The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has engaged independent auditors after at least $1,9 million was withdrawn by top party officials from the bank accounts last year and spent on personal projects while the party has been failing to pay its workers and fund key party programmes.

“We are faced with that challenge whereby $1,9 million was stolen and used for other purposes,” a source told NewsDay.

Last year, the MDC received more than $4 million under the Political Parties Finance Act.

Government released more than $12 million to both the MDC and Zanu-PF to share according to the numbers garnered in the 2018 harmonised elections.

MDC treasurer-general David Coltart confirmed to NewsDay that a team of independent auditors would start work this week after unconfirmed reports that the money had been abused by unnamed top officials and individuals.

He could, however, not be drawn into confirming or denying the theft reports.

“We are starting an audit today because the party, at my request, has agreed to have an audit. We will have a standard audit and until maybe the audit reveals the irregularities, I am not aware of such,” Coltart said.

“Whether it is $190 000 or $1,9 million, I am not aware of any irregularities. I am not saying they are not there. I am not an auditor and that is why we have an audit. An independent firm will be doing the audit of the MDC books since 2019 and it is the first for the MDC and for any political party. It is the first time a political party has subjected itself to an audit.”

This is not the first time the MDC has been in the eye of a storm over alleged abuse of funds.

In 2014, the party split into two distinct camps amid accusations that donors were not happy with how the leadership had used funds.

As a result of alleged lack of accountability in party finances, the insiders said donors had withdrawn financial support to the main opposition following the 2014 allegations leading into a serious financial crisis.

-Newsday

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https://youtu.be/LnzdGyx561Y

TEARS FOR ED https://t.co/QCXzCEiyTv

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 4, 2020

Own Correspondent|Uncompromising MDC Deputy National Chairman Job Sikhala on Monday told President Emmerson Mnangagwa that he should not think that he will be in power forever as will soon be out of office.

Sikhala said this while impromptuly addressing hundreds of MDC supporters who thronged Masvingo High Court to show solidarity with him at his treason trial.

Sikhala said Mnangagwa should leave his job, insisting Zimbabwe did not belong to the Zanu PF leader’s mother.

The MDC deputy national chair said the Zanu PF led government has turned university graduates into money changers (illegal foreign currency dealers) yet they could be entrepreneurs and professionals working in their right jobs to help develop the troubled country.

“As long as long as Emerson Mnangagwa is there, we shall remain under the auspices of a dictator.

“Africa had a problem of individuals who have been accommodating dictatorship, Africa has been betrayed because it’s people have been threatened by dictators.

“We want to develop this country. No longer should a Zimbabwean be frightened by Emmerson Mnangagwa to demand what is rightfully yours,” Sikhala said.

He added that the time was now for Mnangagwa to leave office.

“He will go whether he likes it or not. This is not his mother’s country,” he said.

Sikhala is set to appear again in Masvingo on 14 February at the High Court.

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HEAVY rains accompanied by thunder and lightning will lash Matabeleland North and northern regions of the country with effect from today, the Meteorological Services Department said yesterday.

In a statement, the MSD said the rainfall distribution will not be uniform, with a few localised significant downpours in some areas.

“For tomorrow (today) we are expecting isolated thunderstorms for Matabeleland North, Midlands, Harare, all Mashonaland and Northern Districts of Manicaland Province with sunny and hot conditions. Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and southern districts of Manicaland Province are expected to be sunny, hot and dry, with lower chances of isolated rains,” said the MSD.

The latest weather forecast brings little joy for Bulawayo residents as the city’s supply dams, which are now at a critical 34 percent capacity, are situated in Matabeleland South province.

Most crops around the country have been written off as they have succumbed to dry and hot conditions over the past weeks, a major characteristic of the 2019-2020 cropping season.

The MSD urged the public to take the usual necessary precautionary measures to stay safe from the violent thunderstorms and for those in areas that will be hot and dry, to guard against dehydration.

“Such a thundery phenomenon is usually superseded by lightning. This poses a potential threat to the tallest objects such as trees, poles and even persons in an open field.

“Outdoor activities conducted in direct sun such as sports, farm work and construction may increase the risk of heat-related illness. Rainfall distribution will not be uniform with a few localised significant downpours,” said the MSD.

“Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, do not wait until you are thirsty. Monitor the young and the elderly as they tend to be more vulnerable in these hot conditions.

“It is advisable to try and plan outdoor activities in such a way that one is less exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day”.

VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa says she was certain someone was taking advantage of her husband’s paranoia to mislead and destroy him with outright lies.

Marry said this in a letter to Chiwenga’s lawyers, Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners, where she was demanding to be furnished with the letter of complaint written by the VP to Judge President George Chiweshe, accusing him of leaking a judgment on their legal battle over their three minor children’s custody.

The letter, written by Beatrice Mtetwa, accused Chiwenga of making lies to justify his intimidation of the Judiciary and try to influence the pending appeal. This was after Chiwenga accused Chiweshe of being compromised as Marry’s relative, although the Judge President was not handling Chiwenga’s divorce case.

This came after Justice Christopher Dube-Banda ordered Chiwenga to surrender three minor children he illegally took from Marry after engineering her arrest on allegations of trying to kill him.

But Chiwenga immediately appealed against the ruling, which also chastised him for being a threat to the constitutionalism by abusing his position as Vice-President through using the military to settle his divorce dispute.

Mtetwa, in her letter, in which she gave Chiwenga 24 hours to furnish them with the letter of complaint to Justice Chiweshe, denied that her client was given the judgment before it was handed and also denied that she visited the school before the ruling to access her minor children.

“Your letter further alleges that our client attended at the children’s school at 0800hrs on January 24, 2020 ‘armed with an order of this court’ and stated to the school authorities that she had been granted an order by the High Court to have access to the children,” Mtetwa’s letter dated January 30 read.

“That this is an outright lie is clear from the fact that the court order granted by Honourable Dube-Banda is, in fact, not an access order.”

Mtetwa said Marry denies visiting the school on the said date and also denies she had an order relating to the children as at 8am on January 24.

Marry, Mtetwa wrote, also denies seeing any school authority “as alleged in the article and if this quote in your letter was given to yourselves as instructions by your client, we are absolutely certain that someone is out to destroy your client through outright lies by taking advantage of his paranoia”.

According to Mtetwa, Marry only called the headmistress at 11:31am and again at 12:18pm, who did not pick calls on both occasions.

“When she called us, we advised that the execution of the order, once availed, is not done by her or ourselves and as at that time, she did not have a copy of the judgment or order as you allege. That you appear to be relying on nameless school authorities can only be because the discussion with the authorities only exists in the fertile imaginations of your informants,” Mtetwa wrote.

Mtetwa also barraged Chiwenga for “misinterpreting” a Zimbabwe Independent story to insinuate that it was on the judgment that had not been handed down, claiming “whoever has ascribed that interpretation to it suffers from extreme illiteracy as even a child who has just mastered reading would not interpret the article as being based on a judgment or court order”.

By accusing Justice Chiweshe of leaking the judgment, Mtetwa wrote, Chiwenga is alleging that both the Judge President and trial judge had been party to the alleged illegality.

“We consider it extremely serious to ascribe illegal conduct to a sitting judge, we request that you provide us with a copy of the complaint within 24 hours of this letter so that our client can take whatever action she considers necessary, including filing complaints to the law society as her integrity has been falsely assaulted through outright lies designed to influence the pending appeal.”

– News Day

Own Correspondent|Troubled Zanu PF has convened a Politburo meeting today for the first time this year on claims that they want to discuss issues affecting the country, including the pricing of basic commodities.

The politburo seating is however suspicious as it comes hot on the heels of a controversial press conference by the party youth league which appears to be undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s authority.

Zanu PF youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and national youth commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu early this week held a Press conference at the Media Centre in the city centre, with party insiders saying they had been ordered not to use the Zanu PF HQ by top party officials who described their conduct as an attack on President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Matutu and Tsenengamu were told to use other venues, and not the Zanu PF

HQ,” a source based at the party headquarters told NewsDay yesterday.

“They were told by (party chairperson) Oppah Muchinguri that their Press briefing was a personal matter. It was a show of disrespect to President Mnangagwa. The President appointed a commission to look into allegations of corruption by the youths and he is still to receive a report from the commission. The youths’s actions will be, therefore, seen as a way of saying the President has failed.”

Zanu PF secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo confirmed the meeting in a statement yesterday.

“The Secretary for Administration Cde Dr Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 5 February, 2020 at the Party Headquarters commencing 1000 hours. All members should be seated by 0945 hours sharp,” he said.

Own Correspondent |Trafigura Pte Limited has parted ways with its Zimbabwean partners Sakunda Holdings owned by businessman Mr Kuda Tagwirei.

ZANU PF youth leaders recently labelled President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally Kuda Tagwirei “the most corrupt person in the country” at an extraordinary Press conference that also exposed growing factionalism in the party after they were barred from using the ruling party’s headquarters for their address.

Trafigura Pte Limited now owns 100 percent of Trafigura Zimbabwe after acquiring Sakunda Holdings’ 51 percent stake.

Trafigura Zimbabwe supplies fuel through Puma, Redan and Sakunda service stations and reportedly has interests in the Feruka Oil pipeline.

However, the deal awaits regulatory approval.

Further, Trafigura expects the transaction to improve clarity on the company’s local operations.

Trafigura Pte, which is head-quartered in Switzerland, held a minority 49 percent stake in Trafigura Zimbabwe through Puma Energy, while Sakunda Petroleum had the controlling stake of 51 percent, in line with local content laws that applied at the time of the investment.

The Second Republic has since tweaked the local content laws to attract more investors under the policy, “Zimbabwe is Open for Business”.

Trafigura Zimbabwe was only involved in petroleum supply and distribution.

The joint venture company was renamed from Sakunda Supplies to Trafigura Zimbabwe to differentiate the joint activities of marketing fuel, from those of the wider Sakunda Group of companies.

Mr Tagwirei’s mobile phone went unanswered last night and had not responded to a text message by the time of going to print.

However, a Trafigura Pte Ltd spokesperson yesterday confirmed Trafigura, Tagwirei part ways the transaction.

“In December 2019, Trafigura Pte Ltd signed an agreement to become the 100 percent owner of fuel supply business Trafigura Zimbabwe. This follows the purchase of Sakunda Holding’s 51 percent stake in the company which is currently awaiting final regulatory approval,” said the spokesperson.

“This will bring improved clarity on Trafigura’s activities in the country, an opportunity for more robust financing of Trafigura Zimbabwe and aims to help improve the security of supply of fuel to Zimbabwe.

Trafigura Zimbabwe will continue to ensure that petroleum products are made available in line with ZERA (the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority)’s regulated price build-up and quality standards.

“USD liquidity remains tight, contributing to a challenging business environment for suppliers and consumers. Nevertheless, Trafigura is committed to continuing to work closely with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to provide credit and flexibility, notwithstanding its limited commercial role in the country.”

