By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has urged government to deal with the numerous reports of partisan food aid distribution and ensure that every deserving citizen does not go hungry as the country faces one of its worst droughts in decades.
In its December 2019 Monthly Monitoring Report just released, ZPP, a local organisation that aims at building peace and promoting peaceful conflict resolution, documents several cases where people were denied food aid on political affiliation basis.
“Discrimination in the distribution of food and other aid remained problematic in the month of December 2019 with a 22.7% contribution to the total recorded violations. The violations also affected citizens’ other rights and freedoms such as the freedom of association,” reads part of the report.
“Communities have been receiving food aid and agricultural inputs as the rainy season has started. Unfortunately, the aid has been manipulated in many cases for political mileage and as a retribution tool. Supporters and perceived supporters of the MDC continued to be targeted with this form of discrimination as they were being punished for their political affiliation.”
One of the cases recorded by ZPP implicates a Zanu PF official in ward 14, Gokwe Gumunyu.
“Villagers gathered at Nyamhara Business Centre to receive rice which had been disbursed by the government and was meant for every villager. The Zanu PF chairperson in the area, Joe Madzana informed the villagers that all the aid which is delivered in the area passes through Zanu PF structures as the ruling party and that those not in Zanu PF structures would never receive aid from the government.
He then proceeded to force the villagers to sing Zanu PF songs and chant the party’s slogans. He dared those who had been aggrieved to report anywhere they wanted as nothing would happen to him,” reports ZPP.
In its report, ZPP point out that legislators were among the perpetrators of politicisation of aid.
“On 29 December 2019 where close to 500 villagers from Mudzi North convened at Nyamuyaruka Business Centre to receive drought relief rice from the government.
The rice was distributed in a partisan manner by a Zanu PF Mudzi North ward chairperson Gilbert Makazhu with the guidance of Mudzi North Legislator.
Three MDC supporters were denied the rice and the legislator told villagers that MDC supporters would never benefit from government aid and inputs since their legislators do not recognize President Mnangagwa as the constitutionally elected President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in Parliament.”
ZPP urged lawmakers ‘to act in a manner that unifies communities as they represent every member of their constituency in Parliament.’
By A Correspondent- Two people died on the spot, while four others were seriously injured after a Harare bound bus collided with a Toyota fun cargo near the 320 kilometre peg along the Harare-Bulawayo highway this Wednesday morning.
Two people who died in the accident were travelling in the Toyota Fun Cargo whose driver was seriously injured.
The bus was travelling from Botswana to Harare while the Toyota Fun cargo was travelling in the opposite direction when the accident occurred.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Joel Goko says they are investigating a possible culpable homicide case against the bus driver.
Initial police investigations show that the bus driver tried to overtake near a curve before encroaching into the opposite lane resulting in the head-on collision.
The injured who include some foreign nationals were taken to Gweru central hospital for medical attention.
Inspector Goko appealed to drivers to exercise caution and avoid speeding on the roads to preserve lives.
This follows another road accident which occurred yesterday at Tshipangali area in Esigodini in which three people died while others were injured in a Zupco bus accident. The bus was travelling from Beitbridge to Bulawayo.
According to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Matabeleland South Provincial Spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, the driver of the bus was speeding and failed to adjust following rains which fell in the area yesterday, he then failed to control the bus which veered off the road and overturned, killing three victims on the spot.
Politics must always be an instrument used to build rather than destroy people’s lives.I was sent this video by a fellow citizen. This has really touched me. pic.twitter.com/1vZN7BKQ0r
SUBJECT : SHOOTING INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AT GOODHOPE CLAIM BROMPTON MINE, BATTLEFIELDS
This memorandum serves to put on record circumstances surrounding the above captioned matter.
Date and Time : 07/01/2020 at around 2100 hours
Place : Goodhope Claim, Brompton Mine, Kadoma
Reference : ZRP Battlefields RRB 4129553
CIRUMSTANCES.
On the 7th day of January 2020 and at about 1200 hours, three Excop security guards namely Lyton Takunda Marozva, Constantine Makore and Onward Zinzombe of Kadoma were deployed to mann Good Hope claim, Brompton mine, Battlefields.
They were armed with a shot gun serial number A56360E, A32441E and a Revolver serial number 4448 with 05 rounds, respectively
On the same date at around 1900 hours, taking advantage of the darkness, illegal gold miners started gathering around the perimeter fence of the gold rush site but they were denied entry by the security guards.
At around 2100 hours on the same date, the now deceased Kudakwashe Hoko accompanied by the above five accused arrived at the site aboard a grey Toyota Raum Motor vehicle with Registration number AEV 3680 which was being driven by accused number 1 who is the owner of the vehicle. They were all dressed in civilian attire.
The accused disembarked from their vehicle and forcibly entered the fenced gold rush site.
They were challenged to stop by the security guards but they continued advancing being led by the now deceased who was armed with an axe.
The security guards fired three warning shots but the accused were not deterred which forced one of the security guards to shoot the now deceased once on the right side of the chest at a close range and he died on the spot.
The other accused persons tried to disarm Lyton Takunda Marozva and in the process accused 1 was shot once on the left knee.
The security guards managed to take charge of the situation and arrested all the accused persons.
The security guards advised the informant who in turn notified ZRP Battlefields about the matter.
INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT ZRP Battlefields, PRG, Kadoma CID Kadoma Canine and Officer Commanding Police Kadoma District attended the scene and made the following observations.
The deceased was lying with his face facing downwards dressed in a grey T-Shirt and a blue worksuit trousers.
The body was inspected and had pellet gun wounds on the right side of the chest.
The accused’s vehicle a Toyota Raum was seen parked at the gold rush site, was searched and 02 pairs of Zimbabwe National Army Camouflage Uniform were recovered. The vehicle was impounded and was taken to ZRP Kadoma Central.
