda but the matter was not deliberated on after the parties agreed to attempt to settle the matter out of court.

Marry is claiming an equivalent of US$40 000 per month as maintenance for her upkeep and a total of US$7 500 per month for her three children, which money she said should be paid at the interbank rate.

Besides the claim of monthly maintenance, Marry also said her husband should be ordered to pay for the family’s holidays, school and medical expenses and casual clothes, all running into thousands of United States dollars.

-TheIndependent

By A Correspondent- Controversial dancer Beverly Sibanda (28) yesterday left tongues wagging at Harare Magistrates Court after her legal marriage ceremony.

She married Chambuka Mufudzi (43), who is a medical doctor in the UK.

Bev, popularly known for her raunchy dances, caused a stir at Rotten Row despite attempts to avoid attention.

Sibanda was dressed decently in a floral formal long sleeved dress and her husband dressed in a blue suit.

Harare Provincial magistrate Joy Chikodzore presided over the marriage ceremony.

Bev was seemingly unfazed by the H-Metro camera during the ceremony. However, the newly wedded couple left the court separately in a bid divert attention.

Meanwhile, Bev’s manager Hapaguti “Hapaz” Mapimhidze reckons the raunchy dancer has silenced her doubting Thomases after she tied the knot with her UK based lover.

He likened Bev to a ‘miracle baby’ after she tied the knot with Mufudzi Chambuka yesterday at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.

Bev’s court wedding has since sent the social media overdrive as dancer is been widely linked with several men.

Many had written her off as a “hothead” while others were of the opinion she was a loose woman.

Bev has over the years been linked with several prominent people including footballers, top musicians, music promoters and foreign-based business executives.

However, her manager and most trusted lieutenant – Hapaz – said Bev was just waiting for her tome to come.

“Good things come to those who have patience and Bev is one of the people who have showed us that patience and good choice pay,” he said.

“I have known Bev for a while and for the past 11 or so years that I have been managing her affairs, our chemistry grew beyond words.

“I consider her for my daughter because I have been managing both her career and personal life.”

Speaking on Bev’s ‘bad girl’ tag, which she carried for the better part of her career, Hapaz said the Sexy Angels boss has proved a point that nothing is impossible in life.

“I know you have been writing her controversies but this time around I think you now have good news to write about.

“She has proved a point that true love still exists as is the case with Bev and Mufudzi,” he said.

Asked why the marriage has been a long kept secret, Hapaz said:

“In life there comes a time when privacy is needed because at times lack on it may jeorpadises a lot of things in life.

“By the way, Bev and Mufudzi have been dating for a while and the two would chat over the phone.

“Three weeks ago, Mufudzi paid lobola to Bev’s family and he will be returning to the UK mid-February.

“The lobola ceremony went according to plan and we are glad their marriage was blessed by elders.

“The wedding thing was fast tracked because he wants to finalise the paper work before he returns to his base.”

Hapaz said Bev’s husband was supportive of his wife’s career path.

“From what I have gathered, Bev will continue dancing as long as she still has the energy.

“Her husband was aware of Bev’s profession before they married and he is a responsible man who respects his woman.

“He has been sponsoring some of her tours and we are glad that they genuinely love each other.”

On why Bev opted to settle with a little known man when she had been linked with several prominent people, Hapaz said:

“It appears some people wanted to waste her time but as I indicated earlier on, she was just waiting for the right time to come.

“She would tell me of every person who dated her and I would give her advice as a father figure to her.

“We have been to Magaya’s church where other people were after her and we have also been to foreign lands but Bev was not tempted.”

Hapaz appealed to Bev’s past ‘boyfriends’ to leave her alone as she starts a new life.

“I urge people to respect Bev’s privacy especially some of the man who can lot let of the past.

“I will urge her to continue praying for her marriage because it is bound to be tested.”

By A Correspondent- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has issued a warning to foreign currency dealers who are manipulating the exchange rate. This comes as street rates have breached the 25x mark on Thursday. The interbank mid rate is on 17.2204x

In a statement released tonight, the central bank said that manipulators were exerting pressure on the exchange rate with the intention of destabilising the market, which had held steady over the past four months.

“It has come to the attention of the bank that there are some exchange rate manipulators that are exerting pressure on the forex market with the intention of causing instability to a market which had held steady over the past four months.

“Such malpractice is not warranted as money supply has remained under control for the past five months.”

The RBZ said the Financial Intelligent Unit will proceed to investigate  and freeze  the accounts of those upsetting the market amid suspicion that the manipulators were foreign nationals.

In yesterday’s deliberations, the Monetary Policy Committee celebrated the exchange rate stability that has prevailed since October. Although there is a premium of almost 50% between the black market and the interbank rate there has been stability on both rates for the last three months.

The MPC acknowledged that money supply was the major cause of the exchange rate instability and reiterated the resolve of the central bank to curtail money supply. If the bank sticks to its resolve it might just be able to tame the twin monsters of exchange rate instability and inflation.

Though statistics are currently lagging it would seem there has been a drastic reduction in money supply expansionary activities by the central bank over the past two months.

-FinX

By A Correspondent- A 19-year-old Harare maid yesterday appeared in court on allegations of killing her employer’s son by strangling.

Memory Zvinzveku appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa on murder charges.

She was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The court heard that on January 22, Zvinzveku went to Tafara 1 Primary School to pick her victim.

It is alleged that when they got home, the boy removed his school uniform and put on other clothes before going next door to play with other children.

It is the State’s case that Zvinzveku followed the boy and took him home.

She allegedly strangled him before placing his body on the bed. The court heard that Zvinzveku went and told Fadzanai Kakunguwo, a neighbour, that the minor was not waking up and she came to check.

Kakunguwo noticed that the boy was dead and he had some scratch marks on the neck.

A post-mortem was conducted on January 22 and it was revealed that the boy had died due to strangulation.-State media

By A Correspondent- The High Court has blocked the magistrates’ court from prosecuting jailed cleric Robert Martin Gumbura and six others on prison break charges until it rules on their review application for discharge.

High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi stopped the prosecution when the State and the defence both agreed to suspend the case until the High Court has made its review ruling.

Gumbura and six other inmates are facing charges of attempting to break out of prison in 2013.

Gumbura’s alleged six accomplices are Blessing Chiduke, Luckmore Matambanadzo, Lucky Mhungu, Taurai Dodzo, Thomas Chacha and Elijah Vhumbunu.

The accused were contesting a ruling made by Harare magistrate Francis Mapfumo, who dismissed their application for discharge at the close of State’s last year.

The development comes after Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi had filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking the dismissal of the accused persons’ application for the review of Mapfumo’s ruling.

According to Hodzi, seven months had lapsed since the case was put before the High Court, but the cleric and his co-accused were yet to file their affidavits.

Mr Mapfumo ruled that there was reasonable suspicion the suspects committed an offence and should be put to their defence.

Two of the inmates — Thulani Chizema and Jacob Sibanda — were acquitted at the close of the State’s case.

Mr Mapfumo said the remaining seven should explain why they went on prison rooftops if they were protesting over food on the day in question.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- An Esigodini man died on the spot while four others were seriously injured after a truck they were travelling in overturned in Mawabeni.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Wednesday at around 3PM at the 56 kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road.

He said the driver, Chrispen Tshuma (38) from Esigodini lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and overturned.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal accident which occurred at the 56 kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road in Mawabeni. Chrispen Tshuma was driving a seven tonne truck from Esigodini headed for Mbalabala. When he got to the 56 kilometre peg he lost control of the vehicle which overturned once before landing on its side,” he said.

