Own Correspondent|THE State has withdrawn the case against suspended Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe in which he was facing criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly recommended that former ministers Supa Mandiwanzira and Saviour Kasukuwere be admitted for attachment at Harare magistrates court where they had pending criminal cases.
Guvamombe was also facing charges of defeating the course of justice after he allegedly directed a subordinate, Elijah Makomo, to recuse himself in a trial involving his alleged business partner’s son.
Guvamombe’s charges were withdrawn before plea.
The State led by Constance Ngombengombe said it will summon Guvamombe back when it has put its house in order.
The case was withdrawn before magistrate Amos Mubobo
Correspondent|State security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.
The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.
Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.
“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.
“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation. They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”
Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.
“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.
Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.
Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.
“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.
Armed forces outside the prison in Pedro Juan Caballero ( Getty )
Own Correspondent |At least seventy-five prisoners, including members of Brazil’s most powerful drug cartel, have broken free from a Paraguayan jail in an escape that was likely facilitated by prison officers, officials say.
Authorities discovered a narrow tunnel, which was carefully hidden to avoid detection, though it is believed inmates were provided with inside help.
Paraguay’s justice minister, Cecilia Perez, said: “It’s an operation that took days and it is impossible that the officials did not realise that they were leaving … obviously this was a paid plan.”
Authorities had received prior information that an escape was being planned, Ms Perez added.
It has also been alleged many of the prisoners were allowed to walk free through the main gate by jail guards, with the tunnel built as a cover-up for the operation.
“We found the tunnel and believe that it was a cover-up to legitimise or hide the release of the prisoners,” interior minister Euclides Acevedo said. “There was complicity with people” at the jail, he added.
The escaped prisoners included gang members from First Capital Command (PCC), Brazil’s most powerful and sophisticated organised crime group, the government said.
The PCC, which has almost 30,000 members, is involved in drug and arms trafficking across Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Colombia.
Inspections at the prison complex in the eastern city of Pedro Juan Caballero, near the Brazilian border, revealed hundreds of sandbags stored in a single cell.
Intelligence also suggests that inmates had been allowed to leave in smaller groups over a number of days, Mr Acevedo said.
The director of the prison, Christan Gonzalez, and six other prison officials have since been fired and arrested, according to reports.
Paraguay’s National Police have launched a hunt for the escapees, a number of whom participated in a massacre which left 10 inmates dead at the prison in June last year.
The Brazilian authorities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul have issued an alert, with state police and the armed forces working in the area to track down the fugitives.
Concerns have been raised that some of the escaped prisoners have already crossed into Brazil. Burnt-out vehicles have been found on the Brazilian side of the border.
The investigation into the prison break is ongoing.
Own Correspondent|The family of Marry Mubaiwa – Chiwenga wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has warned the country’s second citizen that he is digging his own political grave by continuously fighting their daughter.
Marry’s uncle Harrington Mubaiwa made the revelation in an exclusive to ZimEye.com on Monday afternoon.
Own Correspondent|Controversial Zambian Prophet who made headlines in December 2019 after he released a prophecy that claimed that Marry Chiwenga was going to spill secrets about General Chiwenga which were going to lead to a coup d’etat plot has hit headlines yet again claiming that he turned water into wine.
Prophet DD Isaac caused a stir at his Holy Ghost Embassy church on Sunday when he claimed to have turned water into wine.
According to eye witnesses DD Isaac poured water into a glass and after “ministration” the water turned into a wine like substance.
While it is acknowledged that Jesus turned water into wine it is not recorded anywhere else that a human being has been able to accomplish the same feat.
This incident left congregants baffled as to whether this was really a miracle or a scam.
South Africa based religious analyst Shephard Ben Abraham said the miracle of turning water into wine is being used by alcohol consumers to justify their acts.
“While there is nothing wrong with miracles, these kind of miracles of turning water into wine are fueling reckless drinking,” Shephard said. “I would advise pastors to desist from these kind of miracles for the sake of the society.”
DD Isaac prophecy on Chiwengas was sort of partly fulfilled as Marry Chiwenga submitted court papers which savaged General Chiwenga’s reputation and revealed a lot of explosive secrets about his personal, political and financial life.
Recently Advocate Thabani Mpofu submitted a legal opinion which stated that Mnangagwa had abdicated the Presidency and Chiwenga was now the President at law. This move gave weight to DD Isaac’s Prophecy in which he states that he saw two lions fighting in Zimbabwe, a red lion believed to be Mnangagwa and a green lion believed to be Chiwenga from his military fatigues and command of the army.
Family Sources close to retired General Chiwenga indicated that the DD Isaac prophecy shook General Chiwenga to a point where the Acting President went to church to pray and seek spiritual guidance, something the General rarely does. After seeking prayer and spiritual counsel Chiwenga waved a white flag as he sought for an out of court settlement with his estranged wife.
Message By VP Chiwenga|It was with a great sense of shock and sadness that I learnt of the death on Saturday evening 16 people in a tragic accident involving a bus and a haulage truck along the Harare-Mutare Highway.
Life is very precious and losing it in circumstances that are avoidable is not only extremely painful and heart-breaking but also needless and senseless.
This latest bus accident brings to the fore Government’s call to road-users including all those involved with public transportation to value life always and to be mindful of the heavy responsibilities they carry on their shoulders to ensure the safety of passengers.
On behalf of government, His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa and on my own behalf, I wish to extend sincere condolences to the bereaved families for losing their beloved ones in this traffic accident, may they take comfort from our prayers and rest assured that Government will support them during this period of deep grief. In the same spirit, our prayers go to those nursing their injuries, both in hospital and at home. We wish them speedy recovery.
Own Correspondent|Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero was lucky to escape unharmed after being involved in a car crash near the club’s training ground in Carrington on Monday.
The Argentine shot-stopper, who has been deputizing for the number one David de Gea, reportedly smashed up his Lamborghini worth £170,000 (over R3 million) on the Carrington Spur Road.
Below images show the car wreckage on the side of the road, courtesy of Daily Mail.
Reports are that the accident could’ve been caused by cold and icy conditions across Manchester with temperatures hovering above freezing, with drivers needing to have been particularly careful on the roads.
Romero becomes the second Argentine to be involved in a car accident after his national teammate Sergio Aguero also smashed Range Rover SUV back in October 2019.
Vice President Chiwenga and his wife seen during the Miss World Zimbabwe pageant in September
Own Correspondent|Marry Chiwenga, wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, is reportedly in a “no nonsense approach” as he tackles his husband in what is set to be the dirtiest divorce of Zimbabwean elites in recent history.
The former model is reported to have turned down a request for an out of court settlement on child custody and access to family house made by Chiwenga.
Source close to Marry Chiwenga‘s defence council told media houses on Monday that the estranged wife wants nothing to do with an discussions with Chiwenga except in court.
“Marry is in a no nonsense mood and would want the matter to be settled in court,” said the sources.
“The applicant is the one who brought the issue to the courts so there is no need for it to be settled out of courts
“What has now changed that the applicant feels the issue can be resolved without the courts? He (Chiwenga) was ill-advised and Marry is only playing her part as the respondent.
“Unless something major happens this morning (Monday), Marry has since last Friday indicated to her defence counsel that she will not accept an out of court settlement.”
On Monday afternoon, sources told ZimEye.com that clashed heavily with Vice President Chiwenga’s body guards when she went to see her children at a private school in Harare.
Own Correspondent|Brian Mutsiba, a biology teacher at Njube High, claimed the “children had initiated the march by themselves” to show their disapproval of the education system.
Farai Dziva|Kaitano Tembo’s Supersport United lost 1-2 to Mamelodi Sundowns in an explosive Tswane derby on Sunday.
In another match Knox Mutizwa returned to the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon after netting the opener in the 1-1 draw at Polokwane City.
The striker headed home in the 8th minute following a well-executed attacking play, but City equalised later in the second half through Mahammed Anas in the 70th minute.
Arrows midfielder Danny Phiri started in the first XI and received a booking while Divine Lunga was on the bench.
Polokwane City fielded George Chigova in goals with Walter Musona and Charlton Mashumba creating part of the attacking line.
Elsewhere, Norman Mapeza’s Chippa Unita managed a 1-1 draw at Bloemfontein Celtic.
Farai Dziva|Kaitano Tembo felt cheated when his SuperSport United side conceded the first goal in their 2-1 league defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
United went behind after Themba Zwane netted in the 32nd minute, only to recover ten minutes into the second half when Dean Furman converted from the spot. The parity didn’t stay for long as Thapelo Morena secured the winner for Pitso Mosimane’s charges just after the hour mark.
Speaking after the game, Tembo highlighted the reasons behind their loss and among them was the opening goal which he believes was scored from an offside position.
“Look I think there were two things, the first one we didn’t have a good start, we were negative especially in possession, we never really wanted to go forward, to give them a little bit of problems defensively,” Tembo told SuperSport TV.
“So they were very comfortable, especially their centre-backs, they could build-up from the back because there’s wasn’t really pressure.
“And whenever we went forward, I think the final decision was bad, we chose the wrong options and it’s either we rushed and the second thing was that our pressing wasn’t good,” he went on.
“Defending the cross because they scored from two crosses, the first one I thought it was offside I’m not so sure about that but I think it was offside. Nevertheless, we didn’t defend well.
“The second goal, we didn’t defend well as well, not stopping the cross and not defending the cross, that’s how they scored, that’s how the game was won. But I think we became a little bit brave especially when we brought in [Ghampani Lungu] and [Thamsanqa] Gabuza. We were a little bit adventurous, we gave them problems a little bit.
‘It’s disappointing to drop the three points, we wanted the points badly, especially at this time of the season but still, we have to credit the players, they kept on fighting, they went a little bit hard and we’ll keep on fighting until the end,” he added.
Farai Dziva|Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed striker Marcus Rashford will be out for at least six weeks after suffering a back injury.
The forward missed the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
He sustained the injury in midweek against Wolves.
When Solskjaer was asked whether United will sign another striker in January, he said to Sky Sports in a post match interview:
“We’re always looking at chances to improve the squad – with Marcus out for a while we have to look at it closely.
“He’s suffered a bad injury. It’s a [back] stress fracture, it happened against Wolves.
“It’s not happened before, it happened there and then. He’ll be out for a while. He won’t be back until after the mid- season break.
“Normally six weeks to heal, but I’m not a doctor, and then he needs rehab after that probably.”
Liverpool are firmly in control of the title race after yesterday’s emphatic victory over Manchester United.
By A Correspondent- State security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.
The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.
Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.
“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.
“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation. They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”
Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.
“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.
Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.
Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.
“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.
By A Correspondent- Wife to the acting President Marry Chiwenga Mubaiwa this afternoon clashed with her husband’s security details at Hellenic Primary School in Harare.
Sources privy to the developments allege that Marry went to the school Monday afternoon and she had a nasty fallout with the security details, who according to unconfirmed reports are maintaining a 24 hours surveillance on her and the acting president’s minors. Chiwenga and his estranged wife are fighting for the custody of their children.
Reports reaching ZimEye allege that an unconfirmed number of journalists who witnessed the drama were also picked up by the security details.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest details.
A Zimbabwean man is on the run after he allegedly killed a South African police captain during a robbery fire exchange on Saturday in Johannesburg.
A South African Police Service (SAPS) source confirmed to H-Metro that Preymore Dube, the alleged suspect from Bulawayo, shot Diepsloot police captain Oupa Matjie, 54, three times on the head and he died on the spot.
Preymore Dube
“The murder occurred on around 7pm at corner Jabulani and Stability Street Extension 3 Diepsloot.
“Members of Diepsloot SAPS detective services were on duty following up on information of house robbery suspects and the information became positive.
“They called for backup, Eco group from Diepsloot SAPS responded and they joined the detectives who proceeded with information.
“They were with the victim of the house robbery who pointed out to the suspect in the open field grounds and police chased the suspect.
“The suspect started shooting at the police and police fired back missing the suspect who then walked into the direction of Captain Matjie.
“Captain Matjie grabbed the suspect but was overpowered, and shot three times on the head and died on the spot.
“The suspect who shot and killed the Captain is Preymore Dube from Zimbabwe and he ran on foot,” said the source.
Angry South Africans have taken to social media circulating Dube’s image and labelled him as armed and dangerous amid xenophobia concerns.- H-Metro
Metro buses are predominant in cities such as London, (see pics) but you would never see such in areas like Seke, Zimbabwe.
But well, it is Monday morning, 20 January 2020 at 8:55am along Seke road. This is a Metro bus owned by ZUPCO, carrying commuters from Chitungwiza to Harare.
It leaves to be seen however if the buses are insured. The passenger association of Zimbabwe has raised alarm saying many ZUPCO buses do not have liability cover.
WATCH VIDEO- It is Monday morning, 20 January 2020 at 8:55am along Seke road, this is a Metro bus carrying commuters from Chitungwiza to Harare. pic.twitter.com/zbn5BKnqxo
The floods that hit Hwange on Saturday flooded the country’s second-largest power station and affected power generation.
This was revealed in a tweet by the Energy minister when he said:
ENERGY UPDATE: the weather has conspired against us. Hwange power station coal plant flooded.Power station now down to zero megawatts. 400 mw lost. Zesa working to recover.
ZESA had warned the public that the forecasted floods might affect power generation.
Hwange was producing 370 MW while Kariba is producing 286 MW- Newzwire.
By A Correspondent| Controversial preacher Walter Magaya has taken a jump away from his criminal conviction for selling his fake HIV medication, Aguma, to begin selling hair food.
His latest activities are cited in the following announcement by his church organisation which reveals the below hair food products.
Unlike Aguma, it is called Charis Herbal Food.
The chemical contents thereof could not be established at time of writing.
Magaya from Aguma now hair food.
"Calvary Greetings. Calling on all WOV on the platform. You are all invited to the Charis Hair Food training being conducted by our Father Prophet W Magaya at Yadah Hotel today. …… Training starts at 12 sharp today. " pic.twitter.com/71kzXaLOKM
Calvary Greetings. Calling on all WOV on the platform.
You are all invited to the Charis Hair Food training being conducted by our Father Prophet W Magaya at Yadah Hotel today. Mese henyu ma WoV that are interested in this wonderful opportunity to be empowered and equipped by our Father.
MDC A may reason with their blind judgment and unsanctified minds until 2023 and not advance a step toward emancipation they may debate and dispute the elections before the elections are done and yet grow more and more self-deceived, and become far and far away from the electorate. What is their fault? They rejected the freedom which ZANU PF had already given them and were seeking for some new light by which they might so interpret democracy so as to sustain their actions.
ZANU PF COMMISSARIAT has adopted a more friendly and welcoming strategy to win the electorate and sustain the gains of freedom.
The ZANU PF National Political COMMISSAIR Comrade Matemadanda has unpacked a ZANU PF powered by the New Dispensation full of tolerance and understanding. Comrade Matemadanda said not every person is an enemy of the party.
“When people,Gallant people of Zimbabwe through a process of conscioutisation some individually and others like students, workers and other mainly marginalised groups realised the levels of colonial oppression upon them, decided individually to leave mother land to go and take up arms to fight colonial injustices.
However, we also initially made the same mistake that is being made by MDC A, which will cause them not to win elections perpetually. We initially were thinking that everyone who had not joined us was an enemy, anyone who opposed because of not understanding us was an enemy, anyone who was white was an enemy not knowing that some whites would eventually join the liberation struggle, anyone who had their money was a bourgeoisie classified and hence was an enemy, we did not realise that we would need material support from such people, anyone who had not decided to go and take up arms was vulnerable and was siding with the enemy but we soon realized that we needed mujibha chimbwido. There were a lot of misconceptions that we had. So basically when you looked around there were more enemies than allies or those who would one day come to support the liberation struggle until we went back to the drawing board.”
