Operation Save Dumbo: Charity workers rescue two baby elephants from certain death in Zimbabwe… and just look at them now!
Lost, alone and having suffered life-threatening injuries in the drought-ravaged savannah, the future seemed bleak for these two orphaned baby elephants.
Kadiki had been attacked by a lion when only a day old, suffering deep claw wounds to her trunk and terrible damage to her tail. She was so young, she had not yet been fed by her mother.
In a separate incident in the searing heat of Zimbabwe, one-month-old Bumi had somehow got stuck among rocks and suffered severe sunburn. Usually, elephant calves are shaded by their mothers.
One-month-old Bumi had somehow got stuck among rocks and suffered severe sunburn before he was taken in by veteran animal rescuer Roxy Danckwerts, 53. Pictured: Bumi on board a rescue planeLabour of love: Ms Danckwerts tends stricken Kadiki. Kadiki had been attacked by a lion when only a day old, suffering deep claw wounds to her trunk and terrible damage to her tail
Luckily, rescuers found them and now their survival against the odds – chronicled in these charming images – can be trumpeted.
Kadiki and Bumi were taken in by veteran animal rescuer Roxy Danckwerts, 53, founder of the Wild Is Life charity and its Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery (ZEN), the country’s only baby elephant sanctuary.
Since the calves were airlifted to the International Fund for Animal Welfare-supported nursery near Harare, she and her team have stayed by their side.
On the mend: A helper holds the drip as Kadiki, whose name means ‘the little one’ in the local Shona language, takes a strollStaff at the nursery say Bumi is now ‘almost unrecognisable’ from his arrivalHe has developed a mischievous personality and loves playing with tyresMs Danckwerts (pictured with Kadiki), who has rescued more than 20 elephants in the past five years, said: ‘Elephants are highly intelligent, with physical and emotional needs unparalleled in other mammals’
Kadiki, whose name means ‘the little one’ in the local Shona language, has had surgery to amputate part of her tail and treatment to her trunk. Now around ten days old, she is well enough to walk about again despite being on a drip.
As for Bumi, staff at the nursery say he is now ‘almost unrecognisable’ from his arrival, has developed a mischievous personality and loves playing with tyres.
It is not known what happened to their mothers. As well as drought, calves can end up alone or injured due to poaching, falling into ditches, getting separated from herds or predator attacks, the IFAW says.
Ms Danckwerts, who has rescued more than 20 elephants in the past five years, said: ‘Elephants are highly intelligent, with physical and emotional needs unparalleled in other mammals.
‘Big picture conservation is terribly important. Working with IFAW we are making this happen and I’m happy we can together create a legacy of long-term protection.’
It is not known what happened to their mothers. As well as drought, calves can end up alone or injured due to poaching, falling into ditches, getting separated from herds or predator attacks, the IFAW says. Pictured: Kadiki (left) and Bumi (right)Since the calves were airlifted to the International Fund for Animal Welfare-supported nursery near Harare, Ms Danckwerts and her team have stayed by their side. Pictured: Bumi
She hopes that Moyo, the first orphan elephant she rescued, will be able to act as a mother to Kadiki and Bumi, who may be there for two years before being transported to Panda-Masuie, a forest reserve near Victoria Falls to prepare for integration into wild herds. Jimmiel Mandima of IFAW said: ‘The progress made by very traumatised and damaged elephants shows the incredible relationships between animals and humans and why it is important to give them a chance to thrive.
‘The location of the Panda-Masuie reserve opens up a safe corridor for both rescued elephants and wild herds. The presence of keepers and rangers disrupts traditional poaching routes, from Zambia down to Botswana, and further safeguards these and other animals.’
Own Correspondent|A boy was forced to change his T-shirt with a picture of a snake on it before boarding a plane, his family claims.
The 10-year-old Stevie Lucas had flown from Wellington, New Zealand, to Johannesburg in South Africa to visit his grandparents when the incident occurred.
At OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, he was told that his black T-shirt, which had a large green snake printed on it, was not permissible clothing to be worn onboard on a flight.
Stevie’s parents Steve and Marga told the Daily Mail that security officers at Johannesburg airport alerted them to the rules about snake toys and clothing.
It’s believed that the snake T-shirt could cause anxiety to other passengers.
Ms Lucas reportedly told her son to turn the T-shirt inside out in order to be able to fly home.
Airport security footage shows the 10-year-old taking off his T-shirt and turning it inside out, reports the paper.
The Independent has contacted the Airports Company of South Africa for comment.
By Nomusa Garikai|”We cannot allow isolated voices, which have no platforms, speaking more than us (Polad) who are a collective. Collective voices should be heard more than isolated voices in the jungle,” said Mnangagwa.
“I am happy that we all accept that peace is critical … harmony is equally important. If we all preach peace, unity and harmony in the country, then we expose those who have brought suffering (in the country). If it is my party which has brought suffering or violence, it must be condemned and also any other party, whether in Polad or in the wilderness.”
“I see that with the spirit of Polad, we can sustain this conversation, this dialogue. But we need to be more vocal, to be heard, to pronounce ourselves on all issues, to show that we are alive, vibrant. We need to show that we are working on all issues that affect this country.”
Mnangagwa is just a village thug who is too clever by half! He thinks he can continue to claim the moral high ground of the peacemaker by hold high the olive branch and yet the dagga in his other hand is dripping with the blood of more of his wanton violence victims.
“If it is my party which has brought suffering or violence, it must be condemned!”
Anyone who is anyone condemned last year’s elections as a farce.
“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Election Observer Mission final report.
“As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
Zanu PF blatantly denied 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora a vote, for Pete’s sake! How are Zimbabweans supposed to judge you when you deny them a democratic voice!
As much as you, President Mnangagwa would like to claim that last year’s elections were free, fair and credible the truth is they were not.
As much as you want to claim the ZEC results were “the voice of the people, the voice of God!” the truth with with no verified voters’ roll no one could ever verified whether those people were real or fake!
Today Zimbabwe is facing a real and immediate existential threat, the economic meltdown is cause serious human suffering and unnecessary lose of lives. The country’s health care, for example, has all but completely collapsed and hundreds of people are dying of easily treatable ailments. The situation cannot be allowed to continue. The country needs a way out.
The only way out is for Zanu PF to accept that the party rigged last year’s elections, step down and allow the nation to reset its failed political system. Step down now, with each day this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical regime remains in power hundreds of innocent lives are lost and the nation is being dragged closer and close to the edge of the precipitous abyss.
After 39 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and tyrannical lawlessness; Zanu PF must go now. Enough is enough, Zimbabwe has had enough of these Zanu PF thugs!
Own Correspondent|MDC top official Fadzai Mahere has joined some social media users to urged other consumers to shun the cheaper Schweppes’ Mazoe Lime Crush saying it “hideous”, a “health hazard” and tasteless.
CITE has reported that a Bulawayo City Council Fire Tender was on Saturday morning involved in a head-on collision a Toyota Hilux leaving firefighters injured. The publication posted on Twitter saying:
According to the Acting Chief Fire Officer Jabulani Ndlovu, three of the fire fighters were rushed to the hospital while the driver of the Toyota Hilux escaped unhurt.#Asakhe
A BCC fire tinder tender was this morning involved in a head-on collision with a South African registered Toyota Hilux at the intersection of Matopos road and 16th Ave. The fire tender was responding to an emergency when the accident occurred.
According to the Acting Chief Fire Officer Jabulani Ndlovu, three of the firefighters were rushed to the hospital while the driver of the Toyota Hilux escaped unhurt.#Asakhe
AN enraged Bulawayo woman is suing her ex-boyfriend, who is a nurse at Mpilo Central Hospital, for $300 000 in damages for malicious prosecution following her arrest on trumped up charges of malicious damage to property.
Ms Judy Ndlovu (55) of Barbourfields suburb is accusing her former lover Mr Vushe Marime (45) of Tshabalala suburb of causing her arrest and subsequent prosecution on charges of malicious damage to property.
Ms Ndlovu was brought before the court on allegations of damaging window panes and burning curtains at Mr Marime’s house in July this year.
She was however, discharged at the close of the State case and acquitted by Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.
Ms Ndlovu alleges that her ex-boyfriend framed charges as a way of fixing her for terminating their affair.
Through her lawyers, Vundhla-Phulu and Partners, Ms Ndlovu filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Mr Marime as a defendant. In papers before the court, Ms Ndlovu said her former lover reported her to the police for damaging property at his house.
“I was committed to a trial on the charge of malicious damage to property at Western Commonage magistrate’s court. I was acquitted at the end of the trial and by reporting me to the police, defendant set in motion a chain of events that led to my prosecution,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said when Marime reported her to the police, he sought to punish her for terminating their relationship.
“The defendant acted without reasonable and probable cause when he reported me to the police. His intention was to harass and punish me for terminating our relationship,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said as a result of her arrest and prosecution, she suffered damages in the sum of $300 000.
“Wherefore plaintiff prays for payment of the sum of $300 000 being damages suffered by the plaintiff as a result of malicious prosecution instituted at the instance of the defendant who acted without a just cause,” said Ms Ndlovu’s lawyers.
State Media|IMBIBERS especially those that consume cheap uncertified alcoholic beverages most of which is smuggled into the country from neighbouring countries are at risk of suffering from numerous ailments including loss of fertility, experts have said.
There has been an influx of cheap uncertified whiskeys, vodkas, spirits and brandies popularly known as “hot stuff” smuggled into the country mostly from Zambia and Mozambique over the past few years.
The price at which the uncertified and counterfeit alcoholic beverages are sold is very low compared to prices on the formal market.
Most of the illicit brews, which are bottled in 200 millilitre plastic containers have high alcohol content than the average prescribed and recommended by health authorities and are sold on the black market throughout the country as traders hide from authorities.
Leadership Standards Systems and Strategy expert Mr Sebastian Zuze said most of the alcohol beverages, which are smuggled into the country do not conform with certain specification standards deeming them hazardous to humans if consumed in excess.
“There are standard specifications, which products must conform to. When you look at how we arrive at these specifications, we would have looked at various impacts of such a product or service . . . coming to these whiskeys we are saying the products must be verified by agents at the borders. The agents must also be aware of these specifications and standards and make sure that measures have been put in place to guard against smuggling. Most of these smugglers know that these products don’t conform to the set standards, so what they do, is smuggle the goods . . . ,” he said.
Mr Zuze said before the production of a certified product wider consultation is undertaken to determine if its chemical content is not hazardous upon consumption.
“In the case of beer and many other alcoholic beverages they are certain chemicals, which are acceptable daily limits, depending on their impact on the human body. If you look at any product, it will actually indicate the right ADI (Accepted Daily Intake) where we are saying the human body can handle such an amount according to scientific investigations . . . if we actually see that beyond this intake or amount of chemical in the body, it becomes harmful. If you are into the manufacturing of alcoholic beverages these become standards for that specific product. There are specification bodies, which actually check these standards so as to protect consumers,” he said.
Mr Zuze said a majority of imbibers, especially youths, were compromising their health by consuming the cheap “hot stuff”.
“Whiskeys that don’t meet specification could be carrying excessive amounts opposed to the (required) daily intake. You will be having a chemical, which looks like the whiskey but which is beyond the specifics. This is where now you hear about beer poisoning, it means the ingredient has been excessive and it begins to damage internal organs, some of the effects are short-term, some of them long-term,” he said.
Mr Zuze also took a swipe at individuals involved in the illicit movement and selling of the cheap whiskeys stating that their actions defeat the spirit of ubuntu and are grossly unethical.
“As a country we need to protect the health and safety of our citizens. There is the issue of ethics, it is unethical to claim that a product is what it is than the actual truth and it doesn’t resonate with our spirit of ubuntu . . . we should not compromise each other because of money . . . ,” he said.
Mpilo Central Hospital Clinical Director Mr Solwayo Ngwenya said people should desist from excessive drinking as it was hazardous to one’s health with complications affecting the liver, brain and testicles.
“We urge people to avoid smuggled alcoholic beverages because if the content is more than the prescribed limits it will cause serious harm to the liver and the brain. Alcohol abuse causes the brain and vital organs to shrink. So, with time you will find that you will develop some liver pains and, in this country, we can’t do any liver failure transplant and you know you will die,” he said.
“Excessive consumption of alcohol can affect the testicles adversely. It can effectively change the structure of the testicles, leading to a fall in the Serum Testosterone level. Testosterone is the male reproductive hormone and a fall in the level of testosterone can cause male infertility.”
Mr Ngwenya said there has been a rise in deaths associated with alcohol abuse globally.
“There has been an increase especially in Western countries of young people with liver failure from alcohol abuse . . . we say don’t imbibe too much and you go ahead and imbibe something smuggled, unverified and unchecked. There are cases where people have actually died in hospitals from alcohol abuse,” he said.
Apart from compromising people’s health, the smuggled beer, which also includes counterfeits has a negative impact on the country’s economy and local beverages manufacturers.
Some of the fake brands include popular brands such as Johnnie Walker’s Red Label, Jameson, Grants, Best, Bols and Two Keys.
African Distillers (Afdis) managing director Mr Cecil Gombera said the company, which was the manufacturer of the original Two Keys brand has been hit hard by unfair competition being exerted by smuggled beverages.
“It is difficult to compete with prices offered by smuggled products as they are not subject to import duties and bypass excise duty levying. While our pricing remains very competitive, any bottle of our brands sold by a smuggler impacts on Afdis’ performance and therefore that’s not good for our operations. It is important to note that the best prices for our brands are available in the formal trade and not on the streets,” he said.
Mr Gombera said there was a need to tighten screws at the country’s port of entries so as to curb the rampant smuggling of goods.
“Controls at all border or entry points need to be tightened to limit and eliminate smuggling. Authorities need to ensure that all imported competing products are subjected to the same duties and taxes we face,” he said.
Latest accident in Kwekwe which claimed three lives.
AT least 35 people have died while over 100 others injured in road traffic accidents since the beginning of the festive season.
The death toll reached 24 with 59 injuries on Christmas Day before the number increased by six more deaths on Boxing Day where 35 were left injured.
Police statistics show that two people were killed while 66 road accidents were recorded on Friday while another road crash claimed three lives in Kwekwe yesterday morning.
In a separate incident, 40 people were injured yesterday when a Zupco bus they were travelling in veered off the road and overturned before landing on its side near Regina Mundi High School along Gweru-Kwekwe.
The injured were rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital (GPH).
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said three people died after a vehicle they were travelling in collided with a haulage truck yesterday morning.
He said the driver of a Toyota D4D double cab who was driving towards Kwekwe attempted to overtake on a continuous line resulting in a head-on collision with an oncoming Delta truck.
“The driver and two other passengers of the Toyota D4D died on the spot while another person was rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital,” said Insp Goko.
He said the accident resulted in a pile-up with a few injuries recorded.
“A commuter omnibus which the D4D truck was trying to overtake leading to the accident was also involved in a pile up. There were no serious injuries in the omnibus, but we still need to make a follow-up at the hospital,” he said.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi attributed most of the accidents to human error and urged drivers to be cautious on the roads.
In a statement, he said: “A total of 66 road traffic accidents were recorded on 27 December 2019. Of these two were fatal. The major cause of the accidents were speeding, reversing errors, following too close and inattention.
“A total of 128 touts were arrested, 141 motor vehicles were impounded and 672 tickets were issued for various offences.”
“We reiterate that motorists should be alert and travel within the stipulated speed limits on the road. Unnecessary loss of life should be avoided at all cost.s”
Own Correspondent|After beautifully decorating the alleged return of government hospitals doctors to work and dismissing other media indications that doctors have not resumed duties at the hospitals, the government run media has revealed that the doctors are not fully functionally at the hospitals.
State run Sunday Mail reports that some medical doctors are actually selling Government and patients a dummy claiming, under their respective unions, to have resumed duty when the situation in major referral hospital indicates otherwise.
According to the publication, despite announcements by the medical professionals that they were back at work, following nearly four months on strike, patients seeking a number of services in hospitals are still being turned away.
A snap survey by the paper last week showed that Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the country’s largest referral healthcare institution, was largely deserted.
There were no admissions into wards and a few “lucky and connected” patients were only being admitted on condition they made private arrangements for their doctors to see them at the institution.
While there appeared to be doctors at Sally Mugabe Hospital (Harare Central Hospital), investigations showed that the institution was not admitting any patients.
However, the paediatric sections at both hospitals were open.
Doctors have been on strike since September citing poor wages and lack of drugs in hospitals and clinics.
Over 500 medical professionals were subsequently fired after the Labour Court ruled their industrial action illegal. But President Mnangagwa extended an olive branch to those wishing to return to work.
This was after Government and Econet-linked Higher Life Foundation agreed on a $100 million fellowship deal which would see doctors’ salaries being increased.
The deal spelt out that junior doctors, who qualified for the six-month fellowship, would be offered a $5 000 monthly package, as well as free transport services of up to three trips a day.
An additional $5 000 was offered to doctors who worked during this festive season.
According to Higher Life Foundation, 362 doctors have since applied for the fellowship.
The doctors themselves, through the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) and Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) subsequently released statements indicating their intention to return to work.
But the situation on the ground, especially in Harare, shows otherwise.
Patients and relatives who spoke to The Sunday Mail at Parirenyatwa Hospital said they were pondering their next move as there were no services.
A Harare man, who had accompanied his mother-in-law, said they had been kept in a queue for over three hours.
“We have been here since morning, but we have not received any assistance and she is in pain,” he said.
“We have been told to join a queue, but we are not sure if there are any doctors around. With her condition, it is clear she has to be admitted, but they are not saying anything.”
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals public relations officer Mr Linos Dhire said doctors were mostly responding to emergency cases.
“Doctors availability has generally been good during the festive season. Doctors availability has been more than 80 percent for all the emergencies which presented to the hospital during that period,” he said.
A student nurse who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation said there was not much improvement since doctors claimed they had ended their strike.
“Few doctors have come forward, the few that are back are rarely attending to patients. We can only provide basic care,” said the student nurse.
Most patients in Harare are now turning to polyclinics and private medical centres.
However, most of the private institutions are demanding between US$250 and US$500 to admit patients for between three and five days.
State Media|The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has begun preparatory consultations to draw boundaries that will be used for the next harmonised elections.
While the delimitation exercise is usually conducted after the national population census — of which the next one is expected in 2022, a year before the elections — Government has already decided to amend the Constitution to delink the two key exercises.
It would, however, mean that constituency boundaries would be mapped using registered voters.
The delimitation exercise involves coming up with a minimum threshold of registered voters to make the country’s 210 National Assembly constituencies.
ZEC’s chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana recently told The Sunday Mail that the elections management body was engaging key stakeholders to help shape the process.
“You are aware that delimitation is a constitutional item in terms of Section 161 (1), which states that delimitation shall be done after every 10 years as soon as possible after a census exercise,” he said.