A small axe, Colombian knife and 04 Emulates explosives were recovered.
The shot gun serial number A32441E which was used to shoot the now deceased was taken as an exhibit.
The deceased was conveyed to Kadoma General Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
The injured accused was referred to Kadoma General Hospital where he is admitted under police guard and his condition is stable.
Preliminary investigations have established that the now deceased and accused number 2 are members of the Zimbabwe National Army based at Zimbabwe National Army HQ, Harare and ZNA Kutanga Range, Kwekwe respectively whilst accused 1 is a General hand at Josiah Tungamirai Airforce Base, Gweru.
The accused person are being charged with contravening section 132(1)(a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9.23, ‘Criminal Trespass,’
By A Correspondent- A 26 year old Binga man has been slapped with an effective 16-year jail term for raping his ex-wife.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, was yesterday convicted on three counts of rape when he appeared before Hwange regional magistrate Collet Ncube.
The court heard that the 23-year-old victim had been customarily married to the man before their marriage broke down.
On July 26 last year, the woman, who stays in Siabuwa, Binga, was coming from a local clinic in the company of a friend when they met the convict who asked her to accompany him to his home, but she refused. The man forcibly dragged her to his home, tearing her clothes in the process.
The court heard that when they got home, he raped her three times before she escaped and filed a police report.
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.
By A 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
By A Correspondent- A British judge has sentenced a serial r_pist to life in jail after he was convicted of 159 s_x offences, including 136 r_pes.
Reynhard Sinaga (36), was found guilty of luring 48 men from outside Manchester clubs to his flat, where he drugged and assaulted them – filming the attacks.
According to British police, Sinaga is thought to have abused at least 195 men over two and a half years after luring them to his flat under the guise of being a “good samaritan”.
Sentencing him at Manchester crown court on Monday, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said:
In my judgment, you are a highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to be released.
You are an evil serial s_xual offender who preyed on young men who came into the city centre wanting nothing more than a good night with their friends.
One of the victims in their victim personal statement described you as a monster. The scale and enormity of your offending establish that is an accurate description.
Sinaga is believed to have used GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) to drug his victims before assaulting them.
He is already serving 88 concurrent life sentences with a minimum of 20 years before he can be considered for parole after his first two trials, which related to 25 victims and were heard between 2018 and 2019.
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.
By A Correspondent- 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.
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.”
By A Correspondent- As tensions rise in the Middle East following the killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, more than 3,000 US troops are preparing to deploy to the region — leaving behind thousands of family members and loved ones.
The city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is home to many of these families — it’s close to the Fort Bragg military installation, which houses more than 53,000 troops.
One woman told CNN her husband was already deployed for training. He had been due to train in Africa, then go to the Mediterranean to be stationed in European countries — but they found out today that he’s being rerouted to the Middle East.
Thousands of people are mourning Qasem Soleimani in the Iran capital of Tehran — but they are also visibly angry.
Many in the crowd have been there for hours, since before sunrise, grieving for one of the country’s top military leaders. These past few days, there have also been furious anti-US protests, both in Iran and the Iraq capital of Baghdad.
“They want what they call hard revenge,” said CNN correspondent Frederik Pleitgen, who is in Tehran. “I don’t know if you can hear the chants coming from behind me — a lot of them say, ‘Down with the USA,’ also ‘Death to the USA.’”
“As they keep pointing out, he’s one of the people that fought against ISIS. They believe that he was someone that made this country safer. Of course, the international reputation that he has is very different, but for these folks here he is no less than a hero,” Pleitgen added.
Unlike the 1970s when children came from South Africa, Zambia and Malawi for better education, more and more Zimbabwean parents now look across the Limpopo for schools which seem to promise a brighter educational future for their children.
Thokhzani Ncube (37) from Emganwini in Bulawayo says her three children are now going to stay with her sister at Hobhouse in the South African Free State province where they are going to continue with their primary education.
“Although I miss my children, I am pleased they managed to secure admission to a school in South Africa because I was worried about their future in Zimbabwe,” she said.
“The previous school they were attending here is did not do well last term. They attended lessons for eight weeks only, teachers were not attending school, this affected them so much and I thought this year things should be different,” she said.
Ncube is not the only parent sending her children to the neighboring country, as hundreds of other parents are sending both documented and undocumented children across the border by Omalayisthsa (official couriers). A snap survey at the Beitbridge border post reveled that hundreds of school going children were entering South Africa despite the fact that schools were opening in less than five days in Zimbabwe.
“I cannot afford the outrageous demands the schools are making, they want books stationery, and tissue paper soap school fees in cash, the amounts are just too high and inflated. To make matters worse we are not sure whether they are going to attend lessons as the teachers are always threatening to go on strike,” said Ncube.
Already government has warned of a sharp school fee increase as it already has asked for applications for fee increases.
A senior official in the ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Peter Muzavazi, said school should justify the increase, but some schools had already started implementing the unapproved new school fee structure.
This has already triggered an exodus of children from some schools.
Although the government has assured parents that the school term will start on a normal schedule, the economic meltdown coupled with drought and a general low morale amongst the teachers. Political analysts have predicted a gloomy term.
Unconfirmed reports from Teachers’ Associations say there is likely to be a general strike after two weeks of opening schools, as the schools can no longer afford to operate without resources. The government maintained that there would be no school fees increases, but some schools have trebled their fess and setting stringent entry conditions for new comers leaving most parents with no choice but to send their children to neighboring South Africa for better education.
In the early 1980 and 1990s, Zimbabwe prided itself for a higher literacy rate of about 90 percent the highest then in Africa, but the percentage has been going down due to a number of factors that include incapacitation of schools, low morale amongst the teachers, poor educational infrastructure and red tape within the ministry responsible for education.
