Four teachers from Chingele Secondary School in Chiredzi have been suspended after it had been disclosed that they wrote ZIMSEC examinations for their wives and or girlfriends.

This was after investigations by a team from Zimsec in Harare found out that the schoolhead Mike Maluleke allegedly connived with his deputy Checkson Tsumele, mathematics teacher Roddington Sithole and English teacher Misheck Mahungu to write the examinations on behalf of their girlfriends at home.

“Four teachers (head, deputy and two senior teachers) were involved in improper association with schoolchildren and former schoolchildren. These four were writing examinations for the eight candidates while one teacher was writing for his second wife. Combined Science paper 3 ( practical paper) examination was written in more than two hours and no proper supervision was in place, and candidates were even discussing answers in the examination,” Dlamini said.

The development was confirmed by ZIMSEC spokesperson, Nicky Dlamini who said that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, through the Public Service Commission suspended the four teachers. He said:

Four teachers (head, deputy and two senior teachers) were involved in improper association with schoolchildren and former schoolchildren. These four were writing examinations for the eight candidates while one teacher was writing for his second wife. Combined Science paper 3 ( practical paper) examination was written in more than two hours and no proper supervision was in place, and candidates were even discussing answers in the examination.

The suspended are school head Mike Maluleke, his deputy Checkson Tsumele, mathematics teacher Roddington Sithole and English teacher Misheck Mahungu.

Dlamini also said that nine candidates will have all their results for the November session nullified as per the provisions of the Zimsec policy and combined science results for the whole school have also been cancelled.

ZIMSEC has over the years experienced the leakage of examination papers prompting some to doubt the credibility, validity and reliability of the results.

Source: NewsDay

State Media|The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) is struggling to repay the loan acquired from the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) to upgrade the Plumtree-Bulawayo -Mutare Highway due to prevailing foreign currency shortages.

This has resulted in a series of defaults, which will see the country paying much more.

This also comes at a time when the national road administrator has appointed an advisor to assess this contract entered into under Public Private Partnerships to evaluate the impact.

Zimbabwe awarded Group Five, a South African firm to rehabilitate the 882 kilometre highway, which began in 2012 and funded to the tune of US$206 million.

The scope of works on the rehabilitation of the highway, which started during the inclusive Government era between Zanu-PF and two MDC formations, involved 50 percent resealing, 29 percent shoulder widening and surfacing (7m to 10m), 21 percent reconstruction in some sections and 9 percent state-of-the-art toll gates installation.

The Plumtree-Bulawayo-Mutare Highway upgrade is probably one of the huge road investments undertaken by the Government since independence nearly 40 years ago.

Under the deal, the money for loan repayment should come from toll gate fees collections.

But the prevailing foreign currency shortages has seen ZINARA struggling to repay.

It is a 10-year loan, which should be fully repaid in the next two years, but due to a series of defaults, Zimbabwe will need more years to settle the debt.

More so, the country is left to pay huge penalties arising from failure to timely settle its obligations.

The adoption of mono-currency has also made the situation even more complicated as ZINARA now needs more local dollars to butt the US dollars.

The deal was entered during the multi-currency regime dominated by the US dollar.

Critics, however, say this might not be peculiar to ZINARA as some State-owned entities, which borrowed money from foreign financiers to fund their projects may also be struggling to settle their debts in light of forex shortages.

For instance, ZESA received a US$533 million from China to expand its Kariba hydroelectric plant but has been facing forex challenges even to import power to narrow the supply gap.

ZINARA chairman Michel Madanha told our sister paper The Sunday Mail Business that the only source of foreign currency are transit fees, not sufficient to meet its monthly obligations.

As such, the national road administrator was looking at re-negotiating repayment terms.

“The assessment of the deal is still being undertaken by the transactional advisor contracted by ZINARA and it is coming at a time when the sourcing of foreign currency to pay the DBSA loan has become difficult given foreign currency challenges in the economy,” Mr Madanha said in an interview.

“Loan repayment is currently coming from the transit fees, which is the only source of foreign currency.”

Asked whether the arrangement was yielding impressive dividends for the country, Madanha said:

“The assessment on whether the PPP is yielding dividends to the country is what the new ZINARA board and new management team are seized with .

ZINARA has engaged the transactional advisor to assess all contracts that gave rise to the PPP and evaluate whether it has achieved the intended purpose that was there at the inception of the contract.”

Efforts to get a comment from DBSA proved fruitless.

Correspondent|FINANCE and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday said Government was seized with addressing salaries for civil servants and the issue will be solved in a few weeks’ time. The Government last week offered civil servants a 100 percent pay rise, in a move that will result in the least-paid worker taking home $2 033, up from $1 023 per month.

However, civil servants rejected the offer.

They continued demanding that their salaries be pegged on the interbank rate, with the lowest-paid worker getting the equivalent of US$475 monthly.

“We are negotiating with civil servants against the vagaries of inflation,” said Minister Ncube.

“Those negotiations are making progress. When negotiating there can be disagreements and that is normal. But we as the employer, we are going to make sure there is a decent salary for civil servants.

“We appreciate the work that they do and also we are going to honour that by this cushioning allowance. It is our expectation that we come to some agreement in the next few weeks so that we can move forward.”

More than 15 civil servants’ associations and eight staff associations met in Harare yesterday to receive feedback on Government’s position on last week’s meeting.

In an interview after the meeting, Public Service Association president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said civil servant’s representatives met and disagreed with the Government offer.

“They said they are incapacitated, hence there is need to peg their salaries equivalent to US$475 at the interbank rate for the minimum worker,” she said.

“We will continue to engage the Government until our demands are met.”

An economic analyst, Mr Persistence Gwanyanya, said while experts were fully convinced about the need to improve the remuneration of civil servants in line with the rising cost of living, that should be in line with the major objectives to achieve low and stable inflation.

“Now, pegging salaries against the interbank rate does not achieve this as it’s likely to result in wage price spiral,” he said.

“This will take us back to the hyperinflation period of 2008. What this means is we should understand that we are in a transition and we can’t achieve all goals at once. We need logical sequencing of interventions.”

Mr Gwanyanya said ideally, salaries should be increased, but not to the extent of pegging them to a set US dollar figure paid out at the interbank rate.

He said Government and labour should agree with a level of salary increase that achieves the major objective of low and stable inflation whilst improving the standard of living of civil servants.

“The subsidies model currently in place has to be effectively implemented to reduce the cost of living,” said Mr Gwanyanya.

“That is where Government can provide an acceptable excuse not to increase salaries in line with the interbank rate.”

Source: State Media

THE Meteorological Service Department (MSD) yesterday warned people to brace for more thunderstorms this week.

In a statement, the MSD said Matabeleland North, Midlands, north of Manicaland, Harare Metropolitan and all Mashonaland provinces will be mostly cloudy and will experience rain showers followed by thunder and lightning.

“Localised heavy falls remain probable. On the other hand, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, Masvingo and south of Manicaland should be mostly sunny with isolated light showers that may be thundery in places,” the MSD statement said.

The MSD said rains will not be uniform with some areas expected to experience heavy downpours while others will receive showers or no rainfall.

In cases of thunderstorms, the department urged people to avoid seeking shelter under trees or shades and to avoid outdoor activities.

The department also urged people to get rid of mosquito breeding grounds.

“Mosquitoes proliferate during this season, any areas that allow stagnation of water become breeding grounds for these vectors and people should fumigate possible mosquito breeding grounds within your vicinity,” read the statement.

Own Correspondent|Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday issued government employees with surprise “cushioning allowances,” at a time when most of the workers are formulating a crippling industrial action.

Civil servants will each get between $400 and $800, depending on grades, beginning today as a once off payment.

“We appreciate the work that they do and also we are going to honour that by this cushioning allowance. It is our expectation that we come to some agreement in the next few weeks so that we can move forward.”

Minister Ncube said the Government was going to repeat what happened last year when civil servants were awarded cushioning allowances and adjustments constantly.

“Last year we did it twice during the year,” he said.

“We had a cushioning allowance and then had another adjustment in April last year, another adjustment in July and a bonus in November. So, this year again, we will follow a similar pattern with multiple points to cushion civil servants.”

