Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has said Emmerson Mnangagwa was joking when he urged Zimbabweans to stop eating meat.

Mutodi made the remarks during an interview with NewsDay on Monday.

“The President is first and foremost a citizen who can communicate anything with fellow citizens, including cracking jokes with Zimbabweans.

Chamisa is the one with a lot to apologise to Zimbabweans for calling for sanctions, disputing election results where he was clearly defeated and even giving false hope to his supporters,” said Mutodi.

Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has said youthful MDC leader Nelson Chamisa must apologize to nation for “calling for sanctions.”

Mutodi made the remarks during an interview with NewsDay on Monday.

“The President is first and foremost a citizen who can communicate anything with fellow citizens, including cracking jokes with Zimbabweans.

Chamisa is the one with a lot to apologise to Zimbabweans for calling for sanctions, disputing election results where he was clearly defeated and even giving false hope to his supporters,” said Mutodi.

By A Correspondent- A Chiweshe man was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment by a Concession magistrate Ruth Moyo for severely assaulting his wife and breaking her hand after she cooked vegetables on Christmas day.

Regay Chawawa (70) of Chawawa village, Chief Makope Chiweshe escaped jail after the magistrate suspended the sentence on condition that he pays $1000 fine.

Prosecutor Moses Kuimba told the court that on Christmas Day the convict came from where he was enjoying his day and was served sadza with vegetables by his wife Lucia Kawanzaruva (60) when he expected to eat with meat.

A scuffle ensued and he picked a log which he used to strike his wife all over the body breaking her hand in the process.

In mitigation the septuagenarian pleaded for a non-custodial sentence saying he was a bread winner who just expected to be served meat on the special day.

“Your worship may you be lenient with me l am a bread winner on Christmas day l expected to eat with meat but my wife gave me vegetables so l had to discipline her,” he said.

In another case a 19 year old Guruve man was arraigned before a Bindura magistrate Ethel Chichera for raping a minor in the bush.

Andrew Chikonyora of Baradzanwa village chief Bepura was not asked to plead to rape and was remanded in custody to January 16.

The state alleges sometime in December last year the accused saw the complainant going to fetch firewood in the bush and followed her, he then grabbed her hand before raping her once.

Tariro Janhi represented the state.

By A Correspondent- The leaders of civil servants’ unions under the Apex Council, are meeting in Harare today, 7th of January 2020, to decide on going on strike to force the government to improve their salaries and working conditions.

Civil servants Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander told a local publication that public sector workers are tired of the government’s dishonesty.

She said:

Having engaged the government since October last year when we declared our incapacitation and having followed that up with several meetings from then up to December, it has become clear that the employer is largely ignoring us as there has been no movement.

… it (the strike), however, depends on what the unions will say … but we all agree that even some of our colleagues in the teaching profession who have said that they will not go back to work when schools open are right because the situation is no longer bearable.

Since the beginning of 2019, civil servants have been threatening industrial action. The government has responded by offering them token additional pay through what it calls Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and Cushioning Allowances.

The lowest-paid worker is now earning just above ZWL$1 000 per month which is equivalent to less than US$50. using black market rates.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- The estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Marry, is not in “good shape” and needs the best medical care possible after spending over three weeks (23 days) in remand prison.

This was revealed by Marry Chiwenga’s father, Kenny Mubaiwa while speaking to the state media on Tuesday morning.

He said:

It’s good that she was granted bail but she is not in good shape. What we want to do now is get her the best medical care possible.

Marry was on Monday granted $50 000 bail by Justice Pisirayi Kwenda pending trial. She was also ordered to surrender her diplomatic passport and title deeds to her Highlands home as surety.

She is also required to report once a fortnight at Borrowdale Police Station, not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at her Borrowdale Brooke mansion until the matter is finalised.

Marry is facing fraud, externalisation of foreign currency and attempted murder charges.

-StateMedia

When I summarised the three solution models available for Zimbabwe to address its current challenges, many preferred the revolution model, because they think it will remove the root causes of all our problems once and for all.

I must admit that while I want us to remove the root causes of the problems we have in Zimbabwe, I am convinced that it is only a consensus model that can do that in a sustainable and less costly way.

Consensus is reached through dialogue, and hence require an initial deposit of humility from the parties involved. This is why many doubt whether the current actors are willing to do that. What are carrots and sticks to encourage dialogue?

Since consensus is reached thru dialogue, it is the only route that can instil TRUST and CONFIDENCE, the two ingredients we are currently missing for national convergence. Revolutions produce winners and losers and hence entrench mistrust.

Revolutions world over have tended not to deliver what they promised. Those who preside the revolution tend to be the most courageous but not necessarily the most intelligent. They then become the new oppressors. Examples abound!!

So while at face value a revolution promises a permanent solution, in reality, it can give you what you didn’t bargain for. Consensus demand exchange of ideas outcomes may not be perfect but have broad ownership.

LET’S END WITH A WARNING! A NATION THAT DOES NOT SATISFACTORILY ACT ON THE CRIES OF THE VULNERABLE, CREATES INEVITABLE CONDITIONS FOR A REVOLUTION. ONCE ITS FIRES HAVE BEEN LIT, NO AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION CAN STOP IT!

By A Correspondent- Twelve Chipinge machete-wielding villagers allegedly attacked a messenger of court and his crew, leaving one of them critically injured.

The villagers were being evicted after illegally settling at a private commercial farm.

This came to light during the initial appearance of Shadreck Simango (28) and 11 others before Chipinge magistrate, Joshua Nembaware facing charges of public violence or alternatively contempt of court in contravention of section 72 (a) of the Magistrates Court Act.

They were remanded to January 20 for trial.

Prosecutor, Chipo Nyasha told the court that on November 6 last year, messenger of court Gibson Maeka served Jervas Musiya and 31 other illegal settlers with an eviction order from Smithfield Farm which they had illegally occupied.

The order had been granted at Chipinge Magistrates Court.

Evictions were provisionally set for November 19 and the following day Maeka and officials from his office failed to carry out the evictions after they arrived at the farm and found the illegal settlers absent.

A week later he sought police escort to go to the farm.

While executing his duties together with hired employees from his office, the 12, acting in common purpose with others who are still at large, allegedly confronted them armed with an assortment of weapons including machetes.

They surrounded Maeka and his team together with the police, stopping them from carrying out the evictions. They incited and encouraged each other to attack Maeka and the situation became riotous.

Simango, who was armed with a knobkerrie allegedly charged towards the team telling his colleagues that police do not shoot at citizens.

This resulted in Christopher Chipadze allegedly hitting a messenger of court employee, Zachariah Mafuta, with a pestle once on the head and he became unconscious.

He was rushed to Chipinge District Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition.

The 12 were arrested, but their accomplices managed to escape and they are still at large.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Deputy Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Energy Mutodi said President Emmerson Mnangagwa does not have to apologise to Zimbabweans for the “jokes” he made in Kuwadzana last week.

Speaking to a local publication recently, Mutodi asserted that it was MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who needed to apologise for rejecting the 2018 election results among other “misdemeanours”. Said Mutodi:

The President is first and foremost a citizen who can communicate anything with fellow citizens, including cracking jokes with Zimbabweans.

Chamisa is the one with a lot to apologise to Zimbabweans for calling for sanctions, disputing election results where he was clearly defeated and even giving false hope to his supporters.

During the monthly, largely ceremonial national clean-up campaign held in Kuwadzana on Friday last week, Mnangagwa said he would send troops against the residents if it was proved that they were responsible for the ongoing meteorological drought.

He also told residents to eat vegetables after they had asked him to do something about the escalating price of meat.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The government is yet to approve school fees hikes because the ministry of primary and secondary education is still processing school fees hike applications.

