By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top ally Christopher Mutsvangwa yesterday angrily stormed out of a debate after he was confronted over the manner in which government reintroduced the local currency and rendered savings and pensions worthless.

Mutsvangwa was unhappy over interjections by MDC secretary.

More to follow….

Wednesday marked a hundred days since doctors in Zimbabwe went on strike.

The industrial action, which began on 3 September, affected most major hospitals.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government appeared hopeful that after 100 days, the doctors’ strike may finally be drawing to a close.

The Health Services Board said at least 80 doctors applied to return to work after an offer of financial support was made by the Higher Life Foundation, a charity run by billionaire Strive Masiyiwa. But, that figure was still only a fraction of the 1,600 doctors in government service.

Most of them had joined the strike.

Own Correspondent|The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe has revealed that it will increase the price of mealie meal if the Ministry of Finance does not avail the subsidy that it promised to the millers.

The Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube announced that after President Emmerson Mnangagwa reversed the removal of subsidies, the Ministry will give the millers money for subsidies.

Read the full message from GMAZ below:

Reference is made to our agreed subsidy regime arrangement on roller-meal which you correctly announced to the consuming public last week.

Regrettably, Ministry of Finance is yet to make good on its upfront payment of the subsidy funds to millers.

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

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

Popular Economist and commentator Eddie Cross has penned the following items and labelled them his Christmas wishlist. Here is Eddie’s Christmas Wishlist for his country:

1. The first item is, these wretched shortages: Fuel, power and food basics…We have to switch the procurement of these essential commodities to the private sector and use the infrastructure of the SOEs to deal with logistics and storage.
2. The second item on my wish list is property rights. It is time that we recognised, as a nation, not just in government, that property rights are sacrosanct. If we do not have a legal system and a government or even a national perspective on this issue, we are going nowhere.
3. My third wish on the list is to adopt policies that recognise the value of foreign exchange and the need to use it responsibly and on a market-driven allocation basis. Right now we have a system that transfers control over foreign exchange from those who have earned it to people who control its allocation as a source of power, influence and privilege
4. My fourth wish is that we as a nation must strive in 2020 to agree on where we are going as a country. The Bible says that a ”house divided cannot stand” and that ”a nation without vision will perish”. At present we are stuck with both problems and we must accept that unless we get to grips with this issue we will not make real progress and maintain our stability.
5. My fifth wish is that we get to grips with how we manage our local authorities. What we are doing now is just not working.
6. Finally, our leadership must recognise that no Nation can make its way in the world of today without a good education and health services. We spend a lot of money on both, but performance is deteriorating and fast. If we do not get this right we put all our futures, not just the next generation, at risk.

More: Newsday

Chitungwiza acting town clerk Engineer David Duma and director of Housing Mrs Hazel Sithole have been suspended with immediate effect pending finalisation of their cases of criminal abuse of office.

Government has since written to the municipality notifying them of the suspension, which the full council endorsed during their meeting on last night.

Duma and Sithole allegedly sold a commercial stand for the construction of a service station in Seke without following laid down procedures.

The pair, is also alleged to have unlawfully sold another commercial stand at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre in St Mary’s without following the correct procedures.

Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest) director Mrs Alice Kuvheya welcomed the decision to suspend the pair fingered in corruption.

Karanda Bridge deck which is under-construction was last night swept away by heavy rains that have pounded Mount Darwin for the past two days.

Rushinga Member of Parliament Tendai Nyabani confirmed the incident but referred questions to Mt Darwin East legislator Norman Marikisi who was not readily available for a comment.

“It’s confirmed the bridge was swept away last night and I have also shared the information on social media but that is not my constituency. The washed away bridge borders Mt Darwin South and Mt Darwin East constituencies,” said Nyabani.

Harare City Council has increased its towing and clamping fees 1000 fold effective this Friday following Government’s approval.

The fees used to range from $57 to $90.

Wheel clamping of light motor vehicle will now cost $500 from $57, while for commuter omnibus 15-seater will be $600 and $700 for an 18-seater.

Conventional buses and lorries will now be penalised $800 and articulated heavy lorries $900.

For tow away, charges will now range from $500 to $800 depending with the type of the vehicle.

Light motor vehicles will now be charged $500, commuter omnibus 15-seater and 18-seaters is now pegged at $700 and $800 respectively.

The city’s acting communications corporate manager Mr Innocent Ruwende confirmed the new charges.

