By A Correspondent| MDC President Nelson Chamisa was poisoned (literally or figuratively) during the meeting with former South African president Thabo Mbeki yesterday, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman has inferred.

Writing soon after the Mbeki meeting, Charamba wrote in response to a question that a brew was prepared for the MDC leader.

He stated categorically that a brew was truly prepared for Zimbabwe’s most powerful politician. He went further to elaborate that the type of drink prepared yesterday is one that will send the MDC leader into oblivion.

He also said that Chamisa will become confused to the point of losing his way home.

Charamba appeared unequivocal in his description of what is said will now befall the MDC leader, in a development that has already seen the top politician being criticised by analysts for stooping too low- compromising himself by meeting the former South African president who is already on a mission to destroy the MDC party having been clearly hired and publicly declared so, to work as a secret agent and furthermore a publicist for Mnangagwa.

Charamba had revealed that Mbeki’s mission in the following words, “Correct! The former President of South Africa offered his stature and access globally to help push Zimbabwe’s agenda to have sanctions removed and to ensure reconnection with the rest of the willing world.”

On the brew prepared for Chamisa yesterday, one Ntando Ncube had tweeted saying “Something is brewing here,” when Charamba responded saying,

“True; it did! The issue is when the brew will be served, and how many will lose their way home and into oblivion!!” – FULL TWEET BELOW

Lawyers representing Marry Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, are expected to file a bail application in the High Court today challenging the decision by the magistrate’s court to deny her bail.

Mubaiwa was on Monday remanded in custody to December 30 by Mr Chrispen Mberewere after being charged with attempted murder, fraud and foreign currency externalisation.

Mr Taona Nyamakura of Mtetwa and Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, who is representing Mubaiwa, confirmed the development yesterday.

“We wanted to file the bail application today (yesterday) but could not because we failed to get the record of proceedings from the Magistrates Court together with the ruling, which we wanted to attach to our application,” he said.

“We are, therefore, going to file it tomorrow (today) without those papers because we heard that some of the papers would only be available by Friday.”

Mubaiwa is being charged with attempting to murder VP Chiwenga, illegally externalising US$1 033 000, laundering US$990 000 and fraudulently seeking to upgrade their customary union to a civil marriage without her husband’s consent.

The attempted murder charge arose from the time she accompanied VP Chiwenga to South Africa in July for urgent medical attention.State media

We are deeply concerned by the sad developments that took place this evening at the SAPES Trust at the launch of Excel-gate, a book written by Prof Jonathan Moyo, which exposes how ZANU-PF rigged its way to power in 2018 with the help of the dirty hands of a compromised Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

I am reliably informed that some hired youths who were clad in MDC regalia disrupted the event in a desperate attempt to mislead the nation and world at large that the violent and disorderly conduct was a product of the MDC Youth Assembly.

Those involved in this regretful act are not part of the MDC, we in the MDC, we are a peace loving family and we deeply value the existence of freedoms, but will not tolerate the abuse of our paraphernalia.

Our intelligence has revealed that ZANU-PF members of the notorious Kwekwe based Mashurugwi group of terror, hired by one Owen Ncube were impersonating the MDC. This is a dangerous game, they must stop.

Mnangagwa’s blue eyed boys must stop taking advantage of the man-made poverty in our midst to use their ill-gotten wealth to send youths for unruly errands, these youths require sustainable jobs not anything short of that.

I warn the youths who were part of this shameful act and their handlers that it is a punishable offense to use our regalia and we will not hesitate to take appropriate measures.

Obey T. Sithole
MDC National Youth Chairperson

By A Correspondent| Zanu PF Youths have reportedly stormed the venue (SAPES Books) where former cabinet minister Jonathan Moyo’s book, ExcelGate, was scheduled to be launched on Tuesday.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) notified SAPES Books director Ibbo Mandaza that the launch could not go ahead as they did not have sufficient manpower to provide security.

Your notification letter requesting police manpower on launching your book on the 17th of December 2019 from 1700 hours to 2000 hours has been noted.

Officer Commanding Harare Central District Chief Superintendent O. Mugomeri wrote to Mandaza:

However, be advised that due to the short notice you gave us, we are not in a position to action your request.

Any inconvenience is sincerely regretted.

Farai Dziva|Auxillia Mnangagwa has effectively distanced herself from Marry Chiwenga at a time her colleague in charity and hospitality work needs her most.

Barely a few months ago the two moved together around the country “showcasing” their philanthropic efforts.

However, today Auxillia Mnangagwa has chosen to travel to Chachacha to distribute groceries to the elderly in the area, far away from the capital city where Marry is languishing in remind prison.

See below a report that has been published by a state run newspaper:

In the spirit of giving, caring and sharing associated with Christmas, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa is in Chachacha, Mutemeri village, Midlands Province, today.

She is giving the elderly groceries comprising food items, among other basic goods and performing household chores. She is washing dishes, cleaning houses, doing laundry and preparing meals.

Amai Mnangagwa baffled many when she left mbuya Ethas Mabope’s (86) house squeaky clean using cow dung as floor polish. She is visiting several homes in the area and planting fruit trees at each homestead.

Her show of love comes barely a week after she, through her Angel of Hope Foundation, donated an assortment of food items to children and old people’s homes.

Only yesterday, the mother of the nation rolled out a safety awareness campaign and engaged drivers and the travelling public in an effort to reduce accidents this festive season.
But it is her care for the elderly which has left people spellbound.

Own Correspondent|Leader of the opposition MDC, Nelson Chamisa spoke with what sounded like a changed heart after meeting former South African president Thabo Mbeki yesterday to suddenly announce that the standoff existing between his party and the ruling ZANU PF over the 2018 elections which the MDC says were rigged, needs to come to an end.

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba has already revealed that Mbeki’a sole job is that of campaigning for sanctions against Mnangagwa blamed on the MDC for imposing them, to be removed.

Charamba wrote, ” Correct! The former President of South Africa offered his stature and access globally to help push Zimbabwe’s agenda to have sanctions removed and to ensure reconnection with the rest of the willing world.”

For over a year, Chamisa has been putting forward the term “legitimacy” before passing any comment on dialogue with his nemesis Emmerson Mnangagwa. He has also insisted on the fact that he is the true winner of the 2018 polls. But on Tuesday there was no mention whatsoever of his demands, sticking onto milds such as peace and happiness.

Nelson Chamisa posted on Twitter after meeting with Thabo Mbeki. Chamisa posted saying:

We want dialogue that is meaningful, where the political will to change for the benefit of Zimbabweans outweighs political expediency. Dialogue must deliver true change & real reforms. When we shake hands let us be agreeing to truly walk in the same direction,a new direction.

Democracy can’t exist without a true commitment to happiness, freedom & peace. Our political impasse cannot continue. We stand firm on the principle that none but ourselves can bring about the true change we need. Real issues affecting us all must be at the heart of any dialogue.

Mbeki who mediated the talks between ZANU PF and the two MDC formations which led to the formation of the Government of National Unity is in Zimbabwe where he yesterday met President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Chamisa. He is today expected to meet the POLAD group.

He is understood to be in the country to have a full appreciation of the crisis and to pay his condolences to Mugabe family following the passing on of former President Mugabe.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda said the meeting between the two politicians has set a pace for a working relationship.

“Yesterday President Chamisa met with President Thabo Mbeki. The meeting considered a number of contemporary issues and also helped establish a working relationship between the two leaders,” said Sibanda.

Political analyst Pedzisayi Ruhanya warned the MDC of falling for a GNU

Ruhanya said, “Once beaten, twice shy. The MDC led by should apply its wits in rational, logical, robust, rigorous ways taking into account how it was duped in the GNU President Mbeki brokered that led to MDC crashing defeat in 2013. Never be excitable. Calm down, cool heads

“My view is that it’s both the internal (ZANU PF contradictions with security instability) and external Zimbabwe question of the corruption and decomposition of the political that brings President Mbeki to Zimbabwe. The opposition MDC must therefore treat these overtures carefully!”