A snap survey at most primary schools in Bulawayo painted a gloomy picture over the state of affairs as most schools feared that they might have lost a considerable number of children who are either going to relocate to rural areas or go to neighboring countries.
“We are not sure what is going to happen when we open, the situation has been reversing over the years. We used to register children coming from South Africa but this time it is different, we are losing our children and something should be done to harness this mass exodus. Government should ensure that we are fully capacitated to run our schools,” said a teacher at Mhali primary school in Magwegwe.
Prices of school stationery have skyrocketed, with parents now opting to buy books and other related equipment from South Africa and Botswana.
Educators have also blamed government for allowing a free for all state of affairs in the country where some institutions of learning and retail shops were allowed to increase prices at will, while some schools were not allowed to charge sustainable fees that would enable them to function normally.
Political commentators say the only solution for Zimbabwe to pull itself out of this economic malaise was through political dialogue between the ruling party and the MDC Alliance.
“Wheels have come off in almost every sector, education and health have suffered the most, children no longer go to school, hospitals have no medical equipment and medicines, and yet government still promises people that everything is going to be alright,”said Thomas Moyo a political commentator from Bulawayo.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has also been gallivanting calling for the removal of targeted sanctions by the west which he said was hurting the economy and affecting his people.
The western countries however set conditions and gave him a raft of measures and reforms that Harare should implement in exchange for engagement and financial bailout.
Among some reforms are economic, political, human rights and good governance.
However of concern to the western countries has been the snail pace at which these reforms have been taking place, casting doubts on whether the country was committed to help its poverty weary citizenry or not.
Own Correspondent|President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday hours after Iran launched missile strikes on two bases in Iraq where U.S. forces were stationed, de-escalating the crisis by threatening additional “punishing” sanctions on Iran but not immediate military retaliation.
“Iran appears to be standing down which is a good thing for all parties concerned,” Trump said, as Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the Joint Chiefs stood behind him.
“I’m pleased to inform you the American people should be extremely grateful and happy,” he said. “No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime.”
Only minimal damage was sustained, he said, thanks to “an early warning system that worked very well.”
Saying Iran will not be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, Trump struck a conciliatory tone about new negotiations over a nuclear deal, saying, “we must all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place.”
He ended by saying “the United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.”
The president spoke after Iran’s supreme leader said his country’s missile strikes had “slapped” the U.S.
Own Correspondent|Members of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA) in Gweru were in the early hours of New Year’s Day left stunned after a gang of five machete-wielding thugs wearing masks raided them during an all night prayer session.
Mrs Nyarai Gozho who is a caretaker at the church, said five masked machete-wielding men, ambushed worshippers who were having a prayer session at around 1am and ordered everyone to lie on the floor with one of the team manning the door of the church.
The gang is said to have moved around searching valuables from the church members as they lay on the ground, stealing three cell phones and cash amounting to one thousand five hundred Zimbabwean dollars.
She said the machete gang then force-marched her to the church house where they stole 20 United States dollars.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Midlands’ Provincial Spokesperson, Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident and said that police have since launched a manhunt for the thugs.
Tehran: Iran’s aviation authority said it would not hand over to Americans the recovered black boxes of a Boeing 737 that crashed on Wednesday, killing all 176 passengers and crew.
“We will not give the black boxes to the manufacturer (Boeing) and the Americans,” Iran Civil Aviation Organisation head Ali Abedzadeh said, quoted by Mehr news agency.
“It’s not yet clear which country the black box will go to for the investigation,” he added.
Following the crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 shortly after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, Iran said it had recovered the Boeing 737’s two black boxes.
Abedzadeh said that based on global aviation rules, it was the right of the country where air crashes occur to carry out the investigation.
“This accident will be investigated by Iran’s aviation organisation but the Ukrainians can also be present during the incident’s investigation,” he added.
Under the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization, of which Iran, Ukraine and the United States are all members, air crash investigations are led by the country where the accident occurred.
However, according to aviation experts, the countries that are capable of analysing black boxes are few — notably Britain, France, Germany and the United States.
France’s Accident Investigation Bureau (BEA), which handles air crash investigations, said it had not received any request for help from the Iranian authorities after Wednesday’s crash.
ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has strongly refuted claims that they have sold newly promoted Castle Lager Premiership outfit Tenax FC franchise to TelOne as baseless, malicious and mischievous.
Football fans in Manicaland were riled by news that TelOne will bounce back into the top flight league for this year’s edition after successfully acquiring a topflight franchise from Tenax FC who won promotion from the Zifa Eastern region last year.
ZPCS national sports officer Richard Tarangeyi said, “I am equally shocked by news circulating to the effect that the organization (ZPCS) has sold the Tenax FC franchise. At a time that Tenax FC are busy preparing for the oncoming season some sections, for unknown reasons, found it prudent to destabilise the team by circulating falsehoods.
“All I know is that Tenax FC are going to play in the top flight league. That is the position that I have. If anything latest comes from management we will duly and professionally inform the public not through rumours. All I can say the two teams Tenax and Whahwa are going to play. No franchise is on sale.”
The article, which quotes unnamed sources and published by a local private newspaper, alleges that lack of resources has driven the ZPCS to sell off one of their two franchises in the topflight after Whawha was also promoted from the Zifa Central Region.
The article further purports that the correctional services institution would still have been forced to relinquish one spot in the top division as rules do not allow them to own two teams in the same league.
However, not so long ago in 2015, Flame Lily played in the same top flight season with fellow correctional services side Whawha.
In fact, towards the end of that season, Flame Lilly became the latest side to be relegated when they were restricted by WhaWha at Ascot Stadium when Flame Lilly needed nothing short of victory to enhance their mathematical chance of remaining in the Premiership.
Army teams either Chapungu, Buffaloes or Black Rhinos have played in the top flight league during the same season on numerous occasions, including last year when Chapungu and Rhinos were part of the Premiership.