Own Correspondent|A number of long-distance passengers have been left destitute after losing everything when the bus they were travelling in caught fire on the N1 Highway, Southbound, just after William Nicol on Wednesday morning.

The bus was carrying 44 passengers, many of them were women and children, and was en route from Cape Town to Zimbabwe. 

Emergency services have been on the scene to assess the incident.

Department of Transport’s spokesperson, Ayanda Allie-Paine says no injuries or fatalities were reported.

“Passengers lost everything they had saved up for and purchased for their family members back home,” says Allie-Paine. 

Watch below as Allie-Paine speaks to one of the  Zimbabwean national Viola Sunday says she lost all her documentation in the blaze and that her child was her priority when smoke engulfed the passenger bus.

Allie-Paine also shows the aftermath of the fire where passengers are seen trying to salvage what is left of their luggage.

By A Correspondent- The government has dismissed social media reports circulating purporting that the govt has bumped up the Doctors’ wages with amounts varying from $8 000 to $26 000.

Disputing the rumours, a statement released by the Health Ministry’s Public Relations Department reads in part:

It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Health and Child Care that there is a document circulating on social media purporting an upward review of doctors remuneration package by Government. This statement is false and mischievous as Government has not reviewed salaries of doctors and other Health workers in the manner purported in this document.

Government distances itself from this false announcement, which should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. The last official review of salaries by Government was in September 2019 when all its Health workers where awarded a 100 percent increase, which still stand.

Doctors have been on strike for the past 14 weeks and have raised 10 issues of concern with the government which they claim are running down the public hospitals. 

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza acting town clerk Engineer David Duma and director of Housing Mrs Hazel Sithole have been suspended with immediate effect pending finalisation of their cases of criminal abuse of office.

Government has since written to the municipality notifying them of the suspension, which the full council endorsed during their meeting on last night.

Duma and Sithole allegedly sold a commercial stand for the construction of a service station in Seke without following laid down procedures.

The pair, is also alleged to have unlawfully sold another commercial stand at Chigovanyika Shopping Centre in St Mary’s without following the correct procedures.

Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest) director Mrs Alice Kuvheya welcomed the decision to suspend the pair fingered in corruption.

-StateMedia

CROSS border bus crews have been urged to tighten security on the road through avoiding picks and drops at undesignated points as well as searching all passengers using metal detectors.

They were also reminded to keep records of their passengers as a security measure.

An upsurge in cases where travellers are robbed of groceries and cash while on the South Africa-Zimbabwe route prompted the police and the passenger associations to issue out warnings and give bus drivers safety tips.

The latest case is the recent hijacking of an Inter Cape Bus that was travelling to Harare from South Africa by eight armed robbers. The incident occurred on the South African side.

The criminals were armed with an AK 47 rifle, pistols and knives. The passengers had boarded the bus at Park Station in Johannesburg at around 7.30pm on Saturday night to Harare and the hijacking occurred soon after leaving Pretoria after the first toll plaza. Four of the robbers were part of the passengers.

Robbers, who pose as desperate transport seekers are now targeting buses during the night. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged bus operators to intensify their security.

“We have been always saying bus operators should step up on their security to ensure passengers are safe and secure at all costs.

“They should also keep the particulars of their passengers with them.

“We also encourage drivers not to stop at any place for recess because some of these people who demand recess, would be working in connivance with robbers.

“We are also urging members of the public to be alert when travelling,” he said.

Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) president Mr Tafadzwa Goliati said drivers should desist from the habit of picking up and dropping passengers at undesignated points as they put their passengers at risk.

“Bus operators should advise their drivers to avoid picking up and dropping passengers at undesignated points.

“They should not be greedy for money. Reputable bus operators do not do that hence they are not robbed.

“Bus crews should also have the passenger manifesto bearing the names of all the passengers and this will assist them to identify those who could have committed any criminal activity,” he said.

Farai Dziva|A seemingly energetic Constantino Chiwenga is attending an ordinary session of the Zanu PF Politburo meeting.

This comes after reports that the former army commander complained of dizziness yesterday.

Some sources suggested that Chiwenga collapsed during a government meeting.

“Zanu PF First Secretary and President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa says the ruling party stands with the victims of illegal land sales while land barons will face the full wrath of the law,” Zanu PF Patriots tweeted.

“An ordinary session of the Zanu PF politburo is underway at the party headquarters in Harare which signifies the commencement of the party’s 18th annual people’s conference.”

Farai Dziva|The Zimbabwean government has been accused of illegally obtaining electricity from Eskom.