Farai Dziva|Former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki has subtly urged MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to accept the outcome of the 2018 Presidential plebiscite.

Although he spoke in riddles, Mbeki called on the youthful opposition leader to “respect the decision of the courts.”

“Well, normally, I would say we must all of us respect the views of the people.

If people have queries, they must go to the courts because all the countries in the region have that provision that people can go and lodge their complaints about elections to the Judiciary. And once the courts have made a ruling, then we have got to accept that. So that’s generally the approach,”said Mbeki.

By Wilbert Mukori- “(Former SA President Thabo) Mbeki is in the country at invitation of President E.D. Mnangagwa. The two have just finished their meeting at State House, with former President likely to accede to requests for meetings from different personages including politicians,” announced George Charamba, Mnangagwa’s spokesperson.

“He might mean Madame Khupe, Misihairabwi, Mr Chamisa, Mr Isaac Maphosa and possibly former First Lady.

“The former President of South Africa offered his stature and access globally to help push Zimbabwe’s agenda to have sanctions removed and to ensure reconnection with the rest of the willing world.” 

Rubbish, everyone knows that the number one item on Zimbabwe’s national agenda is the country’s worsening economic meltdown. The situation is now so bad that 90% of the country’s population are  poor with 34% living in extreme poverty, according to a recent WB report. The country’s hospitals and clinics have all but closed for lack of doctors, nurses, medicine, equipment, power cuts, no water, etc., etc. 

Everyone can see that Zimbabwe is in a serious economic mess which, if not resolved a.s.a.p., will lead to a serious human tragedy and political instability that will suck the rest of Southern Africa. No doubt, Mnangagwa is hoping that President Mbeki will help him find a way out of the mess.

Of all people, President Thabo Mbeki will know that the root cause of Zimbabwe’s, seemingly, intractable economic and politic mess is the country’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections. The country has been stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship since 1980. The people could not remove Zanu PF from power even when it was evident the nation was desperate for change because the party rigged the elections. 

In 2008, after a particularly outrageous election in which Zanu PF had blatantly cheated and used wanton violence, SADC leaders led by President Mbeki rejected Zanu PF’s claim as winner of the elections and legitimate government. SADC leaders forced Mugabe together with MDC to form a Government of National Unity (GNU). The primary task of the GNU was to implement the raft of democratic reforms designed to stop a repeat of the cheating and violence debacle of 2008. 

Sadly not even one meaningful reform was implemented during the GNU. Not one! 

In an article “In defence of my Zimbabwe policy” published in February 2016, penned by President Mbeki himself, he admitted the GNU had failed to deliver its primary objective of getting the reforms implemented and ending Zimbabwe’s curse of rigged elections and bad governance.

So President Mbeki’s involvement in the Zimbabwe crisis will be his second bite at the cherry. The question that matters here then is whether he will make sure that the reforms, all of them, are properly and fully implemented and Zimbabwe’s next elections are free, fair and credible!

President Mbeki will have to look both Mnangagwa and Chamisa straight in the eyes and tell them failed to implement even one reform in 2008 and that it will be foolish to expect them to do so this time. 

Both Zanu PF and MDC are responsible for the mess in Zimbabwe, the former for dragging the nation into this mess and the latter by keeping the nation stuck in the mess. Both Zanu PF and MDC leaders have proven to be breathtakingly corrupt, incompetent, sell-outs and murderous tyrants. 

Both Mnangagwa and Chamisa are not just responsible for Zimbabwe’s political and economic problems, they are now the country’s number one problem. The two, and their respective political parties, cannot therefore be the solution in a situation in which they are the problem. 

To get out of the mess Zimbabwe must fully implement all the democratic reforms agreed in the 2008 GPA and we must get others to do this. It will be naive to trust Zanu PF and MDC leaders to implement the reforms when they failed to get even one reform implemented last time! 

Yes , getting Mnangagwa and Zanu PF to step down will not be a walk in the park. What he and his Zanu PF cronies must understand is that this is the only solution and that the consequences of failing to resolve the situation is the worsening economic situation. 

Mnangagwa and his cronies must be reminded that they rigged last year’s elections. They have no mandate, never had, to govern the country and the stubborn refusal to step down is nothing short of holding the nation to ransom. This is a very serious matter which Mnangagwa and his friends must weigh carefully before they cross the line! 

By A Correspondent- A South African-based Zimbabwean businessman was shot dead in a suspected hit in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, on December 14 just after refuelling his car at a BP Garage.

Bhekimpilo Ndlovu, who for many years had been involved in the cross-border transport business, died when an unidentified man walked up to him and shot him at point-blank range several times before fleeing.

Alpha Media Holdings owner Trevor Ncube expressed shock over Ndlovu’s death using microblogging site Twitter. He said:

I’m in total shock and disbelief. A young, enterprising Zimbabwean shot and killed in Johannesburg. Bheki Ndlovu whom I called my malume (uncle) is no more. What a way to go!

The late “malayitsha” owned two buses and three Mercedes Benz Sprinter and was a respected businessman in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North, where he owned a shop and a grinding mill.

Ndlovu was reported to be in the process of suing a Zimbabwean man living in the United Kingdom, Jabulani Ncube, who is also known as Christopher Tshabalala in South Africa, over an adulterous affair with his wife, Nomazwe.

-Wires

MLO President Paul Siwela’s home was this morning stormed by Zimbabwe security agents again.

8 man dressed in navy blue work-suits, armed with AK47ns and driving a white Toyota Sienna without number plates raided Paul Siwela home this morning at 09h30 looking for him.

On their arrival 4 of them carrying cocked Ak47 rushed into the yard while 4 remained outside.

They found the gardener doing his work outside the house and asked him when last he saw Paul Siwela and his whereabouts. The petrified and terrified gardener told them that he has never met him and does not know where he was since he was employed when Paul Siwela was already in exile.

They then proceeded into the house where they found Paul Siwela’s daughter.They questioned her about Paul Siwela’s whereabouts to which she responded that she last saw him in 2013 when he left the country and had no idea on where he was at present.

The aggressive lot who were using crude and abusive language accused her of lying. They continued to interrogate her further, asking her where the rest of Paul’s children and family members were and why she remained in Zimbabwe and she told them that she was working as a teacher.

They then demanded the ID cards of both her and the gardener and took ID and contact numbers, issued them with their phone numbers, instructed them to call if they get info about Paul Siwela’s whereabouts.

Before they left they told Paul Siwela’s daughter to call her father and inform him that they need to meet him urgently to resolve his case because there is a new government.

We as MLO do not buy into this lie that they want to meet our leader to resolve the issues. If that was the case why were they armed with AK47ns? This is not a peaceful gesture at all but an act of cowardice by the government of Zimbabwe. We cannot be deceived we know that they are pursuing their agenda to assassinate Paul Siwela.

We challenge them to gather some courage and arrange a meeting in a neutral venue to discuss how Matabeleland and Zimbabwe can be separated without loss of blood as we have already sent them a Notice of Demand for the Restoration of Matabeleland.

We further state that harassing and abusing Paul Siwela’s family and workers will not solve anything.

For the record, today MLO President Paul Siwela once gain sent the Notice of Demand for the Restoration of Matabeleland to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa reminding him to give immediate attention to the notice. This is the third notice sent to the government of Zimbabwe. We advice the government of Zimbabwe not to view this as an act of cowardice but an important and right move to avoid destructive flames of war.

Izenzo kungemazwi!

Israel Dube

MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs

By A Correspondent-  Suspended Bindura copper cable thief tried to escape from police custody with his hands cuffed and reportedly drowned in a sewage pond next to the police station on Monday.