Comrade Matemadanda insisted that every a Zimbabwean is very important for the observance of democracy. He pointed out that the Morden ZANU PF views every Zimbabwean as a potential member and in his or her own way contributes to the development of the party. “We discovered that for every revolution to succeed, it simply needed a rallying point, it had to have a common rallying point for a common people with a common reason wanting a common end.
Hence the popular saying by the late National Hero RG Mugabe that ” our war is (was) a just war” that was not his personal coining of words but that of the revolutionary armed struggle which would be inspiring both forces and the people because there was a ” just cause ” for and of the revolution.”
Comrade Matemadanda urged the youth to embrace the party and to spread the message of love.
The current ZANU PF does not sow divisions it aims to unite Zimbabwe against poverty against corruption against selfishness.
He said “The revolutionary efforts did not now belong to the leadership in Zambia and Mozambique or Tanzania but to the people of Zimbabwe where ever they were. We realised then that our struggle had to do with classes of people hence we fought against class” The selfishness exhibited by the opposition must be scorned at.
Unlike MDC where Chamisa sells to steal the glory for himself. We in ZANU PF we say ZANU vanhu. The party is the people and the glory is for the people.
ZANU PF has moved away from the individualistic tendency which has polluted the political platform.
Comrade Matemadanda stated that There must then be a common ideology,line and policy. What we called the Party Line, Party policy and Party ideology. These will clearly tell people within and without how for example you relate, how you do things, who your intended beneficiaries are.
You never win a revolution with a group of uninformed drunkards, who may not even know who their leader is and what he stands for. Ours was a protracted armed liberation struggle which we did not know when it was going to end but we were prepared to be in it for as long as it would take. You can not start with the “FINAL PUSH ” When you have not done the first push. Said Cde Matemadanda.
Then commissariat is transforming ZANU PF to be the party of all times not for a season. How do you maintain the momentum on people of varying opinions? When we finally came from the liberation struggle, despite that we had virtually won the armed struggle, we did not waste our time telling people how we had won, we went straight into campaigning producing one of the best Manifestos for both black and white former protagonists.
Noone would resist our programs and we continue to build on that even up to now. Added cde Victor Matemadanda. “The new dispensation has programmes which are designed for the people of Zimbabwe, regardless of their war credentials. ZANU PF is a big pocket we all fit in without problems”.
Comrade Matemadanda warned MDC that “You don’t win people’s hearts by threatening violence or a violent take over because reasonable people know how dangerous that will be”You can not win people’s hearts by denying them the right to earn a honesty living encouraging them to be thugs.
You don’t win people’s hearts by publicly abusing the standing of others because people who listen to you may be knowing those people better than you do and they realise you are a pathological liar.
You don’t win people’s hearts by telling them that you can do what they know you cannot do because they know your capacity. You cannot win people’s hearts by teaching them to hate.
Above all you can not win people’s hearts by threatening to overthrow a government they voted in when you can not give them an assurance that you will not be overthrown yourself. You can not win people’s hearts by refusing to be bound by the law when you intend to become the custodian of the same law. And finally, people want prosperity, peace and development among many other things, you can not win their hearts when you deny them the same things because you are not yet in power when they know that you will never be in power.
Comrade Matemadanda invited all peace loving Zimbabweans to come together and unite. United we stand divided we fall.
We are now in a period of humanity and love. ZANU PF resembles love.
A Zimbabwean man is on the run after he allegedly killed a South African police captain during a robbery fire exchange on Saturday in Johannesburg.
A South African Police Service (SAPS) source confirmed to H-Metro that Preymore Dube, the alleged suspect from Bulawayo, shot Diepsloot police captain Oupa Matjie, 54, three times on the head and he died on the spot.
Preymore Dube
“The murder occurred on around 7pm at corner Jabulani and Stability Street Extension 3 Diepsloot.
“Members of Diepsloot SAPS detective services were on duty following up on information of house robbery suspects and the information became positive.
“They called for backup, Eco group from Diepsloot SAPS responded and they joined the detectives who proceeded with information.
“They were with the victim of the house robbery who pointed out to the suspect in the open field grounds and police chased the suspect.
“The suspect started shooting at the police and police fired back missing the suspect who then walked into the direction of Captain Matjie.
“Captain Matjie grabbed the suspect but was overpowered, and shot three times on the head and died on the spot.
“The suspect who shot and killed the Captain is Preymore Dube from Zimbabwe and he ran on foot,” said the source.
Angry South Africans have taken to social media circulating Dube’s image and labelled him as armed and dangerous amid xenophobia concerns.- H-Metro
A Zimbabwean man is on the run after he allegedly killed a South African police captain during a robbery fire exchange on Saturday in Johannesburg.
A South African Police Service (SAPS) source confirmed to H-Metro that Preymore Dube, the alleged suspect from Bulawayo, shot Diepsloot police captain Oupa Matjie, 54, three times on the head and he died on the spot.
Preymore Dube
“The murder occurred on around 7pm at corner Jabulani and Stability Street Extension 3 Diepsloot.
“Members of Diepsloot SAPS detective services were on duty following up on information of house robbery suspects and the information became positive.
“They called for backup, Eco group from Diepsloot SAPS responded and they joined the detectives who proceeded with information.
“They were with the victim of the house robbery who pointed out to the suspect in the open field grounds and police chased the suspect.
“The suspect started shooting at the police and police fired back missing the suspect who then walked into the direction of Captain Matjie.
“Captain Matjie grabbed the suspect but was overpowered, and shot three times on the head and died on the spot.
“The suspect who shot and killed the Captain is Preymore Dube from Zimbabwe and he ran on foot,” said the source.
Angry South Africans have taken to social media circulating Dube’s image and labelled him as armed and dangerous amid xenophobia concerns.- H-Metro
World Leprosy Day is the last Sunday in the month of January and commemorated globally. This year in 2020 it’s on the 26th January. Events of the day are mainly to raise awareness of the disease in our communities. The theme is “Ending discrimination, stigma and prejudice.” For many years when the disease used to be common those affected were treated as outcasts and would usually be thrown out of the community from others.
Leprosy is an infectious disease that affects skin and nerves. It progresses slowly such that symptoms might take as long as 5years and in some individuals 20years before they manifest.
Symptoms include painful pale skin ulcers and long lasting lumps. Since it also affects nerves loss of feeling and muscle weakness might also be present. If eyes are affected it causes blindness.
Early diagnosis and treatment is important in management of leprosy to avoid complications. Diagnosis is by a skin biopsy.
Treatment depends on symptoms one presents with but however antibiotics are used to treat the disease. If there is nerve damage it is not treatable and will lead to disabilities.
In Zimbabwe there is a Leprosy center located in Mutoko called Mutemwa Leprosy Center. The centre cares for those affected by the disease helping them recover and receiving treatment.
For more information follow/ like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Farai Dziva|Former army officer Dr Daniel Shumba has alleged that Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to kill him.
Shumba is the leader of the
United Democratic Alliance (UDA). He is also a former member of the ruling party.
Ironically Shumba was dismissed from ZANU PF for fighting in Mnangagwa’s corner in 2004.
He was involved in the Tsholotsho meeting that sought to elevate Mnangagwa.
“Why do you want to kill me? For dumping Zanu PF? For speaking the truth? You expropriated my farm, businesses, and freedoms. You’re not God. I’ll live to see you gone,” declared Shumba.
All roads lead to Stodart Hall in Mbare in Harare on Tuesday as the police have sanctioned the MDC’s Agenda 2020 programme that will be officially unveiled by the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Everyone is free to attend the event and the police have since officially notified the party that the bumper event can go ahead without State inhibition.
Tomorrow, President Chamisa will launch the party’s Agenda 2020 in which the MDC will spell out to Zimbabweans and the world the party’s programme of action for the year.
Zimbabweans are wallowing under a debilitating political and economic crisis and are looking up to the MDC’s competent leadership for direction.
Tomorrow, the party will provide direction by enunciating the party’s programme of the year in when President Chamisa spells out how the party intends to address the multi-layered legitimacy and socio-economic crisis that has arrested the nation.
Zimbabweans can barely survive; civil servants are suffering while villagers are facing imminent starvation with the clueless and illegitimate Zanu PF government failing to provide solutions.
Tomorrow, the MDC will publicly spell out the way forward for the nation and every Zimbabwean is free to attend the event.
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will on Tuesday speak on the party’s agenda for 2020 -as the nation grapples with the biting economic crisis.
See statement below :
All roads lead to Stodart Hall in Mbare in Harare on Tuesday as the police have sanctioned the MDC’s Agenda 2020 programme that will be officially unveiled by the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Everyone is free to attend the event and the police have since officially notified the party that the bumper event can go ahead without State inhibition.
Tomorrow, President Chamisa will launch the party’s Agenda 2020 in which the MDC will spell out to Zimbabweans and the world the party’s programme of action for the year.
Zimbabweans are wallowing under a debilitating political and economic crisis and are looking up to the MDC’s competent leadership for direction.
Tomorrow, the party will provide direction by enunciating the party’s programme of the year in when President Chamisa spells out how the party intends to address the multi-layered legitimacy and socio-economic crisis that has arrested the nation.
Zimbabweans can barely survive; civil servants are suffering while villagers are facing imminent starvation with the clueless and illegitimate Zanu PF government failing to provide solutions.
Tomorrow, the MDC will publicly spell out the way forward for the nation and every Zimbabwean is free to attend the event.
The Zanu PF-sponsored vigilante groups popularly as MaShurugwi have wreaked havoc in the countryside with top MDC leadership losing their close relatives to the politically-connected militia which is certainly enjoying protection from high offices in government.
The machete-wielding vigilante groups have run amok in the countryside and many Zimbabweans have had their kinsmen callously beheaded by the notorious group.
Some in the MDC’s top leadership have lost their close relatives to the vigilante groups who are going around the country demanding money and other largesse from innocent Zimbabweans.
Vice President Lynnette Karenyi Kore has lost her 41-year old uncle Liberty Dadirai Chimwoyo who was murdered in the Hot Springs area near Odzi River in the Nenhowe area of Chimanimani in Manicaland province.
He sustained fatal head injuries following machete-attacks by youths linked to the MaShurugwi terror gangs that have gone on a nation-wide rampage and plunged Zimbabwe into a deep state of national insecurity. VP Kore is currently attending the funeral of his uncle in Chimanimani.
The party’s vice national chairperson, Hon. Job Sikhala has had two of his uncles brutally attacked by these machete-wielding Zanu PF apparatchiks.
One of them, Yeweight Senzere, died on the spot last week in Mvuma and Hon. Sikhala is attending Senzere’s funeral in Chivi in Masvingo province.
Hon. Sikhala’s other uncle, Elvis Matsikidze, is battling for his life in the intensive care unit at Gweru General Hospital.
The machete-toting vigilante groups have gone on the rampage in the country, amid reports of a serious fall-out between Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantine Chiwenga, with the former reported to be banking on Mashurugwi as a personal army to serve personal political interests.
Mnangagwa is reportedly suspicious of the allegiances of the rank and file in the army, despite picking the entire command element of the security forces from his Midlands province.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commader Philip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Army commander Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo, the Air Force of Zimbabwe’s Air Marshall Elson Moyo and the Central Intelligence Organization’s boss Isaac Moyo all hail from the Midlands province.
They are also reported to be Mnangagwa’s close relatives.
MaShurugwi have wrought serious insecurity and if the menace is not stemmed, the country could plunge into chaos. What Zimbabweans desperately need is a true people’s government that can guarantee their personal security, which security is enshrined in the country’s Constitution, which Constitution the people made themselves and affirmed in a referendum.
The Zanu PF-sponsored vigilante groups popularly as MaShurugwi have wreaked havoc in the countryside with top MDC leadership losing their close relatives to the politically-connected militia which is certainly enjoying protection from high offices in government.
The machete-wielding vigilante groups have run amok in the countryside and many Zimbabweans have had their kinsmen callously beheaded by the notorious group.
Some in the MDC’s top leadership have lost their close relatives to the vigilante groups who are going around the country demanding money and other largesse from innocent Zimbabweans.
Vice President Lynnette Karenyi Kore has lost her 41-year old uncle Liberty Dadirai Chimwoyo who was murdered in the Hot Springs area near Odzi River in the Nenhowe area of Chimanimani in Manicaland province.
He sustained fatal head injuries following machete-attacks by youths linked to the MaShurugwi terror gangs that have gone on a nation-wide rampage and plunged Zimbabwe into a deep state of national insecurity. VP Kore is currently attending the funeral of his uncle in Chimanimani.
The party’s vice national chairperson, Hon. Job Sikhala has had two of his uncles brutally attacked by these machete-wielding Zanu PF apparatchiks.
One of them, Yeweight Senzere, died on the spot last week in Mvuma and Hon. Sikhala is attending Senzere’s funeral in Chivi in Masvingo province.
Hon. Sikhala’s other uncle, Elvis Matsikidze, is battling for his life in the intensive care unit at Gweru General Hospital.
The machete-toting vigilante groups have gone on the rampage in the country, amid reports of a serious fall-out between Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantine Chiwenga, with the former reported to be banking on Mashurugwi as a personal army to serve personal political interests.
Mnangagwa is reportedly suspicious of the allegiances of the rank and file in the army, despite picking the entire command element of the security forces from his Midlands province.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commader Philip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Army commander Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo, the Air Force of Zimbabwe’s Air Marshall Elson Moyo and the Central Intelligence Organization’s boss Isaac Moyo all hail from the Midlands province.
They are also reported to be Mnangagwa’s close relatives.
MaShurugwi have wrought serious insecurity and if the menace is not stemmed, the country could plunge into chaos. What Zimbabweans desperately need is a true people’s government that can guarantee their personal security, which security is enshrined in the country’s Constitution, which Constitution the people made themselves and affirmed in a referendum.
Farai Dziva|Terror gangs known as MaShurugwi brutally killed MDC vice president Lynnette Karenyi -Kore’s relative last week.
See statement below :
The Zanu PF-sponsored vigilante groups popularly as MaShurugwi have wreaked havoc in the countryside with top MDC leadership losing their close relatives to the politically-connected militia which is certainly enjoying protection from high offices in government.
The machete-wielding vigilante groups have run amok in the countryside and many Zimbabweans have had their kinsmen callously beheaded by the notorious group.
Some in the MDC’s top leadership have lost their close relatives to the vigilante groups who are going around the country demanding money and other largesse from innocent Zimbabweans.
Vice President Lynnette Karenyi Kore has lost her 41-year old uncle Liberty Dadirai Chimwoyo who was murdered in the Hot Springs area near Odzi River in the Nenhowe area of Chimanimani in Manicaland province.
He sustained fatal head injuries following machete-attacks by youths linked to the MaShurugwi terror gangs that have gone on a nation-wide rampage and plunged Zimbabwe into a deep state of national insecurity. VP Kore is currently attending the funeral of his uncle in Chimanimani.
The party’s vice national chairperson, Hon. Job Sikhala has had two of his uncles brutally attacked by these machete-wielding Zanu PF apparatchiks.
One of them, Yeweight Senzere, died on the spot last week in Mvuma and Hon. Sikhala is attending Senzere’s funeral in Chivi in Masvingo province.
Hon. Sikhala’s other uncle, Elvis Matsikidze, is battling for his life in the intensive care unit at Gweru General Hospital.
The machete-toting vigilante groups have gone on the rampage in the country, amid reports of a serious fall-out between Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantine Chiwenga, with the former reported to be banking on Mashurugwi as a personal army to serve personal political interests.
Mnangagwa is reportedly suspicious of the allegiances of the rank and file in the army, despite picking the entire command element of the security forces from his Midlands province.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commader Philip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Army commander Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo, the Air Force of Zimbabwe’s Air Marshall Elson Moyo and the Central Intelligence Organization’s boss Isaac Moyo all hail from the Midlands province.
They are also reported to be Mnangagwa’s close relatives.