The Trafigura spokesperson assured interested parties in Zimbabwe that the ownership change will not “cause any interruption to Trafigura’s supply of fuel to Zimbabwe”.

ZERA acting chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani could neither confirm nor deny the transaction.

“Trafigura is not a licensee so ZERA wouldn’t have their shareholding structure. Trafigura or Sakunda are best placed to comment,” he said.

He referred further questions to the Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) which handles mergers and de-mergers to check on potential monopolies that could arise.

CTC director Ms Ellen Ruparanganda asked for written questions and had not responded by the time of going to print.

Secretary for Energy and Power Development Dr Gloria Magombo said she was not aware of the transaction.

Matutu and Tsenengamu also named Green Fuels boss Billy Rautenbach and Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara, who they said with the help of the central bank, they had monopolised the economy, fiddled with foreign currency exchange rates, while allegedly corruptly grabbing all government tenders.

“Let me talk about Tagwirei. I really want to know why he is the one who supplies everything to government — fuel. If we go to Command Agriculture, it’s him at the helm. There was an attempt to investigate him, but he evaded. He has tentacles everywhere, including the money on the black market, he controls that. We are waiting for him to dispute that because we also do these things after research,” Matutu said.

Source: State Media

State Media|Cabinet began its 2020 business paperless yesterday, following the launch of the first phase of the e-Cabinet project by President Mnangagwa. The project is part of a wider programme to modernise the public sector and includes the development of electronic systems to speed up the internal functions of Government and improve efficiency.

The project, launched yesterday, was initiated in 2005, but its implementation was stalled by inadequate financial and material resources.

The President said the e-Cabinet project will also speed up decision-making in Cabinet.

“Today’s event marks the completion of phase one of the e-Cabinet project which will see the Cabinet secretariat carry out paperless administrative and secretarial functions,” he said.

“This is indeed part of the contemporary ways of conducting meetings and storage of information. Through this system, members of Cabinet will now be able to conduct all their work within the Cabinet room on an electronic platform that should expedite decision-making, information analyses and the execution of action plans.

“Furthermore, the e-Cabinet system will result in a robust database which facilitates easy access to stored records of Government.”

President Mnangagwa said the second phase of the project will be completed by the end of June.

“However, we will continue to distribute physical copies of Cabinet documents outside the Cabinet room until phase two of the project when the Wide Area Network is completed. Phase two of the project is expected to be completed by end of the second quarter of this year.

“Meanwhile, I exhort all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the necessary security circuits are in place and constantly upgraded to prevent undesirable occurrences and loss of data. The system must be equally adaptive to new technologies as they evolve to enhance public administration efficiencies towards the realisation of Vision 2030,” he said.

The President said the Government, in the Second Republic, was determined to reform administration and governance of the public sector through the development and deployment of appropriate ICT designs and solutions.

“As a nation, the attainment of upper middle-income economy status should be driven by science, innovation and technology hence partnerships in this regard will continue to be supported by Government,” he said.

“Equally within the ambit of the integrated results-based management system, Government has developed a whole Government performance management electronic system for planning, managing, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of public management. The operationalisation of the National Data Centre from all Government information will be managed and must be accelerated. In that regard, all Government ministries and departments must ensure that all their flagship projects are completed.”

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga hailed the President for accelerating the pace of computerisation.

“A key determinant on the attainment of Vision 2030 is the use of ICTs. As part of that roadmap, His Excellency, the President set in motion and accelerated the pace for computerisation not only by providing computers to disadvantaged groups across the country, but by also breathing life into projects that had stalled due to various reasons.

“Under his watch we have witnessed the establishment of genuine pillars of technology driven systems to spur development. Through his visionary leadership technology hubs continue to be established at institutions of higher and tertiary learning,” VP Chiwenga said.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said the launch was an important development in Government.

“This is an important landmark in our journey to modernise Government and adopt new ways of doing business,” he said.

“This system will ensure that we create a modern Government which uses technology for better services delivery to Cabinet.”

Head of e-Government Unit, Brigadier-General (Retired) Charles Wekwete said the system was home-grown.

“The system itself was designed by local people and the team included software developers, software engineers, programmers and other specialists in security as well as hardware and networking,” Rtd Brig-Gen Wekwete said.

“The development used local and international software development tools that ensure quality, reliability and efficiency to international standards. The system has been tested for reliability and resilience and we are confident that it will perform to expectations.”

The personnel who developed the system were drawn from the Office of the President and Cabinet, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Post and Courier Services, Government internet service providers and experts from 23rd Century Systems.

The system will allow Cabinet members to interface through laptops while a common view touchscreen which will allow common view of documents being discussed in Cabinet and collaborative work in editing documents during its sessions.

A back end system will allow the Cabinet secretariat to support Cabinet in preparing documents, filing them and archiving them and giving access to members of the Cabinet to servers.

The back end system allows seamless communication between the secretariat, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, and the Cabinet Room.

1. Inaugural e-Cabinet Meeting

His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, led Cabinet in launching the e-Cabinet Solution. The new paperless platform on which Cabinet will henceforth conduct its weekly meetings comes as one of the flagship e-Government projects to be completed by the Government of the Second Republic.

The occasion of the launch, which preceded the normal Cabinet meeting, marked a very significant step in the adoption of digital methods of running Government operations. As a nation, we endeavour to enhance service delivery to citizens through electronic means.

Furthermore, the e-Cabinet system symbolises close collaboration between Government and private sector partners in the adoption and implementation of electronic platforms for transforming interactions with citizens, investors and other nations. With the year 2020 heralding an era of productivity, economic growth and employment creation, information communication technologies and innovation will create an environment that is conducive for inclusive growth and productivity.

Cabinet will therefore utilise the new paperless system to accelerate the implementation of policies and programmes within the 100-Day management cycles. Turning to the business before Cabinet, while noting the progress registered by the Second Republic, particularly the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), His Excellency the President acknowledged the challenges that the people had bravely endured.

He then laid out the business for 2020 based on set principles.

He stated that the year 2020 heralded the era of productivity, economic growth and employment creation. His Excellency the President reiterated that as Cabinet, our immediate priority must be to guarantee food security and directed that all efforts be focused on that front. He further directed all ministers, accounting officers and senior officers spend more time with communities in the countryside, implementing and monitoring key Government programmes that yield a better quality of life for all citizens.

Greater impetus must be placed on arresting inflation and consolidating the mono-currency regime. The growth of tourism sector should be stimulated through cross-cutting alliances, competitive products as well as pricing regimes. The security sector is bided to urgently bring to an end the current scourge of violence by the unruly machete-wielding gangs and malcontents.

1. Principles for the Proposed

Amendment to the Electricity Act [Chapter 13:19] to introduce Stiffer

Penalties for Crimes Related to Electricity Theft, the Destruction of and Tampering with Electricity

Infrastructure.

Cabinet considered and approved the Principles for the Proposed Amendment to the Electricity Act [Chapter 13:19] to introduce Stiffer Penalties for Crimes Related to Electricity Theft, the Destruction of and Tampering with Electricity Infrastructure, which was presented by the Minister of Energy and Power Development. ZESA has been experiencing increased incidents of vandalism including the theft of transformer oil and copper cable conductors. The thefts have resulted in ZESA incurring huge expenses in replacing the vandalised property, while the impact on business has been astronomic.

To date, more than 927 transformers have either been vandalised or stolen in the Northern Region, 625 in the Western Region, 525 in Harare Region and 94 in the Eastern Region. The salient features of the amendments will encompass the following: a) reviewing the current penalty regime for identified offences in order to make the penalties more deterrent; b) classifying such offences under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], which governs heinous crimes, including rape and murder; c) compelling courts to impose mandatory sentences, as opposed to the option of fines, which may not be deterrent enough. For instance, tampering without lawful excuse with any apparatus for generating, transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity with the result that any supply of electricity is cut off or interrupted, which used to attract an imprisonment of not less than 10 years, will, under the amended law attract not less than 30 years of imprisonment.

Government will from time to time review such penalties to make them more deterrent to would-be offenders. Over and above the stiffer penalties, Government will also ensure that adequate surveillance machinery is put in place to apprehend offenders, including through installation of electronic gadgets to detect the crimes.

1. Report on Zimbabwe’s

Participation at the Fiftieth Edition of the World Economic Forum

Cabinet received an update from the Minister of Finance and Economic Development on Zimbabwe’s participation at the 50th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) which was held in Davos, Switzerland, from 20th to 24th January, 2020. The Forum was held under the theme “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World”. World leaders; government officials, business leaders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious leaders and academics discussed emerging socio-economic challenges facing humanity.

The meeting urged companies to pay their fair share of taxes, exhibit zero tolerance for corruption, uphold human rights throughout their global supply chains and advocate for a competitive level playing field. As delegation leader, Honourable Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, hosted a successful Zimbabwe Investment Forum in Zurich on Zimbabwe’s economic opportunities. Businesspersons from Switzerland and parts of Europe attended the event.

The Zimbabwe delegation assured its audience of the continual improvement in conditions for doing business.

1. Update on the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF)

Cabinet received a progress report on the implementation of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) from the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

Following the promulgation of the TNF Act on 5 June 2019, the TNF held its inaugural meeting on 26th June 2019 and mandated its technical committee to deliberate on key socio-economic issues affecting the country and came up with recommendations for consideration by the main TNF. The Technical Committee also developed the Terms of Reference for the clusters, which in turn came up with the following recommendations:

Economic Cluster

The cluster made recommendations on the following:

the need to develop monetary and fiscal policies that target inflation reduction;
the need to enhance foreign currency mobilisation and management; and
the need to carry out institutional reforms that promote productivity.
Labour Market Cluster

The cluster made recommendations on the following:

full operationalisation of the TNF and Zimbabwe National Productivity Institute;
expedite Labour Law reform and harmonisation;
formulating a New Employment Policy as well as an Incomes Policy;
developing initiatives for the mitigation of erosion of salaries and wages; and
labour broking.

Social Cluster

The cluster made recommendations on the following:

revamping the country’s social services delivery system;
improving relations between Government and trade union representatives;
expediting the implementation of Kadoma Declaration “Towards a Shared National Economic and Social Vision”; and
conclusion of a Social Contract.
The main TNF meeting will be held on Wednesday, 5 February 2020 at NSSA House, to consider the recommendations by the Technical Committee meeting, after which a report will be tabled to Cabinet for its consideration.

In attendance at the meeting will be the following ministers: Finance and Economic Development (Government Leader); Energy and Power Development; Health and Child Care; Industry and Commerce; Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement; and Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

1. Update on the Country’s Power Supply Situation

Cabinet received an update on the country’s power supply situation, which the Minister of Energy and Power Development presented. Cabinet noted that electricity generation at the country’s major hydropower plant at Kariba remains depressed owing to low inflows into the lake in the wake of low rainfall in the catchment area. While every effort is being made to ensure that citizens and corporates continue to access electricity for sustaining operations, Government wishes to inform the nation that greater emphasis will be placed on power augmentation projects, with commencement of works at the Batoka Gorge site being scheduled for this year.

