Blessed be the womb that bore our icon and MDC founding President, the late Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai.

Today, on behalf of the loving and caring MDC family, I felt honoured to pay a visit and hand over Christmas gifts to our late President’s mother Gogo Tsvangirai in Buhera.

It was an emotional moment that reminded me just how much sorrow the great Tsvangirai family has had to endure over the past few years.

The MDC, through the leadership of our President Nelson Chamisa, will continue to pay tribute and offer our gratitude to the Tsvangirai family for gifting us with a bona fide hero of social justice.

Gogo Tsvangirai and the entire Tsvangirai family, may you have a blessed Christmas and prosperous new year!

Lynette Karenyi
MDC Vice President.

By A Correspondent| Vendors are now selling maputi, chimodho in wards to starving Masvingo Hospital patients, it has emerged.

OUTSPOKEN Ntabazinduna chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has reiterated his suggestion that an interim transitional government (ITG) of technocrats must be put in place to abolish the bond note and implement a raft of political and economic reforms.

Ndiweni argued Zimbabwe does not need a government of national unity (GNU), adding any dialogue process among the country’s political actors will only result in another unity government, which he said would be a waste of time.

There have been calls for dialogue to unlock the country’s political and socio-economic logjam with former South African president Thabo Mbeki also visiting the country last week to ostensibly lay the groundwork.

Ndiweni, however, argued the same process will not solve the country’s crisis such as a democracy deficiency.

“The mechanism for resuscitating our democracy is an ITG. This is not a GNU,” he said in a press release.

“A GNU is not capable of resuscitating our democracy.

“We had a GNU before and here we are again in not only economic meltdown but with the total collapse of democracy engineered by an emboldened politically corrupt establishment.

“Hence let us not waste time on a GNU.

“The dialogue being championed by the current administration is also a waste of time because it is designed to ultimately lead to a GNU.

“An ITG is a highbrid government that has a fixed short term and has a specific job description. In our case, its remit is to resuscitate democracy in our country.”

Ndiweni said a template for resuscitating democracy has already been tabled, citing recommendations from election observers’ missions to the country’s 2018 harmonised elections from European Union and Commonwealth, among others.

Adopting South Africa’s rand currency and abolishing the Zimbabwe dollar, formerly the bond note will also be key for the ITG, he added.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and President Emmerson Mnangagwa have said the Zimbabwe dollar is going nowhere.

“The ITG will immediately at the beginning of its term of office, begin negotiations with the Republic of South Africa and Sadc as a whole to formulary adopt the Rand as our currency for the short to medium term.

“The rand is the right currency for us during this period,” Ndiweni said.

“It is advantageous to those in the diaspora e.g. UK, EC, USA and other countries that have a stronger currency than the rand.

“In terms of currency exchange rates those in the diaspora will gain and achieve a lot more here in the country with respect to development, with their hard earned funds.”

 The Standard.

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) faces eviction from the offices it is occupying at a Masvingo building commonly known as Electricity House after it failed to pay rent, which has now accumulated to over $40 million.

The building is owned by the Zimbabwe Electricity Industry Staff Pension Fund (ZEISPF), which has since approached the High Court seeking to recover the debt from the State broadcaster.

Part of ZEISPF’s court application reads:

Plaintiff’s claim against the defendant is for an order confirming the cancellation of the lease between the parties and an order directing the defendant and all those claiming occupation through it to vacate stand No. 382 Masvingo township commonly known as Electricity House failing which the Sheriff is authorised to evict them.

The Pension Fund revealed in the court papers that ZBC was obliged to pay monthly rentals of US$950 or an equivalent of ZWL$5 700.

Jane Mlambo| After his bank accounts were frozen in South Africa, trending socialite Rolland Muchegwa who has made a name for himself for partying and taking selfies with hot girls has been dumped by friends.

Posting on Twitter, Uncle Roland as he affectionately known said the people who used to follow him are now avoiding because he has gone broke.

“After my bank accounts got frozen things have changed. All the people who were following me are now avoiding me. This is the moment to see who true friends are. People love you and support you when it’s beneficial. A real friend is one who walks in when everyone is walking out,” said Muchegwa.

Muchegwa’s bank accounts were frozen by the South African Revenue Services in connection with tax evasion and since then, he has hit hard times.

Muchegwa is a successful businessman in South Africa who is believed to be worthy millions of rands.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Mangwana says the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) has made notable achievements since in inception.

