By A Correspondent- The Reserve Bank of Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has said that it expects increased foreign currency this year from minerals, tobacco, cotton, improved diaspora remittances and the usage of free funds.

The revelation was made by RBZ deputy governor Kupukile Mlambo who told a local publication that the country has more foreign receipts than other better-performing economies in Africa despite having no Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

He said:

We are expecting forex receipts of US$7bn by year-end which is an improvement from US$5.5bn last year due to minerals, tobacco, cotton, improved diaspora remittances and the usage of free funds. That money is enough to cater for all our forex needs.

Mlambo also said that the banking sector which now does business on the interbank trading platform was contributing to increased forex.

This comes as there is a huge scarcity of foreign currency in the country against high demand as the government, businesses and individuals need forex to import commodities from beyond the country’s borders for consumption and business.

-BusinessTimes

By A Correspondent- A Chipinge village head was left homeless after his homestead was torched by an aggrieved subject who accused him of threatening to bewitch and evict him from the village.

This came to light during the appearance of Joseph Kuwayani (43), of Mutowe Village, under Chief Musikavanhu, before Chipinge magistrate Mr Joshua Nembaware on charges of malicious damage to property. Property worth $5 000 was destroyed in the fire.

Kawayani was convicted on his own plea of guilty and sentenced to 20 months in jail.

During mitigation, Kuwayani showed contrition saying his actions were prompted by anger after the village head had threatened to bewitch and evict him from the village.

“I am sorry for my actions. I was angry after the village head threatened to bewitch and evict me from the village. I am pleading for a lenient sentence,” he pleaded.

After slapping him with 20 months in jail, Mr Nembaware then suspended five months on usual conditions for five years.

Another five months was suspended on condition that he compensates Garwi $5 000 on or before February 28, 2020.

Ms Shamiso Ncube prosecuted.

She told the court that on October 13, Kuwayani was drinking beer at a business centre in Chipinge when he overheard Edgar Garwi (72) bragging that he was going to chase him away from the village.

This did not please him.

He left the watering hole and passed through Gift Ngirandi’s homestead, where he asked for  a box of matches.

He did not divulge his ill intentions.

Kuwayani then proceeded to Garwi’s homestead and torched two thatched huts.

He tried to escape from the scene, but was positively identified by one of the villagers who had reacted to the inferno.

-ManicaPost

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabweans to work towards reviving the country’s economy.

Speaking at the ZANU PF Central Committee meeting held at the party’s headquarters this Wednesday, Mnangagwa said:

Let us put our country on the rail to recovery. Forward ever and backward never. I will give a detailed presentation in Goromonzi tomorrow.

He speaks ahead of the governing party’s Annual People’s Conference which is scheduled to run from this Thursday to Sunday.

His remarks come when the country’s economy is at its lowest since the 2008 record high hyperinflation which saw the Zimbabwe dollar ditched for the multi-currency system.

Mnangagwa and ZANU PF secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu have hinted that the Goromonzi conference will focus on bread and butter issues but analysts say the event is “another” waste of resources since no solution to the socio-economic and political crises in the country will ever come out of it.

-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Illegal miners armed with firearms are reportedly invading Athens Mine in Mvuma, a development which demonstrates the need for the country to deal with the property rights issue, Hopewell Chin’ono has said.

Posting on Twitter this Thursday, he said:

Athens Mine located in Mvuma is being invaded as you are reading this tweet. Ongoing violence. Illegals who are invading it have firearms. This is a BIG issue of PROPERTY RIGHTS that @steve_hanke has been talking about! NO investment will come to Zimbabwe without Property Rights.

The development resembles several other cases in which machete-wielding gangs just invade mines belonging to other people.

Analysts have been saying that lack of a clearly defined government position on property rights was scaring away investors who feared that their properties can be seized willy nilly.

The remarks by professor Steve Hanke and Chin’ono were also echoed by former MDC legislator, Eddie Cross who recently said that the government needed to urgently deal with the matter as it has a huge implication on the growth of the economy.

By A Correspondent- Government will stand with the people duped by land barons in urban areas and provide requisite sanitation facilities in needy areas, while the culprits who milked citizens of their hard-earned cash will be punished, President Mnangagwa has said.

He said the report of the Commission of Inquiry tasked to investigate the sale of State land in urban areas presented to him on Tuesday showed glaring anomalies that needed to be addressed.

Addressing the 335th session ordinary session of the Politburo that marked the beginning of the Zanu-PF 18th National People’s Conference in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the law would be applied without fear or favour.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), I received the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the sale of State land in urban areas,” he said. “The report contains glaring excesses which we must correct and bring the guilty parties to account without fear or favour. 

“The Government, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission must interest themselves in the findings of that report.

“The party stands with the victims who suffered and lost their hard-earned money at the hands of the unscrupulous, corrupt and greedy land barons. The law will take its course without fear or favour in this regard.”

President Mnangagwa said Zanu-PF, as the ruling party, could not allow a situation where 39 years after independence some citizens still lived in squalid conditions with no clean water, sanitation, roads and other social amenities.

On the National People’s Conference, President Mnangagwa said he was confident that adequate preparations had been put in place to ensure that the meeting was a huge success.

“This defining conference must be used to further mobilise our people towards economic productivity and guide our course as we accelerate our quest to grow our economy and improve the lives of our people,” he said. 

“Thematic chairpersons must, therefore, ensure that conference discussions are accordingly guided.”

President Mnangagwa said the Politburo had resolved to establish the War Veterans’ League and tasked the Secretary for Legal Affairs, Cde Paul Mangwana, to make the necessary recommendations for adoption by the Central Committee today as per procedure.

He briefed the Politburo of his meeting with members of Ziliwaco.“This past week I had an occasion to address a Ziliwaco meeting at the City Sports Centre here in Harare,” said President Mnangagwa. “Various issues were raised which affect that constituency of our party. 

“We will do our best to address the issues which they raised. However, I appeal to the association to shift their paradigm from a welfare-oriented mindset to that which has a membership primed towards working hard using our God-given resources.

“Government will facilitate production inclined projects which seek to empower our people. The days of welfare and handouts are gone. Our people should be encouraged to work hard.”

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent| The Government of Zimbabwe has reportedly deployed four Cuban doctors to the Chitungwiza health department.

A government official revealed that the doctors in question are expected to start work early next year.

The state media reports that the offer shall see Chitungwiza Municipality catering for the quartet’s accommodation and transport costs only while their salaries will be paid for by the Cuban government.

The publication further reports that Chitungwiza acting town clerk Dr Tonderai Kasu tabled the offer before a full council meeting last Tuesday and the local authority accepted the offer during the meeting after a cost-benefit analysis was presented.

This happens at a time when the country’s health sector is grounded with health caregivers having reached the 100th day on industrial action over unsustainable salaries and poor working conditions.

Public health institutions also lack essential equipment and medicines, a scenario that has left some analysts accusing the government of neglecting public health as they get medical attention from beyond the country’s borders.

The 2020 Budget, like previous one, allocated more money to the security sector, attracting criticism from policy experts and other observers.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The Public Service Commission (PSC) has said former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko will only be paid his pension in local currency and should not expect any other benefits.

This follows an application lodged at the High Court by Mr Mphoko, through his lawyer, Mr Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners seeking an order directing the Government, through the PSC, to award him more than US$300 000 in benefits and monthly pension payouts.

In papers before the Bulawayo High Court, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, PSC secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe, Salary Services Bureau (SSB) paymaster and PSC pensions master, K. Makiwa, were cited as respondents.

Mr Mphoko wanted an order declaring the withholding of his pension by the Government illegal and unconstitutional.

He is seeking an order directing the respondents to pay him US$308 000 or the equivalent in local currency at the interbank rate.

In response to Mr Mphoko’s demands, the Government, through the Civil Division in the Attorney-General’s Office, said it will pay his pension in local currency.

The letter, addressed to Mr Ncube, stated that Mr Mphoko will not receive any other benefits that he is claiming.

“We take note of your application filed on 4 October, 2019 and served on the Public Service Commission on 8 October, 2019,” reads part of the letter signed by Ms Rejoice Hove on behalf of the director of the Civil Division.

“However, our client’s attitude on the matter is that they will pay your client pension only as provided for in the Constitution, and no other benefits.

“Furthermore, the payment will be effected in Zimbabwe dollars in accordance with the country’s laws.”

According to the letter, the amount for Mr Mphoko’s pension will be subjected to computation by the Pensions Office in consultation with the SSB.

The AG’s Office indicated that it will file opposing affidavits on behalf of the respondents despite being out of time in terms of High Court Rules.

In his founding affidavit contained in the application, Mr Mphoko said having joined the civil service in October 1981, he was entitled to his benefits and pension.

“This is an application for a declaratur to declare unconstitutional the withholding of my pension by the respondents and for ancillary relief,” he said.

“I joined the civil service in October 1981 and served as an Ambassador of Zimbabwe to various countries.

“On December 10, 2014, I was appointed to the position of Vice President of the country, a position I held until I was removed from office in November 2017.”

Mr Mphoko argued that in terms of section 102(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, he was entitled to a pension which is equivalent to the salary of a sitting Vice President.

“From the time I left office, I have not received a single dime in respect of my pension,” he said.

Mr Mphoko said despite approaching Dr Sibanda to assist him secure his benefits, there has been no joy, prompting him to approach the courts for a declaratur.