Focus is also being placed on renewable energy including the options of rooftop and solar farms set to gain momentum. An exercise to compute the space available for this option is being set in motion in order for the marketing to be undertaken with investors, many of whom have realised the immense potential that Zimbabwe possesses in relation to solar energy. Options for powering agriculture through smaller grids will be pursued as part of building resilience to climate change.

1. Update on the Coronavirus Outbreak

Cabinet received an update on the new scourge on the health front, namely, the coronavirus, which was initially discovered in the 1960s and has now claimed hundreds of lives in China in the latest outbreak. Among the symptoms of the viral infection are running nose, severe cough, fever and difficulties in breathing.

The Minister of Health and Child Care informed Cabinet that 221 persons are currently under surveillance in Zimbabwe for possible infection with the virus. The Minister also indicated that there is currently no vaccine against the virus, and emphasised the need for personal, family and community hygiene.

The Minister also indicated that there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus infection so far in Zimbabwe, although 221 persons are currently under surveillance for possible infection. He informed Cabinet that a Public Emergency Operations Unit is being set up as a National Command Centre at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Coordination will include airports and other ports of entry. Rapid response units will also be set up in all provinces and at all border posts. Further updates will be made available in order to safeguard the nation at all times.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, who is in remand prison for allegedly assaulting a maid, yesterday lodged a bail appeal at the High Court.

Mubaiwa was on Saturday remanded in custody after a Harare magistrate found her unsuitable for bail.

She is accused of assaulting the family’s maid at Hellenic School in Borrowdale following an altercation over the custody of children last week.

Harare regional magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande on Saturday denied Mubaiwa bail on the basis that she had a propensity for violence.

The assault allegedly occurred while Mubaiwa was on bail for attempted murder, money laundering and fraud.

In her bail application, she is seeking the setting aside of Ms Makwande’s decision.

“Appellant (Mubaiwa) therefore prays that the court a quo’s ruling be set aside and that she be admitted to bail on the following terms and conditions; that bail terms and conditions set in ACCCRB No25 and 26/19 be and are hereby extended to cover the assault charges.

“That the appellant not interfere with Delight Munyoro, Batsirayi Furukiya and all other named witnesses and any other condition that the court may deem necessary and appropriate in the interest of justice.”

Mubaiwa accused the magistrate of failing to take into account, the background and the full circumstances of the case, including the fact that a superior court had granted her bail on more serious charges.

State Media|A fact-finding visit to Harare’s two biggest hospitals by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health yesterday exposed the acrimonious working relations between nurses and doctors who traded accusations of absenteeism and indolence before stunned lawmakers.

At Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (formerly Harare Central Hospital), the two parties issued conflicting statements on the status of the machinery that was recently imported from India, with doctors claiming that most of it was not functional while nurses said the opposite.

The committee headed by Dr Ruth Labode visited the hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals following presentation of oral evidence by the Senior Health Doctors Association (SHDA), the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care on the situation at major public hospitals on Monday.

At Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, nurses and doctors clashed over flexible working hours that were introduced, resulting in nurses working between two and three days a week.

Doctors said the system was presenting challenges as there was a time when patients were left unattended.

Nurses, on the other hand, accused doctors of not working hard, but leaving most of the work to them.

They said doctors were supposed to work for eight hours, but most of the times they were not available and nurses had resorted to calling them whenever there was an emergency.

Tempers flared as staff held different views over the equipment imported from India.

Doctors said the equipment was not functional, while nurses said they were using the machines.

The committee found out that a few of the machines were functional while the rest had missing components.

Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro exonerated himself from the India equipment deal.

“The missing parts of the equipment from India are now at Natpharm and the Indian engineers are expected in the next two weeks to come for the commissioning of the machinery.

“I applaud the parliamentarians for the effort and listening to what is happening at the institutions. We are going to try to continue working together. It is now a policy issue that no gadget should be bought without the approval of the end user,” he said.

Hospital chief executive officer Dr Tinashe Dhobbie said: “The equipment that we received is working but when the equipment came most of the doctors were on industrial action hence they could not be taught how to operate it.”

He said the strike affected operations at the hospital.

“Normally, bed occupation is between 60 and 70 percent but during the industrial action it had dropped to 20 percent, and now it is picking up and is currently at 45 percent.

“We want to lobby Parliament so that we can get more money and resources. The flexible hours are not what we want. We are relying on the system as we wait for things to improve. I hope fundamentals are going to be addressed soon so that we have smooth transition from one nurse to another,” he said.

Parirenyatwa chief executive Mr Enock Manyawu said he would take into consideration the suggestions that came up during the meeting for the smooth running of the institution.

Concerns were raised over private pharmacies at the institution.

It was felt that management should improve accountability on revenue collected from patients.

Senior staff at Parirenyatwa expressed concern over the deterioration of working conditions and said it was worrying that the institution was training specialist nurses who were leaving the country.

Senior Government officials that were present ended up calling on stakeholders in the health sector to join hands and come up with sustainable solutions to challenges facing the industry.

A 25-YEAR-OLD woman from Douglasdale Suburb in Bulawayo died after drinking a poisonous concoction she got from a traditional healer ( inyanga ) who has since been arrested.

Belinda Sibanda died at the shrine of the inyanga , Belinda Musiyiwa (37), who is also a Bulawayo Polytechnic College examination board member.

The incident occurred on Sunday at about 3PM after the woman went to consult the
inyanga who also lives in Douglasdale.

Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident yesterday.

“We are investigating a culpable homicide incident which occurred in Douglasdale Suburb where a 25-year-old woman died after drinking a concoction given to her by a traditional healer.
“At the moment we cannot say much as investigations are still in progress.

However, the suspect has been arrested and is assisting police with investigations,” said Asst Insp Msebele.

She urged members of the public to be careful especially when dealing with faith-based healers.

“This is probably a second or third incident where clients have lost their lives upon visiting a traditional healer or self-proclaimed prophets.

Although we cannot discourage members of the public from approaching these groups for their spiritual issues, we urge them to exercise caution in dealing with them.

“We also urge faith-based healers to take extra precaution in administering medication to their clients. It’s very unfortunate that some people are losing lives in the process of getting help from them,” she said.-State media

ZIMBABWE’s tobacco output is expected to decline by 13 percent to 225 million kilogrammes this year from a record high of 259 million kilogrammes in the last season due to drought.

The 2019/20 summer cropping season has of late been hit hard by the extremely hot weather conditions, which have largely affected output across the agriculture sector as some crops such as maize have wilted while deaths caused by drought in livestock have been recorded across the country in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Masvingo, among others.

Speaking by telephone yesterday, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) chairperson Mr Patrick Devenish said initial estimates indicate that 225 million kilogrammes of tobacco would be delivered to the auction floors this year.

“The earliest estimate of the crop is approximately 225 kilogrammes although the irrigated crop is very good in quality, the dry land crop suffered the effects of drought and also the planting season began late because of the late onset of the rainy season,” he said.

“The irrigated crop (tobacco) is of very good quality and the dry land crop, not all of it but quite a lot of it is suffering as a result of drought and it needs a bit of some rains.”

In a separate interview, TIMB chief executive officer Dr Andrew Matibiri said together with Agritex they were presently undertaking a crop assessment, which exercise would be complete in the next two weeks.

“We are currently undertaking a crop assessment together with Agritex which will give us the date when the 2020 tobacco marketing season will start.

“So far, what we have observed during the crop assessment is that the tobacco crop is now growing well after the rains most parts of the country have received,” he said.-State

By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is an idiot, Zengeza MP (MDC)Job Sikhala has said.

While the description could be read as insult in some Zimbabwean circles, the Collins English dictionary defines an idiot as someone who is not so much incapable of learning but who is unwilling to learn. Zimbabwe whose borders were created by the British led pioneer column in the 1890s, is an English speaking country.

Speaking outside court in Masvingo on Monday, Sikhala reiterated saying, “that is exactly what he is, Emmerson Mnangagwa is an idiot who doesn’t deserve to be the president of this country.”

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Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa says the court ruling on the disputed elections in Malawi raises hopes of suffering Zimbabweans.

See Chamisa’s statement below:
I wish to congratulate the people of Malawi on the historic verdict of their judiciary which has shown courage to nullify the rigged election.

I commend their institutions, including the judiciary & security services, which have stood firm in defence of the Constitution.

It’s a reminder that where institutions retain independence & professionalism it is possible to correct wrong politics.

For too long our continent has been plagued by the scourge of unfair elections. It gives hope to see court’s checks & controls curtailing capture & abuse.

Malawians have a fresh opportunity, courtesy of the courage and wisdom demonstrated by their judges & the support of key institutions, to have a free & fair election.

Lest we forget, we here in Zimbabwe have an outstanding matter – the legitimacy of the rigged 2018 election.

SADC & AU are urged to draw key lessons from events in Malawi not to rush to endorse sham elections where people have legitimate concerns over processes.

SADC and the AU as institutions of resort deserve a renewal and re-orientation to defend African people’s interests.

The generation that rigs elections by violence, manipulation of state institutions, corruption, TIPPEX, EXCEL scandals &dictatorial tendencies by men from the past must be put to a stop.

Justice demands the young generation to lead the way.

Let us build a NEW AFRICA! #PeoplesGovernment

Own Correspondent| Human rights activist Makomborero Haruzivishe has been arrested on yet to be known charges.

According to MDC Youth Assembly Secretary General, Haruzivishe was assaulted and urgently needs help.

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

More to follow….

BINDURA South legislator Remigious Matangira (Zanu PF) and his driver Tichaona Svinurai (32) are in soup after they allegedly assaulted an MDC activist.

The matter came to light at Bindura Magistrates’ Courts where the duo appeared before the provincial magistrate Tinashe Ndokera on Thursday last week.

They were remanded out of custody to February 11 for continuation of
trial.

The State alleges that on June 22 Matangira (66) and his driver came across Saymore Mashokoro (45), an MDC activist, who was walking with a friend Evamore Kakurira and insulted the activist.

Mashokoro advanced towards the two and Matangira grabbed him by the collar while stepping on his foot, and his driver slapped the activist once in the face before releasing him.

He sustained a swollen foot and face. Mashokoro filed a police report resulting in the arrest of the suspects.

Clement Kuwanda prosecuted.-NewsDay

POLICE are keen to get to the bottom of a case where a Harare woman scalded her husband with cooking oil and left him battling for life.

Angela Nhekairo claims she scalded her husband Benson Nhekairo with cooking oil in a desperate bid to escape a beating.