Mashonaland Central acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm a case of sudden death in Bindura where Austine Tauro of Gulliver Compound drowned in a sewage pond next to Bindura Central Police Station after trying to run away,” Dhewu said.

Allegations are that two security guards Joseph Tapfumanei (32) and Kumbirai Charunda (35) from Freda Rebecca Mine arrested the now deceased Tauro and his accomplice Clayton Kanyangarakupe after finding them stealing copper cables at the mine.

The suspects were handcuffed and taken to Bindura Central Police Station.

Upon entering the police station, Tauro fled and jumped into a sewage pond where he drowned.

Tauro’s corpse was subsequently retrieved and conveyed to Bindura mortuary for post-mortem

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A 30 year old Mvurwi police officer is in soup for allegedly kidnapping a Form 3 student and having consensual se_x with her for five months.

Bryson Muriritirwa appeared last week before Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro facing kidnapping charges. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to December 20.

Prosecutor Carson Kundiona alleged that in April, the police officer met the 16-year-old student and proposed love to her and she accepted.

Muriritirwa took the girl to a lodge in Mvurwi and had consensual se_x several times.

On September 20, the girl’s mother received information that her child was cutting school and was being taken to a hide out in Glendale by the police officer.

In October, Muriritirwa moved the girl from Glendale to Dhahwe Farm after receiving information that her mother was looking for her.

The mother filed a police, leading to Muriritirwa’s arrest.

In his defence, Muriritirwa said the girl lied to him that she was 19 years old.

“Your worship, this girl is my girlfriend and when I proposed love to her, she lied that she was 19 years old, so I thought I was dealing with an adult,” he said.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- An Intercape bus travelling from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Harare was attacked by a gang of eight armed robbers who stripped passengers of their cellphones, cash and jewellery.

The incident occurred near Kranskop tollgate on the N1 in Limpopo. South Africa Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo revealed on Tuesday that the robbers, who pretended to be passengers, pointed guns at the bus driver and ordered him to stop the vehicle.

He added:

“It is still unclear where the two got in. After stopping, another vehicle coming from behind with more robbers got into the bus and started robbing everybody.

The bus company confirmed that the incident occurred around 11 pm on Saturday, December 7.

It said in a statement:

This completely random, uncontrollable act by criminals masquerading as passengers is regretted by Intercape.

We would like to confirm that as an organisation we strive to keep our passengers safe at all times. Intercape would like to apologise to our most valued passengers for any inconvenience.

-TimesLives

By A Correspondent- Former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki has subtly urged MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to accept the outcome of the 2018 Presidential plebiscite.

Although he spoke in riddles, Mbeki called on the youthful opposition leader to “respect the decision of the courts.”

“Well, normally, I would say we must all of us respect the views of the people.

If people have queries, they must go to the courts because all the countries in the region have that provision that people can go and lodge their complaints about elections to the Judiciary. And once the courts have made a ruling, then we have got to accept that. So that’s generally the approach,”said Mbeki.

By A Correspondent- Former South African President Thabo Mbeki met political players in Harare today, Dr Thokozani Khupe, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Lucia Mativenga, Priscilla Misihairabwi and Obert Gutu.

The discussion with the former South African President was around issues of the country moving forward through uniting of all political actors.

MDC T leader, Thokozani Khupe said they had come to an agreement that all political players in the country have to come together and speak together with one voice to move the country forward as Zimbabweans come first before any politicking.

Professor Madhuku reiterated that the problems being faced by Zimbabwe cannot be fixed by one political party but by all political players participating in the political arena.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Misihairabwi commended former SA President Mbeki, for having the interests of Zimbabwe at heart and urged all Zimbabweans to desist from insulting regional friends whom she said, are needed by Zimbabwe if the country is to move forward.

This comes after the former South African President met with President Emerson Mnangagwa and most loved MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa separately in Harare yesterday.

President Mbeki reiterated the need for SADC to follow up on its resolution of calling for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

-StateMedia

Own Correspondent|Esteemed journalist Violet Gonda shared the video on Twitter highlighting the indignity and harassment female prisoners go through as they are forced to share transportation with their male counterparts.

Check out the video below

Pindula|The ruling ZANU PF party has acknowledged that things have fallen apart in the country but refused to take the blame for the situation, instead, passing the buck onto the opposition MDC Alliance.

The Central Committee presented a report to the 18th national people’s conference held in Goromonzi last week, painting a gloomy picture on the state of affairs. Part of the report reads:

We know poverty is now pervasive among our communities. Unemployment remains a challenge. The health services sector, which underpins the wellness of our people, has become inadequate. Livelihoods remain fragile.

The report went on to highlight the political challenges faced in 2019 driven by the “immature” opposition MDC-A.

The opposition was blamed for focusing “its energies on disruptive political behaviour, which is misguided and unpatriotic, in an effort to effect regime change with the unholy alliance with the G40 misguided elements”.

A Zimbabwean woman who allegedly recruited people in a drug smuggling syndicate was reportedly killed in a hotel in China.

However, there is also a theory that reports of her death might be aimed at getting her underground and assume a new identity.

The drug queen is believed to be the one who recruited four Zimbabwean women who are facing 20 years in Mauritius after they allegedly smuggled 1,487 kg of heroin worth R22 million in their bellies and bags.

Reports filtering from sources close to the family say Blessings Tafadzwa Marufu who was married to one Kenneth Mutsena based in South Africa was found dead by cleaners in a hotel in China.

“She passed through here in Zimbabwe before she travelled to China where she was seen by a South African man in the hotel.

“We are told cleaners found her dead after noticing she had spent considerable time without coming out of her room.

“It’s being said a man was seen coming from her room and never returned,” said the source.

One source Nickson Museyamwa, who tracked Tafadzwa following the arrest of the four Zimbabwean women she recruited said she promised them huge amounts of money then eventually use them as drug mules.

“Blessings Tafadzwa Munatsa is the one who fled to China. She used to work as a Secretary at Christ Embassy in Joburg.

“She is the one who organised those T-shirts they were wearing and told them to lie to custom officials that they were going to a Roman Catholic church conference.

“Zimbos are being used as drug mules to Mauritius, they are obliviously fed heroin with instructions not to eat anything till they arrive at their destination so that they excrete pellets of heroine.

“The problem is people who know more are afraid to speak out coz they say the drug lords are dangerous,” said Musiyamwa.

Some reports say Tafadzwa could have been killed by the drug lord she worked with after her cover was blown.

— HMetro

A businessman identified as MacDonald Chapfika died suddenly in bizarre circumstances just outside Munhumutapa Building (which houses government offices) on Monday afternoon.

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: SUDDEN DEATH OF MACDONALD MAKAMBA CHAPFIKA OUTSIDE MUNHUMUTAPA BUILDING, ALONG SAMORA MACHEL AVENUE, HARARE.

This memorandum serves to place on record circumstances and initial investigations carried out on the above subject matter.

Informant: John Kayira aged 51 years.
Passport:  (Tanzanian National)
Deceased 1: Macdonald Makamba Chapfika aged 56 years.

Bus: Unknown

Circumstances
On 16 December 2019 at around 1500hrs, the informant who is a friend to the now-deceased received a phone call from the now-deceased informing him of a business meeting with government officials at Munhumutapa Building.

The informant proceeded to Chopchop Restaurant along Fife Avenue Harare where he met the now deceased. At around 1530hrs they drove to Munhumutapa Building using the informant’s vehicle a Mercedes Benz Blue TEC C220 white in colour on registration number AES 6901.

Upon arrival at Munhumutapa Building, they were directed to the boardroom where there were other participants of the meeting. They were offered some food and the now-deceased ate some chips and meat.

At around 1630hrs the now deceased made his presentation to the Government officials who included some Ministers and Ministry of Finance officials.

His presentation lasted for about 15 minutes and was based on the procurement of maize from outside the country for the Government.

Soon after making his presentation the now deceased and the informant left the boardroom proceeding to their parked vehicle just outside the building.

