By Lloyd Mupfudze- In his 2020 national budget statement on November 14,2019 the Minister of finance and economic development professor Mthuli Ncube correctly states that corruption causes economic malaise, wastage of public resources, jeopardises the environment for domestic and foreign investment and reinforces political instability.
Minister Ncube listed various strategies the government will take to curb corruption in Zimbabwe.
Whilst some of the strategies are key in the fight against corruption, government stand accused of taking it too long to come up with legislation to enforce chapter 9 of the constitution.
Section 194 talks about the basic values and principles governing public administration. Section 198 states that, “An act of Parliament must provide measures to enforce the provisions of this chapter, including measures requiring public officers to make regular disclosures of their assets, (b) establishing codes of conduct to be observed by public officers….”
Why is it taking so long for the government to introduce the legislation given the magnitude of the problem? The government’s reluctance to come up with the legislation shows the government’s lack of political will to lead by example and to combat the endemic and grand corruption which has continued to have corrosive effects on the socio and economic rights of millions of Zimbabweans.
I have repeatedly heard from different segments of society that the government anti-corruption drive is nothing but just “a catch and release strategy”. The government cannot be said to be taking a strong stance in the fight against corruption and impunity if it is failing or neglecting the implementation of chapter 9 of the constitution.
There have been efforts to combat corruption but have been concentrated at national level by the anti-corruption commission. There is not much that have been happening at local level.
Efforts to control corruption at local government level are dealt with by local government minister who have been accused of taking a partisan approach when it comes to dealing with corruption.
Declaration or disclosure of assets is now part of the constitution what is now left is for the government to enact an enabling law as provided for in the supreme law. Requiring public officials to provide lists of their assets and interests is one of the most effective means of preventing and identifying corruption.
According to a 2012 publication by the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Public Office, Private Interests: Accountability through Income and Asset Disclosure, it has been noted that addressing corruption needs to be done on two simultaneous fronts: prevention and enforcement.
Income and asset disclosure systems are recognised as an anti-corruption tool that can potentially support both prevention and enforcement.
According to this publication, there are three main benefits of financial disclosure: detecting and preventing corrupt behaviour and conflicts of interests; building integrity in public service; and enhancing public confidence in the integrity of government.
There is need for an entity that manages the register of assets. In many parts of the world the issue of asset declaration has become key in the fight against corruption. Rwanda introduced it and have an online system every citizen can go online and see what their leaders or public officials owns. South Africa have also implemented a declaration of assets.
Even in South Sudan, the world’s youngest country asset disclosure has become a focal point in the fight against corruption.
Declaration of asset and financial disclosure is a sign of commitment to transparency and accountability. It also promotes public trust in government.
Farai Dziva|Dancehall star Seh Calaz has said Winky D is not a deity.
Responding to claims the dancehall star is imitating Winky D, Seh Calaz’s publicist George Damsom vehemently dismissed the assertion.
See below an article published by H- Metro:
SEH Calaz has denied imitating Winky D after he recently posted an image wearing a red and white jersey meant for Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZOCS) inmates.
Bigman recently wore the prisoners jersey at his Njema album launch held at HICC as the title track of his album has lyrics which metaphorically expresses mental imprisonment.
Winky D
A few days after the launch, the Mabhanditi boss posted an image on social media wearing the red and white stripped jersey with the caption “Ndini muridzi wejuzi Bhandit rine nharo”.
In an interview with H-Metro, Seh Calaz publicist George Damson refused the claims that Calaz was copying the Gafa.
Damson said Calaz was reassuring Zim dancehall fans that he owns the Mabhanditi tag.
“Calaz doesn’t need to imitate Winky D. Winky D is not a deity.
“The jersey is synonymous with prisoners as you know and Calaz has been long associated with prisoners from the start of his career, hence the Banditi moniker as you know that people euphemistically refer to prisoners as bandits,” he said.
“He has worked and continues to work with Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services by reaching out to inmates and supporting them materially and also emotionally.
Farai Dziva|Dancehall star Seh Calaz has said Winky D is not a deity.
Responding to claims the dancehall star is imitating Winky D, Seh Calaz’s publicist George Damsom vehemently dismissed the assertion.
See below an article published by H- Metro:
SEH Calaz has denied imitating Winky D after he recently posted an image wearing a red and white jersey meant for Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZOCS) inmates.
Bigman recently wore the prisoners jersey at his Njema album launch held at HICC as the title track of his album has lyrics which metaphorically expresses mental imprisonment.
Winky D
A few days after the launch, the Mabhanditi boss posted an image on social media wearing the red and white stripped jersey with the caption “Ndini muridzi wejuzi Bhandit rine nharo”.
In an interview with H-Metro, Seh Calaz publicist George Damson refused the claims that Calaz was copying the Gafa.
Damson said Calaz was reassuring Zim dancehall fans that he owns the Mabhanditi tag.
“Calaz doesn’t need to imitate Winky D. Winky D is not a deity.
“The jersey is synonymous with prisoners as you know and Calaz has been long associated with prisoners from the start of his career, hence the Banditi moniker as you know that people euphemistically refer to prisoners as bandits,” he said.
“He has worked and continues to work with Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services by reaching out to inmates and supporting them materially and also emotionally.
Iran is refusing to hand over the black box of the doomed Ukrainian airliner to Boeing amid an investigation into what caused the crash that killed all 176 people aboard the flight out of Tehran early Wednesday, according to a report.
Ali Abedzadeh, the head of Tehran’s civil aviation organization, told Mehr news agency in Tehran that Iran has not made a decision on which country or international authority it would send the black box to for its data to be analyzed, Reuters reported.
The Boeing Company is an American aerospace company headquartered out of Chicago. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jet transports. Boeing also designs, manufactures and sells military aircraft, helicopters, space vehicles, missiles and communication equipment worldwide.
The crash of the Ukraine International Airlines flight came hours after Iran fired as many as 15 ballistic missiles on Iraqi bases housing U.S. soldiers in a major retaliation by the rogue regime after the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Quds Force Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week.
No Americans were aboard the flight. Three Britons, three Germans, 63 Canadians, 10 Swedes, 11 Ukrainians, 82 Iranians and four Afghans died in the crash, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry Vadym Prystaiko said.
The timing of the crash fueled speculation on social media that the earlier missile strike played a role in the crash shortly after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini International Airport, but authorities have pointed to a mechanical issue.
Qassem Biniaz, a spokesman for Iran’s Road and Transportation Ministry, said one of the plane’s engines caught fire, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, sending it crashing to the ground.
-FoxNews
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dismissed social media reports that it has completed the recruitment of 5 000 teachers.
In a statement, Primary and Secondary Education Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela said Government is aware of a fake list of names of “successful candidates” circulating on social media.
“As the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education takes concrete steps to fill the approved 5 000 vacant teacher positions, it has come to our attention that social media users have generated a list of those who have been allegedly successful,” she said.
She said approved lists will be published through relevant channels and the Ministry does not use social media to share such information.
“The Ministry would like to inform the nation that the final approved lists will be issued through the formal channels of the Government and Ministry, under the signature of the Permanent Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education, advising of the approval by the Public Service Commission.
“Prospective teachers and the nation at large are urged to disregard the cooked up list on social media and await the authentic notification. The Ministry does not use the social media for such key information sharing,” she said.
Teacher organisations applauded the recruitment and said it will help a great deal in bridging the teacher deficit at schools.
They emphasised the need to engage qualified teachers for optimum lesson delivery.
Rural Teachers Association of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) president Mr Obert Masaraure said more still needs to be done so that the teacher to pupil ratio tallies.
“We welcome the move by Government as our schools are in desperate need of teaching staff.
However, the number falls short and will not bridge the deficit in our classrooms. There are still big gaps which need more teachers,” he said.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu concurred.
“We would like the Government to increase the number of teachers to meet the demand of teacher to student ratio because the current teachers are less than 20 000,” he said.-state media
Farai Dziva|A team of health experts known as Zimbabwe Online Health Centre has launched an online platform for the provision of healthcare services.
Zimbabwe Online Health Centre’ s main objective is to provide healthcare to rural and urban communities via digital communication.
“We will interact with clients on the Facebook platform through – voice calls, video calls and chats…
We will also share videos and articles on health matters on the page.
This effectively means those seeking advice on health matters can chat with the doctor online.This is meant to reduce the distance between the client and the health team.For more information kindly follow and like our Facebook page: Zimbabwe Online Health Centre.
Our email address is [email protected]
Twitter:zimonlinehealthcentre @zimonlinehealt1
,” said Zimbabwe Online Health Centre in a statement released yesterday.
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa will spend his annual in the country amid speculation there is rising tension between him and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.
According to Acting Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, George Charamba, Mnangagwa has started his annual vacation which runs for the next three weeks until the end January.
“The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to advise that His Excellency the President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, has started his annual vacation which runs for the next three weeks until the end of the month.
During this period, Honourable Vice Presidents General (Rid) Dr C.G.D.N. Chiwenga and Colonel (Rid) Cde K.C.D. Mohadi, will take turns to act in his place, starting with Honourable Vice President Chiwenga.
The President will spend his vacation in the country,” said Charamba.
This follows a long period stretching more than a month the Zanu PF leader, has been caught on camera on several occasions, making loud visual-noises while holding his waist tight. The first time was on the day when his deputy general Constantino Chiwenga secretly flew into Zimbabwe. This was on the anniversary of his (Mnangagwa’s) coup presidency, the 23rd November after a mystery ridden 4 month medical sabbatical in China.
Mnangagwa has remained ‘trapped’ in the country. What is going on and what is he planning? This short documentary details the man’s survival plans between 2019 and 2020.
The following were some factual findings so far.
The government spokesman Nick Mangwana last month told ZimEye: “When HE leaves the country, you complain that he travels too much, he doesn’t stay at home. He stays at home you complain that he is not leaving the country. He is damned when he does and damned when he doesn’t. But being President, he always exercises his executive judgement.”
When is ED going for his annual leave, and why has he remained 'trapped' in Zimbabwe, spending his longest ever home stay period (since Nov coup) here since VP Chiwenga returned on 23rd Nov @Jamwanda2 @nickmangwana ? When is he leaving the country in the hands of his deputies? pic.twitter.com/J7vVAR0Hoe
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 27, 2019
When HE leaves the country, you complain that he travels too much, he doesn't stay at home. He stays at home you complain that he is not leaving the country. He is damned when he does and damned when he doesn't. But being President, he always exercises his executive judgement
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) December 27, 2019
ANOTHER ROUND OF LIVE AMMUNITION AGAINST CIVILIANS.
Speaking at his party’s Goromonzi conference mid December, Mnangagwa revealed he is concerned about propaganda rather than human life losses. He clearly threatened to use the state apparatus to ensure secrecy when he carries out another crackdown. Last January when soldiers protested against the fuel price rise, (even criticised by pro ZANU countries such as Russia), his security minister switched off the internet for 3 days during which period 17 people were shot dead and several women raped. This time speaking at Goromonzi, Mnangagwa described the January 2019 protests where 17 people were killed by state agents as “nonsensical”.
“The January nonsense and periodic mischievous activities by the opposition elements such as those we witnessed this year must be nipped in the bud,” he said. “Never again shall we allow the loss of precious lives of our countrymen to feed the agenda of a notorious few.”
He repeated exactly what he told a French journalist earlier in the year, while blaming the MDC party for the mass murders which he did and while denying saying no one was killed.
Show me the graves, said Mnangagwa in the below interview. He also announced that he is hunting down every woman who reported rape.
From his own words, it is without guessing that the Zanu-PF leader is planning a repeat of the same operation this January.
SHUTTING OUT CHIWENGA, MDC FROM ALL OPPORTUNITIES OF TAKING OVER.
Another very clear plot by the zanu-pf leader is that of shutting out his deputy from the coup days, Constantino Chiwenga from ever taking over power. It has already been discussed he has put in place a mechanism to ensure that the opposition MDC party never gets a legal advantange to take over from him, and this by heaping the blame, legal and penal, for the killings on them.
RETWEET! – Mnangagwa in Mwenezi clearly threatened brutality against doctors and lawyers also threatening to shorten the lives of people who make noise. pic.twitter.com/fJx5dOemL5
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 17, 2019
When Chiwenga returned to Zimbabwe from his sabbatical, Mnangagwa’s spokeman George Charamba did not at all celebrate the miraculous return. Instead he splashed litres of ink attacking China’s deputy ambassador for conducting a welcoming ceremony for the vice president at the RGM International Airport ahead of of senior government officials. Chiwenga had secretly flown into the country, aboard a Chinese jet paid for by the Asian nation’s government. To this Charamba complained against the Chinese envoy saying, itsitsi dzei? – what kind of sympathy is that?
A Mubaiwa (Chiwenga wife) uncle has described Chiwenga’s jetting into the country as treasonous, alluding that he invaded Zim airspace without informing aviation authorities in advance.
STRIPPING CHIWENGA OF POWERS TO REPLACE HIM.
In less than 30 days of Chiwenga’s return, Mnangagwa rushed to accelerate a bill that reduces his deputy to a mere apppointee who will never be able to replace him.
This is detailed in the following legal advisory by the Law Society which has complained that there is now a breakdown of Law and Order, as Mnangagwa gathers to himself more powers than his predecessor Robert Mugabe possessed.
MAKING VP, PROSECUTOR GENERAL, AND JUDGES MNANGAGWA’S OWN APPOINTEES SERVING AT HIS (PERSONAL) PLEASURE.
FULL TEXT- On the 17th of December 2019, Cabinet at its 45th meeting approved several amendments to the Constitution. Some of the notable proposed amendments relate to the appointments of Vice Presidents, the Prosecutor General, Public Protector, promotion of judges and the terms of office of judges. The other notable proposed amendments relate to the composition of the provincial councils and the extension of the provision on the women’s quota which was scheduled to end in 2023.
The Constitution provides for its amendment. Although amendments to the Constitution are allowed these ought to be necessary for the promotion of the rule of law and protection of the principles of democracy. Our Constitution is a democratic document which came out of extensive consultations. It is a national document which should be enduring. Amendments to the Constitution must be necessary for the enhancement of enshrined rights, accountability and good governance. Amendments must not be retrogressive.
In terms of Section 92 of the Constitution a presidential candidate chooses running mates who upon election become the national Vice Presidents. The rationale for these provision was to introduce non-disruptive succession planning whilst ensuring that in the event of a Vice President taking over the office of President he would be having the people’s mandate. The effect of the proposed amendment to Section 94 means that Vice Presidents will no longer be elected but appointed by the President. This removes the transparency and democratic process sought to be achieved by Section 92 in relation to the assumption of these important offices. In addition, the Vice President’s tenure will be at the pleasure of the President. An amendment is expected to cure a problem or mischief. This is not apparent in the present case. The proposed amendments further seek to change the procedures for the appointment of the Prosecutor General. The current procedure for the appointment of the Prosecutor General is similar to that of the judges. This is a transparent way of appointing this important office, which like the judiciary ought to enjoy prosecutorial independence. The proposed amendment whereby the President appoints the Prosecutor General upon consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is reverting to the old constitution. The current provisions promote transparency in the appointment process. This will not be achieved under the proposed amendment. It is not clear what mischief the proposed amendment seeks to address. The fact of the matter though is that the amendment is retrogressive. It emasculates a position that is pivotal to our criminal justice. The amendment will remove the Prosecutor General’s independence. The appointment system also does not guarantee meritocracy as the basis for appointment. This cannot be achieved by simply consulting the JSC. In any case in terms of section 339, such consultation may not be binding on the President.
Section 180 sets out the conditions that must be met in relation to the appointment of judges. The proposed amendment seeks to provide for the President to appoint a sitting judge to a higher court upon consultation with JSC. This approach seeks to reverse the elaborate, and transparent system currently in place. It is not clear why we should depart from the current system. The proposed changes will take us back to the pre 2013 era where judicial appointments were shrouded in a veil of secrecy.
The proposed extension of the tenure of judges albeit on a contract basis and subject to medical certification on fitness, is not desirable in a country with a vibrant legal profession. There are many legal practitioners who are fit to hold the office of judges.
The introduction of the office of the Public Protector should be based on a true desire to achieve administrative justice especially by public offices. The 2013 Constitution deliberately omitted this institution on the basis that the functions could be effectively undertaken by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. The Ministry of Justice was recently lamenting that this commission is under resourced. Instead of properly funding the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, the Cabinet is creating another institution which will have its own resource chewing bureaucracy. On the other hand, the present Constitution already provides for the establishment of an independent complaints mechanism to deal with misconduct by members of the security sector. This has not been instituted and yet Cabinet finds it necessary to create the public protector’s office. The Executive is failing to diligently and without delay perform all constitutional obligations as provided in Section 324.
The proposal to remove MPs and Senators from provincial councils also appear ill conceived. The presence of these members was supposed to bring the nexus between national and local development. The prosed amendments will perpetuate the disconnect between the national Programmes and the local/Provincial Programmes thus creating development inertia.
The Law Society of Zimbabwe reiterates that the provisions to the Constitution ought to be guarded jealously. Any proposed amendments to the Constitution should be for the people and by the people.