However, holes are being poked into her story as witnesses come through and the police have since confirmed that investigations into the matter are well underway.

The case is being handled at Borrowdale Police Station under case number CR457/01/2020.

But as the police do their job Benson Nhekairo insists this is a case of attempted murder by a wife he labelled a pathological liar.

In an exclusive hospital bed side interview with H-Metro over the weekend an ailing Benson recalled the day he “almost died.”

“I was seated in the lounge when she poured the heated cooking oil on me. All this happened in full view of my 20 –year old daughter as well as maid,” he said.

“I am in pain and would want to rest while thanking God for saving my life but Angela’s lies cannot go unchallenged.

How does a woman who is being beaten get time to heat cooking oil for that long? She is on a mission to tarnish my image and that of the church.

“I am not an abusive husband and neither am I an elder at the church, ndingori mwana wesangano. I don’t know where the church is coming in…this a marital issue that is now being handled by our very able Zimbabwe Republic Police”
Benson, who has skin from his entire back and part of the face peeling off, claims his wife was out to take his life as part of an elaborate plan that she hatched in cahoots with a man she is allegedly having extra marital affair with.

“I am not a law expert but this is attempted murder. For 15-20 minutes she heated two litres of cooking oil before pouring it on me. It was planned. How cruel can a person be,” said Benson, struggling to contain his tears.

“I overheard my wife talking to her lover Farai Musiya… ,who she normally refers to as Baba Norm, planning to take our kids to Canada and decided to play it cool. On the fateful day I looked for my passport as well as those of the kids and could not find them in the drawer we always have them stored.

“I asked Angela about the whereabouts of the passports and she could not give a satisfactory answer. Instead of confronting her I went and sat in the lounge where the next thing I felt was a stinging heat that sent shivers down my spine.

“I have never felt such pain in my life. I took off my clothes in front of my daughter and maid, and yelled for help. We rubbed margarine and eggs on my skin in a desperate bid to reduce the pain.

As all this was happening Angela was on the phone with Cherly … and Farai Dhla… telling them that “it is done I have fixed him.”
“Clearly this thing was pre-meditated, she wanted to kill me but God is faithful, I am healing.

However, I am worried about the mental state of my daughter…she is traumatized because she watched all this unfolding,” said Nhekairo.-H-Metro

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https://youtu.be/53lhyzan5ZA

Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Ezra Chadzamira is accused of trying to loot earnings for sugarcane farmers after he allegedly ordered Hippo Valley Estates to pay over $600 000 of their sale proceeds to Felistas Mnangagwa, whose address was given as the Zanu-PF headquarters.

The woman is believed to be President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s relative.

Rowesai Pedzisai and Fadzai Chigowi have filed an urgent High Court chamber application seeking an interdict stopping the Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Limited from depositing the money into Mnangagwa’s account.

Pedzisai and Chigowi are represented by Obey Shava of Shava Law Chambers and in their application, they cited Hippo Valley Estates, Triangle Limited, Chadzamira, Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri and Felistas Mnangagwa as respondents.

In his application, Pedzisai, who is a sugarcane farmer at subdivision 78, said they had been carrying out production at the farm since 2017.

He submitted that he sold his sugarcane to Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle under a binding agreement that they would harvest the sugarcane from his farm and pay for the produce.

Pedzisai said before paying his dues, they deduct their harvesting costs. He said Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle harvested his sugarcane, but did not pay him as stated in the agreement.

The farmers then approached the High Court under case number HC 5812/19 compelling Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Limited to honour its end of the bargain and the High Court ordered the two sugarcane milling companies to give a statement of account detailing the amount the farmers are to get and they confirmed that Pedzisai would get $573 074,67 and Chigowi $91 292.

Pedzisai said on January 23 this year, he was surprised to receive an email from Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Limited’s lawyer advising him that they had been instructed by Chadzamira to release the payment for the cane proceeds to Mnangagwa.

“The email leaves no room for doubt that Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle intend to comply with the instructions despite the fact that they have acknowledged in writing that the proceeds for sugarcane harvested at subsection 78 of Triangle are due to me,” Pedzisai submitted.

He said he does not know Mnangagwa and it was clear she wanted to reap where she did not sow.

Pedzisai submitted that Chadzamira lied in his letter that Mnangagwa was the farmer who maintained subdivision 78.

“I aver that despite the acknowledgement by Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Limited, they have advised that they are prepared to unjustly and most importantly, unlawfully enrich Mnangagwa through the stroke of a pen engineered by Chadzamira. Should this court not intervene, a grave injustice will ensue, which I submit is not capable of being remedied or repaired,” his lawyers said.

“I have valid agreements entered into with Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Limited and submit that the sold proceeds are due to me and not to any other party.”

Pedzisai said if the proceeds are released to Mnangagwa, he will stand to suffer irreparable harm as the income is needed for further farming activities and payment of employees’ salaries.

According to the farmers’ lawyer Shava, the summon papers were served by the messenger of court at the given address at Zanu-PF headquarters on Sunday, but the officials present refused to sign for them.

Source Byo24

A HARARE magistrate has issued a warrant of arrest for MDC organising secretary Amos Chibaya and his deputy Sibusisiwe Budda after they failed to appear for trial on allegations of failing to stop party supporters from demonstrating against the police prohibition order.

The two, who were represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights members Obey Shava and Nonthokozo Dube were expected to appear before magistrate Grace Takundwa.

Shava, who is representing Chibaya, told the magistrate that his client was not feeling well and Dube also told the court that her client was on the way to court.

The two are on $400 bail and were ordered to report to the police every last Friday of the month, not to interfere with State witnesses, to surrender their passports and to reside at the given address.

Allegations are that on August 6 last year, Budha and Chibaya notified the regulating authority, for Harare Central Police district of an intended public demonstration in central business district (CBD) on August 16 last year, in the terms of section 25 of the Public Order and Security Act.

It is alleged on August 15, Budha and Chibaya were served with a prohibition notice by Chief Superintendent Billa James Simbanechako.

The State also alleged that on August 16, Budha and Chibaya convened a public demonstration or caused members of the public to gather for a public demonstration in the Harare CBD in defiance of the prohibition notice.

It is alleged Budha and Chibaya, as the conveners of the public demonstration, failed to comply with the prohibition notice and did not stop the public from engaging in the public demonstration when they had a legal duty to do so.

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TEARS FOR ED https://t.co/QCXzCEiyTv

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 4, 2020

Correspondent|A daring Harare man masquerading as a soldier spent the whole of last year enjoying free Zimbabwe National Army transport but his luck ran out when his bid to seek medical attention at an army hospital backfired.

Christopher Madanhi (34), who works at a company in Msasa as a sales representative, would enjoy free rides on a ZNA bus to and from work while posing as an army captain and using a fake force number.

Madanhi was arrested for impersonation after he had gone to Msasa Garison Logistics Camp seeking medical attention. He pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared in court yesterday before magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa.

Madanhi pleaded for the court’s leniency, saying he has a family and that he is the breadwinner. He was fined $300 (or 30 days).

The court heard that between January last year and January this year, Madanhi would board the ZNA bus after providing a fake force number.

On January 31, he proceeded to Msasa Garison Logistics Camp seeking medical attention.

He provided a fake force number and an alert soldier noted that the force number he had provided was not of a commissioned officer yet he had identified himself as a captain. Investigations followed.

Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa and Ms Tatenda Mukurunge appeared for the State.

ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa is an idiot, Zengeza MP Job Sikhala has said.

Speaking outside court in Masvingo yesterday, Sikhala reiterated saying, “that is exactly what he is, Emmerson Mnangagwa is an idiot who doesn’t deserve to be the president of this country.”

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THREE soldiers were arraigned before Guruve magistrates’ court yesterday facing an armed robbery charge in Kanyemba.

The trio  Joseph Hlongwane (24), Twice Kamuriwo (28) and Wellington Ngwarati (31) were not asked to plead before magistrate Artwell Sanyatwe.

He remanded them in custody to February 17 and they are to appear at Bindura regional court.

The state alleges on October 29 last year the soldiers were patrolling along Zambezi River, Kanyemba where they met the complainant Rakidho Rabeka who was in company of his friends Tobias Chimata and Nobert Chimata carrying 15 bags shelled maize.

The soldiers who were all carrying Ak riffles and dressed in military gear approached the complainant and advised him that he was under arrest for smuggling maize to Zambia.

The soldiers forced Chimata brothers to fetch nine buckets of water from the river before  upon the complainant and ordered him to roll in the mud.

The suspects took turns to assault the complainant with sticks while forcing him to sing revolutionary songs.

After hours of assaults , the complainant was forced to load the maize in a canoe and was taken to Kanyemba police station where they made the complainant offload his maize into the soldiers’s barracks.

He was ordered to leave the police camp in heist and never report the matter to anyone.

Rabeka fled and returned two days letter at the police camp where he reported the robbery case leading to the arrest of the soldiers.

Carson Kundiona represented the state.

Correspondent|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga influenced his childminder to fabricate assault charges against his estranged wife so that she is returned to prison, his wife’s lawyers say.

Marry Mubaiwa, who was denied bail by a magistrate last Saturday, has gone to the High Court seeking her freedom.

Through her lawyers, Nyambirai and Mtetwa, Mubaiwa denies prosecution claims that she slapped Delight Munyoro with the back of her hand following a row at Hellenic School in Borrowdale on January 28.

Instead, the lawyers say the charge has been fabricated by Chiwenga who is allegedly using the legal system to frustrate his wife and gain an upper hand in their ongoing divorce battle.

The lawyers say last month, after Mubaiwa was freed on bail following her arrest in December on charges of money laundering, fraud and the attempted murder of her husband, Chiwenga had tried to get her bail revoked by claiming that she was hiding a second passport – which passport was later found to be in Chiwenga’s custody.

“The likelihood of him (Chiwenga) having engineered the assault charge in order to achieve what he failed to by lying about the passport was a factor the magistrate ought to have taken into account,” the lawyers said, said adding that Munyoro was Chiwenga’s servant and as such was likely to obey his instructions.

The lawyers admit that there was an exchange of words between Munyoro and Mubaiwa. The latter was furious after her two older children, whom she had before marrying Chiwenga in 2011, told her that Munyoro had instructed the couple’s younger children aged eight, seven and five to shun their siblings.

Mubaiwa’s children born out of wedlock attend Hellenic School, along with two of her children with Chiwenga. Until December, when Mubaiwa was arrested, all the children lived at the couple’s Borrowdale mansion.

“At the end of the day on January 27, 2020, the appellant (Mubaiwa) received reports from her older children that the younger children had shunned them. When she asked about their behaviour, they advised that Delight Munyoro, the woman who looks after them, had strongly warned them not to speak to their older siblings,” the lawyers said.

“On January 28, 2020, when she went to collect the older children from school, she saw the complainant (Munyoro) sitting in a vehicle with the usual security details from the army and Central Intelligence Organisation.

