Farai Dziva|Information Ministry Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana says Russian President Vladimir Putin has imitated Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s call on citizens to eat vegetables.

Mnangagwa urged Zimbabweans to stop eating meat claiming it was not good for health.He said Zimbabweans should eat vegetables and potatoes.

“So President Putin joins President ED Mnangagwa in calling for citizens to eat more vegetables.

I hear someone retorted that vegetables and murivo are different things? Inga,” tweeted Nick Mangwana.

However, the Russian President mentioned not only vegies, but also, fish and meat.

He said, “You are right, this has to be adjusted timely and the basket should be looked into.”

“Experts say its structure requires an improvement because, I do not remember the exact figures, but the bulk of it consists of potato, fats and all, bread and bakery, while vegetables and fruit are too scarce and fish and meat do not occupy their due place in the basket.”

Farai Dziva|Information Ministry Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana says Russian President Vladimir Putin has imitated Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s call on citizens to eat vegetables.

Mnangagwa urged Zimbabweans to stop eating meat claiming it was not good for health.He said Zimbabweans should eat vegetables and potatoes.

“So President Putin joins President ED Mnangagwa in calling for citizens to eat more vegetables.

I hear someone retorted that vegetables and murivo are different things? Inga,” tweeted Nick Mangwana.

But those were not Putin’s exact words. The Russian president mentioned not only vegies, but also, fish and meat. He said, “you are right, this has to be adjusted timely and the basket should be looked into,” the head of state remarked. “Experts say its structure requires an improvement because, I do not remember the exact figures, but the bulk of it consists of potato, fats and all, bread and bakery, while vegetables and fruit are too scarce and fish and meat do not occupy their due place in the basket.”

By A Correspondent- Popular message service, Whatsapp, has already stopped supporting a number of devices on December 31, but there will be further restrictions from February 1.

From February 1 users older versions of iPhones and Android smartphones will no longer be able to create new accounts or reverify existing accounts.

This includes phones running on Android versions 2.3.7 and older, and iPhones on iOS 8 or older.

If you have an older smartphone and don’t want to lose all your chats on 1st February, there’s a fairly simple way to save your chat history.

Open the chat you wish to export, and tap on Group Info.

Scroll down and tap ‘Export Chat’. You’ll then be given the option to download the chat with or without media – note the attaching media will generate a larger chat archive.

Most smartphones are compatible with more up-to-date operating systems, for example, iOS 9 is available for iPhones going back as far as the iPhone 4s.

To find out which operating system your iPhone uses, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update – your current version will be displayed there.

And if you use Android, you need to go to ‘Settings,’ then ‘About Phone’ and then ‘Software Info’

-Techunzipped

A SUSPECTED machete wielding man was fatally assaulted by members of the public and later died on his way to hospital.

Edmore Kaitano suspected to have been part of the four-member gang who went on a rampage robbing a shop at Jochoma village, setting five huts on fire and assaulting several villagers using machetes and a spear, died on their way to Sanyati Baptist Hospital.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying three of the other suspects have been arrested.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police arrested Takesure Mashonga Gasura, George Ncube and Pritchard Banda for robbery and malicious damage to property at Kenzamba in Chinhoyi,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.

“Banda is currently hospitalised after having been shot on the knee while resisting arrest and another suspect Kaitano was apprehended and fatally assaulted by members of the public.

“He later died.
“Police are warning machete gangs that they only have themselves to blame should they continue to harass and terrorise innocent members of the public.

“Police would like to assure the public that we are form on the ground to deal with all criminal elements,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.

Meanwhile, police have intensified the maintenance of law and order at Jumbo area in Mazowe and members of the public are advised that Jumbo Mine and its environs are now a no go area with immediate effect.-H-Metro

Own Correspondent| Lloyd Msipa who was recently appointed Secretary General in exiled former cabinet minister Walter Mzembi’s party has alleged that President Emmerson Mnangagwa dispatched Military intelligents operatives to hunt down Saviour Kasukuwere, Godfrey Gandawa, Patrick Zhuwao and his party leader who are all in South Africa.

Msipa who made the allegations in a Twitter post today said the MID operatives had been instructed to kill the quartet and were moving around in a hired Audi Q5 and a Toyota Yaris.

“Meanwhile @edmnangagwa last week dispatched MID operatives to hunt down @waltermzembi @DrGGandawa @Hon_Kasukuwere @PatrickZhuwao & eminent exiles in SA with orders to kill. They hired black Audi Q5 & white Toyota Yaris @BidvestCarHire at OR Tambo,” alleged Msipa.

By A Correspondent- A 26-year-old man from Zvishavane f0ndled a woman’s brea_sts accusing her of serving him a small portion of sadza.

The matter came into light when the man, Audias Matumbura, appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga facing a charge of Indecent Assault as defined in Section 67 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

In mitigation, he told the court that he committed the offence under the influence of alcohol.

Magistrate Wochiunga had no kind words for Matumbura saying men who abuse women must be handed deterrent sentences.

“A man who abuses women should be handed a sentence that will be a lesson to would-be offenders.

“It’s the duty of the judiciary to create a society that is safe for women and children. You are therefore ordered to perform 310 hours of community service at Shabani Primary School,” he said.

On December 20 at around 10pm, the accused together with his friends went to Caravan Park where the complainant Mellisa Ngaruze works.

Upon arrival they ordered sadza and the complainant served them. Matumbura then started complaining that he was served a small portion of sadza.

He jumped over the counter and went behind the complainant and f0ndled her brea_sts.

The court heard that on December 28 the accused approached the complainant and insulted her over the same matter before f0ndling her brea_sts again.

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

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Roman Catholic priest in-charge of St Bhakita Mission who is friendly to pets had a nightmare a few days before Christmas when a black mamba struck and killed a pack of his six dogs.

As if this was not enough misery, five dogs that Father Cephas Manyanye bought three weeks later all died after digging out and eating the carcasses of the killed dogs.

There are more dogs from the village which also died after being exposed to the dead dogs’ meat.

Narrating the story, Father Manyanye said that the 2,2 metre long reptile sleuthed through the mission yard attracting the attention of the six dogs kept.

Snakes are not uncommon at Bhakita, Masvingo Diocese’s newest mission pitched at the bottom of two bushy rocky hills. The snakes and dogs at the mission kept an unfriendly relationship but never went into direct fights.

“On this day I arrived at the gate to the mission house as dogs barked from a distance at the snake which was moving across the yard. However, the dogs got excited when they saw me and they started taking bites at the snake’s tail.

“The black mamba which had paid little attention to the barking dogs so far, got furious and struck one dog after another, killing all the six within seconds. Some died on the spot while others died a few metres away in the bush,” said Father Manyanya.

Father Manyanye said snakes are not usually hostile but after such confrontations they become aggressive.

“We see snakes at the mission almost every week and we stay in harmony with them. However after such a nasty confrontation, a snake, like many other wild animals tend to become aggressive and dangerous, I therefore had to kill it.

“I took an iron bar and placed it across its tail. A snake’s power is in the tail and it becomes weak once the tail is immobilised. I then took a stick and struck its head until it died,” said Father Manyanye.

Father Manyanye said he was close to his dogs.

“The dogs were my friends so I was pained when I lost them. They protected the mission and I had just taken them to a vet clinic when this happened,” said Rev Manyanye

-Mirror

By A Correspondent- A UK based woman who has been co- habiting with Beverly Sibanda’s new husband Mufudzi Chambuka has given the couple just a few days of wedding bliss arguing that knowing the man’s character, the raunchy dancer is in for a shock regarding her newly found love.

The woman, alleged that Mufudzi was a womaniser and conman who was in the habit of using and dumping women.

The UK based Zimbabwean, who availed evidence that she was co- habiting with Bev’s new husband claimed that Mufudzi owed her over US$5k and had disappeared with her Ford.

She said:

“I know Mufudzi Chambuka, give the new couple a few days and knowing Mufudzi, Bev will find out the real him. He is always on the phone texting women and i know in a few days, something will happen….

I know of a depressed woman who was also conned by Mufudzi. She has deactivated all her facebook accounts because of this. She was also conned by Mufudzi….

I am not jealous of Bev or Mufudzi, all i want is my money and my car from him.”

Watch the video down loading below for the exclusive live interview…….

Opposition MDC President Nelson Chamisa posted the below message following the death of American Basketball star Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crush;

Life is a flower!
Saddened by the death of Kobe and his daughter in a plane crash. Legends are ordinary men and women who make us feel we can do extraordinary things. They live life with the passion of one who will live forever. Taking risks, hoping, believing and inspiring the world one breath at a time. By the time they depart from this world, it is forever transformed by the simple reason that they chose to live and truly be alive.

A life well-lived is like a ripple in water, reaching unknown places and touching countless lives. May the Basketball legend Kobe Bryant’s tragic death be a reminder to us all that life itself is not guaranteed. We’re given a brief moment to impact the world & transform it. What matters is how we made others feel who remain. #RIPKobe

By A Correspondent- Tongues were sent wagging on Tuesday when a lone male baboon appeared at Benjamin Burombo Building which houses the Minister of State for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira’s offices where it spent most of the day relaxed on top of the two-storey building.

The baboon pitched up at around 9am and left the same way it came at 4pm.

It was temporarily forced from the roof by guards from the National Parks and it jumped into a nearby tree. However barely minutes later it climbed back onto the roof where it spent most of the day.

Scores of people took turns to watch the relaxed baboon with some saying that its presence in the Central Business District (CBD) is either a good or bad omen.