The Law Society of Zimbabwe further reiterates its position that the Constitution of Zimbabwe should be jealously guarded and protected in pursuance of the supremacy of the rule of law. The proposed amendments to the Constitution in the most, are unnecessary, retrogressive and are not in the interest of transparency, good governance and respect for the rule of law. Accordingly, the LSZ categorically denounces them.
Law Society of Zimbabwe
“Committed to Justice and the Rule of Law.”
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa will spend his annual in the country amid speculation there is rising tension between him and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.
According to Acting Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, George Charamba, Mnangagwa has started his annual vacation which runs for the next three weeks until the end January.
“The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to advise that His Excellency the President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, has started his annual vacation which runs for the next three weeks until the end of the month.
During this period, Honourable Vice Presidents General (Rid) Dr C.G.D.N. Chiwenga and Colonel (Rid) Cde K.C.D. Mohadi, will take turns to act in his place, starting with Honourable Vice President Chiwenga.
The President will spend his vacation in the country,” said Charamba.
A Kenyan pastor killed himself after murdering his wife over their leadership positions in the church.
Pastor Elijah Misiko of the Ground for God’s Gospel Ministry in Mombasa, Kenya stabbed his wife with a knife twice during a Sunday service.
Misiko then used the same knife to slit his throat, dying immediately. His wife Ann Mughoi, succumbed to her injuries a while late in a hospital.
Kisauni Sub County Police Commander Julius Kiragu explained in a video that Misiko was frustrated with his wife and place in the church. Said Kiragu:
The fact of the matter is the wife was a senior pastor in that church. That’s why she was pushing away the husband.
Before the murder-suicide, Misiko wrote a 17-page suicide note explaining that he killed his wife over church relations.
Reports indicate that Elijah and Ann had been separated at the time over leadership and church ownership disagreements.
The now-deceased couple started Ground for God’s Gospel Ministry together, with Anne being a senior pastor while Elijah was an assistant pastor, but they had been arguing over church ownership since 2017.
More: CHVn Radio
A Kenyan pastor killed himself after murdering his wife over their leadership positions in the church.
Pastor Elijah Misiko of the Ground for God’s Gospel Ministry in Mombasa, Kenya stabbed his wife with a knife twice during a Sunday service.
Misiko then used the same knife to slit his throat, dying immediately. His wife Ann Mughoi, succumbed to her injuries a while late in a hospital.
Kisauni Sub County Police Commander Julius Kiragu explained in a video that Misiko was frustrated with his wife and place in the church. Said Kiragu:
The fact of the matter is the wife was a senior pastor in that church. That’s why she was pushing away the husband.
Before the murder-suicide, Misiko wrote a 17-page suicide note explaining that he killed his wife over church relations.
Reports indicate that Elijah and Ann had been separated at the time over leadership and church ownership disagreements.
The now-deceased couple started Ground for God’s Gospel Ministry together, with Anne being a senior pastor while Elijah was an assistant pastor, but they had been arguing over church ownership since 2017.
More: CHVn Radio
By A Correspondent- Acting Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, George Charamba announced that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has started his annual vacation which runs for the next three weeks until the end of January.
In Mnangagwa’s absence Vice Presidents, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi will take turns to act in his capacity.
Charamba said in a press statement:
“The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to advise that His Excellency the President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, has started his annual vacation which runs for the next three weeks until the end of the month.
“During this period, Honourable Vice Presidents General (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N. Chiwenga and Colonel (Rtd) Cde K.C.D. Mohadi, will take turns to act in his place, starting with Honourable Vice President Chiwenga.
“The President will spend his vacation in the country.”
ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has has gone for his annual leave.
This was revealed by his spokesman George Charamba who said Mnangagwa has started his annual vacation which runs for the next three weeks until the end of January.
Charamba said, in Mnangagwa’s absence deputies, Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi will take turns to act in his capacity.
Charamba said: “The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to advise that His Excellency the President, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa, has started his annual vacation which runs for the next three weeks until the end of the month.
“During this period, Honourable Vice Presidents General (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N. Chiwenga and Colonel (Rtd) Cde K.C.D. Mohadi, will take turns to act in his place, starting with Honourable Vice President Chiwenga.
“The President will spend his vacation in the country.”
By A Correspondent- Police Officers in Shurugwi arrested two men in connection with nine cases of robbery committed between December 1, 2019, and January 2020.
The two, Edson Nyathi (24) and Kudakwashe Ndlela (19, and their accomplice who is at large, attacked their victims using machetes and other weapons in Shurugwi.
Deputy national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Blessmore Chishaka said:
In one case, the victim was struck on the head with a machete and sustained a deep cut while three others were stabbed with a knife.
The suspects got away with property and cash valued at $30 800, US$2 900 and six bags of gold ore. On January 2 this year, the police tracked and arrested them at their hideout near Peak Mine in Shurugwi and recovered the weapons used in robberies and some of the stolen property.
There has been an increase in cases of machete-wielding gangs countrywide, the infamous MaShurugwi, attacking people and getting away with their valuables.
The gangs also use knives and axes to rob people of cellphones and cash.
-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Schools heads who increase school fees without government approval risk losing their jobs.
This was said by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema, who also revealed that the government has hitherto not approved any increases in school fees.
He said:
I have heard that you are complaining that school fees have been increased. We haven’t approved any fees hikes.
No Government schools have increased school fees, and the Government has not approved any fees hike.
We are not playing on this one. Any school heads who hike fees without authorisation will be fired and we are very serious on this issue.
Reports indicate that schools have increased schools fees ahead of the commencement of the 2020 First Term on January 14.
Minister Mathema also advised schools to build factories on their premises to manufacture own uniforms
-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu expressed anger over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s reneging on an agreement he made with members of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) to allow them to debate proposals in the Constitutional Amendment Bill before it was gazetted.
Gutu told a local publication that the government missed a golden opportunity to show that POLAD is a serious platform for dialogue. He said:
It is very unfortunate that we lost a brilliant opportunity to show that Polad is a serious platform for dialogue. We are not happy.
Our question is why not give us an opportunity to ventilate this issue? If Polad is going to be an effective dialoguing platform, those in authority should take it seriously.
It would have been progressive to show the right degree of seriousness by giving us an opportunity to discuss the amendments.
Cabinet has already gazetted the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill, with Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi reminding POLAD members that the negotiating platform is not an arm of the government, therefore, did not deserve to be consulted.
POLAD was launched on 17 May 2019 by Mnangagwa and is made up of about 19 opposition politicians who participated in the July 2018 presidential election.
-Newsday
By Jane Mlambo| Self-exiled former Tourism minister Walter Mzembi who recently launched his own party named People’s Party is in the eye of a storm after another movement Zimbabwe People’s Party wrote to the flamboyant politician complaining over stolen identity.
Mzembi was appointed interim leader of People’s Party deputized by Godfrey Gandiwa, the former deputy minister of higher and tertiary education during the late former leader Robert Mugabe era.
In the letter, Jaison Midzi who is ZPP Director of Information and Publicity said Mzembi’s party did not do its research to avoid taking names, colors and logo that similar to theirs.
Below is part of the letter;
“We note with concern, the use of part of our name by your new political formation which you and your team decided to call People’s Party (PP). We take this to be poor political practice which will definitely affect the voters in any future elections that our party ZPP and your new part PP will participate in future. Use of similar names, logo colors and letterhead concepts as you and your team adopted is not the best way to go in politics especially when you want voters to have clear choices of candidates on a ballot paper.
“We note that our party Zimbabwe People’s Party entered Zimbabwe’s political scene in June 2019 while you party People’s Party entered the scene in November 2019. I also note that our party, Zimbabwe People’s Party completed notification in October before your formation came into being.
“We note that before forming our party, Zimbabwe People’s Party we took our time as founders and directors to do a thorough search physically in books and all media both social and formal for any name that would have been close to ours. As a party which is serious about change in Zimbabwe we felt it was within good political practice to ensure that voters are not put at risk of confusion due to similar names that are close to one another and also logo colours that come close to one another. It’s that kind of search which we thought you and your team would have done to ensure that we comply with globally acceptable and honest political practice. We also think that had you done a careful search you would have been able to see that you were taking a name and colours that were close to ours.”
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has named Sean Williams as Zimbabwe’s substantive Test captain, while Chamu Chibhabha will lead the one-day international and Twenty20 international sides as interim skipper.
The appointments, as recommended by ZC director of cricket Hamilton Masakadza, were unanimously endorsed by the ZC Board at its meeting in Harare today.
The captaincy had been left vacant following the retirement last September of Masakadza, who was the skipper for all formats.
Since making his international debut in February 2005, Williams has established himself as a dependable all-rounder, playing 10 Tests, 131 ODIs and 38 T20Is to date.
Chibhabha, who boasts three Tests, 103 ODIs and 33 T20Is under his belt since his international bow in August 2005, has come of age and will be expected to play an influential role in the shorter versions
By A Correspondent- Three people died on the spot while several others were seriously injured yesterday when a long-distance Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) bus veered off the road and overturned near Bulawayo.
It is suspected that the driver was speeding and failed to control the bus on approaching a sharp bend.
The incident occurred at around 5PM at the 25km peg along the Bulawayo-Gwanda road near Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage. The bus was coming from Beitbridge, headed for Bulawayo.
Traffic police officers were attending the scene while firefighters from the Bulawayo Fire Station were retrieving the luggage from the wreckage.
Some of the luggage belonging to the victims was strewn all over the area with several onlookers at the scene.
The smooth flow of traffic was disrupted and police had a torrid time controlling motorists.
A survivor who spoke on condition of anonymity said the accident could have been caused by slippery tarmac following light showers.
“The accident could have been caused by a slippery, wet road surface due to drizzle and the driver was speeding resulting in him failing to control the bus and it skidded off the road and overturned killing two women and a male on the spot,” said the survivor.
The injured were rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals and their condition could not be ascertained as of last night.
A witness, Mr Dan Ncube said he saw the bus skidding off the road while he was mending a fence at a nearby Hilltop Farm in Siphezini.
“I was fixing the fence when I spotted the bus approaching from a distance. The driver lost control of the bus and it went off the road and overturned. When I rushed to the scene, bags were strewn all over the place and the bodies of the victims were also lying there,” he said.
Mr Ncube said he was among the people who arrived at the scene and assisted in removing some luggage from the bus.
Contacted for comment last night, Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said he was yet to get detailed information on the crash.
The country has recorded 1 406 road accidents during the festive holiday during which 111 people died while 503 were injured. Police attributed the accidents to human error. speeding, reversing errors, following too close and inattention contributed to most of the accidents.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi recently urged motorists to exercise caution and observe the rules of the road to prevent accidents.
-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- A Beatrice farmworker who allegedly murdered his 77-year-old employer and dumped her body in a dam on Sunday [05 January 2020] also died in a road traffic accident the following day.
Sonboy, of Jefferson Farm in Beatrice, allegedly killed Esther Muhambi by striking her on the head with a mattock before tying the body onto a rock and throwing it into a dam.
He then fled with the deceased’s Toyota Raum vehicle which he was later involved in an accident with on Monday.
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- A 22 year old woman from Chivi is on the run after allegedly fatally stabbing a teenager following a brawl in a bar, police have confirmed.
Sipathekahle Gurajena of Madzivire Village under Chief Nemauzhe allegedly stabbed Munashe Mangena (18) of the same village on the left rib at Ngundu Business Centre last Friday at around 10PM.
Mangena was rushed to Ngundu Clinic where he died upon admission. Gurajena had allegedly accused Mangena of tripping her as she went to buy beer at the bar counter.
Masvingo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula yesterday said police have launched a manhunt for Gurajena.
“I can confirm receiving a report of murder involving a female and male patron. The deceased allegedly tripped the woman who got angry and stabbed him with an okapi knife on the left rib. He bled profusely leading to his death,” said Chief Insp Mazula.
She said Gurajena and Mangena were drinking beer at Ngundu Business Centre with other patrons.
At around 10pm, said Chief Insp Mazula, Gurajena staggered towards the bar and Mangena allegedly tripped her but she did not fall down.
She said Gurajena charged towards Mangena, accusing him of attempting to injure her.
“The two had a scuffle. Gurajena drew an okapi knife and stabbed Mangena on the left ribs. Mangena fell unconscious and was bleeding profusely,” said Chief Insp Mazula.
A report was made to the police who attended the scene.
-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Known for hogging the limelight every christmas as she made donations all over Zimbabwe, the former First lady Grace Mugabe was conspicuosly absent from the limelight raising speculation on her whereabouts.
Dr Amai, as she became known after acquiring her controversial 2014 doctorate which cost Zimbabwean academic, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe Levi Martin Nyagura his job, christmas time was usually a time for pomp and fanfare for the former first lady as she donated to orphans, the old and vulnerable members of society.
In 2015, journalists also benefitted from Grace’s benevolence as many- from both independent and public news outlets – each received a 50kg bag of rice sourced from China, 4 liters of cooking oil, 4 bars of bathing soap and washing powder.
Amai Mugabe pledged the food hampers at a rally after taking aim at “hungry” reporters from the private media for being “overly fixated with her personality at the expense of developmental issues.”
“Journalists from Daily News, NewsDay, Independent, I like you my children, you can’t do without me, I’m back. If you hear them making noise they are hungry, they want food so they can write stories,” Mrs. Mugabe was quoted as saying by NewsDay.
In 2019, the first christmas where Dr Amai and her family spent following the death of her husband, Robert, Grace was however nowhere to be seen with the current First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa filling in her shoes as she went about donating goodies to the elderly in Midlands.
In Shurugwi, Mnangagwa washed dishes, did laundry and cleaned homes.
Reported the state media:
“Amai Mnangagwa surprised many with her appreciation of the rural set-up when she left homes squeaky clean using cow dung.”
The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Black Market Rates:
More: marketwatch.co.zw
The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Black Market Rates:
More: marketwatch.co.zw
OPPOSITION party leaders forming President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) platform have been left seething with anger after the Zanu PF leader ignored their proposals regarding steps to be followed before gazetting of the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Mnangagwa last met his Polad team at his farm last month and the 19 parties in attendance allegedly agreed that the proposed constitutional changes be debated at their platform before being gazetted and taken to Parliament.
However, Mnangagwa ignored the suggestions and railroaded the changes through Cabinet and had them gazetted by Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi without Polad members’ consent.
“During the last meeting of Polad, one of the resolutions read out was that the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill should not be gazetted, but instead brought to Polad where it would be discussed and other parties input,” constitutional law expert and National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Lovemore Madhuku fumed yesterday.
“It was agreed that a Bill would then be brought to Parliament with amendments also from other political parties and instead of focusing on the Zanu PF needs, we will have an omnibus Bill, but that was not followed. But they went ahead and gazetted the Bill.”
The NCA leader said he would soon mobilise other parties and use Polad and other avenues to campaign against the passing of the Bill into an Act.
“Obviously we are not happy that our first resolution as Polad was not respected. We are dealing with Zanu PF, which is in the old mode and we expected that,” Madhuku said.
“You must know that Zanu PF is not used to the culture of getting advice. But we are not pulling out of Polad because it’s the only platform that we have, because we don’t have representatives in Parliament.”
But Ziyambi defended his move to gazette the amendment, saying Polad was not part of the law-making process and, therefore, did not deserve to be consulted.
“We are shocked that they want to stop a process which is allowed by the country’s laws. They want us to sit down and consult them. Yes, they are in Polad, but if you check with Bills, we don’t take them to Polad,” he said.
“They are trying to make Polad an arm of government. If they have their views and ideas, they can discuss them there and then they are brought to Cabinet and discussed, then they become policy.
But that we, as government, to go to them to ask them on laws, policies or budgets as they want us to do, that would mean we have lost the mandate that we were given by the people to rule.”
The Justice minister said Zanu PF would use its two-thirds majority in Parliament to change the Constitution.
MDC-T vice-president Obert Gutu described the development as “unfortunate”.
“I would be lying if I said we are happy … There has been a media spin out there painting Polad as a platform for wanting to loot government coffers, wanting cars and allowances. It is very unfortunate that we lost a brilliant opportunity to show that Polad is a serious dialoguing platform. We are not happy,” he said.
“Our question is why not give us an opportunity to ventilate this issue? If Polad is going to be an effective dialoguing platform, those in authority should take it seriously. It would have been progressive to show the right degree of seriousness by giving us an opportunity to discuss the amendments.”
Eighteen fringe opposition parties were represented at the Kwekwe meeting, among them the People’s Rainbow Coalition leader Lucia Matibenga and the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.
These parties garnered less than 2% of total votes cast in the 2018 elections.
The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC, which has refused to be part of Polad, said the latest development had vindicated their decision to stay out of the platform.
At the weekend, Chamisa said joining Polad would be giving the nation false hope, and instead demanded real talks mediated by a neutral person and guaranteed by Sadc and the African Union.
“We saw Polad 1 when Ian Smith had talks with (the late former Prime Minister Abel) Muzorewa, giving the nation false hope. We saw how Zanu PF acts when there are no guarantees, especially what happened during the GNU [Government of National Unity],” Chamisa said.
“Now I will not join Polad 2 and give the people false hope because if results don’t come, people will lose hope in national processes and we don’t want that to happen.”
