In Pictures :MP Matewu Donates Hampers To Vendors
Horror As Lecturer Is Shot Dead In Front Of Family Members Hours Into 2020
Farai Dziva|A Zimbabwean lecturer, Sam Mambande was shot on the forehead in front of his family a few hours into 2020, state broadcaster, ZBC has reported.
Mbande who had spent the entire night celebrating with his family and friends at a popular drinking spot in Chipinge’s Gaza high-density suburb was shot by an unidentified man, according to ZBC.
“We were coming out of this bar when we saw a car parked in the middle of the road.
He (Mambande) then hooted and went to ask why the driver was blocking the road thus when he was shot and they fled. We only managed to take the number plates of the vehicle,” said a Chipinge resident.
Chipinge residents have appealed to the police to protect members of the public saying that a number of gun cases have been reported in the area.
High Incidence Of Gun Cases Worry Chipinge Residents
Farai Dziva|A Zimbabwean lecturer, Sam Mambande was shot on the forehead in front of his family a few hours into 2020, state broadcaster, ZBC has reported.
Mbande who had spent the entire night celebrating with his family and friends at a popular drinking spot in Chipinge’s Gaza high-density suburb was shot by an unidentified man, according to ZBC.
“We were coming out of this bar when we saw a car parked in the middle of the road.
He (Mambande) then hooted and went to ask why the driver was blocking the road thus when he was shot and they fled. We only managed to take the number plates of the vehicle,” said a Chipinge resident.
Chipinge residents have appealed to the police to protect members of the public saying that a number of gun cases have been reported in the area.
Will Zanu PF Government Manage To Create Jobs In 2020 After Failing To Do So In The Past 39 Years?
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF has pledged to create jobs in 2020 but political analysts are sceptical of the ruling party’s ability to do so.
Below is an article that was published by a state run publication:
Zanu PF national spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo has told the Herald that the party will soon be issuing its 2020 resolutions which are shaped by the party’s recently held Annual People’s Conference.
The ZANU PF conference resolved on a number of issues which the party said would be used to guide the government.
Among other things, the ZANU PF 18th Annual National People’s Conference that was held in Goromonzi, resolved to create jobs, establish gold centres and promote value addition and beneficiation.
The party also resolved that the collapsed industry needs to be revived, one of the avenues through which jobs can be created.
Latest On Harare Building Gutted By Fire- “There Was No Water To Put Out The Raging Flames”
LIVE: Harare Building Gutted By Fire, Witnesses Speak
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Artist says Mnangagwa Will Flee Zimbabwe Dressed As A Woman This Year | PICTURE
By Farai D Hove| An unnamed artist has portrayed ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa fleeing Zimbabwe dressed as a woman.
The first time something similar was said was on the 7th November 2017 when the man physically fled the country while running away from his predecessor Robert Mugabe.
The late Vice President Joshua Nkomo once fled Zimbabwe allegedly dressed like a woman, when Mnangagwa, then State Security minister personally called for Ndebele people to be wiped out like cockroaches using DDT.
The below picture shows the man in a woman’s dreadlocks, literally looking like a female. It is self captioned, May 2020 be a year full of surprises and unexpected changes.
IS THIS TRUE AND RELIABLE?
GRAPHIC:
WATCH: Mnangagwa Slaps Down Chamisa: I’m Not Moving From Polad
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WATCH: ED’s Polad Address
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TWABAM WAS JUST ADVERTISING FAKE PROPHET BUSHIRI, FOOLING YOU USING DEATH PREDICTION?
Chinese Club “Eye” Bosso’s Prince Dube
By A Correspondent- An unnamed Chinese club is angling to “hijack” one of their rivals, who invited Prince Dube for an assessment following reports that they want to sign him outright.
Dube’s Ireland-based agents Joe Mart Sports and Events as well as Highlanders are keeping a tight lid on the player’s move to China, with two clubs reportedly interested in the Bosso star.
The 22-year-old national team striker sneaked out of the country on Christmas Eve to China to attend trials at a yet to be named Chinese club but reports have surfaced that another club has tabled an offer.
It is believed that the offer is “less-lucrative” than the one the 2019 Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up could get from the team which invited him for trials.
“His handlers (Joe Mart Sports and Events) have been handling the issue and are in constant communication with the club and this is why you saw the chief executive officer (Nhlanhla Dube) at the offices during the holidays.
“Another player (club) has come in and offered to sign Prince without trials but the team which invited him for trials has better financial muscle than these ones who want him without trials,” said the source.
Writing on their website joemartsportsandevents.com, Dube’s handlers revealed that clubs in Dubai, Morocco and Sweden have shown interest in the striker, who scored seven league goals for Bosso.
Dube was also instrumental in inspiring Highlanders to Chibuku Super Cup glory, scoring at every stage of the tournament.
The Bosso hitman had an unsuccessful stint with South African side SuperSport United after joining in July 2017 before returning to Highlanders at the beginning of 2019 to relaunch his career.
He became a vital component for Bosso, who had a poor start to the season, but ended strongly to finish sixth on the league table.
The 22-year-old Highlanders hitman finished the season in style as he scored an incredible goal in Chibuku Super Cup final to clinch the cup.
“He also finished top scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations Championships qualifiers with four goals. He also went on to win the runners-up medal for best player in the league. This undoubtedly set him up well for a number of clubs seeking his signature.
“Wydad Casablanca, Difaa Hassani D’el Jadida in Morocco, Al Ain in UAE and Dgugardens in Sweden all made clear intents to sign the player.
“However, the player seems to be heading for China where two teams have also confirmed interest in signing him,” reads a statement on the Joe Mart Sports and Events website.
Highlanders spokesperson Ronald Moyo said: “When the time is right, we will issue a statement.”
-StateMedia
WATCH: HOW PASSION JAVA TWISTS YOUR BRAIN EVERYTIME YOU WATCH HIM | PART 1
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ED: God Moves With ZANU PF Because It’s The Majority
J Moyo’s EXCELGATE Is Mastery Of Deception; Focuses On Vote Computation But Ignores Illegal Process
By Nomusa Garikai- Jonathan Moyo knows Zanu PF has been rigging elections for donkey years, especially since his rejoining the party in 2000. He is just being very selective on what he says.
“I studied electoral politics in Zimbabwe: 1985-92 & published VOTING FOR DEMOCRACY. In 2000 I managed ZanuPF election campaign as a consultant; in 2002 as information minister & in 2013 as a campaign manager. In 2018 I used my contacts & experience to write EXCELGATE!” he said.
In his first book Moyo was an academic and the book was to inform. He has said very little about Zimbabwe electoral politics in the period 2000 to 2017 because it would have been self incriminating. It is no secrete that he was mastermind behind Zanu PF vote rigging activities. His last book focuses on what Mnangagwa did that was new and left out all the dirty that could easily be traced back to Moyo’s vote rigging manuals.
How convenient!
“Looking back over the last 20 years, the people have squandered three opportunities for real change in 2000; then 2009 to 2013; and in 2017 when ZanuPF & the Army dug their own grave only for the people to fail to bury the two. Now there’s yet another opportunity: 2020!” confessed the sell-out Moyo.
In 2000 Zanu PF use the white farm invasions as cover for using violence against its political opponents. Indeed the farm invasions violence flared up again and again during elections for the next decade. Jonathan Moyo has often boasted of being the one who help Zanu PF win the elections post 2000 era.
The opportunity to bring about meaningful democratic change during the 2009 to 2013 GNU was lost because Zanu PF bribed Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC with the trappings of high office; the ministerial limos, very generous salaries and allowance, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc. With their snouts in the feeding trough, MDC leaders forgot about implementing the reforms. There is no doubt that Jonathan Moyo played a major role in keeping making sure MDC leaders where distracted throughout the five years!
The only change Jonathan Moyo wanted to see following the 2017 military coup was for the people, SADC and the world at large to reject the coup and reinstating Mugabe and yours truly, Jonathan Moyo himself.
Jonathan Moyo and his fellow G40 members who were booted out of Zanu PF in the November 2017 coup are still entertaining hopes of staging a comeback. Hence the reason Moyo and company are very careful to blame everything that has gone wrong in Zimbabwe on Mnangagwa and his fellow November 2017 coup gang. Moyo and his Excelgate book is laser focusing on Mnangagwa as the only one who is illegitimate and not the whole Zanu PF regime!
“While there are many wrongs surrounding Zimbabweans today, a particularly insidious wrong that’s crying out for righting is the stolen 30 July 2018 presidential election, preceded by the 15 Nov 2017 military coup & followed by brutal massacres on 1 Aug 2018 & 14-28 Jan 2019!” Jonathan Moyo argues.
Jonathan Moyo’s book is about the dodgy compilation, on Microsoft Excel Sheet format and hence the name of the book with the gate borrowed from Richard Nixon’s infamous Watergate scandal, of the presidential election results from the 11 000 plus Polling stations.
Moyo has failed to mention 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the vote, that ZEC failed to produce a verifies voters’ roll, that there was no free public media, that the usual partisan behaviour of the Chiefs reduced rural voters into medieval serfs beholden to Zanu PF abused, etc. All these things render the whole election process flawed, illegal and meaningless. It is nonsense to expect that such a flawed electoral process could therefore produce a legitimate result even if the compilation of the result had been above board.
It was no accident that Moyo has ignored the denying of Zimbabweans in the diaspora the vote, the failure to produce a verified voters’ roll, etc. Most of these flaws and illegalities are the norm in Zimbabwean elections and the glaring hypocrisy of flagging then now would have been too much even for seasoned sell-out and hypocrite like him.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown and political paralysis is the country’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections. And the way forward has to look at implementing the democratic reforms to stop all the flaws and illegalities and not just the Excelgate ones only. It is only by implementing all the democratic reforms that we can expect to dismantle the dictatorship and not just remove one dictator.
“Compatriots, much as I would like to, sadly I’m unable to wish you a happy & prosperous new year not because of anything personal but because happiness & prosperity are no longer possible in Zimbabwe due to the live coup against the will of the people!” professed Professor Jonathan Moyo.
Happiness and prosperity have not been possible ever since this corrupt, vote rigging and tyrannical Zanu PF regime got into power in 1980. Of course, Professor Moyo must accept personal responsibility for the sorry state the nation is in because it was his work, as the party’s self proclaimed chief strategist and propagandist, that enable Zanu PF to have an iron grip on power and for it to la
Zanu PF Govt Has Successfully Made Education A Preserve Of The Elite
Jane Mlambo| A circulating notice from one of the state owned universities the Midlands State University (MSU) reveals a steep rise in tuition fees, making university education beyond the reach of many especially civil servants who would need up to 10 months to raise the required amount for a single semester.
The new fees ranging from ZWL$6 500 to ZWL$51 000 will result in many bright students failing to enrol, thus perpetuating poverty cycle as most families especially in rural areas rely on education as the gateway out of poverty.
Find below the proposed fees schedule by the Midlands State University.
Heard Of Government Organised NGO (GONGO), In POLAD Have Zanu PF Organised Opposition (Zoo)
By Nomusa Garikai- After 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship Zimbabwe is in a serious mess with the economy in ruins, millions of our people now living in abject poverty and, worst of all, plunging the country into political paralysis.
Zanu PF has imposed a tyrannical one party dictatorship that has stifled all meaningful public debate and has ruthless crashed its political critics and opponents. The party has usurped the people’s fundamental freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful vote and even the right to life.
Ever since the signing of the Unity Accord between PF Zapu and Zanu PF, that saw the two parties merge to form Zanu PF, Mugabe has used the accord to justify the imposing of a de factor one-party dictatorship.
The 2008 elections were a watershed in Zimbabwe politics is that the ruling party Zanu PF was forced to accept its ruthless tyrannical rule was unacceptable in this day and age. Following a particularly outrageous election process in which Zanu PF blatantly cheated the vote count to force a run-off and then used wanton violence to punish the electorate for having rejected the party in the early vote and to force them to vote for the party’s candidate, Robert Mugabe.
Everyone, including both SADC and the AU renowned for giving a thumbs up to dodgy Zimbabwe elections in the past, rejected Zanu PF’s claim as the legitimate winner of the 2008 elections. SADC forced Mugabe to sign a Global Political Agreement agreeing to the need for Zimbabwe to implement a raft of democratic reforms designed to ensure the blatant cheating and wanton violence of 2008 will never be repeated ever again.
Sadly, not even one of the reforms were ever implemented; not one!
Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders, whose primary task in the GNU was to implement the reforms, with ministerial limos, generous salaries and allowances, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc.With their snout in the feeding trough MDC leaders forgot about the reforms.
Indeed, during the 2008 to 2013 GNU Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies quickly learned that they could have their cake and eat it too. They could keep their one-party dictatorship complete with all its carte blanche powers to rid elections as long as the party allowed the opposition to win a few gravy train seats. The strategy has worked so well everyone is Zimbabwe’s opposition camp participated in last year’s elections; there were 23 contestants in the presidential race alone!
Mnangagwa, who succeeded Mugabe as the leader of Zanu PF following the military coup of November 2017, on the wake of his rigged election victory of the 2018 elections launched Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD). POLAD is a forum grouping all the political parties (MDC A are under pressure to join) who obligingly participated in last year’s elections, knowing fully well that Zanu PF was rigging the elections.
Mnangagwa is sparing no expense in promoting POLAD as all the nation has ever wanted in a healthy and functioning political system.
“Parties under the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) plan to engage SADC, African Union, European Union and United Nations member states to explain their mandate as they press ahead with finding lasting solutions to the country’s economic challenges,” The Herald, the Zanu PF mouth piece, announced.
“An information desk is also being set up to raise awareness about the activities of POLAD. In the coming year, POLAD wants to assist Government to ensure constitutional and electoral reforms are in place. This comes after President Mnangagwa lauded POLAD members for their commitment towards nation-building and unity since its inception in May.”
Zanu PF can fool SADC and AU leaders and a few others like the Chinese and the Russians, who are only too pleased to take advantage of the economic and political chaos in Zimbabwe, with this POLAD nonsense. No one else will be fooled, especially the EU.
The EU dismissed Zimbabwe’s July 2018 elections as a farce. “The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Election Mission final report.
“As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
In other words, the EU does not recognise Zanu PF as the dually elected and legitimate government with the people’s democratic mandate to rule Zimbabwe because the whole election process failed to meet acceptable minimum standards.
Considering all the actors in POLAD have endorsed the 2018 elections as having been free, fair and credible; Mnangagwa made is a condition for joining the group; it is clear whatever reforms the forum will push through they will not stop Zanu PF rigging the next elections!
Zanu PF has never ever recognised other people’s right to be heard much less to criticise the party. And so the country public print media and only electronic media have been a department of the party in all but name. The country’s small private print media, there is no private radio or TV stations, has been considered the enemy of the state and haunted from pillar to post.
Zanu PF has passed so many laws to control Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), many organisation have left the country and those still operating are all wearing Zanu PF straitjacket they are now called Government Organised Non Governmental Organisations (GONGO)!
In POLAD Zanu PF has managed to coerce the opposition into a Zanu PF organised opposition (Zoo)! At a time when the nation is desperate for meaningful political change and and end to the Zanu PF dictatorship, in walks Emmerson Mnangagwa, the new Zanu PF dictator, with his Zoo circus animals! POLAD is the epitome of Zimbabwe’s political paralysis!
“We are setting up a cutting-edge information sub-committee that is going to disseminate information relating to POLAD activities to all corners of Zimbabwe,” boasted Obert Gutu, one of the Zoo star performers.
“Within the next 90 days, virtually every Zimbabwean will be hearing, thinking and even dreaming about POLAD. We have got the requisite technical skills and intellectual fire-power to repackage and rebrand POLAD.”
The country’s public health care has all but completely collapse for lack of funds to pay doctors and nurses, to buy medicine and repair equipment, etc. But the country has money to buy Zoo cutting edge equipment; to get the circus, crocodile and all, to every corner of Zimbabwe and beyond!
WATCH VIDEO: Harare Flea Market Gutted By Fire
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Gvnt Approves New Hospital Fees, What Is Going On?
20yr Old Man Dies In Hit And Run Accident
By A Correspondent- A 20-year-old man was found dead in the middle of the road in Hwange in a suspected hit and run incident.
Efforts to get a comment from Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese were fruitless as her mobile phone rang continuously without being answered.
However, a police source said the body of Ishmael Ncube (20) was found lying in a pool of blood along Independence Road near Compensation House in Hwange on Saturday.
“The body was found on Saturday morning and there were skid marks a few metres from the point of impact showing that the driver of the vehicle had applied emergency breaks. The body had a deep cut above the left eye and on the head while both legs were fractured,” said the source. The source said police were investigating the case.
In a related incident, a 49-year-old Binga man is battling for life in hospital after he was hit by a vehicle while cycling along the Lusulu Kariangwe Road.
Mr Peter Munkuli (49) was riding a bicycle last week when he was allegedly hit by a car driven by Herbert Sikazuka Silawe (39) who was going in the same direction.
The Chronicle was told that upon reaching the 98km peg, Mr Munkuli swerved from the centre of the road to the left intending to give way to the vehicle so it could overtake him but was hit from behind.
It is alleged that Mr Munkuli sustained a fracture on the left thigh and bruises on the face.
He was rushed to Binga District Hospital where he is still admitted.
Police opened a charge of negligent driving against Silawe as he is suspected to have been speeding.
-StateMedia
Police launch Manhunt For Chiredzi Man Who Fatally Stabbed Ex- girlfriends’s Lover
By A Correspondent- A jealous Chiredzi man allegedly broke down a locked door to fatally stab a man for dating his former girlfriend that he parted ways with in 2018, police have confirmed.
Johannes Sunungurai Mukana (36) of 12 B Compound, Mkwasine Estate allegedly stabbed Mr Tawanda Muguvi (36) of the same location on the right thigh and he bled profusely leading to his death on the spot.
Masvingo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said the incident occurred on Sunday at around 10 pm.
After realising that his rival had died, Mukana who was in the company of a friend, Daniel Madlaza (26) of the same compound, fled.
The pair is still at large and police have since launched a manhunt.
Chief Insp Mazula said Muguvi’s body was taken to Chiredzi District Hospital for post-mortem.
“I can confirm receiving a report of murder involving two rival suitors from Mkwasine Sugar Estate in Chiredzi. The suspect fled the scene together with his friend after fatally stabbing his rival for dating his ex-lover,” said Chief Insp Mazula.
She said Ms Rumbidzai Chauke (22) of 12 B Shumba Compound was at home with her new boyfriend, Muguvi and her two-month-old daughter.
Mukana who was still stalking Chauke, went to the woman’s house where he found the door locked with the two lovebirds inside.
Chief Insp Mazula said Mukana together with Madlaza knocked on the door but received no response. She said the enraged assailant kicked the door down and entered the house.
Sensing danger, Chauke ran out of the house while holding her child leaving Muguvi at the mercy of the emotionally charged Mukana who hurled insults at him accusing him of being a casanova.
She said Mukana drew a home-made double-edged knife from his pocket and stabbed Muguvi on the right thigh.
Muguvi, she said, ran a short distance but fell unconscious, bleeding to death on the spot.
She said a report was made to the police who attended the scene and took the body to Chiredzi General Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Chief Insp Mazula said the full wrath of the law will catch up with the suspects and also appealed to members of the public with knowledge on their whereabouts to contact the police.
-StateMedia
Open letter to President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
Your Excellency,
Compliments of the brand new 2020 and I hope it brings with it the freshness of thought, vision, action and the conviction to always be guided by the Almighty and all his governance paraphernalia such as the Constitution.
My letter to you Mr President is driven by the cry to you to help football, which is a religion to millions in this country and billions to the outside world. In fact in Brazil it determines who becomes the republican President.
What has been happening in our football can not be ignored a minute longer. I know you do follow the events and that you are not enchanted by what is happening, is an open secret.
But this letter from me is specific. Zimbabwean football at the moment is tottering on the brink with corruption the basal cushion. I know how much you loathe that cancer of corruption, yet we have watched nothing has been done to Failton Kamambo and his crew at 53 Livingstone Avenue.
They have been in office since December 16, 2018 but the report card has been so dirty that they have already been hauled before a parliamentary portfolio Committee on Sport, Art and Recreation to answer to some charges.
Not much has established from that September visit because Zifa has not complied with requests from the Hon Matthias Tongofa chaired Committee. I have heard they maybe called again in the new year.
But Mr President why have there been no commitment to deal with this matter from the SRC, who have statutory authority to handle such miscreants?
You appointed a new board headed by a committed lawyer and officer of the court, Gerald Mlotshwa and the SRC Act is armed to the teeth with instruments of action especially Section 30.
Why have we not seen the use of Section 30 on Zifa and save you all this trouble? Who is being protected here Mr President and why? What hold has he on the entire establishment that they can abuse USD740 270K in obvious financial debauchery and nothing happens?