Correspondent|Sean Williams has been named Zimbabwe’s new Test captain while Chamu Chibhabha will be leading the national team in ODIs and T20Is on an “interim” basis.
Zimbabwe Cricket, in a media release, said the appointments were recommended by former captain and current director of cricket Hamilton Masakadza, who were then “unanimously endorsed” by the ZC Board at a meeting in Harare on Tuesday.
Williams has played 179 international matches, while Chibhabha, with 139 international games to his name, will lead in international cricket for the first time. Chibhabha, however, hasn’t played international cricket in more than a year, having last featured in a T20I against South Africa in October 2018.
Masakadza had retired in September last year and took up his new position in the board a month later as Zimbabwe Cricket restructured its management.
Zimbabwe Cricket also announced a new selection panel to be led by former international quick bowler David Mutendera, and Gavin Ewing, Shepherd Makunura and Prosper Utseya the other members.
The cricket board further said that it will announce a fielding coach and a mental strength coach in “due course”, and confirmed the other support staff members as follows: Lalchand Rajput (head coach), Dilip Chouhan (manager), Stuart Matsikenyeri (batting coach), Douglas Hondo (bowling coach), Walter Karimanzira (strength and conditioning trainer), Lovemore Banda (logistics manager) and Darlington Majonga (media manager).
Zimbabwe will be hosting Ireland, India and Netherlands while they are scheduled to travel to Bangladesh, Australia and Sri Lanka.
By Herbert Gomba| It has come to me that a video is circulating of the municipal police confiscating and disposing vendor’s wares in a manner not consistent to our human beliefs and the need to treat others humanly ….I have taken note and will ensure the Town clerk addresses these concerns immediately ,because it’s not part of our culture, it’s barbaric and of the past
I also ask our vending community to respect our by laws whenever they are doing business
NewsDay|HARARE football giants Caps United are set to dump “bad apples” in a major reshuffle ahead of the new season with several senior players, among them midfielder Dominic Mukandi, goalkeeper Prosper Chigumba and Valentine Musarurwa, targeted as victims.
Caps captain Hardlife Zvirekwi, defender Godwin Goriyati and striker Dominic Chungwa are also among several players reported to be on their way out.
The players who the club wants out were identified as the trouble causers towards the end of last term which led to the squad striking ahead of the penultimate match against Ngezi Platinum Stars to press for payment of their dues.
Caps went on to lose the match 3-2, surrendering the top spot to FC Platinum who also went on to win against the Green Machine in the last match of the season to retain the league title.
With four matches to go in the campaign, Caps seemed to have a firm grip of the league title, but they collapsed in spectacular fashion. Ahead of the match against Ngezi, Caps missed two days of training due to players’ industrial action.
For 2020, the Green Machine have decided not to offer contracts to some of the “ring leaders” in the strike, while those also identified as trouble causers but still with running contracts such as Goriati, will also be shipped out.
Zvirekwi has, however, not hidden his loyalty to the club and told NewsDay Sport last week that he still wants to play for at least two more years.
The Green Machine are set to kick-off preparations for the new season on January 20 and reports suggest that they could start the campaign with a virtually new-look squad.
Some of the targeted senior players still have running contracts, but the club hierarchy is understood to be unhappy with the conduct of some senior players, especially in the dying moments of the championship race last term where they disrupted training, demanding outstanding payments.
Informed sources said the events leading up to the Ngezi match, in particular, did not go down well with the club management, who have decided to ship out players who were fingered to have influenced others into boycotting training.
The conduct of these players is seen as one of the contributing factors for their failure to win the championship last term.
Efforts to get a comment from Caps management were fruitless yesterday.
Caps have been very active in the transfer market after coach Darlington Dodo was asked to push the refresh button.
The Harare giants have so far signed Leeroy Mavhunga from Yadah FC and Harare City forward Tatenda Tumba and are also reportedly still very active on the market targeting several stars as they prepare for the new season.
Caps will, however, find it difficult to fill the void left by Soccer Star of the Year Joel Ngodzo who departed for Zambia to join Buildcon following the expiry of his contract on December 31.
He has rushed to strip his deputy Constantino Chiwenga of powers of usurpation.
He has rushed to dilute the Human Rights Commission.
He feels unsettled by the opposition, MDC, the only party trusted and recognised by the economy as the legitimate winners of the 2018 polls. He fears opposition could use simple legal means, aided by the will of the masses buttressed by the will of desperate abused institutions, ligaments of government, to win a clean revolution.
His panicking is boldly reflected through his threats to repeat a military crackdown similar to the January 2019 one.
Farai Dziva| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba has said there is nothing unusual, as his boss went on annual leave in the country amid speculation there is rising tension between Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.
“Where should he be for his holidays?? And how does remaining in the country – his country – amount to entrapment?,” said Charamba.
He continued by asking, “anyway, which vacation has he ever spent outside the country since?”
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
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
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
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.”
Heal Zimbabwe is gravely concerned by the escalation of cases of violence involving machete killings by artisan miners across the country. During the festive season, there were reports of one police officer who was hacked to death by the machete-wielding gangs at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields. On Christmas eve, a gold buyer suffered the same fate in Mvuma. Reports on machete violence shows that at least 105 people have been hacked to death in machete gang violence between August and October 2019 yet the violence continues escalating.
The ongoing killings come against a backdrop where there has not been adequate response by law enforcement agents. Heal Zimbabwe expresses concern that although the police have only issued warnings against machete killings and conduct investigations, machete gang killings and embarrassments remain rampant across the country. Heal Zimbabwe continues to receive widespread cases of machete gangs terrorizing villagers in areas such as Mazowe, Glendale, Chegutu, Kwekwe and Kadoma. To date, machete gangs continue to pose a serious threat to the prevalence of peace and social cohesion life in local communities. More worrying is that there are reports that there are some gangs that remain untouchable even by law enforcement agents due to their link to political elites. The culture of violence being perpetrated by the machete-wielding gangs is inimical to the promotion of social cohesion, peace, healing and reconciliation.
