The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Black Market Rates:
More: marketwatch.co.zw
Zimbabwe’s former vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko has dragged his lawyer, MDC Alliance deputy president Prof Welshman Ncube, to court.
Mphoko is suing Ncube for allegedly “neglecting” to transfer more than $1.4m (R20.7m), part of an amount awarded to Mphoko and his son Siqokoqela after a protracted ownership battle for retailer Choppies Enterprises Ltd.
He and his son sold their shares in the supermarket giant’s Zimbabwean entity, allegedly for $2.9m (R43m), in a deal finalised in January this year.
Business Day reported that the dispute arose when the Mphokos and Choppies – which operates 212 stores in SA, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe – fell out over the size of their holding in Nanavac Investments, a Choppies subsidiary in Zimbabwe.
The Mphokos claimed they were 51% shareholders, but Choppies said they had only a 7% stake. The matter was taken to the Zimbabwean high court but was resolved out of court.
In their suit, the Mphokos argue that since the deal’s conclusion, the former vice-president has received $517,500 (R7.7m), while his son got $730,219 (R10.8m) – leaving a balance of about $1.4m, which they claim is being held by their estranged lawyer Ncube.
“Despite demand, the defendant [Ncube] has failed, neglected and/or refused to pay the aforesaid balances of $832,500 [R12.3m] to the first plaintiff [Phelekezela Mphoko] and $619,708.50 [R9.2m] for the second plaintiff [Siqokoqela Mphoko],” reads the summons.
Ncube is yet to respond to the summons, which also demands that he pays “5% [interest] per annum from January 16 2019 to the date of payment in full.”
By A Correspondent- A group of touts and cross border transport operators has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a Zupco bus driver.
Philani Nkala (32), Fredrick Moyo (30), Clifford Chirwa (30) all from Gwanda and Blessmore Dube (26), Mandla Moyo (24), Mduduzi Moyo (39) and Lancelot Moyo (23) from Bulawayo were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda, facing public violence charges. They were granted $300 bail to December 20 on condition that they stay at their given addresses, do not interfere with State witnesses and report once every Friday at police stations near them. In addition Chirwa, Dube, Mandla, Mduduzi and Lancelot were ordered to surrender their passports as they are cross-border transport operators.
Representing the State, Miss Glenda Nare who opposed bail said the accused persons were facing a serious offence and since some were cross-border transport operators, they could skip the country.
She said the gang assaulted Mr Justice Sanya on December 4 after they found him parked at Engen Garage in Gwanda where he was loading passengers that were going to Beitbridge.
Miss Nare said the accused persons ganged up against Mr Sanya and kicked and punched him several times. She said they dragged him into the Gwanda-Beitbridge Highway and further assaulted him. Miss Nare said the accused persons further uttered sentiments that “This Mnangagwa Zanu-PF bus must be set on fire”
She said the accused persons stopped assaulting Mr Sanya after they saw a haulage truck approaching.
-StateMedia
By Patrick Guramatunhu| Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation has had the undesirable effect of causing some people to panic and, as we all know desperate people do desperate things. The same irrational arguments are finding their way back and are gaining traction!
“AS the year draws to an end, it has become obvious to millions of Zimbabweans that the prospect of a broad-based, credible dialogue process are fading, further threatening the country’s desperately needed socio-economic recovery,” wrote Faith Zaba in The Independent.
“Over the past year, efforts at dialogue backed by the churches, civic society and other interest groups, aimed at bringing Zimbabwe’s key political players together have yielded minimum results.
“The Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) process launched in May 2019 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to which political parties were invited to participate, has one fundamental weakness, it does not include the main opposition political party, the MDC Alliance.”
Faith, like so many others before you and to come after you (we have not heard the last on this), you are proposing “broad-based, credible dialogue” which will include Chamisa and his MDC party. We already know that Chamisa wants the dialogue to conclude with the formation of the National Transition Authority (NTA). , watered down version of the 2008 to 2013 GNU to you and me.
Chamisa insists the NTA will implement “the comprehensive democratic reforms necessary to guarantee free, fair and credible elections”. Whilst everyone agrees the reforms are vital to getting the nation out of this death-trap of rigged elections and bad governance. It is not obvious to main people is that the NTA will never get the reforms implemented because it is a watered down version of the 2008 to 2013 GNU which failed to get even one reform implemented. Not one!
In her article, Faith did not acknowledge the failures of the last GNU or the shortcomings of the NTA.
What Zimbabwe needs is an arrangement that will get the reforms implemented and that is only possible if Zanu PF is forced to step down. The political dialogue we want must be acknowledge that Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections, the regime is illegitimate; that is the only way the party can be forced to step down.
Besides, the problem of Zanu PF rigging elections is at the very heart of this economic and political nightmare and anyone who thinks we can ever end this nightmare without tackling this problem of rigged elections is naive, to say the least. Zimbabwe is in this mess because the country was stuck for the last 39 years with this corrupt, incompetent and murderous Zanu PF dictatorship.
The party rigged elections to stay in power and, for our sins, pretended not to notice the vote rigging we did not want to face to the Zanu PF thugs and tell them they had no mandate and must step down. It was a foolish thing to do because the consequences of 39 years of Zanu PF misrule are the economic meltdown and the tragic human suffering and deaths we see in Zimbabwe today.
The political dialogue that you, Faith and many others out there, have been clamouring will involve Zanu PF as the key political player and will only seek to grant legitimacy to the party. This is just another way of appeasing the Zanu PF thugs. And this is exactly what we have done for the last 39 years, it has not worked all these years and it is insane to continue down this path. Insane.
A recent World Bank 2019 Report said 34% or 5.7 million of our people now live in “extreme poverty” up from 29% or 4.7 million in 2018. Many of our hospitals have all but closed for lack of doctors, nurses, medicine, electricity you name it. All this because for the last 39 years we would not confront the Zanu PF thugs with the truth of rigging the elections. We must deal with this curse of rigged elections now and not bury our heads in the sand; not when the price of such foolishness is heart breaking human misery and death and the stability of the nation.
Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections, the regime is illegitimate and not just Mnangagwa, and must step down. This will allow the nation the political space to appoint an interim administration that can be entrusted the task of implemented the reforms and holding free, fair and credible elections. Neither Zanu PF nor MDC leaders can appointed into the interim administration because they failed to get even one reform implemented during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Zimbabwe cannot afford to waste this chance.
If Zanu PF is allow to stay in office till 2023 then this will be judge yet another national failure. For we can be 100% certain that Zanu PF will see to it that no meaningful reforms are implemented and the party will go on to rig that year’s elections and drag the nation even deeper into this hell-on-earth the party has landed us in. And we, the people, would have allowed this to happen, in our desperate effort to end the economic meltdown we have become insane and made things worse not better.
SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com
By A Correspondent= A group of doctors at the public health institutions have split from the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) and Senior Hospital Doctors Association( SHDA) to form a rival union called the Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ).
According to prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, the new union a puppet doctors’ Association of the government.
Below is a statement issued by PDAZ ahead of its launch:
Update: PDAZ Official Launch, 13/12/19
Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe is pleased to announce its official launch that is set for Friday 13th December 2019, the program starts at 1700hrs.
The much-awaited PDAZ launch will be held at Cresta Lodge in Harare. Various development partners and representatives from government ministries of note Min. of Health and Finance Ministry shall be present.
An interim committee will be officially announced at the launch and the PDAZ President is expected to deliver a speech that will be addressing a number of issues particularly the doctor’s incapacitation and way forward.
Medical professionals from all over the country are all invited to this historic event where they will get a chance to hear firsthand of the offer that PDAZ is promising to broker for them in ending the ongoing impasse.
Transport, accommodation and other itineraries will be arranged for those travelling from Bulawayo and Gweru to Harare.
Transport is also available from the CBD to the venue. All are welcome for the launch. Let us turn up in our numbers. Those interested in attending the launch both in Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo should contact us on our WhatsApp numbers: (+263737983861/+263 77 474 2246/ +263779513264)
By A Correspondent- Tendai Chirau, the Zanu PF Secretary for Administration survived a tragic road accident Tuesday night after he was involved in a head on collision.
Chirau said a vehicle which had no lights and carrying petrol encroached into his lane resulting in the accident which left him nursing head injuries.
He said:
“Cadres, I was involved in an accident. I am however safe. It was a head on. A vehicle which had no lights encroached my lane.
“The other vehicle had two drums full of petrol and some containers…I don’t know what could have happened if paita moto. It’s the Lord Almighty who saved me. I am short of words.”
Last year around this time ZANU PF Secretary for Youth Affairs Pupurai Togarepi was involved in an accident on his way to a ZANU PF Conference.
By Wilbert Mukori| “Behind-the-scenes and indirect ‘talks about the talks’ appear to be gathering pace with Chamisa now saying that he will accept mediation by “neutral” locals,” reported Dailynews.
“MDC spokesperson Daniel Molokele said at the weekend that the party would be comfortable with an independent judge or clergyman mediating the mooted dialogue.”
The root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown and political paralysis (the nation has been drifting like a log in a flooded Zambezi River with no one in control for decades) is the country’s failure to hold free, fair and credible elections. The curse of rigged elections is the elephant in the room that the nation has ignored for the last 39 years.
During the 2008 to 2013 GNU, SADC leaders made a determined effort to deal with Zimbabwe’s problem of rigged elections. They managed to get Robert Mugabe to agree to a raft of democratic reforms designed to dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship and end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance. SADC leaders entrusted Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends to implement the democratic reforms.
Mugabe bribe the MDC leaders with ministerial limos, generous salaries, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc., etc. And with the snout in the feeding tough, MDC leaders forgot to implement the reforms. Not even one reform was implemented in five years. Not one!
SADC leaders made one more determined effort to get MDC leaders to postpone the elections until reforms are implemented.
“In 2013 the (SADC) Maputo Summit, in June 2013, before the elections, the Maputo Summit was all about having the elections postponed,” Dr Ibbo Mandaza, Director of the think tank SAPES Trust, told Violet Gonda.
“I was there at the Summit and Mugabe pretended to agree to a postponement of the elections. If you recall, the postponement was based on the need to reform at least electoral laws.
“After that Summit, Morgan Tsvangirai, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, all of them were called to a separate meeting by the Heads of State of SADC in the absence of Mugabe, that same evening. And they were told; I was sitting there outside the room with Mac Maharaj; they were told ‘if you go into elections next month, you are going to lose; the elections are done’.”
Sadly, SADC leaders’ stern warning fell on deaf MDC ears! The 2013 elections were not postponed and Zanu PF went on to blatantly rig them, as SADC leaders had predicted.
If both sides wanted the elections to go ahead regardless of the flaws and illegalities, there was nothing SADC leaders could do but accept that reality. They judge Zanu PF the winner of the flawed and illegal 2013 and 2018 elections, a subtle and mooted point that Zanu PF leaders has ignored, naturally.
Still, SADC leaders know last year’s elections were rigged and, more significantly, they know nothing of substance can ever be accomplished in Zimbabwe until the curse of rigged elections in dealt with. SADC leaders will therefore agree to mediate in the Zimbabwe crisis again on one condition; there are cast iron guarantees that the democratic reforms will be fully implemented this time.
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF friends know SADC will insist on having the democratic reforms implemented and hence the reason the party is standing its ground and refusing outside mediators. It appears MDC is giving in on this point, not that Chamisa was ever interested in getting the reforms implemented; MDC lost they golden opportunity to do this during the 2008 GNU. All MDC leaders want is a chance to get back on the gravy train and the feeding trough.
What Mnangagwa and Chamisa must know is their political dialogue will be judged a waste of time and opportunity if it does not resolve the curse of rigged elections and bad governance! Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown has reached crisis point, the nation wants a solution to rigged elections and not another gimmick!
Any political solution that does not include the implementation of the democratic reforms and guarantee free, fair and credible elections is as futile fixing everything on the car as good as new but would not do anything to seized engine. A car with a seized engine will go nowhere!
SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com
The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Black Market Rates:
More: marketwatch.co.zw
By Wilbert Mukori| I readily confess that I was one of the people who held Professor Jonathan Moyo in high regard as a brilliant intellectual with impeccable moral ethics. That was in the late 1980s and early 1990s; when he was a lecturer at UZ.
The late Robert Mugabe was a corrupt, incompetent, control freak and murderous dictator; it sickened me that anyone with half a brain would ever work for such a tyrant. Moyo join Mugabe’s government and became the tyrant’s answer to Adolf Hitler’s Paul Joseph Goebbels.
In 2014, in a moment of uncontrolled anger and exasperation, Mugabe called Professor Moyo “a weasel, devil incarnate who was destroying Zanu PF from within”. Still the tyrant could not fire his chief propagandist and strategist; there is no doubt the weasel had the tyrant by the family jewels!
In the November 2017 military coup that ousted Mugabe ending his 37 years of corrupt and murderous reign of terror; Professor Moyo was one of Mugabe’s ministers the coup plotters wanted killed. Moyo escaped and has been live in exile in Kenya.
People had hoped that Professor Moyo would use his time in hiding for thoughtful reflection and soul searching. Sadly, that has not happen judging from the foolish tweets from him!
“I know comprehension maybe a challenge. Still the statement is a fact: ZANU PF will never reform itself out of power. And because ZANU PF is JOC (Joint Operation Command), the statement is not a joke. That’s why dealing with Zanu PF requires not reforms, but a revolution!” Twittered Professor Moyo!
Rubbish!
Yes, Zanu PF will never reforms itself out of power and it is true that the party relies on JOC (junta comprising the top brass in the Police, Army, CIO and Prison Services plus a select few from the ruling party) to remain in power. What is rubbish is the suggestion that the country needs another revolution to remove Zanu PF from office.
Remember Zanu PF itself is the product of the revolution to end white colonial rule. All that was accomplished was remove colonial oppressors but only to replace them with indigenous black oppressors who, in addition, have turned out to be corrupt and incompetent to boot. There is every reason to believe another revolution will not do any better.
No one with half a brain would expect Zanu PF thugs to reform themselves our of power especially now that they are all punch drunk and addicted to absolute power, have so much loot to protect and have so many skeletons to keep under wraps!
Of all people Professor Moyo knows that the Zanu PF dictatorship would have ended if Morgan Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC village idiots had implemented the democratic reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. He was the one sitting to the then Minister of Justice, Patrick Chinamasa, in June 2013 when latter boasted that MDC had failed to submit even one proposed reforms in five years. He understood the full import of that statement!
“There is a very primitive narrative and mob psychology in Zanu PF that says we will not reform ourselves out of power, they are not worried about getting back into the Commonwealth or serious reengagement.” added Walter Mzembi, another former Mugabe minister now living in exile in SA.
This is more like Zanu PF mob psychosis!
When Mnangagwa and his JOC thugs staged the November 2017 military coup, they dubbed it “Operation restore legacy!” To those who did not know what this legacy was, Mnangagwa answered that in his first speech after Mugabe resigned.
“Zanu PF ichatonga! Igotonga! Imi muchingohukura! Nokuhukura!” (Zanu PF will rule! And rule! Whilst you (calling for democratic reforms) bark! And bark!) Mnangagwa announced to the thunderous applause from Zanu PF members!
It is all about absolute power, for Zanu PF; nothing else matters. The regime has ridden roughshod over the people denying them their freedoms and rights, including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country and not even the right to life!
Mnangagwa and company went on to consolidate their November coup strangle hold on absolute power by blatantly rigging the 2018 elections.
Mnangagwa and company’s legacy would have crashed there and then if it the corrupt and incompetent MDC sell-outs had heeded the warning and not participated in the flawed and illegal elections until reforms were implemented. By participating the opposition gave the rigged elections some modicum of credibility.