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- A Zanu PF MP, Dexter Nduna, and two accomplices were arrested on allegations of extracting gold ore at the David Whitehead waste deposit site in Chegutu.
Nduna, ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial youth chairman Vengai Musengi and police acting officer commanding Chegutu District Superintendent Wonder Chisikwa took the gold ore a day before a machete attackers’ leader was shot dead by police.
Tatenda Gwinji, who is the Chegutu Rural District Council chairman, was also arrested in connection to the case.
Nduna, Musengi, Chisikwa and Gwinji on Tuesday appeared at Chegutu Magistrates’ Court facing charges of prospecting for gold without a licence.
Nduna and Chisikwa were separately charged for abuse of office and were remanded to January 21.
Chisikwa, Musengi and Gwinji were jointly charged with Tawanda Marufu and Nyasha Nyikadzino. They were remanded on their own recognisance out of custody to January 24.
-StateMedia
MDC-T Vice President Obert Gutu has attacked Raymond Majongwe’s continued stay as the Secretary-General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe saying it is not a democratic thing do.
His remarks come when PTUZ has re-elected Raymond Majongwe uncontested as the union’s secretary-general at the same time reelecting Takavafira Zhou unopposed at the teachers’ union’ president at the national congress held in Harare at the weekend.
Posting on Twitter, Gutu said:
“I have got absolutely nothing against this guy, trust me! But 22 years as Secretary-General of PTUZ certainly doesn’t come across as progressive & democratic to me!!
Smacks of personalization of a trade union, if you ask me…!!”
The Union represents teachers and lecturers in state and private education institutions.
Raymond Majongwe has since responded saying he is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Own Correspondent|A Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 on flight PS752 has crashed shortly after takeoff from Iranian capital Tehran.
The flight was heading from Tehran’s Iman Khomeini Airport to Kiev Boryspil Airport in the Ukraine.
Initial reports from Iranian state media cite emergency crews saying there were at least 176 people on board, consisting of 167 passengers and nine crew. None of the occupants survived the crash.
Flightradar24, a website monitoring flights around the world has also confirmed the crash. The website wrote the statement below:
“Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 crashed shortly after departure from Tehran early morning 8 January 2020. The flight departed Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport at 02:42 UTC (06:12 local time) and the last ADS-B signal was received by the Flightradar24 network at 02:44 UTC.While initial reports have speculated as to the cause of the crash, very little is known at this time.”
All 176 people on board a Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed Wednesday after taking off from Tehran were killed, Iran’s Red Crescent also said in a report.
“Obviously it is impossible that passengers” on flight PS-752 “are alive,” the head of Red Crescent told semi-official news agency ISNA, adding that 170 passengers and crew had boarded the plane.
This post will be updated as additional, verified information becomes available.
By Jane Mlambo| Controversial urban grooves musician Roki real name Rockford Josphats has taken to social media to announce his decision to turn to God.
The talented singer who has never been shy of controversy has been going through a difficult time forcing him to relocate to rural Dema after a hard time in the city.
Roki has had ups and downs with relationships and is believed to have sired over five children with different women including two with popular singer Pauline Gundidza.
In his Facebook post, Roki said; “Zvinoitika pasi pano hazvichandishunguridza coz i look up kuna musiki. (all the things that take place in this will world will no longer trouble me because i look up to God).”
By A Correspondent| MDC President Nelson Chamisa has been honoured by a Chinese university for being the must influential person in Zimbabwe.
ZimEye interviews a student at Shanghai Lixin University who saw the placation poster
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
By A Correspondent- The head of Aid and Debt management in the Office of the President and Cabinet Andrew Bvumbe has been accused by the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe for causing mealie meal shortage in the country after contravening the Presidential maize subsidy policy.
Addressing a youth event in Kwekwe recently President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that maize subsidies would be restored to cushion vulnerable groups by ensuring that there was sufficient and affordable roller meal.
On the 5th of December Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube issued a press statement stating that government would fund grain procurement under terms that had been discussed and agreed to between Ministry of Finance and Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) who have 95 % of the mealie meal market share.
Reports from Harare indicate that Bvumbe in his capacity as the OPC head of Aid and Debt management was tasked to handle the modalities of the Presidential maize subsidy implementation process.
GMAZ has claimed that Bvumbe subsequently frustrated millers by creating a hectic process which only saw 9 out of 43 Millers being confirmed for the Presidential maize subsidy program resulting in some millers closing down with others winding down operations as it would be unsustainable to compete with those receiving subsidies.
Grain millers resolved to file an urgent High Court application seeking to compel Bvumbe to explain his administrative decision and the rationale and wisdom behind it.
Sources allege that some millers are seeking tougher action against Bvute and this has forced the grain millers President Tafadzwa Musarara into a position where he has to stand in the gap and mediate a truce between angry millers and government.
Court papers against Bvumbe have are reportedly to have been filed and the millers are now waiting for a date for the matter to be heard.
Bvumbe is accused of being violation of section 44 of the constitution which imposes a duty on the state and juristic persons at every level to respect, protect and fulfill the rights and freedoms of the people set out in the constitution.
By A Correspondent- A Gokwe man allegedly stoned his wife’s ex-husband with bricks to death on Sunday evening after the man visited his homestead intending to mend relations with his former wife.
Bonus Kuvhirima of Gokwe North under Chief Chireya was reportedly seen on several occasions wandering around near his ex-wife Martha Maribha’s homestead which made people suspicious that he intended to meet his wife to make amends.
The two are said to have divorced some time ago before the woman got married to Takaruza Matienga.
“The now deceased was married to Martha some time ago so they parted ways and the woman decided to remarry; so it seems as if her former husband wanted to make amends with her but it was not possible because she is married.
“On Sunday he went to where Maribha stays with her husband that is when a misunderstanding arose because her husband said the now deceased was daring prompting him to stone him with bricks,” said the source who declined to be named.
Speaking to a local publication, Zimbabwe Republic Police Spokesperson for Midlands Province Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident.
“We arrested one Takaruza Matienga of Gokwe North after he struck his wife’s former husband with bricks and he died on the spot.
“The incident happened around 7pm. According to investigations made by the police the now deceased visited his ex-wife’s residence intending to make amends so that gesture angered her husband so he struck him with bricks to death.
“He is currently in police custody. As ZRP we urge members of the public not to put the law into their own hands.
“No matter how bad the temptations may be people should deal with their issues legally.
“There is no justification of putting the law into your own hands because at the end of it the law will take its course,” said Insp Goko.
-StateMedia
CNN|Iran launched more than a dozen missiles at two Iraqi bases that hold US troops in what appears to be retaliation for the American airstrike that killed a top Iranian general last week, the Pentagon said Tuesday, confronting President Donald Trump with the biggest test of his presidency to date.
A US official told CNN that there were no initial reports of any US casualties, but an assessment of the impact of the strikes is underway. A preliminary report from an Iraqi security source indicated there were Iraqi casualties, but Iraqi security officials later told CNN there were no casualties among Iraqi security forces.
White House aides had initially made plans for a possible address to the nation by Trump, according to two officials, but a White House official said that Trump would not speak on Tuesday. The President later tweeted, “All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
The attack comes days after the US killed top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. The administration has sought to cast that strike as an attempt to de-escalate tensions with Iran, but Tehran has vowed revenge for the killing, which it says was an “act of war” and “state terrorism.”
In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, an elite wing of the Iranian military that is also known as the IRGC, said the attacks were “hard revenge” for the death of Soleimani. The IRGC said in the statement that any country housing US troops could be subject to “hostile and aggressive acts” and called on American citizens to demand the government remove US troops from the region.
“To the Great Satan … we warn that if you repeat your wickedness or take any additional movements or make additional aggression, we will respond with more painful and crushing responses,” the statement to the US read.
Jonathan Hoffman, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Tuesday evening that Iran launched more than a dozen missiles at the al-Asad airbase, which houses US troops, and American and coalition forces in the town of Erbil. Hoffman said the Pentagon is assessing the damage done by the attacks.
“In recent days and in response to Iranian threats and actions, the Department of Defense has taken all appropriate measures to safeguard our personnel and partners,” Hoffman said in a statement.
“These bases have been on high alert due to indications that the Iranian regime planned to attack our forces and interests in the region.”
“As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region.”
The initial assessment is that the Iranian missiles struck areas of the al-Asad base not populated by Americans, according to a US military official and a senior administration official. Officials have said the US is awaiting daylight to get a full assessment of the results of the strike. Another US military official told CNN the military had enough warning of the launches that they had time to sound alarms. People in harm’s way were able to get to safety, according to the official.
At least two ballistic missiles hit separate areas in Erbil, two Kurdish security officials tell CNN. One missile landed inside the perimeter of Erbil International Airport without exploding, the second missile hit an area roughly 20 miles west of Erbil without causing casualties.
US troops were patrolling outside their bases with Iraqi partners in the hours after the strikes, according to a military official who didn’t want to be named. Drones and attack helicopters were orbiting bases housing US troops, the official said. CNN saw an AC-130 gunship over central Baghdad, which includes the heavily fortified Green Zone, shortly after the attacks.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley arrived at the White House following the attack and they left later Tuesday night.
Trump visited the base in December 2018 to visit troops after Christmas. Vice President Mike Pence also visited the base in November 2019. The attack follows last week’s deadly US drone strike that Trump ordered to kill Soleimani.
Gracious First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Mai Mnangagwa,
I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unprecedented act of kindness displayed during your visit to Norton yesterday. Norton is overwhelmed by the magnitude of love and compassion that you spread and is all the more united as a result.
All church fraternities, political parties, civic organisations and citizenry etc were present to witness the impartiality of your generous gesture and it is only when on the ground that you understand the true depth of our appreciation.
Your message of love and assistance to those in need regardless of political affiliation is indeed profound and must filter throughout the Nation. Your words are filled with healing properties so critical at a time like this. People are of God and not of any man or woman.
May you continue to share such good deeds with many others across Zimbabwe. May the works of the Angel of Hope Foundation be a Blessing to those in need. Thank you, on behalf of the Norton community and myself, we’re eternally grateful.
Regards,
Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (MP): Norton
Own Correspondent|The video below is why the US has no credibility around the world. Donald Trump doesn’t have facts. He sometimes embarrasses himself with assumptions.
No, Greece does not have any ISIS prisoners. A president who read the prepared briefings and was knowledgeable about who he or she was meeting with would know that, but Trump is completely clueless and making it up as he goes along.
Trump guessed that Greece has ISIS prisoners and was immediately corrected by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Trump said, “They have to be able to defend themselves and take care of themselves, and it’s something ultimately that I want to see, we don’t want to be there forever. I didn’t want to be there in the first place, to be honest. That’s when I was a civilian they said it, we were there, and they made a decision. We’re there now, we’ve done a great job, we’ve gotten rid of the califate. 100% of the califate is gone. Which is ISIS. We have thousands of ISIS prisoners that we’re keeping right now under lock and key, and we want Europe to take many of these prisoners because they came from Germany, France, and other places. Probably a few from Greece in all fairness.”
Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis replied, “None. None from Greece so far.”
Trump replied, “You’re lucky.”
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes :
Existence of Polad confirms that “We have a problem.”
Zimbabweans are deluded from self immolation. The fact that we have an elephant in the room called ” POLAD” is a conformant or a sign that indeed we have an impending matter which is inconclusive. In Shona they say ” hazvina chitsotsi”. Yes Nick Mangwana and propaganda team may be alover Facebook and Twitter arm-twisting people on what ED achieved but the honest truth is ” there is noise in the cockpit”.
Simple questions will give birth to a detailed comprehensive analysis :
1. Why would Zanu PF set up Polad if they clearly won the July 30 , 2018 elections?
2. Why do we need political actors dialogue (POLAD) , when we have a verdict from the con court over the July 30 elections?
3. Where is the full judgement of the July 30 elections, yet we are already three years away from 2023 elections?
4. Is Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) , there to shield people or individuals?
5. Do we need dialogue after a clear announcement from Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ( ZEC), that Zanu PF registered a clear win?
6. Is it a constitutional matter to justify the existence of Polad outside the parameters of a charter ?
7. Why is it that there is so much emphasis on POLAD instead of ” talking points” ?
Analysis 1 : impending matter.
The fact that Polad exists is a clear sign that we have an impending matter as a result of disputed polls. You don’t need a rocket scientist to tell you that our polls were disputed and as a result polad had to come in and shield power and political interests. Setting up a body called polad means there is a problem emanating from polls which were not conducted properly. So in simple terms, polad signifies impending matters. From my own assessment political leadership must admit that we have a national crisis arising from disputed polls. Is it a must game that we must have a dialogue framework everytime we go for polls? Botswana had elections in 2019 and there was nothing like polad. South Africa had elections in 2019 and there was nothing like polad. Zambia had elections in 2016, and there was nothing like polad. Where does Polad come in ? Why do we need polad if elections were conducted properly? Polad gives clear political indicators that more problems are coming. The simple narrative is we can have disputed polls or elections but polad will resolve our impasse. This becomes a tradition that theft of elections or disputed polls will always be shielded by an animal called ” Polad”. What is Polad addressing? Does Zimbabwe have a Government? Answer is simple ” Yes”. So why do we need polad? So what is Polad trying to achieve? Is it a political soft landing? Are we supposed to rush to address polad as a solution without admitting the existence of a problem?
Analysis 2 : Disputed Poll (2018)
According to the Con Court verdict, Emmerson Mnangagwa was duly elected as the President of Zimbabwe. I watched the proceedings of the whole con court judgement. I have few notable observations after the announcement. I will not go deeper on the constitutional processes regarding the matter, but there is one simple observation I made on the very day of the judgment. There was no celebration after the announcement of the verdict. The fact that there were no celebrations after that clearly marks our problem. Where is the problem? Were polls conducted properly? Mnangagwa’s nemesis and arch -rivalry Nelson Chamisa claimed polls were rigged and he disputed the whole process citing electoral irregularities from counting to announcement which further depicts the norm. For me that alone clearly justifies a problem.
Simple question – Does the dispute raised by Chamisa justifies the formation of Polad? Does this mean polad was born as a result of Chamisa’s claims to have won the elections? In actual fact Chamisa claimed to have won the elections with over 58%.
Jonathan Moyo, a political scientist and a former Minister in Mugabe’s Government who was partly responsible for running elections; made it clear that Nelson Chamisa one of the Presidential contenders won with at least 66% and his political arch – rivalry Emmerson Mnangagwa got 33% which is the other way round in comparison with facts which ZEC presented.
Further than that; this alone justifies that there is a problem already. Why would an election outcome have many figures and contradictions if the processes were done properly?
Why would an opposition figure makes such claims and a year after elections, he is still insisting that there was an electoral theft by the electrocal body?
Why would someone publish a book citing electoral irregularities from counting processes to announcement of figures?
Analysis 3 : Is Polad a shield or a political tool?
Why do we need a political actors dialogue when we have a national charter to address constitutional matters? Why establishing polad? After Chamisa claimed to have won the July polls, he made it clear that the only solution to resolve the political impasse was to come up with a national dialogue. This was a configuration rather a confirmation that indeed there was a problem. Nelson’s presser was a sign of admittance that there was an inconclusive matter.
What did Zanu PF do in response to Nelson Chamisa’s claims?
Zanu PF responded to the 41 year old politician, by setting up a board or framework called ” POLAD”. What does polad mean ? Political Actors Dialogue. Why did Zanu PF respond and yet they claim to have won the July 30 elections?
Simple Analysis & Narrative
1. Zanu PF responded to his claims by setting up polad board as a sign of little semblance of respect of constitution and in good spirit and faith that we are democrats and we are prepared to listen to his grievances outside electoral processes.
2. They wanted to show the International community and potential investors that we are a new dispensation and we have a new approach on how things should be done.
3. It was a cover -up on the August 1 shootings and they simply wanted to justify the corrections of the wrong doings.
4. They wanted to use it as a tool and basis for any negotiations.
5. They wanted to be seen to be doing something about dialogue.
NB : Polad is a given platform by Mnangagwa and Zanu PF to first admit that he won the July 30 elections and he is the legitimate President of Zimbabwe. Polad will act as a shield to protect their political interests. In other words, Zanu PF is aware that any negotiations outside polad will give birth to the following ;
– political reforms
– proper framework
– economic reforms
– electoral reforms
Polad is in existence mainly to shield ED’s Presidency. In other words, Polad is a tool to silence any criticism regarding the July 30 polls. In regards to that, it’s a clear sign and parameter that we are in charge, let’s have other issues on the table and outcome of the election was resolved by the courts. ED was aware that any negotiations outside polad was going to give an upper hand to Nelson Chamisa further putting his Presidency in contortionist or conflicting position.
Analysis 4 : Controversy around opposition joining Polad & Where does Zanu stand ?
The reason why Nelson Chamisa is insisting that there must be a framework outside polad it is because :
1. He is aware that once he agrees to join polad, is a sign that he is admitting that ED won July 30 polls.
2. Secondly he is not consistent. This will justify the many allegations that he is not consistent.
3. It further weakens him political.
4. It depicts the political acumen
5. It will be a bad taste for his party and faithful followers
Above that, the bottom line is Zanu PF will not allow ED to have negotiations outside polad. Remember Zanu PF is a child storm of military estrogen or establishment. We are under a military Government in civilian form. This is the scenario we have right now in Zimbabwe. We have political interests defeating the human cause which further depicts the social integration and imbalances. To Zanu PF, Polad is there to shield their political and economic interests. We had GNU in the past that gave birth to a power sharing arrangement between Morgan Tsvangirai and his nemesis Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF. Though Mugabe was fully in charge of state duties, he was not in control of the political and economic zones.