Yes, Mr President that money was from FIFA but once it gets deposited into an Ecobank account in Borrowdale it becomes our money and its transactionary activities is guided by the Banking Act, which is not a FIFA act. So, why can Phelimon Machana, the de facto Zifa president transfer that money from a Zifa account into his company account, Conduit investments ( a real conduit of pillage) without following due process?
Creditors are pilling up and they include former Warriors coaches such as Sunday Chidzambwa, Rahman Gumbo, Norman Mapeza, Madinda Ndlovu, Calisto Pasuwa but Machana instead decides to pay former CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze, whom we all know is the architect of all this football madness. Meanwhile Travel Genius was defrauded of USD56K for Cosafa women tickets by the same Zifa with Mashingaidze at the hub of the scheme.
Mr President can your honourable minister Kirsty Coventry do something to ensure SRC has dealt with Zifa. Is Zifa too special in your eyes that you can allow this nuasance daily?
Did you know Mr President that you are the only nation that has no interest in football? Football is the biggest constituents and I wonder why you’re taking no interest in this key bolt and nut of the political ecosystem. That is why you see FIFA Presidents make every effort to ingratiate themselves with sitting Presidents because the assumption is they know the full brand value of football ecosystem.
I am appealing to you to have a rethink on this. The UK government milks the occasion by knighting outstanding sportsmen from the time of Prime Minister Harold Wilson post 1966 World Cup triumph because they realise they can not ignore it. Tony Blair continued it pre France 98.
We can start with football. I know Mlotshwa at SRC is keen to act but has been discouraged by the aloofness of establishment in this genre. Surely it is never late to do the right thing.
There is no interference Mr President when you seek to sort out the mess. Zifa have to be in good standing with local laws before they can be registered with FIFA, CAF or Cosafa. This is statutory and FIFA acknowledges as much in their constitution. So why is the SRC not enforcing the rules? Are they also bribed or there is an instruction from somewhere?
Intervention is not intereference. And if any action you take Mr President results in a threat of expulsion from the exclusive FIFA club, you have everyone support to take Zimbabwe out and use the time out to sort this mess. That would be a masterstroke, a trump card of some sort.
It has happened in several countries and in most countries FIFA have responded by putting a Normalisation Committee, which is surrogate leadership were FIFA pays for running the affairs while the mess is sorted.
Zifa and Zimbabwe needs that. The Constitution is hollow. The Congress is captured. The finances are a bowl of fried fish and chips with no vinegar. FIFA money and equipment is abused. Coaches training programs are abused so much that for three years coaches who paid for courses have not been certificated and the technical director is still in the job. Worse, course instructors have not been paid in the same period.
Coaches can’t work and referees are in the same predicament. A commission of inquiry into these affairs would help Mr President…our game can’t be bewitched in broad day like this Shumba!
No one is in good standing with the association and our football is captured….so captured that the Zifa leadership can go to parliament and lie under oath and nothing happens to them.
Even PSL clubs have been reduced to useless constituents where they received a few balls and equipment from the FIFA 49 000 balls and equipment donated to all associations post the Kigali Congress two years ago. Yet, Machana misrepresented and said Zifa bought the equipment for junior development. Really? Can we still trust such a leadership?
The same Zifa is pulling out junior teams from competitions. Mr President, help us to put some oil in the tank for the resuscitation of our game. Systems must work and those that aren’t doing anything must be removed, our football is too important to die.
I hope the next 364 days will be used to help our football and if you need me, I am available Mr President. Thanking you for taking your time to listen to me. The football family is crying and don’t need your lullaby but MILK.
Yours In Football
Hope Chizuzu
PIC: Harare Downtown Shopping Mall Gutted By Fire
VIEW PICTURE LOADING BELOW…
Barely A Day After ED Promises A Better Yr, Health Ministry Reveals Shocking Hospital Fees Hike
By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Health and Child Care has approved an increase in hospital fees, which has seen the fees shoot up beyond the reach of the majority.
The new hospital fees are effective from the 1st of January 2020.
In a letter addressed to all Chief Executive officers and Provincial Medical Directors, Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, Dr Agnes Mahomva wrote:
“The Ministry has approved new hospital fees, with effect from the 1st of January 2020. Please note the decision has been reached after taking into account the plight of the general populace, as well as the inflationary environment that we are currently in.
May you please ensure immediate implementation of the new fees as per attached schedule.”
However, the increase has been met with general criticism due to the high charges which are beyond the reach of most government workers. Most concerns have been raised about the Caesarian Section which now costs a massive $2500. Considering that most civil servants are earning around $1000 per month, this figure is rather intimidating.
The opposition MDC’s Department of Education, Sports and Culture commented on the matter on social media site Twitter saying:
“The Govt has increased hospital fees. Based on these new fees, a teacher does not earn enough money in a month to have a C-section at Parirenyatwa or Harare Hospital which now costs $2500.
Teacher remuneration is in urgent need of review given the rising cost of living.
Dr Peter Magombeyi, the acting President of the Zimbabwe Doctors Hospital Association (ZHDA) also raised concerns about the new charges saying,
“So look here cadres! I am earning an amount which is equivalent to 1 Caesarean Section (c/s) operation per month. That is for my wife only, when I personally do more than 300 c/s per month in maternity theatre. This is not fair. I will stay at home than being disgruntled in the hospital.
Below are the new Hospital Fees:
Full Text:Ngarivhume Message On New Year’s Day
Greetings Zimbabwe
First, the year 2019 was one of the hardest for us as citizens. The socio economic situation deteriorated and life continued to be harder for ordinary Zimbabweans.
Second, the ruling regime had no clue as to how to deal with the situation. They tried austerity measures which further worsened the situation. The economy is an albatross around this government’s neck!
The third thing we must remember is that in this 2020 which we are entering, this situation is unlikely to get any better. The Zanu PF regime remain arrogant, and unwilling to engage the general citizenry on the way-forward. This means our situation will get worse before boiling over.
The fourth thing we must remember as Zimbabweans is that none but ourselves can set ourselves free from this situation. We must rise above party lines, religious lines, tribal and whatever limitation before us and unite to approach this challenge together.
We must build a common vision for our nation. We must stand up to fight together. Indeed we are stronger together….
And of course we should not forget that our hope as a nation is in God. We must agree that we need to give GOD a chance. We have tried ALL we can as people but to no avail.
Let 2020 be the year we give GOD a chance as a nation!
Lastly, let us remember that God is raising a generation that fear him to take over this nation. The sooner we recognize this generation and embrace it, the better for our nation. The failure of Zimbabwe has been a failure of leadership. Zimbabwe needs God and the time is now.
I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2020!
Jacob Ngarivhume
TZ President
Mnangagwa Confident Of 2nd Republic’s Ongoing Development Drive
By A Correspondent- In his new year’s address on the eve of 1 January 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the 2nd republic had successfully reigned in on the budget deficit in a development which had seen the nation attain budget surpluses.
He revealed that government would channel the budget surpluses to finance public services such as health care facilities, schools, roads and related projects that impact directly on the general populace’s welfare.
Said Mnangagwa:
“The fiscal discipline we have instilled under the Second Republic saw us rein in on the budget deficit.
The new trend of budget surpluses will continue and resources therefrom, used to finance more public services such as health care facilities, schools, roads and related projects with a direct impact on the people’s well being.
Resources towards devolution have been increased from the 2019 figure of ZWL720 million to about ZWL3 billion in 2020.
The onus is now on the various communities to accelerate the formulation and implementation of high impact projects which transform lives of our people.
We must all ensure that our ongoing development drive leaves no one behind. Let us all play a part.”
Former Sports Journalists Pleads With ED Over Kamambo
By A Correspondent- Former Sports Journalist Hope Chizuzu has written to the president to cut Felton Kamambo and his ZIFA team loose as they have contributed to the destruction of the country’s much-loved game.
Writing on Facebook Chizuzu penned this open letter to the president and took the time to ask why the SRC has remained mum when ZIFA was slowly leading the country’s football to the grave:
My letter to you Mr President is driven by the cry to you to help football, which is a religion to millions in this country and billions to the outside world. In fact in Brazil it determines who becomes the republican President.
What has been happening in our football can not be ignored a minute longer. I know you do follow the events and that you are not enchanted by what is happening, is an open secret.
But this letter from me is specific. Zimbabwean football at the moment is tottering on the brink with corruption the basal cushion. I know how much you loathe that cancer of corruption, yet we have watched nothing has been done to Failton Kamambo and his crew at 53 Livingstone Avenue.
They have been in office since December 16, 2018 but the report card has been so dirty that they have already been hauled before a parliamentary portfolio Committee on Sport, Art and Recreation to answer to some charges.
Not much has established from that September visit because Zifa has not complied with requests from the Hon Matthias Tongofa chaired Committee. I have heard they maybe called again in the new year.
But Mr President why have there been no commitment to deal with this matter from the SRC, who have statutory authority to handle such miscreants?
You appointed a new board headed by a committed lawyer and officer of the court, Gerald Mlotshwa and the SRC Act is armed to the teeth with instruments of action especially Section 30.
Why have we not seen the use of Section 30 on Zifa and save you all this trouble? Who is being protected here Mr President and why? What hold has he on the entire establishment that they can abuse USD740 270 in obvious financial debauchery and nothing happens?
Yes, Mr President that money was from FIFA but once it gets deposited into an Ecobank account in Borrowdale it becomes our money and its transactionary activities is guided by the Banking Act, which is not a FIFA act. So, why can Phelimon Machana, the de facto Zifa president transfer that money from a Zifa account into his company account, Conduit investments ( a real conduit of pillage) without following due process?
Creditors are pilling up and they include former Warriors coaches such as Sunday Chidzambwa, Rahman Gumbo, Norman Mapeza, Madinda Ndlovu, Calisto Pasuwa but Machana instead decides to pay former CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze, whom we all know is the architect of all this football madness. Meanwhile Travel Genius was defrauded of USD56K for Cosafa women tickets by the same Zifa with Mashingaidze at the hub of the scheme.
Mr President can your honourable minister Kirsty Coventry do something to ensure SRC has dealt with Zifa. Is Zifa too special in your eyes that you can allow this nuisance daily?
“Don’t Worry Am Quiting In 2036,” Museveni
The wind of change in the great lakes region seems to have also slightly shaken the celebrated Bush war General.
With the declaration of Rwanda’s Paul Kagame not seeking reelection once his term of office elapses, President Museveni has also given a hint on when he intends to leave State House.
According to sources, Museveni said that he will not contest for power in 2036, that is close to Fifteen years from now.
It is said that he made this decision because his vision for the country will be obscured by poor vision as a result of old age, citing that at this time he would rather live comfortably at his farm.
Museveni who is currently 75 years, is widely expected to seek re-election in 2021 and after this, there will be two elections (2026 and 2031) for which he still hopes to contest, assuming he still has the energy.
Museveni reportedly said at this age, all he will be left with will be to live and occasionally wander into one of his kraals at Rwakitura.
For most days, he will most likely be stationed on the imposing verandah of his Rwakitura where he will bask in the sun as he listens to radio.
“This Country Has Reduced Me To A Pauper,” – Another Bleak Year Ahead For Zimbabweans
CNN|In tattered blue overalls and torn gumboots, Blessing Mautsa, 34, a sand dealer in Harare’s Mbare-Magaba industrial market sits miserably in the shade, his crestfallen face is evidence of a day’s toil for little return.
Mautsa’s only customer offered to buy a wheelbarrow of sand — a key ingredient in household construction works — at half the asking price. With little choice, he grudgingly agreed to sell at $70 Zimbabwean dollars (US$5 on the local interbank rate).
The father of five said his family has been forced to cut down on meals as the price of basic commodities soars thanks to hyperinflation.
“It has been a tough year. You simply cannot make enough to make ends meet,” Mautsa told CNN.
“On a good day, I make $200 Zimbabwean dollars, but lately business has been going down because the traders are too many. Last year was better, I could even save money for my children’s school fees, but this year inflation has decimated my income.”
Risk of starvation
As well as hyperinflation, Zimbabwe has been hit by severe drought in parts of the country. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday that food supplies will run out in early 2020 unless urgent assistance is provided.
“As things stand, we will run out of food by end of February, coinciding with the peak of the hunger season — when needs are at their highest,” said Niels Balzer, the WFP’s deputy country director in Zimbabwe. “Firm pledges are urgently needed as it can take up to three months for funding commitments to become food on people’s tables.”
The WFP announced earlier in the month that $293 million was needed to provide 240,000 tonnes of aid to vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe.
Its director, David Beasley, has appealed to the international community to step up funding to address the root causes of long-term hunger in Zimbabwe.
According to the UN, more than 2.2 million people in urban Zimbabwe and 5.5 million others in rural areas are at risk of starvation due to a drought in the last agriculture season and a prolonged dry spell.
Poor rains have exacerbated the food crisis in the southern African nation which is also grappling with providing drinking water for its citizens.
‘2020 will be worse’
A lack of social safety nets for the poor in urban Harare means many families have had to cut down on the number of meals they can afford to eat each day.
Mautsa said he had to watch his youngest daughter writhe in pain from a suspected case of pneumonia last month, and he could not afford her hospital bills.
The desperate father told CNN he had little choice but to borrow money from a loan shark who charged him extortionate rates of interest to pay her doctor’s fees, priced in US dollars.
“I think 2020 will be worse if the government does not do something to change our situation,” Mautsa said. “We do not need much, just food, a decent home and school fees for our children.”
As things stand, Mautsa said, he cannot afford those things. Adding to the hardship, rentals at his lodgings in the high-density suburbs of Harare are now also priced in US dollars.
Zimbabwe has banned the use of US dollars — preferring the Zimbabwe dollar — but its citizens still quote prices in American currency.
The official interbank market tends to be controlled by the central bank, and mostly does not reflect the currency’s real value, forcing many Zimbabweans to use black market dealers when trading foreign currencies.
Going to bed hungry
At Matagarika Flats in Mbare, Gladys Chihunda, 62, cooks a meal for her four grandchildren. She told CNN that they sometimes go to bed hungry.
“They haven’t eaten since yesterday, so I just bought rice for them. Last night we slept on an empty stomach. One of my grandchildren was returned from school because she was hungry,” Chihunda said.
Nearby, Esther Nyawondo, 35, has borne the brunt of taking care of her three children alone for the past year, after her husband was imprisoned.
“My husband was arrested last year. He is currently serving his six-year sentence. It’s very tough for me, I wish he was here to help me take care of the children,” a teary Nyawondo told CNN.
Other Zimbabweans see leaving the country as the only way out of grinding poverty; millions are estimated to have left in search of better opportunities elsewhere.
‘This country has reduced me to a pauper’
Natasha Munzara, 33, a street hawker who braves the blistering heat to eke out a living shouts herself hoarse attracting customers to her stall, but her meager earnings from selling vegetables and plastic wares are simply not enough to take care of her family.
The mother-of-three said she has been planning to leave Zimbabwe for the past two years, but has faced delays in getting a passport. And — crucially — she hasn’t been able to save enough money to care for her children in her absence.
Munzara said she lost her job as a professional chef at a local hotel last year. She believes finding work as a chef or even a maid in neighboring South Africa is the only way out for her family.
“Things are going up everyday. I rent two rooms and I have to pay US$30, which is way beyond what I earn. My husband is sick and he cannot provide for our family. This country has reduced me to a pauper. I am a professional cook,” Munzara told CNN.
“I have to get out of this country. We cannot continue like this until the next elections. I recently asked my aunt to register me for a food program, just to supplement our food at home, that is how bad it is.”
A ‘dead economy’
Zimbabwe’s economic woes are often blamed on its former ruler, Robert Mugabe, who led the nation for nearly four decades, until 2017. He died earlier this year.
New leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has struggled to stabilize the moribund economy and curb hyperinflation while a severe drought has crippled productivity.
Mnangagwa has blamed US sanctions for Zimbabwe’s economic crisis. The US imposed economic sanctions in 2003 on Mugabe and 76 other high-ranking government officials, accusing them of undermining democracy.
“The continued judgment setting of Utopian standards for Zimbabwe are callous, vindictive and should not be allowed to continue … enough is enough,” Mnangagwa told supporters at a rally in October.
However, he later pleaded for patience from Zimbabweans, acknowledging that the country’s economy was “dead.”
“I’m aware of the pain being experienced by the poor and the marginalized. Getting the economy working again from being dead will require time, patience, unity of purpose and perseverance,” Mnangagwa said.
Healthcare crisis
At Parirenyatwa Hospital, one of the country’s biggest medical centers in Harare, Albert Sigauke, 21, waits impatiently for his aunt who has been taken into theater.
His aunt, a 40-year-old school teacher, suffered life-threatening burns as a result of a cooking gas explosion.
Sigauke says a prayer as he hopes for good news from the doctors — after hours spent trying to secure her a spot in the clinic’s intensive care unit.
“We came here at 2 am after trying other clinics close to our area. We could only get her admitted after 6 am. I am praying for the best. I just hope the burns are not that serious because we all depend on her as the breadwinner,” said Sigauke.
Sigauke’s story resonates with many Zimbabweans who cannot afford decent healthcare due to rising costs and the country’s ongoing doctors’ strike.
Many doctors in Zimbabwe — both junior medics and specialists — have been on strike for the past three months, in protest at their poor salaries and deteriorating conditions of service.
They accuse the government of failing to provide basics like bandages, syringes and gloves, and describe the country’s healthcare situation as a “silent genocide.”
“Hospitals are incapacitated… Our hospitals are in dire need of basic equipment to investigate simple conditions and also the fact that the equipment is obsolete. There is no water in the wards,” Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association treasurer general, Tapiwa Mungofa told CNN.
Parirenyatwa was once a busy hospital, serving thousands of patients daily. It is now virtually derelict. Only a few wards are occupied by critically ill patients.
“The authorities are not saying anything about what is happening in the hospitals. But we all know that people are dying. They are dying … avoidable deaths that shouldn’t happen when doctors are there,” Mungofa said.
CNN’s Stephanie Busari contributed to this report
Rowdy ZANU PF Youth Thoroughly Beaten By Bouncers At Winky D Album Launch After Demanding Free Entry
Own Correspondent|Bouncers manning entrance into the Winky D Album Launch at the HICC on New Year’s Eve thoroughly beat up a group of suspected Zanu PF youths who were demanding free entry into the concert.
The group, wearing Zanu PF T-shirts and scarves, had to run for dear life after the bouncers lost patience on the youth pestering for entry into the much talked about show.
Inside the HICC, another group of suspected Zanu PF youths tried to cause commotion when Winky D was performing, but the attempts were ignored by a 5 000 strong crowd that attended the gig.
The much revered artiste, however, seemed to have come more than prepared for the launch as his stage was dominated by scores of bouncers just in case violence broke out.
Ahead of the much-anticipated launch, fears of violence dominated local media.
The ruling ZANU PF party claims that Winky D’s New Album Njema is mocking government while the musician insists that it has no political connotation at all.
Turkish Giants Galatasaray In Frantic Efforts To Sign Warriors Striker
Galatasaray are reportedly eager to sign red-hot Zimbabwean striker Tinotenda Kadewere in this January transfer window and their interest seems to have escalated.
The Turkish giants are of three European clubs said to be interested in the services of the 23-year-old striker, who had an exceptional 2019, scoring 17 goals and providing 4 assists for his French Ligue 2 side Le Havre.
Many Turkish publications profiled the Zimbabwean striker yesterday, amid massive interest from Galatasaray, with some even claiming that an agreemenent had already been made between the two clubs for the player to move on loan this January.
Infact, a supposed agreement between them (pictured below) claims that Kadewere will be at the Turkish club on a six month loan stint.
Neither the player nor his represantatives have broken silence on the situation nonetheless.
Soccer24
FRESH MILITARY CRACKDOWN THIS MONTH: Mnangagwa Says He’ll Ensure Secrecy ThroughOut Killings
“Never again shall we allow the loss of precious lives of our countrymen to feed the agenda of a notorious few.”- Emmerson Mnangagwa
– GROUNDED IN ZIM FOR FIRST TIME SINCE REMOVING MUGABE.
– ANNOUNCING ANOTHER ROUND OF LIVE AMMUNITION AGAINST CIVILIANS.
– SHUTTING OUT CHIWENGA, MDC FROM ALL OPPORTUNITIES OF TAKING OVER.
– LAWYERS REVEAL TOTAL BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER
-STRIPPING CHIWENGA OF POWERS TO REPLACE HIM.
-MAKING VP, PROSECUTOR GENERAL, AND JUDGES MNANGAGWA’S OWN APPOINTEES SERVING AT HIS (PERSONAL) PLEASURE.
By Simba Chikanza| ANALYSIS | Somewhat running out of political-oxygen, an unrepentant Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced plans to once again use the security forces against civilians this coming January in ways previously condemned by the United Nations HQ in Geneva. Speaking in clear terms, Mnangagwa said this time he will ensure it will be done in total secrecy so that so called “oppostition elements” do not transform the evidence into what he termed “propaganda.”