More than 15 civil servants’ associations and eight staff associations met in Harare yesterday to receive feedback on Government’s position on last week’s meeting.

In an interview after the meeting, Public Service Association president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said civil servant’s representatives met and disagreed with the Government salary review offer.

State Media|Live streaming of court proceedings in cases of public interest will now be a permanent feature as the Judiciary moves to promote transparency and accountability.

Speaking during the official opening of the 2020 Legal Year in Harare yesterday, Chief Justice Luke Malaba admitted that Zimbabwe has been slow in introducing live broadcasts.

He told the gathering, including judges and lawyers, the diplomatic corps and high-ranking Government officials who attended the traditional opening ceremony that the live streaming of the 2018 presidential poll petition marked a new era for the country’s Judiciary.

“It demonstrated our Judiciary’s commitment to upholding the values of transparency and accountability,” said Chief Justice Malaba.

“In that case, I noted that live broadcast of court proceedings promotes transparency and public confidence in the justice system.”

Other cases of public interest have since been broadcast live from the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Malaba said the broadcast of court proceedings is inescapable in the administration of justice.

“Few people are able to attend court proceedings at any given time, yet cases of public interest affect more than the litigants before the courts.

“They also affect the interests of a large section of society,” he said.

“Many reasons explain this. One of the most common impediments is the location of the court. For instance, the Constitutional Court only sits in Harare, yet people from all corners of the country are invariably interested in the proceedings before that court.

“This results in operations of courts being considered as secretive by the public.

“As a result, the ordinary man and woman may view the decisions of the courts with suspicion.

“The public have the opportunity to observe first-hand court proceedings as they unfold,” he said.

“They have the opportunity to learn how courts function in the process of hearing and adjudicating disputes between citizens on the one hand and citizens and the State on the other.”

The Chief Justice, however, said fear of sensationalism is allayed through strict regulation of the broadcasting process so as to protect the dignity of the proceedings.

“This trajectory is intended to foster public trust and confidence in the court system by debunking the myth that court proceedings are esoteric and that courts want to mask their decisions,” he said.

Own Correspondent|MEMBERS of a 40-member machete gang which invaded a police base in Gokwe North in an attempt to rescue their arrested counterparts, have been denied bail.

Gokwe magistrate Mr Musaiona Shortgame remanded the gang to 22 January for trial.

Mr Shortgame said the gang members were facing a serious crime and are flight risks if released on bail.

“The court has proved beyond doubt that there are compelling reasons as to why the accused should remain in custody. The court concurred with the State submissions that the case against the accused persons was strong and that may induce them to abscond if released,” said Mr Shortgame.

He said their release may also endanger the safety of the public.

Their defence counsel Mr Tinashe Matiyashe of Matiyashe Law Chambers argued that his clients were not flight risks since they were Gokwe residents.

But the State led by Mr Liberty Chimwaradze argued that the case should not be taken lightly since the accused posed a threat to national security.

“These are people of no fixed abode who are likely to do anything, your Honour, they are likely to abscond. I therefore pray to this court to detain the accused persons in custody,” said Mr Chimwaradze.

The gang is definitely set not to have it easy at the courts as government has adopted a tough stance against the lawless machete thugs taking over the country.

The National Prosecuting Authority recently ordered all courts to be firm when handling cases involving the thugs.

“We have noted with concern the upsurge in the number of cases of violence involving the use of machetes, especially by illegal artisanal miners. In a bid to stamp out the scourge, you are hereby directed to oppose bail and to request custodial sentences in the event of any convictions in all such cases,” wrote Justin Uladi, the National Director of Public Prosecutions.

Speaking at the opening of the 2020 Legal Year yesterday, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said special courts have been set up countrywide to deal specifically with organised machete gang attackers that are terrorising citizens, especially in gold mining areas, and show the Judiciary had capacity to fight crime and enforce the law.

The specialised courts are expected to clamp down speedily and decisively on the machete gang menace following grisly murders, including that of a Kadoma police officer, robberies and vicious assaults.

Machete gangs have become a major force in gold-rich mining towns like Kwekwe, Kadoma, Bindura and Chegutu, where they are killing and sexually abusing gold miners and civilians.

They have also moved into some towns and cities.

Chief Justice Malaba strongly warned rogue elements behind the wave of machete and knife violence.

“As we speak, the country is gripped by another spate of violence perpetrated by the so-called machete gangs,” he said.

“The Judiciary acknowledges the work being undertaken by law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators of that violence to book.

“May I assure the nation that the courts stand ready to decisively deal with those accused of these offences in accordance with the law. Special courts to specifically try the cases have been set up in all affected areas across the country. I call upon all stakeholders in the administration of justice to make concerted efforts to end this problem.”

Chief Justice Malaba said institutions mandated to protect citizens could not sit back and watch while a few rogue elements terrorised the nation for their selfish benefits.

Own Correspondent|Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube has agreed on a unique deal with China where Chinese investing in Zimbabwe will be allowed to take back to China in foreign currency all the profits they will have generated in the country.

“One issue that has been of concern is we need to make sure there is full repatriation of profits. The returns are guaranteed so we make sure the accounts remain in hard currency or are guaranteed to be so. Those are the issues that will allow us to unlock more resources from China.

“China is the leader in the world in terms of strategies for developing infrastructure and we want to learn from them. There is a lot of resources to tap in terms of infrastructure development,” he said.

Minister Ncube said due to the difficulties of having to service debts and liabilities for Chinese investments into Zimbabwe, they had entered into a currency swap arrangement deal.

“There are those who will be investing in Zimbabwe from China and those who require their profits to be remitted back to China, which is normal. The idea is those individuals will then swap so that those investing in Zimbabwe will be able to have the domestic currency and they use foreign currency which they are bringing to invest in Zimbabwe to pay those who are exiting.

“This will do with any country that has a similar relationship as Zimbabwe. But with China specifically, we have this special relationship and the Chinese Government has approved this currency swap. It will strengthen our capacity to honour our liabilities with China and also attract new investors from China,” he said.

Minister Ncube said the currency swap had been approved and was only awaiting implementation.

Mthuli Ncube’s flashy proposal already appears difficult to understand as China’s heavy involvement in any country, words like “exploited” and “corrupted” replace rosier depictions of the country’s activity. Recently, phrases such as “human rights abuses,” “volatile race relations,” “unsustainable trade,” and “labor violations” have resonated with most Chinese companies in the country leaving one wondering how the deal Mthuli Ncube is pushing will survive.

On the sale of State enterprises, he said they had not discussed the issue with Mr Wang, but he was of the view that any bidder globally or locally was free to bid or express interest for Zimbabwe’s partial privatisation of its assets.

Source: State Media

Own Correspondent|Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Wang Yi completed his his five-nation Africa tour yesterday with a meeting with on leave President Mnangagwa at State House.

Mr Wang left for China after the meeting.

President Mnangagwa confirmed that they had a meeting which he called fruitful though he had to come out of his leave to meet the Minister instead of delegating Acting President Constantino Chiwenga to do the task.

“He is very happy that we had the occasion to go over our relations between China and Zimbabwe on all issues and he goes back home satisfied that our relations are on a solid foundation.

“What remains is further consolidation and deepening those relations. We scaled up relations in September 2019 from all-weather friendship between the two countries to a strategic comprehensive partnership. We, as Zimbabwe, are happy with our relations with China,” said President Mnangagwa.

In a statement, issued from the Chinese Embassy in Harare yesterday, Wang said China and Zimbabwe had achieved fruitful results and were facing important opportunities under the guidance of Presidents Xi Jinping and Mnangagwa.

He said his discussions with Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo were fruitful and confirmed that consensus was reached on a lot of important issues.

“First, China-Zimbabwe friendship is unbreakable. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zimbabwe. Over the past 40 years, Sino-Zimbabwe friendship has withstood the test of strong winds and waves and has always been unswerving.

“Among others, the most fundamental experience is mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual support. China supports the efforts of the Zimbabwe people to safeguard its national sovereignty and national dignity, and supports its independent choice of a path to development in line with its national conditions.

“We also appreciate the fact that Zimbabwe has made its relations with China a diplomatic priority, and we thank Zimbabwe for its valuable support in relation to China’s core interests. We are willing to be good friends, good partners and good brothers with Zimbabwe forever.”