The majority in international community including the Commonwealth condemned the elections as a farce regardless of the discredited opposition’s participating.
By failing to end the scourge of corruption, to hold free and fair elections, etc. Mnangagwa has confirmed that Zimbabwe is still a pariah state. His much publicised mantra, “Zimbabwe is open for business!” has failed to attract any investors because it is notoriously difficult to do business in a pariah state.
As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state there will be no meaningful economic recovery. The country’s economic meltdown has forced unemployment to soar to 90%, WB reported that 34% of our people now live in extreme poverty, the country hospitals have all but closed, etc., etc.
This is economically unjustified since Zimbabwe is a rich country and the economic meltdown is a man-made problem, decades of bad governance. This is socially, politically and morally unsustainable.
Like it or not Zanu PF’s iron grip on power is slipping because of the twin pressure of the economic meltdown and a nation sick and tired of rigged elections. The only reason why Mnangagwa and company have failed to see the writing on the wall that change is coming upon us is because their minds is a fog. Comprehension is a challenge when you are drunk, this will not stop change coming.
Whilst the nation has remained peaceful this long in the hope the fog will clear; time is running out, the possibility of a violent revolution now loom large. A bullet in the head is known to clear even the thickest of fogs or be it that many innocent people suffer and die too!
No individual or group can ever hold a nation to ransom for long; Zanu PF has held this nation to ransom for four decades. Enough is enough!
SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com
Paul Nyathi|State media on Wednesday blasted international and independent media for exposing that the mighty Victoria Falls are as good as dry.
Fine, the falls may not have completely dried off but they have turned into a pale shadow of themselves, from majestic waterfalls to a trickle.
The Zambezi River Authority revealed data that showed that water flow is at its lowest since 1995, and well under the long-term average.
Watch video below.
Correspondent|A mental inmate at Chikurubhi Maximum Prison has appeared before the court for allegedly killing a fellow inmate with a metal hoe.
The accused, Rifias Mhandiko who was already serving a sentence for two counts of murder at Chikurubhi Prison’s Psychiatric Hospital is said to have sneaked in a metal hoe into the cells which he later used to kill Tapiwa Alhwise Nduna.
The court heard that Mhandiko was working in the stores office where he took a hoe and wrapped it with a blanket before sneaking it into the cells.
At around 2100 hours, Mhandiko woke up other inmates and ordered them to cover their faces and remain quiet before he stroke Nduna with the hoe several times in the head.
He then threatened other prisoners against telling authorities about the matter before tying the now deceased’s legs using a rope.
Postmortem results revealed that the Nduna died due to brain injury, multiple skull bones fracture and severe head trauma.
The case was remanded to the 23rd of December.
A 57-year-old man has appeared in court accused of stealing equipment from the late former President Robert Mugabe’s farm.
Maxwell Sunhwa, farm manager at Kaseplan Farm, Pomona, pleaded not guilty when he appeared before magistrate Yeukai Nzuda and the matter was remanded to December 17.
The state led by Stylon Marufu heard that on November 2 at around 8.30pm Maxwell Muranganwa who is head of the security at Gushungo Holdings, received a phone call from a source informing him that Sunhwa came at the farm with a truck which had no lights on and was fully loaded with agricultural equipment from the farm.
Muranganwa then asked some of his security team to follow the truck so as to find out who was driving and who had stolen from the farm.
The security guards managed to stop the truck near Hatcliff and managed to identify the culprit, Sunhwa.
Muranganwa recovered a Ford tractor engine, starter, pan disc bar, tractor lurb, chain block, charlocks, 8x8m galvanised pipes, 9xcorner poster of security wire, 3x 32mm rolls of mosh wire and 14 iron sheet roofing material.
The state led evidence from Muranganwa, complainant, who told the court that Sunhwa had once come to give them advice on building fowl runs.
“He came and advised us to build more fowl runs and even showed us some of the project that he was working on at his farm.
“We even built some of the fowl runs together, I don’t know how he stole from us,” he said. H-Metro
Own Correspondent |A bus carrying passengers to Zimbabwe has this morning caught fire on the packed N1 north highway in Johannesburg near William Nicol Drive.
Sources at the scene claim that the bus was travelling from Cape Town to Zimbabwe.
Pictures of passengers escaping through the windows have been widely circulated on social media.
There have been no injuries reported so far but only the luggage has been burning, the sources said.
This is a developing story
Highlanders FC coach Hendrik De Jongh has made it clear he’d love to take Bosso to the CAF Confederation Cup.
The 2019 Chibuku Cup champions sealed CAFCC progression but the taking the decision to partake in the tournament lies with the club’s financial resources and final call.
Reports around Zimbabwe have been made to believe that the club’s hierarchy wants to pass on the event.
“I’m a coach with a lot of experience, I have worked in several countries. It’s not my decision to say we are going to Africa, but it comes from the board,” de Jongh told journalists.
The Dutchman also took the moment to highlight his past experience on the continent with Kenyan giants AFC Leopards and Rwanda’s national side. “As a coach it’s normal because you want to work at the highest platform. I did that in Kenya (with AFC Leopards) and Rwanda as the F.A’s technical director,” added De Jongh.
Paul Nyathi|The powerful Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association has split following the formatting of the Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe (PDAZ).
The new Association which is believed to be linked to ZANU PF will be launched on Friday in Harare.
Below is a statement issued by PDAZ ahead of its launch:
Update: PDAZ Official Launch, 13/12/19
Progressive Doctors Association of Zimbabwe is pleased to announce its official launch that is set for Friday 13th December 2019, the program starts at 1700hrs.
The much-awaited PDAZ launch will be held at Cresta Lodge in Harare. Various development partners and representatives from government ministries of note Min. of Health and Finance Ministry shall be present.
An interim committee will be officially announced at the launch and the PDAZ President is expected to deliver a speech that will be addressing a number of issues particularly the doctor’s incapacitation and way forward.
Medical professionals from all over the country are all invited to this historic event where they will get a chance to hear firsthand of the offer that PDAZ is promising to broker for them in ending the ongoing impasse.
Transport, accommodation and other itineraries will be arranged for those travelling from Bulawayo and Gweru to Harare.
Transport is also available from the CBD to the venue. All are welcome for the launch. Let us turn up in our numbers. Those interested in attending the launch both in Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo should contact us on our WhatsApp numbers: (+263737983861/+263 77 474 2246/ +263779513264)
POLICE and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) are investigating the theft of a car from a Customs and Excise Transit Shed owned by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi’s company at the Beitbridge Border Post.
A Mercedes Benz ML63AMG Station Wagon, which was under seizure, was stolen on December 3, 2019 from Mohadi’s Malindi Transit Shed, prejudicing the government of about US$8 000 in duty and storage.
It later turned out that the car had been stolen from South Africa.
The “thieves” followed up the car and had the chance to prepare a makeshift road and drive the car through a gate.
The “thieves” accessed the keys kept by Zimra and those of the gate which were being kept by guards and operators of the Malindi Transit Shed.
Security sources said the “thief” could be within the structures of Malindi Transit Shed.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele yesterday said no arrests had been made yet.
“I’m not in the office to give you details of the progress of our investigations,” he said.
Zimra spokesperson Francis Chimanda said appropriate action would be taken after investigations.
“The matter is still under investigation and the course of action that will be taken by the authority will be guided by the outcome of the investigations,” Chimanda said.
“The vehicle was South African registered, which had been reported stolen in South Africa.
According to the registration book, the registration number for the vehicle is HZB884MP,” he said.
Chimanda said there was nothing sinister about the vehicle having been at Malindi Transit Shed.
“Yes, these vehicles can be allowed in transit sheds depending on the circumstances of their importation,” he said.
He was, however, hazy on what constitutes a violation of conditions under which licences for transit sheds are issued.
He said the exact details of any violations could only be established upon completion of on-going investigations.
A number of cars have previously left unaccounted for at the Malindi Transit Shed.
In 2017, a Toyota Prado was recovered by police at Bubi Checkpoint after mysteriously exiting the transit shed where vehicles are held pending finalisation of customs and excise formalities.
Two other Mercedes Benz sedan cars were recovered by Masvingo Zimra officials who discovered that they had left without paying duty.
That discovery led to investigations that resulted in the recalling of 433 cars believed to have been smuggled mostly through Beitbridge and Plumtree.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has been roped into the wide-ranging investigations that have resulted in the arrest of several Zimra officers. One officer is known to have cleared 183 cars duty free, taking advantage of a flawed system.
NewsDay
Correspondent|One Dr David Mukwekwezeke of Marondera Provincial Hospital has resigned from his post with immediate effect.
In a letter addressed to the Medical Superintendent Marondera Provincial Hospital, the Provincial Medical Director, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Childcare, Dr Mukwekwezeke said he was resigning due to a plethora of adverse working conditions. Below is the resignation letter:
TO: THE MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT MARONDERA PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL
Cc: THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR MASHONALAND EAST
Всс: THE PERMANENT SECRETARY MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE
DATE:10 DECEMBER 2019
REF: RESIGNATION WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
I am hereby tendering my resignation from my post at Marondera Provincial Hospital with immediate effect due to a plethora of adverse working conditions.
Dr David TC Mukwekwezeke
Pindula
IOL|The chief of the South African army, lieutenant-general Thabiso Collin Mokhosi, died on Tuesday morning at Unitas Hospital following a short illness.
Mokhosi was promoted to the position on November 1.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said via a media statement that further information would be communicated in due course, and that condolences were extended to Mokhosi’s family by the ministry of defence and the entire military command council.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the family and friends of Chief of the South African Army Lieutenant General Thabiso Mokhosi, who died on Tuesday morning at Unitas Hospital following a short illness.
Lieutenant General Mokhosi was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, allowing him to fill the post of Chief of the Army in October 2019.
Prior to his appointment, he served as the General Officer Commanding of Joint Operations Division.
“The President has said the passing of Lieutenant General Mokhosi is a heart wrenching loss to the South African National Defence Force as it comes at a time when his dedicated and exemplary service was needed most. The President has also extended his condolences to the South African Army and the Defence family as a whole,” said the Presidency in a statement.
Lieutenant General Mokhosi completed his basic military training in 1985 in Angola. He later completed the ASC-6 course in operational logistics at ASC School in Bareilly, Italy in 1992 before returning to South Africa.
Mokhosi also completed the Joint Command Staff Duties programme at the SA Army College and the Joint Senior Command and Staff programme in 2003 at the SA War College as well as the International Security and Strategy course in 2010 at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.
OVER 70 000 prospective Form One pupils are likely to be left stranded after 100 000 applied for boarding places, yet only 24 000 places are available.
In a statement, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said pupils who will not make it into boarding schools must accept it and be enrolled into day schools in their communities.
“The nation has 24 000 boarding places. We estimate that about 100 000 learners are seeking boarding places. Those who will not be successful in securing boarding places will, therefore, be accommodated at day schools in their school zones,” he said.
Some parents said they found the process of securing places confusing as they are yet to get used to the e-application system. Others said the online application was elitist as it left out brilliant pupils from rural schools, and pupils with computer-illiterate parents.
“Some deserving pupils are in rural areas and can afford boarding school fees, but stay with parents or relatives who are not tech savvy and may be unable to go through the cumbersome application process. Some children may not have access to the internet due to their location, especially in rural communities. Government must make provision to make this application system fair and equal for all prospective Form Ones,” said Mrs Concillia Ndlovu from Njube suburb.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Bulawayo provincial education director Mrs Olicah Khaira said securing Form One places had become a challenge and urged parents to desist from double booking Form One places at different schools.
Government came up with an electronic application system for Form One boarding places in 2017 as part of a raft of measures to fight corruption that for a long time saw many intelligent children from disadvantaged backgrounds being sidelined.
For the application process, parents are required to complete an electronic form specifying five schools of their choice.
The form would then be forwarded to the relevant schools and parents would get feedback via an SMS on the outcome of their application by December 19.
Media Statement|The Zimbabwe Community South Africa takes note of the USD318 passport fee prescription by the Zimbabwean government as announced by the minister of Home Affairs Kazembe Kazembe.
The Zimbabwe Community in South Africa is deeply shocked and concerned at this exorbitant price!
It is common knowledge that many of our diasporan community here in South Africa work menial and low paying jobs as maids, waiters, construction workers, security guards and so on. To set such a steep price for passport applications at time when thousands of Zimbabweans who received their passports in 2010 to apply for special permits are set to expire reeks of an uncaring and inhumane government.
This will affect thousands of Zimbabweans in South Africa who will fail to renew their passports as the discussion with the South African government on the future of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit is underway. Secondly, if the proposals contained in the South African White Paper with respect to issuing of SADC Work Visa is incorporated into the South African immigration law, thousands of Zimbabweans who are meant to benefit are likely to miss out on regularizing their stay in South Africa. A responsible and caring government would charge reasonable passport fees in foreign currency.
At today’s ZAR to USD exchange rate, the fee is set at R4 655.85 which is even way beyond some of the salaries and wages earned by struggling Zimbabwean workers monthly. Compared to the South African passport fee equivalent – which is R400 with a maximum of R800 for a lost passport, we fail to understand the R4255.85 which is a 1063.96% difference!
While the ministry promises to expedite the application process, we have reliable information these processes are still being setup and we would like it to be known that we cannot applaud the government for doing what it should have been doing in the first place. We have made numerous requests that the Zimbabwean Community in South Africa be able to submit and process applications for any relevant documents from the Embassy/Consulate with easy of access of all provisions (photocopying, scanning, electronic fingerprints, photos). Granting this request is not a favor to the diaspora community which makes a lot of remittances back home in Zimbabwe to keep thousands of our relatives and family surviving the dire economic hardships.
We call on the ministry to urgently review these exorbitant fees to enable our struggling community to renew for their passports so as to manage to keep their stay in South Africa regularized.
Former cabinet minister and ZANU PF deputy secretary for finance, Tshinga Dube, has blamed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government for the death of at least six people in Harare, who were gunned down by security forces last August following public protests over delays by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in announcing presidential election results.
Writing in his newly-released book titled ‘Quite Flows The Zambezi’, Dube, who described the shootings as “unfortunate”, said the incident could have been avoided.
“… Then came the incident on 1 August 2019 when the people resorted to demonstrations on the streets. The response, an unfortunate one, to use live bullets with the result that there were casualties. That could have been avoided,” reads part of the book, which focuses on the former ZIPRA combatant’s life during and after the liberation war of the 1960s.
The former Makokoba Member of Parliament chided the Mnangagwa government, which is desperate for reengagement with the international community, for failing to follow international standards of dealing with protesters.
He said, “Surely, similar things do happen in other countries but the way they respond is different from our way which is now costing us in terms of perceptions of our country and whether really there has been a break with the past.
“What, I may ask, is new about the new dispensation? It makes it difficult to convince other countries that indeed we are in a new dispensation that warrants different treatment. We are seeing draconian measures being resorted to once again.”
Dube also criticized the government’s failure to address the concerns of health workers, including junior doctors, who went on strike in September this year demanding salary increases and improved working conditions.
“We have without doubt retrogressed. Some decisions that we took were not in the interests of the country. Firing the striking nurses and threatening doctors are two cases in point.”
There was no immediate reaction from presidential spokesperson George Charamba, Information Secretary Nick Mangwana and Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo as they were not responding to calls on their mobile phones.
Thousands of people staged public protests last year over delayed presidential election results resulting in the Zimbabwe Defence Force opening fire on unarmed civilians.