“Norious Ndlovu (28) from Esigodini died on the spot while four others were injured. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene. The injured were ferried to Esigodini District Hospital for treatment while Ndlovu’s body was taken to the hospital’s mortuary.”  

Chief Insp Ndebele urged motorists to exercise caution when travelling on roads and to adhere to road regulations. He urged drivers to desist from speeding as that was the cause of many accidents.

Chief Insp Ndebele said motorists must always check their vehicles for faults.

In another incident, an unlicensed driver has been arrested for allegedly running over and killing a pedestrian in the Gwanda CBD.

Justice Ndlovu (24) of Spitzkop North Suburb will appear in court on a date yet to be advised. The matter will proceed by way of summons pending further investigations.

According to the State papers Ndlovu ran over and killed Kenias Shoko (64) from Mberengwa on September 24 last year. “On 24 September 2019 at around 7PM Ndlovu was driving a Toyota Townace along the Bulawayo- Beitbridge road without a valid driver’s licence.

Upon reaching the 128 kilometre peg in the Gwanda CBD he hit a pedestrian Kenias Shoko who was walking on the side of the road.  

“He lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and hit a tree before coming to a stop. Shoko sustained severe head injuries and died on the spot as a result of the injuries he sustained. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene,” read the Statement.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Raunchy dancer and singer Beverly “Bev” Sibanda, who has over the years entertained local men with her sexually-charged dances, yesterday tied the knot with a United Kingdom-based medical doctor Chambuka Mupudzi at the Harare Magistrates Court.

A source close to the development told a local publication that Bev’s marriage to Mupudzi was solemnised at the court after the latter paid lobola at Bev’s family village in Silobela two weeks ago.

“She is no longer the same Bev we used to know after lobola was paid about two weeks ago in Silobela. The guy is a doctor in the United Kingdom and was in the country for the better part of the festive season,” the source said.

He highlighted that Bev’s new husband was well aware of her profession and it was something that he had accepted, so it was highly unlikely that the marriage would crumble for that reason.

“Her fiancée is aware of her lifestyle and he fully understands the nature of her profession because when he entered into the relationship, he knew very well that Bev was an artiste so there are no problems likely to crack the marriage,” the source said.

Bev’s manager, Harpers Mapimhidze, who also confirmed the wedding, congratulated the dancer.

“We say congratulations to Bev; she has done something appreciable in the showbiz industry. I urge fellow dancers to follow suit since this is something good,” he said.

“Those promoters who had booked Bev in advance, we are going to fulfil all contractual agreements because she will not be exiting the dance floor anytime soon.”

Many people had dismissed the Sexy Angels leader as unlikely material for marriage, and with Bev herself having earlier indicated that marriage was not a priority as she wanted to take her time to find new love.

NewsDay Life & Style understands that the groom will fly back to his UK base in a few days’ time, while Bev will remain behind sorting out her travel documents so that she will be able to join her husband.

“The husband will be travelling back to work soon in UK, so Bev will be visiting him frequently before maybe she relocates as what has been said by the husband,” said another source. Before walking down the aisle yesterday, the mother of one had previously been associated with a number of men who included popular South Africa-based Kwekwe businessman, arts promoter Boss Agrippa, national team footballer Khama Billiat and fellow singer Andy Muridzo.

-Newsday

FORMER Zanu PF Harare provincial commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe has opened the lid on how the ruling party used land to buy votes ahead of national elections.

Mashayamombe is one of the key members of the G40 cabal that had coalesced around the late former President Robert Mugabe and his wife, former First Lady Grace, and was involved in massive campaigns for the ruling party in the capital.

Amid suspicion of vote-buying by Zanu PF using land, Mashayamombe confirmed yesterday that the ruling party won some seats in and around Harare in previous elections using land as a bait.

This corroborates a report by the land audit chaired by Justice Tendai Uchena that also confirmed use of State land for votes.

“My biggest question about the land commission is that why is the report not published properly so that every interested person can access it? This is political and it exposes how our institutions are captured because some of those accused were never summoned by the commission to give their side of the story,” Mashayamombe, who is reportedly facing arrest over land issues, said.

“All those 137 co-operatives’ leadership who are being sacrificed today were used to mobilise votes for Zanu PF in peri-urban areas. Now they are being dumped.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year instituted a commission to probe the issue of land in the country and was presented with a report by Justice Uchena that said government lost more than $3 billion in potential revenue to land barons.

The report implicates several former Zanu PF bigwigs, including Mashayamombe, former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, Grace, among others who are reportedly facing arrest.

Zanu PF national commissar Victor Matemadanda yesterday said he was not involved when land was used as a vote-buring gimmick.

“I was not part of that. I wouldn’t want to comment on what I don’t know and what I was not part of. You need to ask those who were sending them,” he said.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo was not picking calls yesterday.

Observers have often accused Zanu PF of creating land barons while pushing to garner votes, particularly ahead of the 2013 harmonised elections.

The Justice Uchena report read in part: “The commission established with serious concern that most new residential estates on urban State land throughout the country have no services such as roads, water reticulation, sewage reticulation and amenities, yet these settlements are already occupied.

“The identification and occupation of farms in and around urban areas was a complex process which involved creation of new urban settlements by aspiring or sitting Members of Parliament as a way of mobilising political support, abuse of political office in the allocation and appropriation of urban State land.”

The report further stated that there was use of names of top ruling party leadership to exert undue influence on government institutions and processes.

 NewsDay

FORMER Zanu-PF MP for Highfields West, Psychology Maziwisa, has been fired by former First Lady Grace Mugabe from his recently appointed role as General Manager at Alpha Omega dairies over suspected cases of alleged thefts of money and ice creams.

Impeccable sources within the Mazowe-based business operation owned by the Mugabe family have revealed how Maziwisa, who recently sold a house he had bought for his son as he fell on hard times, had been appointed into the job by Grace Mugabe based on their previous “good working relationship in the G40 faction” of Zanu-PF.

When President Emmerson Mnangagwa replaced the late former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, most of the G40 kingpins fled the country, but some like Maziwisa stayed put and maintained a low profile as they were not perceived to be a threat to the new leaders at the Zanu-PF headquarters.

Maziwisa, a lawyer by training but who hardly made a name in the profession as he went straight into Zanu-PF politics, then fell on hard times and got a job at the dairy facility founded by Mugabe and his wife.

However, Grace Mugabe in an intriguing turn of events yesterday fired Maziwisa “after it was discovered that he was stealing money from ice cream sales,” Zimbabwe Voice has been told.

“He (Maziwisa) was working with his IT counterpart named Amon Saizi, who is an elder at the ZAOGA and a friend to Simba Chikore,” Zimbabwe Voice heard.

Chikore, who is married to Grace Mugabe’s only daughter Bona, comes from a powerful ZAOGA family.

“Saizi was brought by Simba to be his spy in the company but later teamed up with Mazivisa and started stealing both cash and the ice-cream boxes.

“EcoCash sales would be remitted to their numbers and they would spent the money,” it has been revealed.

Chikore is said to be keeping a close tab on the Gushungo Holdings businesses as he invested his money into some of the projects.

Meanwhile, Maziwisa has been also accused of taking money from cattle sales to fix his personal car.

“There has been a massive abuse of property by some of the top managers at the Gushungo Farm ever since the Mugabes lost power in November 2017. It’s like a free-for-all moment for the workers, as Grace herself is also unwilling to review salaries and allowances despite the poor economic situation.”

Meanwhile, Grace Mugabe’s personal driver has also been accused of bedding a girlfriend in the car which is used by the former First Lady.