As they approached the main entrance the now deceased started to feel dizzy and had difficulty in seeing. He ordered the informant to collect the vehicle and pick him at the main entrance.

The informant rushed to fetch the vehicle and when he came back he saw the now deceased lying on the ground facing upwards. Some security details were attending to him pouring some water on his body to resuscitate him. A Mars ambulance (Alfa 1) was called to the scene and arrived around…

Standard|President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision to dethrone chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has angered his clan who have vowed to stick by their traditional leader.

Mnangagwa on Friday removed the outspoken Ntabazinduna chief from his position after the traditional leader’s chieftaincy was challenged by his brother.

The Ndiweni elders and Inkosi Advisory Council, Ntabazinduna village headmen, faith groups and the Ntabazinduna community said Ndiweni remained their substantive chief.

“It is only the Ndiweni clan that can enter that kraal and select the bull for their herd and they have done that,” they said in a joint statement.

“No one else can do that, irrespective of their position in society or in the country.

“To make it abundantly clear, the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe cannot enter any chieftaincy clan’s kraal and select the bull for that clan,” they said.

“If a community is adamant about their chieftaincy and their heir apparent, there is not a great deal the Office of the President can do about it if they wanted another candidate.

“The only thing they can do is to introduce corruption.”

The government has been accused of fighting in Ndiweni’s brother Jorum’s corner. Jorum claims he is the rightful heir to Chief Khayisa Ndiweni’s throne because he is the first born son in the family.

Ndiweni, however, told Alpha Media Holdings chairperson Trevor Ncube on the platform In Conversation with Trevor that clan leaders used other criteria in choosing him ahead of his brother.

“It’s not naturally all the time [that] the first born son becomes chief in the chieftainship succession or even in the monarchy succession with the Khumalo clan,” he said.

“It is only one criteria that you are addressing; that the child is born first, the first born son, then follows a test for that son — that son’s character, the conduct, the morality, all those things come into play.”

“So yes, you passed the first criteria of being the first born son, but the remainder of it, do you actually fit that office because you have to govern people.

“You have to be able lead those people, so every single chieftaincy or single royal family has that second part of the criteria…that (Khayisa) precedence goes to two to four generations back.

“There is always this criteria that comes in, that kicks in to say God has given you the grace to be first born, but qualify your character.”

The Ndiweni elders accuse Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, the ruling party, the chief’s brothers Jorum and Douglas of working with the Matabeleland North provincial chiefs council to cause disturbances in the family.

Meanwhile, activists have launched an online fundraising compaign to buy Ndiweni a car after the government indicated that it will seize the vehicle it gave him.

The activists also want to pay the chief allowances, which the government said it was withdrawing.

“We have launched a crowd funding campaign,” Ndiweni’s spokesperson Nothiwani Dlodlo said.

“We want to buy at least four vehicles for him, a Benz, Landcruiser and two escort vehicles.

“We are coordinating the initiative, we are happy the MDC has also taken a stand on this.”

Mnangagwa’s government is accused of trying to silence Ndiweni because he is critical of its policies. The chief is also vocal about the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland and the Midlands.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

https://youtu.be/IPny1H3f_zg

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – CABINET TODAY – https://t.co/Mxn6x8uD41

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 17, 2019

Dear Editor

A Beta Bus plying the Harare Lusaka route has been involved in an accident.

The bus reportedly caught fire leaving several passengers injured.

The injured are being attended to at Mutendere Mission hospital.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

MLO President Paul Siwela’s home was this morning stormed by Zimbabwe security agents again.

8 man dressed in navy blue work-suits, armed with AK47ns and driving a white Toyota Sienna without number plates raided Paul Siwela home this morning at 09h30 looking for him.

On their arrival 4 of them carrying cocked Ak47 rushed into the yard while 4 remained outside.

They found the gardener doing his work outside the house and asked him when last he saw Paul Siwela and his whereabouts. The petrified and terrified gardener told them that he has never met him and does not know where he was since he was employed when Paul Siwela was already in exile.

They then proceeded into the house where they found Paul Siwela’s daughter.They questioned her about Paul Siwela’s whereabouts to which she responded that she last saw him in 2013 when he left the country and had no idea on where he was at present.

The aggressive lot who were using crude and abusive language accused her of lying. They continued to interrogate her further, asking her where the rest of Paul’s children and family members were and why she remained in Zimbabwe and she told them that she was working as a teacher.

They then demanded the ID cards of both her and the gardener and took ID and contact numbers, issued them with their phone numbers, instructed them to call if they get info about Paul Siwela’s whereabouts.

Before they left they told Paul Siwela’s daughter to call her father and inform him that they need to meet him urgently to resolve his case because there is a new government.

We as MLO do not buy into this lie that they want to meet our leader to resolve the issues. If that was the case why were they armed with AK47ns? This is not a peaceful gesture at all but an act of cowardice by the government of Zimbabwe. We cannot be deceived we know that they are pursuing their agenda to assassinate Paul Siwela.

We challenge them to gather some courage and arrange a meeting in a neutral venue to discuss how Matabeleland and Zimbabwe can be separated without loss of blood as we have already sent them a Notice of Demand for the Restoration of Matabeleland.

We further state that harassing and abusing Paul Siwela’s family and workers will not solve anything.

For the record, today MLO President Paul Siwela once gain sent the Notice of Demand for the Restoration of Matabeleland to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa reminding him to give immediate attention to the notice.

This is the third notice sent to the government of Zimbabwe. We advice the government of Zimbabwe not to view this as an act of cowardice but an important and right move to avoid destructive flames of war.

Izenzo kungemazwi!

Israel Dube

MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs

By A Correspondent- An Intercape bus travelling from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Harare was attacked by a gang of eight armed robbers who stripped passengers of their cellphones, cash and jewellery.

The incident occurred near Kranskop tollgate on the N1 in Limpopo. South Africa Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo revealed on Tuesday that the robbers, who pretended to be passengers, pointed guns at the bus driver and ordered him to stop the vehicle. He added:

It is still unclear where the two got in. After stopping, another vehicle coming from behind with more robbers got into the bus and started robbing everybody.

The bus company confirmed that the incident occurred around 11 pm on Saturday, December 7.

It said in a statement:

This completely random, uncontrollable act by criminals masquerading as passengers is regretted by Intercape.

We would like to confirm that as an organisation we strive to keep our passengers safe at all times. Intercape would like to apologise to our most valued passengers for any inconvenience.

-TimesLives

By A Correspondent- An Intercape bus travelling from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Harare was attacked by a gang of eight armed robbers who stripped passengers of their cellphones, cash and jewellery.

The incident occurred near Kranskop tollgate on the N1 in Limpopo. South Africa Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo revealed on Tuesday that the robbers, who pretended to be passengers, pointed guns at the bus driver and ordered him to stop the vehicle. He added:

It is still unclear where the two got in. After stopping, another vehicle coming from behind with more robbers got into the bus and started robbing everybody.

The bus company confirmed that the incident occurred around 11 pm on Saturday, December 7. It said in a statement: This completely random, uncontrollable act by criminals masquerading as passengers is regretted by Intercape.

We would like to confirm that as an organisation we strive to keep our passengers safe at all times. Intercape would like to apologise to our most valued passengers for any inconvenience.

-TimesLive

By A Correspondent- A 30 year old Mvurwi police officer is in soup for allegedly kidnapping a Form 3 student and having consensual se_x with her for five months.

Bryson Muriritirwa appeared last week before Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro facing kidnapping charges. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to December 20.

Prosecutor Carson Kundiona alleged that in April, the police officer met the 16-year-old student and proposed love to her and she accepted.

Muriritirwa took the girl to a lodge in Mvurwi and had consensual se_x several times.

On September 20, the girl’s mother received information that her child was cutting school and was being taken to a hide out in Glendale by the police officer.

