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Farai Dziva|The MDC Youth Assembly has said cornered Zanu PF Emmerson Mnangagwa must concentrate on reviving the comatose economy instead of trying to change the Constitution.

See statement below :
The move by Emmerson Mnangagwa to repeal a constitutional provision on running mates is a clear indication that the panic stricken ZANU PF leader intends to insulate his position from the ambitious Constantine Chiwenga to make sure he never succeeds him.

It is very regrettable that ZANU PF is abusing its majority in parliament to tear apart and patch up our only home made constitution which was born out of rigorous consultation with masses under trees, in hill tops and community halls.

The repeal is a clear factional battle and unfortunately it does not help to solve the current political and economic crises in the country.

We as MDC youths condemn changes that do not deal with food shortages, unemployment and school fees hikes.

As citizens we had enough of this ZANU PF factional nonsense at the expense of national interests!

Tampering with the constitution -to pursue a petty parochial agendas is certainly going to be resisted with equal force.

Hands off our constitution!

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

The MDC notes with concern that the government has gazetted paltry wages of 160 RTGS per month for all domestic workers, contrary to representations and agreements the government had reached with the relevant sector.

Given the parlous state of the economy, that figure is not enough to buy a bundle of vegetables.

Domestic workers are the lowliest paid in Zimbabwe and the Industry is very much unregulated as they do not fall under an Employment Council.

Their wages are negotiated under a Labour Advisory Board, mostly with the Zimbabwe Domestic Allied Workers Union and with some Employers of Domestics picked by the government.

The Domestics representatives had a very plausible figure of ZWL$1200 and after negotiations, they settled for the following figures

1. Gardener ZWL$385
2. Housekeeper ZWL$400

All with an Allowance of ZWL $385.00 for transport, accommodation and other ancillaries. The figures that have been published are not the ones agreed upon between the Parties at the Advisory Board.

The MDC is disappointed that we have a government that has no empathy with the poor, they are simply not as trustworthy as they change goal posts after agreeing with workers representatives.

Figures which they had agreed with workers representatives were higher than what government eventually gazetted.

The present situation on the ground shows that rentals for a room in high-density areas costs an average of ZWL$200 while a kilogramme of economy beef is going for ZWL$120.

Only a people’s government is able to improve the dignity of the citizen and to care for their livelihoods.

Hon Gideon Shoko
Secretary for Labour & Social Security
Movement For Democratic Change

By A Correspondent- A village head in Chivi was recently seriously assaulted by a fellow villager after the latter wife’s names were removed from the social welfare beneficiaries list.

This is revealed in the Zimbabwe Peace Project latest report.

“The kraal head of Gwenyaya Village Jairos Gwenyaya of Ward 16, Chivi Central was assaulted by Saratiel Tasarira at his homestead after Tasarira’s wife Felistas Chiwara was removed from the Social Welfare beneficiaries list. Tasarira is said to have assaulted the kraal head accusing him of unfair and nepotistic distribution of government aid,” ZPP reported.

“The matter was allegedly reported to police at Chivi Turn-Off Police Base.

By A Correspondent- The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said that the reason why the usually drought-prone Binga district experienced floods recently is that it is in a flood plain which is more of a low-lying area.

MSD Principal Meteorologist James Ngoma said Binga will likely experience flash flooding whenever there is heavy rainfall on either the Zimbabwean or Zambian side.

Said Ngoma:

Despite receiving the least amount of rainfall Binga experienced flash floods because it is in a flood plain which is more of a low-lying area.

It is where the sources of water along areas such as Gokwe, Lupane as well as Hwange going to Zambezi Valley pass through.

Therefore, if heavy rains occur either on the Zambian side or the Zimbabwean side Binga will still be prone to flash floods as a low-lying area.

An elderly man was swept away by the floods while 34 families were evacuated after they were marooned for several hours.

The death and evacuation occurred in Nsungwale area under Chief Sinakoma.-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Finer details of how Herentals fixed a league game against army side Black Rhinos last October have emerged after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) released the full judgment.

Herentals, who were fined ZWL$300 000 and relegated from the topflight league, are contesting the verdict.

The club, which has since been ordered to pay the costs of the hearing, would also be banned from any football-related activities for the next 10 years if the fine remained unpaid by January 31, twelve days ago.

Manager Oliver Chirenga, who the club denies is a club official, was fined ZWL$20 000 and banned for 10 years from all football-related activities while the US$300 exhibit produced during the hearing was forfeited to the PSL.

The case is premised on an affidavit deposited by Black Rhinos player Kudzanai Gift Saunyama, who claimed that Chirenga had approached him to fix the match between the two sides, which he communicated to his coach Hebert Maruwa.

Maruwa is said to have asked Saunyama, who is a former Herentals player, to accept the money which would be used as an exhibit.

“On the same day and at the appointed time, Chirenga approached Saunyama at his home and true to Saunyama’s suspicion he requested him to organise the fixing of the Black Rhinos vs Herentals match which was set to be played on October 19, 2019 at the National Sports Stadium,” part of the judgment read.

“The affidavit states that Chirenga stated that he was looking for three or five players from Black Rhinos whom he would pay US$200 each or more if they successfully fix the match. He says he falsely agreed to assist him and promised to give him feedback the following day. On the following day, the 16th of October 2019, Saunyama reported what had happened to his head coach and told him that Chirenga had proposed to meet him again at his home for purposes of making a down payment of the money that was to be used to pay the players.

The balance of the figure, which was yet to be agreed upon, was to be paid after the match. The coach advised Saunyama to accept the money and bring it to the club so that it can be used as an exhibit. Chirenga did not turn up with the money as had been agreed. He did not call and there was no further communication from him.”

According to the judgment, the match was played and Black Rhinos lost 3-0 and the army side made its own investigations where players and officials were interviewed.

Black Rhinos manager Gift Kamuriwo is said to have confessed receiving US$300 from Chirenga at the intersection of Samora Machel and Chinhoyi Street on October 18 to be shared equally among three players for them to influence the results of the match with a balance of US$300 to be paid after the game.

“This (defeat) prompted an investigation into the match-fixing allegations at Black Rhinos Football Club. According to Kamuriwo, players and officials were subjected to questioning by the Zimbabwe National Army’s unit known as SIB. The questioning took place over a few days at One Commando Barracks.

As the investigations continued, Kamuriwo decided to own up and confessed that he had been approached and had indeed received money to fix the match. He says what motivated him to confess was that he could not bear the sight of players being wrongly accused of having been paid to fix the match when it was him who had received the money.

He handed over to the investigators the US$300 which had been paid to him. He decided to confess on his own before being interviewed. His narration of events is contained in an affidavit dated November 15, 2019,” the verdict says.

Kamuriwo, however, said he did not influence the outcome of the game, but converted the US$300 balance to his own use.

Black Rhinos wrote a letter of complaint to the PSL and on November 25, Herentals were summoned to appear before a disciplinary committee.

Herentals had denied the charges, arguing that Chirenga was only a supporter and did not hold any other position within the club structures.-Newsday

1/5 Ultimately, it is the voters who decide. If anyone wants power, they must stand for election. No citizen can say so and so is disqualified. That said, I certainly have no ambition to join the MDC, nor does Prof Moyo, but we want to see opposition politics done competently.

2/5 In the 2018 elections, we ended up having to intervene to do radio, print, social media and television adverts for the MDC. Why? Because nobody was doing the work and Chamisa was the best foot forward. Where did the money come from? It was raised by Professor Jonathan Moyo.

3/5 One unknown fact is that Jonathan Moyo did not want to publicly support the MDC in 2018, preferring to watch from the terraces. It took me four months, January to April 2018, to persuade him to help actively, after which #KwekweHim, #KutongwaKwaro, #Excelgate etc were born.

4/5 MDC stockholders need to stop worrying about sharing power that it does not have and focus on action. What is the plan? Waiting for 2023? When are the protests coming? How do you sustain them Sudan-style? These are the serious political questions that remain unanswered.