To further add on to this argument, Mnangagwa had to buy some few political brief case parties to justify and endorse the existence of polad. The group of political actors does not constitute even a percent of the election outcome. Those political parties are there to justify the issue of numbers and to gang up against Nelson Chamisa.
The political matrix is to make justifications on numbers.
The political vacuum still beckons due to the fact that Nelson Chamisa pulled over 2 million votes !!
Dialogue Dialogue Dialogue really ???
But Dialogue for what and why Crosby?
Yes we need dialogue to achieve what?Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo – D. Phil Cand
Muzamhindo is a Policy Advisor and Researcher and he can be contacted at [email protected]
By Gideon Chitanga|Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa (1999-2008), and the facilitator of the Government of National Unity(GNU) in Zimbabwe (2008-2013) was in Zimbabwe in December to facilitate a post Mugabe political settlement between ZANU PF and the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance(MDCA) in the face of deepening socio-economic and political crisis.
Following the removal of former President Robert Mugabe, through the November 2017 coup, the disputes over subsequent 2018 elections outcome, controversially won by ZANU PF, repressive authoritarian rule and violation of human rights has triggered debilitating economic collapse synonymous with Mugabe’s rule.
The consequent illegitimacy facing President Mnangagwa after the rejection of his election victory by Chamisa has triggered political and economic uncertainty which has blighted his government’s efforts of reengagement with the international community and prospects of financial support from International Financial Institutions(IFIs), multilateral and bilateral aid from Western countries, which imposed sanctions on ZANU PF elites, resulting in concerning socio-economic meltdown, nudging sub-regional leaders to push for dialogue. The United Nations has already indicated that Zimbabwe is at the messy of a disastrous man-made disaster as the country faces drought which may worsen emigration into already economically pressed neighbors, especially South Africa.
MBEKI’s Mediation
In addition to meeting President Mnangagwa and the MDCA’s Nelson Chamisa to push them towards bi-partisan dialogue, Mbeki also met with leaders of political parties under the banner of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) and the clergy. However, these first meetings point to deeply entrenched polarization, lack of trust, if not outright suspicion, if not lack of political maturity and will to put the country ahead of political gamesmanship and grand standing. While both ZANU PF and the MDCA have indicated their willingness to engage in dialogue, they equally declared lofty conditions too high to climb down without risking serious political embarrassment and betrayal, particularly from their hardline constituencies.
Media reports suggest that the MDCA dispatched “emissaries” to ZANU PF HQ (The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) in October 2019 to persuade the ruling party to come to the negotiating table. There are also reports that the MDCA sent two other teams of emissaries as part of multilateral efforts at reaching out to perceived power brokers within ZANU PF. These emissaries are all constituted by members of the Standing Committee (SC) and some technical experts drawn from the legal fraternity. In spite of these reports, the MDCA has insisted on set of conditions before any dialogue can take place.
Mnangagwa, who has declared his willingness for dialogue under the government created POLAD, has met the clergy on several occasions, declaring that he is ready for dialogue with the MDCA together with all opposition parties under POLAD.
In a 19-page response to the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD)’ s push for dialogue in October 2019, Mnangagwa gave us a lot to think about through his 19-page response to the submissions by church leaders, crucially revealing his thinking on the question of dialogue, but also his thoughts on the national trajectory with respect to the government’s chequered relationship with the MDCA.
Mnangagwa, just like in messages repeated in the public media following Mbeki’s visit to Zimbabwe, argued that his government has already provided institutions for dialogue through the Political Actors Dialogue(POLAD) platform, and the offer his government made to the MDCA to recognize the party and its leader as the official opposition, in a Westminster-like model as probably practiced in the UK. He further contends that these overtures were spurned by the MDCA, while casting Machiavellian aspersions to the opposition camp. The same message, pushed relentlessly in the public media, should have been firmly conveyed in Mnangagwa and the POLAD representatives’ meetings with Mbeki.
Although post Chamisa’s meetings with Mbeki, the MDCA send mixed messages, their consistent demand is their aversion for POLAD and the demand for bi-partisan dialogue. However, for both intraparty and external reasons the MDCA at this present moment is incapable of embarking on a revolutionary or radical project, beyond a wait and see approach. The MDCA will not embark on protests for fear of jeopardizing prospects of much wanted dialogue with ZANU PF, however dim the prospects. ZANU PF will dig in, and the crisis deepens, damn the consequences.
In the meantime, although struggling with a melting economy, Mnangagwa has comfortably consolidated his hold on power within his party, after it was rocked by internal divisions, post the coup that removed Mugabe. Having said that, the greatest fear for ZANU PF is the G40, former faction within ZANU PF, for reasons we will discuss in another article next week. Given this brief context, ZANU PF is and has offered “engagement” or “dialogue” at its own terms. Mnangagwa’s public view simply emphasizes and reinforces ZANU PF’s position that there is one dialogue platform for all political parties, the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) and other state driven statutory institutions through which the MDCA could engage in “dialogue.” In addition to such avenues, ZANU PF has proposed to create a West minister like position of the leader of the opposition within Parliament which the MDCA rejected.
In my view, bipartisan dialogue between ZANU PF and the MDCA will not happen, at least not for now, because ZANU PF is not interested in such a dialogue. Outside a serious shift in the balance of forces in favour of the opposition, or a seismic event which could render them a favorable moral argument pitching them on higher moral pedestal than ZANU PF, the ruling system will for now persist without the MDCA. While the government is faced with intense socio- economic pressure, such pressure cannot in and by itself cause a serious policy change allowing for another political settlement with the MDCA in government. At the present moment, ZANU PF still believes that they have a chance to turn around the situation in spite of the glaring challenges they face. Accordingly, Mbeki’s intervention will simply trigger false hope deflecting attention from the real issues, probably diverting public attention and the focus of the opposition. Barring socio-economic implosion with serious tragic events that could focus continental and international attention on Zimbabwe’s government, 2020 is going to be life or business as usual.
To recap, the MDCA does not have many options other than to join the institutions they previously spurned, otherwise its leadership will simultaneously bleed public confidence while eroding its support base. The focus of the MDCA to push for bipartisan dialogue, with a view to join a “Unit Government” is a poor, futile, if not ill-conceived political tactic. The party must redirect its focus towards contesting and consolidating democratic gains in every democratic institution and space informed by politics of democratic reform.
Gideon Chitanga is a Regional Analyst with an interest in Africa, Media and Communication Expert.
Correspondent|A MARONDERA MDC Alliance councillor, Charles Ngwena, who allegedly told police officers to arrest President Emmerson Mnangagwa for organising an anti-sanctions march in October last year, has been summoned to court for trial.
Ngwena (36) was co-charged with the late Marondera MDC youth leader Paul Chikuni who died in a car accident in November last year.
The accused, a ward 4 councillor who was represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) will be back in court on January 14 for continuation of trial.
He was removed from remand before summoned back to court again yesterday.
According to court papers, on October 23, at around midday, police officers identified as Constables Nyambisi, Mutiforo and Moyo all from ZRP Marondera Central were on patrol at Marondera bus terminus when they arrested Patrick Chabvata who was selling bananas in a push cart.
It is alleged that while escorting Chabvata to the police station, the police officers passed by Ngwena and Chikuni who were in their Toyota Prado parked in central Marondera.
It is alleged that Ngwena shouted at the police officers in vernacular saying they should stop arresting poor people, but arrest Mnangagwa for organising anti-sanctions marches.
Chikuni allegedly disembarked from the vehicle and grabbed Chabvata’s push cart and pushed it away. The altercation attracted the attention of passers-by who converged at the scene, resulting in the police officers leaving, fearing for their safety.
Zihn Gozo represented the State.
Correspondent|The Zimbabwe national soccer team will know its opponents for the World cup qualifiers amidst a dual crisis at home as some stadiums were banned and the Zimbabwe Football Association(ZIFA) has not appointed a substantive coach to prepare the national team for the qualifiers which will begin in March.
In March 2019, ZIFA, in a statement informed soccer fans that “The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board, in terms of Caf Statutes & Regulations and Articles 82, 83.1 & 151 of the Caf Disciplinary Code, had resolved to ban our [ Zimbabwean] national teams from using the National Sports Stadium for the next two Caf- sanctioned matches”, in the aftermath of a stampede which cost the life of one fan at the National sports stadium.
The condemnation of the National Sports stadium dramatizes the state of much of the dilapidated sporting and soccer infrastructure around the country except Barbourfields in Bulawayo.
According to a BBC report in December 2019, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) ruled that Zimbabwe’s National Sports Stadium in Harare no longer meets their standards to host international matches. ZIFA spokesman Xolisani Gwesela was quoted by the BBC at the time stating that “Caf has even warned us that failure to upgrade the stadiums could mean that in future we will be forced to play our home matches in neighbouring countries.”
Meanwhile, since Joy Antipas stepped down from the national coach’s position after he was appointed in an interim capacity, ZIFA has not been able to appoint a substantive coach for the warriors. Any coach will need time to prepare the team if it is to qualify for the World cup finals for the first time, knowing the players, drilling his style of play and discipline as well as proactively engaging in the strengthening and consolidation of national soccer structures.
With administrative chaos, infighting and bungling at ZIFA HQ, very little if any, is being done only three months before the qualifiers for the global soccer jamboree, the World Cup. ZIFA also faces serious financial constraints, without support from government and the private sectors, the situation looks hopeless.
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ZimLive|A top army general has been accused of having a hand in the theft of 30 tonnes of beef meant for the military’s Recruitment Training Depot in Mbalabala, Matabeleland South.
This comes amid allegations of a serious rift within the military with civilians, who mostly do administrative work like accounting and procurement, allegedly being victimised by senior soldiers who want to take their positions.
The army has been rocked by growing indiscipline and corruption allegations which has recently seen some soldiers being suspended and led to a top army chief warning that “we may cease to exist as a dependable Zimbabwe National Army” if no action is taken.
High level military sources revealed that Major General Hlabangani Dube, who is also the army Chief of Staff Quarter Master, is facing allegations of diverting the 30 tonnes meat away from the intended beneficiaries.
Memos and communication seen by this website show that Major General Dube is being accused diverting the meat to butcheries where it was sold before the money disappeared into private pockets.
A source said: “A few weeks ago, a driver was sent to deliver 30 tonnes of meat to the training school in Mbalabala and he brought the delivery note and the invoice but did not offload the meat.
“Investigations then led to the office of boss Dube and this touched raw nerves because most of these generals are engaged in murky deals and are reluctant to take action on Major General Dube. At the same time, the generals are targeting civilians working in administration because they want to run the procurement business.
“The 30 tonnes of stolen meat is small change considering the dirty deals by the army top brass elsewhere. What is striking is that at the barracks, soldiers are starving while their meat is being diverted by the bosses. It’s a scam which needs the immediate intervention of the ZACC (the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission).”
The generals and other high-ranking soldiers say they are untouchable after helping President Emmerson Mnangagwa stage a coup which ousted former leader Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
Already, the army’s director of finance Denson Muvandi, a civilian, fled to South Africa recently fearing for his life with senior soldiers baying for his blood after accusing him of blocking their lucrative deals.
Sources claim the top brass came up with trumped up charges of theft against the finance director.
There are also allegations that another Brigadier General allegedly stole an army bus and sold it to a private transport operator. The case only came to light when the operator availed the bus to Zupco for the government’s urban public transport programme.
Said a military official: “The industrial-scale theft has reached another level, and it primitive looting at the highest levels. We wish General (Phillip) Sibanda would intervene. I mean how does someone steal a whole bus and not get arrested?
“We understand that maybe it’s a no-go area for the police but then ZACC must come in.”
In September last year, Major General Paul Chima, the Chief of Staff – Quartermaster Staff, warned that indiscipline in the army had reached alarming levels.
“The major cases include absenteeism without leave (AWOL), stealing of army rations, illegal prospecting of minerals, assault, drunkenness, misuse of military uniform and public violence among other vices,” Chima said, speaking at a handover-takeover ceremony of outgoing Commander of Imbizo Barracks, Colonel Rantham Moyo, and incoming Commander Colonel Cravan Nkiwane.
He added: “It cannot be over-emphasised that discipline forms the backbone of the army and if it continues to deteriorate at the current levels, then we may cease to exist as a dependable Zimbabwe National Army.”
ZimLive has reached out to the military and Major General Dube for a comment and this story will be updated when their reaction is received.
In March last year, Major General Dube spoke out against the things he is now accused of.
“Ours is a professional army and must remain as such,” he said at a handover-takeover parade for the incoming and outgoing Commander Harare District.
“Discipline is the chief cornerstone of every military facet and as such let’s shun all tendencies of abuse of military uniform, corruption, gold panning, extortion, theft, fraud, robbery and abuse of social media.”
Correspondent|AN artisanal miner in Umguza district who allegedly sodomised a 14-year-old boy in a bushy area has been released by the High Court on $200 bail.
Levison Mwale (24) is facing aggravated indecent assault charges.
He allegedly sexually attacked the complainant while he was on his way home from Springs Farm in Umguza district.
Mwale, through his lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers, applied for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.
Justice Evangelista Kabasa granted Mwale bail and ordered him to continue residing at his given address until the matter is finalised.
She also ordered him to report once a fortnight at Springs Police Station as part of the bail conditions.
In his bail statement, Mwale is denying the charges, arguing that he was nowhere near the scene of the alleged crime on that particular day.
He further argued that there were no compelling reasons warranting his continued detention.
Mwale also disputed the assertion by investigating officers that if released on bail, he would abscond or likely to interfere with State witnesses.
“The applicant does not own a valid passport neither has he been out of the country in his entire life. There is no reason to believe he would abscond if released on bail. It therefore follows that the applicant is a suitable candidate for bail,” argued Mwale’s lawyers.
The State, which was represented by Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza did not oppose the bail application.
According to court papers, on October 31 last year, Mwale went to the complainant’s home where he wanted to collect his change after buying a t-shirt from the boy’s mother.
Before he left the complainant’s home, Mwale advised the boy’s mother to consider taking her clothes which she was selling to Springs Farm mine, saying there was a ready market.
On November 2, the complainant was sent by his mother to sell the clothes at Springs Farm Mine where he was spotted by Mwale.
Soon after selling the clothes, the complainant left the mine and went back home. Mwale followed the boy and upon reaching a secluded area, he allegedly pounced on the boy.
He grabbed the complainant’s hand and dragged him to a nearby bush where he forcibly removed his pair of trousers and underwear.
Mwale allegedly forced the boy to lie down before he had unprotected anal sex with him.
Soon after committing the offence, Mwale fled from the scene.
The boy proceeded home where he narrated his ordeal to his mother. A report was made to the police leading to Mwale’s arrest.
Correspondent|THREE people died on the spot while several others were seriously injured yesterday when a long-distance Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) bus veered off the road and overturned near Bulawayo.
It is suspected that the driver was speeding and failed to control the bus on approaching a sharp bend.
The incident occurred at around 5PM at the 25km peg along the Bulawayo-Gwanda road near Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage. The bus was coming from Beitbridge, headed for Bulawayo.
When a news crew arrived at the scene, the bodies of the three victims covered in blankets were lying near the wreckage. Traffic police officers were attending the scene while firefighters from the Bulawayo Fire Station were retrieving the luggage from the wreckage.
Some of the luggage belonging to the victims was strewn all over the area with several onlookers at the scene.
The smooth flow of traffic was disrupted and police had a torrid time controlling motorists.
A survivor who spoke on condition of anonymity said the accident could have been caused by slippery tarmac following light showers.
“The accident could have been caused by a slippery, wet road surface due to drizzle and the driver was speeding resulting in him failing to control the bus and it skidded off the road and overturned killing two women and a male on the spot,” said the survivor.
The injured were rushed to the United Bulawayo Hospitals and their condition could not be ascertained as of last night.
A witness, Mr Dan Ncube said he saw the bus skidding off the road while he was mending a fence at a nearby Hilltop Farm in Siphezini.
“I was fixing the fence when I spotted the bus approaching from a distance. The driver lost control of the bus and it went off the road and overturned. When I rushed to the scene, bags were strewn all over the place and the bodies of the victims were also lying there,” he said.
Mr Ncube said he was among the people who arrived at the scene and assisted in removing some luggage from the bus.
Contacted for comment last night, Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said he was yet to get detailed information on the crash.
The country has recorded 1 406 road accidents during the festive holiday during which 111 people died while 503 were injured. Police attributed the accidents to human error. speeding, reversing errors, following too close and inattention contributed to most of the accidents.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi recently urged motorists to exercise caution and observe the rules of the road to prevent accidents.
State Media|High Court Judge Justice Musitu has granted former Zinara finance director Simon Mudzingwa Taranhike, who was recently jailed for 15 months after being found guilty of criminal abuse of office, $2 000 bail.