Most of the people who were gunned down were individuals conducting their own business in Harare. A commission of inquiry led by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe blamed the government for killing the civilians and urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to compensate relatives of the victims of the shootings.
The government has not yet compensated relatives of the victims.
The Electoral Court declared Mnangagwa winner of the 2018 presidential election after opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa cried foul over the results of the poll.
State Media|THE High Court has quashed both conviction and sentence against Bulawayo City Council (BCC) which was fined $600 for culpable homicide when a 15-year-old boy drowned after he slipped and fell into a pit in Pumula South suburb.
The pit was dug up in 1995 by council to extract gravel for road repairs and maintenance and over the years, it collected water during the rainy season.
The ruling by Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Martin Makonese, who was sitting with Justice Maxwell Takuva during a criminal appeals court, follows an application by BCC challenging its conviction and sentence by a Bulawayo magistrate.
In papers before the court, BCC is the appellant while the State represented by Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was cited as a respondent.
BCC was last year convicted of culpable homicide and fined $600. This was after the 15-year-old boy from Pumula South suburb drowned in January 2017 in a pool of water at the council’s landfill site adjacent to Entembeni Road in Pumula South.
Justice Makonese ruled that BCC could not be held liable for the death of the boy arguing that there was an act of negligence on his part.
“It was not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the negligence of the appellant was the proximate cause of the death of the victim. However, on the facts of this matter, the State did not prove factual and legal causation. Accordingly, I would allow the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence,” he ruled.
“Criminal liability can only be attributed to a person where that person’s conduct or lack of it is deemed to have been causative of that outcome. I am satisfied that in the present case, the appellant demonstrated its reasonableness by putting up a warning sign.
“The proximate cause of the death of the deceased in this matter was his voluntary act of stepping into the water when it was not safe to do so.”
Justice Makonese, however, urged BCC to take urgent steps to rehabilitate the gravel pits and prevent further deaths from occurring since they are close to residential areas.
State Media|African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) has allayed fears over the potential drying up of the Victoria Falls.
ATTA, in a statement, also criticised what it described as “sensational” recent media reports for lacking an appreciation of historical seasonal patterns and changes in the water flow and its levels.
Confusion had gripped the travel and tourism industry at home and abroad following a BBC report on effects of climate change and its impact on the falling water levels in Victoria Falls. The report sparked widespread debate as sceptical opinion leaders and some tour operators turned political and sought to manipulate the scenario in a bid to project a bad image about the country.
This is despite insights by climate change experts and explanations from tourism industry stakeholders whose businesses stand to be negatively affected by the biased reports.
“There has recently been a number of media and news organisations around the world reporting about Victoria Falls potentially drying up. Whilst we are cognisant that climate change is a growing concern on a global level, and that it is potentially having an impact on countries throughout the world, what has been lacking in the media reports is an insight into the historic seasonal patterns and the resultant changes in water flow, which are vital pieces of information to ensure a clear perspective is maintained,” said ATTA in the statement.
“The seasonal rise and fall of the Zambezi River changes the look of Victoria Falls on a daily basis. The western side of the falls is lower than the eastern side and, therefore, carries the most water all year round. “This fluctuation is less noticeable at Devil’s cataract and the Main Falls. From Livingstone Islands onwards, this ebb and flow becomes more apparent and at low water, this portion of the Falls dries up almost completely.”
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) spokesperson, Mr Godfrey Koti, weighed in saying the authority was disturbed by negative publicity around the Falls over the climate change dilemma, which is not peculiar to Zimbabwe. “As the authority we would like to put it on record that the Falls are not dry at all. We acknowledge there is an issue to do with climate, which needs attention of the world because it is a global phenomenon and not peculiar to Victoria Falls. We are coming out strongly against this bad publicity that has befallen our premier tourism product and assuring stakeholders that there is nothing as spectacular as the Victoria Falls,” said Mr Koti.
“Those who want to visit should know the Falls are still intact and this has not yet impacted on current business season although it has a strong possibility of giving us problems in the future.”
He said the flow of the water through the Falls varies throughout the year with the highest level being seen around April to June and lowest from October to December. This is influenced by the rains in the catchment area of the river, slightly above the northern-western Zambia, Angola and DRC, Mr Koti added.
ATTA further stated that it has engaged various stakeholders based in Zimbabwe seeking clarification around the concerned reports, which it described as “sensational”. It noted that historical data provided by the Zambezi River Authority, which monitors the water level flows in the region daily, provide evidence that the annual mean water levels of the river have in fact been lower in at least six prior examples of a period spanning 1914 to the current date period.
“Whilst Zimbabwe has indeed experienced an extensive drought over the course of this year, the water levels of the Zambezi and indeed the flow levels over Victoria Falls, have remained above those recorded over the drought period of 95/96,” said ATTA.
“Although the Falls are a spectacular experience at high water, the spray often obscures the waterfall making it difficult to see and photograph.
“Each time of the year, throughout the change of seasons and the change in water levels, has its advantages and disadvantages but one thing is consistent – Victoria Falls remains a magnificent sight and natural phenomenon all year round.”
A local group, Team Tourism recently rejected the BBC report, making it clear that the Falls are not dry. The group is made up of State tourism officials, tour operators and other like-minded entities. Through the campaign #VictoriaFallsIsNotDry, Team Tourism’s aim is to reject the negative reports by projecting a business as usual situation at theFalls.
Despite the alarm caused by sensationalised headlines, ATTA said the good news was that records from the Zambezi River Authority were showing that water levels were once again on a consistent rise. Already water “has started to flow once again” over certain points along the eastern cataract of Victoria Falls, the dry portion or cliff-face of Victoria Falls, which has been pictured in all recent media reports, said the regional body.
“We anticipate that given the recent reports of rain in the Zambezi catchment area, and indeed the rainfall being experienced in the immediate region, that these water levels will continue to rise as would be anticipated and consistent with the norm for this time of year and the change in season from mid/end of November, beginning of December,” it said. “We hope this clarifies some of the queries and concerns being raised around the water levels of the Falls.”
FORMER Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and his son, Siqokoqela, have taken their former lawyer, Professor Welshman Ncube to court for allegedly squandering part of the US$2,9 million they got as shares from Choppies Enterprises after they were bought out of the company.
The Mphokos exited Botswana-based Nanavac Investments, trading as Choppies Supermarkets Zimbabwe, in January after offering to be bought out of the company to end a protracted ownership wrangle.
The Mphokos through their lawyer, Mr Zibusiso Ncube of Ncube and Partners, yesterday filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Prof Ncube of Mathonsi Law Chambers as a defendant.
They want an order directing the MDC Alliance vice-president to pay them about $1,5 million being the outstanding balance of the money they received as shares from Choppies including a five percent interest calculated from January 16, 2019 to the date of full payment.
In papers before the court, it was stated that between January 1-9 this year, Prof Ncube, who at the time was the Mphokos’ lawyers, received US$2,9 million from Choppies on behalf of his clients and was also a signatory in a settlement agreement.
“Prof Ncube while acting in his capacity as their attorney under a contract of mandate and having separately been contracted to do so in a written addendum to a settlement agreement signed between the plaintiffs, Choppies and him on January 11, 2019 received the money,” said Mr Ncube.
At all material times, the plaintiffs were shareholders in Choppies Enterprise and the sums of money in question were received by the defendant in trust as consideration in a transaction wherein the plaintiffs were pressured to purportedly dispose of their shares in exchange for a withdrawal of criminal charges against second plaintiff (Siqokoqela) and his wife, Nomagugu.
Mr Ncube said Prof Ncube confirmed to his clients that he received the full amount from Choppies on their behalf.
Prof Ncube, however, only paid the Mphokos about $1, 24 million
The Mphokos said despite demand, Prof Ncube has failed, neglected and refused to pay the balance.
“Wherefore, the plaintiffs pray for a judgment against the defendant to pay the sum of $832 500 to the first plaintiff (Phelekezela Mphoko) and $619 708,50 to the second plaintiff (Siqokoqela) as well as payment of five percent interest on the amounts,” said the Mphokos.
They also want Prof Ncube to pay the legal costs.
Prof Ncube is yet to respond to the summons.
In January, Prof Ncube said that the Mphokos were going to be paid for 51 percent shareholding but could not state the amount of money involved.
At the height of their legal battles, Choppies Enterprises’ chief executive officer, Mr Ramachandran Ottapathu alleged that the Mphoko family owned only seven percent shareholding.
He said the other 44 percent was given to them to fulfil the indigenisation laws of the country. However, Prof Ncube insisted that the Mphokos held 51 percent of the shares.
The fight became messy when Siqokoqela and his wife Nomagugu were dragged to court on charges of interfering with the operations of Choppies Distribution Centre and Choppies Enterprises. This followed accusations that they swindled the businesses of a combined $80 000.
Siqokoqela, who was shareholder in the retail business and a non-executive director, was accused of abusing his power to “loot” $50 000 in cash realised from sales at different supermarkets and replacing it with transfers.
Nomagugu was facing 49 counts of extortion after allegedly bulldozing various Choppies outlets in Bulawayo and demanding cash.
The two matters under case numbers CRB Byo 2431/18 and CRB Byo 2567/18 were subsequently withdrawn. This was after Mr Ramachandran submitted an affidavit to the prosecution withdrawing charges against Siqokoqela and Nomagugu.
State Media|Government has challenged South African businessman Engineer Matshela Koko to expose officials frustrating the implementation of a licensed US$250 million solar power deal by demanding bribes.
The former South African power utility, Eskom, chief executive made the claims on social media in reference to his 100MW project that was licensed in July.
Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi challenged Eng Koko to name the concerned individuals while addressing the 44th Cabinet Meeting Decisions Matrix media briefing.
“As Government, we are always anxious when investors come to invest in our country and in our particular circumstances we always look forward to projects achieving fruition,” he said.
“I have met Mr Matshela many times since the time that he came to apply. He has all the freedom and, in fact, he has popped up at my offices without appointment and I have seen him. So what I need in order for us to go forward, is not vacuous statements.
“We take bribery very seriously as Government and it’s one of the areas that we are focusing on and I want to urge him to publicly give me the names and individuals who have asked for a bribe from himself and I can assure you that Government will take action against the individuals.”
In his social media post, Eng Koko alleged that the unnamed individuals had demanded bribes resulting in delays in implementation of the project since July.
“Matshela Energy received a generation licence July 2019. Six months later, nothing has happened. Our plan was to break ground in August 2019.
“So many people have tried to extort money from me and I refused, it is a shame,” said Eng Koko.
Following several months of vehicle number plate shortages, Government has tasked innovation hubs at universities to come up with a patent system for local production of plates with adequate security features.
This came out during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting which also received a number of reports on the implementation of the fourth 100-Day Cycle Priority Projects.
Addressing journalists during a post-Cabinet briefing at Munhumutapa Government Offices in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the Government resolved to pursue local options to help create employment for local scientists and save foreign currency.
“Following a presentation by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development on the need to produce number plates locally as an import substitution strategy, Cabinet tasked local innovation hubs to come up with a patent for the local production of number plates with the requisite security features,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“Cabinet is confident that the move to produce number plates locally will ease the current shortages being experienced in the country due to the limited availability of foreign currency.
The local production of new number plates will also increase the utilisation of the country’s resources, including local scientists, and create employment for citizens.”State media
Heavy rains being experienced countrywide are expected to continue, possibly causing flash flooding while strong winds may cause damage to property, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned.
In a statement yesterday, MSD said thunderstorms will continue across the country.
The rains reportedly caused damage estimated at $700 000 at Chivhu Prison, 140km south of Harare.
“The following rainfall amounts were typically from yesterday’s activity: 84mm at Mukandi, 61mm at Mutoko, 44mm (Kezi), 37mm (Buhera), 30mm (Rusape) and 27mm (Mount Darwin).
“In Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands, Harare Metropolitan and all Mashonaland Provinces widespread thunderstorms are expected, accompanied by intermittent rain showers.
“Heavy downpours cannot be ruled out especially in Matabeleland North, Bulawayo Metropolitan as well as Matabeleland South provinces.
“It should be slightly warmer than of late, with more sunny spells. However, light showers and outbreaks of thunder are still highly probable,’’ read the statement.
“Where possible stay indoors and off the roads. If outdoors, seek shelter immediately, but do not seek shelter under a tree or in isolated sheds.
“Avoid crossing flooded rivers and swollen streams where the depth is unknown. In case of severe thunderstorms, it’s best to be indoors.”
The rains have also provided a breeding ground for mosquitoes and cases of malaria may increase.
“Insecticides spraying, applying mosquito repellents, sleeping under mosquito nets are some methods that may avert mosquito bites.
For more advice, seek a qualified health professional,’’ read the statement.
There are also reports of communities being marooned and fears of floods as water levels in rivers are swelling.
Mr Nathan Nkomo from the Department of Civil Protection, said they were making frantic efforts to ensure that the Chivhu Prison Complex was quickly repaired.
He said heavy rains that pounded Manicaland last week caused serious damage at several schools in Buhera leaving at least two minors injured. The affected schools have since appealed for assistance to repair the damage caused by the hailstorm.
Deputy provincial education director Mrs Clara Kanoerera said at least three schools had been affected.
“In Buhera, we received a report from Kandenga Primary School where a classroom block was damaged by winds.
We also received reports at Changamire Primary and Secondary School. At Vhiriri Secondary School, a classroom block was damaged,” she said.
She said two learners at Changamire Primary School were injured by pieces of asbestos and had been admitted to Murambinda Mission Hospital.State media
Heavy rains being experienced countrywide are expected to continue, possibly causing flash flooding while strong winds may cause damage to property, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned.
In a statement yesterday, MSD said thunderstorms will continue across the country.
The rains reportedly caused damage estimated at $700 000 at Chivhu Prison, 140km south of Harare.
“The following rainfall amounts were typically from yesterday’s activity: 84mm at Mukandi, 61mm at Mutoko, 44mm (Kezi), 37mm (Buhera), 30mm (Rusape) and 27mm (Mount Darwin).
“In Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands, Harare Metropolitan and all Mashonaland Provinces widespread thunderstorms are expected, accompanied by intermittent rain showers.
“Heavy downpours cannot be ruled out especially in Matabeleland North, Bulawayo Metropolitan as well as Matabeleland South provinces.
“It should be slightly warmer than of late, with more sunny spells. However, light showers and outbreaks of thunder are still highly probable,’’ read the statement.
“Where possible stay indoors and off the roads. If outdoors, seek shelter immediately, but do not seek shelter under a tree or in isolated sheds.
“Avoid crossing flooded rivers and swollen streams where the depth is unknown. In case of severe thunderstorms, it’s best to be indoors.”
The rains have also provided a breeding ground for mosquitoes and cases of malaria may increase.
“Insecticides spraying, applying mosquito repellents, sleeping under mosquito nets are some methods that may avert mosquito bites.
For more advice, seek a qualified health professional,’’ read the statement.
There are also reports of communities being marooned and fears of floods as water levels in rivers are swelling.
Mr Nathan Nkomo from the Department of Civil Protection, said they were making frantic efforts to ensure that the Chivhu Prison Complex was quickly repaired.
He said heavy rains that pounded Manicaland last week caused serious damage at several schools in Buhera leaving at least two minors injured. The affected schools have since appealed for assistance to repair the damage caused by the hailstorm.
Deputy provincial education director Mrs Clara Kanoerera said at least three schools had been affected.
“In Buhera, we received a report from Kandenga Primary School where a classroom block was damaged by winds.
We also received reports at Changamire Primary and Secondary School. At Vhiriri Secondary School, a classroom block was damaged,” she said.