See below an article published by Ihlayanews.com:

The Zimbabwean government has been powering almost half of their country from illegal connections and Eskom had been trying to figure out where the lost electricity is actually going without success until the past weekend.

Zimbabwe had an Electricity deal with Eskom in which they are defaulting by over R300 million rands which is nothing compared to the electricity they had been stealing for years without Eskom’s knowledge.

The Zimbabwean government had targeted power lines and sub-stations near the Limpopo river.

They ran their connections underground into the Limpopo river and then into their country.

Over the years Eskom had learned that whenever there is load shedding in parts of Limpopo near the border some areas in Zimbabwe get affected too but that was not enough for and investigation.

It appeared that someone did not pass the torch in the electricity department in Zimbabwe that the new Zimbabwean electricity authorities started complaining to Eskom to at least inform them when there is load shedding coming up. Eskom does not do load shedding on the electricity they sell legally to Zimbabwe. That was the first red flag.

Now after the recent heavy rains, some of the connections were mess up under the Limpopo river they asked Eskom to assist and that’s when the 15-year long theft was discovered.

As of now, it is not clear if there is any South African involved in this electricity heist.

Farai Dziva|A Zimbabwean man brutally killed his wife and drove his vehicle into a haulage truck, according to the Legendary Family Facebook page.

Details of the shocking incident are still sketchy.

“RIP But Varume musadaro vabateyi mushe vanhukadzi ndovakaita tivepo,” Legendary Family posted.

By A Correspondent- The High Court has granted an order for temporary stay of proceedings in a matter in which former Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) board chairman Stanley Kazhanje is jointly charged with Intratrek boss Wicknell Chivayo, on bribery charges.

Kazhanje approached the High Court yesterday, arguing that he was not ready to proceed to trial as he wanted to acquire a record from another case where he was convicted on almost similar allegations.

He was jailed for a year for concealing a US$10 000 transaction he received from Chivayo in a botched tender deal.

But, the former ZPC board chair was brought back to court where he is being jointly charged with Chivayo on bribery charges.

Kazhanje then approached the High Court seeking an order to temporarily stay proceedings at the magistrates’ court saying he wanted to acquire the court record to use in preparing his defence.

The former ZPC board chairman cited Chivayo and his Intratrek Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited, magistrate Pasipanodya Maturure and the Prosecutor-General as respondents.

“The applicant filed an application to review the decision of the third respondent to dismiss applicant’s application for a postponement on the basis of the need to obtain court records in another matter to which the applicant had been convicted.

“In its judgment, the court prematurely pre-empted all the applicant’s exceptions and defences before the same had been raised and dismissed. In so doing, the court a quo effectively denied the applicant adequate time and facilities to prepare his defence as provided in Section 70 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

“The court a quo erred in effectively dismissing an exception which had not yet been made. In so dismissing it, consequently denied the applicant the right to protection and benefit of the law and the right to a fair, impartial and independently conducted trial as provided in Sections 56 and 69 of the Constitution.

“The court took away vested rights when same had not been activated, leaving the applicant with no remedy at law.

“The above being constitutional rights, they go to the very roots of not only the applicant’s own rights, but the proper administration of justice and the supremacy of Constitutional rights,” said Kazhanje in his urgent chamber application prepared by his lawyers from Mhishi Nkomo Legal Practice.

Justice Phiri granted the order for temporary stay of proceedings.

Yesterday, Kazhanje also appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court along with Chivayo, where they also sought a postponement of the matter pending the High Court’s determination on his application for stay of proceedings.

Chivayo asked for the matter to be deferred to another date as he was not prepared to commence trial saying his lawyer of choice was out of the country.

He was being represented by Mr Wilson Manase, who was standing in for Advocate Lewis Uriri, who is representing the Intratrek boss.

Kazhanje and Chivayo are expected back in court on January 12 next year.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- A bus driver reportedly died while on the wheel this past weekend.

The deceased Amos Mapfumo had left Mutare for Harare and was now on the return trip back to Mutare when he reportedly died while on the wheel near Ruwa and died.

According to a source that echoed what Bolt Cutter Busses’ Wilfred Chibage said, claims:

He was supposed to return that very same day and on their way back to Mutare the driver is said to have stopped in Ruwa and bought some water at George shopping centre.

They continued with the journey but minutes later the bus started going off road and we just thought the driver was avoiding potholes.

