State Media|THE Government, working with other agencies has unleashed monitors to track the movement and selling of subsided mealie-meal as concerns grow over the continued channelling of the commodity to the black market.

It has also emerged that some retail shops, after receiving subsided mealie meal, will instead of selling it to the public, use it to cook isitshwala/sadza and sell to customers at their “restaurant” sections.

Sunday News discovered that some of the shops also work with informal traders who get first preference and “loot” the commodity and sell it on the streets and makeshift shops for cash.

The Government announced a mealie-meal subsidy to cushion the general public, resulting in retailers being compelled to sell a 10 kilogramme bag at $50.

However, despite constant supply, the subsidised mealie-meal is rarely found in most shops but is readily available on the black market where it is sold for between $70 and $75 in cash only.  In Bulawayo, the mealie-meal is readily availed at the vegetable market area in the city centre.

The development has seen long queues in major retail shops in the city centre on occasions when the subsidised mealie-meal is sold.

Both the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers confirmed yesterday that they were on the ground and shops found on the wrong side of the law will be blacklisted.

“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is also working closely with the Confederation of Retailers Association of Zimbabwe and the president, Mr (Denford) Mutashu has assured that in order to protect the consumer they are monitoring the retail shops to ensure that mealie-meal is not only available but is also sold at the subsidised price of $50 per 10kg and is distributed to all Zimbabweans fairly,” Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said in a statement released to Sunday News. CZR president Mr Mutashu said the association was visiting some of its members to see how they were selling the commodity.

“We are working together with the ministry to monitor the movement of mealie-meal, roller meal to be specific from the time it leaves the miller up to the time the retailer receives it. So, we are working on a joint programme where we also engage grain millers.

“Also, on our part basically what we will be doing we will also visit some millers to check on accountability and also visit some of the retailers and wholesalers to check on transparency, on how they are selling the mealie meal to the public.

“We will also come up with a monitoring system by designing a form that the miller will enter the quantities that they have dispatched. They will indicate the store that the mealie-meal will be delivered to and the store will also fill-up (a form) to confirm receipt of same quantities, just to make sure we remove the blame game (between the two parties) that has been going on before. We will know if there is side marketing of the product in a locality. We can easily identify that it is either the retailer, wholesaler, trader or it is the miller who has diverted the product but so far we are basing our trust in ensuring that we are all in for the people to benefit out of our actions and ensure fair distribution of the product across the country,” he said.

Mr Mutashu said it has come to their attention that management at a number of shops were deliberately diverting the mealie-meal to the black market without shop owners’ consent.

“We have also identified that in some areas there were some malpractices that do not involve the owner of the store but involved managers who divert the product without the knowledge of the owner. For most of the formal big chain stores it is very easy to check because they have in their system a list of bags that they would have sold in their till just like the system that Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) has implemented in collecting revenue through the fiscalisation device.

“So the store system can be used to pick the number of bags, which could have gone through every till and from that end we can easily go to a retailer, request a stock sheet that highlights the number of bags received and sold and you can also be able to pick where the manager or store has sold more than the  expected quantity to an individual trader or individual customer, so these are some of the issues that we have discussed and agreed with the Minister, Dr Nzenza,” he said.

Mr Mutashu said any retailer and miller found liable to any malpractice would be black-listed from receiving supplies.

“We have also agreed with the millers that a retailer who will be found wanting will not receive the commodity. The retailer will be black-listed while the millers have also confirmed to us that if a miller has been found side marketing the product, that miller will also be black-listed and will not receive the grain. These are some of the areas that we feel if we work together as a country, we can be able to ensure that mealie-meal as a subsidised product and key to food security gets to the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s annual maize consumption stands at 1,8 million tonnes and by October this year, the country needed 800 000 tonnes to cover a gap in maize supplies until the next harvest.  In September last year the country took delivery of the first batch of the 17 000 tonnes of the 100 000 tonnes of maize imported from Tanzania that Government paid for as part of its efforts to alleviate food shortages brought about by the drought.

However, there has been a critical shortage of mealie-meal in the country with Government attributing it to failure by some companies to deliver, leading to panic buying and hoarding.

“However, this has since been resolved as Government is augmenting local production with maize grain imports. As of yesterday, the Ministry verified with GMB (Grain Marketing Board) that maize grain is available. The import deliveries have been coming on a daily basis and are expected to alleviate the mealie-meal shortage,” said Dr Nzenza.

Independent consumer rights organisation, National Consumer Rights Association (Nacora) advocacy advisor, Mr Effie Ncube said reports of hoarding and over pricing of mealie-meal by some unscrupulous businesses was tantamount to unethical business conduct, urging the Government to institute an investigation and bring the perpetrators to book.

Acting President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife Marry has thrown another salvo at her husband, claiming the retired military commander is a dangerous character who uses the army to deal with perceived personal enemies.

In court papers filed on Thursday opposing Chiwenga’s application for custody of their minor children, Marry said the acting president had also exposed his shortcomings as a leader of a family, let alone a country.

In her response to Chiwenga’s application which is before the High Court seeking custody of their minor children, Marry said she could not be a danger to their children as was being alleged by her husband.

“I only communicated with the security personnel and when I was advised that I was not welcome at my own home, I did not take the law into my hands as he did by deploying

his agents with unlawful instructions at the gate,” Marry said.

“If there is anyone who is dangerous, it is Chiwenga. He has proven that he can suborn the army when it suits him and he can use them (soldiers) to deal with perceived opponents.”

Marry said she was shocked to read reports that she was exposing the children to black magic yet it was Chiwenga who was known for using black magic.

She said the black magic issue was even mentioned in his previous divorce proceedings with Jocelyne Chiwenga.

“I deny the allegations that I exposed my children to black magic as alleged. I was shocked when I read those allegations. I deny knowledge of such items and that I exposed my children to any of these items. It is the respondent (Chiwenga) who is on record as having been accused of using black magic in his previous divorce proceedings,” Marry said.

She said Chiwenga could not say she was unable to take care of the children because of ill health, saying the VP was focusing on the speck in her eye while ignoring the log in his.

“He is the one who has globetrotted in search of medical attention and has been to India, South Africa and China. Even after his return from China, he still has a personal doctor and a nurse to take care of him on a daily basis and has the audacity to argue that because of my health, I am not a good parent,” Marry said.

She said despite her suffering from the injuries inflicted by a bombing at White City Stadium in Bulawayo in 2018, she had been taking care of her children while Chiwenga was bedridden.

“It was convenient for me to be with the children when Chiwenga was in hospital for more than 123 days, but it’s now inconvenient because he has fallen out of love with me,” Marry said.

“This type of thinking is intended to take the law back to a period when women had no rights. Chiwenga must be reminded that he does not get custody of the children because he has soldiers to suborn, but can get them through the courts; as it stands, he must return the children to me.”

She said Chiwenga has a tendency of deserting the matrimonial home as seen by what he did when he returned from China for medical attention.

Marry said Chiwenga could not chase her from their matrimonial home but must stay where he was residing when he came back from China.

“I deny that I was barred from visiting him in China. I did go to China to see him, but the fact that my children needed me most and the fact that he accepted that position made him agree that I should be with my children in Zimbabwe,” she said.

Marry said the issue in the present proceedings was not about ownership of the vehicles she was seeking to use.

She said Chiwenga went to great lengths trying to explain how these vehicles were acquired including confessing unsavoury facts about his relationship with businessman Kuda Tagwireyi.

Marry said the averments did not take him anywhere because the application was not about the ownership.

“When Chiwenga came back from China, he chose to stay away from the minor children and only to claim his love for them when I got arrested,” she said.

“Had he considered their interests, he would have come straight to the matrimonial home to be with them no matter what differences he had with me. His children had to find out about his presence in Zimbabwe via public television and this says a lot about his new-found commitment to them.”

Marry said it was embarrassing for someone who held himself to be acting president of Zimbabwe to bring up such allegations against a woman who had been his wife and mother of his children in a country that tried to be the champion of gender equality and to respect the rights of women and children.

The couple has, however, since agreed to resolve their differences outside the courtroom, an agreement reached through their lawyers on Friday.

This was not before the two had thrown mud at each other over the past week, exposing in graphic detail the inside of their troubled marriage with allegations of drug abuse, witchcraft, illegally acquired wealth and other dirty stuff being laid bare in damning affidavits deposited at the High Court where the divorce proceedings were set to be heard.

• Standard
  

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

State Media|A MASSIVE $24 billion has been set aside by Government towards implementation of nine national infrastructure projects this year, in a move meant to stimulate development in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision for 2020.

According to the 2020 Infrastructure Investment Programme, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the energy sector gets a huge chunk of the funding, with nearly $9 billion going towards power generation and related projects.

The transport sector will get $4,4 billion, housing ($2,6 billion) water and sanitation ($2,5 billion), health ($2 billion), education ($1,8 billion), ICTs ($1,2 billion), agriculture ($900 million), while other emerging ventures are set to get $95 million.

The projects identified include those contained in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and discussed during the Parliament pre-budget seminar held in Victoria Falls towards at the end of last year. According to the plan, “The 2020 overall capital development outlay amounts to $24,7 billion, with funding being mobilised through the following — fiscal resources (basically taxes) $12,1 billion; loan funding $8,8 billion; development partners support (foreign aid) $2 billion; statutory funds $723 million and public entities’ own resources $1,1 billion.

“The 2020 priority list identifies the most important infrastructure investments for the country, drawing from projects identified under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) as well as those that address emerging issues.