This follows a long period stretching over 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.
At a time when he is actually supposed to be on annual leave, Mnangagwa has remained ‘trapped’ at work while grounded inside Zimbabwe for the longest period ever since the day he usurped power in a military coup in 2017. What is going on and what is he planning? This short documentary details the man’s survival plans between 2019 and 2020.
While ZimEye’s efforts to get a direct comment from Mnangagwa at the time of writing were fruitless, the following were some factual findings so far.
The government spokesman Nick Mangwana told ZimEye: “When HE leaves the country, you complain that he travels too much, he doesn’t stay at home. He stays at home you complain that he is not leaving the country. He is damned when he does and damned when he doesn’t. But being President, he always exercises his executive judgement.”
When is ED going for his annual leave, and why has he remained 'trapped' in Zimbabwe, spending his longest ever home stay period (since Nov coup) here since VP Chiwenga returned on 23rd Nov @Jamwanda2 @nickmangwana ? When is he leaving the country in the hands of his deputies? pic.twitter.com/J7vVAR0Hoe
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 27, 2019
When HE leaves the country, you complain that he travels too much, he doesn't stay at home. He stays at home you complain that he is not leaving the country. He is damned when he does and damned when he doesn't. But being President, he always exercises his executive judgement
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) December 27, 2019
ANOTHER ROUND OF LIVE AMMUNITION AGAINST CIVILIANS.
Speaking at his party’s Goromonzi conference on the 14th December, Mnangagwa revealed he will perform another military crackdown but this time involving a method the United Nations would never discover.
In January 2019, the UN in Geneva implicated him for killing 17 people during that month and 6 others on 1 August 2018. In a full statement, the UN said it was without question that the crackdown was a state operation.
This time Mnangagwa said his operation must nip all evidence in the budd.
He said is concerned about propaganda rather than human life losses. He clearly threatened to use the state apparatus to ensure secrecy when he carries out another crackdown. Last January when soldiers protested against the fuel price rise, (even criticised by pro ZANU countries such as Russia), his security minister switched off the internet for 3 days during which period 17 people were shot dead and several women raped. This time speaking at Goromonzi, Mnangagwa described the January 2019 protests where 17 people were killed by state agents as “nonsensical”.
“The January nonsense and periodic mischievous activities by the opposition elements such as those we witnessed this year must be nipped in the bud,” he said. “Never again shall we allow the loss of precious lives of our countrymen to feed the agenda of a notorious few.”
He repeated exactly what he told a French journalist earlier in the year, while blaming the MDC party for the mass murders which he did and while denying saying no one was killed.
Show me the graves, said Mnangagwa in the below interview. He also announced that he is hunting down every woman who reported rape.
From his own words, it is without guessing that the Zanu-PF leader is planning a repeat of the same operation this January.
SHUTTING OUT CHIWENGA, MDC FROM ALL OPPORTUNITIES OF TAKING OVER.
Another very clear plot by the zanu-pf leader is that of shutting out his deputy from the coup days, Constantino Chiwenga from ever taking over power. It has already been discussed he has put in place a mechanism to ensure that the opposition MDC party never gets a legal advantange to take over from him, and this by heaping the blame, legal and penal, for the killings on them.
RETWEET! – Mnangagwa in Mwenezi clearly threatened brutality against doctors and lawyers also threatening to shorten the lives of people who make noise. pic.twitter.com/fJx5dOemL5
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 17, 2019
When Chiwenga returned to Zimbabwe from his sabbatical, Mnangagwa’s spokeman George Charamba did not at all celebrate the miraculous return. Instead he splashed litres of ink attacking China’s deputy ambassador for conducting a welcoming ceremony for the vice president at the RGM International Airport ahead of of senior government officials. Chiwenga had secretly flown into the country, aboard a Chinese jet paid for by the Asian nation’s government. To this Charamba complained against the Chinese envoy saying, itsitsi dzei? – what kind of sympathy is that?
A Mubaiwa (Chiwenga wife) uncle has described Chiwenga’s jetting into the country as treasonous, alluding that he invaded Zim airspace without informing aviation authorities in advance.
STRIPPING CHIWENGA OF POWERS TO REPLACE HIM.
In less than 30 days of Chiwenga’s return, Mnangagwa rushed to accelerate a bill that reduces his deputy to a mere apppointee who will never be able to replace him.
This is detailed in the following legal advisory by the Law Society which has complained that there is now a breakdown of Law and Order, as Mnangagwa gathers to himself more powers than his predecessor Robert Mugabe possessed.
MAKING VP, PROSECUTOR GENERAL, AND JUDGES MNANGAGWA’S OWN APPOINTEES SERVING AT HIS (PERSONAL) PLEASURE.
FULL TEXT- On the 17th of December 2019, Cabinet at its 45th meeting approved several amendments to the Constitution. Some of the notable proposed amendments relate to the appointments of Vice Presidents, the Prosecutor General, Public Protector, promotion of judges and the terms of office of judges. The other notable proposed amendments relate to the composition of the provincial councils and the extension of the provision on the women’s quota which was scheduled to end in 2023.
The Constitution provides for its amendment. Although amendments to the Constitution are allowed these ought to be necessary for the promotion of the rule of law and protection of the principles of democracy. Our Constitution is a democratic document which came out of extensive consultations. It is a national document which should be enduring. Amendments to the Constitution must be necessary for the enhancement of enshrined rights, accountability and good governance. Amendments must not be retrogressive.
In terms of Section 92 of the Constitution a presidential candidate chooses running mates who upon election become the national Vice Presidents. The rationale for these provision was to introduce non-disruptive succession planning whilst ensuring that in the event of a Vice President taking over the office of President he would be having the people’s mandate. The effect of the proposed amendment to Section 94 means that Vice Presidents will no longer be elected but appointed by the President. This removes the transparency and democratic process sought to be achieved by Section 92 in relation to the assumption of these important offices. In addition, the Vice President’s tenure will be at the pleasure of the President. An amendment is expected to cure a problem or mischief. This is not apparent in the present case. The proposed amendments further seek to change the procedures for the appointment of the Prosecutor General. The current procedure for the appointment of the Prosecutor General is similar to that of the judges. This is a transparent way of appointing this important office, which like the judiciary ought to enjoy prosecutorial independence. The proposed amendment whereby the President appoints the Prosecutor General upon consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is reverting to the old constitution. The current provisions promote transparency in the appointment process. This will not be achieved under the proposed amendment. It is not clear what mischief the proposed amendment seeks to address. The fact of the matter though is that the amendment is retrogressive. It emasculates a position that is pivotal to our criminal justice. The amendment will remove the Prosecutor General’s independence. The appointment system also does not guarantee meritocracy as the basis for appointment. This cannot be achieved by simply consulting the JSC. In any case in terms of section 339, such consultation may not be binding on the President.
Section 180 sets out the conditions that must be met in relation to the appointment of judges. The proposed amendment seeks to provide for the President to appoint a sitting judge to a higher court upon consultation with JSC. This approach seeks to reverse the elaborate, and transparent system currently in place. It is not clear why we should depart from the current system. The proposed changes will take us back to the pre 2013 era where judicial appointments were shrouded in a veil of secrecy.
The proposed extension of the tenure of judges albeit on a contract basis and subject to medical certification on fitness, is not desirable in a country with a vibrant legal profession. There are many legal practitioners who are fit to hold the office of judges.
The introduction of the office of the Public Protector should be based on a true desire to achieve administrative justice especially by public offices. The 2013 Constitution deliberately omitted this institution on the basis that the functions could be effectively undertaken by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. The Ministry of Justice was recently lamenting that this commission is under resourced. Instead of properly funding the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, the Cabinet is creating another institution which will have its own resource chewing bureaucracy. On the other hand, the present Constitution already provides for the establishment of an independent complaints mechanism to deal with misconduct by members of the security sector. This has not been instituted and yet Cabinet finds it necessary to create the public protector’s office. The Executive is failing to diligently and without delay perform all constitutional obligations as provided in Section 324.
The proposal to remove MPs and Senators from provincial councils also appear ill conceived. The presence of these members was supposed to bring the nexus between national and local development. The prosed amendments will perpetuate the disconnect between the national Programmes and the local/Provincial Programmes thus creating development inertia.
The Law Society of Zimbabwe reiterates that the provisions to the Constitution ought to be guarded jealously. Any proposed amendments to the Constitution should be for the people and by the people.
The Law Society of Zimbabwe further reiterates its position that the Constitution of Zimbabwe should be jealously guarded and protected in pursuance of the supremacy of the rule of law. The proposed amendments to the Constitution in the most, are unnecessary, retrogressive and are not in the interest of transparency, good governance and respect for the rule of law. Accordingly, the LSZ categorically denounces them.
Law Society of Zimbabwe
“Committed to Justice and the Rule of Law.”
Yvonne Chaka Chaka Symptomatic Of The Arrogance Of South Africa’s Elite When It Comes To Fellow Africans.
Own Correspondent|There are some strange aspects to the hasty departure of South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka from Uganda on New Year’s Eve.
According to the Ugandan police, who issued a video statement, she was “deported” from the country because she had failed to comply with its immigration laws. The Ugandans say that she came into their country on an ordinary visa, yet by performing in a new year concert there she would have been on a working visit, requiring an employment visa.
That all seems logical – after all, sovereign countries are entitled to decide who they admit past their borders. However, even in the face of the official statement, Chaka Chaka was still insisting that she had not been deported. She had decided to return home, she claimed, because she did “not understand” what was happening.
But then she went further to say that reports of the incident were “fake news and hate speech”. A more absurd statement would be hard to imagine, because the deportation story was clearly true, having been confirmed by Ugandan authorities. But perhaps she was suggesting that anyone criticising a South African is committing “hate speech”.
This whole fuss is, completely symptomatic of the arrogance of South Africa’s elite – be they in politics, business or the arts – when it comes to our fellow Africans.
At the same time, though, there is the possibility that the deportation of Chaka Chaka may have been in some way related to her outspoken support for that country’s opposition politician and musician, Bobi Wine.
In 2018, she said Wine was Uganda’s Nelson Mandela…something which would not have gone down well in a country tightly controlled by President Yoweri Museveni and his ruling party.
Whatever the real reasons for her explusion, Chaka Chaka has handled it badly. That’s the truth – it’s not fake news or hate speech.
Whitney Houston’s Daughter’s Ex Boyfriend Dies Of Drug Overdose On New Year’s Day
Own Correspondent|The ex-boyfriend of Whitney Houston’s daughter has died aged 30 from an ‘overdose’, according to reports.
Nick Gordon, who dated Bobbi Kristina Brown, was rushed to hospital in Florida early on New Year’s Day.
His brother Junior Walker wrote on Facebook: “God why did I have to lose my brother on New Year’s. All I can do is cry.”
Bobbi Kristina died in 2015 aged 22 after being found unresponsive in a bathtub – three years after her music icon mum Whitney’s death.
Mr Gordon was found legally responsible for her death in a civil case, but never faced any criminal charges.
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates on this breaking news story.
Call For Mnangagwa To Dissolve The ZIFA Board For Destroying Football In The Country
Own Correspondent|Former Sports Journalist Hope Chizuzu has written an open letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene in the running of the country’s biggest sport, football.
The renowned sport critic invited Mnangagwa to dissolve the current ZIFA executive led by Felton Kamambo as they have contributed to the destruction of the country’s much-loved game.
Writing on Facebook Chizuzu took the time to ask why the SRC has remained mum when ZIFA was slowly leading the country’s football to the grave:
“My letter to you Mr President is driven by the cry to you to help football, which is a religion to millions in this country and billions to the outside world. In fact in Brazil it determines who becomes the republican President.
What has been happening in our football can not be ignored a minute longer. I know you do follow the events and that you are not enchanted by what is happening, is an open secret.
But this letter from me is specific. Zimbabwean football at the moment is tottering on the brink with corruption the basal cushion. I know how much you loathe that cancer of corruption, yet we have watched nothing has been done to Failton Kamambo and his crew at 53 Livingstone Avenue.
They have been in office since December 16, 2018 but the report card has been so dirty that they have already been hauled before a parliamentary portfolio Committee on Sport, Art and Recreation to answer to some charges.
Not much has established from that September visit because Zifa has not complied with requests from the Hon Matthias Tongofa chaired Committee. I have heard they maybe called again in the new year.
But Mr President why have there been no commitment to deal with this matter from the SRC, who have statutory authority to handle such miscreants?
You appointed a new board headed by a committed lawyer and officer of the court, Gerald Mlotshwa and the SRC Act is armed to the teeth with instruments of action especially Section 30.
Why have we not seen the use of Section 30 on Zifa and save you all this trouble? Who is being protected here Mr President and why? What hold has he on the entire establishment that they can abuse USD740 270K in obvious financial debauchery and nothing happens?
Yes, Mr President that money was from FIFA but once it gets deposited into an Ecobank account in Borrowdale it becomes our money and its transactionary activities is guided by the Banking Act, which is not a FIFA act. So, why can Phelimon Machana, the de facto Zifa president transfer that money from a Zifa account into his company account, Conduit investments ( a real conduit of pillage) without following due process?
Creditors are pilling up and they include former Warriors coaches such as Sunday Chidzambwa, Rahman Gumbo, Norman Mapeza, Madinda Ndlovu, Calisto Pasuwa but Machana instead decides to pay former CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze, whom we all know is the architect of all this football madness. Meanwhile Travel Genius was defrauded of USD56K for Cosafa women tickets by the same Zifa with Mashingaidze at the hub of the scheme.
Mr President can your honourable minister Kirsty Coventry do something to ensure SRC has dealt with Zifa. Is Zifa too special in your eyes that you can allow this nuasance daily?
MSU Fees Shoot Up
The Midlands State Univesity has released its proposed fees for students on Block programmes.
The development comes when the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Murwira has announced that Universities must not raise fees without the approval of the government.
See the picture below.
NEWS REVIEW: Mnangagwa Stuck Inside Zimbabwe As Coup Fear Rumours Flare |
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
UndatedVideo Submitted Of Harare Building On Fire,
An undated video was submitted last night of a Harare building on fire. The incident according to the voices on the clip allege the inferno is or was at corner Chinhoyi Street And Robert Mugabe Road. VIDEO:
ZIMBABWE SURGES TO A CIVIL WAR WITHOUT NOTICE THE MASHURUGWI MILITIA | OPINION
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA | A police officer was killed and another officer was seriously injured by the Mashurugwi machete wielding gold panners. The Mashurugwi are identified with their dirty outfits covered in mud and always move around with assorted weaponry. Only in 2019 several police officers and soldiers were murdered by these Mashurugwi and hundreds of civilians were and are still being buried alive in the mine shafts all thanks to the Brutal Mashurugwi gangs.
Is Zimbabwe failing to control these Mashurugwi or there is one powerful person who is behind this barbaric group blood sucking idiots whose hands are dripping of the blood of the innocent people?
Mashurugwi murdered three soldiers in Bindura injuring seven others. Besides the soldiers several members of the public were killed in several towns by the Mashurugwi. their infamous presence has spread from Kwekwe to all towns of Zimbabwe. In Chitungwiza in December a young man was killed ruthlessly by the Mashurugwi. No one has been arrested yet and the carnage continues. Now they have again killed a police officer and injured one. Zimbabwe now leaves as if it is in the war time.
The Mashurugwi were created by one of the now senior ministers who is now so senior and filthy rich. Because of his proximity to the president the police are afraid to go out full throttle to these Mashurugwi murderers.
When they started they were called Alshabab. They were created as a protection unity of the minister and his criminal cabal. They were then transformed to be debt collectors. The senior officials will send them to the mines and collect thirty percent from any and every miner in the area. The officials will collect the money telling their victims that the money is for the president. This gave a very cold chill run down the spines of the law and security agents in the area. This was the main reason why ZANU PF lost in Kwekwe.
Any person who complained about these violent blood sucking vampires will be labelled a G40. As a result the Mashurugwi’s became a power unto themselves. Now the blood of the innocent floors down the streets of Zimbabwe with no protection from our law enforcement agents. Is Zimbabwe degenerating into security abyss.
Looking to the future, the MaShurugwi poses a bigger threat to the stability of the country. They are already beyond the police’s reach; they have shown it by the recent killing of a policeman. They killed three army officers in Bindura and the army has not acted. The people of Zimbabwe have their hope in the army, Only the army can now deal with them; but the army has been poked in the eye yet they are silent. for how long shall we suffer at the hands of the Mashurugwi.
MaShurugwi & related factions are aligned to politicians in the Midlands province, these politicians are known and feared. The army is very strong and well trained. If given a go ahead the Mashurugwi will be a thing of the past.
The Mashurugwi do not stand a chance with our army. So why are they flourishing. A military operation against MaShurugwi could easily overrun them. why is the army not called in. is there someone being protected. is the president aware of this. Gaika mine exposed these pretenders. Mashurugwis are allowed to survive because of impacts on economic interests of those now sitting in the seats of power.
If this is allowed we as a country are drifting into serious security risks.
The bigger risk for the nation is that MaShurugwi could become an even more ruthless armed insurgence. Already they are. They show how minerals have been abused to fund wars in the world. The Mashurugwi aim to exert their powers and authority in all areas where mining is operated.
If the Mashurugwi and their Godfather are not stopped another opposing group will be created and there will be more blood in our streets.
Zimbabwe is on the verge of a dangerous scenario with MaShurugwi. it is surely playing in the danger zone. Their link to politics and resource exploitation could lead to very serious armed conflict in the country.
If this is not taken seriously Zimbabwe will be the history of Somalia. There is a sense of paralysis when it comes to what should be done about gangs that have overrun areas where gold panning activities have become pronounced and how the attendant violence should be tackled effectively.
The number of lives lost and the people maimed or injured due to violence perpetrated by “Mashurugwi” throughout the country is
threatening to rival those lost to road traffic accidents. “Mashurugwi” is the term used to refer to outlaws that have become the terror of artisanal miners and mining companies.
As an example, in Kadoma District alone during the first 10 months of this year, police recorded 234 machete-related crimes, while in neighbouring Chegutu District, similar cases have risen from 108 to 125.
The belt stretching from Chegutu, Kadoma right down to Kwekwe has been the foremost active theatre of the most viciously fought battles, rendering it the equivalent of Zimbabwe’s Wild West. In Kwekwe a number of miners were burried alife in the mine shafts by the Mashurugwi. Nothing has been done and this has encouraged the Mashurugwi to perpetrate more violent acts.
“Artisanal miners are attacked, robbed, evicted, seriously injured if they are lucky to survive — and, in the worst case scenario, killed in the vile and barbaric attacks that defy conduct expected of normal human beings.”
The gangs can attack artisanal miners and take over their claims, but a pattern that is beginning to emerge is that they do not go that route because that is the more difficult approach. They wait for the miners at the end of the day’s work before pouncing because this is the easier, less taxing way.
In some instances, the gangs wait for the miners to sell their ore, before they move in and rob them. In this modern day, the savagery with which this is carried out is shocking. It is more shocking that nothing is being done about this behaviour.
The weapon of choice in most of the attacks has been the machete —ordinarily used in the manual harvesting of sugar cane or clearing brush.
These are weapons which are now turned to our people.
In Mazowe the Mashurugwis arrive and held the minors hostage. they will be forced to dig and dig. all the days work will be confiscated including their food and any other property.
These Mashurugwis have now taken their carnage into towns.
if they pick a fight in the bars The Mashurugwi retreat only to come back with an army of tens of machete wielding dirty men infamously known as Mashurugwi.
These people have no respect for Human life and they have no fear of the law. how can they be afraid of the law when they are backed by those who think they are above the law.
Action must be taken now and this year 2020 must be the year to protect the nation. Government must remove the murderous mindset that is driving the violence. who knows what next will these gangs use, guns, crowbars, knobkerries or spears?
Does the government need to wake up after more blood.
Minister Kazembe Kazembe must deal with this scourge as a matter of national emmergency How long will we be killed while Kazembe swims in fear of those vampires surrounding the president.
The army must be called to Cordon off areas found to have deposits or where there are official mining activities, they must help in providing a secure working environment for mining companies and gold panners.
Minister Muchinguri Kashiri must show her beauty by modelling the army towards the areas which bread the Mashurugwis The inclusion of the police, security companies and other resources from entities involved in mining activities could constitute a concerted response that could shut out the marauding gangs.
The war lords who are using the president’s name in crime must be flashed out. Zimbabwe does not need this.
The Army must secure the transportation of the gold from the mining areas to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, the counry’s official gold buyer and processor.
“Gold deposits continue to be found in the belt that stretches from Gwanda in the south of the country; Mberengwa, Shurugwi, Kwekwe in the Midlands; Kadoma, Chegutu and Chinhoyi in Mashonaland West; and Bindura, Guruve, Mazowe and Shamva in Mashonaland Central.
There are areas in Manicaland where gold is mined, but these are defined by the absence of violence accompanying them.”