He said in the event that salaries are adjusted before the order being sought is granted, the respondents should pay him at the prevailing interbank rate.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- ZESA Holdings has now identified 24 000 defaulting clients owing it a combined $1,2 billion in unpaid bills which it wants to blacklist.

The defaulters will be barred from buying electricity or opening credit accounts with other organisations or companies.

The power utility company is struggling to generate enough electricity or import power to cover the deficit and this has seen electricity consumers enduring long hours of load shedding. Zesa which is said to be technically insolvent, has blamed some of its problems on the failure by power consumers to settle bills.

In an interview, Zesa Holding spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said the company has listed 24 000 clients that it wants to blacklist to push them to settle their arrears.

“We are using blacklisting as one of the credit control measures so it is important for our clients to honour their debts.The bad thing about blacklisting is that when you get blacklisted you can’t even open a bank account because we liaise with other credit control institutions,” said Mr Gwasira.

He said those who come up with payment plans or start reducing their arrears will not be blacklisted and as such it was important for those in arreas to start paying.

Mr Gwasira however said Zesa will only blacklist after all other credit control measures have failed to yield desired results.

By A Correspondent- A Beitbridge family has described as unbelievable a ruling by a local magistrate in which an unlicensed woman driver escaped with a wholly suspended prison sentence after running over and killing a four-year-old toddler.

Ottilia Murwiri who is a clearing agent at Beitbridge ran over Anenyasha Mutumbwa who was supposed to be going to ECD A in January next year.

Murwiri faced two counts namely culpable homicide and driving without a licence and Resident Magistrate Langton Mukwengi gave her one year six months on the first charge and suspended the term on condition that she paid RTGS$600 fine.

The Magistrate also gave her 30 months on the second charge and suspended it on condition she does 630 hours community service and that she does not commit an offence involving driving in five years.

Belton Mutumbwa and his wife Dzivaidzo Verengai complained bitterly that the accused should at least have been slapped with a custodial sentence. Mutumbwa said the sentence given makes his daughter’s life cheap.

“Here is a driver who had no licence and veers off the road to crash my innocent daughter to death. Young children are supposed to be protected by drivers on the road but in this case here is a driver who made all efforts to save her own life at the expense of a young girl’s precious life. I hear that the magistrate concluded that the accused veered off the road to avoid a head-on-collision,” said Mutumbwa in an interview with The Mirror.

The accused volunteered to pay compensation to the deceased’s family and she paid R5 700 for various protocols to do with the death, said Mutumbwa.
The accused is still to pay six head of cattle and up to R20 000 for funeral expenses.

Mutumbwa said the incident happened on November 6 2019, when Anenyasha followed another girl to Quick Spar Supermarket at Mashakada Shopping Centre. Murwiri who was driving a Toyota Honda fit veered off the road thereby running over and crashing Anenyasha. The toddler was dragged underneath the vehicle for a distance which resulted in profuse bleeding.

“We are shattered by the leniency of the sentence. Statements were taken from witnesses but they were never called to court to testify,” alleged Mutumbwa.

-Mirror

By A Correspondent- The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has warned the government that its members will revert to the old mealie meal prices if they are not paid the subsidy they were promised.

In a letter to Finance and Economic Developmet Minister Mthuli Ncube on Wednesday, GMAZ chairman Tafadzwa Musarara wrote:

“As a gesture of goodwill, millers had already started to reduce prices. Unfortunately, our members are financially handicapped to continue selling at the subsidised prices in the absence of the subsidies being paid upfront as agreed.

“Accordingly, unless the said funds are provided today (yesterday), our members will have no choice but to revert to previous prices on Thursday, 12 December 2019.”

Last week, Ncube directed retailers to sell mealie meal at reduced prices, with a 10kg bag priced at $50. The directive followed a sharp price hike by retailers who were selling 10kg of mealie meal at above $100.

-DailyNews

Watch video downloading below:

Zimbabweans are facing up to 24-hours of load shedding a day as Eskom of South Africa battles to keep the lights on back home. 

Thami Mkandla of capitalkfm in Harare has confirmed that that country’s power utility, ZESA reverted to stage 2 load shedding in November following a technical fault at one of its major power stations, Hwange, and in light of the low water levels at the Kariba Hydro Power Station. 

This saw South Africa’s neighbour experiencing 18-hour blackouts. 

However, that has now escalated in light of South Africa’s electricity woes. 

“During this time when Eskom implements its own stage 2 load shedding it reduces experts to Zimbabwe to zero,” says Mkandla. 

He notes that power supply to business is then reduced proportionally. 

Zimbabwe imports electricity from both South Africa and Mozambique. 

Its biggest power plant has outlived its lifespan and now suffers constant breakdowns, says Mkandla. 

“The Zimbabwean government has poured millions of dollars into the rehabilitation of Hwange units 7 and 8 as it strives to improve the country’s electricity generation,” he says. 

Miss Tourism Zimbabwe (MTZ) pageant that was scheduled for the 14th December 2019 has been cancelled after 7 of the 19 models who were in boot camp were involved in an accident last night in Vumba on their way to Eden Lodge.

Details on the severity of the accident have not been ascertained at the time of publishing

More to follow…

Jane Mlambo| Self exiled former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has dropped a bombshell claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) has been hit by absenteeism with the bulk of members no-longer attending routine meetings save for a few who are in it for patronage.

The 26-member PAC was set up in January this year by president Emmerson Mnangagwa to advise and assist him in formulating key economic policies and strategies that advance his highly popularised Vision 2030.

Posting on Twitter, Moyo literally declared the death of PAC saying only six out of the 24 members were still committed to the body.

“Has #Pac packed up? At its last meeting two months ago, only six out of 24 members showed up. The six got a tongue lashing from Mnangagwa who now sees #PAC as a disused tool. The big guns, like Kuda Tagwirei, no longer attend #PAC which now attracts six or so patronage seekers!”

Farai Dziva|A Kwekwe man, Andrew Moyo was allegedly brutally assaulted to death by Zanu PF activists at the ruling party offices in Kwekwe on Wednesday.

The activists accused Moyo of theft.

See police report below:
MEMORANDUM
TO : DCIO KWEKWE/GOKWE
FROM : CRIME KWEKWE
MEMO : /2019
DATED : 12/12/19

SUBJECT : MURDER AS DEFINED IN SECTION 47 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW(CODIFICATION AND REFORM) ACT CHAPTER 9;23.

This memorandum serves to put on record circumstances surrounding a case of Murder which occurred at ZANU PF Kwekwe District Headquarters.

INFORMANT
Brighton Tomson aged 33 years NR 45-174876-A-45
Res add – Redcliff Police Camp, Kwekwe
Bus add – Redcliff Police Station (Police Officer)

DECEASED
ANDREW MOYO (NFPK)
Res add- Unit Mine Silobela Road Redcliff Kwekwe
Bus add – Unit Mine Silobela Road Redcliff Kwekwe

ACCUSED:
Tafadzwa Rodgers aged 30 years NR 58-272602-J-29
Res add – Lot 6, Camberwell, Redcliff, Kwekwe
Bus add – Mabhachi Bottle Store along Silobela Road, Redcliff, Kwekwe.

Cell – 0779 922 747
Raymond Chinouya (NFPK) of Mbizo 10 Extension, Kwekwe
Wiseman Ngwenya (NFPK) and
Other six unknown male adults.

CIRCUMSTANCES:
On 11 December 2019 and at around 1600 hours, accused 1, Tafadzwa Rodgers phoned accused 2, Raymond Chinouya who is his brother-in-law and advised him that the now deceased Andrew Moyo had broken into their storeroom at his bottle store and stole some beer and cash. He further told accused 2 that the accused was seen at Unit Mine, Redcliff whilst drinking part of the stolen beer.

Raymond Chinouya went to accused 1’s bottle store in the company of accused 3 Wiseman Ngwenya and three other unknown male adults who are still at large.

The four were being driven by Raymond Chinouya in his white Toyota Land cruiser registration numbers unknown.

Raymond Chinouya got to accused 1’s bottle store and picked him to Unit Mine where Andrew Moyo was seen.

Upon arrival at Unit Mine, the six accused persons found Andrew Moyo with his friend Carlson Phiri (No further particulars known) but residing in the same compound with Andrew Moyo.

The six accused persons forced Andrew Moyo and Carlson Phiri in their motor vehicle and drove towards Kwekwe town.

Raymond Chinouya drove his motor vehicle to ZANU PF Kwekwe District Headquarters where Andrew Moyo and his friend Carlson Phiri were made to disembark from the motor vehicle. Three more accused persons who were at the party office joined in and the accused acting in common purpose assaulted Andrew Moyo with switches all over his body. They then released Carlson Phiri.

On the same day at around 2200 hours, the accused persons took Andrew Moyo to ZRP Kwekwe Central to make a report of unlawful entry into premises and theft by Andrew Moyo.

Upon arrival at ZRP Kwekwe Central, the accused persons were carrying Andrew Moyo on their hands and sat him on the floor at the reception.

Accused 1 Tafadzwa Rodgers reported that Andrew Moyo had broken into his storeroom and stole 12 X 1.5 litres super beer, 24 X 200 mililitres double punch cane spirit and cash ZW$3000-00 under ZRP Kwekwe Central Reports Received Book Number 4012590.

Andrew Moyo could not say any word due to pain and lied unconsciously on the floor.