In October, Muriritirwa moved the girl from Glendale to Dhahwe Farm after receiving information that her mother was looking for her.

The mother filed a police, leading to Muriritirwa’s arrest.

In his defence, Muriritirwa said the girl lied to him that she was 19 years old.

“Your worship, this girl is my girlfriend and when I proposed love to her, she lied that she was 19 years old, so I thought I was dealing with an adult,” he said.

-Newsday

Farai Dziva|Auxillia Mnangagwa has effectively distanced herself from Marry Chiwenga at a time her colleague in charity and hospitality work needs her most.

Barely a few months ago the two moved together around the country “showcasing” their philanthropic efforts.

However, today Auxillia Mnangagwa has chosen to travel to Chachacha to distribute groceries to the elderly in the area, far away from the capital city where Marry is languishing in remind prison.

See below a report that has been published by a state run newspaper:

In the spirit of giving, caring and sharing associated with Christmas, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa is in Chachacha, Mutemeri village, Midlands Province, today.

She is giving the elderly groceries comprising food items, among other basic goods and performing household chores. She is washing dishes, cleaning houses, doing laundry and preparing meals.

Amai Mnangagwa baffled many when she left mbuya Ethas Mabope’s (86) house squeaky clean using cow dung as floor polish. She is visiting several homes in the area and planting fruit trees at each homestead.

Her show of love comes barely a week after she, through her Angel of Hope Foundation, donated an assortment of food items to children and old people’s homes.

Only yesterday, the mother of the nation rolled out a safety awareness campaign and engaged drivers and the travelling public in an effort to reduce accidents this festive season.
But it is her care for the elderly which has left people spellbound.

Farai Dziva|Media mogul and Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor, Trevor Ncube has waded into the Marry Chiwenga saga – inferring that the former super model is a victim of ” selective application of the law.”

Ncube believes the charges against Marry are somehow exaggerated.

“I have never met Marry Mubaiwa Chiwenga. I don’t know her from a bar of blue soap.

She has become the latest victim of selective application of the law and weak compromised/national institutions. What she is going through can happen to any of us,” tweeted Ncube.

Marry is facing several charges including attempted murder, according to court documents.

Farai Dziva| Seasoned publisher and Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor, Trevor Ncube has said Zimbabweans should not gloat over Marry Chiwenga’ s woes.

According to Ncube, the former super model is a victim of ” selective application of the law.”

Ncube believes the charges against Marry are somehow exaggerated.

“I have never met Marry Mubaiwa Chiwenga. I don’t know her from a bar of blue soap.

She has become the latest victim of selective application of the law and weak compromised/national institutions. What she is going through can happen to any of us,” tweeted Ncube.

Marry is facing several charges including attempted murder, according to court documents.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has today met with leaders of smaller parties, a day after meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa.

Mbeki is currently in the country meeting political leaders amid indications that a national dialogue is in the offing to solve the current economic impasse that has seen the country degenerate back to the 2008 chaos.

Details of the meeting have not been revealed.

View pictures below.

Farai Dziva|Former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki has subtly urged MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to accept the outcome of the 2018 Presidential plebiscite.

Although he spoke in riddles, Mbeki called on the youthful opposition leader to “respect the decision of the courts.”

“Well, normally, I would say we must all of us respect the views of the people.

If people have queries, they must go to the courts because all the countries in the region have that provision that people can go and lodge their complaints about elections to the Judiciary. And once the courts have made a ruling, then we have got to accept that. So that’s generally the approach,”said Mbeki.

By A Correspondent- Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo on Thursday last week told the Senate that government had not banned peaceful demonstrations and marches adding that the government’s anti-sanctions march held late this year was successful and its impact was work in progress.

The march held on October 25, was poorly attended even after the ruling Zanu PF party tried to entice its supporters and Zimbabweans to attend by providing chicken and chips packs and soft drinks.

Mashonaland West Senator Joseph Chirongoma (Zanu PF) asked Moyo to explain if countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe heeded the message after the October march.

“I have said in many fora that sanctions are a mass destruction weapon because they are not discrete in terms of who they are going to affect and because of that the United Nations food security rapporteur, who came into this country, highlighted that one of the reasons why Zimbabwe was having certain difficulties is because of sanctions and the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera),” Moyo said.

“Therefore, we believe that this psychological mobilisation of the world to sympathise with the position of Zimbabwe is actually having an impact.”

Moyo said the United States was generally slow in removing sanctions given that the late former South African President Nelson Mandela died while still being labelled a terrorist.

“Of course, there are some who believe the internet and there are some who are seeing the light of reform in terms of the second republic. You will recall that even Mandela died when he was still classified as a terrorist. It is not easy to actually remove sanctions,” he said.

Responding to Midlands Senator Morgen Komichi (MDC Alliance) on whether Zimbabwe was engaging the US to discuss the issues raised in Zidera so that a solution can be found on the sanctions issue, Moyo said:

“The major target for our re-engagement has been the United Kingdom and the European Union. What I can assure you now is that we have communication. We speak to each other directly with the US. Even if we differ, but we differ as we discuss. There has been quite a lot of progress, to an extent that there is discussion which is taking place within the US now.”
On the progress made in re-joining the Commonwealth, Moyo said everything is on course.

“So far we have not heard any dissenting voices in as far as our rejoining the Commonwealth is concerned. We believe everything is on course for Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting 2020, in Kigali,” he said.

Moyo said issues raised by the British Parliament that the obstacles to Zimbabwe rejoining the Commonwealth were to do with the human rights situation were their perception.

“What they say is their perception in as far as human rights abuses are concerned. They believe that this government has banned demonstrations for good or something like that. As far as I know, it is not the policy of this government to ban peaceful marches and demonstrations – that is not the case,” Moyo said.

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| A top Harare businessman, Macdonald Makamba Chapfika died mysteriously yesterday after attending a meeting with government officials where he ate some meat and chips.

According to a memo circulating on social media, Chapfika died outside Munhumutapa building while on his way out of a meeting with Ministry of Finance officials.

Read the below memo for full details;

THE ruling Zanu PF party has unwittingly admitted failure to address the socio-economic challenges that have reduced the majority of Zimbabweans to abject poverty.

But the party has, however, accused the opposition MDC of causing the challenges.

In its central committee report to 18th national people’s conference held in Goromonzi last week, the party admitted to have superintended over a collapsed health sector, growing levels of unemployment and poverty, among other challenges, and also indicating that people had lost trust in the party’s promises to fight corruption.

“We know poverty is now pervasive among our communities. Unemployment remains a challenge. The health services sector, which underpins the wellness of our people, has become inadequate. Livelihoods remain fragile,” the report by the commissariat read.

“However, our President Cde Dr (Emmerson) ED Mnangagwa has remained resourceful and an inspiration to all by coming up with economic policies such as Transitional Stabilisation Programme. The department extends (its) deepest gratitude to the entire membership for remaining loyal to the party in the most trying and difficult socio-economic challenges.”

The report further stated that the Zanu PF government, despite all the glaring challenges in the country, would rule beyond 2023 and address the challenges.

While admitting that the country was in a crisis, the Zanu PF commissariat report, however, tried to shift blame to the opposition MDC, civic society and some embassies.

“2019 has been a difficult year for our party and country. The year was characterised by political challenges mostly driven by the plotting of immature main opposition party, namely the MDC-A, which focused its energies on disruptive political behaviour, which is misguided and unpatriotic, in an effort to effect regime change with the unholy alliance with the G40 misguided elements,” the report read.

But MDC spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said it was absurd for a party that “stole” the 2018 elections to blame others for its failure to plot a successful course for the country.

“How are we responsible for the national crisis? We are not responsible for running government. It is that illegitimate regime that is responsible and where do we come in?” Tamborinyoka charged.

“We are not responsible for illegal taxes they collect after imposing them on people. We have not abused US$3 billion (command) agriculture (funds). So how do we become responsible for the crisis. Everyone knows we are where we are because of Zanu PF, who rigged the 2018 elections.”