Shurugwi itself is very peaceful. people of Shurugwi are angered by this abuse of their name. Shurugwi is a very beautiful town and it is not a violent town. The name given to these murderers is an insult to the real Shurugwi people.
The mystery of these killers is the question how the barbaric and brutal conduct of these gangs has been allowed to spiral out of control for so long yet they are under the watch of law enforcement agents. This comes to the point that the bigwigs should be reigned in.
Less inspiring is the absence of a coherent strategy to deal with and arrest the menace. Instead with each day and each gold find, the audacity of the gangs multiplies. the deaths of people goes unrecorded. The stories from the gold fields are knee shaking deeply depressing and flabbergasting.
The President had an opportunity to address the issue when he visited Kadoma for a youth conference which was held in November. Kadoma, Kwekwe and Chegutu are among the epicentres of violence in gold panning or mining areas in the country. The silence of our armed forces is telling.
We should all remember that In the beginning, the violence associated with artisanal mining was specific to the Midlands town of Kwekwe and Shurugwi but, like a raging wildfire, it has since spread throughout the country. The Midlands, Mashonaland Central and West provinces, however, come up as the worst theatres of violence in which the gangs are the lead actors. Shurugwi is only involved and blamed for allowing its name to be associated with these murderers.
Communities all over the country live in absolute terror of the gangs.
Somalia descended into chaos because the lawlessness there began as pockets confined to specific areas, but in due course spun out of control and to this day, the continent bears the brunt of that conflict. Zimbabwe must never allow this to happen. Zimbabweans are generally peaceful people and these gangs must be dealt with now and now is now.
Without action Zimbabwe risks falling into the hands of these warlords. That would be a recipe for disaster and Zimbabwean security is at risk. The situation with Mashurugwi now resembles a dog’s breakfast. There is, therefore, an urgent need for a comprehensive response that must bring the activities of these gangs so that artisanal miners can go about their work unperturbed. Marshalling in law enforcement agents alongside private security companies will be part of the required response.
There should be no sacred cows in dealing with this scourge.
As a country we are fast descending into the pool of confusion.
The Mashurugwi must be arraigned together with their sponsors.
J Moyo’s EXCELGATE is Mastery of Deception; Based On Vote Computation But Ignores Illegal Process
By Nomusa Garikai | Jonathan Moyo knows Zanu PF has been rigging elections for donkey years, especially since his rejoining the party in 2000. He is just being very selective on what he says.
“I studied electoral politics in Zimbabwe: 1985-92 & published VOTING FOR DEMOCRACY. In 2000 I managed ZanuPF election campaign as a consultant; in 2002 as information minister & in 2013 as a campaign manager. In 2018 I used my contacts & experience to write EXCELGATE!” he said.
In his first book Moyo was an academic and the book was to inform. He has said very little about Zimbabwe electoral politics in the period 2000 to 2017 because it would have been self incriminating. It is no secret that he was mastermind behind Zanu PF vote rigging activities. His last book focuses on what Mnangagwa did that was new and leaves out all the dirty that could easily be traced back to Moyo’s vote rigging manuals. How convenient!
“Looking back over the last 20 years, the people have squandered three opportunities for real change in 2000; then 2009 to 2013; and in 2017 when ZanuPF & the Army dug their own grave only for the people to fail to bury the two. Now there’s yet another opportunity: 2020!” confessed the sell-out Moyo.
In 2000 Zanu PF use the white farm invasions as cover for using violence against its political opponents. Indeed the farm invasions violence flared up again and again during elections for the next decade. Jonathan Moyo has often boasted of being the one who help Zanu PF win the elections post 2000 era.
The opportunity to bring about meaningful democratic change during the 2009 to 2013 GNU was lost because Zanu PF bribed Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC with the trappings of high office; the ministerial limos, very generous salaries and allowance, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc. With their snouts in the feeding trough, MDC leaders forgot about implementing the reforms. There is no doubt that Jonathan Moyo played a major role in keeping making sure MDC leaders where distracted throughout the five years!
The only change Jonathan Moyo wanted to see following the 2017 military coup was for the people, SADC and the world at large to reject the coup and reinstating Mugabe and yours truly, Jonathan Moyo himself.
Jonathan Moyo and his fellow G40 members who were booted out of Zanu PF in the November 2017 coup are still entertaining hopes of staging a comeback. Hence the reason Moyo and company are very careful to blame everything that has gone wrong in Zimbabwe on Mnangagwa and his fellow November 2017 coup gang. Moyo and his Excelgate book is laser focusing on Mnangagwa as the only one who is illegitimate and not the whole Zanu PF regime!
“While there are many wrongs surrounding Zimbabweans today, a particularly insidious wrong that’s crying out for righting is the stolen 30 July 2018 presidential election, preceded by the 15 Nov 2017 military coup & followed by brutal massacres on 1 Aug 2018 & 14-28 Jan 2019!” Jonathan Moyo argues.
Jonathan Moyo’s book is about the dodgy compilation, on Microsoft Excel Sheet format and hence the name of the book with the gate borrowed from Richard Nixon’s infamous Watergate scandal, of the presidential election results from the 11 000 plus Polling stations.
Moyo has failed to mention 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the vote, that ZEC failed to produce a verifies voters’ roll, that there was no free public media, that the usual partisan behaviour of the Chiefs reduced rural voters into medieval serfs beholden to Zanu PF abused, etc. All these things render the whole election process flawed, illegal and meaningless. It is nonsense to expect that such a flawed electoral process could therefore produce a legitimate result even if the compilation of the result had been above board.
It was no accident that Moyo has ignored the denying of Zimbabweans in the diaspora the vote, the failure to produce a verified voters’ roll, etc. Most of these flaws and illegalities are the norm in Zimbabwean elections and the glaring hypocrisy of flagging then now would have been too much even for seasoned sell-out and hypocrite like him.
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown and political paralysis is the country’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections. And the way forward has to look at implementing the democratic reforms to stop all the flaws and illegalities and not just the Excelgate ones only. It is only by implementing all the democratic reforms that we can expect to dismantle the dictatorship and not just remove one dictator.
“Compatriots, much as I would like to, sadly I’m unable to wish you a happy & prosperous new year not because of anything personal but because happiness & prosperity are no longer possible in Zimbabwe due to the live coup against the will of the people!” professed Professor Jonathan Moyo.
Happiness and prosperity have not been possible ever since this corrupt, vote rigging and tyrannical Zanu PF regime got into power in 1980. Of course, Professor Moyo must accept personal responsibility for the sorry state the nation is in because it was his work, as the party’s self proclaimed chief strategist and propagandist, that enable Zanu PF to have an iron grip on power and for it to last 40 years and counting.
Catholic Relief Services Declares Severe Drought For Zimbabwe
.- As severe drought conditions continue in Zimbabwe, close to 7 million people are facing food shortages, a Catholic aid agency warned this week.
“Families have run out of options to put food on their tables,” said Dorrett Byrd, Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) regional director for Southern Africa.
With repeated droughts over the past five years, many of Zimbabwe’s small farmers have found themselves unable to feed their families. The United Nations estimates that nearly half of the 16 million people in the country are urgently in need of food aid, and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network ranks the country as experiencing a “Phase 3 food crisis,” signifying widespread acute malnutrition.
The droughts have increased in frequency and intensity due to climate change, Byrd said. In addition to widespread crop failure, inflation has decimated many families’ savings.
Byrd warned that the struggle to find food has led many young people to leave the country, adding, “Migrating parents often leave their young children behind with grandparents who struggle to provide for them.”
Catholic Relief Services is working with farmers in Zimbabwe to teach soil and water conservation methods. The agency is also offering drought-resistant crops to farmers and is cooperating with the government in a notification system warning farmers about threats to their harvest.
Even with these steps, however, Byrd warned that more action needs to be taken in order for the people of Zimbabwe to recover.
Other countries in the region are also facing an escalating hunger crisis. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that more than 45 million people in Southern Africa are currently faced with food insecurity.
“This area of the world needs help and it needs help now,” Byrd said. “We hope the economic situation improves soon, but if climate change is not addressed, countries like Zimbabwe will continue to suffer.”
“Prisoners Get Free Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner While Elderly Go Hungry,” Julius Malema
EFF leader Julius Malema has lashed out at the government for appearing to see nothing wrong with providing free meals three times a day for prisoners while the broader SA community lives in poverty.
He was speaking during the party’s second annual year-end bash in ward 10 Blood River, Limpopo, where the EFF hosted elderly party members.
He also raised concerns about senior citizens being the most neglected people in the country and said he would give them food parcels.
The red berets leader said he found it odd that government had the money to give convicted criminals meals and clothes but left the elderly and children to live in extreme poverty.
“Convicted criminals get breakfast, lunch and supper. They have running water and electricity. A convicted criminal is even given a uniform, but government fails to provide the same courtesy to school pupils who can’t afford to buy their own.
“These convicted criminals must sew uniforms for less fortunate learners … they must also work in farms and the produce must be given to the poor.”
Malema used the opportunity to address a number of socio-economic discrepancies, urging the government to speed up the process of providing water and electricity in communities such as Blood River where some households went without these services.
Aston Villa Important Win – Full Report And Pictures
Happy New Year? If you’re Dean Smith, it most certainly is.
At a time Villa’s boss needed it most, his team produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Burnley and inject fresh belief into a campaign which had been threatening to unravel.
Wesley and Jack Grealish got the goals as Villa overcame the Clarets, VAR and injuries to two key players to secure a victory which saw them climb out of the relegation zone ahead of the days later kick-offs.
Both Wesley and Tom Heaton, on his return to Turf Moor, left the field injured in the final 20 minutes, while Chris Wood’s header ensured a nervy finish.
Grealish had earlier seen an opening goal ruled out by VAR for the most marginal of offside calls in the build-up.
Yet through all the adversity, Villa came through, showing the character that had been missing from the weekend’s dire performance at Watford.
For Smith, who had seen scrutiny on his position ramp up in the wake of the loss at Vicarage Road, this was a huge win. The fact he was congratulated on the pitch by Villa’s CEO Christian Purslow just seconds after the final whistle told its own story.
Smith’s team selection was arguably the most radical of his reign with a shift in system to three at the back leading to five changes from the XI beaten so badly at Watford.
In addition to the return of Mings, there was also a place for Neil Taylor at left-wing back, with the Wales international making his first Premier League start since September.
Frederic Guilbert, Marvelous Nakamba and Trezeguet were also recalled to the XI.
Villa looked comfortable from the first whistle and the first effort of the match came from Wesley, whose did well to hold off the challenge of James Tarkowski before seeing his shot take a flick off the defender and fly behind.
From the corner, came the controversy. The ball was cleared only as far as Konsa, who delivered a delightful cross which Grealish, arriving late in the box, glanced into the bottom corner.
The goal looked perfectly good yet it quickly became apparent was under the scrutiny of the VAR, who after a three minute delay ruled it out for Wesley’s heel being millimetres offside in the build-up.
It was the second time this season Villa had seen an opening goal chalked out against the Clarets and perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the afternoon was their reaction to the setback.
Whereas in recent weeks heads might have dropped, this time Villa kept their foot on the gas and Wesley should have opened the scoring after being set up by Grealish, his shot being saved by the legs of Pope.
The Brazilian would not be denied soon after however. Grealish’s attempted cross took a flick off Ben Mee and into the path of Wesley, who in one movement chested it down and in the next fired a right-footed volley under the legs of Pope.
Burnley were all over the place and four minutes before the break Villa had their second, Grealish with a goal VAR could not rule out.
Trezeguet was the architect, robbing Charlie Taylor and racing into the opposing half before finding Wesley on the wing.
From there the ball was switched to Nakamba and Luiz and eventually to Grealish, who took a step inside before firing a finish high into the net for his sixth Premier League goal of the season.
Grealish was having a fine game and was quickly into the action after the break, teeing up Douglas Luiz for a chance the midfielder sent weakly straight at Pope.
Sean Dyche had reacted to his team’s dire first half showing by bringing on Jay Rodriguez and the former Albion striker should have reduced the deficit, yet somehow failed to hit the target from four yards out after meeting Tarkowski’s low cross.
Villa had another let off when Chris Wood hammered Charlie Taylor’s cross wide from six yards out.
The visitors suffered their first injury blow with 20 minutes remaining when Wesley was caught on the follow through by Ben Mee and had to leave the field on a stretcher.
Even then the visitors seemed to be seeing the match out with ease until Wood brought Burnley back into it, heading home Ashley Westwood’s cross.
Heaton got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out and went down clutching his right knee. Unable to walk after treatment, he became the second Villa player to leave on a stretcher.
Orjan Nyland came off the bench but was not troubled as Villa held on through nine minutes of stoppage time.
Burnley (4-4-2): Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Brady (Gudmundsson HT), Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Wood, Barnes (Rodriguez HT) Subs not used: Lowton, Drinkwater, Hendrick, Long, Hart (gk).
Villa (3-4-3): Heaton (Nyland 85), Konsa, Mings, Hause, Guilbert, Luiz, Nakamba, Taylor, Trezeguet (Hourihane 77), Wesley (Kodjia 71), Grealish Subs not used: Chester, Lansbury, El Ghazi, Elmohamady.
2020 Time To Fight Mnangagwa’s Military Government – MDC Youth
2020 time to draw a line on ED’s military regime. It is clear that Mnangagwa has succeeded in running down the country in a little less than two years since his 2018 grand electoral fraud. The level of deterioration and stinking poverty stalking ordinary citizens in ghettos and countryside due to misgovernance, corruption and maladministration by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s military regime is painstaking and excruciating.
From every facet of life, be it social, politics and economy, the military regime has failed the nation! Using command policies, Mnangagwa has literally banned everything in this country except poverty. It is regrettable that in this era of the 4th industrial revolution, the junta through its command elements regressively and continuously gravitate towards the opposite direction as far as human rights and development is concerned.
It is only in Zimbabwe, with Mnangagwa as a catalyst whereby people die of eighteenth-century diseases like typhoid and cholera as is the case in Glen View and other surrounding places.
Clearly Mnangagwa is taking us back to the painful colonial era by banning political gatherings, creative arts and music as is the case on MDC rallies, and Winky D music. Simply put, Mnangagwa has dared the masses by banning everything
revolving around our lives and like normal citizens, it’s time we dare to act and react!
The elasticity of our patience has surely been stretched to the limit by this military dictatorship. United by our nervous conditions, it is time we must draw the line to say enough of this Mnangagwa nonsense! The country has to move forward and we can not continue to be held at ransom by a senile old man who has no future in the affairs of our country.
The worst mistake this generation can make is to be de facto accomplices to Mnangagwa misrule by virtue of silence and docility. Indeed we take heart from the notion that this country is not going to die for young people are ready to serve and save it. It is now a generational mandate and duty to save our beloved motherland from Mnangagwa’s vampire military regime
#TimeIsNow!
#LetsDrawTheLine!
#EnoughIsEnough!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
Zanu PF To Announce Its 2020 “New Year Resolutions”
Zanu PF national spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo has told the Herald that the party will soon be issuing its 2020 resolutions which are shaped by the party’s recently held Annual People’s Conference.
The ZANU PF conference resolved on a number of issues which the party said would be used to guide the government.
Among other things, the ZANU PF 18th Annual National People’s Conference that was held in Goromonzi, resolved to create jobs, establish gold centres and promote value addition and beneficiation.
The party also resolved that the collapsed industry needs to be revived, one of the avenues through which jobs can be created.
Mnangagwa Promises Prosperity In 2020
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday declared that 2020, which begins today, will be the year of higher productivity, economic growth, job creation and satisfying the needs of the people while committing to continue being a listening leader.
Presenting his New Year message at State House in Harare yesterday, he said in the spirit of inclusivity, he will continue to engage Zimbabweans and walk hand in hand with them towards a prosperous nation.
“Going forward, 2020 will be the year of higher productivity, economic growth, job creation and satisfying the needs of the people. We cannot live in the past, we can only learn from it. We must craft a future, benefiting from the wisdom of the past,” said President Mnangagwa.
He called on Zimbabweans to shun violence in the new year and those who push for the social ill should be exposed, condemned and rejected.
This is in reference to the violence unleashed by the opposition in January 2019 that resulted in the loss of lives, looting and destruction of property.
“Let us declare that never again shall we lose the precious lives of our fellow countrymen, women and children, for the political or monetary expediency of a few. The prosperity we so desire will be achieved only if we keep moving in unity and with purpose,” said the President.
He said the Government will continue to put in place measures to cushion the vulnerable members of society in both rural and urban areas such as affordable transport, maize meal and other basic commodities, as well as health care. The President said the welfare of public sector workers will also continue to qualitatively improve.
“The fiscal discipline we have instilled under the Second Republic saw us rein in on the budget deficit. The new trend of budget surpluses will continue and resources therefrom, used to finance more public services such as health care facilities, schools, roads and related projects with a direct impact on the people’s wellbeing,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Resources towards devolution have been increased from the 2019 figure of ZWL720 million to about ZWL3 billion in 2020. The onus is now on the various communities to accelerate the formulation and implementation of high impact projects which transform lives of our people. We must all ensure that our ongoing development drive leaves no one behind. Let us all play a part.”
The journey to entrench a democratic culture in the country, he said, will be accelerated. “This is right, just and for the good of our people. Hence, the re-alignment of our laws to the Constitution must be completed.
“As your Listening President and a Servant Leader, I will continue engaging with you and listening to your concerns so that we walk hand in hand, together in unity, love, peace and harmony towards a prosperous Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa. “There is indeed, much more to look forward to in the New Year. Tomorrow is a better and brighter day. I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.”
The President reiterated that in the spirit of devolution, unity and national cohesion espoused by the Second Republic, the holding of the main Independence Day Commemorations from this year going forward will be held in various parts of the country.
“Our Independence and freedom is for us all,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar as the country’s mono currency must speedily take root calling on the nation to defend and protect it as a symbol of national pride and sovereignty. President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans, through unity and love for one another managed to persevere through the challenges faced in the past year.
“A few months into the year, we sadly experienced the tragic loss of life and property as a result of Cyclone Idai. The nation rallied together and friends stood with us. This, plus a devastating drought in the preceding year, had a negative impact on our economy and caused hardships to our people. We continue to pray for our dear departed compatriots and further seek to comfort and support survivors of this disaster,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The drought similarly restricted our potential to, guarantee food security for our people, sustain our livestock, generate adequate power and improve our healthcare. We endured as a nation and rode the storm against all odds. Painful as it is often the case, we must persevere through this rough but necessary patch on the road to growth and prosperity.”
Another New Year’s Day Celebrators Wild Shooting Reported In Joburg
It’s been a night of carnage and devastation in Johannesburg. Shortly after two people were killed in Melville, 11 were shot in Mary Fitzgerald Square.
Just hours after two revellers were gunned down in Melville, another mass shooting took place in Mary Fitzgerald Square during the New Year celebrations. A total of 11 people have been injured in Johannesburg, and four male victims are receiving hospital treatment for their serious injuries.
Mary Fitzgerald Square – “serious injuries” reported
At around 3:00, partygoers were systematically picked-off by a shooter who had assumed a vantage point on the M2 double-decker bridge. The Gauteng Government have since made a statement on the matter, confirming that several shots were fired. Unfortunately, no perpetrators have been caught:
“Today we wake up to the shocking news that people have been shot dead, while others are critically injured. As the province, we are saddened by this barbaric act. New Year’s is a time of celebration and hope, where people can plan their lives for the better. The Gauteng Government strongly condemns these acts.”
“Preliminary investigations on the Mary Fitzgerald Square incident reveal that the shooter fired several shots from the upper level of M2 (southbound) double-decker bridge and targeted the VIP area. No arrests have yet been made but police are working hard to ensure that suspects are identified and arrested.”Gauteng Government statement
Mass shootings in Johannesburg – news and updates:
There have been no reported fatalities from the Mary Fitzgerald Square incident (as of 13:15 on Wednesday afternoon), but the carnage has left the City of Johannesburg reeling. The drive-by shooting in Melville that was reported earlier in the night claimed the lives of two women.
We are yet to hear if the two incidents are linked. Shots were also fired in Doornfontein overnight. As investigations continue, we’ll bring you any new developments as they surface.
Chamisa Vows To Begin Winning Rural Votes In 2020
From A Correspondent|THE MDC, will in 2020, hold more political campaigns in rural communities where it has performed badly in elections since 2000, party President Nelson Chamisa has announced.
In his New Year’s message to party supporters Wednesday, Chamisa said the party would also continue pushing for electoral reforms ahead of the 2023 elections.
“We must strengthen our party and its base with a strong rural focus. Our rural focus must be enhanced. Candidate selection better improved,” he said.
Since 2018, the MDC has failed to win any local council or parliamentary seat in by-elections held in rural constituencies with critics blasting the party for concentrating its campaigns in urban areas only. The ruling party – Zanu PF – has been dominating by-elections held in rural areas.