Andrew Moyo was then eventually referred to Kwekwe General Hospital for treatment under the escort of police with some of the accused having vacated the police station and was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Matter was then reported to police by the informant.

Investigations made
Only accused 1 was arrested, interviewed and implicated his accomplices and is detained at Kwekwe Central Police cells under Detention book number 1860/19 pending further management.

The body of Andrew Moyo was inspected and only bruises all over the body were noted.

The body of Andrew Moyo is at Kwekwe General Hospital mortuary pending transfer to Bulawayo for postmortem.

OUTSTANDING
To visit scene of crime and account for the outstanding accused persons.
To recover switches used in assaulting the now deceased.

To locate Carlson Phiri and other witnesses to record statements.
To take the body of Andrew Moyo to Bulawayo for postmortem.

Investigations are in progress under Kwekwe Central Report Received Book Number 4012591.

Own Correspondent|Miss Tourism Zimbabwe finals which were scheduled for this Saturday have been postponed to a date to be advised after a bus ferrying finalists was involved in an accident on its way to Eden Lodge in Vumba last night.

Nine Finalists sustained injuries and are currently under observation at Murambi Gardens Clinic in Mutare.

No death has been recorded.

In a statement released by Miss Tourism Zimbabwe, the accident could have been more fatal had it not been for the driver’s “heroic” efforts

“It was unfortunate that on the way to Vumba, the bus developed a mechanical fault before it veered off the road. We would like to extend our gratitude to the driver for the professionalism and heroic efforts he displayed as he controlled the bus throughout the horrific ordeal. He saved the day and we wish him a speedy recovery as he is also admitted at the Clinic,” said Miss Tourism Zimbabwe CEO, Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda

The girls who are admitted are Maria Makelve and Michelle Mupasi from the Midlands Province, Rutendo Tilda Mafuratidze from Manicaland Province, Rutendo Amanda Taruvinga and Grace Karimupfumbi of Masvingo Province, Monalisa Ellen Tafirenyika from Matebeleland North, Maureen Gondwe and Wendy Maturi of Mashonaland Central Province and

Pauline Marere from Mashonaland West.

Correspondent|Government has stepped in to solve the shortage of Zupco buses on the streets that had withdrawn their services over the shortage of diesel.

The Zupco buses offer subsidised services to commuters who are now heavily relying on them for cheaper transport.

In the past weeks, most buses especially under the franchise arrangement withdrew services with reports that government was no longer providing them with diesel.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba on Wednesday said steps had been taken to bring the Zupco buses back on the streets.

“To thank those alert Zimbos who noticed and dramatised reduced service level by ZUPCO because of fuel supply constraints. The matter has now been sorted, with Finance Secretary Guvamatanga reacting promptly to ensure CMED capacitates ZUPCO fuelwise for a speedy return to normal service,” said Charamba.

“Already reports reaching us pointed to abuse of commuters by small operators who had hiked fares, taking advantage of the wet conditions. For a monthly subsidy of about $34m, the transport service is a key component of overall safety nets in these times of recovery.

“Secretary George Guvamatanga who is always a joy to work with, tells me that consistent with MBWA – Management By WalkAbouts – his team will be on the ground to ensure commuter service level returns to normal. Thanks Zimbos, thanks George, thanks CMED, thanks ZUPCO!”

Own Correspondent|Exiled former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that a large number of members to the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) have ceased attending the meetings.

PAC is a group of people set up two years ago by president Emmerson Mnangagwa to counsel him on various matters.

Moyo posted on microblogging site, Twitter suggesting that PAC was collapsing. He said:

Has #Pac packed up? At its last meeting two months ago, only six out of 24 members showed up. The six got a tongue lashing from Mnangagwa who now sees #PAC as a disused tool. The big guns, like Kuda Tagwirei, no longer attend #PAC which now attracts six or so patronage seekers!

His remarks come when some of the advisors including Petina Gappah have since left the council with Gappah saying that she could not work with some of Mnangagwa’s aides.

State Media|Four Caps United players who went on a rampage and assaulted a referee and other officials before paying admission of guilty fines at Mzilikazi Police Station in Bulawayo have been found not guilty by the Premier Soccer League disciplinary committee.

The four players, Carlos Rusere, John Zhuwawo, Dominic Chungwa and Ronald Chitiyo were acquitted by the Raphael Tsivama-chaired disciplinary committee that also has a former senior police officer Brighton Mudzamiri on charges of breaching the Premier Soccer League.

Rules and Regulations following their 0-1 defeat to Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium on October 23. The four players were charged in terms of Order 31.1.2.9 of the PSL rules and regulations.

Their acquittal however comes after the accused players each paid $100 in fines at Mzilikazi Police Station CR 136/10/19.

Farai Dziva|A Kwekwe man, Andrew Moyo was allegedly brutally assaulted to death by Zanu PF activists at the ruling party offices in Kwekwe on Wednesday.

The activists accused Moyo of theft.

See police report below:
MEMORANDUM
TO : DCIO KWEKWE/GOKWE
FROM : CRIME KWEKWE
MEMO : /2019
DATED : 12/12/19

SUBJECT : MURDER AS DEFINED IN SECTION 47 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW(CODIFICATION AND REFORM) ACT CHAPTER 9;23.

This memorandum serves to put on record circumstances surrounding a case of Murder which occurred at ZANU PF Kwekwe District Headquarters.

INFORMANT
Brighton Tomson aged 33 years NR 45-174876-A-45
Res add – Redcliff Police Camp, Kwekwe
Bus add – Redcliff Police Station (Police Officer)

DECEASED
ANDREW MOYO (NFPK)
Res add- Unit Mine Silobela Road Redcliff Kwekwe
Bus add – Unit Mine Silobela Road Redcliff Kwekwe

ACCUSED:
Tafadzwa Rodgers aged 30 years NR 58-272602-J-29
Res add – Lot 6, Camberwell, Redcliff, Kwekwe
Bus add – Mabhachi Bottle Store along Silobela Road, Redcliff, Kwekwe.

Cell – 0779 922 747
Raymond Chinouya (NFPK) of Mbizo 10 Extension, Kwekwe
Wiseman Ngwenya (NFPK) and
Other six unknown male adults.

CIRCUMSTANCES:
On 11 December 2019 and at around 1600 hours, accused 1, Tafadzwa Rodgers phoned accused 2, Raymond Chinouya who is his brother-in-law and advised him that the now deceased Andrew Moyo had broken into their storeroom at his bottle store and stole some beer and cash. He further told accused 2 that the accused was seen at Unit Mine, Redcliff whilst drinking part of the stolen beer.

Raymond Chinouya went to accused 1’s bottle store in the company of accused 3 Wiseman Ngwenya and three other unknown male adults who are still at large.

The four were being driven by Raymond Chinouya in his white Toyota Land cruiser registration numbers unknown.

Raymond Chinouya got to accused 1’s bottle store and picked him to Unit Mine where Andrew Moyo was seen.

Upon arrival at Unit Mine, the six accused persons found Andrew Moyo with his friend Carlson Phiri (No further particulars known) but residing in the same compound with Andrew Moyo.

The six accused persons forced Andrew Moyo and Carlson Phiri in their motor vehicle and drove towards Kwekwe town.

Raymond Chinouya drove his motor vehicle to ZANU PF Kwekwe District Headquarters where Andrew Moyo and his friend Carlson Phiri were made to disembark from the motor vehicle. Three more accused persons who were at the party office joined in and the accused acting in common purpose assaulted Andrew Moyo with switches all over his body. They then released Carlson Phiri.

On the same day at around 2200 hours, the accused persons took Andrew Moyo to ZRP Kwekwe Central to make a report of unlawful entry into premises and theft by Andrew Moyo.

Upon arrival at ZRP Kwekwe Central, the accused persons were carrying Andrew Moyo on their hands and sat him on the floor at the reception.

Accused 1 Tafadzwa Rodgers reported that Andrew Moyo had broken into his storeroom and stole 12 X 1.5 litres super beer, 24 X 200 mililitres double punch cane spirit and cash ZW$3000-00 under ZRP Kwekwe Central Reports Received Book Number 4012590.

Andrew Moyo could not say any word due to pain and lied unconsciously on the floor.

Andrew Moyo was then eventually referred to Kwekwe General Hospital for treatment under the escort of police with some of the accused having vacated the police station and was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Matter was then reported to police by the informant.

Investigations made
Only accused 1 was arrested, interviewed and implicated his accomplices and is detained at Kwekwe Central Police cells under Detention book number 1860/19 pending further management.

The body of Andrew Moyo was inspected and only bruises all over the body were noted.

The body of Andrew Moyo is at Kwekwe General Hospital mortuary pending transfer to Bulawayo for postmortem.

OUTSTANDING
To visit scene of crime and account for the outstanding accused persons.
To recover switches used in assaulting the now deceased.

To locate Carlson Phiri and other witnesses to record statements.
To take the body of Andrew Moyo to Bulawayo for postmortem.

Investigations are in progress under Kwekwe Central Report Received Book Number 4012591.

Watch the live video loading below for the full text of the above statement and more….

Watch the video loading below. ..

By A Correspondent- An injiva who was attacked by an angry mob after exhausting his ammunition while trying to scare them away soon after staging an armed robbery at business premises in Northend suburb in Bulawayo has appeared in court.

