Farai Dziva|Youthful MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has chided his political rival Emmerson Mnangagwa for “feeding the fish instead of feeding hungry people.”

Chamisa, qouted by Newsday, said he was going to the holidays with a heavy heart thinking about the suffering masses.

He said : “Any serious and credible leader’s core business is the well-being and interest of the people they lead. On that score, I walk into the Christmas holiday depressed, challenged and burdened because my thoughts, mind and conscience are with the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering.

They are suffering because we have deprived them of happiness and merrymaking.

They are without cash, without fuel, without electricity, without water and even without freedom
I wish I could have the luxury of feeding my fish at the farm with my friends, but I can’t. It is just impossible. We must feed the people not the fish.”

Most hotels, lodges and other accommodation facilities are expected to be fully booked throughout the festive season, while the fuel supply situation in resort towns has improved significantly.

In non-resort towns and cities, hotel occupancy remains low with charges being reduced to attract local tourists.

Government, through the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), is prioritising resort towns such as Victoria Falls and Kariba in the allocation of fuel.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) corporate communications manager Godfrey Koti yesterday said there were no fuel queues in resort towns owing to Government and individual initiatives, while accommodation facilities were fully booked for the festive season.

“I am reliably informed by ZERA and other private players that there is fuel in resort towns and people are just going straight to the pump.

“There are no fuel shortages and we are very grateful that the relevant authorities made this possible and we just hope that the situation will stay the same.

“Judging from what I saw, Victoria Falls is fully booked. There will also be the Victoria Falls Carnival, so it is expected to be fully booked until after the New Year and we are also expecting the same for other resort areas,” he said.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesman Mr Tinashe Farawo said all their accommodation facilities country wide were fully booked.

He said domestic tourists made the majority of bookings in line with ZimParks’ thrust to continue promoting domestic tourism.

“We have a thrust to promote domestic tourism and all our facilities are fully packed right now. We have been fully booked since the start of the festive season.

“The majority of the tourists we have booked are domestic tourists so we are doing something right because domestic tourism is what we are pushing for.

“The prices for accommodation are low and very affordable, they are not prohibitive. We also have international tourists but domestic tourists make up the highest numbers,” said Mr Farawo.

For Christmas Day in Victoria Falls, a room at bigger hotels such as Elephant Hills, Kingdom, Ilala Lodge, Safari Lodge and Rainbow Hotel costs between US$75 for a single room and US$500 for an executive suite.

“Some of the smaller lodges are fully booked for the Victoria Falls Carnival period between 29 and 31 December and these are mostly locals,” said a source in the hotel industry.

Tourism executive Mr Clement Mukwasi said bookings for activities are beginning to pick up.

“As for activities, bookings have started to pick up and we expect more people, especially for the helicopter flight, boat cruise and rainforest tours,” he said.

The festive season looks promising for those in the tourism and hospitality industry

in Manicaland Province with most hotels and lodges fully booked.

Leopold Rock is fully booked for the festive season.

The hotel charges $4 000 for a double room, inclusive of bed and breakfast.

According to Chimanimani Tourist Association secretary Mrs Jane High, the festive season has kept them busy.

“We are very busy and we are very happy with how the season is. Christmas and New Year are looking very good and we are fully booked with local people. We have no international tourists,” she said.

Mrs High runs the Frog and Fern Cottages in Chimanimani.

Most lodges in Chimanimani charge foreign tourists US$35 and locals at the equivalent bank rate.

However, in Mutare major hotels such as Mutare Holiday Inn are not fully booked.

The hotel charges $1 710 (single) a night and $2 208 (double).

The recently refurbished Golden Peacock Villa Hotel is also not fully booked. The hotel charges $1 800 (single) and $2 400 (double).

Manica Skyview is also not fully booked. The hotel charges $1 350 for a standard room and $1 650 for a double.

In Masvingo, major hotels and lodges have been witnessing average occupancy rates with most hoteliers saying business was lower this year compared to last year.

Major hotels here such as the Regency Flamboyant Hotel, Great Zimbabwe Hotel and Ancient City were around 40-50 percent booked for the festive season.

The cost of rooms at these major hotels hovered from about $1 000 for a single room to around $2 400 for a double room.

Regency Hotel Group director Mr Eddison Zvobgo (Junior) said the occupancy rate at his firm’s hotels was lower this time compared to the same period last year.

Last year, Regency Hotels such as Flamboyant in Masvingo and Fairmile in Gweru were 44 percent and 53 percent full last year, respectively, in December compared to this year’s 30 and 36 percent occupancy rate, respectively.

“Yes, the figures this year show that in terms of occupancy rate, we are below last year but as an industry, (tourism is) doing better than other sectors,” said Mr Zvobgo.

In Mashonaland Central, Umfurudzi Lodges in Shamva is fully booked and Mr Farawo urged people to come for day activities which include the elephant experience and game drive.

He said their charges were minimum and affordable to locals as part of the drive to promote domestic tourism.

However, some lodges in Bindura town are not fully booked.

Catherine Mashonganyika, who manages Twin Lodges in Bindura, said they are not fully booked.

Their executive rooms cost $600, while delux rooms are going for $700.

Mayfair Lodges in Bindura is not fully booked and accepting clients.

Mr Brian Chinyemba, an accountant at Mayfair, said their rooms, including bed and breakfast, are going for $900 while their executive room costs $1 100.

-State Media

MDC president Nelson Chamisa says he enters the Christmas season depressed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is taking time to feed fish at his farm with fellow POLAD leaders, while the rest of the people around the country are starving.

President Mnangagwa met POLAD leaders at his Sherwood farm near Kwekwe over the weekend, and part of the meeting involved touring the various projects taking place at the sprawling farm. Social media was awash with images of MDC-T President Thokozani Khupe and President Emmerson Mnangagwa throwing fish food into a pond.

Chamisa also said his conscience was troubled that millions of Zimbabweans will be without food, fuel, power and freedom during the festive period.

“Any serious and credible leader’s core business is the well-being and interest of the people they lead. On that score, I walk into the Christmas holiday depressed, challenged and burdened because my thoughts, mind and conscience are with the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering.

“They are suffering because we have deprived them of happiness and merrymaking. They are without cash, without fuel, without electricity, without water and even without freedom,” Chamisa said.

He said it was a difficult period for Zimbabweans, and he hoped that “this will be a vivid reminder of the urgency of our situation, the extraordinary circumstances”.

“I wish I could have the luxury of feeding my fish at the farm with my friends, but I can’t. It is just impossible. We must feed the people not the fish,” Chamisa said, in apparent reference to a video that featured Mnangagwa and MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe at Mnangagwa’s farm.

Chamisa said he sympathised with the people of Zimbabwe who will miss the usual delicacies usually associated with the festive season.

“I sympathise with the people and feel with them, the definition of a sensitive leader. The way Zimbabwe is suffering, high school fees, dysfunctional hospitals; in other countries, people are busy having their best meals, their delicacies on Christmas and visiting best places. But in Zimbabwe, the situation is different. I was in Germany, I could feel the sense of Christmas, but that is not the situation in Zimbabwe. (A) sad indictment of those in leadership. Instead of dispensing love, they are dispensing agony and sorrow,” Chamisa added.

-Online

JAPAN, the world’s third largest economy after the United States and China, is frustrated by Zimbabwe’s slow pace of implementing reforms, such as tackling corruption, which has dented the southern African country’s golden opportunity to repair frosty relations with the international community as well as attract foreign direct investment (FDI), the Zimbabwe Independent can report.

The Asian country in 2019 hosted the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad) meant to boost trade and investment relations between the country and the continent where it pledged to channel US$30 billion to Africa.

This year’s edition of Ticad, which President Emmerson Mnangagwa attended, was held in August in Yokohama. Japanese ambassador to Zimbabwe Toshiyuki Iwado told the Independent that the Asian country was hopeful that after the departure of former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017, the new Mnangagwa government would usher in much-needed reforms.