“So, if you look at the next census exercise, which is in 2022, and the next election is in 2023, already that shows a coincidence in the two major exercises.
“But the amendment of the Constitution is not within the purview of ZEC; it is with the Legislature.
“But ZEC has not sat back because of that; as part of preparations, we have already started discussions and consultations with some institutions and stakeholders, particularly ZimStat, the Ministry of Local Government (and Public Works) and the Registrar-General.”
Low registrations
ZEC says the number of people registering to vote is “disappointingly low”, especially after the July 30 elections last year, as only 2 000 had been captured.
It is, however, believed that this is a common trend outside the election cycle.
Voter registration is a continuous process in terms of the law.
“ZEC has remained open for continuous voter registration in the districts and provinces, but a few people have come to register.
“We have, through our efforts, been sensitising people about the need to register (to vote).
“But somehow, the uptake is low.”
Voter registration, said Mr Silaigwana, would naturally determine constituency boundaries.
The commission is considering engaging political parties to encourage people to register.
“I know that during the off-season, people do not place a lot of importance to that, but as an election management body, we are trying as much as we can to sensitise people; more so, in light of the forthcoming delimitation exercise,” said Mr Silaigwana.
“This is so because the delimitation is largely informed by the number of registered voters.
“The fewer the people registered in a district or a province, the fewer constituencies that province will get.”
The election management body has now resorted to door-stepping public gatherings in order to register voters.
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) chairperson Mr Andrew Makoni said voters were likely to become apathetic if they did not get enough information.
“The low numbers of new registrants all come down to lack of civic voter education both by ZEC and civil society organisations.
“My plea is that in between elections voter education must not stop.
“If we stop providing the information, the result is the apathy that we are seeing,” said Mr Makoni.
The brave Mthwakazi youth in action against Mnangagwa.
Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa today returns to Bulawayo for the third annual National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds.
The church service is being organised by the Faith for the Nation Campaign — an interdenominational grouping of local churches.
Faith for the Nation Campaign chairperson Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe said that the President was expected to outline his vision for the nation, so that the church prays for it.
“The National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service is an annual event which was inaugurated by the President in 2017, to be a time when we shall meet, on a platform of Faith for the Nation Campaign, so that we can have a thanksgiving for the nation as well as a prayer of dedication for God’s blessing for the following year,” said Reverend Wutawunashe.
“We do it as an interdenominational group where all churches are welcome and the leadership of various sectors of our society like business and commerce, politics, chiefs and the general citizens attend for prayer and dedication for the nation.”
In a similar event last year, ten Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) youth, protested at while President Emmerson Mnangagwa was attending the church service saying he was part of the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s.
The 10 youth were thoroughly beaten by soldiers and detained at Brady Barracks before they were dumped at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
The youth, claimed that Mnangagwa participated in the killing of more than 20,000 Zapu supporters in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces when then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe deployed the North-Korean trained Fifth Brigade to eliminate what he said were dissidents linked to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
Own Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) says it is currently working on over 600 dockets for prosecution of people accused of corruption including judges, ministers, Members of Parliament and company executives.
Zacc chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, however, said the anti-graft body was not happy with the slow pace by the NPA in pushing prosecutions.
She said of the over 600 dockets they had opened, at least 100 have been fully investigated, with 74 involving high-profile figures.
“Zacc investigates and then sends the papers to the NPA, but the Attorney-General is being brought on board to help fight corruption. We are bringing on board as many people as possible,” she said.
“There are high-profile cases which include ministers, MPs, judges, CEOs (chief executive officers) and MDs (managing directors); we are targeting everyone involved in corruption and we will investigate everyone. We urge all those with evidence which may lead to convictions to come forward.
“There should be convictions in court, but we need prosecution (NPA) to up their game. Once we start seeing convictions in court, it gives public confidence that we are not just doing a catch and release game.”
Own Correspondent|Three people including the driver died on the spot while one person was critically injured when a Toyota D4D they were travelling was involved in a head on collision with a Delta beverages haulage truck at the Redcliff fly-over along the Gweru-Kwekwe highway on Saturday morning.
Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector,Joel Goko who was at the scene said the accident occurred around 8 am.
He said the driver of the Toyota D4D twin cab who was driving towards Kwekwe, attempted to overtake at a continuous line when the vehicle was then involved in a head-on collision with the on-coming Delta haulage truck.
“The driver and two other occupants of the Toyota D4D died on the spot while another passenger was rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital,” said Insp Goko.
He said there was also pile up due to the limited navigation space at the fly over.
“A Kombi which the D4D truck was trying to overtake leading to the accident was also involved in a pile up. There were no serious injuries in the Kombi but we still need to make a follow up at the hospital,” he said.
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BREAKING: 4 people killed in horrific road accident (SEE PICS)
By Muza Mpofu- 23 November 2018
FOUR people believed to be members of the same family died on the spot following a head-on collision at the Redcliff flyover just outside Kwekwe yesterday Thursday evening, ZwNews reports.
Passengers in the Nissan X-trail lost their lives while those in the Jeep were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The site has become a high accident zone.
A witness at the accident scene said that there are at least 2 fatalities at this 20 KM stretch along Gweru-Kwekwe road every month.
The witness who lives nearby pointed out that the area between Hunters Road flyover and Kwekwe Bridge flyover is fast becoming a black spot; and “drivers should reduce speed to avoid unnecessary loss of life.”
This unidentified woman with a baby strapped on her back fetches water from a storm water drain in Budiriro, Harare, yesterday. The City Health Department recently reported suspected cases of typhoid. — Picture: Edward Zvemisha
State Media|Typhoid is still endemic in Harare’s Glen View high-density suburb, with another 13 suspected new cases recorded in recent weeks by the City Health Department .
Residents have urged council to prioritise the provision of safe water and sanitary conditions to residents to avoid such disease outbreaks.
Typhoid is not new to Glen View, where the last outbreak that hit the suburb at the beginning of this year claimed 49 lives, while over 10 000 people were treated and discharged.
City Health Director Dr Prosper Chonzi said the cases seem to have been contained.
“Yesterday (Thursday) we saw five cases, three suspected typhoid and two diarrhoea. All cases so far seem to have been contained. All typhoid cases are still suspected, none have so far been confirmed,” said Dr Chonzi.
Mrs Portia Mufandaedza, a Glen View resident, said: “Nothing has really changed in relation to water provision, collection of garbage and sewer bursts. Water supplies are still erratic, forcing us to rely on either boreholes or unprotected wells. Refuse trucks are not collecting garbage, forcing people to dump garbage on open spaces. Sewer bursts are still common and council always takes its time to attend to them.”
Another resident, Mr Marcus Madondo, accused council of being reactionary.
“You will only see them providing water in bowsers, providing aqua tablets, clearing garbage and collecting refuse only when there are reports of an outbreak.
“They already know our challenges and each time there is an outbreak, they come here in their vehicles and promise to attend to the same issues but all the enthusiasm is gone as soon as they leave,” said Mr Madondo.
Residents said recent reports of typhoid unsettled them considering that the same water and sanitation challenges that caused previous outbreaks have not been addressed.
Dr Chonzi, however, said in all of the reported cases so far, the patients never received vaccination against typhoid or cholera.
He said of concern was the fact that some of the cases were traced back to the Tichagarika area, which has become a traditional epicentre for cholera or typhoid.
“We have already dispatched teams in the community who are visiting homes to identify and offer mitigatory measures to those who might be having signs and symptoms of typhoid. We do not want to wait until cases have gone out of hand, but our worry is that while a majority of the cases are coming from areas around Glen View Polyclinic, some are still being traced back to Tichagarika shops,” said Dr Chonzi.
Asked why Tichakagarika has become a hotspot for diarrhoeal diseases, in particular typhoid and cholera, Dr Chonzi said the general environment was unhygienic.
He however, said the local authority was trying to establish the safety of underground water and piped water.
“It is also of concern to us that this area keeps getting cases of diarrhoeal diseases. Although the water and sanitation situation has not improved much around this area, we are also trying to assess the community’s underground water, sewer lines and piped water to see if there could be any leaks somewhere, which keep bringing back these diseases,” said Dr Chonzi.
Council, he said, was compiling data on the effectiveness of the typhoid vaccination, which was administered to residents between the ages of six months and 45 years from nine selected high-density and typhoid-burdened suburbs in Harare, including Glen View.
Preliminary information showed that the intervention was worth it.
“The data we have analysed so far is encouraging because it shows that
the vaccine indeed protected people against typhoid. All cases we have seen so far were never vaccinated and we pray that we do not get any cholera case as we go into 2020.”
The Government rolled out an oral cholera vaccine to high-density suburbs, including Glen View.
Cholera and typhoid had almost become endemic diseases in south western Harare high-density suburbs with public health experts blaming poor water and sanitation provision in the affected areas.
In areas such as Glen View, water supply is erratic, forcing residents to resort to unprotected sources, garbage is rarely collected and sewer bursts are endless.
Council has been blamed for not responding quickly to sewer bursts giving sewage time to seep into the ground and contaminate underground water which residents rely on in the absence of tap water.
Glen View is one of the high density areas in Harare, which had a number of boreholes drilled by non-governmental organisations in response to water shortages while the residents themselves also dug shallow wells at their homes — all of which are sometimes contaminated by sewage through seepage.
The estranged husband of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga , Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa) faces a lengthy period in jail if convicted of charges of breaching Exchange Control regulations, fraud and money laundering, and murder allegations she is facing.
In opposing bail for Marry, prosecutor Albert Masamha told the court that the offence of fraud attracts up to 35 years, while Money Laundering provides for imprisonment for up to 25 years.
He said:
Releasing the applicant on bail is, therefore, likely to jeopardise and erode public confidence in the justice system.
… it is the respondent’s submission that the sentence for attempted murder is also severe in the event the applicant is convicted.
The offence of fraud provides for imprisonment not exceeding 35 years, whilst Section 8 (8) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, Chapter 9:24 provides for imprisonment not exceeding 25 years.
Marry has been in remand prison ever since she first appeared in court nearly two weeks ago.
On Friday, the High Court postponed her bail application and appeal hearings to Tuesday next week.
She is being represented by Mtetwa & Nyambirai Legal Practitioners.- Daily News
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said his team must forget about catching up with leaders Liverpool and focus on overtaking second-placed Leicester City.
Guardiola stated this while addressing the media, following a 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Friday.
The champions blew a two-goal lead, after keeper Ederson was sent off in the 12th minute.
The result means City stay third behind second-placed Leicester and unbeaten league leaders Liverpool, who are 14 points ahead of them.
“It’s unrealistic when it’s 14 points to think about Liverpool.
“We think about Leicester, we have the chance to recover second position.
“Still we are third, I know the quality of the team but that’s the situation.
“In the last two previous seasons we are used to winning a lot of games and being at the top fighting.
“Now we are far away so we have to adjust mentally to the situation and prepare for the next games.
“We have to move on, we played the first season and it was quite similar to this but in the second and the third we were there all the time and winning all the time.
“Now this season in some situations and after some mistakes we are far away, we have to catch the second one and see where we are at the end,” Guardiola said.Ghana News
WFP Provides Cash Assistance in Zimbabwe’s Poorest Urban Area and Plans to Expand in 2020
Last week, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Zimbabwe completed its last cash distribution of 2019, which supported some 19,000 vulnerable residents in Harare’s suburban 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 UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), and the EU’s branch of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
This year 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 8 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 of them.
Currently, funding for 100,000 has been secured. WFP is seeking funds to assist an additional 100,000 people.
The United Nations World Food Programme – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development.
WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said his team must forget about catching up with leaders Liverpool and focus on overtaking second-placed Leicester City.
Guardiola stated this while addressing the media, following a 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Friday.
The champions blew a two-goal lead, after keeper Ederson was sent off in the 12th minute.
The result means City stay third behind second-placed Leicester and unbeaten league leaders Liverpool, who are 14 points ahead of them.
“It’s unrealistic when it’s 14 points to think about Liverpool.
“We think about Leicester, we have the chance to recover second position.
“Still we are third, I know the quality of the team but that’s the situation.
“In the last two previous seasons we are used to winning a lot of games and being at the top fighting.
“Now we are far away so we have to adjust mentally to the situation and prepare for the next games.
“We have to move on, we played the first season and it was quite similar to this but in the second and the third we were there all the time and winning all the time.
“Now this season in some situations and after some mistakes we are far away, we have to catch the second one and see where we are at the end,” Guardiola said.Ghana News
Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa), the estranged husband of Vice President
Constantino Chiwenga , has rubbished the allegation that she attempted to kill her husband while he lay prone on a South African hospital bed.
In her bail application through her lawyers Mtetwa Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, Marry argued that the South Africans would have swiftly investigated the “incident” as it could have jeopardised relations between the two countries. She said:
This is impossible because such reports do not exist, for the simple reason that the incident did not occur as alleged or at all.
No doctor who respects his professional standing will be made to perjure himself.
Surely, a serious incident such as an attempt on the life of a sitting vice president with its potential to embarrass relations would have been reported in South Africa and investigated promptly.
Marry further contended that when Chiwenga was in China receiving treatment, he requested President Emmerson Mnangagwa to arrange for her to travel to see him.
She added that Chiwenga also sent US$30 000 for her personal upkeep and use.- Daily News
WFP Provides Cash Assistance in Zimbabwe’s Poorest Urban Area and Plans to Expand in 2020
Last week, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Zimbabwe completed its last cash distribution of 2019, which supported some 19,000 vulnerable residents in Harare’s suburban 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 UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), and the EU’s branch of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
This year 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 8 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 of them.
Currently, funding for 100,000 has been secured. WFP is seeking funds to assist an additional 100,000 people.
The United Nations World Food Programme – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development.
WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.
Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa), the estranged husband of Vice President
Constantino Chiwenga , has rubbished the allegation that she attempted to kill her husband while he lay prone on a South African hospital bed.
In her bail application through her lawyers Mtetwa Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, Marry argued that the South Africans would have swiftly investigated the “incident” as it could have jeopardised relations between the two countries. She said:
This is impossible because such reports do not exist, for the simple reason that the incident did not occur as alleged or at all.
No doctor who respects his professional standing will be made to perjure himself.
Surely, a serious incident such as an attempt on the life of a sitting vice president with its potential to embarrass relations would have been reported in South Africa and investigated promptly.
Marry further contended that when Chiwenga was in China receiving treatment, he requested President Emmerson Mnangagwa to arrange for her to travel to see him.
She added that Chiwenga also sent US$30 000 for her personal upkeep and use.- Daily News
Farai Dziva|Norton MP Temba Mliswa says COSAFA boss Philip Chiyangwa is well connected such that ZIFA boss Felton Kamambo is too small to fight him.
Chiyangwa is also hosting the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin who arrived in the country for a ten-day private visit.
Mliswa posted on twitter:
“Phillip Chiyangwa hosting UEFA boss Ceferin is indeed a great occurrence and shows how Fidza is well connected.
Kamambo and Machana are indeed small boys who can’t do him anything. Well done Fidza for promoting tourism through football.
Kamambo and his pals should read the writing on the wall, Fidza is connected and dethroning him is a waste. He should now help us remove these guys. He has been given this task together with the SRC i don’t know why he has not started, investigations on them should start.”
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said his team must forget about catching up with leaders Liverpool and focus on overtaking second-placed Leicester City.
Guardiola stated this while addressing the media, following a 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Friday.
The champions blew a two-goal lead, after keeper Ederson was sent off in the 12th minute.
The result means City stay third behind second-placed Leicester and unbeaten league leaders Liverpool, who are 14 points ahead of them.
“It’s unrealistic when it’s 14 points to think about Liverpool.
“We think about Leicester, we have the chance to recover second position.
“Still we are third, I know the quality of the team but that’s the situation.
“In the last two previous seasons we are used to winning a lot of games and being at the top fighting.
“Now we are far away so we have to adjust mentally to the situation and prepare for the next games.
“We have to move on, we played the first season and it was quite similar to this but in the second and the third we were there all the time and winning all the time.
“Now this season in some situations and after some mistakes we are far away, we have to catch the second one and see where we are at the end,” Guardiola said.Ghana News
Farai Dziva|Norton MP Temba Mliswa says COSAFA boss Philip Chiyangwa is well connected such that ZIFA boss Felton Kamambo is too small to fight him.
Chiyangwa is also hosting the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin who arrived in the country for a ten-day private visit.
Mliswa posted on twitter:
“Phillip Chiyangwa hosting UEFA boss Ceferin is indeed a great occurrence and shows how Fidza is well connected.
Kamambo and Machana are indeed small boys who can’t do him anything. Well done Fidza for promoting tourism through football.
Kamambo and his pals should read the writing on the wall, Fidza is connected and dethroning him is a waste. He should now help us remove these guys. He has been given this task together with the SRC i don’t know why he has not started, investigations on them should start.”
Farai Dziva| Zanu PF has been criticized for attempting to push party propaganda into Winky D’s new album.
Respected Masvingo based analyst Jeffryson Chitando said the ruling should not abuse the popular musician’ s song in a bid to propagate its meaningless ideology.
ZANU PF Patriots wrote on Twitter:
We love Winky D’s new album
We have used his song here as background to clarify what we imported as it’s meaning in our situation.
Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa), the estranged husband of Vice President
Constantino Chiwenga , has rubbished the allegation that she attempted to kill her husband while he lay prone on a South African hospital bed.
In her bail application through her lawyers Mtetwa Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, Marry argued that the South Africans would have swiftly investigated the “incident” as it could have jeopardised relations between the two countries. She said:
This is impossible because such reports do not exist, for the simple reason that the incident did not occur as alleged or at all.
No doctor who respects his professional standing will be made to perjure himself.
Surely, a serious incident such as an attempt on the life of a sitting vice president with its potential to embarrass relations would have been reported in South Africa and investigated promptly.
Marry further contended that when Chiwenga was in China receiving treatment, he requested President Emmerson Mnangagwa to arrange for her to travel to see him.
She added that Chiwenga also sent US$30 000 for her personal upkeep and use.- Daily News
A leading journalist and socialite, Hopewell Chin’ono, says the ZANU PF-led government uses the power of s_x to trap opposition MDC leaders.
Writing on the microblogging site Twitter, Chin’ono opined that both male and female opposition leaders have been similarly rendered politically impotent by the power of s_x.
Below is a series of posts by Chin’ono:
A key reason why MDC has taken long to achieve its goals has been the use of S_X to trap its leaders.
Both its male and female leaders have been victims of honeytraps.
These women are brought by regime enablers within the MDC.
Some female MDC leaders are taken to bed by ZANU-PF elites.
The regime also uses female socialites toentrap its critics and opposition!
Opposition politicians are told to play the game or their s_xual behaviour will be exposed to their families via newspapers!
It is called being COMPROMISED.
They remain in the MDC but now as listening posts!