Simon Makwelo (35) of Nketa suburb, was part of a gang of eight men who allegedly raided the offices of a Bulawayo company operating in Northend suburb.

Makwelo is now recuperating under police guard at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he is admitted after a group of angry people meted out instant justice on him.

Makwelo yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nomasiko Ndlovu in his hospital bed facing armed robbery charges. He was denied bail and remanded to December 24.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said on December 6 this year, Makwelo who was in the company of eight accomplices still at large, armed themselves with axes and pistols.

They allegedly went to the complainant’s workplace in Northend suburb where they damaged the door using axes to gain entry.

“Soon after gaining entry into the company’s main office, one of the accused persons fired a single shot in the air and ordered everyone to lie down,” said Mr Dlodlo.

The court heard that one of the suspects allegedly demanded cash and gold.

“The complainant surrendered US$900 that she was carrying, but the accused person and his accomplices went on ransack the office. They took several cellphones, a digital video recorder, Wi-Fi router and a box containing torn United States dollar notes and fled,” said Mr Dlodlo.

Soon after committing the alleged offence, the armed robbers took to their heels with the mob in hot pursuit.

The mob managed to catch up with Makwelo who fired several shots in an effort to scare people away.

Makwelo, however, ran out of bullets resulting in the mob apprehending him.

They savagely attacked him before handing him over to the police leading to his arrest.

A Star pistol and one of the stolen cellphones, a Samsung J4, were recovered from him. The value of the stolen goods is $32 128 and property worth $1 000 was recovered. The US$900 was not recovered.

Makwelo’s accomplices are still at large and police have since launched a manhunt.

StateMedia

Warship Dumba

Robot not working. Council promised residents ‘solar powered’ robots.

Kombi drivers are a menace on the roads.

The kombi drivers respect no road regulations at all. They are chasing the illusive Zim $.

The police also are to blame!

I understand that every Police station in Zimbabwe has a traffic section but most traffic at intersections with faulty robots are now controlled by street kids who are not even trained in traffic control. Some generous drivers give them money.

It’s a form of employment for them.

Unotoona police ichitodarika ichisiya zvakadaro. (You see the police pass through such places driving through too)

My reading of the law tells me that those street kids will be ignorantly committing a serious crime of ‘impersonating a police officer’ according to the CODE.

It is only going to be one day when one of those drunk or drugged youths shall be run over by these crazy kombi drivers.

By A Correspondent- ZESA Holdings has now identified 24 000 defaulting clients owing it a combined $1,2 billion in unpaid bills which it wants to blacklist.

The defaulters will be barred from buying electricity or opening credit accounts with other organisations or companies.

The power utility company is struggling to generate enough electricity or import power to cover the deficit and this has seen electricity consumers enduring long hours of load shedding. Zesa which is said to be technically insolvent, has blamed some of its problems on the failure by power consumers to settle bills.

In an interview, Zesa Holding spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said the company has listed 24 000 clients that it wants to blacklist to push them to settle their arrears.

“We are using blacklisting as one of the credit control measures so it is important for our clients to honour their debts.The bad thing about blacklisting is that when you get blacklisted you can’t even open a bank account because we liaise with other credit control institutions,” said Mr Gwasira.

He said those who come up with payment plans or start reducing their arrears will not be blacklisted and as such it was important for those in arreas to start paying.

Mr Gwasira however said Zesa will only blacklist after all other credit control measures have failed to yield desired results.

By A Correspondent- Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has filed an urgent application at the High Court seeking an order against some members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) who allegedly evicted his workers from Karoi Country Club.

In his application filed at the court on Tuesday, Mliswa, who is the chairman of the club, cited Joseph Serima Manjengwe, Alick Chingodza, Life Magedi and Bridget Chingodza as respondents.

He argues that the war veterans on November 29 this year allegedly took the law into their own hands by forcibly occupying the premises, changed locks and evicted his employees without a court order.

They indicated that the war veterans’ association had been given a permit by Karoi Town Council to use the country club for youth projects but no proof of such authority was exhibited to any of the country club’s employees who were present.

Mliswa wants a court order for the youths to vacate the premises and be banned from interfering with the running of the club.

He argues that the case must be treated urgently on the grounds that he and his workers had been evicted from the club premises and their property was still on the premises amidst threats that it would be destroyed.

The case is yet to be heard.

-StateMedia

Farai Dziva| Norton Member of Parliament, Temba Mliswa has indicated that MDC leader
Nelson Chamisa is likely to lead the country after the expiry of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s two terms in 2028.

Mliswa believes Chamisa will take over the leadership of the country when Mnangagwa’s two terms expire in 2028.

Mliswa, quoted by NewsDay said a young leader will succeed Mnangagwa and of all young politicians, Chamisa was the most placed to become Zimbabwe’s next President.

“After 2028, it will be the young people who will be given the chance and of course, the most prominent young person that you have in politics is Nelson Chamisa, to be honest with you… he will definitely get his chance one day but for now, let’s support the President and when his time is over then we will also support Chamisa,”said Mliswa.

By A Correspondent- A 37-year-old Buhera man, Prince Chidamajaha was on Monday found dead in Penhalonga area of Mutasa in a suspected murder case.

Kakohwa said the now-deceased left his compound in Maswera village, Penhalonga, in the morning going to Stappleford in Mutasa district.

Paul Musuka (25), who was coming from Femai village stumbled upon the deceased’s nak_ed body in the middle of the road.

Musuka reported the matter at Penhalonga Police Station and the body was taken to Mutare Provincial Hospital for post-mortem.

-Wires

The MDC once again demands an end to political persecutions after the trial of our National Organizing Secretary Amos Chibaya and Deputy National Organizing Secretary Sibusisiwe Bhudha failed to take off today due to the ineptitude of the State which did not furnish the Defence Lawyers with the trial papers on time.

The charges that they are facing are ridiculous and nonsensical and would have no place in a civilised and democratic country.

Section 26(11) of the now defunct Public Order and Security Act is inimical to the tenets of a democratic dispensation and we are baffled by state s desire to persue such a matter.

What compounds matters is that the persecuting authorities have since the 8th October failed to provide the Defence with the trial papers in spite of several visits to their office and it is a travesty of Justice that the Regional Court has been turned into a Remand Court and our leaders have to appear again on the 3rd February 2020 for trial on a case which has no substance.

Recently the State indicated that it intends to indict our Secretary General Honourable Charlton Hwende for trial in the High Court next year following a similar path to our National Vice Chairman Honourable Job Sikhala.

Several other leaders in the MDC as well as civic leaders vendors and other citizens are facing trumped-up charges.

We know that all these people have not committed any crime but have simply dared to challenge the repression of the Illegitimate regime and stand up for their rights and those of others.

We therefore call upon the powers that be not to continue to abuse the people of Zimbabwe while the country is bleeding and burning. No amount of persecution and suppression will stop an idea whose time has come.

Instead the regime should introspect and accept that in spite of stealing elections it has failed and begin the journey of engagement and dialogue to extricate the country from the quagmire.

MDC: Change that Delivers

Innocent Gonese
MDC Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs

By A Correspondent- Former Cabinet minister Nyasha Chikwinya is trying to evict 109 families settled on a 150-hectare piece of land at Glen Forest Farm in Harare after she gave up her offer letter for the land upon receiving a new piece as compensation.

The court has since provisionally set aside the writ of ejection, effectively stopping Chikwinya from evicting the families.

Her attempt to return to the 150-hectare piece came after she had exhausted her new 80-hectare piece of land, which she sub-divided into residential stands, Justice Clement Phiri heard.

The families, members of Mama Mafuyana Housing Cooperative, were recently served with eviction notices, with Chikwinya intending to demolish their houses.

While the case is pending, Chikwinya claimed she was locked out of her farm and obtained an order restoring her occupancy.

On the strength of the order, Chikwinya obtained a writ of ejection against the cooperative members and its chairman Mr Boniface Mutize.

The membership had been served with ejection notices pondering the next move.

The cooperative, through its lawyer Mr Advent Tavenhave of Tavenhave & Machingauta Legal Practitioners, contested the writ, arguing it was fraudulently acquired.

They argued that Chikwinya had no legal right to stay on the land because she had since been allocated another 84 hectares as compensation after the withdrawal of her offer letter in respect of the disputed piece of land.

After selling stands on the 84 hectares of land, the lawyers argued, Chikwinya remained on the disputed land, intending to subdivide more stands for sale.

Mr Oliver Marwa of Rubaya & Chatambudza Legal Practitioners represented Chikwinya in the urgent chamber application.

Justice Phiri ruled in favour of the desperate families and stopped the evictions.

“Pending the return date, the second respondent (Sheriff of Zimbabwe) be and is hereby ordered to stay execution of a writ of ejectment issued under HC6259/19,” he said.

Chikwinya was ordered to pay costs of suit on a punitive scale.

According to the court papers filed at the High Court, the cooperative was in 2003 offered the remainder of Glen Forest of Borrowdale Estate, measuring 150 hectares by the Ministry of Local Government and National Housing, in terms of Section 3 of the Urban Development Act for urban settlement.

The land was surveyed and the Department of Physical Planning approved the layout of 109 stands in terms of the Regional, Town Country Planning Act Chapter 29:12.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Three people reportedly died following a fatal bus accident involving a Trip Trans bus along the Harare Chirundu highway.

Sources privy to the development said the fatal crash occurred a few kilometres after Makuti around 9 pm last night.

