WATCH VIDEO LOADING BELOW……

By A Correspondent| Hannington Mubaiwa has warned his in-law, VP Constantino Chiwenga to be vigilant against being set up adding that the former army general risked being set up by shrewd people within the system.

Mubaiwa said:

So how could he put together such a flimsy thing(criminal charges)?

Somebody very smart very shrewd, very astute, within the system has sacrificed Constantino Chiwenga.

Cde Mukwasha, I think you are being set up up. Not that I want you to continue to be married to our daughter to my niece.

I don’t think so, I think you need to think, what you are doing, you are tying a noose for yourself.

You are digging a political grave for yourself, you are digging a hole in which you are going to push yourself into it. Think!”

Harare City Council has suspended three senior water engineers as it moves to align its service delivery mandate with the residents.

The suspension is without benefits.
The suspended engineers are Simon Muserere (wastewater , Richard Kunyadini (distribution) and Artwell Ruhukwa (water production).

Chief Chemist Mr Teddy Mafuko is part of the suspended group.

The four face allegations of misconduct in the perfomance of their ​duties.

According to letters written to the four their ​charges border on incompetency, inefficiency, habitual and substantial neglect of duties arising from inaction on issues relating to their duties.

They are expected to appear before a hearing within the next 14 days and in the meantime they have been asked to surrender all council equipment in their possession.

By A Correspondent| Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said Zanu PF has surpassed the colonial government’s terror levels.

Chamisa told a local publication:

“These are terror tactics. Even the Rhodesians did not go to the extent of raiding Zanu offices during the war.

What they (the government) want is to control and capture the opposition … There is no government that behaves like that…

Zanu PF is shooting itself in the foot. In their eyes we are not MDC, we are a rebellious movement.

We have a big problem on our hands … I will not reveal our next course of action, but we are obviously alarmed by the behaviour of Zanu PF.”

Read part of the message doing the rounds:

“50 anti-riot junior officers refused to take orders from their superiors while on parade to go for an unnamed operation in Makokoba, Nguboyenja, Entumbane, Thorngroove and Mzilikazi Thursday morning. They expressed displeasure that they are forced to spend more than 12 hours in full anti-riot gear with baton sticks and helmets under hot temperatures with no time for rest.”

By A Correspondent- Police said yesterday they had gunned down a notorious smuggler of second hand clothes into the country at the weekend, while also arresting six other people in Mutare.

This comes as government has launched a nationwide crackdown on the smuggling of bales of second hand cothing and other basic consumer goods into Zimbabwe.

One person was shot dead, while six others were arrested after police intercepted truckloads of smuggled bales of second-hand clothes in Vumba on Saturday night.

The gang, which had a fleet of vehicles, resisted arrest and attempted to run over a police officer, prompting other alert officers to open fire.

Police intercepted a convoy comprising two (7-tonne) trucks, three kombis with bales of clothes and four small escort cars, recovering 170 bales of clothes.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intercepted a convoy of two-seven tonne trucks, three commuter omnibuses and four small vehicles laden with bales of smuggled goods along Vumba Road after a shooting which resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the death of one of the suspects,” he said.

“A crack team of detectives picked information as the convoy approached Vumba and laid an ambush. The vehicles were signalled to stop, but the drivers ignored the police directive as the four small vehicles were being used as smugglers’ escort.”

Police fired warning shots before shooting the wheels of one of the trucks which then stopped.

“In the process, a VW Polo, registration number ADA 5492, which was part of the smugglers escort fleet made a U-turn, sped off towards a police officer who ducked and fired some shots,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“The VW Polo driver and passenger were injured in the process as they tried to flee. The passenger died on admission at Mutare Provincial Hospital, while the driver is admitted under police guard.”

Asst Comm Nyathi said police recovered 170 bales of smuggled clothes from some of the intercepted vehicles.

-DailyNews

Metro buses are predominant in cities such as London, (see pics) but you would never see such in areas like Seke, Zimbabwe.

But well, it is Monday morning, 20 January 2020 at 8:55am along Seke road. This is a Metro bus owned by ZUPCO, carrying commuters from Chitungwiza to Harare.

By A Correspondent- In a very embarrassing development, a male boarding master at Washington High School was recently exposed of trying to prey on female students after he allegedly fondled a 15-year-old pupil’s breasts at their rendezvous.

Alouis Mhondiwa was recently convicted of indecent assault after the victim of his sexual pursuits spilled the beans.

Appearing before Harare magistrate Mrs Sharon Rakafa, Mhondiwa was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

She suspended eight months on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence and the remaining 10 months on condition that Mhondiwa performs 350 hours of community service at Waterfalls Clinic.

During the trial the girl said:

The first day we had gone to the dining hall for studies and a female guard sent me with her phone to the accused person. That was when we arranged how we would meet later that night.

I managed to sneak out of the hostels with three of my friends that were also going to meet their boyfriends. I went to his house. He began touching me and I started feeling different and requested to leave. When I returned to the hostels I told my friend about the incident and planned to return back to the accused person’s residence.

The school authorities heard of the matter and the incident was reported to the police, leading to Mhondiwa’s arrest.

However, the information provided from the trial does not reveal how the alleged indecent assault sexual assault came to light and also whether the complainant and the accused were in a relationship since the complainant had hatched the plan together with her friends to sneak out of their hostels and see their ‘boyfriends’.

Talkmore Muganhiri prosecuted the case.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The City of Gweru has run out of mealie-meal with major supermarkets failing to restock, leaving hundreds of people stranded.

The dire situation has opened avenues for black market merchants in the down town areas where the commodity is selling it at exorbitant prices.

While a 10kg pack of roller meal is supposed to sell at $50, according to government gazetted prices following a subsidy arrangement, on the black market the commodity is being sold for $120. The unscrupulous businesspeople are not accepting all modes of payments like swipe and mobile money transfers, but demanding cash only.

Last week, Bulawayo residents also accused some retail shop owners of abusing the subsidised mealie-meal facility by forcing consumers to buy other goods in order to be able to purchase the scarce commodity.

Residents told Southern Eye that supermarket owners forced them to buy other goods worth over $20 in order to buy a 10kg mealie-meal bag. There has been haggling between the government and millers over registration of firms meant to receive the subsidy, which sources yesterday said was the reason for the acute shortage of the basic food commodity.

“There has not been a fair supply of subsidised grain to millers as the scheme seems to be benefitting a few who are close to the powers that be. That is the reason we have reached this stage whereby there is virtually no mealie-meal in Gweru. The Ministry of Finance and Grain Marketing Board are not doing the right thing. They are corruptly handling the grain subsidy scheme,” said a source.

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Garikai Chaunza referred questions to Andrew Bvumbe, a Finance ministry official in charge of the grain subsidy programme.

“He is the one who is running the roller meal subsidy programme,” Chaunza said.

However, Bvumbe refused to shed light on the shortages of mealie-meal in Gweru or reveal if millers have received disbursements from his ministry to sell the commodity at subsidised prices.

“A statement was issued that it is the Ministry of Industry and Commerce that is in charge of that programme,” Bvumbe curtly said.

— NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Home Affairs deputy minister Mike Madiro’s son allegedly torched his parents’ eight-roomed farmhouse at Odzi Farm on Friday following an argument over the sale of two oxen.

On Saturday, Shingirai (23) appeared before Mutare magistrate Tamara Chibindi, who remanded him to January 30 on $1 000 bail.

It is the State’s case that on the day in question, Shingirai, who was reportedly stopped from selling the family’s two oxen, threatened his parents with death.