MaShurugwi have wrought serious insecurity and if the menace is not stemmed, the country could plunge into chaos. What Zimbabweans desperately need is a true people’s government that can guarantee their personal security, which security is enshrined in the country’s Constitution, which Constitution the people made themselves and affirmed in a referendum.
By A Correspondent- Acting president, Retired General Chiwenga sent a condolence message to families of Saturday’s bus accident victims.
The condolences message reads in part:
It is with great sadness that i learnt of the the death of 16 people in a tragic accident involving a bus and a haulage truck along the Harare Mutare highway.
On behalf of the government i wish to extend sincere condolences to the bereaved families for losing their loved ones in this tragic accident.
It was a great sense of shock and sadness that I learnt of the
death on Saturday evening 16 people in a tragic accident involving a bus and a haulage
truck along the Harare-Mutare Highway. Life is very precious and losing it in circumstances
that are avoidable is not only extremely painful and heart-breaking but also
needless and senseless. This latest bus accident brings to the fore Government’s
call to road-users including all those involved with public transportation to
value life always and to be mindful of the heavy responsibilities they carry on
their shoulders to ensure the safety of passengers.
On behalf of government, His Excellency President ED
Mnangagwa and on my own behalf, I wish to extend sincere condolences to the
bereaved families for losing their beloved ones in this traffic accident, may
they take comfort from our prayers and rest assured that Government will
support them during this period of deep grief. In the same spirit, our prayers
go to those nursing their injuries, both in hospital and at home. We wish them
speedy recovery.
Jane Mlambo| Tomorrow, the MDC President Nelson Chamisa will deliver his much taunted State of the Nation Address at Stodart Hall in Mbare with the party saying the event will spell a way forward for the country.
Last week, the police barred Chamisa from presenting his address citing schools opening commitments but after issuing threats to proceed with the event with or without police clearance, the opposition party has now been sanctioned to hold its event.
BELOW IS THE MDC STATEMENT ON THE EVENT TOMORROW…
Police sanction MDC’s Agenda 2020 event
All roads lead to Stodart Hall in Mbare in Harare tomorrow as the police have sanctioned the MDC’s Agenda 2020 programme that will be officially unveiled by the People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Everyone is free to attend the event and the police have since officially notified the party that the bumper event can go ahead without State inhibition.
Tomorrow, President Chamisa will launch the party’s Agenda 2020 in which the MDC will spell out to Zimbabweans and the world the party’s programme of action for the year.
Zimbabweans are wallowing under a debilitating political and economic crisis and are looking up to the MDC’s competent leadership for direction. Tomorrow, the party will provide direction by enunciating the party’s programme of the year in when President Chamisa spells out how the party intends to address the multi-layered legitimacy and socio-economic crisis that has arrested the nation.
Zimbabweans can barely survive; civil servants are suffering while villagers are facing imminent starvation with the clueless and illegitimate Zanu PF government failing to provide solutions.
Tomorrow, the MDC will publicly spell out the way forward for the nation and every Zimbabwean is free to attend the event.
Own Correspondent| Zanu PF youth leader Lewis Matutu has taken a dig at Minister of Youth, Arts, Sports and Recreation Kirsty Coventry describing her as a ‘minister who is there but not there’.
Speaking during a sports tournament hosted by Zvimba North Member of Parliament Marrian Chombo in Rafingora on Saturday, Matutu said Kirsty was not a hands-on minister and did not understand the needs of the people.
“At youth, arts and culture ministry, we have a minister who is there but not there. We look up to you deputy minister (Tino Machakaire) to further the agendas of the youths because the honorable minister does not understand the needs of the people,” said Matutu.
Kirsty, one of the technocrats in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cabinet is unpopular in Zanu PF circles as she is seen as a person who lacks political gravitas needed to navigate Zimbabwe’s treacherous rough political terrain.
For her party, Kirsty has failed to justify her appointment as she is seen more as a press statement minister who does not understand the needs of her ministry.
While her ministry has four portfolios, the Olympic gold medalist seems to be concentrating more on sport neglecting youths, arts and recreation.
Her deputy, Tino Machakaire is more visible than the minister. He took it upon himself to visit ailing dancehall chanter Bounty Lisa in Kuwadzana recently. He also organized an arts gala in Wedza during the festive season.
He has been in the news recently for paying school fees for 1000 university students and sourcing out mining equipment for small scale miners.
Zimbabweans in US at the weekend braced the cold weather to protest against Emmerson Mnangagwa. Below were the LIVE scenes at the United Nations headquarters:
Acting President Constantino Chiwenga on Saturday visited President Mnangagwa, who is enjoying his vacation at his Pricabe Farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe.
The two, who, besides being the first and second citizens of this country, are long-time friends. They spent the whole day chatting and touring the President’s farm.
President Mnangagwa is a passionate farmer, with over 350 hectares of soya and about 400 hectares of maize under irrigation.
He has a 405-hectare farm and is renting pieces of land on neighbouring farms.
Pricabe Farm manager, and young brother to the President, Mr Patrick Mnangagwa, yesterday confirmed the surprise visit by the Acting President.
He said the two were relaxed at the farm while talking farming.
“I took the Acting President Chiwenga together with the President on a tour of the farm starting with the soya,” said Mr Mnangagwa.
“We also toured the maize field and the pump station. It was not a planned programme, so the two had time together as they relaxed at the farm after the tour.”
Mr Mnangagwa said Acting President Chiwenga was impressed by the work being done at the farm.
On Unity Day last year, President Mnangagwa hosted over 18 political party leaders under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) at his farm at their request. The politicians said they were inspired by the President’s farming prowess.
By A Correspondent- A former accountant in the Ministry of Defence, who is facing charges of stealing US$20 million from the ministry, was last week denied bail.
Simbarashe Zvineyi (36) lost his bail application after Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo ruled him a flight risk. The court found that the evidence available might induce him to flee.
Zvineyi is alleged to have used the US$20 million to buy four houses in Harare, 25 taxis, four top-of-the-range vehicles and channelled part of the money onto the parallel market for foreign currency. He is being charged with fraud and money laundering.
The State, led by Netsai Mushayabasa, alleged that between January 2010 and December 31 last year, Zvineyi and Danison Muvandi – who was a top accounting officer in the same ministry – hatched a plan to defraud the Ministry of Defence.
On several occasions, Muvandi, who remains at large, allegedly used his position and influence within the ministry to misrepresent that there were classified operations to be carried out and would allegedly instruct the chief accountant, Lameck Jackson, to deposit funds into Zvineyi’s accounts at NMB Bank, CBZ, CABS and Steward Bank, using Zvineyi’s vendor number.
There were no such classified operations to be conducted. Acting on the misrepresentation, Jackson reportedly transferred money ranging from US$40 000 to US$66 000 during the same period into Zvineyi’s bank accounts.
The pair would then allegedly share the loot. Investigations carried out so far reveal that the Ministry of Defence suffered a prejudice of US$20 million.
Only four vehicles have been recovered. Zvineyi, acting in connivance with Muvandi and after they allegedly defrauded the Ministry of Defence, reportedly laundered the proceeds of the offence by acquiring properties that includes more than 25 taxis, a Jeep Wrangler, an Isuzu KB300, a Honda Fit and a Toyota Vitz.
He also allegedly bought houses in Tynwald, Aspindale, Avonlea and Borrowdale. Muvandi allegedly acquired various properties, some of which have been recovered
By A Correspondent- Two jealous Bindura siblings who attacked their fathers’ girlfriend before robbing her of her money were sentenced to 6 months imprisonment by a Bindura magistrate yesterday.
Stephen Mashongedza and Tendai Mashongedza were sentenced by magistrate Moreblessing Makati.
The six month sentence was commuted to 105 hours of community service.
Prosecutor Vincent Marunya told the court that on Christmas day last year the brothers stormed at Sinikiwe Motsi’s place of residence at Zinyama village, chief Musena in Bindura and vigorously knocked at her door demanding her to come out.
Motsi did not open the door, the furious brothers broke the windows and door to gain entry.
Upon gaining entry the suspects accused Motsi who is their fathers girlfriend of squandering his money.
The duo demanded the money and mobile phone which they claimed was bought by their father from their sister’s lobola.
They assaulted her with open hands and she surrendered the phone to Stephen while demanding $148 bond notes on which she complied
Motsi was force marched out of her house by the suspects during the night as punishment and subsequently released after a few kilometers.
Motsi filed a police report leading to the suspects’ arrest.
By A Correspondent- A police officer who was part of a five-member gang of armed robbers wailed in court after each of them was handed a 60-year jail term for armed robbery.
The cop, Thulani Nkala (38) appeared together with Taurai Matarirano (27), Isaac Kawundura (33), George Chikomberanwa (34) and Dunira Hungwe (33) before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing 10 counts of armed robbery.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges but were convicted on six counts.
The court proved that the five robbers were each armed with assault rifles when they raided a mine in Gweru. At one time they fired shots at a mine, killing a security guard’s dog.
Mrs Msipa said due to overwhelming evidence submitted in court, Nkala, Matarirano, Kawundura, Chikomberanwa and Hungwe deserved a lengthy prison stay. She jailed them for 60 years each and suspended 15 years for good behaviour.
However, Nkala who said he had a two-year-old child and an unemployed wife as well as his accomplice Matarirano forced the court to adjourn briefly when they started wailing uncontrollably after Mrs Msipa handed down their sentence.
For the State, Mr Talent Tadenyika said sometime in 2018 Nkala who was wearing an anti- riot police uniform and armed with a 303 rifle went to a local mine run by Camlark Investments with Matarirano, Kawundura, Chikomberanwa and Hungwe.
At the mine, they saw a security guard and identified themselves as police officers who wanted to search the place for firearms.
“They searched security guards and took their cellphones and they stole property valued at US$1 700. They also stole Zhang Dawei`s Chinese passport and US$1 070 and $1 500 at his quarters and nothing was recovered,” he said.
The court heard that on the same day and at the same mine, the gang threatened another Chinese national Mr Chen Yang Yang with firearms and took his cellphone, US$930, $330, R400 and 17 000 Chinese Yuan. They went to another employee, Mr Jinkai Yu`s room and robbed him of US$900, $150 and 300 Chinese Yuan.
“They further went to the quarters of the manager threatened him with firearms robbed him of US$1 200, $120 and 840 Chinese Yuan.
“The proceeded to the managing director`s room, also ransacked the room looking for valuables and managed to get US$2 000, $5 000, 10 kilograms of silver which was stored in cone and bar shapes. They deflated tyres for two vehicles,” said Mr Tadenyika.
“They stole an Isuzu king cab and drove away from the scene to a point near Old Eastlea and the cab was recovered.”
Dad, it will be a whole year on the 23rd of January and yet my heart still skips a beat when I hear your music played. Hana yangu inorova when they refer to you as “the late”. I still can’t believe it. It is very difficult for me to go through our messages to each other, I can’t stand the thought that saka handichafa ndakaona imwe message futi ichiflasha yakanzi Dad. I miss you so much. Even though I never saw you everyday but just knowing that you are there meant worlds to me. Now you are gone. For good. It breaks my heart. People may have not understood the relatioship we had you and I, and I know how in the last days you wanted so much to let everybody know how much we cared for each other through a song (Coz that’s how we communicate) but I guess God didn’t care what people thought. He took you before we could do it. It’s a year now but still feels like yesterday. I love you so much dad. Rest in peace.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped my dad, my family and myself during our father’s career, illness and subsequent death. We as a family together with my band are very grateful to Mr Thomson Dondo and Impala Car Rental Staff for the enormous support they gave us. Also thank you to Nick Manyame and Family, Mel Pulij, Steve Dyer, Kevin Stuart, Damon Forbes, Rob Cowling, Sheer sound Staff Graeme Gillfillan, Simon and Debbie Metcalfe and family, Keith Farquharson, KennyTlale, Rodrick Chakaipa and the late Doug Chakaipa, the late Robson Ndlovu, Joseph Muusha, Collin Mushunje, Selby Dzengeree, Josh Hozheri, Dave Mwale and team, Team Pakare PAYE, the late Steve Chibune, Mr Mutyandasvika, Mr Vori, Tich Hwingwiri, Alick Macheso and family, Sulumani Chimbetu and family, Steve Makoni and family, Vusimuzi Moyo and family, Doug Mamvura and family, Management and staff at Premier Auto Harare, Chris Cyren and Making Music staff, Dyer tribe Studios and staff, Reginald Chapfunga, Samson Felo, Herbert Kinobe, Zivani Masango, Papa Lodza, Dr Thomas Mapfumo, Bob Nyabinde and family, Cafe Nush staff in Avondale, Mashonganyika Family, Chris Machina and Family, Mtndazo Dube and family, Trust Khosa, All print media houses, Montclair Hotel and staff, Lewis Chasakara and Cutty Sark Hotel, Nyaradzo Funeral Services, Farai Matsika, Richard Mvududu and family, Ezra Sibanda (Uk) Watson Chidzomba and family. A very special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Avenues hospital for the great care you gave to Dr Mtukudzi. My apologies if i have left anybody out, it wasnt intentional. Finally, a massive thank you to the fans who supported Dr Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi till the end and the amazing support given to me thereafter. Above all we thank the Almighty for the 66 years he gave us with our remarkable father, our hero and musician. God bless you all.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has revealed that it is now monitoring public hospitals and clinics to curb thefts and ensure drugs are not diverted to the black market.
The development follows checks that were done at the country’s drug procurement and supply entity, the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) amid suspicions that some of the drugs were being diverted to the black market.
Through its Prevention and Corporate Governance Unit, ZACC is targeting Parirenyatwa, Chitungwiza and Sally Mugabe (formerly Harare Central) hospitals, among other public hospitals and clinics.
In a statement at the weekend, the commission said the operation was an extension of ongoing Natpharm compliance checks on drugs.
“The objective of the operation is to ensure that there are no leakages and abuse in the distribution of drugs to hospitals,” said ZACC.
“The operation is meant to bring sanity to hospitals and improve service delivery and stamp out corruption that has seen patients in some parts of the country being made to pay huge amounts of money for drugs which are sourced by Government funds or donated by the Global Fund, WHO and other international partners.
“The compliance unit is tracking the path of distribution of such drugs from the time they leave Natpharm until the drugs are administered to patients.”
ZACC said it was testing the effectiveness and reliability of the distribution system to ensure that it was not open to abuse.
Some health workers, it said, were being found selling essential drugs which were in short supply in formal channels.
“Some doctors are prescribing alternative drugs which are not in stock and refer patients to their pharmacies where sometimes patients are forced to pay exorbitant prices in US dollars,” said ZACC.
Other areas to be covered by the operation include disposal of expired drugs which are being sold on the streets.
ZACC is seeking to have the hospitals adopt electronic systems of drugs storage and administration to avoid the manipulation and abuse of the stock card system.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is paying medical bills for 26 recruits who were involved in an accident that killed two others near Imbizo Barracks, Chief of Staff Administration Staff, Major General Paul Chima has said.
Maj Gen Chima revealed this last Thursday while visiting the recruits who are receiving treatment at the barracks after they were injured in the Christmas Day crash.
Two of the recruits died when the driver of a military vehicle they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road and hit a tree, a few minutes after leaving the barracks.
Maj Gen Chima expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. He said the provision of free medical assistance to the injured recruits is in line with the army’s goal of treasuring human life.
“I have come to console the surviving victims after having experienced this shocking incident in the history of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). “As commandants we continue to support our fellow comrades in war time, peace time and in occasions like this one. We must make sure that necessary treatment is given to our victims for their quick recovery,” he said.
“It is an honour for me to inform you that the ZNA will compensate the victims by paying for their medical treatment and admission fees in the ZNA hospital. “It is however sad that the army has already lost two recruit members under such unfortunate circumstances.”
Maj Gen Chima donated food hampers comprising among others fruits, drinks and cereals.