This was revealed by the principal director in the Primary and Secondary Education ministry’s principal Director Petr Muzawazi who spoke to the state media and said:

We are still receiving applications from schools and we are in the process of assessing the forms so that we come up with a proper subsidy,

The government said schools should not hike fees without the approval of the government. Schools are scheduled to open on Tuesday next week, despite teachers threatening to down tools due to incapacitation. 

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The leaders of civil servants’ unions under the Apex Council, are meeting in Harare today, 7th of January 2020, to decide on going on strike to force the government to improve their salaries and working conditions.

Civil servants Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander told a local publication that public sector workers are tired of the government’s dishonesty.

She said:

Having engaged the government since October last year when we declared our incapacitation and having followed that up with several meetings from then up to December, it has become clear that the employer is largely ignoring us as there has been no movement.

… it (the strike), however, depends on what the unions will say … but we all agree that even some of our colleagues in the teaching profession who have said that they will not go back to work when schools open are right because the situation is no longer bearable.

Since the beginning of 2019, civil servants have been threatening industrial action. The government has responded by offering them token additional pay through what it calls Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and Cushioning Allowances.

The lowest-paid worker is now earning just above ZWL$1 000 per month which is equivalent to less than US$50. using black market rates.

-DailyNews

Zanu PF will never ever win a free, fair and credible elections, of that there can be no if, but or maybe. After 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship, given a chance in a free, fair and credible election, the people will vote for anyone, anyone at all, just to rid themselves of Zanu PF.

By Nomusa Garikai- “My critical thinking would be, opposition should focus on talking points and references and guidelines and framework of the agenda. Whether POLAD or GPA or any other frameworks, dialogue remains dialogue, I think the focus should be on the framework.

POLAD is a creation of Zanu PF as an institution, and they are using it as a basis of any talks with regards to the court outcome of July 30 elections, and anything outside that is anon-starter,” argued Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo

“So whoever would be advising opposition must focus on the talking points. Suppose there is a resurgence on the economy, what is going to happen to the opposition?”

Well you are spot on, Zanu PF hardliners are interested in talks for talks-sake; they will never ever agree to meaningful political reforms much less get them implemented. Zanu PF will never ever reform itself out of office. 

Zanu PF will never ever win a free, fair and credible elections, of that there can be no if, but or maybe. After 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship, given a chance in a free, fair and credible election, the people will vote for anyone, anyone at all, just to rid themselves of Zanu PF.  

So, what will be the purpose of advising the opposition on what talking points to focus on, when one already knows these will be talks for talk-sake! 

President Mnangagwa launched POLAD in May last year, nine months ago; at a time when the economy was already in serious trouble as witnessed by the soaring cost of living, shortages, January 2019 fuel price hike protests, etc. If POLAD was expected to address the nation’s teething economic problems, then the forum members were expected to hit the ground running and, by now, the nation would be expecting significant signs of economic recovery. 

There are no signs of economic recovery. Indeed, there are signs of the economic meltdown getting even worse than ever. 

POLAD was talk for talk-sake and thus it is no surprise Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown has continued on its nose dive POLAD or no POLAD. Launching yet another talk for talk-sake platform will too have no effect on the country’s worsening economic meltdown. None! 

“Suppose there is a resurgence on the economy!”

“The Mnangagwa administration has virtually no productive tax base and no one who will lend to it on the scale required, so policy on the fly is the order of the day—layers of contradiction, distortion, graft and increasing chaos—a ‘ramshackle edifice’ that will grow larger and more precarious as the months roll by,” predicted Stuart Doran, in The Strategist ASPI.

“Downward trends and further economic shocks may trigger more instability before the year is out, but they are, ultimately, symptoms, not causes. They are weather vanes that speak of the present and warn us of the imminent, yet they are not seminal and are poor indicators of the longer term.

“For those who would try to read the swirling tea leaves, broader and deeper factors are the better bet. The word ‘system’ is inadequate because the core of it is more profound, more organic and more enduring than that. Zimbabwe is what it is because of a political subculture, centred on the ruling party, that has hegemony and subjugation as its highest ideals. Violence, disdain, paranoia and plunder are among its natural progeny. It is fundamentally antithetical to genuine political competition, dissent and notions of stewardship.”

In short the ramshackle edifice is collapsing, it is nonsense to talk of Zimbabwe’s economic resurgence, not whilst Zanu PF remains in power. Economic resurgence; might as well ask what happens if  water started to flow upstream and worry about Mount Everest drowning! 

Still, it is the country’s worsening economic situation which, in the end, will hold swear as to what happens in the end. Zanu PF has so far used its coercive power to brow beat the populous into submission. But there is no denying that worsening economic situation is forcing more and more people to voice their dissent with the dictatorship. 

In the end the people will overcome their fear of the Zanu PF regime and demand an end to their economic hardships.

No matter how powerful a tyrannical regime happens to be, in the end; the regime will fall and the people will prevail. 

“It is the economy, stupid!” as former US President Bill Clinton, once said!

By A Correspondent- A visually challenged man who survives on begging in busses on Monday revealed that he makes $3 000 per month from begging.

The man, who was hauled before the Harare Civil Court by his wife, offered to pay $900 maintenance for his estranged wife and children.

Moses Ncube is accused of pampering his girlfriend with money at the expense of his wife Enerita Marindire who is also blind. Ncube told the court:

I cannot afford to pay $1 500 instead I will pay $900.

I survive from begging and I realise $3000 per month.

Mabhazi haasi kuzara mazuva ano saka hakuna mari.

Presiding magistrate Nyasha Marufu ordered Moses to pay $1 200 with effect from January 31.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has announced the death of two game rangers who have been missing for over a week.

In a statement, Zimparks spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, revealed that the two rangers’ bodies were found floating in Lake Kariba.

He said:

It is with sadness that (we announce) our two missing rangers have been found dead in Lake Kariba.

The two rangers are indeed conservation heroes. Zimparks family and conservation partners are in deep mourning.

Reports indicate that the rangers, whose identities have not been revealed, went missing after an encounter with four suspected poachers believed to be from Zambia while patrolling the lake.

The rangers arrested the poachers but were later overpowered as they transported them to Kariba town.

After a search by joint police and parks teams from Zimbabwe and Zambia, the remains of the two rangers were found on the water.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Police officers in Inyati, Matabeleland North, fatally shot a Machete-wielding gold panner (MaShurugwi) and injured 5 others in the same incident Newsday reports.

The violent MaShurugwi, armed with axes and machetes, reportedly charged at the officers who were forced to shot them in defence as they were deployed to stop illegal mining activities at Acuutes Farm.

The incident was confirmed in a memo seen by the publication that read in part:

At around 4pm, the illegal miners, who were armed with machetes and axes, started charging towards the armed police officers. Constable Mandindo, who was armed with an FN riffle, fired six warning shots in the air after seeing that the mob was advancing at them.

The warning shots could not deter the mob as it continued to charge towards the police officers and eventually Mandindo shot Mabhena once on the left shoulder. He was armed with an axe and a knobkerrie and he died on the spot.

MaShurugwi on 30 December attacked and killed Constable Wonder Hokoyo who was trying to help Good Hope Workers in Battlefields. 

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Former ZBC radio and television presenter Ezra Tshisa Sibanda believes Marry Chiwenga’ s case should be handled by South African courts.

Read Sibanda’ s argument:

High Court judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda has released vice president Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Mary on a ZWL50 000 bail pending appeal coupled with stringent conditions for attempted murder of her husband in a South African hospital where its alleged she tempered with his life support in the ICU plus money laundering.