“She asked the complainant why she had instructed the younger children not to speak to their siblings and the complainant responded that applicant should be thankful and grateful that she was caring for the children as their father obviously cannot look after them. There was no physical contact as the complainant had armed personnel and was also sitting in the car.”

The lawyers say it was practically impossible for Mubaiwa to have backslapped Munyoro on her left cheek, because of where she was sitting in the vehicle. In any event, Mubaiwa’s lawyers say the back of her hands are swollen and painful.

Magistrate Bianca Makwande, who denied Mubaiwa bail, “failed to consider and take into account the many weaknesses in the state allegations and instead treated the allegations as if they were proven fact.”

The lawyers added: “She further erred and misdirected herself when she failed to consider and take into account the visible festering wounds and visibly swollen hand displayed to her making it unlikely that such a swollen hand and arm would have been used to assault the complainant.

“She further erred and misdirected herself when she failed to consider and take into account the physical difficulties of a backslap on the left cheek using the left hand on a person who was sitting in a motor vehicle whose right cheek would have been nearer to the appellant.”

Mubaiwa said any use of such visibly damaged hand and arm would have resulted in more pain for her especially taking into account that Munyoro is “a stout and well-rounded woman.”

The magistrate “also misdirected herself in her failure to consider and take into account that the charges are mere allegations engineered by a disenchanted spouse and that the presumption of innocence still operates. She also erred in equating allegations of common assault to attempted murder.”

Mubaiwa is asking the High Court to release her on her current bail conditions on the separate charges.

The matter is yet to be set down for hearing.

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe’s Deputy Government Spokesperson Energy Mutodi has embarrassingly tried to discredit the widely praised Malawian Constitutional Court ruling on last year’s elections.

The World has overwhelmingly praised the judges throwing doubt at the credibility of the SADC observer mission which declared the elections free and fair.

In a highly uniformed Tweet on Tuesday, Mutodi said the SADC Observer Missions did not have the evidence of rigging when they pronounced the 2019 elections as free and credible.

Speaking a day after the the High Court of Malawi issued a court order nullifying the results Mutodi said,

“The basis for the nullification of Malawian Presidential results is the use of tippex to alter figures on election results forms. Such a practice is unprecedented and we believe Election Observer Missions did not have such evidence when they ruled the election credible.”

The basis for the nullification of Malawian Presidential results is the use of Tippex to alter figures on election results forms. Such a practice is unprecedented & we believe Election Observer Missions did not have such evidence when they ruled the election credible.

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) February 4, 2020

The court however made very little reference to the “tipex” issue in its judgement throwing in a number of factors that led to its decision to call for a rerun of the election.

Own Correspondent|Chairman of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), Tafadzwa Musarara has refuted allegations made against him by ZANU PF Youth League leaders, that he was diverting maize meal to the black market resulting in the shortage of the product on the formal market.

Below is Musarara’s statement released on Tuesday, February 4:

1. On Monday 3rd February 2020, Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu held a press conference in Harare whereat they made allegations that I am a corrupt businessman who is engaging in unethical business practices.

They said I am working with a clique of white people to divert maize meal to the black market and consequently that I am responsible for the current shortage of maize meal in the shops. It was suggested that I have abused the Government subsidy programme on maize meal.

2. The statement is false, malicious and defamatory.

3. I, as an individual or through my company, have not participated in the subsidy programme.

4. It is common cause that the country is presently experiencing a shortage of maize induced by drought. I am working, through Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, on a private sector initiative to augment Government efforts in the importation of maize.

Contrary to the suggestion that I am responsible for the shortage of maize meal I am working to ensure that the current shortages are addressed. must point out that the brands produced by my company are not available on the black market.

5. Given the irresponsible statements that have been issued which as I have said
above are false, malicious and defamatory, I have instructed my legal practitioners to institute legal proceedings against the 2 gentlemen to vindicate my rights.

TAFADZWA MSARARA CHAIRMAN OF GRAIN MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE

Tafadzwa Musarara

By A Correspondent| A ten-storey building was almost engulfed by fire on Tuesday morning in an incident involving an electric kettle.

The kettle was left switched on overnight on the 5th floor of Megawatt Building in central Harare, which is owned by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).

Harare fire department’s assistant divisional officer, Philip Marufu told the state media that the fire was immediately put out before it had done a lot of damage. He said:

There was a small fire on the fifth floor which actuated the sprinkler system and the fire was immediately put out then we shut the sprinkler.

The incident happened a few weeks after a shopping mall located at Robert Mugabe/Chinhoyi Street in Harare was completely gutted by fire.

-Statemedia

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is reportedly planning to oust the party’ s national chairperson Tabitha Khumalo from the post of the leader of the opposition in parliament replacing her with MDC’ s Manicaland proportional representation MP, Lynette Karenyi-Kore.

Kore is also the Vice President of the MDC.

Reports coming from Harare indicate that during a meeting of MDC top leaders held in the capital recently Chamisa spoke in passing that the position of the leader of opposition has to be re-looked at and a reshuffle will be made.

The position of the leader of opposition is currently being reshaped by the government to give the office holder a senior status above other MPs.

Ibhetshu likaZulu Secretary General Mbuso Fuzwayo said the intended actions of Chamisa were a direct attack to the people of Matabeleland.

“If the reports are true that Chamisa wants to remove Khumalo and put Kore, we should read it as an attack on the region by a party that purpots to stand for democracy and equality. The actions should be read by people of Matabeleland that we are on our own.” Fuzwayo said.

In 2018 President Emmerson Mnangagwa told bloomberrg that, “Under our Commonwealth parliamentary democracy, the opposition is recognised; you recognise the leader of the opposition in Parliament. Under the former administration, there was no formal recognition of the opposition leader, but now under my administration, we are embracing the Commonwealth approach to parliamentary democracy, where you recognise the leader of the opposition and he is given certain recognition and perks in Parliament.”

Source: Byo24

Own Correspondent|The embattled ruling party Zanu-PF supreme body, the Politburo has called for an urgent meeting just a day after a very controversial and usual press conference by leadership of the youth league.

The meeting has been called for Wednesday at the party’s headquarters.

In a statement, Zanu-PF secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said:

“The Secretary for Administration Cde Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 5 February 2020 at the Party Headquarters commencing 1000hours. All members should be seated by 0945hours sharp.”

ZANU PF youth leaders yesterday held an unprecedented press conference where they labelled President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally Kuda Tagwirei “the most corrupt person in the country. ”

The extraordinary Press conference exposed growing factionalism in the party after they were barred from using the ruling party’s headquarters for their address.

Zanu PF youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu and national youth commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu held their Press conference at the Media Centre in the city centre a venue which has never been associated with a ZANU PF event of any kind.

Party insiders told media that they had been ordered not to use the Zanu PF HQ by top party officials who described their conduct as an attack on President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Matutu and Tsenengamu were told to use other venues, and not the Zanu PF HQ,” a source based at the party headquarters said.

By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala| I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people of Zimbabwe in your thousands who thronged Masvingo yesterday to stand with me during the commencement of my Treason trial.

You demonstrated the full show of solidarity strength. It was historic. It was never witnessed since time immemorial.

Despite threats, intimidation and blackmail you did not move an inch from your resolve to express the rights of our citizens to fight for what is good for this country. Our country has been under slavery for 40 years without recourse. Futures of generations destroyed.

Ten of thousands murdered by the regime by these same people who have been forcing themselves upon us. Poverty has become a normal phenomenon in our homes.

Joblessness has become our totem. Pennilessness is our daily bread. This situation can not be allowed to continue anymore. We have suffered enough. Enough is enough.

The statement was clear yesterday and does not need any oracle to interpret for us. Enough is Enough. This generation can not pass without liberating our country.

Attempts to use institutions of the State such as the judiciary to kill political expression is common only in pathetic dictatorships. Our country can not remain such forever.

Our struggle can not be won on deceit. Total commitment and keeping eyes on the ball is now my focus.

Wherever the struggle is at a certain level in all histories of the people’s struggle GOSSIPERS, prawl to derail the dreams of a nation. I saw wicked GOSSIPERS clinching to desperation on interpreting your mass solidarity.

Others even colluding with state security intelligence to stop you from fulfilling your desire to stand with me. It is noticed. My advice to you all is that please ignore those who live in illusions and remain focused.

GOSSIPERS are a weak link between the people’s struggle and their political failings. They start looking for shadows everywhere.

They manufacture idiotic stories to divide the house through their wicked efforts. They hate others for the good they do for someone. Don’t be dissuaded good people.

Ours is the people’s struggle of the downtrodden and the poor of the poorest. Our dream to reach the promised can no longer be postponed or derailed by GOSSIPERS.

Gossipers are spreaders of evil and watch them wherever you are. Look them directly into their eyes and tell them OFF.

We are waiting for the day of judgment on the challenge we posed to the charge, that it is not criminal for any opposition leader to seek the ouster of your opponent. Self created lawyers were salivating and giving pedestrian views when they never passed through a law school. As a practising lawyer on daily basis I know there is no crime in seeking the removal of an opponent from power.

These perforated ZANU PF hoodlums in their unschooled mind thinks that Mnangagwa is government or the State. This tragedy has been with Africa for long, where presidents have been equated to governments or the State. For goodness sake they are not.

So brilliant was my lead Counsel Beatrice Mtetwa that she did not enlight the State of Zimbabwe alone but Africa as the whole that idiot supporters of the incumbent governments must stop conflating the State and government to an individual. My lead Counsel was a Rockstar yesterday.

I received a message from one of the diplomats who came all the way from Harare to observe the trial, saying the jurisprudence on constitutionalism expounded by Beatrice was a masterstroke.

Such are legal concepts available only to those who had an opportunity to study deeper legal studies distinguishing how constitutionalism advances the rule of law, democracy and good governance.

The judgement is going to be delivered on an important day, the 14th of February 2020.

It will be the second anniversary in commemoration of the founder and father of democracy in Zimbabwe the Great unifier who put the MDC family together and people first before his individual desires on what the MDC was on its formative stages President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.

Save mirai neni musi uyu mundisunugure kubva mumikanwa wemapumhi aya meaning the late Morgan Tsvangirai stand by me and exonerate me from these evil people who are accusing me of something that i didnt do. Vanhu vaya varikungoita madiro aGeorgina nenyika yechizvarwa meaning these people are doing what they want with our motherland.

Nditaririreiwo musi uyu Baba vedu meaning take care of me my father. Inga ndimi makauya kumba mukati mwana wangu, huya tipedzise zvatakatanga tose meaning isn’t you are the one who came to me on that day and asked me to come back and join you in finishing the journey to freedom.

Mhumi idzi dzinoda hugandanga wako padhuze neni. Inga handina kuramba wani Baba. Zuva iri ndokumbirawo ziso renyu meaning these evil people want to commit their atrocities on my person. I did not refuse the struggle my father please watch over me.