Mr Wang said China and Zimbabwe were at an important point of national development and rejuvenation and the two countries had to adhere to the concept of win-win cooperation, continue to carry out good cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, mining and actively expand new growth areas.

“As a good friend of Zimbabwe, we are also willing to actively provide policy advice in accordance with the wishes of the Zimbabwe people, and share the experience of the Chinese side. The joint construction of the “Belt and Road Initiative” and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum are two major platforms for promoting Sino-Zimbabwe cooperation, and will provide an important driving force for Zimbabwe’s economic and social development,” he said.

Mr Wang said China advocated equality among countries and opposed the use of strength over the weak.

A MAN from Inyathi in Bubi District, Matabeleland North province who allegedly ganged up with his mother and fatally struck his father with an axe before the woman attempted to conceal the murder, has been arrested.

Musawenkosi Ncube (18) who had been on the run after allegedly axing his father Mr Sipho Ncube (42) more than a week ago, a crime his mother Beauty Ncube (40) allegedly tried to cover up, was arrested at the weekend.

Mr Ncube died at Mpilo Central Hospital last Wednesday due to injuries sustained during the attack.

Beauty allegedly attempted to conceal the murder by giving a false report to the police that the deceased was injured after he fell on a rake.

Beauty and Musawenkosi of Mahlabathini village jointly appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nomasiko Ndlovu facing a murder charge and they were remanded in custody to January 30.

Prosecuting, Mr George Rufumoyo said on January 5, the deceased and his wife had a misunderstanding in which Mr Ncube accused Beauty of engaging in an extra-marital affair with another man.

“The dispute degenerated into a fight resulting in the deceased striking Beauty on the head with a harrow,” said Mr Rufumoyo.

The court heard that when Musawenkosi discovered that his mother was under attack, he picked an axe and allegedly struck his father once on the head.

Beauty hit the deceased once on the ribs.

The deceased died three days later at Mpilo Central Hospital where he had been admitted.

It is alleged that Beauty tried to cover up the crime by allegedly lying that her husband was drunk and fell onto a rake.State media

Farai Dziva|Zimbabwean teachers are now earning the equivalent of US $35 per month.

See below Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union statement :
The over 5 000 members of Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ have unanimously resolved to desist from reporting for duty until the salary dispute is fixed.

The teachers are severely incapacitated since they are earning an equivalent of US$35 per month.

The proposed increment by the government falls way below the legitimate expectations of the hard-working teachers.

Teachers are demanding a United States dollar interbank rate indexed salaries.

The 97% offer by the government comes at a time when government services have been hiked by over 500%.

Government is even charging some of its services in United States dollars, for example, an emergency passport fee of US$318 from RTGS$ 318. We are simply asking to be accommodated into the national economy.

Government last paid teachers a full salary in September 2018, we have been earning 7% of the last negotiated income. Attempts to engage the government have been futile since then.

The employer has been calling for endless pity parties which have not yielded any positive result. Countless petitions have been submitted but no favourable response has been received as yet.

An ordinary teacher salary cannot fend for food, shelter, transport, education and health care. Teachers cannot afford transport to go back to work.

Our members stationed at far-flung schools like
Gokwe but domiciled in
Manicaland , for example, cannot make it back to work under these circumstances. Such a member would fork out RTGS$ 700 for transport alone.

School fees are now beyond the reach of teachers and teachers cannot afford the service they provide. It is rumoured that parents are now incentivizing teachers to report for duty, it should be noted that rural communities cannot afford to pay these incentives.

The responsibility for providing education solely lies on the shoulders of the government, other actors can only play a supporting role.
Our recently convened congress resolved to deploy our leadership to engage the Joint Operations Command, (JOC) to avert the victimization of teachers by state agents.

We warn the government and school administrators to refrain from the sick culture of targeting teachers who are tabling genuine labour grievances. We will pursue all remedies to put an end to this debauchery.
We encourage the government to urgently pay teachers a living wage to save our education from collapse. The pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals is derailed by the underfunding of critical sectors like education.

Teachers will not pretend to be teaching under these untenable conditions lest we hazard destroying the future of our learners and our nation. The drop in 2019 grade 7 pass rates is a clear testimony of erosion of the quality of our education.

We call upon like-minded sister unions and the broader working class to join this noble fight aimed at rescuing our education.

Parents are encouraged to keep their children at home, there will be no teachers to attend to the learners at school.-ARTUZ

Farai Dziva|Chief Justice Luke Malaba has called for transparency and accountability in the judiciary system.

He made the remarks at the official opening of the 2020 legal year.

See part of his statement below :
A system of accountability is executed through various mechanisms and reforms that ensure openness. The two concepts are mutually inclusive.

Unless there is accountability, transparency is of little value. In the same vein, without transparency it becomes impossible to hold public officials to account.

Transparency is a priceless prerequisite for any modern judiciary. It operates as a mechanism of governance, administration and management by the Judiciary.

It allows for control and participation by citizens in public matters. The administration of justice by the courts is one such public matter. Public power is exercised by the judiciary on behalf of the citizens.

Transparency and accountability foster within the public a sense of ownership and trust in government.

The concepts reinforce the notion that judicial officers are employees of the people.

Public decision-making processes ought to reflect the will of the people. It is for this reason that section 162 of the Constitution provides that judicial authority derives from the people of Zimbabwe.

In that regard, citizens are major stakeholders in the business of the courts. The courts must therefore, from time to time, account to the citizens on how they are performing their functions.

Such is the importance of transparency and accountability that the preamble to the Constitution lists them amongst the values which need to be entrenched to guide institutions of the State at every level in the discharge of constitutional obligations. The preamble states that there is “the need to entrench democracy, good, transparent and accountable governance and the rule of law”.
The concepts of transparency and accountability exist as indispensable components of democratic governance. Democratic governance, simply put, entails the system by which government and its institutions operate according to democratic processes and norms.

Transparency and accountability are crucial in the maintenance of a sustainable relationship of reciprocity and trust that must exist between the government and its people.

From this viewpoint, the Judicial Service Commission’s (“the Commission”) and the Judiciary’s understanding of transparency is one of openness in relation to activities. It lays bare what is being done, where, how and for what reason and the results thereof.

In the context of central government, transparency directly relates to the obligation by government to provide the public with access to information about the government. It is a duty to disclose on the part of the public office bearers and a right to demand disclosure on the part of the citizens. It plays the crucial role of countering private and public corruption, excesses in the use of public power.

As a result, there is reduction of abuse of discretion and political manipulation. It protects individual rights and ensures the security of persons and their property. Public confidence in the integrity of government processes increases.

Transparency is particularly important in judicial institutions because it promotes accountability, combats corruption and helps to eliminate arbitrariness.

Courts wield enormous power, the exercise of which can affect the interests of citizens.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Said the MDC in a statement:

IN MEMORY OF STATE BRUTALITY….It all started exactly a year ago to the day with the midnight press conference addressed by ED himself announcing a massive fuel price hike.

The people’s peaceful response to the resultant price hikes was met with an orgy of massive State brutality in which over 19 innocent people lost their lives. Today, we remember.

By A Correspondent| MDC national vice chairperson, Job Sikhala has rejected a Masvingo legal practitioner appointed by the State to represent him on the treason charge he is facing.

Sikhala was approached by Charles Ndhlovu saying he was instructed by the Masvingo High Court registrar to represent him on “pro deo”.

A fuming Sikhala told a local publication:

How did the registrar just pick a legal practitioner when it is clearly indicated on the indictment papers that they were served to my legal practitioner.

I wonder what their motives are. At law, someone can be allocated a legal practitioner to represent him or her on two grounds.

Firstly, when the accused person has requested it and, secondly when the accused person is not able to choose a legal practitioner of choice on a serious offence.

A pro deo refers to legal representation availed by the State to a person accused of a capital offence but is unable to afford a legal practitioner.

Sikhala is being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Chief Justice Luke Malaba said that special courts have been set up to deal with the infamous machete wielding criminals commonly referred to as Mashurugwi.