Zimbabwe Voice

GOVERNMENT is working on regulations to allow locals with foreign currency the option to pay for passports in forex in a bid to speed up the process and clear the huge backlog.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said there is a passport backlog of between 350 000 and 400 000 passports.

Last year, Government authorised the charging of US$318 for passport applicants in the Diaspora and said the applications will be prioritised.

Speaking after a familiarisation tour of the registry and immigration offices in Gweru yesterday, Minister Kazembe said his ministry had been approached by locals willing to pay for passports in foreign currency to access the much needed travel document.

He said those with no access to forex will continue paying in local currency.

The Minister said since Government had outlawed the use of foreign currency, it will take a Statutory Instrument to allow those with free funds to pay for their passports in forex.

“Government is working out strategies to clear the passport backlog and increase daily production because we remain committed to ensuring that every citizen who needs a passport gets one without hurdles. So soon if approved by the responsible authority, we want a new Statutory Instrument that allows locals with foreign currency to pay for the production of the document. At the moment we all know that it is illegal for locals to pay for the production of the passport using any foreign currency. That is one way to speed up the production of the document because the material we use in the production of the passport is imported and needs foreign currency,” he said.

Minister Kazembe said passports being printed now were those applied for in October 2018.

He said there is a huge backlog which needs to be cleared as a matter of urgency so that people are granted their Constitutional right to access the travelling document.

“Clearing the passport backlog is Government’s number one priority as we speak and that is why we have embarked on this tour of provinces so that we get the feel of what is happening on the ground while listening to challenges, advice and contributions from the people which we will take back and work on lasting solutions to this passport backlog problem,” said Minister Kazembe.

He said locals who cannot afford to pay in foreign currency will not be forced to do so.

“As you know it is illegal to transact in foreign currency meaning if we have this new Statutory Instrument, locals who can’t raise foreign currency will not be forced to do so. This will be only for those who can afford and need their passports quickly,” he said.

Turning to corruption at the immigration and passport offices, Minister Kazembe said members of the public should assist Government in fighting the scourge by reporting corrupt officials.

“Without members of the public alerting us about suspected corruption, we won’t get to the bottom of it. If you are asked to pay a bribe, you need to report that official as soon as possible,” he said.

Mrs Respect Gono, the chief immigration officer told the minister that they had been forced to centralise some services in Harare to curb rampant corruption in her department.

“We were forced to take some immigration services to Harare because of corruption in the regional offices. But we have managed to clean out the rotten apples and we are in the process of decentralising immigration services,” she said.

Minister Kazembe was accompanied by his deputy Mike Madiro, Registrar-General Mr Clement Masango and the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima.

THE number of illegal miners arrested countrywide in the week-long police operation to restore law and order in mining communities has risen to 1 823 with the latest batch including a suspected member of the Ziga machete gang that allegedly killed Constable Wonder Hokoyo at Battlefields recently.

Lloyd Kasena (age not given) was arrested in Shamva after being linked to the case and was yesterday still assisting police with investigations.

Kasena’s arrest comes after Phelandaba Tshuma (32), the suspected ringleader of the Ziga machete gang, was arrested last week.

Tshuma was arrested at his hideout in Rushinga, after he attempted to flee and was shot.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests yesterday.

“Of interest is the arrest of one Lloyd Kasena who belongs to a machete gang called Ziga. He was on police’s most wanted list for the murder of Constable Wonder Hokoyo and has since confessed to that.

“He also has cases of attempted murder and assault committed in 2018 and six cases of robbery which occurred in 2019.

“He is the one in the video that recently went viral on social media while holding a Colombian knife and wearing blue a T-shirt, shouting ‘Ziga’, in the company of Phelandaba Tshuma,” he said.

Kasena will appear in court soon once investigations are complete.

Asst Comm Nyathi confirmed that police had now arrested 1 823 suspected illegal miners during the ongoing operation code-named “Chikorokoza Ngachipere/No to Machete Gangs”.

“We would like to urge licensed miners and farmers to report any illegal miners and machete gangs that are hiding on their farms. So far there is compliance at Jumbo Mine and ZRP is on top of the situation,” he said.

Police recently sealed off Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, a move aimed at restoring law and order to the area.

Jumbo Mine has been a haven for illegal activities with a high prevalence of machete wars that claimed lives and injured many.

Meanwhile, police this week arrested 45 illegal gold panners and eight vendors at Vhovha Mine in Gwanda, while five more were arrested for disorderly conduct.

“Mining implements, dangerous weapons such as axes, knobkerries, iron bars and an assortment of food stuffs, drinks, soap, and liquor were recovered in the process,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

State Media|FORMER police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri allegedly pocketed US$4 million collected as deposit fees for a housing scheme for 900 low-ranking police officers in Hatcliffe.

According to a report by the Land Commission set to investigate abuse of State land, the money cannot be accounted for while there are only two show houses and a few roads at the site.

Chihuri is also accused of hijacking an upmarket housing scheme for top police officers in north-eastern Harare in its final phase, allocating himself three hectares on land earmarked for communal boreholes.

He reportedly ordered land originally set aside for a hotel and a club house to be subdivided and parcelled out to civilians.

The Land Commission chaired by Justice Tendai Uchena is recommending thorough investigations into the upmarket scheme, Police Heights Housing project at Gletywin Farm in Harare, concentrating on the third phase where the commission finds a lot could have gone wrong.

The planning and construction for this phase was approved without the mandatory involvement of the Environment Management Agency (EMA), the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and Government, a development viewed by the Land Commission as an irregularity that must be investigated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

Many police bosses holding the rank of assistant commissioner and above built mansions on the upmarket land during Chihuri’s tenure.

Double-storey mansions dominate the leafy suburb, with some still under construction.

Chihuri reportedly influenced the subdivision of almost 6ha reserved for a hotel into five residential stands that were allocated to civilians, when the project was meant for members of the police and security services.

He allegedly asked for the change on the basis that more land was needed for his senior officers.

A club house stand measuring 2,6ha was subdivided into residential stands, yet it was once a recreational park and some stands are within the prohibited distance from a water course.

According to the report, Chihuri walled and gated the 3ha of land on which police had drilled eight boreholes for use by all residents.

To that end, the commission has recommended that the Local Government ministry should investigate circumstances under which Chihuri appropriated the land.

The commission recommends that: “The Registrar of Cooperatives should cause audits of all financial records and general compliance with the Cooperative Societies’ Act by the Police Heights Housing Cooperative.”

The ministry, EMA and ZINWA should investigate and take corrective measures regarding the creation of stands in Phase 3 of the project, the commission said.

Officials in the Local Government ministry, the report said, who were involved in the approval of the lay out plan and subdivisions, should also be investigated.

The housing project for lower ranking officers in Hatcliffe where about 900 people were allocated stands in 2011 next to ZRP High School is causing concern among members of the police force.

In terms of the housing deal, beneficiaries would get offer letters upon payment of US$4 500 through CABS, after which they would be entitled to a four-roomed cottage. Further developments would be at the individual owner’s expense.

Hundreds of officers paid the required initial payment, but they are still to get the houses.

No construction has been taking place amid fears and allegations that Chihuri and some former senior police officers may have grabbed the US$4 million meant to develop the stands.

ZRP was allocated land in the area by the Ministry of Local Government for the development of a title-holding individual home ownership scheme for police officers.

Initial costs of servicing and building four rooms were done by both the ZRP and the building society.