However, he added that optimism has since waned, degenerating into frustration over the government’s lack of appetite to implement a raft of promised reforms.

“I still remember the kind of euphoria after the military intervention in November, 2017.

At that time I tried to inform every Zimbabwean that this was an opportunity that could open a window for real reform. We were happy to hear that President Mnangagwa at the beginning stressed the importance of political and economic reforms,” Iwado said.

“I do not know the details of what is going on here, but unfortunately, the words coming out of his mouth have not been realised in a very smooth way. Now that euphoria is gone. Without knowing the reality, without transparency, how can one tackle corruption? After my two years in Zimbabwe, my question always is, government is always saying we are doing this, we are doing that. But I have never seen the results. My comment is, we are frustrated because we cannot see the change.”

With Zimbabwe generating about US$6 billion every year in export earnings, Iwado said he was baffled how that significant amount of money was not making meaningful change towards reviving the fragile economy.

He said Mnangagwa’s administration should prioritise the tackling of corruption. It is also vital, he added, for the government to be transparent in its policies, including on investment.More in News

“Statistics say US$6 billion is coming in every year. That amount is really significant if you can compare with neighbouring countries. Why is it that you cannot feel this US$6 billion in this country? Some say it is because of the corruption, some say a few people are just grabbing it. The point is, we do not know.

“How do you deal with US$6 billion coming in? The important thing is for this government to make this society transparent? That is the core issue, because from my side, Japanese companies need to judge, whether you like it or not, they need to judge. Without knowing what is going on here, how can they judge? The real problem from outside is that we cannot see what is going on.”

Iwado said Japanese companies were also unnerved by the abrupt suspension of the multi-currency system as well as the acute foreign currency crisis choking Zimbabwe’s imploding economy.

Rampant graft, he emphasised, was one of the big factors repelling investors. “Many Japanese companies, frankly, are interested in doing business in this country. Are they comfortable with the business climate of this country? Are local companies comfortable? Many investors have talked about bribes. It is a corruption issue,” Iwado said.

The Japanese ambassador also said a solution to the foreign currency crisis is needed if Zimbabwe is to attract investors. Both local and foreign investors are suffering owing to a lack of forex.

“There are some challenges you need to address, especially the foreign currency challenge. That is a must, to think about it, how do foreign investors operate without foreign currency? Suppose they come, they will have foreign currency in the bank, and every time they need to procure something they will have to go to the central bank to get approval to withdraw?” he asked. “This is my money, this is my company’s money. Why can we not use it? That is a serious issue.”

Iwado highlighted that the international community is puzzled why the government in Harare is not implementing reforms, including recommendations of the Kgalema Motlanthe commission of inquiry into the killing of civilians in the aftermath of last year’s general election.

The Motlanthe commission was instituted by Mnangagwa last year to probe circumstances around the August 1 fatal shooting of civilians in protests that ensued before election results were announced.

“I am not criticising anyone, but I am just very frustrated. For example, the Motlanthe commission says security forces are responsible for the killings, no one gets arrested. No one is investigated.”

Japan, he said, had suspended extending loans to Zimbabwe, and was offering only assistance grants. He said his country had completed the Nyakomba Irrigation Project in Nyanga after spending about US$16 million on the second phase. The Asian country has also funded a US$5 million road rehabilitation programme.

“We are also currently renovating the Chirundu-Makuti corridor at a cost of US$21 million. Recently in Mt Darwin, we pledged US$2 million for food aid targeting expectant mothers. In 2018, we channelled US$1 million to support the electoral system through UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). All of them are grants. We are not extending loans, unfortunately.”

— Zimbabwe Independent

THE opposition MDC says it is committed to “real dialogue” to solve the political and economic crises in the country, but will not be part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).

Mnangagwa has been holding talks with leaders of fringe political parties that took part in last year’s elections to try to resolve the country’s political and soci-economic crisis, which continue to worsen.

MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka told NewsDay: “Polad is a political graveyard judging by the paltry votes garnered by all of its members, starting with Mnangagwa himself, whose votes Zec (the Zimbawbe Electoral Commission) whittled down a record three times.

“The collective position of all sane Zimbabweans is the position taken by president (Nelson) Chamisa, which is to snub such comedies at a time citizens are suffering. That Mnangagwa continues to talk about Chamisa betrays the real character that Zimbabwe needs for the country to move forward.”

Zanu PF and MDC leaders appear to be taking positions ahead of the expected return of former South African President Thabo Mbeki before the end of the year to push for talks to end the economic crisis.

Mbeki in his visit last week in Harare held meetings with the two protagonists in Harare as well as other political, civic society and church leaders.

However, Mnangagwa at the weekend told a meeting of his Polad partners at his farm in Kwekwe that he would not dialogue outside the forum.

“Mnangagwa cannot be the convener of an honest and sincere and credible dialogue. That gathering at his farm is a charade. We are talking here of unity of the people and not the unity of leaders over a bottle of whisky,” Tamborinyoka said.

“The people are suffering and this Polad political soliloquy has been on-going endlessly with no respite on the lives of the people. It is a self-serving charade. With that troop of political nonentities, Polad is akin to whistling in a political graveyard.”

MDC spokesperson Daniel Molokele weighed in, saying: “We are not interested in joining Polad. We are very clear that Polad is not a credible process. Chamisa is not in any political wilderness. He is the most relevant politician right now and is taking a principled stance in the interest of the people of Zimbabwe. The MDC itself is very happy not to be associated with Polad.”

Analysts who spoke to NewsDay yesterday called Mnangagwa’s dialogue platform a waste of time and resources if it does not involve Chamisa, the leader of the largest opposition party.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero also described Polad as a charade that Mnangagwa created.

“You can’t sit around with a bunch of electoral losers and pretend to be talking and in the process, leave out your main rival,” Rusero said.

“For starters, it is Mnangagwa who is setting the pace, agenda and at times venue to conduct the ‘dialogue’ meetings. That must not be the case. Real dialogue with real players will come, only after Zimbabwe has reached the mutually hurting stalemate like what happened in 2008.”

United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean lawyer and political analyst Alex Magaisa said attempts to trivialise Chamisa’s consent to dialogue were futile.“They have already tried it with the Political Actors’ Dialogue.

Without the biggest opposition leader, Polad was a sham from the beginning,”

Magaisa wrote on his blog on Saturday.“It has since proved to be no more than a group of enablers desperate to align with Mnangagwa and using attacks on Chamisa and the MDC Alliance to buy their way onto the gravy train.Polad was presented as an inclusive dialogue, but for Mnangagwa, it is just a platform to trivialise and dilute his main rival, Chamisa.”

He added that Chamisa would lose credibility among his party’s followers if he joins Polad, adding even if they gave it a new name, it would still be foul.

Notwithstanding the criticism, Polad on Sunday presented a list of what they termed the successes of the platform, which observers described as shameful.

Polad listed, among its success stories, a visit to the Cyclone Idai-ravaged Manicaland province, where together with Mnangagwa they toured affected areas.Manicaland was early this year hit hard by Cyclone Idai, which left 634 people dead and 257 missing.

Polad only visited together with Mnangagwa to witness the handover of donations and listing that as an achievement was largely criticised by observers.

“The visit to Cyclone Idai by Polad delegates led to conscientisation of the nation about the problem and the need for urgent intervention by different stakeholders,” the report to Mnangagwa by Polad read.

“The coming together of political actors under one banner and the official launch symbolised unity of purpose,” Polad said.The dialogue platform also listed an interface it had with the Finance and Industry and Commerce ministers as well as Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor and other government officials as a success.

Among other “success stories” mentioned by Polad was its participation in the anti-sanctions march in Harare.

Magaisa, however, criticised the so-called achievements, saying: “Mnangagwa’s Polad lists its ‘achievements’ in 2019.

They even claim credit for ‘conscientisation of the nation about (Cyclone Idai)’ apparently because of their ‘visit to Cyclone Idai’.