It is also the day of love. The day of St. Valentine. Those who love each other shall be in happiness. Can the devil deny me happiness on this great day. Only God knows.

Thank you once again great and good people. People power will never be stopped by the cheapness of our talk. The regime’s days are numbered.

I thank you.

POLICE are keen to get to the bottom of a case where a Harare woman scalded her husband with cooking oil and left him battling for life.
Angela Nhekairo claims she scalded her husband Benson Nhekairo with cooking oil in a desperate bid to escape a beating.

However, holes are being poked into her story as witnesses come through and the police have since confirmed that investigations into the matter are well underway.

The case is being handled at Borrowdale Police Station under case number CR457/01/2020.

But as the police do their job Benson Nhekairo insists this is a case of attempted murder by a wife he labelled a pathological liar.

In an exclusive hospital bed side interview with H-Metro over the weekend an ailing Benson recalled the day he “almost died.”

“I was seated in the lounge when she poured the heated cooking oil on me. All this happened in full view of my 20 –year old daughter as well as maid,” he said.

“I am in pain and would want to rest while thanking God for saving my life but Angela’s lies cannot go unchallenged.

How does a woman who is being beaten get time to heat cooking oil for that long? She is on a mission to tarnish my image and that of the church.

“I am not an abusive husband and neither am I an elder at the church, ndingori mwana wesangano. I don’t know where the church is coming in…this a marital issue that is now being handled by our very able Zimbabwe Republic Police”
Benson, who has skin from his entire back and part of the face peeling off, claims his wife was out to take his life as part of an elaborate plan that she hatched in cahoots with a man she is allegedly having extra marital affair with.

“I am not a law expert but this is attempted murder. For 15-20 minutes she heated two litres of cooking oil before pouring it on me. It was planned. How cruel can a person be,” said Benson, struggling to contain his tears.

“I overheard my wife talking to her lover Farai Musiya… ,who she normally refers to as Baba Norm, planning to take our kids to Canada and decided to play it cool. On the fateful day I looked for my passport as well as those of the kids and could not find them in the drawer we always have them stored.

“I asked Angela about the whereabouts of the passports and she could not give a satisfactory answer. Instead of confronting her I went and sat in the lounge where the next thing I felt was a stinging heat that sent shivers down my spine.

“I have never felt such pain in my life. I took off my clothes in front of my daughter and maid, and yelled for help. We rubbed margarine and eggs on my skin in a desperate bid to reduce the pain.

As all this was happening Angela was on the phone with Cherly … and Farai Dhla… telling them that “it is done I have fixed him.”
“Clearly this thing was pre-meditated, she wanted to kill me but God is faithful, I am healing.

However, I am worried about the mental state of my daughter…she is traumatized because she watched all this unfolding,” said Nhekairo.-H-Metro

Below is Musarara’s statement released on Tuesday, February 4:

1. On Monday 3rd February 2020, Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu held a press conference in Harare whereat they made allegations that I am a corrupt businessman who is engaging in unethical business practices. They said I am working with a clique of white people to divert maize meal to the black market and consequently that I am responsible for the current shortage of maize meal in the shops. It was suggested that I have abused the Government subsidy programme on maize meal.

2. The statement is false, malicious and defamatory.

3. I, as an individual or through my company, have not participated in the subsidy programme.

4. It is common cause that the country is presently experiencing a shortage of maize induced by drought. I am working, through Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, on a private sector initiative to augment Government efforts in the importation of maize.

Contrary to the suggestion that I am responsible for the shortage of maize meal I am working to ensure that the current shortages are addressed must point out that the brands produced by my company are not available on the black market.

5. Given the irresponsible statements that have been issued which as I have said above are false, malicious and defamatory, I have instructed my legal practitioners to institute legal proceedings against the 2 gentlemen to vindicate my rights.

TAFADZWA MSARARA CHAIRMAN OF GRAIN MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE

BINDURA South legislator Remigious Matangira (Zanu PF) and his driver Tichaona Svinurai (32) are in soup after they allegedly assaulted an MDC activist.

The matter came to light at Bindura Magistrates’ Courts where the duo appeared before the provincial magistrate Tinashe Ndokera on Thursday last week.

They were remanded out of custody to February 11 for continuation of
trial.

The State alleges that on June 22 Matangira (66) and his driver came across Saymore Mashokoro (45), an MDC activist, who was walking with a friend Evamore Kakurira and insulted the activist.

Mashokoro advanced towards the two and Matangira grabbed him by the collar while stepping on his foot, and his driver slapped the activist once in the face before releasing him.

He sustained a swollen foot and face. Mashokoro filed a police report resulting in the arrest of the suspects.

Clement Kuwanda prosecuted.-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf youth leaders have accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of failing to plug the corruption hole which was threatening the existence of the Zanu Pf led “sinking ship”.

The youths did not mince their words naming Mnangagwa’s advisor Kuda Tagwireyi as one of the forces behind the country’s economic demise.

Lewis Matutu and Godfrey Tsenengamu said corruption was behind the country’s economic woes adding that failure to plug the leakages had disastrous consequences for the country.

Said Matutu who trashed social media allegations that he was pushing a narrative of the West and its allies:

“I have not been bought by anyone… its all social media.. I am not pushing anyone’s agenda especially not the West…Like we said we are not representing anyone here we are representing ourselves and we decided that we have the right to say what we want.

What we say might be wrong but we choose to speak so we know that after we have spoken there are many things that might end up happening because what we are now doing will make many people angry.

They are going to be furious but we have no clue we do not know what their anger is going to cause or create out of this. We know that all of us are in a ship that is about to capsize we are looking to the one who is leading the ship to come and plug the hole which is bringing the water to our sinking ship…

But the problem is that those responsible are not able to stand up and plug the hole… Also because the majority of us are comfortable to think while we are sitting here because we have achieved so much in life that whatever conditions we have, we are ok.

But we have to remember that the decisions that we make today are crucial to our future… so we decided that whatever we do we have to think Zimbabwe first, our nation is a stake so we have come come to speak about the act of thefts and corruption that is tearing our future, our hopes. …”

By A Correspondent- Chairman of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), Tafadzwa Musarara has refuted allegations made against him by ZANU PF Youth League leaders, that he was diverting maize meal to the black market resulting in the shortage of the product on the formal market.

Below is Musarara’s statement released on Tuesday, February 4:

1. On Monday 3rd February 2020, Godfrey Tsenengamu and Lewis Matutu held a press conference in Harare whereat they made allegations that I am a corrupt businessman who is engaging in unethical business practices.

They said I am working with a clique of white people to divert maize meal to the black market and consequently that I am responsible for the current shortage of maize meal in the shops. It was suggested that I have abused the Government subsidy programme on maize meal.

2. The statement is false, malicious and defamatory.

3. I, as an individual or through my company, have not participated in the subsidy programme.

4. It is common cause that the country is presently experiencing a shortage of maize induced by drought. I am working, through Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, on a private sector initiative to augment Government efforts in the importation of maize.

Contrary to the suggestion that I am responsible for the shortage of maize meal I am working to ensure that the current shortages are addressed. must point out that the brands produced by my company are not available on the black market.

5. Given the irresponsible statements that have been issued which as I have said
above are false, malicious and defamatory, I have instructed my legal practitioners to institute legal proceedings against the 2 gentlemen to vindicate my rights.

TAFADZWA MSARARA CHAIRMAN OF GRAIN MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE

By A Correspondent- Marry Chiwenga has accused her husband, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga of influencing their childminder to lay assault charges against her so that she is sent back to prison.

Marry was denied bail by a magistrate last Saturday but has gone to the High Court to push for her freedom.

In her bail application through her lawyers Nyambirai and Mtetwa, Mubaiwa denied that she assaulted her maid, Delight Munyoro.

Her lawyers said:

At the end of the day on January 27, 2020, the appellant (Mubaiwa) received reports from her older children that the younger children had shunned them. When she asked about their behaviour, they advised that Delight Munyoro, the woman who looks after them, had strongly warned them not to speak to their older siblings.

On January 28, 2020, when she went to collect the older children from school, she saw the complainant (Munyoro) sitting in a vehicle with the usual security details from the army and Central Intelligence Organisation.

She asked the complainant why she had instructed the younger children not to speak to their siblings and the complainant responded that applicant should be thankful that she was caring for the children as their father obviously cannot look after them. There was no physical contact as the complainant had armed personnel and was also sitting in the car.

By A Correspondent- A security guard allegedly stole 180 metres of Telone cables while on duty at the Telone Mabuthweni Exchange in Bulawayo.

Prosper Mhlanga (22) of Njube employed by the Cobra Security Company has been locked up in remand for theft of Telone cables.

He appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya and will be back in court on February 6.

On December 26 at 11pm, Mhlanga was at work at Telone Mabuthweni Exchange doing his routine duties when he seen by Michaels Servias (55) carrying a sack with the cables.

Servias intercepted him but he threw the sack down and stood before Servias discovered that the sack had Telone cables.

Servias reported the matter to  the security guard’s superiors and a report made to the police led to Mhlanga’s arrest.

Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa says the court ruling on the disputed elections in Malawi raises hopes of suffering Zimbabweans.

See Chamisa’s statement below:
I wish to congratulate the people of Malawi on the historic verdict of their judiciary which has shown courage to nullify the rigged election.

I commend their institutions, including the judiciary & security services, which have stood firm in defence of the Constitution.

It’s a reminder that where institutions retain independence & professionalism it is possible to correct wrong politics.

For too long our continent has been plagued by the scourge of unfair elections. It gives hope to see court’s checks & controls curtailing capture & abuse.

Malawians have a fresh opportunity, courtesy of the courage and wisdom demonstrated by their judges & the support of key institutions, to have a free & fair election.

Lest we forget, we here in Zimbabwe have an outstanding matter – the legitimacy of the rigged 2018 election.

SADC & AU are urged to draw key lessons from events in Malawi not to rush to endorse sham elections where people have legitimate concerns over processes.

SADC and the AU as institutions of resort deserve a renewal and re-orientation to defend African people’s interests.

The generation that rigs elections by violence, manipulation of state institutions, corruption, TIPPEX, EXCEL scandals &dictatorial tendencies by men from the past must be put to a stop.

Justice demands the young generation to lead the way.

Let us build a NEW AFRICA! #PeoplesGovernment

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s adviser, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, is a name-dropping wealth accumulator who has amassed a fortune on the back of weak governance systems and buying the silence of politicians, investigators and journalists, the Zanu-PF Youth League said on Monday.

Tagwirei’s alleged corrupt business practices straddle fuel, mining, transport, retail, and construction, the youths said at a news conference curiously held at the Media Centre in Harare, and not the party headquarters.

“We are in a ship where some individuals are busy drilling holes for it to sink,” Youth League political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu told the news conference called to name corrupt businesspeople.