A copy of one of the offer letters seen by The Herald recently reads: “Stand sizes range between 250 to 500 square metres. Once the mortgage terms and other preliminaries are concluded, beneficiaries will be asked to sign mortgage documentation. Cost details: US$17 623, 98. Total deposit US$4 473,00 and monthly instalments for 10 years of US$202,00. The amount paid as deposit will have a bearing on the level of instalments to be paid.”

The deposit payers wrote a letter to Chihuri through some senior police officers who were, by then, in-charge of the project but did not get any response.

When The Herald visited the area recently, there were two show houses that were constructed in 2011 and a few roads.

The area is just before the ZRP High School and there is a billboard that is still erected at the area which is inscribed Zimbabwe Republic Police; CABS (financier); Old Mutual Property (project manager); Zimbabwe ZACE Engineers and CMN-YBJ (consulting engineers).

The trial of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko on charges of abuse of office failed to kick-off yesterday and was deferred to January 30 after he indicated that he was still preparing his defence.

Mphoko, through his lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara, told the court that although he had prepared a draft defence outline, which he had handed to the State, he still needed more time.

The former VP is facing criminal abuse of office charges after he reportedly ordered the release of former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma and ex-board member Davison Norupiri from Avondale Police Station who had been arrested in 2016 for the same offence.

Mphoko said his lawyers failed to prepare the full defence outline as they were under the impression that they would make an application for direct access to the Constitutional Court.

“I am not prepared to proceed to trial at this point in time,” he said.

“I had not finalised the defence outline, but I have tendered a draft defence outline with the State. I would like to confess that I needed time to deal with this aspect. I pray that I be given time to prepare the defence.”

Mphoko attributed his delay in finalising his defence to the failure to get a transcribed record of proceedings, which he needed for the Concourt application.

He said the Concourt application was necessary because four other applications in the lower court had been unsuccessful.

The State led by Mr Lovetti Masuku initially opposed the postponement, saying they furnished Mphoko with all the court papers in time for him to prepare his defence.

“When the court ruled against referral to the Concourt, the defence did not take any issue at that time,” he said.

“They should have instantly requested for the record to be transcribed.

“What we agreed was the trial date was today. The State is ready to proceed to trial.”

Mr Masuku also argued that Mphoko failed to notify the court about the Concourt application.

“We are prepared to proceed with trial as long as they give us their defence outline,” he said.

“We had served them with papers on October 9, 2019.”

After being furnished with the draft defence outline, the State agreed to postpone the matter with Harare regional magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya setting January 30 as the trial date.

State Media|Government has set up a taskforce to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of Mealie Meal.

The taskforce will make follow-ups with retailers to curb diversion of the maize-meal to the black market.

This comes amid observations that even refined maize-meal was no longer readily available.

There is panic-buying, while connected individuals buy as many bags as they can and divert them to the black market each time deliveries are made.

At the black market, subsidised roller meal is selling for almost twice the gazetted $50 for a 10kg packet.

Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza told a Press conference yesterday that the maize-meal taskforce was headed by her deputy, Raji Modi.

The taskforce has hit the ground running in Bulawayo, ensuring equitable distribution of the much sought after commodity.

“Already in Bulawayo, retailers have started receiving their maize-meal at affordable prices,” said Dr Nzenza.

The minister is in constant touch with GMB on grain allocations to millers to ensure the production of roller meal and its availability to consumers at affordable prices.

She appealed to consumers to avoid panic-buying and hoarding.

“We reiterate that none will go hungry as Government will ensure that we accelerate the importation programme,” said Dr Nzenza.

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe media and public relations manager Mr Garikai Chaunza yesterday said: “Maize has started moving from South Africa with the first batch having arrived in Bulawayo and we are calling upon local transporters to assist us move the grain.

“We are going to see huge volumes of maize grain consignments coming into the country until the situation stabilises.”

A BULAWAYO man has been arrested for allegedly beating up his friend to death in a bushy area near the Plumtree Border Post in the middle of the night after suspecting that he was a robber.

The pair who are reportedly both omagumaguma were on their way back from assisting border jumpers to cross illegally into Botswana when they met in a bushy area.

Elton Ngoma (60) from Njube Suburb in Bulawayo was not asked to plead when he appeared before Plumtree Magistrate, Ms Sharon Rosemani facing a murder charge. He was remanded in custody to February 4.

Prosecuting, Ms Elain Kanengoni said Ngoma assaulted Mgcini Sibanda (43) from Cowdray Park suburb in Bulawayo on January 18 and he died the following day while admitted to Plumtree District Hospital due to injuries sustained during the attack.

“On 18 January at around 9AM Mgcini Sibanda was brought injured to Plumtree Police Station by an informant Mr Mafukunyane Mguni.

“Mr Mguni indicated that he found Sibanda injured in a bushy area near Plumtree Border Post where he is alleged to have been assaulted by his friend Elton Ngoma.

“Sibanda was referred to Plumtree District Hospital for treatment where he died the following day while admitted. Ngoma was arrested on January 20,” she said.

Ngoma and Sibanda are said to have assisted border jumpers to illegally cross into Botswana through a bushy area in the middle of the night.

On their way back they took separate routes and they later met and Ngoma mistook Sibanda to be one of the robbers that target border jumpers.-State media

At least 132 people in Harare, including political heavyweights, face arrest for allegedly selling State land, corruptly allocating themselves stands, fraud, abuse of cooperative funds and criminal abuse of office.

This follows an audit report into Harare land sales by the commission led by Justice Tendai Uchena that traced the land transfers in urban areas since 2005.

Others stand accused of selling cooperative stands without authority from the Registrar of Cooperatives, malicious damage to property, as well as subdividing land reserved for recreational activities and schools.

Prominent names recommended for investigation in the Harare land audit report include former First Lady Grace Mugabe, former Cabinet Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo, ex-Local Government permanent secretary Engineer George Mlilo, ex- Cabinet minister Ms Nyasha Chikwinya, businessman Dr Phillip Chiyangwa, former Harare South legislator Mr Shadreck Mashayamombe and CAPS United vice president Mr Nhamo Tutisani.

The majority of the other people on the list are leaders of housing cooperatives set up by political heavyweights.

Our Harare Bureau understands the commission handed over the report to State arms for further investigations.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo yesterday confirmed receiving a copy of the audit report, saying investigations were likely to start on Monday.

“Yes, we were given a copy of the land audit report by the Commission and our general manager (investigations) is liaising with the police so that we know who is doing what to avoid stepping on each other’s toes when investigating.

“We hope investigations will start on Monday after we have agreed on the cases that ZACC and the police will be investigating,” she said.-State media

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Fr Paul Gwese the gap between the rich and the poor in Zimbabwe needs urgent attention. @BitiTendai @ZimDiasporaNetw @nickmangwana pic.twitter.com/22NWzpriOQ

— Zimbabwe Council of Churches (@zccinzim) January 23, 2020

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

At the churches … the Zimbabwe council of churches with the same agenda: they came these fellas, the Wutaunashes, and these old men, father Mukonori, and this my brother (Nehemiah) Mutendi who comes from my home area. They came and then agreed that of a truth we have serious problems. And vaMukonori said of a truth we have a mukono of a problem. And vaWutaunashe said you Chamisa are the one who has the wuta Hwashe (the Lord’s sap). You are the one who must fix the country. And I said I am listening to you church elders, so then, what should I do? And they said, you must agree that Mnangagwa is the president.

And I said but I thought that the greatest thing in the Bible is that you must not lie. You want to watch me falling into hell? You are the church Bishops, you must be praying for me instead, that I remain holding onto the truth, because the elections were stolen in Zimbabwe .