His parents then ran for dear life after which he torched the family’s house, destroying property worth $90 000.

Shingirai is denying the charge.

-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Harare City Council has suspended four senior officials for alleged dereliction of duty and contributing to the water crisis in the city.

The axe fell on head of city chemistry, production manager and water distribution manager and their alleged transgressions include failure to act decisively on leakages, arrogance and taking long to attend to faults, among others.

Mayor Herbert Gomba confirmed the development, saying the move was meant to improve service delivery and get rid of non-performers.

“As we are working together as Zimbabweans and residents of Harare in particular, we have discovered that some among us are not playing ball in as far as the transformation of the city is concerned. We have managers who are reposed with the mandate to deliver services, but are not doing so according to expectation.

“Managers are supposed to visit the areas where work is supposed to be. A chemist or production manager and distribution manager should be on the ground to ensure work is done. Facts are that they are not and we will act to protect our residents under the mantra ‘residents first’,” he said.

Gomba read the riot act at a high-level meeting held at Town House last week where he also ordered the council’s water department to vacate a rented building they were using in the city and make use of either Cleveland or Rowan Martin, both council premises.

Council sources said all divisional failing to perform their duties will be taken before a disciplinary committee.

It was also revealed that most workers at the council’s biggest water treatment plant, Morton Jaffray Waterworks, were spending most of their time running personal errands, including selling fish at the ratepayers’ expense

-Newsday

Own Correspondent|Police in Bulawayo have dragged MDC President Nelson Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda into the demonstration by students from Prince Njube Memorial High School in Bulawayo on Monday morning.

In a memorandum to the Officer Commanding Bulawayo, the Officer In Charge Njube Police made a sensational claim that the MDC Presidential Spokesperson was seen milling around the demonstrating students.

The police made the revelation as they incriminated a biology teacher at the school Brian Mutsiba for inciting the 180 students to demonstrate discrediting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Indications are that the accused is the one who masterminded the demonstration. The school pupils were merely following their teachers orders. Also observed was that the spokesperson of MDC-Alliance president, Nkululeko Sibanda was seen milling around,” wrote the police.

The Full Police outline is as below:

MEMORANDUM

TO: THE OFFICER COMMANDING BULAWAYO WEST DISTRICT
FROM: OIC NJUBE
DATED 20/01/2020
SUBJECT: DEMOSTRATION BY NJUBE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
This Memo serves to inform you that:
INFORMANT
Name: Ndlovu Archford
Contacts: XXXXXXXX
Residential address: Njube High School, Bulawayo
Business address: Njube High Secondary School.

ACCUSED
Name: Brian Mutsiba
NR: XXXXXXXX
Contacts: XXXXXXX
Res: XXXXX, Bulawayo
Business: Njube High School, Bulawayo
CIRCUMSTANCES
On the 20th day of January 2020 and at around 1000 hours, the accused incited over 153 forms one, three and six students to partake in an unlawful demonstration. In doing so, the accused removed the portrait of the President of the Republic Zimbabwe from the staff room and went on to un-hoist the National Flag from its mast. He then exited the school gate with the students he had mobilised for the unsanctioned march.

From the school, they turned right into B.B. Burombo Road then used a footpath to connect Luveve Road. On reaching the robots opposite Entumbane Complex, the demonstrators gathered and started chanting songs saying, Imfundo ngeyethu into oyenzayo siyayizonda amongst others. The procession then started marching along Luveve Road towards Emagetsini. They were waving placards inscribed Where is UNICEF?”, “This is for every Zimbabwean child” and “SOS serve our souls”. The Presidents portrait and Zimbabwean flag were being carried by two students.

When they got near to the intersection of Luveve Road and Masiyephambili Road, the demonstrators grouped again and deliberately turned the portrait and the national flag upside and started making loud chants. They then knelt down facing the eastern direction and sang “Nkosi sikelela iAfrica”. During that process, the headmaster, Mr Zibusiso Msimanga N.R. XXXXXXXX, cell number XXXXXX arrived at the scene and ordered the school children to stop what they were doing and go back to school. The children complied and went back to school but along the way the accused kept on influencing the students to be defiant.

On entering the school campus, one of the pupils who had participated in the march hoisted back the flag. The children then went back to their classes. The accused disappeared from the school upon arrival from the march. ZRP Njube attended the scene and called the pupils to assembly. The children who had participated in the demonstration voluntarily came into the open about their participation. They were invited to write reasons for their participation in the demonstration which are—

The fees have been hiked from $92-00 to $440-00.
The teachers are earning low salaries.
Teachers not attending lessons.
Beneficiaries of the BEAM programme being made to pay half of the fees and
The general high cost of living.

1. A follow-up of the accused was made at number XXX, Emakhandeni by Numbers 066556S Constable Magwira and 087615H Constable Muzvuwe. Seen was Sandra Tshuma; N.R. XXXXX, Cellphone number XXXXXX, aged 32 years who indicated that the accused relocated to an unknown address three years back. She indicated that accused was a fellow tenant at the house.
   Preliminary investigations show that accused is a former prison officer and subscribes to ZIMTA. He is an abuser of alcohol and is staying alone. Report has been entered on RRB 403903. The accused is being charged for Contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 {participating in a public gathering with the intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry} and also for Contravening section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act; Chapter 10:10 {insulting the flag}.

Scene was also attended by the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District; Chief Superintendent Bizeki, members from the Presidents Office, Military Intelligence, Prison Intelligence and different media houses.

Indications are that the accused is the one who masterminded the demonstration. The school pupils were merely following their teachers orders. Also observed was that the spokesperson of MDC-Alliance president, Nkululeko Sibanda was seen milling around.

039730J CHIEF INSPECTOR RAMAPHOSA ZRP NJUBE

By A Correspondent- Sate security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.

The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.

Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.

“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.

“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation. They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”

Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.

“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.

Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.

Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.

“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.

— NewsDay

MEMORANDUM

TO: THE OFFICER COMMANDING BULAWAYO WEST DISTRICT
FROM: OIC NJUBE
DATED 20/01/2020
SUBJECT: DEMOSTRATION BY NJUBE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
This Memo serves to inform you that:
INFORMANT
Name: Ndlovu Archford
Contacts: XXXXXXXX
Residential address: Njube High School, Bulawayo
Business address: Njube High Secondary School.

ACCUSED
Name: Brian Mutsiba
NR: XXXXXXXX
Contacts: XXXXXXX
Res: XXXXX, Bulawayo
Business: Njube High School, Bulawayo
CIRCUMSTANCES
On the 20th day of January 2020 and at around 1000 hours, the accused incited over 153 forms one, three and six students to partake in an unlawful demonstration. In doing so, the accused removed the portrait of the President of the Republic Zimbabwe from the staff room and went on to un-hoist the National Flag from its mast. He then exited the school gate with the students he had mobilised for the unsanctioned march.

From the school, they turned right into B.B. Burombo Road then used a footpath to connect Luveve Road. On reaching the robots opposite Entumbane Complex, the demonstrators gathered and started chanting songs saying, Imfundo ngeyethu into oyenzayo siyayizonda amongst others. The procession then started marching along Luveve Road towards Emagetsini. They were waving placards inscribed Where is UNICEF?”, “This is for every Zimbabwean child” and “SOS serve our souls”. The Presidents portrait and Zimbabwean flag were being carried by two students.