5/5 A PRAYER FOR ZIMBABWE: One of my favourite ads from the 2018 election, which was done for Chamisa by so-called Zanu PF infiltrators. ZBC ended up forcing the MDC to edit out ED and Chiwenga!

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has predicted heavy rainfall in all Mashonaland provinces, Harare Metropolitan and northern parts of Matabeleland North until Thursday.

Hot and humid conditions giving rise to the possibility of afternoon and evening isolated thunderstorms are expected in Masvingo, Manicaland, Midlands, Matabeleland South and Bulawayo provinces. The MSD said in a statement:

It is expected to be largely humid with thunderstorms that may extend well into the evening in most areas and torrential rains and flash flooding is expected in localised areas.

Downstream flooding is also a potential hazard and such thundery phenomenon is usually superseded by lightening, this poses a potential threat to the tallest objects such as trees, poles, isolated sheds and even people in an open field.

The MSD also revealed that the western areas of the country for the past three days received significant rainfall with a maximum of 49mm in some areas and a minimum of 25mm in other areas.

By A Correspondent- A Harare magistrate has dismissed an application for removal from remand filed by 10 vendors, who were brutalised by the police while in custody, resulting in the death of their colleague, Hilton Tamangani in October last year.

The vendors, who were charged with assaulting a peace officer, had filed an application to be removed from remand, saying the State had failed to provide them with a trial date within a reasonable period.

But presiding magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa dismissed their application, saying there was no inordinate delay by the State to provide them with a trial date as the prosecution had provided the court with details of the progress of the investigations.

“There has not been an inordinate delay in prosecuting the matter. There has clearly been progress in the matter and what is just needed now are minor clarifications,” Mugwagwa said.

However, the police are yet to furnish the court with a written report on the death of Tamangani in police custody.

On the last remand date, the State had indicated that the police were delaying to bring the report so that an inquest could be carried out.

Tamangani was arrested together with Evans Chinyanga (39), Tichaona Mazia (22), Petros Kayesa (44), Adoration Tafadzwa Madziwa (23), Lovemore Chitengo (42), Robson Mutseta (31), Hillary Nyawasha (29), Wambo Denford (41), Blessing Chirodza (41) and David Tawanda Tekere (35).

They were accused of assaulting a law enforcement agent and fleeing into the basement of a city building from where several police helmets were allegedly recovered.-Newsday

By A correspondent- Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has unveiled a credit control and debt collection policy that seeks to maintain predictable cashflows and allow for improved management of debtors, among others.

Council is owed about $221 million as of December 2019 broken down to $100 million by domestic debtors, $44 million by government, industry and commerce $72 million and $5 million by parastatals.

Council argues that failure by its debtors to clear outstanding payments is affecting its ability to provide efficient services and clear its debts with various creditors.

The local authority owes various creditors $256 794 852 for the month of January, up from $223 440 579 in December.

The policy does not spare even BCC staff and councillors as it insists on forced deductions from their salaries if they have outstanding bills.

“Any person receiving a salary or allowances from the city may not be in arrears to the city for rates and consumer service charges for a period longer than three months (unless suitable arrangements have been made for the payment of arrears) and council may deduct any outstanding amounts from the person’s salary after this period,” the 25-paged document read.

“The city shall liaise with the relevant persons referred to in 59 above and their departmental representatives and issue the necessary salary deduction instruction where appropriate after compliance with the provisions of the Labour Relations Act.”

Council has been operating without a documented credit control and debt collection policy. It has been relying on resolutions, the Urban Councils Act, the water and sewage by-laws and other pieces of legislation.

“The FD (finance director) shall be the implementing authority: (a) implement and enforce the city’s credit control and debt collection policy and any by-laws enacted in terms of the Urban Councils Act;

“(b) In accordance with the credit control and debt collection policy and any such by-laws establish effective administrative mechanisms, processes and procedures to collect money that is due and payable to the city,” it adds.-Newsday

1/3 It is a call to action when the country’s Prosecutor General confirms that cartels have captured state institutions.This reflects a captured and compromised state and that the regime is not fit for purpose.Politics aside,we must now unite in this BIG fight against corruption.

2/3The PG confirms the serious and systemic nature of rot permeating the State. As ever, the fish rots from the head.If the top prosecutor is moved to make such public complaints then he is not getting support from the political leadership to perform his constitutional role.

3/3 The anti-corruption rhetoric is a mere facade designed to hoodwink Zimbabweans and the world. Over the past two years,the level of corruption & state capture has escalated to obscene levels.There can not be sustainable prosperity when national wealth is in the hands of a few.

OPPOSITION leader Nelson Chamisa will today meet the party’s divided structures in Bulawayo, as part of efforts to mend rifts which have cost them votes in the past elections, Southern Eye has learnt.

MDC Bulawayo spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza told the Southern Eye that the party president would also apprise the structures on his recent international engagements and the way forward.

“It’s a meeting of the structures … also he will touch on developments within the party. One of the issues up for discussion is to do with the holding of rallies, a solidarity rally for (Ntabazinduna dethroned Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe) Ndiweni realising that the police seems to have outlawed the party’s rallies,” Chirowodza said yesterday.

“Also, he is going to be giving feedback to the leaders of the province on his recent international engagements.”

Chamisa was in South Africa recently seeking diplomatic support towards solving the country’s deepening socio-economic, political crises.

In December, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed concern over the country’s crisis, pledging his governments’ support to a churches’ initiative towards finding a lasting solution.

Ramaphosa was meeting the World Council of Churches general-secretary Olav Fykse Tveit, Zimbabwe Council of Churches general-secretary Kenneth Mtata, among other delegates where the Zimbabwe question was also discussed.

-Newsday

Zimbabwe and South Africa are set to fully operationalise a one-stop border post at Beitbridge in 2024 that will fast-track trade between the two neighbouring countries.

This was revealed by South African Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in an interview with Bloomberg. He said:

We all know the frustration of travellers when they go through Beitbridge: the long queues, the long waiting times, the congestion.

Now, the one-stop border post is going to do away with all that because it involves massive infrastructural changes, not just operational changes.

Beitbridge Border Post is one of Africa’s busiest land borders, with about 25,000 people and 500 trucks passing through daily.

A one-stop border would harmonize customs clearance procedures between the two countries, resulting in expedited clearance from customs officials.

Reports indicate that currently, it takes up to four days to be cleared due to the long queues, the long waiting times, and congestion.

Motsoaledi told the publication that the process will include the construction of a building for immigration officials and separate traffic lanes for commercial, private and public vehicles as well as a pedestrian pathway.

-Bloomberg

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has increased salaries of members of the police with assistant commissioners expected to get a gross salary of over 7,000 Zimbabwe dollars while the lowest paid constabularies are set to receive just over 3,200 dollars per month.

In a circular dated February 6, 2020, and signed by the chief staffing officer in the Zimbabwe Republic Police headquarters, senior members were informed that the pay increases will be backdated to January 1, 2020.

The circular reads in part, “Please be kindly advised that the Police Service Commission has approved with Treasury concurrence the payment of Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to all Zimbabwe Republic Police members with effect from 01 January 2020.

“… Please be advised that the January 2020 back pay will be paid over a period of 4 months. Matters pertaining to salaries are confidential and are treated as such.”

Members of the police were earning almost half of the salaries and allowances they have been offered by the Police Service Commission.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not reachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.

The government recently announced wage scales of domestic workers with the highest paid taking home less than 200 Zimbabwe dollars per month.

By A Correspondent- A Zanu PF official said that the ruling party is the only party that is people-centred, listens to people’s concerns and is interested in meeting them.

ZANU PF acting secretary for Administration Patrick Chinamasa told the state media that the main challenger, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, spends his time organising disruption demonstrations and lobbying for more sanctions to be imposed on the country.

He said:

It is like Zanu PF is the only party interested in meeting the people.

I do not see any other party which seems interested in meeting the people, addressing their concerns, listening to them and seeking to find solutions to their concerns.