Taranhike abused the Zinara fuel facility and authorised the issuance of 1 800 litres of petrol (Redan Puma) coupons to ZBC journalist Davison Vandira without following due procedures, prejudicing his employer of fuel then worth $6 354.
Taranhike, through his lawyer Mrs Rekayi Maphosa, had appealed against conviction and sentence, arguing that he was improperly convicted.
In the appeal, Mrs Maphosa argued that the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt as required by the law.
She said the essential elements of criminal abuse of duty were not satisfied by the State.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya initially sentenced Taranhike to 30 months in prison before suspending six months on condition of good behaviour.
Another nine months were suspended on condition that Taranhike pays back the 1 800 litres of fuel to Zinara before December 31 this year.
In passing sentence, Mr Mujaya said he took into consideration that Taranhike was a first offender and a family man.
At the time, Mr Mujaya said, it was true that Taranhike did not directly benefit from the commission of the offence.
He further stated that Taranhike lost his job as a result of the offence.
Mr Mujaya said the court could not turn a blind eye on corrupt activities and should pass an exemplary sentence.
In mitigation, his other lawyer Ms Purity Chikangaise said her client was a first offender and a father of three.
Ms Chikangaise told the court that Taranhike was a hypertension patient who takes medication three times a day.
She asked for leniency, saying a custodial sentence would be too harsh for a first offender.
“The court should consider a fine in this matter because indeed it is a fine-able offence, especially putting all the circumstances of the case in total,” she said.
Asked by Mr Mujaya whether it was appropriate to consider restitution as part of the sentence, Ms Chikangaise agreed, saying her client was in a position to restitute the fuel coupons if need be.
In aggravation, prosecutor Ms Netsai Mushayabasa said corruption has become rampant in the country and the court should consider stern measures to send a message to would-be offenders.
Ms Mushayabasa said a fine or community service would trivialise the offence.
The 14-year-old boy implicated in the hacking to death of a police officer by a machete gang at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields recently was denied bail on Monday after failing to produce a birth certificate.
The minor, through his lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Sanundombe of Sanundombe and Partners, pleaded with the court to be released into the custody of his parents due to his age.
His birth certificate could not be produced when he appeared before Kadoma magistrate Mr Shayne Kubonera, who remanded him at Kadoma Training Institute to January 17.
Eight others who have been implicated in the murder case were remanded in prison by the same magistrate.
Speaking to The Herald after the court hearing, Mr Sanundombe said the minor’s birth certificate could not be produced before the court, but he was a juvenile offender.
“He is a juvenile offender and if one is a juvenile, he or she is supposed to appear before the court in the company of a parent or a guardian,” he said.
“The parent then becomes the one responsible for making sure that he comes to court at the appropriate time.”
The eight are Leighton Panashe Tahoma, Obvious Mawire, Tonderai Musasa, Richwell Tshuma, Boylight Mukute, Munashe Mukute, Taurai Munetsi, Tinashe Paul Demo.
Munetsi and Demo who were on the police wanted list are admitted at Kadoma General Hospital after being shot by police in Gweru.
Mr Herbert Ngeziman represented the State.
State Media
State Media|SOME State universities have increased tuition fees by more than 1 000 percent without Government approval, while others have postponed block release programmes.
The institutions yesterday said the increases mainly affected visiting or block release students as their fees were not controlled by the Government.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira yesterday said the increases were illegal as Government had not approved them.
Prof Murwira said: “Every State university is governed by Government and there are no fee increments that were approved for all State universities as we speak.
“We have not yet approved increments at all our tertiary institutions. I heard a rumour that GZU has increased, but we have not yet approved that as we are working on it. Yes, the fees will be adjusted. Our adjustments will be based on processes we follow and people will be informed.”
Prof Murwira said $15 000 in fees will be unbearable for most students.
“Even after the review, the fees are not likely to exceed $5 000,” he said. “Government will not approve exorbitant hikes.”
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) director of information Mr Anderson Chipatiso yesterday confirmed the institution had increased tuition fees for block release students from $1 300 to between $9 600 and $15 000, depending on the degree level.
He said the prevailing economic challenges necessitated the adjustment.
“Indeed, fees for block release programmes were increased,” said Mr Chipatiso.
“Refer to www.gzu.ac.zw for more details. The increase is in tandem with the cost of running the programmes.
“The University has of late been subsidising the cost of running the programmes and that has proved unsustainable.”
Mr Chipatiso said the fees for block release and cohort programmes were not governed by the Government, hence the institution had power to review them at any time.
The fee increase, he said, was meant to facilitate payment of allowances for lecturers and provide for essential services that enable learners to fully conduct their school work.
“Block release and cohort programmes are full fee-paying programmes classified under self-funding programmes for universities, hence they are at liberty to charge fees that can enable them to provide the service without subsidies,” he said.
“It is from these fees that the university can pay lecturers’ allowances (hourly wages), hire venues for teaching and learning and provide fuel to power generators as well pay for wi-fi and other services for the block release programmes.”
A GZU student who spoke on condition of anonymity said as a civil servant, he will be forced to defer or drop out because the fees were not affordable.
“Our fees last semester was $1 300 and I was shocked when I opened my portal last week and they are saying I have to pay $9 600 for a block that starts in three days,” he said.
“Where can I get that amount of money. They told us that you will not be registered or attend lectures if you have not paid 75 percent of the fees.”
Midlands State University (MSU) has postponed all its block, visiting and weekend classes which were expected to commence next week.
In response to emailed questions, MSU information and public relations acting director Mr Reginald Nyango dismissed social media claims that the classes had been cancelled for the year 2020.
“Instead, the correct position is that while some of the classes were meant to commence in January, they have been postponed to February 2020,” he said.
“It is simply a change in the dates. The postponement was necessary to give all our stakeholders ample time to prepare for the commencement of the new academic year.”
Mr Nyango said full-time students were not affected in any way since their semester commences next month.
Some block release students alleged the university was waiting to see how the Government would deal with those who have increased fees, before taking a position.
A source at the University of Zimbabwe said the fees had not changed yet.
Efforts to get a comment from the National University of Science and Technology, Lupane State University and Chinhoyi University of Technology were fruitless as phones were not being answered.
Visiting students at the universities were in panic mode as most are set to begin lessons next week, but they still did not know the fees structure. They said they had been advised that for those who paid fees in advance, the money will be used to offset increases and they may have to top up.
Own Correspondent|Police in Shurugwi have arrested Edson Nyathi (24) and Kudakwashe Ndlela (19) in connection with nine cases of robbery where they were terrorising their victims using machetes and other weapons between December 1, 2019 and January this year.
Deputy national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Blessmore Chishaka said the two and their accomplice, who is at large, went on a rampage committing a spate of armed robberies in and around Shurugwi, threatening victims with knives, machetes and axes and robbing them of cellphones and cash.
“In one case, the victim was struck on the head with a machete and sustained a deep cut while three others were stabbed with a knife,” he said.
“The suspects got away with property and cash valued at $30 800, US$2 900 and six bags of gold ore. On January 2 this year, the police tracked and arrested them at their hideout near Peak Mine in Shurugwi and recovered the weapons used in robberies and some of the stolen property.”
Chief Supt Chishaka said on January 3, in Mphoengs, a machete-wielding gang teamed up to free a suspect for robbery, unlawful entry and theft, Nkosana Moyo, from police custody and attacked police officers in the process.
“One officer was injured in the process, one of the gang members was shot and later died at a local hospital,” he said.
Chief Supt Chishaka said in another incident on January 5, police were called to restore order at a mine in Inyathi Mine where artisanal miners had turned violent.
“Police presence did not deter the unruly conduct as the mob surrounded and started attacking officers with machetes and other weapons,” he said.
“A 23-year-old man armed with an axe and a knobkerrie was shot and later succumbed to the injuries, while five others were arrested. Police recovered various weapons, including machetes in the process.”
Chief Supt Chishaka warned unscrupulous elements engaging in the use of machetes or other weapons to commit crimes that the full wrath of the law will catch up with them.
Traditional leaders in Shurugwi have been up in arms against cases where all machete wielding thugs have been called Mashurugwi even if they did not come from Shurugwi.
Own Correspondent|Zanu PF legislator Dexter Nduna, the party’s Mashonaland West provincial youth chairman Vengai Musengi and police acting officer commanding Chegutu District Superintendent Wonder Chisikwa allegedly extracted gold ore at the David Whitehead waste deposit site in Chegutu, a day before a machete attackers’ leader was shot dead by police.
Chegutu Rural District Council chairman Tatenda Gwinji was also mentioned among officials who extracted the gold ore.
Nduna, Musengi, Chisikwa and Gwinji yesterday appeared at Chegutu Magistrates’ Court facing charges of prospecting for gold without a licence.
Musengi, Chisikwa and Gwinji were jointly charged with Tawanda Marufu and Nyasha Nyikadzino and remanded on their own recognisance out of custody to January 24, when they appeared before Chegutu magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga.
Nduna and Chisikwa were separately charged for abuse of office and were remanded to January 21.
It is alleged that on November 13 last year, the seven unlawfully and intentionally prospected for mineral ore near David Whitehead without a licence, in contravention of the Mines and Minerals Act.
On November 12, Nduna, Chisikwa, Musengi and Gwinji reportedly met at ZRP Chegutu District Headquarters and hatched a plan to extract gold ore from David Whitehead.
They agreed to look for an excavator to extract the mineral and Gwinji opted to approach Chegutu RDC.
Nduna allegedly decided to hire a JCB excavator from Yellow Metal Tours in Kadoma and paid US$495 through Marufu.
Chisikwa ordered police officers who were guarding the site not to interfere with the excavator before the accused extracted the ore which they loaded into trucks.
They were summoned to court on Monday, following police investigations.
Prosecutor Tarisai Mutarisi represented the State.
Source: State Media
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has dismissed social media reports that it has completed the recruitment of 5 000 teachers.
In a statement, Primary and Secondary Education Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela said Government is aware of a fake list of names of “successful candidates” circulating on social media.
“As the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education takes concrete steps to fill the approved 5 000 vacant teacher positions, it has come to our attention that social media users have generated a list of those who have been allegedly successful,” she said.
She said approved lists will be published through relevant channels and the Ministry does not use social media to share such information.
“The Ministry would like to inform the nation that the final approved lists will be issued through the formal channels of the Government and Ministry, under the signature of the Permanent Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education, advising of the approval by the Public Service Commission.
“Prospective teachers and the nation at large are urged to disregard the cooked up list on social media and await the authentic notification. The Ministry does not use the social media for such key information sharing,” she said.
Teacher organisations applauded the recruitment and said it will help a great deal in bridging the teacher deficit at schools.
They emphasised the need to engage qualified teachers for optimum lesson delivery.
Rural Teachers Association of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) president Mr Obert Masaraure said more still needs to be done so that the teacher to pupil ratio tallies.
“We welcome the move by Government as our schools are in desperate need of teaching staff.
However, the number falls short and will not bridge the deficit in our classrooms. There are still big gaps which need more teachers,” he said.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) chief executive Mr Sifiso Ndlovu concurred.
“We would like the Government to increase the number of teachers to meet the demand of teacher to student ratio because the current teachers are less than 20 000,” he said.-state media
The Government has not approved any requests for fees increases, and schools have been warned against doing so ahead of opening day next week.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema said the Government has not approved any increases in school fees.
“I have heard that you are complaining that school fees have been increased. We haven’t approved any fees hikes. No Government schools have increased school fees, and Government has not approved any fees hike,” he said.
Minister Mathema said school heads who hike fees without authorisation risk losing their jobs.
“We are not playing on this one. Any school heads who hike fees without authorisation will be fired and we are very serious on this issue,” he said.
He urged the public to comply with Government policy and embrace the local currency. “People should follow the legal monetary policies and stop demanding payment of school fees in foreign currency,” Minister Mathema said.
“We all should respect our local currency and stop this behaviour of increasing prices of basic commodities and school fees at will. It is not right and it should stop immediately.”
Minister Mathema said his ministry was working with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to ensure that schools use unused school land for farming.
“I have given a directive to all school heads and I want to know how much land each school has such that they use that land for agricultural purposes,” he said.
“We have already talked about it with the Minister of Agriculture and he will assist us in every way possible. We also encourage schools to make use of the land and build factories whereby they will be able to manufacture their own uniforms. We want each school to be able to produce its own school uniforms so that parents won’t be charged exorbitant prices by retailers.”-state media
A group of armed soldiers stopped Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry from entering her own house soon after her prison release on bail, her lawyer tells ZimEye.com. The development might illustrate that her husband, the retired general still has firm control over the sections or all of the military 2 years after his retirement.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Controversial commedienne Felistas Edwards (33) popularly known as Mai Titi (23) has opened up on her love relationship with her Ben 10 boyfriend Zizoe Pamyk saying they are set to tie the knot very soon.
Mai Titi’s photographs and videos with Zizoe, real name Blessed Zingwe have made rounds on social media for the past week.
In a wide range interview with a local tabloid, Mai Titi and Zizoe Pamyk confirmed that their relationship has developed that the two are bound to tie the knot before November this year.
Zizoe Pamyk said his family is behind his decision to marry Mai Titi regardless of their age difference.
“Mukuru, mudiwa ndewangu, Mai Titi ndevangu hapana chakamboipa pazvese uye ndinobvuma zvose zvirikutaurwa pamusoro perudo,” said Zizoe said.
“Gadzirirai muchato, tichakoka Zimbabwe yose kana zvichibvira uye chikafu chichange chiripo.
“Mhuri yangu nekwandinobva madzikoma nevose zviri official. Zvemakore zvinyanyana izvo tozokurukura pamberi,” he said as some of his relatives nodded in agreement.
Mai Titi, who started off as a gospel musician during the rising of her best friend in music Mercy Mutsvene, confirmed the development saying she failed to resist Zizoe’s love.
She narrated how she grew up in a Christian family, started her music career before she shelved the musical instruments when she tied the knot with Tapiwa Mutikani, a wedding filmed and captured by this writer 11 years ago.
“I am aware that you are the one who filmed my first wedding with Tapiwa and this time you are going to capture my second wedding with Blessed Zingwe,” said Mai Titi.
“Our society frowns upon a woman when she marries a man younger than her but I have learnt a lot and come to understand the secrets of love,” said Mai Titi.
“My relationship with Zizoe started when he called for help in his music and I later discovered that I had already charmed him and he had assured his family that he wanted to take me as his wife.
“I laughed at it but I failed to resist his love and we fell in love mmmmmm rudo rwasimba uye harusi rudo rwakapusa, rwakakotsira kana rwekufadzana saka before November tinenge tachata uye kunogona kuita kurekure.
“Zizoe is fully aware of my age and status.
“He has won my heart and I have followed my heart too and we will be separated with death. I can’t wait.
“My heart will not fail me on Zizoe and he loves my children a thing I failed to get from that white man I refused to get married to.
“Marriage is for life while a wedding is an event and by this I mean that Zizoe’s family has already accepted me and I feel comforted and loved.
“Wedding is like an icing cake to our union and let the society know that love is unselfish outgoing concern and what you make it that even animals know where they are loved and taken care of,” said Mai Titi.
Concerning age differences, Mai Titi said age has to do with numbers but love has to do with feelings and maturity.
“I do not encourage child marriages since marriage is for mature people where a man and woman become husband and wife,” said Mai Titi.
“We have older men who act childish although living with a woman who is five years younger than them. It’s a pity.
“In other relationships we have older women dating young blood but when it comes to real love they fail to deliver.
“By this I want to urge families to help their children be mature, get understanding and not rush into marriage zvinoda ruzivo nechifukidziro chedenga,” she said.
Mai Titi’s parents are elders in one of the big local Pentecostal churches.
-State Media
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema has announced that government does not approve of any school fee increases.
“I have heard that you are complaining that school fees have been increased. We haven’t approved any fees hikes. No Government schools have increased school fees, and Government has not approved any fees hike,” he said.
Minister Mathema said school heads who hike fees without authorisation risk losing their jobs.
“We are not playing on this one. Any school heads who hike fees without authorisation will be fired and we are very serious on this issue,” he said.
He urged the public to comply with Government policy and embrace the local currency. “People should follow the legal monetary policies and stop demanding payment of school fees in foreign currency,” Minister Mathema said.
“We all should respect our local currency and stop this behaviour of increasing prices of basic commodities and school fees at will. It is not right and it should stop immediately.”
Minister Mathema said his ministry was working with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement to ensure that schools use unused school land for farming.
“I have given a directive to all school heads and I want to know how much land each school has such that they use that land for agricultural purposes,” he said.
“We have already talked about it with the Minister of Agriculture and he will assist us in every way possible. We also encourage schools to make use of the land and build factories whereby they will be able to manufacture their own uniforms. We want each school to be able to produce its own school uniforms so that parents won’t be charged exorbitant prices by retailers.” – State Media
ONLY THE TRUTH SHALL FREE US!!
By Warship Dumba
The USD is just another piece of paper! Backed mostly by POLITICAL POWER.
America is a strong power to reckon with but at times it lacks morals.
If indeed money was to be valued correctly, Zimbabwe with it’s vast mineral and human resources,would have had otherwise the strongest currency in the world.
Zimbabwe is a jewel of the world!