Only to see that the driver was losing control, a passenger who is a member of the army jumped to the driver’s seat and pushed him aside. He then took over the steering wheel and controlled the bus.

-StateMedia

Farai Dziva|The Movement for Democratic Change has said the desperate Zanu PF regime has run out of ideas to revive the economy.

See the party’s full statement:
It was a classic case of political persecution and not criminal prosecution. Period.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) feels totally vindicated by the outcome of the State’s case against our Youth Assembly Secretary General, Gift Ostallos Siziba.

Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti on Monday 9th December 2019, set free leader Siziba after ordering that he be removed from remand for allegedly inciting people to revolt against the ED-led illegitimate regime.

Leader Siziba had been appearing in court since he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Wednesday 10th July 2019 and charged with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

From the day he was arrested, we as the MDC have consistently insisted that leader Siziba was clearly being targeted for political victimisation by the illegitimate regime.

Indeed, leader Siziba’s only real crime was that he had chosen to stand out in public and openly fight for a better future for the millions of long-suffering Zimbabweans

Leader Siziba is certainly not the only one who has been politically victimised using our courts.

The list of political victims has been growing relentlessly ever since the so-called New Dispensation took over power in Zimbabwe.

Indeed, in the last two years, more and more outspoken opposition politicians and civil society activists have been targetted for unjust political victimisation using our courts.

One case that been diverted towards all our outspoken opposition politicians and civil society activists.

The people’s party is also demanding for the unconditional release of all current political prisoners such as Last Maengahama and Tungamirai Madzokere.

MDC: Change That Delivers!

Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson
071 372 6552

By A Correspondent- Exiled politician’s book on how the elections were stolen last year debuted for $35 at a Harare Bookshop this morning. 

Jonathan Moyo’s book Excelgate was launched simultaneously in Harare, South Africa, Europe and the US.

The book can be bought at Sapes Trust at 4 Deary Road in Belgravia in Harare according to the former education minister.

COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON, JUSTICE TENDAI UCHENA’S PRESENTATION

To

HIS EXCELLENCY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE

Summarising Findings and Recommendations

THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE MATTER OF SALE OF STATE LAND IN AND AROUND URBAN AREAS SINCE 2005

1. Introduction

· Your Excellency, on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry which you appointed on 1 February 2018, I present to you Your Excellency, the Commission’s Report on findings and recommendations of the Commission.

·      Section 7 (c) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act [Chapter 10:07] and Paragraph f (vi) of SI 102 of 2017 place an obligation on us as the Commission to report to you your Excellency, in writing, the result of the Inquiry.

1. The Reports

• Your Excellency, Given the nature of Inquiry, we produced three (3) categories of reports which we shall present to you as follows:

1. A Main Report which presents the background against which the Commission was established; the procedure which the Commission adopted in the execution of its mandate and an outline of the applicable laws, policies and procedures on urban state land administration. The Main Report should be read together with the Provincial Reports.
2. Provincial Reports which present findings and recommendations of the Commission on all the investigated farms/urban state land units in the ten (10) Provinces of the country:
3. The Executive Summary specifically produced for your reference, Your Excellency, which summarises the Main Report and findings and recommendations arising from the inquiry into the sale of urban state land since 2005 in the ten (10) provinces

3. Methodology

• Your Excellency, Section 11 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act and Paragraph f (v) of S.I. 102 of 2017 guided us on the methodology we had to adopt in order for us to arrive at the findings and recommendations we made for the Report.
• Our methodology was inquisitorial. This approach allowed witnesses to freely adduce evidence before us without adhering to stringent rules of evidence.
• The methodology is outlined under Item 1.4 of your Executive Summary.

1. Summary of Findings

• Your Excellency, our findings which are outlined both in the Main Report and Provincial Reports and summarised in your Executive Summary were guided by the Terms of References you prescribed for the Commission. I will touch on the Commission’s findings on a few selected issues of interest:
• Handover of Farms for Urban Development;
• Payment of Intrinsic Value for urban state land;
• Infrastructure development needs; and
• Other findings

Handover of Farms for Urban Development

• The Commission established that generally, sale of urban state land, planning and development took place on 91 farms which were acquired by the Ministry responsible for lands and handed over for urban development to the Ministry responsible for Local Government. Sale of urban state land, planning and development also took place on 79 farms which were acquired by the government before such farms were handed over for urban development. This makes a total of 170 farms in and around urban areas where urban development is taking place.
• People in the farms/ urban state units or settlements we inquired on are living without basic human and urban necessities such as access to potable water, sewer and access roads.
• Over and above farms acquired since 2005, the Commission inquired into land which has always been state land under the jurisdiction of the Ministry responsible for Local Government, in terms of paragraph (f) (vi) of S.I 102 of 2017 which allowed the Commission to investigate any other matter which it deemed appropriate and relevant to the inquiry.