“Through engagements and submissions from stakeholders, projects were identified, selected and prioritised for inclusion in the 2020 infrastructure investment programme taking into account on-going projects, with existing contractual obligations, new or ‘shovel-ready’ projects with completed designs and other planning processes ready for implementation.”

The work plan shows that the projects must be completed this year. Further, the ventures have been identified as economic enablers, with potential to unlock significant private sector investments. Under the transport sector, the road development programme which commenced in 2018, will be prioritised with major focus on the Harare-Beitbridge-Chirundu road, recapitalisation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), ongoing upgrading works at the R.G Mugabe and J M Nkomo International Airports, as well as the urban mass transport system.

The water and sanitation sector is also receiving a major boost, with Government set to prioritise water provision in urban areas by availing $311 million to local authorities. Government will channel $2 billion for housing development to boost the ongoing programme that seeks to address the country’s housing backlog estimated to be around 3 million.

“Among major projects set to be undertaken by Government this year there are preliminary works of the new city in Mt Hampden, Mbare and Makokoba flats regeneration as well as Harare South regularisation,” reads part of the plan.

“Under the health sector, Government is targeting to upgrade 20 district and seven provincial hospitals and expand delivery of specialist tertiary care to Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo provincial hospitals.”

The plan states that the country will take delivery of 100 fully equipped ambulances and utility vehicles that were procured last year. In terms of agriculture, the irrigation rehabilitation programme will move a gear up with Government reviewing the national farm irrigation revolving fund as well as promoting use of renewable energy in irrigation development to ensure efficient running of the schemes.

Economic analyst, Dr Gift Magano said the projects will spur economic recovery.

“Infrastructure are key enablers for economic growth and by focusing on infrastructure, Government is stimulating economic growth. The road project, for example, is commendable as it has the potential to bring in investment as well as foreign currency given the country’s geographical location. The irrigation project is also another commendable project as it seeks to mitigate the effects of climate change. Given that Zimbabwe is an agro-based economy, the irrigation project can boost the economy.”

The Chinese government has added Zimbabwe into its list of captured countries under its Belt and Road Initiative and can not hide its excitement.

Zimbabwe has given the Chinese all the reasons to smile after handing over critical government infrastructure projects to the Asian country.

The new projects are the long-waited construction of Kunzvi Dam, Harare-Chirundu highway, refurbishment of Sable Chemicals fertiliser plant, rehabilitation of Harare’s water system, a power transmission arrangement and export of citrus to China

China is expected to provide concessionary loans for Kunzvi Dam, the Harare-Chirundu Highway and the Sable Chemicals fertiliser plant.

On the citrus exports, the Asian giant will facilitate the access of markets and removal of impediments to trade while financial facilities will be provided for Harare’s Morton Jaffray.

Under the power transmission deal, an arrangement has been made to ensure adequate supply of electricity to the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden to guarantee smooth development of the new city.

Funding for all the projects will be provided under the scope of Chinese signature foreign policy programme, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as the Forum for China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, China’s chief envoy to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Guo Shaochun, said following high-level talks that Minister Wang held with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Acting President General Constantino Chiwenga and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo, Harare and Beijing agreed to set up teams from both countries to immediately start working on the projects.

“For the six new projects, the two sides will further discuss on implementation. Practical cooperation is a major part of relations. China will always do its best to support Zimbabwe. The win-win principle is what guides cooperation between China and Zimbabwe.

“We are going to further discuss on the new projects and conduct more research on the sustainability and feasibility of the projects.

“Also, we need to arrange how we are going to finance the loans. It’s a process and we have to handle it in a very responsible, but active way. I am confident that the two will come up with firm strategies for these new projects.”

Ambassador Guo said in addition to the new ventures, the two countries had also knuckled down on challenges affecting existing projects such as the Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 7 and 8 construction and refurbishment of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, among other deals.

He said China made a commitment to continue funding the projects and ensure completion according to set timeframes.

“The major projects that are being implemented are advancing well and China promised to complete the projects on time and with high quality. Even if we have some challenges we agreed that we should be able to work together,” said Ambassador Guo.

He said China had a “special interest” with Zimbabwe, while adding that the visit was “successful”.

“The two sides exchanged views on the interests we are concerned with. The purpose is to push forward the political relations and practical cooperation and increase people-to- people exchanges,” he said.

“I can say the visit was very successful. China and Zimbabwe enjoy a time-honoured friendship. In 2020 we will work together to achieve more in our cooperation and achieve more outcomes for our two countries and our peoples.”

“We are very pleased that Zimbabwe is one of the first stops of the visit,” said Ambassador Gou after Minister Wang also toured four other African countries in line with China’s tradition of making Africa its first diplomatic destination of the year.

Speaking after talks with Dr Moyo last week, Minister Wang said Zimbabwe had become an important partner for China under the BRI.

He said this year’s 40th anniversary celebrations, for the establishment of diplomatic relations, engenders the two countries to heighten all forms of cooperation.

“Over the past 40 years, the two countries have always understood each other, respected each other, supported each other and trusted each other, becoming an example of China-Africa cooperation and South-South cooperation,” he said during the visit.

“China is pleased to see that China and Zimbabwe relations have been upgraded to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and Zimbabwe has become an important partner of co-building the “Belt and Road Initiative”.

China promoting Africa industrialisation

In his remarks at the end of the visit, Minister Wang said China was sincere in its partnership with Africa.

“In terms of infrastructure, China has built more than 6 000 kilometres of railways and roads respectively in Africa, as well as nearly 20 ports and more than 80 large power plants,” he said.

Minister Wang said trade between China and Africa stood at over US$200 billion in 2019, while noting that the Sino-Africa partnership has also motivated other parts of the world to shore up their investments on the continent.

Source: State Media

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe has finally been dragged into accepting the highly criticised Chinese funding model of poor countries known as the Belt And Road Initiative.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an enormous international investment project was touted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, in late 2013 to establish Chinese soft power around the world.

Beijing has poured nearly $700 billion worth of Chinese money into more than sixty countries much of it in the form of large-scale infrastructure projects and loans to governments that would otherwise struggle to pay for them.

The idea is to draw these countries closer to Beijing while boosting Chinese soft power abroad.

Today, however, China faces a backlash to BRI at home and abroad.

Many Chinese complain of the initiative’s wasteful spending. Internationally, some of the backlash is geopolitical, as countries grow wary of Beijing’s growing influence. But much of it is simply political.

Unlike Western lenders, China does not require its partners to meet stringent conditions related to corruption, human rights, or financial sustainability. This no-strings approach to investment has fueled corruption while allowing governments to burden their countries with unpayable debts. And citizens of many BRI countries have reacted with anger toward China—an anger that is now making itself felt in elections.

Far from expanding Chinese soft power, the BRI appears to be achieving the opposite.

“The overall purpose of the Belt and Road initiative is to generate legitimacy for the Chinese leadership and the Chinese Communist Party more broadly,” said Thomas Eder, a research associate at the Mercator Institute for Chinese Studies.

“Such prestige is bolstered by every government signing a BRI memorandum of understanding and every head of government attending a grand BRI summit in Beijing. These countries allow Xi Jinping to then tell Chinese citizens that the entire world is endorsing his policies and that he is the one to have put China firmly back at the centre of the global stage,” Eder said.

Zimbabwe in a desperate move to make President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government look active has handed over several key national projects to China under the initiative.

Funding for all the projects will be provided under the this very controversial Chinese foreign policy programme, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as the Forum for China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The projects are the long-waited construction of Kunzvi Dam, Harare-Chirundu highway, refurbishment of Sable Chemicals fertiliser plant, rehabilitation of Harare’s water system, a power transmission arrangement and export of citrus to China

China is expected to provide concessionary loans for Kunzvi Dam, the Harare-Chirundu Highway and the Sable Chemicals fertiliser plant.

On the citrus exports, the Asian giant will facilitate the access of markets and removal of impediments to trade while financial facilities will be provided for Harare’s Morton Jaffray.

Under the power transmission deal, an arrangement has been made to ensure adequate supply of electricity to the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden to guarantee smooth development of the new city.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, China’s chief envoy to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Guo Shaochun, said following high-level talks that Minister Wang held with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Acting President General Constantino Chiwenga and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo, Harare and Beijing agreed to set up teams from both countries to immediately start working on the projects.

GWERU Officer-in-Charge Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Detective Inspector Leonard Gwandu who was recently arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office after he reportedly released a vehicle suspected to have been stolen from South Africa without following due process has been suspended indefinitely.

Insp Gwandu, who first appeared before Gweru magistrate Tavengwa Sangster facing criminal abuse of duty charges as a public officer will be back in court tomorrow. He is on $1000 bail.

The State alleged that Gwandu released a Toyota Hilux Raider to businessman Mr Shepherd Tundiya without following due process.

The court heard that Mr Tundiya was arrested in October after having been suspected of driving a stolen vehicle which did not have registration numbers.

The vehicle was taken to CID Gweru where the accused is the Officer-in-Charge. It is alleged that the accused and other junior police officers checked the vehicle in the Interpol database which is installed in his office.

The database showed that the vehicle might have been stolen from Mr Thomas Blom in South Africa.

Mr Tundiya was subsequently charged with theft of motor vehicle. However, Mr Tundiya was acquitted on 13 December but was not given an order as to the disposal of the vehicle.

It was heard that the police had not initially handed over the vehicle documents and information to the Clerk of Court to enable the court to issue the order of disposition.

On 14 December, the court heard, the accused person released the vehicle which the South African Police Service were coming to identify.