They obviously have an exceedingly generous estimate of their role and relevance. Deluded!”Also listed as a success was the participation by Polad members in Mnangagwa’s clean-up campaign held every first Friday of every month.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has been pictured making a lot of noise with his body while meeting vendors in Kwekwe, just after his Polad meeting.

The last time Mnangagwa made this kind of noise was when his deputy Gen Constantino Chiwenga returned to Zimbabwe from China. Ever since that day (23rd November 2019), Mnangagwa has not left the country. November – December now becomes his longest ever stay inside Zimbabwe for 2 years running since the Nov 2017 coup.

• 

• 

• 

A popular Kadoma prophet and leader of the Royal Family International Ministries had an extra marital affair with one of his congregants whom he reportedly dumped after having his child.

Prophet Charles Pintec had the illicit affair with one Grace whom he then decided to neglect after having his child prompting her to expose the secret affair she had with the man of God.

Charles Pintec with Grace
According to a source who spoke to H-Metro, Prophet Pintec fell madly in love with Grace to the extent of impregnating her but when the woman gave birth, the man of God decided to dump her.
Out of anger and bitterness, the woman is said to have started spreading pictures of her and Pintec during their good days on social media so as to expose Pintec to his congregants and the whole world.

“Prophet Pintec of Royal Family Church is a well-respected man by his congregants but his actions have proved otherwise.
“He had secret extra marital affair with one of his congregants Grace to the extent of siring a child with her and he decided to quit the relationship after the birth of the child.

“This did not go down well with Grace so she started exposing the Prophet by sending pictures of her and the man of God during the subsistence of their relationship so the man is now the talk of the town,” said the source.

When H-Metro contacted Pintec to get his side of the story, he pleaded guilty to the accusations and apologised to everyone who might have stumbled upon the pictures of him and Grace during their good days.

“What you heard is very true but it is part of my past and it was a moment of madness which I regret a lot as a man of God.
“It is a regrettable past and I would like to apologise to everyone who came across those pictures.

“It has been seven months now since I parted ways with the lady in question and it is also true that I had a child with her but it is past now and I do not know why people would want to bring this up now.H-Metro

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Farai Dziva|Professor Jonathan Moyo has said there is nothing to celebrate on Christmas Day.

“On this bleak Christmas day for most Zimbabweans, it’s hard to find merry words for the occasion save to ask God to bless and favour everyone affected with the promise of a better day tomorrow,” Moyo tweeted.

He also attacked Emmerson Mnangagwa for despising the suffering people of Zimbabwe.

“Kubata musana while talking to people, especially pamusika, is rude behavior which is tantamount to looking down on the masses.”

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for unity among Zimbabweans during the Christmas season.

See full statement :

Fellow Zimbabweans, during this time when we celebrate the life of Jesus Christ, let us internalise the values he left for us.

The values of loving our neighbours, of protecting and caring for the poor, and of peace and unity.

Since the beginning of the new dispensation, we have worked hard daily, guided by these values.

Indeed, at all times we must be guided by Holy Scripture, by a desire and determination for justice, peace and prosperity for all.

This Christmas, let us look forward not backward; inwards not outwards. Let us focus on how best we can look after our families, our communities and our nation.

I know that many of you still suffer.

I am not blind to your situation, nor am I deaf to your cries. I commit to you that we will continue to reform with an eye on the long term; for we must not reform only for ourselves, but for our children and our children’s children. We are undertaking deep, broad, and meaningful reforms.

We are continuing to open up the political and media spaces. We are clamping down on corruption. And we are building a new Zimbabwe where the people come first.

Whilst we have much more work to do, my promise to you is that we will continue to work with modesty and humility, guided by our faith and scripture, day and night, to build a better future for all.

God Bless you all and God Bless the nation of Zimbabwe.

Farai Dziva|The leader of a new political party, the Independence of Zimbabwe African Organisation of People’s Power Pinda Panyanga United Front (IZAOPPOPP UNF), Mr Edson says his party respects the values of the liberation struggle.

The existence of the party was confirmed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s chief elections officer, Utoile Silaigwana who in a letter to acknowledge the party’s existence said:
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acknowledges receipt of your party profile documents, the contents of which have been noted. Your organisation has been included on ZEC’s stakeholder database and mailing list for notification when appropriate meetings that require your input arise.

The party leader, Mr Edson, quoted by The Herald said he formed the “nationalist and pan-Africanist” party to enhance democracy in the country.

“What we want is a democratic Zimbabwe and we respect the liberation struggle.

Our party will be nationalist and pan-Africanist.

We simply want to use other avenues through a structure like a political party to advocate for the citizens’ interests,” he said.

Fellow Zimbabweans, during this time when we celebrate the life of Jesus Christ, let us internalise the values he left for us. The values of loving our neighbours, of protecting and caring for the poor, and of peace and unity.

Since the beginning of the new dispensation, we have worked hard daily, guided by these values.

Indeed, at all times we must be guided by Holy Scripture, by a desire and determination for justice, peace and prosperity for all.

This Christmas, let us look forward not backward; inwards not outwards. Let us focus on how best we can look after our families, our communities and our nation.

How we can make Zimbabwe a better place for all.
I know that many of you still suffer.

I am not blind to your situation, nor am I deaf to your cries. I commit to you that we will continue to reform with an eye on the long term; for we must not reform only for ourselves, but for our children and our children’s children. We are undertaking deep, broad, and meaningful reforms.

We are continuing to open up the political and media spaces. We are clamping down on corruption. And we are building a new Zimbabwe where the people come first.

Whilst we have much more work to do, my promise to you is that we will continue to work with modesty and humility, guided by our faith and scripture, day and night, to build a better future for all.

God Bless you all and God Bless the nation of Zimbabwe.

Watch video below. ..

Watch video. ..

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has acknowledged the formation of a new political party called the Independence of Zimbabwe African Organisation of People’s Power Pinda Panyanga United Front (IZAOPPOPP UNF).

A letter signed by ZEC’s chief elections officer, Mr Utoile Silaigwana, reads: “The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acknowledges receipt of your party profile documents, the contents of which have been noted. Your organisation has been included on ZEC’s stakeholder database and mailing list for notification when appropriate meetings that require your input arise.”

In an interview with The Herald, the party’s leader, Mr Edson Rupondo, said he formed the party to be “the voice of the voiceless”.

Mr Rupondo said his party would be nationalist in nature and would uphold Zimbabwe’s national interests, ideals and ethos. “What we want is a democratic Zimbabwe and we respect the liberation struggle. Our party will be nationalist and pan-Africanist,” he said.

“We simply want to use other avenues through a structure like a political party to advocate for the citizens’ interests.”

He said that constitutionalism was an important part of the party as every Zimbabwean citizen must act in accordance with the law.

“My thinking is informed by the fact that the law is a social institution which may be improved by intelligent human efforts or otherwise the spirits of our liberation heroes will not be pleased by the direction the country will be taking,” said Mr Rupondo.

IZAOPPOPP UNF will lock horns with Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF and Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance in 2023 watershed elections.

-State media

By Own Correspondent| Activity has heightened at border posts, with Beitbridge handling over 500 000 entries and exits since the beginning of this month.

The development has seen Plumtree border post temporarily adopting a 24-hour shift to help ease the congestion at the border.

A total of 503 932 travellers have used Beitbridge Border Post to access either Zimbabwe or South Africa since the beginning of December.

An estimated 65 000 vehicles have passed through the border post which is open 24 hours a day.
-StateMedia

By A Correspondent| Below was the first LIVE documentary which began last night when it was explored how Gen Constantino Chiwenga and his wife estranged Marry were poisoned last year.

The program saw the Mubaiwa [Marry’s] family being handed the bundle of evidence on what military sources say affected their daughter around the time of the white City incident on 23rd Jun 2018.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

This series of LIVE documentaries will run all the way to the year end, on ZimEye.com

A Chinese doctor at the centre of this investigation, is now being connected to the Mubaiwa family through this ZimEye program.

While her husband ended up being airlifted to China in July, after suffering from a host of symptoms, Marry developed a swelling of her hands.