The regime also traps its critics outside the MDC with women.
If the critic is married, he is held hostage after a s_xual encounter and told to SHUTUP or else
If he is single, the girl feigns r_pe and uses that as a silencing tool or else.
Farai Dziva| Zanu PF has been criticized for attempting to push party propaganda into Winky D’s new album.
Respected Masvingo based analyst Jeffryson Chitando said the ruling should not abuse the popular musician’ s song in a bid to propagate its meaningless ideology.
ZANU PF Patriots wrote on Twitter:
We love Winky D’s new album
We have used his song here as background to clarify what we imported as it’s meaning in our situation.
Marry Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, will spend another weekend in custody after the High Court deferred her application for bail and appeal hearings to Tuesday next week.
Marry is in remand prison on charges of attempted murder, fraud, and currency externalisation. She is facing charges of attempting to murder VP Chiwenga, illegally externalising US$1033 000, laundering US$990 000 and fraudulently seeking to upgrade her customary union to a civil marriage without her husband’s consent.
She is facing six counts of exporting foreign currency in breach of the Exchange Control Act and five counts of concealing transactions involving proceeds of crime in violation of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is yet to reassign Engelbert Rugeje, the former ZANU PF Political Commissar to a new role.
This was revealed by Rugeje who told the Daily News that he remained at the mercy of the president. He said:
It is the president who makes the appointments so what I can tell you is that I am a committee member in the politburo. I cannot tell when I will be re assigned because it is not up to me. I am a full member of the politburo and that is it.
Mnangagwa had promised in June that he would reassign Rugeje to a new task but up to now, nothing has happened.
Rugeje who had taken over from Generation 40 (G40) leader, Saviour Kasukuwere as the ruling party political commissar was replaced by Victor Matemadanda who is also the Deputy Minister of Defence.
Reports suggest that ZANU PF is marred by factionalism and Mnangagwa would want to surround himself with his trusted lieutenants.
Jane Mlambo| Budiriro ward 43 MDC Councillor Norman Makondo has been arrested by the Police after he confronted them against harassing vendors at a local shopping centre.
According to MDC Youth Assembly member Denford Ngadziore, Makondo was charged with inciting public violence and is currently detained at Budiriro Police Station.
“About 50 Zimbabwe Republic were arresting and harassing vendors at Budiriro 5 OK shops and the local Councillor confronted the Police. He was arrested immediately now charged with inciting Public Violence at Budiriro Police Station,” said Ngadziore.
By Wilbert Mukori| If you want the reader to take you seriously then you must respect him/her by treating historic facts with respect.
“Former South Africa President Mr Thabo Mbeki’s record of pulling off political settlements against the odds is well known. As Sadc-appointed mediator to dialogue in our country, he delivered the Global Political Agreement (GPA) on 15 September 2008 between Zanu-PF, MDC and MDC-T, ushering in the inclusive government,” you said in your editorial.
“The talks were necessary to move the country forward as elections that had been done five months earlier had yielded a hung parliament.”
Everyone including SADC and AU, who have turned a blind eye to Zanu PF rigging elections in the past, rejected Zanu PF’s claim that it won the 2008 elections because the whole election process was marred by blatant cheating in the March 2008 vote followed by the wanton violence during the run-off. As a way out of the political impasse, SADC proposed the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
To therefore, claim the GNU was formed because the 2008 elections had “yielded a hung parliament” is a blatant lie! The GNU was formed because the elections had failed to produce a legitimate result.
Mugabe and Zanu PF were forced to sign the GPA agreeing to the implementation of the raft of democratic reforms designed to stop the cheating and wanton violence. Sadly, not even one meaningful democratic reform was implemented in five years hence the reason we had yet another blatantly rigged elections last year.
You failed to mention the failure to implement any reforms and hence the continued curse of rigged elections; a serious error of omission.
“He (Nelson Chamisa) does not deserve the preferential treatment he is demanding because he constitutes a minority against others in POLAD. MDC Alliance might be the biggest opposition party in the country but in the broader scheme of things, the party is just a minnow. They only hold 88 seats in the legislature and contribute a far smaller proportion at local government level. On the other hand, Zanu-PF holds 179 seats in Parliament and a larger majority at local government level. President Mnangagwa won the presidential poll by more than 300 000 votes,” continued the Editorial.
The error of omission is explained.
What is the point of Mnangagwa saying he won “by more than 300 000 votes” and yet no one can verify that result because the regime failed to produce something as basic to free, fair and credible elections as a verified voters’ roll.
Mnangagwa’s 300 000 become meaningless when viewed in the context of the 3 million Zimbabwean in the diaspora he denied the vote!
Zimbabwe is in this economic mess with the economy in total meltdown because the country is a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs who have rigged elections to stay in power. By blatantly rigging last year’s elections Mnangagwa confirmed that Zimbabwe was still a pariah state contrary to his post November 2017 coup claims of a “new democratic dispensation”.
Zimbabwe is stuck in this hell-on-earth of our own making. The way out is for the country to implement the raft of democratic reforms agreed in the 2008 GPA. And since Zanu PF and MDC will not implement the reforms, nothing stop them getting this done during the GNU and beyond except the lack of political will and vision, the nation should appoint other people who will.
Zanu PF must step down, the regime has no political mandate to rule since last year’s elections were flawed and illegal and could not possibly produce a legitimate result. The rigging of the elections, the formation of POLAD, the invitation of former SA President Thabo Mbeki and, worst of all, the use of brute force to silence all dissent; these are all political machinations by Mnangagwa to legitimise his illegitimate government and extend his stay in power. Zanu PF is holding the nation to ransom; no nation on earth can ever permit that!
No doubt you, Chronicle Editor and your staff, know you have been helping Zanu PF in these treasonous pursuits of rigging elections, etc. act with your lies, omissions and brainwashing of the people. And to think that it is none other than the people who pay your thirty pieces of silver!
Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa (independent) has said that he has never abused his relationship with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to win favours. We present below his twitter thread.
I have never made it a secret that @edmnangagwa is my cousin from the paternal side, Didymus Mutasa is my uncle from maternal side but politically they have never done anything to propel me. That’s the reason my politics is in Mash West where they don’t have influence
I come from Shurugwi& in my political journey have never represented the people from where I lived. I never came from Hurungwe West, my farm was in Hurungwe Central; currently I live in Borrowdale&yet represent Norton. These are areas where these relatives have no influence.
Thus politically I have made my own paths and not benefitted from any nepotism. In fact I have suffered because they feel that if they do anything for me people will think there is nepotism.
All the same don’t expect or require of me to insult them over political issues or differences becauseone, they are my relatives and secondly my elders. I simply critique objectively where I feel there is need. After politics there is life and we meet in other arenas.
When I meet @edmnangagwa mostly all I do is push for people who I feel have genuine concerns, where corruption is happening, where injustices have been perpetrated and the affected are being blocked from reaching him. I don’t compromise myself.
Being related to @edmnangagwa has never been a medium for corrupt shortcuts to getting anything or unfair advantage over anyone. I’m my own politician and yet still retain human values to respect him both as national leader and an elder.
Own Correspondent| A commercial se_x worker pleaded guilty to charges of ganging up with her colleagues to assault a man who had sought her services and failed to pay at a Bulawayo hotel.
Ropafadzo Mutananga (23) flew into a rage after David Munkuli (35) told her that he does not have anything on his EcoCash wallet to pay for services rendered.
An argument erupted between the two with David trying to charm the lady of the night to no avail.
Ropafadzo grabbed David and slapped him on the face with open hands and her friends joined in the fight and bashed David.
Fortunately for him, he was rescued by police officers who were on patrol.
The two were taken to the police and dragged to court afterwards on charges of assault.
Ropafadzo pleaded guilty to the charge.
Ropafadzo was remanded out of custody and she awaits sentencing next week.
A BULAWAYO woman is suing Matabeleland North provincial development coordinator Ms Latiso Dlamini for $500 000 in damages for allegedly engaging in an adulterous relationship with her husband of 21 years.
The aggrieved woman, Mrs Siboniso Lesley Maseko (nee Gumede) is accusing her rival Ms Dlamini of Khumalo suburb in Bulawayo, of having a love affair with her husband Brigadier-General Simo Maseko.
Mrs Maseko said their marriage was solemnised in terms of Chapter 5:11 of the Marriages Act on December 20 in 1998.
Mrs Maseko, through her lawyer Mr Godfrey Nyoni of Moyo and Nyoni Law Firm, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Ms Dlamini as a defendant.
In papers before the court, Mrs Maseko said she discovered that Ms Dlamini and Brig-Gen Maseko have been seeing each other since 2017.
She said the two suspected lovers would meet at the defendant’s house among other secluded places.
“On diverse occasions and at various places including but not limited to Ms Dlamini’s place of residence, the defendant committed and still continues to commit adultery with my husband, Simo Maseko,” said Mrs Maseko.
She said despite Ms Dlamini being aware of their marriage, she remains defiant.
“I have further demanded that the defendant desists from continuing with her adulterous affair with my husband. Despite such demands, the defendant has continued with her actions,” said Mrs Maseko.
Mr Nyoni said as a result of Ms Dlamini’s actions, his client has suffered damages amounting to $500 000.
“As a result of the defendant’s actions, plaintiff has suffered damages for contumelia in the sum of $300 000. My client has furthermore suffered damages for loss of comfort, society, companionship and services of her husband in the sum of $200 000,” he said.
Mr Nyoni said Mrs Maseko wants the $500 000 to be paid with an interest of five percent calculated from the date of issue of summons to the date of full payment.
She also wants the court to order Ms Dlamini to pay the legal costs she incurred.
SOME unscrupulous Bulawayo residents are hoarding Government subsidised roller meal and selling it at exorbitant prices.
Earlier this month, Government introduced a roller meal subsidy to cushion citizens from the increasing cost of mealie-meal.
This led to prices of roller mealie-meal which was selling for $100 or more for a 10kg bag, dropping by 50 percent.
The subsidised roller mealie meal has been in short supply on the market amid revelations that it is being channelled to the black market.
A snap survey by the Chronicle revealed the roller meal which is supposed to be sold for $50 for a 10 kg bag, is now being sold for up to $80 by vendors at what is now referred to as the people’s shops.
Investigations by The Chronicle revealed that these vendors are working in cahoots with employees at some retail shops who are now supplying them with the mealie- meal.
“Through our contacts at the shops we now know when the roller meal will be delivered and it’s not surprising that we always get it. We are able to buy many bags because the workers at the retail outlets are also benefiting. We are selling a 10 kg bag for $70 or $80 depending on the demand,” said a vendor who declined to be named.
A vendor operating from Nkulumane’s Sekusile shops said each time mealie-meal is delivered, she gets some.
“I’m a vendor here, when it’s delivered, I will be right here so I just call my children to join the queue and we buy three or four bags which we later sell for a profit,” said the vendor.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Judith Ncube said she has also learnt of the problem.
“I’ve received this communication from concerned citizens who spoke about this strongly. One person called me I think just an hour ago. She raised concerns that there were some people who were now hoarding the subsidised roller meal and selling it on the black market, she was appealing to Government to take action,” said Cde Ncube.
She said she would get in touch with relevant Government departments to investigate the allegations.
Cde Ncube said it was unfair for individuals to profiteer from subsidised roller meal meant to cushion especially the vulnerable.
“Greed and corruption will not take us anywhere as a people. Those involved in this should stop forthwith. They should allow other residents to benefit from Government’s programmes. We are in a drought period. Checking on the weather conditions, we might be headed for another drought,” said Cde Ncube.
I will give a comprehensive analysis and analogue on the banality of the the concept and discussion on what happened after the Gesthmane experience. If you remember very well following the events closely Jesus’s trial had a lot of legalities and the issues had complex phenomenon. There were so many short cuts which the high priests made in order to ensure that his ministry was cut short and he would be eliminated. What lessons do we learn or drew from this experience :
1. Politics exists even in the church.
2. Never focus on the enemy but on progressive factor
3. Pray for your enemies
4. You must always have a clean heart before God
5. Tread cautiously so that when your enemies will find it difficult to nail you
6. In everything that happens on you, Glory to God
7. Never fight back.
Then Simon Peter , who had a sword, drew it and struck the highpriest’s servant, cutting off his ear. His name was Malchus. Malchus in the hebrew version is translated as melek means king. According to scholars, impeccable sources clearly indicates that he participated in the arrest of Jesus in the garden of Gethsmane .
The narrative and the context depicts the natural discourse of the imperical evidence of what exactly transpired.
The bottom line is Jesus was arrested foe trumped up charges which were baseless with a false narrative and deceptive agenda to crumble and cut his ministry short.
Coming closer home, there are people who love you, and they are those who hurt you. Some have caused scars and some have graves on them, some have finger prints and foot prints on each and every evil prevailing in our lives. Our progress has been derailed because of our own, some have mocked us, and some of our own best friends, close relatives, inner circle members, kinsfolks have participated in our crucibles. We have so many life crucibles which have denoted our christian values and separation of christian values and life circumstances is detrimental.
Some have lost household goods, residential stands, houses, employement contracts, their beloved ones, spouses, partners, some have poisoned others, dirty politics and many other evil treacherous things but the bottom line is God loves you and pray for them. LEARN TO SAY BY GONES ARE BY GONES, PAST IS PAST, LET’S MOVE ON. Pray for them and demonstrate the love of Christ by putting the ear back despite that he or she is your enemy. Think of those who have hurt you, wake up and pray for them. Some have transmitted the deadly virus on you, some have done the worst, children outside the wedlock, so many other things we can talk of, it is time to move on and bury our difference.
Let’s be sincere and genuine to those who love and those who don’t love you. Jesus could have called ten thousand legion of angels to protect him, but he died alone on the cross to set us free and accomplish the mission. Let me say this way a struggle which he won. The battle was accomplished on the cross.
The battle is not yours, but God’s. Never fight battles that you will never win.
– Wake up @3 am and pray for your enemies and those who love you and move on.
– When you give don’t look at what that person or individual will do for you.
– Do good always.
– In Shona they say ” Ukaita zvakanaka vazviitira”.
Thrive for Excellence
Think Brilliant
Think positively
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal capacity as a scholar and he can be contacted at [email protected]
Three people including the driver died on the spot while one person was critically injured when a Toyota D4D they were travelling was involved in a head on collision with a Delta beverages haulage truck at the Redcliff fly-over along the Gweru-Kwekwe highway this morning.
Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector,Joel Goko who was at the scene said the accident occurred around 8 am.
He said the driver of the Toyota D4D twin cab who was driving towards Kwekwe, attempted to overtake at a continuous line when the vehicle was then involved in a head-on collision with the on-coming Delta haulage truck.
“The driver and two other occupants of the Toyota D4D died on the spot while another passenger was rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital,” said Insp Goko.
He said there was also pile up due to the limited navigation space at the fly over.
“A Kombi which the D4D truck was trying to overtake leading to the accident was also involved in a pile up. There were no serious injuries in the Kombi but we still need to make a follow up at the hospital,” he said.
Jane Mlambo| Budiriro ward 43 MDC Councillor Norman Makondo has been arrested by the Police after he confronted them against harassing vendors at a local shopping centre.
According to MDC Youth Assembly member Denford Ngadziore, Makondo was charged with inciting public violence and is currently detained at Budiriro Police Station.
“About 50 Zimbabwe Republic were arresting and harassing vendors at Budiriro 5 OK shops and the local Councillor confronted the Police. He was arrested immediately now charged with inciting Public Violence at Budiriro Police Station,” said Ngadziore.
A Soldier from Bulawayo was arrested for allegedly stealing guns worth $6 000 from his father’s workplace with the intention of robbing a woman.
File picture of Zimbabwe Soldiers
Moketsi Ndlovu (27) who is on internship at 2 Mechanised Battalion, Inkomo barracks in Harare but a resident in Bulawayo’s Nketa suburb, was with Ngqabutho Tshuma (42) of Paddonhurst suburb, Talent Dube (34) and Bukhosi Moyo (26) both of Nkulumane suburb when they allegedly conspired to rob Ms Dorah Zivengwa of Nkulumane suburb.
Ndlovu allegedly stole the guns from Perazim Security Company located at 9 Elons Court, 3rd Avenue between Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and Fort Street in the central business district
Ndlovu and his accomplices were not asked to plead to conspiracy to commit robbery when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nomasiko Ndlovu.
Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly made a personal donation of more than 3 000 tonnes of rice to all rural constituencies throughout the country. Each constituency expected to get 15 tonnes of the commodity.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lovemore Matuke confirmed that they have received the rice and they were already on the ground where their officers were distributing it to the villagers.
“We have received more than 3 000 tonnes of rice from President Mnangagwa. The instruction is for us to give out the rice to all rural constituencies in the country before Christmas and we are working right now to ensure that it is distributed to the intended beneficiaries,” said Matuke.
“The President sourced the rice with the rural people in mind. We are thrilled that they have been cushioned. The prices of such niceties as rice is now beyond the reach of many rural dwellers. We have families that do not have anyone in town and they are not looking forward to anything other than what they have, so, the gesture by the President goes a long way to cushion them,” said Matuke.
“This rice is for everyone. The idea of politicising food aid given by the President should not be tolerated. The President is everyone’s despite political affiliation. No one is equal than the other and no one is going to get first preference because they belong to a certain political party,” he said.
In May this year, China donated more than 10,000 tonnes of rice to assist people who were affected by Cyclone Idai as well as vulnerable households facing hunger due to drought.
Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming handed over the consignment of 10,165 tonnes of rice to the Zimbabwean government that was represented by Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister Sekesai Nzenza.
The Zimbabwean government clashed heavily with the Chinese government after Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube failed to disclose the rice food aid during his budget presentation.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said that China had provided Zimbabwe with US$3.6m in “development support” ranking it below the United States and UK, who both provided US$50m. The EU has provided US$41m in support.
In the wake of the budget, China’s embassy in Harare disputed the figure, saying in a statement it was “very different from the situation on the ground.”
The embassy said its records show that bilateral financial support to Zimbabwe was far greater, at US$136.8m between the period of January and September.
“The embassy wishes that the relevant departments of the Zimbabwean government will make comprehensive assessments on the statistics of bilateral supports and accurately reflect its actual situation when formulating budget statement,” it said in a statement.
Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming (R) and Zimbabwean Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister Sekesai Nzenza (C) display an agreement during the rice handover ceremony in Harare, Zimbabwe, May 24, 2019
Correspondent|KARIBA Dam is left with only 1,23 metres or 8,50% of water usable for power generation known as live water before reaching the stipulated minimum threshold after it further dropped by 13 centimetres this week to 476,73 metres above sea level, according to official data obtained from the Zambezi River Authority which manages the dam.
This comes after inflows from the Zambezi River that feeds the Kariba Dam, which is one of the world’s largest reservoirs that used to provide reliable electricity to Zimbabwe and Zambia, further dwindled.