Mr Tundiya has told the court that he bought the vehicle from a car dealer Mr Patrick Mutodi in Harare. He said he was also a victim in the event that the car was stolen.

-State media

A week after a gun totting gang besieged five homesteads in Fort Rixon area in Insiza District, Matabeleland South and got away with money and cellphones, a 10-man gang, also brandishing an AK-47 rifle and more than two pistols reportedly invaded the home of a businessman in Esigodini and stole $80 000, US$3 500, R15 000 and airtime worth $10 000.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident which occurred in Emawabeni on Friday at around 11pm and said investigations were underway. 

He said the businessman received a call from his wife alerting him that there were suspicious people armed with guns close to the home. The businessman then drove out of his home to check and that is when the robbers took the opportunity to invade his home.

“I can confirm that we recorded an armed robbery case which occurred in Esigodini where a gang of 10 men armed with an AK-47 rifle and pistols robbed a man and his wife and got away with US$3 500, $80 000, R15 000 and airtime worth $10 000. 

“The man got a call from his wife who was on her way home from Musina (South Africa) telling him that there was a suspicious group of men standing near their home. She informed him that the gang was armed with guns. He left his home in a car to check but failed to locate anyone,” he said.

Asst Comm Nyathi said when the man got back into the house, he was intercepted at the gate by three of the gang members who were armed with an AK-47 rifle and two pistols while seven others who were also armed with an unknown number of pistols were inside the house holding his wife hostage. 

He said the three robbers ordered the man to come out of the car but he refused. Asst Comm Nyathi said the gang fired shots towards the man who fled from the scene in his car. The gang remained behind and assaulted his wife demanding cash.

She gave them money and airtime before they fled the scene. 

He appealed to members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the police.

“Investigations are underway and we appeal to members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the police. We also encourage people to take the issue of security seriously especially if they have businesses or handle large sums of money. People should keep at home the money they want to use for a particular transaction to avoid such losses,” he said.

Last week, in movie style, a gun totting gang kidnapped a woman who was relieving herself in the bush before force-marching her to homesteads in Fort Rixon where they stole money amounting to $2 000, US$300, P10 and four cellphones.

The gang held hostage five families before robbing them of their money.

-State Media

By Jane Mlambo| Just a day after announcing his resignation from Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T, Obert Gutu has hinted at beginning a new journey with a new focus raising suspicion that he could be following in the footsteps of Linda Masarira who after pulling out of the former deputy prime minister’s movement went on to form her own party.

Posting on Twitter this morning, Gutu could only say;

A new journey begins!
New focus!
Rebranded strategy!
Repackaged vision!

It remains to be seen what Gutu’s next move will be following this revelation.

Yesterday, Gutu shocked the nation when he announced that he was resigning from MDC-T without stating reasons which he said were purely personal and private.

A drunk Masvingo man who was sleeping by the roadside died on the spot when he allegedly woke up and staggered onto an oncoming haulage truck near Renco Mine turn-off at Chisase Business Centre, police confirmed.

Christopher Magiga (36) of Chief Nyajena area who sources said was drunk and staggering allegedly ran into an oncoming Freight liner truck. He was hit and died on the spot.  Masvingo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said the incident occurred at the 21km peg along Ngundu-Tanganda Road in Chivi on Tuesday last week at about 10am.

She said the body of the deceased was taken to Neshuro District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

“There is a man suspected to be drunk who allegedly ran into the road and was hit by a haulage truck leading to his death on the spot,” said Chief Insp Mazula.

She said on the day in question Magiga who had been allegedly drinking beer since morning at Chisase Business Centre went across the road and in a drunken stupor, allegedly slept one metre away from the road. She said Magiga woke up after some time and  sped off into the road and was hit by the haulage truck. Other patrons, she said, rushed to the scene intending to take him to the hospital but they found him already dead.

Chief Insp Mazula advised people to drink beer with a bit of restraint as alcohol can impair one’s judgment if taken excessively. 

Meanwhile, she has advised people of Masvingo to report anyone found with weapons attacking residents amid high cases of machete attacks in the country. 

-State Media

By Jane Mlambo| Former Masvingo provincial minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has warned that displacing a dictatorial regime is not an easy process in a state where youths are docile while citizens are poor.

Posting on Twitter, Bhasikiti said genuine political reforms and demilitarisation of the military is the only solution to the doing away with dictatorial regimes.

He added that the history of dictatorial regimes is that they are replaced by worse leaders citing the case of Zimbabwe where the late former President was replaced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa while in Uganda, Yoweri Museveni is not any better from his predecessor.

“The history of succeeding a dictator,is you become worse than him.Museveni now n Uganda.Smith to Mugabe to ED ,same story.This problem is exacerbated by a docile youth&poor citizens.Genuine political reforms&demilitarisation of the military solves this problem.”

FOURTEEN people died on the spot when a General Bande bus collided, head-on, with a haulage truck near Shamu village along Harare-Mutare highway yesterday afternoon.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi last night confirmed the accident.

“Fourteen people died on the spot while 40 others sustained various injuries after an accident at the 218km peg along Harare-Mutare road. ” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said preliminary investigations indicate that the bus driver was speeding and the accident occurred as he was overtaking another vehicle. – State media

THE Chikafa family from Mabharani Village, Gokwe South, wants the court to pardon its relative, Alastar Chikafa (26), for allegedly killing his father and brother late last year.

This is against the wishes of members of the community that are calling for a stiffer prison sentence for the offender. The Chikafas are visibly hurt and disturbed by the incident, but blame it on evil spirits.

They have since forgiven the young man and are planning to conduct rituals supposedly to set free Alastar from the vice.
“It was the work of the devil, he could never do such a thing in his normal senses,” the family unanimously say.

Talk of family love through thick and thin!

The grisly homicide case that is said to have been committed by the 26-year-old can easily match any of Hollywood’s Stephen King’s movie scripts.

It transpired after his long-time girlfriend, Loveness Mafa, decided to give him a “boost” into marriage by eloping in May last year. Initially, the plan seemed to work well as Alastar swiftly responded by going far and wide to raise the money for lobola.

However, several months into the mission, the young lad is said to have failed to achieve his goals.

He then returned with a transformed character that many could not understand.

On December 9, 2019, Chikafa developed unexplained rage that later resulted in him axing his father Mathias (65) on the back of his head several times.

His brother, Alfred (28), was also axed on the neck, as well as two cows. For days before the crime, he is said to have frequently talked about being bewitched by family members. He threatened to commit murder.-State media

Farai Dziva|It is now crystal clear that the police force is a now acting as a Zanu PF tool of repression, the MDC Youth Assembly has said.

See statement below :
The MDC Youth Assembly condemns in strongest terms ZRP’s unprofessional conduct and misbehavior as exhibited by the recent new low where men in uniform besieged our headquarters, attacked employees and confiscated our computers.

For the umpteenth time ZRP has dared us to act and react through their warlike tendencies.

It is now clear that our police force is now an extension of ZANU PF and at worst act like one of ZANU PF sponsored vigilante groups whose sole purpose is to unleash terror on opposition.

As an Assembly, we have always remained loyal to principles of non violence but if the police choose to wear terrorist masks, surely we are left with no option but to treat them as such.

For long, we have tolerated ZRP’s terrorist tendencies where they even went to the extent of gruesomely murdering a vendor, Hilton Tamangani.

This is the same police force that mercilessly beat up our supporters in front of our offices when President Nelson Chamisa was about to give Hope of the Nation Address (HONA) late last year.

As if that is not enough, the same police force acting on unfounded allegations by one Linda Masarira that MDC harbour machetes gangs, today besieged our headquarters at the instigation of ZANU PF.

We all know that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the father of machete gangs known as Mashurugwi and any sideshows like today’s attack on our offices will not erase that.

As MDC Youth Assembly, we would like to warn ZRP that today’s attack on our party offices basing on Masarira’s frivolous allegations is a clear declaration of war.

We have had enough of this ZRP nonsense and the people are angry and hungry due to failures of this police state.

Clearly ZRP has failed to execute its professional mandate and have become a huge threat to peace and stability and therefore it must be reconstituted.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Farai Dziva|It is now crystal clear that the police force is a now acting as a Zanu PF tool of repression, the MDC Youth Assembly has said.

See statement below :
The MDC Youth Assembly condemns in strongest terms ZRP’s unprofessional conduct and misbehavior as exhibited by the recent new low where men in uniform besieged our headquarters, attacked employees and confiscated our computers.

For the umpteenth time ZRP has dared us to act and react through their warlike tendencies.

It is now clear that our police force is now an extension of ZANU PF and at worst act like one of ZANU PF sponsored vigilante groups whose sole purpose is to unleash terror on opposition.

As an Assembly, we have always remained loyal to principles of non violence but if the police choose to wear terrorist masks, surely we are left with no option but to treat them as such.

For long, we have tolerated ZRP’s terrorist tendencies where they even went to the extent of gruesomely murdering a vendor, Hilton Tamangani.

This is the same police force that mercilessly beat up our supporters in front of our offices when President Nelson Chamisa was about to give Hope of the Nation Address (HONA) late last year.

As if that is not enough, the same police force acting on unfounded allegations by one Linda Masarira that MDC harbour machetes gangs, today besieged our headquarters at the instigation of ZANU PF.

We all know that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the father of machete gangs known as Mashurugwi and any sideshows like today’s attack on our offices will not erase that.

As MDC Youth Assembly, we would like to warn ZRP that today’s attack on our party offices basing on Masarira’s frivolous allegations is a clear declaration of war.