Efforts to get a comment from Chadzamira were futile as he is away on leave. His top aide Kudakwashe Machako who was present and was among those who are said to have taken videos of the primate could also not be reached for comment.

However Chadzamira’s PA confirmed the incident and said the baboon’s presence was quite a spectacle for many. She said that the baboon could have been pushed towards Burombo Building by street kids who were running after it.

“The baboon appeared from the gardens at the Civic center and walked down to Burombo Building. It climbed up the building, up the windows and onto the roof top where it appeared very relaxed despite noise from people on the ground,” said a guard at the building who declined to be named.

Chief Marozva of Bikita said it is scary news for a baboon to be seen in the middle of a city. He urged chiefs in the area to urgently discuss the matter because it can be loaded with meaning.

“It is a bad sign. There is no way a baboon can walk into town. There is a story behind this. Where did this baboon come from in the first place? Chiefs should convene a meeting and discuss the way forward after such an experience. It is scary to see a baboon in town,” said Chief Marozva.

Chairman of Chiefs’ Council in Masvingo, Chief Chitanga of Mwenezi said there is nothing significant about the baboon being spotted in town. He said baboons often come into town for food.

“A baboon can be seen in town anytime. There are different types of baboons and they associate closely with humans. This baboon could have been looking for food,” said Chief Chitanga.

Chief Chiwara of Gutu said the baboon could be a goblin kept by someone in town. He said people have used baboons for black magic and baboons can be used to stalk wives or fight enemies.

“Evil people use baboons to act on their behalf. A baboon can be sent to claim a debt or to claim a wife who runs away from her husband back to her parents. They are used in a scary way”, said Chief Chiwara.

-TellZim

By A Correspondent- Khama Billiat was stabbed on the hand with a screwdriver by his Baby Mama on Monday, a local South African publication reported.

The 22-year-old woman stabbed the soccer star and police have confirmed the development.

The woman went to Billiat’s Midrand home, with a police escort, and the 9 months old baby to ask Billiat to take care of his child.

However, Billiat, who was seeing the baby for the first time, refused to have anything to do with the baby and asked to drive to the Midrand police station to resolve the matter.

It was while at the Police station that the woman stabbed Billiat with a screwdriver. Billiat refused to open a case against the woman, whom he claims has been harassing him.

On her part, the woman says she is willing to take a paternity test. On the other hand, his coach has spoken on why he continues to miss the action.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has revealed that he is planning on easing star Khama Billiat back into action.

Amakhosi have done pretty well without their talisman with players like Samir Nurkovic, Lebogang Manyama and Leo Castro sharing the scoring duties.

The likes of Eric Mathoho and Dumisani Zuma have also chipped in to ensure the Zimbabwean’s absence is not felt. The Glamour Boys remain top of the Absa Premiership standings with a 10 point cushion. They got back to winning ways on Saturday, scraping past a dogged Golden Arrows outfit at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

However, Billiat’s absence has been a concern to some fans, especially with the 29-year-old reportedly embroiled in papgeld drama. He last appeared for Chiefs against Maritzburg United in what was the last game of 2019 at Harry Gwala Stadium. Since then, he has missed Amakhosi’s last five games and is yet to feature this year.

Nevertheless, Middendorp has confirmed that Billiat will be back in action soon enough.

“We’ll take him (Billiat) in the training process this week and it can be possible that we will get him right in the next two weeks,” revealed Middendorp.

“If there’s a feeling that we have to take a week more, we’ll take a week more.”

Amakhosi will not be in action this weekend and will next face Royal Eagles on the 8 February at FNB Stadium in the Nedbank Cup.

-SundaySun

By A Correspondent- An expedition to harvest the much sought after mopani worms (amacimbi) almost turned tragic for a security guard employed at Whitewater High School in Matobo District, Matabeleland South, as he found himself wrestling with a leopard which he miraculously fended off by shoving his hand into its mouth and blocking its windpipe.

For all his efforts to save his life, he was, however, later arrested for poaching. He appeared before a Plumtree magistrate on Thursday last week facing charges of killing an endangered animal. He was remanded out of custody to 3 February on $300 bail.

Mr Abednigo Moyo of Halale Village, situated near the famous Njelele Shrine, used bare hands to wrestle and choke the big cat after it attacked him while he was harvesting amacimbi.

His brother who had also accompanied him to the amacimbi expedition emerged from the bushes and finished off the vicious predator by axing it. So daring was Mr Moyo that his final technique to outfox the predator saw him shoving his hand into its mouth in an attempt to block its windpipe.He narrated his life and death encounter with one of the African big five:

“The day started well,” he recalled.

“My brother Isaac, his wife and I went to Gumela Farm owned by Mr William Ncube and we sought permission to harvest amacimbi at his property, which we were granted.”

He said as he was harvesting amacimbi all of a sudden, he heard an unusual sound of something approaching from the thicket.

“Before I could even see or react, a leopard emerged charging towards me. I tried to run but it was too late, the predator attacked me and I don’t know how I gathered the strength and managed to grab it by the neck before it could savage me,” he said.

Mr Moyo said, however, the grip was not strong and the leopard freed itself but it slipped and lost balance.

“I realised that if I don’t do something the animal would kill me. It was either I die fighting or I get mauled.”

He said when it opened its mouth ready to sink its teeth on him, he shoved his hand into its mouth and grabbed its windpipe.

“It was painful because at the same time, the leopard was biting my hand but I was choking it from inside while the other hand was fending off its claws. I was also screaming at the same time. The struggle went on for a minute or two and I could see the animal was also losing power from the choke,” he said.

Mr Moyo said his brother heard him screaming and rushed to investigate. “When Isaac arrived, the leopard was already losing strength. He then axed it and that is how I managed to eventually free myself. It died and we left it there,” he said.  Mr Moyo was rushed to Natisa Clinic for treatment.

But his woes were not yet over despite the heroics to save his life. “In the morning rangers came to my homestead and arrested me and my brother for poaching. The rangers were carrying the skin of the leopard and told us that we had killed an animal classified as an endangered specie and we were taken to the police.

It is the law but I wonder what else I could have done under such circumstances. The issue was either I get killed to save the endangered leopard or fight for my life.”

A police car carrying one of the suspects accused of setting fire to the body of a 10-year-old girl overturned this afternoon at Otjiwarongo.

Deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi today said soon after the arrest the officers had decided to refuel at Otjiwarongo Police Station. However, 10km before Otjiwarongo, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle.

“As a result, the vehicle with the male Zimbabwean suspect collided and all the occupants sustained injuries,” the deputy commissioner said.

Shikwambi said the female suspect and her children were in a separate vehicle and are safe.

“The occupants, a warrant officer, a sergeant and the suspect, sustained slight to serious injuries and are receiving treatment at the Otjiwarongo hospital, but [are] reported to be stable,” she said.

The Zimbabwean couple was arrested earlier today in the Otjozondjupa region after they were intercepted at the turn-off to Okakarara.

-Namibian

By A Correspondent- Newly-wed raunchy dancer Beverly Sibanda says she has gained weight since she is living large under her new husband.he dancer said she is now a proudly married woman, but will not stop her career.

Said Bev:

“Ndikudya ndakagara, handisi kuenda kubasa meaning i am simple enjoying myself while not working. I last went to work on January 1. December i worked and the money is there and why would i work in January when there is no money. Everyone went for their holidays and i am starting work in February,” said Bev.

Bev’s statements come amid claims by another woman that her husband Mufudzi Chambuka stole her car worth $3 450.

According to the woman (42), Chambuka stole a Ford Focus Tytania. The matter was however reported to the police.

Watch the video loading below….

Bev said her rivals and “haters” were celebrating that pregnancy will now sink her into oblivion, but she is not pregnant and has only gained weight.

“People were rejoicing, especially dancers. They were thrilled thinking that they are replacing Bev on the stage, but you will not succeed. Who told them that i am down and out? I am just rising. I will be working because i am allowed to do everything. How will i dance when i am pregnant. I am still in the game. How is it possible that i cannot gain weight when i am eating good and tasty food. I am a working woman plus my husband is taking good care of me (laughing),” added Bev.

“I am not pregnant. Kusimba chete meaning i have just gained weight. You know I was slim and I have gained weight chete, plus i am using Depo provera since last year. If i am pregnant, i will give birth.”

The Sexy Angels boss said she is keeping a low profile.

“I have been playing low key hangu, eating good food.”

Asked on when she will be ready for pregnancy Bev said:

“Zvinei newe izvozvo meaning its none of your business? Just know that i got married and dad is supporting.”

She refused to dwell much on the process of her getting married.

“Yes i got married, they must just know that ” she said.

Bev responded to the social media comments. “Ende vanhu so, from bhawa to marriage,” she said while laughing. Bev’s wedding at the Harare Magistrates’ Court has been received with mixed feelings with some congratulating the dancing queen while others mocked her.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has vowed to continue wagging the struggle against evil adding that light will triumph over darkness.

Responding to a report in a local daily, Chamisa said his party will not be deterred neither will he be intimidated by the regime which has threatened to “deal with him” if he goes ahead with his planned mass demonstrations.

Said Chamisa:

“We are forging ahead with protracted struggle against the evil. Light shall eventually triumph over darkness. We ain’t backing down…”

FORMER principal director of State residences, Douglas Tapfuma, allegedly used a Bill of Entry code reserved for goods imported by the President personally to bring into the country a commuter omnibus and a Honda Accord in a bid to evade paying duty to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).