Kariba Hydroelectric Power Station is designed to operate between the water levels of 475,50 metres and 488,50 metres in order to generate power.
But, water levels have significantly dropped. The situation will likely exacerbate, experts warned Thursday.
A year ago, water levels at the dam was 482,59, which represented 51,50% of capacity.
The depletion of Kariba’s waters is very troubling because if water in the Kariba Dam depletes to below the stipulated minimum threshold of 475,50 metres, it may only be used for recreation and fishing purposes because low water cause mechanical problems as it cannot turn turbines to generate electricity.
“The lake level continued receding, dropping by 13 cm during the week under review, before closing at 476,73 metres. Last year on the same date, the lake level was 482,59 metres,” ZRA said Thursday.
The rapidly declining water at Kariba Dam presents the real risk that electricity consumers could be subjected to deeper power cuts in the country. Currently, the power utility ZESA is unleashing daily power cuts lasting more than 18 hours daily, something which continues to hurt the economic revival efforts.
If the situation continues like this, the Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Plant, which is Zimbabwe’s largest electricity source with a capacity of 1 050 megawatts (MW), will be decommissioned soon. Continuing to drain water by generating power poses the risk of depleting the reservoir and jeopardizing chances of getting power from it next year as it may not be able to build sufficient stocks to support significant power output until April next year, when Zambezi River’s flow starts peaking strongly.
This is because 80% of water flows into Zambezi is from Angola, DRC and Zambia, among other catchments in the north of the flood plains. The remaining 20% is from Zimbabwe, which has only two rivers which supplies water into Kariba namely Sanyati and Gwaai rivers.
Water from the north passes through the barotse plains or wetlands, which suck huge amounts of water first and eventually release into the Zambezi River when saturated at the peak of the rainy season around February and March.
Usually, a strong flow of the mighty Zambezi River is noticed in Victoria Falls, which is about 120 kilometres upstream, in around March or April of each year, meaning that Kariba Dam receives its optimum inflows around May, with the dam’s water levels reaching optimum levels around June.
Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Plant is generating less than 200MW due to low water levels caused by a severe drought.
Zimbabwe, last year, commissioned an additional 300MW at Kariba, its biggest investment in electricity in more than 25 years.
Former President Robert Mugabe’s purported mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre has turned into a sore sight after it was dumped uncompleted by government.
Mugabe died on September 6 at the Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore.
Burial was to be delayed by up to a month to allow a team to erect the mausoleum. Amid family disputes, President Mugabe was eventually buried at his Zvimba rural home on September 28.
There are mixed views over the unfinished mausoleum where former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe had initially been set to be buried at the National Heroes Acre.
This led to the abrupt stop to the mausoleum construction and the workers just left their equipment there, including wheelbarrows.
The incomplete structure has brought an ugly sight to the otherwise majestic national shrine. It could not be immediately established what will happen to the structure as it is highly unlikely that it can be transferred to a hero in the future.
Chief Mutoko, real name Phillimon Nyachoto, said it is a taboo for a grave prepared for someone to be used for another person’s burial place.
“Patsika dzedu dzechivanhu zvinoera kuti guva kana bwiro rachererwa mufi rigozoradzikwa umwe asiri iye warwakachererwa,” said Chief Mtoko.
“Anyone found doing such practice can be fined by traditional chiefs,” he added.
However, New United Apostolic Faith church leader, Apostle Stephen Mangwanya said there is nothing sinister in burying someone in a grave prepared
for a specific person quoting Biblical Scriptures.
“Biblically there is nothing bad in laying to rest the body of a person not prepared for that grave like Jesus Christ who was buried in a grave bought by Joseph for another person,” said Apostle Mangwanya.“Biblical Joseph of Aramathia requested to take body of Jesus Christ and bury it in the grave he had bought for someone and was allowed to do it.
“In that passage of Holy Scriptures, we learnt that rich people or famous people can be used by God in preparing places of burial for humble and anointed people of authority.
“In the same vein, one of the richest people, Biblical David prepared wealth to build a temple of God but God did not allow him since he had caused the death of many people.
“God gave that grace to David’s son Solomon and in relation to the Mausoleum built for former president’s burial, I want to believe it must be finished and be prepared for another humble, anointed and man of authority.
“Let it be finished and remain protected awaiting someone who has not caused more blood to spill be buried there,” said Apostle Mangwanya. One of the church members who was following the late Josiah Magama Tongogara commemoration proceedings yesterday said the unfinished mausoleum is an eyesore.
“Look at that, the unfinished job has left the respected place defaced and I do not know the reason why they are leaving the scaffolds and building tools scattered at this historical place,” said the church member refusing to identify self.
Partson Jaure has returned to Dynamos after his contract with Manica Diamonds has expired.
The defender rejoins the Glamour Boys on a one-year contract. He becomes the side’s first signing of the pre-season.
Jaure, 29, left Dynamos in 2014 to join University of Pretoria in South Africa. He returned to Zimbabwe two years later and played for Ngezi Platinum Stars before a short spell in Zambia with BuildCon in 2018.
The centre back was one of the most outstanding players for the Gem Boys in the 2019 season.
Meanwhile, Manica Diamonds might lose more players who are being linked with other clubs.
These include Last Jesi, Carlton Munzabwa, Roderick Mufudza, Lawrence Masibera and goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube.
It’s alleged that the players have not had a good working relationship with the technical team even when Johanisi Nhumwa took over the reins from Luke Masomere.
Own Correspondent|Aston Villa duo Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet came under a lot of criticism from the Villa Park fanbase despite Dean Smith’s side winning.
A number of Aston Villa fans have been commenting on Twitter about their 1-0 win over Norwich City on Boxing Day and Villans midfield duo Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet were both slammed by sections of the fanbase.
El Ghazi and Trezeguet were named either side of Jack Grealish, but while the Villa captain put in a superb display, his teammates on the wings both flattered to deceive, spurning numerous chances and not exactly tormenting the Canaries defence.
In the end, substitute Conor Hourihane popped up with a much-needed winner, which saw Dean Smith’s side finally end their losing run, but despite the victory, there were still question marks regarding the displays of several players, El Ghazi and Trezeguet amongst those who copped the most flak.
Trez and El Ghazi are half hearted too many times on and off.— RachyAVFC (@RachyAVFC) 26 December 2019
Wesley offers nothing, Trezeguet and el ghazi offer next to nothing need something else #avfc— tonksy (@dicktonksy) 26 December 2019
If only the following could be part exchanged or just swapped:
El Ghazi Trezeguet El Mohammady Wesley#avfc— Omar Ahmad (@OmarHolte) 26 December 2019
Not the half we needed. Problems for me are Trezeguet and El Ghazi, don’t offer an out ball and can’t beat a man. Jota and Kodjia on please #avfc#utv— Dan K (@NorthernVillan) 26 December 2019
We desperately need a couple new wingers in January. Trezeguet and El Ghazi have been worse than useless so far today. Missed chances, giving the ball away, slowing down play. #avfc#avfclive— Alex Middleton (@alexYYC) 26 December 2019
Trez and El Ghazi are just nowhere near prem standards. El Ghazi shows it in flashes but Trez just looks awful week in week out.— Adam Wheeler (@wheeler_avfc19) 26 December 2019
Defensively we have looked good so I wouldn’t make any changes their but Trez and El Ghazi have been awful I would say bring Jota on but his so slow.— The Religion – AVFC (@AVFC_Religion) 26 December 2019
We may as well get rid of the wingers. Trezeguet is pants and El Ghazi has 1 good game in 5. Play a 3-5-2 and use the wing backs as wingers and play more narrow. #AVFC— (@RHUTV170) 26 December 2019
Trezeguet & El Ghazi continue to be enigmatic, both have produced goals & assists for #avfc this season. Shown flashes of their quality but also their inconsistency. Neither consistently track their fullback but partly due to us not retaining the ball well enough. Hope for better— Lee Inman (@LeeInman4) 26 December 2019
Aston Villa remain in the Premier League’s bottom three, a point adrift of West Ham, who have a game in hand, and up next for the Villans is Saturday’s trip to another relegation-battling side in Watford.
A Delta beverages haulage truck and a Toyota D4D were early today involved in a head-on collision at the Redcliff fly-over along the Gweru-Kwekwe highway, leaving three people dead.
The driver and two passengers died on the spot while one person was critically injured.
The accident was confirmed by Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Joel Goko who was at the scene who said that the accident occurred around 8 am.
Goko said that the driver of the Toyota D4D twin cab who was driving towards Kwekwe attempted to overtake Kombi which at continuous lane resulting in the head-on with the Delta vehicle.
He added that the kombi which the Toyota driver tried to overtake was also involved in a pile-up but passengers in the kombi did not sustain serious injuries.
The seriously injured passenger who was in the Toyota was rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital. – State Media/ The Herald
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA |Abuse of power or abuse of authority, in the form of “malfeasance in office” or “official misconduct”, is the commission of an unlawful act, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties. Malfeasance in office is often grounds for a for cause removal of an elected official by statute or recall election. Unfortunately our vice presidents are not elected officials and they become laws unto themselves.
Zimbabwean law says that a police officer can only arrest a person if they are wanted on a warrant or if they have “reasonable belief” that someone might have been involved in a criminal offence, or be about to commit an offence, and they therefore believe it is necessary to arrest them. From former Vice President Mphoko coming to Vice President Mohadi coming to Vice President Chiwenga the law has been broken willie nilly. The actions of all three amounts to abuse of power but since none of them is elected their actions are covered in a rob of normalcy.
Starting with Mphoko at a police station Mohadi in Beitbridge and Chiwenga and all his former wives, the hand of illegality is clearly seen.
In order to allege a wrongful arrest, the allegation would hinge on two main things:
1. Whether the officer should or shouldn’t have believed that the person may have been involved in a criminal offence or about to commit an offence
2. Whether or not it was necessary to conduct an arrest
The law demands a neccessary discretion and inquiries could have been continued without an arrest taking place, then a wrongful arrest may have occurred if it is proved as above.
The officer’s belief at the time of the arrest can also be questioned and come under scrutiny after the event, especially if it appears that it was unreasonable for them to suspect the individual of a crime or suspect that the individual can escape before the arrest.
Zimbabwe has set the social media alive with the arrest of Marry Chiwenga. the question borders on the legality of the arrest and whether the Vice president abused his office to order a hit on his wife in order to settle a domestic fight.
Because of the Human Rights laws which exist, whenever an arrest is made, the person arrested always has the right to be treated humanely and be treated with respect. Marry Chiwenga was nabbed while she was bathing dragged from the bathroom naked while her children looked. The kids screamed as the mother was being dragged to the car like a criminal condemned to death.
The arrest of the wife of the VP and a very powerful man in the country shows that the vice president was indeed aware of the arrest. seeing that the previous night there was a family meeting where Marry dressed down the VP. The meeting ended at a very bad ending. the contents of this meeting will be fully published on the near future.
However there are two points to ponder. 1. Was it necessary to arrest before the investigations are completed. ws it neccessary to arrest the wife of the vice president in a manner befitting the second lady of the country.
The arresting details took the oportunity to announce their arrest – although they may not be allowed to make the phone call themselves the news was all over the social media suggesting that the arresting details let the dogs out. Although she was allowed to Seek legal advice and consult with a solicitor in private her dignity was violated when man came to arrest her while she was in her bathroom .
But it is important that we check the Vice president’s history with women before we throw Mary Chiwenga under the bus.
Chiwenga has been married and divorced several times. His known first wife is in Mozambique and is a war veteran. He then married another ex-combated who now lives in Nuneaton in United Kingdom and have four children, all boys.
Soon after he cohabited with a Harare socialite and businesswoman only identified as Mwamuka.
Their relationship went sour after Mwamuka one lunchtime turned up at the officers’ mess at KG6 barracks and lashed out at Chiwenga. She scolded him that he was not man enough and barren. This was caused by Chiwenga’s alleged infidelity.
She told him of his poor bed performance in front of his colleagues.
Chiwenga was so embarrassed and the wife was later restrained. But Chiwenga swore to deal with her.
Chiwenga parted ways with Mwamuka soon after in a very barbaric way.
In 1998 he later married Jocelyn Jacobsen (née Mauchaza) who was a waiter at Jobs Nightspot in Harare and they divorced in 2012.
There were no children from his marriage to Jacobsen, but in June 2009, as the wife of Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander, grabbed the triplets of a poverty-stricken mother who appealed for help on national television.
Jocelyn Chiwenga is reported to have pulled up at the young mothers Unit F lodgings in a convoy of Mercs, accompanied by army bodyguards and said she was taking the three babies.
The whereabouts of those kids is unknown today. Their divorce ended so bitter and went all the way to Supreme Court exposing a vast amount of wealth.
Chiwenga also dragged his ex-wife to court over missing guns telling the courts Jocelyn used to beat him up with fists.
Chiwenga with his influence used the military to evict and bar her from his properties. Jocelyn was humiliated as she was manhandled by the soldiers when they stopped her from entering in the properties she had lived during their married life.
In 2011 he married Marry (Mary) Mubaiwa, a former model and wife of footballer Shingi Kawondera, while still married to Jacobsen.
Marry’s relationship to Chiwenga was through the late heroine Kiki Divaris whose Miss Zimbabwe project was a prostitution ring to recruit sex workers for chefs.
In 2012 Marry bore their first child, a son, and a year later she bore a girl. In 2019, suffering from an undisclosed ailment, Marry had Chiwenga checked into a South African hospital.
A fracas arose when his wife Marry visited him. She was later charged with attempted murder.
In December 2019 Chiwenga filed for divorce from Marry citing infidelity issues, forged marriage certificate and that she takes drugs.
He grabbed his children and handed over Marry’s kids with footballers to her mother.
Chiwenga is currently linked to other two women. Reports suggest that he plans to reunite with his UK based wife, a move ZAOGA leader Ezekiel Guti has engineered Chiwenga has a son who is a pastor in that church.
The other woman is Uncle Roland Muchegwa’s ex-wife, Michelle Kawome.
Reports say Michelle is very unlucky when it comes to love relationships.
After leaving an abusive relationship with South Africa based Zimbabwe tycoon Uncle Roland, she fell in love with a top married Harare lawyer who died behind wheels in December 2017.
Kawome recently announced she is engaged to a mysterious powerful man.
Who is it? Mystery surrounds the circumstances leading to the fatal accident that claimed the life of prominent Harare lawyer, Edmore Jori who left behind his wife and three children.
When most people think about the police committing false arrest, they think it refers to an arrest that was not supported by evidence. But this is not the standard for measuring whether the police have falsely arrested someone. To be guilty of false arrest, the police must act without authority, or beyond the scope of their powers.
For example, imagine someone whom the police arrest based on another person’s sworn statement. The evidence later shows the sworn statement was a lie. However, as long as a judge found the statement reasonable at the time and issued a warrant based on it, the police acted properly in making the arrest. In this situation there is no case of false arrest against the police because they have the authority to arrest those they reasonably suspect of having committed a crime.
By contrast, suppose a police officer arrests someone because that person insulted the officer or did something the officer didn’t like. Insulting an officer is not a crime, and unless that officer has another reason to make an arrest, he is acting illegally. It’s possible, though unlikely, that a prosecutor could charge the officer with false arrest.So of a senior officer feels insulted and instructs a government body to cause an arrest this is a clear abuse of power.
So the arrest of Marry Chiwenga even though there is prima facie evidence the instructions to arrest came from an interested party.
The vice president descended into the arena and got mixed up by the dust of the game.
The case of Marry Chiwenga is so tainted with victimisation such that the Vice President has to prove that he is not involved in a domestic case which threatens to turn the nation and government’s institutions a personal property to be used in family fights.
The arrest of Marry Chiwenga came hours after Marry refused to leave the Borrowdale house. was it a matter of if you can not leave You will be arrested.
Jocelyn was kicked out by the army that was clear abuse of the army. Marry was dragged out naked straight to jail. Would this be abuse.
Vice president Mphoko would go to a police station to release criminals and Vice president Chiwenga will call the whole institution of government to arrest his wife to settle a domestic problem. The qualities of our vice presidents God have mercy.
In Beitbridge Mohadi unleashed the police on his wife to settle a domestic issue.
What has gone wrong with our leaders. This does not reflect the ways of ZANU PF.
Norton independent legislator Temba Mliswa has opened up on his relationship with President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying though he is his cousin, he has never abused the relationship for corrupt dealings.
Posting on Twitter today, Mliswa said;
I have never made it a secret that @edmnangagwa is my cousin from the paternal side, Didymus Mutasa is my uncle from maternal side but politically they have never done anything to propel me. That’s the reason my politics is in Mash West where they don’t have influence
I come from Shurugwi& in my political journey have never represented the people from where I lived. I never came from Hurungwe West, my farm was in Hurungwe Central; currently I live in Borrowdale&yet represent Norton. These are areas where these relatives have no influence.
Thus politically I have made my own paths and not benefitted from any nepotism. In fact I have suffered because they feel that if they do anything for me people will think there is nepotism.
All the same don’t expect or require of me to insult them over political issues or differences because one, they are my relatives and secondly my elders. I simply critique objectively where I feel there is need. After politics there is life and we meet in other arenas.
When I meet @edmnangagwa mostly all I do is push for people who I feel have genuine concerns, where corruption is happening, where injustices have been perpetrated and the affected are being blocked from reaching him. I don’t compromise myself.
Being related to @edmnangagwa has never been a medium for corrupt shortcuts to getting anything or unfair advantage over anyone. I’m my own politician and yet still retain human values to respect him both as national leader and an elder.
Thabo Mbeki, the former President of South Africa, was recently in Zimbabwe to explore possibilities of institutionalising inter-party dialogue in order to improve political cooperation for reasons still to be fully unpacked. Mbeki’s conclusion is that currently there is a window of opportunity for talks but no space for a government of national unity as created in 2009. I hope when Mbeki completes his power analysis he will find the wisdom to include in his dialogue framework civil society and representatives of the commissioned commanders of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) who wield immense power behind the scenes.
During the exploratory phase, the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC A) was clear that it wants inter-party democratic dialogue to deal with transitional justice and national healing, political and economic reforms, international re-engagement and legitimacy deficit. On the other hand, the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) wants multi-party dialogue to deal with sanctions, international re-engagement, and economic crisis and legitimacy question. It sounds like there is congruence across some issues but the devil is in the detail and this is a subject for another article.