I think if Mary did that she should be tried in South Africa as the crime was committed in that country, it’s in the SA jurisdiction not Zim.

I also feel there is selective application of the law. Former Minister of Tourism Prsica Mupfumira facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million was only told to pay a paltry ZW$5000 and bailed out by the same Courts which is just a 5th of what Mary has been asked to pay.

Mind you l have no sympathy for Mary but just want fairness and real justice.

Meanwhile this year 2020, can we see more arrests, conviction and jailing of all the thieving corrupt sharks still roaming our streets.

By A Correspondent- First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa’s security team on Monday heavily embarrassed Chief Chivero after chucking him out of an event being hosted by Mrs Mnangagwa because the chief arrived late.

First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa was interacting with several stakeholders of Norton town, Mashonaland West Province when the chief was kicked out from the event.

The scuffle is alleged to have ensued after Chief Chivero’s aides demanded to be allowed entry at Dudley Hall Primary School where the meeting was being held. Chief Chivero was also accused of disrespecting the President’s wife by coming late.

‘Imhosva here kunonoka? Iwe hausati wambononokawo here? Kana zvisingaite hatisi kuita nharo tinongoenda hedu (Is it a crime to be late. Have you always been punctual where ever you have gone before? If it is not possible to gain entry, we can simply leave as we are not prepared to argue with you,’ one of Chief Chivero’s aides was heard saying.

The State security agents could not budge and told the chief there was no space left in the meeting room. However, a few minutes later, Small and Medium Enterprises Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga and her entourage arrived and were easily allowed into the briefing

By A Correspondent- Kwekwe resident magistrate Story Rushwambwa (48) and clerk of court Bright Mpiyabo (45) are in soup for abuse of office and are set to appear today at Harare Magistrates courts for bail application on abuse of office charge

Rushambwa and Mpiyabo appeared before Harare Regional magistrate Bianca Makwande yesterday and were not asked to plead.

The state led by George Makonore alleged sometime in September 2018 a white Mercedes Benz was impounded by Kwekwe CID from a business tycoon Sherpard Tundiya.

Tundiya was in possession of stolen property which was believed to have been stolen in South Africa and smuggled into Zimbabwe.

The car was handed over to ZIMRA pending finalisation of investigations by the South African Police Service and settling of duty terms of the Custom and Excise Act.

Tundiya was not patient enough, he then made application seeking the release of the car which Rushambwa could not hesitate to release it to Tundiya through a court oder which was preducial to ZIMRA and other respondents cited in the application.

Resultedly, the car can no longer be located yet it is required for exhibit and it remains stolen property.

Kwekwe magistrate is also alleged to have facilitated another stolen car case.

In October 2019, a Toyota Hilux was impounded from John Mapurazi after it was fraudulently imported into the country and handed over to ZIMRA for custom management and trial in Bulawayo.

It is alleged that the magistrate then connived the release of the vehicle and Mpiyabo held on to the record on the 31st of December upon the arrival of Rushambwa who was on leave.

Rushambwa precised the matter with the applicant Mapurazi represented by Tundiya who is not a legal practitioner and granted the release of the car.

The vehicle remains an exhibit criminal case in Bulawayo but can no longer be located.

This serves to reveal that the two showed favour to the applicants which is contrary to their duties as officers of the court

Gracious First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Mai Mnangagwa,

I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unprecedented act of kindness displayed during your visit to Norton yesterday. Norton is overwhelmed by the magnitude of love and compassion that you spread and is all the more united as a result.

All church fraternities, political parties, civic organisations and citizenry etc were present to witness the impartiality of your generous gesture and it is only when on the ground that you understand the true depth of our appreciation.

Your message of love and assistance to those in need regardless of political affiliation is indeed profound and must filter throughout the Nation. Your words are filled with healing properties so critical at a time like this. People are of God and not of any man or woman.

May you continue to share such good deeds with many others across Zimbabwe. May the works of the Angel of Hope Foundation be a Blessing to those in need.

Thank you, on behalf of the Norton community and myself, we’re eternally grateful

Regards,

Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (MP): Norton

Own Correspondent|A top law firm has come to the rescue of the woman who was assaulted and had her hair shaved with a knife in front of her 11 year old child, Belinda Mudimu.

Mudimu was attacked by 4 women in Capetown as they accused her of bedding one of the ladies’ husband.

After ZimEye publicised the video of the assault, the women travelled to Belinda Mudimu’s residence where they pleaded for forgiveness saying the had assaulted the wrong person.

Belinda who is pregnant was left nursing body pains and ended up getting her whole hair shaved.

Since the attack, top law firm, Ndebele du Plessis Attorneys, has risen up to assist on the case whose initial hearing was on Monday.

A source at the firm confirmed the development as the firm moves in to assist with legal remedies.

Own Correspondent|Brief update on the legal position around people blocking Marry Chiwenga from entering her house.

Watch video downloading below:

Own Correspondent|A ZUPCO Bus plying the Beitbridge – Gwanda – Bulawayo route has crashed about 40 kilometres out of Bulawayo.

Witnesses at the scene claim that there has been fatalities though no official count has yet been confirmed.

According to witnesses, the driver who was driving towards Bulawayo tried to negotiate a sharp bend at a high speed resulting in him losing control of the bus.

“The bus swerved several times before landing on its side,” a witness told ZimEye.com.

“We have seen some dead bodies on the site and medical teams are on site attending to the passengers,” the witness told ZimEye.com.

ZUPCO buses are an instant hit to Zimbabweans and are always full because of their low prices compared to other public transport operators.

It is not yet clear how many people were in the bus.

While still shocked on the accident, Zimbabweans have expressed another shock at the condition of a rescue vehicle appearing on pictures from the crash scene.

Own Correspondent|President Robert Mugabe granted value added tax (VAT) exemptions to his wife Grace which deprived the state of about US$200 000 ($4 million).

Nine applications for exemptions were sent to Mugabe between 2012 and 2014 by Stanley Nhari, general manager of Grace’s Gushungo Holdings, and managers of Mwenewazvo Farm, Grace Mugabe Orphanage and Amai Mugabe High School.

Gushungo administrator Farai Jemwa also wrote to Mugabe in 2015 asking that Grace be exempt from paying tolls at Eskbank on her daily commute along the A11 between Mazowe and Harare.

Letters addressed to Mugabe indicate that Grace did not pay VAT on goods that cost US$350 000 ($7 million) on 19 March 2012.

She then applied for another exemption for furniture valued at US$150 000 ($3 million).

The same request was made for office stationery worth US$50 000 ($1 million) on September 6 2012.

In the same year, the former first lady sought exemptions on cement valued at US$122 939 ($2.5 million) for the Gushungo dairy farm and other materials that cost US$119 560 ($2.4 million).

For Blue Roof, the Borrowdale mansion where the Mugabes lived, she asked her husband for a VAT exemption on exterior paint costing US$118 585 (R2.4 million).

She also avoided VAT on centre pivots for irrigation on Mwenewazvo Farm that cost US$18 000 ($360 000).

In June 2013, she sought VAT exemption for goods with an estimated cost of US$260 000 ($5.2 million), and in 2014 for building materials worth US$123 120 ($2.5 million).

In total, Grace avoided paying VAT of US$196 830 ($3.9 million) after buying goods worth US$1 312 204 ($26.2 million).

Jemwa’s letter to Mugabe about the Eskbank toll said: “May I therefore request for your assistance in the completion of the relevant procedures culminating in the issuance of the relevant exemption.”

Mugabe died in September and Blue Roof and the Gushungo dairy farm were listed as part of his estate.

According to the Tax Act, a president does not pay income tax but there is no exemption from VAT on his business interests.