Chamisa urged party members to focus on the core business of the MDC, which was to win elections.
“We must focus on the core business and sole agenda of the party agenda that is to win elections and attain State power for real change. We must have strong vibrant structures, zero imposition, zero factionalism, zero corruption, zero division and zero writing names of fictitious structures or lists of friends.
“Our party goal is to win elections and attain state power to make a difference in people’s lives.”
The opposition leader warned incompetent party leaders that he would not hesitate to remove them from office if they failed to deliver.
“We need to radically change and abandon certain negative and divisive tendencies. Indiscipline and malicious gossip will be jettisoned and conflict entrepreneurship will be punished. Those who do not work will lose their positions and those absent will be replaced,” warned Chamisa.
“Sometimes We Lose Patience”. Pope Francis Apologises On Slapping A Woman At Vatican
POPE FRANCIS has explained himself after he slapped a woman outside Saint Peter’s Basilica claiming, “sometimes we lose patience”.
The pontiff gave a personal apology as he said the Angelus in Saint Peter’s Plaza, where he confessed, “we lose patience many times, it happens to me too, I apologise for the bad example given yesterday”.
An image of Pope Francis slapping his way free from the clutches of an admirer late Tuesday had social media in an uproar with comments on the pontiff’s prompt riposte.
Pope Francis had greeted children before the Nativity scene on Saint Peter’s plaza and was turning away when the woman cried out something, grabbed his hand and almost caused him to fall.
The 83-year-old head of the Catholic church grimaced before managing to break free by slapping the woman’s hand twice.
He then continued his tour, walking with some difficulty while maintaining a slightly greater distance from visitors, and gradually relaxed again as he came into contact with other children.
But the Pope claimed he “lost patience” with the exuberant admirer.
Numerous twitter followers reacted, some in support of the Pontiff, but others were outraged at what they saw as hypocrisy after the Pope had delivered a sermon on the importance of protecting women from violence.
One twitter follower wrote: “He is human.
“Being a Pope doesn’t make you immune to pain or avoid reaction to pain.”
In his first Mass of the New Year, the pontiff denounced “all violence against women” as “a profanation of God, born of a woman,” a position underscored by several Twitter enthusiasts.
Another concluded that as 2020 dawned, “the pope is trending.”
After the incident, the pontiff composed himself to offer a New Year’s address preaching “peace, dialogue and reconciliation”.
In the message, he lamented the “innocent victims of painful humiliation and exclusion” across the world and urged international communities to “pursue a genuine fraternity based on our common origin from God and exercised in dialogue and mutual trust”.
He said: “The desire for peace lies deep within the human heart, and we should not resign ourselves to seeking anything less than this.”
Pope Francis made no reference to the uncomfortable moment in his latest Twitter posts to his 18.2 million followers.
Sharing a link to yesterday evening’s thanksgiving service at St Peter’s Basilica, he wrote that it was “beautiful to stand before the nativity scene.”
It has been known that Francis doesn’t like people kissing his Piscatory Ring, also known as The Ring of the Fisherman, an official part of the regalia worn by the Pope.
The Sovereign of the Vatican City state was seen peeling himself away from a woman before lightly slapping her hand in the crowd in St Peter’s Square on Tuesday.
Video footage captures the moment the pope walks through the Vatican City happily greeting pilgrims while en route to see a Nativity set up in the huge, cobbled esplanade.
He reaches out to greet a child, before turning away from the crowd but a woman takes her once in a lifetime opportunity to grab his hand and pull it back.
It is unclear whether her intention was to kiss his papal ring a sacred symbol of the Pope’s union to the church but whatever it was, the Pope definitely didn’t like it.
Since at least the middle ages it has been a tradition for Catholics meeting the Pope to show their devotion by kissing the Piscatory Ring.
Angry Pope Francis Slaps Woman Who Grabbed Him While Greeting Pilgrims On New Year’s Eve
In a video shared on the Internet, the hilarious moment where Pope Francis rebuked a lady has been captured.
In the video, the holy man was seen totally expressing his disgust at an unidentified lady who may just have nothing but good intentions.
While she also held his hand and tried to pull him towards her, the spiritual leader yanked her away in disgust.
It was also gathered that this happened at the new year eve’s celebration at the Vatican.
Watch The Video Here:
Police Announce Blitz On Illegal Gold Miners Following Murder Of One Of Their Own
Zimbabwe police have banned all illegal mining activities and said anyone wishing to go into mining should obtain a relevant licence or permit.
The ban follows the killing of Constable Wonder Hokoyo by machete gangs in Kadoma on 28 December.
Police Chief Godwin Matanga said police will not tolerate acts of violence by artisanal miners and anyone who decides or attempts to disarm a police officer on duty risks being shot.
“All potential miners who are engaged in illegal mining activities should stop doing so and ensure that before they mine, they obtain the relevant licence or permit to do so in terms of the laws of the country,” he said.
“Any deviation from this will result in such miners being arrested. No one should interfere with or attack police officers who are maintaining law and order at mining sites. Anyone who decides or attempts to disarm police officers on duty risks being shot.”
Matanga said police were working with other stakeholders to ensure that incidences of gold rush in several parts of the country are swiftly dealt with.
“Let us all promote law and order and engage in lawful and regularized mining activities. Regulating authorities will be issuing out prohibition orders barring he carrying of machetes and other weapons such as knives, catapults, iron bars and knobkerries…”
The police chief said he will ensure that police deployments in mining areas are influenced by the need to protect and preserve life and property.
“My office will therefore not stand by and allow unruly elements to attack police officers. We have also engaged the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to ensure that all mining disputes, disused and decommissioned mines are monitored and measures put in place to curtail illegal mining activities,” he said.
Machete Thugs Who Killed Police Officer Arrested
TWO suspects believed to be part of a gang that allegedly killed a policeman last Saturday and seriously injured his colleague at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields have been arrested.
Police say they will now not hesitate to shoot anyone who attempts to disarm officers on duty.
The arrest comes as 17 gold panners, including one person who is on police’s most wanted list, were arrested in Kadoma yesterday.
Also, a man drowned in a river in Battlefields yesterday and police suspect that he could have been fleeing arrest.
In Mt Darwin, police on Monday arrested eight men and recovered four machetes and four Okapi knives stashed in the boot of a Toyota Wish they were travelling in.
The group is suspected to have been behind a spate of murder and robbery cases in Mashonaland Central Province.
The 17 suspects arrested in Kadoma are reported to be members of the gang known as “Team Barca”, formerly led by Taurai Mutandwa who was shot dead during the David Whitehead gold rush in Chegutu.
The recent killing and assault on police officers is suspected to be an act of revenge.
In a statement yesterday, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga confirmed the arrest of the two suspected killers and said efforts were underway to arrest the outstanding suspects.
The police chief has since sent a condolence message to the family of Constable Wonder Hokoyo.
“May I take this opportunity to reiterate that the Zimbabwe Republic Police will not tolerate acts of violence by artisanal miners in any part
of the country. Anyone who therefore decides to disregard the laws of the land and cause anarchy will be dealt with severely in terms of the country’s laws.
The police will work flat out to account for perpetrators of violence and machete wielding gangs from mining sites”.
Comm-Gen Matanga warned members of the public against attacking police officers performing their duties.
“Meanwhile, all those engaged in illegal mining activities should stop doing so and ensure that before they mine, they obtain the relevant licence or permit to do so in terms of the laws of this country.
Any deviation from this will result in such miners being arrested.
“No one should interfere with or attack police officers who are maintaining law and order at mining sites. Anyone who decides or attempts to disarm police officers on duty risks being shot.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is also working together with other stakeholders to ensure that incidences of gold rush in several parts of the country are swiftly dealt with,” he said.
He said the public should report any acts of lawlessness and violence. Comm-Gen Matanga said regulatory authorities will be issuing out prohibition orders barring the carrying of machetes and other weapons such as knives, catapults, iron bars and knobkerries, making it an offence to be found with such weapons.
“My office will ensure that police deployments in mining areas are influenced by the need to protect and preserve life and property as outlined in Section 219 of the Constitution.
My office will therefore not stand by and allow unruly elements to attack police officers.
There has been a heavy police presence at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields since the hacking to death of Cst Hokoyo.
When The Herald visited the mine yesterday, about 30 members of the ZRP Support Unit and the District Reaction Group (DRG) were at the scene.
Opposition Party Wins Elections In Guinea – Bissau
Opposition leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo has won presidential elections in West African state of Guinea-Bissau.
The Guinea National Electoral Commission (CNE) announced on Wednesday that Umaro Sissoco picked up 53.55 percent of votes, while his rival Domingos Simoes Pereira, head of the country’s historic ruling party PAIGC, took 46.45 percent in Sunday’s runoff.
“I declare Umaro Sissoco Embalo to be the winner of this second round,” CNE President Jose Pedro Sambu said.
Embalo takes over from Jose Mario Vaz, who came to power in 2014 on hopes of stabilising a country notorious for coups and assassinations since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.
But his tenure was hampered by a paralysing face-off with parliament under the country’s semi-presidential political system.
The CNE put turnout at 72.67 percent, virtually identical to the first round of voting on November 24, which Pereira won with 40.1 percent against 28 percent for Embalo.
Embalo, 47, is a reserve brigadier general who favours wearing a red-and-white Arab keffiyeh headress.
Like Pereira, he is also a former prime minister, serving under Vaz between 2016 and 2018, before representing Madem, a party formed by PAIGC rebels.
He fought to overcome his first-round vote deficit by portraying himself as a unifier of the country and by gaining the backing of eliminated candidates, including Vaz.
AFP
Nakamba Gives A Spirited Performance As He Fights To Rescue His Career At Aston Villa
Aston Villa returned to winning ways we a hard fought 2-1 win over Burnley.
The match saw Zimbabwean international return to the starting lineup and he had a much improved performance especially in the fist half of the game.
Villa thought they had taken the lead in in the 13th minute when Grealish headed in a cross but after a VAR the goal was ruled out as Wesly was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
However in the 2th minute Villa made their possession count with Wesly scoring after a good exchange with Wesly saw the ball fall kindly to him.
Four minutes before the break Grealish doubled the lead with Nakamba playing a key part in the build up of the goal.
Halftime came with Villa looking in control.
However Villa had a more challenging second half with Burnely pulling one back in the 80th minute but Villa held on to claim a much needed win.
The victory see Villa move out of the relegation zone to 16th position ahead of other New Year day fixtures.
Meanwhile Chelsea were denied all three points after a stunning late volley Alireza Jahanbakh to equalise. Chelsea had held the lead from the 10th minute through César Azpilicueta.
Zimbabwean Ministers Create Mashurugwi And Push The Country Into Chaos And Surge To A Civil War Without Notice
News Of The South|A police officer was killed and another officer was seriously injured by the Mashurugwi machete wielding gold panners. The Mashurugwi are identified with their dirty outfits covered in mud and always move around with assorted weaponry. Only in 2019 several police officers and soldiers were murdered by these Mashurugwi and hundreds of civilians were and are still being buried alive in the mine shafts all thanks to the Brutal Mashurugwi gangs.
Is zimbabwe failing to control these Mashurugwi or there is one powerful person who is behind this barbaric group blood sucking idiots whose hands are dripping of the blood of the innocent people.
Mashurugwi murdered three soldiers in Bindura injuring seven others. Besides the soldiers several members of the public were killed in several towns by the Mashurugwi. their infamous presence has spread from Kwekwe to all towns of Zimbabwe. In Chitungwiza in December a young man was killed ruthlessly by the Mashurugwi. No one has been arrested yet and the carnage continues. Now they have again killed a police officer and injured one. Zimbabwe now leaves as if it is in the war time.
The Mashurugwi were created by one of the now senior ministers who is now so senior and filthy rich. Because of his proximity to the president the police are afraid to go out full throttle to these Mashurugwi murderers. When they started they were called Alshabab. They were created as a protection unity of the minister and his criminal cabal. They were then transformed to be debt collectors. The senior officials will send them to the mines and collect thirty percent from any and every miner in the area. The officials will collect the money telling their victims that the money is for the president. This gave a very cold chill run down the spines of the law and security agents in the area. This was the main reason why ZANU PF lost in Kwekwe.
Any person who complained about these violent blood sucking vampires will be labelled a G40. As a result the Mashurugwi’s became a power unto themselves. Now the blood of the innocent floors down the streets of Zimbabwe with no protection from our law enforcement agents. Is Zimbabwe degenerating into security abyss.
Looking to the future, the MaShurugwi poses a bigger threat to the stability of the country. They are already beyond the police’s reach; they have shown it by the recent killing of a policeman. They killed three army officers in Bindura and the army has not acted. The people of Zimbabwe have their hope in the army, Only the army can now deal with them; but the army has been poked in the eye yet they are silent. for how long shall we suffer at the hands of the Mashurugwi.
MaShurugwi & related factions are aligned to politicians in the Midlands province, these politicians are known and feared. The army is very strong and well trained. If given a go ahead the Mashurugwi will be a thing of the past. The Mashurugwi do not stand a chance with our army. So why are they flourishing. A military operation against MaShurugwi could easily overrun them. why is the army not called in. is there someone being protected. is the president aware of this. Gaika mine exposed these pretenders. Mashurugwis are allowed to survive because of impacts on economic interests of those now sitting in the seats of power.
If this is allowed we as a country are drifting into serious security risks. The bigger risk for the nation is that MaShurugwi could become an even more ruthless armed insurgence. Already they are. They show how minerals have been abused to fund wars in the world. The Mashurugwi aim to exert their powers and authority in all areas where mining is operated. If the Mashurugwi and their Godfather are not stopped another opposing group will be created and there will be more blood in our streets.
Zimbabwe is on the verge of a dangerous scenario with MaShurugwi. it is surely playing in the danger zone. Their link to politics and resource exploitation could lead to very serious armed conflict in the country. If this is not taken seriously Zimbabwe will be the history of Somalia. There is a sense of paralysis when it comes to what should be done about gangs that have overrun areas where gold panning activities have become pronounced and how the attendant violence should be tackled effectively.
The number of lives lost and the people maimed or injured due to violence perpetrated by “Mashurugwi” throughout the country is threatening to rival those lost to road traffic accidents. “Mashurugwi” is the term used to refer to outlaws that have become the terror of artisanal miners and mining companies.
As an example, in Kadoma District alone during the first 10 months of this year, police recorded 234 machete-related crimes, while in neighbouring Chegutu District, similar cases have risen from 108 to 125.
The belt stretching from Chegutu, Kadoma right down to Kwekwe has been the foremost active theatre of the most viciously fought battles, rendering it the equivalent of Zimbabwe’s Wild West. In Kwekwe a number of miners were burried alife in the mine shafts by the Mashurugwi. Nothing has been done and this has encouraged the Mashurugwi to perpetrate more violent acts.
“Artisanal miners are attacked, robbed, evicted, seriously injured if they are lucky to survive — and, in the worst case scenario, killed in the vile and barbaric attacks that defy conduct expected of normal human beings.”
The gangs can attack artisanal miners and take over their claims, but a pattern that is beginning to emerge is that they do not go that route because that is the more difficult approach. They wait for the miners at the end of the day’s work before pouncing because this is the easier, less taxing way.
In some instances, the gangs wait for the miners to sell their ore, before they move in and rob them. In this modern day, the savagery with which this is carried out is shocking. It is more shocking that nothing is being done about this behaviour.
The weapon of choice in most of the attacks has been the machete —ordinarily used in the manual harvesting of sugar cane or clearing brush.
These are weapons which are now turned to our people.
In Mazowe the Mashurugwis arrive and held the minors hostage. they will be forced to dig and dig. all the days work will be confiscated including their food and any other property. These Mashurugwis have now taken their carnage into towns.
if they pick a fight in the bars The Mashurugwi retreat only to come back with an army of tens of machete wielding dirty men infamously known as Mashurugwi.
These people have no respect for Human life and they have no fear of the law. how can they be afraid of the law when they are backed by those who think they are above the law.
Action must be taken now and this year 2020 must be the year to protect the nation. Government must remove the murderous mindset that is driving the violence. who knows what next will these gangs use, guns, crowbars, knobkerries or spears?
Does the government need to wake up after more blood. Minister Kazembe Kazembe must deal with this scourge as a matter of national emmergency How long will we be killed while Kazembe swims in fear of those vampires surrounding the president.
The army must be called to Cordon off areas found to have deposits or where there are official mining activities, they must help in providing a secure working environment for mining companies and gold panners. Minister Muchinguri Kashiri must show her beauty by modelling the army towards the areas which bread the Mashurugwis The inclusion of the police, security companies and other resources from entities involved in mining activities could constitute a concerted response that could shut out the marauding gangs.
The war lords who are using the president’s name in crime must be flashed out. Zimbabwe does not need this. The Army must secure the transportation of the gold from the mining areas to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, the counry’s official gold buyer and processor.
“Gold deposits continue to be found in the belt that stretches from Gwanda in the south of the country; Mberengwa, Shurugwi, Kwekwe in the Midlands; Kadoma, Chegutu and Chinhoyi in Mashonaland West; and Bindura, Guruve, Mazowe and Shamva in Mashonaland Central.
There are areas in Manicaland where gold is mined, but these are defined by the absence of violence accompanying them.”
Shurugwi itself is very peaceful. people of Shurugwi are angered by this abuse of their name. Shurugwi is a very beautiful town and it is not a violent town. The name given to these murderers is an insult to the real Shurugwi people.
The mystery of these killers is the question how the barbaric and brutal conduct of these gangs has been allowed to spiral out of control for so long yet they are under the watch of law enforcement agents. This comes to the point that the bigwigs should be reigned in.
Less inspiring is the absence of a coherent strategy to deal with and arrest the menace. Instead with each day and each gold find, the audacity of the gangs multiplies. the deaths of people goes unrecorded. The stories from the gold fields are knee shaking deeply depressing and flabbergasting.
The President had an opportunity to address the issue when he visited Kadoma for a youth conference which was held in November. Kadoma, Kwekwe and Chegutu are among the epicentres of violence in gold panning or mining areas in the country. The silence of our armed forces is telling.
We should all remember that In the beginning, the violence associated with artisanal mining was specific to the Midlands town of Kwekwe and Shurugwi but, like a raging wildfire, it has since spread throughout the country. The Midlands, Mashonaland Central and West provinces, however, come up as the worst theatres of violence in which the gangs are the lead actors. Shurugwi is only involved and blamed for allowing its name to be associated with these murderers.
Communities all over the country live in absolute terror of the gangs.
Somalia descended into chaos because the lawlessness there began as pockets confined to specific areas, but in due course spun out of control and to this day, the continent bears the brunt of that conflict. Zimbabwe must never allow this to happen. Zimbabweans are generally peaceful people and these gangs must be dealt with now and now is now.
Without action Zimbabwe risks falling into the hands of these warlords. That would be a recipe for disaster and Zimbabwean security is at risk. The situation with Mashurugwi now resembles a dog’s breakfast. There is, therefore, an urgent need for a comprehensive response that must bring the activities of these gangs so that artisanal miners can go about their work unperturbed. Marshalling in law enforcement agents alongside private security companies will be part of the required response.
There should be no sacred cows in dealing with this scourge. As a country we are fast descending into the pool of confusion.
The Mashurugwi must be arraigned together with their sponsors.
LEAKED-Mnangagwa Pockets USD100K Shoulder-Cash From Diamond Sales
“Below is part of the Diamond Private Sale that was done at the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company, ZCDC by (4) four people who donated $100 000 to the President Emmerson Mnangagwa as part of the proceeds. The buyer was privately handpicked without tendering. The deal involved Kuda Tagwirei, John Magundya, George Guvamatanga and SB Moyo.” – Reason Wafawarova.
MORE FOLLOWS
Mai Titi Sets Tongues Wagging On Social Media
COMEDIENNE Mai Titi has set social media ablaze after dropping pictures with her alleged boyfriend Blessed “Zizoe” Zingwane.
It is alleged that the musician, who is 23 years old, might have won the heart of the comedienne as the pictures were telling.
Mai Titi said she would not comment on the pictures. “I do not have a comment for now, for now you can just think what you want,” she said.
Zizoe could not disclose much about the pictures in which he appeared kissing the comedienne.
This has, however, sparked a lot of debate on social media as people were saying they might be shots from a music video while some are saying Mai Titi had finally found love.
In the pictures, Zizoe is seen kissing the comedienne and in some, they are hugging and cuddling.
Jonathan Moyo Spills The Beans As ED Spends Festive Season In Office
SELF-EXILED former Zanu-PF propagandist Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that a coup was attempted on President Emmerson Mnangagwa in early November, but it was foiled.
Moyo says it was because of fear of another coup that the President has not chosen to go on an annual leave outside the country.
The President has been at his farm outside Kwekwe over the National Unity and Christmas holidays, before returning to the his official residence in Harare.