“The reason we are doing this is to pile pressure on authorities to act,” added Lewis Matutu, the League’s deputy secretary, even as he warned that such was Tagwirei’s influence they might lose their positions in the party.

“We have prepared ourselves for this, whatever the consequences it doesn’t matter, the message has been sent. This has nothing to do with politics, it’s an issue of young people protecting their future.”

Matutu insisted that Mnangagwa was “definitely not captured” by Tagwirei, the local partner of Singapore commodities firm, Trafigura, through his Sakunda Holdings company.

Matutu also batted away suggestions that outing Tagwirei was an attack on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who recently admitted in an affidavit filed in ongoing divorce proceedings from his wife that Tagwirei gifted him a US$75,000 Mercedes Benz E350 for his personal use, and that he also received a US$120,000 Lexus LX 570 under the government’s opaque Command Agriculture programme bankrolled by Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings.

Describing Tagwirei as “the cause of our suffering and poverty”, Matutu said: “How is it that he is the supplier of fuel; he runs Command Agriculture… he’s everywhere? Even the money on the streets (parallel market) is his. How does an individual go to banks to withdraw US$500,000 cash, to do what?

“As far as we are concerned, the majority of our problems come from this person called Kuda Tagwirei. He’s the source of our problems. Our challenge is that he pretends to have someone’s protection… so, we have come here to shake the tree to see if someone will come to its rescue.”

Tagwirei, a recluse who shuns the media spotlight, is a “merciless man who doesn’t even have a heart,” Matutu charged.

“If you look at what’s happening in our country, the effort that’s being made by the government, and then you have a man taking advantage of that effort just to enrich himself, we have a problem,” Matutu said.

The youths also called out Grain Millers Association chairman Tafadzwa Musarara and Green Fuel boss Billy Rautenbach for alleged corruption in the maize meal supply chain and fuel blending respectively.

Said Matutu: “Musarara is there in the importation of maize, he’s there in the milling and he’s there in the selling of mealie-meal. But there comes the problem. There’s more maize meal on the black market than on supermarket shelves.

“The government is subsidising the price of mealie-meal, but you can’t get it from the shops. You tend to wonder what’s taking place. He can’t continue to accumulate wealth, while the population is suffering. Him and a clique of white people that he’s working with, I think they must just stop what they are doing.”

Tsenengamu said Rautenbach was enjoying a monopoly in blending petrol and ethanol, which the government has decreed to be mandatory.

“Why him alone?” asked Tsenengamu. “Why is Billy enjoying that monopoly, on top of that overpricing his ethanol to a point that fuel prices are unaffordable? Why are we creating opportunities for just one man to get rich at our expense? We have to ask if this is what our liberation war heroes died for; was it so that just a few people can eat on behalf of everyone else?”

The Zanu-PF youths have previously released a list of allegedly corrupt individuals, prompting Mnangagwa to establish a Zanu-PF committee to investigate.

Matutu said the committee had never met, and no action had been taken.

Tagwirei Corruption

Tsenengamu claimed a company linked to Tagwirei, which he did not name, had bought several mines across the country – including Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, Freda Rebecca Mine, Trojan Mine in Bindura and Shamva Mine.

“When he arrives there, he tells the shareholders that he is working with so and so, lying,” Tsenengamu said, before adding that Tagwirei typically claims to be fronting Mnangagwa or Chiwenga.

Tsenengamu said Tagwirei also had a company called PanJap, which was involved in importing government vehicles, but was now a conduit for importing vehicles for his car sales in Harare duty free.

“Let’s say there’s a government scheme to import vehicles, let’s say a 100 vehicles. He will import 40 cars for the government, and then 60 for himself. He’s working with a guy named Brighton,” Tsenengamu claimed.

Another of Tagwirei’s companies, Fossil Agro, is deeply involved in the government’s Command Agriculture, an opaque farmers’ support scheme in which a parliamentary committee says the government lost US$3 billion without trace.

“When the government said Command Agriculture will now be run through CBZ bank, Tagwirei followed and CBZ is now his. The government said fuel should no longer go through PUMA, but Trek… Trek is his,” Tsenengamu charged.

He claimed Tagwirei was also enjoying a monopoly in road construction through a company called Fossil Contracting where he was using Obey Chimuka as a “front”.

“He also has another company called Sotic International, which he is using to loot platinum. Let him come out and deny,” Tsenengamu continued.

“Then there’s another company called Landela, which is into pharmaceuticals and cooking oil. When hospitals run out of medicines, he’s the one who supplies.”

Tsenengamu also claimed Tagwirei was an active player on the foreign currency black market, where he is allegedly employing a Congolese woman named only as Danya.

He added: “Let him come out and deny, let him say we are lying and we will release all the V11s (evidence). Why we are saying this is not because we hate an individual, but imagine here is a guy who controls a pipeline that brings fuel into the country, and yet there’s no fuel in the country. He’s everywhere.

“Tagwirei is doing these things, and he’s getting this money from the RBZ. Why do they continue to give tenders to one person? We can’t be arresting small time forex dealers in the street, while leaving the RBZ vault open to Tagwirei.”

Tsenengamu said there was no correlation between the money spent by the government on Command Agriculture, and the output.

He added: “If you go to Tagwirei’s car sales, you will find top-of-the range vehicles he brought in through PanJap, under the guise of importing Command Agriculture vehicles. You will be shocked.

“This is happening because those in authority have allowed it. This is where we are also now asking leadership, to say you must choose whether you stand with Kuda, or stand with the people.”

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

By A Correspondent- Former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo’s medical aid has been cancelled by Health International, a company which provides health insurance for members in various southern African countries, because his name is on the list of local leaders placed on the sanctions list by the USA.

Chombo, who is facing a raft of corruption and abuse of office charges, has been fighting to travel to South Africa for medical treatment.

Chombo is on remand on various charges including conniving to corruptly transfer a Glen Lorne property, allocating residential stands at Whitecliff Farm and demanding and receiving a bribe from the land owner to help remove illegal settlers.

Chombo was last year allowed to travel by magistrate Elijah Singano.

He was one of the first G40 members to be arrested and brought to the courts following the 15 November military intervention which was said to be targeting criminals surrounding former President Robert Mugabe.

Although he has not yet been tried and convicted, ironically his former colleague Sarah Mahoka singled Chombo out as the only criminal.

In an interview with the Standard yesterday she said: “Even when they said they are targeting criminals around the President, I have not seen any criminal except Chombo, who is not yet tried and convicted. So all the tanks came out for one person? I was here at home; I have never stolen anything from government.”

-DailyNews

By Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Peter Mutasa has condemned SADC for hurriedly endorsing the Malawi elections when there were glaring discrepancies that have forced the Constitutional Court to order a re-run.

Responding to SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Tax, Mutasa said SADC should be ashamed of itself over its actions.

“You must be ashamed of yourself. You hurriedly endorsed this fraud and said MEC followed the electoral laws and the Constitution. Now without apologising, you want to appear you side with citizens while you are the defender of dictators in the region,” said Mutasa.

By A Correspondent- Prices in the coronavirus hit area of Wuhan are skyrocketing making it difficult for Zimbabwean students in China to afford food.

In an exclusive interview with ZimEye, a Zimbabwean student in China said evacuation was the solution to assist the stranded students.

Watch the live interview loading below…..

Bikita – In a shocking murder case, an 11-year-old boy from Bikita allegedly killed his 10-year-old uncle and school mate recently for not picking him up from home to go to school.

The boy, a student at Zengeya Primary School, got annoyed that his young uncle, Abel Chiba, did not pass through his home to call him up to go to school together.

He angrily confronted Chiba in his classroom for an explanation and, after not getting a satisfactory answer, picked up an iron bar and struck him once on the forehead.

Chiba bled profusely from a deep cut he sustained, and later lost consciousness.

The school took the injured boy to nearby Silveira Mission Hospital from where he was later transfered to Masvingo General Hospital due to the severity of the injury.

Chiba succumbed to the injury a day later in Masvingo, leading the school to report the crime to police.

The alleged murderer is in Grade five, and the victim, Grade three.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A man from Bulawayo’s Mabuthweni suburb was stabbed to death with an Okapi knife while trying to intervene in a fight.

Donovan Dlamini (26) bled to death after he was allegedly attacked by Leeroy Lovejoy Mafu.

Mafu and Dlamini were part of a group of patrons who were drinking beer at Makalanga Beer Garden on Saturday night when a misunderstanding arose before it degenerated into a fight.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway.

“I can confirm that Donovan Dlamini was stabbed to death with an okapi knife by the accused after a dispute. The victim was playing snooker at the beer garden with his friend during which they had a misunderstanding with the suspect over an undisclosed issue,” he said.

Ass Comm Nyathi said soon after the incident, Mafu fled only to be arrested a few hours later.

“A misunderstanding arose between the accused and other patrons whose details are yet to be verified and Dlamini intervened with the intention of stopping the fight,” said the police spokesperson.

He said Mafu immediately turned the heat on Dlamini, stabbing him once on the neck.

Sources said Dlamini sustained a deep cut and bled profusely before he collapsed and died on the spot.

“Other patrons tried to apprehend the suspect, but failed as he outpaced them and disappeared into the night. An ambulance was called but found the victim already dead,” said the source.

Asst Comm Nyathi urged members of the public to desist from violence.

“We urge members of the public to exercise self-restraint whenever there is misunderstanding. We encourage people to embrace the spirit of dialogue,” he said.

The Chronicle visited the beer garden on Sunday and sources said Dlamini was a known gangster who was in the habit of terrorising patrons whenever they bet at the snooker.

“Late last year, he struck someone with an axe on the head over an undisclosed issue. The matter was swept under the carpet since the victim was also a criminal on police’s wanted list,” said the source.

Another witness, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation, said he was with the deceased drinking beer before he was called by his friends to go and play snooker.

“We were busy drinking beer and chatting when one of his friends came and took him so that they could play snooker. A few minutes later, I was shocked to hear that he had been stabbed to death on the other side of the bar,” said the witness.

A family member who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were still shocked.

“This is brutality at its highest level. How can someone be killed in a brutal manner? The perpetrators should be dealt with in a harsh manner,” he said.

-Statemedia

FIVE notorious Shamva machete-wielding robbers have been arrested for stabbing and robbing a couple.

The five, Onias Sindura aged 30, Lameck Mabhiza(24), Brendan Mutasa(19), Kudakwashe Karima(23), Kushinga Munemo were not asked to plead when they appeared briefly at Bindura Magistrate court this Monday for stabbing a couple before robbing them of around USD40 000 in goods and cash.

However, there are three other suspects who are still at large.

The quintet was remanded in custody to this Wednesday.

The accused persons are facing charges of unlawful entry into premises in aggravating circumstances.