Malaba made the remarks while officially opening the 2020 legal year at the Constitutional Court in Harare on Monday. He said:

The country is gripped by another spate of violence perpetrated by the so-called machete gangs.

The judiciary acknowledges the work being undertaken by the law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators of that wave to book.

May I assure the nation that the courts will decisively deal with the accused of these offences in accordance with the law.

Towards the end of 2019, there was an upsurge in cases of robberies perpetrated by gangs of people wielding machetes mainly in the mining communities.

In December, a machete gang attacked and killed a police officer who was guarding a mine in Kadoma.

By A Correspondent| The MDC youth wing has vowed to press ahead with plans to hold gatherings in commemoration of the 19 people killed last January during protests triggered by a sharp fuel price hike.

The party’s national youth chairperson Obey Sithole told a local publication on Sunday that they will continue to demand answers until the killers are brought to justice.

He said:

As young people, we are going to do everything within our means to remind the world that on that day a gross crime against humanity was committed under (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa’s instruction.

We will continue to demand answers on the efforts that have been made to bring the culprits to book. We are going to have commemorations across the country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi on Sunday chillingly warned that the government will not hesitate to employ the shoot-to-kill policy on violent demonstrators if necessary.

In the last few years, security forces have been accused of using disproportionate force against unarmed protestors resulting in the death of dozens.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called upon all workers, formally employed and those in the informal sector, to come together and confront the government in protest over slave wages.

ZCTU secretary-general Peter Mutasa  scoffed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s remarks that people should not pine for meat but rather eat vegetables for their health.

Said Mutasa:

The issue that is bringing us all together as people is that of hunger. Every person who is working in this country must not be forced to eat vegetables and potatoes. A worker must get money enough to purchase foods that constitute a balanced diet.

Our message is that we do not have any other way to go because most avenues have been closed, but we now need to fight oppression and exploitation of workers. We do not have any other choice.

So that is our first message (to workers) that we are going ahead with demonstrations and we are going to maintain our stance of fighting government policies which are oppressing the people.

In January 2019, ZCTU called for a mass stay away after the government had unilaterally hiked the price of fuel by over 130 per cent.

Protests erupted across the country in response to the price hike and Union leaders were subsequently charged with treason.

-Newsday

The MDC youth wing has vowed to press ahead with plans to hold gatherings in commemoration of the 19 people killed last January during protests triggered by a sharp fuel price hike.

The party’s national youth chairperson Obey Sithole told the Daily News on Sunday that they will continue to demand answers until the killers are brought to justice. He said:

As young people, we are going to do everything within our means to remind the world that on that day a gross crime against humanity was committed under (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa’s instruction.

We will continue to demand answers on the efforts that have been made to bring the culprits to book. We are going to have commemorations across the country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi on Sunday chillingly warned that the government will not hesitate to employ the shoot-to-kill policy on violent demonstrators if necessary.

In the last few years, security forces have been accused of using disproportionate force against unarmed protestors resulting in the death of dozens.

More: Daily News

Dear Colleagues RE: TEACHER INCAPACITAITON AND OPENING OF SCHOOLS

1.1. This circular letter updates our several nuggets in 2019 and the 2020 National Secretary General’s New Year message. It further conveys the National Executive’s decision of 21 December 2019 on the above captioned subject.

2. TEACHER INCAPACITATION DEEPENS AND WILL NOW AFFECT THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS

2.1. ZIMTA National Executive now rallies its members to desist from worsening their situation by over borrowing so as to facilitate their transport and subsistence back to work. This is the employer’s responsibility. To that end, National Executive stands by all its members who have indicated that they will wait for the employer to capacitate them before going back to schools.

2.2. Sustaining one’s living on a salary deficit of ninety three percent (93%) is impossible and can only be done miraculously, by any breadwinner.

2.3. The employer should take full responsibility for this development and for carelessly handling our members’ requests for meaningful salary adjustments in 2019 through 2020.

3. WAY FORWARD

3.1. Members are advised to take the following measures when incapacitated, so that this state of affairs is not interpreted as collective job action, but be understood to be what it is, incapacitation.

3.2. Advise your colleagues, superiors and those with a legal obligation to supervise or superintend over your work, about your whereabouts.

3.3. Remember you are not on strike but you have been made redundant by your employer.

3.4. Avoid being “cushioned” by enslaving increases that do not transform your situation or seeking refuge in institutional accommodation and getting pacified by such ineffective ways.

3.5. ZIMTA has cautioned the employer of this eventuality and continues to request the employer to intercede in a meaningful and impacting way.

4. CONCLUSION

4.1. Members are advised that the National Executive’s decision to support members on this was reached after a wide consultation and analysis over a period of time.

4.2. You are advised to keep in touch with your Association, should you find yourselves in an invidious position on matters related to this or work.

Sibanda Tapson N. (Mr)

NATIONAL SECRETARY GENRAL

Following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on the 21st of December 2019 at ZIMA House, and a subsequent inception board meeting held on the 11th of January 2020 at the ZADHR offices, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) wishes to announce to the public and all stakeholders of the election of a new board to steer the work of the organization for the next three years.

The new board comprises of the following; Dr Fortune Nyamande (Chairperson), Dr Fungisai Mazhandu (Vice-Chairperson, Dr Norman Matara (Secretary), Dr Mufudzi Mushaninga (Treasurer), Dr Tendai Tsuro, Dr Artmore Chakanyuka, Dr Ratidzo Mugumbate, Mr Jeremiah Bamu (legal advisor), Dr Nyamande takes over from Dr Brighton Chizhande who served the ZADHR board with distinction and previously served as the Spokesperson of ZADHR.

It is our conviction as ZADHR that the new board will further entrench the values and pursue the mandate of the organization to ensure that the health and human rights of Zimbabweans are promoted, protected and defended.

We have no doubt that the esteemed new board of these outstanding individuals will bring new ideas for the growth of the organisation during their tenure.

As we welcome the new board and wish them the best as they work to continue serving the medical fraternity and the Zimbabwean citizens as a whole, we also take this opportunity thank Dr Chizhande and his team and wish them the best in their endeavours.

NewsDay|Zimbabwe is on the verge of a complete shutdown as private and public sector workers, as well as college students, plan to take to the streets.

Teachers, lecturers, and students are planning to coalesce with the rest of the civil service for a strike that could cripple essential services and the start of the school calendar tomorrow.

Government workers last week rejected an offer by the government to double their wages and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is planning “mother-of-all” demonstrations to press the government to address key national issues and reverse “anti-poor people policies”.

The 97% salary hike would have seen the lowest-paid government worker getting
$2 033.

But the civil servants demanded that their salaries to be indexed to the United States dollar equivalent to those they earned during the dollarisation period.

Alternatively, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Zimbabwe
Teachers Association and Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu), as well as the rest of the civil servants, are pressing the government to raise wages to bring the lowest paid civil servant to a monthly salary of $5 000.

The confrontation is likely to start tomorrow when schools open, with PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe calling for a united front with pupils, parents, and teachers to confront the government.

“Government must be taught … economic volatility in this country is increasing every day. Economic and political frustration is increasing every day. It’s better they engage people and they give us what we are worth because we are offering our labor to the country for the benefit of the nation and we need solidarity from everybody, the kids the parents and everybody out there,” he said.

“Why do people want to justify that they will seat and smile as government behaves like a bull in a china shop? You can’t tell me that somebody who is asking to be paid $6 000 for them to report for duty is asking for too much!”

Acting Primary and Secondary Education minister Amon Murwira said he was aware of the concerns by teachers, but said the matter was being handled by the Public Service Commission (PSC) and an announcement would be made soon.

“We have hope, I have hope, but at the moment, this is being dealt with the PSC and an announcement will be made regarding that,” he said.

The government has failed to effectively deal with the industrial action by junior doctors, which has continued for over four months, with hospitals partially closed.

Munyaradzi Gwisai, leader of the International Socialist Organisation in Zimbabwe, has called on all workers to have a joint demonstration and a shutdown of government business, saying workers have had enough and should not allow themselves to work for slave wages.

“We now need a united front of all victims of austerity to lead the resistance against austerity and the junta. Students, workers, youths, vendors and the villagers … we have to learn the lesson that the late Morgan Tsvangirai, as secretary-general of ZCTU, learned then that sometimes negotiations yield nothing. You can’t keep talking to people who are not listening.