We have had enough of this ZRP nonsense and the people are angry and hungry due to failures of this police state.

Clearly ZRP has failed to execute its professional mandate and have become a huge threat to peace and stability and therefore it must be reconstituted.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

THE number of illegal miners arrested countrywide in a police operation to restore law and order in mining communities has risen to 1 536, with 191 of them having been jailed for various offences including prospecting for gold without a licence, trespassing and possessing dagga.

Among the arrested miners was Phelandaba Tshuma (32), the man suspected to be the ringleader of a machete gang that hacked to death a policeman at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields recently.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said a total of 257 suspects appeared at Shamva Circuit Court on Wednesday.

The court jailed 77 of them two years each after they pleaded guilty to illegal mining.

The court slapped the other 112 with 50-day prison terms each for criminal trespassing while one was fined $80, failing which he will spend 30 days in prison for possessing dagga.

Another one was jailed five months with an option to pay a $500 fine for possessing dagga.
The court remanded 66 others in custody pending trial.
Some of the suspects are likely to appear in court today.

Tshuma, suspected to be the ringleader of a machete gang called Ziga, was arrested at his hideout in Rushinga, after he attempted to flee from the police and he was shot in the right leg.

Eight suspects who belong to a Kwekwe-based group called the Maketo Brothers were also arrested and police recovered several machetes, home-made knives and a sack with a sword, bow and three arrows.
Asst Comm Nyathi confirmed the arrests.

“With reference to the murder of a police officer (Constable Wonder Hokoyo) in Battlefields, Kadoma, on 28 December 2019, police have arrested Pelandaba Tshuma at his hideout in Rushinga, Mt Darwin. The accused was on the police wanted list for several cases of attempted murder and assault involving the use of machetes,” he said.

When police raided his hideout, Tshuma attempted to flee, resulting in police firing warning shots but he did not take heed. He was then shot on the right leg leading to his arrest.

Tshuma, who is currently admitted at Kadoma General Hospital under police guard, is facing charges of murdering Cst Hokoyo and attempting to murder Detective Sergeant Munyoro and Detective Assistant Inspector Chikandiwa.State media

The British government on Friday issued a travel warning to Zimbabwe citing possible political upheavals and regional flight services disruptions.

A statement released by the British foreign office, said South African Airways is undergoing a business rescue process which may lead to changes in their timetable and urged travellers to check with their airline or tour operator before travelling.

Police on Friday afternoon served MDC officials at the party headquarters, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House (formerly Harvest House) with a search warrant to look-up for machetes and other subversive material in the building.

According to the warrant, the MDC is stocking machetes in preparation of committing public violence.

The order granted Friday at the Harare magistrates’ courts gives the police permission to search for machetes and subversive material inside Harvest House.

The statement posted on the the British government website warned travellers saying: “you should avoid any political gatherings or demonstrations. These can be unpredictable, can turn violent without notice and the response from the security forces may be disproportionate. You should exercise a high degree of caution and monitor local media and this travel advice for updates.”

Taking photographs of members of police and armed forces personnel and of demonstrations and protests is not permitted. You should avoid political activity, or activities which could be considered political, including political discussions in public places. Ensure you carry identification, so that you can produce it if required to do so by the security forces.

Zimbabwe’s economic situation remains unpredictable. As of 24 June 2019, the only legal tender in Zimbabwe is the “Zimbabwe Dollar”. There is a shortage of physical cash and it’s currently not possible to make cash withdrawals using an international bank card. You should check with your tour operator or hotel what payment methods will be accepted.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing severe electricity shortages resulting in extended periods without power. During blackouts, you should exercise a high degree of caution when driving as traffic lights may not be operational. Water rationing is being experienced in certain parts of the country. Contact your tour operator or hotel for latest updates.

Availability of fuel is sporadic and queues are common. You are advised to check in advance if you can make payment with an international payment card.

Tropical Cyclone Idai caused significant flooding and mud slides across many parts of eastern Zimbabwe in March 2019. Whilst the access situation has improved, many roads and bridges in the affected areas are still impassable. Electricity, water, and telecommunications networks have been impacted. If travelling to affected regions, take extra care and follow any advice given by the local authorities. Contact your hotel prior to travel to check that the hotel is still accessible and open.

On 6 September 2018, a cholera outbreak was declared in Harare by the Ministry of Health of Zimbabwe.

There’s a moderate level of crime in Zimbabwe. Remain vigilant, especially after dark, and make sure accommodation and vehicles are secure.

Always carry identity documentation or a copy of your passport.

Holiday and business visas are available at the port of entry. Don’t violate the conditions of your visa.

Dual British-Zimbabwean nationals who travel to Zimbabwe must have a valid travel document to re-enter the United Kingdom. It’s not possible to re-enter the UK using a Zimbabwean passport or emergency travel document without a visa or entry clearance endorsed.

Air Zimbabwe has been refused permission to operate flights to the EU because the airline has been unable to demonstrate that it complies with international air safety standards. British government employees travelling to and within Zimbabwe have been advised to use carriers that aren’t subject to the EU operating ban.

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Zimbabwe, attacks can’t be ruled out.

If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.

-TheMail

VIDEO LOADING BELOW..

Farai Dziva|MDC-T Vice President Obert Chaurura Gutu has abruptly announced his resignation from
Thokozani Khupe‘s MDC-T party.

Speculation is rife on Gutu’s political future with some observers suggesting that he will rejoin the Nelson Chamisa led MDC.However some analysts believe he will join Zanu PF.

Gutu tweeted:
“For purely personal & private reasons, I’m resigning from the MDC-T with immediate effect.”

By A Correspondent- Hwange district has been hit by flash floods following heavy rains received in the area since Friday night.

The rains and accompanying flash floods destroyed property, with the Civil Protection Department (CPD) deploying a team to assess the damage and to conduct rescue operations.

While damage to property has been widespread and houses have been inundated with water, no injuries or deaths have been recorded so far.

The Meteorological Services Department on Friday issued a warning of heavy rains and urged people to be cautious as there will be flash floods, damaging winds and lightning in some parts of the country.

The heavy rains are expected to prevail during the weekend and expected to have faded by Tuesday.

-Statemedia

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 an 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 hospitals understaffed. All this has happened in a space of fewer 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 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 shortly with no trained or experienced medical personnel.

We acknowledge the effort of HLF in stepping forward to assist in the national health crisis. In 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.

ZHDA INFORMATION DESK

By A Correspondent- The government has defended the dethronement of former  Ntabazinduna  Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni saying the move was lawful.

Ndiweni, through his lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, last December challenged his removal from the chieftainship by President Emmerson Mnangagwa arguing that proper procedures were not followed.

However, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Zvinechimwe Ruvinga Churu filed a notice of opposition challenging Ndiweni’s application.

In his opposing affidavit, Churu said:

The applicant (Mr Ndiweni) was lawfully removed from the office as Chief Ndiweni. Section 68 of the constitution was properly followed, the applicant was given an opportunity to be heard and to make representations during the investigations.

Ndiweni ceased to Ntabazinduna chief on November 30 last year and was subsequently stripped of all Government benefits accruing to him.

His removal followed recommendations by Cabinet and the Matabeleland North Provincial Assembly of Chiefs that he was not the rightful heir to the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni since his eldest son, Joram has challenged Nhlanhla’s ascendency to the throne.

-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- There was drama at Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi Police Station on Thursday after junior cops refused to be deployed wearing anti-riot gear when there was no threat on violence.

The Government has been on high alert for demonstrations across the country after reportedly gathering Intel of a nationwide teachers’ strike.

According to sources, demanded to see the officer in charge to register their grievances in a stand off resulted in the district police boss also visiting the station.

“The junior cops refused to be deployed citing several problems which they finally revealed to their Office in Charge after they demanded his presence,” said a police source.

“The junior police officers complained that they were being deployed for twelve hours wearing anti-riot kits, helmets and botons without being informed about any operation.”

A junior police officer who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said they are were deployed on static guards points like Fusini, Happy valley, Machiphisini, Noic and VID without any food delivered to them.

He said they spent twelve hours on empty stomachs .

“It was around 0700hrs when junior police officers refused to be deployed as they demanded that their bosses come to the station so that they can express their grievances to them.

“After they refused to be deployed citing their grievances which includes poor working conditions and low salary which is incapacitate for food, rent and transport. Their immediate supervisors informed their bosses about the chaos which caused the Office in Charge to immediately attend the parade in civilian attire,”said the police source.

“The Officer in Charge reminded them saying it was their mandate to maintain law and order so that society lives peacefully . Furthermore, he threatened those who were refusing to be deployed that they might face wrath of the law under the Police Act but Junior officers ignored the order.

“The Officer in Charge of the station immediately summoned Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District who then rushed to the station and called off the operation.”

By A Correspondent| There is a long standing warrant of arrest for ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa in a development bound to see him and emerging military figures outstaging each other using state tools of prosecution.

Senior government officials and multiple sources have alleged Mnangagwa has lost real control of the country to the military, and if things go according to plan, “the only person now in power is Maj Gen John Chris Mupande, whose allegiance is to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.”

The military is disintegrating in a way which might turn out calamitous, reflected in how Mnangagwa ended up “violating” his own annual leave (December 2019 to January 2020).

But how does such a person (Gen Mupande) who is junior to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, Valerio Sibanda become more powerful? The coup to remove former President Robert Mugabe was done by the Zipra wing of the military, the January 2019 operation to save Mnangagwa was also done by Zipra, as narrated by Mnangagwa’s inlaw Terence Mukupe in a year old in door meeting video clip.