Heal Zimbabwe applauds the government for having formalized the operation of small-scale miners when it branded them artisanal miners. However, such a process was not followed up by robust conflict prevention and rehabilitation mechanisms to heal them of the violent culture that is associated with the sector. Quite worrying is that the conduct of artisanal miners lack cohesion, accountability, consistency and character modification, which form the nucleus of mining ethical codes of conduct, which include issues of safety etc.
In light of the above, Heal Zimbabwe implores the government to take punitive measures to ensure that sanity prevails in the extractive industry. This includes apprehending all artisan miners implicated in the killings and ensuring that the measures to quell violence in mining communities are put in place. Some of these mechanisms involve a multi-stakeholder engagement between government, and other responsible authorities where miners are trained and educated on policies and regulations that they must adhere to.
President Mnangagwa receives the first draft of The Africa Factbook, a much-awaited publication which seeks to change global perceptions about Africa from the Institute of African Knowledge chairperson Ambassador Simbi Mubako (second from right) while board members Pritchard Zhou (right), Baffour Ankomah (second from left) and CEO Kwame Tapiwa Muzawazi look on in Harare last Friday
State Media|The Institute of African Knowledge (IAK) last week presented to President Mnangagwa the first draft of The Africa Factbook, a publication which seeks to change global perceptions about the continent.
IAK is a Zimbabwe-based publishing house focusing on Pan-African content.
The draft was presented to the President at his Munhumutapa Offices by IAK board chairperson Ambassador Simbi Mubako, who was accompanied by board members Mr Baffour Ankomah and Mr Pritchard Zhou and chief executive officer Mr Kwame Tapiwa Muzawazi.
The inaugural edition would be published under the theme, “Busting the myths” meant to correct wrong information that over the last 500 years has negatively impacted on Africa’s image.
The Africa Factbook will contain useful facts about Africa and African peoples for the purpose of information dissemination, education, entertainment, reference, statistics and documentation.
Ambassador Mubako said it was about time Africans dispelled the notion that the continent had no history.
“There are too many myths about Africa that have actually made it to textbooks in world schools,” he said. “Myths such as that Africa has no history or that there are no inventors and discoverers from Africa.
“The Africa Factbook will show that Africa was and remains the backbone of world civilisation and it’s about time we unapologetically push for our right place in the annals of world history.”
In a statement yesterday, the IAK said President Mnangagwa had said the project would fly the national flag high.
“During the courtesy call, both President Mnangagwa and Ambassador Mubako said the project would fly the national flag high and was also endowed with diplomatic prestige, investment-boosting data and would consolidate Zimbabwe’s stature as an educational power house globally.”
The African Factbook was compiled by 45 researchers from across the world that gathered in Zimbabwe for 10 weeks between October and December last year.
It was born out of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the African Union Commission, the Government of Zimbabwe and IAK in April 2018. The Government agreed to host and support the production of the first edition.
“It is expected that upon publication, The Africa Factbook will become an official source of reference and facts about Africa,” said the IAK.
“President Mnangagwa is expected to contribute a foreword alongside President Ramaphosa of South Africa, who will be the 2020 Chairperson of the African Union.”
The African Union Commission has said the project is in line with the AU Pan African Vision of Agenda 2063 and Aspiration Five, which seeks to enhance the strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics of Africa.
The book is expected to be published by the end of the month once member states complete the validation of the information it contains.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s estranged wife, Tambudzani, has vowed to attach her former husband’s property to enable her to get an equal share of the couple’s matrimonial property following the dissolution of their marriage in March last year.
This came after Mohadi approached the High Court in November last year seeking an order to nullify the two writs of execution obtained by his ex-wife against his movable and immovable properties.
But Tambudzani has challenged the application on the basis that it is fatally defective, wrong and bad at law.
“This application for review of a writ and draft order is fatally defective. Only a decision or proceedings of the court may be reviewed. A writ of execution is compiled by the register pursuant to a decision of the court and therefore the writ cannot be reviewed. The application as a whole is wrong and bad at law. The application is seeking to review a document, which is neither a decision nor proceedings,” Tambudzani said in her opposing affidavit.
She claimed Mohadi had failed to comply with a consent paper agreement which he signed and was registered as a court order by High Court judge Justice David Mangota on March 1, 2019.
But Mohadi accused Tambudzani of misinterpreting the terms of the consent paper.
He said the two writs of execution issued by the Registrar of the High Court on October 14, 2019 were grossly irregular, misleading and misrepresented the facts of the matter.
However, in her opposing affidavit, Tambudzani dismissed Mohadi’s claims, saying: “The parties have not failed to reach a consensus on how the consent paper should be interpreted and enforced.
The applicant (Mohadi) has failed to adhere to the terms of the consent paper which he willingly signed. The first respondent (Tambudzani) is proceeding to enforce the consent paper via the execution process provided by law. The writs issued are neither misleading nor a misrepresentation, but are in accordance with the consent paper.
“The first respondent conceded to this error and it has subsequently withdrawn the incorrect writ and the first respondent has issued out a new one as per the consent paper.”
By Ntokozo Msipa|As 2020 begins it drags with it a nagging pertinent question which 2019 posed to our national politics; one we must reflect upon with all the hopes and aspirations a new year inspires. Why not Saviour Kasukuwere?
It is an important consideration within our national pursuit for sustainable socio-economic development. Yet such reflection is made complex by the tragedy of our politics wherein Zimbabweans dictate that we must see only in black and white, Zanu PF or MDC, Lacoste or G40, all the while denying our future any flirtation with shades of grey best suited for the national interest.