Most Honda Accords and Honda Fit are used as pirate taxis in Harare known as Mshikashika.

He is also accused of using Government codes for six other vehicles.

Tapfuma used the Bill of Entry code set aside for goods exclusively imported for Government use to bring into the country six other cars: a Toyota Hiace, Toyota Alteza, BMW 318i, two Honda Fits and a Nissan Tilda.

This was revealed by Zimra’s declaration and processing manager Mr Innocent Muranganwa while testifying in a matter in which Tapfuma is facing criminal abuse of office charges after he imported personal cars using the State Residence Department.

“From the list of eight cars that we were given to trace, two were cleared as belonging to the President and six to Government,” he said. “On the Bill of Entries there are codes used to identify different types of clearances and on one Bill of Entry a code was used which is reserved for goods belonging to the President.

“On the other Bill of Entry code 403 which is reserved for use when importing goods for exclusive use by the Government was used.

“We then also discovered that on another Bill of Entry a Toyota Hiace was imported using code 446. These codes cannot be used by private individuals.”

Mr Muranganwa told the court that Tapfuma was supposed to pay duty for all the cars he imported since they were for his personal use.

Former deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Ray Ndhlukula rubbished claims raised by Tapfuma’s lawyer Brighton Pabwe that his testimony was motivated by enmity existing between the two over the past three years.

As the country’s economy continues to free fall.

Sanctioned by the West and spurned by China, Zimbabwe has turned to the United Arab Emirates in its latest bid to find a savior that can arrest the collapse of its economy.

Zimbabwe’s government has approached the UAE in hopes of selling a stake in its national oil company, according to three company and government officials familiar with the plan. It also wants companies in the UAE to buy more of its gold, they said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said UAE investors will build solar plants in Zimbabwe, and UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan a year ago issued a decree to open an embassy in Zimbabwe. Dubai also contributed to relief efforts when Zimbabwe was hit by a cyclone last year.

Zimbabwe’s economy is in free-fall: It likely contracted by more than 6% last year, according to government estimates. Half the population is in need of food aid, inflation is running at over 500% and its currency has depreciated by more than 90% against the dollar since a 1:1 peg was abolished in February last year.

“They need investment desperately,” said Jee-A van der Linde, an economic analyst at NKC African Economics in Paarl, South Africa. “It’s been snowballing. I don’t know where it’s going to end up. I don’t know how that would be appealing for the UAE”

Oil companies in the UAE said they were unaware of the interest.

The UAE’s foreign ministry didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The UAE is not the only country Mnangagwa has targeted for potential investment. Since taking power from Robert Mugabe in a November 2017 coup, he has crisscrossed the globe repeating the mantra ‘Zimbabwe is open for business.’ Two trips to Russia and former Soviet republics revived interest in a platinum project and a fleet of second-hand Belarusian buses now ply the streets of the capital, Harare.

By May 2019, investment pledges worth $27 billion had been announced in projects ranging from steel mills to abattoirs. There’s little evidence that they are being developed.

A visit by Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister in January ended with only pledges of further infrastructural projects being carried out by China. There was no mention by the “all-weather-friend” as Zimbabwe likes to describe China, extending any financial bailout.

Zimbabwe wants to sell a stake of as much as 25% in the National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe, the people said, declining to be identified as the plans haven’t been disclosed.

NOIC owns storage depots at the port of Beira in neighbouring Mozambique as well as five locations in Zimbabwe. It also owns gas stations and the pipeline that brings oil products from Beira to Mutare for companies including Puma Energy BV, in eastern Zimbabwe.

Fuel shortages

Zimbabwe is prone to frequent shortages of motor fuel and sees a relationship with the UAE, possibly through the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, as a way of securing supply, one of the people said. The southern African nation consumes 1.4 million liters of gasoline and 2.5 million liters of diesel daily, according to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.

“We are working toward establishing a permanent arrangement with friendly countries and that also includes the UAE,” said Fortune Chasi, Zimbabwe’s energy minister, declining to comment directly on whether Zimbabwe had approached the UAE

© 2020 Bloomberg

A MAN from Bulawayo has appeared in court for allegedly stealing a bus worth more than US$31 000 from a garage in Thorngrove suburb.

Bongani Dube (41) of Njube suburb allegedly stole the bus belonging to Mr Kaiser Dliwayo-Saungweme (68) of Somerset East Extension, Francistown Botswana.

The bus had been parked at Mr Jobert Maplanka’s garage in Thorngrove for safe keeping.

Dube was not asked to plead to theft of a motor vehicle when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Lizwe Jamela.

He was remanded out of custody to February 7 on his own cognisance.

Prosecuting, Mr Denmark Chihombe said sometime in 2015, Mr Dliwayo-Saungweme was involved in an accident along the Bulawayo-Gweru road.

“The complainant then decided to take his bus to Mr Maplanka’s garage for safe keeping as the bus had Botswana registration number,” said Mr Chihombe

Between December 2015 and March 2019, Dube approached Mr Maplanka who was in custody of the bus and told him that he had bought the bus from Mr Dliwayo-Saungweme.

“The accused person alleged that he had already finalised sale transactions with the complainant despite the fact that the complainant was in Botswana at the time,” said Mr Chihombe.

Dube allegedly went on to show Mr Maplanka some telephone calls which he allegedly said were between him and Mr Dliwayo-Saungweme as a way of convincing him that he bought the bus.

“The accused assumed ownership of the bus which was a non-runner. The complainant values the stolen property at approximately US$31 400 and nothing was recovered,” said Mr Chihombe.

State Media|Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre near Gweru is demanding full fees and groceries upfront before allowing both returning and new students into its halls of residence.

College principal Mr Henry Nemtenzi, confirmed demanding groceries, but denied chasing away students for failing to pay fees.

Students told The Herald that they had to produce a bank slip showing they paid full fees, and then bring stipulated grocery items to their hostel wardens, for them to be allocated a bed.

The training centre wants 4kg sugar, 2kg rice and 2 litres cooking oil, among other things, which should be handed over to dining hall staff.

“They claim the groceries form part of the food which we will be served in the dining hall for the whole semester, but imagine over 1 500 students enrolled here bringing this type of groceries. They are fleecing us,” said one of the students.

The students said most of them were chased away for failing to bring the groceries.

Mr Nemtenzi was reportedly handling the matter personally.

“He is chasing away those with no fees and groceries like we are in high school,” said another student.

Contacted for comment, Mr Nemtenzi confirmed that they had included groceries on the list of requirements from students.

However, he denied that the institution was chasing away students for not paying full fees.

“We have just said students should bring groceries to augment what we have but we are not chasing them away. On fees, they will need to have paid something so that they are accepted into hostels.

“Students can pay fees at the institution or bring a bank receipt,” he said.

State Media|Government has invited a top-notch Ugandan Anti-Corruption Court judge to train Zimbabwe’s Judiciary, ahead of the establishment of anti-corruption courts.

Justice Lawrence Gidudu, who has been heading Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court for five years, is in the country to conduct a week-long training to be attended by judges, magistrates, prosecutors, anti-corruption investigators and police officers, among other stakeholders.

He is the third judge to head the special Ugandan ACC, as they call it, since it was established in 2008 as a special division of the High Court to try corruption and related cases.

Justice Gidudu’s training visit was announced by Chief Justice Luke Malaba during the official opening of the 2020 Legal Year, when he noted that Uganda had waged the war against corruption, through its specialised anti-corruption courts over the last 10 years, building up a wealth of experience in the field that Zimbabwe wanted to share. 

In an interview yesterday, Judicial Service Commission (JSC) spokesperson Mr Brian Nkiwane confirmed the week-long training workshop starting in Harare, today.

“Justice Gidudu of Uganda will conduct the training which will not be limited to our judges and magistrates only.

“Uganda has scored so many successes in as far as fighting corruption is concerned, hence it was felt that we will benefit as a nation. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), members of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) will all be trained.

In his address during the opening of the 2020 Legal Year, Chief Justice Malaba said the Judiciary was pressing ahead with fighting corruption, which has been declared enemy number one by President Mnangagwa as it is seen as the antithesis of the concepts of transparency and accountability. 

The JSC has since made a decision to establish specialised anti-corruption courts at a higher level as part of measures to complement the Government’s call for all institutions to join hands in the corruption fight.

Presently, courtrooms for the anti-graft crusade are under renovation and judges have been appointed in Harare and Bulawayo.

Said Chief Justice Malaba: “After noting the strides that other jurisdictions have taken in setting up similar courts, I made contact with my counterpart, the Honourable Chief Justice of Uganda, to seek assistance in the professional development of local judicial officers.

“Uganda has been running specialised anti-corruption courts for the last 10 years. They have, as a jurisdiction, done exceptionally well in the adjudication of corruption related cases. I am positive that our judicial officers and other institutions involved in the fight against corruption will have a lot of lessons to draw from Uganda’s experiences.”Herald

Own Correspondent|President Mnangagwa, was over the weekend invited to “preach” at the ZAOGA church by its leader Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Guti.

The church went wild as the President started preaching about people being peacemakers the very character that Mnangagwa himself has failed to uphold.

Since taking over power from former President Robert Mugabe in military coup in November 2017, Mnangagwa has been wantonly deploying soldiers and police to kill and maim innocent citizens.

In the early years of independence, Mnangagwa led the notorious Gukurahundi to murder over 20 000 innocent people in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.

Quoting Matthew 5 verse 9, Mnangagwa said: “Let us be peacemakers. I expect all churches to be identified as transformers of people’s lives, builders of dreams, places and bridges of hope.