The common symptoms from the poisoning are: mutochira (a side effect such as boils, fevershness, feeling ver very cold, or feeling very very hot.

The first stage is to wake up with a swelled up body.

Migrane headache.

Second stage is cramps, when you want to move you start having cramps. You also stary having ceavings for things such as sugar.

Eye problems.

The third stage is losing skin colour, it turns black or it starts peeling, or very very black the way Morgan Tsvangirai.

Kubuda rute, or masiriri (overflowing saliva).

Starting to lose weight, or you start not wanting to feed.

The effect of it is that the more medication you take in, you make the suffering worse.

In many cases they will start saying you are ill of cancer. In your body you starts developing clots (because everything in your body starts kubikana – getting hot).

You start hallucinating. If you killed someone you start confessing.

This is the stage Chiwenga was at when he was flown to China in July 2019.

WATCH THE PROGRAM BELOW:

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

USD = ZWL$16.2348

ZWL$ = RAND0.8524

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$22.8 zimrates

USD = ZWL$23 zwl365

USD = ZWL$22.8 bluemari

USD = BOND16.6 zimrates

– Marketwatch

A 45-year-old inmate has attained all his academic qualifications while serving a nine-year jail term for rape.

Charles Zifa started his grade one level at the age of 39 following his imprisonment in 2013.

“I was uneducated when I was imprisoned. I started from grade one up to form four.

Imagine a 39-year-old starting to learn the vowels and how to write his own name.
“It was not an easy journey but I am glad I made it despite the challenges,” Zifa said.

He added that he has professional qualifications though he failed to get sponsorship to write his O’ Level.

He said given the opportunity he would like to pursue his education.

“I did not manage to write my ordinary level due to financial issues but I am positive that if I am to sit for the exams I will pass with flying colours.

“I am now eager to learn and I am using my time in prison to further my studies although it is difficult sometimes because of limited resources in prison.

“It has been an interesting journey and I have learnt to appreciate the importance of education,” he said.

Zifa appealed for help from well-wishers for him to continue with his education.

“Various inmates fail to write exams because they cannot afford examination fees but they want to go forward with their education.

“If we get help from well-wishers I am sure, we will be a better people,” he said.

The inmate was among the graduands who attained certificates last week.

“After failing to write ordinary level examinations I then started wood technology and I have faced various challenges but I am happy that I graduated.

“It was not an easy road. I studied very hard and the lecturers really helped us.
“With these skills I am sure I have prepared myself for life after prison.

“Life in prison has taught me that education is key.”H-Metro

By Own Correspondent| Former Higher Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has slammed President Emmerson Mnangagwa for “looking down on the masses”

Mnangagwa this Monday visited and bought eats from vendors. He got off from his motorcade and headed straight towards the marketplace and bought groundnuts, snot apples (matohwe) and maize cobs. Commuters, kombi crews and vendors jostled to catch a glimpse of the President. The President took time to listen to concerns raised by vendors.

He was accompanied by State Security Minister Owen Ncube.

Patricia Moyo a vendor, who sold groundnuts to President Mnangagwa, said he paid using local currency and asked her about the challenges she was facing.

“We heard his motorcade and suddenly he appeared. I was elated when he headed straight to my market where he asked how much I was charging. After I told him, he took money out his pocket and paid. I even gave him change,” she said.

She was happy to have told her problems to the highest office in the land.

“I am hoping that he is going to address the challenges that we face as vendors. I, for one, told him the problems we are facing and he promised to look into them,” said an elated Moyo.

Professor Moyo has responded to Mnangagwa’s posture saying it signified disrespect of the masses.

“Kubata musana while talking to people, especially pamusika, is rude behavior which is tantamount to looking down on the masses!” Moyo tweeted.

Kubata musana while talking to people, especially pamusika, is rude behavior which is tantamount to looking down on the masses! 

Farai Dziva|The MDC Youth Assembly has applauded party leader Nelson Chamisa for refusing to join POLAD.

Below is a statement written by MDC Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Chuma:

The MDC Youth Assembly would like to applaud President Advocate Nelson Chamisa for refusing to join Emmerson Mnangagwa’s pulverized political monologue, POLAD.

As President Chamisa rightly opines, joining POLAD is akin to betrayal and selling out millions of this generation who yearn for real change.

It is not mendacious that real change can only be ushered in through genuine dialogue on reforms and not some extravagant banquet at Mnangagwa’s farm.

It is quite regrettable that the public media whose critical role is to inform has chosen to misinform the public by running propaganda bent on framing President Nelson Chamisa as anti- dialogue when in actual fact it is Mnangagwa who detests dialogue in favor of monologue.

As far as we are concerned, POLAD is nothing more than a club of the vanguished whose common goal is underlined by bitterness, thievery, extravagance and an unquenchable desperate desire for a social contract with the masses.

Even if we are to combine Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 33% presidential vote with less than 1% paltry votes garnered by his POLAD acolytes in 2018 elections, still they will be far short of the 50% threshold as per our constitutional provisions.

Dialogue by its very nature and definition is for warring parties and as far as POLAD is concerned, it is very clear that Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Madhuku and cabal are in total agreement with Mnangagwa hence can not be part of any meaningful dialogue.

Given such circumstances, joining POLAD in its current state is akin to a fly following a corpse right into a dark grave.

The consequences of such is trouble for citizens!

It is the aggrieved winner of the 2018 Presidential vote, Nelson Chamisa, trade unions, under siege civil society, churches and of course the pepertrator, Emmerson Mnangagwa who must be at table of any meaningful dialogue to avert the current crisis.

It is against that background that we believe POLAD is nothing more than a circus and child’s play and as such it is not going to cure the legitimacy question which is the bedrock of the current crisis.

As MDC Youth Assembly, we once again reiterate our support to the People’s President Advocate Chamisa for his wisdom not to join Mnangagwa’s grave train dubbed POLAD.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

The traditional jostling and bustling festive atmosphere has been stolen for most Zimbabweans.

Many have failed to travel to see relatives and friends during this Christmas period due to a myriad of reasons such as lack of fuel, lack of money to spare and lack of cash at the banks. Most parents are already worrying about January to send their kids back to school so they have decided to forego Christmas festivities and save for “Back to School”. Prices of goods and services have gone up beyond reach of many and our civil servants are bearing the most brunt.

Traditionally, the Christmas period has been associated with receiving, giving and sharing among relatives, friends, churchmates and workmates. A period of thanksgivings.

This has all been stolen by government austerity measures which has driven everyone, except the well-connected, into abject poverty! The Zimbabwean spirit of Christmas has been lost in this maze of socioeconomic challenges.

The year has been very brutal as the government austerity measures took their toll on many people. Salary increments have not caught up with price increases of commodities.

The economy remained in the informal sector with most service providers completely ignoring the government’s call to outlaw the use of foreign currency for local trading.

Nothing else but the grace of God has brought us to the end of 2019 as a nation. Each passing day came with a new heavy load upon our shoulders. It is the year that brought us the most debilitating loadshedding. We saw the complete collapse of the healthcare system as government offloaded its medical experts into the open arms of other countries. The drought situation did not help matters and more than 50% of the population were pronounced food insecure.

The late president Robert Mugabe had set the bar so low that all president Mnangagwa had to do was show up at his office but alas, we are worse off. People are lamenting and wishing that Mugabe days were better. There can never be any bigger disapproval than for people to call Mugabe days better than what president Mnangagwa has done so far.

We remain hopeful as Zimbabweans that in the not-so-far-away future, Zimbabwe will have leaders with people at heart. Leaders who will be soft as wool and leaders who actually listern to the people.