Currently, no other party in Zimbabwe is people-centred, except Zanu PF. The main challenger is a party which spends most of its times organising demonstrations, travelling all over the world lobbying for the imposition of sanctions.

Chinamasa urged Chamisa to abandon his ‘antics’ and participate in meaningful dialogue under the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).

The ZANU PF politburo member added that although sanctions had caused untold suffering to the people since their imposition two decades ago, the ruling party would not tire until their effects were mitigated.-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday announced the official new name of nCoV2019 (2019 novel coronavirus).

The virus will now be known as COVID-19, spelt C-O-V-I-D hyphen one nine. Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said:

Under agreed guidelines between WHO, the @OIEAnimalHealth & @FAO, we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease.

The virus originated in the city of Wuhan in China, and according to Forbes, it was being frequently named the “Wuhan coronavirus,” or “Chinese coronavirus,” but neither of these were official names and some believe they may have contributed to discrimination against Chinese people.

There have been reports of racist incidents directed towards Chinese communities around the world since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The naming of viruses matters according to reports, for instance, people shunned pork products following the emergence of “Swine Flu” despite there being no evidence that the disease could be spread via consuming pork.

Forbes

By A Correspondent- A purported Joint Operations Command (JOC) memo prepared about a month before the disputed 2013 elections shows that Zimbabwe mistrusted the then South African President Jacob Zuma, who was facilitating dialogue between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

The memo also disclosed that Sino Zim Chairman, Sam Pa pledged to 2 million t-shirts, caps and bandanas, while DRC President Joseph Kabila donated US$85 million. Below is the document:

3 June 2013

Election Brief Meeting (JOC)

Manyame Airbase Station

Harare

SUBJECT: HARMONISED ELECTIONS: REGIONAL SURVEILLANCE (SADC)

Security Overview

Collaborative intelligence shows hostile communication between Mr Zuma, Ms L Zulu and Mr David Cameron through the USA embassy in ZA.

Intelligence gathered show complicity in sharing Cabinet and Government of Zimbabwe secrets by Mr Tsvangirai, Mr W Ncube and Mr T Biti.

Collaborated Intelligence show covert meetings between Governments of South Africa, Nigeria and Britain to strategise on how to use SADC to influence politics in Zimbabwe by way of loyalty buying in Senior Security personnel.

State Of Election Funds VS Budgetary Requirements

Campaign regalia will be covered by Sino Zim Chairman Mr Sam Pa who pledged 2 million t-shirts and a corresponding number of caps and bandanas.

Vehicles- 500 trucks donated so far by Meikles and CPC.

Mbada Diamonds and Anjin Pvt Ltd donated a total of USD800 m for transport and mobilization.

The Commissariat received USD85 m from Cde Joseph Kabila and USD 92 m from E. Guinea.

Other local Donations: Mahomed Mussa USD 2m, Van Hoog USD 3m.

Budgetary Requirements

Nikuv International Projects projected a budget need of USD3 billion to secure 50% of possible adult votes.

Party candidates will cater for most of their costs as most funds will go to Presidential campaign.

33% of the budget will cover regional diplomacy (Next SADC Chair, Liberation movements) to drum up support for poll credibility before, during and after elections.

Ptuz Calls for Critical Thought from Teachers

11 February 2020

a) Government mutilated teachers’ salaries from an average of US$520 to US$35, thereby creating a dispute of right from teachers.
b) We have clamoured for purchasing power parity, yet Apex engages government for pathetic salary decrease and cushion that never cushions teachers.
c) We have embarked on incapacitation struggle, yet there are some teachers who entrenched themselves in debts incurred in order to report for work.
d) While the government has reduced teachers into vending at their workplace, it falsely sees this as an act of misconduct rather than a real act of poverty and penury.
e) The government has subjected teachers to an anarchic and archaic selective biometric registration when the rest of other civil servants have not.
f) The government also treats teachers in a discriminatory, degrading and servitude manner by denying them 3 months vacation leave enjoyed by other civil servants. Although the government lost a labour court case spearheaded by Ptuz over vacation leave in 2016, it has not fully restored 3 months vacation leave.
g) The government approved exorbitant school fees this year at a time teachers’ salaries have remained in the starvation category thereby making education inaccessible and unaffordable to teachers’ children, yet it is teachers who offer that service.
h) Teachers’ calls for non-payment of tuition fees by at least 3 children of a teacher in a school where teachers are paid by the government have fallen on deaf ears.
i) Other government workers have been rewarded with vouchers to ameliorate hardships but nothing has come the teacher’s way. One wonders why teachers are treated as if they are of no account at a time they have tested positive to poverty, like all other government workers.
j) The government has approved Zimsec exorbitant increase of examination fees at ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels beyond the ability of poor teachers. To imagine how a poor teacher would get more than $4 000 this month for a child in form 4 baffles logic and common sense.

It is clear that the government has unilaterally declared war against teachers, and callously treat them as second class citizens and workers. This is a language teachers must understand very well, unite and collectively nurture, shape and define their actual path, direction and future.

Nothing short of taking a collective stand will liberate teachers. Life is too short to spend it in poverty. Teachers must never appreciate their current enslavement by the employer. We are workers with rights that must be respected and protected.

The only way forward is not agonising but going forward organising, mobilising and agitating for better salaries and conditions of service, and if need be fighting for our dispute of right by any means necessary. We can certainly not salivate at govt’s poisoned carrot of empty promises through Apex Council.

Venceremos

Dr Takavafira M. Zhou (Ptuz President)

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has increased salaries of members of the police with assistant commissioners expected to get a gross salary of over 7,000 Zimbabwe dollars while the lowest paid constabularies are set to receive just over 3,200 dollars per month.

In a circular dated February 6, 2020, and signed by the chief staffing officer in the Zimbabwe Republic Police headquarters, senior members were informed that the pay increases will be backdated to January 1, 2020.

The circular reads in part, “Please be kindly advised that the Police Service Commission has approved with Treasury concurrence the payment of Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to all Zimbabwe Republic Police members with effect from 01 January 2020.

“… Please be advised that the January 2020 back pay will be paid over a period of 4 months. Matters pertaining to salaries are confidential and are treated as such.”

Members of the police were earning almost half of the salaries and allowances they have been offered by the Police Service Commission.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not reachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.

The government recently announced wage scales of domestic workers with the highest paid taking home less than 200 Zimbabwe dollars per month.

See the new figures in the pictures loading below……

-Wires

Bulawayo Magistrates court on Monday 10 February 2020 ordered the deportation of 21 Ugandan nationals after convicting them for illegally entering into the country.

The 21 Ugandans who include a five year-old minor, who was in the company of her mother, were arrested on Saturday 8 February 2020 after being intercepted by some Zimbabwe Republic Police officers at Nyamandlovu tollgate along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway and charged with failing to appear before an immigration officer as defined in section 32(5)9b) of the Immigration Act.

In court, prosecutors alleged that the Ugandan nationals, who were represented by Jabulani Mhlanga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, failed without just cause to appear before an immigration officer and entered into Zimbabwe on 8 February 2020 at Victoria Falls Border Post in Matabeleland North province.

The Ugandans, prosecutors charged had some valid passports but had unlawfully entered into Zimbabwe without presenting themselves to immigration officials.

The Ugandan nationals include Tomson Barisigara aged 30 years, Martin Katerega aged 28 years, Elizabethy Kisembo aged 48 years, Abdul Katumba aged 44 years, Habiibu Kiggundu aged 36 years, Hamuza Asiimwe aged 27 years, George Willy Ochom aged 26 years, Hassan Kagaba aged 38 years, Rasul Dalausi aged 26 years, Shafic Senyange aged 22 years, Kasango Umar aged 27 years, Adam Kagaba aged 47 years, Nakitende Peninah aged 26 years, Magezi Gadafi aged 38 years, Opio Peter aged 26 years, Muzimba Solomon Ssemakula aged 26 years, Kato Derrick Kimera aged 29 years, Alex Kiganda aged 25 years, Ramazan Masereka aged 23 years and Mugerwa Sulaiman aged 29 years.