With a well educated and industrious population, holiday resorts a good weather and excellent soils, the Z$ must be powerful. Every country’s needs are found in Zimbabwe.
Everyone must be chasing the Z $.
Until us as Zimbabweans realise what our obstacle in realizing our potential is, we shall remain a 3rd World country.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has ruled out striking Iranian cultural sites, contradicting President Trump who said they are targeting 52 Iranian sites including cultural ones if Tehran retaliates against the drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the U.S. will “follow the laws of armed conflict.”
When asked if that ruled out targeting cultural sites, Esper said pointedly, “That’s the laws of armed conflict.”
Trump first raised the prospect of targeting cultural sites in a tweet on Saturday and reiterated that view to reporters the next day.
“We have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD,” he tweeted.
Iran, home to one of the world’s most storied ancient civilizations, has 22 cultural sites designated on the World Heritage List by UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, including the ruins of Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire later conquered by Alexander the Great. Others include Tchogha Zanbil, the remnants of the holy city of the Kingdom of Elam, and a series of Persian gardens that have their roots in the times of Cyrus the Great.-Povo News
By Ezra Tshisa Sibanda
High Court judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda has released vice president Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Mary on a ZWL50 000 bail pending appeal coupled with stringent conditions for attempted murder of her husband in a South African hospital where its alleged she tempered with his life support in the ICU plus money laundering.
I think if Mary did that she should be tried in South Africa as the crime was committed in that country, it’s in the SA jurisdiction not Zim.
I also feel there is selective application of the law. Former Minister of Tourism Prsica Mupfumira facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million was only told to pay a paltry ZW$5000 and bailed out by the same Courts which is just a 5th of what Mary has been asked to pay.
Mind you l have no sympathy for Mary but just want fairness and real justice.
Meanwhile this year 2020, can we see more arrests, conviction and jailing of all the thieving corrupt sharks still roaming our streets #ZACC
Farai Dziva|Former ZBC radio and television presenter Ezra Tshisa Sibanda believes Marry Chiwenga’ s case should be handled by South African courts.
Read Sibanda’ s argument:
High Court judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda has released vice president Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Mary on a ZWL50 000 bail pending appeal coupled with stringent conditions for attempted murder of her husband in a South African hospital where its alleged she tampered with his life support in the ICU plus money laundering.
I think if Mary did that she should be tried in South Africa as the crime was committed in that country, it’s in the SA jurisdiction not Zim.
I also feel there is selective application of the law. Former Minister of Tourism Prsica Mupfumira facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million was only told to pay a paltry ZW$5000 and bailed out by the same Courts which is just a 5th of what Mary has been asked to pay.
Mind you l have no sympathy for Mary but just want fairness and real justice.
Meanwhile this year 2020, can we see more arrests, conviction and jailing of all the thieving corrupt sharks still roaming our streets.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has said Emmerson Mnangagwa was joking when he urged Zimbabweans to stop eating meat.
Mutodi made the remarks during an interview with NewsDay on Monday.
“The President is first and foremost a citizen who can communicate anything with fellow citizens, including cracking jokes with Zimbabweans.
Chamisa is the one with a lot to apologise to Zimbabweans for calling for sanctions, disputing election results where he was clearly defeated and even giving false hope to his supporters,” said Mutodi.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has said youthful MDC leader Nelson Chamisa must apologize to nation for “calling for sanctions.”
Mutodi made the remarks during an interview with NewsDay on Monday.
“The President is first and foremost a citizen who can communicate anything with fellow citizens, including cracking jokes with Zimbabweans.
Chamisa is the one with a lot to apologise to Zimbabweans for calling for sanctions, disputing election results where he was clearly defeated and even giving false hope to his supporters,” said Mutodi.
7 January 2020
NCA Party Statement on the gazetting of the proposed amendments to the Constitution.
•NCA party is alarmed by the gazetting of proposed amendments to the Constitution by the arrogant Zanu pf government last week.
•As NCA party we are fully aware that the intention by Zanu pf to amend the Constitution is supported by the fact that during the inclusive government Zanu pf and Mdc parties agreed that a party with two thirds majority in parliament can make changes to the Constitution. Therefore the deceitful Constitution crafted by Zanu pf and Mdc parties allows this unacceptable state of affairs now degenerating into serious problems of dictatorship.
•The NCA party believes that it will continue to set a dangerous precedence to allow any political leaders of the day to make changes to the Supreme law of the nation as it is expected in a reasonable democracy that laws must come from the people through people driven processes.
•The current undemocratic Constitution is not people driven as it never came from the people of Zimbabwe but was imposed on them by COPAC, a confused parliamentary grouping that was made up of selfish and greedy politicians from Zanu pf and Mdc political parties. By the time this chaotic Constitution was being crafted each of the two political parties hoped to win the 2013 general elections and then change any provisions in that disorderly Constitution to suit their own partisan interests that are not beneficial to anyone except their kith and kin.
•However despite this unfortunate background of a bad Constitution, crafted by covetous politicians, which allows the tempering of it’s provisions, it remains the duty of every responsible and peace loving Zimbabwean to resist Zanu pf’s parochial amendments to the already wicked Constitution.
•A close look at the gazzetted proposed amendments replicates Zanu pf’s agenda to perpetuate it’s hegemony and primitive rule in Zimbabwe as well as an intention to consolidate a decade of undemocratic governance.
•At our last meeting of POLAD, a platform comprising of 18 Presidential candidates who contested last general elections in 2018, in Kadoma on 21 December 2019, it was unanimously agreed and even announced in a press statement that the government must put on hold any amendments to the Constitution to allow all interested stakeholders to make their own proposals especially on election related amendments that constitute electoral reforms.
•The gazzetting of Zanu pf partisan amendments is a clear disregard of POLAD resolutions by government and it shows the lack of seriousness by Zanu pf to ensure that we have a credible election that is free and fair in 2023.
•All the proposed amendments by Zanu pf government will not have any positive contribution towards the much needed assurance that future elections will be conducted to the satisfaction of everyone besides the selfish Zanu pf leaders and their usual uninformed supporters.
•As NCA party the electoral reforms that we encourage all Zimbabweans to demand from Zanu pf government includes, but are not limited to, that:
•A sitting President must not appoint ZEC Chairperson and all ZEC Commissioners,
•Any ZEC must not run a general election more than once,
•A sitting President must not appoint Judges to ensure that in the event of any electoral dispute the Courts can deal with the matter satisfactorily,
•All Zimbabweans in the diaspora must be allowed to vote,
•In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President we must have a by election to allow the electorate to choose a new President unlike what Zanu pf intend to do, through their awkward amendments, to make it law that in the event of vacancy in the Presidency office the political party of the said President gives us a replacement without having a by election.
•As Zanu pf government has displayed arrogance in pursuing unreasonable partisan amendments to the Constitution we urge all Zimbabweans to register their displeasure by adding their voices to reject these hopeless amendments.
•The NCA party, as usual, will continue to raise it’s own voice against the intended partisan amendments to the Constitution by the egocentric Zanu pf government.
•As NCA party we will continue to utilize the POLAD platform and any other platforms at our disposal to disagree with the proposed irrational amendments to the Constitution by Zanu pf.
•We urge all Zimbabweans to reject narrow-minded amendments to the Supreme law. The current Constitution is bad and we must not watch as Zanu pf further worsens the outlook of the already undemocratic Constitution.
Issued By
Madock Chivasa
NCA National Spokesperson
+263 775 614 471 / +263 772 904 492
Email [email protected]
Facebook Page National Constitutional Assemby.
7 January 2020
NCA Party Statement on the gazetting of the proposed amendments to the Constitution.
•NCA party is alarmed by the gazetting of proposed amendments to the Constitution by the arrogant Zanu pf government last week.
•As NCA party we are fully aware that the intention by Zanu pf to amend the Constitution is supported by the fact that during the inclusive government Zanu pf and Mdc parties agreed that a party with two thirds majority in parliament can make changes to the Constitution. Therefore the deceitful Constitution crafted by Zanu pf and Mdc parties allows this unacceptable state of affairs now degenerating into serious problems of dictatorship.
•The NCA party believes that it will continue to set a dangerous precedence to allow any political leaders of the day to make changes to the Supreme law of the nation as it is expected in a reasonable democracy that laws must come from the people through people driven processes.
•The current undemocratic Constitution is not people driven as it never came from the people of Zimbabwe but was imposed on them by COPAC, a confused parliamentary grouping that was made up of selfish and greedy politicians from Zanu pf and Mdc political parties. By the time this chaotic Constitution was being crafted each of the two political parties hoped to win the 2013 general elections and then change any provisions in that disorderly Constitution to suit their own partisan interests that are not beneficial to anyone except their kith and kin.
•However despite this unfortunate background of a bad Constitution, crafted by covetous politicians, which allows the tempering of it’s provisions, it remains the duty of every responsible and peace loving Zimbabwean to resist Zanu pf’s parochial amendments to the already wicked Constitution.
•A close look at the gazzetted proposed amendments replicates Zanu pf’s agenda to perpetuate it’s hegemony and primitive rule in Zimbabwe as well as an intention to consolidate a decade of undemocratic governance.
•At our last meeting of POLAD, a platform comprising of 18 Presidential candidates who contested last general elections in 2018, in Kadoma on 21 December 2019, it was unanimously agreed and even announced in a press statement that the government must put on hold any amendments to the Constitution to allow all interested stakeholders to make their own proposals especially on election related amendments that constitute electoral reforms.
•The gazzetting of Zanu pf partisan amendments is a clear disregard of POLAD resolutions by government and it shows the lack of seriousness by Zanu pf to ensure that we have a credible election that is free and fair in 2023.
•All the proposed amendments by Zanu pf government will not have any positive contribution towards the much needed assurance that future elections will be conducted to the satisfaction of everyone besides the selfish Zanu pf leaders and their usual uninformed supporters.
•As NCA party the electoral reforms that we encourage all Zimbabweans to demand from Zanu pf government includes, but are not limited to, that:
•A sitting President must not appoint ZEC Chairperson and all ZEC Commissioners,
•Any ZEC must not run a general election more than once,
•A sitting President must not appoint Judges to ensure that in the event of any electoral dispute the Courts can deal with the matter satisfactorily,
•All Zimbabweans in the diaspora must be allowed to vote,
•In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President we must have a by election to allow the electorate to choose a new President unlike what Zanu pf intend to do, through their awkward amendments, to make it law that in the event of vacancy in the Presidency office the political party of the said President gives us a replacement without having a by election.
•As Zanu pf government has displayed arrogance in pursuing unreasonable partisan amendments to the Constitution we urge all Zimbabweans to register their displeasure by adding their voices to reject these hopeless amendments.
•The NCA party, as usual, will continue to raise it’s own voice against the intended partisan amendments to the Constitution by the egocentric Zanu pf government.
•As NCA party we will continue to utilize the POLAD platform and any other platforms at our disposal to disagree with the proposed irrational amendments to the Constitution by Zanu pf.
•We urge all Zimbabweans to reject narrow-minded amendments to the Supreme law. The current Constitution is bad and we must not watch as Zanu pf further worsens the outlook of the already undemocratic Constitution.
Issued By
Madock Chivasa
NCA National Spokesperson
+263 775 614 471 / +263 772 904 492
Email [email protected]
Facebook Page National Constitutional Assemby.
By A Correspondent- A Chiweshe man was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment by a Concession magistrate Ruth Moyo for severely assaulting his wife and breaking her hand after she cooked vegetables on Christmas day.
Regay Chawawa (70) of Chawawa village, Chief Makope Chiweshe escaped jail after the magistrate suspended the sentence on condition that he pays $1000 fine.
Prosecutor Moses Kuimba told the court that on Christmas Day the convict came from where he was enjoying his day and was served sadza with vegetables by his wife Lucia Kawanzaruva (60) when he expected to eat with meat.
A scuffle ensued and he picked a log which he used to strike his wife all over the body breaking her hand in the process.
In mitigation the septuagenarian pleaded for a non-custodial sentence saying he was a bread winner who just expected to be served meat on the special day.
“Your worship may you be lenient with me l am a bread winner on Christmas day l expected to eat with meat but my wife gave me vegetables so l had to discipline her,” he said.
In another case a 19 year old Guruve man was arraigned before a Bindura magistrate Ethel Chichera for raping a minor in the bush.
Andrew Chikonyora of Baradzanwa village chief Bepura was not asked to plead to rape and was remanded in custody to January 16.
The state alleges sometime in December last year the accused saw the complainant going to fetch firewood in the bush and followed her, he then grabbed her hand before raping her once.
Tariro Janhi represented the state.
By A Correspondent- The leaders of civil servants’ unions under the Apex Council, are meeting in Harare today, 7th of January 2020, to decide on going on strike to force the government to improve their salaries and working conditions.
Civil servants Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander told a local publication that public sector workers are tired of the government’s dishonesty.
She said:
Having engaged the government since October last year when we declared our incapacitation and having followed that up with several meetings from then up to December, it has become clear that the employer is largely ignoring us as there has been no movement.
… it (the strike), however, depends on what the unions will say … but we all agree that even some of our colleagues in the teaching profession who have said that they will not go back to work when schools open are right because the situation is no longer bearable.
Since the beginning of 2019, civil servants have been threatening industrial action. The government has responded by offering them token additional pay through what it calls Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and Cushioning Allowances.
The lowest-paid worker is now earning just above ZWL$1 000 per month which is equivalent to less than US$50. using black market rates.
-DailyNews
By A Correspondent- The estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Marry, is not in “good shape” and needs the best medical care possible after spending over three weeks (23 days) in remand prison.
This was revealed by Marry Chiwenga’s father, Kenny Mubaiwa while speaking to the state media on Tuesday morning.
He said:
It’s good that she was granted bail but she is not in good shape. What we want to do now is get her the best medical care possible.
Marry was on Monday granted $50 000 bail by Justice Pisirayi Kwenda pending trial. She was also ordered to surrender her diplomatic passport and title deeds to her Highlands home as surety.
She is also required to report once a fortnight at Borrowdale Police Station, not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at her Borrowdale Brooke mansion until the matter is finalised.
Marry is facing fraud, externalisation of foreign currency and attempted murder charges.
-StateMedia
When I summarised the three solution models available for Zimbabwe to address its current challenges, many preferred the revolution model, because they think it will remove the root causes of all our problems once and for all.
I must admit that while I want us to remove the root causes of the problems we have in Zimbabwe, I am convinced that it is only a consensus model that can do that in a sustainable and less costly way.
Consensus is reached through dialogue, and hence require an initial deposit of humility from the parties involved. This is why many doubt whether the current actors are willing to do that. What are carrots and sticks to encourage dialogue?
Since consensus is reached thru dialogue, it is the only route that can instil TRUST and CONFIDENCE, the two ingredients we are currently missing for national convergence. Revolutions produce winners and losers and hence entrench mistrust.
Revolutions world over have tended not to deliver what they promised. Those who preside the revolution tend to be the most courageous but not necessarily the most intelligent. They then become the new oppressors. Examples abound!!
So while at face value a revolution promises a permanent solution, in reality, it can give you what you didn’t bargain for. Consensus demand exchange of ideas outcomes may not be perfect but have broad ownership.
LET’S END WITH A WARNING! A NATION THAT DOES NOT SATISFACTORILY ACT ON THE CRIES OF THE VULNERABLE, CREATES INEVITABLE CONDITIONS FOR A REVOLUTION. ONCE ITS FIRES HAVE BEEN LIT, NO AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION CAN STOP IT!
By A Correspondent- Twelve Chipinge machete-wielding villagers allegedly attacked a messenger of court and his crew, leaving one of them critically injured.
The villagers were being evicted after illegally settling at a private commercial farm.
This came to light during the initial appearance of Shadreck Simango (28) and 11 others before Chipinge magistrate, Joshua Nembaware facing charges of public violence or alternatively contempt of court in contravention of section 72 (a) of the Magistrates Court Act.
They were remanded to January 20 for trial.
Prosecutor, Chipo Nyasha told the court that on November 6 last year, messenger of court Gibson Maeka served Jervas Musiya and 31 other illegal settlers with an eviction order from Smithfield Farm which they had illegally occupied.
The order had been granted at Chipinge Magistrates Court.
Evictions were provisionally set for November 19 and the following day Maeka and officials from his office failed to carry out the evictions after they arrived at the farm and found the illegal settlers absent.
A week later he sought police escort to go to the farm.
While executing his duties together with hired employees from his office, the 12, acting in common purpose with others who are still at large, allegedly confronted them armed with an assortment of weapons including machetes.
They surrounded Maeka and his team together with the police, stopping them from carrying out the evictions. They incited and encouraged each other to attack Maeka and the situation became riotous.
Simango, who was armed with a knobkerrie allegedly charged towards the team telling his colleagues that police do not shoot at citizens.
This resulted in Christopher Chipadze allegedly hitting a messenger of court employee, Zachariah Mafuta, with a pestle once on the head and he became unconscious.
He was rushed to Chipinge District Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition.
The 12 were arrested, but their accomplices managed to escape and they are still at large.
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Deputy Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Energy Mutodi said President Emmerson Mnangagwa does not have to apologise to Zimbabweans for the “jokes” he made in Kuwadzana last week.