She said two learners at Changamire Primary School were injured by pieces of asbestos and had been admitted to Murambinda Mission Hospital.State media
OVER 70 000 prospective Form One pupils are likely to be left stranded after 100 000 applied for boarding places, yet only 24 000 places are available.
In a statement, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said pupils who will not make it into boarding schools must accept it and be enrolled into day schools in their communities.
“The nation has 24 000 boarding places. We estimate that about 100 000 learners are seeking boarding places.
Those who will not be successful in securing boarding places will, therefore, be accommodated at day schools in their school zones,” he said.
Some parents said they found the process of securing places confusing as they are yet to get used to the e-application system.
Others said the online application was elitist as it left out brilliant pupils from rural schools, and pupils with computer-illiterate parents.
“Some deserving pupils are in rural areas and can afford boarding school fees, but stay with parents or relatives who are not tech savvy and may be unable to go through the cumbersome application process. Some children may not have access to the internet due to their location, especially in rural communities.
Government must make provision to make this application system fair and equal for all prospective Form Ones,” said Mrs Concillia Ndlovu from Njube Suburb.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Bulawayo provincial education director Mrs Olicah Khaira said securing Form One places had become a challenge and urged parents to desist from double booking Form One places at different schools.
Government came up with an electronic application system for Form One boarding places in 2017 as part of a raft of measures to fight corruption that for a long time saw many intelligent children from disadvantaged backgrounds being sidelined.
For the application process, parents are required to complete an electronic form specifying five schools of their choice.
The form would then be forwarded to the relevant schools and parents would get feedback via an SMS on the outcome of their application by December 19.State media
Farai Dziva|2018 independent Presidential candidate Brian Mteki has rejoined Zanu PF.
Mteki told state broadcaster, ZBC he was happy to return home.
” I have returned home- Zanu PF is my home and I am ready to serve the nation.
We have to be united as a nation.Zanu PF is a party that represents the interests of the people,” said Mteki.
Commenting on Mteki’s decision to return to Zanu PF, the ruling party Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda said:” We are happy to embrace Cde Mteki.
He worked closely with the late Elliot Tapfumaneyi Manyika and we all know that he is an industrious figure.”
Two former Prime Ministers of Algeria were convicted and sentenced to prison on Tuesday for corruption-related charges in a landmark trial, unleashing cheers of joy from pro-democracy activists who want an overhaul of the gas-rich country’s political system.
The verdict came amid high political tensions just two days before a controversial presidential election to replace President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, pushed out of office in April after 20 years in power.
Protesters gathered outside and inside the courthouse in Algiers to hear the verdict against Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal, some shouting “Gang of gangsters!” and many waving or wearing Algerian flags. Police surrounded the courthouse.
Ouyahia was sentenced to 15 years in prison and $16,000 in fines. Sellal was sentenced to 12 years in prison and $8,000 in fines. The men, who deny wrongdoing, have 10 days to appeal.
Both served under Bouteflika. Protesters rose up against Bouteflika earlier this year, in part because of anger at corruption.
Four other former government ministers and businessmen were also convicted in the case, which focused on a car manufacturing corruption scandal, allegedly involving huge bribes, inflated invoices and dodgy loans.
Bouteflika’s former campaign manager was acquitted.
Unusually, the trial was televised, as authorities sought to show the public that they are taking protesters’ concerns about corruption, transparency and accountability seriously.
Thursday’s presidential election loomed over the trial. Algerian authorities are hoping the trial will help convince the public that they are serious about reforming themselves and persuade people to go out and vote.
Algeria’s peaceful, 9-month-old protest movement dismisses the election as a sham because it is organized by the existing power structure. Protesters want a whole new political system instead.
“It is a historic trial,” Law Professor, Rachid Lerari said. “Future leaders will think twice before using public money” for private gain.
AP NEWS
Statement by Gift Ostallos Siziba MDC Youth Assembly Secretary General
Revolutionary salutations comrades, democrats and fellow compatriots!
As some might already have read from the streets of social media that I have been acquitted of the frivolous and concocted charges inciting public violence that I have been facing.
I would like to extend my profound thanks to all Zimbabweans and in particular my legal team (ZLHR), the Youth assembly legal team and members of the Youth Assembly.
The case has been exhausting, draining and intended to distracted our resolve to fight for a democratic developmental Zimbabwe.
Without solidarity our struggle for a genuinely free, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe will remain a pipe dream so SOLIDARITY FOREVER comrades!
As president Advocate Nelson Chamisa has always indicated, the task upon our generation is to finish the unfinished business of the liberation.
We stand firm in execution this mission upon which Zimbabwe shall be free.
In the struggle for change
Aluta Continua.
Farai Dziva|Gift Ostallos Siziba, the MDC Youth Assembly Secretary General says he will continue to participate in the struggle for democracy despite state- initiated persecution of civilians.
See Siziba’s full statement:
Revolutionary salutations comrades, democrats and fellow compatriots!
As some might already have read from the streets of social media that I have been acquitted of the frivolous and concocted charges inciting public violence that I have been facing.
I would like to extend my profound thanks to all Zimbabweans and in particular my legal team (ZLHR), the Youth assembly legal team and members of the Youth Assembly.
The case has been exhausting, draining and intended to distracted our resolve to fight for a democratic developmental Zimbabwe.
Without solidarity our struggle for a genuinely free, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe will remain a pipe dream so SOLIDARITY FOREVER comrades!
As president Advocate Nelson Chamisa has always indicated, the task upon our generation is to finish the unfinished business of the liberation.
We stand firm in execution this mission upon which Zimbabwe shall be free.
In the struggle for change
Aluta Continua.
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By A Correspondent| As the year draws to an end and the festive season swings into full gear, UK based financial services firm Expresslinks Money transfer have expressed their gratitude for the support extended to them throughout the year by their customers and various partners.
In a statement released by the firm, Express Links CEO Peter Pembere stated his company’s appreciation of their customers; both old and new, and also mentioned that the company will be showing their gratitude through the Express Links Christmas gift promotion which is running till the 16thOf December this year.
“As we near year end, as Express Links we would like to say a big thank you to our loyal customers who have stood with us and supported us throughout the year and over the years. It is on the strength of their trust and support that we have become a trusted financial services company of choice for many and earned us new clients over time,” he said.
“Our appreciation can never be expressed enough and we would also like everyone to know the Christmas Box competition is still open between now and the 16thof December five of our lucky customers will receive an early Christmas present from us as we look forward to pleasant holidays with our families and look forward to a prosperous New Year that is full of promise and goodness.”
The Express Links Christmas Box competition is just the latest in a string of promotions held by the company over the year under their customer appreciation drive. Customers who send a minimum of £30 between now and 16thDecember stand a chance to win £100 for themselves as well as another £100 for the receiving member. Five lucky winners will be selected through a draw to be held on the 20thDecember in a move that has excited their customers and spread much needed Christmas cheer.
The competition is set to be the last hurrah of 2019 after a busy exciting year in which Express Links rolled out various competitions and promotions as well as supporting various causes. The company, who have a reputable profile as a staunch supporter of community goodwill initiatives and promotion were involved in many projects and notably being the headline sponsors for Mzansi Festival, Namibian Heroes Weekend and Zimfest among others.
They were also one of the main sponsors of the Zimbabwe National Netball team, the ZimGems, during their stay in the UK for the duration of their Netball World Cup campaign, providing the team and their delegation with allowances in their record breaking foray onto the sport’s biggest stage.
Founded in 2003 the company offers various financial services such as consultancy and investment, with their money transfer platform proving to be the most popular service with users. Through Express Links Money Transfer, people can send money from the diaspora to their loved ones back home with guaranteed same day service into South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya among many other countries in the region in a safe, fast and reliable manner which has seen the company build a solid, loyal and ever increasing customer base in need of their various services, with the company expected to carry on their strong run into the new year and beyond.
Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet
This has been a year of tremendous activism – notably by young people.
It is particularly fitting that this year we mark Human Rights Day during the crucial UN conference in Madrid to uphold climate justice.
We owe a debt of gratitude to all those millions of children, teenagers and young adults who have been standing up and speaking out more and more loudly about the crisis facing our planet.
Rightly, these young people are pointing out that it is their future which is at stake, and the future of all those who have not yet even been born. It is they who will have to bear the full consequences of the actions, or lack of action, by the older generations who currently run governments and businesses, the decision-makers on whom the future of individual countries, regions and the planet as whole depends.
It cannot, of course, be left to young people alone to tackle the climate emergency, or indeed the many other human rights crises that are currently causing simultaneous turbulence in so many countries across the world. All of us must stand together, in solidarity, and act with principle and urgency.
We can, and must, uphold the painstakingly developed universal human rights principles that sustain peace, justice and sustainable development. A world with diminished human rights is a world that is stepping backwards into a darker past, when the powerful could prey on the powerless with little or no moral or legal restraint.
However, among the many human rights challenges that have been metastasizing during the first two decades of the 21st century, the global climate emergency presents perhaps the most profound planet-wide threat to human rights that we have seen since World War II. From the right to life, to health, to food, water and shelter, to our rights to be free of discrimination, to development and to self-determination, its impacts are already making themselves felt.
We have a duty to ensure young people’s voices are heard.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, was a firm commitment by States to protect the rights of everyone – and that includes making it possible for future generations to uphold human dignity, equality and rights.
All human beings have a right to participate in decisions that have impact on their lives. In order to ensure more effective decision-making, and to build greater trust and harmony across their nations, the leaders of every society should be listening to their people – and acting in accordance with their needs and demands.
Nothing summarizes these aims, the leitmotif of the international human rights system, more clearly and succinctly than Article 1 of the Universal Declaration, which states boldly and unequivocally that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
No country, no community, will be spared by the climate emergency, as it intensifies. Already, we are seeing the most vulnerable communities and nations suffering terrible damage.
People are losing homes, livelihoods – and lives. Inequalities are deepening, and more people are being forced into displacement. We must act quickly, and with principle, to ensure the least possible harm is done to human beings, and to our environment.
Climate harms will not be halted by national borders – and reactions based on hostile nationalism, or short-term financial considerations, will not only fail: they will tear our world apart. The struggles for climate justice and human rights are not a political quarrel. This is not about left or right: it is about rights – and wrongs.
It is not just concerns about the accelerating climate crisis that have driven millions to stand up and demand action. In every region, people are finding their voice to speak up about inequalities and repressive institutions. I am inspired by the courage, clarity and principle of all these people, some of them very young indeed, who are standing up peacefully, in order to right the wrongs of our era and create greater freedom and justice. They are the living expression of human rights.
Policy-makers everywhere need to listen to these calls. And in response, they need to shape more effective, and more principled, policies.
We have a right to live free from discrimination on any grounds. We have a right to access education, health-care, economic opportunities and a decent standard of living. We – all of us – have a right to participate in decisions that affect our lives. This is about our future, our livelihoods, our freedoms, our security and our environment. And not just our future, but the future of our children, grand-children and great grand-children.
We need to mobilise across the world – peacefully and powerfully – to advance a world of rights, dignity and choice for everyone. The decision-makers understood that vision very clearly in 1948.
Do they understand it now? I urge world leaders to show true leadership and long-term vision and set aside narrow national political interests for the sake of everyone, including themselves and all their descendants.
ENDS
By Patrick Guramatunhu- Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation has had the undesirable effect of causing some people to panic and, as we all know desperate people do desperate things. The same irrational arguments are finding their way back and are gaining traction!
“AS the year draws to an end, it has become obvious to millions of Zimbabweans that the prospect of a broad-based, credible dialogue process are fading, further threatening the country’s desperately needed socio-economic recovery,” wrote Faith Zaba in The Independent.
“Over the past year, efforts at dialogue backed by the churches, civic society and other interest groups, aimed at bringing Zimbabwe’s key political players together have yielded minimum results.
“The Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) process launched in May 2019 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to which political parties were invited to participate, has one fundamental weakness, it does not include the main opposition political party, the MDC Alliance.”
Faith, like so many others before you and to come after you (we have not heard the last on this), you are proposing “broad-based, credible dialogue” which will include Chamisa and his MDC party. We already know that Chamisa wants the dialogue to conclude with the formation of the National Transition Authority (NTA). , watered down version of the 2008 to 2013 GNU to you and me.
Chamisa insists the NTA will implement “the comprehensive democratic reforms necessary to guarantee free, fair and credible elections”. Whilst everyone agrees the reforms are vital to getting the nation out of this death-trap of rigged elections and bad governance. It is not obvious to main people is that the NTA will never get the reforms implemented because it is a watered down version of the 2008 to 2013 GNU which failed to get even one reform implemented. Not one!
In her article, Faith did not acknowledge the failures of the last GNU or the shortcomings of the NTA.
What Zimbabwe needs is an arrangement that will get the reforms implemented and that is only possible if Zanu PF is forced to step down. The political dialogue we want must be acknowledge that Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections, the regime is illegitimate; that is the only way the party can be forced to step down.
Besides, the problem of Zanu PF rigging elections is at the very heart of this economic and political nightmare and anyone who thinks we can ever end this nightmare without tackling this problem of rigged elections is naive, to say the least. Zimbabwe is in this mess because the country was stuck for the last 39 years with this corrupt, incompetent and murderous Zanu PF dictatorship.
The party rigged elections to stay in power and, for our sins, pretended not to notice the vote rigging we did not want to face to the Zanu PF thugs and tell them they had no mandate and must step down. It was a foolish thing to do because the consequences of 39 years of Zanu PF misrule are the economic meltdown and the tragic human suffering and deaths we see in Zimbabwe today.
The political dialogue that you, Faith and many others out there, have been clamouring will involve Zanu PF as the key political player and will only seek to grant legitimacy to the party. This is just another way of appeasing the Zanu PF thugs. And this is exactly what we have done for the last 39 years, it has not worked all these years and it is insane to continue down this path. Insane.
A recent World Bank 2019 Report said 34% or 5.7 million of our people now live in “extreme poverty” up from 29% or 4.7 million in 2018. Many of our hospitals have all but closed for lack of doctors, nurses, medicine, electricity you name it. All this because for the last 39 years we would not confront the Zanu PF thugs with the truth of rigging the elections. We must deal with this curse of rigged elections now and not bury our heads in the sand; not when the price of such foolishness is heart breaking human misery and death and the stability of the nation.
Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections, the regime is illegitimate and not just Mnangagwa, must step down. This will allow the nation the political space to appoint an interim administration that can be entrusted the task of implemented the reforms and holding free, fair and credible elections. Neither Zanu PF nor MDC leaders can appointed into the interim administration because they failed to get even one reform implemented during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Zimbabwe cannot afford to waste this chance.
If Zanu PF is allow to stay in office till 2023 then this will be judge yet another national failure. For we can be 100% certain that Zanu PF will see to it that no meaningful reforms are implemented and the party will go on to rig that year’s elections and drag the nation even deeper into this hell-on-earth the party has landed us in. And we, the people, would have allowed this to happen, in our desperate effort to end the economic meltdown we have become insane and made things worse not better.
10 December 2019
ZLHR STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
ON the occasion of the United Nations International Human Rights Day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) calls upon government to
recognise and value the contribution of youths in the fight for the respect of fundamental human rights. The 2019 theme for International Human Rights Day is “Youth standing up for human rights”.
The theme calls on everyone to empower youths for a better future. This can only be realised when there is protection from human rights violations, economic growth and an enabling environment.
Across the globe, youths are breaking barriers posed by discrimination, stereotypes, exclusion and therefore proving that they can excel, when there is an enabling environment. ZLHR is heartened that youths are standing up, taking part and playing key roles in decision-making. They are increasingly contributing in the fight against climate change, taking part in activities to promote respect for human rights among other interventions.