“The voice of the church must continue to inspire, motivate, guide and to harness, men, women and the youth as we gird and strengthen ourselves to grow our economy, to rid ourselves of corruption and end poverty.

“We must uphold a culture of hard work, determined to plant and reap what we would have sown. For the scriptures say we shall eat the labour of our sweat.”

He praised the church for partnering the Government in empowering citizens and responding to national needs.

Turning to ZAOGA FIF, which will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Mnangagwa said the church is one of the torch-bearers in the provision of education and health services.

“Your church has also proved to be a reliable partner in empowering our citizens as well as responding to national needs. As Government, we are grateful for the contributions you made towards Cyclone Idai victims early last year.

“We also recognise the hospitals, schools and university which you have established. These will go a long way in providing medical care and quality affordable education to our people. It is our hope as Government that other church-administered schools nationwide will emulate you and charge reasonable school fees. As we converge at church assemblies, schools, hospitals and universities we come from diverse family backgrounds, social groups and political persuasions. Eventually, we become a family united by the blood, love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

He called upon churches to mould society’s moral values and bring peace among the people.

“We depend on the church to help mould society’s moral values, respect, humility, unity and help to improve the quality of life of our people. Archbishop Guti, let the church help us in bringing up youths who are disciplined, respectful and full of love for one another and for their country. After all, God created all of us in his image not as Shona, Ndebele, Karanga, Zezuru, Ndau.

“We are one nation, indeed one family, we must leave in peace and harmony. Since we were all created in His image, we should resist the temptation to be violent towards one another. It is not our Zimbabwean culture to be violent, to hate and do evil to one another.”

The President said Zimbabwe was founded on basic principles which recognise and respect the nation’s diverse religious values and freedom of worship.

“In that regard, I reiterate my Government’s commitment to upholding the constitutionally enshrined right to freedom of worship. For those who now have higher responsibility and senior positions in church, I challenge you to be good shepherds for we are in a season where we need God-fearing leaders, those who are visionary and can take the church and the nation to another level. Let the church be the church that demonstrates how it can contribute towards a peaceful, prosperous, corruption-free united nation,” he said.

President Mnangagwa declared 2020, the year for Productivity and Trade.

“We must be masters of our destiny. No one else but ourselves can take our nation forward to attain the goals we have set. In that regard, ZAOGA Forward in Faith must increase its visibility and relevance in national programmes. Notably through continued preaching of the word of God, you must encourage congregates to be hardworking and diligent for the word of God says “faith without works is dead”.

“Our thrust as Government through the Devolution policy is never to leave anyone behind, including churches as we pursue inclusive growth. We are empowering the youths and women through institutions which address their concerns,” he said.

The President told international delegates who attended the conference that Zimbabwe was committed to engaging and re-engaging with the rest of the world.

Source: State Media

The ruling ZANU PF party is partly responsible for the dearth of young talent at Zimbabwe’s biggest football club, Dynamos FC.

This was said by former club captain and the 1994 Soccer Star of the Year, Memory Mucherahowa.

He said:
All this [Dynamos’ youth policy] is now a thing of the past because of political interference from Zanu PF.

Zanu PF only thinks of Dynamos when it comes to the Independence Cup, Anti-Sanctions Cup and the Heroes Cup. They are not worried about junior football development.
Now the team’s patron is
Webster Shamu .

All this is because they want to control the team. They know the power the team has and [they] abuse it.

We had opposition officials such as Alois Masepe, Raymond Majongwe and Morgan Femai, but they were chased away by Zanu PF officials for their political beliefs.

In 2001 on the eve of the 21st Independence Day Trophy, I spent hours with the party’s officials, Mavis Gumbo and George Charamba, trying to convince me to declare my allegiance to the party in front of the fans at Rufaro Stadium . I refused.

Until Zanu PF is gone, Dynamos will continue struggling. Politicians should stay away from this team.

In 2001, I was almost killed in Shamva by the party’s youths because of my political beliefs.The Standard

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF’s plan to unleash terror on opposition members has been exposed.

According to MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, Zanu PF is planning to abduct influential opposition members.

See statement below :

As despondent Zimbabweans brace for action to consign poverty and end their suffering, the Mnangagwa regime is planning to engage in nationwide terror tactics and abductions in a vain attempt to cow and intimidate a determined people
President Chamisa’s call for nationwide action has shaken the regime to the core.

The regime is now planning violence, night abductions and an assortment of terror tactics against innocent Zimbabweans in a vain attempt to stop an idea whose time has come.

The regime has now fallen into its default mode of violence.

Impeccable sources said the meeting held by JOC early this week had put in place elaborate plans to abduct and torture MDC leaders and party youths in the various townships in Harare so as to engender fear in the country in a desperate bid to stop Zimbabweans from engaging in peaceful action to express their displeasure at the parlous economic situation.

Own Correspondent|Police in Gwanda rounded up 21 teenagers at a Vuzu party at an excluded place out of Gwands town on Saturday.

The 21 were all between the ages of 14 and 19. Most of them are still school going while a few were school dropouts.

They were arrested in possession of large amount of alcohol most of which was the smuggled in low cost whiskies and brandies.

Reports indicate that senior police officers in the Police Internal Security Intelligence, PISI, called parents of the children to witnesse the corrective measures the police were taking on their children.

The police finally decided to let the children back into the custody of their parents after giving them a huge lecture on the dangers of Vuzu parties.

Vuzu parties have been topical to a point where some people now think they know every nitty gritty about these delinquent activities.

Vuzu parties were common in Bulawayo last year before the community decided to come together and bring the vice to an end.

Several meetings were held where scaring details on the parties were revealed by some young people.

A Bulawayo youth, Trevor Gurajena, left people stunned when he revealed the four types of vuzu parties that include plain, $5 party and “blesser” sponsored vuzu parties.

Gurajena said the plain vuzu parties are the ones whereby youths sponsor themselves just for socialising and, of course, unprotected sex.

“For this one, youths just contribute some money to host a party. Usually it’s a way of relaxing the mind after a hectic school term and also a farewell party after a school holiday. Youths indulge in unprotected sex, take drugs and have fun,” he said.

Gurajena said these rowdy youths use “passwords” to code each other so that they get into kombis that usually park near Haddon and Sly.

“There is a signal that youths use which is not known by everyone. If you are at Haddon and Sly for instance and you hear a certain code or whistle, you know that it’s time to go and you have to jump into the kombi. Youths who fail to read these codes are automatically out of the list,” he said.

What left people tongue tied is the $5 vuzu party.

Gurajena said on top of paying transport fares and money to buy drugs, youths pay a $5 subscription to join a sex race.

The subscriptions, he said, are set aside throughout the party and will be given as an award to honour the boy and girl who win the race.

“It’s a race and you have to prove a point. Two people, a boy and a girl who manage to sleep with at least 10 partners during that night are given the royal crown,” he said.

Gurajena said those who are crowned are highly regarded.

The third one, Gurajena said, is the blesser sponsored party where an adult forks out money to hold the party.

“Youths don’t pay anything here as someone does it for them. This is usually done by people who want to test the efficiency of their drugs.They find it easy to test it on youths,” he said.

His explanation stirred the hearts of parents as they tried to imagine their children in such a pit.

Farai Dziva|The trial of MDC deputy chairperson Job Sikhala has been postponed to 03 – 07 February, the party has said.

The trial was initially scheduled for January 27-30.

“The Treason trial of the MDC Deputy National Chair Hon Job Sikhala that was scheduled to kick off on Monday 27-31 January 2020 has been postponed to 03 – 07 February for the State has indicated its unpreparedness on the case,” said the Movement for Democratic Change in a statement.

It was at the time of writing believed the National Prosecuting Authority intends to cook up evidence against Sikhala having failed to prove a prima facie against him for treason.

The latest decision comes barely 3 days to his trial on allegations of subverting or attempting to overthrow a constitutional government.

This is a charge according to the State papers which emanates from a purported video downloaded from the Twitter account of one Jones Musara, a ZANU PF activist based in Toronto, Canada.

In the video aforesaid Jones Musara purports that Sikhala addressed people urging them to overthrow Mnangagwa.

A constitutional government is that which drives its authority from the governed through a free and fair election devoid of manipulation and fraud.

A number of ZANU PF activists and their surrogates were celebrating that the hour of Sikhala fix had come.

Sikhala has been arrested 63 times from 2000 to present. Records show he was never convicted on any case from rape to murder. All turned out to be persecutions disguised as prosecutions.

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS:

One good soul in this party of the deranged once said that the late Robert Mugabe was different from this clown we currently have among ourselves masquerading as a President.

Mugabe would not interfere with the judiciary. He would only interfere on matters that directly threatened his power, like the Presidential election petition challenging his legitimacy. That he would not mind how the judiciary deals with other matters outside threat to his power. So he goes on to say that, that’s why the late Morgan Tsvangirai was acquitted on two crucial cases.

One when he threatened to remove Mugabe violently if he didn’t want to go peacefully.

The second one being the Ari Ben Manashe drama which was packaged as a Treason trial. He further says that our present clown phones directly Public Prosecutors and judiciary officers to give instructions.

The charge Sikhala is facing is a specie of Treason. It has a mandatory sentence of 20 years in prison without an option of a fine.

The demented ones in the club of fools, which ZANU PF people are, waffle that you deserve what you are getting because you were not supposed to say what you said. In the State papers the overzealous “unknown reward” seeking ignorant police officers say that by threatening to remove Mnangagwa from power Sikhala was seeking to change the hands of power before his term expires in 2023.