For now, I posit that despite the call for dialogue, democratic compromise will be difficult for many reasons. These include ZANU PF leaders’ sense of entitlement to rule due to their participation in the liberation war that led to Zimbabwe’s independence from British colonial rule in 1980. However, equally important but understated is that Zimbabwe is in a perpetual election mode. My reading is that the electoral mind-set dominates the governing mind-set in day-to-day politics. Consequently, the political leaders are not likely to see the need for meaningful compromise but calculations for 2023 general elections. Candidates in an election mode are more effective in rallying supporters by articulating hard line positions, casting opponents as ‘enemies’ and positioning themselves as the unwavering bastions of the national soul. However, campaigning is one thing and governing is another. The later requires compromise.To avoid compromise political leaders will seek to advance arguments based on ‘principle’ and seed perpetual mistrust of each other. Yet most of what politicians call principles are interests. For example, the ZANU PF ruling elite’s resolve to defend ill-gotten properties under the guise of defending national sovereignty is not principle but interest.
Mbeki will realise when the dialogue reaches the implementation stage that in Zimbabwe electoral campaigning does not end on the voting day. Rather it starts on the very same day. The polarised positions will remain rigid especially towards 2023 as the general election looms. The MDC A will have to listen to the ‘boots on the ground’ who want them to remain radical and rigid. These are the party foot soldiers that do the campaigning. On the other side, Mnangagwa will need to show a face of courage [even a fake one] to appease the commissioned commanders of the ZNA that sustain his party. Most party hardliners across the MDC A and ZANU PF will view leaders who compromise with mistrust in such a polarised polity. Not to compromise is seen as improving one’s political profile among die-hard members of the party. Contrary to this is that most of the general supporters who bear the day-to-day suffering of the ZANU PF misrule see democratic compromise as a source of strength not as a sign of surrendering and signifying end-of-life.
The major problem is that without democratic compromise what wins is the status quo. Yet compromise must not be for the sake of compromise. If it improves the status quo, it is an essential part of the democratic process. Let me not detour from my postulation, that within the framework of a pending general election, no effective dialogue is likely to take place in substance but in optics. Perhaps it is time to rethink innovative political solutions that are tailor made to Zimbabwe’s specific problem.
Farai Dziva| FC Platinum striker Mkhokheli Dube believes the newly-crowned Castle Lager Premier Soccer champions can put behind their opening two defeats in the CAF Champions League and stage an upset when they face the Egyptian giants Al Ahly today.
Lizwe Sweswe’s charges lost to Al Hilal and Etoile du Sahel, and also face what appers to be an uphill task when they face the former African champions in their own backyard but Dube is not reading much into that.
“We are happy that we won the domestic league but now we have since shifted focus to the African Champions League,” Dube told Kick Off Magazine.
“We are not reading much into the losses in our first two games we are going there to win,” he added.
Farai Dziva|Khama Billiat is the only foreign international who has made into the ABSA Premiership Team of the Decade.
The list was compiled by SuperSport TV.
Billiat first made a name for himself at Ajax Cape Town when he joined the side at the turn of the decade.
He moved to Mamelodi Sundowns three years later and became a core member of the star-studded squad that won the 2016 CAF Champions League.
The Zimbabwean also won a couple of individual honours including the 2016 ABSA Premiership Player of the year and finished second in the CAF Player of the Year – Based in Africa.
The 29-year old also won three league titles, a Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout trophy, all with Sundowns.
Meanwhile, other big names in the Best XI include goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Teko Modise, Opa Manyisa and Orlando Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi.
Pep Guardiola’s title-chasing Manchester City surrendered a 2 goal lead to eventually go down 3-2 to impressive Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux Stadium on Friday night.
The Citizens, who were looking to respond to fellow title-chasers Liverpool’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Leicester City on Thursday night, surged ahead in the 25th minute when Raheem Sterling scored from the rebound of a penalty, which had been saved twice by Rui Patricio owing to the intervension of the Video Assistant Refree (VAR).
Sterling doubled City’s advantage five minutes after the restart as Guardiola’s charges looked to have had the three points in the bag.
That was not be however, as Adama Traore pulled one back for Wolves, which marked the start of a remarkable come back for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men .
Raul Jinamez made it 2-2 in the 82nd minute to set up a mouth-watering finale.
Matt Doherty netted the winner with a minute of regulation time remaining to compound more missery for City, who are now 14 points behind Liverpool, with the Reds having played one game less.Soccer 24
At his peak, Johannes “Tshisa” Ngodzo was virtually unplayable and clearly destined to be one of the best local football players of his generation, but he never managed to reach that pinnacle, through no fault of his own.
What was supposed to be the dawn of a new era for Ngodzo rapidly descended into a nightmare as he suffered a debilitating injury during the Warriors’ historic Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2004 qualifying campaign.
Ngodzo had hoped to use the Afcon finals as a launch pad to strike a contract outside the country but fate had it otherwise.
The former Bosso midfielder suffered a horrific injury while playing for the Warriors against Eritrea in June 2003 at the National Sports Stadium in an Afcon qualifier.
Ngodzo failed to recover in time as the Warriors qualified for the first time for the finals that were held in Tunisia and had to briefly hang his boots while aged only 26 — a crucial moment when players of his age where on their peak.
Ngodzo is a victim of harsh realities of footballers and he surely ranks among those who never got lucky enough to enjoy a fulfilled and lucrative career, with endless prestige.
Throughout that historic Afcon qualification campaign, Ngodzo was a vital cog of Sunday Chidzambwa’s midfield alongside the likes of Lazarus Muhoni, Esrom Nyandoro and Tinashe Nengomasha.
During that moment it was never difficult to predict how far Ngodzo could have gone in his career but, fate had other ideas for him.
“I was devastated when I was injured, especially after being told that it was a bad injury. I love football — I would have played until I was 40 or so if I was good enough,” Ngodzo reveals to the Daily News on Sunday.
“My dream was always to play outside the country, especially in Europe. But that’s how life is. It doesn’t always work out the way we plan. I was enjoying my football with the national team until I suffered that injury.”
It’s heart-warming; at least, to Ngodzo knowing he gave the fans he played in front of plenty of memories with his trademark “signature” dribble.
Ngodzo was not an ordinary talent and his rise was meteoric and sensational.
It started for him in the modest surroundings of Highlanders’ Under-14 side, where he built up a reputation as one of the finest young talents at the club under the guidance of the legendary Ali Baba Dube.
Although there was already a wealth of talent available to Rahman Gumbo, who was coaching Bosso’s senior team then, Ngodzo’s talent would eventually see him make progress.
His tremendous attacking prospect helped him journey through the various Bosso youth ranks before finally breaking into the senior side while still at Mzilikazi High School.
During that era, Highlanders possessed some tremendous midfield talent with Ngodzo having to compete with such players like Blessing Gumiso, Thulani “Biya” Ncube, Siza Khoza, Charles Chilufya and Richard Choruma.
“It was an amazing feeling and I was very happy to be integrated into the senior team,” Ngodzo recalls.
“I had no problem settling because my brother (Zephaniah) was also playing for the team and he encouraged me a lot. I grew up watching them play and playing alongside them only motivated me to be like them.
“Playing for Highlanders was all I wanted when I was young and there was no way I would have wasted that opportunity.
Bosso was the team I grew up supporting and I knew what it meant wearing that black and white jersey.
“Also, the senior players were very supportive, they encouraged me a lot as well as my coaches so I wanted to repay the faith they showed in me.”
At the time, Gumbo hailed Ngodzo as one of the best emerging talents in the country backing him for success and his words were somewhat prophetic, with the attacking midfielder wasting no time in launching his Premier League career with impressive displays.
Ngodzo eventually became an integral part of the Highlanders team which saw the Bulawayo giants winning the league championship in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006.
Ngodzo’s exploits for the Bulawayo giants would eventually attract national team coach Chidzambwa.
Having already represented the country as a 17-year-old in the Cosafa Cup, Ngodzo was reunited with some of his teammates like Nengomasha, Tapuwa Kapini in the history-making senior Warriors side.
“Pulling on the national team jersey was the pinnacle — I was lucky enough to play at every level, through to the senior side, and there is no bigger moment in your life,” Ngodzo recalls.
“Every player wants to play for the best team in the country and I played for Highlanders. Also every player wants to play for the national team and for me those were my best days wearing the national team jersey.
“I can’t forget that Afcon qualifier campaign where I had played all the matches except one because of that injury. It was one of the most difficult moments in my career but I thank God I overcame it.
“Even up to now with the form that was in even I had travelled to Afcon probably I would have been scouted and signed by foreign club. I, however, feel blessed for the opportunity God afforded me.”
Ngodzo is grateful for the support he got from his family and friends when he was battling against that injury which ensured he was not the same even when he recovered.
“My wife and my brothers stood by me during that time of need,” he added.
“There were there for me, encouraging me that everything was going to be fine. Even friends and the whole country, people encouraged me to stay strong. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fully recover and when I came back it was difficult and life was never the same.
“I came back after a long spell but it was difficult.
I featured for Highlanders but I could tell it was now difficult. I even joined Bantu Rovers at some point before eventually calling it quits aged 33.”
In his own words, Ndodzo views his playing time as a career filled with a mix of “massive highs and massive disappointments”.
“All along I have had massive highs and massive disappointments — maybe at times I didn’t always make the right choices, but I have no regrets at all about any of it. It’s part of being a professional athlete, that you get those highs and lows,” Ngodzo says.
“I have always been passionate about the game and that passion has never dipped — I love training, I love playing. But I am also very grateful to the game for giving me a job doing something I love and some unreal experiences. It’s done and I can move forward into the next chapter.”
The next chapter in Ngodzo’s career will now be of his exploits in the dugout trying to help young footballers make the great step into European football.
So far it is looking promising after he guided Bantu Rovers to the Southern Region Division One championship at the end of this season.
Depending on the outcome of the impasse between the Zimbabwe Football Association and the Premiers Soccer League regarding relegation and promotion, Tshintsha Guluva might be playing top flight football next year.
“I was coaching the Bantu juniors until I was promoted to the senior side and it’s something I really enjoy. I do it for the love of it, just like I played football for the love it,” Ngodzo says of his new career path.
Credit – dailynews, Bosso Live
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said his team must forget about catching up with leaders Liverpool and focus on overtaking second-placed Leicester City.
Guardiola stated this while addressing the media, following a 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Friday.
The champions blew a two-goal lead, after keeper Ederson was sent off in the 12th minute.
The result means City stay third behind second-placed Leicester and unbeaten league leaders Liverpool, who are 14 points ahead of them.
“It’s unrealistic when it’s 14 points to think about Liverpool.
“We think about Leicester, we have the chance to recover second position.
“Still we are third, I know the quality of the team but that’s the situation.
“In the last two previous seasons we are used to winning a lot of games and being at the top fighting.
“Now we are far away so we have to adjust mentally to the situation and prepare for the next games.
“We have to move on, we played the first season and it was quite similar to this but in the second and the third we were there all the time and winning all the time.
“Now this season in some situations and after some mistakes we are far away, we have to catch the second one and see where we are at the end,” Guardiola said.Ghana News
Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa), the estranged husband of Vice President
Constantino Chiwenga , has rubbished the allegation that she attempted to kill her husband while he lay prone on a South African hospital bed.
In her bail application through her lawyers Mtetwa Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, Marry argued that the South Africans would have swiftly investigated the “incident” as it could have jeopardised relations between the two countries. She said:
This is impossible because such reports do not exist, for the simple reason that the incident did not occur as alleged or at all.
No doctor who respects his professional standing will be made to perjure himself.
Surely, a serious incident such as an attempt on the life of a sitting vice president with its potential to embarrass relations would have been reported in South Africa and investigated promptly.
Marry further contended that when Chiwenga was in China receiving treatment, he requested President Emmerson Mnangagwa to arrange for her to travel to see him.
She added that Chiwenga also sent US$30 000 for her personal upkeep and use.- Daily News
The estranged husband of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga , Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa) faces a lengthy period in jail if convicted of charges of breaching Exchange Control regulations, fraud and money laundering, and murder allegations she is facing.
In opposing bail for Marry, prosecutor Albert Masamha told the court that the offence of fraud attracts up to 35 years, while Money Laundering provides for imprisonment for up to 25 years.
He said:
Releasing the applicant on bail is, therefore, likely to jeopardise and erode public confidence in the justice system.
… it is the respondent’s submission that the sentence for attempted murder is also severe in the event the applicant is convicted.
The offence of fraud provides for imprisonment not exceeding 35 years, whilst Section 8 (8) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, Chapter 9:24 provides for imprisonment not exceeding 25 years.
Marry has been in remand prison ever since she first appeared in court nearly two weeks ago.
On Friday, the High Court postponed her bail application and appeal hearings to Tuesday next week.
She is being represented by Mtetwa & Nyambirai Legal Practitioners.- Daily News
Farai Dziva|Norton MP Temba Mliswa says COSAFA boss Philip Chiyangwa is well connected such that ZIFA boss Felton Kamambo is too small to fight him.
Chiyangwa is also hosting the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin who arrived in the country for a ten-day private visit.
Mliswa posted on twitter:
“Phillip Chiyangwa hosting UEFA boss Ceferin is indeed a great occurrence and shows how Fidza is well connected.
Kamambo and Machana are indeed small boys who can’t do him anything. Well done Fidza for promoting tourism through football.
Kamambo and his pals should read the writing on the wall, Fidza is connected and dethroning him is a waste. He should now help us remove these guys. He has been given this task together with the SRC i don’t know why he has not started, investigations on them should start.”
Farai Dziva|Norton MP Temba Mliswa says COSAFA boss Philip Chiyangwa is well connected such that ZIFA boss Felton Kamambo is too small to fight him.
Chiyangwa is also hosting the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin who arrived in the country for a ten-day private visit.
Mliswa posted on twitter:
“Phillip Chiyangwa hosting UEFA boss Ceferin is indeed a great occurrence and shows how Fidza is well connected.
Kamambo and Machana are indeed small boys who can’t do him anything. Well done Fidza for promoting tourism through football.
Kamambo and his pals should read the writing on the wall, Fidza is connected and dethroning him is a waste. He should now help us remove these guys. He has been given this task together with the SRC i don’t know why he has not started, investigations on them should start.”
Farai Dziva|Norton MP Temba Mliswa says COSAFA boss Philip Chiyangwa is well connected such that ZIFA boss Felton Kamambo is too small to fight him.
Chiyangwa is also hosting the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin who arrived in the country for a ten-day private visit.
Mliswa posted on twitter:
“Phillip Chiyangwa hosting UEFA boss Ceferin is indeed a great occurrence and shows how Fidza is well connected.
Kamambo and Machana are indeed small boys who can’t do him anything. Well done Fidza for promoting tourism through football.
Kamambo and his pals should read the writing on the wall, Fidza is connected and dethroning him is a waste. He should now help us remove these guys. He has been given this task together with the SRC i don’t know why he has not started, investigations on them should start.”
Farai Dziva| Zanu PF has been criticized for attempting to push party propaganda into Winky D’s new album.
Respected Masvingo based analyst Jeffryson Chitando said the ruling should not abuse the popular musician’ s song in a bid to propagate its meaningless ideology.
ZANU PF Patriots wrote on Twitter:
We love Winky D’s new album
We have used his song here as background to clarify what we imported as it’s meaning in our situation.
HERENTALS Football Club reportedly offered US$3 500 to the Bulawayo Chiefs camp in an effort to manipulate their last game of season and survive the dreaded chop.
According to well-placed sources, after hearing about the carrot was dangled by the Innocent Benza-led club, the powers that be at Amakhosi Amahle reportedly instructed that their players’ mobile phones be confiscated 24 hours before the match that was played on 14 December at Luveve Stadium.
The match ended 1-0 in favour of the students, but Chiefs managed to survive the chop.
Contacted for a comment Twitter Kings’ communications officer Thulani “Javas” Sibanda could not comment on an underhand issue that is being handled by the Premier Soccer League.
“We can’t comment on an allegation is being dealt with by PSL,” said Sibanda.
Chiefs reportedly notified the PSL about Herentals’ alleged underhand dealings, claiming that an official from the Students (name withheld) and another from a Bulawayo-based club (name withheld) first made overtures to “bribe” coach Thulani Sibanda before turning to the players after the Chiefs gaffer dismissed their approaches.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele confirmed to our sister paper The Chronicle that Chiefs raised dust on Herentals, who also have a pending case for allegedly “buying” the 3-0 win against Black Rhinos in October.
“As for the outcome of the Herentals disciplinary hearing for the alleged match manipulation against Black Rhinos, we are still waiting for the disciplinary committee to deliver its verdict.
It’s also true that investigations are ongoing after Bulawayo Chiefs raised match-fixing allegations against Herentals after the final match of the season. The league will release a statement soon after the holidays,” said Ndebele.
Herentals were charged alongside their official Oliver Chirenga, who allegedly “masterminded” the plan to manipulate the result against Rhinos in their quest to survive relegation.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele told Chronicle that a verdict will be passed after the holidays.
“As for the outcome of the Herentals disciplinary hearing for the alleged match manipulation against Black Rhinos, we are still waiting for the disciplinary committee to deliver its verdict,” said Ndebele.
“It’s also true that investigations are ongoing after Bulawayo Chiefs raised match-fixing allegations against Herentals after the final match of the season. The league will release a statement soon after the holidays,” added the PSL supremo.
If found guilty in any of the two cases, Herentals are likely to be docked points which will leave them in the relegation zone.Chronicle
IF you are a man who likes to have sex out of wedlock, be sure to always wear some armour on your crotch.
The advice came following an incident in which a Zvishavane man reportedly passed out after his enraged wife lunged at him and grabbed his testicles in a vice-like grip after finding out he had impregnated their maid.
It is reported that on Saturday last week, during a heated argument at their home, Emily Svondo flew into rage and gave her husband Amos Mangoma a real piece of her mind when she forcibly grabbed his genitals and repeatedly squeezed them until he fainted.
According to a source when Svondo from Makwasha suburb latched on to her husband’s balls, she screamed saying he will never have sex again.
Svondo, the source said, was angry that her husband had relegated her by making her share his magic stick with their maid who was later sent packing.
“Trouble started after the seemingly suspicious Svondo asked their pregnant maid the man who was responsible for her pregnancy.
When the maid revealed that it was her husband who had impregnated her, she (Svondo) repeatedly assaulted her with open hands before she bolted out of the house to confront her husband who was sitting at the verandah,” said the source who preferred anonymity.
The source further said the couple started quarrelling before the argument got physical as they exchanged blows.
“During that furious row the wife violently grabbed her husband’s genitals and squeezed them while shouting that he was not going to have sex again.
The man who possibly could not bear the pain was writhing in agony thereby attracting the attention of their quick-witted neighbours who rushed to the house and rescued him by rendering first aid,” said the source.
Mangoma, who was overcome
with giult for having wronged his wife, refused to report her to the police.