Now, they then returned to Mnangagwa. ED then says Chamisa must just agree. He must just accept so that we work together. Next time I will send him the baton. And then I said so you actually know that you stole the baton from me? Next time when it catches you it will bring you down once again where you are isn’t it?

So I then said I want dialogue. So that is when vaMbeki came. vaMbeki came to me; he came in December and when he came, he said I have arrived in Zimbabwe and I know that you have an overwhelming support in the country and the sound of your popularity which is greatest, has reached me in South Africa. And I asked him, did it? And he said your popularity has power and then I asked, so what do we do now?

And he said, I would like to hear what your issues are because I do not understand why you are failing to agree with my friend Mnangagwa.

And I said I don’t understand how and where he is getting lost. I said I don’t want to join his Club, Polad. There are some small dogs there that keep on barking and at times biting at the legs without achieving anything.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Watch video below. ..

Farai Dziva|CIO operatives last week visited Progressive Teachers Union President Takavafira Zhou’s offices in Masvingo and quizzed him over the union’s agenda.

Said Zhou:

“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation.

They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”

Watch video below. ..

By A Correspondent- ZESA has revealed that the parastatal is looking at recruiting new managers to spearhead the re-bundling of its five companies adding that the power utility had lost over 400 engineers to Britain, Australia and neighbouring South Africa.

The move, which should see a sharp reduction in managerial staff once duplicated positions are eliminated will see the parastatal bringing in new blood to revamp operations.

Chairman Dr Sydney Gata said Zesa was short of senior engineers and managers and did not have a pool for promotion from within.

He said Zesa had lost more than 400 engineers to Eskom of South Africa, 72 to Britain and 65 to Australia.

“We need to advertise and attract those people because one thing that will slow us down is that there are not enough senior executives to lead the process. We have to start by recruiting before proceeding with the re-bundling,” he said.

“I do not want to bring uncertainty among the top management, but certainly there has to be a new beginning. We need to bring in new blood to spearhead the re-bundling exercise. Zesa is dead and it is comprehensively dysfunctional at the moment. The first major task is to get professionals back.”

Dr Gata said that Zesa was looking at completing the process in the shortest possible time.

“We will start the re-bundling shortly. It is not an easy exercise. When we unbundled it took us 18 months of very hard work, but this one won’t take us time,” said Dr Gata.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The National Arts Council, on behalf of the Ministry of Youth Sports Arts and Recreation, yesterday presented groceries and other consumables to popular Actor Lazarus Boora at his rural home in Rukweza in Nyazura where he is recuperating from the surgery he underwent last year.

The goods were presented to “Gringo” and his wife by NACZ Deputy Director Mr. Josia Kusena and Assistant Director Arts Promotions and Development Mrs. Barbara Gotore.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CoMZ) has accused government of failing to deliver on its contractual agreements revealing that mining firms have not been receiving regular power supplies despite having signed contracts with government.

To help boost the nation’s power supply, government created a system whereby exporting firms could pay for dedicated uninterrupted electricity supply through settling energy bills in foreign currency.

“Mining firms have not been receiving power supply. You see, a lot of mining firms entered into contracts with government last year to get electricity and that has not been transpiring on the ground. As I speak, these mining firms are struggling to operate as they continue to receive inadequate amounts (of power). We do not know why this is happening,” CoMZ told NewsDay Business in a recent telephone interview.

“Whether the power is coming from South Africa, Mozambique or the Southern African Power Pool, we do not know. All we know is mining companies are not getting the power they paid for in forex. These contracts did not specify where the power would be coming from, only that we would receive a dedicated supply.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe has less than 100 000 tonnes (t) of grain in its strategic grain reserve — enough to feed the nation for only one month, Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement minister Perrance Shiri, has said.

Officially opening his ministry’s strategic planning workshop in Bulawayo yesterday, Shiri admitted that, as a ministry, they were falling short of delivering on their national mandate which has five key result areas which include food and nutrition security; foreign currency generation; employment creation; value addition and beneficiation; and coordination of the agricultural sector.

“I strongly believe that agricultural development is a necessary tool and a near sufficient condition for economic recovery and development of Zimbabwe. As you are all aware, the sector has potential to contribute between 16-20% of the gross domestic product; 40% to exports; and feed the country while providing the source of livelihood for 67% of the country’s populace that resides in rural areas,” Shiri said.

“However, as things stand at the current moment, we have less than 100 000t of grain in the strategic grain reserve and imports, especially of food are ballooning. It pains me to realise that this potential remains to be exploited and that as a ministry we are falling short of delivering on our national mandate which has five key result areas as set out in the ministry’s integrated performance plan,” he said.

Annually, the country requires about 1,8 million tonnes of grain for both human and livestock consumption. It also needs about 80 000 tonnes a month for commercial use, according to Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (Gmaz).

In a bid to plug a yawning food deficit, Zimbabwe is importing grain from other countries around the world.

The country’s food shortage has partly been blamed on weather extremes – drought and flooding, poor planning and corruption, among others.

For instance, in the past few years, government pumped billions of dollars into the Command Agriculture programme, but the country continues to suffer food shortages, year-in and year-out due to corruption involving government officials.

On Tuesday, Gmaz chairman Tafadzwa Musarara, however, assured the nation that the maize-meal situation will stabilise in the next three to five weeks following plans to import close to 100 000 tonnes of maize using their free funds.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than 45 million people across southern Africa are currently facing food insecurity. In Zimbabwe, more than eight million people are threatened with starvation.

Shiri also said the country’s food security policies had fallen short of attracting investments in the agriculture sector and ensuring economic growth.

“Our food security policies have fallen short of attracting investments in the sector and ensuring economic growth. Governments the world over, use policies to influence agricultural production, marketing and trade. This is usually done to achieve specific outcomes relating to the central role of agriculture,” he said.

In this regard, Shiri said there was a compelling need for agricultural policies that attract investment in the sector given the changes that have been brought by the agrarian reforms that altered the structure of farms, production systems, markets and labour relations.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Gweru council management and councillors have clashed over the $1,8 billion 2020 budget — a 3 900% hike from 2019’s $46 million — sent for approval to Local Government minister July Moyo without consensus, council minutes reveal.

Already some services have been hiked with burial fees going from $80 to $1 097.

Rentals for council-owned two-roomed houses in Mkoba where tenants were paying $40 have been raised to $600 a month.

Home-seekers wishing to settle in Gweru by way of building houses will also have to dig deeper into their pockets. Occupation certificate fees have been raised from $30 to $5 000 while beacon relocation which was previously $150 now costs $9 000.

A fuel service station licence that is renewed annually has risen from $3 000 to $84 000, while, yearly licence fees for surgeries are now $40 000.

Minutes of a closed-door full council meeting held on December 6 last year show that councillors threw brickbats at acting finance director Owen Masimba for sending the $1,8 billion budget to Moyo without consensus between management and the city fathers.

The minutes show that councillors Albert Chirawu and Trust Chineni berated management and insinuated that it conducted a “coup d’etat” on the councillors.

“The budget for 2020 for Gweru was supposed to be multiplied with that of 2019 using the interbank rate which was at $16 per US$1. This means that since our budget of 2019 was $46 million so if we multiplied that by 16 we were supposed to get about $734 million. This figure of $1,8 billion is unjustified,” Chirawu said then.

According to the minutes, other councillors concurred with Chirawu.

Gweru Residents Forum director, Charles Mazorodze, yesterday said it was absurd for council to increase its budget to such high levels considering that people struggled to pay for services even when they were still cheaper.