According to state papers, it was stated that on 30 0ctober last year, the accused armed with machetes descended on Simbarashe Dhenya’s(complainant) residence and ordered them to surrender all their possessions.

The complainant’s wife resisted the demands and was stabbed in the stomach.

Dhenya who also attempted to escape was stabbed both legs by some of the robbers manning the house.

After they were shown the safe, the accused ransacked the house and took possession of properties which include a plasma television, mobile phones, cash and smelted gold weighing 168grams and departed .

-State Media

By A Correspondent- A 42 year old Silobela man has been sentenced to five years in prison for fatally assaulting his 15-year-old daughter using a fan belt accusing her of having a boyfriend.

Appearing yesterday before Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese, sitting at the Gweru High Court Circuit, facing one count of murdering his daughter was Benjamin Mpanduki of Village Mabhena, Mpinda 3, Chief Malisa in Silobela.

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

Justice Makonese sentenced him to five years in prison.

He said for the murder of his daughter, Pamela Believer, Mpanduki was going to serve four years.

Justice Makonese said the other 12 months were brought from a sentence that was suspended when Mpanduki was handed a 24-month sentence for domestic violence in 2017.

“In 2017, the accused appeared before a magistrate and was handed a 24 month sentence for assaulting his wife. 12 months were suspended on condition of good behavior and the remainder was suspended on condition he performed 360 hours of community service. The accused was then arrested before he completed his community service and he committed another crime involving violence before five years elapsed meaning the court has brought in the 12 months. So, the accused is sentenced to five years,” said Justice Makonese.

The judge said parents should exercise restraint when they discipline their children.

He said after assaulting his daughter until she could no longer cry, Mpanduki went and slept in his tuck-shop instead of taking her to receive medical attention.

“It will be a miscarriage of justice if the accused got a non-custodial sentence. Children have rights too especially the right to life even if they have erred in the eyes of their parents,” said Justice Makonese.

Prosecutor Mr Mandla Ndlovu told the court that on July 11, 2017 and at about 9PM, the now-deceased was at home in the company of her mother, Loriate Mupasa and her two siblings.

He said Mpanduki arrived and indicated that he wanted to discipline her claiming that she was having an affair with a certain Pride Chando, a young man from the same village.

“It is said that on July 11 at around 9PM Pamela Believer Mpanduki was at home with her mother and siblings when her father Benjamin Mpanduki started accusing her of having an affair with a local boy. The father started assaulting Pamela all over the body with a grinding mill belt made of rubber several times all over her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said Pamela’s mother tried in vain to restrain Mpanduki.

After the assault, the court heard that Ms Mupasa took her daughter to her bedroom hut whilst Mpanduki went and slept in their tuck shop.

“The following morning at about 6AM the mother went to check on her daughter only to find her dead. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene and observed injuries on her body,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said Mpanduki was arrested after being on the run for some time.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has commended Malawi’s judiciary for its historic and uncaptured verdict regarding last year’s rigged elections.

Said Chamisa:

I wish to congratulate the people of Malawi on the historic verdict of their judiciary which has shown courage to nullify the rigged election. I commend their institutions, including the judiciary & security services, which have stood firm in defence of the Constitution.

2/5 It’s a reminder that where institutions retain independence & professionalism it is possible to correct wrong politics.For too long our continent has been plagued by the scourge of unfair elections. It gives hope to see court’s checks & controls curtailing capture & abuse.

3/5 Malawians have a fresh opportunity, courtesy of the courage and wisdom demonstrated by their judges & the support of key institutions, to have a free & fair election. Lest we forget, we here in Zimbabwe have an outstanding matter – the legitimacy of the rigged 2018 election.

4/5 SADC & AU are urged to draw key lessons from events in Malawi not to rush to endorse sham elections where people have legitimate concerns over processes.SADC and the AU as institutions of resort deserve a renewal and re-orientation to defend African people’s interests.

5/5The generation that rigs elections by violence,manipulation of state institutions,corruption,TIPPEX,EXCEL scandals &dictatorial tendencies by men from the past must be put a stop.Justice demands the young generation to lead the way.Let us build a NEW AFRICA!#PeoplesGovernment

Malawi court nullified their 2019 elections and said they were not free and fair and ordered that the country hold fresh elections.

By A Correspondent- A Bikita grade 5 pupil in a fit of rage struck his young cousin which resulted in the grade 3 pupil bleeding till he subsequently lost his life, New Ziana reports.

According to the publication:

The boy, a student at Zengeya Primary School, got annoyed that his young uncle, Abel Chiba, did not pass through his home to call him up to go to school together.

He angrily confronted Chiba in his classroom for an explanation and, after not getting a satisfactory answer, picked up an iron bar and struck him once on the forehead.

Chiba bled profusely from a deep cut he sustained, and later lost consciousness.

The school took the injured boy to nearby Silveira Mission Hospital from where he was later transfered to Masvingo General Hospital due to the severity of the injury.

Chiba succumbed to the injury a day later in Masvingo, leading the school to report the crime to police

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

USD = ZWL$17.3868
ZWL$ = RAND0.8628
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$24.7 zimrates
USD = ZWL$24.5 zwl365
USD = ZWL$24.5 bluemari
USD = BOND19.2 zimrates

– Marketwatc

By A Correspondent- Hundreds of illegal miners (popularly known as Mashurugwi in street lingo) were rounded up and arrested in Mutasa district, Manicaland province after the police launched  ‘Operation Chikorokoza Ngachipere‘ in a bid to eradicate illegal mining operations.

Officer Commanding Police Support Unit Assistant Commissioner, Bazibi Dube  revealed that a lot of equipment has also been recovered proving that the illegal mining activities have huge sponsorship from highly placed cartels.

Bazibi vowed that the police will not move out of mining areas until they stamp out all illegal mining activities.

Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri also visited the mining area where the operation is taking place.

She commended the police and the members of the Manicaland Joint Command for spearheading the operation that seeks to restore normalcy and sanity in mining areas.

Minister Muchinguri says there is however need for the ministry of mines to urgently come on board and support the regularisation of mining activities shortly after Chikorokoza Ngachipere operations to pave way for controlled and environment-friendly mining activities.

Minister Muchinguri  also toured some of the areas which illegal mining activities have been taking place to assess the level of land degradation where she emphasized the urgent need to rehabilitate the affected mining areas.

Meanwhile in other news, 5 notorious Shamva machete-wielding robbers were arrested yesterday for stabbing and robbing a couple.

The five, Onias Sindura aged 30, Lameck Mabhiza(24), Brendan Mutasa(19), Kudakwashe Karima(23), Kushinga Munemo stabbed a couple before robbing them of around USD40 000 in goods and cash.

-Statemedia

I wish to congratulate the people of Malawi on the historic verdict of their judiciary which has shown courage to nullify the rigged election.

I commend their institutions, including the judiciary & security services, which have stood firm in defence of the Constitution.

It’s a reminder that where institutions retain independence & professionalism it is possible to correct wrong politics.

For too long our continent has been plagued by the scourge of unfair elections. It gives hope to see court’s checks & controls curtailing capture & abuse.

Malawians have a fresh opportunity, courtesy of the courage and wisdom demonstrated by their judges & the support of key institutions, to have a free & fair election.

Lest we forget, we here in Zimbabwe have an outstanding matter – the legitimacy of the rigged 2018 election.

SADC & AU are urged to draw key lessons from events in Malawi not to rush to endorse sham elections where people have legitimate concerns over processes.

SADC and the AU as institutions of resort deserve a renewal and re-orientation to defend African people’s interests.

The generation that rigs elections by violence, manipulation of state institutions, corruption, TIPPEX, EXCEL scandals &dictatorial tendencies by men from the past must be put to a stop.

Justice demands the young generation to lead the way.

Let us build a NEW AFRICA! #PeoplesGovernment

By A Correspondent- Two Zimbabwe Republic Police officers have here been arraigned before Gutu resident magistrate Mr Victor Mahamadi for allegedly clearing seven stolen cattle.

Vincent Tinarwo, 32, and Rodrey Mukaro, 27, both stationed in Gutu, were recently arrested after they cleared the beasts allegedly stolen from Gutu Mission Hospital.

The two were charged with criminal abuse of office. They were admitted to $300 bail to February 7. Magistrate Mahamadi said the court would establish whether or not the two police details followed legal procedures for stock clearance.

Prosecutor Ratchel Murape told the court that on December 29, 2019 at around 3pm, Tinarwo, who was on duty at Gutu Police Station, received a call from one Kudzai Murima, a well-known cattle buyer who intended to clear his cattle from Mazongororo Village.

It is the State case that Tinarwo met the cattle buyer at Hwiru location in Gutu, where they allegedly connived to complete the livestock clearance book in the absence of the alleged seller Jonathan Mangoro.

On the day in question, three cattle were cleared and were transported to Masvingo for slaughter. Furthermore,on January 1, 2020 at around 2pm, the other police officer, Mukaro received a phone call from the same buyer indicating that he wanted his four more cattle from Mazongororo village to be cleared.

The two again met at Hwiru where they completed clearance book (ZRP 392) for the four cattle in absence of the alleged seller of the cattle Mangoro.

The two officers were both arrested after members of the public through investigations, got wind that Mangoro never sold any cattle to Murima and that cattle belonged to authorities at Gutu Mission.

-statemedia

The Chinese government has urged its citizens visiting coronavirus hotspots like Wuhan in Hubei province to suspend travelling to Zimbabwe until the epidemic is contained.

Addressing the media at the Chinese Embassy in Harare yesterday, Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Guo Shaochun said China was making frantic efforts to ensure the virus did not spread to other countries.

“We have requested Chinese nationals coming to Zimbabwe to cooperate with quarantine measures at Zimbabwean ports of entry and issued four consular notices to provide recommendations for epidemic prevention,” said Mr Guo.

“We have called on the local Chinese communities and Chinese businesses and institutions to remind their members and employees who have returned to China for holiday, to raise the awareness of prevention.

“Those who have returned to the most affected regions in China, such as Hubei Province are advised to hold off coming back to Zimbabwe to reduce the risk of bringing the virus to Zimbabwe.

“Those who have returned to Zimbabwe from the worst hit areas in China are requested to undergo a self-quarantine of two weeks at home, not to go to public places, offices or any gatherings.”

China has placed Hubei province, the epidemic’s hotspot, on lockdown.

To date, 17 205 confirmed cases in Mainland China have been recorded and the death toll is at 361.

Outside China, 23 countries have recorded 146 cases, including one death.

Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, has already convened a joint Inter-Agency Coordination Committee for Health (IACCH) meeting or Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) taskforce.

The team is responsible for setting up priority areas in response to the coronavirus threat.

No cases have been reported in Zimbabwe.

Secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Agnes Mahomva said the ministry had stepped up the monitoring process by screening everyone coming from affected areas.

The surveillance team remains on high alert at all points of entry and health facilities.

-State Media