It could however not be immediately established how many people were on board in the bus which was reportedly on its way to Harare from Zambia.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Nyathi was not picking up his phone for a comment.

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

Three people have been confirmed dead in a fatal accident involving a Harare bound Trip Trans coming from Zambia.

The accident reportedly happened 20km after Makuti at around 9pm last night.

By A Correspondent- In a tragic development, a worker from Zimbabwe’s power utility was fatally electrocuted on Tuesday after an operational flop while working on the power lines.

According to a local publication, a ZESA worker whose name is being withheld was electrocuted in Battlefields in Kadoma when power was unexpectedly restored while still working on the fault.

The hapless employee was later rushed to Harare for medical attention but unfortunately died on his way.

Speaking on the incident, the Police National Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the matter saying:

“We are investigating a case in Battlefield whereby a ZESA employee was allegedly electrocuted whilst trying to fix a fault……his identity will immediately be revealed to his next of kin”

The incident happened hours after the struggling power utility issued a statement that it would increase the power outages and work outside the known or advertised schedule.

Load-shedding is thus being implemented over and above the advertised schedule.

The power utility is yet to comment on the incident.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Some villagers in Matobo District in southern Zimbabwe are not sure that “dead aid”, that is, continuously giving cash handouts to poor people, is the way to go.

A villager who spoke to the state media acknowledged that food aid is needed in times of crisis but in the long run, poor people need capital goods for them to be economically empowered.

Said the villager:

Cash aid is killing our people here in Matobo. Some people when they receive the US$50 from an NGO giving us cash as food aid, they spend it on beer.

Yes, we need food aid, but it must be spent wisely on food. The most important kind of aid is the one that empowers us to grow our own food and earn some income on our own.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have often stepped in when people are in great need, for example, to alleviate hardships caused by droughts or tropical cyclones.

However, observers consider the dishing out of cash to people without incentivising them to work for themselves will ultimately breed the “aid syndrome”.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Seven out of 19 models who were in boot camp ahead of the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe (MTZ) national finals slated for 14 December at Montclair hotel in Nyanga, were involved in an accident last night.

The accident occurred in Vumba while the models were on their way to Eden Lodge where they were scheduled to sleep.

The models were scheduled to proceed to Chimanimani to visit Cyclone Idai-affected areas but could not proceed due to bad weather.

MTZ chairperson Sibusisiwe Dube confirmed the accident but asserted that no deaths were recorded as circulating on social media.

“All the girls have been taken to Murambe garden hospital and are under observation, so that they get a comprehensive check-up.”

“There are some injuries on some, but no deaths have been recorded as people are speculating.”

“They are stable as we speak. We believe they were affected including those who are not physically hurt.”

“It is sad that such an unfortunate event transpired and we thank God because the accident was not fatal.”

A support team has been dispatched to Vumba, to assist, since the event will no longer take place” said Dube.

-StateMedia

Lightning has killed 19 people since the onset of the rainy season in October, officials said on Tuesday as heavy thunderstorms continue to pound parts of Zimbabwe, destroying infrastructure and causing flash flooding.

The Civil Protection Department (CPD) is warning people not to take shelter under trees and stay indoors.

“We acknowledge that this rainfall season started on a bad note. There’re 19 people who’ve already died after being struck by lightning,” CPD director Nathan Nkomo said.

Nkomo said the CPD had been called to Chivhu Prison, about 140km south of Harare, after rains caused massive damage on Monday and forced an evacuation of prisoners.

“We need something like ZWL$700,000 to have the prison repaired,” Nkomo said.

The CPD says it is on high alert for flooding and damage to bridges. The Air Force had been called to rescue 14 villagers cut off by floods, Nkomo added.

The lightning deaths include three children killed while walking from school in Goromonzi.

A young girl was killed by lightning in Bikita and a 37-year-old woman died near the Caravan Police Base in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb.

Twenty-eight-year-old Kwaziwayinkosi Nyoni of Silozwana Village in Matobo was killed by lightning in October while covering her fowl run with plastic paper in a bid to protect her chickens from rain.More in Home

On October 10, a 38-year-old man was holding a shovel while digging a trench in Cowdray Park during light showers when he was struck and killed by lightning.

A Grade 1 pupil from Nesigwe Primary School in Nkayi, Matabeleland North, was killed by lightning while walking home with three others who survived.

Police and education officials have urged schools to release children at the earliest threat of rain to avert more deaths.

— ZimLive

By A Correspondent- A retired colonel and Zipra war veteran has accused the Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Retired Air Marshal Perrance Shiri of taking a farm he has occupied for 17 years on tribal grounds and giving it to Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe.

Rtd Col Protarcius Ngwenya, a Zipra veteran who went under the moniker Comrade Richard Mataure during the 1970s war of liberation has written to Shiri, copied to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Kembo Mohadi alleging the plot to take over his farm on tribal grounds.

But the two Cabinet ministers have dismissed the allegations, saying they followed normal procedure. Shiri accused Ngwenya of subletting the farm to a white farmer.

In his letter, Ngwenya said he was disheartened and shocked by the persistence and frantic efforts by the two ministers to remove him from Collingwood Farm, also called Southwell Farm, in Mashonaland Central on tribal grounds.

“I’m disheartened and shocked by your persistence and frantic efforts of tribally trying (sic) removing me from Mashonaland again with a pretext of farm downsizing,” Ngwenya said.

Ngwenya said in 2002 he was allocated Mashona-Kop Farm in Mashonaland East but was chased away by a former minister (name supplied) and told look for a farm in Matabeleland.

“You my own comrade have now joined the fray. For the past few months you have been planning to dislodge me from Southwell Farm, first you tried to smuggle in (a named Zimplats senior executive) when you sent your Flight Lieutenant Madzvamuse with (sic) pretext of negotiating an agro-joint venture project with me,” Ngwenya said.

“I have been on Collingwood Farm for 17 years, I fully developed an underground irrigation of above 4 300 metres plus have installed a 1 800 HP pumping capacity. This is the infrastructure ministers Shiri and Kazembe are targeting to cherry pick (sic),” he told NewsDay.

“Minister, Southwell is my only liberation gain just like you having your east of Bindura farm. Any effort (sic) like what you’re about to do would be very painful to me, my family and other comrades from the revolution.”

Ngwenya said he had 115 heads of cattle plus goats, while all the dry pasture was taken by grazing land and the dairy herd of 500 cows is about to be restored under the ministry’s restoration programme. He further said the arable land left from 400 hectares would be 200 and this would be divided into horticulture export land and general cropping.

“Minister (sic) hatred should end among comrades. I was meant to believe you were non-tribal and not harbouring ancient Zanla-Zipra primitive animosity.

“Now you have left me baffled and surprised. As a senior commander of our revolution I urge you to put a bit of sensitivity to the ongoing tribalism in our country,” Ngwenya further said.

“Any injustice (sic) exacted on me by you, minister Shiri because of the history will be a further indelible scar like the many historical scars that remain haunting our people till this day.”

Contacted for a comment, Kazembe said he was allocated the farm officially by the Lands ministry.

“I was allocated a farm officially and procedurally by the Ministry of Lands,” Kazembe said without further elaboration on the role of a police base he has set on the farm.

Shiri dismissed the allegations of tribal land grab, saying Ngwenya was a beneficiary of the land reform programme and the farm was 656, 79 hectares but only a maximum of 80 hectares was being utilised.

The minister said of the 80ha being utilised, 60ha was being used by a white farmer who he said had entered into some gentlemen’s agreement with Ngwenya which was not endorsed by his ministry.

“In fact Ngwenya is a beneficiary of the land reform programme and that he was allocated Southwell Farm, measuring 656,79ha in the area of Concession, Mashonaland Central Province.

“The farm is almost all arable but only a maximum of about 80ha out of 656,79ha was being utilised for cropping. Over and above that there is a herd of about 90 cattle.

“Of the said 80ha farming operations at the farm, 60ha was being used by some white farmer who had entered into some form of gentlemen’s agreement,” Shiri said.

“From the aforementioned, two things come to the fore, first the farm was grossly underutilised. Secondly the farm was above the maximum allowable farm size for that area.

“The area where the farm is located falls in ecological region two and at the time of downsizing the maximum allowable farm size for that area was 400ha.”

The minister, however, could not say why Kazembe abandoned his previously allocated 130ha Klein Copje Farm near Blackforby, which is about 45km from the contentious farm.

-Newsday

DEFENCE deputy minister and Zanu PF political commissar Victor Matemadanda inadvertently spilled the beans on vote-rigging when he lashed out at his party’s Midlands provincial leadership over poor performance at last year’s disputed elections, top MDC officials have said.

Zanu PF garnered 23 parliamentary seats in Midlands in last year’s polls, while the opposition MDC got four — Mbizo, Gweru Urban, Chiwundura and Mkoba.

Kwekwe Central was won by the National Patriotic Front party’s Blackman Masango Matambanadzo.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa got 352 027 votes, while MDC’s Nelson Chamisa amassed 257 960 votes in the presidential vote.

However, on Saturday, Matemadanda seethed with anger while addressing the Midlands Zanu PF provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Gweru, accusing party leaders of presiding over what he termed dismal performance in the last polls.

He later threatened to dissolve the whole provincial executive led by Daniel Mackenzie Ncube, saying it was failing to grow the party’s membership base and roll out programmes to drum up support for Mnangagwa.