Bulawayo Magistrate Tinashe Tashaya convicted the Ugandans and sentenced them to serve three months in prison, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence within the same period.

Magistrate Tashaya also ordered that the Ugandan nationals be deported in terms of Zimbabwean laws to their country of origin.

Government has reviewed the price of subsidised roller meal to $70 from $50 per 10 kilogrammes with immediate effect.

In December 2019, Government introduced a roller meal subsidy pegged at $50 per 10kg bag in order to protect vulnerable members of society.

However, the wide gap between the market and the subsidised price has created arbitrage opportunities for unscrupulous players in the industry, resulting in market and supply distortions. Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube said the implementation of the new subsidy price is with immediate effect.

“In view of the above, I am pleased to announce that Government has reviewed upwards the subsidised price from $50 to $70 per 10kg bag of roller meal against the prevailing market price of the product. Government will announce a strengthened targeting system in due course such that deserving vulnerable citizens as intended by the subsidy policy benefit,’ said the Minister.

FOUR machete-wielding robbers attacked workers at a mine in Collen Bawn and stole two cellphones after they failed to get cash.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, confirmed the incident which occurred at Busi Park Mine on Sunday at around 9PM.

He said the gang, which was armed with machetes and knobkerries, attacked the two mine workers in their tents.

Chief Insp Ndebele said the gang then fled after the mine workers teamed up in a bid to retaliate.

“In can confirm that we recorded a case of robbery which occurred at Busi Park Mine in Collen Bawn. Mr Brian Mpinga who is a worker at the mine was sleeping in his tent when he was woken up by noise from the accused persons. He lit a torch and went out to check and met one of the accused persons holding a machete.

“The accused person ordered Mr Mpinga to switch off his cellphone and force-marched him out of the tent to his three accomplices who were armed with machetes and knobkerries.

They took Mr Mpinga’s cellphone and demanded money from him but he indicated that he didn’t have any,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele said Mr Mpinga managed to flee and hid in the bushes.

He said the gang moved to another tent belonging to Mr Khulekani Zhou where they demanded cash and threatened to kill him.- State media

Farai Dziva|Nurses at Gweru Provincial Hospital are on strike as they protest at poor working conditions.

Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union president, Robert Chiduku, quoted by NewsDay said :

What I can say is that the nurses have resolved that they want to be addressed by the hospital’s management before they assume any duties.

As we speak, there are no duty rosters in the wards and no communication has been made formally over that issue. So what I can say is there is confusion here.

Since we resolved to work for only two days a week, there is a lot that is being said in the informal circles purportedly coming from management.

As a result, the nurses have said let the management come and address us and set the record straight.

One person died after he was swept away following floods that hit Matabeleland North’s Binga district, while 34 families were rescued.

The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) swiftly deployed rescue teams to evacuate marooned villagers between Monday evening and yesterday. Rescue efforts continued yesterday concentrated on areas that could not be accessed on Monday.

CPU director Mr Nathan Nkomo last night said reports from the ground were that one person died in Nsungwale area under Chief Sinakoma after he was swept away while 34 families were evacuated.
“From the latest report that I got from the District Government Coordinator there is one fatality, an old man who got swept away. That is the only fatality I know of. But as of now, those who were marooned have since been rescued,” said Mr Nkomo.

“Initially when they (team on the ground) did their rapid assessment, they had estimated the figure to be 100 but when he spoke to me, he told me that the exact number is 34. That is the number of affected families. But we still think it might be 100 because they have not done a thorough assessment.”

Women assess the damage caused by floods which hit Binga District recently

He said two Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopters that were sent to the ground could not operate due to unfriendly weather which forced them to be temporarily grounded in Gokwe North.

Mr Nkomo said the grounding of the helicopters has not stopped rescue efforts as water levels had already subsidised yesterday.

He said after calling for help, organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) immediately responded.

“There is a lorry full of kitchen equipment, tents and blankets which will be given to every affected family because when one’s house is swept away, they lose everything including food, utensils, medication and many more. So, we continue to appeal that even the health sector can also assist with medication for those who are chronically ill so that they can continue with their medication,” he said.

Mr Nkomo said the CPU will remain alert as it makes efforts to get everyone to safety.

Binga North MDC-Alliance MP Mr Prince Madubeko Sibanda recognised Government’s efforts to rescue marooned villagers. He said it was unfortunate that a life had been lost.

Mr Sibanda said the focus should now shift to ensuring that every victim is assisted to start afresh.

“If everyone has been rescued from wherever they were marooned then we need assistance in terms of temporary shelter until such time that they find something permanent. We also want to see help in terms of food because these people had their food washed away. We also anticipate help in terms of warm clothes because these guys have been exposed to rain,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said although Binga has previously experienced flooding, the area has not suffered the magnitude of the prevailing situation.

Meteorological Service Department Principal Meteorologist Mr James Ngoma said it was unfortunate that Binga district, despite receiving the lowest rainfall in Matabeleland region, experienced flooding.

“Despite receiving the least amount of rainfall Binga experienced flash floods because it is in a flood plain which is more of a low-lying area. It is where the sources of water along areas such as Gokwe, Lupane as well as Hwange going to Zambezi Valley pass through. Therefore, if heavy rains occur either on the Zambian side or the Zimbabwean side Binga will still be prone to flash floods as a low-lying area,” said Mr Ngoma.

In a statement yesterday, the acting Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Christopher Shumba said it is possible that more people were affected considering the general settlement patterns in Binga District.

Mr Shumba said the emergency services sub-committee had mobilised two helicopters and the ZRP Sub-Aqua Unit stationed at Fairbridge in Bulawayo to assist the affected families.

He said the District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) was directed to intensify their assessment until they ascertain the actual number of people affected and those in need of assistance.

The Civil Protection Department is also dispatching 100 tents and blankets to Binga.

“Short term measures for consideration include the following; quick evacuation of the affected families to areas of safety and mobilisation of non-food and food items considering the level of destruction mostly of their pole and dagga houses and stored food. The DCPC is to continuously monitor the general health and welfare of the people for possible outbreaks of waterborne related diseases,” Mr Shumba said.

He said the long-term measures include possible relocation of affected families backed by a robust rural housing delivery programme to address the issues of sub-standard materials used.

Others are capacitation of all civil protection organisations such as the Air Force of Zimbabwe, Sub-Aqua Unit and Department of Civil Protection with all-weather equipment to enable them to timeously respond to the vagaries of climate change. Acting Binga District Development Coordinator, Mr Farai Marinyane, who also chairs the Binga District Civil Protection Committee, said the rescue operation is continuing.

He said the floods have since subsided but indicated that the DCPC has a lot of work to do in dealing with the aftermath of the flash floods.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister, Richard Moyo said he has since dispatched a team to assess the situation with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, saying efforts were being made to assist the affected people to reach safer zones. -state media/Chronicle

Farai Dziva|Former Zanu PF Youth League Political Commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu has vowed to expose corrupt cartels in spite of rampant intimidation.

“We aren’t anyone’s stooges. Those days are long gone. This is our fight. Indeed a few people can’t monopolize everything and hold us hostage.

Zimbabwe and its resources are for us ALL. We are no second class citizens here #Cartels/CorruptionMustFall,” tweeted Tsenengamu.

“Corruption is killing us especially the young. We commit to fight this scourge to the bitter end.

The leadership has a choice to make either to be with the people or with thieving cartels. It is a defining moment. Suspensions and threats won’t silence us.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Secretary for Elections Jacob Mafume has cited vote-buying and intimidation of villagers as factors that contributed to the opposition party in the Mwenezi by-election.

“People were called to come and collect rice on the day of voting, Zanu PF was drilling a borehole a few metres from the polling station,” said Mafume.

“These are not elections. It is manipulation of people’s poverty.

Weaponising poverty and food is the biggest challenge that we have.”

A married woman’s alleged illicit affair with her brother-in-law was exposed after she clashed with her workmate for bedding the same person on Saturday.