There is no bigger army that the power of the workers and villagers,” Gwisai said.

Irked by the increase in college fees against poor salaries, Zinasu has also warned it will be taking to the streets to protest what it called attempts to push them out of school.

“They pay student teachers $150 and not even constantly, they pay our mothers $100, then they proceed to us students and demand $5 000 per term, $15 000 per year exclusive of other necessities … They must be stopped, they must be resisted. They are evil,” Zinasu said in a statement in response to a statement from Seke Teachers College, which increased fees for resident teacher students from $2 416 to $5 016 effective January 10.

The ZCTU has already declared 2020 as a year for resisting slave wages and confronting government over poor policies and the poverty-inducing austerity measures.

“We have been mandated by the workers to ensure that we resist all these slave wages and engage in peaceful and constitutional action, which will end the suffering of workers, toiling every day yet they can’t pay just rentals or send their children to school. As we speak right now, many of our members are being evicted from their homes. Action has to be now,” ZCTU secretary-general Peter Mutasa said.

He added that it was important for all workers to join hands and fight from the same corner.

“Our message is that it is no longer effective for workers to fight from their different unions or groups. It is no longer tenable for the doctors to protest alone. It is also no longer effective for teachers to fight the government alone. The same goes for nurses, bank employees or those (who) do general cleaning. They can’t fight from their corners,” he said.

“It is also now impossible for workers who work for famous companies to fight without joining hands with those who are self-employed. So we are saying let us have unity of workers who work in formal and informal sectors. We now also want to see unity in the protests between the workers who work in cities and those who work in rural areas.”

Mutasa lashed out at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for people to avoid meat and eat vegetables and potatoes.

“The issue that is bringing us all together as people is that of hunger. Every person who is working in this country must not be forced to eat vegetables and potatoes. A worker must get money enough to purchase foods that constitute a balanced diet,” he said.

Mutasa said workers no longer had any other way of dealing with the government to solve the multi-layered national crises than to take to the streets.

“Our message is that we do not have any other way to go because most avenues have been closed, but we now need to fight oppression and exploitation of workers. We do not have any other choice. So that is our first message (to workers) that we are going ahead with demonstrations and we are going to maintain our stance of fighting government policies which are oppressing the people,” he said.

The ZCTU has also said it was against the government’s introduction of a mono currency and maintained workers must be paid either in US dollars or the equivalent of their salaries in the greenback as at September 2017.

Through the Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association (ZHDA), the doctors — who have been on strike for more than four months now — have vowed to press on until their demand for better wages is met.

“It has been four months since our members declared incapacitation, our employer has to date offered a net salary of $3 600 equivalent to less than US$170. A clear breach of our contractual agreement of net US$1 800. We remain steadfast in our call for a decent wage for our members,” ZHDA said.

THE judiciary has established special courts to deal “decisively” with the notorious machete gangs known as Mashurugwi.

Officially opening the 2020 Legal Year at the Constitutional Court in Harare Monday, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said the terror gangs could create anarchy if they were not quickly neutralised.

“As we speak the country is gripped by another spate of violence perpetrated by the so called machete gangs”, Malaba said.

“The Judiciary acknowledges the work being undertaken by law enforcement agencies in bringing perpetrators of that wave of violence to book.

“May I assure the nation that the courts stand ready to decisively deal with those accused of these offences in accordance with the law,” he said.

“Special courts to specially try the cases have been set up in all affected areas across the country. I call upon all stakeholders in administration of justice to make concerted efforts to end this problem.”

Malaba added; “Institutions mandated to protect the citizens cannot sit back and watch a few rogue elements terrorise the entire nation for their selfish benefits.

“We hear stories of callous murders of ordinary Zimbabweans and law enforcement agents, citizens’ rights of freedom of movement, freedom to conduct their affairs without fear and freedom of association are being violated with impunity.

“Courts must demonstrate to the public they are possessed of real capacity to enforce the law and punish crime.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza officially opened the 2020 Legal Year at the Bulawayo High Court where she also implored stakeholders in the administration of justice to make concerted efforts to end the machete killings.

Gangs of artisanal miners are roaming in gold mining communities injuring and killing people using machetes before stealing gold, cash and other valuables.

According to the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) October 2019 report, 105 murders and 221 cases of assaults were reported in gold mining areas, but no arrests have been made.

Recently, a Kadoma-based machete gang killed Constable Wonder Hokoyo at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields, Kadoma.

Last week, robbers pounced on a Chegutu family, gang-raping an 80 year-old woman and her 16 year-old relative before killing them. The gang also attacked and seriously injured three minor members of the family.

Correspondent|Acting President Constantino Chiwenga has cancelled his visit to Muzarabani district in Mashonaland Central, which was scheduled for tomorrow [Tuesday] due to bad state of the roads in that area.

Chiwenga was supposed to visit schools along the Muzarabani border and also address a rally at Santa schools.

Sources familiar with the development said that the visit has been cancelled due to bad weather in Muzarabani.

“We had made all the relevant preparations for the acting president’s visit but the roads there are in a bad state due to floods and Hoya river is also flooded so the visit has been cancelled,” said the source.

Own Correspondent|Exiled former ZANU PF spin doctor Professor Jonathan Moyo turns 63 years today and his close associate and former President Robert Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao has shared a video of him dancing on his birthday.

Watch video downloading below:

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa is overhauling the Constitution barely seven years after it was adopted amid protests that he is reducing democratic space in the country.

President Mnangagwa is accused of trying to use changes to the Constitution to entrench his rule.

According to the amendments approved by Cabinet, the president will directly appoint his deputies, the prosecutor general, a public protector and control the promotion of judges.

The Constitution, adopted in 2013 as part of a power sharing deal between former president Robert Mugabe and late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, provided for the direct election of vice presidents.

Judges were selected through a process that involved public interviews and this was seen as a progressive move in a country where the justice system is viewed as biased towards the ruling elite.

Although the amendments are yet to be approved by Parliament, the opposition is unlikely to block them as President Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu-PF party enjoys a two-third majority.

Civil society groups and opposition parties have accused the ruling party of trying to tighten its grip on power and reduce the democratic space.

“Any amendments to the Constitution must seek to further entrench democracy and protect rights of citizens,” said Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC), a group representing dozens of civil society groups.

“In our view, the proposed amendments seek to entrench the interests of individuals and dent the independence of an already captured judiciary,” CiZC added.

In 2013, Zimbabweans voted overwhelmingly for the new Constitution to replace a charter that was adopted when the country got its independence from Britain in 1980.

Referendum

A decade earlier the late Mugabe, who had ruled Zimbabwe since independence, suffered his first electoral defeat in a referendum after his party tried to impose a Constitution it had crafted on its own.

However, seven years after the historic vote the government is yet to align the majority of the country’s laws to the new Constitution amid criticism that President Mnangagwa is not keen on reforms.

The 77-year-old ruler is also accused of trying to use the changes to the Constitution to ward off a potential challenge from one of his deputies, Constantino Chiwenga.

Retired General Chiwenga led the military coup that toppled the late Mugabe and is viewed as President Mnangagwa’s most likely successor.

In terms of the current Constitution, Gen Chiwenga and another vice president would be the president’s running mates in the 2023 presidential elections.

“The rationale for this provision was to introduce a nondisruptive succession plan while ensuring that in the event of a vice president taking over the office of president, they would have the people’s mandate,” the Law Society of Zimbabwe said.

“The effect of the proposed ammendment to section 94 means that vice presidents will no longer be elected but appointed by the president. This removes the transparence and democratic process sought to be achieved by the Constitution in relation to the assumption of these important offices,” the Law Society of Zimbabwe added.

In the run-up to the 2018 elections, President Mnangagwa said he was aware of a plot by some aspring Zanu PF MPs to impeach him before he completes his term.

If the president were impeached, his deputy would take over.

President Mnangagwa narrowly won the polls amid claims of vote rigging by his main rival Nelson Chamisa, of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

There have been reports of a major falling out between the president and Gen Chiwenga over alleged attempts to sideline the former army commander and a perceived lack of ethnic balance in the new government.