Payment of Intrinsic Value

• The Commission established that the Ministry responsible for Local Government has a responsibility to value all the farms handed over to it and recover the monetary value from the local authorities, developers and cooperatives in the form of intrinsic value.
• However, the Ministry responsible for Local Government has not been able to value all the farms utilised for urban development.
• Accordingly, planning, allocations, development and occupation have taken place without valuation for most farms.
• The Commission’s computation of the total value of the farms according to the Ministry responsible for Local Government is USD3 004 368.931 [three billion four million three hundred and sixty-eight thousand nine hundred and thirty-one United States Dollars]
• However, the government of Zimbabwe has recovered less than 10% of the intrinsic value of the land and is owed almost three (3) billion United States Dollars by beneficiaries of urban state land. To be exact, the total full prejudice to the State stands at USD 2 977 072 819 [two billion nine hundred and seventy-seven million eight hundred and 19 thousand united states dollars]

Infrastructure Development

• The Commission established with serious concern that most new residential estates on urban state land throughout the country have no services such as roads, water reticulation, sewer reticulation and amenities, yet these settlements are already occupied.
• The Commission further established that in some cases where development is taking place, it is being done without approved engineering designs for roads, water and sewer reticulation.
• The Commission found that for infrastructural development in urban settlements the country needs USD 1,420,241,598 [one billion four hundred and twenty million two hundred and forty-one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight]for roads; USD 857,721,234 [eight hundred and fifty-seven million seven hundred and twenty-one thousand two hundred and thirty-four] for sewer; and USD 226,315,016 [two hundred and twenty-six million three hundred and fifteen thousand and sixteen]for water. This adds up to USD 2,504,277,849 [two billion five hundred and four million two hundred and seventy-seven thousand eight hundred and forty-nine]for the whole infrastructural needs of urban state land in and around urban areas since 2005.

Other Findings

• The identification and Occupation of farms in and around urban areas was a complex process, which involved:
  1. Farm invasions by home-seekers;
  2. Farm invasions by war veterans for agricultural purposes, which subsequently morphed into urban settlements;
  3. Allocations to co-operatives, trusts and land developers by the Ministry responsible for Lands and Ministry responsible for Local Government;
  4. Creation of new urban settlements by aspiring or sitting Members of Parliament as a way of mobilizing political support;
  5. Abuse of political office in the allocation and appropriation of urban state land; and
  6. Use of names of the top ruling party leadership to exert undue influence on government institutions and processes.
• This led to:

1. The illegal sale of urban state land;
2. Cooperative leaders and developers selling state land and pocketing the proceeds without developing on-site and off-site infrastructure;
3. Weakened Government institutions, inadequate policies, administrative and state land development control roles;
4. Creation of opportunities for land barons/criminals to sell urban state land. Land barons are usually politically-connected, powerful, self-proclaimed illegal state land ‘authorities’ who illegally sold state land in and around urban areas without accounting for the proceeds;
5. Housing development has occurred on unplanned areas such as wetlands, under power lines, on top of sewer lines, sites designated for institutional or commercial use (schools and clinics), and recreational centres and for other public uses.

• The State suffered prejudice due to losses, which occurred as a result of Ministry of Local Government undervaluing urban state land or complete failure to value it, poor record-keeping, poor financial management and failure to invoice developers and beneficiaries of urban state land;
• In an attempt to accelerate housing delivery, the Ministry of Local Government introduced the policy of parallel development resulting in houses being built without adequate services such as access roads, water and sewer reticulation.
• As a result of lack of water and sewer reticulation, pit latrines have been built very close to water sources, thus polluting the underground water sources and creating circumstances which can cause the outbreak of water-borne diseases.