Yesterday, MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka and national secretary for elections, Jacob Mafume, said Matemadanda’s rants had validated their position that last year’s polls were rigged.

“Matemadanda’s comments vindicate our position that the last election was pilfered. Otherwise, why would he have said they performed dismally when they claim to have ‘won’ exactly the same seats in 2013. Remember, this is the same party that claimed victory in 2008 before (the late former President Robert) Mugabe went public several years later to state (the late) president Morgan Tsvangirai won the elections by 73% of the vote,” Tamborinyoka said.

Mafume said Matemadanda’s ranting showed that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission results for Midlands were fake.

“The performance of Zanu PF in Midlands (therefore) is fake. It is a result of rigging, terror and unmitigated chicanery … Chamisa, overall, won the votes by 2,6 million votes,” he said.

The MDC has since last year sustained its position that the 2018 elections were rigged and has refused to recognise Mnangagwa as the legitimate president of the country.

Exiled former Zanu PF strategist Jonathan Moyo in his book Excelgate says Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections and Chamisa won the presidential elections by 2,6 million votes.

Zanu PF has, however, rubbished reports that it stole the election.

MDC spokesperson Daniel Molokele said Matemadanda could have spoken subconsciously.

“It looks like he knows the real results, not the fake ones which were announced. So he might have been speaking subconsciously about something which actually happened compared to what we were told happened. The real results are probably different (from those announced by Zec),” Molokele said.

— NewsDay

By Problem Masau| Nurse aides have been called upon to take their duties seriously as the country battles crippling strike from the doctors and nurses across the country’s health institutions.

The remarks were made by Angela Sigauke, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society National Vice President who was the guest of honour at the graduation of 300 nurse aides trained by the institution on Wednesday at Long Chen Plaza in Harare.

“The nurse aides graduating today play a key role in providing health care both in public and private medical health facilities. Where possible, they can also be engaged to provide home nursing services so that home-based patients enjoy quality care in the comfort of their homes and known environs.

“I therefore urge all our graduands to be good ambassadors of the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society through providing quality services to all those in need of such services. The Red Cross movement is about saving lives and alleviating human suffering and you are an important feature of that humanitarian drive,” she said.

Amid fan and fanfare that characterized the graduation, nurse aides recited their pledge to do their best in saving people’s lives.

The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society also offers various complimentary services aimed at safeguarding human life and these include sale of First Aid Kits, Events coverages as well as Nurse Aid hiring services.

“First Aid is a lifesaving skill which you can rely on at any given time. We have read about students drowning in swimming pools at schools, some families losing their children at emergencies at home and offcourse many road accidents that continue to claim lives every day. All such unfortunate incidents call for us to be equipped with basic First Aid so that we know how to respond to emergencies,” she added.

 To date, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has trained more than 14 000 nurse aides who are dotted across the globe.

By Nomusa Garikai- ”So honoured to be in Germany, Berlin to attend the Germany Social Democratic Party SPD conference together with the ANC and Chama Cha Mapinduzi. Also had high profile meetings with the Germany government on governance, Trade and development. The future is exciting. The goodwill is amazing!” Twittered Nelson Chamisa looking as snug as a bug!

The EU had a very strong team, the strongest, of 246 individual to observe Zimbabwe’s last year elections. Like so many other observer teams from democratic nations, the EU team dismissed the elections as a farce. 

“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Mission final report. 

“Finally, the restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign. As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”

The vote rigging was so blatant that 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied the vote. ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll for Pete’s sake. And yet Zimbabwe’s opposition parties led by the MDC Alliance, led by Mr Nelson Chamisa, still participated in the elections regardless of the glaring flaws and illegalities. 

The EU, the Commonwealth and everyone else’s damning reports of the election did not count for much because Zanu PF was able to turn around and point to Zimbabwe’s crowded political field. There were 23 presidential candidates alone! 

We all know why Zimbabwe’s opposition parties and candidates have been contesting these election knowing fully well that Zanu PF was rigging the elections – GREED. The opposition knows that Zanu PF would give away a few gravy train seats during the elections and it is these opposition candidates were after. 

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” confessed David Coltart, an MDC leader, in his Book.

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”

Four of the main MDC factions did find each other to form the MDC Alliance before the 2018 elections and still they participated in last year’s elections knowing fully well that doing so undermines the national cause of fighting for free, fair and credible elections. 

Since 2013 Zanu PF and MDC have reached a political arrangement, comparable to between Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, in which Zanu PF blatantly rigs the elections to secure its 2/3 majority and secure the presidency and MDC participates regardless how flawed the process to give the process credibility. MDC is rewarded with the remaining gravy train seats for playing along. 

Zimbabwe should have ended the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship in 2013, at the latest, if Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends had implemented the democratic reforms as agreed with SADC. MDC leaders sold-out and failed to get even one reform implemented. Not one!

Zimbabwe has been stuck with this corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for 39 years. The country’s economy is now in total economic meltdown because of four decades of bad Zanu PF governance. 

To break this Mnangagwa – Chamisa vote rigging Pact will need bold and imaginative thinking. We need to thinking outside the traditional box of seeing Zanu PF as the bad wolf, rigging the elections, and MDC as the innocent lamb, the victim of the rigged elections! Chamisa et al are doing very well, thank you, at least compared to the ordinary Zimbabweans.  

It is the ordinary Zimbabweans, on the coal face of the economic ruins, who have suffered and are suffering; not Chamisa and his few friends, notably those got the bait seats on the gravy train. 

It is not enough to call on Zanu PF to implement democratic reforms, better still impose sanctions; whilst saying nothing to MDC A, worse still reward them with brownie points; this will never break the present impasse and deliver free and fair elections. We need to acknowledge that MDC has been running with the hare and hunting with the Zanu PF hounds and punish both!

The MDC has been making a lot of noise, demanding “comprehensive reforms”, for example; this is to please Germany Social Democratic Party SPD and other westerners who will give Chamisa full marks for fighting for democratic change. This is just the growling of the cats which the uninitiated will take for fighting until they see the kittens! 

The political situation in Zimbabwe has changed; Zanu PF and MDC have morphed from an iron-fisted dictatorship vs democrats into a collaborating team, the iron fist is hidden in the softest velvet glove and yesterday’s opposition, after giving up in delivery democratic changes, is now the dictators’ paid acolyte! 

“Ich bin ein Berliner!” (I am a Berliner!) said United States President John F. Kennedy in June 26, 1963, in West Berlin. 

If Nelson Chamisa’s twitter was meant to copy cat of President Kennedy then our Mnangagwa’s acolyte and upstart is really getting dangerously big headed! 

Even with a track record of 20 years and not one change to show for it many Zimbabweans are still to wake up to the political reality of MDC’s betrayal and duplicity. One expects SPD and the rest in the west to be wide awake to this reality. 

One expects the EU, Commonwealth, the Americans, etc. to start turning up the heat on Zanu PF and MDC leaders alike to restore of basic freedoms and rights in Zimbabwe. The two party are separate on paper but as one in fighting to keep the oppressive status quo.

 By A Correspondent- Warriors star and Chinese based striker Nyasha Mushekwi has expressed disappointment with the latest development where ZIMRA officials have requested that the 45 seater bus he donated to his former team CAPS United be taken into their custody while they investigate the duty paid for its entrance into this country.

ZIMRA is reportedly moving towards confiscating the 45-seater luxury coach donated to Caps United FC by Mushekwi.

Said Mushekwi:

“I just heard they (Zimra) are taking the bus, it’s quite disappointing, I don’t understand the situation because they were the ones who told me to pay the duty which I paid for the bus to be cleared to come home.

Now, I’m hearing they are saying the duty I paid wasn’t enough for a bus like the one I brought in and, maybe, they want me to pay more, I don’t really know.

What I can say is that the news is very disappointing, especially after you have done everything to try and help sport in your country, and – for me – it’s like saying in Zimbabwe one can’t do something good and it gets celebrated because this is our country and we are the ones who can make a difference.

It makes you think twice, when such things happen, and you end up asking yourself if this was worth it, at all, or I could have taken whatever money I invested into the project and use it for my personal needs where I would not have to go through all these problems.”

By A Correspondent- A 29 year old man from Bulawayo heaved a sigh of relief after he was acquitted of allegedly having sexual intercourse with a dog at his girlfriend’s house.

It had been alleged that Kingdom Dube from Mbundane suburb had sex with the dog identified as Snoopy.

Dube pleaded not guilty to a bestiality charge before Western Commonage magistrate, Ms Tancy Dube.

The magistrate said the State failed to prove that Dube had sexual intercourse with the dog as the witnesses were drunk and gave contradicting testimonies.

“The court considered evidence that was presented and it’s clear that Dube didn’t commit the alleged offence.

“It was dark and the witness did not clearly see what happened. We can also not rely on the evidence that was given by a drunk person. He’s therefore acquitted and discharged,” ruled magistrate Dube.

Previously, the accused person had told the court that he had gone to look for his girlfriend when her neighbour, Mr Clifford Mangwana and his wife accused him of having sex with the dog.

“I had gone to look for my girlfriend who had promised to change my R20 into bond notes. I was seated down in the yard waiting for her when all of a sudden the complainant came to me and accused me of raping the dog,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on Saturday last week at around 10PM, Mr Mangwana was at his house when his wife told him that there were some movements outside.