Speaking to a local publication recently, Mutodi asserted that it was MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who needed to apologise for rejecting the 2018 election results among other “misdemeanours”. Said Mutodi:
The President is first and foremost a citizen who can communicate anything with fellow citizens, including cracking jokes with Zimbabweans.
Chamisa is the one with a lot to apologise to Zimbabweans for calling for sanctions, disputing election results where he was clearly defeated and even giving false hope to his supporters.
During the monthly, largely ceremonial national clean-up campaign held in Kuwadzana on Friday last week, Mnangagwa said he would send troops against the residents if it was proved that they were responsible for the ongoing meteorological drought.
He also told residents to eat vegetables after they had asked him to do something about the escalating price of meat.
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- The government is yet to approve school fees hikes because the ministry of primary and secondary education is still processing school fees hike applications.
This was revealed by the principal director in the Primary and Secondary Education ministry’s principal Director Petr Muzawazi who spoke to the state media and said:
We are still receiving applications from schools and we are in the process of assessing the forms so that we come up with a proper subsidy,
The government said schools should not hike fees without the approval of the government. Schools are scheduled to open on Tuesday next week, despite teachers threatening to down tools due to incapacitation.
-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- The leaders of civil servants’ unions under the Apex Council, are meeting in Harare today, 7th of January 2020, to decide on going on strike to force the government to improve their salaries and working conditions.
Civil servants Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander told a local publication that public sector workers are tired of the government’s dishonesty.
She said:
Having engaged the government since October last year when we declared our incapacitation and having followed that up with several meetings from then up to December, it has become clear that the employer is largely ignoring us as there has been no movement.
… it (the strike), however, depends on what the unions will say … but we all agree that even some of our colleagues in the teaching profession who have said that they will not go back to work when schools open are right because the situation is no longer bearable.
Since the beginning of 2019, civil servants have been threatening industrial action. The government has responded by offering them token additional pay through what it calls Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and Cushioning Allowances.
The lowest-paid worker is now earning just above ZWL$1 000 per month which is equivalent to less than US$50. using black market rates.
-DailyNews
Zanu PF will never ever win a free, fair and credible elections, of that there can be no if, but or maybe. After 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship, given a chance in a free, fair and credible election, the people will vote for anyone, anyone at all, just to rid themselves of Zanu PF.
By Nomusa Garikai- “My critical thinking would be, opposition should focus on talking points and references and guidelines and framework of the agenda. Whether POLAD or GPA or any other frameworks, dialogue remains dialogue, I think the focus should be on the framework.
POLAD is a creation of Zanu PF as an institution, and they are using it as a basis of any talks with regards to the court outcome of July 30 elections, and anything outside that is anon-starter,” argued Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo
“So whoever would be advising opposition must focus on the talking points. Suppose there is a resurgence on the economy, what is going to happen to the opposition?”
Well you are spot on, Zanu PF hardliners are interested in talks for talks-sake; they will never ever agree to meaningful political reforms much less get them implemented. Zanu PF will never ever reform itself out of office.
Zanu PF will never ever win a free, fair and credible elections, of that there can be no if, but or maybe. After 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship, given a chance in a free, fair and credible election, the people will vote for anyone, anyone at all, just to rid themselves of Zanu PF.
So, what will be the purpose of advising the opposition on what talking points to focus on, when one already knows these will be talks for talk-sake!
President Mnangagwa launched POLAD in May last year, nine months ago; at a time when the economy was already in serious trouble as witnessed by the soaring cost of living, shortages, January 2019 fuel price hike protests, etc. If POLAD was expected to address the nation’s teething economic problems, then the forum members were expected to hit the ground running and, by now, the nation would be expecting significant signs of economic recovery.
There are no signs of economic recovery. Indeed, there are signs of the economic meltdown getting even worse than ever.
POLAD was talk for talk-sake and thus it is no surprise Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown has continued on its nose dive POLAD or no POLAD. Launching yet another talk for talk-sake platform will too have no effect on the country’s worsening economic meltdown. None!
“Suppose there is a resurgence on the economy!”
“The Mnangagwa administration has virtually no productive tax base and no one who will lend to it on the scale required, so policy on the fly is the order of the day—layers of contradiction, distortion, graft and increasing chaos—a ‘ramshackle edifice’ that will grow larger and more precarious as the months roll by,” predicted Stuart Doran, in The Strategist ASPI.
“Downward trends and further economic shocks may trigger more instability before the year is out, but they are, ultimately, symptoms, not causes. They are weather vanes that speak of the present and warn us of the imminent, yet they are not seminal and are poor indicators of the longer term.
“For those who would try to read the swirling tea leaves, broader and deeper factors are the better bet. The word ‘system’ is inadequate because the core of it is more profound, more organic and more enduring than that. Zimbabwe is what it is because of a political subculture, centred on the ruling party, that has hegemony and subjugation as its highest ideals. Violence, disdain, paranoia and plunder are among its natural progeny. It is fundamentally antithetical to genuine political competition, dissent and notions of stewardship.”
In short the ramshackle edifice is collapsing, it is nonsense to talk of Zimbabwe’s economic resurgence, not whilst Zanu PF remains in power. Economic resurgence; might as well ask what happens if water started to flow upstream and worry about Mount Everest drowning!
Still, it is the country’s worsening economic situation which, in the end, will hold swear as to what happens in the end. Zanu PF has so far used its coercive power to brow beat the populous into submission. But there is no denying that worsening economic situation is forcing more and more people to voice their dissent with the dictatorship.
In the end the people will overcome their fear of the Zanu PF regime and demand an end to their economic hardships.
No matter how powerful a tyrannical regime happens to be, in the end; the regime will fall and the people will prevail.
“It is the economy, stupid!” as former US President Bill Clinton, once said!
By A Correspondent- A visually challenged man who survives on begging in busses on Monday revealed that he makes $3 000 per month from begging.
The man, who was hauled before the Harare Civil Court by his wife, offered to pay $900 maintenance for his estranged wife and children.
Moses Ncube is accused of pampering his girlfriend with money at the expense of his wife Enerita Marindire who is also blind. Ncube told the court:
I cannot afford to pay $1 500 instead I will pay $900.
I survive from begging and I realise $3000 per month.
Mabhazi haasi kuzara mazuva ano saka hakuna mari.
Presiding magistrate Nyasha Marufu ordered Moses to pay $1 200 with effect from January 31.
-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has announced the death of two game rangers who have been missing for over a week.
In a statement, Zimparks spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, revealed that the two rangers’ bodies were found floating in Lake Kariba.
He said:
It is with sadness that (we announce) our two missing rangers have been found dead in Lake Kariba.
The two rangers are indeed conservation heroes. Zimparks family and conservation partners are in deep mourning.
Reports indicate that the rangers, whose identities have not been revealed, went missing after an encounter with four suspected poachers believed to be from Zambia while patrolling the lake.
The rangers arrested the poachers but were later overpowered as they transported them to Kariba town.
After a search by joint police and parks teams from Zimbabwe and Zambia, the remains of the two rangers were found on the water.
-StateMedia
A group of armed soldiers stopped Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry from entering her own house soon after her prison release on bail, her lawyer tells ZimEye.com. The development might illustrate that her husband, the retired general still has firm control over the sections or all of the military 2 years after his retirement.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
By A Correspondent- Police officers in Inyati, Matabeleland North, fatally shot a Machete-wielding gold panner (MaShurugwi) and injured 5 others in the same incident Newsday reports.
The violent MaShurugwi, armed with axes and machetes, reportedly charged at the officers who were forced to shot them in defence as they were deployed to stop illegal mining activities at Acuutes Farm.
The incident was confirmed in a memo seen by the publication that read in part:
At around 4pm, the illegal miners, who were armed with machetes and axes, started charging towards the armed police officers. Constable Mandindo, who was armed with an FN riffle, fired six warning shots in the air after seeing that the mob was advancing at them.
The warning shots could not deter the mob as it continued to charge towards the police officers and eventually Mandindo shot Mabhena once on the left shoulder. He was armed with an axe and a knobkerrie and he died on the spot.
MaShurugwi on 30 December attacked and killed Constable Wonder Hokoyo who was trying to help Good Hope Workers in Battlefields.
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Former ZBC radio and television presenter Ezra Tshisa Sibanda believes Marry Chiwenga’ s case should be handled by South African courts.
Read Sibanda’ s argument:
High Court judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda has released vice president Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Mary on a ZWL50 000 bail pending appeal coupled with stringent conditions for attempted murder of her husband in a South African hospital where its alleged she tempered with his life support in the ICU plus money laundering.
I think if Mary did that she should be tried in South Africa as the crime was committed in that country, it’s in the SA jurisdiction not Zim.
I also feel there is selective application of the law. Former Minister of Tourism Prsica Mupfumira facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million was only told to pay a paltry ZW$5000 and bailed out by the same Courts which is just a 5th of what Mary has been asked to pay.
Mind you l have no sympathy for Mary but just want fairness and real justice.
Meanwhile this year 2020, can we see more arrests, conviction and jailing of all the thieving corrupt sharks still roaming our streets.
Writes Nomusa Garikai- POLAD was talk for talk-sake and thus it is no surprise Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown has continued on its nose dive POLAD or no POLAD.
Launching yet another talk for talk-sake platform will too have no effect on the country’s worsening economic meltdown. None!
“My critical thinking would be, opposition should focus on talking points and references and guidelines and framework of the agenda. Whether POLAD or GPA or any other frameworks, dialogue remains dialogue, I think the focus should be on the framework. POLAD is a creation of Zanu PF as an institution, and they are using it as a basis of any talks with regards to the court outcome of July 30 elections, and anything outside that is anon-starter,” argued Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo
“So whoever would be advising opposition must focus on the talking points. Suppose there is a resurgence on the economy, what is going to happen to the opposition?”
Well you are spot on, Zanu PF hardliners are interested in talks for talks-sake; they will never ever agree to meaningful political reforms much less get them implemented. Zanu PF will never ever reform itself out of office.
Zanu PF will never ever win a free, fair and credible elections, of that there can be no if, but or maybe. After 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship, given a chance in a free, fair and credible election, the people will vote for anyone, anyone at all, just to rid themselves of Zanu PF.
So, what will be the purpose of advising the opposition on what talking points to focus on, when one already knows these will be talks for talk-sake!
President Mnangagwa launched POLAD in May last year, nine months ago; at a time when the economy was already in serious trouble as witnessed by the soaring cost of living, shortages, January 2019 fuel price hike protests, etc. If POLAD was expected to address the nation’s teething economic problems, then the forum members were expected to hit the ground running and, by now, the nation would be expecting significant signs of economic recovery.
There are no signs of economic recovery. Indeed, there are signs of the economic meltdown getting even worse than ever.
POLAD was talk for talk-sake and thus it is no surprise Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown has continued on its nose dive POLAD or no POLAD. Launching yet another talk for talk-sake platform will too have no effect on the country’s worsening economic meltdown. None!
“Suppose there is a resurgence on the economy!”
“The Mnangagwa administration has virtually no productive tax base and no one who will lend to it on the scale required, so policy on the fly is the order of the day—layers of contradiction, distortion, graft and increasing chaos—a ‘ramshackle edifice’ that will grow larger and more precarious as the months roll by,” predicted Stuart Doran, in The Strategist ASPI.
“Downward trends and further economic shocks may trigger more instability before the year is out, but they are, ultimately, symptoms, not causes. They are weather vanes that speak of the present and warn us of the imminent, yet they are not seminal and are poor indicators of the longer term.
“For those who would try to read the swirling tea leaves, broader and deeper factors are the better bet. The word ‘system’ is inadequate because the core of it is more profound, more organic and more enduring than that. Zimbabwe is what it is because of a political subculture, centred on the ruling party, that has hegemony and subjugation as its highest ideals. Violence, disdain, paranoia and plunder are among its natural progeny. It is fundamentally antithetical to genuine political competition, dissent and notions of stewardship.”
In short the ramshackle edifice is collapsing, it is nonsense to talk of Zimbabwe’s economic resurgence, not whilst Zanu PF remains in power. Economic resurgence; might as well ask what happens if water started to flow upstream and worry about Mount Everest drowning!
Still, it is the country’s worsening economic situation which, in the end, will hold swear as to what happens in the end. Zanu PF has so far used its coercive power to brow beat the populous into submission. But there is no denying that worsening economic situation is forcing more and more people to voice their dissent with the dictatorship.
In the end the people will overcome their fear of the Zanu PF regime and demand an end to their economic hardships.
No matter how powerful a tyrannical regime happens to be, in the end; the regime will fall and the people will prevail.
“It is the economy, stupid!” as former US President Bill Clinton, once said!
By A Correspondent- First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa’s security team on Monday heavily embarrassed Chief Chivero after chucking him out of an event being hosted by Mrs Mnangagwa because the chief arrived late.
First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa was interacting with several stakeholders of Norton town, Mashonaland West Province when the chief was kicked out from the event.
The scuffle is alleged to have ensued after Chief Chivero’s aides demanded to be allowed entry at Dudley Hall Primary School where the meeting was being held. Chief Chivero was also accused of disrespecting the President’s wife by coming late.
‘Imhosva here kunonoka? Iwe hausati wambononokawo here? Kana zvisingaite hatisi kuita nharo tinongoenda hedu (Is it a crime to be late. Have you always been punctual where ever you have gone before? If it is not possible to gain entry, we can simply leave as we are not prepared to argue with you,’ one of Chief Chivero’s aides was heard saying.
The State security agents could not budge and told the chief there was no space left in the meeting room. However, a few minutes later, Small and Medium Enterprises Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga and her entourage arrived and were easily allowed into the briefing
By A Correspondent- Kwekwe resident magistrate Story Rushwambwa (48) and clerk of court Bright Mpiyabo (45) are in soup for abuse of office and are set to appear today at Harare Magistrates courts for bail application on abuse of office charge
Rushambwa and Mpiyabo appeared before Harare Regional magistrate Bianca Makwande yesterday and were not asked to plead.
The state led by George Makonore alleged sometime in September 2018 a white Mercedes Benz was impounded by Kwekwe CID from a business tycoon Sherpard Tundiya.
Tundiya was in possession of stolen property which was believed to have been stolen in South Africa and smuggled into Zimbabwe.
The car was handed over to ZIMRA pending finalisation of investigations by the South African Police Service and settling of duty terms of the Custom and Excise Act.
Tundiya was not patient enough, he then made application seeking the release of the car which Rushambwa could not hesitate to release it to Tundiya through a court oder which was preducial to ZIMRA and other respondents cited in the application.
Resultedly, the car can no longer be located yet it is required for exhibit and it remains stolen property.
Kwekwe magistrate is also alleged to have facilitated another stolen car case.
In October 2019, a Toyota Hilux was impounded from John Mapurazi after it was fraudulently imported into the country and handed over to ZIMRA for custom management and trial in Bulawayo.
It is alleged that the magistrate then connived the release of the vehicle and Mpiyabo held on to the record on the 31st of December upon the arrival of Rushambwa who was on leave.
Rushambwa precised the matter with the applicant Mapurazi represented by Tundiya who is not a legal practitioner and granted the release of the car.
The vehicle remains an exhibit criminal case in Bulawayo but can no longer be located.
This serves to reveal that the two showed favour to the applicants which is contrary to their duties as officers of the court
Gracious First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Mai Mnangagwa,
I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unprecedented act of kindness displayed during your visit to Norton yesterday. Norton is overwhelmed by the magnitude of love and compassion that you spread and is all the more united as a result.
All church fraternities, political parties, civic organisations and citizenry etc were present to witness the impartiality of your generous gesture and it is only when on the ground that you understand the true depth of our appreciation.
Your message of love and assistance to those in need regardless of political affiliation is indeed profound and must filter throughout the Nation. Your words are filled with healing properties so critical at a time like this. People are of God and not of any man or woman.
May you continue to share such good deeds with many others across Zimbabwe. May the works of the Angel of Hope Foundation be a Blessing to those in need.
Thank you, on behalf of the Norton community and myself, we’re eternally grateful
Regards,
Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (MP): Norton
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Own Correspondent|A top law firm has come to the rescue of the woman who was assaulted and had her hair shaved with a knife in front of her 11 year old child, Belinda Mudimu.
Mudimu was attacked by 4 women in Capetown as they accused her of bedding one of the ladies’ husband.
After ZimEye publicised the video of the assault, the women travelled to Belinda Mudimu’s residence where they pleaded for forgiveness saying the had assaulted the wrong person.
Belinda who is pregnant was left nursing body pains and ended up getting her whole hair shaved.
Since the attack, top law firm, Ndebele du Plessis Attorneys, has risen up to assist on the case whose initial hearing was on Monday.
A source at the firm confirmed the development as the firm moves in to assist with legal remedies.
Own Correspondent|Brief update on the legal position around people blocking Marry Chiwenga from entering her house.
Watch video downloading below:
Own Correspondent|A ZUPCO Bus plying the Beitbridge – Gwanda – Bulawayo route has crashed about 40 kilometres out of Bulawayo.
Witnesses at the scene claim that there has been fatalities though no official count has yet been confirmed.
According to witnesses, the driver who was driving towards Bulawayo tried to negotiate a sharp bend at a high speed resulting in him losing control of the bus.