1. Cases for Further Investigations

• The Commission established that there are several serious cases which require further investigations by relevant bodies which have arresting and enforcement powers such as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, National Prosecuting Authority and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
• The statistics for cases recommended for further investigations are as follows:

2. Recommendations

• Your Excellency, while both the Main Report and Provincial Reports have presented recommendations, allow me to outline some of the Ministry-Specific recommendations which may be prioritised.
• The Commission recommends the following:
• Ministry-Specific Recommendations

a) Ministry of Local Government

The Ministry Should:

• Suspend new allocations of un-serviced urban state land to co-operatives, trusts, land developers and individuals for housing development.
• Carefully scrutinize all pending applications for approval under Section 43 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act and Section 205 of the Urban Councils Act to ensure that no new settlements are approved without compliance with all planning and development requirements.
• Suspend approval of layout plans where there is no clear indication of how off-site infrastructure will be provided.
• Suspend approval of sub-division permits in terms of Section 40 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act for acquired urban state land where indigenous persons are claiming ownership of state land until issues of ownership are resolved.
• Prohibit local authorities from issuing parallel development permits to enable beneficiaries to settle and develop before on-site and off-site infrastructure is put in place.
• Suspend consideration of applications for conversion of acquired agricultural land use to urban.
• Sign all outstanding memoranda of understanding, draw up and sign Memorandum of Agreements for co-operatives, trusts, land developers and individuals who were allocated un-serviced land through offer letters and partnership agreements.
• Cause valuation of all urban state land handed over to it by the Ministry responsible for Lands and allocated to co-operatives, trusts, land developers and individuals who should be required to pay intrinsic value.
• Investigate all officers, past and present, involved or connected with management of urban state land (allocation, planning, valuations, survey, and allocation of commonage, creation and transfer of title) since 2005 on allegations of abuse of office, receiving bribes, and general corrupt conduct; and conduct lifestyle audits on them.
• Enforce payment of intrinsic value by all allocatees of urban state land based on updated valuations of urban state land.
• Update all records of urban state land handed over to it by MLRR and urban state land developed for housing before such handover.
• Review with a view to cancelling or enforcing all Memorandum of Agreements with co-operatives, trusts, land developers and individuals, which are long outstanding where there is no meaningful development on the ground.
• Review its policy on sale of urban state land clearly stating the roles of the Ministry responsible for Local Government and defining elements of illegal sale of state land.
• Establish an interim management body or structure for areas such as Caledonia, Nyatsime and Crowhill in order to fill the administrative vacuum and spearhead development.

b)Ministry responsible for Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement (MLRR)

The Ministry Should:

• In view of the water crisis affecting every city and urban sprawl which has taken place without water supply posing a serious risk of outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid in towns and cities, it is imperative that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, working in conjunction with Catchment Councils, takes urgent steps to utilize all available nearby water bodies to supply additional bulk water to towns and cities while awaiting the development of long term projects such as Kunzvi Dam, Gwaai-Shangani Dam and Muda Dam.
• Update all records of state land handed over to Ministry responsible for Local Government for urban development purposes.
• In consultation with Ministry responsible for Local Government, identify record and hand over all state land acquired since 2005, which is being used for urban development.
• Respond to all requests by the Ministry responsible for Local Government for the handover of land for urban development.
• Exercise due diligence in the issuance of certificates of No Present Interest to avoid issuing such certificates in respect of acquired state land as happened in the cases of Zimati kop and Rockingstone farms in Makoni district near Rusape town or issuing large tracts of state land to one beneficiary because of their political connections such as land which was offered to Muungwe Properties (Pvt) Ltd owned by one family in Makoni District which is almost the size of land occupied by Rusape Town Council.
• Investigate all officers, past and present, involved or connected with the issuance of certificates of No Present Interest, handover of state land to Ministry responsible for Local Government without authority and transfer of acquired land to individuals.
• Not directly allocate or settle beneficiaries for housing development.
• Not settle people for farming within municipal boundaries.

c) The Department/Ministry responsible for Cooperatives

The Department Should:

• With immediate effect, effectively supervise housing cooperatives by ensuring that they prepare and submit audited annual financial reports and financial statements.
• Update its records of all registered and compliant housing cooperatives with a view to de-registering non-compliant cooperatives.
• Enforce punitive measures provided for in the Cooperative Societies Act against non-compliant housing cooperatives.
• Monitor the operations of housing cooperatives to ensure strict compliance with the law in terms of the Cooperatives Societies Act.

d)The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs

The Ministry Should:

• Cause an audit of all urban state land transfer records in the Deeds Registry offices (Harare and Bulawayo) with a view to identifying un-procedurally transferred urban state land (to be carried out by the Auditor General’s office).
• Ensure that the Deeds Registry system is computerised to minimise tampering with transfer records.
• Ensure that all title deeds of acquired farms are endorsed as such.
• Ensure that the Deeds Registry, after consulting with the Ministry responsible for Local Government and Ministry responsible for Lands and other relevant authorities, keeps a proper inventory of all acquired farms/urban state land units.