Prominent lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu said the proposed constitutional amendments were poorly thought out and showed that the government was not interested in reforms.

“The proposed amendments are a sovereign disgrace and show the lengths to which the government is prepared to go in undercutting the spirit of the Constitution,” Mr Mpofu said.

When he came into power on the back of the coup, President Mnangagwa promised that a “new kind of democracy” was unfolding in Zimbabwe.

However, two years on he is being accused of resorting to former president Mugabe’s tactics, which include regularly sending the army to crush protests against his policies.

The East African

Farai Dziva|Zimbabwean teachers are now earning the equivalent of US $35 per month.

See below Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union statement :
The over 5 000 members of Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ have unanimously resolved to desist from reporting for duty until the salary dispute is fixed.

The teachers are severely incapacitated since they are earning an equivalent of US$35 per month.

The proposed increment by the government falls way below the legitimate expectations of the hard-working teachers.

Teachers are demanding a United States dollar interbank rate indexed salaries.

The 97% offer by the government comes at a time when government services have been hiked by over 500%.

Government is even charging some of its services in United States dollars, for example, an emergency passport fee of US$318 from RTGS$ 318. We are simply asking to be accommodated into the national economy.

Government last paid teachers a full salary in September 2018, we have been earning 7% of the last negotiated income. Attempts to engage the government have been futile since then.

The employer has been calling for endless pity parties which have not yielded any positive result. Countless petitions have been submitted but no favourable response has been received as yet.

An ordinary teacher salary cannot fend for food, shelter, transport, education and health care. Teachers cannot afford transport to go back to work.

Our members stationed at far-flung schools like
Gokwe but domiciled in
Manicaland , for example, cannot make it back to work under these circumstances. Such a member would fork out RTGS$ 700 for transport alone.

School fees are now beyond the reach of teachers and teachers cannot afford the service they provide. It is rumoured that parents are now incentivizing teachers to report for duty, it should be noted that rural communities cannot afford to pay these incentives.

The responsibility for providing education solely lies on the shoulders of the government, other actors can only play a supporting role.
Our recently convened congress resolved to deploy our leadership to engage the Joint Operations Command, (JOC) to avert the victimization of teachers by state agents.

We warn the government and school administrators to refrain from the sick culture of targeting teachers who are tabling genuine labour grievances. We will pursue all remedies to put an end to this debauchery.
We encourage the government to urgently pay teachers a living wage to save our education from collapse. The pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals is derailed by the underfunding of critical sectors like education.

Teachers will not pretend to be teaching under these untenable conditions lest we hazard destroying the future of our learners and our nation. The drop in 2019 grade 7 pass rates is a clear testimony of erosion of the quality of our education.

We call upon like-minded sister unions and the broader working class to join this noble fight aimed at rescuing our education.

Parents are encouraged to keep their children at home, there will be no teachers to attend to the learners at school.-ARTUZ

Dear Colleagues RE: TEACHER INCAPACITAITON AND OPENING OF SCHOOLS

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. This circular letter updates our several nuggets in 2019 and the 2020 National Secretary General’s New Year message. It further conveys the National Executive’s decision of 21 December 2019 on the above captioned subject.

2. TEACHER INCAPACITATION DEEPENS AND WILL NOW AFFECT THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS

2.1. ZIMTA National Executive now rallies its members to desist from worsening their situation by over borrowing so as to facilitate their transport and subsistence back to work. This is the employer’s responsibility. To that end, National Executive stands by all its members who have indicated that they will wait for the employer to capacitate them before going back to schools.

2.2. Sustaining one’s living on a salary deficit of ninety three percent (93%) is impossible and can only be done miraculously, by any breadwinner.

2.3. The employer should take full responsibility for this development and for carelessly handling our members’ requests for meaningful salary adjustments in 2019 through 2020.

3. WAY FORWARD

3.1. Members are advised to take the following measures when incapacitated, so that this state of affairs is not interpreted as collective job action, but be understood to be what it is, incapacitation.

3.2. Advise your colleagues, superiors and those with a legal obligation to supervise or superintend over your work, about your whereabouts.

3.3. Remember you are not on strike but you have been made redundant by your employer.

3.4. Avoid being “cushioned” by enslaving increases that do not transform your situation or seeking refuge in institutional accommodation and getting pacified by such ineffective ways.

3.5. ZIMTA has cautioned the employer of this eventuality and continues to request the employer to intercede in a meaningful and impacting way.

4. CONCLUSION

4.1. Members are advised that the National Executive’s decision to support members on this was reached after a wide consultation and analysis over a period of time.

4.2. You are advised to keep in touch with your Association, should you find yourselves in an invidious position on matters related to this or work.

Sibanda Tapson N. (Mr)

NATIONAL SECRETARY GENRAL

FULL TEXT DEVELOPING

Farai Dziva|People’s Progressive Party leader Timothy Chiguvare has declared that 2020 is the year of liberating Zimbabweans from Zanu PF oppression.

See statement below :

Zanu PF we now want our Zimbabwe back , TIME is running out , final warning to Zanu PF.

2020 is our YEAR of taking our Zimbabwe back , its not negotiable. Those who live in glass houses must not throw stones because when our YOUTH pick up those stones and throw them back the glass houses will all be broken.

Those in power today , want Zimbabwe for themselves . Is that what FREEDOM and JUSTICE mean to us ? …no

Farai Dziva|A rogue Zanu PF councillor, Sengerayi Manyanga invaded the offices of Masvingo based radio station Hevoi FM on Saturday night and threatened to beat up head of current affairs Regis Chingawo.

See below a statement released by Masvingo Media Centre:

Press Freedom Crackdown In Masvingo

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, ZUJ, is deeply concerned by increasing threats to journalists working in Masvingo Province.

This follows threats made to Hevoi FM News Editor Regis Chingawo by a ruling Zanu PF councillor, Sengerayi Manyanga.

The councillor reportedly wants to control the radio station’s social media policy but his attempts have been thwarted.

Chingawo, a member of the ZUJ National Executive, told the national office last night that he did not feel safe and believed his life was now in danger.

The threats were made at the radio station’s offices towards midnight on Saturday 28 December in Masvingo town.

The small community of journalists in Masvingo has been left traumatised by the developments as they have recorded a huge increase in threats to freedom of expression in the province in the last quarter of the year.

According to information received from Masvingo, the councillor for ward 10 in Masvingo town is reported to have laid an ambush at the Hevoi FM News offices on the night.

Upon realising that Chingawo would not reveal himself , the councillor angrily confronted the security officer at the radio station and demanded to know Chingawo’s whereabouts and threatened to mobilize against the senior journalist.

The councillor was accompanied by a mob which remained in the background as he laid siege on the radio station.

A police report was made at Masvingo Central Police Station today.

ZUJ Secretary General Foster Dongozi said the issue of the safety and security of journalists continued to be a major concern for the Union with political parties and some security forces continuing to be the major culprits.

“We have also noticed a worrying trend in Masvingo Province in which the safety of journalists is threatened by rogue politicians and security details.

“The same rogue councillor has threatened to close another media organisation in the province while Masvingo Mirror senior journalist Nkulumani Mlambo was hounded out of a public event attended by donors by security aides in Chiredzi recently.”

The Secretary General called on the Zanu PF leadership in Masvingo to condemn acts of violence and impunity against journalists and freedom of expression.

“If journalists are harmed in Masvingo we will know who the culprits are. But beyond that, we can also see that there are some rogue and renegade elements who want to frustrate Zimbabwe’s global re engagement policy by continuing to soil its image so that it remains a pariah state.

“The government has assured us at the highest level that it does not have a policy of impunity against journalists and we would want it to take stern measures against those violating the rights and safety of journalists.”

Jane Mlambo| Chief Justice Luke Malaba has issued a strong warning against Machete thugs who of late have struck a chord of terror in the country.

Malaba issued the warning during his speech to mark the official opening of the 2020 legal year in Harare this morning.

He also expressed concern over poor salaries being given to Judges mainly as a result of hyperinflation and called for more funding to the Judiciary Services Commission in order to improve service.

Malaba also implored the National Prosecuting Authority to be diligent in its work and guard against bringing before the courts weak cases which end up frustrating the course of justice.