“The complainant and his wife both peeped through the window where they saw the accused person kneeling down, half dressed. The accused person was also seen with his organ inserted in the dog’s anus and he was holding the dog tightly,” said the prosecutor.

He said Mr Mangwana went outside and found Dube with his pants down.

Mr Mangwana testified that he caught Dube in act with a dog.

“We both peeped through the window where we saw the accused person kneeling down in my neighbour’s yard with his trousers at knee level and the dog was in between his legs,” he said.

“I asked him what he was doing with the dog and he told me that he was waiting for his girlfriend. To my surprise he did not have a belt on neither did he have his shoes.”

The court heard that Mr Mangwana apprehended him and took him to a police station where he was arrested.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Five people have been confirmed dead while 11 others were injured some of them seriously in a road traffic accident involving a pick up truck and a haulage truck at the intersection of Harare drive and Borrowdale road Thursday morning.

An official from the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the development however referring all questions to Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, who however refused to speak to this reporter arguing that he did not know them.

The confirmation comes following a social media alert urging citizens to confirm the whereabouts of their friends and relatives following the accident which occurred today morning.

The alert claimed that 10 people had died on the spot but the legislator for Harare North, Rusty Markham also posted another alert claiming that an estimated 6 people had died on the spot.

However, Markham said while he did not wish to speculate, the scene that he had witnessed was “dreadful”.

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

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE HONOURABLE KAZEMBE KAZEMBE ON THE CURRENT PASSPORT SITUATION

The Ministry, through the Department of Civil Registry, is responsible for; among others, production and issuance of travel documents including passports.

The Civil Registry Department is experiencing a backlog in the production of passports. The backlog is currently at 359 288 backdating to August 2018.

This is mainly due to the limited availability of foreign currency to procure the required consumables such as ink, films, ribbon and passport paper.

This situation has been exacerbated by the low passport fees being charged by the Department. The Department is charging all its clients in local currency yet consumables for the production of passports are imported and require foreign currency

The Ministry is aware of the high expectation from members of the public for timely provision of service delivery particularly in the areas of issuance of travel documents.

The Ministry is also aware of what citizens are going through especially those living abroad whose passports have expired.

Citizens in the diaspora need to have valid passports in order to regularize their stay in the host countries.

As a way of assisting the Department to attend to requirements for passports by citizens in the diaspora, Government has therefore authorized the Department to charge USD$318 for passports; in respect of those in the diaspora. The applications will be prioritized on an urgent basis.

Further details on the implementation of this decision are being worked out by the Civil Registry Department in consultation with other stakeholders.

I THANK YOU

By A Correspondent- More political parties in the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) are set to join or re-join Zanu PF following in the footsteps of Brian Mteki, the ruling party spokesperson said yesterday.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told journalists after a politburo meeting that the appetite for Polad members to join Zanu PF was high.

“The political commissar (Victor Matemadanda) gave his report where he said there was a groundswell of political parties wanting to rejoin or join Zanu PF. The year 2020 will no doubt be a milestone as the party gathers more strength,” Moyo said.

Among the Polad members are Thokozani Khupe of MDC-T and Lovemore Madhuku who leads the National Constitutional Assembly.

MDC has accused political parties who are in Polad of being Zanu PF appendages, arguing they were not engaged in any meaningful dialogue except agreeing with the ruling party.

The politburo also considered the lands commission report where Zanu PF called for swift action against land barons fingered in the illegal sale of State land.

“Upon receiving the report by the commission of inquiry on the sale of State land in urban areas, the party stands with the majority hence issues like living in squalid conditions with no clean water, sanitation, roads and other social amenities must be addressed,” Moyo said.

“The issue of corruption and land barons must be dealt with and the law must take its course without fear or favour.”

He said the politburo also discussed preparations for the party’s conference which will be officially opened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa tomorrow and closed on Saturday, adding the issues of leadership would not be discussed.

“There is a rumour that is circulating that we are going to Goromonzi for elections. I want to emphasise that the 18th national people’s conference is not a congress,” Moyo said.

“It is, therefore, not elective like any other conference. As per our constitution, it’s only congress that entertains elections.

“Therefore please take note very seriously over this misleading social media report that we are heading to Goromonzi to elect leadership, there is no such thing.”

Mnangagwa said the conference would be used to mobilise Zimbabweans towards economic growth.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Chairperson of Goromonzi Housing Cooperative Consortium and Solomon Mujuru Housing Cooperative, Oswell Ndumo Gwanzura, on Tuesday appeared in court on allegations of defrauding Ruwa homeseekers of US$11 340 and $34 510 by selling land that belonged to someone else.

Gwanzura (77) was facing fraud charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Victoria Mashamba.

He was remanded in custody to Friday next week.

Allegations are that during September 2013, Gwanzura, in a bid to fleece home seekers and working in cahoots with other cooperative members who are still at large, formed Goromonzi Housing Cooperative Consortium encompassing five cooperatives, including his own, Solomon Mujuru Co-operative.

The four other chairpersons — Joicy Chirodza, Charles Humboto, Nelson Mandizvidza and Edward Muzeza — were named in court as accomplices.

The court heard that during the same year, Gwanzura and his accomplices allegedly invited home seekers to join their cooperative upon paying a US$200 joining fee and US$25 monthly subscriptions in cash or bank transfers into Solomon Mujuru Cooperative’s ZB Bank account.

Gwanzura and his accomplices registered their housing cooperative with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives and they applied for land in Solomio in Ruwa to the to the local board which was approved for the purpose of residential stands.

It is alleged that the complainants paid both the deposit and purchase price.

The court heard that in 2015, an order was granted by the High Court to the effect that ZB Bank and Landela Safari (Private) Limited were the legal owners of Lot 199883 subdivision of Galloway Hofmoor Estate measuring 598,096 hectares, with the bank holding 60 percent and the company 40 percent.

Gwanzura and his accomplices were evicted.

It is alleged that regardless of the eviction orders, Gwanzura and his accomplices went on to illegally occupy the open land, subdivided it into residential stands and allocated them to themselves and other cooperative members and further subdivided the already allocated stands to new beneficiaries to the prejudice of the complainants.

The court heard that when Gwanzura and his accomplices were doing this, they allegedly lied to their members that the Ministry of Local Government had already transferred the property into their name.

As a result of this representation, the complainants suffered a total prejudice of US$11 340 and $34 510.

Nothing was recovered.

-StateMedia

Correspondent|Gerald Mlotshwa, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son-in-law has been appointed to the board of Redcliff based coke-making firm, ZimCoke.

Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) deputy governor and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Nicholas Ncube, has been appointed the chairperson. In a statement on Tuesday, Ncube said:

ZimCoke, the recently formed company responsible for the production of Coke and related products in Zimbabwe, has announced the establishment of its first Board of Directors.[These individuals are] prominent Zimbabweans and also include the depth and breadth necessary to help guide and advise the Company as it conducts operations necessary to bring back into production the 160 coke ovens that formerly comprised the Coke Division of Ziscosteel Limited

Besides Mlotshwa and Ncube, the other board members include Philemon Nhachi, Emma Fundira, Eddie Cross, Lillian Mbayiwa, ZimCoke Operations Director Michael Moore and Valentine Mushayakarara.

Mlotshwa was recently appointed the chairperson of the Sports and Recreation Commission while Cross was appointed to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Monetary Policy Committee.

Struggling budget airline FastJet has confirmed it aborted take-off from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday because of LOW FUEL.

Passengers shared their shock on Twitter after pilots on the morning flight to Harare announced that they had been stationary for too long on the runway waiting for permission to take off – and the wait had depleted their fuel.

Passengers accused the airline of “playing with lives” by failing to fuel sufficiently for the flight.

When a passenger on a different flight posted that they finally got a boarding call following lengthy delays, one Twitter user replied: “Pray the aircraft has fuel. A Harare-bound aircraft aborted take-off earlier today on the runaway after it ran out of fuel whilst taxiing!”

Chimed in another: “True story. The plane is FastJet.”

A passenger who was on the Embraer ERJ-145LU aircraft, flying as flight FN8332, told ZimLive they were later made to disembark and return to the terminal after the aborted take-off.

“The plane left its parking bay and went to the taxiway. The pilot came on and told us that we would take off after a plane which was visible to our left had taken off. That plane took-off after a few minutes. Then as we were expecting our turn to take-off, we were then informed that the plane had run out of fuel,” the passenger said, declining to be named.

“We waited another eight minutes for the fuel truck. The refuelling took about three minutes. A bus then turned up and they took us back to the terminal building. We waited there a little while and then they took us back to the plane.”

The passenger said they were concerned for their safety.

“It occurred to us that FastJet cut it a bit too fine on their fuelling. I’ve been on flights where take-off is delayed even for 30 minutes and this is the first time that I’ve heard of a plane running out of fuel on the runway. They’re playing with people’s lives, it’s crazy,” the passenger said.

In a brief statement on Twitter, FastJet said: “Our fuel loading is a controlled process by aircraft type and industry standard. The impact on the fuel requirement was as a result of an extended taxiway delay.”

A ZimLive request for a comment on the safety of its aircraft had not been answered.

Aviation experts say taxiing consumes a large amount of jet fuel, more than when an aircraft is in flight. Fuel consumption is estimated to be as high as 27 percent of total fuel burn for a 90-minute flight where waiting in queue adds to the time on the ground.

Last week, the loss-making airline announced plans to dispose of its Zimbabwean unit. FastJet has already pulled out of Tanzania.