The Zipra element of the military comes from Mberengwa, Shurugwi and Matebeleland (Gen Sibusiso Moyo, Isaac Moyo (CIO Director General), this is the element that wanted Mugabe removed or even killed.

They are the ones who run the Korokozas (artisenal miners), the Mashurugwi militia who form a civilian army. Two soldiers caught so far raiding mines in the Concession area, were from Shurugwi. It was an operation run by the Defence Intelligence.

Mnangagwa had a warrant of arrest over the murder of his girlfriend in a flat. That docket is still there. The whole November military coup was a way to sway away the criminal charges. Sources told ZimEye, Mnangagwa knew he was going to be arrested for the murder of the girlfriend (a church member of Tudor Bismark’s organisation) killed in a flat in Harare who was a discovered a week later. She was found mutilated at her private parts. The pictures are gruesome.

The warrant of arrest was signed at the Harare magistrates court and President Mugabe was in possession the docket. This is the major reason why former police commissioner, Augustine Chihuri had to be removed because of the database of criminal charges he possessed.

PLAN B.

The latest development has seen Mnangagwa announcing a plan B using a plan to stay affloat using the Korokoza wing. Mnangagwa announced this plan on the 14th December at ZANU PF’s annual conference in Goromonzi.

ANOTHER ROUND OF LIVE AMMUNITION AGAINST CIVILIANS.

Speaking at his party’s Goromonzi conference on the 14th December, 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 repeated 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

By A Correspondent- Revered leader of Divine Kingdom Baptist Ministries, Pastor Ian Ndlovu says God showed him a vision about a consignment of goods that may lead to a lot of controversy in the near future in Zimbabwe.

He said:

“I see by the spirit of God that there is a consignment of goods that may lead to a lot of controversy in the near future in Zimbabwe, let us watch and pray.

“It’s a consignment of goods, certain goods, which may cause a lot of controversy in the near future.

“Let us pray for the authorities to be able to discover this consignment because it will be in the public interest for this consignment to be discovered. This is what the Holy Spirit told me.”

Meanwhile, another prominent man of God prophet T Sawana said a terrorist-like organisation will be established in the country soon. He also said that he saw a container full of guns and ammunition for the maShurugwi gangs coming into Zimbabwe through BeitBridge.

By A Correspondent| There is a long standing warrant of arrest for ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa in a development bound to see him and emerging military figures outstaging each other using state tools of prosecution.

Senior government officials and multiple sources have alleged Mnangagwa has lost real control of the country to the military, and if things go according to plan, “the only person now in power is Maj Gen John Chris Mupande, whose allegiance is to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.”

The military is disintegrating in a way which might turn out calamitous, reflected in how Mnangagwa ended up “violating” his own annual leave (December 2019 to January 2020).

But how does such a person (Gen Mupande) who is junior to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, Valerio Sibanda become more powerful? The coup to remove former President Robert Mugabe was done by the Zipra wing of the military, the January 2019 operation to save Mnangagwa was also done by Zipra, as narrated by Mnangagwa’s inlaw Terence Mukupe in a year old in door meeting video clip.

The Zipra element of the military comes from Mberengwa, Shurugwi and Matebeleland (Gen Sibusiso Moyo, Isaac Moyo (CIO Director General), this is the element that wanted Mugabe removed or even killed.

They are the ones who run the Korokozas (artisenal miners), the Mashurugwi militia who form a civilian army. Two soldiers caught so far raiding mines in the Concession area, were from Shurugwi. It was an operation run by the Defence Intelligence.

Mnangagwa had a warrant of arrest over the murder of his girlfriend in a flat. That docket is still there. The whole November military coup was a way to sway away the criminal charges. Sources told ZimEye, Mnangagwa knew he was going to be arrested for the murder of the girlfriend (a church member of Tudor Bismark’s organisation) killed in a flat in Harare who was a discovered a week later. She was found mutilated at her private parts. The pictures are gruesome.

The warrant of arrest was signed at the Harare magistrates court and President Mugabe was in possession the docket. This is the major reason why former police commissioner, Augustine Chihuri had to be removed because of the database of criminal charges he possessed.

PLAN B.

The latest development has seen Mnangagwa announcing a plan B using a method to stay afloat using the Korokoza wing. Mnangagwa announced this plan on the 14th December at ZANU PF’s annual conference in Goromonzi.

ANOTHER ROUND OF LIVE AMMUNITION AGAINST CIVILIANS.

Speaking at his party’s Goromonzi conference on the 14th December, 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 repeated 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

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Farai Dziva|MDC-T Vice President Obert Chaurura Gutu has abruptly announced his resignation from
Thokozani Khupe‘s MDC-T party.

Speculation is rife on Gutu’s political future with some observers suggesting that he will rejoin the Nelson Chamisa led MDC.However some analysts believe he will join Zanu PF.

Gutu tweeted:
“For purely personal & private reasons, I’m resigning from the MDC-T with immediate effect.”

The government has defended the dethronement of former  Ntabazinduna  Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni saying the move was lawful.

Ndiweni, through his lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, last December challenged his removal from the chieftainship by President Emmerson Mnangagwa arguing that proper procedures were not followed.

However, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Zvinechimwe Ruvinga Churu filed a notice of opposition challenging Ndiweni’s application.

In his opposing affidavit, Churu said:

The applicant (Mr Ndiweni) was lawfully removed from the office as Chief Ndiweni. Section 68 of the constitution was properly followed, the applicant was given an opportunity to be heard and to make representations during the investigations.

Ndiweni ceased to Ntabazinduna chief on November 30 last year and was subsequently stripped of all Government benefits accruing to him.

His removal followed recommendations by Cabinet and the Matabeleland North Provincial Assembly of Chiefs that he was not the rightful heir to the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni since his eldest son, Joram has challenged Nhlanhla’s ascendency to the throne.

-Statemedia

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

USD = ZWL$17.1295
ZWL$ = RAND0.8404

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$23.9 zimrates
USD = ZWL$23.6 zwl365
USD = ZWL$23.5 bluemari
USD = BOND17.4 zimrates

– Marketwatch

Jane Mlambo| Gokwe- Nembudziya legislator, Justice Mayor Wadyajena has accused his nemesis and Norton parliamentarian Temba Mliswa of stealing cattle.

Wadyajena posted a video of his BMW X6M which he says he bought 10 years ago while Mliswa used to survive on stealing cattle.

“Morning Hon @TembaMliswa, hear the purr and feel the explosion! Got this first generation X6M over ten years ago in my mid 20s & I’ll never give up this beauty. Those are the days you were stealing cattle while some of us were working. You were a hater then & you’re a hater now!,” posted Wadyajena.

The eccentric legislator is in the business of flaunting his riches on social media and previously posted a Lamborghini that he acquired last year.

THE World Food Programme (WFP) could be left with no choice but to limit its food assistance to fewer Zimbabweans facing unprecedented hunger if no urgent measures are put in place to assist nearly 8 million people.

This was said by the world’s largest humanitarian aid agency’s Regional Director for Southern Africa Lola Castro in the wake of the catastrophe.

The crisis has been caused by repeated drought, widespread flooding and budget constraints among affected countries.

To that end, WFP is set to avail much-needed assistance to 8.3 million food insecure people in eight hardest-hit countries; Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi.

Said WFP: “To date, WFP has secured just US$205 million of the US$489 million required for this assistance and has been forced to resort heavily to internal borrowing to ensure food reaches those in need.

“Zimbabwe is in the throes of its worst hunger emergency in a decade, with 7.7 million people – half the population – seriously food insecure.”

The case is the same with the country’s northern neighbour Zambia which has now resorted to strict cereal exports and accepting outside assistance.

At least 20 percent of the population of drought-stricken Lesotho are also now severely hungry, as are 10 percent of Namibians.

WFP noted that the hunger crisis affecting the countries was impacting negatively by surging food prices, large-scale livestock losses and mounting joblessness.

The countries are already grappling with high rates of malnutrition, population growth, inequality, and HIV/AIDS.

Families across the region are eating less, skipping meals, taking children out of school, selling off precious assets and falling into debt.

“This hunger crisis is on a scale we’ve not seen before and the evidence shows it’s going to get worse,” said Castro.

“The annual cyclone season has begun, and we simply cannot afford a repeat of the devastation caused by last year’s unprecedented storms.”

He added, “If we don’t receive the necessary funding, we’ll have no choice but to assist fewer of those most in need, and with less.

“Nor will we be able to adequately expand longer-term activities vital to meaningfully combating the existential emergency that is climate change.”

Addressing the media this past week, Vice President Kembo Mohadi said government will not allow any citizen to die of hunger.

“It is not the first time that we are having a drought in Zimbabwe and we have always said in government that nobody will die of hunger and still no one is going to die of hunger in Zimbabwe.

“We are going to marshal all the resources that we have towards the provision of food for our people and if need be, then we will call other people like the World Food Programme to assist us but definitely we are on top of the situation,” said Mohadi.

Incidentally, the VP is also a victim of the current crisis, having lost 271 cattle at his Beitbridge farm in the current crisis.

-Online

FORMER Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko’s daughter, Siduduzile, has rapped the government for allegedly disrespecting and failing to honour her father despite his contribution to Zimbabwe before and after independence.

Siduduzile’s remarks came after Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, recently disputed Mphoko’s claim of more than US$300 000 in benefits and monthly pension pay-outs.