Further, Moyo claims the attempted coup cost the job of Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss Aaron Nhepera, who was accused of not reporting on the coup early enough.
The revelations are part of Moyo’s promised threads on Twitter, which he unleashed on New Year’s Eve.
“Mnangagwa has not taken his annual leave & has not been able to leave the country because of a foiled coup in early November. The attempted coup cost Aaron Nhepera his job as CIO Deputy Director General, amid allegations he reported it late & mishandled intelligence on it!
Student Escapes From Police After Asking To Go To The Toilet
An Accounts student on attachment at The Mirror created drama on Friday morning when he bolted away from the Police and jumped over a security wall as a cop was taking him for questioning in connection with $3 422 that went missing from a phone at the office.
The wall had razor wire rolled over it.
A Police detail pitched up at The Mirror offices at around 10am on the day and surprised Edward Mapasure (25) who is a student at Masvingo Poly with an invitation for an interview at Masvingo Central Police Station.
Mapasure appeared shaken at first and almost took to his heels but he soon mastered enough courage and tailed the Police detail to the station. On the way, he had a second thought and asked for an opportunity to empty his bowls. He came back into the office and helped himself to the keys for the gents.
Five minutes later, the cop was still waiting outside. Spare keys were used to open the two doors to the toilets which are at the back and to the officer’s utter shock, the lanky student was nowhere to be found. He had somehow found his way over the 2-metre high wall.
Police is asking anyone with information on Mapasure’s whereabouts to contact them on 0772 928 157.
Mapasure who comes from Nerupiri in Gutu and was left with a month to complete his attachment has not returned to work since his dramatic escape.
— Mirror
Jonathan Moyo Claims Chiwenga Almost Toppled ED
SELF-EXILED former Zanu-PF propagandist Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that a coup was attempted on President Emmerson Mnangagwa in early November, but it was foiled.
Moyo says it was because of fear of another coup that the President has not chosen to go on an annual leave outside the country.
The President has been at his farm outside Kwekwe over the National Unity and Christmas holidays, before returning to the his official residence in Harare.
Further, Moyo claims the attempted coup cost the job of Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss Aaron Nhepera, who was accused of not reporting on the coup early enough.
The revelations are part of Moyo’s promised threads on Twitter, which he unleashed on New Year’s Eve.
“Mnangagwa has not taken his annual leave & has not been able to leave the country because of a foiled coup in early November. The attempted coup cost Aaron Nhepera hisAdvertisementjob as CIO Deputy Director General, amid allegations he reported it late & mishandled intelligence on it!
“So Zimbabwe is in a triple crisis: (i) Mnangagwa has no legitimacy & authority to unite & inspire the nation; (ii) worse, he has lost the confidence of the armed forces; & (iii) his government is incapable of reviving the economy, which is now in an irretrievable free fall!”
Government, through information Ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangwana, recently dismissed the coup reports. Mangwana said that President Mnangagwa was unlike his predecessor Robert Mugabe who would go on annual leave in the Far East no matter the economic circumstances back home.
Jonathan Moyo, however, would not disclose who attempted the coup and on which exact date. He also proffered no information on what happened to the coup plotters, or how the State neutralized them.
OPINION: Njema- Shoddy Music Done By A Big Artist
TOP-RATED musician Winky D’s latest album titled Njema has divided opinion in an unprecedented scale, especially because of the political forces seemingly at play as his launch date approached.
There has been misinformation and miss-education, deliberate or otherwise, on what exactly the singer is trying to put across judging from the album cover to the lyrics.
However, the saddest part is that a number of critics or rather pseudo critics have taken it upon themselves to review an album which launched on December 31.
The tracks on the album are: 1 Njema, 2 Chandelier, 3, Sekai, 4 Chitekete, 5 Siya So, 6 Ijipita, 7 Ndidye Mari featuring Buffalo Souljah, 8 aye, ( Bhatiri, 10 Amai, 11 Murombo, 12 Area 51, 13 Mangerengere.
One writer Tawanda Marime said about Ijipita: “Popular Zimbabwean Zim dancehall musician Wallace Chirumiko known as Winky D in music circles is set to launch a highly controversial album on the 31st of December 2019 at the HICC.
“The album is entitled Njema which is a Shona name for Police handcuffs. This album consists of six tracks which are all loaded with Political lyrics some of which are too explicit toAdvertisementbe ignored while others are subtle.
“Of concern is the fact that Winky’s musical lyrics have been consistently viewed and interpreted as deliberately coined to incite the public to resist and rise up against lawful authority in Zimbabwe. This album is no different.
“This writer had the priviledge of listening to one track entitled Canaan. In this track Chirumiko resembles that Citizen who does not recognise the leadership of his country and thus seeks to inculcate that attitude of resistence into the minds of others.
“He is also apparently encouraging others to cross borders to neighboring countries which he view as heaven on earth, Canaan.
“This view is toxic as it diminishes national pride and patriotism amongst the youths.
Journalist Makomborero Gold Mutimukulu commented: “Winky D harove hake ngoma kudarika vamwe vanhu. Lyric racho ndiro ndiro re self praise. HOWEVER, to everything he does there is a serious thought process behind it.”
Tinashe Ike Madzviti replied: “Canaan Tapinda Tapinda mweni”
While Wilson Chipanguraa said: “Self-praise is always synonymous with the dancehall genre mwene but I don’t know if Winky D still sings dancehall. Will tell you after settling in Canaan . . . nekuti hobho vaida kukanda nhanho.”
-GemNation
Delta Chokes As Zim Economic Crisis Persists
DELTA Corporation, Zimbabwe’s largest drinks maker, reported a 48% fall in half-year lager sales compared with the same period last year after output and distribution were hit by shortages of electricity and fuel.
The worst economic crisis in a decade in Zimbabwe has been compounded by a drought that has reduced water levels in dams needed for hydro-power, leading to 18-hour electricity cuts that are roiling industry and mines.
Delta, which is 40%-owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, said on Tuesday that shortages of foreign currency meant the company also struggled to import raw materials during the half-year ending September.
“Our production and distribution operations were disrupted byAdvertisementthe shortages of electricity and fuel, which in themselves are a manifestation of the limited availability of foreign currency,” said Delta.
The company said it owed $72 million to foreign suppliers.
Sales of carbonated soft drinks were down 56% during the same period, while volumes for the popular and cheaper sorghum beer fell 15%.
After experimenting with dollarization in the last decade, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government surprised the market in June by bringing back a national currency.
The transition from dollarisation to the Zimbabwe dollar has unleashed inflation, which has eroded salaries and savings while the domestic currency continues to weaken against the greenback.
-Reuters
2020 Is A Year Of GREAT CHANGE: Chamisa
MDC president Nelson Chamisa has issued a statement on New Year’s eve, encouraging the nation to be hopeful for better things in 2020. He posted the statement on his Twitter handle on Tuesday evening. The statement read:
In 2019 we have known pain, loss, devastation, struggle and tears. We also fought and celebrated the resilience of a nation whose best is yet to come. We thank God for grace. Thank you for all the encouragement. May 2020 bring opportunity, hope and happiness.
I know the hurts, setbacks, pain and despair of you have had to endure in 2019 but we have now entered a new decade, a decade of surprises, transformational changes. 2020 is a year of GREAT CHANGE in Zimbabwe. We are all in it. Eyes on the ball. #Godisinit
Mealie Meal Shortage: Govt, Millers Fight Over Subsidy
A FIGHT is looming between President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration and grain millers over government’s roller meal subsidy programme, with the millers threatening to sue Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s aide for blocking their registration for the scheme.
Early this month, the government scrapped maize subsidies, but reintroduced them after a public outcry over high prices.
To control the prices, government introduced a roller meal subsidy programme that, however, require millers to be registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
But last week, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), a voluntary business organisation representing the interests of millers in the country, raised a red flag after 60 of its members were denied registration.
After a meeting with government on Thursday last week failed to resolve problems relating to the registration process, the millers have now turned their arrows to Ncube’s aide, Andrew Bvumbe, who heads the Zimbabwe Aid Debt Management, in the Finance ministry.
The millers accuse Bvumbe, who heads the subsidy programme, of unilaterally reversing Ncube’s directive to allocate subsidised maize for roller meal production to all millers and only allowing nine milling firms to access the maize.
According to letters sent to the Treasury’s top official by GMAZ’s lawyers, Wintertons Legal Practitioners last Friday, millers gave Bvumbe up to Friday to state his reasons for depriving at least 43 millers of State subsidised maize.
“It is common cause that there is a critical shortage of roller meal on the market notwithstanding the government’s noble gesture, the reason for this shortage is man-made in that of the 43 millers who sought confirmation for the supply and delivery of the subsidised maize only nine (9) obtained such confirmation,” the letter dated December 27 reads.
“As a result of the non-confirmations referred to above, some millers have closed down while others’ businesses are in danger of being wound up as they have not been supplied with the promised maize to enable them to produce the roller meal required in order to make the subsidy programme a success.”
The letter was copied to Ncube, Industry and Commerce minister Sekai Nzenza (pictured), Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda and several government departments.
Millers allege Bvumbe’s decision to register only nine millers is causing mealie-meal shortages.
“Your decision to confirm only nine out of a possible 43 millers for the subsidy programme has needless to say created dire consequences for both suppliers and consumers,” the letter further read.
“The citizens of Zimbabwe have the right to sufficient food as provided for in section 77 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Your actions have thus resulted in the infringement of the said constitutional right.”
GMAZ added: “We must underscore that members of the general populace are starving as a direct result of your failure to confirm the allocation of maize to some millers to enable them to produce cheap and affordable roller meal in line with government policy. Roller meal is in short supply. Government’s good intentions in introducing the subsidy programme has been curtailed,” GMAZ lawyers said.
“In light of the foregoing, we have instructions to request written reasons as to why you have only confirmed allocation of maize to nine out of a possible 43 millers in order to ensure there is sufficient food security in the country.
“We request you to supply your written reasons for your conduct by close of business on or before 2 January 2020. If the reasons are not availed within the specified period we have standing instructions without further notice to institute legal proceedings against you on an urgent basis.”
The millers also fear they may be forced to close down operations if they fail to get the subsidised maize and sell at market prices.
-Newsday
FULL TEXT: Police Boss Warns Mashurugwi
Read full text below…
Teen Pregnancies Continue To Haunt Zimbabwe Schools
The cancer of child marriage continues to raise its ugly head in Makoni where 89 under-age schoolgirls have dropped out of school to get married after falling pregnant.
The statistics are contained in a report by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Makoni titled “Drop outs due to pregnancy – 2019”.
The schoolgirls fell pregnant between January and September 2019 and the figure could have been under-reported as some schools failed to submit their statistics on time.
The statistics could also have swelled in October, November and December.
So shocking and disturbing are the revelations that even juveniles in primary schools were not spared, as eight of them dropped out due to pregnancy.
Rural schools are the most affected as out of the 30 affected ones, only one is an urban school. Chiundu High tops the list with 18, followed by Inyati Mine High with 17. Nyamusosa Secondary School and Manonga have seven each while Ruombwe and Dumbamwe have six and five, respectively,
The 24 schools have statistics ranging between one and four.
The youngest girl to fall pregnant was 13 years old while out of the 89, only two are above 18. The shocking figures have left a lot of questions unanswered on whether young girls have clear understanding of abstinence, safe sex and the effectiveness of sexual and reproductive health education in schools.
It has been argued that there were serious gaps in youth sexual and reproductive health issues in rural and resettlement schools resulting in young girls being lured into risky and premature unprotected sex.
Such risky engagements expose them to devastating effects such as obstetric fistula, risk of HIV infection, physical, economic and spiritual trauma.
Makoni District National Aids Council Co-ordinator Mr Amnot Chipandamira said tremendous efforts were in place for the protection of the out-of-school girls, but results on the ground remain disturbing.
He said 1 945 girls are under the DREAMS project, but worryingly some of them were dropping out of school owing to pregnancy.
“Under the DREAMS project, 1 945 girls in primary and secondary schools are receiving funding in terms of fees, school uniforms and stationery. We are also taking drop-outs back to school so that they rebuild their lives. The programme has its fair share of success and challenges. Some girls are excelling, but we have sad scenarios where some beneficiaries are among those falling pregnant and dropping out.
“We are encouraging schoolchildren to abstain from indulging in sex before marriage. The education ministry does not allow condoms in schools as a matter of policy, so we do not educate them on safe sex methods. These girls are exposed to HIV, which is very sad. The HIV prevalence rate in the district is 11,3 percent,” he said.
Mr Chipandamira noted that out-of- school men were the main culprits targeting young girls.
“There is need to engage communities to protect young girls. Educating pupils while ignoring the community is a futile exercise. There is also need to regulate ‘bush boarding schools’ which are offering accommodation to learners close to schools. These are proving to be easy hunting grounds for child molesters,” he said.
Zimbabwe Rural Teachers’ Union president Mr Martin Chaburumunda bemoaned the situation saying there was need to engage community leaders to curb the scourge.
“It is not only peculiar to Makoni, but it is a national challenge. Schools offer Guidance and Counselling lessons where information relating to sex, diseases and general life issues is imparted to learners.
“Maybe there is need to review the content. Stakeholders must also be engaged because predators are found in their areas.
“School learners from disintegrated families are the most affected,” said Mr Chaburumunda.
Manicaland provincial education director Mr Edward Shumba was not readily available for a comment.
-State Media
Govt Neglecting Resettlement Schools
CHILDREN in resettlement areas are still learning under deplorable conditions, including tobacco barns and animal shelters, Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Mathema confirmed to Parliament. The revelation drew condemnation from legislators who said the government was not serious about education.
In a ministerial statement issued recently on his behalf in the National Assembly by Youth, Sports and Arts minister Kirsty Coventry, Mathema said poor infrastructure was one of the reasons that led to the 0% Grade 7 pass rate at some schools in Matabeleland North and South provinces.
“Teaching and learning space in some schools is still grossly inadequate. For example, some schools are still using tobacco barns and grass-thatched classrooms, animal handling facilities and other schools are operating without specialist rooms like design and technology laboratories or workshops,” Mathema said.
“More resources will also be required for the construction of teachers’ accommodation and continuous training of teachers in the competence-based curriculum.”
MPs were riled by the issue of children learning in barns and animal handling facilities.
Lindiwe Maphosa (MDC Alliance Proportional Representative MP) said it was a shame that 20 years after independence, there were children still learning in barns.
“My observation is that most of these schools with a 0% pass rate are from Matabeleland South and North provinces and that these are resettlement areas where the land reform programme happened during the 2000 era,” Maphosa said.
“There are also situations, where four classes share the same room and a teacher has to teach with four classes learning simultaneously. We need Mathema to clarify why we still have situations like that in our country 20 years after independence?”
Maphosa said this did not show that the country was serious with education and ensuring that schoolchildren from disadvantaged families have adequate learning infrastructure.
Gokwe Chireya MP Torerayi Moyo (Zanu PF) said when Mathema appears before Parliament as it resumes sitting in February, he must explain the relationship between the 0% pass rate and the poor infrastructure, where pupils learn in barns or animal shelter.
In 2017, just like in 2018, a total of 29 schools in Matabeleland North province were recorded as having a 0% Grade 7 pass rate.
In 2019, 32 schools were recorded as having attained a 0% pass rate in Matabeleland. Out of those 15 were from Matabeleland North, 10 from Matabeleland South, and seven schools from Bulawayo.
-Newsday
State Moves To Dispossess Marry Of Her Loot
The State has managed to identify and position properties, including cars bought and owned by the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, Marry Mubaiwa, in South Africa, the High Court heard.
This emerged today during Mubaiwa’s bail appeal in the matter in which she is facing foreign currency externalisation, money laundering and fraud charges.
The bail application was heard before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda.
Challenging a Harare magistrate Chrispen Mberewere’s decision to deny her bail, Mubaiwa through her lawyer Silvester Hashiti, said the State will have no problems in extraditing her from South Africa in the event that she crosses the border into South Africa, since her properties were already known and identified.
She also argued that she was not a flight risk, who could be detected by anyone in the event that she decides to leave the court’s jurisdiction. Mubaiwa in her bail appeal argued that the State has no reason to deny her liberty, as the offences it alleges were committed through her companies, where she is only a director.
She said the State was supposed to charge the companies and not her. Mubaiwa also denied ever fraudulently attempting to register her marriage with VP Chiwenga, saying how could she have prejudiced him when they were already in marriage. The State led by Mrs Sharon Fero and Mr Lovett Masuku argues that Mubaiwa was facing serious charges that could earn her at least 25 years in jail or be ordered to repay twice the amount she allegedly prejudiced the State.
Justice Kwenda reserved judgment in her bail appeal.
In her bail application on attempted murder charges, Mubaiwa said the allegations raised against her lack credibility and circumstances surrounding the charges were doubtful. She said the State only has circumstantial evidence as it alleges that the offence was committed when there was no one to witness the incident. Mubaiwa also said with the type of wounds and swells she has, it will be difficult for her to abscond.
She then handed the court pictures showing her wounds. The State led by Mr Lovett Masuka opposed granting her bail arguing that with the information the State has, she was likely to abscond. Although he could not tell when Mubaiwa will be tried, he said the State have overwhelming against her and extra-territorial investigations were still underway.
However, football administrator and businesman Keni Mubaiwa has volunteered to deposit title deeds to his properties at No.102 Seke Road as part of security and part of bail condition. Justice Kwenda also reserved judgment in her bail application.
Sudan Sentences to Death Intelligence Officers Who Killed Teacher During Protest
A Sudanese court has sentenced 29 intelligence officers to death for the torture and killing of a teacher.
Ahmad al-Khair, 36, died in custody in February following his arrest for taking part in protests against then President Omar al-Bashir’s government.
These are the first sentences handed down over the crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the months before Bashir was toppled in April.
The prosecution said the death sentences were a just punishment.
After the sentencing, the judge asked al-Khair’s brother, Sa’d, whether he wanted the 29 men to be pardoned – but he said he wanted them to be executed instead.
A lawyer for the defence said he would appeal.
The court found that Ahmad Al-Khair was beaten and tortured to death by the officers at a detention centre in the eastern state of Kassala.
Under the former President Bashir, Sudan enforced the death penalty, and two people were executed in 2018.
Ahmad Al-Khair’s case drew widespread attention in Sudan, and his killing fuelled the protests against the 75-year-old Bashir. A huge crowd rallied outside the court in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital, Khartoum, to hear the verdict.
At least 170 people were killed during the months-long crackdown against the protest movement. Bashir was eventually overthrown by the military, 30 years after he took power in a coup.
Earlier this month, he was sentenced to two years for corruption. The court ruled that he should serve the sentence in a correctional facility, as he was too old to be in prison.
The corruption case was linked to a $25 million (£19 million) cash payment he received from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Bashir also faces other charges – including some related to the 1989 coup that brought him to power, along with genocide and the killing of protesters.
Bashir claimed the payments were made as part of Sudan’s strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia, and were “not used for private interests but as donations”.
— BBC
Jonathan Moyo Provides Answers To Why Mnangagwa Hasn’t Gone Out Of Zimbabwe?
SELF-EXILED former Zanu-PF propagandist Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that a coup was attempted on President Emmerson Mnangagwa in early November, but it was foiled.
Moyo says it was because of fear of another coup that the President has not chosen to go on an annual leave outside the country.
The President has been at his farm outside Kwekwe over the National Unity and Christmas holidays, before returning to the his official residence in Harare.
Further, Moyo claims the attempted coup cost the job of Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss Aaron Nhepera, who was accused of not reporting on the coup early enough.
The revelations are part of Moyo’s promised threads on Twitter, which he unleashed on New Year’s Eve.
“Mnangagwa has not taken his annual leave & has not been able to leave the country because of a foiled coup in early November. The attempted coup cost Aaron Nhepera his job as CIO Deputy Director General, amid allegations he reported it late & mishandled intelligence on it!
“So Zimbabwe is in a triple crisis: (i) Mnangagwa has no legitimacy & authority to unite & inspire the nation; (ii) worse, he has lost the confidence of the armed forces; & (iii) his government is incapable of reviving the economy, which is now in an irretrievable free fall!”
Government, through information Ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangwana, recently dismissed the coup reports. Mangwana said that President Mnangagwa was unlike his predecessor Robert Mugabe who would go on annual leave in the Far East no matter the economic circumstances back home.
Jonathan Moyo, however, would not disclose who attempted the coup and on which exact date. He also proffered no information on what happened to the coup plotters, or how the State neutralized them.
-Online
ED Insists On Being A Listening President
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday declared that 2020, which begins today, will be the year of higher productivity, economic growth, job creation and satisfying the needs of the people while committing to continue being a listening leader.
Presenting his New Year message at State House in Harare yesterday, he said in the spirit of inclusivity, he will continue to engage Zimbabweans and walk hand in hand with them towards a prosperous nation. “Going forward, 2020 will be the year of higher productivity, economic growth, job creation and satisfying the needs of the people. We cannot live in the past, we can only learn from it. We must craft a future, benefiting from the wisdom of the past,” said President Mnangagwa.