When they got near to the intersection of Luveve Road and Masiyephambili Road, the demonstrators grouped again and deliberately turned the portrait and the national flag upside and started making loud chants. They then knelt down facing the eastern direction and sang “Nkosi sikelela iAfrica”. During that process, the headmaster, Mr Zibusiso Msimanga N.R. XXXXXXXX, cell number XXXXXX arrived at the scene and ordered the school children to stop what they were doing and go back to school. The children complied and went back to school but along the way the accused kept on influencing the students to be defiant.

On entering the school campus, one of the pupils who had participated in the march hoisted back the flag. The children then went back to their classes. The accused disappeared from the school upon arrival from the march. ZRP Njube attended the scene and called the pupils to assembly. The children who had participated in the demonstration voluntarily came into the open about their participation. They were invited to write reasons for their participation in the demonstration which are—

The fees have been hiked from $92-00 to $440-00.
The teachers are earning low salaries.
Teachers not attending lessons.
Beneficiaries of the BEAM programme being made to pay half of the fees and
The general high cost of living.

1. A follow-up of the accused was made at number XXX, Emakhandeni by Numbers 066556S Constable Magwira and 087615H Constable Muzvuwe. Seen was Sandra Tshuma; N.R. XXXXX, Cellphone number XXXXXX, aged 32 years who indicated that the accused relocated to an unknown address three years back. She indicated that accused was a fellow tenant at the house.
   Preliminary investigations show that accused is a former prison officer and subscribes to ZIMTA. He is an abuser of alcohol and is staying alone. Report has been entered on RRB 403903. The accused is being charged for Contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 {participating in a public gathering with the intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry} and also for Contravening section 6 of the Flag of Zimbabwe Act; Chapter 10:10 {insulting the flag}.

Scene was also attended by the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District; Chief Superintendent Bizeki, members from the Presidents Office, Military Intelligence, Prison Intelligence and different media houses.

Indications are that the accused is the one who masterminded the demonstration. The school pupils were merely following their teachers orders. Also observed was that the spokesperson of MDC-Alliance president, Nkululeko Sibanda was seen milling around.

039730J CHIEF INSPECTOR RAMAPHOSA ZRP NJUBE

Watch video downloading below:

Own Correspondent|Students at Zimbabwe’s Prince Njube Memorial High School in Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo, staged a public protest Monday over the deteriorating situation in schools where teachers are on strike and parents are crying foul on steep education costs.

The students, carrying President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s official portrait and banners declaring that they were doing it for all other Zimbabwean children, marched for almost five kilometers along one of the highways to the city’s central business district to present their grievances to provincial education officials.

The students told District Schools Inspector Zanele Muyambo that they need urgent government intervention on the deteriorating education situation in schools where there are no teachers even if their parents have paid huge sums of money for their learning.

Muyambo promised to deliver their grievances to the relevant authorities.

The march by the Njube Memorial High School students may have instigated students from other schools to follow suit as there hasn’t been any meaningful learning at schools throughout the country.

Teachers have tactically not been reporting for duty since schools opened only reporting on Mondays to clock for duty and return home.

According to the public service code of conduct a government employee is dismissed from work of they don’t report for duty for fourteen working days continuously. Teachers are evading the code by reporting for work once or twice a week.

Own Correspondent|THE State has withdrawn the case against suspended Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe in which he was facing criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly recommended that former ministers Supa Mandiwanzira and Saviour Kasukuwere be admitted for attachment at Harare magistrates court where they had pending criminal cases.

Guvamombe was also facing charges of defeating the course of justice after he allegedly directed a subordinate, Elijah Makomo, to recuse himself in a trial involving his alleged business partner’s son.

Guvamombe’s charges were withdrawn before plea.

The State led by Constance Ngombengombe said it will summon Guvamombe back when it has put its house in order.

The case was withdrawn before magistrate Amos Mubobo

Correspondent|State security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.

The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.

Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.

“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.

“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation. They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”

Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.

“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.

Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.

Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.

“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.

Own Correspondent|The family of Marry Mubaiwa – Chiwenga wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has warned the country’s second citizen that he is digging his own political grave by continuously fighting their daughter.

Marry’s uncle Harrington Mubaiwa made the revelation in an exclusive to ZimEye.com on Monday afternoon.

Watch video downloading below:

Own Correspondent|Controversial Zambian Prophet who made headlines in December 2019 after he released a prophecy that claimed that Marry Chiwenga was going to spill secrets about General Chiwenga which were going to lead to a coup d’etat plot has hit headlines yet again claiming that he turned water into wine.

Prophet DD Isaac caused a stir at his Holy Ghost Embassy church on Sunday when he claimed to have turned water into wine.

According to eye witnesses DD Isaac poured water into a glass and after “ministration” the water turned into a wine like substance.

While it is acknowledged that Jesus turned water into wine it is not recorded anywhere else that a human being has been able to accomplish the same feat.

This incident left congregants baffled as to whether this was really a miracle or a scam.

South Africa based religious analyst Shephard Ben Abraham said the miracle of turning water into wine is being used by alcohol consumers to justify their acts.

“While there is nothing wrong with miracles, these kind of miracles of turning water into wine are fueling reckless drinking,” Shephard said. “I would advise pastors to desist from these kind of miracles for the sake of the society.”

DD Isaac prophecy on Chiwengas was sort of partly fulfilled as Marry Chiwenga submitted court papers which savaged General Chiwenga’s reputation and revealed a lot of explosive secrets about his personal, political and financial life.

Recently  Advocate Thabani Mpofu submitted a legal opinion which stated that Mnangagwa had abdicated the Presidency and Chiwenga was now the President at law. This move gave weight to DD Isaac’s Prophecy in which he states that he saw two lions fighting in Zimbabwe, a red lion believed to be Mnangagwa and a green lion believed to be Chiwenga from his military fatigues and command of the army.

Family Sources close to retired General Chiwenga indicated that the DD Isaac prophecy shook General Chiwenga to a point where the Acting President went to church to pray and seek spiritual guidance, something the General rarely does. After seeking prayer and spiritual counsel Chiwenga waved a white flag as he sought for an out of court settlement with his estranged wife.

Message By VP Chiwenga|It was with a great sense of shock and sadness that I learnt of the death on Saturday evening 16 people in a tragic accident involving a bus and a haulage truck along the Harare-Mutare Highway.

Life is very precious and losing it in circumstances that are avoidable is not only extremely painful and heart-breaking but also needless and senseless.

This latest bus accident brings to the fore Government’s call to road-users including all those involved with public transportation to value life always and to be mindful of the heavy responsibilities they carry on their shoulders to ensure the safety of passengers.

On behalf of government, His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa and on my own behalf, I wish to extend sincere condolences to the bereaved families for losing their beloved ones in this traffic accident, may they take comfort from our prayers and rest assured that Government will support them during this period of deep grief. In the same spirit, our prayers go to those nursing their injuries, both in hospital and at home. We wish them speedy recovery.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Own Correspondent|Marry Chiwenga, wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, is reportedly in a “no nonsense approach” as he tackles his husband in what is set to be the dirtiest divorce of Zimbabwean elites in recent history.

The former model is reported to have turned down a request for an out of court settlement on child custody and access to family house made by Chiwenga.

Source close to Marry Chiwenga‘s defence council told media houses on Monday that the estranged wife wants nothing to do with an discussions with Chiwenga except in court.

“Marry is in a no nonsense mood and would want the matter to be settled in court,” said the sources.

“The applicant is the one who brought the issue to the courts so there is no need for it to be settled out of courts

“What has now changed that the applicant feels the issue can be resolved without the courts? He (Chiwenga) was ill-advised and Marry is only playing her part as the respondent.