She said Mphoko, as a former Zipra commander, former ambassador and ex-VP deserved better treatment from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

“I just read an article by Misheck Sibanda about my father’s pension and besides the fact that they want to deny him what is rightfully his, in the article, he addresses my dad as Mr Mphoko,” Siduduzile wrote on her Facebook page.

“I have been asking myself why the disrespect, then I realised that addressing him as former VP Mphoko opens a can of worms because the title is stamped within the Constitution, making him entitled to his benefits. So, let’s act like he wasn’t a VP and let’s not address him as one so that we can take what is rightfully his.”

She added: “How can someone who has dedicated more than half his life to serving his country be told he is not worthy. He was appointed by a legitimate Head of State, the late (former President) Robert Mugabe (unless you don’t recognise him either) and it is also documented on every official assignment he participated in locally and internationally that he was representing his country as the VP.

“Whether you like it or not, he is former VP Mphoko. Stop disrespecting and sideling our leaders based on tribe.
His contribution to his country is as valuable as any other Zimbabwean’s. Show that you have some respect for a former leader.”

The Public Service Commission is insisting Mphoko will only be paid his pension in local currency and should not expect any other benefits.

The former VP has approached the High Court for an order to declare the withholding of his pension by government as illegal and unconstitutional.

Sibanda said it was illegal for Mphoko to claim his money in United States dollars.

Mphoko joined the civil service in October 1981 before his appointment as VP in December 2014, a position he held until he was removed from office when Mugabe was ousted in a coup in November 2017.

-Newsday

THE nasty divorce case in which Marry Mubaiwa is seeking an order compelling her husband Acting President Constantino Chiwenga to allow her access to their three children and matrimonial home in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb, has been deferred to next week Tuesday.

In deferring the matter, Justice Christopher Dube-Banda said he hopes the couple will reach an out of court settlement.

Both parties’ lawyers Taona Nyamakura acting for Mubaiwa and Advocate Lewis Uriri representing Acting President Chiwenga agreed to the postponement of the matter.

Black magic, drug addiction, attempted murder and a wrestling match over luxury cars and overseas properties… Zimbabwe is riveted by the explosive charges being made in the divorce of First Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his wife Marry.

A glimpse of the luxurious lives of Zimbabwe’s ruling elite, as the rest of the country grapples with economic collapse, hyperinflation and hunger, is emerging in the divorce papers filed in court.

Chiwenga, who as Commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces led a coup against former president Robert Mugabe in 2017, is seeking to divorce his wife, a former model, and gain custody of their three children.

His wife is also facing charges of trying to kill him when he was in a South African hospital last year.

“Marrying her was the worst mistake I made,” said Chiwenga in court papers lodged this week. He accused her of using “cunning behavior” to “secure a place in my life” and claimed she used “black magic” and was an abusive and violent “addict” who could not be trusted to take care of their children.

“I took them on holiday abroad and initially they had signs of trauma as they explained the black magic rituals they were subjected to … The various tools of trade by the witchdoctors, which were unexpectedly left behind by the applicant (Marry) after a her arrest, told a horror story,” said Chiwenga.

Chiwenga spent four months in China for medical treatment last year and claimed his wife tried to kill him while he was on a hospital bed in South Africa before he was airlifted to the Asian country.

He is also refusing to give her the Mercedes Benz and Lexus vehicles she is demanding, claiming they belong to the government, while one was given to him by a local businessman who has lucrative government contracts.

In her papers, Marry accused Chiwenga of suffering from “acute paranoia brought about by his poor health” and “his being under heavy doses of drugs, including un-prescribed opiates.”

She is demanding close to $50,000 a month for living expenses and to take care of the children, while claiming the vice president had registered his properties locally and abroad in the names of his relatives to circumvent United States sanctions.

Marry is on bail after being charged with attempted murder, fraud and money laundering last year. She said Chiwenga has used soldiers to deny her access to their luxury matrimonial home where she was ordered by the court to reside as part of her bail conditions.

-Online

By A Correspondent- There was drama at Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi Police Station on Thursday after junior cops refused to be deployed wearing anti-riot gear when there was no threat on violence.

The Government has been on high alert for demonstrations across the country after reportedly gathering Intel of a nationwide teachers’ strike.

According to sources, demanded to see the officer in charge to register their grievances in a stand off resulted in the district police boss also visiting the station.

“The junior cops refused to be deployed citing several problems which they finally revealed to their Office in Charge after they demanded his presence,” said a police source.

“The junior police officers complained that they were being deployed for twelve hours wearing anti-riot kits, helmets and botons without being informed about any operation.”

A junior police officer who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said they are were deployed on static guards points like Fusini, Happy valley, Machiphisini, Noic and VID without any food delivered to them.

He said they spent twelve hours on empty stomachs .

“It was around 0700hrs when junior police officers refused to be deployed as they demanded that their bosses come to the station so that they can express their grievances to them.

“After they refused to be deployed citing their grievances which includes poor working conditions and low salary which is incapacitate for food, rent and transport. Their immediate supervisors informed their bosses about the chaos which caused the Office in Charge to immediately attend the parade in civilian attire,”said the police source.

“The Officer in Charge reminded them saying it was their mandate to maintain law and order so that society lives peacefully . Furthermore, he threatened those who were refusing to be deployed that they might face wrath of the law under the Police Act but Junior officers ignored the order.

“The Officer in Charge of the station immediately summoned Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District who then rushed to the station and called off the operation.”

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has blinked first in his divorce battle with estranged wife Marry Mubaiwa, after it was revealed on Friday that he is seeking an out-of-court settlement in a case brought by the former model after she was barred from the matrimonial home in Borrowdale.

Mubaiwa’s lawyer, Advocate Taona Nyamakura, says the parties are yet to reach an agreement, adding that if they fail, the case will be argued next Tuesday.

He spoke to journalists after the urgent chamber hearing of the case was postponed by High Court judge, Justice Dube-Banda.

“The case was set to be heard today but the judge postponed the matter to allow parties to reach a settlement, for the sake of the fighting couple’s children,” the lawyer said.

“The matter has been deferred to next Tuesday for possible argument or confirmation of settlement. We exchanged arguments as legal practitioners for both sides in the matter and I can confirm the tentative agreement is this matter should be settled and not argued.

“It will be in the best interests of the children that parties find each other but the law is followed. If we don’t reach an agreement on Monday, it means we continue with oral submissions on Tuesday.”

Mubaiwa is facing several criminal charges including money laundering and an alleged attempt to kill Chiwenga when he was hospitalised in South Africa.

She spent over two weeks in remand prison following her arrest on December 14.

She, however, could not return to her home after Chiwenga deployed soldiers who barred her from entering the premises. He is also refusing to release their three young children into Mubaiwa’s custody.

Aggrieved by the move, Mubaiwa then rushed to the High Court with an urgent chamber application seeking to be allowed to access her home.

She wants access to personal items and properties within the home including clothes and vehicles following her release from prison.

Chiwenga, who filed for divorce from Mubaiwa late last year, has described his estranged wife as a witch and a drug addict. Marrying her was his worst mistake, he said in court papers.

Mubaiwa answered in kind, accusing the retired army commander of “acute paranoia”, and also suggested he was abusing prescription drugs.

By A Correspondent- Spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front Jealousy Mawarire and former MDC-T Vice President Obert Gutu yesterday engaged in a war of words following the latter’s Twitter post in which he questioned why the country had more churches than industries.

“I have got absolutely nothing against the Church. I was actually born & bred in the then Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), now the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe.(RCZ). My main worry is when a country has got more churches & ‘prophets’ than it has got factories & industries!,” said Gutu.

This forced Mawarire to shoot back saying churches were open during weekends when industries were closed.

Mawarire did not end there but mocked Gutu as a dunderhead lawyer.

“Churches are open on Saturday & Sundays when industries are closed, where is the link Dunderhead Lawyer?,” responded Mawarire.

Gutu hit back labelling Mawarire an excuse of a journalist.

Shut up, you EXCUSE of a “journalist”….???

MAWARIRE: I left journalism more than a decade ago, only dunderhead lawyers with 3rd class degrees are not aware of that.

GUTU: You’re an EXCUSE of a “journalist”…. A hopeless & utterly broke political waif, scrounging for a living. Have a life…!!????

MAWARIRE: Since when have meals been “square? ” That’s the dunderhead frivolities you are exhibiting here. I eat from round plates, mheno kwenyu kuPolad kwamunoisirwa ma”square meal”, eat those alone.

MAWARIRE: Ukaona uchidada nekudya sadza then it explains why you are in Polad, looking for a “square meal” nemhazha yese iyoyo? Some of us are very broke but still parking some Mercedes S-classes in the garage, that’s the definition yokuchona yatakadzidziswa kuchurch iyoyo.

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo couple appeared in court for defrauding the person they had given their Ecocash agent line to, bagging $500000 in the process.

The couple, Fredrick Topia (40) and his wife Nyarai Magaya (32) reportedly registered their company and acquired an agent line for their business. They went on to hire out the line to one Moses Matsveru who transferred $500000 to the agent line.

On the day of the transaction, the couple blocked and replaced the line blocking Matsveru from accessing his money. They went on to change the money into US Dollars and shared the $20 210 with the man who had helped them rent out the line to Matsveru.

They were arrested and remanded out of custody to 31 January after they posted bail.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko‘s daughter said the government is disrespecting her father because they don’t want to give him his benefits.

Siduduzile even went on to say they were disrespecting Mphoko because of his tribe.

Siduduzile wrote this on her Facebook wall, after the government dismissed the former VP’s USD benefits and pension claims.