“Last year residents of Gweru were failing to pay for services pegged at the $46 million budget. Now that the budget will have fees that are pegged using the $1,8 billion budget, it is difficult to believe that they will afford,” he said.

“At the moment council is owed millions by the residents who failed to pay last year, so it just indicates that the situation will be worse this year given the new higher fees,” Mazorodze said.

Council spokesperson Vimbai Chingwaramusee said the $1,8 billion figure was arrived at after factoring in the prevailing economic climate. She said minister Moyo was yet to approve the budget.

“It has not yet been approved. We adjusted the budget in line with the prevailing economic situation. The local authority will consider the complaints from residents as it remains sensitive to their plight,” she said.

Deputy mayor Cleopas Shiri told Southern Eye that the councillors agreed to have an implementation matrix of the budget in which charges will be increased every three months instead of once off.

“There is a standing resolution that council will come up with an implementation matrix of the proposed budget,” he said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The story of a man who was being seduced by his mother-in-law has taken a new twist as he claims his wife not only knew about her mother’s antics, but was actually encouraging him to have sex with her in order for them to get rich.  

Manfred Nhemachena recently left many people disconcerted after he sensationally claimed that his estranged wife’s mother Beatrice Marabwa allegedly demanded to have sex with him because her husband was sexually starving her. 

This was revealed at the Bulawayo Civil Court where his estranged wife, Tariro Nhemachena, had sought a protection order against him claiming he was abusing her.

Manfred and Tariro got married on 10 April 2010 and were blessed with a four-year-old son. Their marriage is still subsisting but they are now living separately.

B-Metro tracked Manfred to Nyamandlovu for more details of what was transpiring in his home and he spilled more beans than expected. He claims his wife wanted him to poke her mother!

“It was not only traumatising but shameful, I have since lost my respect for her and I can no longer look at her the same way. Thank God I didn’t give into her devilish demands,” said Manfred.

“I started noticing something unusual in 2015 when she came and briefly stayed with us. I definitely didn’t have problem with that until she started demanding to sleep in my matrimonial bedroom. 

“When I asked her why she wanted to join us in our bedroom she said her husband (his father in-law) was no longer sleeping with her”.

Shocked by his mother-in-law’s candidness, Manfred suggested that she go and see his relatives.

She reportedly rubbished the idea saying she was going to forcibly sleep with him in his matrimonial bedroom.

“Living true to her demands she moved into our matrimonial bedroom and out of fear I moved to another spare bedroom.

“The following day while dressed skimpily, she followed me to the spare bedroom where she found me sleeping and she tenderly sat on my legs. From that day she was the one who was now preparing breakfast and supper for me and ironing my clothes”. 

Manfred said he was also disturbed seeing his mother in-law’s private parts.

“What was also happening was that when I came home late, she was the one who was always opening the door for me and she would be in a see-through night dress exposing all her vital parts.”

When he told his wife about her mother’s taboo demands and seduction moves, Manfield said he was shocked by her response.

“Her response to me was “yes, it is true that there are no longer sleeping together and once you sleep with her, we are rich’.”

He added: “I was appalled after I got that response, so appalled that I decided enough is enough and moved out of the house.”

He said all efforts to engage his father-in-law and relatives were also futile.

“I tried to talk to her relatives, but she shouted at them when they tried to reprimand her. I ended up going to Mvuma to her husband, who is also my father- in-law, and he refused to help me,” said Manfred adding that his mother-in-law also threatened him with death as punishment for reporting her to her relatives.

Manfred also claimed when he started having problems with his wife after he refused to bow down to her sex demands, his mother-in-law forcibly took his property including amusement park rides he bought from China, residential stand and some household property.

When reached for comment the mother-in-law, Beatrice Marabwa, who is an elder at Jehovah’s Witnesses refuted the claims while accusing Manfred of having a deceitful character.

“This is a long story why don’t you come to Mvuma so that we talk. He is lying and is after tarnishing my image as a Christian. He is a snake. I am 72-years-old and can’t do that to my son-in law. Moreover, we are a rich and educated family. That man was after our wealth. We have everything in life,” she bragged.

She threatened this reporter with unspecified action if the story is published.

“You will see what will happen to you if ever that story is published in the newspaper,” she threatened.

Meanwhile, Manfred and Tariro are currently locked up in another bruising court battle where the latter filed an application seeking to ban the former from having access to their minor child

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Loice Matanda Moyo has said the country is losing US$1,8 billion dollars every year.

Speaking at the Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) perceptions and indexes on corruption in Harare today the chairperson said they are working flat out to fight the catch and release syndrome.

“As ZACC we are worried with the huge somes of money being lost through corruption, we have lost US$1,8 billion through these leakages and as a commission we are also worried with the catch and release syndrome hence we have engaged the attorney general’s office and national prosection office to fight the catch and release,” she said.

She added that since the coming in of their commission last year their warehouse is now full of recovered properties from corrupt activities.

“We are pleased to inform you that since our coming into play last year, our we are running out of space at our warehouse of recovered properties.”

Meanwhile, ZACC is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) in a bid to combat corruption in the country.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), an independent election watchdog, has criticised the ruling Zanu PF and the main opposition, MDC led by Nelson Chamisa for not having a clear succession plan.

According to ZESN, the lack of a clear succession plan causes internal instability within the political parties and this may have a knock-on effect on the political stability of the government and nation.

In a statement, ZESN also expressed outrage over the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill that will remove the running mate clause from the Constitution.

Said ZESN:

The running mate clause provision was going to support as well as formalise the selection of vice-presidents of the respective political parties, hence provide a measure of predictability and stability in the leadership transition processes whenever they occurred at both party or government level.

The scrapping of the running mate clause will remove the presidential running mates to allow the President to appoint and fire his deputies at will.

Both ZANU PF and the MDC failed to name successors before the departure of longtime leaders, the late former President Robert Mugabe (through a coup in November 2017) and former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (through death in February 2018) respectively.

By A Correspondent- Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister  Perrance Shiri has admitted that his ministry has failed to deliver on its mandate to provide food security to the nation as well as produce 40 per cent of the country’s exports.

Shiri made the remarks while speaking at the official opening of the ongoing strategic planning workshop on Wednesday.

He said:

It pains me to realise that this potential remains to be exploited and that as a ministry we are falling short of delivering on our national mandate which has five key result areas which are… food and nutrition security, foreign currency generation, employment creation, value addition and beneficiation and coordination of the agricultural sector.

Shiri challenged the 11 parastatals under his ministry to up their game as some of them are only able to pay their staff while contributing nothing to the fiscus.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube is pushing for the privatisation and commercialisation of most of the parastatals as they have become liabilities rather than assets, with most of them now a breeding ground for corruption, nepotism, waste and gross incompetence

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Daisy, widow to the late music icon and national hero Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, says it’s not her duty to “bail out” the poor.

She says she will not pay attention to those calling her an ‘evil’ and ‘heartless’ woman.

As we mark exactly a year without Tuku today, Daisy says she will not respond to media reports portraying her as a cruel mother.

If she were to help anyone – says Daisy – her advice would be very simple: work hard and mind your business.

These are some of the key issues she boldly believes in ahead of Tuku’s first anniversary.

Tuku died on January 23 2019, leaving a void difficult to fill.

A year after Tuku’s death, a lot has happened which might prompt him to turn into his grave.

There are however some developments which would also make Tuku smile and even regret the mistakes he made in life.

And exactly 12 months after his death, there has been a lot in the press making headlines ranging from the estate wrangles, family feuds and of course the battle to preserve the Tuku legacy.