Posting on microblogging site Twitter, Mangwana listed what the government considers to be POLAD’s achievements as follows:

• The coming together of Political Actors under one banner (POLAD) and the official launch symbolised the unity of purpose.
• The formulation of a Code of Conduct and subsequent adoption and signing of the same.
• Visit to Cyclone Idai POLAD delegates led to conscientisation of the nation about the problem and the need for urgent intervention by different stakeholders.
• Improved understanding by POLAD on issues affecting the country through an interface with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Minister of Industry and Commerce and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and other Government Official.
• Acceptance and endorsement of POLAD by both SADC and AU, thereby giving impetus and relevance to POLAD as a vehicle for solving local problems without external interference.
• Increased call for the removal of sanctions through participation at the SADC Anti-sanctions march in
  Harare.
• Increased visibility of POLAD through social responsibility activities such as the monthly Clean-up day.
• Increased public awareness of POLAD through extensive media coverage and debates.

POLAD was created by President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a platform for dialogue following the disputed 2018 presidential election results.

It is made up of some of the losing candidates, among them is Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Madhuku, Brian Mteki, and Lucia Matibenga.

However, prominent opposition leaders, the likes of Nelson Chamisa, Joyce Mujuru, Noah Manyika, Nkosana Moyo, and Daniel Shumba have snubbed the platform.

Watch video below. ..

Watch video below. ..

HARARE businessman Kenny Mubaiwa says he fears for the safety and security of his daughter Marry, who is in remand prison awaiting trial, as her impending divorce with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga looks set to shake the foundations of State security.

Marry has now clocked nine days in prison following her arrest on multiple charges of fraud, misrepresentation and violating the country’s foreign currency exchange control regulations. A charge of attempted murder on her husband was added when she appeared before a Harare magistrate on Monday.

She denies the charges and said they were motivated by her husband who she alleges is using his access to State power to punish her for wanting out of the couple’s eight years old marriage.

Speaking to The Standard, Kenny Mubaiwa said as a family, they feel their daughter could be harmed, but there is little they can do to protect her.

“Obviously in a case like this, we are surely worried about her,” he said. “But there is nothing we can do. We place this in God’s hands. We hope God will intervene.”

Mubaiwa’s concerns come in the wake of a video circulating on social media in which one of Marry’s uncles attacks Chiwenga for allegedly abusing his powers to settle a personal matter with his wife.

In the video, the man identified as Hannington accuses Chiwenga of disrespecting the Mubaiwa family by causing their daughter’s arrest. Mubaiwa confirmed that Hannington was his brother who is based in the United States

“He left many years ago, about 35 years ago. He is in America. But what I cannot confirm is whether he is the one who did the video,” Mubaiwa said.

Hannington said they were worried about the manner in which Marry’s case was being handled, and pleads with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to rein in his deputy who he says is setting a wrong precedence by abusing State power.

“I want to appeal to (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa to intervene in this case in such a way that our daughter is handled with the level of dignity and protection that every citizen should have.”

The Vice President filed for divorce soon after he returned from China where he spent four months being treated for suspected poisoning.

Marry said in court that her estranged husband had caused her arrest so that he gains an upper hand in the divorce case.

The president has maintained that there will be no dialogue outside Political Actor’s Dialogue (POLAD).

He further went on to say the visit by the former president of South Africa Thabo Mbeki was not to impose a dialogue outside
POLAD .

ED was speaking to members of the media at the Statehouse after delivering the Unity day speech when he said:
He (Mr Mbeki) never pushed for talks when he met me.

We are very old friends, indeed he discussed the political situation in the country and I explained to him that with regard to dialogue, we have a platform where every political party freely can come into that platform including MDC under Chamisa .

That (POLAD) is the only platform where political dialogue will take place.

Thabo Mbeki visited last week and met with both the MDC leader and the president before telling journalists that his visit was private as he was here to speak to friends.State media

By Own Correspondent| MDC president Nelson Chamisa‘s spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda, said President Emmerson Mnangagwa is “dreaming” if he believes that the opposition party will join the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).

Sibanda said that the whole world is aware that there is no meaningful dialogue taking place at POLAD.

He (Mnangagwa) is dreaming. If he wants to believe what he wants, let him believe it.

It is delusional to think that there is dialogue at POLAD and the rest of the world is seeing that and we hope they will wake up to that reality.

On Saturday, President Mnangagwa told journalists in Harare that he will not entertain dialogue with opposition political parties outside the POLAD platform.