Rudo Makoni clashed with her workmate only identified as Lucy after the former discovered that they were both bedding their boss Joseph Toendepi who is husband to Rudo’s sister based in the United Kingdom.

Makoni reportedly bought a new cellphone for Lucy after she learnt of her shenanigans with Toendepi and the latter approached their boss informing him about the secret she kept and the two fell in love as well.

When H-Metro visited the two at their boutique located at Karigamombe Building, tempers flared as the two exchanged harsh words accusing each other of lose morals.

Lucy confirmed bedding Toendepi while showing this publication a photograph of him resting on her bed.

She said it was that photograph of Toendepi resting in her bedroom that affected Makoni.

“Zvamanzwa mukwasha ndizvo zvekuti tiri kunetserana boss vedu nekuti tese tinodanana navo,” said Lucy.

“This is Toendepi’s photograph sleeping on my bed in my room and that is the cause of my differences with Makoni.

“Makoni bought a new phone for me after I discovered that she was bedding her sister’s husband and I kept the secret.

“On our boss’ return to the country, I approached him over the issue and we ended up in an affair where we had quality time at my house.-H-Metro

By A Correspondent- A married woman’s alleged illicit affair with her brother-in-law was exposed after she clashed with her workmate for bedding the same person on Saturday.

Rudo Makoni clashed with her workmate only identified as Lucy after the former discovered that they were both bedding their boss Joseph Toendepi who is husband to Rudo’s sister based in the United Kingdom.

Makoni reportedly bought a new cellphone for Lucy after she learnt of her shenanigans with Toendepi and the latter approached their boss informing him about the secret she kept and the two fell in love as well.

When H-Metro visited the two at their boutique located at Karigamombe Building, tempers flared as the two exchanged harsh words accusing each other of lose morals.

Lucy confirmed bedding Toendepi while showing this publication a photograph of him resting on her bed.

She said it was that photograph of Toendepi resting in her bedroom that affected Makoni.

“Zvamanzwa mukwasha ndizvo zvekuti tiri kunetserana boss vedu nekuti tese tinodanana navo,” said Lucy.

“This is Toendepi’s photograph sleeping on my bed in my room and that is the cause of my differences with Makoni.

“Makoni bought a new phone for me after I discovered that she was bedding her sister’s husband and I kept the secret.

“On our boss’ return to the country, I approached him over the issue and we ended up in an affair where we had quality time at my house.

“Makoni discovered that I was in love with boss and felt jealous but she is married,” said Lucy.

Makoni forced Lucy to return the phone she bought for her in the presence of H-Metro and told this publication that the phone was just a present to Lucy and she was withdrawing it since they had some differences.

She denied bedding Toendepi saying her confession about her affair with the boss to Lucy was a joke.

“It is true that I confessed to her that I was bedding my sister’s husband but it was a joke I was sharing with her,” said Makoni.

Makoni was subsequently arrested for snatching H-Metro’s news gathering equipment and is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Toendepi denied bedding Makoni and could not confirm nor deny bedding Lucy after H-Metro sent him a photograph claimed to be of him resting on Lucy’s bed.

“Allegations that I bedded Makoni are false and unfounded,” said Toendepi.

“As for Lucy I am aware of alleged schemes to plant pr0stitutes in service to generate news and some work is underway to establish historic connections between H- Metro with the said subject,” said Toendepi.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- A Chimanimani traditional healer (76) who was recently arrested for illegally cultivating 500 plants of dagga survived a long jail term after a Chipinge magistrate considered her old age.

Ruth Mutete appeared before Mr Joshua Nembaware facing charges of growing dagga without a license.

She pleaded guilty.

It was the state’s case led by Mrs Portia Matereke that on January 31 police in Chimanimani received a tip off from an informer that Mutete was cultivating dagga in her garden.

The cops searched her garden and found 500 plants measuring 1,5m.

Asked why she was cultivating mbanje by the magistrate, Mutete said she wanted to sell them.

Mr Nembaware jailed Mutete for 2 years but he suspended the sentence considering her age.

Own Correspondent|HIGH Court judge Pisirayi Kwenda has stopped former Tourism and Hospitality minister Prisca Mupfumira’s trial, pending the hearing of her application challenging the Magistrates’ Court’s decision to throw out her application excepting to the criminal charges she is facing.

The ruling comes after Mupfumira, who is facing three counts of criminal abuse of office as a public officer, through her lawyer — Zivanai Makwanya — approached the High Court seeking recourse.
Makwanya confirmed the ruling yesterday.

“I confirm that an order for stay was handed down by the High Court on Friday,” Makwanya said.

Mupfumira is accused of conniving with retired Labour ministry permanent secretary Ngoni Masoka to purchase two cars that the ex-minister was not entitled to.

When she appeared for her trial before the Magistrates’ Court, Mupfumira filed an application for exception to the charges, which was however, dismissed by acting chief magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi. This prompted her to file the current High Court application seeking an order reviewing Mutevedzi’s ruling.

In the application, Mupfumira cited Mutevedzi, Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi, the National Prosecuting Authority and Masoka, as respondents.

“This is an application seeking the review of a ruling made by the first respondent (Mutevedzi) on the 5th of February 2020 dismissing an exception filed on my behalf to the criminal charges preferred against me.

“The application seeks an order setting aside the ruling (Mutevedzi’s ruling) … and in its place the quashing of the three criminal charges which are being preferred against me,” she said.

She said Mutevedzi’s ruling failed to address fundamental contradictions which exist in the charges, adding his decision was “grossly unreasonable”.

“It validates charges which are themselves invalid according to the law. Having received further particulars, it became apparent that the charges, the State outline and the further particulars did not disclose any cognisable offences at law.

“For the foregoing reasons, the ruling of the first respondent dismissing the exception was arrived at unprocedurally and without regard to material documents which formed part of the charges. The ruling itself is grossly unreasonable at law. The first respondent saw valid charges where no such charges ever existed,” Mupfumira said.

Source: Daily News

All Africa|Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) commissioner John Makamure says the anti-graft body was too understaffed and the current investigators were incapacitated to tackle high level corruption in the country.

Currently, ZACC has 89 employees who include 38 investigators, a number which Makamure said was insignificant in fighting corruption at the highest level.

“We are not capacitated in terms of members of staff and we have come up with a new structure and presented it to the Treasury,” he said.

“There is no way ZACC can investigate many cases with the current staff that we have.”

He was speaking at a Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) workshop on Capacity Building held in Bulawayo Monday.

According to Makarame, ZACC has 770 cases they need to deal with and 73 of them are high profile cases. At least 42 of the cases are still pending in court.

“We need to investigate, arrest and convict more of those who do corruption in order to send a message out there that Zimbabwe says no tolerance to corruption.”

He said ZACC was also keen on strengthening and restructuring its Assets and Money Recovery Unit which at the moment has only four lawyers and one investigator.

“ZACC investigators are peace officers and we also have the ability to arrest, we also have for a long time worked hand-in-hand with the police because we can order the police to make an investigation on a certain individual but we also need to expand the catchment area.

“We have also signed some Memorandum of Understanding with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Auditor General’s office and the Transparency International Zimbabwe so as to rope in the civil society,” said Makamure.

ZACC has arrested several public figures for abuse of office.

Among those arrested is former Cabinet minister Prisca Mupfumira for fraud involving US$95 million and Vice President’s Constantino Chiwenga’s wife Marry, who is facing charges of money laundering and externalisation.

By Nelson Chamisa|It is a call to action when the country’s Prosecutor General confirms that cartels have captured state institutions.

This reflects a captured and compromised state and that the regime is not fit for purpose.Politics aside,we must now unite in this BIG fight against corruption.

The PG confirms the serious and systemic nature of rot permeating the State. As ever, the fish rots from the head.If the top prosecutor is moved to make such public complaints then he is not getting support from the political leadership to perform his constitutional role.

The anti-corruption rhetoric is a mere facade designed to hoodwink Zimbabweans and the world. Over the past two years,the level of corruption & state capture has escalated to obscene levels.There can not be sustainable prosperity when national wealth is in the hands of a few.