Those daring to entertain the question are already condemned “enemies of the state”, a state beholden to the exclusive privilege of spent political elites that would rather see Zimbabwe wither and die with them, vindictively deny its inheritors. It has been the death of the political innovation Zimbabwe so desperately needs for the transformation we have had hope for.
Yes, Hope! It drove hysterical souls into the streets of November 2017 in misinformed celebration of a coup. That hope afforded President Mnangagwa goodwill and benefit of the doubt from Zimbabweans prepared to tolerate a reforming Zanu PF and state. I dare say even MDC would have had supporters rooting for a repentant Zanu PF. If that moment revealed anything it must be that politicians are weighed more by their ability to inspire hope into the future and less by their past misdeeds. Yet come 2020 the so called “new dispensation” has proved a farce presiding over the devaluation of hope. It justifies consideration for an alternative, hence “Why not Saviour Kasukuwere?”.
At 49 years old he has had nearly three decades of experience at the heart beat of Zimbabwe’s politics, rising from within Zanu PF’s youth league to an elected member of parliament and appointment to executive government.
After playing a key intelligence role during Zimbabwe’s fight against brutal Mozambiquean rebels along our Manicaland border Kasukuwere was amoung a generation of young politicians that broke into and navigated Zimbabwe’s post-independence exclusive politics. He became an ever present force of energy, boldness and determination, a political “Tyson”.
His drive to implement government’s indigenization and empowerment programe, in the face of systematic resistance, led to youth and local communities becoming the beneficiaries of programmes and funds created to support their economic participation.
The nation saw millions of dollars become available for empowerment and enterprise development within local communities long marginalized from opportunities for wealth creation. The bold initiatives were outdone by a hesitant and unsupportive government that failed to establish institutional frameworks to sustain them.
He remained undaunted by the systematic resistance and vilification of indigenization, including attacks from his ZANU PF party’s representatives in government. Saviour Kasukuwere is said to have once told the late Robert Mugabe that the President did not have support on indigenization from within his own government.
For his efforts that were clearly calculated to benefit ordinary Zimbabweans he was removed from that indigenization ministry post the 2013 elections. It was most likely due to pressure from within Zanu PF ranks in government concerned that his achievement in executing a government mandate would have become a powerful political platform for him.
The national impact could not be wished away. To this day our hope for economic growth based on broad participation remains simmering beneath the post-coup government policies favoring otherwise unwilling and uneasy foreigners at the exclusion of local more committed to our own economic transformation and equity.
Tyson’s political brawling was instrumental in inculcating the promise of empowerment into the economic DNA of ordinary Zimbabweans. The 2013 election convincingly won by Zanu PF was upon the gains of economic empowerment achieved under his watch.
Empowerment has remained the hope of local communities across the country, however much this “new dispensation” has sought to make it second class to foreign economic interests.
When he was moved to the “politically quieter” environment and climate ministry many thought his political presence would diminish. Yet Kasukuwere retained the public gaze, most notably as he rallied the government and international community in the fight against poaching and the wanton killing of elephants. That fight saw the judiciary imposing harsher sentences against poachers.
As local government minister he captured the headlines when he confidently took the fight to land barons ripping off desperate home seekers. It led to the establishment, by Cabinet, of the Land Commission of Inquiry into urban land allocations. He did it notwithstanding the financial muscle and political reach of the land barons that was indeed brought to bear upon him.
True, Kasukuwere’s time in government was not without allegations of corruption. Expectedly, the “new dispensation” government pursued his criminal prosecution. Knowing this Tyson still chose to return into the country to face the law and clear his name.
The Magistrates Court acquitted him of Initial charges of leaving the country illegally, ruling that he had to “run for his dear life” which was in danger following his home being riddled with bullets. The High Court of Zimbabwe subsequently quashed corruption charges against him, setting aside a magistrate’s earlier ruling which it determined was “outrageous” “biased” and made “under pressure from certain persons”. Tyson is a free man before the law, one forced into political exile.
What stands out from Saviour Kasukuwere’s service in government, that will likely play out most in the minds of Zimbabweans, is his passionate, bold and strong-willed brawling nature in furthering his mandate and the policies benefiting the people and nation. It is a record that demonstrates much probity in the exercise of his duties.
The Zimbabwean reality dictates that astute execution of government business is not enough to secure the condusive environment necessary for achieving the people’s aspirations? Political acumen and a tested resolve is critical to managing Zimbabwe’s complex adversarial political interests and engaging a disillusioned and divided people’s aspirations, while holding the nation’s centre together.
Kasukuwere was tried and tested in the exacting politics of Zanu PF, where he showed a talent for reading the political pulse and working with it. At his political heights as Zanu PF’s national political commissar we witnessed mobilization of the youth constituency in the “Million Man March” and subsequent youth rallies clearly calculated to redefine and renew Zanu PF.
His appointment as national political commissar seemed designed to have him at the heart of a Zanu PF party set on an inevitable path of political transformation. Robert Mugabe understood that it was a matter of transforming or dying for his party.
By the time the coup reversed a transformation well underway Zimbabwe had witness an old political guard outmaneuvered politically, only to have their political lifeline and its crippling entitlements now a threat to national interest restored militarily. Kasukuwere paid dearly for choosing to remain loyal to the Presidency than seek self-serving political expediency.
Even now we would have expected him to be spewing bitterness from the safety of exile, yet he seems to be exercising restraint. Zimbabwe is greater than the personal experience of one man. Rather, he has preferred to highlight mistakes of Zimbabwe’s government, past and current, calling upon shared responsibility and a new focus in the best interest of Zimbabweans.
It would not be a terrible bet that “Tyson” still holds some political cards to his chest. When, where and how he plays them remains his move in an increasingly restless environment, especially amoung socially and economically desperate Zimbabweans in communities that surely now remember Kasukuwere advocating for their economic empowerment.