“The bus swerved several times before landing on its side,” a witness told ZimEye.com.
“We have seen some dead bodies on the site and medical teams are on site attending to the passengers,” the witness told ZimEye.com.
ZUPCO buses are an instant hit to Zimbabweans and are always full because of their low prices compared to other public transport operators.
It is not yet clear how many people were in the bus.
While still shocked on the accident, Zimbabweans have expressed another shock at the condition of a rescue vehicle appearing on pictures from the crash scene.
Own Correspondent|President Robert Mugabe granted value added tax (VAT) exemptions to his wife Grace which deprived the state of about US$200 000 ($4 million).
Nine applications for exemptions were sent to Mugabe between 2012 and 2014 by Stanley Nhari, general manager of Grace’s Gushungo Holdings, and managers of Mwenewazvo Farm, Grace Mugabe Orphanage and Amai Mugabe High School.
Gushungo administrator Farai Jemwa also wrote to Mugabe in 2015 asking that Grace be exempt from paying tolls at Eskbank on her daily commute along the A11 between Mazowe and Harare.
Letters addressed to Mugabe indicate that Grace did not pay VAT on goods that cost US$350 000 ($7 million) on 19 March 2012.
She then applied for another exemption for furniture valued at US$150 000 ($3 million).
The same request was made for office stationery worth US$50 000 ($1 million) on September 6 2012.
In the same year, the former first lady sought exemptions on cement valued at US$122 939 ($2.5 million) for the Gushungo dairy farm and other materials that cost US$119 560 ($2.4 million).
For Blue Roof, the Borrowdale mansion where the Mugabes lived, she asked her husband for a VAT exemption on exterior paint costing US$118 585 (R2.4 million).
She also avoided VAT on centre pivots for irrigation on Mwenewazvo Farm that cost US$18 000 ($360 000).
In June 2013, she sought VAT exemption for goods with an estimated cost of US$260 000 ($5.2 million), and in 2014 for building materials worth US$123 120 ($2.5 million).
In total, Grace avoided paying VAT of US$196 830 ($3.9 million) after buying goods worth US$1 312 204 ($26.2 million).
Jemwa’s letter to Mugabe about the Eskbank toll said: “May I therefore request for your assistance in the completion of the relevant procedures culminating in the issuance of the relevant exemption.”
Mugabe died in September and Blue Roof and the Gushungo dairy farm were listed as part of his estate.
According to the Tax Act, a president does not pay income tax but there is no exemption from VAT on his business interests.
Tax expert Sydwell Nsingo said there were protocols for all tax issues, none of which had anything to do with the office of the president.
“For any tax matters, one should apply to the commissioner-general of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. Depending on the matter, he will then liaise with the finance ministry or in some cases he will communicate with the relevant line ministries,” he said.
However, in Grace’s case, the applications for exemptions were approved in directives from the President’s office to ZIMRA.
Colls Ndlovu, an economist formerly with the Reserve Bank of SA, said: “There’s a list of goods that are exempt from VAT and normally they are listed in the minister of finance’s budget statement. Others can be added through statutory instruments.
“That list makes it clear, and so there’s no need to apply for exemption otherwise it will amount to favouritism.”
None of the goods for which Grace applied for exemption were on the VAT free list, said Ndlovu.
Analysts said the VAT exemptions were just the latest example of abuse of power by the ruling elite.
“Zimbabwe has institutionalised corruption to an extent that it is becoming normal,” said political commentator Nigel Nyamutumbu.
“It is unfortunate that for all these years Mugabe was president, critical decisions such as tax exemptions were not subjected to due process but were a bedroom affair.”
Nyamutumbu said the same could be said of the case in which Marry Chiwenga, wife of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, is accused of illegally sending US$1m ($20 million) to South Africa and China.
“Citizens fail to get their hard-earned foreign currency while those in the corridors of power not only have easy access but they abuse funds that do not even belong to them,” he said.
“This thuggish daylight robbery is actually the root of the problem bedevilling the country.”
Grace Mugabe’s office did not respond to numerous requests for comment.
– Sunday Times
Zbc News|THE government through the Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) says plans are underway to import battery electric vehicles to save fossil fuel and reduce global warming emissions. Taking advantage of abundant lithium deposits in Zimbabwe, the government through the CMED says plans are on course to import electricity-powered vehicles.
In an interview with Zbc news this Monday, CMED Managing Director, Mr Davison Mhaka said the initiative will go a long way in saving foreign currency for importing fuel.
“Soon we are going to import vehicles which are electrically powered. As CMED we are under government we are going to implement this initiative so that others will copy from us,” he said.
He also said this initiative will reduce air pollution through carbon emissions.
“This is also a smart way of conserving our environment through carbon emissions,” he added.
Zimbabwe’s lithium deposits are second to none in Africa with deposits in Bikita, Goromonzi, and Kamativi.
Countries such as Germany, India and the Netherlands are now banning vehicles that run on fossil fuels like diesel and liquefied petroleum.
An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using energy stored in rechargeable batteries.
The first practical electric cars were produced in the 1880s. Electric cars were popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engines, electric starters in particular, and mass production of cheaper gasoline vehicles led to a decline in the use of electric drive vehicles.
From 2008, a renaissance in electric vehicle manufacturing occurred due to advances in batteries, and the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with internal combustion engine cars, electric cars are quieter, and have no tailpipe emissions and lower emissions in general. In January 2019 and updated in April, a Reuters analysis of 29 global automakers concluded that automakers are planning on spending $300 billion over the next 5 to 10 years on electric cars, with 45% of that investment projected to occur in China.
Charging an electric car can be done at a variety of charging stations, these charging stations can be installed in both houses and public areas.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has urged workers in particular and citizens, in general, not to look up to ruling elites but to join the “resistance” against the government’s “stupid” policies.
Speaking to Daily News on Monday, ZCTU president Peter Mutasa argued that citizens’ sufferings are being orchestrated by the same people. He said:
Workers and citizens must not look up to the ruling elites who don’t care about our plight. The suffering of the masses is orchestrated by the same people.
While everyone else is suffering, the ruling elites are pillaging and looting the natural and other resources of the country. There is no incentive for them to change the way things are.
As a result, the workers and citizens must free themselves from this bondage … the ZCTU urges every one of them to join in the resistance against stupid policies that have impoverished us such as austerity.
Mutasa is among a significant number of trade unionists and political and human rights activists who are facing charges of subversion related to the January fuel protests.
In January 2019, ZCTU called for a mass stay-away to force the government to address the various socio-economic challenges Zimbabweans have to contend with.
Own Correspondent|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is an angry man indeed and appears set to go to any level to make sure that his wife Marry suffers.
Chiwenga on Monday defied a High Court ruling passed during bail hearing of his wife which said she must reside at their Borrowdale Brooks residence until her case is finalised.
Chiwenga’s security details blocked her convoy from entering her own house as soon as she arrived home from Chikurubi prison.
Officers stationed at the gate told Marry she would not be allowed access to get to her own house.
Mubaiwa’s lawyer was still at court at the time of publishing.
Impeccable sources made the revelations to ZimEye and below is the short LIVE program. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY… VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
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Own Correspondent|Government has warned Zimbabweans against South African-based Zimbabweans who are trying to con unsuspecting people by promising them that they have been allocated farming equipment and must help meet the transport costs.
A press statement issued by Misheck Sibanda, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet , said the conmen are demanding sums ranging from R8 000 to R20 000.
Sibanda said the government had no such scheme.
Own Correspondent|First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa’s security team on Monday heavily embarassed Chief Chivero after chucking him out of an event being hosted by Mrs Mnangagwa because the chief arrived late.
First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa was interacting with several stakeholders of Norton town, Mashonaland West Province when the chief was kicked out from the event.
The scuffle is alleged to have ensued after Chief Chivero’s aides demanded to be allowed entry at Dudley Hall Primary School where the meeting was being held. Chief Chivero was also accused of disrespecting the President’s wife by coming late.
‘Imhosva here kunonoka? Iwe hausati wambononokawo here? Kana zvisingaite hatisi kuita nharo tinongoenda hedu (Is it a crime to be late. Have you always been punctual where ever you have gone before? If it is not possible to gain entry, we can simply leave as we are not prepared to argue with you,’ one of Chief Chivero’s aides was heard saying.
The State security agents could not budge and told the chief there was no space left in the meeting room. However, a few minutes later, Small and Medium Enterprises Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga and her entourage arrived and were easily allowed into the briefing.
By A Correspondent- A Chiweshe man was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment yesterday by Concession magistrate Ruth Moyo for severely assaulting his wife and breaking her hand after she cooked vegetables on Christmas day.
70 year old Regay Chawawa of Chawawa village, Chief Makope Chiweshe escaped jail after the magistrate suspended the sentence on condition that he pays $1000 fine.
Prosecutor Moses Kuimba told the court that on Christmas Day the convict came from where he was enjoying his day and was served sadza with vegetables by his wife Lucia Kawanzaruva (60) when he expected to eat with meat.
A scuffle ensued and he picked a log which he used to strike his wife all over the body breaking her hand in the process.
In mitigation the septuagenarian pleaded for a non-custodial sentence saying he was a bread winner who just expected to be served meat on the special day.
“Your worship may you be lenient with me l am a bread winner on Christmas day l expected to eat with meat but my wife gave me vegetables so l had to discipline her,” he said.
In another case a 19 year old Guruve man was arraigned before a Bindura magistrate Ethel Chichera for raping a minor in the bush.
Andrew Chikonyora of Baradzanwa village chief Bepura was not asked to plead to rape and was remanded in custody to January 16.
The state alleges sometime in December last year the accused saw the complainant going to fetch firewood in the bush and followed her, he then grabbed her hand before raping her once.
Tariro Janhi represented the state
By A Correspondent- Twelve Chipinge machete-wielding villagers allegedly attacked a messenger of court and his crew, leaving one of them critically injured.
The villagers were being evicted after illegally settling at a private commercial farm.
This came to light during the initial appearance of Shadreck Simango (28) and 11 others before Chipinge magistrate, Joshua Nembaware facing charges of public violence or alternatively contempt of court in contravention of section 72 (a) of the Magistrates Court Act.
They were remanded to January 20 for trial.
Prosecutor, Chipo Nyasha told the court that on November 6 last year, messenger of court Gibson Maeka served Jervas Musiya and 31 other illegal settlers with an eviction order from Smithfield Farm which they had illegally occupied.
The order had been granted at Chipinge Magistrates Court.
Evictions were provisionally set for November 19 and the following day Maeka and officials from his office failed to carry out the evictions after they arrived at the farm and found the illegal settlers absent.
A week later he sought police escort to go to the farm.
While executing his duties together with hired employees from his office, the 12, acting in common purpose with others who are still at large, allegedly confronted them armed with an assortment of weapons including machetes.
They surrounded Maeka and his team together with the police, stopping them from carrying out the evictions. They incited and encouraged each other to attack Maeka and the situation became riotous.
Simango, who was armed with a knobkerrie allegedly charged towards the team telling his colleagues that police do not shoot at citizens.
This resulted in Christopher Chipadze allegedly hitting a messenger of court employee, Zachariah Mafuta, with a pestle once on the head and he became unconscious.
He was rushed to Chipinge District Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition.
The 12 were arrested, but their accomplices managed to escape and they are still at large.
-Newsday
Media Statement|Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) notes with concern the attempts by the ruling ZANU PF to mutilate the Constitution by amending it before its full implementation.
The proposed amendments approved by Cabinet relate to the appointments of Vice Presidents, the Prosecutor General, Public Protector, promotion of judges and the terms of office of judges.
The proposed amendments include the rejected Constitution Amendment Bill No.1 of 2016. Any amendments to the Constitution must seek to further entrench democracy and deepen the enjoyment of rights by citizens.
We remind political parties and Cabinet that the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe was bred out of popular and concerted advocacy by citizens and civil society and through its adoption in 2013 is an expression of the will of citizens. In our view, the proposed amendments seek to entrench the interests of individuals and dent the independence of an already captured judiciary.
As an umbrella body of civic society organizations in Zimbabwe advocating for democratic development, we reiterate that the preservation and full implementation of the Constitution is a duty of every citizen regardless of political preferences and that the Constitution, if fully implemented and adhered to, is a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s problems.
We further reiterate that as calls for dialogue increase such dialogue must be anchored on preserving and strengthening Zimbabwe’s constitutional order guided by an agreed all stakeholders roadmap to the resolution of the Zimbabwe crisis.
In this regard, we hold the firm view that while citizens and stakeholders are allowed to develop and proffer transitional alternatives to the national crisis, such alternatives must never be anchored on mutilating the Constitution by suspending key democratic processes that allow citizens to choose leaders of their choice timeously. Attempting to address the national crisis by suspending the Constitution is counter to the very foundations of our nation.
In the same vein, restricting the dialogue process to political parties will only create a political pact that excludes the concerns of ordinary citizens. This therefore underlines the importance of a process accepted by all stakeholders and guarantor at the SADC, African Union or United Nations level.
We reiterate that efforts at arresting the multifaceted crisis facing the country must be hinged on a competitive national dialogue process which is seated on broad citizenry issues and key reforms agreed by stakeholders with clearly set timelines and a monitoring framework. We also raise our concerns over a national dialogue process that is facilitated by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission on the basis of the following:
1. NPRC Commissioners are appointees of the President and save at his mercy who in this case is a conflicted party
2. The commission has, despite repeated calls and need, failed to rollout tangible national reconciliation initiatives
3. The issues at stake require an accepted and un-conflicted party to play the mediator role and a continental or international guarantor.
We further reiterate the importance of creating a conducive environment that will allow stakeholders to freely share ideas on transitional alternatives and as part of confidence and trust building in the national dialogue, the Zimbabwe must immediately meet the following conditions:
a. End torture, abductions and enforced disappearances, murder, rape and maiming civilians by the military, state security agents and ruling party vigilante groupsb. Decriminalize the work of civic society and end the continued persecution and arbitrary arrests of civic society leadersc. Ensure that peace and human security to prevail to allow for all stakeholders to freely express their views on the national dialogue processd. The attempts to weaken democratic processes by amending the Constitution must immediately be hauled.e. Promote fair media coverage for all stakeholders and allow divergent views to be shared on all media platforms. Tolerance to divergence is the hallmark of enriching the national dialogue process.
We reiterate that efforts at arresting the multi faceted crisis facing the country are hinged on a proper national dialogue process that seeks to put the concerns of ordinary citizens on board and preserve Zimbabwe’s Constitution.
Addressing the Zimbabwean crisis implies addressing the concerns of the ordinary citizens who have had to bear the brutal effects of an economic meltdown stemming from a constitutional and legitimacy crisis.
Public office bearers must honour their obligations in upholding, protecting and defending the Constitution.
On our part as Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, we have set our minimum demands for the national dialogue process based on the defense and observation of the Constitution.
Our demands are highlighted below:
On the process:
1) It is our conviction that the national dialogue process must involve all stakeholders and a national visioning process that has civil society, government, political parties, business, religious groups and labour unions among other critical stakeholders. The dialogue process should produce a clearly timed roadmap to the demilitarisation of civilian political processes and the restoration of normalcy by focusing on key political, economic and social reforms. In this regard, we call for FULL CONSULTATION of all stakeholders rather than cosmetic processes.On the Economy:
2) It is imperative to arrest the economic downturn in Zimbabwe based on a clear reform roadmap and implementation of pro-poor and inclusive economic policies. Efforts at economic transformation, stabilisation and growth should be aimed at achieving inclusive sustainable economic growth and development.On Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, Human Rights and Human Security:
3) The Government of Zimbabwe must uphold and guarantee citizens’ rights as enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution and other regional and international human rights treaties and statutes. Full implementation of the country’s constitution is equally important in promoting democracy in Zimbabwe.
4) The Government of Zimbabwe must respect the fundamental right of access to information, freedom of expression as well as freedom of association.
5) There is need to immediately operationalise a comprehensive programme on national healing, reconciliation and nation building that will depolarise society and entrench the respect for diversity, inclusion and tolerance in all facets of life.
6) The army must desist from partisan politics and confine themselves to the barracks. There is an imperative need to de-militarise the Zimbabwean state.
7) There is need for non-interference into the work of institutions that support democracy. This again calls for full implementation and respect of the country’s constitution. Also, government must not be seen to be criminalising the work of civic society organisations.
8) CiZC holds the firm view that implementation of electoral reforms is critical as a way of doing away with disputed elections that often result in a legitimacy crisis which comes with negative impacts on democracy and economic development
For and On Behalf of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
Marvellous Kumalo
Spokesperson
Former Soccer Star of the Year Denver Mukamba has completed a move to Ngezi Platinum.
The midfielder was with Chapungu for six months after joining the relegated side in the 2019 mid-season transfer window.
An unnamed source confirmed the news to the publication.
“Mukamba has successfully completed his move to Ngezi. He is now part of the Madamburo family,” the source said.
“We welcome him and we wish him well, we are ready to work with him and we welcome him.
“We know his abilities and we are happy to have such a player as part of our team.”
The arrival of the player reunites him with coach Rodwell Dhlakama who left Chapungu in September before taking over at Ngezi.