Tax expert Sydwell Nsingo said there were protocols for all tax issues, none of which had anything to do with the office of the president.

“For any tax matters, one should apply to the commissioner-general of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. Depending on the matter, he will then liaise with the finance ministry or in some cases he will communicate with the relevant line ministries,” he said.

However, in Grace’s case, the applications for exemptions were approved in directives from the President’s office to ZIMRA.

Colls Ndlovu, an economist formerly with the Reserve Bank of SA, said: “There’s a list of goods that are exempt from VAT and normally they are listed in the minister of finance’s budget statement. Others can be added through statutory instruments.

“That list makes it clear, and so there’s no need to apply for exemption otherwise it will amount to favouritism.”

None of the goods for which Grace applied for exemption were on the VAT free list, said Ndlovu.

Analysts said the VAT exemptions were just the latest example of abuse of power by the ruling elite.

“Zimbabwe has institutionalised corruption to an extent that it is becoming normal,” said political commentator Nigel Nyamutumbu.

“It is unfortunate that for all these years Mugabe was president, critical decisions such as tax exemptions were not subjected to due process but were a bedroom affair.”

Nyamutumbu said the same could be said of the case in which Marry Chiwenga, wife of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, is accused of illegally sending US$1m  ($20 million) to South Africa and China.

“Citizens fail to get their hard-earned foreign currency while those in the corridors of power not only have easy access but they abuse funds that do not even belong to them,” he said.

“This thuggish daylight robbery is actually the root of the problem bedevilling the country.”

Grace Mugabe’s office did not respond to numerous requests for comment.

– Sunday Times

Zbc News|THE government through the Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) says plans are underway to import battery electric vehicles to save fossil fuel and reduce global warming emissions. Taking advantage of abundant lithium deposits in Zimbabwe, the government through the CMED says plans are on course to import electricity-powered vehicles.

In an interview with Zbc news this Monday, CMED Managing Director, Mr Davison Mhaka said the initiative will go a long way in saving foreign currency for importing fuel.

“Soon we are going to import vehicles which are electrically powered. As CMED we are under government we are going to implement this initiative so that others will copy from us,” he said.

He also said this initiative will reduce air pollution through carbon emissions.

“This is also a smart way of conserving our environment through carbon emissions,” he added.

Zimbabwe’s lithium deposits are second to none in Africa with deposits in Bikita, Goromonzi, and Kamativi.

Countries such as Germany, India and the Netherlands are now banning vehicles that run on fossil fuels like diesel and liquefied petroleum.

An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using energy stored in rechargeable batteries.

The first practical electric cars were produced in the 1880s. Electric cars were popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engines, electric starters in particular, and mass production of cheaper gasoline vehicles led to a decline in the use of electric drive vehicles.

From 2008, a renaissance in electric vehicle manufacturing occurred due to advances in batteries, and the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with internal combustion engine cars, electric cars are quieter, and have no tailpipe emissions and lower emissions in general. In January 2019 and updated in April, a Reuters analysis of 29 global automakers concluded that automakers are planning on spending $300 billion over the next 5 to 10 years on electric cars, with 45% of that investment projected to occur in China.

Charging an electric car can be done at a variety of charging stations, these charging stations can be installed in both houses and public areas.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has urged workers in particular and citizens, in general, not to look up to ruling elites but to join the “resistance” against the government’s “stupid” policies.

Speaking to Daily News on Monday, ZCTU president Peter Mutasa argued that citizens’ sufferings are being orchestrated by the same people. He said:

Workers and citizens must not look up to the ruling elites who don’t care about our plight. The suffering of the masses is orchestrated by the same people.

While everyone else is suffering, the ruling elites are pillaging and looting the natural and other resources of the country. There is no incentive for them to change the way things are.

As a result, the workers and citizens must free themselves from this bondage … the ZCTU urges every one of them to join in the resistance against stupid policies that have impoverished us such as austerity.

Mutasa is among a significant number of trade unionists and political and human rights activists who are facing charges of subversion related to the January fuel protests.

In January 2019, ZCTU called for a mass stay-away to force the government to address the various socio-economic challenges Zimbabweans have to contend with.

More: Daily News

Marry Chiwenga Blocked From Entering Own House By Mnangagwa Security Personnel

Own Correspondent|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is an angry man indeed and appears set to go to any level to make sure that his wife Marry suffers.

Chiwenga on Monday defied a High Court ruling passed during bail hearing of his wife which said she must reside at their Borrowdale Brooks residence until her case is finalised.

Chiwenga’s security details blocked her convoy from entering her own house as soon as she arrived home from Chikurubi prison.

Officers stationed at the gate told Marry she would not be allowed access to get to her own house.

Mubaiwa’s lawyer was still at court at the time of publishing.

Impeccable sources made the revelations to ZimEye and below is the short LIVE program. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY… VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Own Correspondent|Government has warned Zimbabweans against South African-based Zimbabweans who are trying to con unsuspecting people by promising them that they have been allocated farming equipment and must help meet the transport costs.

A press statement issued by Misheck Sibanda, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet , said the conmen are demanding sums ranging from R8 000 to R20 000.

Sibanda said the government had no such scheme.

Own Correspondent|First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa’s security team on Monday heavily embarassed Chief Chivero after chucking him out of an event being hosted by Mrs Mnangagwa because the chief arrived late.

First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa was interacting with several stakeholders of Norton town, Mashonaland West Province when the chief was kicked out from the event.

The scuffle is alleged to have ensued after Chief Chivero’s aides demanded to be allowed entry at Dudley Hall Primary School where the meeting was being held. Chief Chivero was also accused of disrespecting the President’s wife by coming late.

‘Imhosva here kunonoka? Iwe hausati wambononokawo here? Kana zvisingaite hatisi kuita nharo tinongoenda hedu (Is it a crime to be late. Have you always been punctual where ever you have gone before? If it is not possible to gain entry, we can simply leave as we are not prepared to argue with you,’ one of Chief Chivero’s aides was heard saying.

The State security agents could not budge and told the chief there was no space left in the meeting room. However, a few minutes later, Small and Medium Enterprises Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga and her entourage arrived and were easily allowed into the briefing.

By A Correspondent- A Chiweshe man was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment yesterday by Concession magistrate Ruth Moyo for severely assaulting his wife and breaking her hand after she cooked vegetables on Christmas day.

70 year old Regay Chawawa of Chawawa village, Chief Makope Chiweshe escaped jail after the magistrate suspended the sentence on condition that he pays $1000 fine.

Prosecutor Moses Kuimba told the court that on Christmas Day the convict came from where he was enjoying his day and was served sadza with vegetables by his wife Lucia Kawanzaruva (60) when he expected to eat with meat.

A scuffle ensued and he picked a log which he used to strike his wife all over the body breaking her hand in the process.

In mitigation the septuagenarian pleaded for a non-custodial sentence saying he was a bread winner who just expected to be served meat on the special day.

“Your worship may you be lenient with me l am a bread winner on Christmas day l expected to eat with meat but my wife gave me vegetables so l had to discipline her,” he said.

In another case a 19 year old Guruve man was arraigned before a Bindura magistrate Ethel Chichera for raping a minor in the bush.

Andrew Chikonyora of Baradzanwa village chief Bepura was not asked to plead to rape and was remanded in custody to January 16.

The state alleges sometime in December last year the accused saw the complainant going to fetch firewood in the bush and followed her, he then grabbed her hand before raping her once.

Tariro Janhi represented the state

By A Correspondent- Twelve Chipinge machete-wielding villagers allegedly attacked a messenger of court and his crew, leaving one of them critically injured.

The villagers were being evicted after illegally settling at a private commercial farm.