Young people, who have always been major drivers of political, economic and social transformation are playing a frontline role in grassroots mobilisation for positive change and bring fresh ideas and solutions for a better world.
In many countries, including Zimbabwe, commitments made to youths remain unfulfilled and there remains a litany of harmful practices that hold them back from reaching their full potential.
In today’s world, young people are often marginalised and grapple with difficulties in accessing and enjoying their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Girls and boys continue to drop out of school as their parents face economic hardships. Obtaining identity documents and birth registration cards continues to be a challenge.
The practice of child marriages is still rife. The dire humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe arising from natural disasters, a failing economy, poor service delivery including shortages of water and other basic necessities is compromising the realisation of youths’ fundamental rights and freedoms.
For youths to effectively stand up for human rights, ZLHR therefore
calls upon government to;
➢Take every step to fulfil its human rights obligations and create a
conducive environment that allows youths to pursue their dreams and
therefore realise their full potential;
➢Take measures including affirmative action programmes to ensure that
youths have access to appropriate education and training and have
opportunities to associate and be represented and participate in political, social, economic and other spheres of life.
➢Adopt policies and measures, review and immediately align laws with
the Constitution and incorporate the best interests of youths particularly the girl child.
➢To afford youths opportunities for employment and other avenues to
economic empowerment and implement mechanisms that seek to protect
youths from abuse, exploitation and any form of discrimination,
inequality and ill-treatment.
Gappah followed ED into hell, ignoring “Abandon all hope, you who enter”, for 30 pieces of silver
BY: Nomusa Garikai- No one is ever surprise to hear Professor Jonathan Moyo, Zimbabwe’s most notorious political turn-coat, defending Petina Gappah. The two have a lot in common; they are sell-outs.
Professor Moyo is one of the Zanu PF leaders rightly credited in helping Mugabe stay in power especially post 2000; by hook and by crook naturally, given Mugabe was a corrupt, incompetent and a murderous tyrant.
Ever since losing his cushy position in Zanu PF, Moyo has turned on his former Zanu PF bedfellows pontificating endless about how his own father was a victim of Gukurahundi. Conveniently forgetting that he played a major part in consolidating the one-party dictatorship post Gukurahundi, regardless of the regime’s corrupt and murderous reputation and tendency.
It has been said Professor Jonathan Moyo would sell his own mother for a price and be proud he had a mother to sell. He certainly sold his father and millions of ordinary Zimbabweans alright!
The now late Robert Mugabe himself called Moyo “a weasel and devil incarnate”. It late late dictator was the devil incarnate in his own right and it took one to know one!
“Instead of welcoming @VascoDaGappah &@daddyhope, to benefit from their experiences, first-hand information & perspectives, the holier-than-thou do-gooders in “CIVIL” society have amazing if not shocking energy, time & words to demonize & CANCEL OUT real and potential allies!” twittered the “devil incarnate” Moyo from his fox hole, in exile.
“There’s no change in Africa, that has taken place or succeeded without former insiders & outsiders coming together to coalesce around shared goals for transformational change. The mantra that “once ZanuPF always ZanuPF”, is false & primitive. Even Tsvangirai was once ZanuPF!”
Oh yeah! What good has ever come out of all your years of selling out in Zanu PF, Professor Moyo. The Zanu PF dictatorship would have collapse years ago was it not for very intelligence people like you, Professor Moyo, Professor Mthuli Ncube, Petina Gappah, Morgan Tsvangirai and many others in Zanu PF, opposition camp, etc. who have propped up the regime – for thirty pieces of silver!
Of course, Morgan Tsvangirai and his fellow MDC friends are sell-outs. It was no accident that they failed to implement even one meaningful reform in five years of the last GNU. Mugabe bribed them with ministerial limos, generous salaries and allowances, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc., etc. “Pretty good wages for one little kiss!”, as the High Priest so aptly reminded Judas Iscariot!
When Mnangagwa failed to stamp out corruption, he blatantly rigged last year’s elections, etc., etc. it was clear as day that Zimbabwe was still a pariah state, nothing had changed. Mnangagwa was dragging the nation straight into hell and Petina, in pursuit of the thirty pieces of silver, chose to fellow him, as one of the President’s Advisors!
“Through me you enter into the city of woes
through me you enter into eternal pain,
through me you enter the population of loss.
. . .
abandon all hope, you who enter here.”
Reads the inscription on the Gateway into, according to Dante.
There is no denying that Zimbabweans are experiencing the woes, pains, losses and have cause to abandon all hope; given Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation with unemployment an nauseating 90%; hospitals closing down because there are no doctors, no nurses, no medicine and no equipment; etc.
Petina Gappah is an intellectual and author; she read the inscription and ignored it; she was warned of the futility of propping a corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and tyrannical regime and would not listen.
Professor Jonathan Moyo is pleading for Petina’s forgives out of self interest – he will be asking the nation to forgive him too for all his decades as Zanu PF’s self-appointed chief strategist and propagandist!
“There’s no change in Africa, that has taken place or succeeded without former insiders” spilling the beans! Rubbish; Zimbabwe is in this hell-on-earth situation because the country has had the great misfortune of having more than it fair share per capita of “devil incarnate” like you, Professor Jonathan Moyo and Petina Gappah!
Betrayal of the innocent for selfish gain is one of the most heinous crimes known to man. Our failure to punish sell-outs has only encouraged others to join field; Zanu PF leaders have never had any problems recruiting Zimbabwean professionals to do their dirty work. The dirtier the work the heavier the pay package! Our greatest mistake as a nation is our failure to punish these treasonous sell-outs. This must now change.
If Petina Gappah has repented then she must give back the banked thirty pieces of silver and hang herself, just as Judas Iscariot did!
By A Correspondent- An armed robber was gunned down by the police on Saturday morning at a roadblock along the Harare-Chirundu Highway.
The robber was part of a notorious 5-men gang which recently robbed and murdered a woman in Gokwe.
Two other members of the gang Walter Wazvanya (25) and George Mushipe (39) were arrested while one managed to make good his escape.
Speaking to the state media, National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said:
Circumstances are that police received a tip-off to the effect that a gang of five male adults had robbed and killed a 35-year-old woman at Mutiura 2 Business Centre, Gokwe and that they had fled the scene and headed towards Chinhoyi.
Police reacted to the information and manned a roadblock along Harare-Chirundu Road. At around 0430hours, a beige Toyota Corolla, registration number AED 8591, which was being driven by Walter Wazvanya approached the roadblock. The driver was ordered to stop.
Nyathi added that instead of complying with the orders, one of the alleged robbers pulled a pistol and shot at the police. He did not manage to hit anyone. The police returned fire and managed to apprehend some of the suspects.
Nyathi said police arrested two of the suspects at the scene while the other two managed to escape. One of the suspects was later found dead lying in a pool of blood on the grass behind a local bank.
Nyathi warned other similarly inclined people that the police would deal with them. He also said that the police are appealing for information that might lead to the arrest of the outstanding suspects to contact any nearest police station.
-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic have revealed that they have arrested a 23 year old woman in connection with killing her infant after giving birth.
The police revealed that members of the public became suspicious after the suspect was no longer pregnant and had no baby.
Investigations by police are said to have led to the recovery of the body wrapped in a blanket in a hole and covered with a stone.
In a related incident a 20 year old Beitbridge has been arrested for dumping her baby boy in a trench after a misunderstanding with the alleged father.
The age of the baby has not been revealed.
Police have announced that investigations are in progress to locate the baby who was not found at the dumping site after the matter was reported to the police.
The two accused persons will appear in court soon.
Zimbabwe Crime Alert Spokesperson Fezekile Mguni said members of the public must restrain from venting their frustrations on innocent babies.
“This trend of young mothers killing infants or babies is increasing of late and that is very worrying.”
Mguni said:
“We are urging all young mothers to seek counselling if they have challenges that they can not bear alone.”
By A Correspondent- The Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ Holdings) is set to close some of its branches in the wake of deepening economic challenges.
CBZ will close its Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street branch in Bulawayo on December 31 this year.
The bank has also closed its Tsholotsho branch.
According to a state run publication, more branches are expected to be shut down.
“CBZ Holdings encourages its customers to use digital platforms such as CBZ Touch Mobile App, CBZ Internet Banking, CBZ Smart Point Point-of-Sale terminals and ATMs,” a source said.
By A Correspondent- In a horrific domestic fight in Cowdray Park last week, a 11-month-old child was killed by her aunt’s boyfriend with a brick when she was sleeping in her mother’s arms.
According to a source, Taboka Ndlovu (25) allegedly threw a brick through a window in a fit of rage while threatening to beat up his girlfriend, sister-in-law and mother-in-law who were watching him fight his brother-in-law outside.
Prior to the incident, Ndlovu had a domestic fight with his live-in girlfriend Vast Phiri (19) which led her to run back to her mother who stays in the same neighbourhood with her elder sister Shylene Phiri (24), the mother of the victim.
“He followed her here around 7pm drunk demanding to see his one-year-old daughter. Vast came out with the child and he tried to violently snatch the baby from her but she quickly ran back to the house with the baby,” said the source.
Before he could further harass the family, Vast’s brother came to the rescue and fought the drunk Ndlovu.
“Ndlovu was overpowered and he didn’t take it well. That’s when he picked up the brick on the ground and threw it to the onlookers through the window. It landed on Shylene’s child that was sleeping peacefully in her hands,” said the source.
The baby sustained a swollen forehead and was rushed to hospital where she was admitted in intensive care but died later around midnight.
The matter was reported to the Luveve police.
Bulawayo provincial public relations officer Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident and said they were still investigating.
“For now we appeal to the members of the public to solve their differences amicably and not expose children to those differences. Treat people under the influence of alcohol with caution,” said Msebele.
Meanwhile, Ndlovu has been on the run since the incident
-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent| About 500 people were stuck on top of Table Mountain in South Africa after a back-up generator belonging to the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) failed to kick into gear.
This happened as South Africa power utility, ESKOM yesterday started implementing stage 6 of load-shedding which has seen some parts of the country experiencing as much as 4.5 consecutive hours without power.
TMACC managing director Wahida Parker said that they were working tirelessly to ensure that any visitor’s experience of Table Mountain is a positive one, even when there is no power.
Parker said:
Power surges are believed to have caused the failure of our generator. Visitors who were at the bottom waiting to go up are being offered free tickets for an alternative day.
Our technical team is monitoring the impact of the sudden implementation of Stage 6 load shedding to best accommodate our visitors in a safe and responsible manner.
IOL reports that the group of people who were stuck were eventually brought down safely. South Africa, like other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries, is currently facing power issues which ESKOM attributes to floods that hit the country.
-IOL
By A Correspondent- The family of the late Bulawayo Prophet Thembani Ngwenya whose spirit is alleged to be tormenting his 21-year-old girlfriend every night has opened up on the alleged haunting.
In an interview with the state media, the late prophet’s younger brother Bekithemba Ngwenya (30) said there should be an immediate engagement between Prisca’s family and theirs so that they resolve the issue of nightmares haunting Prisca.
He, however, said as a family they did not believe that one could be haunted by the spirit of the dead if they did not commit any offence.
“Traditionally, we don’t believe that one can be haunted by the spirit of the dead if they did not commit any offence. After my brother’s sudden death, we tried to engage Prisca’s family but to no avail. They were also conspicuous by their absence at the funeral.
“We are, however, willing to engage the family so that we can deliberate on the issue of the alleged spirit which she claimed is haunting her,” said Bekithemba.
Bekithemba decided to open up after a local publication exposed how the deceased’s nocturnal visits haunted Prisca, which she suspected to be that of Thembani who committed suicide sometime in August this year at her house.
“I no longer have peaceful nights because of my late lover whose spirit is always visiting me. The spirit shows up and sometimes it would just hover on the door while handing over keys to me. At times the spirit would be charging at me saying I should leave it,” she recently told B-Metro.
This was also after she expressed interest in engaging the Ngwenya family.
Prophet Thembani who was also a member of the Inhlanganiso Yama Nazaretha Apostolic Church was found hanging in Prisca’s house.
He reportedly used a blue fleece jacket to hang himself and left a suicide note whose contents Prisca and his family refused to disclose.
According to the post-mortem report Thembani died as a result of hanging.
-StateMedia
By A Correspondent| ZimEye has made a follow up on Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy Constantino Chiwenga following reports that he collapsed today.
Although his phone kept ringing without being answered, sources close to the VP told ZimEye:
“The VP was in the cabinet when he announced he was feeling dizzy. He could have been tired. He was then escorted out of the meeting,” said one source.
They added saying they were unsure if after going out of office, he later collapsed.
The original report, seen by ZimEye suggests the VP of a truth collapsed just after Sam Levy Village in Borrowdale.
The report did not state how long the VP was in state of “collapse.”
Another report suggested the incident happened “on his way [to work] this morning.” The latter report did not provide any further details. It however suggested that the incident happened at the very same spot in Borrowdale.
Apart from the said “dizziness,” it could not be established what exactly the former general is or could be suffering from.
Calls to Chiwenga’s phone were ringing without being answered.
By A Correspondent- Prominent economist and former MDC legislator for Bulawayo South, Eddie Cross has urged the government to do things differently in 2020.
Cross who supported President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power in 2017 claims that the government failed in many respects and it cannot continue doing things the same way.
He said:
“If there is one thing our leadership has to understand as we approach Christmas this year, it is that in 2020, we cannot continue to do things the way they have been done in the past decade. We go out of 2019 with so many areas of failure in terms of policy and activity that it is difficult to pick them out and deal with them one by one.”
He observed that there were acute shortages in fuel, power, and food basics causing the government to lose control of price and distribution, hence inflation.
Cross also said that the government needs to guarantee property rights saying that they are essential for the growth of the economy.
He also emphasised the need to have a national vision, strategy on how to manage local authorities, adopt policies that recognise the value of the foreign exchange and the need to have up and running education and health sectors.
-Newsday
By A Correspondent- A 50 year old woman accused by her employer of stealing escaped death after hiding behind a tree after her furious former employer started shooting at her.
The hot headed man has however gone on the run after the woman exposed the alleged murder in a police report.
Francis Dube from Duta Farm in Kezi is now facing attempted murder charges after he fired his pistol at Sitshengisiwe Ncube (50). Dube fired his gun after accusing Ncube of stealing his ox-drawn plough and a brick moulder while she was working for him.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident, telling the state media,
“I can confirm that we recorded an attempted murder case which occurred in Halale Village in Nathisa. The suspect Francis Dube went to Sitshengisiwe Ncube’s homestead. He accused her of stealing an ox-drawn plough and a brick moulder from him.
He demanded his property back but she refused. Dube retrieved a pistol from his car and fired a shot at Ncube but missed after she hid behind a tree.
44th CABINET MEETING DECISIONS MATRIX: 10th DECEMBER, 2019
ITEM
CABINET DECISION
The Minister informed Cabinet as follows:
• the expansion of Hwange Thermal Power Station’s units 7 and 8, which is envisaged to add 600 MW to the national grid, is progressing well, with all the geotechnical investigations having been completed and design reviews, excavations and site levelling at an advanced stage. The completion of the expansion works will help ease the power supply challenges currently besetting the country;
• ninety-two (92) out of the 2010 transformers to be manufactured countrywide under the Transformer Manufacturing Project have been completed;
• under the Smart Metering Project, 404 out of the targeted 2 000 smart meters configured with GSM Sim Cards have been installed; and
• under the Rural Provinces Grid Extension projects, thirty-one (31) of the 35 targeted institutions comprising schools and clinics have been grid electrified, with prepaid meters connected.