This dry season will pass. Meanwhile, let’s all remember the less privileged during this period. Let’s all be careful and to motorists, let’s all exercise extreme caution on the roads. Drivers of public transport, let’s be patient on the national highways. The status of most roads pose a great risk to both motorists and pedestrians. Let us be each brother’s keeper this Christmas,

Happy holidays, merry Christmas and a happy new year. May 2020 be a bigger year than 2019. May you all rise above all challenges that you may encounter,

I love you all and God bless Zimbabwe,

Jacob Ngarivhume 
President, Transform Zimbabwe

FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, through her Angel of Hope Founda­tion, this week distributed small grains and rolled out a donkey project in Matabeleland South as part of meas­ures to augment draught power and boost food security in the province.

Matabeleland South Province is located on the edge of the Kalahari Basin, giving it an arid climate.

Its economy is dominated by agri­culture, with 83 percent of employed people in the province working in farming. Cattle ranching and tourism also contribute to the economy.

Small grains are drought-tolerant and disease resistant while donkeys are key animals in drought-prone areas because of their sheer power and ability to withstand harsh weather conditions.

They are also used as traction animals in rural areas by small-scale farmers.

In these days of fuel challenges, don­keys can ferry perishables like milk and vegetables to the market thereby saving on fuel costs.

The First Lady was represented by Ms Getrude Manyimo from her office as she had other engagements across the country.

Amai Mnangagwa has a passion for Zimbabwe”s economic revival and has been touring the length and breadth of the country promoting agricultural production and setting up income-generating projects for communities.

Her major strength is that she pro­vides solutions that are specific to the needs of a particular area.

She has also been providing seed and initiating income-generating pro­jects for vulnerable communities.

The current programme has seen the First Lady distributing small grain seeds in Tsholotsho, Bulilima and Binga Simatelele, where a goat rear­ing project has also been introduced.

Small grains, Amai Mnangagwa said, were important since they did not require much water and farmers were assured of harvesting something even in seasons of low rainfall.

The Angel of Hope Foundation patron has this year distributed small grain seeds to farmers across all the country’s provinces to ensure they achieve food self-sufficiency and have at least surplus to send their children to school.

The Doma community in Kanyemba also benefited as they received the small grain seeds

Farai Dziva|MDC T deputy president has hit back at critics saying he did not join POLAD for tea and scones.

“We don’t do POLAD because we want to have tea & scones! No! We ain’t bragging but the fact of the matter is that we can buy our own tea & scones & in fact, we can afford to book ourselves in any hotel that we want! We do POLAD simply because we love Zimbabwe!

Scream all the abuse & trash that you like about POLAD, we don’t give a damn! We’re resolute & focused. We’re strategic & we’re excited that just about everyone in & out of Zimbabwe is now talking & even dreaming about POLAD. We have got a viable game plan,” tweeted Gutu.

“Some people are always complaining that life in Zimbabwe is extremely difficult.

Surprisingly, the very people who complain the loudest are not willing to profer solutions to the myriad socio-economic challenges facing Zim. Be pro-active! Don’t just complain…” he added.

World Wrestling Entertainment boss Vince McMahon has stunned all and sundry after claiming that “Zimbabweans are mentally challenged.”

In a video footage McMahon likens the look on Oklahoma natives to that of Zimbabwe “natives” in which he says looks like that of mentally challenged people.

“When I look into the eyes of all these Oklahoma natives, it’s no different than looking into the eyes of Zimbabwe natives.

I have been to Zimbabwe, I know, I saw the same vacant stare on Zimbabwe natives that I see in your eyes tonight.

You know, that stare like maybe you are not right all there, upstairs, you not what I am saying,”said McMahon.

Farai Dziva|MDC T deputy president has hit back at critics saying he did not join POLAD for tea and scones.

“We don’t do POLAD because we want to have tea & scones! No! We ain’t bragging but the fact of the matter is that we can buy our own tea & scones & in fact, we can afford to book ourselves in any hotel that we want! We do POLAD simply because we love Zimbabwe!

Scream all the abuse & trash that you like about POLAD, we don’t give a damn! We’re resolute & focused. We’re strategic & we’re excited that just about everyone in & out of Zimbabwe is now talking & even dreaming about POLAD. We have got a viable game plan,” tweeted Gutu.

“Some people are always complaining that life in Zimbabwe is extremely difficult.

Surprisingly, the very people who complain the loudest are not willing to profer solutions to the myriad socio-economic challenges facing Zim. Be pro-active! Don’t just complain…” he added.

https://youtu.be/ox3gZENNQlM

By A Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has wished Zimbabweans a merry christmas promising to work round the clock to assist farmers and small businesses.

He said this shortly after making an impromptu stop at a market in Kwekwe Monday.

He said:

“Yesterday I made an impromptu stop in Kwekwe market to buy fresh, Zimbabwean produce and to talk with vendors and hear the challenges they are facing.

We will continue to work around the clock to help our farmers and small businesses. Merry Christmas!”

Matabeleland North Senator Alice Dube yesterday condemned Zimbabweans killing each other in foreign lands instead of working to improve themselves.

Dube was speaking in Bulawayo’s North End suburb soon after attending a funeral service for South Africa-based Zimbabwean businessman Bheki Ndlovu who was gunned down last week

Ndlovu’s funeral wake was held at North End suburb yesterday in the morning before proceeding to his rural home in Tsholotsho for burial today.

In an interview with the Chronicle Dube said she learnt with deep shock of Ndlovu’s brutal murder

“When we first heard about his death, we thought maybe it was one of those random murders considering the crime rate in the neighbouring country. However, my heart sank when I learnt of how he died.

It’s saddening to hear about our children committing crime in the neighbouring country. When they leave here, we expect that they are going there to seek jobs to better their lives. But to hear that they are turning against each other, killing each other, it’s worrying. Why can’t they continue observing the law and respecting the sanctity of humanity as they do while they are here?” asked Due.

She said it was heart-breaking to see pictures of Ndlovu’s wife Nomazwe with another man on social media.

Dube said she felt sorry for the Ndlovu family when she started receiving the photos, as she showed the news crew some of them.

“To me Bheki is a son. We watched him as he grew up. I even attended his wedding with his wife. They were my neighbours in Pumula South before they moved to this house. I

I’m actually shocked to see her pictures while she is cosy with another man. It’s actually surprising to learn that she (Mrs Ndlovu) came with her lawyers and bouncers for the burial of her husband. As we speak, she has already left. What was the point of bringing a lawyer and bouncers here? What was she trying to prove? We have learnt a lot about her in the past few days maybe some of the things his family does not know,” she said.

Part of the team that were accompanying the hearse wore black T-shirts inscribed “Rest in Peace Bheki” with his photograph.

Dec. 24 (UPI) — The United States has recalled its ambassador to Zambia after he waded into a dispute over gay and lesbian rights with the president of the southern African nation.

The U.S. State Department confirmed Monday it has recalled diplomat Daniel Foote after it was told Zambian President Edgar Lungu would no longer work with him.

Saying they were “dismayed” by Lungu’s stance, U.S. officials conceded Foote’s position in Zambia was “no longer tenable” after the American envoy last month criticized 15-year prison sentences handed down to two gay men convicted of having sex. Sexual relations among gay Zambians, even consensual, is outlawed.

The department said there are no immediate plans to send another diplomat to Zambia, Bloomberg reported.

“Despite this action, the United States remains committed to our partnership with the Zambian people,” a State Department spokesperson said, emphasizing that the United States “firmly opposes abuses against” lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.

Zambian Foreign Minister Joseph Malanji first registered displeasure with Foote last month after the U.S. ambassador said he was “horrified” at the long prison terms imposed on the gay men.

Malanji said the government strongly disagreed with Foote’s view, and concluded that his questioning Zambian courts “is tantamount to questioning the Zambian Constitution.”

Mnangagwa feeds fish at his dam with Thokozani Khupe as they commemorate Unity Day – Video.

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his erstwhile POLAD partner Thokozani Khupe of the splinter MDC-T spent part of the “precious” POLAD time on National Unity Day affectionately feeding fish at his farm.

The partners’ momentus time come hot in the heels of social media speculation that the two may just be a thing as they are always appearing very close to each other during POLAD gatherings more than all the other partners would do.