This came to light during the initial appearance of Shadreck Simango (28) and 11 others before Chipinge magistrate, Joshua Nembaware facing charges of public violence or alternatively contempt of court in contravention of section 72 (a) of the Magistrates Court Act.

They were remanded to January 20 for trial.

Prosecutor, Chipo Nyasha told the court that on November 6 last year, messenger of court Gibson Maeka served Jervas Musiya and 31 other illegal settlers with an eviction order from Smithfield Farm which they had illegally occupied.

The order had been granted at Chipinge Magistrates Court.

Evictions were provisionally set for November 19 and the following day Maeka and officials from his office failed to carry out the evictions after they arrived at the farm and found the illegal settlers absent.

A week later he sought police escort to go to the farm.

While executing his duties together with hired employees from his office, the 12, acting in common purpose with others who are still at large, allegedly confronted them armed with an assortment of weapons including machetes.

They surrounded Maeka and his team together with the police, stopping them from carrying out the evictions. They incited and encouraged each other to attack Maeka and the situation became riotous.

Simango, who was armed with a knobkerrie allegedly charged towards the team telling his colleagues that police do not shoot at citizens.

This resulted in Christopher Chipadze allegedly hitting a messenger of court employee, Zachariah Mafuta, with a pestle once on the head and he became unconscious.

He was rushed to Chipinge District Hospital where he was admitted in critical condition.

The 12 were arrested, but their accomplices managed to escape and they are still at large.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Police officers in Inyati, Matabeleland North, fatally shot a Machete-wielding gold panner (MaShurugwi) and injured 5 others in the same incident.

The violent MaShurugwi, armed with axes and machetes, reportedly charged at the officers who were forced to shot them in defence as they were deployed to stop illegal mining activities at Acuutes Farm.

The incident was confirmed in a memo seen by the publication that read in part:

At around 4pm, the illegal miners, who were armed with machetes and axes, started charging towards the armed police officers. Constable Mandindo, who was armed with an FN riffle, fired six warning shots in the air after seeing that the mob was advancing at them.

The warning shots could not deter the mob as it continued to charge towards the police officers and eventually Mandindo shot Mabhena once on the left shoulder. He was armed with an axe and a knobkerrie and he died on the spot.

MaShurugwi on 30 December attacked and killed Constable Wonder Hokoyo who was trying to help Good Hope Workers in Battlefields. 

-Newsday

Controversial commedienne Felistas Edwards (33) popularly known as Mai Titi (23) has opened up on her love relationship with her Ben 10 boyfriend Zizoe Pamyk saying they are set to tie the knot very soon.

Mai Titi’s photographs and videos with Zizoe, real name Blessed Zingwe have made rounds on social media for the past week.

In a wide range interview with a local tabloid, Mai Titi and Zizoe Pamyk confirmed that their relationship has developed that the two are bound to tie the knot before November this year.

Zizoe Pamyk said his family is behind his decision to marry Mai Titi regardless of their age difference.

“Mukuru, mudiwa ndewangu, Mai Titi ndevangu hapana chakamboipa pazvese uye ndinobvuma zvose zvirikutaurwa pamusoro perudo,” said Zizoe said.

“Gadzirirai muchato, tichakoka Zimbabwe yose kana zvichibvira uye chikafu chichange chiripo.

“Mhuri yangu nekwandinobva madzikoma nevose zviri official. Zvemakore zvinyanyana izvo tozokurukura pamberi,” he said as some of his relatives nodded in agreement.

Mai Titi, who started off as a gospel musician during the rising of her best friend in music Mercy Mutsvene, confirmed the development saying she failed to resist Zizoe’s love.

She narrated how she grew up in a Christian family, started her music career before she shelved the musical instruments when she tied the knot with Tapiwa Mutikani, a wedding filmed and captured by this writer 11 years ago.

“I am aware that you are the one who filmed my first wedding with Tapiwa and this time you are going to capture my second wedding with Blessed Zingwe,” said Mai Titi.

“Our society frowns upon a woman when she marries a man younger than her but I have learnt a lot and come to understand the secrets of love,” said Mai Titi.

“My relationship with Zizoe started when he called for help in his music and I later discovered that I had already charmed him and he had assured his family that he wanted to take me as his wife.

“I laughed at it but I failed to resist his love and we fell in love mmmmmm rudo rwasimba uye harusi rudo rwakapusa, rwakakotsira kana rwekufadzana saka before November tinenge tachata uye kunogona kuita kurekure.

“Zizoe is fully aware of my age and status.

“He has won my heart and I have followed my heart too and we will be separated with death. I can’t wait.

“My heart will not fail me on Zizoe and he loves my children a thing I failed to get from that white man I refused to get married to.

“Marriage is for life while a wedding is an event and by this I mean that Zizoe’s family has already accepted me and I feel comforted and loved.

“Wedding is like an icing cake to our union and let the society know that love is unselfish outgoing concern and what you make it that even animals know where they are loved and taken care of,” said Mai Titi.

Concerning age differences, Mai Titi said age has to do with numbers but love has to do with feelings and maturity.

“I do not encourage child marriages since marriage is for mature people where a man and woman become husband and wife,” said Mai Titi.

“We have older men who act childish although living with a woman who is five years younger than them. It’s a pity.

“In other relationships we have older women dating young blood but when it comes to real love they fail to deliver.

“By this I want to urge families to help their children be mature, get understanding and not rush into marriage zvinoda ruzivo nechifukidziro chedenga,” she said.

Mai Titi’s parents are elders in one of the big local Pentecostal churches.

-State Media

By Simba Chikanza| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry’s convoy was last night blocked from entering her own house, by security personnel.

Officers stationed at the gate to the brooke told Marry she would not be allowed access to get to her own house.

This was just after obtaining her bail release.

Ironically this is the same house the incarcerated Mubaiwa is supposed to reside at according to her bail conditions. The development means who ever is blocking her wishes her to breach her bail conditions, and thereby get her rearrested, a source told ZimEye.

Mubaiwa’s lawyer was still at court at the time of publishing.

The identities of the security personnel stationed at the gate particularly those who blocked her access could not be verified at the time of printing. It could neither be established if the officers responsible were real security staff.

Impeccable sources made the revelations to ZimEye and below is the short LIVE program. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY… VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

https://youtu.be/RXmVrwFrAfs

Farai Dziva|Former ZBC radio and television presenter Ezra Tshisa Sibanda believes Marry Chiwenga’ s case should be handled by South African courts.

Read Sibanda’ s argument:

High Court judge Justice Pisirai Kwenda has released vice president Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Mary on a ZWL50 000 bail pending appeal coupled with stringent conditions for attempted murder of her husband in a South African hospital where its alleged she tempered with his life support in the ICU plus money laundering.

I think if Mary did that she should be tried in South Africa as the crime was committed in that country, it’s in the SA jurisdiction not Zim.

I also feel there is selective application of the law. Former Minister of Tourism Prsica Mupfumira facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million was only told to pay a paltry ZW$5000 and bailed out by the same Courts which is just a 5th of what Mary has been asked to pay.

Mind you l have no sympathy for Mary but just want fairness and real justice.

Meanwhile this year 2020, can we see more arrests, conviction and jailing of all the thieving corrupt sharks still roaming our streets.

Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has said youthful MDC leader Nelson Chamisa must apologize to nation for “calling for sanctions.”

Mutodi made the remarks during an interview with NewsDay on Monday.

“The President is first and foremost a citizen who can communicate anything with fellow citizens, including cracking jokes with Zimbabweans.