Recently in Harare, eleven ZNA officers were injured when the driver of a bus they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle as it descended a slope near Kuwadzana Six. It veered off the road before landing on its side. Five were critically injured.
President Mnangagwa, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and Acting President Constantino Chiwenga pose for a photograph with Zimbabwe’s Ambassador for the Women Riders World Relay Natasha Mutsvairo at the First Family’s farm in Kwekwe on Saturday
Own Correspondent|Acting President Constantino Chiwenga on Saturday rushed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm in Kwekwe after a group of female bikers visited the First Lady at the farm.
The unexpected call on Mnangagwa’s farm by Chiwenga is described by state media and ZANU PF loyalists as just a visit by the acting President on Mnangagwa who is supposed to be enjoying his vacation at his Pricabe Farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe.
The sudden arrival of Chiwenga at the farm raises eyebrows as the former Army General stormed in shortly after a group of female bikers rode into the President’s farm.
On Saturday, a nine-member all-women’s biking team comprising five Zimbabweans — Pauline Dana, Chengetai Makawa, Cynthia Ncube, Natasha Mutsvairo, Nomathemba Magwaza — one Belgian, one Canadian and two South Africans paid a courtesy visit on First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa at the First Family’s farm in Kwekwe.
The innocent female bikers took the opportunity to get photos with the country’s leaders though they could not understand how the two leaders happened to be together at the the time they were on their predestined visit to the farm.
The First Lady was left spell-bound by the bikers who provided her with escort services from her farm to the main road, while they mesmerised onlookers with their amazing skills.
The female bikers, who are representing their countries, are on a six-day relay covering 2 000 kilometres.
“It’s all-women bikers and they escorted me along Sherwood Road,” said the First Lady.
The First Lady gave the women words of encouragement and wished them well on their journey.
The women bikers, who are on a six-day relay, started off in Botswana last Thursday, rode to Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare. The journey will take them to Nyamapanda then to Tete where they will pass the button to another all-female group of riders from Malawi.
Pricabe Farm manager, and young brother to the President, Mr Patrick Mnangagwa, yesterday confirmed the surprise visit by the Acting President.
He said the two were relaxed at the farm while talking farming.
“I took the Acting President Chiwenga together with the President on a tour of the farm starting with the soya,” said Mr Mnangagwa.
“We also toured the maize field and the pump station. It was not a planned programme, so the two had time together as they relaxed at the farm after the tour.”
Mr Mnangagwa said Acting President Chiwenga was impressed by the work being done at the farm.
Mirror|HEATHROW’S airport was closed for around 30 minutes on Friday after an RAF aircraft entered the airspace.
During this time a German military plane from RAF Northolt flew into the major transport hub’s vicinity. The ensuing disruption caused stacking of international flights at the airport, with at least four British Airways flights and one Virgin Atlantic aircraft to be diverted to other airports such as Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. Flight data shows plane belonging to German Air Force took off from Northolt just before 9am.
The plane, GAF612, was thought to have been Bombardier Global 5000 jet on route to Hamburg.
None of the other planes shown as leaving the airport that morning were military aircraft, although this may not have been the only RAF flight through the airspace during the time frame as records do not list the departures of RAF planes.
The RAF gave an announcement on Friday explaining the situation, that it was not an emergency and said the delay was caused by “one of our assets” flying from Northolt.
A spokesman said: “RAF can confirm that a flight was completed this morning by one of our assets from RAF Northolt.
“This flight was coordinated with Heathrow ATC but had to extend by a few minutes.
“The minor delays caused to civilian air traffic are regretted.”
Stacked planes began to run low on fuel after being denied landing clearance because of the German jet’s sudden appearance.
Passengers of one Virgin Atlantic flight revealed how their pilot announced over the tannoy that they only had “five to ten minutes” of fuel left and had to land at Gatwick.
The RAF suddenly informed the civilian controllers they needed an “unplanned” use of airspace at around 9am on Friday.
Flight tracker website FlightAware has revealed the plane took off from Northolt at 8.55am Friday morning and flew to Hamburg, landing at 10.03am UK time.
The closure of Heathrow led to passengers being left stranded for several hours.
British TV producer Anne Henry told The Mirror how her Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles was diverted to Gatwick due to a lack of fuel.
She told Mirror Online: “It was quite alarming when the captain announced after circling Heathrow for a while, Ladies and gentlemen we have about five to ten minutes fuel left so we may need to divert to Gatwick.”
She added: “We had been on the ground for about an hour but were not allowed to get off.”
Aviation news source Airlive tweeted: “Many planes are holding on approach to London Heathrow.
“It looks like landings were suspended for a while.”
JOHANNESBURG – Mpumalanga police are investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths of two illegal miners at Lily mine near Barberton.
It’s understood the pair was found in a shaft at the non-operating mine on Thursday.
In 2016 the mine halted operations to retrieve the bodies of three mineworkers who have been trapped underground due to financial difficulties.
Illegal miners have become more frequent since operations stopped at the mine.
The police’s Leonard Hlathi said, “We were informed by the community and then we set off. Indeed the bodies were recovered yesterday; hence the operation which we arrested only one person from Mozambique who is undocumented. We are going to charge him with trespassing and we also found dagga on him.”
Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyarende have been trapped for four years.
Family members and co-workers started going underground in an attempt to recover the bodies of the three, last month.
By A Correspondent|YOUTHS in the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T have described as “good riddance”, the announcement made Saturday by Obert Gutu that he was resigning as the Vice President of the party with immediate effect.
MDC–T national youth spokesperson, Alfred Dzirutwe also claimed that Gutu was now a member of Zanu PF and had since ceased to be a leader in the MDC–T.
The politician announced that he was resigning for “personal and private reasons”.
“Obert Gutu was now just a Vice-President by title, otherwise he was now part of a Zanu PF faction which has no care about people’s suffering. I feel vindicated as just a month ago, I issued a statement about his behaviour which was reminiscent of Zanu PF’s behaviour,” said Dzirutwe.
The party’s youth spokesperson also accused the former Deputy Justice Minister of lacking leadership qualities.
“He always showed signs that he lacked leadership qualities. I think his departure is good riddance and we hope who ever ascends to that post will be young, mature and astute. Zimbabwe now needs focused persons who are keen on finding a solution to the current economic and political fiasco,” added Dzirutwe.
Gutu has on several occasions clashed with the party’s youths.
Last year, the youths blasted him for apparently celebrating, on Twitter, the brutalisation of MDC Alliance supporters by the police.
Also last year, the youths openly defied Gutu after he called on the party’s supporters to participate in the government’s organised countrywide anti-sanctions marches.
Party youths felt the the anti-sanctions crusade was useless and a gimmick by Zanu PF to divert attention from government’s mismanagement of the country.
Asked for comment on his Zanu PF status, Gutu described this as a mere rumour.
File Picture of a woman being hijacked in South Africa.
Own Correspondent|“Get out of the car, get out of the car,” suspected hijackers shouted, moments before shooting dead a woman in cold blood at a shopping centre in Johannesburg on Friday evening.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters, a search was underway for the unknown suspects.
“A case of attempted hijacking and murder has been opened,” Peters said.
“The deceased and her husband had made a stop at one of the shops at the centre when they were accosted by three males travelling in a white BMW with unknown registration plates.
“The suspects allegedly fired shots and the woman was struck and subsequent to that, declared dead on the scene.”
The perpetrators fled the scene in the BMW.
According to TimesLive, the woman was reportedly the daughter of Reverend Tony Simpson of the Nederduitsche Hervormde Kerk van Afrika.
“May the grace and comfort of the Lord carry them in this crisis time,” the church said in a post on Facebook.
Honeydew Community Police Forum spokesperson Michael Steyn told TimesLIVE that they responded to the shooting at the Eagle’s Landing shopping centre in Randpark Ridge in Johannesburg at 9.45pm on Friday.
“She was killed outside of the car, so we are suspecting that it was an attempted hijacking gone wrong because they didn’t get away with the car. Further investigation into the matter will reveal the real cause,” Steyn said.
Steyn said the shooting happened in the parking lot of the centre and not at a pizza place as reported on social media.
Peters has appealed to the public for assistance in tracking down the suspects.
“The police are appealing to anyone who may have information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the police by calling the Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or by sending a tip-off on the MySAPS app.”
THE sport-starved town of Chivhu could finally be rewarded for having World Boxing Federation middleweight champion Charles Manyuchi in their midst after the pugilist hinted he will defend the title in this Mashonaland East district.
The fighter is scheduled to defend his WBF crown on March 28 against a yet-to-be named opponent. The opponent is already there but is yet to sign a contract.
Manyuchi beat highly-rated Argentine boxer Diego Diaz Gallardo to become the first-ever Zimbabwean to win a world title last September.
And the Chivhu-based pugilist feels it is high time he affords his home town the opportunity to host the world.
“I have always boxed out of Chivhu, in terms of high-profile matches. People of Chivhu feel they are missing a lot. They have been calling for my WBF title to be defended right before them,” said Manyuchi.
“It is something we are considering wholeheartedly. Efforts are already underway to make sure the fight is held at Garwe Stadium in Chivhu.
“We cannot afford to always disappoint them. I train in Chivhu, stay in Chivhu and the Charles Manyuchi Academy is in the same town. So we are obliged to make the Chivhu folk happy.”
Manyuchi said preparations for the fight have already started and he will eventually cross to Zambia for the final preparatory phase.
He will be hoping to tap from the expertise of one of Zambia’s most celebrated boxers Antony Mwamba whose Exodus Boxing Promotions is in a twinning relationship with the Charles Manyuchi Academy.
“I have already started preparing for the WBF title defence. The opponent is already there but hasn’t put pen to paper as yet. We will be announcing his name in due course. But my preparations are going on well. We will intensify as we go and I will also go to Zambia for further preparations.
“As you might be aware, we are in a twinning arrangement with Exodus Boxing Promotions in Zambia and we will have some sparring against boxers from that stable.”
Meanwhile, the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy paid for seven members from their Chivhu fan club to enroll in the challenging Boxing Referees and Judges’ Course which they completed last week.
The graduates, who were amongst the 15 who passed the course which had 40 students, include Abigail Masuka, Doreen Matsambe, Pamela Katsonga, John Mushayi, Allison Garirai, Nyarai Moyo and Fibion Mashava.
Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy promoter, Prosper Chibaya, pledged more support for people from Chivhu who are willing to break into boxing.
By A Correspondent- The President and the acting president spent the day together at the former’s farm in Kwekwe on Saturday, The Herald reports.
The 2 spend the day chatting and touring the farm as confirmed by President Mnangagwa‘s brother Tafara who is the president’s farm manager:
I took the Acting President Chiwenga together with the President on a tour of the farm starting with the soya.
We also toured the maize field and the pump station. It was not a planned programme, so the two had time together as they relaxed at the farm after the tour.
The president is taking his annual vacation which is supposed to end this week but from time to time comes back to Harare to carry out his executive duties despite being on leave.
Marjory Nyaumwe (L) of Zimbabwe and Janine Beckie #16 of Canada in action during the match between Canada and Zimbabwe womens football for the summer olympics at Arena Corinthians on August 6, 2016 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Standard|ZIMBABWE women’s football has fallen from grace to grass with the country’s national teams being hit — left, right and centre — in the process turning themselves into a punching bag of the international world.
Not only are they being beaten, but they are being thrashed if not massacred at will, raising questions as to what exactly has happened to what at one time was one of the elite teams in African women’s football.
One thing that is clear is that something is wrong somewhere when a team that was at the 2016 Olympic Games is hammered 5-0 by Zambia and its Under-17s humiliated 5-0 by — of all teams — little Botswana.
Few, that is if there are any, would argue that the Zimbabwe women’s game has suffered this rapid decline not because Zimbabwe does not have good players or the best of coaches, but because of administrative shortcomings.
Coaches without any link or knowledge of the players are being randomly picked by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) to handle national teams, while the Zimbabwe Women Soccer League has been sidelined and reduced to spectators in their own game.
Although they might not want to publicly admit it, the Women Soccer League does not have a say on who is appointed to coach which age group or the women national team as they are not even consulted.
More importantly, is the fact that Zifa dictates how funds allocated to women from Fifa must be used and also selects who should accompany women’s teams to foreign lands, some of whom have caused irreparable damage.
What is clearly evident is that Zifa do not seem to have respect on the ability of women and believe women cannot do anything successful on their own, although the success of the Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZNA) seems to point otherwise.
It is shocking that after 40 years since Zimbabwe was admitted to international sport, women do not have a voice over their own affairs even though the whole world has changed.
Events on the ground even suggests that the president of the Zimbabwe Women Soccer League (ZWSL), Barbara Chikosi, is a toothless bulldog, who just sits on the all-powerful Zifa board just to make up the numbers and does not have a voice at all.
Chikosi is also associated with the entertainment industry as a music promoter.
What is disturbing is that Zimbabwe and Zifa in particular are resisting alignment with global changes and have not taken on board examples which Fifa and other successful football nations have set in recognising the role of women in football development.
What Zifa is forgetting is that a refreshing wind of change is blowing across the football world and at the top of the game at Fifa right now is Fatima Samoura, the Fifa secretary-general from Senegal.
Whatever the case, Zimbabwe women soccer teams have the potential of becoming strong once again on the international stage — only if the right things are done. The first of which is to give women soccer to women and get them more involved in their own affairs.
The ZWSL should be involved in all forms of women’s football activity and should be able to do that freely with nobody pulling the strings.
The Women Soccer League should be given the task of recommending coaches for national duty appointments since they are the ones who are on the ground and who know the real women soccer coaches.
National team selectors should also not lose sight of the fact that there is talent in abundance in other parts of the country that needs to be given a chance instead of focusing their attention on Bulawayo and Harare only.
Fifa funds for women’s football should not be spent at Zifa level, but should percolate down to those who run women’s football because they are the ones who know better what needs to be done.
It would be a lie to say those at 53 Livingstone Avenue know more of what is happening in women’s football, the northern and southern region, the Area Zone, or the Premier Soccer League, than those actually on the ground.
The president of the ZWSL — as a Zifa board member — should be the go-between in the relationship between the national football federation and all women football matters in Zimbabwe.
It would be good to one day see the Mighty Warriors once again back at the Olympics, but that will not be easy considering the current standing of Zimbabwe women’s football.
Zifa must give women’s soccer to women and see how far they can go when in control of their own affairs. As the national football federation, Zifa should only come in as an overseer or just to supervise what is being done.
MUTARE: A 30 year-old pastor with Apostolic Faith Church in the eastern border city appeared before a Mutare magistrate facing charges of raping and impregnating his wife`s minor sister, aged 12.
The pastor (name withheld) is reported to have promised to marry the minor after she completed her Grade Seven last year.
He appeared before Magistrate Prisca Manhimbi facing charges of rape and was remanded in custody to January 23 for trial.
Prosecutor Chris Munyuku told the court that the pastor proposed love to the minor and she accepted.
In June last year, the pastor visited the minor at her place of residence at around 2000 hrs taking advantage of the absence of her mother who had gone to South Africa for business.
The pastor reportedly slept with the minor without protection.
In the same month, the minor missed her period and she informed the pastor who then promised to marry her after completing her grade seven examinations.
The matter came to light when a police officer, Constable Kanhukamwe, received a tip-off that the minor was pregnant.
On October 4, the police visited the minor`s school and interviewed her.
During the interview, the girl spilled the beans and confirmed that the pastor was responsible.
The police officer escorted the girl to Mutare Provincial Hospital for a medical examination and a report was produced and presented in court as evidence.
The purple glow of overhead toll gantries is visible.
Speaking to News 24, Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesperson Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar examined the video but the location was not clear.
“If the motorist was speeding in the Johannesburg area, there is a possibility that they will receive a notice through the post, because speed cameras are operated on different roads on a 24-hour basis,” said Minnaar.
“If they fail to appear in court, then a warrant of arrest will be authorised by such court.”