Being the surviving spouse to the departed crooner, Daisy said she was not in a hurry to fulfil some of the projects they started together with the late icon.

NEW MUSIC
As expected by many a fan, Daisy said there is plenty of unreleased stuff left by Tuku in his archives.

“Tuku has a lot of unreleased stuff that we are definitely going to release with time but we are not in hurry to release it.

“I will continue operating the way we used to do with Oliver, aiwanzoti kumhanya handiko kusvika.

“Handina kana competition right now saka hapana chandiri kumhanyira hangu,” she says.

She also hinted on a new album due for release as part of the commemorations.

“The new album which is ready for release is called Abi Yangu 2.

“It carries eight tracks, it was recorded in Norton and it will be released soon.

“There are so many projects that we are going to continue working on that we used to organise with Tuku,” she says.

HOLIDAYING
Asked what she missed most after Tuku’s death, Daisy was blunt:

“It’s hard staying alone without Tuku but I have to accept it. We used to go on holiday during this time of the year when most artistes will be on break.

“The last time we flew out on holiday we went to Canada and Kenya just to refresh with my husband.

“As you know, his job was so demanding that I would advise him that we needed to go on holiday to relax and forget our problems,” she says.

LIFE AS A WIDOW
Daisy, who was heart-broken when she lost her husband, says she has learnt to accept the reality.

“As a widow, I have learnt that I cannot keep on mourning because hapana paachafa akamuka Oliver.

“Oliver played his part and it’s up to me to continue working hard otherwise ndinofa nenzara mukatanga kundinyora futi kuti ndave kutambura.

“When I miss him most, I just drive to Madziwa where he was buried to see his grave and return to work for survival.

“I can’t keep crying every day because Tuku played his part and we are all expected to play our part,” she says.

UNITY
Daisy, who is reportedly not seeing eye to eye with some of Tuku’s daughters especially Selmor, says she has had enough of the issue.

“There is nothing I can say about the issue because whatever I say it will be misinterpreted.

“If Selmor or whoever you want to bring to the fore has said something against me, I won’t say anything.

“What I know is that newspaper outlets are out to sell their news and make money but what I know is that the truth shall set me free.

“I know I have never wronged anyone and God is my witness.

“If I have done something wrong, only time will tell who is wrong and right.

“What people say bad about me, hapana chinochinja ndozviripo saka vanhu ngavatozvitambira zvakadaro,” she says.

UNDISCLOSED SECRETS
Daisy says there are some secrets that she would not disclose as the information is meant for herself.

“I have heard so many stories flying out of people trying to bring me down but I won’t give in.

“Inini na Oliver hatina kusangana pa bus stop tikatotanga kungofambidzana but we have a history.

“Vanhu vanongowawata havo asi vachaneta but life still goes on.

“Now that I sometimes get ill, I have realised that it’s wise for me to mind my business rather than concentrating on what people say.”

HELP
As many people who wanted help looked up to Tuku as the father figure, Daisy says she has her own modus operandi that people should embrace.

“I’m not mandated to help all the poor but I can only assist where I can.

“My advice to those who might want to come to me asking for help is very simple: work hard and mind your business.

“Where is it written that I must help people who are in need all the time?

“I’m also widowed with my own problems that need to be attended to.”

PAKARE PAYE/CONTINUITY
With many fearing that Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton might become a white elephant if not professionally run, Daisy remains defiant.

“It’s still business as usual at Pakare Paye and we are simply doing what we used to do when Oliver was still alive.

“Most of the artistes who passed through Pakare Paye are still frequenting the arts hub for instance Munya Mataruse and Mbeu were recently there at the centre.

“New-comers are still welcome as they are getting mentorship.

“We have special people that used to mentor these people other than Tuku and there is continuity.

“As for the festivals which had become a permanent feature on our arts calendar, we will continue holding them as long as we live.

“I will not let down Tuku as he has always wanted us to really work hard and keep his legacy going.”

As we mark 12 months without Tuku, this is what Daisy has in mind and she insists she doesn’t owe anyone an apology.

Daisy says she deserves to be ‘freed’ to live her own life while those she claims to be haters will continue working towards her downfall day and night.

Rest in Peace Tuku!

-H-Metro

By A Correspondent- Stephen Margolis, who runs the Stephen Margolis Resort along Chitungwiza Road in Harare, yesterday appeared in court facing accusations of failing to return a clients’ vehicle he took as surety for using his wedding facilities.

Margolis (68) appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda facing theft of trust property charges. He denied failing to return Moline Rufaro Mapandu’s Honda Fit, which she gave him as surety when she used his wedding facilities and failed to pay the full amount at once. Margolis told the court that Mapandu entered into an agreement with his company, not with him in his personal capacity.

“I plead not guilty to the charges. She entered an agreement with my company, not me,” he said. Allegations against the businessman are that on February 27, 2016 Mapandu decided to use Margolis’ wedding facilities.

It is said that the parties agreed on a certain amount, with Mapandu making an initial payment of $1 100 and promising to settle the balance within six weeks.

The court heard that Mapandu then handed Margolis her Honda Fit as security.
Mapandu, according to the State, managed to raise the remaining amount and approached Margolis at his Margolis Plaza offices.

Upon her arrival, she was received by Margolis’ secretary who reportedly told her that he was out of the country and asked her to return once Margolis returned.

Magistrate Dzuda was told that Mapandu was shocked to be shown an agreement of sale for the Honda Fit. Irked by the businessman’s act, Mapandu lodged a complaint with the police leading to his arrest. Margolis is expected back in court on February 18 for trial.

By A Correspondent- A man from Nkayi nearly killed a security guard at the Best Night Club after he struck him with a brick on the head in a dispute.

Melusi Ngwenya (26) was not asked to plead to attempted murder when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Lizwe Jamela.

He  was remanded in custody to January 30.

It is alleged that on January 2 at Best Nite Club in Inyathi, Ngwenya had a misunderstanding with Sifelani Moyo, a security guard on duty.

He picked a brick and struck Moyo on the head. A report made to the police led to his arrest.

By A Correspondent- Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr Gideon Gono has been dragged to court by his tenant for allegedly trying to evict him.

The tenant, Dr Nongerai Moses Makurumidze, who runs a sports science and a research college at the Natvest Industrial Complex while renting the premises from Gono accused Gono of violating their agreement.

In his court papers in which Gono, Clark Makoni and fellow tenants, Mbonje, Dzobo, Matoko, Tambara, Mujeke and Chigondowa are respondents, Makurumidze said:

Your Worship, I had an agreement with Dr Gono. He was initially leasing the property to me but they are now ignoring the original agreement and are trying to evict me without any legal procedures. We are in the process of setting up a proposed university of sport and they all know it but his workers terrorise my clients and staff.

He added that Gono’s workers are disregarding the agreement he had with Gono saying that they had the mandate to evict Makurumidze.

Meanwhile, Chigondowa who works for Gono said that Makurumidze was evicted by Gono and it is surprising that he kept coming back

By A Correspondent- Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) launched its perceptions and indexes on corruption at Avondale centre Harare this morning (Thursday).

According to the findings by TIZ and Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) women are impacted by the corruption in more spheres of life than men.

ZACC Chaiperson Justice Loice Matanda Moyo said, “Most of the men are the engineers of corruption therefore women became more vulnerable and suffer the consequences of corruption.

Women need to go beyond being 52% of the population of the country.”

She further stipulated that it is also the role of civil society to fight against gender corruption and raising public awareness.

Speaking on the same event Mette Sunnergren, Head of Development Cooperation from Sweden embassy remarked that women are more likely exposed to corruption in crucial situations.