Press Statement: The ZANU PF Youth League in its entirety condemns the heinous acts by the machete wielding gangs who have descended on the Mining sector and society at large. Many innocents have fallen victim to the callous act, lives have been lost and a number have been injured by the marauding criminals. It’s is also a matter of concern that some police officers on duty have also fallen victim to these criminals. As a public service gesture, the ZANU (PF) Youth League implores all our structures and the peace loving people of our beloved motherland Zimbabwe to be on alert and share with law enforcement agents any information which may lead to the arrest of the gangs who have caused havoc in our peaceful society.

In light of this unfortunate wave of criminality, the ZANU PF Youth League applauds the current efforts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police of hunting down these criminals. As a wing of the Party we do not condone such criminal acts by the heartless, deviant and callous gangs.

In addition, the League encourages the National Prosecution to valiantly oppose bail for those accused until their matters are finalized.

Furthermore, machete wielding gangs are a worse societal evil compared to even cattle rustling and as such should carry severe deterrent sentences like life imprisonment and lengthy sentences. We pray in this regard that Judicial Officers may give the maximum possible sentence for all individuals convicted of crimes involving machetes.

We also further hope the judicial system shall expedite these cases in sentencing, such that any one outside who feel obliged to follow in these terrible ways are quickly discouraged.

As a youth League we embrace the ethos of productivity, peace and unity and we are in solidarity with progressive institutions which are committed to end the wave of criminality by the machete wielding gangs.

Inserted by: Cde Yeukai Simbanegavi
Secretary for Information and Publicity ZANU ( PF) National Youth League

A Zanu PF councillor in Shurugwi’s Tongogara area has been arrested on allegations of stealing 10 bags of food aid meant for starving villagers in his area.

Tapiwa Ndawana of ward 10 was arrested on Tuesday following a report filed by Shurugwi assistant district co-ordinator Desmond Anele Gumbochuma, who is also chairperson of the district’s drought relief programme.

According to a leaked police memorandum, Ndawana (42) of Ndawana village under Chief Banga, received 919x50kgs bags of maize from Tongogara Grain Marketing Board on January 6.

He allegedly transported the first batch of 330 bags of maize to Donga Council, while the remaining 589 bags were delivered to Banga and Matsika business centres for distribution to needy villagers.

Ndawana then allegedly connived with his co-accused Taurai Dongo (36) of Mhangami Mahachi village, Chief Banga, to steal 37 bags of the maize, claiming there was a shortfall at Matsika Business Centre.

Ndawana allegedly instructed a security guard at the council workshop to hand over the 37 bags of maize to Dongo, who then hired a commuter omnibus, registration number AEG 4293, and took the 37 bags of maize to Gweru, where he sold the grain to Tondereai Muzanenhamo for $4 800.

Police received a tip-off about the scam, leading to the accused’s arrest and recovery of only five bags of maize.

The total value of the stolen grain is $6 722 and $1 055 was recovered. The case was investigated under ZRP Donga Post RRB number 4152573.

Ndawana and Dongo yesterday appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Sthabile Zungula and were remanded in custody to January 15.

There was drama before the court hearing when a traditional healer believed to have been hired by the councillor performed some rituals inside the court premises before he was whisked away by security officials.

By Jane Mlambo| Up to 100 Chipinge villagers had a day to remember when they looted fish from an accident scene involving three foreign tourists travelling from Chiredzi to Mutare.

According to an eye witness Claris Madhuku, the Toyota Landcruiser which was pulling a trailer full of fish overturned along the Ngundu-Tanganda highway, though no one was injured.

“The reason for the accident was a combination of speed and mechanical fault. The trailer carrying a dam of fish lopsided first in response to sudden breaking causing the car to overturn twice .We helped to disconnect the battery from the car since fuel was now spilling with a possibility of the car catching fire.

“With the villagers who had gathered we assisted the trio to get their most treasured items inclusive of their cell phones and monies. In appreciation the trio allowed the community to get bream fish in appreciation of their benevolence. There was enough for up to 100 community members,” said Madhuku.

By Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe warriors player Tino Kadewere who plies his trade with French Ligue 2 side Le Havre has attracted interest from top clubs in Europe including Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham among others.

Kadewere has been in terrific form banging 18 goals in 20 appearances since he moved to France from Swedish side Djugardens.

Other clubs looking to grab the sensational Zimbabwean international includes, Scottish side Celtic, South American outfit Flamengo as well as French top side Lyon.

Should Kadewere move to England, it will be the first time, Zimbabwe will have two players in the Barclays Premier League with Marvellous Nakamba who already turns out for struggling Aston Villa.

Correspondent|Zimbabwe Republic Police has banned machetes, knives and axes in the machete gang-infested Midlands as a way to restore order.

The ban comes after reports have suggested that the machete-wielding gangs known as Mashurugwi have been beating, killing and sexually abusing gold miners and civilians, particularly in gold mining towns.

The ban was announced by Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko who told the Daily News this Saturday that the ban which is expected to last for three-months will be with effect from January 14. He said:

The prohibition order which we seek to renew after every three months makes it illegal to carry dangerous weapons like machetes that can be used in the commission of crimes.

Those who fail to heed the call will be punished through being sent to jail for six months or instructed to pay a fine that doesn’t exceed level five.

Goko also told Daily News that gold-rich areas such as Chirumanzu, Gokwe North, Gokwe South, Gweru, Kwekwe, Mberengwa, Shurugwi and Zvishavane are the ones targeted by the ban.

Analysts have been saying that the machete gangs were enjoying impunity because they are highly connected.

Correspondent|There’s nothing quite like a 6-1 loss to the reigning Premier League champions to highlight your club’s need for a new striker.

Aston Villa were at their comedic worst in defence against Manchester City on Sunday – home fans were already walking out before half an hour had even been played – but Dean Smith’s side didn’t show anywhere near enough on the ball either.

Villa will likely be without summer signing Wesley for the remainder of the season, and it was Anwar El Ghazi who deputised for the injured Brazilian on Sunday.

The Dutchman is sound technically. He can pass well and is very confident with the ball at his feet. But El Ghazi isn’t a target man who can occupy defenders and bring his teammates into play – he isn’t a Wesley.

It’s bad enough for El Ghazi trying to play as the lone striker against most teams, but  City’s  more than 65 per cent possession made his impact on the game even more important – and even more important when nothing came off.

Villa will get points off teams in and around them simply due to the individual quality they have on display and that might be enough to keep their heads above water, but the club will put themselves under  unnecessary  pressure if they don’t bring in a new striker this month.

Wesley wasn’t perfect. No one is trying to suggest that he was. But the 23-year-old has been a useful player against the big teams specifically, while his hold-up play has allowed Jack Grealish to be the star man against the rest.

Without the Brazil international against City, both El Ghazi and Grealish were isolated in attack and couldn’t get themselves on the ball. Playing with a back three didn’t help that either, as the visitors won (or, more accurately, were given) free reign in midfield.

Aston Villa’s defence will grab the headlines on the back pages and rightly so. It was among the most self-destructive performances from a back-five that you’ll be able to think of off the top of your head.

But for the club to move forward and most importantly to stay in the Premier League beyond this season, signing a new striker is absolutely the most important thing for Aston Villa to do during the January transfer window.

Villa shouldn’t limit their January spending to just a new striker because their defence desperately needs a facelift, but things won’t improve in the West Midlands until a replacement forward is brought into the club.

90mins

Naira News|A pastor in a bus in Anambra, Nigeria, was beaten to stupor because condom fell off from his Bible after preaching.

This happened yesterday in Anambra state.

Some of the passengers maintained that he’s being hypocritical and that he is among the reasons people have lost hopes and faiths in men of God in this country.

The Onitsha man of God might not be aware of the condom in between the best Bible but the notion accrued from This is that he might be a fornicator yet carrying the Bible. Which is somewhat seen as hypocrisy.

‘ According to an eye witness, Mr. Chukwujekwu, a passenger at a popular commercial bus service provider going to Lagos and other parts of the country was on board the bus when the preacher came to minister and pray for the travelers and as well wish them safety on their way to their destinations.