On corruption, Zanu PF said there was the perception that the party had failed to deal with the vice and that was now creating problems in their recruitment drive as people were now shunning them.

“The perception that government lacks commitment to tackle the endemic problem of corruption has been posing a serious threat to party mobilisation efforts, but slowly, the public is beginning to appreciate government is not sleeping on the job,” the report read.

The party, however, revelled in electoral glory after winning a number of by-elections this year.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo was said to be in a meeting yesterday and could not immediately comment on the matter.

By A Correspondent- Former Warriors star Shingi Kaondera has opened up on the collapse of his marriage to current Second Lady Mary Mubaiwa Chiwenga.

Kaondera narrated how Mary duped him of the business he had heavily invested in. He also revealed how Mary ‘abducted’ the couple’s only child while he was away plying his trade in Cyprus.

In a heartrending interview, Kawondera revealed that he was Mary’s second husband. Her first marriage to businessman Terry Mandizha collapsed after the couple were blessed with a baby girl.

Speaking to an online publication, Kaondera said:

Wangu, when I met her (Marry) she was a struggling model. Of course, she came from a well up family but I was on fire, ndaipisa wangu and I invested in (a) business that I thought was ours.

I poured in money for her to start a business, we had a vision of Lachelle Company where we wanted to do boutiques and travel services and she took over because I was in Cyprus. She is a good woman but her rich background pushes her to maintain the status and she can do anything.

Kaondera claimed that he invested a massive US$80 000 in the Lachelle Company which he later lost after the former model dumped him in order to get married to (then) General Constantino Chiwenga. In a separate lawsuit, Kaondera alleges that Mary forged his signature on the divorce papers so that she could get married to the General. He is claiming a massive US$700 000 in damages.

Kaondera also alleges that Mary ‘abducted’ the couple’s 2-year-old daughter, Destiny, and falsified the baby’s birth certificate. She allegedly changed the child’s surname from Kaondera to Mubaiwa after conniving with corrupt officials at the Registrar-General’s office. Kaondera has not seen the child since then. Destiny is now 10-years-old.

Said Kaondera:

Wangu (my brother), my daughter I last saw him her when she was two years old and Marry went on to amend my daughter’s birth certificate, she liaised with Registrar General Office and my daughter ’s last name was changed from Kawondera to Mubaiwa, her maiden surname and that is not fair, but well Mwari ndewemuhu wese haamwire kuDreams, I wish her well though.

Ironically, even though Kaondera is suing Mary for forging the divorce papers, he insists that Vice President Chiwenga’s hands are clean in the whole debacle.

It seems like poetic justice may have finally caught up with the former model and estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. After a seemingly blissful 8 years of marriage, Mary seems to have fallen out of Chiwenga’s good graces and the two are currently embroiled in a tumultuous divorce. However, Mary appears to be bearing the brunt of the fight as her liberty is currently in jeopardy.

Mary is presently incarcerated at the women’s section of Chikurubi Prison after she was denied bail yesterday. She is facing a plethora of charges which include the attempted murder of her estranged husband. The charges also include illegally solemnizing a secret marriage presided over by Acting Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi without Chiwenga’s knowledge and consent.

She was allegedly dragged naked from the bathroom during her arrest and the Vice President kicked her out her the couple’s matrimonial home after changing the locks on the doors after she was arrested. The Vice President also allegedly forcefully took the couple’s three minor children into his custody while the other two from Mary’s previous relationships were taken into the custody of Mary’s mother, Helga Mubaiwa.

Mary’s lawyers are currently battling to secure her freedom from the High Court.

-ZimMorningPost

A Zimbabwean woman who allegedly recruited people in a drug smuggling syndicate was reportedly killed in a hotel in China.

However, there is also a theory that reports of her death might be aimed at getting her underground and assume a new identity.

The drug queen is believed to be the one who recruited four Zimbabwean women who are facing 20 years in Mauritius after they allegedly smuggled 1,487 kg of heroin worth R22 million in their bellies and bags.

Reports filtering from sources close to the family say Blessings Tafadzwa Marufu who was married to one Kenneth Mutsena based in South Africa was found dead by cleaners in a hotel in China.

“She passed through here in Zimbabwe before she travelled to China where she was seen by a South African man in the hotel.

“We are told cleaners found her dead after noticing she had spent considerable time without coming out of her room.

“It’s being said a man was seen coming from her room and never returned,” said the source.

One source Nickson Museyamwa, who tracked Tafadzwa following the arrest of the four Zimbabwean women she recruited said she promised them huge amounts of money then eventually use them as drug mules.

“Blessings Tafadzwa Munatsa is the one who fled to China. She used to work as a Secretary at Christ Embassy in Joburg.

“She is the one who organised those T-shirts they were wearing and told them to lie to custom officials that they were going to a Roman Catholic church conference.

“Zimbos are being used as drug mules to Mauritius, they are obliviously fed heroin with instructions not to eat anything till they arrive at their destination so that they excrete pellets of heroine.

“The problem is people who know more are afraid to speak out coz they say the drug lords are dangerous,” said Musiyamwa.

Some reports say Tafadzwa could have been killed by the drug lord she worked with after her cover was blown.

-State Media

By A Correspondent| Following his meeting with South African former president Thabo Mbeki, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa emphasised the importance of meaningful dialogue saying it must bring the needed change that benefits every Zimbabwean.

Said Chamisa:

We want dialogue that is meaningful, where the political will to change for the benefit of Zimbabweans outweighs political expediency.

Dialogue must deliver true change & real reforms. When we shake hands let us be agreeing to truly walk in the same direction,a new direction.

Democracy can’t exist without a true commitment to happiness, freedom & peace. Our political impasse cannot continue.

We stand firm on the principle that none but ourselves can bring about the true change we need.Real issues affecting us all must be at the heart of any dialogue.

Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki said on Monday the Southern African Development Community must now take up the matter of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe with the Donald Trump administration as part of the plan to resolve the impasse.

Mbeki, who paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House, said it was imperative the bloc continues to stand by Zimbabwe in its times of need.

“I am very glad with what the President is doing to respond to the challenges and I think it’s very important that the region should come behind the President and the country because the challenges of Zimbabwe are our challenges,” Mbeki told reporters after closed door talks that last over an hour.

With Sadc having pronounced its position on sanctions that Washington imposed on Harare, Mbeki said it was time to escalate the matter.

Zimbabwe has been under US sanctions for nearly two decades, an embargo that is blamed for fueling the country’s economic meltdown through blocking potential investment and access to international financial support.

The embargo paints Zimbabwe as a rogue state that other nations and investors must not deal with.

SADC has repeatedly called for the lifting of the embargo and declared October 25 this year an anti-Zimbabwe sanctions day in which individual member countries held different activities to show their displeasure at the embargo.

“(After pronouncing its position on the matter) It is important that the region should then follow up on an important matter like that with countries like the United States so that we act on this issue,” Mbeki said.

The Zimbabwe government estimates the sanctions to have cost the economy close to US$100 billion in potential revenue flows over the years.

Through its engagement and re-engagement agenda, President Mnangagwa’s government is trying to build bridges that could lead to the lifting of the sanctions imposed over political differences to do with the land reform programme.

The agrarian reforms saw the government compulsorily acquiring vast tracts of prime agricultural land owned by a small number of white farmers and redistributing it to over 300 000 black families in a bid to address a colonial legacy.

The US government remains adamant that the sanctions on the country are justified.

President Mnangagwa lauded Mbeki’s visit as a show of deep ties between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

“Zimbabwe and South Africa are very close friends,” he said, jokingly adding that Mbeki was the only living former South African President who was yet to visit him since taking over from the late former President Robert Mugabe over two years ago.