These local constituencies had cultivated hope for economic opportunities to come their way. Such hope is a dying ember under the current austerity measures and policies advocating more for foreigners not providing any relief anyway. Ours is hope captured by a more ravenous entitlement and corruption.
It is hope fast faded within Zanu PF itself, where those tens of thousands of youth had been galvanized at youth rallies for the critical transformation of Zanu PF and, through its people centred policies, Zimbabwe. Then, they related to a new plan in which they were entrusted with forging their nation’s future. It’s a critical mass forced underground post the November 2017 coup and their captured party.
It is worth noting that this post-coup disenfranchised electoral mass has not seen joining the MDC as a political option. Their evident protest 2018 vote while embracing their Zanu PF party and its policies, rejected its presidency. They exist in a political vacuum, as if they wait for a signal to erupt back onto the political and economic scene decisively.
Their intent is apparent in the TysonWabantu movement picking up from the coup disrupted yet inevitable road toward political and socio-economic transformation. Kasukuwere’s ability to reengage this volcanic political mass will determine Zimbabwe’s political future.
It is not too far-fetched to imagine a 2023 election pitting Savior Kasukuwe leading a Zanu PF on the back of its 2018 two/thirds parliamentary majority, against Nelson Chamisa and his claim to a presidential victory that surely benefited from disgruntlement and apathy within Zanu PF’s post-coup vote.
So, Why not Saviour Kasukuwere? It is a question best answered on the political ground where the people’s memories and aspirations seek out hope and its promise of their Zimbabwe.
My parting biblical reflection is naturally on the spirituality of 40 and the hope associated with years of perseverance. Zimbabwe and its post-independence generation turn 40 this 2020. Could this be the true moment for a generation of 40 that must not to be condemned “enemies of the state” but whose aspirations and capacities shall have our Promised Land.
Hope inspired is a stubborn reality that shall make or destroy politicians.
Ukraine Airlines crashed under difficult to understand circumstances in Tehran.
News Agents|Iran launched a series of missiles at bases housing US troops in the early hours, officials in Washington and Tehran said.
A growing number of airlines said Wednesday they were avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace for flights to the region after Tehran fired ballistic missiles against bases housing US troops in Iraq.
“As a precautionary measure and following news of air strikes underway, Air France has decided to suspend until further notice all flights through Iranian and Iraqi airspace,” an Air France spokesman told AFP.
Iran launched a series of missiles at bases housing US troops in the early hours, officials in Washington and Tehran said.
Iran’s supreme leader called the attacks a “slap in the face” after a US drone strike killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad international airport last week.
Shortly after the missile attacks, the US Federal Aviation Administration said it was banning US-registered carriers from flying over Iraq, Iran and the Gulf.
Its Russian counterpart, the Federal Air Transport Agency, said it was recommending airlines avoid the air space over Iran, Iraq and the Persian and Oman Gulfs “due to information about current risks for safety of international passenger flights”.
The region is an important corridor for flights travelling between Europe and Asia, although planes can be rerouted.
A KLM spokesman told AFP: “Until further notice, KLM has no flights over Iranian or Iraqi airspace. All flights to different Southeast Asian destinations and other destinations in the Middle East will be flown through alternative routes.”
In Germany, Lufthansa said it had cancelled its daily flight to Tehran in addition to halting overflights of Iran and Iraq until further notice.
Own 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 (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.
Farai Dziva| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba has said there is nothing unusual, as his boss went on annual leave in the country amid speculation there is rising tension between Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.
“Where should he be for his holidays?? And how does remaining in the country – his country – amount to entrapment?,” said Charamba.
He continued by asking, “anyway, which vacation has he ever spent outside the country since?”
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
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
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
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.”
Correspondent|The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) says it is on high alert for any disasters, including floods or any unexpected eventuality.
This came after the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) warned of isolated thunderstorms, which may cause floods and damage to property in the coming week.
CPU director Mr Nathan Nkomo said they were ready to cope with any eventuality.
“All our committees are aware and on high alert, our committees in those respective areas mentioned have been activated,” he said.
“Provincial, District Development Coordinators are to ensure all civil protection structures at sub-national levels including schools are aware of this flooding alert,” said Mr Nkomo.
He said together with the MSD they will be closely monitoring the situation.
Mr Nkomo said the CPU was in the process of disbursing money to provincial committees.
He said drawing experiences from the destructive Cyclone Idai last year, they will be carrying out awareness programmes for people living in flood prone areas.
MSD deputy director Weather Forecasting, Mrs Linia Gopo warned people in Manicaland, Midlands and Matabeleland provinces to brace for thunderstorms in the coming days.
“Soon isolated thunderstorms may be experienced in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland, northern part of the Midlands and northern parts of Manicaland.
“These thunderstorms will not bring much rainfall, they will bring showers that will be thundering in some places, accompanied by lighting, hail and strong winds,” she said.
Mrs Gopo also warned that the strong winds might blow away roofs.
There has been confusion over Tenax’s Castle Lager Premiership franchise after media reports claimed that they have sold it to TelOne.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services-owned club won the Eastern Region Division One championship but, according to the claims, they have been forced to sell it due to lack of resources.
The other reported reason for the sale of the franchise is that ZPCS already have another team – Whawha – in the top-flight.
But the club’s chairman Stefani Masina has dismissed that his side has sold its concession to TelOne.
Diamond FM sportscaster, Tafadzwa “Mr Tich” Tichawangana, confirmed the new developments.Soccer 24
By A Correspondent- The president Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed his sadness over the passing on of Zimbabwe’s first Agricultural Minister Denis Norman.