In the study of constitutionalism, an individual does not constitute a government. A government is constituted by its three branches, that is, the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature. Mnangagwa is an individual who is not all or any of that. He can go today, the Executive may remain as constituted minus him, the Judiciary will remain the same, so is the Legislature. When individuals turn themselves into governments, you must know that, that country is cursed. And let it be known that Mnangagwa is not government. Government is instituted in terms of the constitution with its distinct branches.

Mnangagwa is not all that. He is just a Sherwood Farm fish farmer who occupies an office which is not defined to belong to him. It can be occupied by anyone if he perishes today.

So anyone in his or her perverted disposition who thinks that this trial is going to be sadza eating jamboree should take a strange dog for a wife.

Those extractors of the purported documentary from a ZANU PF malcontent living far away in Canada must be prepared for the nightmare of their lives.

We saw the overzealous ones during the Treason trial of Morgan Tsvangirai behaving as if everybody was borrowing the air we breath from them including Augustine Chihuri. When you meet them in streets today they look pathetic and deranged, with nothing to show for the bombastic self they were demonstrating during the material time. Since time immemorial, Sikhala has never received the level of solidarity, prayers and encouragement like what he is currently receiving. This is a demonstration that the people of Zimbabwe are not fools as envisaged by someone who encourages everyone to feed on vegetables daily until Kingdom comes.

Be reassured that gloves are off. The titanic battle has begun. In his life he has lost battles but not a war. This is a war, not a war for myself but for everyone who believes in a free and democratic Zimbabwe.

THE MDC Matabeleland North and Bulawayo provincial structures have “temporarily” buried their differences to support the under-fire Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni with a solidarity rally planned for next month.

The two were at loggerheads after Matabeleland North petitioned the national leadership to dissolve the Bulawayo provincial structures blaming the latter for the party’s waning support in Matabeleland.

The MDC Matabeleland North province last year said the endless chaos obtaining in Bulawayo was disturbing, and affecting its support base before petitioning the party leadership to dissolve the structures.

Attempts by the party leadership to bring the provinces together to iron out their differences had been futile until the Ndiweni’s chieftainship battle came up. Ndiweni is fighting his recent removal as Ntabazinduna Chief by Government.

The Southern Eye on Sunday was told attempts aimed at bringing the two provinces to work together during a meeting held on Saturday January 18 suffered a false start after the Matabeleland North province boycotted the meeting.

The party leadership reportedly did not take the issue lightly and directed that a follow-up meeting be held on Wednesday January 22 to force the two provinces to iron out their differences and jointly organise a Ndiweni rally.

In separate interviews last week, MDC Matabeleland North deputy chairperson Jabulani Hadebe and Bulawayo spokesperson Swithern Chiroodza both confirmed the follow-up Wednesday meeting where they resolved to jointly organise the solidarity rally in support of the outspoken Chief.

“We had a meeting with Matabeleland North and other individuals from Matabeleland South province where we agreed to try and converge to have a solidarity rally for Ndiweni. The date of the solidarity rally is not yet set, but we are very sure that the party will be offering solidarity to him. Even during the liberation struggle, people supported progressive chiefs and it is incumbent upon the MDC to support the progressive ideas of Chief Ndiweni,” Chiroodza said.

“When it comes to violence, Gukurahundi and the general civil strife that Zimbabweans face, Ndiweni is found condemning those and it’s so much unlike chiefs from Mashonaland who participate in the murder of fellow countrymen by taking orders from the ruling party to starve villagers who do not toe the Zanu PF political line.

“And so if a chief condemns such kind of Stalinism, and evil deeds, that chief, in this case Chief Ndiweni, truly deserves our support.”

Ndiweni has approached the High Court seeking to overturn a Local Government ministry decision to remove him as substantive chief on grounds his chieftainship is being contested by his elder brother, Joram, who argues he is the heir to the throne.

An alleged speedster who filmed himself doing 308km/h in an Audi TTS on a highway in Gauteng has been tracked down and arrested.

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula welcomed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.

The 36-year-old male had been driving a red Audi on the N1 southbound in Midrand in a 120km/h zone.

“Officials from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) used various investigative techniques to identify, locate and arrest the suspect,” read the statement.

“The alleged speedster, who resides in Midrand, was tracked down at a funeral in Limpopo by undercover investigators.

“He faces charges of reckless and negligent driving as well as related charges in terms of the National Road Traffic Act.”

The RTMC warned last Thursday that it had identified the motorist and urged him to “come forward and present himself or we will visit him at his place of residence in Midrand”.

The video, which starts with a speed of 243km/h on the dashboard, was widely shared on social media.

Own Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has been taken to the High Court by a businessman, who is claiming $6 027 000 from the national broadcaster for using his original audio-visual works.

Dillan Prinsloo is suing ZBC for copyright infringement and the latter is yet to respond to the lawsuit.

According to court papers, Prinsloo is the owner and author of certain audio-visual works which he created in 2017, entitled Beautiful Zimbabwe, consisting of original visual clips numbering up to 41.

Among the visual clips are those titled Sunrise Time lapse, Nyanga Mountains, Vumba Mountains, Balancing Rocks, Gorges Sunrise, Chilijo Cliffs, and many more.

“The original audio-visual works aforesaid are eligible for copyright in terms of S10 (1) (d) of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act chapter 26:05 and Prinsloo, as the author and owner, at the material time when the original audio visual works aforesaid were first made, was a citizen of Zimbabwe and, therefore, a qualified person in terms of section 9 (2)(a) of the Act,” he said in his declaration.

According to the businessman, the original audio works were first published in Zimbabwe in 2017 and that at all relevant times he was the author and owner of the copyright on the original works and still remained the owner and author.

“During the period June 2019 to September 2019, the defendant (ZBC) directly copied Prinsloo’s original audio-visual works aforesaid, and broadcast them in its television in whole and in combination with other works,” he said adding that ZBC’s conduct was not authorised by him and did not fall under the category of any of the acts permitted by Part III of the Copyright Act.”

“In the premises, the conduct by the defendant aforesaid constitutes infringement of the plaintiff’s copyright on his original audio-visual works, in that the defendant, not being owner of the copyright, and without the plaintiff’s authority, copied or caused to copy the plaintiff’s original visual works aforesaid, in Zimbabwe which plaintiff as the owner has the exclusive rights to do or authorise.”

Prinsloo said at all relevant times, ZBC knew or alternatively, reasonably ought to have known that its conduct constituted infringement of his works.

“The unlawful conduct of the defendant caused plaintiff damage of $6 027 000 as he cannot, as a result of the defendant’s infringement, sell or license the original audio-visual works aforesaid,” he said.

Chief Mugabe born Matubede Mudavanhu has banned the selling of traditional beer in his area after 6pm to avoid violence and skirmishes that are frequent in the villages.

The final straw to this decision was a poisoning incident that occurred at a beer drink in his area.

He has also put in place a law to control the price of beer and forces anyone who brews traditional beer to give free booze to the village head. The free beer for the village head is called musumo in Shona.

Chief Mugabe said that the law requires anyone selling beer to have a license. He said that although this law excludes villagers, selling beer after 6pm is not allowed.

“This law has always been there; no one is supposed to sell traditional beer after 6pm. A lot happens at ndari and criminals including those from outside the area hide at these binges before they strike at night.

“I will therefore with immediate effect be enforcing the law that bans the selling of beer after 6pm”, said Mugabe.

Mugabe said that many cases of adultery reported in the area involve men who get courage to get into neighbours’ homes after drinking beer.

He also said late night ndari are noisy and they disturb children studying at home.
Villagers must always inform the village head before they brew traditional beer, said Chief Mugabe.

#MasvingoMirror#

Standard|AMACIMBI (mopane worms) as they are called since they feed on leaves of Mopane trees, have become a source of conflicts involving locals and outsiders.

In Zimbabwe, amacimbi are not only considered a delicacy and an important source of nutrition, but a source of income for many, especially in rural Matabeleland.

Amid warnings of another spell of hunger, a bountiful of amacimbi in parts of Matabeleland South province such as Kezi, Solusi and Gwanda, among others, is seen as coming at the right time to hedge against the impact of food shortages in the coming months.

An unprecedented rush for amacimbi from “outsiders”, especially from Bulawayo and other parts of the country, who have literally camped in rural Matabeleland bushes has, however, alarmed and angered locals who say they are being robbed of their resources.

Scores of “outsiders” have camped in the bushes, cutting down trees in search of amacimbi, leaving locals seething with anger over fears of either extinction or reduced numbers of the delicacy worms in future.

“It’s our natural resource; it’s our resource and that of our children and future generations to benefit from, but then outsiders are disregarding all that by cutting down the trees,” lamented Peter Moyo, a Solusi villager.

“There has to be regulation on the harvesting of amacimbi, outsiders must be licensed by our traditional leaders as we cannot continue to allow this situation where outsiders come here to finish off our resource, leaving us with nothing, with no source of income, and with no Mopane trees after they have either cut them or burnt them down.”

The “outsiders” stand accused of also fouling the environment by bathing and relieving themselves near the rivers.

More in Home

A Forestry Commission official also expressed concern over the indiscriminate harvesting of the common property food resource.

“We seem not to have any problems with the local communities who have established intact indigenous natural resource management systems,” the official said.

“The main culprits are outsiders who are fuelling environmental damage. In some areas, these people have started veld fires while in other areas they are cutting trees in order to catch the worms.”