Chamisa is the one with a lot to apologise to Zimbabweans for calling for sanctions, disputing election results where he was clearly defeated and even giving false hope to his supporters,” said Mutodi.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has urged workers in particular and citizens, in general, not to look up to ruling elites but to join the “resistance” against the government’s “stupid” policies.

Speaking to a local publication on Monday, ZCTU president Peter Mutasa  argued that citizens’ sufferings are being orchestrated by the same people.

He said:

Workers and citizens must not look up to the ruling elites who don’t care about our plight. The suffering of the masses is orchestrated by the same people.

While everyone else is suffering, the ruling elites are pillaging and looting the natural and other resources of the country. There is no incentive for them to change the way things are.

As a result, the workers and citizens must free themselves from this bondage … the ZCTU urges every one of them to join in the resistance against stupid policies that have impoverished us such as austerity.

Mutasa is among a significant number of trade unionists and political and human rights activists who are facing charges of subversion related to the January fuel protests.

In January 2019, ZCTU called for a mass stay-away to force the government to address the various socio-economic challenges Zimbabweans have to contend with.

-DailyNews

7 January 2020.

NCA Party Statement on the gazetting of the proposed amendments to the Constitution.

•NCA party is alarmed by the gazetting of proposed amendments to the Constitution by the arrogant Zanu pf government last week.

•As NCA party we are fully aware that the intention by Zanu pf to amend the Constitution is supported by the fact that during the inclusive government Zanu pf and Mdc parties agreed that a party with two thirds majority in parliament can make changes to the Constitution. Therefore the deceitful Constitution crafted by Zanu pf and Mdc parties allows this unacceptable state of affairs now degenerating into serious problems of dictatorship.

•The NCA party believes that it will continue to set a dangerous precedence to allow any political leaders of the day to make changes to the Supreme law of the nation as it is expected in a reasonable democracy that laws must come from the people through people driven processes.

•The current undemocratic Constitution is not people driven as it never came from the people of Zimbabwe but was imposed on them by COPAC, a confused parliamentary grouping that was made up of selfish and greedy politicians from Zanu pf and Mdc political parties. By the time this chaotic Constitution was being crafted each of the two political parties hoped to win the 2013 general elections and then change any provisions in that disorderly Constitution to suit their own partisan interests that are not beneficial to anyone except their kith and kin.

•However despite this unfortunate background of a bad Constitution, crafted by covetous politicians, which allows the tempering of it’s provisions, it remains the duty of every responsible and peace loving Zimbabwean to resist Zanu pf’s parochial amendments to the already wicked Constitution.

•A close look at the gazzetted proposed amendments replicates Zanu pf’s agenda to perpetuate it’s hegemony and primitive rule in Zimbabwe as well as an intention to consolidate a decade of undemocratic governance.

•At our last meeting of POLAD, a platform comprising of 18 Presidential candidates who contested last general elections in 2018, in Kadoma on 21 December 2019, it was unanimously agreed and even announced in a press statement that the government must put on hold any amendments to the Constitution to allow all interested stakeholders to make their own proposals especially on election related amendments that constitute electoral reforms.

•The gazzetting of Zanu pf partisan amendments is a clear disregard of POLAD resolutions by government and it shows the lack of seriousness by Zanu pf to ensure that we have a credible election that is free and fair in 2023.

•All the proposed amendments by Zanu pf government will not have any positive contribution towards the much needed assurance that future elections will be conducted to the satisfaction of everyone besides the selfish Zanu pf leaders and their usual uninformed supporters.

•As NCA party the electoral reforms that we encourage all Zimbabweans to demand from Zanu pf government includes, but are not limited to, that:

•A sitting President must not appoint ZEC Chairperson and all ZEC Commissioners,

•Any ZEC must not run a general election more than once,

•A sitting President must not appoint Judges to ensure that in the event of any electoral dispute the Courts can deal with the matter satisfactorily,

•All Zimbabweans in the diaspora must be allowed to vote,

•In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President we must have a by election to allow the electorate to choose a new President unlike what Zanu pf intend to do, through their awkward amendments, to make it law that in the event of vacancy in the Presidency office the political party of the said President gives us a replacement without having a by election.

•As Zanu pf government has displayed arrogance in pursuing unreasonable partisan amendments to the Constitution we urge all Zimbabweans to register their displeasure by adding their voices to reject these hopeless amendments.

•The NCA party, as usual, will continue to raise it’s own voice against the intended partisan amendments to the Constitution by the egocentric Zanu pf government.

•As NCA party we will continue to utilize the POLAD platform and any other platforms at our disposal to disagree with the proposed irrational amendments to the Constitution by Zanu pf.

•We urge all Zimbabweans to reject narrow-minded amendments to the Supreme law. The current Constitution is bad and we must not watch as Zanu pf further worsens the outlook of the already undemocratic Constitution.

Issued By
Madock Chivasa
NCA National Spokesperson
+263 775 614 471 / +263 772 904 492
Email [email protected]
Facebook Page National Constitutional Assemby.

By A Correspondent- Police in Matabeleland North shot dead a machete wielding gang member and arrested five others after the violent mob attacked cops who were deployed to remove them from a mine they had invaded in Bubi district.

The incident occurred on Sunday at about 4.30PM.

The illegal miners had raided Mambo area’s Acute Mine owned by a proprietor only identified as Tshabangu who sought police reinforcement to remove the illegal panners.

Sources said police fired six warning shots as the illegal miners menacingly advanced towards them swinging machetes, picks and knobkerries.

“They wanted to surround the police officers. They appeared very violent,” said a witness who asked not to be named.

The panners, said the witness, dispersed when a police officer shot one of them on the shoulder and he died on the spot.

The incident comes barely a month after illegal manners surrounded police officers and hacked one of them to death in Kadoma.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “Tshabangu went to the police and made a report and he was given a reaction team. On arrival they were surrounded by a mob which started attacking them with machetes, axes and knobkerries. Police officers were attacked and as a result shots were fired resulting in the death of one of the gang members. Police officers before directing the shot at the deceased, had fired warning shots which did not deter the panners who kept on advancing. Police later arrested five suspects,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said the name of the deceased panner was being withheld as police were still conducting investigations.

Asst Comm Nyathi identified the arrested suspects as Prince Ngwenya (37) from Silobela in the Midlands, Cosmas Moyo (34) from Nkayi, Clever Ntakana (39), Nhlanhla Ncube (34) and Orderly Nzombani from Bubi district.

He said police recovered weapons that include axes, shovels, picks, hammers, iron bars, chisels and an okapi knife.

Asst Comm Nyathi said panners should seriously heed police’s warning that no one is above the law.

“Members of the public especially machete wielding gangs should take seriously the message by the Commissioner General of Police (Godwin Matanga) that police will not tolerate acts of violence, police will not tolerate people who attack police officers who are maintaining law and order and members of the public. Definitely action will be taken against those who decide to take the law into their hands,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Yesterday there was heavy police presence at the mine where the panner was shot dead.

Artisanal miners who operate at a nearby mine said police actions were justified.

The miners declined to be photographed for security reasons.

One of the miners said he watched the fracas as it unfolded and he could not blame the police for shooting one of the suspects.

“Their actions against the police caused this incident. They were the ones who were attacking the police. Prior to the fatal shooting, police fired several warning shots but this didn’t move them. Instead they were aggressive as they charged towards the police. I don’t know what could have stopped them except what happened. However, it’s unfortunate that a life was lost in the process,” said the miner.

Another gold miner blamed panners from other districts for the violence in the area.

“Those panners who come from other districts are the ones who cause violence. They bring machetes, axes, knives- weapons that have nothing to do with mining. We are also afraid of them and from their behaviour yesterday we concluded that they were seeking trouble. It’s not really shocking that it ended this way,” said the miner.