After the near tragic incident, Mangoma’s parents who apparently felt their son was no longer safe at the hands of his wife took him to their rural home in Mazvihwa.B-Metro
I will give a comprehensive analysis and analogue on the banality of the the concept and discussion on what happened after the Gesthmane experience. If you remember very well following the events closely Jesus’s trial had a lot of legalities and the issues had complex phenomenon. There were so many short cuts which the high priests made in order to ensure that his ministry was cut short and he would be eliminated. What lessons do we learn or drew from this experience :
1. Politics exists even in the church.
2. Never focus on the enemy but on progressive factor
3. Pray for your enemies
4. You must always have a clean heart before God
5. Tread cautiously so that when your enemies will find it difficult to nail you
6. In everything that happens on you, Glory to God
7. Never fight back.
Then Simon Peter , who had a sword, drew it and struck the highpriest’s servant, cutting off his ear. His name was Malchus. Malchus in the hebrew version is translated as melek means king. According to scholars, impeccable sources clearly indicates that he participated in the arrest of Jesus in the garden of Gethsmane .
The narrative and the context depicts the natural discourse of the imperical evidence of what exactly transpired.
The bottom line is Jesus was arrested foe trumped up charges which were baseless with a false narrative and deceptive agenda to crumble and cut his ministry short.
Coming closer home, there are people who love you, and they are those who hurt you. Some have caused scars and some have graves on them, some have finger prints and foot prints on each and every evil prevailing in our lives. Our progress has been derailed because of our own, some have mocked us, and some of our own best friends, close relatives, inner circle members, kinsfolks have participated in our crucibles. We have so many life crucibles which have denoted our christian values and separation of christian values and life circumstances is detrimental.
Some have lost household goods, residential stands, houses, employement contracts, their beloved ones, spouses, partners, some have poisoned others, dirty politics and many other evil treacherous things but the bottom line is God loves you and pray for them. LEARN TO SAY BY GONES ARE BY GONES, PAST IS PAST, LET’S MOVE ON. Pray for them and demonstrate the love of Christ by putting the ear back despite that he or she is your enemy. Think of those who have hurt you, wake up and pray for them. Some have transmitted the deadly virus on you, some have done the worst, children outside the wedlock, so many other things we can talk of, it is time to move on and bury our difference.
Let’s be sincere and genuine to those who love and those who don’t love you. Jesus could have called ten thousand legion of angels to protect him, but he died alone on the cross to set us free and accomplish the mission. Let me say this way a struggle which he won. The battle was accomplished on the cross.
The battle is not yours, but God’s. Never fight battles that you will never win.
– Wake up @3 am and pray for your enemies and those who love you and move on.
– When you give don’t look at what that person or individual will do for you.
– Do good always.
– In Shona they say ” Ukaita zvakanaka vazviitira”.
Thrive for Excellence
Think Brilliant
Think positively
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal capacity as a scholar and he can be contacted at [email protected]
A FOUR-month pregnant married woman drank poison and her stomach exploded leading to her death, after she was caught having sex with another man from her village.
The incident happened last week on Monday at Mairosi Village, Chisina 3, Ward 25 in Gokwe South.
A family source who requested anonymity said: “Reuben Mutemarinda (42) came home from a beer binge and found his wife Ruth Kaurosi (34) having sex with Everisto Dzivarepasi. He tried to grab him, but he fled in boxer shorts and left his trousers and a shirt.”
A villager, Trynos Mataruka, said the deceased apologised before she killed herself.
“She apologised to her husband. But later on, she went to a nearby bush where she drank a cotton pesticide. She vomited and her stomach started to bulge. It burst while she was being ferried to Gokwe District Hospital where she died,” said Mataruka.
Mataruka added: “Initially her husband refused to collect the corpse, saying Ruth must be buried at Dzivarepasi’s place. Some family elders tried to reason with him, but he stood his ground.
They had to report the matter to Chief Chisina who intervened by ordering Mutemarinda to collect the corpse and bury it. The burial was done last week on Thursday at Mairosi Village after the body had spent four days at the mortuary.”
Contacted for a comment Chief Chisina confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that a woman Ruth Kaurosi (34) from Mairosi Village drank poison and later died at a hospital.
Her stomach burst. But what worried us as community leadership is that Reuben Mutemarinda (42) was refusing to collect the remains of his wife from the mortuary. He was saying she must be buried at Dzivarepasi’s place as he feels she disrespected him by sleeping with someone on their matrimonial bed,” he said.
Chief Chisina added: “I had to order Mutemarinda and his family to bury the deceased and I told them that any issue will be discussed after the burial.”
Chief Chisina said as of now he cannot comment on how Dzivarepasi will be punished.
“As for now I cannot comment on Dzivarepasi, I will wait for a report from Mutemarinda, after that I will be in a position to comment,” he said.
Ward 25 councillor, Chisina 3, Shungu Maruza said: “This is a shocking incident and I would like to advise members of the public to seek counselling whenever they encounter problems in their marital lives or at home in general.”
Mutemarinda said he would consult his family before formally reporting the adultery matter to the chief.
“I have to consult elders and kraal head Mairosi, after that I will make an official report to the chief because what Dzivarepasi did has lowered my dignity in the society and it’s the reason behind my wife’s death,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Dzivarepasi were fruitless.B-Metro
A FOUR-month pregnant married woman drank poison and her stomach exploded leading to her death, after she was caught having sex with another man from her village.
The incident happened last week on Monday at Mairosi Village, Chisina 3, Ward 25 in Gokwe South.
A family source who requested anonymity said: “Reuben Mutemarinda (42) came home from a beer binge and found his wife Ruth Kaurosi (34) having sex with Everisto Dzivarepasi. He tried to grab him, but he fled in boxer shorts and left his trousers and a shirt.”
A villager, Trynos Mataruka, said the deceased apologised before she killed herself.
“She apologised to her husband. But later on, she went to a nearby bush where she drank a cotton pesticide. She vomited and her stomach started to bulge. It burst while she was being ferried to Gokwe District Hospital where she died,” said Mataruka.
Mataruka added: “Initially her husband refused to collect the corpse, saying Ruth must be buried at Dzivarepasi’s place. Some family elders tried to reason with him, but he stood his ground.
They had to report the matter to Chief Chisina who intervened by ordering Mutemarinda to collect the corpse and bury it. The burial was done last week on Thursday at Mairosi Village after the body had spent four days at the mortuary.”
Contacted for a comment Chief Chisina confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that a woman Ruth Kaurosi (34) from Mairosi Village drank poison and later died at a hospital.
Her stomach burst. But what worried us as community leadership is that Reuben Mutemarinda (42) was refusing to collect the remains of his wife from the mortuary. He was saying she must be buried at Dzivarepasi’s place as he feels she disrespected him by sleeping with someone on their matrimonial bed,” he said.
Chief Chisina added: “I had to order Mutemarinda and his family to bury the deceased and I told them that any issue will be discussed after the burial.”
Chief Chisina said as of now he cannot comment on how Dzivarepasi will be punished.
“As for now I cannot comment on Dzivarepasi, I will wait for a report from Mutemarinda, after that I will be in a position to comment,” he said.
Ward 25 councillor, Chisina 3, Shungu Maruza said: “This is a shocking incident and I would like to advise members of the public to seek counselling whenever they encounter problems in their marital lives or at home in general.”
Mutemarinda said he would consult his family before formally reporting the adultery matter to the chief.
“I have to consult elders and kraal head Mairosi, after that I will make an official report to the chief because what Dzivarepasi did has lowered my dignity in the society and it’s the reason behind my wife’s death,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Dzivarepasi were fruitless.B-Metro
POLICE officer stationed at Madlambuzi Police Station in Plumtree, who pretended to be the husband to his fellow officer’s wife in order to have se_x with her, has been arrested and will appear in court soon for rap_e.
According to a source close to the couple, the accused knocked off from duty at around 10pm on 17 December and went to a bar.
He found the victim’s husband taking alcohol at the bar and dashed to his colleague’s house.He found the victim’s wife just having retired to bed. The accused sneaked into the bedroom.
“He went straight to the window and closed window curtains and got into the blankets. He slept behind her and started to rub his erect manhood against victim’s butt0cks while at the same time touching her all over her body,” said a source close to investigations.
The victim could not sense that the man was not her husband.
“She touched and kiss_ed him. She even turned to face him,” said the source.
The victim’s beard sold him out.
“During se_xual intercourse the woman felt the beard prickling her, after that she became suspicious and removed the blanket and noticed that the person who was poking her wasn’t her husband.
Soon after that the intruder who had seen that he was caught quickly apologised before he rushed outside the house to his place which is 40 metres away from the victim’s house,” said the source.
“She screamed to alert neighbours, but no one came.
She informed her neighbour Merby Moyo. Later on when her husband came from the bar she narrated the se_x ordeal to him. He advised her to make a police report,” said the source.The intruder vehemently denied the allegations.
“When our bosses (names supplied) questioned him he denied ever sneaking into his neighbour’s house and having se_x with his colleague’s wife.
He said he is a married person and respects his wife,” said a source.
By Wandile Sihlobo|A hackneyed expression is that Zimbabwe went from the breadbasket of Africa to its basket case under long-time autocrat Robert Mugabe. But was the first part true?
There is a commonly held view that Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of Africa, although the specific timeframe in history is usually unclear.
This vague narrative gives an impression that Zimbabwe lost its “breadbasket” status during former President Robert Mugabe’s tenure. While Mugabe’s land reform programme seemingly contributed to a decline in Zimbabwe’s agricultural output, there’s limited evidence to suggest that the country was a dominant player in Africa’s food production prior to that period – at least from a staple food production perspective.
Zim’s production never topped 10% share
A country should be able to meet its staple food consumption needs and simultaneously command a notable share in exports of the same food commodity to be considered a “food-basket”.
Looking at the production data of the key staple foods maize and wheat, Zimbabwe’s production of these commodities has never surpassed a 10% share on the continent over the past 55 years. (Note: The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations started recording African agricultural statistics in 1961.)
While that is the case, a closer look at the data paints a fuller picture.
For example, in the two decades prior to Mugabe’s leadership (1960–1980), Zimbabwe contributed an average share of 6% of Africa’s maize production, almost at par with Nigeria, but lower than Kenya’s contribution of 7%. During that period, Zimbabwe’s maize production outpaced consumption by an average 400,000 tonnes a year – making it a net exporter.
During the first half of Mugabe’s rule (1980–2000), the country’s maize production contributed a share of 5% to Africa’s output. While it was a net importer in most years, on average, the country remained a net exporter of maize, with a declining maize trade balance (the difference between a nation’s exports and imports).
The decline in Zimbabwe’s maize production and trade balance worsened following theintroduction of the country’s Fast-Track Land Reform Programme in 2001.
The country’s share of maize production on the continent dwindled to an average of 2% between 2001 and 2016. During this period, Zimbabwe’s maize consumption outpaced production by an average of 550,000 tonnes per year – turning it into a net importer.
Wheat and other grain commodities present a similar trend in Zimbabwe’s contribution to Africa’s food system.
Fails to fit idea of food-basket
The available data, which covers three distinct phases in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, suggests that the country was self-sufficient before and in the two decades after Mugabe came to power.
Even then, Zimbabwe’s maize and wheat output were generally modest and volatile. It wasn’t sufficient to support strong exports to the rest of the continent and world – which fails to fit the idea of a food-basket.
In the third phase, the country’s maize and wheat production significantly declined, which further weakened Zimbabwe’s standing in the continent’s food system.
Overall, we view Zimbabwe as a self-sufficient food producer prior to its land reform programme. However, there is limited evidence to support the notion of Zimbabwe having ever been “the breadbasket of Africa”.
Wandile Sihlobo is an agricultural economist at Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz).
Additional reporting by Sifiso Ntombela, trade economist at Agbiz and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Pretoria.
By A Correspondent| Polad member, and Constitutional law expert and Motlanthe commissioner, Lovemore Madhuku is furious over moves by ZANU PF to change the constitution so to give its party leader Emmerson Mnangagwa more powers than his predecessor Robert Mugabe possessed.
Cabinet on the 17th December pushed through a bill that will remove the running mates clause for Vice Presidents, and furthermore centralise powers to the president to cherry pick judges, the Prosecutor General as well as to appoint a parallel Human Rights authority running in the name of Public Protector.
Speaking in response, Madhuku said:
“The proposed amendments to the Constitution on running mates, the judiciary and the PG must be opposed on the following sacrosanct basis: a government of the day must not be allowed to tailor the Constitution to suit its purely partisan interests.
“The Constitution cannot be amended merely because ZANU PF says so. Both within and outside Polad, I will stand for the position that defines me vis-a-vis a Constitution: a constitution must not be the word of the ruling politicians.”
By Keepwell Zuzumbe| How many dissidents do you know? Gwesela, Gayigusu and Thambolenyoka were Zanu PF creations (just like this modern Team Ferret member Tinashe Jonas) if you didn’t know.
I come from Lower Gwelo where Gwesela was operating. People did not even know that Gwesela was a dissident they were told by the army and Zanu pf militias who had camped in the area killing people and burning homes and raping people under the pretext of looking for Gwesela. Gwesela had no car, he moved around sometimes unarmed, sometimes carrying an AK 47, everyone knew him.
Yet in the same area there was a battalion of soldiers, Support Unit, Zanu PF militia all said to be looking for Gwesela and these were armed having better weapons and driving military vehicles and they never caught him.
From 1982 -7 they could not catch him. Come some years later his son is employed by ZIFA as pay back. Thambolenyoka is there and was silenced with a mine, you have been made to hate the Ndebeles up to believing every nonsense said by Zanu pf.
All those dissidents were gvt CIOs who were not arrested. Gwesela did not even kill or destroy any bridge or gvt infrastructure. He was moving around killing people calling them abathengisi because they could have been talking to soldiers.
I think the soldiers were the ones reporting people to Gwesela. Then Zanu pf militias will be watching every home stead that Gwesela entered during the day. Then they would come kill the people for supporting Gwesela.
Zanu pf militias and soldiers would tell by seeing the footprint that this is Gwesela. As these soldiers and militias move out, Gwesela would come in.
Ask those members of the Fifth Brigade if your father was involved. Go and ask him, he will tell you the truth. The current talkative Zanu pf war veterans are former members of Fifth Brigade like Constantino Chiwenga.
Farmers should continue planting their summer crops as the 2019-20 planting window is still open, Government and experts have advised.
They stressed the need to plant short-season varieties or traditional small grains and using moisture conservation techniques.
Irrigation is becoming increasingly important, but farmers need to use irrigation carefully to conserve limited water supplies.
Advice from agricultural extension officers on when to plant is vital and farmers should be ready to reduce plant populations and ridge to make full use of any available rains.
There had been concern over dry conditions countrywide, with some farmers who had not planted panicking and no longer certain if it was still viable to continue preparations for planting.
Those with germinated crops were worried their crops would wilt under the hot and dry conditions.
Isolated rains were received in some parts of the country yesterday, bringing relief to farmers in those areas.
Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri yesterday said farmers should continue planting.
“Climate change is adversely affecting agriculture. Irrigation becomes very important as it ensures household food security. If the dry conditions continue, we will have challenges with those who do not have irrigation,” he said.
He urged farmers to use irrigation responsibly. “Our rivers are drying up and we should use our water responsibly.”
From the onset of the rainy season, Minister Shiri, encouraged farmers to grow traditional grains, also known as small grains, which are more tolerant to dry conditions than maize.
“Those planting should continue planting traditional grains. This is the way of smart agriculture. We should promote smart agriculture; using what is available and look for better ways of boosting yields,” he said.
The traditional grains are indigenous to Africa and over long periods of time have adapted to complex weather patterns experienced on the
Government was rehabilitating dysfunctional irrigation facilities to boost irrigation activities.
Exiled former Zanu PF politburo member, Professor Jonathan Moyo has promised an explosive 24 threaded Twitter expose on what transpired in the July 30, 2018 elections, Zanu PF party and Zimbabwe politics at large.
Posting on Twitter yesterday, Moyo said after this thread, he will not do another one ever again.
He added that he will it as an opportunity to share his 2020 vision statement
“Friends & foes, on 31 December 2019, I’ll do a 24-tweet thread after which I’ll do no such thread ever again. I’ll share my 2020 vision statement about myself, ZanuPF, party politics, the 2018 presidential poll, @ZECzim & Zimbabwe. Enough is enough,” said Moyo.
Responding to Moyo, Businessman Mutumwa Mawere had no kind words for the former Higher education minister, accusing him of playing with people’s minds.
“Zim is bigger than your mind can possibly absorb. What is a vision of a single person who finds himself outside the borders of his country of birth? I thought u r no longer a member of ZANU-PF. The 2018 election is history. What is enough? Can you at least reduce urself2the povo?,” said Mawere.
By A Correspondent| Constitutional law expert and Motlanthe commissioner, Lovemore Madhuku has slammed moves by ZANU PF to change the constitution so to give its party leader Emmerson Mnangagwa more powers than his predecessor Robert Mugabe possessed.
Cabinet on the 17th December pushed through a bill that will remove the running mates clause for Vice Presidents, and furthermore centralise powers to the president to cherry pick judges, the Prosecutor General as well as to appoint a parallel Human Rights authority running in the name of Public Protector.
Speaking in response, Madhuku said:
“The proposed amendments to the Constitution on running mates, the judiciary and the PG must be opposed on the following sacrosanct basis: a government of the day must not be allowed to tailor the Constitution to suit its purely partisan interests.
“The Constitution cannot be amended merely because ZANU PF says so. Both within and outside Polad, I will stand for the position that defines me vis-a-vis a Constitution: a constitution must not be the word of the ruling politicians.”
Below was the government spokesman Nick Mangwana’s response on the reason why Emmerson Mnangagwa has not left the country since the day his deputy Constantino Chiwenga returned from China.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Chiwenga flew into Zimbabwe unannounced on the 23rd November, the day which is also Mnangagwa’s special anniversary (coup presidency.)
Ever since that day, Mnangagwa has remained in the country spending the longest home stay since taking over power in November 2017.
Said Mangwana, “when His Excellency 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.”
Correspondent|In 2020, Nigeria will be saying bye bye to the Naira as its official currency, as it adopts a new currency called the ‘Eco’.
The ‘Eco’ is a single currency that will be adopted by West African countries as from next year as part of the sub-region’s greater structural reforms.
17 West African countries will adopt the Eco currency when it will be released. These countries are Benin Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
The Eco is expected to be adopted on the first of July 2020, but since the concept arose in 2003, the target launch date for the currency has been postponed several times: in 2005, 2010 and 2014. Countries in the franc region and other West African nations such as Nigeria and Ghana, which have their own currencies, have for decades debated creating their own currency, the Eco.
With the adoption of the Eco next year,
French speaking West African countries will ditch the CFA Franc, known as “Colonies Francaises d’Afrique,” which was established in 1945 and pegged to the Euro since 1999.
The official symbol for the Eco will be ‘Ec’.
According to reports, the Eco notes will
feature great African legends and showcase features of West Africa.
The official bank for the sub-region’s currency will be known as the Central Bank of West Africa (CBWA).