The Minister informed Cabinet as follows:
• bush clearance and road formation of the 5 km-stretch from Melfort to Bromely has been completed, and the road is now awaiting surfacing;
• construction works on the Harare-Bulawayo road bridge-over-rail in Norton have been completed, with the bridge now awaiting commissioning;
• 28.6 km of the 48.2 km-stretch of the Mhandamabwe-Chivi-Tugwi road has been completed and opened to traffic;
• approaches for 3 bridges ravaged by Cyclone Idai on the Wengezi-Chimanimani Road, namely: Umvumvumvu Number 2, 3 and 4 have been completed and opened to traffic, and
• works on the upgrading of the 5km-stretch in Chivhu and the 3km -stretch in Beatrice along the Harare – Masvingo Highway have been carried out to base 2 and to priming levels, respectively.
The Minister reported as follows:
• under the Customer Care and Services Project, identification of institutions to undergo training and the development of customised training manuals have been completed;
• under the Community Participation in Fisheries Programme, construction of the eight ponds at designated schools and communities in Chinyika, Bonstead and Hibury in Mashonaland East Province, has been completed, with the ponds now awaiting stocking;
• identification of biogas digester sites has been competed, while construction of the same is in progress in Masvingo and Matabeleland North provinces under the Bio-degradable Solid Waste Management Project;
• an application for tender waiver for the establishment of a sawmill plant in Cashel Valley, Manicaland Province, has been submitted; and
• the construction of an ablution block in Hwange under the Community Participation in Tourism Conservation project in Matabeleland North Province has now been approved by the local leadership, with the Environmental Impact Assessment having been completed and the project site pegged.
The Minister informed Cabinet as follows:
• work on the upgrading of a Technology Centre at Harare Institute of Technology and a Common Facility Centre in Chinhoyi are at an advanced stage, with transportation of new machinery and equipment from Chitungwiza Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation warehouse to the two sites having been completed;
• the renovation of a One Stop Centre in Rusape under the One Stop Centre Phase 2 Project has been completed. The One Stop Centre had been ravaged by a fire in September 2018;
• funding for thirty Small and Medium Enterprises projects in Manicaland, Masvingo and Matabeleland North provinces has been secured, while monitoring of the funded projects is ongoing; and
• the disbursement of a total of ZW$480 641.64 to fourteen (14) of the twenty (20) community-initiated projects has been effected in Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Harare provinces. The project will benefit communities in various sectors which include horticulture, brick moulding, cattle fattening and poultry.
5. Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation
The Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation informed Cabinet as follows:
• the National Sport and Recreation Strategy has been reviewed and is set to be benchmarked with international best practices;
• the establishment of the Tabudirira Vocational Training Centre tomato processing plant in Mutoko, Mashonaland East Province is at 60% completion and on course;
• the establishment of the Youth Interact Centre in Harare Province is 85% complete; and
• the installation of a drip irrigation system in Masvingo is complete, and its utilisation will commence during this current agricultural season.
6. Minister of Local Government and Public Works
The Minister of Local Government and Public Works reported as follows:
• construction work at the ZRP Tomlinson Depot Flats in Harare, which is meant to improve access to accommodation for ZRP staff, is progressing well;
• upgrading of the Mabhula Sewer Treatment Plant in Zvishavane Town, Midlands which will improve sewer treatment capacity in the town, is at 80% completion;
• the Magamba Extension Water Reticulation project targeting to connect a total of 1181 properties to water supply in Rusape Town, Manicaland Province is at 95% completion;
• the Tsholotsho Disaster Recovery Project in Tshiro/Sawudweni, Matabeleland North Province, is now complete with five (5) houses having been constructed. The project targets to rehabilitate communities affected by Cyclone-induced floods in the 2016/2017 rain season; and
• the Kamutsenzere piped water scheme being undertaken to increase access to safe water under Pfura Rural District Council in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central Province, is complete, and 2 765 people will benefit from the project.
The TFTA seeks to achieve the following objectives, inter-alia:
• to promote economic and social development of the Tripartite region;
• to create a large single market with free movement of goods and services in order to promote intra-regional trade; and
• to enhance the regional and continental integration processes.
In essence, the TFTA will bring together twenty-nine (29) African countries with a combined current population of more than 632 million people and a combined Gross Domestic Product of US$1.3 trillion. The TFTA constitutes half of the African Union in terms of membership.
Such a market naturally creates opportunities for economies of scale for producers of various goods and services in the Tripartite region.
Zimbabwe stands to benefit immensely from membership of the TFTA. The country will no longer be restricted to the production of traditional goods and, instead, will become the hub for new manufacturing operations that serve wider markets.
The country will substantially reduce the cost of doing business and thereby radically transform its industrial processes and models.
The chairperson of the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Zanu PF legislator for Chegutu West, Dexter Nduna, has said that the funds allocated to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) were not enough to improve the welfare of prisoners.
Presenting a report in Parliament recently, Nduna bemoaned the amount allocated to the ZPCS.
He said:
ZPCS was appropriated $715 116 000 against a bid of $2 244 727 803 which resulted in a negative variance of 68 percent. This gross under-allocation will result in a decline in the welfare of inmates through inadequate quantities of food, uniforms for inmates, medicines and sanitary ware.
Local prisons are already in a dire state with inmates always complaining about the food, poor sanitation, overcrowding and clothing which are conducive conditions for disease outbreak.
Human rights defenders including the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum have been calling for the rehabilitation of local prisons saying that the current state of prisons violated human rights including the right to dignity.
-DailyNews
South African National Defence Force helicopters were on Monday called to help with the evacuation of 70 guests who were trapped in Centurion Hotel due to flooding from the heavy rain.
The guests were being moved to SuperSport Park, where they would receive further help.
In videos that have been circulating on social media, the helicopters can be seen following heavy rains that have taken unexpectedly Centurion by storm.
The hotel said in a statement: “Our Centurion Hotel ground floor and surrounding areas are currently under floodwater. The property is inaccessible. Approximately 70 guests need to be evacuated and we’re working with emergency services on this. No one has been injured or is currently in danger.
“Military helicopters are now on the scene to assist with the evacuation of 70 guests stranded in Centurion Hotel due to flooding. All are being transported to SuperSport Park where they’re wellbeing will be assessed but at this stage, all guests are reported as safe and well.”
See video shared on social media:
The South African Weather Service has issued a watch for more heavy rain expected in Gauteng this evening, with showers and thundershowers already observed over north-eastern parts of the North West province moving to Gauteng.
The US military has accused Russian air defences of shooting down a drone that was lost close to the capital of Libya last month.
The drone was reportedly conducting a reconnaissance mission within the region amid ongoing clashes between Libyan factions fighting to seize control of Tripoli.
Fears have grown in recent weeks over the scale of Moscow’s involvement in the country’s civil war, which has been raging since 2014 and claimed thousands of lives, with Russian mercenaries said to be aiding commander Khalifa Haftar and his so-called Libyan National Army (LNA) in their attempts to capture the capital.
US army general Stephen Townsend, who leads Africa Command, has now voiced deep concern about Russia’s apparent presence in Libya as he demanded the return of the drone wreckage.
He admitted that those operating the air defences “didn’t know it was a US remotely piloted aircraft when they fired on it”, but added “they certainly know who it belongs to now”.
“They are refusing to return it,” Gen Townsend told Reuters. “They say they don’t know where it is but I am not buying it.
“This highlights the malign influence of Russian mercenaries acting to influence the outcome of the civil war in Libya, and who are directly responsible for the recent and sharp increase in fighting, casualties and destruction around Tripoli.”
US defence secretary Mark Esper declined this week to comment directly on the drone but said he believed Russia was trying to “put their finger on the scale” in Libya’s civil war to create a situation that was advantageous to Moscow.
An official in Libya’s internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), which serves as the country’s interim government under a UN-led initiative established in 2015, told the Reuters news agency that Russian mercenaries appeared to be responsible.
The US assessment meanwhile concludes that either Russian private military contractors or Haftar-led forces were operating the air defences at the time the drone was reported lost on 21 November, according to Africa Command spokesperson Christopher Karns.
Mohammed Ali Abdallah, adviser for US affairs in Libya’s GNA, said the US drone had come down near the pro-LNA stronghold of Tarhuna, 40 miles south-east of Tripoli.
More than 1,400 Russian mercenaries were deployed with the LNA, he added.
“Only the Russians have that ability – and they were operating where it happened,” Mr Abdallah told Reuters.
“It’s our understanding that Haftar was asked by his Russian partners to claim responsibility, despite not having the capability or equipment to shoot down a US drone.”
Mr Haftar, who claims to be fighting to rid Tripoli of Islamist-leaning armed groups, has also received support from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, according to diplomats and Tripoli officials.
Russian authorities deny using contractors in any foreign military theatre and say Russian civilians who may be fighting abroad are volunteers. The LNA denies it has foreign backing.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly cut his official visit to Egypt short and is on his way back to the country and is expected to meet with Eskom officials on Wednesday.
This after Eskom announced on Monday it would implement stage 6 load shedding.
EWN reports that the presidency has confirmed that Ramaphosa would meet with Eskom officials on Wednesday.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday called on Ramaphosa to come back to the country to “fix the electricity crisis” and “to provide leadership on this self-created crisis”.
DA interim leader John Steenhuisen said: “Ramaphosa should address parliament, taking the nation into his confidence as to what is really transpiring at Eskom. It is unprecedented in a month like a December with such low demand we have rolling blackouts at all – raising suspicion as to what the president is nottelling the nation. It’s time to come clean on exactly what the structural problems at Eskom are and how his government plans to address them.”
The DA also called on Ramaphosa to fire energy minister Gwede Mantashe for the “crisis” at Eskom.
Emotional Zimbabwe doctors are seen in the video below praying for dying patients as public health institutions run out of medicines.
The country’s health sector has been grounded for decades now with the government continuing to allocate fewer resources to one of the critical sector.
The dire situation was worsened by the workers’ ongoing industrial action which started on the 3rd of September this year over unsustainable resources and poor working conditions.
Watch the video below for more.
State Media Motorists have urged the Government to address the current fuel shortages which are disrupting business activities as people are spending long hours in queues at service stations.
Some said they would not be able to travel this festive season if the fuel shortages continued.
“As we look forward to the festive season, we are faced with the problem of fuel shortage and corruption at service stations. Some people are hoarding fuel in drums while we are in queues which should not happen,” said Mr Emphraim Khumbula
Another motorist Mr Kariyange Tapfumaneyi said: “We are not sure whether we will go for holiday because the fuel is scarce. With this situation, we have no hope that we will be able to secure enough fuel to travel to our rural areas.”
Mr Musa Musara said there was need for government to double its usual fuel procurement ahead of the festive season.
“We are encouraging government to ensure that fuel is available in many service stations so that people won’t wait in queues for a long time.
“Businesses are being disturbed because people are spending long hours in queues instead of working to increase the country’s production.”
Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development Magna Mudyiwa told Senate last week that efforts were underway to ensure that the country had enough fuel during the festive season.
She said the challenge was around the roll-over of lines of credit and credit letters that had been issued for the payment of fuel.
“Now that process is over, I think we have seen that there is a slight improvement at our service stations.
“We have been discussing with the RBZ which issues the letters of credit for them to expedite the process and ensure that the fuel we need is made available before the Christmas holiday.”
In a horrific domestic fight in Cowdray Park last week, a 11-month-old child was killed by her aunt’s boyfriend with a brick when she was sleeping in her mother’s arms.
According to a source, Taboka Ndlovu (25) allegedly threw a brick through a window in a fit of rage while threatening to beat up his girlfriend, sister-in-law and mother-in-law who were watching him fight his brother-in-law outside.
Prior to the incident, Ndlovu had a domestic fight with his live-in girlfriend Vast Phiri (19) which led her to run back to her mother who stays in the same neighbourhood with her elder sister Shylene Phiri (24), the mother of the victim.
“He followed her here around 7pm drunk demanding to see his one-year-old daughter. Vast came out with the child and he tried to violently snatch the baby from her but she quickly ran back to the house with the baby,” said the source.
Before he could further harass the family, Vast’s brother came to the rescue and fought the drunk Ndlovu.
“Ndlovu was overpowered and he didn’t take it well. That’s when he picked up the brick on the ground and threw it to the onlookers through the window. It landed on Shylene’s child that was sleeping peacefully in her hands,” said the source.
The baby sustained a swollen forehead and was rushed to hospital where she was admitted in intensive care but died later around midnight.
The matter was reported to the Luveve police.
Bulawayo provincial public relations officer Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident and said they were still investigating.
“For now we appeal to the members of the public to solve their differences amicably and not expose children to those differences. Treat people under the influence of alcohol with caution,” said Msebele.
Meanwhile, Ndlovu has been on the run since the incident.
— BMetro
POSSIBLE natural disasters due to heavy rains and flooding loom, Civil Protection Unit Zimbabwe has warned.
This follows heavy rains that pounded some parts of the country on Sunday evening with Harare receiving the most rains recorded over a 24-hour period.
Statistics from the Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe yesterday showed that Crowborough in Harare recorded 110 millimeters followed by other Harare centres like Ashdown Park (89,9mm), Royal Golf Club (88mm) and Belvedere (82,8 mm).
In most parts of Harare it rained for a good 10 hours between Sunday evening and yesterday morning.
With 59,1 millimeters, Karoi had the highest rainfall outside of Harare according to the Met Department statistics.
In an interview with H-Metro yesterday following incidents of property damages, lighting and marooned villagers, the Director of the Department of Civil Protection Zimbabwe Nathan Nkomo said the heavy downfall has already marooned over 30 villagers in Gokwe and Mberengwa.
“The heavy downfall that has been experienced in many parts of the country has seen over 30 villagers marooned in Gokwe North Umwe River and Ngezi River in Mberengwa.
“The air force is already in the process of assisting the people affected and we urge people who are settled in stream banks to be highly cautious.
“We urge people not to cross flooded rivers or bridges and be very cautious in avoiding lightning which has already claimed lives.
“During this time when the schools are closed, we urge parents and guardians to make sure children are far from such flooding areas,” he said.
Nkomo urged local authorities across the country to clear drainage systems while raising concern over the flooding in Harare.
“There is a serious challenge in Harare that needs urgent attention.
“Authorities need to clear bridges and drainages especially during the rainy season.
“We are seeing drainages blocked by liter everywhere in Harare of which authorities should take swift action.”
The Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe yesterday issued a heavy rain forecast warning and advised people to keep in doors.
MSDZ Chief Forecaster James Ngoma said:
“Heavy rains are going to persist across the country into Tuesday; the day we will experience a drying wind covering part of the Matabeleland area to Masvingo province,
“We expect this wet spell to Tuesday (today).
“Isolated afternoon and evening thundershowers are expected in Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, Mashonaland West and Midlands’s provinces.”
H METRO
ONE hundred and thirty-five victims of Gukurahundi atrocities and political violence were repatriated from a refugee camp in Botswana, where they had sought shelter from persecution by the late former President Robert Mugabe’s regime.
The refugees are part of the 700-plus Zimbabweans living at Dukwe Refugee Camp, about 120km from Francistown in the neighbouring country.
They are expected to be received at the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) centre at the Plumtree Border Post by government officials en route to Zimbabwe.
Contacted for comment, Matabeleland South provincial social welfare officer Criswell Nyakudya, who is in Plumtree waiting to receive the refugees, said he could not comment since the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commissioner, who was in his company was the one qualified.
The commissioner referred questions to the Labour and Social Welfare ministry. “Phone the social welfare offices in Harare, they will give you the full information,” the UNHCR commissioner said curtly.