“Unless something major happens this morning (Monday), Marry has since last Friday indicated to her defence counsel that she will not accept an out of court settlement.”

On Monday afternoon, sources told ZimEye.com that clashed heavily with Vice President Chiwenga’s body guards when she went to see her children at a private school in Harare.

Details on the incident are still come in.

Own Correspondent|Brian Mutsiba, a biology teacher at Njube High, claimed the “children had initiated the march by themselves” to show their disapproval of the education system.

Source: CITE

By A Correspondent- State security operatives reportedly pounced on Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) leader, Takavafira Zhou’s office on Thursday last week following reports of his involvement in the planned national shutdown.

The majority of PTUZ members across the country are reportedly boycotting classes citing incapacitation, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the main opposition MDC party have threatened a national shutdown protest over the deteriorating economy.

Unsettled by these developments, three Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives pounced at Zhou’s offices in Masvingo, while others called him from Kwekwe in a bid to thwart the impending shutdown.

“They were trying to the link teachers’ strike with threats of a shutdown and we informed them that our struggle is a dispute with the employer in which the employer unilaterally (devalued) teachers’ salaries from US$500 to US$35. That is tantamount to unfair labour practice,” Zhou told NewsDay on Saturday.

“I explained to the CIOs that the shutdown of shops is not part of our agenda, but staying away from work because of incapacitation. They also interrogated us on our 2014 banner, whose other writing thread demanded ‘accountability over diamonds and other minerals’ and I explained our expectation of responsible leadership that should judiciously use minerals for the benefit of all Zimbabweans as opposed to self-aggrandisement and economic banditry.”

Zhou also revealed that police from the Central Investigations Department (CID) contacted him over the stayaway by teachers in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s hometown of Kwekwe.

“I also received a phone call from CID in Kwekwe, who wanted to know why PTUZ teachers have not reported for work and I also explained to them that teachers’ incapacitation was the modus operandi,” he said.

Last year, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure was abducted by suspected CIO operatives, who tortured him for leading a strike.

Zhou said he was still assessing the situation in order to measure his safety.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said he was not aware whether or not the police were investigating Zhou as he was out of office.

“I am currently out of office as it is a weekend. I am, therefore, unable to comment on that one because I can’t look for the facts at the moment,” he said.

— NewsDay

By A Correspondent- Wife to the acting President Marry Chiwenga Mubaiwa this afternoon clashed with her husband’s security details at Hellenic Primary School in Harare.

Sources privy to the developments allege that Marry went to the school Monday afternoon and she had a nasty fallout with the security details, who according to unconfirmed reports are maintaining a 24 hours surveillance on her and the acting president’s minors. Chiwenga and his estranged wife are fighting for the custody of their children.

Reports reaching ZimEye allege that an unconfirmed number of journalists who witnessed the drama were also picked up by the security details.

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

A Zimbabwean man is on the run after he allegedly killed a South African police captain during a robbery fire exchange on Saturday in Johannesburg.

A South African Police Service (SAPS) source confirmed to H-Metro that Preymore Dube, the alleged suspect from Bulawayo, shot Diepsloot police captain Oupa Matjie, 54, three times on the head and he died on the spot.

Preymore Dube
“The murder occurred on around 7pm at corner Jabulani and Stability Street Extension 3 Diepsloot.

“Members of Diepsloot SAPS detective services were on duty following up on information of house robbery suspects and the information became positive.

“They called for backup, Eco group from Diepsloot SAPS responded and they joined the detectives who proceeded with information.

“They were with the victim of the house robbery who pointed out to the suspect in the open field grounds and police chased the suspect.

“The suspect started shooting at the police and police fired back missing the suspect who then walked into the direction of Captain Matjie.

“Captain Matjie grabbed the suspect but was overpowered, and shot three times on the head and died on the spot.

“The suspect who shot and killed the Captain is Preymore Dube from Zimbabwe and he ran on foot,” said the source.

Angry South Africans have taken to social media circulating Dube’s image and labelled him as armed and dangerous amid xenophobia concerns.- H-Metro

Farai Dziva| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said Zanu PF has surpassed the colonial government’s terror levels.

Chamisa told Daily News:
These are terror tactics. Even the Rhodesians did not go to the extent of raiding Zanu offices during the war.

What they (the government) want is to control and capture the opposition … There is no government that behaves like that…

Zanu PF is shooting itself in the foot. In their eyes we are not MDC, we are a rebellious movement.

We have a big problem on our hands … I will not reveal our next course of action, but we are obviously alarmed by the behaviour of Zanu PF.

The floods that hit Hwange on Saturday flooded the country’s second-largest power station and affected power generation.

This was revealed in a tweet by the Energy minister when he said:

ENERGY UPDATE: the weather has conspired against us. Hwange power station coal plant flooded.Power station now down to zero megawatts. 400 mw lost. Zesa working to recover.

ZESA had warned the public that the forecasted floods might affect power generation.

Hwange was producing 370 MW while Kariba is producing 286 MW- Newzwire.

Farai Dziva|Terror gangs known as MaShurugwi brutally killed MDC vice president Lynnette Karenyi -Kore’s relative last week.

See statement below :

The Zanu PF-sponsored vigilante groups popularly as MaShurugwi have wreaked havoc in the countryside with top MDC leadership losing their close relatives to the politically-connected militia which is certainly enjoying protection from high offices in government.

The machete-wielding vigilante groups have run amok in the countryside and many Zimbabweans have had their kinsmen callously beheaded by the notorious group.

Some in the MDC’s top leadership have lost their close relatives to the vigilante groups who are going around the country demanding money and other largesse from innocent Zimbabweans.

Vice President Lynnette Karenyi Kore has lost her 41-year old uncle Liberty Dadirai Chimwoyo who was murdered in the Hot Springs area near Odzi River in the Nenhowe area of Chimanimani in Manicaland province.

He sustained fatal head injuries following machete-attacks by youths linked to the MaShurugwi terror gangs that have gone on a nation-wide rampage and plunged Zimbabwe into a deep state of national insecurity. VP Kore is currently attending the funeral of his uncle in Chimanimani.

The party’s vice national chairperson, Hon. Job Sikhala has had two of his uncles brutally attacked by these machete-wielding Zanu PF apparatchiks.

One of them, Yeweight Senzere, died on the spot last week in Mvuma and Hon. Sikhala is attending Senzere’s funeral in Chivi in Masvingo province.

Hon. Sikhala’s other uncle, Elvis Matsikidze, is battling for his life in the intensive care unit at Gweru General Hospital.

The machete-toting vigilante groups have gone on the rampage in the country, amid reports of a serious fall-out between Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantine Chiwenga, with the former reported to be banking on Mashurugwi as a personal army to serve personal political interests.

Mnangagwa is reportedly suspicious of the allegiances of the rank and file in the army, despite picking the entire command element of the security forces from his Midlands province.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commader Philip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Army commander Edzai Absolom Chanyuka Chimonyo, the Air Force of Zimbabwe’s Air Marshall Elson Moyo and the Central Intelligence Organization’s boss Isaac Moyo all hail from the Midlands province.

They are also reported to be Mnangagwa’s close relatives.

MaShurugwi have wrought serious insecurity and if the menace is not stemmed, the country could plunge into chaos. What Zimbabweans desperately need is a true people’s government that can guarantee their personal security, which security is enshrined in the country’s Constitution, which Constitution the people made themselves and affirmed in a referendum.

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- Acting president, Retired General Chiwenga sent a condolence message to families of Saturday’s bus accident victims.