There is no official value for the Eco currency yet.
A specific launch date for the Eco has not yet been announced but it has been speculated that January 2020 is when the single currency will be launched.
Stunted cobs in a dry maize field in the Mutoko rural area of Zimbabwe.
A swathe of Zimbabwe, running from the southwest to the northeast, faces a “phase 3” food crisis after a sporadic start to the November to March rainy season, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fewsnet) said.
Phase 3 is just two steps down from full-blown famine, the USAID-funded Fewsnet said in an e-mailed statement on Friday.
The forecast for the region is for “below-average rainfall”, it said. Parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi will also be affected, it added.
It’s the second drought in as many years. “Many areas of the region are likely to face a second consecutive poor rainfall season and harvest,” the organisation warned.
That’s particularly bad for Zimbabwe, where the “poor macroeconomy is negatively affecting planting and germination rates”, it said.
Millions of rural Zimbabweans are too poor to plant and farm maize, the country’s staple food. Zimbabwe faces an economic crisis where shortages of cash, fuel and electricity cripple people’s access to basic food.
“High staple prices in the region are contributing to below-average purchasing power for a significant number of poor households,” Fewsnet said, mainly because prices are trending 5%-10% above the five-year average in SA, the region’s biggest producer and the source of much of the region’s milled maize.
The World Food Programme (WFP) will extend a pilot programme that fed about 19,000 “vulnerable” urban poor in 2019 to eight new areas in 2020, its Harare spokesperson, Tinashe Mubaira, said on Friday. Of about 8-million people who faced “severe hunger” this year, 2.2-million lived in urban areas, Mubaira said in an e-mailed statement. The WFP plans to provide money to 200,000 urban residents.
Farmers in Zimbabwe traditionally plant maize in November, when the rainy season begins. So far, they’ve received as little as 55% of normal rainfall, with the luckiest receiving 85%.
State Media|Farmers should continue planting their summer crops as the 2019-20 planting window is still open, Government and experts have advised.
They stressed the need to plant short-season varieties or traditional small grains and using moisture conservation techniques.
Irrigation is becoming increasingly important, but farmers need to use irrigation carefully to conserve limited water supplies.
Advice from agricultural extension officers on when to plant is vital and farmers should be ready to reduce plant populations and ridge to make full use of any available rains.
There had been concern over dry conditions countrywide, with some farmers who had not planted panicking and no longer certain if it was still viable to continue preparations for planting.
Those with germinated crops were worried their crops would wilt under the hot and dry conditions.
Isolated rains were received in some parts of the country yesterday, bringing relief to farmers in those areas.
Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri yesterday said farmers should continue planting.
“Climate change is adversely affecting agriculture. Irrigation becomes very important as it ensures household food security. If the dry conditions continue, we will have challenges with those who do not have irrigation,” he said.
He urged farmers to use irrigation responsibly. “Our rivers are drying up and we should use our water responsibly.”
From the onset of the rainy season, Minister Shiri, encouraged farmers to grow traditional grains, also known as small grains, which are more tolerant to dry conditions than maize.
“Those planting should continue planting traditional grains. This is the way of smart agriculture. We should promote smart agriculture; using what is available and look for better ways of boosting yields,” he said.
The traditional grains are indigenous to Africa and over long periods of time have adapted to complex weather patterns experienced on the
Government was rehabilitating dysfunctional irrigation facilities to boost irrigation activities.
“We are also trying very hard to bring in irrigation equipment such as centre pivots. The other option is looking at other crops such as potatoes to fill the gap,” he said.
Agriculture expert and Agriseeds director (sales and marketing), Mr Ivan Craig said farmers could continue planting, but devise moisture retention techniques such as mulching and ridging.
“Farmers still have the chance to plant their summer crops. Farmers can also prepare land and if they have done so they should come back and harness as much moisture as possible through ridging.
“If the crops have emerged, they can grow using dew. Those who have not yet planted can establish a medium population of between 36 000 plants and 46 000 plants per hectare and they will not compete for moisture and nutrients,” he said.
Mr Craig said in this case, yields were down and farmers should reduce fertiliser application to match the reduced plant population.
“Farmers can now only apply between 250kg – 300kg of fertiliser per hectare. Weeds should also be removed as they compete with crops for nutrients,” he said.
Climate change expert Professor Desmond Manatsa said there were no prospects of meaningful rain until the second week of January.
He said the current situation resulted in dry weather conditions for Southern Africa.
“We are currently experiencing the positive Indian Ocean Dipole. This is when the West Indian Ocean is warmer than the south easterly surface temperatures which form the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone which is responsible for producing rain in Southern Africa.”
He said normally, the mid-season dry spell was experienced mid-December .
“The mid-season dry spell marks the transition from rainfall from westerly cloud bands to rainfall from the ITCZ. The ITCZ has been weakened and we will not see any meaningful rains even during the first week of January,” he said.
Prof Manatsa said cloud seeding could not help in this situation as there were no suitable clouds to be seeded.
“If clouds are not there, there is nothing to seed. If we seed hazy clouds, they will evaporate. Cloud seeding is ruled out at the moment,” he said.
African research scientist and University of Zimbabwe (UZ) professorial chair of the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki, said the current droughts that had been affecting agricultural production called for concerted efforts if the country was to continue with production.
He said while climate change was real, there was need to explore other avenues to find solutions to the problem.
Climate change effects could be reduced if there was intensive research on possible and suitable irrigation facilities that could be availed to all categories of farmers.
“Zimbabwe is the country with the highest number of waterbodies in Sub-Saharan Africa and we should make full use of the water to produce food.”
By Wandile Sihlobo|A hackneyed expression is that Zimbabwe went from the breadbasket of Africa to its basket case under long-time autocrat Robert Mugabe. But was the first part true?
There is a commonly held view that Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of Africa, although the specific timeframe in history is usually unclear.
This vague narrative gives an impression that Zimbabwe lost its “breadbasket” status during former President Robert Mugabe’s tenure. While Mugabe’s land reform programme seemingly contributed to a decline in Zimbabwe’s agricultural output, there’s limited evidence to suggest that the country was a dominant player in Africa’s food production prior to that period – at least from a staple food production perspective.
Zim’s production never topped 10% share
A country should be able to meet its staple food consumption needs and simultaneously command a notable share in exports of the same food commodity to be considered a “food-basket”.
Looking at the production data of the key staple foods maize and wheat, Zimbabwe’s production of these commodities has never surpassed a 10% share on the continent over the past 55 years. (Note: The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations started recording African agricultural statistics in 1961.)
While that is the case, a closer look at the data paints a fuller picture.
For example, in the two decades prior to Mugabe’s leadership (1960–1980), Zimbabwe contributed an average share of 6% of Africa’s maize production, almost at par with Nigeria, but lower than Kenya’s contribution of 7%. During that period, Zimbabwe’s maize production outpaced consumption by an average 400,000 tonnes a year – making it a net exporter.
During the first half of Mugabe’s rule (1980–2000), the country’s maize production contributed a share of 5% to Africa’s output. While it was a net importer in most years, on average, the country remained a net exporter of maize, with a declining maize trade balance (the difference between a nation’s exports and imports).
The decline in Zimbabwe’s maize production and trade balance worsened following theintroduction of the country’s Fast-Track Land Reform Programme in 2001.
The country’s share of maize production on the continent dwindled to an average of 2% between 2001 and 2016. During this period, Zimbabwe’s maize consumption outpaced production by an average of 550,000 tonnes per year – turning it into a net importer.
Wheat and other grain commodities present a similar trend in Zimbabwe’s contribution to Africa’s food system.
Fails to fit idea of food-basket
The available data, which covers three distinct phases in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, suggests that the country was self-sufficient before and in the two decades after Mugabe came to power.
Even then, Zimbabwe’s maize and wheat output were generally modest and volatile. It wasn’t sufficient to support strong exports to the rest of the continent and world – which fails to fit the idea of a food-basket.
In the third phase, the country’s maize and wheat production significantly declined, which further weakened Zimbabwe’s standing in the continent’s food system.
Overall, we view Zimbabwe as a self-sufficient food producer prior to its land reform programme. However, there is limited evidence to support the notion of Zimbabwe having ever been “the breadbasket of Africa”.
Wandile Sihlobo is an agricultural economist at Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz).
Additional reporting by Sifiso Ntombela, trade economist at Agbiz and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Pretoria.
Six people were killed and 35 injured in road accidents on Boxing Day, taking the festive season toll to 30.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said on Boxing Day police recorded 73 accidents, six of them fatal. “The major cause of the accidents was speeding, reversing errors, following too closely and inattention,” he said.
On Boxing Day last year, 102 accidents were recorded resulting in eight people being killed.
Asst Comm Nyathi appealed to motorists to be attentive and avoid speeding.
“They should ensure that their vehicles are mechanically sound before embarking on journeys,” he said.
Police arrested 117 touts while 129 vehicles were impounded, with 724 tickets being issues on Boxing Day for a variety of offences.
By Heaven Munyuki | (This is a real life story narrated by an infertile woman Joy, who married a man he loved and had a blissful short stint in marriage before it somersaulted into hell. She then faced a plethora of challenges such as abuse from the man she loved as well as society isolation, the crime she committed being failure to conceive. This is a touching story which depicts daily harrowing experiences faced by young African women who fail to conceive. The pith is on battered wives being: today’s bruises and minor lacerations may be tomorrow’s skull fructure and broken back. Get help or get out.)
Being a vivacious and beautiful young lady I was ready for marriage. My boyfriend Nox wanted to marry me in 2010 but could not afford because he was very poor. He survived on selling scrap metal. One summer afternoon Nox invited me for introductions in Mbare where he lived with his grandmother and sister. Being someone who deeply loved Nox despite the fact that he had nothing materially, I obliged to his request.
When we arrived at their rented room, I could not hold back my tears. They lived in a small kitchen in a dreadful state of dilapidation. They were three of them in such a tiny cubicle and the conditions were squalid. We greeted her grandmother but she was not welcoming at all and I immediately said goodbye after exchanging a few pleasantries. At later date Nox informed me that her grandmother was not impressed by our relationship but we vowed that we would stick to each other through thick and thin. Nox suggested that we needed to live together. I left my job as a housemaid and eloped to him though we were living at his friend’s place. We then relocated to a room he had secured in the neighbourhood for us. We lived happily and we loved each other,though his grandmother was not happy about our stay together.
A year into the marriage I had not conceived. Anxiety, depression and demotivation crept in and i became more paranoid. Neighbours exacerbated the situation by telling me to seek help since no man would live with a barren wife. My journeys to seek spiritual help started. Nox would accompany me to various proliferating apostolic shrines to seek spiritual guidance from various prophets. Three years down the line, nothing materialised despite all our efforts.
We climbed numerous holy mountains, drank various concortions including elephant dung, eggs, soda and hot chilli but to no avail. My husband loved me despite our infertility problem. He never indulged in extramarital affairs and we were supporting each other all the time. He was always defending me when anyone tried to mock me about my infertility problem. He then solemnised our marriage by paying lobola and my parents where exceedingly happy and blessed our union.
Little did I know that payment of lobola had heralded the genesis of my tribulations. Marriage bliss somersaulted into hell, love turned into hatred and life became sour. A month after payment of lobola, Nox told me that if i fail to be pregnant the following month he was going to send me back to my parents so that they could help me to conceive. Emotional and physical abuse became an order of the day. The bride price had authored the demise of my marriage. Indeed as he had promised, he chased me after failing to fall pregnant. He sent a text message to my father informing him about his decision and my father waited for me at our local shops. As soon as I disembarked from the bus my father broke down in tears. He was overwhelmed by emotions and could not stomach such a consequence of infertility.
My father sold cattle and we traversed through many regions of Zimbabwe seeking help from prophets and I returned to my husband Nox after getting assurance that i would fall pregnant as soon as i returned to my husband. I stayed with my husband with the hope that I was going to fall pregnant but heavens could not open. My efforts to get help for me to conceive intensified. I visited more famous prophets and powerful traditional healers. I faced humiliating acts being done to me, sometimes being instructed to remove all the clothes and various humiliating exorcising acts being perfomed on my naked body usually at midnight. I tried everything (sometimes i would move around in the company of my lovely mother), including herbs such as tree roots and barks but the doors remained shut.
When i noticed that misfortunes were dogging me, I decided to go to school to further my studies as a way of occupying my mind. We continued to live together as husband and wife though life was now hard and emotionally I was drained. I later got employment as a babyminder and used my income to cater for our welfare and that of my husband. Truly speaking I loved Nox and I would buy him best clothes from reputable shops. During weekends we would go out to enjoy ourselves in resort areas, but all these efforts went unnoticed.
He would reciprocate with scorn and vilification. I bought various kitchen and dinning assets such as refridgerators and we relocated to dwell in a better apartment using my money all in the name of love. I loved my husband nommatter how bad he treated me because of infertility. From the wages I was getting I managed to save for a residential stand. I was planning a better life for my family.
Days and seasons passed by,my hope of bearing waned with each passing day. Nox informed me that he was going to find a husband for me meaning he was no longer comfortable to continue living with me. I told him point blank that i was i woman not an object that could be exchanged willynilly. Abuse intensified: I would be battered daily with open hands and fists and he would mock my entire generation as a cursed lineage that did not deserve space on mother earth. He would say I was useless in bed, would accuse me of prostitution and infidelity and would say i was a useless parasite that thrived on living lavishly at his expense yet I was not bearing children. To him I was causing huge financial loss.
One evening I came home late from work,it was raining and had been given an umbrella by a workmate. He was so furious as he accused me of being a seasoned prostiture who was in the habit of being given various gifts by boyfriends. He struck me on the head with an iron bar in front of neighbours who tried invain to restrain him. Blood oozed incessantly from the damaged head as he pulled me out of the room into the water soaked ground. All my clothes were drenched in blood and rain and to make the situation worse it was during my menses.
All my tampons were soaked in rain and blood and had never been changed all day,causing an itchy feeling on my genitalia. I managed to seek refuge at a nearby house overnight and came back the following morning thinking that when he had physically punched me he was drunk. I could hardly walk properly,all my ribs were in pain, I had bruises all over my body and blood was dripping from my auditory canal signifying a damaged ear drum.
When I reached our house the door was locked and we followed him to his workplace in the company of a kind hearted old woman where i had slept. We were expecting to reconcile but when we reached to him he was not remorseful at all. I could hardly talk because my mandibles had been dislocated. He advanced towards me ,cleared his throat and spit the sputum on my forehead shouting that he no longer loved me. He reached to his pockets and took a 50 cent coin which he threw at me as a divorce token. At this juncture I accepted the fate, could not bear anymore the beatings and abuse.
I waded home and the pain inflicted during the violence was now taking its toll.Every step i took was with laboured effort. When I reached home i quickly took a bath, removed soiled clothes and wore clean ones, then left to search for a room to rent. It was now a second day since i had last eaten. My body was now too weak to continue, I fell prostrate upon the ground, pespiration cascading down my temples. I felt that my flesh and spirit were being seperated. The gulf of barreness was now so broad,so deep that my spirit shuddered before it. I crawled to a nearby house to search for food. I was feeling that the burden of infertility was now unbearable.The owners of the house gave me some leftovers, I slept, woke up after regaining my strength and resumed my journey to secure a room to rent.Luckily i got one, paid for it and all i was left was the 50 cent token which i used to buy chips since I felt more thirstier and hungrier than before. When I arrived at our house I loaded my property in a hired lorry and left his house to my own place.
After a month in separation, he followed me and apologised but I told him to go and pass the apology to my elder sister which he did.
However one day again he reverted back to his antics, scolded me accusing me of being a useless moron and a barren woman who deserved nothing better other than ill treatment. It was a marathon shouting that lasted for five hours. I never uttered a single word in retaliation despite praying silently. The following day i took a sabbatical and went to my parents. It was a one week breathtaking period in which my parents counseled me before I returned to where we lived, my room.
The pregnancy question was a daily chorus. *** Part 2 and final part of Joy’s story coming (The author is a Co-founder of Tariro-Hope for the Infertile and Childless support group.He can be contacted on 0718745374 [email protected] ,Tariro-Hope Mwanachipo on facebook, for comments,questions and infertility issues)
AN enraged Bulawayo woman is suing her ex-boyfriend, who is a nurse at Mpilo Central Hospital, for $300 000 in damages for malicious prosecution following her arrest on trumped up charges of malicious damage to property.
Ms Judy Ndlovu (55) of Barbourfields suburb is accusing her former lover Mr Vushe Marime (45) of Tshabalala suburb of causing her arrest and subsequent prosecution on charges of malicious damage to property.
Ms Ndlovu was brought before the court on allegations of damaging window panes and burning curtains at Mr Marime’s house in July this year.
She was however, discharged at the close of the State case and acquitted by Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.
Ms Ndlovu alleges that her ex-boyfriend framed charges as a way of fixing her for terminating their affair.
Through her lawyers, Vundhla-Phulu and Partners, Ms Ndlovu filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Mr Marime as a defendant. In papers before the court, Ms Ndlovu said her former lover reported her to the police for damaging property at his house.
“I was committed to a trial on the charge of malicious damage to property at Western Commonage magistrate’s court. I was acquitted at the end of the trial and by reporting me to the police, defendant set in motion a chain of events that led to my prosecution,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said when Marime reported her to the police, he sought to punish her for terminating their relationship.
“The defendant acted without reasonable and probable cause when he reported me to the police. His intention was to harass and punish me for terminating our relationship,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said as a result of her arrest and prosecution, she suffered damages in the sum of $300 000.
“Wherefore plaintiff prays for payment of the sum of $300 000 being damages suffered by the plaintiff as a result of malicious prosecution instituted at the instance of the defendant who acted without a just cause,” said Ms Ndlovu’s lawyers.
More subsidised roller meal will be in the shops once all millers start receiving the special maize allocations from the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) from Monday after a fruitful meeting between the Government and millers yesterday.
Shortages have been severe since only eight of the 61 millers had been receiving the special maize allocations for milling into roller meal but from next week all millers will be receiving the required special allocations from the Grain Marketing Board.
Millers met representatives from the Ministries of Industry and Commerce, Finance and Economic Development, the GMB and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
The meeting came after some millers expressed concern that they were excluded from the subsidised roller meal programme as they had not been registered.
After the meeting, both parties confirmed they had a fruitful discussion and expected things to start improving next week with the subsidised roller meal being made available in shops.
Secretary for Industry and Commerce Dr Mavis Sibanda said Government was working with millers to eliminate all problems preventing the availability of subsidised roller meal on the market.
“We are working together with millers. We are in the process of ensuring all millers are functional,” said Dr Sibanda. We had a cordial meeting with the millers. It was an important meeting to understand each other. Millers wanted to understand the subsidy process and we updated each other on the processes.