Siduduzile said:

I just read an article by Misheck Sibanda about my father’s pension and besides the fact that they want to deny him what is rightfully his, in the article, he addresses my dad as Mr Mphoko

I have been asking myself why the disrespect, then I realised that addressing him as former VP Mphoko opens a can of worms because the title is stamped within the Constitution, making him entitled to his benefits. So, let’s act like he wasn’t a VP and let’s not address him as one so that we can take what is rightfully his.

How can someone who has dedicated more than half his life to serving his country be told he is not worthy. He was appointed by a legitimate Head of State, the late (former President) Robert Mugabe (unless you don’t recognise him either) and it is also documented on every official assignment he participated in locally and internationally that he was representing his country as the VP.Whether you like it or not, he is former VP Mphoko. Stop disrespecting and sideling our leaders based on tribe.

His contribution to his country is as valuable as any other Zimbabwean’s. Show that you have some respect for a former leader

However, the public service commission insists that Mphoko’s pension will be paid in local currency.

-Newsday

A 16-year-old girl was fatally crushed by tractor trolleys while she was picking tobacco at Willmode Farm in Mvurwi, raising calls to stop children from working on farms.

The tragedy happened on December 29 last year when Faith Maurukira, who was employed as a general worker, fell from the tractor before being run over.

A witness, who is also the farm manager Mr Zvinashe Guyo, confirmed the death.

“The girl went to the field in the morning with others as usual and her task was to follow behind the tractor trolleys and pick those leaves that would have fallen from the moving tractor en-route to the barns,” he said.

“At that time, I was in the next field from which the girl was coming. On her way, the girl boarded one of the trolleys, but after moving for a few metres, she called on the driver to slow down so that she could pick the tobacco leaves that had fallen.

“The driver could not hear her and she then jumped from the trolleys and was hit by an axle at the back.”

Faith died on the spot.

Efforts to get a comment from Mashonaland Central Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe were fruitless.

Faith’s aunt, Happiness Gavhiyo, said when they arrived at the scene, the girl was bleeding profusely.

“We received a message that Faith had fallen from a tractor and upon arrival, she was already dead with both her hands broken and bleeding from the mouth, nose and ears,” she said.

Mazowe North legislator Cde Campion Mugweni has since called on Government to fight child labour in farming communities.

The Labour Act prohibits employers from hiring a person under 18 years to perform dangerous tasks.

The Children’s Act makes it an offence to exploit children.

“It is unfortunate that we are still experiencing cases of child labour in the country and this is still rampant in the farming communities where the law is still primitive and there is lack of awareness from both the employer and the employee,” said Cde Mugweni.

“Recently, we lost a young girl who fell from tractor trolleys while working on a tobacco field. Such cases must be avoided and where negligence is suspected, suspects must be brought to book and see to it that we have put an end to that.”

The Constitution states that appropriate legislative and other measures should be taken to protect children from exploitative labour practices.

Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) Mashonaland Central coordinator Mr Collins Chapasuka Kasiya called on stakeholders and the Government to take part in protecting children.

“We call upon relevant stakeholders and Government to take part in protection of our labour laws,” he said.

“The policies are also not very clear on the prohibition and protection of children under the employment age, especially on hazardous jobs which results on work related accidents and death of the children.”

-State Media

By Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has been dealt a major blow following the resignation of her deputy Obert Gutu this morning.

Gutu did not state the reason for his resignation but the move is likely to be a major setback for Khupe as Gutu was one of the party heavyweights and a critical member of the movement.

A few weeks ago, Gutu posted a picture of himself and other party members attending a strategic meeting in Bulawayo and everything seemed well.

Khupe’s party has not responded to Gutu’s resignation and it remains to be seen what the party will do and who will replace the former Deputy minister of justice during the inclusive government.

Besides Gutu, Khupe does not have very senior and respectable people, so the resignation of her deputy could be the final nail on the coffin.

Yesterday hundreds of police officers descended on the opposition MDC headquarters armed with a search warranty and ransacked the offices from the first to the last floor in search of weapons.

After close to an hour, the police came out with nothing.

Below is the video shot by ZimEye during the raid;

The dispute over custody of children and access to a matrimonial home pitting Marry Mubaiwa and her ex-husband Acting President Constantino Chiwenga was yesterday deferred to next week to allow the parties to negotiate a settlement.

Justice Christopher Dube-Banda deferred to Tuesday the matter in which Mubaiwa is seeking an order compelling Acting President Chiwenga to allow her access to their three children and matrimonial home in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb.

Both parties’ lawyers, Mr Taona Nyamakura acting for Mubaiwa and Advocate Lewis Uriri representing Acting President Chiwenga, agreed to the postponement of the matter.

Briefing journalists outside the High Court, Mr Nyamakura confirmed the latest development.

“The matter has been deferred to Tuesday 21 January for possible argument or confirmation of settlement,” he said.

“We exchanged positions as legal practitioners acting for both sides in the matter. The tentative position is that this matter should be settled and not argued.”

Mr Nyamakura added that it would be in the best interest of the children that the parties find each other and the law is followed.

“But it is a tentative position, if we cannot reach a settlement by Monday then it means that we proceed with oral arguments on Tuesday as directed by the judge,” he said.

When approached for comment, Adv Uriri simply said: “The matter will be argued on Tuesday. We are not talking to the Press.”

In her application, Mubaiwa claims that after she was granted bail, she was barred from accessing the matrimonial home at No. 614 Nick Price Drive, Borrowdale Brooke, and children by soldiers from the Presidential Guard.

She claims soldiers, led by a Lieutenant-Colonel Mangezi, advised her they had strict instructions from Acting President Chiwenga not to let anyone in and out of the premises without his express permission.

To this end, Mubaiwa contends that the Acting President’s conduct was in breach of a court order granting her bail, part of whose conditions was that she stays at the matrimonial home until her case is concluded by the courts.

The ex-model also accused Acting President Chiwenga of abusing his position to persecute her despite the fact that the courts were yet to conclude their divorce and the attempted murder charges.

Mubaiwa also claimed that soldiers, acting on the instructions of the Acting President, blocked her from accessing her business premises at Orchid Gardens in Domboshava.

She says that her children aged 8, 7 and 5 were all minors and needed the love and care of their mother.

Opposing Mubaiwa’s application to return to No. 614 Nick Price Drive, Borrowdale Brooke, the Acting President’s lawyers, Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners, argued that the prosecution was not aware that she misrepresented to the court that she had a single passport, yet she has three.

It is being argued on behalf of Acting President Chiwenga that Mubaiwa, being an accused person, could not share the house with the complainant in fear of interference.

The Acting President says it came to the court’s attention that Mubaiwa had two valid diplomatic passports and one ordinary passport when the High Court recently freed her on bail.

He accuses his estranged wife of performing rituals at his Borrowdale Brooke home and bringing in “witchdoctors”.

He denied allegations that he abducted their three children, saying he was taking care of the children as a natural parent.

He says when Mubaiwa was arrested, the children were left unattended. He argues that it became incumbent on him to take custody of the children.

It was further argued that there was medical evidence suggesting Mubaiwa was unfit to take custody of the children.

“The doctor concluded that she (Marry) should be under the care of a physician, a surgeon and a psychiatrist.

“It is indicated that she has flashbacks, suffers from lack of sleep and has difficulties in breathing, symptoms of illicit drug abuse.”

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| Spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front Jealousy Mawarire and former MDC-T Vice President Obert Gutu yesterday engaged in a war of words following the latter’s Twitter post in which he questioned why the country had more churches than industries.

“I have got absolutely nothing against the Church. I was actually born & bred in the then Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), now the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe.(RCZ).
My main worry is when a country has got more churches & ‘prophets’ than it has got factories & industries!,” said Gutu.

This forced Mawarire to shoot back saying churches were open during weekends when industries were closed.

Mawarire did not end there but mocked Gutu as a dunderhead lawyer.

“Churches are open on Saturday & Sundays when industries are closed, where is the link Dunderhead Lawyer?,” responded Mawarire.

Gutu hit back labelling Mawarire an excuse of a journalist.

Shut up, you EXCUSE of a “journalist”….???

MAWARIRE: I left journalism more than a decade ago, only dunderhead lawyers with 3rd class degrees are not aware of that.

GUTU: You’re an EXCUSE of a “journalist”….
A hopeless & utterly broke political waif, scrounging for a living.
Have a life…!!????

MAWARIRE: Since when have meals been “square? ” That’s the dunderhead frivolities you are exhibiting here. I eat from round plates, mheno kwenyu kuPolad kwamunoisirwa ma”square meal”, eat those alone.

MAWARIRE: Ukaona uchidada nekudya sadza then it explains why you are in Polad, looking for a “square meal” nemhazha yese iyoyo? Some of us are very broke but still parking some Mercedes S-classes in the garage, that’s the definition yokuchona yatakadzidziswa kuchurch iyoyo.

GOVERNMENT has dismissed claims by dethroned Ntabazinduna Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni that his removal from the chieftainship by President Mnangagwa, following recommendations by Cabinet and the Matabeleland North Provincial Assembly of Chiefs, was unlawful.

Mr Ndiweni ceased to be Ntabazinduna chief on November 30 last year and was subsequently stripped of all Government benefits accruing to him.

In its response to Mr Ndiweni’s application challenging his dismissal, the Government argued that his removal was lawful with proper procedures having been followed.