The condolences message reads in part:

It is with great sadness that i learnt of the the death of 16 people in a tragic accident involving a bus and a haulage truck along the Harare Mutare highway.

On behalf of the government i wish to extend sincere condolences to the bereaved families for losing their loved ones in this tragic accident.

Own Correspondent| Zanu PF youth leader Lewis Matutu has taken a dig at Minister of Youth, Arts, Sports and Recreation Kirsty Coventry describing her as a ‘minister who is there but not there’.

Speaking during a sports tournament hosted by Zvimba North Member of Parliament Marrian Chombo in Rafingora on Saturday, Matutu said Kirsty was not a hands-on minister and did not understand the needs of the people.

“At youth, arts and culture ministry, we have a minister who is there but not there. We look up to you deputy minister (Tino Machakaire) to further the agendas of the youths because the honorable minister does not understand the needs of the people,” said Matutu.

Kirsty, one of the technocrats in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cabinet is unpopular in Zanu PF circles as she is seen as a person who lacks political gravitas needed to navigate Zimbabwe’s treacherous rough political terrain.

For her party, Kirsty has failed to justify her appointment as she is seen more as a press statement minister who does not understand the needs of her ministry.

While her ministry has four portfolios, the Olympic gold medalist seems to be concentrating more on sport neglecting youths, arts and recreation.

Her deputy, Tino Machakaire is more visible than the minister. He took it upon himself to visit ailing dancehall chanter Bounty Lisa in Kuwadzana recently. He also organized an arts gala in Wedza during the festive season.

He has been in the news recently for paying school fees for 1000 university students and sourcing out mining equipment for small scale miners.

Acting President Constantino Chiwenga on Saturday visited President Mnangagwa, who is enjoying his vacation at his Pricabe Farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe.

The two, who, besides being the first and second citizens of this country, are long-time friends. They spent the whole day chatting and touring the President’s farm.

President Mnangagwa is a passionate farmer, with over 350 hectares of soya and about 400 hectares of maize under irrigation.

He has a 405-hectare farm and is renting pieces of land on neighbouring farms.

Pricabe Farm manager, and young brother to the President, Mr Patrick Mnangagwa, yesterday confirmed the surprise visit by the Acting President.

He said the two were relaxed at the farm while talking farming.

“I took the Acting President Chiwenga together with the President on a tour of the farm starting with the soya,” said Mr Mnangagwa.

“We also toured the maize field and the pump station. It was not a planned programme, so the two had time together as they relaxed at the farm after the tour.”

Mr Mnangagwa said Acting President Chiwenga was impressed by the work being done at the farm.

On Unity Day last year, President Mnangagwa hosted over 18 political party leaders under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) at his farm at their request. The politicians said they were inspired by the President’s farming prowess.

By A Correspondent- A former accountant in the Ministry of Defence, who is facing charges of stealing US$20 million from the ministry, was last week denied bail.

Simbarashe Zvineyi (36) lost his bail application after Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo ruled him a flight risk. The court found that the evidence available might induce him to flee.

Zvineyi is alleged to have used the US$20 million to buy four houses in Harare, 25 taxis, four top-of-the-range vehicles and channelled part of the money onto the parallel market for foreign currency. He is being charged with fraud and money laundering.

The State, led by Netsai Mushayabasa, alleged that between January 2010 and December 31 last year, Zvineyi and Danison Muvandi – who was a top accounting officer in the same ministry – hatched a plan to defraud the Ministry of Defence.

On several occasions, Muvandi, who remains at large, allegedly used his position and influence within the ministry to misrepresent that there were classified operations to be carried out and would allegedly instruct the chief accountant, Lameck Jackson, to deposit funds into Zvineyi’s accounts at NMB Bank, CBZ, CABS and Steward Bank, using Zvineyi’s vendor number.

There were no such classified operations to be conducted. Acting on the misrepresentation, Jackson reportedly transferred money ranging from US$40 000 to US$66 000 during the same period into Zvineyi’s bank accounts.

The pair would then allegedly share the loot. Investigations carried out so far reveal that the Ministry of Defence suffered a prejudice of US$20 million.

Only four vehicles have been recovered. Zvineyi, acting in connivance with Muvandi and after they allegedly defrauded the Ministry of Defence, reportedly laundered the proceeds of the offence by acquiring properties that includes more than 25 taxis, a Jeep Wrangler, an Isuzu KB300, a Honda Fit and a Toyota Vitz.

He also allegedly bought houses in Tynwald, Aspindale, Avonlea and Borrowdale. Muvandi allegedly acquired various properties, some of which have been recovered

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Two jealous Bindura siblings who attacked their fathers’ girlfriend before robbing her of her money were sentenced to 6 months imprisonment by a Bindura magistrate yesterday.

Stephen Mashongedza and Tendai Mashongedza were sentenced by magistrate Moreblessing Makati.

The six month sentence was commuted to 105 hours of community service.

Prosecutor Vincent Marunya told the court that on Christmas day last year the brothers stormed at Sinikiwe Motsi’s place of residence at Zinyama village, chief Musena in Bindura and vigorously knocked at her door demanding her to come out.

Motsi did not open the door, the furious brothers broke the windows and door to gain entry.

Upon gaining entry the suspects accused Motsi who is their fathers girlfriend of squandering his money.

The duo demanded the money and mobile phone which they claimed was bought by their father from their sister’s lobola.

 They assaulted her with open hands and she surrendered the phone to Stephen while demanding $148 bond notes on which she complied

Motsi was force marched out of her house by the suspects during the night as punishment and subsequently released after a few kilometers.

Motsi filed a police report leading to the suspects’ arrest.

By A Correspondent- A police officer who was part of a five-member gang of armed robbers wailed in court after each of them was handed a 60-year jail term for armed robbery.

The cop, Thulani Nkala (38) appeared together with Taurai Matarirano (27), Isaac Kawundura (33), George Chikomberanwa (34) and Dunira Hungwe (33) before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing 10 counts of armed robbery.

They had pleaded not guilty to the charges but were convicted on six counts.

The court proved that the five robbers were each armed with assault rifles when they raided a mine in Gweru. At one time they fired shots at a mine, killing a security guard’s dog.  

Mrs Msipa said due to overwhelming evidence submitted in court, Nkala, Matarirano, Kawundura, Chikomberanwa and Hungwe deserved a lengthy prison stay. She jailed them for 60 years each and suspended 15 years for good behaviour.

However, Nkala who said he had a two-year-old child and an unemployed wife as well as his accomplice Matarirano forced the court to adjourn briefly when they started wailing uncontrollably after Mrs Msipa handed down their sentence.

For the State, Mr Talent Tadenyika said sometime in 2018 Nkala who was wearing an anti- riot police uniform and armed with a 303 rifle went to a local mine run by Camlark Investments with Matarirano, Kawundura, Chikomberanwa and Hungwe.

At the mine, they saw a security guard and identified themselves as police officers who wanted to search the place for firearms.

“They searched security guards and took their cellphones and they stole property valued at US$1 700. They also stole Zhang Dawei`s Chinese passport and US$1 070 and $1 500 at his quarters and nothing was recovered,” he said.

The court heard that on the same day and at the same mine, the gang threatened another Chinese national Mr Chen Yang Yang with firearms and took his cellphone, US$930, $330, R400 and 17 000 Chinese Yuan.  They went to another employee, Mr Jinkai Yu`s room and robbed him of US$900, $150 and 300 Chinese Yuan.