TIZ and ZACC are looking forward to the signing of their Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fighting corruption in the first quarter of the year.

Own Correspondent|School children from across the country are mobilising each other to go on a massive nation wide protests on Friday.

The protests follow a similar protest which was carried out by students from Prince Njube Memorial High School in Bulawayo on Tuesday.

The message below is being heavily circulated amongst school students country wide.

“Fellow school learners around the country, let us all stand firm with what Njube high school learners did. They took their time to go to the streets and make a voice for our teachers, for the fees hiking and no learning taking place. As a learner at Emakhandeni Secondary school I say let us all stand and demonstrate as what our fellow friends did. Let’s all declare Friday 24 January 2020 a non-violence day nationwide.

“Soon after assembly, don’t go to your classes, let us walk out of the school gate as a school until our voices are heard. 

“We say enough is enough. It’s time to be heard.

“If Njube did it, why can’t we do it as a nation? 

# WesayNo to school fees hikes 

# We want to learn

# Pay our teachers 

# Give us the education we need

# viva ma2000 viva 

“Together we stand and divided we shall fall!”

Own Correspondent|The Nelson Chamisa led MDC will be joining President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s national clean-up day programmes which they have been boycotting since its inception last year.

Chamisa told party supporters on Tuesday that the MDC will join the programme in their own capacity dubbed Jekesa/Chenesa Zimbabwe.

Chamisa was launching his party’s National 2020 Agenda at Stodart Hall grounds, in Harare’s Mbare high density suburb.

“National building and nation development is a collective affair as MDC must do away with oppositional mindset. So, at all places MDC must show its footprints,” Chamisa said.

“We have not been participating in the national cleaning programme. Beginning this year, we are going to be part of government’s clean-up campaign. We are coming up with what is called Jekesa Zimbabwe.

“Every month, on the day that has been set aside for cleaning up places, we will now take part as MDC…we must have a nation building project.”

The opposition leader also told his followers the party will launch forays into Zanu PF’s stronghold rural areas to introduce a programme that will develop the countryside.

“We are launching in villages what we call the smart village concept, in every rural areas we want to do a model housing,” he said.

“We now have a programme called MDC in communities. We will be launching the smart cities policy document that will focus on how we govern differently detailing issues to the local authority’s service delivery, infrastructure, the vision of the city.

“We are also going to launch the smart villages policy that will entail our model smart homesteads, smart sources of energy, solar for each rural home, borehole per village infrastructure for villages, schools, bridges, etc”.

“We are also going the emphasise on proper and true devolution, and a people-centred devolution Bill in line with the spirit in the constitution.”

Own Correspondent|The opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has said that the ruling ZANU PF is threatened by action and that is the reason why it is resorting to violence.

We present the party’s statement in full below.

Action rattles Zanu PF as regime braces for terror tactics

As despondent Zimbabweans brace for action to consign poverty and end their suffering, the clueless and illegitimate Mnangagwa regime is planning to engage in nationwide terror tactics and abductions in a vain attempt to cow and intimidate a determined people.

Impeccable sources within the Joint Operations Command in Harare have intimated to the MDC leadership that the entire system has been rattled. President Chamisa’s call for nationwide action has shaken the regime to the core. The regime is now planning violence, night abductions and an assortment of terror tactics against innocent Zimbabweans in a vain attempt to stop an idea whose time has come.

The regime has now fallen into its default mode of violence. Impeccable sources said the meeting held by JOC early this week had put in place elaborate plans to abduct and torture MDC leaders and party youths in the various townships in Harare so as to engender fear in the country in a desperate bid to stop Zimbabweans from engaging in peaceful action to express their displeasure at the parlous economic situation.

The terror tactics are meant to ensure that Zimbabweans get scared away from their democratic and Constitutional right to express their unhappiness at the deteriorating situation in the country. On Tuesday, President Nelson Chamisa told the nation that the endemic poverty in the country, the joblessness, power and fuel shortages, the rising cost of basic commodities and the deteriorating living conditions were the signal that the people needed to act to end their situation.

Since then, the regime has gone on a default mode and is now planning nationwide terror tactics to cow a nation determined to express itself.

Zimbabweans are determined to end their suffering. From Msampakaruma to Mandidzudzure, from Plumtree to Kanyemba, Zimbabweans are bracing for action. The people are determined to sonorously express themselves as the situation in the country gets more and more untenable.

No weapon fashioned against the people shall prosper. Intimidation and terror tactics will not work as everyone, including our uniformed forces, are ready to take decisive action by confronting this illegitimate and clueless regime.

We thank the patriotic Zimbabweans who continue to keep us updated on the heinous plans to jeopardize the people’s intention to legitimately and constitutionally express themselves.

Zimbabweans are ready for action. Our uniformed forces who can hardly afford a meal are ready for action. Villagers, civil servants, lecturers, students and farmers are ready. The unemployed youths are ready. Our elderly people are ready.

No machete or wicked plan will stop an idea whose time has come.

#ThePeoplesGovernment

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

It is high time that government makes it mandatory for all passengers service vehicles, lorries and haulage trucks to have speed limiter. This will prevent avoidable accidents that are due to overspeeding and negligence such as the bus accident that recently happened near Odzi River.

Drivers of public service vehicles must be allocated points which are deductable upon committing a traffic offence and once the driver has used up the points he should be suspended from driving the passengers service vehicle (PSV)

In addition drivers of PSVs must get regular-including snap check- breathalyzer tests as well medical examinations.

We are concerned that passengers are being driven by drunk or physically ill drivers. Putting a 100 or more lives in the hands of a drunk or physically ill driver is the kind of stuff that nightmares – that do become real- are made of.

Police must put in place speed traps and must be availed with breathalyzers.

ZIMBABWE LET’S SAVE LIVES. The Talmud says, ‘ He that saves a life saves the world entire.’

Tafadzwa Goliati president of
Passengers Association Of Zimbabwe

Zimdancehall artiste Boss Pumacol has released a diss song seemingly mocking Enzo Ishall and Prophet Passion Java after their fall out.

Although it is evident that the song is targeted at Enzo and Passion, Pumacol has dismissed the rumours saying that the song is targeting the so called rich promoters who fake promoting youths.

“What l sing come to me as a flash of inspiration,the motivation coming from what we encounter in our daily lives.

“The song mastanzi imhene is a reality song which everyone can relate to and there is no illusion within it.Our industry is remaining stagnant and one of the main reason is the existence of fake promoters or should l say sponsors.

“Certain individuals are timing artists that are on the spotlight and use these artists to make their names popular.They never fulfill their obligations towards the artist!In the end it is the artist who is blamed,” said Pumacol.H-Metro

By A Correspondent- Dan Kasukuwere, the brother of exiled former Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere was reportedly arrested on Wednesday for allegedly skipping the country’s border through unauthorised points.

The development was announced by Cde Setfree Mafukidze who posted on Twitter saying:

“@Hon_Kasukuwere brother Dan Kasukuwere arrested on allegations of skipping the border through unauthorized points despite the fact that he has produced a valid passport which shows legal exit and entry, he is currently held at CID Law and Order Harare Central Police. Harassment?”

@Hon_Kasukuwere brother Dan Kasukuwere arrested on allegations of skipping the border through unauthorized points despite the fact that he has produced a valid passport which shows legal exit and entry,he is currently held at CID Law and Order Harare Central Police.Harrassment? pic.twitter.com/fpKD2VXpjp

— Setfree Nherera Mafukidze ?? (@cdesetfree) January 22, 2020