Watch video below:

Fish symbolise rebirth, transformation, health, abundance, serenity, intelligence, happiness, strength, and endurance, they represent the deeper awareness of the unconsciousness. President @edmnangagwa feeds fish at his water reservoir as he commemorates National Unity Day pic.twitter.com/pcBsLbEsrx

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) December 22, 2019

Correspondent|Civil Servants have learnt who Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube is after the Ministry failed to pay them their December salary package as agreed putting into disarray all Christmas plans that had been made.

In a move that has left civil servants angry and disheartened the on the 11th hour has reneged on its promise to give civil servants a cushioning allowance for the festive season.

This was revealed by the Apex Council’s secretary-general David Dzasukwa who said:

“We were all frustrated and angry because we expected that the government had come with a proposed figure, but we were shocked when the employer announced to us that in fact they had nothing for us because the budget had already been done without factoring in the Cola.”

“We were told by the employer that the only time an adjustment to our conditions of service was posible is January next year so we are going to be meeting early next month as the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) to consider that.”

FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, through her Angel of Hope Founda­tion, this week distributed small grains and rolled out a donkey project in Matabeleland South as part of meas­ures to augment draught power and boost food security in the province.

Matabeleland South Province is located on the edge of the Kalahari Basin, giving it an arid climate.

Its economy is dominated by agri­culture, with 83 percent of employed people in the province working in farming. Cattle ranching and tourism also contribute to the economy.

Small grains are drought-tolerant and disease resistant while donkeys are key animals in drought-prone areas because of their sheer power and ability to withstand harsh weather conditions.

They are also used as traction animals in rural areas by small-scale farmers.

In these days of fuel challenges, don­keys can ferry perishables like milk and vegetables to the market thereby saving on fuel costs.

The First Lady was represented by Ms Getrude Manyimo from her office as she had other engagements across the country.

Amai Mnangagwa has a passion for Zimbabwe”s economic revival and has been touring the length and breadth of the country promoting agricultural production and setting up income-generating projects for communities.

Her major strength is that she pro­vides solutions that are specific to the needs of a particular area.

She has also been providing seed and initiating income-generating pro­jects for vulnerable communities.

The current programme has seen the First Lady distributing small grain seeds in Tsholotsho, Bulilima and Binga Simatelele, where a goat rear­ing project has also been introduced.

Small grains, Amai Mnangagwa said, were important since they did not require much water and farmers were assured of harvesting something even in seasons of low rainfall.

The Angel of Hope Foundation patron has this year distributed small grain seeds to farmers across all the country’s provinces to ensure they achieve food self-sufficiency and have at least surplus to send their children to school.

The Doma community in Kanyemba also benefited as they received the small grain seeds

Correspondent|Vice President Kembo Mohadi broke down on Tuesday morning during the burial of his nephew Abel Muleya (49) who became the 6th member in the Mohadi clan to be buried at their Mtetengwe shrine this year.

Some senior women in the family had to spend much of the time consoling the Vice President.

Muleya died at his home in Beitbridge on Friday afternoon and is survived by two children. Addressing over 500 mourners, Mohadi said it was sad that he was one of the surviving elders who has buried most family members after the death of his father a few years ago.

Christmas Message By President Emmerson Mnangagwa|Fellow Zimbabweans,

During this time when we celebrate the life of Jesus Christ, let us internalise the values he left for us. The values of loving our neighbours, of protecting and caring for the poor, and of peace and unity.

Since the beginning of the new dispensation, we have worked hard daily, guided by these values. Indeed, at all times we must be guided by Holy Scripture, by a desire and determination for justice, peace and prosperity for all.

This Christmas, let us look forward not backward; inwards not outwards. Let us focus on how best we can look after our families, our communities and our nation. How we can make Zimbabwe a better place for all.

I know that many of you still suffer. I am not blind to your situation, nor am I deaf to your cries.

I commit to you that we will continue to reform with an eye on the long term; for we must not reform only for ourselves, but for our children and our children’s children.

We are undertaking deep, broad, and meaningful reforms. We have put the economic fundamentals in place. We have balance the budget. We are engaging the world. We are continuing to open up the political and media spaces. We are clamping down on corruption. And we are building a new Zimbabwe where the people come first.

Whilst we have much more work to do, my promise to you is that we will continue to work with modesty and humility, guided by our faith and scripture, day and night, to build a better future for all.

I wish you all a peaceful and merry Christmas. God Bless you all and God Bless the nation of Zimbabwe.

A 45-year-old inmate has attained all his academic qualifications while serving a nine-year jail term for rape.

Charles Zifa started his grade one level at the age of 39 following his imprisonment in 2013.

“I was uneducated when I was imprisoned. I started from grade one up to form four.

Imagine a 39-year-old starting to learn the vowels and how to write his own name.
“It was not an easy journey but I am glad I made it despite the challenges,” Zifa said.

He added that he has professional qualifications though he failed to get sponsorship to write his O’ Level.

He said given the opportunity he would like to pursue his education.

“I did not manage to write my ordinary level due to financial issues but I am positive that if I am to sit for the exams I will pass with flying colours.

“I am now eager to learn and I am using my time in prison to further my studies although it is difficult sometimes because of limited resources in prison.

“It has been an interesting journey and I have learnt to appreciate the importance of education,” he said.

Zifa appealed for help from well-wishers for him to continue with his education.

“Various inmates fail to write exams because they cannot afford examination fees but they want to go forward with their education.

“If we get help from well-wishers I am sure, we will be a better people,” he said.

The inmate was among the graduands who attained certificates last week.

“After failing to write ordinary level examinations I then started wood technology and I have faced various challenges but I am happy that I graduated.

“It was not an easy road. I studied very hard and the lecturers really helped us.
“With these skills I am sure I have prepared myself for life after prison.

“Life in prison has taught me that education is key.”H-Metro

Farai Dziva|Opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume has bemoaned the manner in which Zanu PF has ruined the Christmas period.

See Ngarivhume’s statement below :

The traditional jostling and bustling festive atmosphere has been stolen for most Zimbabweans.

Many have failed to travel to see relatives and friends during this Christmas period due to a myriad of reasons such as lack of fuel, lack of money to spare and lack of cash at the banks. Most parents are already worrying about January to send their kids back to school so they have decided to forego Christmas festivities and save for “Back to School”. Prices of goods and services have gone up beyond reach of many and our civil servants are bearing the most brunt.

Traditionally, the Christmas period has been associated with receiving, giving and sharing among relatives, friends, churchmates and workmates. A period of thanksgivings.

This has all been stolen by government austerity measures which have driven everyone, except the well-connected, into abject poverty! The Zimbabwean spirit of Christmas has been lost in this maze of socioeconomic challenges.

The year has been very brutal as the government austerity measures took their toll on many people. Salary increments have not caught up with price increases of commodities.

The economy remained in the informal sector with most service providers completely ignoring the government’s call to outlaw the use of foreign currency for local trading.

Nothing else but the grace of God has brought us to the end of 2019 as a nation. Each passing day came with a new heavy load upon our shoulders. It is the year that brought us the most debilitating loadshedding. We saw the complete collapse of the healthcare system as government offloaded its medical experts into the open arms of other countries. The drought situation did not help matters and more than 50% of the population were pronounced food insecure.

The late president Robert Mugabe had set the bar so low that all President Mnangagwa had to do was show up at his office but alas, we are worse off. People are lamenting and wishing that Mugabe days were better. There can never be any bigger disapproval than for people to call Mugabe days better than what President Mnangagwa has done so far.

We remain hopeful as Zimbabweans that in the not-so-far-away future, Zimbabwe will have leaders with people at heart. Leaders who will be soft as wool and leaders who actually listern to the people.

This dry season will pass. Meanwhile, let’s all remember the less privileged during this period. Let’s all be careful and to motorists, let’s all exercise extreme caution on the roads. Drivers of public transport, let’s be patient on the national highways. The status of most roads pose a great risk to both motorists and pedestrians. Let us be each brother’s keeper this Christmas,

Happy holidays, merry Christmas and a happy new year.