“They further went to the quarters of the manager threatened him with firearms robbed him of US$1 200, $120 and 840 Chinese Yuan.

“The proceeded to the managing director`s room, also ransacked the room looking for valuables and managed to get US$2 000, $5 000, 10 kilograms of silver which was stored in cone and bar shapes. They deflated tyres for two vehicles,” said Mr Tadenyika.

“They stole an Isuzu king cab and drove away from the scene to a point near Old Eastlea and the cab was recovered.”

Nkala was the first to be arrested.

-StateMedia

Dad, it will be a whole year on the 23rd of January and yet my heart still skips a beat when I hear your music played. Hana yangu inorova when they refer to you as “the late”. I still can’t believe it. It is very difficult for me to go through our messages to each other, I can’t stand the thought that saka handichafa ndakaona imwe message futi ichiflasha yakanzi Dad. I miss you so much. Even though I never saw you everyday but just knowing that you are there meant worlds to me. Now you are gone. For good. It breaks my heart. People may have not understood the relatioship we had you and I, and I know how in the last days you wanted so much to let everybody know how much we cared for each other through a song (Coz that’s how we communicate) but I guess God didn’t care what people thought. He took you before we could do it. It’s a year now but still feels like yesterday. I love you so much dad. Rest in peace.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who helped my dad, my family and myself during our father’s career, illness and subsequent death. We as a family together with my band are very grateful to Mr Thomson Dondo and Impala Car Rental Staff for the enormous support they gave us.
Also thank you to Nick Manyame and Family, Mel Pulij, Steve Dyer, Kevin Stuart, Damon Forbes, Rob Cowling, Sheer sound Staff Graeme Gillfillan, Simon and Debbie Metcalfe and family, Keith Farquharson, KennyTlale, Rodrick Chakaipa and the late Doug Chakaipa, the late Robson Ndlovu, Joseph Muusha, Collin Mushunje, Selby Dzengeree, Josh Hozheri, Dave Mwale and team, Team Pakare PAYE, the late Steve Chibune, Mr Mutyandasvika, Mr Vori, Tich Hwingwiri, Alick Macheso and family, Sulumani Chimbetu and family, Steve Makoni and family, Vusimuzi Moyo and family, Doug Mamvura and family, Management and staff at Premier Auto Harare, Chris Cyren and Making Music staff, Dyer tribe Studios and staff, Reginald Chapfunga, Samson Felo, Herbert Kinobe, Zivani Masango, Papa Lodza, Dr Thomas Mapfumo, Bob Nyabinde and family, Cafe Nush staff in Avondale, Mashonganyika Family, Chris Machina and Family, Mtndazo Dube and family, Trust Khosa, All print media houses, Montclair Hotel and staff, Lewis Chasakara and Cutty Sark Hotel, Nyaradzo Funeral Services, Farai Matsika, Richard Mvududu and family, Ezra Sibanda (Uk) Watson Chidzomba and family. A very special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Avenues hospital for the great care you gave to Dr Mtukudzi. My apologies if i have left anybody out, it wasnt intentional.
Finally, a massive thank you to the fans who supported Dr Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi till the end and the amazing support given to me thereafter. Above all we thank the Almighty for the 66 years he gave us with our remarkable father, our hero and musician.
God bless you all.

Love
Selmor

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has revealed that it is now monitoring public hospitals and clinics to curb thefts and ensure drugs are not diverted to the black market.

The development follows checks that were done at the country’s drug procurement and supply entity, the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) amid suspicions that some of the drugs were being diverted to the black market.

Through its Prevention and Corporate Governance Unit, ZACC is targeting Parirenyatwa, Chitungwiza and Sally Mugabe (formerly Harare Central) hospitals, among other public hospitals and clinics.

In a statement at the weekend, the commission said the operation was an extension of ongoing Natpharm compliance checks on drugs.

“The objective of the operation is to ensure that there are no leakages and abuse in the distribution of drugs to hospitals,” said ZACC.

“The operation is meant to bring sanity to hospitals and improve service delivery and stamp out corruption that has seen patients in some parts of the country being made to pay huge amounts of money for drugs which are sourced by Government funds or donated by the Global Fund, WHO and other international partners.

“The compliance unit is tracking the path of distribution of such drugs from the time they leave Natpharm until the drugs are administered to patients.”

ZACC said it was testing the effectiveness and reliability of the distribution system to ensure that it was not open to abuse.

Some health workers, it said, were being found selling essential drugs which were in short supply in formal channels.

“Some doctors are prescribing alternative drugs which are not in stock and refer patients to their pharmacies where sometimes patients are forced to pay exorbitant prices in US dollars,” said ZACC.

Other areas to be covered by the operation include disposal of expired drugs which are being sold on the streets.

ZACC is seeking to have the hospitals adopt electronic systems of drugs storage and administration to avoid the manipulation and abuse of the stock card system.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is paying medical bills for 26 recruits who were involved in an accident that killed two others near Imbizo Barracks, Chief of Staff Administration Staff, Major General Paul Chima has said.  

Maj Gen Chima revealed this last Thursday while visiting the recruits who are receiving treatment at the barracks after they were injured in the Christmas Day crash.

Two of the recruits died when the driver of a military vehicle they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road and hit a tree, a few minutes after leaving the barracks.

Maj Gen Chima expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.  He said the provision of free medical assistance to the injured recruits is in line with the army’s goal of treasuring human life.

“I have come to console the surviving victims after having experienced this shocking incident in the history of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA).  “As commandants we continue to support our fellow comrades in war time, peace time and in occasions like this one. We must make sure that necessary treatment is given to our victims for their quick recovery,” he said.

“It is an honour for me to inform you that the ZNA will compensate the victims by paying for their medical treatment and admission fees in the ZNA hospital.  “It is however sad that the army has already lost two recruit members under such unfortunate circumstances.”  

Maj Gen Chima donated food hampers comprising among others fruits, drinks and cereals.

Recently in Harare, eleven ZNA officers were injured when the driver of a bus they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle as it descended a slope near Kuwadzana Six.  It veered off the road before landing on its side. Five were critically injured.

-Wires

Own Correspondent|Acting President Constantino Chiwenga on Saturday rushed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm in Kwekwe after a group of female bikers visited the First Lady at the farm.

The unexpected call on Mnangagwa’s farm by Chiwenga is described by state media and ZANU PF loyalists as just a visit by the acting President on Mnangagwa who is supposed to be enjoying his vacation at his Pricabe Farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe.

The sudden arrival of Chiwenga at the farm raises eyebrows as the former Army General stormed in shortly after a group of female bikers rode into the President’s farm.

On Saturday, a nine-member all-women’s biking team comprising five Zimbabweans — Pauline Dana, Chengetai Makawa, Cynthia Ncube, Natasha Mutsvairo, Nomathemba Magwaza — one Belgian, one Canadian and two South Africans paid a courtesy visit on First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa at the First Family’s farm in Kwekwe.

The innocent female bikers took the opportunity to get photos with the country’s leaders though they could not understand how the two leaders happened to be together at the the time they were on their predestined visit to the farm.

The First Lady was left spell-bound by the bikers who provided her with escort services from her farm to the main road, while they mesmerised onlookers with their amazing skills.

The female bikers, who are representing their countries, are on a six-day relay covering 2 000 kilometres.

“It’s all-women bikers and they escorted me along Sherwood Road,” said the First Lady.

The First Lady gave the women words of encouragement and wished them well on their journey.

The women bikers, who are on a six-day relay, started off in Botswana last Thursday, rode to Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare. The journey will take them to Nyamapanda then to Tete where they will pass the button to another all-female group of riders from Malawi.