“As the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, we want all millers to survive.”
On the registration concerns, Dr Sibanda said all millers were registered with the GMB.
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) national chairman, Mr Tafadzwa Musarara, said there had been some changes to the subsidy programme, resulting in some millers experiencing challenges.
He said only eight millers had so far been registered for the subsidised roller meal programme.
This resulted in shortages on the market. Mr Musarara was confident of an improvement from next week as both parties had agreed to forge ahead.
“What Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube committed to us and how the programme has been executed had variance.
“There was a selection of eight millers and we do not know how they had been selected; those who were given maize. We need everyone to mill.
“More than 43 members were excluded from the programme and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said is going to address the problem. Starting on Monday, GMB is going to take its responsibility of allocating maize to members, which allocation structure was done in consultation and agreement with the millers,” said Mr Musarara.
GMAZ said it was expecting to start receiving parts of its imported maize consignments which are expected to complement GMB’s supply. The organisation is expecting an initial delivery of 50 000 tonnes of maize from South Africa and another consignment is expected from Brazil.
“When the maize arrives in the next two to three weeks, we will discuss with Government on how much should go towards subsidised mealie meal. Two weeks from now, the situation should normalise,” he said.
The switch from a general grain subsidy to a particular product subsidy was meant to ensure that market prices prevailed throughout the system, except on the wholesale and retail prices of the actual subsidised product, thus removing market distortions that led to widespread cheating and inefficiencies.
State Media|Tugging a satchel stashed with exercise books and textbooks as he walks towards school hostels to freshen up after a long day of schooling, 19-year-old Mathew Bidi, who is a boarder at St Patrick’s High School sees some familiar grey-haired elderly people walking nonchalantly into the school gate.
Immediately, something struck him that all was not well back in the village.
As a young man who has grown up under the tutelage of his father, a traditional leader, a customary saying which goes, “An owl does not fly during the day for nothing” quickly comes into his mind.
In his traditional lingo, the elders say if you come across one (owl) flying in broad daylight, just know that something is after its life, something is wrong, so they presume, often correctly.
Anxiety and disquiet ran down the young Mathew’s body and blood when he is immediately summoned to the headmaster’s office and lo, as the gods had already knocked in him that something was wrong, the elders had come to deliver sad and devastating news — his father Chief Gambiza of Chiwundura was no more.
Mathew says it did not immediately dawn on him that as the eldest son and at only 19, he was the heir to the throne, he was the new Chief Gambiza.
So, the elders had come to the school, not only to announce the unfortunate passing on of Chief Gambiza, but to announce that the pupil at the school, Mathew, was no longer the ordinary deceased’s first-born child, but has immediately become a traditional leader back in the village.
Today, a year has gone-by since the passing on of Chief Gambiza in November 2018, and last month, his son Mathew, who was still in school then, commemorated his first anniversary as a traditional leader, probably one of the youngest traditional leaders in Zimbabwe.
At only 20 years, he found himself juggling between his school work and his duties as a traditional leader.
Presiding and passing judgments on cases to do with marriages, mending broken marriages as well as giving lectures on how to lead a marriage life when he is a bachelor.
“At first it was a somewhat bizarre scenario; presiding over cases involving say a 75-year-old and 65-year-old couple brought before me when I am as young as I am.
It was difficult, but because my father had assembled a wise counsel which is helping me, I am finding the going getting better and easier,” said the otherwise media-shy Chief Gambiza.
He says he is assuming his late father’s role and was fitting well into his shoes.
Cruising in a mint Isuzu KB 4×4 double cab chief’s vehicle, the young Chief Gambiza says the Government-allocated vehicle was making his job to juggle between school and chieftainship duties easier.
“I had to quickly learn to drive. And now I am a holder of a Class Four driver’s licence.
I am still in school, supplementing my subjects, so during the week, I at times drive to St Patrick’s High School to do my classes, and on Saturday, I am at the traditional court presiding over cases,” said Chief Gambiza.
He said he is also trying to keep his father’s legacy and was into farming, his father’s passion.
“My father was a passionate farmer, so is my mother. My mother helps me a lot on the farming side, so we are trying to keep our father’s legacy alive.
“I am also happy that I have a very vibrant and supportive team which gives me counsel during our traditional court, so everything is good.
We just picked up from what my father left, and we trying to do everything in accordance to the Traditional Leaders Act and what my father used to do,” said the young traditional leader.
Chief Gambiza said he was raring to go, adding that he felt the leadership role was in-born.
He said his role as a traditional leader will not hamper his educational ambitions, but would rather help his dream to achieve more goals in life.
“I can’t say my career path has been disturbed by the new role that came at a tender age.
Kings and chiefs are born and not made, so I think and believe that it was God’s making that I become a chief at this age, so it will even inspire me to become what I want to be in terms of my academic endeavours,” he said.
Asked how he was presiding over marriage issues when he was still young and single, the chief said: “I have learnt the art; as I said I have a team around me, I am mastering the art. What I do is pass judgment on what my wise counsel would have agreed and deliberated on,” he said.
On marriage, he said he was not under any pressure to marry anytime soon.
Son to a chief who was the first crop of traditional leaders to be incorporated into the Parliament of Zimbabwe under the Chiefs’ Council around 2005, Chief Gambiza said his dream was to walk in his father’s shoes.
In his parting words, the young intelligent and handsome traditional leader urged his people to respect what he embodies and not his age.
“I am, however, happy that the people of Chiwundura are tolerant.
“We are working together very well, and they understand that when we are before the courts, we are not looking at age, but at what the law says.
“I also try to spend much of my time studying the Traditional Leaders Act,” he said.
State Media|Founded by a Zimbabwean, Andrew Nyamayaro, Coventry-based Tann Law Solicitors has made inroads into the United Kingdom market.
Nyamayaro, who is the director of the firm, was born in Harare and he attended the University of Zimbabwe where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws Honours degree in 2000.
He was admitted as a legal practitioner, conveyancer and notary public in Zimbabwe. He then practised as a lawyer in Zimbabwe with two firms before relocating to the UK.
Nyamayaro is also admitted as a Solicitor in the UK, and thus, has dual admission in Zimbabwe and UK. He has volunteered as a parent governor at one of his local primary schools and as a Justice of Peace (magistrate).
He also volunteers as a Deacon in his local church. Andrew is married and has two children. He worked for three solicitor firms before establishing Tann Law Solicitors in 2016.
Tann Law Solicitors is a firm of solicitors ( lawyers) based in the legal district of Coventry. They specialise in employment, immigration, family, civil litigation and charity law. They also draft wills and are Commissioaners of Oaths. They have experienced growth in the firm since it was started.
They started in a one roomed small office and now they occupy two floors in the city centre. In the process of growth they now have more solicitors and caseworkers. They have added more areas of practice and they now utilise cloud-based software.
Nyamayaro said: “We are expanding our online presence through social media marketing and enhanced search engine optimisation. We were also given a legal aid contract by the legal aid agency in 2018. To spice it up all, we have the SQM quality mark to reassure our clients of our work.
“As a (law) firm we are looking to the future. We will expand our offices and we are targeting Birmingham as an area in which we will establish our second branch. We are also recruiting new solicitors and caseworkers who are suitably qualified and registered with appropriate regulatory bodies to join us as consultant lawyers.
“We also have training contracts and we currently have two trainee solicitors and one trainee Cilex. We have given opportunities to several people to do work experience at our firm.
“Under Family Law, we handle various matters including divorce, judicial separation, nullity or civil partnership dissolution proceedings and all issues around children. We advise on separation agreements.
“In employment law, we act for either employees or employers. Our team is experienced in dealing with the opposite party in ACAS proceedings and in Employment Tribunals. We have dealt with cases of unfair dismissal, discrimination, breach of the Equality Act, damages, whistle-blowing, unfair references etc.”
Under immigration, Tann Law assists with entry clearance applications for people wishing to visit or re-locating to the UK, Home Office applications, appeals and judicial review applications.
They also do family, spouse visas, asylum, human rights and points-based applications.
“In Civil Litigation, there is no job too big or too small for us.
It might be a simple dispute such as a contractual breach by the local garage to complicated cases. We have experience in negotiations, mediation and conciliation. Two of our lawyers are mediators. Our lawyers have experience in the Small Claims, Fast Track and Multi Track courts. We work with reputable Barrister Chambers in our cases.
“One of the growing areas of our practice is corporate and business advice. We pride ourselves in giving advice to small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). We are looking to develop relationships with bigger corporations and companies.
We are looking to expand internationally. We are knowledgeable in current legislative and regulatory developments in both private and public law.”
An ever-thriving area of their practice is wills, and they hope to expand to deal with probate law in detail.
Tann Law Solicitors are also privileged to give advice to Charities mainly churches and community projects, particularly on regulatory matters
As a firm they have an open-door policy to their clients no matter their background. They pride themselves in excellent customer care, and are dedicated and committed to their clients, Nyamayaro said.
“We believe in social responsibility. We have sponsored and financed several church conferences, music festivals, community events and have given speeches for free to various organisations on leading legal topics.
“Just recently we sponsored the CAPS UNITED UK Legends Dinner Gala who were fundraising to support grassroots talent of disadvantaged children in Zimbabwe. We are also proud to say that we were awarded the Best Business of the Year Award 2019 at the Zimbabwe Achievers Awards Ceremony that was held in London.
“As a business, though we have met some challenges, we have continued to grow and expand.
Challenges faced include rising costs of operation, continued compliance red tape from the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA), recruitment of staff and the BREXIT uncertainty. Despite all this we believe the future is bright.
“Regarding our links with Zimbabwe, we do have lawyers whom we signpost clients and likewise they also signpost clients to us. We act as correspondent lawyers for several law firms in Zimbabwe and we hope to venture into advising corporate clients in the mining and agricultural sectors.
“In our firm we have several lawyers who are duly registered with the Law Society of Zimbabwe. We have future plans of establishing a branch in Zimbabwe and at the relevant time we will approach the Law Society of Zimbabwe for registration,” Nyamayaro concluded.
By Julias Muguwe|Once again I write in my capacity as a Competent Registered Geoscientist with SAIMM-(South African Institute Of Mining and Metallurgy), A fellow of the Geological Society of England (GEOSOL) and a competent person with SACNASP ( South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions).
“It is imperative for the nation to understand why I say mining alone can change the Zimbabwean economy. I will elucidate in my next write ups the basic geology and general mining knowledge that the nation needs to understand about Mining in Zimbabwe, with particular emphasis on the Great Dyke. The Great Dyke is a naturally god given linear geological feature which is about 550kms trending north-south across Zimbabwe and does play host to vast ore deposits including gold, copper, nickel, silver, chromium, asbestos and Platinum Group of Minerals (PGMS). Thereafter I will talk about the Chiadzwa Diamonds and Gold deposits”.
I write this with a heavy heart. My second job after graduating was as a Projects Geologist for Hwange Colliery from 1993-1996 after leaving Shabanie and Mashaba Mines (1992-1993). Hwange Colliery was one of the star mines in fact it was amongst the top 3 big ones.
During my stay there, I was responsible for exploration in and around the mine. I managed to delineate and delimit the extent of Hwange coal seams both opencast-able and underground mineable. The life span of the mine was extended by more than 40 years through my work under the supervision of Resident Geologist Mr Maponga whom I am told is now a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.
Former deputy minister Freddy Moyo was the Mine Manager, the late Kudzayi Ibwerinofa was the MD, and Mr Rugare Gumbo was the Human Resources Manager. This was the beginning of the political mess at Hwange. I am not surprised that such a venture was and has been milked to the extent of failing to pay employees with such a vast reserve base.
For your own information I drilled in the Hwange Game Reserve where we would encounter lions in the mornings at our drill rigs. I would like to state that there are underground coal seams 3-6 metres thick as logged by myself, of which I did not even know the limits beyond the game reserve.
What I concluded was the deeper they got the better the grades in terms of ash content. The Hwange Colliery debacle involved among other issues a transport supplier harassing and intimidating a board chair using the Presidents’ office in the new dispensation.
This was just an annex of the numerous political disasters that have crippled the mining Industry. My fellow geologists, especially the ones who have had opportunities to practice outside Zimbabwe had hoped that one day, we will be back to impart and use the experiences and exposure gained outside the Zimbabwean borders in our motherland, but that now appears remote as appointments are done on partisanship. The levels of corruption in mining are beyond repair!
I still don’t understand how Hwange Colliery was destroyed, but if you look at the management mentioned above, it was a partisan management and my heart bleeds to know that a company like Hwange Colliery is being threatened with administration.
Whilst some of these appointees have the professional qualifications, they do in the end jeopardise their integrity as most decisions are made on political grounds, benefitting a few at the expense of the nation. The following questions do then arise from all this:
(1) Do we have the right people in the Mining industry at the top in Zimbabwe?
(2) Are all these so-called mining deals and ventures benefitting politicians or the nation? It is very interesting to note that when diamonds were discovered at Chiadzwa and Marange our government and the army went in like vultures. No ongoing exploration and reinvestment plans were put in place as soldiers and police suddenly became mining engineers.
No feasibility studies were fully conducted. If we do not know how much diamonds were there initially, how much were mined and how much are still in situ how did we come up with a US$15 Billion loss? This may still may still be speculative, could even be more.
When the weathered sub-surface was all mined they got stuck with the hard conglomerate, which they found difficult to mine without using proper blasting and recovery techniques. This was now beyond the military man’s capacity. Geomechanics and structural geology is not a subject studied at a military academy. That was a dead end and the nation was told diamonds are finished.
Where is the proof? What we have is proof that the mining industry is being run by people with no idea, not good enough technically. People running this ministry have no track record of even managing a green field project to full production. Have never managed a feasibility study to production neither have they defined a resource.
So many blunders have been made in our mining.ie BHP Minerals. PGMs (Platinum Group of Minerals) were mined even though the layman only knew that Platinum was being mined. For the layman some of the minerals are as listed, platinum, palladium, thorium, rhodium, iridium, osmium and as well as nickel, cobalt copper and gold.
Platinum (PGMs), gold, copper and Nickel were mined by BHP minerals during their short stint. It might as well be a tall order to know exactly how much of the Great Dyke minerals were actually exploited by BHP Minerals between 1995-1999.
Whilst BHP closed because of grade and ground instability issues leading to low production, I still believe if a proper geomechanics study had been conducted the closure could have been avoided. (a story for another day). These are few examples of how the mining industry is being thrown into a mess by being headed by men with little exposure or knowledge in mining.
We have a crop at the top in the Mining Industry that gets animated with signing of Exclusive Prospecting Rights by foreign investors, thereby politicising such ceremonies. This is why they end up flanking the president announcing fictitious oil discoveries.
This crop lacks the experience of coming up with better mining deals that brings about growth and development of the nation as well as improving the lives of all at large. The crop at the top does not think that minerals we are exporting are the ones we are also buying i.e. in the form of lithium batteries for example.
A crop that is harnessed in thinking, they don’t think beyond sinking a mineshaft. It is a crop that does not have vision of how economic geology and mining relates to other production sectors!
Where there is a mine potential they only see a corrupt line of making money through signing and via tenders and hence we end up with cartels in i.e. transport, mine suppliers etc. They don’t embrace economic Geology. We may be the largest coal producer but we have no electricity and yet using coal power can be generated.
We produce lithium but we still import lithium batteries, we have vast chrome deposits but we can’t even have chromium-plating Industries. We can’t make our own number plates for cars and street names. What a shame! How on earth does a big company like Rio close 3 mines on the basis of lack of forex and yet they mine the gold? It’s so sad this is where we are and all what we have.
As mentioned above I will talk about the Great Dyke Potential, the Chiadzwa Diamonds, oil discoveries and Gold Mining. Watch the space and smile, rocks are friendly!!
Julias Muguwe is the MDC UK and IRELAND Portfolio Secretary For Mines And Energy
Farai Dziva|Justice Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi’ s remarks indicating that government has authorized the police to shoot machete gangs have ignited widespread debate.
Ziyambi has been criticised for his remarks which indicated that the government has given the police authority to shoot machete gangs popularly known as Mashurugwi.
The Minister in an audio-recorded interview with VOA said the killing of terrorists was common worldwide.
He said:
Even in America terrorists are killed, machete criminals are terrorists, I talked to the Minister of Homes Affairs for the police to shoot them.
The people called Mashurugwi will be arrested, we will deny them bail because they would threaten their victims after bail application.”
An 86-year-old granny of Matshetsheni area, Gwanda, Matebeleland South was reportedly raped by her great-grandson on Boxing day.
ZBC News reports that the woman was sleeping in her hut when the suspect allegedly broke into and raped her.
The suspect had earlier visited his great grandmother and gave her 30 Rand before breaking into her home in the early hours of Thursday.
ZBC News further reports that a relative of the suspect revealed that the accused had previously committed a similar offence on other women in the family.
According to ZBC, the suspect allegedly violated his aunt in August 2011 before raping another 67-year-old relative on the 25th of December the same year.
The suspect who is said to have been arrested already is believed to have also sexually abused more women in Plumtree and Mbalalabala in the past before fleeing to South Africa.-ZBC News
Joe “Kode” Mugabe was born in Harare and raised in one of Harare’s high-density suburbs Mabvuku.
Born on 3 September 1968 to Joshua Mugabe who once played for BAT Ramblers Football Club and later became a manager at Circle Cement
Career
Joe joined CAPS United Football Club when he was 14 years old playing for the junior teams after he impressed the then juniors coach Alois Patsika.
Mabvuku Area D had a game against the CAPS United U16 and the coach decided to draft Joe into the team although he was 14 years old because his talent was exceptional.
From that day he set his eyes on being part of the first team. Since he became part of The Green Machine he was voted as the club’s Player of the Year a record four times in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2001.
He spent the whole of 1988 on the bench as there were good midfielders such as Joel Shambo, Roy Ngwenya and Edwin Farai by that time. He got his chance toward sthe end of the year after Ngwenya got injured just after 20 minutes of play against Highlanders Football Club.
Joe was also a Soccer Star of the Year finalist in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2001.
In 1996, Joe won the Premier Soccer League title. He also won a number of major trophies that saw CAPS United earning the tag Cup Kings.
Depature To The UK
Joe left Zimbabwe in 2002 reportedly to follow his estranged wife who was reported to have married a white man by that time.
Coaching Career
He was a player coach for Sporting Lions and assisted by Lloyd Mutasa, He holds a FA Level One coaching badge.
Trivia
Joe celebrated his 50th birthday in the UK in October 2018.- credit : The Herald, Nehanda Radio, AllAfrica.com
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA |Abuse of power or abuse of authority, in the form of “malfeasance in office” or “official misconduct”, is the commission of an unlawful act, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties. Malfeasance in office is often grounds for a for cause removal of an elected official by statute or recall election. Unfortunately our vice presidents are not elected officials and they become laws unto themselves.