May 2020 be a bigger year than 2019. May you all rise above all challenges that you may encounter,

I love you all and God bless Zimbabwe,

Jacob Ngarivhume
President, Transform Zimbabwe

Farai Dziva|MDC T deputy president has hit back at critics saying he did not join POLAD for tea and scones.

“We don’t do POLAD because we want to have tea & scones! No! We ain’t bragging but the fact of the matter is that we can buy our own tea & scones & in fact, we can afford to book ourselves in any hotel that we want! We do POLAD simply because we love Zimbabwe!

Scream all the abuse & trash that you like about POLAD, we don’t give a damn! We’re resolute & focused. We’re strategic & we’re excited that just about everyone in & out of Zimbabwe is now talking & even dreaming about POLAD. We have got a viable game plan,” tweeted Gutu.

“Some people are always complaining that life in Zimbabwe is extremely difficult.

Surprisingly, the very people who complain the loudest are not willing to profer solutions to the myriad socio-economic challenges facing Zim. Be pro-active! Don’t just complain…” he added.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Impeccable military sources tonight reveal to Marry Chiwenga's family how she was poisoned together with her husband, Constantino on the same day. Time: 9pm – Harare time; 7pm London time
LIVE program on https://t.co/RMz9FsvEJW pic.twitter.com/mXzk9mPKfq

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 24, 2019

Farai Dziva|The MDC Youth Assembly has applauded party leader Nelson Chamisa for refusing to join POLAD.

Below is a statement written by MDC Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Chuma:

The MDC Youth Assembly would like to applaud President Advocate Nelson Chamisa for refusing to join Emmerson Mnangagwa’s pulverized political monologue, POLAD.

As President Chamisa rightly opines, joining POLAD is akin to betrayal and selling out millions of this generation who yearn for real change.

It is not mendacious that real change can only be ushered in through genuine dialogue on reforms and not some extravagant banquet at Mnangagwa’s farm.

It is quite regrettable that the public media whose critical role is to inform has chosen to misinform the public by running propaganda bent on framing President Nelson Chamisa as anti- dialogue when in actual fact it is Mnangagwa who detests dialogue in favor of monologue.

As far as we are concerned, POLAD is nothing more than a club of the vanguished whose common goal is underlined by bitterness, thievery, extravagance and an unquenchable desperate desire for a social contract with the masses.

Even if we are to combine Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 33% presidential vote with less than 1% paltry votes garnered by his POLAD acolytes in 2018 elections, still they will be far short of the 50% threshold as per our constitutional provisions.

Dialogue by its very nature and definition is for warring parties and as far as POLAD is concerned, it is very clear that Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Madhuku and cabal are in total agreement with Mnangagwa hence can not be part of any meaningful dialogue.

Given such circumstances, joining POLAD in its current state is akin to a fly following a corpse right into a dark grave.

The consequences of such is trouble for citizens!

It is the aggrieved winner of the 2018 Presidential vote, Nelson Chamisa, trade unions, under siege civil society, churches and of course the pepertrator, Emmerson Mnangagwa who must be at table of any meaningful dialogue to avert the current crisis.

It is against that background that we believe POLAD is nothing more than a circus and child’s play and as such it is not going to cure the legitimacy question which is the bedrock of the current crisis.

As MDC Youth Assembly, we once again reiterate our support to the People’s President Advocate Chamisa for his wisdom not to join Mnangagwa’s grave train dubbed POLAD.

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent- Rusape residents have raised concern over the cruel manner in which the local authority is putting down stray dogs, that council is saying are a health threat.

Rusape Town Council (RTC) mayor Lyton Sithole confirmed the operation to a local publication yesterday, saying they would not stop until residents comply with by-laws.

However, some residents claim that they have lost their vaccinated dogs in the operation.

“Currently, I don’t have a figure of how many dogs have been shot, but the operation of eliminating stray dogs is ongoing until we are satisfied that all our residents are complying with the laws,” Sithole said.

“Currently, I am yet to receive a complaint from any dog owner. Maybe they will come.”

Rusape Concerned Residents Trust member Godfrey Mufuranhewe said dogs were being killed in an inhumane manner.

“(The) operation of killing stray dogs is going ahead. Yesterday (Saturday), they killed my dog at the gate. It was very unfortunate my dog died a painful death. I think the method of elimination is inhuman. They are supposed to use traps not bullets,” he said
“My dog Blackie was vaccinated a few months ago. It was a good dog, they killed a pet with good communication skills, friendly to my children. The method of elimination lacks accuracy.

How can you shot a dog three times? It affected me, even my neighbours. Why shoot my dog less than a metre from my gate.”

Another resident said council should change the way it is putting down dogs.

But another resident, Resident Tapiwa Murombo, welcomed the move, saying his wife was once attacked by a stray dog.

“I welcome the move by RTC because recently my wife was bitten by a dog while she was coming from work. So keep your dogs inside your fence or security walls,” he said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Analysts who spoke to a local publication said President Mnangagwa’s dialogue platform a waste of time and resources if it does not involve Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the largest opposition party.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero also described Polad as a charade that Mnangagwa created.

“You can’t sit around with a bunch of electoral losers and pretend to be talking and in the process, leave out your main rival,” Rusero said.

“For starters, it is Mnangagwa who is setting the pace, agenda and at times venue to conduct the ‘dialogue’ meetings. That must not be the case. Real dialogue with real players will come, only after Zimbabwe has reached the mutually hurting stalemate like what happened in 2008.”

United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean lawyer and political analyst Alex Magaisa said attempts to trivialise Chamisa’s consent to dialogue were futile.

“They have already tried it with the Political Actors’ Dialogue. Without the biggest opposition leader, Polad was a sham from the beginning,” Magaisa wrote on his blog on Saturday.

“It has since proved to be no more than a group of enablers desperate to align with Mnangagwa and using attacks on Chamisa and the MDC Alliance to buy their way onto the gravy train.

Polad was presented as an inclusive dialogue, but for Mnangagwa, it is just a platform to trivialise and dilute his main rival, Chamisa.”

He added that Chamisa would lose credibility among his party’s followers if he joins Polad, adding even if they gave it a new name, it would still be foul.

-Newsday

Transport operators plying rural routes have increased fares to capitalise on an increase in the number of people travelling to their homes to spend Christmas with their families.

A snap survey by The Chronicle yesterday revealed that buses plying the Bulawayo-Nkayi route are now charging $80 for a single trip from $60 while those using kombis have to part with at least $120 from $100 for the same distance.

Kombis plying the Bulawayo-Tsholotsho route charge $70.

Previously they charged $50. Buses are charging $100 for a trip from Bulawayo to Lupane while those travelling to Binga will have to fork out $200 from $150 for a single trip.

A trip to Halisupe in Gwanda district and Maphisa in Matobo district now costs $100 from $80.

Some transport operators who spoke to The Chronicle attributed the hike to an acute shortage of diesel at service stations which is forcing them to resort to the informal traders who are charging exorbitant prices.

At filling stations, diesel is going for $18,89 a litre while on the black market the commodity is sold for US$2 per litre (about $32 using the interbank rate).

“Usually during this time of the year, we increase fares due to demand, but in this case, the push factor is a shortage of diesel, which we are now sourcing from the black market at an exorbitant price. Unfortunately, we are then left with no other option but to pass the buck to our passengers,” said Mr Benson Gumede, a driver of a Nkayi-bound bus.

Mr Luckmore Ndlovu, a kombi driver who plies the Bulawayo-Brunapeg route, said they were charging $150 from the previous $100.

When a Chronicle news crew visited Renkini Bus Terminus and Entumbane Country Bus Terminus yesterday, there was a hive of activity as scores of travellers jostled to catch buses to their rural homes ahead of the Christmas holiday.

However, bus conductors and kombi drivers said this year the number of travellers was down compared to the previous year during the same period.