e) The Judicial Services Commission

The Commission should:

• Introduce specialised land courts to deal with land disputes, sale of urban state land, allocations among other issues quite distinct from the Administrative court.
• Ensure that judicial officers are trained in handling land disputes.
• Ensure that the courts expeditiously deal with cases involving the sale of state land.
• The judicial system should be tightened to prevent the production of fake court orders.

f) The Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture

The Ministry Should:

• Introduce specialised police units to investigate land disputes, sale of urban state land, allocations among other issues quite distinct from the Land Inspectorate.
• Ensure that police officers are trained in investigating cases of abuse of state land.
• Ensure that police officers expeditiously and fully investigate all reported and suspected land cases.
• The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development

The Ministry of Finance Should:

• Follow up on individuals, land developers, housing trusts, housing cooperatives and institutions involved in land development for compliance with tax obligations arising from their operations.
• Taxation on change of use and non-agricultural use should be restrictive to discourage farmers from offering their land for urban development.

6.2. General Recommendations

• In view of the water crisis affecting every city and urban sprawl which has taken place without water supply posing a serious risk of outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid in towns and cities, it is imperative that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, working in conjunction with Catchment Councils, takes urgent steps to utilize all available nearby water bodies to supply additional bulk water to towns and cities while awaiting the development of long term projects such as Kunzvi Dam, Gwaai-Shangani Dam and Muda Dam.
• The government should insulate urban state land administration from corrupt and negative political influence.
• The Ministry responsible for Local Government’s current position on the elements of illegal sale of state land should be refined to clearly spell out circumstances, which constitute civil and criminal liability. The illegality referred to by the Ministry responsible for Local Government may be a breach of contract, which may not, subject to the full facts of each case, be a criminal offence.
• The Ministry responsible for Local Government should carefully look into all its state land records  of allocated land to enable it to do the following:

1. To audit and compile an inventory of all urban state land units and allocatees.
2. To complete the valuation of all urban state land/units and issue invoices to allocatees.

• To claim from allocatees who sold its land the value of such land.

1. To ensure that all allocatees sign Memorandum of Agreements, Partnership Agreements or Agreements of Sale.
2. To enforce compliance by allocatees with conditions of allocation as contained in the offer letters, Memorandum of Agreements and partnership agreements, in particular, the provision of infrastructure.
3. To, where applicable, regularize plans and development on its urban state land in order to comply with planning and development standards.

• To audit all urban state land and compile an inventory of commonage, institutional, commercial and industrial stands receipts and allocations.
• To facilitate the issuance of enforcement orders against illegal developments.

1. Pursue criminal prosecutions against cooperative leaders, trusts leaders, developers, companies and individuals who sold urban state land

• There is a need to enact/review targeted laws to regulate:
  1. Urban state land administration, specifically regulating allocations, withdrawals, valuation, intrinsic land value, structural aspects thereof, and commonage.
  2. Housing Development trusts.
• Housing Development cooperatives.

1. Implementation Strategy

• Your Excellency, the Commission’s findings highlight five interrelated challenges that the government must attend to if the country is to succeed in spearheading sustainable urban development as follows:

1. The violation of urban development laws and policies;
2. Inadequate urban development laws and policies;
3. Deficits in infrastructure provision;
4. Weakened local government systems; and
5. Weak Central Government monitoring role.

• Your Excellency, failure to confront these challenges is a threat to society in terms of an outbreak of disease, dissatisfied population and poor performance of the economy.
• There is a need to upgrade the various settlements created and bring infrastructure development to a desirable urban development standard as soon as possible.
• Evidence on the ground shows a lack of capacity for infrastructural development in both the Central Government and Local Authority levels. The task is onerous hence there is a need for joint actions and coordination. The Office of President and Cabinet appears well placed to handle this task.