The cutting-down of trees, deforestation, is a major concern in Zimbabwe among other southern African countries, according to a Food and Agriculture Organisation report by Sasha Naidoo, Claire Davis and Emma Archer van Garderen, from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa titled Forests, rangelands and climate change in southern Africa.

“Deforestation and forest degradation comprise a large proportion (approximately one-fifth) of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” the report reads in part.

“Deforestation in the Sadc region is a major concern and has been identified as one of the priority areas for regional action due to its contribution to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and to land degradation and its negative impact on biodiversity and the balance of associated ecosystems.”

However, this is of little concern to amacimbi harvesters who are not resident in parts of rural Matabeleland South where the insects are found, with experts warning that this is a recipe for conflict.

“All I need is money,” said Jacqueline Ndlovu, from Bulawayo, who had travelled with her friends to Kezi, Matabeleland South, in search of amacimbi.

A 20-litre bucket of amacimbi fetches US$25 or 375 rands with the price set to go up as demand increases as the worms deplete. A small cup of the commodity is being sold for anything upwards of ZWL$10.

Chief Nyangazonke of Maphisa in Kezi, Matobo district, lamented the cutting-down of trees by “outsiders” who have descended in his area in search of amacimbi, saying they risk being charged at his court for looting a resource that naturally belonged to locals.

“There should be no cutting down of trees, and neither should there be fouling of our environment by those who have camped in our bushes,” Nyangazonke said on Friday.

The traditional leader urged his subjects to take ownership of their natural resource to avoid a situation where outsiders “leave them with nothing”.

“As traditional leaders, we have our traditions which call on visitors to register their presence with traditional leadership structures . However, these people here for amacimbi do not do so, that is disrespect and that worries us,” he said.

“Locals must take control and ownership of this resource. It’s their natural resource and they must benefit from it. At the same time, we are not chasing anyone away, but we are saying let us be responsible; let us harvest amacimbi in an environmentally sustainable way to avoid conflicts with locals who will surely want to fight against such practices.”

Analysts warn unless this common property food resource is managed in a sustainable manner, there could be highly reduced numbers and market failure for the resource in the future.

They also recommend that government improves the property rights and institutional arrangements that govern the exploitation of mopane worms by supporting communities to establish indigenous natural resource management systems.

“It is important that government takes the harvesting of mopani as an important contributor to food and nutritional security of locals, and an important contributor to the gross domestic product,” said Effie Ncube.

“For that to happen authorities need to educate and train amacimbi harvesters and farmers to ensure it is done in an environmentally sustainable way.”

Ndodana Moyo, a villager in Kezi, however, feels authorities have let them down by giving free rein to “outsiders” to loot their resource.

“It is for this reason that you see some gold panners resorting to the use of machetes to defend their claims,” Moyo said.

“In our case, the outsiders have literally flooded our area and you cannot continue to have that kind of situation…eventually this will cause serious friction in the communities and we will end taking up arms to protect our resource from looting.”

Deputy Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Energy Mutodi has defended the government’s seizure of farms owned by former and current ZANU PF members considered to belong to the G40 faction .

Mutodi said there was nothing amiss in the sequestration of farms owned by Jonathan Moyo, Saviour Kasukuwere and Robert Zhuwawo as the intention is to ensure productivity.

Said Mutodi:
Government is taking back all underutilised and in some cases, abandoned agricultural land as we move forward to ensure food security in the country.

The names you have mentioned are former ministers who are in self-imposed exile and have neglected their farms.

We are facing critical shortages of maize, soya beans, oranges and other raw materials because several farms that used to be productive are now lying idle.
It is a clear government policy that such underutilised farms are repossessed by the government and subdivided to create smaller highly productive farm units.

Reports suggest that Mandiitawepi Chimene, Walter Mzembi and Kudzanai Chipanga’s farms are also in line for repossession as President Emmerson Mnangagwa goes for broke against his rivals.- The Standard

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF’s plan to unleash terror on opposition members has been exposed.

According to MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, Zanu PF is planning to abduct influential opposition members.

See statement below :

As despondent Zimbabweans brace for action to consign poverty and end their suffering, the Mnangagwa regime is planning to engage in nationwide terror tactics and abductions in a vain attempt to cow and intimidate a determined people
President Chamisa’s call for nationwide action has shaken the regime to the core.

The regime is now planning violence, night abductions and an assortment of terror tactics against innocent Zimbabweans in a vain attempt to stop an idea whose time has come.

The regime has now fallen into its default mode of violence.

Impeccable sources said the meeting held by JOC early this week had put in place elaborate plans to abduct and torture MDC leaders and party youths in the various townships in Harare so as to engender fear in the country in a desperate bid to stop Zimbabweans from engaging in peaceful action to express their displeasure at the parlous economic situation.

Here is a full list and winner and other nominees nominated in that category.

Best Female Artist of the Year

• Gemma Griffiths
• Tammy Moyo
• Shasha
• Ammara Brown
• Janet Manyowa

Best Male Artist of the Year

• Ishan
• Takura
• Asaph
• T Gonzi
• Freeman

Best Group/ Duo of the Year

• Fusion
• Firm Faith
• Vabati Vajehova
• Sinazo

Best Newcomer of the Year

• Ishan
• Joyfull Praise Choir (JPC)
• Mambo Dhuterere
• Garry Mapanzure

Best Album of the Year

• Gango – Freeman
• Franceesca – King98
• Mutare – Shasha
• Ramba Wakadzvanya – Baba Harare

Genre AwardsZimdancehall

• Freeman
• Ndunge Yut
• Enzo lshall
• Nutty O
• Bazooka

Sungura

• Nicholas Zachariah
• Mukoma Panga
• Peter Moyo
• Greatman

Hip Hop

• Takura
• T Gonzi
• King 98
• Asaph
• Cal_vin

Afropop

• Ishan
• Ammara Brown
• Rocki
• Tammy Moyo

Contemporary Gospel

• Janet Manyowa
• Minister Michael Mahendere
• Joyfull Praise Choir (JPC)
• Sharon Manyika

Traditional Gospel

• Mambo Dhuterere
• Mathias Mhere
• Rev TT Chivaviro
• Joyfull Praise Choir (JPC)

R&B & Soul

• Gemma Griffiths
• Brian Nhira
• Nyasha David
• Berita

Jazz

• Willis waTaffy
• Diana Samkange
• Vuyo Brown
• Sylent Nqo

Dance (House/Gqom/Kwaito/EDM)

• DJ Stavo
• Novuyo Seagirl
• Reverb 7
• Huby Blakes

Tshibilika

• Clement Magwaza
• Ndux Jnr
• Madlela Skhobokhobo
• Bolomba

Traditional Folk (Chinyakare/Chimurenga)

• Andy Muridzo
• Baba Harare
• Greatman
• Agga Nyabinde
• Diana Smkange

Traditional Folk (Ezomdabu/Imbube)

• Indosakusa
• Sotja Moyo
• Charles Mahlaba
• Ukukhanya Kwezwe

Best Alternative

• Sylent Nqo
• Vimbai Zimuto
• DJ Chrxn
• Huby Blakes

Special AwardsZim Icon – Retro Female

• Chiwoniso Maraire
• Busi Ncube
• Stella Chiweshe
• Susan Mapfumo

Zim Icon – Retro Male

• Simon Chimbetu
• Lovemore Majaivana
• Leonard Dembo
• Tongai Moyo

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Andy Brown

Best International Zim Artist

• Shasha
• Brian Nhira
• Queen Vee
• Buffalo Soldier

Best Collaboration

• ‘Mugarden’ – Winky D ft. Gemma
• ‘Ngaibake’ – Freeman ft. Alick Macheso
• ‘Kure’ – Ishan & Ti Gonzi
• ‘You Are More’ – Janet Manyowa ft. Nqubeko Mbata

Best DJ

• DJ Stavo
• Judgement Yard
• Gospel DJ Unlocked
• Reverb 7

Best Promoter

• Impala Car Rental
• Brai Out Zw
• 2Kings Entertainment
• Pablos

Best Corporate Sponsors

• Econet Wireless
• Delta Corporation
• Impala Car Rental
• United Refineries (Roil)

Technical AwardsBest Music Video

• ‘Ngaibake’ – Freeman ft. Alick Macheso
• ‘Ndimi’ – Janet Manyowa
• ‘Zvemoyo’ – Takura
• ‘Vavengi’ – Queen Vee

Videographer of the Year

• Umsebenzi Ka Blaqs
• Andy Cutter
• Simdoc Films
• Naxo Films

Producer of the Year

• Oskid
• Reverb 7
• Jamal
• Rodney Beats

Engineer of the Year

• GT Beats
• Rodney Beats
• Tammy Bhima
• Msizkay

Public Vote CategorySong of the Year

• ‘Murgaden’ – Winky D ft. Gemma Griffiths
• ‘Kure’ – Ishan & Ti Gonzi
• ‘Ngaibake’ – Freeman ft. Alick Macheso
• ‘Reurura’ – Seh Calaz & Mambo Duterere
• ‘Sadza neMuriwo’ – Jah Prayzah

A woman proven to be calling from dancer, Bev Sibanda’s husband’s UK home speaks to ZimEye offloading allegations that he has stolen her car and run away.

The below LIVE program follows verification checks by ZimEye showing that the caller is truly from Mr Mufudzi Chambuka’s home.

An earlier investigation by ZimEye Saturday, proved that what the state owned Herald, the H-Metro claimed that he is a medical doctor, is not true.