The Registrar General says his office is making considerations to allow local Zimbabweans with free funds to pay for their passports in foreign currency pegged at $318 usd with the document processed within 24hrs. pic.twitter.com/7xhXbG9xU6
The repatriation service of eleven Ukrainians killed in Iran.
KIEV – The bodies of the 11 Ukrainian citizens who died when a passenger plane was shot down by Iran this month were brought back to Ukraine yesterday in a solemn ceremony at Kiev airport.
All 176 on board the Ukraine International Airlines flight from Tehran to Kiev were killed when the Boeing 737-800 was shot down on January 8, at a time when Iran was on high alert for a U.S. attack.
Most of those on board were Iranians or dual nationals. Canada had 57 citizens on board. Nine of the Ukrainian citizens were crew members.
With President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looking on, coffins draped in the Ukrainian flag were carried one by one from a Ukrainian military plane to a waiting hearse at Kiev’s Boryspil airport.
Soldiers held up flags to represent the different nationalities of those who died.
Relatives came to the airport carrying bunches of flowers. Airline staff, some in tears, were waiting on the tarmac.
Iran announced on Saturday it would send the black boxes to Ukraine to be decoded, but did not say when this would happen. Iranian representatives are expected to travel to Ukraine this coming week.
The plane disaster sparked unrest in Iran and added to international pressure on the country as it grapples with a longrunning dispute with the United States over its nuclear programme and its influence in the region that briefly erupted into open conflict this month.
Meanwhile, Iran is trying to analyse the black boxes of a Ukrainian airliner that was shot down this month, the state IRNA news agency reported yesterday, denying a report that a decision had been taken to send the plane’s recorders to Ukraine.
Canada, which had 57 citizens on the plane in which 176 people were killed, and other nations who lost nationals have been calling on Iran for a thorough investigation and have said the flight data and voice recorders should be analysed abroad.
Ottawa has said the recorders, or black boxes, should be sent to France, after the military admitted shooting down Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 in error in the tense aftermath of tit-for-tat strikes by the United States and Iran.
“We are trying to read the black boxes here in Iran. Otherwise, our options are Ukraine and France, but no decision has been taken so far to send them to another country,” Hassan Rezaifar, a director in charge of accident investigations at Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation, told IRNA.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency had said on Saturday the black boxes were being sent to Ukraine. It reported that Iran would not seek to read them at home.
Ukraine has previously said it expected Iran to hand over the black boxes to Ukraine.-Reuters.
Bill Clinton’s 1999 impeachment trial lasted five weeks; Andrew Johnson’s went on for three months in 1868.
If the White House and Republicans have their way, US President Donald Trump’s trial will be over in two weeks, just in time for him to celebrate his expected acquittal in the February 4 State of the Union Address.
But that depends on Republicans being able to block Democrat demands to subpoena documents and witnesses that could strengthen the case against the president.
So far, Republicans, led by Trump’s tough protector, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have the upper hand.
Trump’s trial for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress opened with a solemn, ceremonial reading of the charges in the Senate on Thursday, but the rules and schedule have not been set.
That will be decided on Tuesday, with the 100 senators debating voting on procedures: The time given to opening arguments from the prosecution and defence, and questioning by the senators – the jury in the case.
Democrats are demanding that the Senate agree to subpoena crucial documents and four current and former senior White House officials to testify.
They include former national security advisor John Bolton and Trump acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.
Both are believed to have first-hand knowledge of what Trump is accused of: Using his powers illicitly to pressure Ukraine to help his 2020 re-election campaign by investigating his potential Democratic opponent Joe Biden.
The White House blocked the impeachment investigation in the House of Representatives from accessing the witnesses and documents, and shows no sign of giving in now.
McConnell says the issue won’t be decided until after the trial’s initial arguments and questioning take place, and has made clear he doesn’t see the need anyway.
The White House signalled this week what it expects will happen: No witnesses.
“I think it’s extraordinarily unlikely it will be going beyond two weeks,” a White House official told reporters.
He said there is no need to go any longer.
“The president should be acquitted. We think it’s going to happen and going to happen readily.”
McConnell oversees a 53-47 Republican majority in the body, giving him all the power he needs to set the rules his way and deny the witnesses.
Unless four Republican senators break ranks, at the end of the arguments McConnell can defeat any motion to subpoena witnesses, and then can easily hold a vote to acquit Trump – meeting the White House timeframe.
Democrats are pressing Republicans to support a witness resolution.
“We have asked for four fact witnesses and three specific sets of relevant documents,” Chuck Schumer, the senior Democrat in the Senate, said on Thursday.
“So in the coming days, each of us, every one of us, Democrat and Republican, will face a choice about whether to begin this trial in the search of truth or in service of the president’s desire to cover it up.”
Democrats see several Republican senators as possibly willing to stand with them, but none have committed.
One, Maine Senator Susan Collins, came under heavy pressure after a video was widely circulated in the media and social networks showing her in 1999 saying about Clinton’s trial: “I need more evidence. I need witnesses and further evidence to guide me to the right destination, to get to the truth.”
In a statement Thursday, Collins said she hadn’t decided yet.
“I tend to believe having additional information would be helpful. It is likely that I would support a motion to call witnesses at that point in the trial just as I did in 1999.”
Another possible Republican crossover, Senator Mitt Romney, told journalists: “Barring some sort of surprise I’ll vote in favour of hearing witnesses.”
No other Republican has gone that far.
If four Republicans do cross over, that could add weeks to the trial – three in the Clinton case.
But McConnell has another card up his sleeve: Demanding witnesses that the White House wants, even if they have little bearing on Trump’s guilt or innocence.
Republicans have said they would call Biden’s son Hunter, whose association with a Ukraine energy firm was part of what Trump wanted Kiev to investigate.
They also want to call the whistleblower whose August complaint about Trump’s Ukraine dealings set off the investigation that led to impeachment.
That would provoke a showdown.
Republican Senator Rand Paul told Politico that if Democrats get their witnesses: “My insistence will be not just one witness, but that the president should be able to call any witnesses that he deems necessary to his defence.”
He meanwhile warned Republicans who don’t support the White House witness demands.
“If you vote against Hunter Biden, you’re voting to lose your election, basically. Seriously. That’s what it is,” he said.
A MTHWAKAZI Republic Party (MRP) activist has been fined $400 or 60 days in jail for assaulting a police officer outside the Bulawayo High Court while celebrating the release of former Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni on bail pending appeal.
Mongameli Mlotshwa (33) of Magwegwe West assaulted Detective Constable Wellington Masuna who was on duty monitoring the situation. He grabbed the cop by his belt before punching and kicking him in the stomach.
Mlotshwa was convicted of assault charges by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja. He was further slapped with three months imprisonment wholly suspended for three years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar offence.
The prosecutor, Mr Leonard Chile said on August 28 at around 3PM, Det Const Masuna, who was clad in civilian clothes, had been deployed in the area around the High Court where Mr Ndiweni’s bail ruling was being heard to monitor the situation.
Mlotshwa, who was part of group of MRP activists chanting political slogans and singing songs while celebrating the release of Mr Ndiweni on bail pending appeal, spotted the complainant receiving a phone call and he confronted him and shouted at him before assaulting him.
“When the complainant answered the call, Mlotshwa pushed Det Const Masuna and punched him before he kicked him in the stomach as he shouted at him calling him a thief. He kicked the complainant once in the stomach,” said Mr Chile.
The complainant was rescued by his colleagues before they arrested Mlotshwa.
Mlotshwa was also part of the five MRP activists who were recently acquitted by Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure on charges of disorderly conduct in violation of Section 4(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act after they were arrested while allegedly singing songs with a political message at the High Court.
They were discharged at the close of the State case after the magistrate ruled that there was no evidence linking them to the alleged offence.
In acquitting the five accused persons, Ms Mbeure said the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Their discharge followed an application by their lawyer Mr Dumisani Dube of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, who argued that there was no evidence linking his clients to the offence.
AWARD-WINNING gospel musician, Knowledge Nkiwane who is popular for promoting his music using a pushcart, ironically broke his foot trying to avoid somebody’s pushcart in Bulawayo last month.
Following the freak accident which occurred at Marc’s Garage corner Josiah Tongogara St and Leopold Takawira Ave on December 24, Nkiwane’s doctor in South Africa has recommended that he rests for six weeks.
Nkiwane who is in plaster, is expected back on the streets in March.
The singer who is in South Africa with his family, is known by many in Bulawayo for moving around the CBD dancing to his music played from a pushcart carrying a very big speaker while selling his CDs.
Narrating his ordeal, Nkiwane said: “I was at Marc’s Garage and I saw a bus so I wanted to rush to it to ask the driver how much it cost to travel to South Africa. In my rush, there was a man pushing his cart and in a bid to avoid him, I stepped on a stone. I then fell and broke my foot,”
He said he was travelling to South Africa to visit his family after a hectic 2019.
“My foot was swollen for some time and when I got to South Africa, the doctors told me that I broke my foot and it needed plaster,” said Nkiwane.
He said he will soon work on a song about this misfortune and said he was confident the song will be another hit.
Watch Knowledge Nkiwane on stage in video downloading below:
****Attention: *All Party Leadership, Structures and Membership!!*
Revolutionary greetings leaders.
The People’s President, Adv Nelson Chamisa and the MDC leadership will deliver the #MDC2020National Agenda on Tuesday 21 January 2020 at Stodart Hall in Mbare, Harare.
In this regard, we should all turn out in our numbers and fill up Stodart to the fullest.
The following are invited and expected to attend in full:
1.All National Executive Members of the 3 wings
2.All Provincial Executive Committees
3.All Mps and Councillors
4.All CCCs and Branches
Provincial leaders may you please mobilise all structures, membership and supporters in your respective provinces in full to attend this special event.
A POLICE officer who was part of a five-member gang of armed robbers wailed in court after each of them was handed a 60-year jail term for armed robbery.
The cop, Thulani Nkala (38) appeared together with Taurai Matarirano (27), Isaac Kawundura (33), George Chikomberanwa (34) and Dunira Hungwe (33) before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing 10 counts of armed robbery.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges but were convicted on six counts.
The court proved that the five robbers were each armed with assault rifles when they raided a mine in Gweru.
At one time they fired shots at a mine, killing a security guard’s dog.
Mrs Msipa said due to overwhelming evidence submitted in court, Nkala, Matarirano, Kawundura, Chikomberanwa and Hungwe deserved a lengthy prison stay.
She jailed them for 60 years each and suspended 15 years for good behaviour.
However, Nkala who said he had a two-year-old child and an unemployed wife as well as his accomplice Matarirano forced the court to adjourn briefly when they started wailing uncontrollably after Mrs Msipa handed down their sentence.
For the State, Mr Talent Tadenyika said sometime in 2018 Nkala who was wearing an anti- riot police uniform and armed with a 303 rifle went to a local mine run by Camlark Investments with Matarirano, Kawundura, Chikomberanwa and Hungwe.
At the mine, they saw a security guard and identified themselves as police officers who wanted to search the place for firearms.
“They searched security guards and took their cellphones and they stole property valued at US$1 700. They also stole Zhang Dawei`s Chinese passport and US$1 070 and $1 500 at his quarters and nothing was recovered,” he said.
The court heard that on the same day and at the same mine, the gang threatened another Chinese national Mr Chen Yang Yang with firearms and took his cellphone, US$930, $330, R400 and 17 000 Chinese Yuan.
They went to another employee, Mr Jinkai Yu`s room and robbed him of US$900, $150 and 300 Chinese Yuan.
“They further went to the quarters of the manager threatened him with firearms robbed him of US$1 200, $120 and 840 Chinese Yuan.
“The proceeded to the managing director`s room, also ransacked the room looking for valuables and managed to get US$2 000, $5 000, 10 kilograms of silver which was stored in cone and bar shapes. They deflated tyres for two vehicles,” said Mr Tadenyika.
“They stole an Isuzu king cab and drove away from the scene to a point near Old Eastlea and the cab was recovered.”
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
ONE person was shot dead, while six others were arrested after police intercepted truckloads of smuggled bales of second-hand clothes in Vumba on Saturday night.
The gang, which had a fleet of vehicles, resisted arrest and attempted to run over a police officer, prompting other alert officers to open fire.
Police intercepted a convoy comprising two (7-tonne) trucks, three kombis with bales of clothes and four small escort cars, recovering 170 bales of clothes.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intercepted a convoy of two-seven tonne trucks, three commuter omnibuses and four small vehicles laden with bales of smuggled goods along Vumba Road after a shooting which resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the death of one of the suspects,” he said.
“A crack team of detectives picked information as the convoy approached Vumba and laid an ambush. The vehicles were signalled to stop, but the drivers ignored the police directive as the four small vehicles were being used as smugglers’ escort.”
Police fired warning shots before shooting the wheels of one of the trucks which then stopped.
“In the process, a VW Polo, registration number ADA 5492, which was part of the smugglers escort fleet made a U-turn, sped off towards a police officer who ducked and fired some shots,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“The VW Polo driver and passenger were injured in the process as they tried to flee. The passenger died on admission at Mutare Provincial Hospital, while the driver is admitted under police guard.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said police recovered 170 bales of smuggled clothes from some of the intercepted vehicles.
State Media|Zimbabwe could face increased load-shedding after critical coal mines that supply Hwange Thermal Power Station were flooded following heavy rains that pounded the area on Saturday.
Hwange received heavy rains of up to 139mm in three hours on Saturday, which caused flash flooding, leaving 35 families in two suburbs — Number 1 and Ciderella Village — homeless.
Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi last night tweeted: “The weather has conspired against us. Hwange Power Station Coal Plant flooded. Power station now down to zero megawatts. 400MW lost. Zesa Working to recover.”
Coal miners said delayed payments totalling $100 million for power coal will slow the de-watering of the pits, while Zesa Holdings said poor quality power coal was damaging the station.
Coal mines were flooded, said Coal Producers Association chairman Mr Raymond Mutokonyi in an interview yesterday, with his own Makomo Resources, the largest producer, the worst affected.
Hwange Colliery, the second largest producer, said it will work to remove the flood inflows quickly.
“It is a disaster in terms of coal mining, as the pits are flooded,” said Mr Mutokonyi.
“The situation is made worse by the fact that the de-watering process is expensive and most coal miners do not have money to undertake this mammoth exercise since the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is not paying us for coal supplied.
“Coal miners are owed in excess of $100 million by ZPC as at January 10, 2020, but we have supplied more coal since then and the figure is now over $100 million.
“All mines are affected and we hope to start the process of de-watering on Monday (today).”
The flooding of coal mines recently significantly cut output at South Africa’s thermal power stations, resulting in the rolling out of power outages from November to December last year.
There are a number of coal miners in Hwange, including Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL), Makomo Resources and Zambezi Gas.
Hwange Colliery’s corporate affairs manager Mrs Rugare Dhobbie said the mine had top-of-the-range equipment for de-watering.
Makomo, which has become the country’s biggest coal miner after taking advantage of operational challenges affecting Hwange Colliery, said it had been hit hard by the flooding.
The miner supplies most of the coal for electricity generation to ZPC, the power generation unit of Zesa Holdings.
ZPC is understood to be struggling to pay for coal since cash flows have been affected by load-shedding, which has seen power consumption plunging.
However, Zesa board chairman Dr Sydney Gata denied last Friday that coal miners were not getting their money.
“They are being paid, even for coal which is out of satisfaction,” he said.
“They are being paid for the poor quality coal they are supplying, which damages equipment.
“I am meeting them (coal miners soon) to tell them that if they continue to supply rubbish coal, we will not pay. I will embarrass them. I was in Hwange yesterday (Thursday last week) and everyone is complaining about the quality of coal. Only Hwange can complain, not all those makorokozas.”
After being told that coal miners were complaining of being owed over $100 million, Dr Gata said he did not have the details.