Officials said Mbeki was expected to meets with local opposition leaders and former First Lady, Grace Mugabe to pay his condolences following the passing on of former President Mugabe.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) is to transport 7,000 tonnes of maize from Tanzania to Zimbabwe.

In an emailed response to questions sent by Bloomberg, Tazara Managing Director Bruno Ching’andu also revealed that in September, Tanzania sold 17,000 tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe, with the shipment done ahead of schedule. He said:

The next batch of 83,000 tons is still in discussion, however, we have in the meantime received an order to move 7,000 tonnes.

… the exercise, which was meant to take three months, took just over two months to complete.

Zimbabwe is currently in the throes of a severe famine due to drought and misuse of billions of dollars meant for a government-funded programme, Command Agriculture.

Meanwhile, the country has an 800 000 tonnes deficit of maize, with the United Nations World Food Programme estimating that half of Zimbabwe’s population requires food aid.

-Bloomberg

By A Correspondent- Finance minister Mthuli Ncube has hinted to Parliament that he will be introducing higher denominations of $10 and $20 notes in the near future.

Ncube revealed this on Thursday in the Senate while responding to a question by Masvingo Senator Tichinani Mavetera (MDC Alliance) on the practical steps that he was taking to deal with unscrupulous practices, whereby some businesses are demanding payment in United States dollars.

Ncube said to deal with re-dollarisation, he would first ensure that more cash, in terms of Zimbabwean dollars, was pumped into the system.
“In the last month, we put in cash to the tune of $110 million and we said that in the next six months, we will continue to put in more cash,” Ncube said.

“What we will do going forward is to also increase the size of the denomination. You can imagine that if it is $2 or $5 notes, you have to pack quite a lot of them into the automated teller machines to make withdrawals and so high denominations like $10 or $20 notes are needed going forward and we will be doing that,” he said.

Ncube said they were releasing the new $2 and $5 notes in dribs and drabs to avoid inflation.

“If we put in all the cash that is needed in one moment, it will increase inflation sharply, but also, it may impact the exchange rate and even cause more inflation and so we are using a strategy called a swap, where we are swapping RTGS [real time gross settlement] balances for cash with the bank,” he said.

“What that does is it helps you pump cash into the economy, but without increasing the aggregate amount of cash in circulation.”

The Finance minister said at the moment, the cash in circulation in Zimbabwe, as a percentage of the stock of cash, is just above 4%.

“This is well below that of similar countries in the region. We should double that and that means we have to put in about $1 billion into the economy. That is the first strategy,” Ncube said.

He said the second strategy was legal enforcement to ensure that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is given enough teeth, powers and legal instruments to enforce the use of domestic currency and also impose adequate penalties to dissuade those who demand payments in US dollars from doing so.

“So, I will be bringing before this august House, as part of the Finance Bill, some provisions and amendments of the RBZ Act to give more teeth to the Reserve Bank,” the Treasury boss said.

He said to ensure that the country does not re-dollarise, he would put more cash into the system, which would also strengthen the use of the local currency and build confidence around it, thereby discouraging the use of the greenback.

-Newsday

SIX people died on the spot while three others were seriously injured after two vehicles collided near Stanmore along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident which occurred on Saturday at around 3PM at the 81 kilometre peg.

He said a Honda CRV was headed for Bulawayo with four passengers on board when the driver encroached into the lane of oncoming traffic and collided with an Opel Corsa that was headed for Beitbridge.

Ass Comm Nyathi identified the deceased persons as Thulani Zvonoyo (55) from Kwekwe, Patson Ndlovu (25) from Binga, Thulani Ziga (35) from Waterford in Bulawayo, Sithethiwe Ndlovu (38) and Cosmas Muphasu (45) both from Rushinga while the sixth victim was yet to be identified.

“A Honda CRV was travelling along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road headed for Bulawayo with four passengers. Upon reaching the 81 kilometre peg near Nswazi turn off the driver encroached into the lane of incoming traffic and collided with an Opel Corsa that was coming from the opposite direction.

“The Honda CRV veered off the road before coming to a halt at the edge of the road while the Opel Corsa skidded on the road and came to a stop in the middle of the road. Six people died on the spot as a result of the accident among them four men and two women. Three people including the two drivers sustained serious injuries and they were ferried to United Bulawayo Hospitals,” he said.

Ass Comm Nyathi said the accident was suspected to have been caused by speeding. He urged motorists to adhere to road regulations and be safety conscious when travelling on roads in order to avoid loss of life.

“We appeal to drivers to observe road rules and regulations at all times. They shouldn’t speed as a number of accidents are being recorded as a result of excessive speeding. Drivers should also ensure they stick to their lanes and not straddle the centre line,” he said.

In another crash, a driver died on the spot while five passengers sustained injuries when a vehicle they were travelling in burst a tyre before rolling several times. Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred just outside Gwanda Town at the 117 kilometre peg along Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road on Thursday at around 3AM.

-State Media

Takunda Chitaka is a Zimbabwean scientist studying for a PhD in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Harare City Council’s Finance and Development Committee has recommended that the city disposes 87 old council vehicles through a public auction.

The vehicles are either old and disused or too expensive to repair and have been lying idle at the Council’s Stores.

Speaking during a tour of the workshops and vehicle yards, Finance Committee Chairperson Councillor Luckson Mukunguma said the committee has resolved to dispose these vehicles since the cost of maintenance of some of the vehicles now exceeds their actual value.

“Council’s workshop has the custodianship of all these properties hence they have to take account of all the parts for these cars,” he said.

“The main challenge is that some of these vehicles have been lying idle for the past two years because their cost of maintenance far exceeds their value,”he said.

Cllr Mukunguma said council will come up with policies that help in regulate and monitor council vehicles to ensure that vehicles that are old and disused are out under the hammer.

By A Correspondent- Armed anti-riot police Saturday on evening raided the homestead of the dethroned outspoken traditional leader, Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni in Ntabazinduna.

The Chief’s lawyer, Dumisani Dube from Mathonsi, Ncube Law Chambers confirmed the development.

He said:

I can confirm that anti-riot police accompanied by Umguza district coordinator visited Ndiweni’s home in Ntabazinduna on Saturday night.

They wanted to confiscate his vehicle and regalia but unfortunately, the Chief is outside the country.

Again, as far as Ndiweni is concerned, he is still the chief because he has not received any official communication regarding his purported dismissal.

Chief Ndiweni was ousted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week. Mnangagwa directed that Ndiweni’s government allocated car and all the all State assets are seized immediately.

The chief has refused to be cowed by the government and has been vocal against the 1980s Gukurahundi genocide. He also attended the opposition MDC congress in May this year and called for additional targeted sanctions against the country’s political elite.

-NewZimbabwe.com

Dethroned Ntabazinduna Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni’s lawyer Dumisani Dube yesterday blocked Umguza district development co-ordinator (DDC) Tapiwa Zivovoyi from collecting the former chief’s government-issued vehicle and the traditional regalia in his absence.

Ndiweni was dethroned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government with effect from November 30 on the grounds that he was not the rightful heir to the throne.

Yesterday, Dube confirmed to Southern Eye that on Saturday the DDC went with the police to Ndiweni’s homestead intending to collect the official vehicle and traditional regalia, but failed to do so because Ndiweni was not present.

Yesterday, the DDC was supposed to go with his team to Ndiweni’s homestead again.

“The chief is in South Africa. At 10am, I was at the DDC’s office. I met with DDC today (yesterday) to get official communication from the government regarding the dismissal of Chief Ndiweni and he (DDC) made me a copy,” Dube said.

“I also advised them not to repeat what happened on Saturday when he (DDC) went with riot police to collect the chiefs’ regalia and vehicle when he is still outside the country. He (DDC) advised that he would wait and communicate the position from government on what to do.”

Zivovoyi confirmed meeting Dube yesterday. He indicated that they will wait for Ndiweni’s return.