Opposition MDC Member of Parliament for Njube-Lobengula Constituency Gift Banda has appeared in court facing allegations of forging signatures of a Bulawayo man resulting in him losing a residential stand worth US$60 000.

Banda, who is jointly charged with Mbonisi David Nkomazana (33) and Bard Real Estates represented by Mbonisi David Nkomazana appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Tinashe Tashaya.

The court heard that Banda and his accomplice allegedly forged Nkululeko Ndlovu’s signature purporting that he had agreed to sell him his stand in Selbourne Brooke Bulawayo.

Magistrate Tashaya postponed the matter to February 20 after Banda’s legal representatives requested to have a copy of the alleged forged signatures from the Question Document Examination department as they were not filed in the State papers.

According to the State papers as presented by George Rufumoyo, Ndlovu bought his stand in February 2015 where he signed a memorandum of agreement of sale with Bulawayo Glass and Allied Products Pvt Ltd, represented by Sipho Mhlanga who is the land developer and owner of the stand.

Rufumoyo said the agreement was drafted by Bard Real Estates represented by Nkomazana.

The prosecutor added that sometime during 2017, Banda approached Ndlovu and offered to buy the stand from him, promising to purchase for him a bigger stand in Paddonhurst.

Rufumoyo said Banda and Nkomazana also forged an agreement of sale of the stand between Banda and Bulawayo Glass and Allied Products.

He said the document was drafted by Nkomazana using the Bard Real Estates logo.

“Banda and Ndlovu settled their agreement verbally. Banda failed to keep his end of the bargain of securing another stand in Paddonhurst and instead offered to pay Ndlovu cash for his Selbourne Brooke stand. He again failed to settle the cash payment,” said Rufumoyo.

He said on July 21 2017, Ndlovu sent Banda a WhatsApp message informing him that he no longer wanted to sell his stand to him.

The court heard that despite the cancellation by Ndlovu, Banda went on to deposit $2000 into Ndlovu’s Steward Bank account and proceeded to start construction at the stand.

“On realisation that Banda was defiant, Ndlovu, through his lawyers, wrote a letter instructing him to cease his construction but he did not adhere. Ndlovu and his lawyers then made an application to the High Court declaring the sale null and void since it was against City Council’s regulations to sell an undeveloped stand,” said Rufumoyo.

“Banda in turn tendered at the High Court a cessation agreement which was drafted by Nkomazana in his official capacity as a sales agent for Board Real Estates. The cessation agreement purported that Ndlovu had ceded all interest and rights of the stand to Bulawayo Glass and Allied Products.”

The State alleged that the document had Ndlovu’s forged signatures and also tendered at the High Court was an acknowledgement of payment which was drafted by Nkomazana in his capacity as a sales agent of the accused company.

Correspondent|LONG Cheng Plaza’s engineering section manager appeared in court last week for allegedly sodomising a general hand at the popular shopping mall in Belvedere, Harare.

Yichun Wang (46), who is being represented by lawyer Oscar Gasva, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with aggravated indecent assault.

Wang is denying the charges.

Prosecutor Constance Ngombengombe alleges that sometime in 2015, Wang called the general hand (name withheld) to his office and ordered him to report for night duty.

It is alleged that when the general hand reported for duty, Wang started asking for sexual favours from him saying he would protect him at work for any misdemeanour.

The man turned down Wang’s request, but he insisted.

Ms Ngombengombe alleges that the general hand eventually yielded to Wang’s demands.

It is alleged that on the first encounter, Wang paid $3.

The court heard that since that day, Wang would sodomise the man twice per week until he reported the matter to the deputy general manager.

It is said that the deputy general manager failed to take action, prompting the victim to lodge a complaint with the police leading to Wang’s arrest.

He is expected to appear in court on February 27 for trial.

Magistrate Amos Mubobo is presiding over the matter.

Own Correspondent|Ousted ZANU PF Youth League leader Godfrey Tsenengamu has remained defiant on his move to name people he alleges have brought the country down due to corruption.

The outspoken politician also made sensational claims some Zanu PF officials have tried to bribe him into stopping his anti-corruption campaign but he has refused.

Tsenengamu was last Wednesday summarily suspended together with party youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu for alleged indiscipline.

Watch ZimEye.com live discussion with him in the video downloading below:

MDC Youths have distanced themselves from youth gathering that is set to be held on the 21st of February at the Robert Mugabe Square.

A poster that has been circulating on social media has a line up of speakers including MDC leader Tererai Obey Sithole, Promise Mkwananzi, Jabulani Sibanda and embattled ZANU PF youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu.

In a statement issued by MDC Deputy Spokesperson  Womberaiishe Nhende the youth said they will not be part of the ZANU PF factionalism.

Read the full statement below:

We have learnt with deep shock the inclusion of our party into a factional battle gone wrong at Jongwe house and as the MDC Youth we stand firmly guided by our own struggle and principles . I would like to state it here and now , categorically clear that the MDC Youth Assembly is not part neither is it parcel of the event that has been dubbed the Multi Party National Youth Convention to be held on the 21st of February.

We will not sanitize a sham process that has nothing to do with the people of Zimbabwe but everything to do with individuals who have been sidelined in the grand matrix of systematic and organised cartel looting and they want to condomise their fight using the gullible youths who have been hoodwinked to think it’s a generational fight yet it’s personal upliftment escapade by the loud mouth youth leaders .

As MDC we have been and we remain committed to the fight against corruption and state capture , that has been our perennial gospel which is meant to redeem Zimbabweans and we will not be misled by a faction that portrays itself as holier than the other in ZANU PF . The whole institution of ZANU PF is in need of corruption exorcism starting from number 1 right down to the branch chairperson in Nembudziya . Alternatively as MDC we call upon all progressive Zimbabweans to unite against ZANU PF the system and the characters, that way we can defeat the cartels that have been exposed by Prosecutor General Hodzi .

Moreover 21st February has been chosen deliberately to honour RG Mugabe the author of this system that remains haunting the citizenry of Zimbabwe with it’s sophisticated and shrewd institutionalised cartels , and as such they want to honour him with a borrowed hoodwinked crowd but as the MDC we are distancing ourselves from this non event.

The Citizen|President Cyril Ramaphosa has had a rough start to his first chairing of the African Union, threatening to leave an ordinary session before it concluded in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

At about 03:00, Ramaphosa was so fed up with diplomats and heads of state taking issue with the translation of adoptions that he threatened to leave the summit early to prepare for his State of the Nation Address which he will deliver on Thursday before a joint sitting of Parliament.

The session, which was meant to take place over two days, was plagued by several delays as state leaders and their diplomats were unable to adopt decisions due to disagreements over translations.

It took more than four hours for the 140-page document to be translated into French and Arabic. Several African leaders were seen leaving the African Union headquarters before the second day’s session concluded.

The two-day gathering, which was meant to end at 21:30 – with Ramaphosa delivering his closing address before facing the media – was called off at 03:00. Ramaphosa was unable to make his closing address or brief the media.

Ramaphosa, who took over the chairmanship of the AU from Egyptian President Mohamed al-Sisi, scored a significant diplomatic victory on Monday after his chief negotiator Wamkele Mane was elected as the new secretary of the Africa free trade agreement area.

Correspondent|Suspended ZANU PF Youth League political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu said he surrendered a Ford Ranger vehicle that he was given by the party for his use as a fulltime deployee.

Tsenengamu further denied accusations that he was being sponsored by the United States of America’s dreaded Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or by local politicians. He said:

“When we started, I posted on Facebook saying desperate times (call for) desperate measures. I said it was too late to soil our names because we had picked it that when they sat, they agreed to create a conspiracy theory that we are being funded by the (Central Intelligence Agency) CIA and the Americans.”