Pricabe Farm manager, and young brother to the President, Mr Patrick Mnangagwa, yesterday confirmed the surprise visit by the Acting President.

He said the two were relaxed at the farm while talking farming.

“I took the Acting President Chiwenga together with the President on a tour of the farm starting with the soya,” said Mr Mnangagwa.

“We also toured the maize field and the pump station. It was not a planned programme, so the two had time together as they relaxed at the farm after the tour.”

Mr Mnangagwa said Acting President Chiwenga was impressed by the work being done at the farm.

Source: State Media

JOHANNESBURG – Mpumalanga police are investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths of two illegal miners at Lily mine near Barberton.

It’s understood the pair was found in a shaft at the non-operating mine on Thursday.

In 2016 the mine halted operations to retrieve the bodies of three mineworkers who have been trapped underground due to financial difficulties.

Illegal miners have become more frequent since operations stopped at the mine.

The police’s Leonard Hlathi said, “We were informed by the community and then we set off. Indeed the bodies were recovered yesterday; hence the operation which we arrested only one person from Mozambique who is undocumented. We are going to charge him with trespassing and we also found dagga on him.”

Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyarende have been trapped for four years.

Family members and co-workers started going underground in an attempt to recover the bodies of the three, last month.

IOL

By A Correspondent|YOUTHS in the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T have described as “good riddance”, the announcement made Saturday by Obert Gutu that he was resigning as the Vice President of the party with immediate effect.

MDC–T national youth spokesperson, Alfred Dzirutwe also claimed that Gutu was now a member of Zanu PF and had since ceased to be a leader in the MDC–T.

The politician announced that he was resigning for “personal and private reasons”.

“Obert Gutu was now just a Vice-President by title, otherwise he was now part of a Zanu PF faction which has no care about people’s suffering. I feel vindicated as just a month ago, I issued a statement about his behaviour which was reminiscent of Zanu PF’s behaviour,” said Dzirutwe.

The party’s youth spokesperson also accused the former Deputy Justice Minister of lacking leadership qualities.

“He always showed signs that he lacked leadership qualities. I think his departure is good riddance and we hope who ever ascends to that post will be young, mature and astute. Zimbabwe now needs focused persons who are keen on finding a solution to the current economic and political fiasco,” added Dzirutwe.

Gutu has on several occasions clashed with the party’s youths.

Last year, the youths blasted him for apparently celebrating, on Twitter, the brutalisation of MDC Alliance supporters by the police.

Also last year, the youths openly defied Gutu after he called on the party’s supporters to participate in the government’s organised countrywide anti-sanctions marches.

Party youths felt the the anti-sanctions crusade was useless and a gimmick by Zanu PF to divert attention from government’s mismanagement of the country.

Asked for comment on his Zanu PF status, Gutu described this as a mere rumour.

By A Correspondent- The President and the acting president spent the day together at the former’s farm in Kwekwe on Saturday, The Herald reports.

The 2 spend the day chatting and touring the farm as confirmed by President Mnangagwa‘s brother Tafara who is the president’s farm manager:

I took the Acting President Chiwenga together with the President on a tour of the farm starting with the soya.

We also toured the maize field and the pump station. It was not a planned programme, so the two had time together as they relaxed at the farm after the tour.

The president is taking his annual vacation which is supposed to end this week but from time to time comes back to Harare to carry out his executive duties despite being on leave.

-StateMedia

ONE person was shot dead, while six others were arrested after police intercepted truckloads of smuggled bales of second-hand clothes in Vumba on Saturday night.

The gang, which had a fleet of vehicles, resisted arrest and attempted to run over a police officer, prompting other alert officers to open fire.

Police intercepted a convoy comprising two (7-tonne) trucks, three kombis with bales of clothes and four small escort cars, recovering 170 bales of clothes.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has intercepted a convoy of two-seven tonne trucks, three commuter omnibuses and four small vehicles laden with bales of smuggled goods along Vumba Road after a shooting which resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the death of one of the suspects,” he said.

“A crack team of detectives picked information as the convoy approached Vumba and laid an ambush. The vehicles were signalled to stop, but the drivers ignored the police directive as the four small vehicles were being used as smugglers’ escort.”

Police fired warning shots before shooting the wheels of one of the trucks which then stopped.

“In the process, a VW Polo, registration number ADA 5492, which was part of the smugglers escort fleet made a U-turn, sped off towards a police officer who ducked and fired some shots,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“The VW Polo driver and passenger were injured in the process as they tried to flee. The passenger died on admission at Mutare Provincial Hospital, while the driver is admitted under police guard.”

Asst Comm Nyathi said police recovered 170 bales of smuggled clothes from some of the intercepted vehicles.

State Media|Zimbabwe could face increased load-shedding after critical coal mines that supply Hwange Thermal Power Station were flooded following heavy rains that pounded the area on Saturday.

Hwange received heavy rains of up to 139mm in three hours on Saturday, which caused flash flooding, leaving 35 families in two suburbs — Number 1 and Ciderella Village — homeless.

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi last night tweeted: “The weather has conspired against us. Hwange Power Station Coal Plant flooded. Power station now down to zero megawatts. 400MW lost. Zesa Working to recover.”

Coal miners said delayed payments totalling $100 million for power coal will slow the de-watering of the pits, while Zesa Holdings said poor quality power coal was damaging the station.

Coal mines were flooded, said Coal Producers Association chairman Mr Raymond Mutokonyi in an interview yesterday, with his own Makomo Resources, the largest producer, the worst affected.

Hwange Colliery, the second largest producer, said it will work to remove the flood inflows quickly.

“It is a disaster in terms of coal mining, as the pits are flooded,” said Mr Mutokonyi.

“The situation is made worse by the fact that the de-watering process is expensive and most coal miners do not have money to undertake this mammoth exercise since the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is not paying us for coal supplied.

“Coal miners are owed in excess of $100 million by ZPC as at January 10, 2020, but we have supplied more coal since then and the figure is now over $100 million.

“All mines are affected and we hope to start the process of de-watering on Monday (today).”

The flooding of coal mines recently significantly cut output at South Africa’s thermal power stations, resulting in the rolling out of power outages from November to December last year.

There are a number of coal miners in Hwange, including Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL), Makomo Resources and Zambezi Gas.

Hwange Colliery’s corporate affairs manager Mrs Rugare Dhobbie said the mine had top-of-the-range equipment for de-watering.

Makomo, which has become the country’s biggest coal miner after taking advantage of operational challenges affecting Hwange Colliery, said it had been hit hard by the flooding.

The miner supplies most of the coal for electricity generation to ZPC, the power generation unit of Zesa Holdings.

ZPC is understood to be struggling to pay for coal since cash flows have been affected by load-shedding, which has seen power consumption plunging.

However, Zesa board chairman Dr Sydney Gata denied last Friday that coal miners were not getting their money.

“They are being paid, even for coal which is out of satisfaction,” he said.

“They are being paid for the poor quality coal they are supplying, which damages equipment.

“I am meeting them (coal miners soon) to tell them that if they continue to supply rubbish coal, we will not pay. I will embarrass them. I was in Hwange yesterday (Thursday last week) and everyone is complaining about the quality of coal. Only Hwange can complain, not all those makorokozas.”

After being told that coal miners were complaining of being owed over $100 million, Dr Gata said he did not have the details.

Mr Mutokonyi denied claims that the coal they supply to Hwange was of poor quality.