“Yes, we met him. In fact, how can we collect the property if he (Ndiweni) is not around. He is the only person who must give us, we will wait for him,” Zivovoyi said.

Matabeleland Chief’s Council recently referred the dispute concerning the Ndiweni chieftainship to the Ndiweni clan which endorsed Nhlanhlayemangwe as the authentic heir to the throne.

However, Mnangagwa’s office sent a letter dethroning Ndiweni as chief.

-Newsday

Farai Dziva|Media mogul Trevor Ncube has waded into the Marry Chiwenga saga – inferring that the former super model is a victim of ” selective application of the law.”

Ncube believes the charges against Marry are somehow exaggerated.

“I have never met Marry Mubaiwa Chiwenga. I don’t know her from a bar of blue soap.

She has become the latest victim of selective application of the law and weak compromised/national institutions. What she is going through can happen to any of us,” tweeted Ncube.

Marry is facing several charges including attempted murder, according to court documents.

Own Correspondent|Former South African President Thabo Mbeki met President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa separately in Harare yesterday.

Emerging from the meeting with President Mnangagwa, Mbeki said that opposition parties that lose elections must accept defeat after the elections.

In clear reference to Chamisa, Mbeki said losing candidates must appeal to the courts when they feel cheated and also accept the ruling of the courts.

“Well, normally, I would say we must all of us respect the view of the people. If people have queries, they must go to the courts because all the countries in the region have that provision that people can go and lodge their complaints about elections to the Judiciary. And once the courts have made a ruling, then we have got to accept that. So that’s generally the approach,” he said.

Own Correspondent|FORMER South African President Thabo Mbeki held talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa in Harare yesterday amid speculation that he had come to initiate talks between Zanu PF and MDC to resolve the deepening socio-economic crisis in the country.

After the meeting, Mbeki said he was happy with what Mnangagwa was doing to resolve the country’s crisis.

“I am very glad with what the President of the country is doing to respond to the challenges and I think it is very important that the (Sadc) region comes behind the President and the country because the challenges of the country are our challenges,” he said.

“As you know, we all of us have a responsibility to help one another, to the extent that if there is anything we can do to the President and the government and the country, we would want to do that.”

Online publication Zimlive has reported that Pokello Nare, step-daughter of Ignatius Chombo, has been bought a 2020 Range Rover by boyfriend Emmerson Mnangagwa Junior in South Africa.

Pokello was born in Gwanda, Zimbabwe on the 24th August 1985 to retired Colonel George Nare and Bessy Muzvidzwa. She turned 34 in 2019. She is also the stepdaughter of the former Zimbabwean Cabinet Minister Ignatius Chombo.

Watch the video below:

FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube has hinted to Parliament that he will be introducing higher denominations of $10 and $20 notes in the near future.

Ncube revealed this on Thursday in the Senate while responding to a question by Masvingo Senator Tichinani Mavetera (MDC Alliance) on the practical steps that he was taking to deal with unscrupulous practices, whereby some businesses are demanding payment in United States dollars.

Ncube said to deal with re-dollarisation, he would first ensure that more cash, in terms of Zimbabwean dollars, was pumped into the system.

“In the last month, we put in cash to the tune of $110 million and we said that in the next six months, we will continue to put in more cash,” Ncube said.

“What we will do going forward is to also increase the size of the denomination. You can imagine that if it is $2 or $5 notes, you have to pack quite a lot of them into the automated teller machines to make withdrawals and so high denominations like $10 or $20 notes are needed going forward and we will be doing that,” he said.

Ncube said they were releasing the new $2 and $5 notes in dribs and drabs to avoid inflation.

“If we put in all the cash that is needed in one moment, it will increase inflation sharply, but also, it may impact the exchange rate and even cause more inflation and so we are using a strategy called a swap, where we are swapping RTGS [real time gross settlement] balances for cash with the bank,” he said.

“What that does is it helps you pump cash into the economy, but without increasing the aggregate amount of cash in circulation.”

The Finance minister said at the moment, the cash in circulation in Zimbabwe, as a percentage of the stock of cash, is just above 4%.

“This is well below that of similar countries in the region. We should double that and that means we have to put in about $1 billion into the economy. That is the first strategy,” Ncube said.

He said the second strategy was legal enforcement to ensure that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is given enough teeth, powers and legal instruments to enforce the use of domestic currency and also impose adequate penalties to dissuade those who demand payments in US dollars from doing so.

“So, I will be bringing before this august House, as part of the Finance Bill, some provisions and amendments of the RBZ Act to give more teeth to the Reserve Bank,” the Treasury boss said.

He said to ensure that the country does not re-dollarise, he would put more cash into the system, which would also strengthen the use of the local currency and build confidence around it, thereby discouraging the use of the greenback.

NewsDay

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week dismissed Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni from his position as Chief Ndiweni.

Mnangagwa ordered Ndiweni to surrender all State property in his possession, including a Government vehicle.

Secretary for Local Government and Public Works Mr Zvinechimwe Churu announced the dismissal of Felix through a letter dated December 12 and addressed to the Matebeleland North Provincial Assembly of Chiefs.

“Please be advised that His Excellency, the President has, as per your recommendation and in line with the provisions of Section 283 (ii) of the Constitution and subsection 2 (a) (i) of Section 3 of the Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29:17) removed Felix Ndiweni from the office of Chief Ndiweni in Umguza District of Matabeleland North province, with effect from November 30 2019,” he said.

Mr Churu directed the Provincial Council to officially notify the former chief as well as cease the payment of his allowances.

He also ordered the recovery of the Government-allocated vehicle, all chiefs’ regalia and any other State assets in his custody with the assistance of police if need be.

As instructed, heavily armed anti-riot police on Saturday evening descended on ousted Ndiweni’s homestead in Ntabazinduna where they unsuccessfully tried to impound the State-issued vehicle and traditional regalia in his possession.

However, the seizure of the property was unsuccessful as the former chief is reported to be out of the country. The anti-riot police were accompanied by Umguza district coordinator, Tapiwa Zivovoyi.

They are said to have stormed the controversial traditional leader’s homestead and demanded the vehicle’s car keys and regalia.

They wanted to confiscate his vehicle and regalia but unfortunately the Chief is outside the country.

Ndiweni has already instructed his lawyers to challenge the dismissal at the High Court on grounds that the dismissal was unconstitutional.

Own Correspondent|Former South Africa President, Thabo Mbeki, is back in Zimbabwe and has declared that he is willing to assist in resolving the challenges that the country is facing.

Zimbabweans have not quickly forgotten about Mbeki the man who took charge of the negotiations that brought about the unpopular Government of National Unity in 2008.

He met with President Mnangagwa for over two-hours at State House in Harare yesterday.

Zimbabweans have always accused Mbeki of failing to negotiate fairly between Zanu-PF and MDC when he advocated for a coalition government after the 2008 elections.

His coalition government brought back to the power a defeated Robert Mugabe and relegated election winner Morgan Tsvangirai to second fiddle.

President Mbeki’s rationale was that given the kind of aggressive attitudes of certain western governments in other parts of the world, he didn’t want to see them taking over in any kind of process. Core on his strategy was the question of stabilisation more than democratisation in Zimbabwe an idea that Zimbabweans would not want to hear this time around.

Within the mediation process, using his quiet diplomacy, Mbeki allowed a huge silence around the manner in which Zanu-PF blocked the reform agenda even under the global political agreement and the violence of the 2000s.

In the case of Zimbabwe, the policy of quiet diplomacy was a disaster. If you want proof that it was a disaster you just have to look at Zimbabwe now.

Quiet diplomacy meant a preference for stability over democracy…

“The energy should have been focused on setting conditions to allow for free and fair elections,” Tendai Biti said then.

Zimbabweans are today pushing the same message that instead of wasting time and money on talks that will give Mnangagwa legitimacy, energy would rather be on setting up for free and fair elections.

Can Mbeki guarantee that?