“Some are saying we have been sent by ED (President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa), others are saying we have been sent by General (Constantino) Chiwenga, others are saying we have been sent by Tyson waBantu (Saviour Kasukuwere), others are saying we have been sent by (Christopher) Mutsvangwa and we now have others saying we have been sent by the CIA and others say Temba Mliswa is sending us…”

Tsenengamu was suspended from the party together with deputy youth secretary Lewis Matutu after they accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Billy Rautenbach and Tafadzwa Musarara of corruption that has run Zimbabwe’s economy aground.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Dambudzo has arrived back home from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he was attending the 33rd Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) which ended today.

Below is the picture of his return…..

Correspondent|Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe Chairman Tafadzwa Musarara has slapped former ZANU PF Youth leaders Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu with a  ZWL10 million lawsuit arising from their press conference where they accused him of working with a cartel of white people to divert maize to the black market and causing a shortage of maize meal in the country.

The embattled pair have been given 10 working days to respond to the summons if they  wish to defend their statements in court.

Through his lawyers, Wintertons Musarara, Musarara said the statements uttered by the suspended ZANU PF Youth leaders were meant to tarnish his image and brand him as a corrupt businessman who was abusing state resources to enrich himself at the expense of the general populace.

On Monday we exclusively revealed that Tsenengamu and another suspended Youth leader Pupurai Togarepi accused Musarara of being corrupt in June 2019 and in December of the same year they approached him to seek funding for their projects.

Musarara supported their charity initiatives.

The Harare based businessman has been hailed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as one of the youthful people who are assisting the government to curb the maize meal shortage in the country.

GRAIN Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has submitted a fourth letter to parliament in a bid to evade being grilled by legislators under the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement over US$27 million they received from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

GMAZ is led by Tafadzwa Musarara, who is among the three businessmen named by suspended Zanu-PF youth leaders as wreaking havoc and causing untold suffering among citizens through corruption and looting of State resources.

GMAZ was set to appear for hearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement this Tuesday but did not turn up.

The parliamentary portfolio committee members are demanding answers as to how the US$27 million received by GMAZ between 2017 and 2019 was used. The money was availed by the government towards the purchase of wheat.

Responding to questions from journalists following a no show by GMAZ, Gokwe Nembudziya legislator, Justice Mayor Wadyajena who chaired the meeting said the committee resolved to summon the organisation despite having sent several letters through their lawyers.

“They wrote to parliament through Winterton Lawyers and they think the committee is being unfair on them. They have engaged their lawyers to fight us. The committee resolved that they need to appear so we are going to send summons,” said Wadyajena.

Wadyajena said the committee is pursuing GMAZ to clarify what they used the US$27 million they got from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for.

“We need information from them, they got US$27 million from the government and we want to know what they used it for.

“They got US$27 million from RBZ between 2017 and 2019. We have confirmation from RBZ that they received this amount of money. They must appear and explain to Zimbabweans what they used the money for.

“There are two issues here, one is the issue of US$27 million from RBZ and the rehabilitation of silos as well because GMB is refuting claims that GMAZ has rehabilitated silos,” he added.

According to a letter dated 18th of March 2019 signed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr John Mangudya, the grain millers received the US$27 million.

“Please find attached the information requested on foreign exchange allocations to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe and other suppliers of fertiliser, seed and agro-chemicals,” reads parts of the letter.

GMAZ through their lawyers Wintertons indicated that the committee must seek government approval for them to furnish parliament with terms of the agreement.

“The transaction in question was captured in an agreement that was entered into between our client and Government of Zimbabwe, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development executed on the 7th of June 2017.

“There is a confidentiality clause in the agreement which bars our client from disclosing the terms thereof without the consent of the government of Zimbabwe. The committee should, therefore, obtain government approval for our client to furnish it with a copy of the agreement,” reads part of the letter.

Asked by journalists on exactly whom they are targeting in this whole saga, Wadyajena said they want any representative of the organisation to clarify on the questions that members of the committee have and its nothing personal.

“These are not personal issues hence we don’t need a specific person but representative of GMAZ. The lawyers wrote about four letters and the recent one saying they don’t want me to chair the committee and they prefer appearing before the public accounts committee,” he said.

ZBC

By A Correspondent- Footprints led to the discovery of a hidden pushcart used to carry 300kg of stolen copper cables valued at more than US$9 000 by two Mvurwi men.

Lloyd Jimu and Isaac Inosi were sentenced to 10 years in jail after being convicted of stealing copper cables from a ZESA Holdings transformer at a farm.

They pleaded not guilty to theft charges, but were convicted after a full trial.

Guruve resident magistrate Mr Shingirai Mutiro sentenced the pair to 12 years in prison before suspending two years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence.

Prosecutor Mr Albert Charehwa told the court that on November 1 last year, the pair hatched a plan to steal ZESA copper cables using a pushcart.

The court heard that they went to Barbra Chirara’s homestead at night and stole her pushcart before proceeding to a ZESA transformer in the same farm.

They dismantled the transformer and stole 300kg of copper cables which they loaded into the cart and escaped barefoot.

In the morning, a villager, Jacob Chigando Mhlanga, noticed that the transformer had been dismantled and alerted other villagers.

The villagers went to the scene and saw the pair’s footprints whereupon a group of villagers followed the footprints and recovered the pushcart covered with grass in Jimu’s garden.

They took the duo to the police leading to their arrest; the cart and transformer were taken as exhibits.

-Statemedia

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

This prohibition will relate to both types of marriages, customary and non customary. Anyone assisting or committing a child to marry be liable to criminal charges, Ziyambi announces proposed bill @womensvoicezw@veritaszimwomen@MuzvareBetty pic.twitter.com/gva5O7pEjF

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 11, 2020

By A Correspondent- The parliament of Zimbabwe today sat for the first time in 2020.

Watch the live video loading below and hear what the legislators said as parliament resumed sittings……

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF party has embarked on a mass mobilisation drive on the streets of neighbouring South Africa, as the former liberation movement targets five million registered voters by the next national elections in 2023.

The state-owned Herald newspaper reported that Zanu-PF, which is aiming to secure 65 percent of the vote at the polls, had established a database of its members living outside Zimbabwe’s borders to create a direct link between party headquarters and structures outside the country.

Zanu-PF spokesman in South Africa Kennedy Mandaza told the newspaper that a party meeting in Johannesburg last week attracted over 30 new members who joined its diaspora structures.

Several Zimbabwean civic groups and political parties have representation in South Africa, home to millions of Zimbabweans who fled political strife and an economic meltdown back home.

The leader of the People’s Progressive Party of Zimbabwe (PPPZ), Pastor Timothy Chiguvare, says he has for many years advocated for the rights of his compatriots based in South Africa.

“Well before 2016, our party has gone international via social media networks with a PPPZ official message appealing to all Zimbabweans and former Zimbabweans in the diaspora to come aboard the PPPZ’s glorious victory train,” Chiguvare told African News Agency in Pretoria.

Zimbabwe’s former foreign affairs minister Walter Mzembi, now also based in South Africa, has been appointed interim president of a new political formation, the People’s Party.

The MDC notes with concern that government has gazetted paltry wages of 160 RTGS per month for all domestic workers, contrary to representations and agreements government had reached with the relevant sector.

Given the parlous state of the economy, that figure is enough to a bundle of vegetables.

Domestic workers are the most lowly paid in Zimbabwe and the Industry is very much unregulated as they do not fall under an Employment Council. Their wages are negotiated under a Labour Advisory Board, mostly with the Zimbabwe Domestic Allied Workers Union and with some Employers of Domestics picked by government.

The Domestics representatives had a very plausible figure of ZWL$1200 and after negotiations they settled for the following figures

1. Gardener ZWL$385
2. Housekeeper ZWL$400

All with an Allowance of ZWL $385.00 for transport, accommodation and other ancillaries. The figures that have been published are not the ones agreed upon between the Parties at the Advisory Board.

The MDC is disappointed that we have a government that has no empathy with the poor, they are simple not trustworthy as they change goal posts after agreeing with workers representatives. Figures which they had agreed with workers representatives were higher than what government eventually gazetted.