Turning to former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s recent visit to the country, Mnangagwa said the former never pushed for direct talks between him and Chamisa.

The president has maintained that there will be no dialogue outside Political Actor’s Dialogue (POLAD).

He further went on to say the visit by the former president of South Africa Thabo Mbeki was not to impose a dialogue outside
POLAD .

ED was speaking to members of the media at the Statehouse after delivering the Unity day speech when he said:
He (Mr Mbeki) never pushed for talks when he met me.

We are very old friends, indeed he discussed the political situation in the country and I explained to him that with regard to dialogue, we have a platform where every political party freely can come into that platform including MDC under Chamisa . That (POLAD) is the only platform where political dialogue will take place.

Thabo Mbeki visited last week and met with both the MDC leader and the president before telling journalists that his visit was private as he was here to speak to friends.State media

By A Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently moved to consolidate his grip on power while weakening his highly ambitious deputy, Vice President Chiwenga, a local publication reports.

During the recently-held Zanu PF annual conference, the party endorsed Mnangagwa as its candidate for the 2023 elections when his first five-year term has just started.

A government official who spoke to the publication said:

Mnangagwa made giant strides in his consolidation bid by getting a mandate from Zanu PF and effecting constitutional changes through the cabinet. He is now clearly in the driving seat because he has managed to isolate Chiwenga.

He has taken full advantage of Chiwenga’s illness to decimate his camp. It has been a long road of consolidation and this week was a major milestone alongside the earlier disruption of Chiwenga’s critical military support base.

The constitutional changes are significant in that the vice-presidents will serve at the pleasure of the President, even post-2023. There will be no running mate, meaning the VPs will be appointees. An appointee is weak and cannot openly challenge the appointer because of the risk of being dropped from office.

On Tuesday, the cabinet approved the Constitutional Amendment Bill of 2019 which will empower the president-elect to appoint two vice-presidents, while repealing the provision of running mates.

-TheIndependent

Former President of the Apostolic Faith Mission of Zimbabwe (AFM), Dr Aspher Madziyire, published an editorial on Friday, calling for President ED Mnangagwa to be removed from office and urging evangelicals not to support him.

“Whether Mnangagwa should be removed from office by force or by popular vote next election that is a matter of prudential judgment. That he should be removed, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalties but loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments”

“None of the president’s positives can balance the moral and political danger we face under a leader of such grossly immoral character,” he added. Source -ZIMUCU

By A Correspondent| Villagers in Bhalula area in Matabeleland South province have accused the government of giving them rotten maize.

A villager told a local publication that the “smelly and brownish-coloured” maize was distributed by the State-run Grain Marketing Board (GMB). Thursday. He said:

I and my neighbour received a 50 Kg bag of maize which we were told to share. It was brownish in colour and a strange smell. The maize had also sand particles.

We did not have any choice, my brother. We took the maize out of desperation. Some people have tried to sieve the maize while others are consuming it as it is.

Zimbabwe is in the midst of one of the worst droughts in living memory, with international humanitarian organisations estimating that about half of the country’s estimated 16 million people are in need of food aid.

The sparsely-populated Matabeleland South province experiences frequent droughts and villagers depend on food aid from the international donor community and the government.

-NewZimbabwe

Political negotiations in Zimbabwe will continue to be held under the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) and former South African president Mr Thabo Mbeki has not indicated that talks be held outside this platform, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

This comes as the latest edition of the POLAD dialogue will be held at President Mnangagwa’s Sherwood Farm in Kwekwe today, following a request by negotiators under the forum.

Mr Mbeki visited Zimbabwe last week and met President Mnangagwa, POLAD actors and MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa.

Following Mr Mbeki’s visit, there has been widespread speculation that the former South Africa president, who led negotiations for Zimbabwe’s Government of National Unity in 2009, will bring President Mnangagwa and Mr Chamisa to the negotiating table under a new platform.

Speaking to journalists after delivering his Unity Day message at State House yesterday, President Mnangagwa said Mr Mbeki had not advocated talks outside POLAD.

The President once again invited Mr Chamisa to be part of the POLAD dialogue.

“He (Mr Mbeki) never pushed for talks when he met me. We are very old friends, indeed he discussed the political situation in the country and I explained to him that with regard to dialogue, we have a platform where every political party freely can come into that platform including MDC under Chamisa.”

Asked if there was a chance of meeting Chamisa under any other platform, the President responded: “That (POLAD) is the only platform where political dialogue will take place.”