He said local small-scale miners should also employ locals as opposed to hiring workers from other districts who are mostly to blame for the violence.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Marry, is not in “good shape” and needs the best medical care possible after spending over three weeks (23 days) in remand prison.

This was revealed by Marry Chiwenga’s father, Kenny Mubaiwa while speaking to ZTN on Tuesday morning.

He said:

It’s good that she was granted bail but she is not in good shape. What we want to do now is get her the best medical care possible.

Marry was on Monday granted $50 000 bail by Justice Pisirayi Kwenda pending trial. She was also ordered to surrender her diplomatic passport and title deeds to her Highlands home as surety.

She is also required to report once a fortnight at Borrowdale Police Station, not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at her Borrowdale Brooke mansion until the matter is finalised.

Marry is facing fraud, externalisation of foreign currency and attempted murder charges which her lawyers say are baseless.

-StateMedia

The Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has announced the death of two game rangers who have been missing for over a week.

In a statement, Zimparks spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, revealed that the two rangers’ bodies were found floating in Lake Kariba. He said:

It is with sadness that (we announce) our two missing rangers have been found dead in Lake Kariba.

The two rangers are indeed conservation heroes. Zimparks family and conservation partners are in deep mourning.

Reports indicate that the rangers, whose identities have not been revealed, went missing after an encounter with four suspected poachers believed to be from Zambia while patrolling the lake.

The rangers arrested the poachers but were later overpowered as they transported them to Kariba town.

After a search by joint police and parks teams from Zimbabwe and Zambia, the remains of the two rangers were found on the water.

-State Media

Presidential nominations for ZAPU #2020Congress

Zimbabwe African People’s Union wishes, through the department of Information and Publicity, to correct a minor misinformation concerning nominations for the party’s congress coming on August 26-29.

It has been erroneously reported by some media houses that nominations for position of president had taken place and in result, six cadres had been duly nominated.

These six are Mark Mbayiwa, Emelia Mkaratirwa, Strike Mkandla, Future Msebele, Mathew Sibanda and Iphithule Maphosa.

The party wishes to correct this information as follows:

 1. The six names doing the rounds, and as reported in the media as having been already nominated, are merely speculative and come as a result of numerous discussions around the elective congress.

2. Nominations come from provincial conferences, processes which are yet to take place as according to the official party program and in accordance with rules and guidelines as per party constitution, in the run up to congress.

Our media friends will be the first to know about the dates of these provincial conferences so that they also attend and get first hand information regarding nominations.

For Department of Information Publicity and Marketing

Iphithule Thembani Maphosa

National Spokesperson.

1/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 & compassion that you spread

2/ & 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.

3/ 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.

4/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&myself, we’re eternally grateful Regards, Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (MP): Norton

By Jane Mlambo| Information Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana has ignited a fierce rebuke from social media users after posting what he termed ED’s distinguished performance including budget deficit, trade deficit and the introduction of ZUPCOs among others.

Posting on Twitter, Mangwana posted the following message;

ED’S DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE 1. Budget deficit down 90% 2. Trade deficit down 70% 3. De-dollarisation completed, new currency introduced & stabilized. 4. Ease of doing business – Zim is up 15 positions 5. Mass Public Transport System (More will be shared)

Responding to Mangwana, social media users had this to say;

“De-dollarisation completed, new currency introduced & stabilized. Highest denomination (5 bond) cannot even buy a half loaf of bread – just an example,” said one William Zambezi.

“We could be talking more if it weren’t for the lax stance on corruption. i am heavily disappointed in that regard. You have done absolutely nothing,” said another user named Samanyanga.

“Trade deficit down coz people are not able to import much needed food, which translates to that people are starving. We are not producing enough for our consumption hence need for food imports so decline in trade deficit is a clear sign of starving nation,” another one Colonel Von Strohm.

“If those are the indicators of a DISTINGUISHED performance then the bar is very very low,” said Blessing Shadaya.

Socialite Thomas “CST” Chizhanje has been warned by comedienne and ex-girlfriend Lorraine Guyo over posting their pictures together on social media.

Chizhanje and Guyo separated mid last year and it seems CST might have been having hard times to accept and move on.

The warning comes after Chizhanje took to his Facebook page to post a picture of him and Guyo together.

Chizhanje has since deleted the pictures from his Facebook page after Guyo came forward complaining about it.

In an interview with Chizhanje, he said he had moved on and he wanted to show people there is no bad blood between the two.

“I was just showing people that we are okay and I have moved on but, I have since stopped posting her.

“I have deleted the pictures on social media since they were sending the wrong message to the people,” said Chizhanje.

Guyo said she was not happy with what Chizhanje was doing since she has already moved on with her life.

“I have already moved on with my life. He must too. Never have I posted him.

“He must let me be because I am enjoying the peace I have now,” said Guyo.

-State Media

When I summarised the three solution models available for Zimbabwe to address its current challenges, many preferred the revolution model, because they think it will remove the root causes of all our problems once and for all.

I must admit that while I want us to remove the root causes of the problems we have in Zimbabwe, I am convinced that it is only a consensus model that can do that in a sustainable and less costly way.

Consensus is reached through dialogue, and hence require an initial deposit of humility from the parties involved. This is why many doubt whether the current actors are willing to do that. What are carrots and sticks to encourage dialogue?

Since consensus is reached thru dialogue, it is the only route that can instil TRUST and CONFIDENCE, the two ingredients we are currently missing for national convergence. Revolutions produce winners and losers and hence entrench mistrust.

Revolutions world over have tended not to deliver what they promised. Those who preside the revolution tend to be the most courageous but not necessarily the most intelligent. They then become the new oppressors. Examples abound!!

So while at face value a revolution promises a permanent solution, in reality, it can give you what you didn’t bargain for. Consensus demand exchange of ideas outcomes may not be perfect but have broad ownership.

LET’S END WITH A WARNING! A NATION THAT DOES NOT SATISFACTORILY ACT ON THE CRIES OF THE VULNERABLE, CREATES INEVITABLE CONDITIONS FOR A REVOLUTION. ONCE ITS FIRES HAVE BEEN LIT, NO AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION CAN STOP IT!

The South African Police Services in Limpopo province has arrested 271 border jumpers among them Zimbabweans and recovered smuggled cigarettes worth R2,2 million during the festive season.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said in a statement on Sunday that the illegal immigrants were arrested during roadblocks and stop and search operations that were conducted around the Province.

“Fifty-four of these undocumented nationals were arrested on one day, 31 December 2019 at a roadblock along the N1 road south of Polokwane.

“During the same period, 237 shebeens were closed, 94 licensed liquor premises were charged for non-compliance with the Liquor Act and six of them were closed,” he said.

The official said they had also conducted joint operations to prevent cross border crimes including the smuggling of stolen goods from and into the country such as illicit cigarettes and vehicles.

Brig Majapelo said on New Year’s Eve they seized cigarettes worth R2,2 million at a roadblock that was also visited by the Deputy Minister of Police Mr Cassel Mathale, the MEC of Transport and Community Safety Namane Dickson Masemola and the Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba along the N1 road south of Polokwane.

He said the operations were on going until further notice.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Deputy Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Energy Mutodi said President Emmerson Mnangagwa  does not have to apologise to Zimbabweans for the “jokes” he made in Kuwadzana last week.

Speaking to a local publication on Monday, Mutodi asserted that it was MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who needed to apologise for rejecting the 2018 election results among other “misdemeanours”.

Said Mutodi:

The President is first and foremost a citizen who can communicate anything with fellow citizens, including cracking jokes with Zimbabweans.