The present situation on the ground shows that rentals for a room in high density areas costs an average of ZWL$200 while a kilogramme of economy beef is going for ZWL$120.

Only a people’s government is able to improve the dignity of the citizen and to care for their livelihoods.

#ThePeoplesGovernment.

Hon Gideon Shoko
Secretary for Labour & Social Security
Movement For Democratic Change

Farai Dziva|Former Zanu PF Youth League Political Commissar, Godfrey Tsenengamu has vowed to expose corrupt cartels in spite of rampant intimidation.

“We aren’t anyone’s stooges. Those days are long gone. This is our fight. Indeed a few people can’t monopolize everything and hold us hostage.

Zimbabwe and its resources are for us ALL. We are no second class citizens here #Cartels/CorruptionMustFall,” tweeted Tsenengamu.

“Corruption is killing us especially the young. We commit to fight this scourge to the bitter end.

The leadership has a choice to make either to be with the people or with thieving cartels. It is a defining moment. Suspensions and threats won’t silence us.”

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP) Commercial Crime Unit (CCU) working with the Zimbabwe United Passengers Company’s (ZUPCO) Risk Control Department have arrested a Harare man for allegedly manufacturing fake ZUPCO staff identification cards (IDs).

The arrests came after a tip off that one Farai Sangombe was in the business of illegally manufacturing fake ID cards for ZUPCO and other private owned bus companies. Efforts to get a comment from the police were fruitless, however a high placed official at ZUPCO said after a tipoff, ZUPCO’s risk team set a trap where one of the staff members engaged the fraudster and asked him to make an ID for him.

The fraudster would the sell the IDs to members of the public who would in turn use them to access free rides on ZUPCO buses. A docket has since been opened under case number CR701/02/2020. Allegations are that the ZUPCO official was charged $80 for the service.

“After the fake ID was produced, the police arrived and identified themselves, including the ZUPCO official. Sangombe was subsequently arrested. He is now in police custody,” said the official who refused to be named.

He said after the arrest, police recovered fake IDs for ZUPCO, Inter Africa and for other buses concealed in Sangombe’s bag.

“The trap money which he received from the ZUPCO risk team official was also recovered.”

The arrest of Sangombe comes hardly a week after another bogus ZUPCO employee was arrested for defrauding innocent people of cash on the pretex that he would facilitate employment for them at the organisation.

“Again, the Risk Department set a trap for this person and nailed him. Kingston Choto went to the extent of advertising on social media that he is an agent for ZUPCO and was recruiting conductors, especially those without five ‘O’level passes. The risk team got a tip off and set a trap and he was caught. He was arrested and has since appeared in court.”

He said Choto was charging US$15 for his alleged illegal services.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- The parliament of Zimbabwe today sat for the first time in 2020.

Watch the live video loading below and hear what the legislators said as parliament resumed sittings……

By A Correspondent- Nurses at Gweru Provincial General Hospital on Monday staged a sit-in at the hospital demanding to be addressed by management.

The nurses, who last week resolved to work for two days a week, were protesting the absence of duty rosters for those who had reported for work.

Speaking to a local publication on Monday, Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union president, Robert Chiduku confirmed the development.

He said:

“What I can say is that the nurses have resolved that they want to be addressed by the hospital’s management before they assume any duties.”

As we speak, there are no duty rosters in the wards and no communication has been made formally over that issue. So what I can say is there is confusion here.

Since we resolved to work for only two days a week, there is a lot that is being said in the informal circles purportedly coming from management. As a result, the nurses have said let the management come and address us and set the record straight.

The publication was informed by its sources that the management at the hospital intended to victimise all the nurses who were not reporting for duty and also planned to fire those suspected to have been the ringleaders in the job action.

By A Correspondent- Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Chair, Justice Mayor Wadyajena has said that it is not necessary for Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) to engage lawyers but just account for the US$27 million it was given for wheat importation.

His remarks come after GMAZ has reportedly refused to appear before Wadyajena’s committee which is probing how the organization used $27 million it received from government preferring to appear before the Tendai Biti Public Accounts Committee.

Posting on Twitter following the development, Wadyajena said:

GMAZ cannot dictate to Parliament which Committee they want to appear before, having been given USD$27milliion for wheat importation. There is absolutely no need to engage lawyers when all we seek is accountability.

The country last year experienced acute bread shortages with authorities saying that wheat reserves had dried up.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe then disbursed the US$27 million in question for the importation of wheat.

The MDC expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased passengers in the ZUPCO bus disaster that occurred a few kilometers outside Kwekwe on Monday.

Seven people have been confirmed dead while several were injured after the bus they were travelling in developed a mechanical fault and rammed into a private car and a Kombi before hitting a tree.

The MDC wishes the injured a speedy recovery and hopes that the skeletal hospital staff at our government medical institutions would find it in their hearts to assist.

We in the MDC continue to believe that such accidents are avoidable if the government would observe set out procedures of ensuring that all passenger vehicles are road-worthy.

The argument currently proffered by government spokesperson Mr. Nick Mangwana that the bus was “newish” and hence did not require any Inspection by VID is not only insensitive to the situation at hand but speaks to an uncaring government that has no sense of imagination and appreciation of how dangerous an un-roadworthy vehicle can be to passengers and other road users.

The MDC reiterates its position that due to the high costs of medical care for the injured and funeral costs for the deceased and more so the costs of keeping up the families of those left behind by the deceased, a Road Accident Victims Fund should be actualised without delay to take care of costs for the victims of such circumstances.

This call has been made since 2018 but the current uncaring government continued to ignore such a genuine policy that will ensure some modicum of care to victims of road accidents.

An MDC government would have established such a Road Accident Victims Fund from proceeds of an agreed percentile of Road access fee without necessarily passing on the burden of cost to the motorist.

Drivers of mass passenger vehicles are once again reminded to observe all road rules to minimize increasing the risk of accidents claiming many lives in the event of any occurrence.

May the souls of the deceased rest in peace while we pray for those injured to recover with speed.

#ThePeoplesGovernment.

Hon Settlement Chikwinya

Secretary for Transport
Movement For Democratic Change

Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi yesterday made startling revelations that the corrupt cartels in the country have captured the media, judiciary and the prosecuting authority making the corruption fight difficult to execute.

He made the remarks during a Political Actors Dialogue workshop in Bulawayo.

Below are Hodzi’s remarks…

The cartels are responsible for most of the high-level incidences of corruption and the nature of the cartels cuts across all the institutions, the media, the legal profession, the judiciary, the NPA itself and all other institutions that are mandated to fight corruption. Members of the public and business people are also involved in those cartels.

We will need to approach our fight against corruption in a thoroughly scientific manner. We have been fighting corruption in a very blind manner hence the challenges we have been facing,” he said adding that he understood the frustration from the public as far as corruption matters are concerned.

They have got strategies and you need to have a holistic and integrated bi-scientific approach. You need to know exactly what you are doing at the end of the day. It’s like performing brain surgery, you might be emotional that somebody needs to be operated on. But if everyone gets into the operating room, they might end up causing more damage than intended.

Farai Dziva|MDC Secretary for Elections Jacob Mafume has cited vote-buying and intimidation of villagers as factors that contributed to the opposition party in the Mwenezi by-election.

“People were called to come and collect rice on the day of voting, Zanu PF was drilling a borehole a few metres from the polling station,” said Mafume.

“These are not elections. It is manipulation of people’s poverty.

Weaponising poverty and food and it is the biggest challenge that we have.”

Farai Dziva|MDC Secretary for Elections Jacob Mafume has cited vote-buying and intimidation of villagers as factors that contributed to the opposition party in the Mwenezi by-election.

“People were called to come and collect rice on the day of voting, Zanu PF was drilling a borehole a few metres from the polling station,” said Mafume.

“These are not elections. It is manipulation of people’s poverty.

Weaponising poverty and food and it is the biggest challenge that we have.”

“The road that leads to the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s rural home in Zvimba is better than most roads in and around Harare and other big towns.”

Watch the video loading below and share your views on whether this assertion is true or false?