He called on Zimbabweans to shun violence in the new year and those who push for the social ill should be exposed, condemned and rejected.
This is in reference to the violence unleashed by the opposition in January 2019 that resulted in the loss of lives, looting and destruction of property.
“Let us declare that never again shall we lose the precious lives of our fellow countrymen, women and children, for the political or monetary expediency of a few. The prosperity we so desire will be achieved only if we keep moving in unity and with purpose,” said the President.
He said the Government will continue to put in place measures to cushion the vulnerable members of society in both rural and urban areas such as affordable transport, maize meal and other basic commodities, as well as health care.
The President said the welfare of public sector workers will also continue to qualitatively improve.
“The fiscal discipline we have instilled under the Second Republic saw us rein in on the budget deficit. The new trend of budget surpluses will continue and resources therefrom, used to finance more public services such as health care facilities, schools, roads and related projects with a direct impact on the people’s wellbeing,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Resources towards devolution have been increased from the 2019 figure of ZWL720 million to about ZWL3 billion in 2020. The onus is now on the various communities to accelerate the formulation and implementation of high impact projects which transform lives of our people. We must all ensure that our ongoing development drive leaves no one behind. Let us all play a part.”
The journey to entrench a democratic culture in the country, he said, will be accelerated.
“This is right, just and for the good of our people. Hence, the re-alignment of our laws to the Constitution must be completed.
“As your Listening President and a Servant Leader, I will continue engaging with you and listening to your concerns so that we walk hand in hand, together in unity, love, peace and harmony towards a prosperous Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.
“There is indeed, much more to look forward to in the New Year. Tomorrow is a better and brighter day. I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.”
The President reiterated that in the spirit of devolution, unity and national cohesion espoused by the Second Republic, the holding of the main Independence Day Commemorations from this year going forward will be held in various parts of the country.
“Our Independence and freedom is for us all,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar as the country’s mono currency must speedily take root calling on the nation to defend and protect it as a symbol of national pride and sovereignty.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans, through unity and love for one another managed to persevere through the challenges faced in the past year.
“A few months into the year, we sadly experienced the tragic loss of life and property as a result of Cyclone Idai. The nation rallied together and friends stood with us. This, plus a devastating drought in the preceding year, had a negative impact on our economy and caused hardships to our people. We continue to pray for our dear departed compatriots and further seek to comfort and support survivors of this disaster,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The drought similarly restricted our potential to, guarantee food security for our people, sustain our livestock, generate adequate power and improve our healthcare. We endured as a nation and rode the storm against all odds. Painful as it is often the case, we must persevere through this rough but necessary patch on the road to growth and prosperity.”
Zim Threatened By Another Massive Drought
THE World Food Programme (WFP) says the country was facing another famine after the 2020 harvest was hit hard by continued dry spells.
The WFP said it was appealing to the international community to raise over US$200 million to feed more than half the country’s population next year.
“We are ready to step up — but we urgently need the international community to step with us! More than US$200 million is still required for us to feed those in need,” WFP tweeted on Sunday.
The 2018/2019 season in Zimbabwe according to WFP, was affected by one of the worst droughts in recent history which has left about 7,2 million people in need of food aid.
Most parts of the country have received little rain over the past few weeks throwing the farming community, still reeling from last year’s drought, into panic.
Meanwhile, WFP in Zimbabwe recently completed its last cash distribution of 2019, which supported some 19 000 vulnerable residents in Harare’s sub-urban district of Epworth.
Those deemed most food insecure have been receiving monthly cash transfers from WFP since June, as part of an urban pilot project funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, and the EU’s branch of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
But WFP spokesperson, southern Africa, Gerald Bourke recently said about 60% of Zimbabweans, who have been receiving cash, now prefer food due to price hikes. According to a scale used to measure famine, or the gravity of food insecurity, about four million Zimbabweans are not far from famine.
This was the first time WFP provided assistance to an urban area in Zimbabwe.
Next year, WFP will expand its urban assistance programme across eight districts, nationwide. It will continue providing cash-based transfers on a monthly basis, to those who need it most.
As a result of this year’s severe drought, economic downturn and Cyclone Idai, around 7,2 million people were pushed into severe hunger.
Of this total, 2,2 million people live in urban areas. WFP’s revised emergency response plan hopes to provide mobile cash transfers to 200 000 people. Currently, funding for 100 000 has been secured. WFP is seeking funds to assist an additional 100 000 people.
Government last week revealed that it was planning to do cloud seeding early next year to mitigate against drought.
Marry Mubaiwa’s Father Chips In To Save Daughter From Languishing In Prison
Correspondent|Keni Mubaiwa, father to Marry Chiwenga, has gone all the way out for the love of his daughter and offered to surrender title deeds to his upmarket house in Hatfield, Harare as surety in a bid to have her daughter granted bail at the High Court.
Marry, wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was arrested early last month on charges of attempting to murder her husband.
She is also facing separate charges of money laundering, forgery and externalisation.
During her bail applications Tuesday, Mubaiwa came to the rescue of his daughter by offering to deposit title deeds to his properties at No.102 Seke Road in Harare as part of security and bail conditions.
However, Justice Pisirai Kwenda reserved judgement in both bail applications.
Through her lawyers, Marry argued that she was not a flight risk as anyone could identify her when leaving the country.
However, the State led by Lovett Masuku said Marry should not be granted bail as she was facing serious charges that could earn her 25 years in jail.
He said the former model was also likely to abscond adding the State had overwhelming evidence against her and and that extra-territorial investigations were still underway
WATCH: Zanu PF Hooligans Wave ED Regalia At Winky D Show
Video from Bustop TV
World Food Programme Fears For Another Drought In Zimbabwe
THE World Food Programme (WFP) says the country was facing another famine after the 2020 harvest was hit hard by continued dry spells.
The WFP said it was appealing to the international community to raise over US$200 million to feed more than half the country’s population next year.
“We are ready to step up — but we urgently need the international community to step with us! More than US$200 million is still required for us to feed those in need,” WFP tweeted on Sunday.
The 2018/2019 season in Zimbabwe according to WFP, was affected by one of the worst droughts in recent history which has left about 7,2 million people in need of food aid.
Most parts of the country have received little rain over the past few weeks throwing the farming community, still reeling from last year’s drought, into panic.
Meanwhile, WFP in Zimbabwe recently completed its last cash distribution of 2019, which supported some 19 000 vulnerable residents in Harare’s sub-urban district of Epworth.
Those deemed most food insecure have been receiving monthly cash transfers from WFP since June, as part of an urban pilot project funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, and the EU’s branch of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
But WFP spokesperson, southern Africa, Gerald Bourke recently said about 60% of Zimbabweans, who have been receiving cash, now prefer food due to price hikes. According to a scale used to measure famine, or the gravity of food insecurity, about four million Zimbabweans are not far from famine.
This was the first time WFP provided assistance to an urban area in Zimbabwe.
Next year, WFP will expand its urban assistance programme across eight districts, nationwide. It will continue providing cash-based transfers on a monthly basis, to those who need it most.
As a result of this year’s severe drought, economic downturn and Cyclone Idai, around 7,2 million people were pushed into severe hunger.
Of this total, 2,2 million people live in urban areas. WFP’s revised emergency response plan hopes to provide mobile cash transfers to 200 000 people. Currently, funding for 100 000 has been secured. WFP is seeking funds to assist an additional 100 000 people.
Government last week revealed that it was planning to do cloud seeding early next year to mitigate against drought.
South Africa’s Most Wanted Hit Man Apprehended Before He Could Say “I do.”
The suspect, who was apprehended before he could say “I do”, is linked to multiple murders in KwaZulu-Natal.
A suspect involved in multiple taxi related murder cases was on Sunday arrested at his wedding ceremony in Sundumbili, Durban minutes before taking his vows.
Police revealed that their team proceeded to a house at Gcotsheni in Sundumbili where they spotted a group of people chanting and singing inside the rondavel.
Suspected hitman’s guards open fire on cops
They said as soon they approached the rondavel, they were met by a hail of bullets.
“Following a shootout, police entered the house and two suspects were arrested after they were found in possession of two revolvers with 16 rounds of ammunition. They were detained for being in illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.”
“A further search was conducted at the premises and an additional six firearms where seized by police. The main suspect fled the scene during the shootout with his accomplices. The two suspects aged 24 and 29 are appearing at the Nyoni Magistrates Court Monday.” said a statement issued by police.
“The team returned to the same homestead in the evening and found the suspect who fled the scene in the morning, busy at his wedding ceremony about to take his wedding vows. The 37-year-old suspect was then placed under arrest.”
According to police, the suspect is also linked to another murder committed in June 2019 at Mandeni.
“It is alleged that on 14 June 2019 at 20:20, Siyabonga Mbonambi (53) who was a taxi owner, was at a service station in Mandeni when two suspects alighted from a vehicle and opened fire at him. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead at the scene.”
“A case of murder was opened at Mandeni SAPS for further investigation. The arrested suspect is also linked to other taxi related cases committed in Mandeni and surrounding areas. He will appear at the Nyoni Magistrates Court today.”
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula hailed the team for the recovery of the eight firearms and for the suspect’s arrest.
“We will endeavour with all the resources available to us to apprehend those involved in criminal activities within the taxi industry.” he added.
Govt Hospital Fees Shoot Up From Today
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has reviewed hospital fees with effect from 1 January 2020.
This was announced by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Agnes Mahomva in a statement on Tuesday.
She said the decision to increase the fees was reached after taking into consideration the plight of the general populace, as well as the inflationary environment currently prevailing.
Some of the adjustments are as follows:
At Parirenyatwa Hospital, adults will pay $200.00 while children below the age of 5 will pay $100.00 in the General Ward, while at Central Hospitals the fees will be $160.00 & $80.00, at Provincial Hospitals – $120.00 & $60, and at District/General Hospitals the fees will be $80.00 & $40.00 for adults and children respectively.
Maternity Ward
– Ante-natal, General Ward per day: Parirenyatwa Hospital – $200.00; Central Hospitals – $160.00; Provincial Hospitals – $120.00; District/General Hospitals – $80.00
– Post-natal, General Ward per day: Parirenyatwa Hospital – $200.00; Central Hospitals – $160.00; Provincial Hospitals – $120.00; District/General Hospitals – $80.00.
– Caesarian: Parirenyatwa Hospital – $2 500.00; Central Hospitals – $2 500.00; Provincial Hospitals – $1 500.00; District/General Hospitals – $1 000.
– Normal Vertex Delivery – Parirenyatwa Hospital – $600.00; Central Hospitals – $600.00; Provincial Hospitals – $360.00; District/General Hospitals – $240.00
— Pindula
New Year’s Day Celebrators Spray Bullets Into Joburg Restaurant Killing Two Innocent People
It was a bloody start to 2020 as two women were killed and six people injured in a drive-by shooting in Melville, Johannesburg, in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Patrons at a restaurant on the corner of 2nd and 7th Avenue were sprayed with bullets just after 1am.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said a BMW SUV approached from 7th Avenue and “suddenly, multiple shots were allegedly fired from the BMW at patrons who were sitting outside the restaurant.
“Eight people were shot, two of whom were declared dead on the scene, while six were rushed to nearby hospitals with two of the six in a critical condition.”
Peters said the deceased women were aged between 30 and 40.
Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects and appealed for help to identify them.
“Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspects, is urged to report to the police by calling the crime stop number 08600 10111 or by giving a tip-off on the MySAPS app, anonymously if they so choose,” said Peters.
Two cases of murder and six attempted murder cases are being investigated.
No arrests have been made.
Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela condemned the incident which marred New Year’s celebrations by revellers in Johannesburg.
Citizen
“I Volunteered To Leave Uganda,” Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Own Correspondent|South African musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka said she decided not to perform in Uganda on Tuesday on her own volition and not because she was deported.
Chaka Chaka was in that country to perform at a New Year’s Eve concert.
Authorities in Kampala released a video on Twitter saying Chaka Chaka had been sent back to South Africa because she had the incorrect visa.
However, in a 40-second video clip uploaded on Twitter by Chaka Chaka, she told South Africans she was fine and left of her own accord.
She said she cancelled her performance and that she was not detained nor deported.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1241988569330591&id=150154425045764
“I took a decision not to appear because there were just too many things I could not understand or explain.”
She also tweeted an image of her business-class ticket as proof that she was not deported.
Aston Villa Hunting For Another Midfielder
Former Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater is reportedly on top of English Premier League side Aston Villa’s wish list for the January transfer window.
The 29-year-old Chelsea man, who is currently on loan at Burnely, is wanted by the Birmingham-based side to strengthen their defensive midfield, which consists of Zimbabwe international midfielder Marvelous Nakamba and John McGinn.
According to Sky Sports, the close relationship between Villa assistant coach John Terry and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard will most likely come in handy in ensuring that the deal goes through.
Dean Smith’s men are struggling in the English top division and currently languishing in the relegation zone and some new additions in the upcoming transfer window might be essential.
Another Big Loss For Highlanders On The Horizon
State Media|REIGNING Goalkeeper of the Year Ariel Sibanda might not don the Highlanders jersey next year as interest for Zimbabwean football players continues to increase outside the borders ahead of the 2020 calendar year.
It has emerged that Sibanda, who has been the inspiration behind Highlanders in the last few seasons, is on the radar of Mozambican giants Ferroviario de Maputo.
The Mozambican side are also interested in Black Rhinos forward Francisco Zekumbawire, while Soccer Star of the Year first finalists Ralph Kawondera and Ian Nekati are also wanted in the region.
Zambian side Buildcon, who are also interested in signing Soccer Star of the Year Joel Ngodzo, have been monitoring Nekati while Kawondera, who had a memorable season, with Triangle has attracted the interests of ambitious Tanzanian outfit Azam and St Georges of Ethiopia.
Sources said negotiations are set to start after the New Year holiday.
Efforts to get a comment from intermediary George Deda, who represents most of these clubs in Zimbabwe, were fruitless as he has been hospitalised for the past two weeks.
Sibanda, who has won the Castle Lager Premiership Goalkeeper of the Year accolade in the last two seasons, has been with Highlanders for the past decade and could be interested in winding up his career elsewhere.
He kept 15 clean sheets for Highlanders in the just-ended 2019 season and was the natural choice for the best goalkeeper of the year.
Ferroviario, who have won 18 Mozambican league titles, wants experience as they look to fight back to the top in their league.
The side last won the title in 2015. They finished third last year and second in 2018.
Sibanda, who turns 31 this month, however, still has a year remaining on his contract with Highlanders.
Ferroviario have been home to another Zimbabwean goalkeeper Willard Manyatera for a long time.
Two other Soccer Star of the Year finalists Kawondera and Nekati confirmed receiving offers from the region.
Nekati, who is still in his rural home in Mhondoro for the holidays, said he is yet to make a decision on his future following the expiry of his contract with ZPC Kariba this week.
The 30-year-old made his debut late with the Warriors when he featured in the right back position during the CHAN, AFCON and World Cup qualifiers and acquitted himself well.
His former club FC Platinum are also believed to mooting to sign him back.
“Yes, I have received some offers from various clubs, but I haven’t decided on my next step yet. Right now I am still on holiday and I will probably start looking at that after the New Year holiday.
“But I would need to look at all the offers on the table and then decide on what is best for my career. Given a choice, I want local,” said Nekati.
Soccer Star of the Year first runner-up Kawondera has already received a tantalising offer from domestic champions FC Platinum. But Zambian moneybags Buildcon are also on his trail along with Azam, St George’s and some unnamed South African Division One clubs.
Kawondera’s contract with Triangle expired yesterday.
“I can confirm the offers have been coming, but I will not rush myself into entering any deal without looking at what it will bring into my career.
“I think the next few weeks will be busy for me,” said Kawondera.
Meanwhile, Dynamos yesterday signed another unknown quantity Lenox Mutsetse in their rebuilding exercise.
They have so far announced the return of defender Partson Jaure and the signing of Nkhosi Mhlanga and unheralded 19-year-old ex-Prince Edward pupil Tanaka Chidhobha.
Knowledge Musona Quits Anderlecht After A Very Difficult Spell At The Club
Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona is reportedly on his way out of Anderlecht in the just opened January transfer window amid interest from several clubs including some ABSA Premiership sides.
The 29-year-old, who is a household name in the South African top division due to his exploits at Kaizer Chiefs previously, has had a nightmarish stint at the Belgian giants, making just 10 appearances since joined in May 2018, none of them this season.
According to Belgian publication Nieuwsblad, Musona is among the 10 players Anderlecht want to sell in January to raise some funds and recover part of the €21 million they spent on them.
The publication further alleges that South African clubs (unnamed) have knocked the Anderlecht door for Musona but they have been priced out by his wages.
The Pains Of Being A Father, Ken Mubaiwa Offers His Upmarket House For Marry’s Bail
Correspondent|Keni Mubaiwa, father to Marry Chiwenga, has gone all the way out for the love of his daughter and offered to surrender title deeds to his upmarket house in Hatfield, Harare as surety in a bid to have her daughter granted bail at the High Court.
Marry, wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was arrested early last month on charges of attempting to murder her husband.
She is also facing separate charges of money laundering, forgery and externalisation.
During her bail applications Tuesday, Mubaiwa came to the rescue of his daughter by offering to deposit title deeds to his properties at No.102 Seke Road in Harare as part of security and bail conditions.
However, Justice Pisirai Kwenda reserved judgement in both bail applications.
Through her lawyers, Marry argued that she was not a flight risk as anyone could identify her when leaving the country.
However, the State led by Lovett Masuku said Marry should not be granted bail as she was facing serious charges that could earn her 25 years in jail.
He said the former model was also likely to abscond adding the State had overwhelming evidence against her and and that extra-territorial investigations were still underway.
Was Winky D Mocking Govt With His Outfit At “Njema” Album Launch
Own Correspondent|Winky D last night into early this morning, launched his controversial album Njema at a fully subscribed Harare International Conference Centre.
The vibrant musician took to the stage wearing a signature red and white jersey ( same as the ZPCS’s prison garb) which left fans believing that he was sarcastically suggesting the nation is under arrest from government.
The album is titled Njema which is Shona slang for handcuffs.
Winky D before his album was launched was in a bit of trouble with the authorities after they reportedly banned state-controlled radio stations from playing his new album an allegation they denied.
WATCH: Twabam Says Empty Your Bank Account, Buy Me A Private Jet For God To Bless You
By A Correspondent| Church Materialist, Passion Java has told his congregants they must empty their bank accounts in order for God to make them successful.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Speaking during his televised church sermon on the night of the 31st of December the preacher told people they must off load every penny that is in their bank accounts for them to experience what he termed and the power of seeding.
His church programme was conducted under the powerful hypnotic sound of 8D music.
The development comes shortly after he uploaded another video of himself telling people that they must think and act stupid for them to be successful.
He said, ” it is the HEART that cries, I want to give 2 million[dollars]…I want to give a jet to Prophet Java. When you say I want to give, that’s the heart that attracts the seed…. God gives seed to the sower…. You continue to give until God gives you the gift of giving,” he said.
He continued by asking, “When I am holding a seed what will be in my hand? A forest…
“Many of us we eat the seed…. the reason why I will empty my account is because I know the power of seeding.”
“She Cannot Pass Through Any Point Without Detection,” Marry Chiwenga Lawyer Pleads For Her Freedom.
Own Correspondent|Lawyers representing wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga have pleaded with the High Court to release her on bail as she is not a flight risk of any nature.
This emerged in the High Court yesterday during Mubaiwa’s bail appeal in the matter in which she is facing foreign currency externalisation, money laundering and fraud charges.
The bail appeal was brought before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, who also heard Mubaiwa’s bail application on attempted murder charges.
Challenging Harare magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere’s decision to deny her bail, Mubaiwa’s lawyer Sylvester Hashiti said the State would have no problems extraditing her from South Africa in the event that she crossed the border, since her properties were already identified.
He argued that Mubaiwa was not a flight risk and could be recognised by anyone in the event that she decided to leave the court’s jurisdiction.
“The court a quo failed to deal with compelling reasons as to why appellant was not a proper candidate for bail,” said Mr Hashiti. “She is not a flight risk as she is not a stranger to anyone.
“She cannot pass through any point without detection. She is a mother to four minor children with strong ties to this jurisdiction which are documented. The properties in South Africa have already been identified and on that basis she can be extradited and brought back home.”
Mubaiwa, in her bail appeal, argued that the State had no reason to deny her liberty, as the offences it alleged were committed through her companies, where she was only a director.
She said the State was supposed to charge the companies and not her.
Mubaiwa denied ever fraudulently attempting to register her marriage with VP Chiwenga, saying she could not have prejudiced him when they were already in a marriage.
She said that there was no way she could interfere with witnesses as some of them occupied high offices, including the Judge President of the High Court.