Mr Mutokonyi denied claims that the coal they supply to Hwange was of poor quality.
“There are quality control aspects that take place on both sides,” he said.
Patients collecting drugs at a government hospital
State Media|The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is now monitoring public hospitals and clinics to curb thefts and ensure drugs are not diverted to the black market. This follows checks that were done at the country’s drug procurement and supply entity, the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm).
The Government has been making strenuous efforts to supply medicines to public hospitals and clinics, but there were suspicions that some of the drugs were being diverted to the black market.
Through its Prevention and Corporate Governance Unit, ZACC is targeting Parirenyatwa, Chitungwiza and Sally Mugabe (formerly Harare Central) hospitals, among other public hospitals and clinics.
In a statement at the weekend, the commission said the operation was an extension of ongoing Natpharm compliance checks on drugs.
“The objective of the operation is to ensure that there are no leakages and abuse in the distribution of drugs to hospitals,” said ZACC.
“The operation is meant to bring sanity to hospitals and improve service delivery and stamp out corruption that has seen patients in some parts of the country being made to pay huge amounts of money for drugs which are sourced by Government funds or donated by the Global Fund, WHO and other international partners.
“The compliance unit is tracking the path of distribution of such drugs from the time they leave Natpharm until the drugs are administered to patients.”
ZACC said it was testing the effectiveness and reliability of the distribution system to ensure that it was not open to abuse.
Some health workers, it said, were being found selling essential drugs which were in short supply in formal channels.
“Some doctors are prescribing alternative drugs which are not in stock and refer patients to their pharmacies where sometimes patients are forced to pay exorbitant prices in US dollars,” said ZACC.
Other areas to be covered by the operation include disposal of expired drugs which are being sold on the streets.
ZACC is seeking to have the hospitals adopt electronic systems of drugs storage and administration to avoid the manipulation and abuse of the stock card system.
According to the Head of the Operation, Mrs Clara Nyakotyo, a similar operation has been conducted in provincial, district and mission hospitals in Mashonaland Central and Manicaland provinces.
There are Government plans to capacitate local pharmaceutical manufacturers, establish more manufacturing plants, including toll manufacturing and bonded warehouses, to improve availability and affordability of medicines and medical sundries in both the public and private sector.
Intertoll workers clear the accident scene where a General Bande bus and a haulage truck collided along the Mutare-Harare Road on Saturday
Own Correspondent|The death toll on Saturday’s bus accident which occurred at the 218-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway has risen to 16.
Fourteen people died on the spot when a General Bande bus collided with a haulage truck at around 5pm, while two more died on admission to the hospital.
Out of the 40 injured and taken to the hospital, 24 were still admitted by yesterday, with one of them in the Intensive Care Unit.
In her presentation to stakeholders that included Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, provincial Joint Operations Committee, Civil Protection Unit members and the media, Mutare Provincial Hospital representative Sister Fortunate Sigauke said the hospital was still battling to handle the number of injured people brought to the hospital.
“I received a phone call informing me that there had been a bus disaster,” she said.
“The first casualties came in with well-wishers. The ambulance service providers then chipped in. We are really thankful to those who chipped in.”
“I am concerned about the state of preparedness,” she said. “I am told that the response was not as quick as the injured persons expected, our ambulances, and in terms of all the help that was rendered.
“We need to do more as a nation. We only have one person in the ICU and we pray that the number of those that are deceased remains at 16.
“I think we cannot rely on just one X-ray machine for such a big provincial referral hospital. Right now we have people with multiple fractures.
“Probably what we await at the moment is the pronouncement by His Excellency on the state of disaster which I believe the accident already qualifies for that because we have 16 people who died.”
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is the Acting President while President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on leave at his farm in Kwekwe.
Dr Gwaradzimba said they will contact the Mozambican Consulate in Mutare to assist in linking up relatives of a Mozambican national who was injured in the accident.
Econet, through its Community Social Responsibility anchor partner Higher Life Foundation, provided food for the bereaved during funeral services and pledged further assistance in medication for the injured.
Higher Life Foundation will provide school fees for children orphaned as a result of the accident.
Dr Gwaradzimba thanked Higher Life Foundation for the assistance.
Correspondent|MUTARE Provincial Hospital only has one x-ray machine and a shortage of manpower to run the department.
This was exposed as the hospital was overwhelmed by the number of patients taken to the referral institution after Saturday’s bus accident which occurred at the 218-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway.
A Mutare Provincial Hospital sister-in-charge (in green) and a nurse attend to a victim of the accident yesterday
In her presentation to stakeholders that included Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, provincial Joint Operations Committee, Civil Protection Unit members and the media, Mutare Provincial Hospital representative Sister Fortunate Sigauke said the hospital was overwhelmed, noting challenges faced in the X-ray department.
“I received a phone call informing me that there had been a bus disaster,” she said.
“There was a quick response from our medical staff, nurses and doctors. The delay was in the X-ray department because of shortage of manpower. We had challenges in the X-ray department where the machine was not sufficiently equipped to cater for the patients we had at that particular moment.
“The first casualties came in with well-wishers. The ambulance service providers then chipped in. We are really thankful to those who chipped in.”
Dr Gwaradzimba bemoaned the existence of one X-ray machine at the hospital.
“I am concerned about the state of preparedness,” she said. “I am told that the response was not as quick as the injured persons expected, our ambulances, and in terms of all the help that was rendered.
“I think we cannot rely on just one X-ray machine for such a big provincial referral hospital. Right now we have people with multiple fractures.
Zimbabwe’s environment is under threat from mining activities
State Media|GOVERNMENT has said an environmental rehabilitation levy is on the cards targeting the mining sector, which is blamed for severely damaging the environment.
In an interview last week, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said he had come face-to-face with excessive environmental damage caused by mining activities.
“I was in Matobo (where there is gold mining) and what I saw troubled me big time,” he said.
“The rate at which we are destroying our environment is unprecedented. I can’t even describe what I saw.
“I would be moving to the Midlands. I’m told where there is chrome mining, it’s almost the same again. It’s something that we have identified as top priority. As a Ministry, we are working on certain proposals which will lead to the creation of a sustainable environmental rehabilitation fund.”
Minister Ndlovu said even mining companies had used legal loopholes to extract minerals without rehabilitating the environment they operated from and damage.
He said this caused serious ecological damage needing urgent attention.
Minister Ndlovu said the proposed fund will see mining companies rehabilitating the environment, while continuing with their activities.
“At law, mining companies are mandated to rehabilitate the environment where they are mining after they close or finish mining,” he said.
“It’s a loophole that has been exploited, where a company official says I’m still mining, I haven’t completed. I can mine for 50 years and the law will not be compelling rehabilitation of the environment. That, again, will have to be addressed.
“It has to be an ongoing process. We will also be considering having an environmental insurance. Where the rehabilitation cost is too high, we can then make use of the insurance. However, that would be an option available for the miner.”
Own Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission, ZACC, has warned senior executives in public institutions to stop victimising their subordinates for assisting it with information that can help to investigate possible cases of corruption.
Targeted subordinates were either being summarily dismissed or redeployed to other departments without following due process.
ZACC said it felt betrayed by the actions of such executives which amounted to unfair labour practice and abuse of office.
A case in point is that of eight ZESA Holdings workers who were fired last year for unlawful job action, breaching of the Official Secrets Act and insubordination.
The workers were however, recently reinstated by the new management at the power utility after they were victimised for outing corruption tendencies that exposed some shoddy deals.
ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said last week that they were overwhelmed with reports of victimisation of workers in public institutions for assisting the anti-graft body.
“The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is inundated with reports from the general public in which there is evidence of victimisation by authorities in the public sector,” said Comm Makamure.
“What is utter disturbing is a situation where an entity is visited by the Zacc, either for the purposes of conducting systems audit, investigations or both and later on, some of the employees are served with suspension letters or are advised that the department is in the process of redeploying them to other departments.
“The procedure is riddled with a lot of questions as to whether or not the authorities are aware that there is a Labour Act Chapter 28.01, Statutory Instruments and various regulations, which legally guide any decision-making by them.
“However, such decisions are promptly arrived at just to catch the targeted employees unawares, leave them confused for some time and pounce on the hapless individuals.
“One would rush to think these are simple labour matters, when in essence it is corruption masked in what looks like labour issues.
“If this sinister practice is allowed to persist, then going forward, nobody will be willing to assist either the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission or Zimbabwe Republic Police during investigations. The continued victimisation of innocent employees leaves nobody safe under the caprices of the vastly corrupt bosses.”
Comm Makamure said the problem was being aided by human resources departments that allowed people to be reassigned without justification.
“The second question is how on earth do the human resources departments, charged with the redeployment of employees, accept and redeploy staff without demanding reasons why the redeployments have to be done,” he said.
“One would have thought that the human resources departments should turn down such unscrupulous ways of subjecting employees to unprofessional movements to other departments. In any case, the employees are transferred without following any legal procedure as required in the Labour Act and supporting regulations.”
This, Comm Makamure said, amounted to unfair labour practices, which is also a form of abuse of office.
A police officer who was part of a five-member gang of armed robbers wailed in court after each of them was handed a 60-year jail term for armed robbery.
The cop, Thulani Nkala (38) appeared together with Taurai Matarirano (27), Isaac Kawundura (33), George Chikomberanwa (34) and Dunira Hungwe (33) before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing 10 counts of armed robbery.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges but were convicted on six counts. The court proved that the five robbers were each armed with assault rifles when they raided a mine in Gweru. At one time they fired shots at a mine, killing a security guard’s dog.
Mrs Msipa said due to overwhelming evidence submitted in court, Nkala, Matarirano, Kawundura, Chikomberanwa and Hungwe deserved a lengthy prison stay. She jailed them for 60 years each and suspended 15 years for good behaviour.
However, Nkala who said he had a two-year-old child and an unemployed wife as well as his accomplice Matarirano forced the court to adjourn briefly when they started wailing uncontrollably after Mrs Msipa handed down their sentence.
For the State, Mr Talent Tadenyika said sometime in 2018 Nkala who was wearing an anti- riot police uniform and armed with a 303 rifle went to a local mine run by Camlark Investments with Matarirano, Kawundura, Chikomberanwa and Hungwe.
At the mine, they saw a security guard and identified themselves as police officers who wanted to search the place for firearms.
“They searched security guards and took their cellphones and they stole property valued at US$1 700. They also stole Zhang Dawei`s Chinese passport and US$1 070 and $1 500 at his quarters and nothing was recovered,” he said.
The court heard that on the same day and at the same mine, the gang threatened another Chinese national Mr Chen Yang Yang with firearms and took his cellphone, US$930, $330, R400 and 17 000 Chinese Yuan.
They went to another employee, Mr Jinkai Yu`s room and robbed him of US$900, $150 and 300 Chinese Yuan.
“They further went to the quarters of the manager threatened him with firearms robbed him of US$1 200, $120 and 840 Chinese Yuan.
“The proceeded to the managing director`s room, also ransacked the room looking for valuables and managed to get US$2 000, $5 000, 10 kilograms of silver which was stored in cone and bar shapes. They deflated tyres for two vehicles,” said Mr Tadenyika.
“They stole an Isuzu king cab and drove away from the scene to a point near Old Eastlea and the cab was recovered.”
A boarding master at Washington Hills High School will perform 350 hours of community service at Waterfalls Clinic after he was last week convicted of fondling the breasts of a 15-year-old pupil.
Harare magistrate Mrs Sharon Rakafa convicted Alouis Mhondiwa of indecent assault on a young person, sentencing him to 18 months in prison.
She suspended eight months on condition of future good behaviour and suspended the remaining 10 months on condition that Mhondiwa performs 350 hours of community service at Waterfalls Clinic.
During trial, the girl told the court how Mhondiwa had invited her to his home.
“The first day we had gone to the dining hall for studies and a female guard sent me with her phone to the accused person,” she said. “That was when we arranged how we would meet later that night.
“I managed to sneak out of the hostels with three of my friends that were also going to meet their boyfriends. I went to his house. He began touching me and I started feeling different and requested to leave. When I returned to the hostels I told my friend about the incident and planned to return back to the accused person’s residence.”
Prosecutor Talkmore Muganhiri told the court that on August 23, at around 9pm, the teenager went to Mhondiwa’s residence and he began fondling the child’s breast without her consent.
The school authorities heard of the matter and the incident was reported to the police, leading to Mhondiwa’s arrest. – state media
15 (fifteen) refuse trucks bought by Harare City Council in South Africa are stuck there almost three years on as it cannot raise over US$2 million required for their delivery.
However, there are conflicting figures on the money required for delivery of the trucks, with council claiming that US$3,3 million is needed, while the supplier is saying US$2,4 million is all that is required.
The 15 trucks are part of the 30 compactors that were bought by the local authority from automotive manufacturer, FAW Group Corporation.
Questions have been raised as to why council was not using the money it was collecting for refuse to source the foreign currency required to collect the trucks.
The acquisition of the refuse trucks has been mired in controversy after revelations that council may have already been prejudiced of about US$228 000 after it took delivery of 10 single skip trucks instead of double skip trucks it had ordered from FAW Zimbabwe.
A standard single skip truck in South Africa, where the trucks were sourced, costs about R400 000 (US$28 700), while a double skip truck costs R800 000 (US$57 500).
The city’s acting communications officer Mr Innocent Ruwende last week said money billed for refuse collection was not meant for capital projects.
“The trucks are 15 and they are with the suppliers, not at the border,” he said.
“In terms of capital projects, they are not funded by rates as there are huge figures involved.” Mr Ruwende said council had enough Zimbabwean dollars to buy the required US dollars for delivery of the trucks which they paid to FAW Zimbabwe, but foreign currency challenges remained an issue.
“Government has been assisting us with various projects and we have been engaging it over the matter,” he said.
Asked if council was pinning hopes on a customs rebate, Mr Ruwende said, “We will only get a rebate when the trucks are at the border.”
FAW Zimbabwe operations director, Mr Patrick Masocha, confirmed council’s position.
“The arrangement was that RBZ would avail forex, but so far we have only received $900 000, which was paid for the delivery of 20 trucks that were delivered,” he said.
“The other 15 trucks are at our plant and we took council officials there to see them.”
Mr Masocha said there was no bad blood between them and Harare City Council due to the delays in the delivery of the trucks, as the situation was beyond both parties. -state media
ZIMBABWE’s third largest mobile telephone operator Telecel Zimbabwe has conceded that it is facing challenges and has been failing to meet some of its obligations due to inadequate funding.
In a statement, released by acting public relations and corporate social responsibility manager Mr Simeon Mutize, Telecel acknowledged that it has been under-performing due to a host of challenges. Mr Mutize, however, dismissed that the company was on the verge of collapse.
“Telecel Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd would like to assure all its stakeholders and customers, that while the company is facing some challenges, the company is not at the brink of collapse and continues to offer quality service to its customers.
“Like all other local organisations, Telecel Zimbabwe’s operations have been affected by a host of factors, both macro and micro-economic, but attributed mainly to limited funding for the company over a long period of time, in the face of challenging economic conditions in Zimbabwe.
“Specifically, rapid depreciation of the local currency and the levels of tariffs increases approved, which continue to lag behind inflation, have affected the ability to meet the foreign currency denominated obligations, especially spares for equipment and service level agreements and support.
This limited vendor support has resulted in some network disruptions during the festive season, which have since been rectified.
In order to mitigate these challenges, the company has been on a very aggressive import substitution and local skills transfer,” he said.
Mr Mutize said Telecel and other industry stakeholders continue to engage all the relevant authorities to ensure that the tariffs are adjusted in line with the cost movement of other basic operational costs.
“The company’s main switching centres are in the industrial area and have been subjected to prolonged power outages which have resulted in the company’s technology operating costs ballooning due to the use of alternative power, particularly diesel, and has in turn affected base station availability in other parts of the country.