Chamisa is the one with a lot to apologise to Zimbabweans for calling for sanctions, disputing election results where he was clearly defeated and even giving false hope to his supporters.

During the monthly, largely ceremonial national clean-up campaign held in Kuwadzana on Friday last week, Mnangagwa said he would send troops against the residents if it was proved that they were responsible for the ongoing meteorological drought.

He also told residents to eat vegetables after they had asked him to do something about the escalating price of meat.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The leaders of civil servants’ unions under the Apex Council, are meeting in Harare today, 7th of January 2020, to decide on going on strike to force the government to improve their salaries and working conditions.

Civil servants Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander told a local publication that public sector workers are tired of the government’s dishonesty.

She said:

Having engaged the government since October last year when we declared our incapacitation and having followed that up with several meetings from then up to December, it has become clear that the employer is largely ignoring us as there has been no movement.

… it (the strike), however, depends on what the unions will say … but we all agree that even some of our colleagues in the teaching profession who have said that they will not go back to work when schools open are right because the situation is no longer bearable.

Since the beginning of 2019, civil servants have been threatening industrial action. The government has responded by offering them token additional pay through what it calls Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and Cushioning Allowances.

The lowest-paid worker is now earning just above ZWL$1 000 per month which is equivalent to less than US$50. using black market rates.

-DailyNews

By Jane Mlambo| Information Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana has posted five achievements of the new dispensation which includes budget deficit, trade deficit and the introduction of ZUPCOs among others, igniting a fierce rebuke from social media users who felt the so called gains were nothing compared to the serious economic problems facing the country at the moment.

Posting on Twitter, Mangwana posted the following message;

ED’S DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE 1. Budget deficit down 90% 2. Trade deficit down 70% 3. De-dollarisation completed, new currency introduced & stabilized. 4. Ease of doing business – Zim is up 15 positions 5. Mass Public Transport System (More will be shared)

Responding to Mangwana, social media users had this to say;

“De-dollarisation completed, new currency introduced & stabilized. Highest denomination (5 bond) cannot even buy a half loaf of bread – just an example,” said one William Zambezi.

“We could be talking more if it weren’t for the lax stance on corruption. i am heavily disappointed in that regard. You have done absolutely nothing,” said another user named Samanyanga.

“Trade deficit down coz people are not able to import much needed food, which translates to that people are starving. We are not producing enough for our consumption hence need for food imports so decline in trade deficit is a clear sign of starving nation,” another one Colonel Von Strohm.

“If those are the indicators of a DISTINGUISHED performance then the bar is very very low,” said Blessing Shadaya.

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POLICE in Redcliff are investigating a case in which a 26-year-old artisanal miner on the police wanted list was axed to death by eight unknown men as he was getting out of a supermarket in Torwood township.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said Brilliant Dube who was wanted for assault was brutally killed on New Year’s Day.

“The eight suspects who were armed with axes approached the now deceased who was with his brother, Honest Dube as they were walking out of a supermarket in the evening of Wednesday last week. They started axing the two but the other brother, Honest, managed to flee leaving his sibling at the mercy of his assailants,” said Insp Goko.

He said the suspects fled leaving Brilliant writhing on the ground with multiple deep cuts.

“He sustained deep cuts on the head, back and both legs. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Kwekwe District Hospital,” he said.

He said police who attended to the scene also discovered that the deceased was on the run, in connection with an assault case.

Insp Goko appealed to members of the public with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects to approach any nearest police station.

“They can also make use of our police suggestion boxes,” he said.

Gracious First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Mai Mnangagwa,

I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unprecedented act of kindness displayed during your visit to Norton yesterday. Norton is overwhelmed by the magnitude of love and compassion that you spread and is all the more united as a result.

All church fraternities, political parties, civic organisations and citizenry etc were present to witness the impartiality of your generous gesture and it is only when on the ground that you understand the true depth of our appreciation.

Your message of love and assistance to those in need regardless of political affiliation is indeed profound and must filter throughout the Nation. Your words are filled with healing properties so critical at a time like this. People are of God and not of any man or woman.

May you continue to share such good deeds with many others across Zimbabwe. May the works of the Angel of Hope Foundation be a Blessing to those in need.

Thank you, on behalf of the Norton community and myself, we’re eternally grateful

Regards,

Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (MP): Norton

Own Correspondent| Self exiled former Cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi has been appointed president of yet another new political party in Zimbabwe, the People’s Party.

Mzembi’s deputy, former Higher Education Deputy Minister Godfrey Gandawa who is also in exile, announced the formation of the party.

Gandawa is on the run after skipping the country in 2018 facing fraud charges when he was deputy minister.

United Kingdom-based Lloyd Msipa is the new party’s secretary general.

Below is the letter by Gandawe announcing the new political party.

Correspondent|High Court judge, Evangelista Kabasa on Friday freed a 30-year-old Bulawayo man who has been languishing at Khami prison following his conviction for public violence during last year’s deadly protests over fuel price hike.

Bulawayo magistrate, Tinashe Tashaya September last year convicted and sentenced Promise Mandizha Dube of Luveve high-density suburb to four months in prison.

Through his lawyer, Jabulani Mhlanga from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Dube filed an appeal against both conviction and sentence at the High Court on 8 October 2019.

He also filed an application for release on bail pending the determination of his appeal.

In his appeal application, Mhlanga argued that the state did not canvass all the essential elements to the charge of committing public violence and therefore failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and that his imprisonment was excessive.

The lawyer also submitted that his client was unlawfully and without just cause shot at the back by police officers at a supermarket in Luveve high-density suburb during the mass demonstrations.

After shooting Dube, the lawyer said the officers did not attend to him but instead, arrested him at Mpilo Hospital where he was taken for treatment by some Good Samaritans.

He was charged with public violence.

Justice Kabasa granted Dube $500 bail pending the determination of his appeal against both conviction and sentence.

He also ordered Dube to report once every week on Fridays at Luveve Police Station and to reside at his given residential address until the final determination of his appeal.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing incarcerated prominent Bulawayo political activist, Josphat “Mzaca” Ngulube and his colleagues have approached the High Court seeking bail and as well as appeal for the group’s sentence.

Ngulube, together with his colleagues were in December last year sentenced to seven years in prison for public violence related to the January 2019 civil unrest.

The magistrate suspended one year on condition that the four will not commit a similar crime within six years.

Own Correspondent |Eight unknown men, armed with axes, reportedly killed a 26-year-old artisanal miner at a Supermarket on New Year’s Day.

Police who are already seized with the matter revealed that the miner, Brilliant Dube was axed as he was getting out of a supermarket in Torwood township.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko told the Chronicle that Dube who was on police’s wanted list for assault was brutally murdered.

Reports of violence associated with artisanal miners have been increasing over the past twelve months.

Most culprits are the “notorious” machete gangs popularly known as Mashurugwior Al Shabab who have been terrorising members of the public and miners in gold mining towns.

Source: State Media

Two Zim Parks rangers that went missing after a fight with Zambian poachers they had apprehended at Lake Kariba have been found dead, a spokesperson has confirmed.

Zim Parks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said the two were found after joint operations by Zimbabwe and Zambia.

“It is with great sadness that our 2 missing rangers have been found dead in Lake Kariba. Zimparks wants to thank stakeholders, sister security depts who worked tirelessly to search our rangers. These are conservation heroes,” said Farawo.

The State run Herald newspaper reported on 2 January that the two poachers were involved in a tussle with poachers as they were taking them to detention.

Along the way however, the Zambian poachers were involved in a tussle with the rangers and over powered them.

Fears that the rangers could have been killed started when the boat that they were using was found on the Lake Kariba banks on the Zambian side stripped of its engine.