The State led by Mrs Sharon Fero and Mr Lovett Masuka, in its response, argued that Mubaiwa was facing serious charges that could earn her at least 25 years in jail or being ordered to repay twice the amount she allegedly prejudiced the State.
“The appellant was a shareholder and director of the companies and she was clearly the person who directed movements of funds,” said Mrs Fero.
“It will be the choice of the State to jointly charge her with the companies, but at this time in point it is clear that allegations warrant a remand. The State also managed to establish a reconcilable charge of money laundering and the offences seem to be well calculated and well planned.”
Justice Kwenda reserved judgment in the bail appeal.
In her bail application on attempted murder charges, Mubaiwa said the allegations against her lacked credibility and circumstances surrounding the charges were doubtful.
She said since the State alleged that the offence was committed when no one was present, there was no circumstantial evidence.
Mubaiwa said with the type of wounds and swelling she had, it would be difficult for her to abscond.
Mr Hashiti then handed the court pictures showing her wounds.
The accused’s father Mr Keni Mubaiwa volunteered to deposit title deeds to his property at No.102 Seke Road as part of his daughter’s security and bail conditions.
Justice Kwenda reserved judgment in the bail application, meaning she will spend more time in remand prison.
“This Year Will Be Better,” Mnangagwa
State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday declared that 2020, which begins today, will be the year of higher productivity, economic growth, job creation and satisfying the needs of the people while committing to continue being a listening leader.
Presenting his New Year message at State House in Harare yesterday, he said in the spirit of inclusivity, he will continue to engage Zimbabweans and walk hand in hand with them towards a prosperous nation. “Going forward, 2020 will be the year of higher productivity, economic growth, job creation and satisfying the needs of the people. We cannot live in the past, we can only learn from it. We must craft a future, benefiting from the wisdom of the past,” said President Mnangagwa.
He called on Zimbabweans to shun violence in the new year and those who push for the social ill should be exposed, condemned and rejected.
This is in reference to the violence unleashed by the opposition in January 2019 that resulted in the loss of lives, looting and destruction of property.
“Let us declare that never again shall we lose the precious lives of our fellow countrymen, women and children, for the political or monetary expediency of a few. The prosperity we so desire will be achieved only if we keep moving in unity and with purpose,” said the President.
He said the Government will continue to put in place measures to cushion the vulnerable members of society in both rural and urban areas such as affordable transport, maize meal and other basic commodities, as well as health care.
The President said the welfare of public sector workers will also continue to qualitatively improve.
“The fiscal discipline we have instilled under the Second Republic saw us rein in on the budget deficit. The new trend of budget surpluses will continue and resources therefrom, used to finance more public services such as health care facilities, schools, roads and related projects with a direct impact on the people’s wellbeing,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Resources towards devolution have been increased from the 2019 figure of ZWL720 million to about ZWL3 billion in 2020. The onus is now on the various communities to accelerate the formulation and implementation of high impact projects which transform lives of our people. We must all ensure that our ongoing development drive leaves no one behind. Let us all play a part.”
The journey to entrench a democratic culture in the country, he said, will be accelerated.
“This is right, just and for the good of our people. Hence, the re-alignment of our laws to the Constitution must be completed.
“As your Listening President and a Servant Leader, I will continue engaging with you and listening to your concerns so that we walk hand in hand, together in unity, love, peace and harmony towards a prosperous Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.
“There is indeed, much more to look forward to in the New Year. Tomorrow is a better and brighter day. I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.”
The President reiterated that in the spirit of devolution, unity and national cohesion espoused by the Second Republic, the holding of the main Independence Day Commemorations from this year going forward will be held in various parts of the country.
“Our Independence and freedom is for us all,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar as the country’s mono currency must speedily take root calling on the nation to defend and protect it as a symbol of national pride and sovereignty.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans, through unity and love for one another managed to persevere through the challenges faced in the past year.
“A few months into the year, we sadly experienced the tragic loss of life and property as a result of Cyclone Idai. The nation rallied together and friends stood with us. This, plus a devastating drought in the preceding year, had a negative impact on our economy and caused hardships to our people. We continue to pray for our dear departed compatriots and further seek to comfort and support survivors of this disaster,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The drought similarly restricted our potential to, guarantee food security for our people, sustain our livestock, generate adequate power and improve our healthcare. We endured as a nation and rode the storm against all odds. Painful as it is often the case, we must persevere through this rough but necessary patch on the road to growth and prosperity.”
Gweru Closes 2019 In Style
Correspondent|The City of Gweru came live on New Year’s Eve with local model and presenter Miss Red took the town’s night lovers through the last night of 2019 into 2020.
A huge number of the city’s residents filled up the Pabloz Chill Spot as early as 8pm for the all night gig.
Pabloz Gweru is a night joint most frequented by the City’s elite and last night they shut the year in Hollywood style.
Mnangagwa’s 2020 Vision
State Media|The country’s focus in 2020 should be on increased productivity, economic growth and job creation for the betterment of people’s livelihoods, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his New Year message delivered at State House yesterday, the President said the country experienced several challenges such as destruction and deaths brought by Cyclone Idai and drought, but thanked Zimbabweans for their unity in facing the challenges.
“We endured as a nation and rode the storm against all odds,” he said.
“Painful as it is often the case, we must persevere through this rough, but necessary patch on the road to growth and prosperity.
“Going forward, 2020 will be the year of higher productivity, economic growth, job creation and satisfying the needs of the people.
We cannot live in the past, we can only learn from it.
We must craft a future, benefiting from the wisdom of the past.”
President Mnangagwa said Government would continue with policies to protect vulnerable groups in both rural and urban areas.
Focus would be on the provision of affordable transport, maize-meal and other basic commodities, as well as healthcare, he said.
The welfare of public sector workers would also continue to qualitatively improve.
“The fiscal discipline we have instilled under the Second Republic saw us rein in the Budget deficit,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The new trend of Budget surpluses will continue and resources there-from used to finance more public services such as healthcare facilities, schools, roads and related projects with a direct impact on the people’s well-being.”
On the policy of devolution,
President Mnangagwa said Government had increased the budget for the programme from $720 million in 2019 to $3 billion this year and urged communities to come up with development projects for their areas.
“The onus is now on the various communities to accelerate the formulation and implementation of high impact projects which transform lives of our people,” he said.
“We must all ensure that our ongoing development drive leaves no one behind.
Let us all play a part.
“In this new spirit of devolution, unity and national cohesion espoused by the Second Republic we will, in 2020 and the years to follow, be holding our main National Independence Day commemorations in various parts of the country, away from our capital city, Harare. Our Independence and freedom is for us all.”
The President urged Zimbabweans to shun violence in the year ahead, saying those that instigated it should be exposed and condemned.
“Let us declare that never again shall we lose the precious lives of our fellow countrymen, women and children, for the political or monetary expediency of a few,” he said.
“The prosperity we so desire will be achieved only if we keep moving in unity and with purpose.”
President Mnangagwa thanked Zimbabweans for the unity and patriotism they exhibited last year.
“Over the year, we have continuously displayed patriotism and concern for the welfare and well-being of each other,” he said.
“Indeed, our strength lies in the unity and love for one another. Our faith, goodness, perseverance and ability to rise above any difficulties as Zimbabweans, has brought us thus far.”
President Mnangagwa said there would be no going back on the local currency, adding that Government would continue implementing economic and political reforms for the good of the country’s citizens.
“Meanwhile, our currency, the Zimbabwe dollar introduced during the last quarter of the year, must speedily take root,” he said.
“There is no going back on mono currency.
Let us individually and collectively defend and protect it as our symbol of national pride and sovereignty.
“The journey to entrench the democratic culture we have begun will be accelerated.
This is right, just and for the good of our people.
“Hence, the realignment of our laws to the Constitution must be completed.
“As your listening President and a servant leader, I will continue engaging with you and listening to your concerns so that we walk hand-in-hand together in unity, love, peace and harmony towards a prosperous Zimbabwe.”
Parliament Adjourns Until February
Parliament adjourned last week, with the National Assembly passing many Bills that are in line with Government’s reform agenda.
Some of the laws passed included the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA), Companies and Other Entities Act, Consumer Protection Act and Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) Bill.
MOPA repealed the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and provides mechanisms to regulate the conduct of demonstrations.
It also opens up democratic space protecting everyone’s rights.
The Companies and Other Entities Act makes the ease of doing business much easier by modernising the 1951 legislation.
Parliament also passed the Microfinance Amendment Act which reduces the types of institutions that can do microfinance business to credit-only micro financiers and deposit-taking micro financiers, omitting money-lenders.
The Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency Bill, which is designed to attract the much-needed foreign direct investment, is modelled along success stories in other countries like Rwanda and Botswana.
The ZIDA Bill is in line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, which is underpinned by the call to undertake structural reform measures to mitigate the challenges and risks faced by the economy, in particular, the low investment due to perceived bad laws.
It combines the mandates of three existing pieces of legislation that deal with investment, namely the Zimbabwe Investment Authority Act, the Special Economic Zones Act and the Joint Ventures Act, into one.
The Consumer Protection Bill is expected to provide for the establishment and functions of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), whose principal role is to protect the rights of consumers.
Functions of the CPA will be centred on the protection of consumers from unjust, unreasonable, improper and unacceptable, deceptive, unfair and fraudulent trading practices.
The agency shall also promote fair business practices by coordinating and networking consumer activities.
When Parliament adjourned for the festive season, it was considering the Marriages Bill, the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and the Freedom of Information of Bill.
Parliament will resume sitting on February 11.
Chamisa Gives Message Of Hope In 2020
MDC president Nelson Chamisa has issued a statement on New Year’s eve, encouraging the nation and to be hopeful for better things in 2020. He posted the statement on his Twitter handle on Tuesday evening. The statement read:
In 2019 we have known pain, loss, devastation, struggle and tears.We also fought and celebrated the resilience of a nation whose best is yet to come. We thank God for grace.Thank you for all the encouragement. May 2020 bring opportunity, hope and happiness.
I know the hurts, setbacks, pain and despair of you have had to endure in 2019 but we have now entered a new decade, a decade of surprises, transformational changes. 2020 is a year of GREAT CHANGE in Zimbabwe. We are all in it. Eyes on the ball. #Godisinit
Festive Season Death Toll Hits 91
At least 91 people perished while 414 others were injured in 1 141 road accidents which have so far occurred this festive season, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said.
In a statement, the ZRP said the major causes of these accidents were speeding, reversing errors and inattention, among others.
National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the number of road accidents for this year dropped, compared to that of 2018, however the total number of deaths remained the same.
“A total of 1 141 road traffic accidents were recorded during the period extending from December 15 to 29, 2019. Of these, 63 were fatal and claimed 91 lives while 414 were injured.
“The major causes of the accidents were speeding, reversing errors, following too close and inattention,” he said.
Last year during the same period, 1605 road traffic accidents occurred of which 67 of these were fatal compared to 1 141 recorded this year with 63 of them being fatal. In the same period last year, 621 people were injured while 414 were injured this year, in both cases, 91 people perished.
Meanwhile, the police has released names of the three people who perished in a road accident at the 221 kilometre peg along Harare Bulawayo Road, at the Redcliff-Kwekwe blind rise over the weekend. They are, Simon Zimbangu Mukunzve (53), Pamela Zimbangu (17) and Primrose Zimbangu (10) all from ZRP Rose Camp in Bulawayo.
Ass-Comm Nyathi implored all road users to be considerate and responsible on the roads to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
“As we prepare for the New-Year, let us be responsible and considerate on the roads. Drivers should safeguard lives and avoid overtaking in situations which are not conducive, they should not speed and above all should comply with set road rules and regulations.
“Motorists should not be overexcited as they drive on the highways. Public service vehicles should not over-load and be exemplary on the roads,” he said.
WATCH: Winky D On Stage Campaigning For Struggling Zimbabweans?
Dancehall lion, Winky D shocked Zimbabweans last night when he appeared on stage in prison garb.
The choice of outfit was likely for the purpose of conveying a strong message against the regime, some analysts said. Others said it was a direct slap on the state over the ongoing prosecution of Gen Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Marry.
Thus same Marry Mubaiwa case epitomises what every other Zimbabwean is suffering from under the government which keeps changing laws and violating them at the same time, analyst Kudakwashe Dube said.
Journalist Hopewell Chon’ono said, that is the uniform worn by prisoners in Zimbabwe.
A metaphor that citizens are prisoners & the country has become a giant prison! #Njema is slang for handcuffs! The citizens have been handcuffed by tyranny, corruption, LOOTING, mismanagement and clan based nepotism.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW
There Was A Coup Attempt Against Mnangagwa In Nov, Jonso Says
The exiled Professor Jonathan Moyo has alleged that there was a coup attempt against Emmerson Mnangagwa in November 2019.
What he wrote appeared to confirm a ZimEye investigation that questioned why Mnangagwa has not taken his annual leave ever since the day his deputy Constantino Chiwenga returned to Zimbabwe, and responding to this, the government spokesman Nick Mangwana has said his boss decided in his own when he goes for vacation.
Meanwhile, writing up his December 31 Twitter thread Jonathan Moyo said Mnangagwa was not on holiday because of an attempted coup that supposedly happened in early November.
He said:
14/24 Mnangagwa has not taken his annual leave & has not been able to leave the country because of a foiled coup in early November. The attempted coup cost Aaron Nhepera his job as CIO Deputy Director General, amid allegations he reported it late & mishandled intelligence on it!
…16/24 So Zimbabwe is in a triple crisis: (i) Mnangagwa has no legitimacy & authority to unite & inspire the nation; (ii) worse, he has lost the confidence of the armed forces; & (iii) his government is incapable of reviving the economy, which is now in an irretrievable free fall!
Yvonne Chaka Chaka Kicked Out From Performing In Uganda For Calling Bobi Wine The Next Nelson Mandela
Own Correspondent|Celebrated South African musician and global children’s ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka has been deported from Uganda, where she was set to perform at a concert ushering in the new year, according to local media reports.
Chaka Chaka was set to perform at a concert organised by the king of Buganda kingdom, which has been previously headlined by opposition lawmaker Bobi Wine.
Bobi Wine, who is a fierce critic of president Yoweri Museveni has been reportedly described as ‘the next Mandela’ by Chaka Chaka.
The police spokesperson Fred Enanga explained that Chaka Chaka had entered the country using a wrong visa, and was consequently deported.
‘‘An ordinary visa can’t allow her to perform in any income generating activity,’‘ Enanga told local media.
According to the police, Chaka Chaka should have flown in on a working visa.
Ugandans have reacted angrily to news of the deportation describing it as a new low for Museveni’s government.
Mnangagwa Snubs Mashonaland West For The Third Time, Where Is His Problem With The Province?
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly cancelled his Mashonaland Central visit for the third time this year after he was scheduled to commission Pembi Bridge in Mvurwi last week.
Zanu PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairperson Kazembe Kazembe confirmed the incident saying he was called by the ministry of transport postponing the visit to a later date.
“We were expecting His Excellency in the province and preparations were at an advanced stage as we had a successful mobilization meeting people were so excited to host the president and everyone was working tirelessly with the preparations, but l received a call from the Ministry of Transport saying HE’s schedule is so tight that he advised let us move the commissioning to after holiday on the date to be advised,” said Kazembe.
Mnangagwa only visited Mashonaland Central once to grace Bindura University of Science Education graduation ceremony and has been postponing his rallies in the province due to poor turnout despite scooping all the eighteen parliamentarian seats in the province.Meanwhile, the completion of Pembi bridge months ago has divided Zanu PF supporters who are fighting over who should take credit between Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga and her predecessor Martin Dinha.
The bridge which is just before Mvurwi town replaced the narrow and now dilapidated bridge constructed in 1977 which had become a black spot for motorists.
However reports are that its official opening was being delayed due to factionalism in Zanu PF camp.
“All is not well in the province there is a lot of fighting and people are jostling for positions ahead of the looming District Coordinating Committee (DCC) hence a lot of people are sabotaging the party and as you know Mash Central is the backbone of Zanu pf the leadership is afraid of dissolving the province as that will creat more harm than good,” said a source who declined to be named.
Source – Stephen Jakes
Yvonne Chaka Chaka: I’ve Not Been Deported
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ED Promises A Better 2020
President Emmerson Mnangagwa today promised higher productivity, economic growth and job creation in the coming year adding that there will be no going back on the Zimbabwe dollar as the country’s sole currency for trading locally.
In his New Year message, Mnangagwa said people should not live in the past but must learn from it.
“We must craft a future, benefitting from the wisdom of the past. Therefore, in this coming year, let us all shun violence. Those that propagate violence must be exposed condemned and rejected,” he said.
“Let us declare that never again shall we lose the precious lives of our fellow countrymen, women and children for the political or monetary expedience of a few. The prosperity we so desire will be achieved only if we keep moving in unity and with purpose.”
2019 kicked off with violence as people went on the rampage protesting against fuel price increases. There was massive looting and at least a dozen people were killed.
Hundreds more lost their lives, or disappeared never to be found, after Cyclone Idai hit Chimanimani and Chipinge in Manicaland.
Mnangagwa also said there is no going back on the Zimbabwe dollar which was reintroduced this year.
“Our own currency, the Zim dollar introduced during the last quarter of the year must speedily take root. There is no going back on the mono currency. Let us individually and collectively defend and protect it as our symbol of national pride and sovereignty,” he said.
Although the currency seems to have stabilized on the interbank market, there have been complaints that the interbank market is not as free as it should be.
There have been reports of disharmony between central bank governor John Mangudya and Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.
Julius Malema’s Tough New Year Message To South Africans – “We Don’t Want You To Die.”
Julius Malema has done away with the usual niceties and opted for a stern New Year’s message
The EFF leader urged Mzansi to enjoy the festivities responsibly in his speech to mark the occasion
The politician clearly wants South Africa to survive beyond tonight’s celebrations
Julius Malema wants Mzansi to live long enough to see 2020, according to his New Year’s address.
In a stern message to his supporters, the Economic Freedom Fighter cautioned against reckless behaviour:
“We call upon all of you who are travelling to be safe, to not speed, to not drink and drive. When you drink and drive you are already intending to kill someone on the road.”
Being a responsible citizen, according to Malema, is a way of practising self-love at a time where it’s easy to get carried away.
Parents were urged to keep a watchful eye over their children and the youth were advised to steer clear of illicit substances:
“We don’t want you to die out of being irresponsible. We want you to live long to realise economic freedom in our lifetime.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VTjsBCqMj8
The Red Beret founder warned against making reckless financial decisions as well, taking a jab at those who were too eager to party their pay away:
“Next year is going to be a crisis for you and your family and you will be irritating us with social media statuses which say ‘when days are dark, friends are few’. When it was you, out off dancing to music and festivities, you acted in a manner that is unacceptable. Remember January is still coming, you have to pay the rent, you have to pay the fees. Have that at the back of your mind as you go.”
LIVE- WINKY D SHOW GOES AHEAD AS ZIMBABWEANS ACROSS THE WORLD CELEBRATE
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Once Fiery Omar al-Bashir Sentenced To Two Years In Prison
Sudanese court found former President Omar al-Bashir with crimes money laundering and corruption, and sentenced to serve two years in prison.
This is the first decision was decided in a series of court charges against al-Bashir, who Criminal Court ICC World sought on war crimes and genocide in connection with the violence that occurred in Darfur in 2000.
The decision comes a year after protesters in Sudan began revolting against al-Bashir’s government. After more than 30 years in power, Sudan has been listed by the United States as a sponsor of international terrorism, and the country’s economy has been decayed for years due to inadequate operations. and US sanctions against the country.
Al-Bashir has been in custody since April, when the army overthrew his government following months of protests across the country. Gradual conflicts and instability forced the treaty of government between the military and civilian.
The trial for corruption of ousted president Omar El-Bashir, in power for three decades, opened on Monday in Sudan, where the process of transition to civilian power is still awaiting its first concrete act with the appointment of members of the sovereign council.
The former head of state, deposed by the army on April 11 in response to mass protests, arrived in the morning before a court in Khartoum, escorted by an imposing military convoy, found an AFP journalist. .
Omar El-Béchir, 75, detained in a Khartoum prison, was informed by the prosecution that he was facing charges of “possession of foreign currency, corruption” and trading in influence.
The trial of the former president was to begin on Saturday, the day of the signing of a historic transition agreement between the Military Council in power since April and the dispute. But it had been postponed indefinitely.
Brigadier Ahmed Ali, the investigative officer, told the court that Mr. Béchir had received $ 90 million from the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In late April, the head of the Transitional Military Council, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhane, said that the equivalent of more than $ 113 million had been seized in cash from the ex-president’s residence in Khartoum.
In May, the attorney general also said that Mr. Bashir had been charged with murders during anti-regime protests that led to his ouster, without knowing when he will be charged with the charge.
International arrest warrants
Amnesty International warned last week that his corruption trial should not distract from the heavier charges he faces in The Hague.