In his condolence statement, the President described Norman as a unifier and said:
A long time leader of the agriculture sector before our independence in 1980, Mr Norman was among a handful of white leaders who offered to serve under a black-majority government at independence, thus validating our policy of national reconciliation following 15 years of our armed struggle against white settler colonialism
This was a bold gesture which ended racial polarisation and laid a lasting basis for racial amity and peace in the country
As a Minister in government, Mr Norman worked hard towards a unified, non racial agricultural sector where farmers related to each other and collaborated on grounds of their calling, and not along the racial divide of colonial times
Denis succumbed to cancer on 20 December 2019. He was the first agricultural minister and was later moved to the transport ministry where he was part of the Beira Corridor initiative.
Farai Dziva|The Zimbabwe Football Association Technical and Development Committee says the appointment of a new Warriors coach will be influenced by the football body’s financial ability.
The national team has not had a substantive mentor since the resignation of Sunday Chidzambwa in August this year.
Joey Antipas took over the reins on an interim basis in a contract which lasted until the end of 2019.
“Our appointment will be influenced by the association’s financial ability because it won’t make any sense for us to appoint someone that we will not be able to pay,” ZIFA said, according to Chronicle.
“It’s something we will avoid at all costs, especially when it comes to foreigners because FIFA doesn’t take kindly to ill-treatment of foreigners and we have a nasty experience as a country regarding that.”
Only one local coach Joey Antipas applied for the job while twelve foreign gaffers including Spaniard Manuel “Manolo” Márquez Roca, Serbian Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, Dutchman Erol Akbay and German gaffer Hans Michael Weiss are said to have also forwarded their CVs.
Farai Dziva|Sadio Mane has won the 2019 African Player of the Year for the first time at the CAF Awards held on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt.
The Senegalese forward beat the competition of his Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez to win the prize.
Other winners on the night include former Esperance winger Youcef Belaïli who won the Interclubs Player of the Year award while Achraf Hakimi took home the Youth Player of the Year gong.
Mahrez’s freekick against Nigeria in the 2019 Total AFCON semi-finals won the Best Goal award.
South Africa’s women national team coach Desiree Ellis is the only Southern African to win at the awards after she was named Women’s Coach of the Year.
Full list of winners at the CAF Awards 2019:
African Player of the Year
Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
African Interclubs Player of the Year
Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)
African Youth Player of the Year
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)
African Men’s Coach of the Year
Djamel Belmadi (Algeria – Algeria)
African Men’s National Team of the Year
Algeria
African Women’s Player of the Year
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)
African Women’s Coach of the Year
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
African Women’s National Team of the Year
Cameroon
Best FA Award
Egypt
Goal of the Year
Riyad Mahrez (vs Nigeria at AFCON 2019)
African Club President of the Year award
Moise Katumbi (TP Mazembe)
Special Award
Kodjovi Obilale, a former Togo goalkeeper who was injured in a terrorist attack on the team’s bus in 2010.
Africa Best XI: Andre Onana, Achraf Hakimi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Joel Matip, Serge Aurier, Riyad Mahrez, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Hakim Ziyech, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
By A Correspondent- Two people died on the spot, while four others were seriously injured after a Harare bound bus collided with a Toyota fun cargo near the 320 kilometre peg along the Harare-Bulawayo highway this Wednesday morning.
Two people who died in the accident were travelling in the Toyota Fun Cargo whose driver was seriously injured.
The bus was travelling from Botswana to Harare while the Toyota Fun cargo was travelling in the opposite direction when the accident occurred.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Joel Goko says they are investigating a possible culpable homicide case against the bus driver.
Initial police investigations show that the bus driver tried to overtake near a curve before encroaching into the opposite lane resulting in the head-on collision.
The injured who include some foreign nationals were taken to Gweru central hospital for medical attention.
Inspector Goko appealed to drivers to exercise caution and avoid speeding on the roads to preserve lives.
This follows another road accident which occurred yesterday at Tshipangali area in Esigodini in which three people died while others were injured in a Zupco bus accident. The bus was travelling from Beitbridge to Bulawayo.
According to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Matabeleland South Provincial Spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, the driver of the bus was speeding and failed to adjust following rains which fell in the area yesterday, he then failed to control the bus which veered off the road and overturned, killing three victims on the spot. -StateMedia
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.H-Metro
Politics must always be an instrument used to build rather than destroy people’s lives.I was sent this video by a fellow citizen. This has really touched me. pic.twitter.com/1vZN7BKQ0r
Politics must always be an instrument used to build rather than destroy people’s lives.I was sent this video by a fellow citizen. This has really touched me. pic.twitter.com/1vZN7BKQ0r
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
The former first lady Grace Mugabe has been conspicuously silent and was nowhere to be seen last Christmas. Where do you think Grace Mugabe spent her first Christmas after the death of her husband?
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.
Auxilia Mnangagwa
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
Democracy isn't about crying your voice hoarse & boasting about how you have 'suffered' for the organisation! It's about practising what you preach & preaching what you practise! PTUZ has been personalized beyond redemption! Democracy? What democracy?@RMajongwe@takavafira1967
Raymond Majongwe has since responded saying he is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Nominations were done and elections held and @RMajongwe is chosen the SG for @ProgressiveOf. That's democracy. Is there term limits. No. I don't see any problem there. Moreover very few know this man. Why not have a chat with him. Someone will get better. Viva Ptuz viva
A Ukraine-bound passenger plane crashed shortly after take-off
A Boeing 737-3E7 from Ukraine Int. Airlines. AFP Photo
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- 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.
An Iranian woman shows anger and dedication amongst Iranians.
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.
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.”
Just another day of Trump humiliating himself in front of a world leader as he incorrectly assumes that Greece has ISIS prisoners. pic.twitter.com/SgIBrftmLQ
Existence of Polad confirms that “We have a problem.”
Eric Muzamhindo
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 ;
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.
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. 0
Major General Hlabangani Dube stole 30 Tonnes of beef.
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.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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
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.