The airline said it is looking to offload the Zimbabwe unit to a consortium led by its major shareholder, Solenta Aviation, for US$8 million.

FastJet said if the restructuring plans do not pan out by the end of February, the Africa-focused company may not be able to continue trading as a going concern.

Persistent volatility and uncertainty in the Zimbabwean market would see the company report a loss after tax of around US$7 million to US$8 million for 2019, compared with a loss of US$ million last year.

— ZimLive

The Ministry, through the Department of Civil Registry, is responsible for; among others, production and issuance of travel documents including passports.

The Civil Registry Department is experiencing a backlog in the production of passports. The backlog is currently at 359 288 backdating to August 2018.

This is mainly due to the limited availability of foreign currency to procure the required consumables such as ink, films, ribbon and passport paper.

This situation has been exacerbated by the low passport fees being charged by the Department. The Department is charging all its clients in local currency yet consumables for the production of passports are imported and require foreign currency

The Ministry is aware of the high expectation from members of the public for timely provision of service delivery particularly in the areas of issuance of travel documents.

The Ministry is also aware of what citizens are going through especially those living abroad whose passports have expired.

Citizens in the diaspora need to have valid passports in order to regularize their stay in the host countries.

As a way of assisting the Department to attend to requirements for passports by citizens in the diaspora, Government has therefore authorized the Department to charge USD$318 for passports; in respect of those in the diaspora. The applications will be prioritized on an urgent basis.

Further details on the implementation of this decision are being worked out by the Civil Registry Department in consultation with other stakeholders.

I THANK YOU

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured South Africans the lights will stay on, even if it means using offshore generators as a last resort.

Load shedding had touched a raw nerve among South Africans, President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his apology to the nation and said Eskom would be keeping the lights on between December 17 and January 13. “Many of our power stations are an average of 37 years old, with some of them being 55 years old,” Ramaphosa said. “The new ones (Kusile and Medupi) are also giving us enormous challenges.” One of the proposals to increase capacity to about 5,000MW “if we are to have the system stabilised” was to have offshore generators. “It will be very expensive but it will…

‌Load shedding had touched a raw nerve among South Africans, President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his apology to the nation and said Eskom would be keeping the lights on between December 17 and January 13.

“Many of our power stations are an average of 37 years old, with some of them being 55 years old,” Ramaphosa said.

“The new ones (Kusile and Medupi) are also giving us enormous challenges.”

One of the proposals to increase capacity to about 5,000MW “if we are to have the system stabilised” was to have offshore generators.

“It will be very expensive but it will be examined,” Ramaphosa said, noting “self-generation” was also an option.

“We have been assured by management they are going to stabilise the system and embark on a recovery plan and that between December 17 leading into January and even beyond that, as we are working on all the requests we have made we will be able to have no load shedding during that period,” Ramaphosa said, noticeably stumbling over the “no load shedding” phrase.

Ramaphosa also said all leave had been cancelled for Eskom employees.

Eskom group executive of generation Bheki Nxumalo said a number of units had been brought back online.

“On top of that, some of our big units which were down for maintenance over July/August will also be coming back,” Nxumalo said.

Koeberg would also be coming back online mid-January, with Nxumalo noting the units which were coming online were highly reliable and “robust”.

Bernard Magoro, general manager for system operations at Eskom, said it was important to note Eskom was still in recovery mode.

“This is why we were able to step down from Stage four [on Tuesday] to stage two [yesterday],” Mogoro said.

On Monday, Magoro said the system should be more stable, with demand dropping over the weekend.

However, Energy Expert Coalition’s Clyde Mallinson despaired at the suggestion of offshore gas generators being used.

“In 2014, the Development Bank of South Africa put out a request for information on how much they should pay people to drop 5,000MW of consumption for 14 hours a day to allow Eskom to undertake deep maintenance,” Mallinson said.

“I proposed that instead of whatever they were thinking of paying people not to use electricity, if they subsidised me I could build 5,000MW of new capacity so that instead of sucking it out of the economy we could put it into the economy.”

Five years later, said Mallinson, and Eskom was looking for 5,000MW again.

“I don’t believe you can bring in gas barges on an emergency basis in under six months unless there’s a couple floating around like floating Ubers,” Mallinson said.

“I’ve heard stories the guys would only come in if they had a five-year contract and were paid around R5 per kilowatt/hour.

“Running the diesel generators costs Eskom around R4/kWh, so Eskom is saving itself R4kWh at the expense of R100kWh to the economy. They don’t have money for diesel so we’re being load shed instead.”

Citizen

State Media|THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has said former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko will only be paid his pension in local currency and should not expect any other benefits.

This follows an application lodged at the High Court by Mr Mphoko, through his lawyer, Mr Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners seeking an order directing the Government, through the PSC, to award him more than US$300 000 in benefits and monthly pension payouts.

In papers before the Bulawayo High Court, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, PSC secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe, Salary Services Bureau (SSB) paymaster and PSC pensions master, K. Makiwa, were cited as respondents.

Mr Mphoko wanted an order declaring the withholding of his pension by the Government illegal and unconstitutional.

He is seeking an order directing the respondents to pay him US$308 000 or the equivalent in local currency at the interbank rate.

In response to Mr Mphoko’s demands, the Government, through the Civil Division in the Attorney-General’s Office, said it will pay his pension in local currency.

The letter, addressed to Mr Ncube, stated that Mr Mphoko will not receive any other benefits that he is claiming.

“We take note of your application filed on 4 October, 2019 and served on the Public Service Commission on 8 October, 2019,” reads part of the letter signed by Ms Rejoice Hove on behalf of the director of the Civil Division.

“However, our client’s attitude on the matter is that they will pay your client pension only as provided for in the Constitution, and no other benefits.

“Furthermore, the payment will be effected in Zimbabwe dollars in accordance with the country’s laws.”

According to the letter, the amount for Mr Mphoko’s pension will be subjected to computation by the Pensions Office in consultation with the SSB.

The AG’s Office indicated that it will file opposing affidavits on behalf of the respondents despite being out of time in terms of High Court Rules.

In his founding affidavit contained in the application, Mr Mphoko said having joined the civil service in October 1981, he was entitled to his benefits and pension.

“This is an application for a declaratur to declare unconstitutional the withholding of my pension by the respondents and for ancillary relief,” he said.

“I joined the civil service in October 1981 and served as an Ambassador of Zimbabwe to various countries.

“On December 10, 2014, I was appointed to the position of Vice President of the country, a position I held until I was removed from office in November 2017.”

Mr Mphoko argued that in terms of section 102(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, he was entitled to a pension which is equivalent to the salary of a sitting Vice President.

“From the time I left office, I have not received a single dime in respect of my pension,” he said.

Mr Mphoko said despite approaching Dr Sibanda to assist him secure his benefits, there has been no joy, prompting him to approach the courts for a declaratur.

He said in the event that salaries are adjusted before the order being sought is granted, the respondents should pay him at the prevailing interbank rate.

State Media|FOUR miners at Esikhoveni Mine in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province, are feared dead after a movable cabin they were working in collapsed and fell into a 62-metre mine shaft on Monday morning.

The incident occurred at around 7.30am and efforts are underway to rescue the quartet named as Andrea Malunga (79), Ashton Shiwilimba (86), Dumisani Sibanda (43) and Tapiwa Moyo (41).

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were working with stakeholders to rescue the four, but there was no geological map of the mine, he said.

The mine is owned by Mr Jan Blighnut and it is an old mine that was run by Germans years ago.

Asst Comm Nyathi said relatives of the four were officially informed.

“Police are still conducting investigations to ascertain what transpired and we are working together with relevant stakeholders,” he said.

In an interview with ZTN, the mine manager, Mr Vessel Mpofu said the four were working inside a shed that was unknowingly established on a disused mine shaft when the structure suddenly collapsed around 7.30am.

“We then informed the police and the Ministry of Mines officials. They came here and we began the search. The search continued until 8pm last night (on Monday night) and we resumed this morning at 7.30am.

“We are, however, experiencing challenges in our rescue efforts,” he said.

He said this is the first time the mine has experienced a major incident since operations commenced in 2002.

Meanwhile, the Civil Protection Department (CPD) has also roped in How Mine’s rescue team and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to assist.

Acting Umzingwane CPD chairperson, Siphathisiwe Mlotshwa said the arrival of an excavator will see the start of the rescue mission, despite persistent rains. Workers at Esikhoveni Mine were due to close for the festive holidays yesterday.

Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has filed an urgent application at the High Court seeking an order against some members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) who allegedly evicted his workers from Karoi Country Club.

In his application filed at the court on Tuesday, Mliswa, who is the chairman of the club, cited Joseph Serima Manjengwe, Alick Chingodza, Life Magedi and Bridget Chingodza as respondents.

He argues that the war veterans on November 29 this year allegedly took the law into their own hands by forcibly occupying the premises, changed locks and evicted his employees without a court order.

They indicated that the war veterans’ association had been given a permit by Karoi Town Council to use the country club for youth projects but no proof of such authority was exhibited to any of the country club’s employees who were present.

Mliswa wants a court order for the youths to vacate the premises and be banned from interfering with the running of the club.

He argues that the case must be treated urgently on the grounds that he and his workers had been evicted from the club premises and their property was still on the premises amidst threats that it would be destroyed.
The case is yet to be heard.State media