However, a source close to the matter said the refugees were already on their way.
“We don’t call them refugees, but returnees. They have not yet arrived, but are on their way. We are waiting for them at the border as we speak,” the source said.
Efforts to get a comment from a Botswana counsellor, identified only as Mokomani, who is responsible for the repatriation exercise, were also fruitless after an official at the embassy said she was in Botswana, where she was reportedly seized with the matter.
“I don’t have information about the issue. Ms Mokomani does, but she is in Botswana right now. She is the right person to speak to relating to the matter,” the embassy official said.
Early this year, a family of four was repatriated out of the expected 300 people after the repatriations were temporarily shelved amid reports that some back-tracked on plans to return home.
The family’s return was voluntary, but the rest of the survivors were reportedly reluctant to come back, arguing that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government could not be trusted because it was the same Zanu-PF which had persecuted them.
The repatriation was stopped after the intervention of the UNHCR to make sure that the returnees were doing so voluntarily in accordance with international law.
The returnees were expected to be received by a high-level delegation of government officials at a reception ceremony which should have been at the IOM support centre in Plumtree.
A survivor of the massacres, Lameck Nkomo of Lupane, who returned with three members of his family in January, said he was relieved to come back home after spending 15 years at a refugee camp.
He said he was hopeful the government would empower the returnees after years in the wilderness.
Sources inside Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office Tuesday told ZimEye “all is not well.”
They did not provide further details only saying “Muri kupisa muno nhasi.” – WHAT’S GOING ON?
UPDATES
Professor Jonathan Moyo has suggested that former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi is linked to a newly formed political entity called the People Party.
Responding to reports that he was over the moon about the formation of the party Moyo said, “Hahahaha. What? Me over the moon about announcing Mzembi’s party which announced itself in November 2019 as @PeoplesPartyZim in these streets!”
The party responded on Twitter that they seek to enabvle Zimbabweans to fully realise their potential.
“Yes, indeed we announced ourselves here and on other social media platforms. The mission of the People’s Party is to establish a fair and just society which will enable the people of Zimbabwe to unleash their talents and ingenuity so that their potential can be fully realised.”
Mzembi has not yet come out in the open to endorse or distance himself for the political formation.
Correspondent|THE Airforce of Zimbabwe rescued two artisanal gold miners who were marooned in Ngezi River in Mberengwa following a heavy downpour on Monday.
It is understood that the miners were going about their business when there was a sudden downpour and they rushed to a high lying area near Ngezi river.
The two were spotted by other villagers who then informed Mberengwa North Member of Parliament Tafanana Zhou.
Zhou appraised the Airforce of Zimbabwe who responded swiftly and sent a helicopter to rescue the miners.
The two were rescued and taken to their homes.
“Today we assisted two miners who were marooned at Ngezi River in Mberengwa. The two had tried to cross a flooded river but later realized that the water level was too high and they rushed to a nearby island for safety.
“I was called by miners in Mberengwa and we approached the Airforce of Zimbabwe for help. We are grateful because they brought a helicopter to rescue the miners. This clearly shows that our defense forces value life,” said Zhou.
Mberengwa is prone to floods and was seriously affected by cyclone Dineo.
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FC Platinum’s hopes of going beyond the group stage in the CAF Champions League were dented after a 3-0 defeat to Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel at Barbourfields on Saturday.
And midfielder Never Tigere believes they gave their opponents too much respect.
The Zimbabweans were bullied in all aspects of the game, which Tigere said appeared as if they were playing on foreign soil.
“You would wonder who was at home,” said Tigere.
“We gave them respect, unnecessary respect and it’s like they were at home. We allowed them to play,” said a frustrated Tigere after the game.
The 2019 Soccer Star finalist said they tried to come into the game late and were caught on the break as they sought to restore parity.
“The problem is we realised it late that it’s just a normal game that we can even win.H-Metro
By Patrick Guramatunhu- Zimbabwe’s worsening economic situation has had the undesirable effect of causing some people to panic and, as we all know desperate people do desperate things. The same irrational arguments are finding their way back and are gaining traction!
“AS the year draws to an end, it has become obvious to millions of Zimbabweans that the prospect of a broad-based, credible dialogue process are fading, further threatening the country’s desperately needed socio-economic recovery,” wrote Faith Zaba in The Independent.
“Over the past year, efforts at dialogue backed by the churches, civic society and other interest groups, aimed at bringing Zimbabwe’s key political players together have yielded minimum results.
“The Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) process launched in May 2019 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to which political parties were invited to participate, has one fundamental weakness, it does not include the main opposition political party, the MDC Alliance.”
Faith, like so many others before you and to come after you (we have not heard the last on this), you are proposing “broad-based, credible dialogue” which will include Chamisa and his MDC party. We already know that Chamisa wants the dialogue to conclude with the formation of the National Transition Authority (NTA). , watered down version of the 2008 to 2013 GNU to you and me.
Chamisa insists the NTA will implement “the comprehensive democratic reforms necessary to guarantee free, fair and credible elections”. Whilst everyone agrees the reforms are vital to getting the nation out of this death-trap of rigged elections and bad governance. It is not obvious to main people is that the NTA will never get the reforms implemented because it is a watered down version of the 2008 to 2013 GNU which failed to get even one reform implemented. Not one!
In her article, Faith did not acknowledge the failures of the last GNU or the shortcomings of the NTA.
What Zimbabwe needs is an arrangement that will get the reforms implemented and that is only possible if Zanu PF is forced to step down. The political dialogue we want must be acknowledge that Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections, the regime is illegitimate; that is the only way the party can be forced to step down.
Besides, the problem of Zanu PF rigging elections is at the very heart of this economic and political nightmare and anyone who thinks we can ever end this nightmare without tackling this problem of rigged elections is naive, to say the least. Zimbabwe is in this mess because the country was stuck for the last 39 years with this corrupt, incompetent and murderous Zanu PF dictatorship.
The party rigged elections to stay in power and, for our sins, pretended not to notice the vote rigging we did not want to face to the Zanu PF thugs and tell them they had no mandate and must step down. It was a foolish thing to do because the consequences of 39 years of Zanu PF misrule are the economic meltdown and the tragic human suffering and deaths we see in Zimbabwe today.
The political dialogue that you, Faith and many others out there, have been clamouring will involve Zanu PF as the key political player and will only seek to grant legitimacy to the party. This is just another way of appeasing the Zanu PF thugs. And this is exactly what we have done for the last 39 years, it has not worked all these years and it is insane to continue down this path. Insane.
A recent World Bank 2019 Report said 34% or 5.7 million of our people now live in “extreme poverty” up from 29% or 4.7 million in 2018. Many of our hospitals have all but closed for lack of doctors, nurses, medicine, electricity you name it. All this because for the last 39 years we would not confront the Zanu PF thugs with the truth of rigging the elections. We must deal with this curse of rigged elections now and not bury our heads in the sand; not when the price of such foolishness is heart breaking human misery and death and the stability of the nation.
Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections, the regime is illegitimate and not just Mnangagwa, and must step down. This will allow the nation the political space to appoint an interim administration that can be entrusted the task of implemented the reforms and holding free, fair and credible elections. Neither Zanu PF nor MDC leaders can appointed into the interim administration because they failed to get even one reform implemented during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Zimbabwe cannot afford to waste this chance.
If Zanu PF is allow to stay in office till 2023 then this will be judge yet another national failure. For we can be 100% certain that Zanu PF will see to it that no meaningful reforms are implemented and the party will go on to rig that year’s elections and drag the nation even deeper into this hell-on-earth the party has landed us in. And we, the people, would have allowed this to happen, in our desperate effort to end the economic meltdown we have become insane and made things worse not better.
Farai Dziva|Zimbabwean gaffer Kalisto Pasuwa ‘s Nyasa Big Bullets are close to winning the title in Malawi after a hard-fought 1-0 over Silver Stars over the weekend.
Bullets went into the encounter on a jinx of not having win a single game in Lilongwe this season but Chimwemwe Idana’s 75th minute solitary strike was all they needed to break it and consolidate top position.
The victory took Bullets’ tally to 61 points, a point above fellow title aspirants Be Forward Wanderers, who were 2-1 victors over Karonga United.
Bullets next travel to Civil Sporting Club on Wednesday and then returninga back to Blantyre for their remaining two games at home against Moyale Barracks and TN Stars.
ZimEye will be live-streaming the post cabinet presser.
Refresh this page for latest updates
Farai Dziva|Norman Mapeza’s arrival at Chippa United in October has totally transformed the club.
The Eastern Cape-based side has been struggling to collect maximum points.
Chippa moved to the safety – on position 11 over the weekend after beating Cape Town City 1-0 on Saturday.
Mapeza’s record in the last four games saw him picking ten points out of a possible twelve, the best-undefeated run for the club this season.
The results are in contrast to what Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane claimed last month.
The respected South African gaffer questioned the impact Mapeza had brought at Chippa United.
Pitso wanted the job to be given to a local coach following the sacking of Clinton Larsen as he believes most foreign mentors don’t make any difference in the South African football.
Mosimane told Kick-Off.com: “I mean really what’s the difference [at Chippa now]? He hasn’t been there and then what? Do you know what I’m trying to say?
“I was not happy when Cavin Johnson was let off his job [at AmaZulu], what has happened? Have you seen any big difference? You can’t really say there’s been a big difference.”
When the Sundowns mentor made those comments, Mapeza had taken charge of four games in all competitions.
By Own Correspondent| There is a South Africa based woman in her 30s by name Gugulethu (or just Gugu) Ncube, who has for years alleged she is Welshman Ncube’s daughter, and secondly that she is a rape victim.
No newspaper in South Africa has ever taken her story, something that raises questions about how the media handles cases of rape complaints. There has to be a mechanism of supporting victims.
Gugu’s case however appears a unique.
She sure looks like Welshman Ncube, so stop laughing, okay! But she also looks like her birth certificate father, Lot.
She says the man on her birth certificate registered as her father murdered her mother and killed himself afterwards, soon after discovering that Welshman committed adultery with his wife. A background check proves that of a truth Lot Ncube killed his wife somewhere in Gwanda in 1987 and committed suicide afterwards.
We contact Welshman for a comment and Nelson Chamisa’s deputy refuses to speak only saying he is not amused by the allegations.
But the facials are so similar, and why is Welshman refusing to speak, is this to merely avoid being caught saying the wrong thing?
Gugu Ncube 2 years ago narrated to the world (the “touching” childhood story) claiming she is Welshman’s daughter proven in a DNA test conducted in 1986 at a Bulawayo hospital. (There was no DNA technology in Zim hospitals in 1987, even as late as 2010! There was no DNA technology in any hospital anywhere in the world in 1987).
She also claimed she has been raped by at least 5 men in the last 10 years.
A background check has suggested she is a serial litigant.
ALSO READ: Cases of rape laid by Ms Gugu Ncube around Johannesburg police stations:
Case numbers and status
1) 1779-10-2009 withdrawn / accused A.A
2) 218-01–2010 undetected / no case
3) 173-01-2013 withdrawn / no case
4) 216-04-2017 withdrawn / accused M.G
5) 690-03-2018 closed /accused S.M
On the Welshman connection, after being snapped on camera with Welshman, she soon rushed to contact the then president Jacob Zuma saying she is a relative through Welshman’s son’s marriage. She was now President Zuma’s daughter in law- perfect.
In covering her story and assisting someone back then viewed as a victim, ZimEye blew over £340.00 in phone calls alone.
The LIVE programs soon hit a snag when it became clear she had not told the truth on being Welshman Ncube’s daughter proven from a DNA test.
During interviews she within minutes shifted from calling Welshman, Dad, to “this guy.”
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Farai Dziva| Chibuku Super Cup winners Highlanders are yet to make a decision on their participation in the next season of the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Bulawayo giants had informed that they were going to announce their position before the end of last week but club chairman Kenneth Mhlophe says they are still in consultation with their sponsors.
“Trust me, whatever decision that we will make is for the good of the club,” he Chronicle.
“We have to safeguard the club’s interests. Consultations and conversations are going on and our members will know the position of the club soon.”
Meanwhile, it has also been reported that Highlanders might no take part in the inter-club competition due to budget constraints. The club leadership is resolving to strengthening the squad instead, so that it can challenge for the league next year.
Open Letter to Zesa over unfair distribution of electricity in Mutare, particularly the sidelining of HOB House Location.
As the national provider of electricity, you will, no doubt, be well aware of our plight, as HOB House residents, of a perennial absence of electricity,which occurs daily,almost seven days out of the seven week days.
With all due respect of protocol,l wish to draw your attention to the problems we have with regards to the differential treatment that we are getting from Zesa.l find myself right in telling you that, on a daily basis, electricity is switched off between 0400 and 0500 hours. Electricity will only be restored around mid-night, which is monotonic.
Surprisingly, and under suspicious circumstances, the same is not what happens to other areas like Zimunya and Penhalonga, Fern Valley, Sakubva and Zimta which is adjacent to our location.
In Zimunya,Fern Valley or Tsvingwe, it is very rare to see them without
electricity. They even get restoration during the day, almost daily. Since time immemorial, if the sky would show signs of rains, electricity is switched off in HOB House.
We at times would go as far as four consecutive days and nights in absolute darkness, and one would think we are a cursed lot, and this is evidential in our view that ZESA has conceptually grounded HOB House, which leaves absolute parallelism between us and the service provider. Does it mean that
Zesa would have forgotten that there are also people in HOB House? Are the Zesa employees aware of ‘intricate’ linkings of electricity to our habits, living and custom?
Due to the absence of electricity, our area is subject to a very hazardous walk during the night. The other day, my neighbour had his foodstuffs, including meat and baby food, worth thousands of dollars rotten due to the perennial absence of electricity.
As you already know, due to the economic hardships currently obtaining in the country, people are failing to obtain alternative back-up sources, and
replacing any rotten foodstuffs would need another day for me to dwell on that, and l am concerned that there are a lot others who are facing the same predicament going unknown, if nothing is done about this soon.
I do hope you can find time to visit the locations during one of your work days to see for yourself just how serious the problem has become and can, subsequently, lobby some of your fellow employees to support a change in the allocation of the scarce national resource.
I would be interested in seeing change and hearing from you with regards to your views on this matter and what you might be able to do about it.
Thank you in anticipation of your help.
Yours sincerely
Prof Luke Mbune Chakaza (Resident)
Farai Dziva|Gift Ostallos Siziba, the MDC Youth Assembly Secretary General says he will continue to participate in the struggle for democracy despite state- initiated persecution of civilians.
See Siziba’s full statement:
Revolutionary salutations comrades, democrats and fellow compatriots!
As some might already have read from the streets of social media that I have been acquitted of the frivolous and concocted charges inciting public violence that I have been facing.
I would like to extend my profound thanks to all Zimbabweans and in particular my legal team (ZLHR), the Youth assembly legal team and members of the Youth Assembly.
The case has been exhausting, draining and intended to distracted our resolve to fight for a democratic developmental Zimbabwe.
Without solidarity our struggle for a genuinely free, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe will remain a pipe dream so SOLIDARITY FOREVER comrades!
As president Advocate Nelson Chamisa has always indicated, the task upon our generation is to finish the unfinished business of the liberation.
We stand firm in execution this mission upon which Zimbabwe shall be free.
In the struggle for change
Aluta Continua.
Statement by Gift Ostallos Siziba MDC Youth Assembly Secretary General
Revolutionary salutations comrades, democrats and fellow compatriots!
As some might already have read from the streets of social media that I have been acquitted of the frivolous and concocted charges inciting public violence that I have been facing.