‘Though they were moved by self-acclaimed pastors preaching, anointing of God was everywhere; some passenger gave their lives to Christ and accepted Him as their Lord and personal saviour.

It was amazing wpastor? opened his bible to collect offering from the passengers who may wish to assist him in his ministry, behold 3 Kiss condoms fell off his bible’.

‘The angry men in the bus who had been having bad feelings about pastors, who preach in buses along venous parks in Onitsha as an undercover for begging got really angry and pounced on him, who all of a sudden started shouting and pleading for forgiveness because he does that as business not really for true word of God ‘ However, Policemen had to be called to the scene to save the pastors life. So far 2 arrests have been made for further investigations

Acting President Chiwenga receiving Holy Communion at Roman Catholics Church.

Acting President Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga over the weekend attended the ordination of deacons at the Roman Catholic in Harare where he received holy communion.

In a photograph that has since been making rounds on social media, the former army general is preparing to be given holy communion by the catholic priest.

Speaking to journalists, the Acting President called on all Zimbabweans to unite in prayer for the country. He said that the nation should turn to the church for solutions to the social and economic problems currently bedevilling the country.

The acting President who recently jetted back from China where he was had gone for a routine medical check-up is currently embroiled in a scandalous divorce with his estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa Chiwenga.

“It brings us joy when we see these young men making such a sacrifice, especially during these difficult times,” said Dr Chiwenga.

“We want the priests to help bring people together, to be united so that they can work towards the same goals.

“And to teach people to know that the most important thing is to remain united because we are here on earth for a very short time. After they finish their studies, during these nine to 10 years, we expect them to do the work of God and unite the people so that we can see the incidences of crime we are witnessing in the country being reduced.”

Acting President Chiwenga said prayer allowed individuals to distinguish between right and wrong.

“When you pray, your heart and mind evolve so that you can tell the difference between the good and the bad and you let go of the bad things.

“So we want everybody’s heart and mind to evolve so they can discard what is bad and take what is right.”

Pindula|A picture of a ZNA soldier caught stealing NRZ Signal Cables has been circulating on social media of late. The picture was also posted on Twitter by Hopewell Chin’ono who said:

This is a Zimbabwe National Army soldier, Lance Corporal Witness Mpofu, Force Number 80127F!
He was caught stealing NRZ signal cables!
These security people are also being subjected to the pain created by the corrupt Mnangagwa regime they defend.
Under ZANUPF we shall ALL suffer

Its is still not clear when and where the incident happened.

 Own Correspondent|DR Peter Magombeyi who grabbed headlines last year after he was allegedly abducted by alleged state agents has resigned as the leader of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) citing personal reasons.

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Read Full Statement:

Dear Secretary General

RE: RESIGNATION AS THE PRESIDENT FOR ZHDA

I cannot thank all the doctors enough for the opportunities the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has provided me. Working with you has been incredibly instrumental in my personal growth and I will never forget the struggle we go through everyday, trying to come up with a functional health delivery system that benefits all Zimbabweans and our welfare as doctors. ALUTA CONTINUA!

I regret to inform you that I am resigning from my position here, immediately as the President for ZHDA for personal reasons. I do not intend to inconvenience you with this news, and I hope you will accept my most sincere apologies in making Friday, the 24th of January 2020 my last day as the President of the aforementioned association, I know this is unexpected, but am happy to assist the association in the replacement process to help alleviate the transition.

I loved my job and I will look back on my time here with wonderful memories. May you all stay blessed!

Kindest Regards

Dr Peter G Magombeyi

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Own Correspondent|MDC Activist Josphat Mzaca Ngulube and his three accomplices who were recently sentenced to seven years in prison will today be transferred under unclear circumstances from Bulawayo’s Khami Prison to Harare’s Chikurubi Prison.

Mzaca’ Ngulube and three other assailants were late last year convicted of burning three cars and property of a house belonging to Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial women’s league chairperson Eva Bitu.

Ngulube (34), Fortune Masuku (29), Melusi Moyo (32) and Otilia Sibanda (34) were found guilty of malicious damage to property during the violent January protests.

Lavenda Moyo (66), their co-accused, was found not guilty and acquitted.

Mzaca Ngulube’s lawyer Nqobani Sithole said that the Prisons and Correctional Services indicated that they were transferring Ngulube and his colleagues to Harare on unclassified security reasons.

He said that they will try to resist the transfer as the activists do not have relatives in Harare who will be able to visit them and provide them with food as they have been doing at Khami Prison.

Ngulube has since challenged the incarceration.

Ngulube contested last year’s parliamentary elections as an independent candidate in Bulawayo South constituency before joining the MDC early this year.

Sithole said Ngulube was in “high spirits” though having some health challenges.

“He is in high spirits. We knew that regardless of his defence the probability of his conviction was high…he was prepared and not taken by surprise by the unfair conviction…otherwise, we are filing an appeal at the High Court against his unfair conviction,”

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today yet again break his official leave to meet with the visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Under normal circumstances, Yi should have held the closed door meeting with Acting President Constantino Chiwenga but highly placed sources within the presidency have indicated to ZimEye.com that Mnangagwa has bulldozed himself back into the office to meet with Yi.

The sources indicated that Mnangagwa appears to be jittery on Chiwenga’s relations with China and would not have his deputy meet with the Chinese alone.

Mnangagwa is officially on leave until the end of January but last week took a surprise appearance when he decided to meet the Presidential Advisory Committee which was meant to have met with Chiwenga as the Acting President.

Historically, former President Robert Mugabe would take his leave and go out of the country throughout the period but uncertain Mnangagwa opted to have his leave in the country where he has been making sporadic appearances at his official duties.

Chiwenga was treated in China for over four months and on his return to Zimbabwe after a long spell was met by the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe with Mnangagwa not aware of the unexpected return of his deputy.

Speculations are high that Chiwenga is working with the Chinese on a plan to remove Mnangagwa from power in another coup.

Mnangagwa was propelled to presidency by Chiwenga who was then commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in a military coup over former President Robert Mugabe.

Own Correspondent|Aston Villa slipped back into the Premier League relegation places with a big loss on Sunday.

After two wins from three in the top flight, villa were brushed aside by Manchester City losing 6-1 at Villa Park.

Coupled with Watford’s 3-0 victory over fellow relegation candidates Bournemouth earlier in the day, it means they are still firmly entrenched in relegation trouble.

Smith handed a debut to on-loan Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater, one of three changes from the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg draw with Leicester City.

Conor Hourihane and Ahmed Elmohamady were the other two to come in, while Frederic Guilbert, Marvelous Nakamba and Trezeguet dropped out.

City, as expected, bossed the ball early on and penned Villa back into their own half. They opened the scoring after 18 minutes.

Sergio Aguero played square, Kevin De Bruyne’s lovely dummy allowed the ball to reach Riyad Mahrez. Mahrez took the ball on, waltzed into the box past weak challenges from Drinkwater and Kortney Hause, and fired in at the near post.

The second arrived six minutes later and it was more poor defending from the hosts. Drinkwater was robbed of the ball in his own box by David Silva, following good work from Aguero, and the ball fell to Mahrez, who slammed home from ten yards

A devastating 10-minute period was completed by Aguero. De Bruyne was the architect as he fed his team mate, about 20 yards out, to rifle one past Orjan Nyland for 3-0. The shot did have power, but Nyland got hands to it and couldn’t quite keep it out.

fourth could have arrived before the 45th-minute, but it was 4-0 on the stroke of half-time when De Bruyne charged into the vacant space down Villa’s left, sent in an excellent low cross and Gabriel Jesus was on hand to fire home.

The fifth arrived 12 minutes after the restart, David Silva the provider this time to Aguero, who skipped past Elmohamady, Tyrone Mings backed off, and Aguero curled into the bottom corner from about 12 yards.

The visitors could have had more – notably when Mings cleared one off the line and Jesus twice came close – and a sixth did arrive nine minutes from time.

It was the matchball for Aguero as Hause gave the ball inexplicably to Mahrez, who played in Aguero and he finished with aplomb to seal an emphatic win that moved them back to second in the table.

El Ghazi did score a penalty with the last kick of the game but it meant little in the grand scheme of things.