The Proposal– Special-purpose Vehicle

• It is recommended that the OPC creates a special purpose vehicle for taking up this task. This special vehicle should be given the responsibility to develop the required standard of infrastructure and then hand it over to local authorities for maintenance. Some local authorities were in the past, not involved in the identification and allocation of urban state land under their jurisdiction. It is their mandate to provide this infrastructure.
• The special vehicle should not be viewed as another addition to bureaucracy. It must be given a special task, targets and timeframes to complete the assignment. It should not be kept for more than ten years.
• The primary objective of establishing the special purpose vehicle is to strengthen the country’s technical, financial and institutional capacity to supply affordable housing and comfortable cities and towns through reform of:

1. the urban land management system to establish a steady land market and improve access to affordable land for housing, commerce and industry;
2. the urban development infrastructure system to improve the supply of serviced land;
3. the housing delivery system including financial systems to improve access to finance and mortgage; and,
4. Local government institutions for the supply of urban infrastructure and related services.

• A Cabinet Committee may be necessary for the supervision of this special purpose vehicle.
• A Working Party of Permanent Secretaries is needed to synthesize and monitor the implementation of the special purpose vehicle’s mandate and to take timely corrective action.
• A Secretariat is important for the planning and coordination of the various specialized programmes.
• The special vehicle needs to be well integrated with the key line Ministries.
• It is suggested that the bulk of the staff with the necessary expertise for the special purpose vehicle be seconded from the line Ministries.
• The special purpose vehicle has budgetary implications which the government has to fund or may approach its partners for such support.
• The following four components are suggested for the special purpose vehicle’s mandate:

1. Institutional Development Component;
2. Finance and Development Component;
3. Capital Development Component; and
4. Capacity building and Skills Development
5. Presentation of Reports

• Your Excellency, allow me to present to you the Executive Summary: [handing over to His Excellency the President]
• Further, allow me, Your Excellency, to present the Main Report: [handing over to His Excellency the President]
• Allow me, Your Excellency, to present the Reports on findings and recommendations for Ten (10) Provinces arranged in the following order:

1. Report on findings and recommendations for Harare Metropolitan Province;
2. Report on findings and recommendations for Mashonaland Central Province;
3. Report on findings and recommendations for Mashonaland East Province;
4. Report on findings and recommendations for Mashonaland West Province;
5. Report on findings and recommendations for Manicaland Province;
6. Report on findings and recommendations for Masvingo Province;
7. Report on findings and recommendations for Matabeleland South Province;
8. Report on findings and recommendations for Midlands Province; and
9. Combined Report on findings and recommendations for Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North Provinces.

 [Handover to His Excellency the President]

• We have also printed extra copies for you and your office. [Handover to His Excellency the President]

1. Conclusion

• Let me take this opportunity to thank you and your office for the support you extended to us since the day you swore us into work as Commissioners.
• I also wish to convey my gratitude and that of the Commissioners for the opportunity you availed to us to learn and deepen our experience in the area of urban state land administration.

I thank you, Your Excellency

By A Correspondent- 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. 

-StateMedia

President @edmnangagwa will today be the Guest of Honour at the Joint Ministry & Stakeholders Exhibition at the ZANU PF Headquarters. The theme of the exhibition is: "Supporting Youth In Agriculture" pic.twitter.com/7AZdqkdMoK

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) December 11, 2019

ZANU PF Secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu, Tuesday rubbished rumours that Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri has been nominated for party co-Vice President.

This comes after social media platforms were awash with reports that Muchinguri and former cabinet minister, Tshinga Dube were set to replace Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi.

Zanu PF holds its annual national conference in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East this week, but the process is not elective.

Muchinguri is currently the ruling party national chairperson while Dube is Deputy Finance Secretary in the Politburo.

Speaking to NewZimbabwe, Mpofu dismissed the reports as a ‘myth’ as no such endorsements had been made by the party’s provinces.

“How can you believe such a myth. We don’t have such,” Mpofu said.

“Our nominations are done by all provinces and it is about the president nobody else.”

Mpofu was referring to nominations for party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

The Zanu PF conference commenced Tuesday will last for five days, ending on the 15th of December.

— NewZimbabwe

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

• USD to ZWL$: 16.4811
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.8986

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com 23.10
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com 22.80
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 22.20 [10/12/19]
• USD to BOND: bluemari.info 16.80

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 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:

• USD to ZWL$: 16.4811
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.8986

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com 23.10
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com 22.80
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info 22.20 [10/12/19]
• USD to BOND: bluemari.info 16.80

More: marketwatch.co.zw

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.

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

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.

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.”

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.

Watch the video loading below. ..

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- 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.

To be equally clear, I am proud of the work I did for government, the respect I earned and the brilliant minds I met. I have been supporting my country in different ways for the past 20 years from my PhD thesis to now. Just because my approach is not yours does not make it wrong.

— Petina Gappah (@VascoDaGappah) December 10, 2019