“There are quality control aspects that take place on both sides,” he said.

“They can’t talk of poor quality coal.”

State Media|The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is now monitoring public hospitals and clinics to curb thefts and ensure drugs are not diverted to the black market. This follows checks that were done at the country’s drug procurement and supply entity, the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm).

The Government has been making strenuous efforts to supply medicines to public hospitals and clinics, but there were suspicions that some of the drugs were being diverted to the black market.

Through its Prevention and Corporate Governance Unit, ZACC is targeting Parirenyatwa, Chitungwiza and Sally Mugabe (formerly Harare Central) hospitals, among other public hospitals and clinics.

In a statement at the weekend, the commission said the operation was an extension of ongoing Natpharm compliance checks on drugs.

“The objective of the operation is to ensure that there are no leakages and abuse in the distribution of drugs to hospitals,” said ZACC.

“The operation is meant to bring sanity to hospitals and improve service delivery and stamp out corruption that has seen patients in some parts of the country being made to pay huge amounts of money for drugs which are sourced by Government funds or donated by the Global Fund, WHO and other international partners.

“The compliance unit is tracking the path of distribution of such drugs from the time they leave Natpharm until the drugs are administered to patients.”

ZACC said it was testing the effectiveness and reliability of the distribution system to ensure that it was not open to abuse.

Some health workers, it said, were being found selling essential drugs which were in short supply in formal channels.

“Some doctors are prescribing alternative drugs which are not in stock and refer patients to their pharmacies where sometimes patients are forced to pay exorbitant prices in US dollars,” said ZACC.

Other areas to be covered by the operation include disposal of expired drugs which are being sold on the streets.

ZACC is seeking to have the hospitals adopt electronic systems of drugs storage and administration to avoid the manipulation and abuse of the stock card system.

According to the Head of the Operation, Mrs Clara Nyakotyo, a similar operation has been conducted in provincial, district and mission hospitals in Mashonaland Central and Manicaland provinces.

There are Government plans to capacitate local pharmaceutical manufacturers, establish more manufacturing plants, including toll manufacturing and bonded warehouses, to improve availability and affordability of medicines and medical sundries in both the public and private sector.

Own Correspondent|The death toll on Saturday’s bus accident which occurred at the 218-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mutare highway has risen to 16.

Fourteen people died on the spot when a General Bande bus collided with a haulage truck at around 5pm, while two more died on admission to the hospital.

Out of the 40 injured and taken to the hospital, 24 were still admitted by yesterday, with one of them in the Intensive Care Unit.

In her presentation to stakeholders that included Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, provincial Joint Operations Committee, Civil Protection Unit members and the media, Mutare Provincial Hospital representative Sister Fortunate Sigauke said the hospital was still battling to handle the number of injured people brought to the hospital.

“I received a phone call informing me that there had been a bus disaster,” she said.

“The first casualties came in with well-wishers. The ambulance service providers then chipped in. We are really thankful to those who chipped in.”

“I am concerned about the state of preparedness,” she said. “I am told that the response was not as quick as the injured persons expected, our ambulances, and in terms of all the help that was rendered.

“We need to do more as a nation. We only have one person in the ICU and we pray that the number of those that are deceased remains at 16.

“I think we cannot rely on just one X-ray machine for such a big provincial referral hospital. Right now we have people with multiple fractures.

“Probably what we await at the moment is the pronouncement by His Excellency on the state of disaster which I believe the accident already qualifies for that because we have 16 people who died.”

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is the Acting President while President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on leave at his farm in Kwekwe.

Dr Gwaradzimba said they will contact the Mozambican Consulate in Mutare to assist in linking up relatives of a Mozambican national who was injured in the accident.

Econet, through its Community Social Responsibility anchor partner Higher Life Foundation, provided food for the bereaved during funeral services and pledged further assistance in medication for the injured.

Higher Life Foundation will provide school fees for children orphaned as a result of the accident.

Dr Gwaradzimba thanked Higher Life Foundation for the assistance.

Source: State Media

State Media|GOVERNMENT has said an environmental rehabilitation levy is on the cards targeting the mining sector, which is blamed for severely damaging the environment.

In an interview last week, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said he had come face-to-face with excessive environmental damage caused by mining activities.

“I was in Matobo (where there is gold mining) and what I saw troubled me big time,” he said.

“The rate at which we are destroying our environment is unprecedented. I can’t even describe what I saw.

“I would be moving to the Midlands. I’m told where there is chrome mining, it’s almost the same again. It’s something that we have identified as top priority. As a Ministry, we are working on certain proposals which will lead to the creation of a sustainable environmental rehabilitation fund.”

Minister Ndlovu said even mining companies had used legal loopholes to extract minerals without rehabilitating the environment they operated from and damage.

He said this caused serious ecological damage needing urgent attention.

Minister Ndlovu said the proposed fund will see mining companies rehabilitating the environment, while continuing with their activities.

“At law, mining companies are mandated to rehabilitate the environment where they are mining after they close or finish mining,” he said.

“It’s a loophole that has been exploited, where a company official says I’m still mining, I haven’t completed. I can mine for 50 years and the law will not be compelling rehabilitation of the environment. That, again, will have to be addressed.

“It has to be an ongoing process. We will also be considering having an environmental insurance. Where the rehabilitation cost is too high, we can then make use of the insurance. However, that would be an option available for the miner.”

Own Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission, ZACC, has warned senior executives in public institutions to stop victimising their subordinates for assisting it with information that can help to investigate possible cases of corruption.

Targeted subordinates were either being summarily dismissed or redeployed to other departments without following due process.

ZACC said it felt betrayed by the actions of such executives which amounted to unfair labour practice and abuse of office.

A case in point is that of eight ZESA Holdings workers who were fired last year for unlawful job action, breaching of the Official Secrets Act and insubordination.

The workers were however, recently reinstated by the new management at the power utility after they were victimised for outing corruption tendencies that exposed some shoddy deals.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said last week that they were overwhelmed with reports of victimisation of workers in public institutions for assisting the anti-graft body.

“The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is inundated with reports from the general public in which there is evidence of victimisation by authorities in the public sector,” said Comm Makamure.

“What is utter disturbing is a situation where an entity is visited by the Zacc, either for the purposes of conducting systems audit, investigations or both and later on, some of the employees are served with suspension letters or are advised that the department is in the process of redeploying them to other departments.

“The procedure is riddled with a lot of questions as to whether or not the authorities are aware that there is a Labour Act Chapter 28.01, Statutory Instruments and various regulations, which legally guide any decision-making by them.

“However, such decisions are promptly arrived at just to catch the targeted employees unawares, leave them confused for some time and pounce on the hapless individuals.

“One would rush to think these are simple labour matters, when in essence it is corruption masked in what looks like labour issues.

“If this sinister practice is allowed to persist, then going forward, nobody will be willing to assist either the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission or Zimbabwe Republic Police during investigations. The continued victimisation of innocent employees leaves nobody safe under the caprices of the vastly corrupt bosses.”

Comm Makamure said the problem was being aided by human resources departments that allowed people to be reassigned without justification.

“The second question is how on earth do the human resources departments, charged with the redeployment of employees, accept and redeploy staff without demanding reasons why the redeployments have to be done,” he said.

“One would have thought that the human resources departments should turn down such unscrupulous ways of subjecting employees to unprofessional movements to other departments. In any case, the employees are transferred without following any legal procedure as required in the Labour Act and supporting regulations.”

This, Comm Makamure said, amounted to unfair labour practices, which is also a form of abuse of office.

Source: State Media