The damning allegations are uttered by the complainant whose name cannot be disclosed for ethical reasons.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent| Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa told party supporters af Stoddart grounds in Mbare last week that political dialogue should include the army, to avert the securocrats meddling in politics.

ZimEye ran a poll to establish whether Chamisa is right and if the army should be included in political dialogue.

According to the poll outcome so far, 74% of the respondents agree with Chamisa that the army should be players in the political dialogue while 15% are opposed to the idea. At least 5% of the respondents are at a crossroads and said they do not know whether the army should or should not be part of the dialogue. Another 6% prefer not to comment on the matter saying leave me out of it.

By Own Correspondent| Workers at Saviour Kasukuwere’s Concorpia Farm in Mazowe are concerned about their future following the government decision to withdraw its land offer letter to the exiled former cabinet minister.

Some of the workers are originally from Mozambique and face a bleak future if they are kicked out of the farm.

Kasukuwere told a local publication on Saturday that he will present a strong case to Lands minister Perrance on the developments he has made on the farm.

He said:

We will put our case to the minister in terms of what we are doing. We are doing cultivation on 120 hectares of land which we opened ourselves.

It initially just had citrus only, but we invested on centre pivots, opened the land for irrigation and brought in the water.

We did a lot and borrowed from financial companies. There were only two houses for workers and we have now built more to cater for more than 100 workers. The farm was just a small part of the estate and no one was using it.

Shiri last week wrote to Kasukuwere notifying him of the ministry’s intention to withdraw the land offer letter ostensibly for planning purposes

-Standard

AN expedition to harvest the much sought after mopani worms (amacimbi) almost turned tragic for a security guard employed at Whitewater High School in Matobo District, Matabeleland South, as he found himself wrestling with a leopard which he miraculously fended off by choking it.

Mr Abednigo Moyo of Halale Village, situated near the famous Njelele Shrine, used bare hands to wrestle and choke the big cat after it attacked him while he was harvesting amacimbi. His brother who had also accompanied him to the amacimbi expedition emerged from the bushes and finished off the vicious predator by axing it. So daring was Mr Moyo that his final technique to outfox the predator saw him shoving his hand into its mouth in an attempt to block its windpipe.

For all his efforts to save his life, he was, however, later arrested for poaching. He appeared before a Plumtree magistrate on Thursday last week facing charges of killing an endangered animal. He was remanded out of custody to 3 February on $300 bail.

Sunday News tracked Mr Moyo last week who narrated his near brush with death and how he fought the animal to its death. Mr Moyo said the incident happened on 13 January at Gumela Farm situated along the Bulawayo-Maphisa Growth Point Road.

“The day started well,” he recalled. “My brother Isaac, his wife and I went to Gumela Farm owned by Mr William Ncube and we sought permission to harvest amacimbi at his property, which we were granted.”

He said while they were harvesting the delicacy he heard his dogs barking and decided to go and investigate. At that point his brother and his wife were harvesting amacimbi on the other side of the farm. When I reached the area, it was a thicket and I could not see anything, my brother and his wife continued to harvest amacimbi,” said Mr Moyo.

He said he then decided to continue with harvesting but all of a sudden, he heard an unusual sound of something approaching from the thicket.

“Before I could even see or react, a leopard emerged charging towards me. I tried to run but it was too late, the predator attacked me and I don’t know how I gathered the strength and managed to grab it by the neck before it could savage me,” he said. Mr Moyo said, however, the grip was not strong and the leopard freed itself but it slipped and lost balance.

“I realised that if I don’t do something the animal would kill me. It was either I die fighting or I get mauled.”

He said when it opened its mouth ready to sink its teeth on him, he shoved his hand into its mouth and grabbed its windpipe. “It was painful because at the same time, the leopard was biting my hand but I was choking it from inside while the other hand was fending off its claws. I was also screaming at the same time. The struggle went on for a minute or two and I could see the animal was also losing power from the choke,” he said. Mr Moyo said his brother heard him screaming and rushed to investigate. “When Isaac arrived, the leopard was already losing strength. He then axed it and that is how I managed to eventually free myself. It died and we left it there,” he said.  Mr Moyo was rushed to Natisa Clinic for treatment.

“I called at my workplace and told them what had happened and after that I went to Natisa Clinic where I was given some injections and the wounds were stitched. It was not serious because that same night I managed to report for work,” he said.

But his woes were not yet over despite the heroics to save his life. “In the morning rangers came to my homestead and arrested me and my brother for poaching. The rangers were carrying the skin of the leopard and told us that we had killed an animal classified as an endangered specie and we were taken to the police. It is the law but I wonder what else I could have done under such circumstances. The issue was either I get killed to save the endangered leopard or fight for my life.”

His brother is also out on $300 bail.

Strive Masiyiwa has thanked all doctors who accepted his offer and returned to work.

The UK-based billionaire gave the update through his Facebook page on Friday. HigherLife Foundation founder Strive Masiyiwa said 1 504 doctors have accepted the offer that he made last year, and expanded this year, for them to call off a debilitating strike that had crippled Zimbabwe’s health sector.

Below is Masiyiwa’s update:

#Update on Zimbabwe’s doctors: As many of you know, my wife and I renewed our offer to the striking Zimbabwean public hospital doctors. The offer closed this evening, and we have been stunned by the response:

1 504 doctors completed the forms, as well as the Resumption of Work process. I had no idea there were that many doctors involved! They have all gone back to work!

This brings the total number of doctors that will be back at work next week to 1866 [including the 362 who accepted the original offer] According to reports I received entire wards at major hospitals, and even entire clinics were re-opening today. That is just remarkable! A miracle!

I really want to extend my own gratitude to these doctors, I know it has not been easy for them. And I’m the first to agree that’s this is not where they want to be.

As part of our foundation’s initiatives we also extended the Free Transport to both doctors and nurses, using Vaya Commuter Shuttles, for another six m

onths. Vaya is also making Free Water Deliveries to 19 hospitals and clinics on a weekly basis.

I really want to urge the relevant authorities to re-engage on this issue and find a satisfactory, and long term, sustainable solution. Meanwhile, I want to also appeal to every member of our society in Zimbabwe, to remember that these are Community Hospitals, and they serve everyone.

This morning I spoke to some church leaders who are keen to help with things like food for doctors and patients. I think this would be a great start. If you are a member of a church why not get involved:

Let’s approach this with the spirit of Cyclone Idai Disaster Response. We need food, blankets, and other forms of support. Everyone has something to offer. Let’s do this.

Strive Masiyiwa

State Media|Syndicates operating illegal backyard abortion “clinics” are using knitting needles, spoons, dishwashing liquid, dangerous pills and assorted concoctions to terminate pregnancies of young, vulnerable and scared women.

An abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so that it does not result in the birth of a baby. Some of these terminations fail, thereby posing serious health risks to those that attempt to abort.

These backyard abortions are putting the lives of hundreds of women at risk, while a lot more are dying and suffering in silence because of the stigma associated with them. Victims often refrain from seeking medical help until it is too late to remedy the damage.

Last week, The Sunday Mail Society conducted an in-depth investigation into the vice which seems to have reached alarming levels in Harare.

The entry point into the investigation was Mercy Tsivo (not her real name), who lives in Harare’s Kuwadzana high-density suburb. As we sat down with her, there was a hint of pain in her captivating smile. Beneath that smile is a layered story of abuse and exploitation by her boyfriend.

But to get her full story, it is important we start from the beginning.

The 19-year-old was nearly four months pregnant when she decided to get rid of the pregnancy. However, she could not go to the hospital as an abortion without compelling reasons is illegal in this country.

Her only solution was a backyard abortion.

She vividly describes the agonising pain she endured when she tried to clandestinely terminate the pregnancy through an illegal abortionist in Mbare.

“When the pain started, I called him and begged him for help because I was bleeding so much. The pain became more and more severe. I could not sit or stand, or lie down. I could not move. He told me not to contact him again, as it was not his problem. He told me to go to the hospital if I had problems. After that, I never got hold of him again,” said Tsivo.

She almost bled to death, with pieces of her uterus in her blood, when she was found by her friends.

Ever since that fateful day, Tsivo is still bleeding. She emits an unpleasant smell.

What was meant to be a simple procedure turned out to be a nightmare — things went awfully wrong at the backyard “clinic”.

“I was haemorrhaging to death from that botched abortion. They first gave me a prescription drug called Cytotec. After a while, I felt an excruciating pain that tore through my spine,” she said.

Cytotec, according to medical experts, is a medication used to prevent and treat stomach ulcers, start labour or cause an abortion, among other things.

“They then used forceps to open my cervix. They dug the foetus out using a spoon and a knitting needle, it was agonising but I had no choice,” she said, adding that she still feels that something is still inside of her womb.

Tsivo is one of the thousands of women across the country who constantly navigate the hazards associated with illegal backyard abortion “clinics” that are thriving in Harare.

Clandestine backstreet “clinics” offering illegal abortions are one of the prime causes of unnecessary maternal deaths across Africa, statistics have shown.

The lack of facilities for safe procedures makes the statistics even worse.

Network of abortionists

“Street doctors” and traditional healers, who trade at the famous Mupedzanhamo Market in Mbare, are at the heart of this gory business. They are the chief suppliers of concoctions, which they believe completely terminate pregnancies. They also work with unscrupulous doctors, bringing together a coterie of operatives and runners from the major hospitals.

Information gathered by The Sunday Mail Society shows that some doctors at Zimbabwe’s major referral hospitals are facilitating the unlawful termination of unwanted pregnancies using prescription drugs.