“We normally handle a huge influx of travellers during this time of the year as people will be travelling home for Christmas. However, this time the numbers have gone down and this could be attributed to the prevailing economic challenges,” said Mr Lazarus Ndebele who plies the

Bulawayo-Maphisa route.
Mr Lungile Mlotshwa, a vendor who operates at Renkini Bus Terminus concurred with Mr Gumede.

“I have been operating in this place for the past five years and usually it becomes busy during this time as most people will be travelling to their rural homes for Christmas. This year, it is less busy and my business has been adversely affected due to the decline in the number of travellers,” he said.

The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) has deployed 20 teams nationwide that are conducting periodic road safety awareness campaigns to reduce carnage on the roads during the festive season. The awareness campaigns started on December 16 and will run to January 3, 2020.
Police are also urging motorists to observe road regulations when driving and have mounted roadblocks on most roads to check whether or not vehicles are roadworthy and stamp out speeding and other road offences.

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF Twitter mole Kudzai Mutisi has fired shots at POLAD members for always hammering MDC Alliance saying they should have targets that seek go do good for Zimbabweans so that they can be appreciated.

Posting on Twitter, Mutisi said the business of attacking and judging the MDC leader Nelson Chamisa should be left to Zimbabweans.

“On POLAD:

1. Do not justify your existence, do good for Zimbabweans, they will see & appreciate.
2. Have definite goals/targets – shouldn’t be an open ended program
3. Leave @mdczimbabwe & @nelsonchamisa alone, dialogue is VOLUNTARY. Zimbos will judge him on their own

Asante,” said Mutisi.

POLAD members in particular Obert Gutu and Thokozani Khupe have never missed an opportunity to hit back at Chamisa whom they accuse of snatching power following the death of party founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in February last year.

Mutisi is one of the countless Zanu PF activists deployed on Twitter to push the ruling party agenda and counter opposition narrative.

His post seems to be a divergence from what his fellow colleagues do everyday on Twitter, attacking Chamisa and MDC with reckless abandon.

"Chamisa must do the right thing and join POLAD", @ChronicleZim 23/12/19

Losing an election is strength only in Zimbabwe. The idea that the cheated winner can be weakened by being stampeded into joining losers in a coalition of the weak is preposterous!https://t.co/ZewqjoeAF5

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) December 23, 2019

By Jane Mlambo- The opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa has announced the passing on of its Chegutu Ward 2 Councilor Memory Banda.

In a Twitter message posted on MDC Mashonaland West handle, the party said they had lost Banda, Ward 2 councilor since 2013.

Said the party :

“The MDC Mashonaland West Province regrets to inform you all that we have lost Chegutu Ward 2 Councilor Memory Banda. She was our councilor for Chegutu ward 2 since 2013.

Our deepest condolences go to her family. May her soul rest in eternal peace.”

The party however did not disclose the cause of her death.

By A Correspondent- The Chicken Inn Couple, Makhosana Mguni and Belinda Nyoni, set to wed on boxing day have said preparations are at an advanced stage and they can’t wait to say their I dos.

A local publication spoke to the bride and groom who expressed their joy and said:

This has been a hectic time organising the wedding, but with the help from our relatives, it has been less stressful. Makho and I are ready for the big day and I can’t wait to say I do – Belinda

My suit which was bought by Pride Tendy, a Zimbabwean based in Turkey is ready and I can’t wait for the wedding day – Makhosana 

Makhosana and Belinda trended on social media when Makhosana was initially ridiculed for proposing at a Chicken inn drive through till Chicken Inn stepped up and made them brand ambassadors and well-wishers started pledging to help them with their wedding preparations.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Analysts who spoke to a local publication recently called President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dialogue platform a waste of time and resources if it does not involve Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the largest opposition party.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero also described Polad as a charade that Mnangagwa created.

“You can’t sit around with a bunch of electoral losers and pretend to be talking and in the process, leave out your main rival,” Rusero said.

“For starters, it is Mnangagwa who is setting the pace, agenda and at times venue to conduct the ‘dialogue’ meetings. That must not be the case. Real dialogue with real players will come, only after Zimbabwe has reached the mutually hurting stalemate like what happened in 2008.”

United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean lawyer and political analyst Alex Magaisa said attempts to trivialise Chamisa’s consent to dialogue were futile.

“They have already tried it with the Political Actors’ Dialogue. Without the biggest opposition leader, Polad was a sham from the beginning,” Magaisa wrote on his blog on Saturday.

“It has since proved to be no more than a group of enablers desperate to align with Mnangagwa and using attacks on Chamisa and the MDC Alliance to buy their way onto the gravy train.

Polad was presented as an inclusive dialogue, but for Mnangagwa, it is just a platform to trivialise and dilute his main rival, Chamisa.”

He added that Chamisa would lose credibility among his party’s followers if he joins Polad, adding even if they gave it a new name, it would still be foul.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A 36 year old man has been taken to court for defrauding a homeseeker of US$13 000.

Lawrence Marinye appeared before Harare magistrate Victoria Mushamba, who remanded him to January 25, 2020 on $1 000 bail pending finalisation of investigations.

Allegations are that Marinye posted a message on a WhatsApp group that he was selling a stand in Tynwald.

The court heard that the complainant got interested and requested to meet Marinye with the intention of viewing the stand.

They are said to have met in the company of Valerie Muzonzini, who masqueraded as the registered owner of the stand and the complainant expressed interest and was told to deposit US$13 000.

It is alleged that an agreement of sale was prepared by Blessed Jairos of Kanoti and Partners Legal Practitioners.

The offence came to light on December 13 after the complainant received information that Marinye and Muzonzini did not own the stand.

The complainant filed a report to the police, leading to Marinye’s arrest.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A field orderly at Camsasa Clinic in Guruve was last week arraigned before the courts for possession of two elephant tusks.

Last Chaatama (39) pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody to December 31 by Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro.

Prosecutor Albert Mazhindu alleged that on December 17, a team comprising Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority officials and police officers were tipped that Chaatama had some ivory and they visited his homestead at night.

On arrival, they found a minor who advised them that the accused was not at home.

The team conducted a search at the residence in the presence of the minor and found the ivory weighing 4,8kg valued at US$1 200 hidden in a sack in a tobacco ban.

The minor told the officers that the ivory belonged to Chaatama, who was later apprehended.

In another case, a 19-year-old Chiweshe robber was sentenced to four years in jail by a Concession magistrate for robbing two women of cash.

Takudzwa Banda, of Mupandenyama Village in Chiweshe, was convicted by magistrate Nyasha Machiriori, who conditionally suspended two years of the sentence.

Prosecutor Kumbirai Nyamvura told the court that on September 24, Banda and two accomplices assaulted Shylet Midzi and Caroline Midzi before snatching a handbag, which contained some money and three cellphones.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Fresh details have emerged on the Herentals FC Match Fixing allegations levelled against them by Bulawayo Chiefs.

The state media reports that an official from Herentials reportedly first approached The Twitter Kings’ coach and when they were unsuccessful they then approached players.

According to the publication:

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.

Herentals on the last matchday came 1 hour late to their last match of 2019 despite the PSL directive that all games were to kick off at the same time to reduce match-fixing dealings. Herentals is also in another match-fixing storm after Black Rhinos reported them to PSL.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The Defence and War Veterans ministry and commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Edzai Chimonyo have filed court papers challenging a $340 000 suit filed by a Harare man who claimed he was assaulted by soldiers during the January fuel hike protests.

Slyden Zvinowanda is seeking compensation from the army after claiming he was attacked by soldiers in Mufakose, Harare.

However, the Defence ministry and Chimonyo have filed an appearance to defend before making a request for further information.

In order to fully respond to the claim, the ministry demanded Zvinowanda’s address, his full name and a copy of his national identity card.

The ministry also demanded to know if Zvinowanda received any medical treatment, the name of the hospital that attended to him, if he reported the alleged assault to the police, if there are any witnesses and a justification of the amount being demanded.

Zvinowanda is demanding $200 000 for shock, pain and suffering as well as $140 000 for contumelia.

-DailyNews