The company is in advanced discussions with the power authorities and Government officials in the Ministry of Energy (and Power Development) to ensure a dedicated power line to the switching centres and in addition the company is investing in alternative power solutions such Tesla solar batteries for its base stations,” he said.
“The Telecel Board and shareholders are aware of the ongoing challenges.
Plans are underway to address the issue of recapitalisation and in this regard, a five-year strategic plan has already been formulated and adopted.
The finalisation of all outstanding financial statements is on course and this will open avenues for new funding from financial institutions.”-State media
Reports from France indicate that Zimbabwean striker Tinotenda Kadewere’s proposed move to French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon is “close” to completion.
The 24-year-old Le Havre striker, who is leading the Ligue 2 goal scoring chart with 18 goals from 20 appearances in an unforgettable season, is at the the centre of a transfer requisition emanating from his form in front of goal and is a target of 4 teams in Europe including Lyon, Southampton, Aston Villa , Galatasaray and Celtic.
It is Lyon in particular however, who have shown more seriousness in the former Harare City man and have so far tabled two offers, the first being a rejected €7 million and then an improved €15 million, which according to reports, will most likely be accepted.
According to French sports publication Paris Normadie, Lyon have already agreed personal terms with the player and representatives from the two sides (Le Havre and Lyon) will meet to finalize the deal in the next few days.
The publication further alleges that Le Havre are not happy with Lyon for negotiating with the player behind their back but that will unlikely hinder any progress in the deal as the Ligue 2 side’s price tag for the striker was met in the offer made by Lyon.-Soccer 24
Zifa’s Technical Development Committee has confirmed that it has forwarded the final shortlist of candidates for the Warriors coaching post to the main board.
The association is looking for a substantive coach to take over at the national team ahead of the 2021 Afcon Qualifiers which will resume in March.
Brighton Malandule who is the Technical Development Committee’s chairman said to the Sunday Mail: “We sat and deliberated on the applicants for the Warriors job and came up with a shortlist that we have forwarded to the Zifa board.
“I can’t disclose the names at the moment. As you know, it is the mandate of the Zifa board to appoint the national team coach.
“We are aware that the nation is anxious as we have upcoming African Cup of Nations matches against Algeria. The announcement will be made soon.”
According to the publication, Joey Antipas, the only local coach who applied for the Warriors job, is on the shortlist.
Former Highlanders coach Elroy Akbay and Leicester City lnternational Academy coach Alistair Heath, who are both prepared to take a low salary, are also being considered.Soccer 24
A man from Binga will set an example that you do not force a woman into sex, even if she is your wife after he was jailed 16 years for raping his spouse.
The man from Zewula Village under Chief Siabuwa force-marched his 23-year-old pregnant wife to his homestead after threatening to assault her with a log where he subjected her to a night-long sexual torture. The couple had a prior misunderstanding which had resulted in the woman going back to her parents’ home.
He was convicted of two counts of rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison by Hwange regional magistrate, Mr Collet Ncube following a full trial last week. However, two years of the sentence were conditionally suspended.
The rapist, who was facing three counts of rape denied the allegations arguing they were fabricated by his wife’s parents as the sex act was consensual.
“Your worship, the complainant is my wife with whom I have a child with and in all the alleged occasions the sex was consensual. The rape allegations were fabricated by the complainant after being influenced by her parents who no longer want me as their son-in-law,” he said.
However, Mr Ncube would have none of it describing his conduct as cruel and selfish, by-passing reasoning of the fact that she was pregnant.
“Your conduct is reprehensible. It does not make a difference. You repeatedly engaged in the sexual activity against her will. You were unconcerned that she was pregnant, you force-marched her to your place using threats of violence as you were armed with a switch and log. Your morale blameworthiness is high. The fact that the complainant cried was an indication that she was traumatised. Imprisonment in this case is inescapable,” said Mr Ncube.
It also emerged during the trial that this was not the first time he had raped his wife as he would sexually abuse her on different occasions whenever they met resulting in her falling pregnant. She would report the offences to her parents but no further action would be taken.
According to the State led by Ms Memory Munsaka on 26 July 2019 the victim who was in the company of her younger sister was coming from Siabuwa Clinic on her way home when she met her husband near his homestead.
He asked her to accompany him to his homestead but she refused, he then grabbed and force her to his place after threatening to beat her with a switch and log.
The court heard that when the two arrived at his place he forced her to be intimate with him without her consent.
He then repeated the act twice throughout the night. Later, the following day he left the homestead to fetch firewood giving her an opportunity to escape. She reported the matter to the police the following day leading to his arrest. -Sunday News
The situation in our hospitals remains critical. What is only remaining are buildings but without the specialized skills. It is now more than 4 months after doctors downed their remaining tools citing incapacitation. The Ministry of Health and Child Care has done nothing to alleviate the situation. The doctors remuneration remains paltry and the hospitals remain severely incapacitated.
Zimbabweans need not listen to fake news that doctors are back at work and therefore the situation in our hospitals has normalized. What use is a hospital with doctors but with nothing to use? Our central hospitals were previously manned by highly skilled senior specialist doctors who were using high technology equipment. The equipment has since broken down with no replacement in plan.
Specialists and most middle level doctors in Zimbabwe have shown patriotism without appreciation for a long time The failure by the ministry to address the genuine concerns by doctors has hastened the already ongoing brain drain in our country. As the ZHDA, in as much as we advocate for the welfare of the doctors, we also strongly advocate for our patients and the betterment of the healthcare delivery system. We are duty bound to tell the truth.
The situation in our hospitals is far from normal and as of now, most middle level doctors are leaving the country. The same sadly is now being seen with our Consultants(Senior Doctors) who are the Specialists.
Many registrars who were in training locally have left and gone to complete their training in other countries, leaving our own hospitals understaffed. All this has happened in a space of less than five months and the system continues to contract.
Doctors are on demand worldwide and it is only patriotism and the desire to be in the homeland that was keeping doctors in the country. Our country needs these highly specialized medical personnel and it takes years to train one Asking them to work without tools is counterproductive and has lead to this brain drain.
The current situation has forced the junior doctors who are in their 2 year internship period to lose heart and now consider leaving Zimbabwe. Junior doctors have reverted back to being funded by their parents and previous guardians to help them to go to work so that they can complete their internship and be able to leave the country. The question is, should our country celebrate the return of junior doctors to work when their financial incapacitation has not been addressed, This current scenario is far from normal and looking at it with a futuristic eye, one can see that our healthcare system will be more exposed in the near future with no trained or experienced medical personnel.
We acknowledge the effort of HLF in stepping forward to assist in the nationwide health crisis.ln the light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis we call upon developmental and private business entities, together with non-governmental organizations to partner and assist in supporting the healthcare delivery system in Zimbabwe. The inaction of the government and the lack of urgency in addressing the very real issues is cause for deep concern.
We now call upon the relevant authorities in Zimbabwe to address this dire situation with the urgency it deserves. We hope they will see the need for a future with doctors in the country and do the needful.
Farai Dziva|Former army officer Dr Daniel Shumba has alleged that Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to eliminate him.
Shumba is the leader of the
United Democratic Alliance (UDA). He is also a former member of the ruling party.
Ironically Shumba was dismissed from ZANU PF for fighting in Mnangagwa’s corner in 2004.
He was involved in the Tsholotsho meeting that sought to elevate Mnangagwa.
“Why do you want to kill me? For dumping Zanu PF? For speaking the truth? You expropriated my farm, businesses, and freedoms. You’re not God. I’ll live to see you gone,” declared Shumba.
Farai Dziva|Former army officer Dr Daniel Shumba has alleged that Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to eliminate him.
Shumba is the leader of the
United Democratic Alliance (UDA). He is also a former member of the ruling party.
Ironically Shumba was dismissed from ZANU PF for fighting in Mnangagwa’s corner in 2004.
He was involved in the Tsholotsho meeting that sought to elevate Mnangagwa.
“Why do you want to kill me? For dumping Zanu PF? For speaking the truth? You expropriated my farm, businesses, and freedoms. You’re not God. I’ll live to see you gone,” declared Shumba.
Farai Dziva|Former army officer Dr Daniel Shumba has alleged that Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to eliminate him.
Shumba is the leader of the
United Democratic Alliance (UDA). He is also a former member of the ruling party.
Ironically Shumba was dismissed from ZANU PF for fighting in Mnangagwa’s corner in 2004.
He was involved in the Tsholotsho meeting that sought to elevate Mnangagwa.
“Why do you want to kill me? For dumping Zanu PF? For speaking the truth? You expropriated my farm, businesses, and freedoms. You’re not God. I’ll live to see you gone,” declared Shumba.
Former Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti said he would never rejoin Zanu PF as long as it remains defiant of the principals that led to its formation in the first place.
Bhasikiti was speaking in an interview with The Standard when he called Zanu Pf a party of the mafia and loud mouth cheerleaders he didn’t wish to be part of.
Said Bhasikiti:
That thing called Lacoste is just a small mafia grouping as well as a coterie of thieves, friends, advisers and a few loud-mouthed cheerleaders masquerading as Zanu PF, which is now trying to find support from real Zanu cadres.
I cannot talk of rejoining Zanu PF right now because it’s no longer there. What is left is a just a farce.
But one thing for certain is that economic decay and the chaotic nature of that illegitimate presidency which is built on a daily dose of falsehoods as well as government inertia, are soon going to catch up with the Emmerson Mnangagwa’s denialist government.
Bhasikiti was being interviewed after Zanu PF Political Commisar
Matemadanda said Zanu was extending an olive branch to all party members that were expelled during the Mugabe era.-
Credit :The Standard
This LIVE video (plus ED's announcement on 14th Dec 2019 at Goromonzi) and the search warrant, prove beyond a doubt that @edmnangagwa is the one who personally searched @nelsonchamisa MDC offices looking for machetes on Friday afternoon… pic.twitter.com/VQR24qHR68
By Simba Chikanza| INVESTIGATIVE | There is an ongoing plot to plant machetes in the capital city Harare, kill civilians and then blame it all on Nelson Chamisa’s MDC party, for purposes of propaganda.
https://youtu.be/J5LD-h61VKw
This follows Emmerson Mnangagwa’s instruction (video) to his party on the 14th December 2019 when he said members must ensure another military crackdown similar to the January 2019 one is conducted in total secrecy so that the international community does not discover it.
The latest of these is seen in the below posts by Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party. Just before the police in Harare had raided the MDC offices on Friday in search of machetes, ZANU PF swiftly announced on their Twitter account saying of a South Africa based Border Gezi trainee,
“this is Kumbirai Kanda and he is supplying the machetes to Zim… They will be used in the incoming Demos. The aim is to attack people with machetes & blame it on ZANU PF.
Machete gangs are now in Harare courtesy of the @mdczimbabwe.
Let’s be vigilant “
ZANU PF also retweeted an allegation saying that the man is MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s security staff member. In an interview with ZimEye on Friday night, however Mr Kumbirai Kanda revealed he has never at any time been Chamisa’s security and he hasn’t been in Zimbabwe since 2015. He said he is not at all from Buhera as alleged in another of the tweets below.
ZANU PF’s retweet was as follows:
“His name is Kumbirai Kanda from Buhera. He is a security officer of Nelson Chamisa. He was part of the Vanguard strategists responsible for the planning of Jan 2019 violent protests. His new role is mobilization and training of the new militia grp in Gorongosa Mozambique.”
VIDEO LOADING BELOW (please note a mistake on 14th January which should mean 14thDecember…)
…..
ANOTHER ROUND OF LIVE AMMUNITION AGAINST CIVILIANS.
Speaking at his party’s Goromonzi conference on the 14th December 2019, Mnangagwa revealed he will perform another military crackdown but this time involving a method the United Nations would never discover.
In January 2019, the UN in Geneva implicated him for killing 17 people during that month and 6 others on 1 August 2018. In a full statement, the UN said it was without question that the crackdown was a state operation.
This time Mnangagwa said his operation must nip all evidence in the budd. He said he is concerned about propaganda rather than human life losses. He clearly threatened to use the state apparatus to ensure secrecy when he carries out another crackdown. Last January when soldiers protested against the fuel price rise, (even criticised by pro ZANU countries such as Russia), his security minister switched off the internet for 3 days during which period 17 people were shot dead and several women raped. This time speaking at Goromonzi, Mnangagwa described the January 2019 protests where 17 people were killed by state agents as “nonsensical”.
“The January nonsense and periodic mischievous activities by the opposition elements such as those we witnessed this year must be nipped in the bud,” he said. “Never again shall we allow the loss of precious lives of our countrymen to feed the agenda of a notorious few, ” he added.
He appeared to repeat exactly what he told a French journalist earlier in the year, while blaming the MDC party for the mass murders which he did and while denying saying no one was killed.
Show me the graves, said Mnangagwa in the below interview. He also announced that he is hunting down every woman who reported rape.
From his own words, it is without guessing that the Zanu-PF leader is planning a repeat of the same operation this January and yesterday the MDC offices were raided with the police saying they were looking for machetes, the weapons used by the Korokozas.- ZimEye
Former Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti said he would never rejoin Zanu PF as long as it remains defiant of the principals that led to its formation in the first place.
Bhasikiti was speaking in an interview with The Standard when he called Zanu Pf a party of the mafia and loud mouth cheerleaders he didn’t wish to be part of.
Said Bhasikiti:
That thing called Lacoste is just a small mafia grouping as well as a coterie of thieves, friends, advisers and a few loud-mouthed cheerleaders masquerading as Zanu PF, which is now trying to find support from real Zanu cadres.
I cannot talk of rejoining Zanu PF right now because it’s no longer there. What is left is a just a farce.
But one thing for certain is that economic decay and the chaotic nature of that illegitimate presidency which is built on a daily dose of falsehoods as well as government inertia, are soon going to catch up with the Emmerson Mnangagwa’s denialist government.
Bhasikiti was being interviewed after Zanu PF Political Commisar
Matemadanda said Zanu was extending an olive branch to all party members that were expelled during the Mugabe era.-
Credit :The Standard
Former Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti said he would never rejoin Zanu PF as long as it remains defiant of the principals that led to its formation in the first place.
Bhasikiti was speaking in an interview with The Standard when he called Zanu Pf a party of the mafia and loud mouth cheerleaders he didn’t wish to be part of.
Said Bhasikiti:
That thing called Lacoste is just a small mafia grouping as well as a coterie of thieves, friends, advisers and a few loud-mouthed cheerleaders masquerading as Zanu PF, which is now trying to find support from real Zanu cadres.
I cannot talk of rejoining Zanu PF right now because it’s no longer there. What is left is a just a farce.
But one thing for certain is that economic decay and the chaotic nature of that illegitimate presidency which is built on a daily dose of falsehoods as well as government inertia, are soon going to catch up with the Emmerson Mnangagwa’s denialist government.
Bhasikiti was being interviewed after Zanu PF Political Commisar
Matemadanda said Zanu was extending an olive branch to all party members that were expelled during the Mugabe era.-
Credit :The Standard
PRELIMINARY survey and construction works on a multi-million dollar investment comprising an international Formula One (F1) grade motor racing circuit course, which is expected to add more glamour in the country’s premier resort town of Victoria Falls and contribute immensely to the tourism sector has started.
Fronted by Nanta Safaris, preliminary work at the 500-hectare site of the proposed theme park situated at Jembwe Village, Kachechete ward in Hwange District, about 30 kilometres east of Victoria Falls has already started.
The project’s director, Engineer Philani Mpofu, said the major attraction of the theme park would be the 5 416 metre-long F1 motor racing course, which is expected to attract the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and owned by the Formula One Group.