One of the infamous drug is popularly known as chigeza mudumbu. It is largely believed to be Cytotec. Illegal street doctors are cashing in on the tablets that have now flooded the market.

Their operations bring together runners and middlemen such as traditional healers, “street doctors”, accredited health practitioners and even hairdressers, who are cashing in on the growing demand. Sources said health practitioners from public hospitals are the major players in the thriving backyard abortions market.

Some are now even renting apartments in the Avenues, where the abortions take place, an indication that demand for their services is high.

In case the procedure does not go according to plan, the syndicates smuggle their patients into health centres for treatment.

Pretending to be in need of help, The Sunday Mail Society team was directed to Matapi Flats where we met a woman who would help an “imaginary girlfriend” to abort her five-months pregnancy.

She demanded US$12 for the pills (chigeza mudumbu).

Another dealer that we met at Fife Avenue Shopping Centre said they used pills such as Misoprostol to induce pre-term labour and abortion.

“We get them from our ‘doctor friends’. We source some of them from pharmacies at a much cheaper price. We then resell the drugs for US$12. For our services, we charge US$20,” she said.

There are two ways to terminate pregnancy — either through taking the prescription drugs or through a minor surgical procedure.

Doctors say a medical abortion involves taking pills (the abortion pill), usually 24 to 48 hours apart, to induce a miscarriage.

The surgical abortion is when a pregnant woman goes through a procedure to terminate the pregnancy.

Abortions at private clinics cost an arm and a leg, ranging from US$150 to US$300. This is probably why many are opting for the backyard abortion “clinics”.

‘Unsafe abortion is life threatening’

Sometimes illegal providers overdose women, giving them mixtures of laxatives, aspirin and medication used for stomach-related ailments.

At times, backyard doctors remove the foetus using household equipment like wire hangers and fire tongs.

However, once they have taken their victims’ money, they usually disappear. Most of them cannot be tracked or traced as they change phone numbers and locations.

A Harare specialist doctor and gynaecologist, Dr Alfred Nyoni, said most women are resorting to backyard abortions because of poverty.

“There are more girls who are resorting to illegal abortions because of poverty. Most of them lack proper information on birth control pills, hence the unwanted pregnancies,” he said.

Added Dr Nyoni: “Some of these women risk psychological trauma, womb infections, life-threatening bleeding and infertility. The illegal abortion industry is huge and women are losing their lives due to unsterile operations performed by individuals with no medical knowledge.

“For those that use these unsafe methods, the life-threatening consequences include severe haemorrhage, sepsis (severe general infection), poisoning, uterine perforation or damage to other internal organs. Urgently admitted to hospital, a woman may need a blood transfusion, major reparative surgery, or a hysterectomy — a complete and irreversible removal of the uterus,” said Dr Nyoni.

He also said although some women are able to access black market drugs, they may still suffer complications due to poor drug quality, incorrect dosages or inadequate information, or a combination of these.

The law on abortion

While abortion is illegal and controversial in Zimbabwe — a largely Christian nation — more than 60 000 women still undergo unsafe terminations each year, thereby risking death from haemorrhage, infection or shock.

This is according to the healthcare provider Marie Stopes International, headquartered in South Africa.

The Termination of Pregnancy Act stipulates that termination of a foetus is only legal when the life of the mother and her physical health is threatened or when there is a risk that the child will be born with physical or mental defects of such a nature that the child will be permanently

or seriously handicapped.

Those who break the law can be jailed for five years.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care Dr Ruth Labode has called on the Health Ministry to revisit the Termination of Pregnancy Act with a view to expanding its scope so that young people and those suffering from debilitating health conditions such as diabetes and HIV/Aids can be allowed to abort.

Late last year, Family Health director in the Health and Child Care Ministry, Dr Bernard Madzima, said statistics from previous researches show that 16 percent of maternal deaths are due to unsafe abortions.

Half of the figures occur among adolescents.

The 2016 national adolescent fertility study by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council showed that nine percent of adolescents between 10 and 19 years had fallen pregnant.

These pregnancies sometimes end in unsafe abortions, reads part of the report.

Campaigners say a comprehensive evaluation of the Termination of Pregnancy Act is required in order to save lives.

According to the United Nations, Zimbabwe’s maternal mortality rate of 443 deaths per 100 000 live births is triple that of neighbouring South Africa, where abortion is legal.

State Media|FORMER Child President and Goromonzi High School student, Innocent Chikwanda, scored 17 points in the 2019 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Advanced Level examinations.

Innocent wrote four subjects. These were Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics.

He said he now wants to study Electrical Engineering.

“I have always had a passion for Mathematics and got encouragement from my father, who was also good in the subject,” he said.

“Through my hard work and passion, I managed to do well in both school and as Child President. I never mixed the two.”

Commenting on the education system, Innocent said he was grateful for everything he was taught.

He said he was well equipped to face the job market with the skills he acquired through both the Junior Parliament and the education system.

Asked if he had any ambitions of ever getting into mainstream politics, the former Child President said his career would not revolve around politics.

He said politics is earthly, adding that he was a God-fearing young man who constantly read the Bible for guidance.

“Jesus Christ is my role model, I like listening to gospel music,” he said.

Chikwanda says if he were to be given the power to amend any law in Zimbabwe, he would amend the Marriage Act. He said he would love to see any adult who marries a minor being sentenced to at least 12 years in prison.

During his days at Goromonzi High, Innocent played handball and chess. He also participated in debate and public speaking.

The young man is grateful for his parents’ love.

He wished the current Junior Parliamentarians well in their exams.

“They should prioritise the important things in life, that is school. They were students before they became Junior Parliamentarians, therefore, first things first. They must not forget that being a Junior Parliamentarian is just a phase, it will pass.”

State Media|Implementation of healing measures for victims of civil disturbances that rocked parts of Midlands and Matabeleland provinces in the early 1980s is set to receive a fresh boost when Government meets a coalition of local civic groups early next month.

It is understood that authorities are convening a meeting with the Matabeleland Collective and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) to review and stimulate the implementation of healing measures agreed to during an initial meeting in Bulawayo last year.

In April, Government met the Matabeleland Collective and agreed on measures to ensure healing among victims of civil disturbances that rocked parts of the provinces, in what has become to be known as Gukurahundi.

Resolutions from the meeting included ceding ownership of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project to locals, issuing of civic documents to surviving children of victims of the disturbances and exhumation of the deceased.

Government also committed to facilitate restorative justice measures, making good of President Mnangagwa’s promise that his administration would not shy from confronting the ugly past.

Now authorities are seeking to accelerate the implementation of the agreed interventions, which are being hampered by funding constraints and official bureaucracy.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs secretary Mrs Virginia Mabiza told The Sunday Mail that the meeting will assess progress made so far as well as look for ways to fast track implementation of the outstanding resolutions.

“As Government, we are alive to the fact that some of the items we agreed to last year remain outstanding,” said Mrs Mabiza.

“We will soon be convening a follow-up meeting to revisit the agreed implementation matrix and challenges hindering progress and implementation of some of the resolutions that we agreed on.

“Early February, we are going to have a follow-up meeting to iron out the outstanding issues such as issuance of birth certificates and exhumations that have not taken off the ground owing to a number of challenges.

“We will look at ways to jump-start implementation of those resolutions which are still outstanding and hope that can be done in the shortest possible period.

“The meeting will include the NPRC, the Matabeleland Collective and other stakeholders from the region including churches, religious and traditional leaders.

“As Government, we have shown our commitment in line with the President’s pledge to ensure there is national healing, cohesion and unity, .”

During the last meeting, Government committed to provide medical assistance for those injured during the disturbances.

Further resolutions being implemented at the national level include devolution of Government power and authority, promotion of local languages and engagement between the State and NGOs.

Matabeleland Collective co-ordinator Jenni Williams said: “Matabeleland Collective are aware that President E. D. Mnangagwa has agreed to engage stakeholders in Bulawayo mid-February 2020.

“The Collective are advised that the business of the meeting is to seek a consensus position on how Government will address Gukurahundi and unlock healing.

“Matabeleland Collective will fully participate in this consensus-building and is prepared to work with all organisations, stakeholders, traditional leaders and faith-based organisations so as to chart specific steps that need to be taken.

“The Collective call on all stakeholders to ensure they attend the consultations and consensus-building meetings so that Matabeleland has a strong voice for healing, equalisation and increased development of our region.”

Mrs Williams said implementation of some of the resolutions from last year’s meeting had been slow or non-existent in some instances.

She said Government’s proposed extension of the women’s quota in Parliament through a constitutional amendment, as resolved during last year’s meeting was a welcome development.

She added: “We have, however, been happy with continued engagement with Water Ministry on the taking over of the Zambezi project albeit at a very slow pace causing concern to our potential investors.”

Some members of the Matabeleland Collective however told ZimEye.com that the grouping has since nearly disbanded accusing Williams of running away with the project and turning it into her own organisation.

The members claimed that since the last meeting with Mnangagwa, things within the Collective have not been well with claims that “dirty funds” have been flying from Harare to Williams and a section of the Collective loyal to her.

Williams is further accused of going behind the backs of other members and registered the Collective as a Trust under her directorship.

The members claim that the entire leadership of the Collective resigned from holding office after the infamous meeting with Mnangagwa and Williams is said to be running the Collective on her own.

Some further claimed that they were not aware of the upcoming meeting with Mnangagwa indicating that noble as it may sound they will be boycotting the meeting unless an urgent General Meeting is held to sort out their internal issues.