Mr Ndiweni, through his lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, last December filed an application for a declaratur at the Bulawayo High Court citing President Mnangagwa, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, the president of the Chiefs Council Chief Fortune Charumbira, the chairman of the Matabeleland North Provincial Assembly of Chiefs, Chief Shana, the acting provincial development coordinator for Matabeleland North Ms Latiso Dlamini and Umguza district development coordinator Mr Tapiwa Zvivovoyi, as respondents.

He wants an order nullifying his removal.

Mr Ndiweni also wants the court to block the Government from dispossessing him of his Government-issued vehicle and chiefs’ regalia, among other State-owned assets.

Secretary for Local Government and Public Works Mr Zvinechimwe Ruvinga Churu has filed a notice of opposition challenging Mr Ndiweni’s application.

In his opposing affidavit, Mr Churu said the President’s decision to sack Mr Ndiweni was in line with the country’s Constitution.

“The applicant (Mr Ndiweni) was lawfully removed from the office as Chief Ndiweni. Section 68 of the Constitution was properly followed, the applicant was given an opportunity to be heard and to make representations during the investigations,” he said.

Mr Churu said Mr Ndiweni misrepresented to the investigation team that his elder brother, Joram, was not interested in being the chief.

Joram is the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni’s eldest son and culturally he was supposed to take over the chieftaincy from his father when he died in 2010.

In 2014, Joram approached the High Court challenging the appointment of his younger brother as Chief Ndiweni under case number HC1875/14.

Mr Churu argued that Mr Ndiweni was not the rightful heir to the throne.

He said there was nothing unprocedural about the Matabeleland North Provincial Assembly of Chiefs meeting which recommended to the President Mr Ndiweni’s dismissal.

“The meeting established that the applicant was not appointed in line with the prevailing succession tradition. The law is very clear in that the appointment, suspension, removal of chiefs is done by the President on the recommendations of the Provincial Assembly of Chiefs through the minister responsible for traditional leaders,” he said.

“The applicant is misdirected. He was given an opportunity to make representations as expected by the law. I therefore pray that this application be dismissed with costs.”

In his founding affidavit, Mr Ndiweni argued that his removal from the chieftainship was unlawful and a violation of his constitutional right under the Administration of Justice Act as well as under the common law.

“I can only be removed from my office as Chief Ndiweni upon lawful action and processes fully respecting my constitutional rights under subsection (1) and (2) of Section 68 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which grant me the rights to administrative conduct that is lawful, reasonable, procedural and substantively. I have the right to be promptly given reasons for the administrative conduct taken and affecting my rights and I was denied all these rights,” he said.

Mr Ndiweni said he was not given enough notice of the nature and proposed action against him, including a reasonable opportunity to make representations on the matter.

He argued that Section 3 (2) (a) (i) of the Traditional Leaders Act under which President Mnangagwa removed him from the office of Chief Ndiweni has no application to the removal of chiefs. He said the legal provision does not grant the President the power to strip him of his chieftainship.

“That provision deals exclusively with the issue of appointment of chiefs and not their removal. Chief Ndiweni was duly and lawfully appointed by the then President, the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe in June 2014. Accordingly, no question arises under Section 3(2) (a) (i) of the Traditional Leaders Act,” he said.

“I submit that, in casu, the respondents acted in violation of the law and thereby making their conduct unlawful, null and void.”

Mr Ndiweni claimed that he was not officially served with the letter of dismissal, but only saw it being circulated on social media.

He further claimed that the Matabeleland North Provincial Assembly of Chiefs, the National Council of Chiefs, Minister Moyo and the President never gave him any notice of the intended administrative action, which the Government disputed.

-State media

Following MDC-T Vice President Obert Gutu’s resignation from the Thokozani Khupe led movement, social media has gone into an overdrive with people reacting to the news.

Political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya said he is hoping Gutu will not join the ruling Zanu PF while Hopewell Chin’Ono felt vindicated by the former MDC Spokesperson’s move.

Jane Mlambo| Obert Gutu, the MDC-T Vice President has announced his resignation from the party with immediate effect.

Announcing his decision on Twitter, Gutu said;

“For purely personal and private reasons, I am resigning from the MDC-T with immediate effect.

“Kindly be advised accordingly,” said Gutu.

A PROSTITUTE from Bulawayo has appeared in court for allegedly stealing over US$4 000 and a cellphone from her client after they had spent a night together.

Enelles Tshabangu (26) of Entumbane allegedly stole the money from Mr Zamani Mpofu (33) of Richmond who had hired her to spend the night with him.

Mr Mpofu was charged US$10 for the night and handed the woman US$20 and was given US$10 change.

After having sex, Mr Mpofu woke up the following morning at around 4AM and discovered that his money and phone worth about US$100 were missing.

Tshabangu was nowhere to be found.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the prostitute’s arrest.

Tshabangu pleaded guilty to theft when she appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.

Ms Dube convicted and remanded her in custody to Monday for sentencing.

Tshabangu told the court that she stole the money because she coveted it.

Asked by Ms Dube why she stole the money, Tshabangu said: “Ngezwa ngifuna ukuyitshontsha. Ngayihawukela.” (I coveted the money and I felt like stealing it.)

Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on Saturday last week at around 2AM, Mr Mpofu was at a bar in the city centre drinking beer. “The complainant then hired the accused person who is a commercial sex worker and asked her to go with him to her place of residence for the night. The accused person agreed and the two went to spend the night in Entumbane suburb,” he said. The two had sexual intercourse before Mr Mpofu fell asleep.

“While the complainant was asleep, the accused person searched the complainant’s trousers where she stole US$4 000, an Itel cellphone and also took US$10 which was change after she had been paid for her services,” Mr Solani said.

Tshabangu sneaked out of the house and hired a taxi to a lodge in the central business district. Mr Mpofu reported the matter to the police leading to Tshabangu’s arrest.

The total value of property and cash that was stolen was US$4 110 and nothing was recovered.

Correspondent|The dispute over custody of children and access to a matrimonial home pitting Marry Mubaiwa and her ex-husband Acting President Constantino Chiwenga was yesterday deferred to next week to allow the parties to negotiate a settlement.

Justice Christopher Dube-Banda deferred to Tuesday the matter in which Mubaiwa is seeking an order compelling Acting President Chiwenga to allow her access to their three children and matrimonial home in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb.

Both parties’ lawyers, Mr Taona Nyamakura acting for Mubaiwa and Advocate Lewis Uriri representing Acting President Chiwenga, agreed to the postponement of the matter.

Briefing journalists outside the High Court, Mr Nyamakura confirmed the latest development.

“The matter has been deferred to Tuesday 21 January for possible argument or confirmation of settlement,” he said.

“We exchanged positions as legal practitioners acting for both sides in the matter. The tentative position is that this matter should be settled and not argued.”

Mr Nyamakura added that it would be in the best interest of the children that the parties find each other and the law is followed.

“But it is a tentative position, if we cannot reach a settlement by Monday then it means that we proceed with oral arguments on Tuesday as directed by the judge,” he said.

When approached for comment, Adv Uriri simply said: “The matter will be argued on Tuesday. We are not talking to the Press.”

A 64-year-old man from Gokwe accused by fellow villagers of being responsible for a mysterious lightning that killed a fellow villager and 20 herd of cattle has sought refuge from a neighbouring traditional leader.

Mr Raymond Masvimbo from Ganda village under Chief Njelele has reportedly sought refugee at Chief Nemangwe’s homestead, amid reports some villagers wanted him tried at Chief Njelele’s court.

Chief Njelele on Tuesday confirmed the development, saying Mr Masvimbo was scheduled to appear before him on Friday last week, but he sought refuge at the neighbouring chief’s home.

He said as per their tradition, when a person seeks refuge from a neighbouring chief, he cannot be tried.

“There was a villager who was killed in a mysterious lightning two weeks ago,” said Chief Njelele. The lightning, which also struck and killed 20 herds of cattle belonging to families in my area left every one shocked because it was not raining.

“Some of the villagers later came to my home and said they were suspecting Mr Masvimbo of being responsible for the mysterious lightning bolt.”

Part of the cattle that were killed by lightening in Gokwe.

Chief Njelele said according to the villagers, Mr Masvimbo had previously threatened to kill the affected families’ beats after they previously turned down his request for draught power from them.

“It is said when rains fell sometime last year, Mr Masvimbo approached the two affected families asking for some draught power. They declined arguing that they were also busy with the beasts on the fields, but he reportedly threatened them with unspecified action and after some weeks, a mysterious lightning bolt struck and killed all their cattle,” said Chief Njelele.

He said he sent some emissaries to Mr Masvimbo’s homestead for him to appear before his traditional court.

“He did not turn up for the court on Friday, but when I made some inquiries, I then learnt that he had sought refuge at Chief Nemangwe. I will have to engage Chief Nemangwe and see how best we can handle the issue,” said Chief Njelele.

Contacted for comment, Mr Masvimbo denied being responsible for the mysterious lightning.

He confirmed he had sought refuge at Chief Nemangwe’s court fearing for his life.

“People in the village were accusing me of killing their cattle,” said Mr Masvimbo.

“I had to seek refuge at the neighbouring chief since people were threatening to kill me.”

Chief Njelele said he has since ordered that the beasts, which were killed in the lightning be burnt.

By Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has made an upward review of fuel prices with petrol now selling at ZWL$18.28 while Diesel now costs ZWL$19.55 with effect from yesterday Friday 17 January 2020.

ZERA has also slashed down the ethanol blending in fuel from E20 to E5, a move that will bring major relief to motorists who have been complaining of unsustainable blending levels.

Below is the new price schedule released by ZERA.