I would like to extend my profound thanks to all Zimbabweans and in particular my legal team (ZLHR), the Youth assembly legal team and members of the Youth Assembly.
The case has been exhausting, draining and intended to distracted our resolve to fight for a democratic developmental Zimbabwe.
Without solidarity our struggle for a genuinely free, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe will remain a pipe dream so SOLIDARITY FOREVER comrades!
As president Advocate Nelson Chamisa has always indicated, the task upon our generation is to finish the unfinished business of the liberation.
We stand firm in execution this mission upon which Zimbabwe shall be free.
In the struggle for change
Aluta Continua.
Farai Dziva|The Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ Holdings) is set to close some of its branches in the wake of deepening economic challenges.
CBZ will close its Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street branch in Bulawayo on December 31 this year.
The bank has also closed its Tsholotsho branch.
According to a state run publication, more branches are expected to be shut down.
“CBZ Holdings encourages its customers to use digital platforms such as CBZ Touch Mobile App, CBZ Internet Banking, CBZ Smart Point Point-of-Sale terminals and ATMs,” a source said.
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By A Correspondent- The chairperson of the Parliamentary portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs who is also a Zanu PF legislator for Chegutu West, Dexter Nduna, has said that the funds allocated to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) were not enough to improve the welfare of prisoners.
Presenting a report in Parliament recently, Nduna bemoaned the amount allocated to the ZPCS.
He said:
“ZPCS was appropriated $715 116 000 against a bid of $2 244 727 803 which resulted in a negative variance of 68 percent. This gross under-allocation will result in a decline in the welfare of inmates through inadequate quantities of food, uniforms for inmates, medicines and sanitary ware.
Local prisons are already in a dire state with inmates always complaining about the food, poor sanitation, overcrowding and clothing which are conducive conditions for disease outbreak.”
Human rights defenders including the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum have been calling for the rehabilitation of local prisons saying that the current state of prisons violated human rights including the right to dignity.
-DailyNews
Farai Dziva|2018 independent Presidential candidate Brian Mteki has rejoined Zanu PF.
Mteki told state broadcaster, ZBC he was happy to return home.
” I have returned home- Zanu PF is my home and I am ready to serve the nation.
We have to be united as a nation.Zanu PF is a party that represents the interests of the people,” said Mteki.
Commenting on Mteki’s decision to return to Zanu PF, the ruling party Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda said:” We are happy to embrace Cde Mteki.
He worked closely with the late Elliot Tapfumaneyi Manyika and we all know that he is an industrious figure.”
Farai Dziva|Respected Masvingo based political analyst Jeffryson Chitando has said 2018 independent Presidential candidate Brian Mteki’s decision to rejoin Zanu PF is insignificant.
Chitando said:” This move is insignificant, Mteki is Zanu PF to the bone marrow…”
Mteki told state broadcaster, ZBC he was happy to return home.
” I have returned home- Zanu PF is my home and I am ready to serve the nation.
We have to be united as a nation.Zanu PF is a party that represents the interests of the people,” said Mteki.
Commenting on Mteki’s decision to return to Zanu PF, the ruling party Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda said:” We are happy to embrace Cde Mteki.
He worked closely with the late Elliot Tapfumaneyi Manyika and we all know that he is an industrious figure.”
Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet
This has been a year of tremendous activism – notably by young people.
It is particularly fitting that this year we mark Human Rights Day during the crucial UN conference in Madrid to uphold climate justice.
We owe a debt of gratitude to all those millions of children, teenagers and young adults who have been standing up and speaking out more and more loudly about the crisis facing our planet.
Rightly, these young people are pointing out that it is their future which is at stake, and the future of all those who have not yet even been born. It is they who will have to bear the full consequences of the actions, or lack of action, by the older generations who currently run governments and businesses, the decision-makers on whom the future of individual countries, regions and the planet as whole depends.
It cannot, of course, be left to young people alone to tackle the climate emergency, or indeed the many other human rights crises that are currently causing simultaneous turbulence in so many countries across the world. All of us must stand together, in solidarity, and act with principle and urgency.
We can, and must, uphold the painstakingly developed universal human rights principles that sustain peace, justice and sustainable development. A world with diminished human rights is a world that is stepping backwards into a darker past, when the powerful could prey on the powerless with little or no moral or legal restraint.
However, among the many human rights challenges that have been metastasizing during the first two decades of the 21st century, the global climate emergency presents perhaps the most profound planet-wide threat to human rights that we have seen since World War II. From the right to life, to health, to food, water and shelter, to our rights to be free of discrimination, to development and to self-determination, its impacts are already making themselves felt.
We have a duty to ensure young people’s voices are heard.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, was a firm commitment by States to protect the rights of everyone – and that includes making it possible for future generations to uphold human dignity, equality and rights.
All human beings have a right to participate in decisions that have impact on their lives. In order to ensure more effective decision-making, and to build greater trust and harmony across their nations, the leaders of every society should be listening to their people – and acting in accordance with their needs and demands.
Nothing summarizes these aims, the leitmotif of the international human rights system, more clearly and succinctly than Article 1 of the Universal Declaration, which states boldly and unequivocally that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
No country, no community, will be spared by the climate emergency, as it intensifies. Already, we are seeing the most vulnerable communities and nations suffering terrible damage.
People are losing homes, livelihoods – and lives. Inequalities are deepening, and more people are being forced into displacement. We must act quickly, and with principle, to ensure the least possible harm is done to human beings, and to our environment.
Climate harms will not be halted by national borders – and reactions based on hostile nationalism, or short-term financial considerations, will not only fail: they will tear our world apart. The struggles for climate justice and human rights are not a political quarrel. This is not about left or right: it is about rights – and wrongs.
It is not just concerns about the accelerating climate crisis that have driven millions to stand up and demand action. In every region, people are finding their voice to speak up about inequalities and repressive institutions. I am inspired by the courage, clarity and principle of all these people, some of them very young indeed, who are standing up peacefully, in order to right the wrongs of our era and create greater freedom and justice. They are the living expression of human rights.
Policy-makers everywhere need to listen to these calls. And in response, they need to shape more effective, and more principled, policies.
We have a right to live free from discrimination on any grounds. We have a right to access education, health-care, economic opportunities and a decent standard of living. We – all of us – have a right to participate in decisions that affect our lives. This is about our future, our livelihoods, our freedoms, our security and our environment. And not just our future, but the future of our children, grand-children and great grand-children.
We need to mobilise across the world – peacefully and powerfully – to advance a world of rights, dignity and choice for everyone. The decision-makers understood that vision very clearly in 1948.
Do they understand it now? I urge world leaders to show true leadership and long-term vision and set aside narrow national political interests for the sake of everyone, including themselves and all their descendants.
ENDS
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has pushed through a new bill that authorises the blowing up of huge amounts of money of up to 10 billion dollars by ministries without permission.
The development, which his predecessor the late former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe also implemented through the 2014 Financial Adjustments Bill, condones government’s unauthorised expenditure.
The recent move however could be an attempt to cover-up the leaking of USD5,9 billion within 5 months of Mugabe’s removal from power.
Details of the Financial Adjustments Bill were revealed in the below memo (bottom of article).
The Tendai Biti led parliamentary portfolio on Public Accounts has found that USD5,9 billion was blown soon after Mugabe’s removal, the memo reveals more harrowing unauthorised expenditure.
The memo is itself an announcement government officials blew a total USD8 billion by the end of year 2018.
The latest public reading indicates that the bill has already been pushed through and Mthuli Ncube is simply making an announcement of latest developments.
Commenting on the development, MDC Secretary General Chalton Hwende said, “we are doomed with these fellas!”
Meanwhile the memo reads in full:
FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS BILL, 2019
MEMORANDUM
If a Government Ministry or Department spends money in any financial year in excess of the amount appropriated, or for a purpose for which nothing was appropriated, the Minister of Finance is required in terms of section 307 of the Constitution to cause a Bill condoning the unauthorised expenditure to be introduced in the National Assembly seeking condonation of the unauthorised expenditure, no later than sixty days after the extent of the unauthorised expenditure has been established.
In line with the above, we seek condonation for unauthorised expenditure incurred by Line Ministries of US$25,305,741 (twenty-five million three hundred and five thousand and seven hundred and forty-one dollars) for year ended 2015, US$1,530,890,050 (one billion five hundred and thirty million eight hundred and ninety thousand and fifty dollars) for year ended 2016, US$4,562,064,123 (four billion five hundred and sixty-two million and sixty four thousand one hundred and twenty-three dollars) for year ended 2017, US$3,560,343,130 (three billion five hundred and sixty million three hundred and forty-three thousand one hundred and thirty dollars) for year ended 2018
By A Correspondent- A hot-headed man has gone on the run after he fired shots at his former employee whom he accused of stealing from him.
Francis Dube from Duta Farm in Kezi is now facing attempted murder charges after he fired his pistol at Sitshengisiwe Ncube (50). Dube fired his gun after accusing Ncube of stealing his ox-drawn plough and a brick moulder while she was working for him.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident, telling the state media.
“I can confirm that we recorded an attempted murder case which occurred in Halale Village in Nathisa. The suspect Francis Dube went to Sitshengisiwe Ncube’s homestead. He accused her of stealing an ox-drawn plough and a brick moulder from him.
He demanded his property back but she refused. Dube retrieved a pistol from his car and fired a shot at Ncube but missed after she hid behind a tree.
-StateMedia
By Business Reporter| The minister of finance has pushed through a new bill that authorises the blowing up of amounts up to 10 billion dollars by ministries without permission.
The development could be an attempt to cover-up the leaking of USD5,9 billion within 5 months of former president Robert Mugabe’s removal from power.
Details of the Financial Adjustments Bill were revealed in the below memo (bottom of article).
The Tendai Biti led parliamentary portfolio on Public Accounts has found that USD5,9 billion was blown soon after Mugabe’s removal, the memo reveals more harrowing unauthorised expenditure.
The memo is itself an announcement government officials blew a total USD8 billion by the end of year 2018.
The latest public reading indicates that the bill has already been pushed through and Mthuli Ncube is simply making an announcement of latest developments.
Commenting on the development, MDC Secretary General Chalton Hwende said, “we are doomed with these fellas!”
Meanwhile the memo reads in full:
FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS BILL, 2019
MEMORANDUM
If a Government Ministry or Department spends money in any financial year in excess of the amount appropriated, or for a purpose for which nothing was appropriated, the Minister of Finance is required in terms of section 307 of the Constitution to cause a Bill condoning the unauthorised expenditure to be introduced in the National Assembly seeking condonation of the unauthorised expenditure, no later than sixty days after the extent of the unauthorised expenditure has been established.
In line with the above, we seek condonation for unauthorised expenditure incurred by Line Ministries of US$25,305,741 (twenty-five million three hundred and five thousand and seven hundred and forty-one dollars) for year ended 2015, US$1,530,890,050 (one billion five hundred and thirty million eight hundred and ninety thousand and fifty dollars) for year ended 2016, US$4,562,064,123 (four billion five hundred and sixty-two million and sixty four thousand one hundred and twenty-three dollars) for year ended 2017, US$3,560,343,130 (three billion five hundred and sixty million three hundred and forty-three thousand one hundred and thirty dollars) for year ended 2018.
By Own Correspondent| Harare Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti on Monday 9 December 2019 set free MDC Youth Assembly Secretary-General Gift Ostallos Siziba after ordering that he be removed from remand for allegedly inciting people to revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’sgovernment.
Siziba had been appearing in court since he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Wednesday 10 July 2019 and charged with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors charged that Siziba incited members of the public to rise up against President Mnangagwa’s government when he addressed his MDC party supporters at a political rally held in Harare.
On Monday 9 December 2019, the MDC youth leader’s lawyer Moses Nkomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights protested against the State’s failure to have his trial commence despite undertaking to do so on several occasions.
This resulted in Magistrate Muchuchuti agreeing with Nkomo’s submissions and removed Siziba from remand and ordering the State to proceed by issuing summons if it intends to press on with his prosecution.
A Daily News article has claimed the opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is toning down on one of his key demands for dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa – to have an external mediator and is now open to either local cleric or retired judge mediating such talks.
This comes as relations between authorities and Chamisa are widely accepted to be at an all-time low following the continuing clampdown by police on the MDC and its officials.
But despite this tension, behind-the-scenes and indirect ‘talks about the talks’ appear to be gathering pace with Chamisa now saying that he will accept mediation by “neutral” locals.
The paper quotes the MDC spokesperson Daniel Molokele allegedly saying at the weekend that the party would be comfortable with an independent judge or clergyman mediating the mooted dialogue.
Chamisa and the MDC have previously insisted that any talks with Mnangagwa be held on condition that they are brokered by a respectable external mediator.
Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo was at one time touted as a potential candidate for this role after Chamisa held talks with him in the West African nation — and after the retired statesman also held private talks with Mnangagwa in the capital recently.
Meanwhile, Sadc says it prefers Zimbabweans to mediate in the much-talked about talks.
Polarisation in the southern African nation deepened after last year’s disputed elections won by Mnangagwa by a razor-thin margin, scuppering any hope of the country shaking off its divided past and implementing economic revival after long-time leader Robert Mugabe was removed from power via a bloody coup two years ago.
Zimbabwe’s churches have unsuccessfully sought to broker talks between the government and its opponents as the country battles its worst economic crisis characterised by severe shortages of fuel, cash, medicines, and rolling power cuts while inflation now in three figures is at its highest in a decade.
Their efforts, however, stalled on Chamisa’s refusal to recognise Mnangagwa’s presidency over allegations of “electoral theft” and that any talks be mediated by a neutral figure.
But after the opposition dropped the legitimacy component from its list of key demands following a meeting at the weekend, government felt the move could pave the way for possible talks.
Information secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana yesterday said the move by Chamisa’s camp would go a long way in depolarising the country’s toxic political environment.
“That conciliatory tone coming from the main opposition party in Zimbabwe is a welcome development. There’s need to depolarise the nation so we focus on developmental issues. This involves having Zimbabweans talking to one another with respect and a sense of propriety. We have to engage one another. That’s the essence of dialogue whose frame, substance and tone is not that of a negotiation,” he said.
“There was no legitimacy issue in Zimbabwe. There’s a leader in Zimbabwe whose legitimacy is internationally recognised. That’s why diplomats from any country in the world present their credentials to that leader.”
Mangwana, however, said such talks would be presided over by a respectable local convenor.
“National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NRPC) and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission heads are the independent convenors. Surely ‘independent’ does not mean foreigner, does it?” he asked rhetorically.
The opposition leader said his party was ready for “a sincere, honest and credible dialogue process to end political hostilities that are holding back economic recovery” and insisted that the country needed assistance from the region.
“My message to our brothers in Africa is: Please help us to fix our politics and economy in Zimbabwe. A weak Zimbabwe is a weak region and a sick continent,” Chamisa said.
“The problems of Zimbabwe are the problems of Africa, so it is important to be assisted through this and allow needed reforms that usher in a new Zimbabwe and a better country for all.”
– DailyNews
By A Correspondent| Men are being abused by women, said a Deaf Zimbabwe Trust representative on Tuesday.
They told ZimEye.com, “we have had a lot of complaints from men with disabilities.Someone says I am the one who works in the house yet the family continues to say be good to this woman because she is looking after you. So you’re expected to swallow all the hook and sink” VIDEO:
Men are being abused by women,"We have had a lot of complaints from men with disabilities.Someone says I am the one who works in the house yet the family continues to say be good to this woman because she is looking after you. So you're expected to swallow all the hook and sink" pic.twitter.com/wNpuhcig6k
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 10, 2019