“It’s actually a theme park and the racecourse will headline the development. The racecourse will be attached to a 1 070 metres go-karting strip and a 1,2 kilometre drag strip. Obviously, with the area being 500 hectares in a safari area you would expect to have accommodation in the form of lodges of various sizes and tourist activities, both the usual and non-usual. We are bringing what is called gorge coasters, which are gravity roller coasters in a sense, the area itself has got gradients that are permissible. We will have glass walk ways that you always see somewhere in China. So, we are trying to bring in those things that are basically not on the offering within the Victoria Falls market and the wider Zimbabwe in context, things that are attached to motor racing and speed,” he said.
A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often featuring multiple areas with different themes. Unlike temporary and mobile funfairs, amusement parks are stationary and built for long-lasting operation.
“We are busy working on the site, opening up infrastructure. We have opened up access roads, perimeter fenced the area and we are also doing preliminaries in terms of surveys of the racecourse because it has lots of iterations. We are working with a company from UK (United Kingdom). We had hope to start construction work in the second half of the year but that hinges on approval from relevant authorities and in this case FIA,” said Eng Mpofu.
He said access roads and the area earmarked for the racecourse has been designed in a way meant to preserve fauna and heritage sites located within the location. A three-storey state-of-the-art 325-metre-long pit garage is also set to be constructed close to the racecourse.
“There is a 325-metre long pit garage that will be constructed there and ordinarily it will be used for the racecourse and conference. You probably remember the country struggled to find conference facilities that could fit in Victoria Falls for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly. The number of conferences that you could host (in the pit garage) is limitless as it will be configured the way one wants,” said Eng Mpofu.
Contacted for a comment Hwange Rural District Council resident engineer Alick Mudenda confirmed the development stating that the racecourse was still at design stage.
“I can confirm that we allocated Nanta Safaris land in Jembwe Village in Kachechete ward for the construction of a motor racing course and currently they are at design stage,” said Eng Mudenda.
Air Zimbabwe will take delivery of one of the Boeing 777-200 aircraft acquired from Malaysia on Monday, almost four years after the deal was negotiated.
Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza is in Malaysia to conclude the deal for the planes.
The late former President Robert Mugabe personally negotiated the acquisition of four Boeing 777-200 planes which had been retired by Malaysian Airlines in 2016 after one of their fleet disappeared without trace and another was shot down over Ukraine.
Zimbabwe Airways, the ill-fated state-owned successor to Air Zimbabwe whose livery appears on the aircraft, had been quoted $18,5 million each for two of the planes which were then five-years-old, and $16,5 million each for the other two which were 11-years-old, according to former transport minister Joram Gumbo.
A 2017 military coup which ousted Mugabe put the delivery of the planes on the back-burner as Zimbabwe defaulted on payments, amid claims that the plane deal was plagued by corruption.
The new government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa collapsed Zimbabwe Airways, which was headed by Mugabe’s son-in-law Simba Chikore, and transferred its assets – including the planes – to Air Zimbabwe.
To date, Zimbabwe has fully paid only two of the four planes – 9M-MRQ and Z-RGM, formerly 9M-MRP. The latter, set to be delivered on Monday, was named in honour of President Mugabe.
Matiza said the second plane would be delivered within weeks, but offered no information on the other two planes – 9M-MRL and 9M-MRM – which were flown to the United States in November 2018, and are believed to be still in Kansas in the state of Missouri.
Data from online flight tracking website FlightRadar shows that Z-RGM, now a 15-year-old plane, on January 16 went on a test flight from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport located in Subang before returning to the same airport after a one-hour, 49-minute flight over the Strait of Malacca during which it climbed to 40,000 feet.
The test flight was in preparation for its delivery to Zimbabwe on Monday. Matiza will be on the aircraft which is expected to land at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport at 12.30PM.
The Zimbabwe government desperately wants to shore up Air Zimbabwe, which is now operating just one plane and is weighed down by debts of up to US$300 million.
The 777s will allow Air Zimbabwe to resume overseas flights to the United Kingdom and China, which were abandoned in 2011 amid threats to seize their aircraft by some creditors.
Air Zimbabwe last year took delivery of an Embraer ERJ145 from the United States. The airline has struggled to push through the aircraft’s registration, however, after reportedly failing to satisfy know-your-customer requirements over suspicions of money laundering in the original acquisition by Zimbabwe Airways.
A South African national has posted on Twitter suggesting that Zimbabweans were annoying and trouble causers wherever they are.
The tweet was followed by snapshot of headlines from a number of media houses which revealed that Zimbabweans were illegally entering into neighbouring countries.
It’s like they want to take the entire SADC down with them!
Zimbabweans have over the years been flocking en masse into neighbouring countries, particularly South Africa, to run away from the deteriorating state of affairs.
The country is experiencing a huge deficit in power, food, cash, foreign currency, fuel and medicines and is also having a huge unemployment rate and inflation making life extremely harder for a common individual.
HEAVY rains of up to 139mm pounded Hwange Town yesterday in just three hours, resulting in flash floods which damaged homes and properties including a stockpile of coal at Hwange Power Station, the country’s largest thermal power facility.
At least 70 people were affected by the floods with more than 35 in dire situation having been evacuated to temporary shelter set at Hwange Colliery Company guest house.
The rains damaged household property and a number of cars while a major retail shop in the mining town, Pick n Pay had to be temporarily closed after water flooded and submerged some of the groceries and goods in the shop.
Although both the Hwange District Civil Protection Unit chair Mr Simbarashe Kayela and Matabeleland North chair Ms Latiso Dlamini could no be reached for comment yesterday, Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs, Richard Moyo last night told Sunday News that everything was now under control.
“Right now, I am in Hwange to assess the damage, everything is under control, we have not received any cases of injured people but families have been evacuated to safe places, the rains were strong and most rivers in the area are flooded,” he said.
Moyo said the value of damaged property was still being tallied, adding that the floods did not affect operations at the power station. Sunday News also visited some of the affected areas where about 20 residents at Hwange Colliery concession were being evacuated to HCCL guest house. The most affected residents were those from the N-Section.
In Empumalanga township a few low-lying houses and some in the DRC area were also affected by the flash floods. In Sinderela another area under the Colliery concession about 15 houses were flooded resulting in household properties such as beds and stoves being submerged in water.
Residents told Sunday News that what worsened the situation was that the coal mining company has failed to address the drainage system in the area.
“This is not something new to us, every time we have heavy rains our houses get flooded before the company reacts. We continue to lose a lot of property worth thousands of dollars because of Colliery’s failure to deal with the poor drainage system. How are we expected to recover the lost and damaged property? Imagine after struggling to acquire such you lose it in a flash as a result of poor planning. Personally, I have lost a lot which includes important documents such as birth certificates for my children,” fumed one of the affected residents.
The residents also said it was not fair that Hwange Colliery had not addressed drainage problems in the areas despite increasing rentals from $70 per room per month to $230.
“This is not fair at all. We have lost a lot of property as a result of the delays by the company to address some of the concerns we have often raised such as damaged doors and leaking roofs. The time they took to respond to this emergency leaves a lot of questions, who knows maybe the damage could have been less. We are paying a lot of money to the company but it is failing to maintain its houses and this is the result of negligence. Colliery must at least compensate us for the goods we have lost noting that furniture is now beyond reach the reach of many,” said a woman who identified herself as Ms Phiri.
A businessman who operates grocery shops at Pamuzi Shopping Centre Mr Blessing Mumba said he lost goods worth thousands of dollars.
“I’m in trouble, I’m still trying to come to terms with what just happened. I have lost property worth $8 000 after my shop at Pamuzi was filled with water following the flooding. Books, soaps, electrical appliances and furniture, among other items were destroyed,” he said while he tried to salvage soap from the water.
Hwange Colliery Company spokesperson, Mrs Rugare Dhobbie said the company was assisting those affected.
“Hwange today received 139mm rainfall in three hours resulting in the drainage system being overwhelmed by flash floods. 139mm – these are heavy downpours if we are to compare with previous years usually the concession receives 50 mm or less. A total of 35 families have been affected by the heavy rains. We are doing all we can to assist the affected families in two suburbs namely Number 1 and Sinderela villages. We have started moving families to guest houses and other safe accommodation within the concession. Let me highlight that of the affected families no one was hurt and they are being moved to safety,” she said.
A member of the CPC who requested anonymity warned that the number of those who needed to be evacuated could rise as the rains continue to pour.
A worker at the power station said part of the coal stockpile was immersed in water.
“It’s not the entire coal stockpile but just a section which is not likely to affect power generation. The station has mechanisms to guard against such occurrences,” said the worker.
On Friday, The Meteorological Service Department issued a warning that heavy rains that may uproot trees and damage buildings were set to hit the country this weekend. The department warned that the rains could result in flash floods.
Meanwhile, about 30 families whose houses were swept away recently in Gokwe have received aid from the Government. Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Larry Mavima said the families received temporary shelter and food aid while plans to reconstruct their houses were being looked into.
“We have given the families temporary shelter in the form of tents so that they can have somewhere to put their heads in. We have also managed to supply them with food aid. Our District Civil Protection Unit and our provincial team have since written to the national CPU who have sent assistance. They have also promised more aid which we are expecting anytime from now that is expected to go a long way in assisting the families,” said Mavima.
As representatives of civil society and the international development sector in the UK, we would like to raise our concerns about the upcoming UK Africa Investment Summit on 20 January 2020.
While the idea of more investment in Africa is welcome to many, we are concerned that this summit has been designed with the primary objective of promoting the City of London as a development finance hub and to position the UK as the largest G7 investor in Africa. Despite the fact that the Summit appears to be primarily funded through official development assistance (ODA), it seems to be less about effective development and more about promoting British business interests whilst expanding the UK’s economic and political power over the African continent.
This Summit reflects a growing trend in UK aid policy in which promoting market ideology and laying the groundwork for post-Brexit free trade deals appear to be taking precedence over tackling social and economic inequalities worldwide. Whilst recent months have seen the acceleration of this strategy, with the proposed merger of the Department for International Development (DfID) with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), it is not new.
Whilst recent months have seen the acceleration of this strategy, it is not new. Since 2010 we have increasingly witnessed a highly financialised, market-based approach to development that puts the private sector first. Instead of reaching the most marginalised communities in the world, we have seen a large number of dubious investments.
This includes hundreds of millions of pounds of UK aid invested in private school chains since 2016[i], significant investments in fossil fuel-related projects by CDC[ii], £22.5m invested in an upmarket private hospital which treats international patients[iii], and £150m of ODA being used to “facilitate free trade” and increase market access for UK businesses through the Prosperity Fund.[iv] The private sector focus of this strategy is promoted on the grounds that public money is insufficient to beat global poverty, but the case for this doesn’t stand up. Financial markets are helping to drive unsustainable and unacceptable levels of inequality in most countries, creating political disaffection, extreme poverty, increased carbon emissions and widening inequalities. Not only do these investments have questionable development impact; they undermine efforts to tackle climate change, reduce inequalities and build strong public services in the global south. Under the current strategy, there is a great risk that the Summit will lock in carbon emissions and socioeconomic inequalities for generations to come. With less than a decade to take sufficient action to limit global warming to 1.5oC, ODA must be spent on what is good for people and planet, not what’s profitable for financial institutions and fossil fuel corporations. Pushing this financialised mode of development onto African countries will not plug the finance gaps of less developed economies, or make the world a fairer place. Instead, it will function to extract wealth from the bottom and channel it to the top. Through deregulation, massive and aggressive tax avoidance, unfair trade deals, the erosion of workers’ rights, unsustainable levels of debt, and profit repatriation, the rich continue to get richer while the majority get poorer. This approach will significantly exacerbate inequality, conflict and climate change across the global south and the planet as a whole. For these reasons, an alternative strategy is needed based on the principles of co-operation, solidarity, protecting human and workers’ rights, tax justice, ending gender inequality, and facilitating a just transition to a zero carbon economy. We are therefore recommending that any UK approach to trade and investment with African countries, should:
Align all ODA investments with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5oC, including a ban on the use of ODA to invest in fossil fuels and high investment in a just transition to quality, publicly-controlled renewable energy systems;
Recognise the historic responsibility of Anglo-European nations for carbon emissions by facilitating financial and technological transfers to the global south in support of a just transition to a zero carbon world;
Support the creation of good quality green jobs and decent work;
Be measured against a rigorous development impact framework that demonstrates how the investment is tackling poverty, inequality, climate crisis and gender inequality, whilst protecting human and workers’ rights;
Support the development of strong public service systems across the world;
Pass rigorous tests on accountability and transparency, with a genuine right to redress for governments, communities and civil society in recipient countries when things go wrong;
Ensure genuine tax justice for countries in the global south;
Ensure transparency of lending by requiring all loans to governments to be publicly disclosed for them to be enforceable in UK Courts.
Exclude Investor State Dispute Settlement mechanisms from trade and investment deals.
Support the UN process for the negotiation of a Binding Treaty on transnational corporations.
Signed:Global Justice NowUNISONCAFODHealth Poverty Action Terre des hommes UKWar on WantTraidcraft ExchangeJubilee Debt CampaignChurch Action for Tax JusticeGaia FoundationLondon Mining NetworkStamp Out PovertyTipping Point North South Firoze Manji (Adjunct Professor, Carleton University)
THE opposition MDC has been invited to the UK-Africa Investment Summit which gets underway in London this Tuesday, a top official has said.
The party’s secretary for international relations, Gladys Hlatshwayo, told the Daily News on Sunday that the MDC will be represented by Elliot-PFebve.
The summit, being hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will be attended by dozens of African heads of state.
“We are indeed attending the summit and-PFebve will be our representative there. We are registered for the summit because it benefits us as a party,” Hlatshwayo said.
While President Emmerson Mnangagwa has not been invited, leaders of Africa’s economic powerhouses – South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari and Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta – have confirmed attendance at the London summit being held at the same time as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Zimbabwe, would, however, be represented at Davos – the annual get-together of global leaders in politics, academia and business where delegates pay US$27 000 each for a ticket.
Reacting to the planned summit, presidential spokesperson George Charamba took to Twitter saying: “Let’s see what happens in the United Kingdom and to those invited.
“Methinks the UK uses false diplomacy to steady home nerves arising from Brexit. The UK is no longer an investing global power; long ceased to be thus!”
This comes as Britain is formalising its disengagement from the European Union (Brexit) after Johnson won an overwhelming mandate in December.
The London summit would bring together businesses, governments and international institutions “to showcase and promote the breadth and quality of investment opportunities across Africa.”
“The summit will strengthen the UK’s partnership with African nations to build a secure and prosperous future for all our citizens. It will mobilise new and substantial investment to create jobs and boost mutual prosperity,” the British government said.
The UK-Africa trade, according to Britain, was worth over £33 billion in 2018, and about 2,000 British businesses currently operate in Africa.
Own Correspondent|ZANU PF has told the MDC to feed its supporters with “sanctions” they invited into the country while they feed theirs with rice they sourced from China.
The remarks were made after the Secretary-General of the opposition MDC, Chalton Hwende posted on Twitter complaining about the “partisan” distribution of rice the Chinese donated rice which President Mnangagwa gave to all rural constituencies. Hwende said:
All our rural MPs from @mdczimbabwe where denied the Government rice that was given to the rural MPs 4 distribution to their communities facing sever food shortages . The MDC share is being given to Zanupf losing MPs to distribute only to @zanupf_patriots members. pic.twitter.com/bl1sFGECTu
— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) January 18, 2020
In response, the ruling party said:
“You asked for sanctions from your friends, we asked for food from our friends, let’s all distribute what we asked for. Your MPs should forget about distributing rice. As for your supporters, as you know we are a good party, we will give them the rice.“
Later Hence tweeted the chaotic distribution of the rice by ZANU PF.
Watch video.
This was in Mhondoro today local residents being given rice in a cup by this ZANU PF branded car. We urge Donors giving food aid to do so directly to the beneficiaries stop using the DA’s offices they are partisan food gets hijacked by ZANU @nelsonchamisa@daddyhope@ZimEyepic.twitter.com/IpHaDLtN7O
— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) January 19, 2020