In an interview yesterday, Deputy Chief Secretary in the President’s Office, Mr George Charamba, said the decision to take political dialogue to the Sherwood was made after the POLAD negotiators nominated the venue.

Further, it was agreed that a tour of the farm encourages productivity among all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation.

Said Mr Charamba: “It was a request made by POLAD members. The programme is very simple, a couple of hours of business and then another couple of hours touring the farm. So it is almost like a farmers’ field day after the serious business of talks.

“It does clinch the notion of productivity which has been the President’s watchword that we should work, work and work for our economy to grow.”

POLAD was launched in May this year and is convened by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by retired Justice Selo Nare.

Dialogue under POLAD is a culmination of an engagement process that was initiated by President Mnangagwa when he invited, for dialogue, leaders of the 23 parties that took part in last year’s elections.

The process is meant to foster unity and enhance nation building.

In negotiations that have been held so far, the parties have agreed that there should be no pre-conditions for dialogue and that there should be no sacred issues during the discussions.

Previous meetings have agreed that both political and economic reforms should be implemented while politically motivated violence should be shunned.

Zimbabwe’s economy is plunging under strongman Mnangagwa’s watch. Prices of basic commodities are now beyond the reach of many.

During his visit, Mr Mbeki expressed confidence in Zimbabwe’s capacity to resolve its challenges and reiterated his support for broad-based processes aimed at addressing issues of concern.

-State Media

By Own Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s in-laws, the Mubaiwa family, says it is worried over the safety of their daughter Marry, whose marriage to the former army general is on the rocks.

Marry’s father, Kenny Mubaiwa, told a local publication that the family is fretting over her safety in remand prison and is hoping for divine intervention. She said:

Obviously, in a case like this, we are surely worried about her.

But there is nothing we can do. We place this in God’s hands. We hope God will intervene.

Marry was arrested on December 14 and is being held at the Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison pending her High Court bail hearing on December 27.

She was arrested by detectives from the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission (ZACC) and is facing charges of fraud, money laundering and attempted murder.

-Standard

Own Correspondent|Police in Bulawayo on Sunday morning blocked Gukurahundi Commemoration organisers from marching with an empty coffin through the streets of Bulawayo.

The march was in remembrance of thousands of innocent people who were butchered by the ZANU PF organised Gukurahundi soldiers in the early eighties.

Coordinated by Mthwakazi linked Ibhetshu Likazulu, the group all dressed in black wanted to make a mock funeral profession from the Joshua Nkomo Statue in the city centre to Stanley Hall in Makokoba before police pounced on them to stop the procession.

Ibhetshu Likazulu organises Gukurahundi Commemorations on Unity Day every year as they consider the day to be the day when Gukurahundi ended.

Over twenty thousand people were killed by a Perence Shiri led battalion of soldiers between 1983 and 1987 in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.

See pictures below:

SYDNEY, Australia|ZIMBABWEANS here have started a language school to teach their children Shona and Ndebele.

Most of the children were either born here or they came at a very young age, neither speaking their mother vernacular nor English.

One city which has gone ahead in this vital programme is Sydney where two schools were opened for Saturday and Sunday.

The schools are housed at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Northmead and ZAOGA Church in Minto.

The coordinator for the schools Dr Thembi Dube and Mr Shepard Mashingaidze, Mrs Thembi Mpofu, and teachers Mr Dumi Mpofu, Mrs Jennifer Phiri and Mr Mutsapata, play a crucial role in establishing and ensuring that the schools are sustainable.

The schools are courtesy of an association of Zimbabweans formed to advance Zimbabwean interests in all spheres of life, including the passing down of Zimbabwean culture to young people of Zimbabwean heritage.

Speaking at the certification of the learners at the year end, Dr Dube, a linguistic lecturer at Macquarie University, outlined the importance of such an initiative.

“Zimbabwean families are scattered all over Sydney, and with the busy lifestyles they have, children rarely get to meet each other or make friends within the Zimbabwean community,” he said.

“I think making friendships with people who share similar cultural beliefs creates a solid friendship foundation as you’ll tend to be accountable to each other.

“That also creates a sense of belonging, which is apparently lacking in most of our children living in Australia.

The school, therefore, provides a platform for bringing our children together so they cannot only learn Ndebele and Shona, but also build those physical friendships with others from similar cultural backgrounds.

“This will help them have a real sense of belonging to the Zimbabwean community, and also provide them opportunities to use the languages.”

Dr Dube said she was motivated to make a difference in young people’s lives, be it academically or socially.

She finds that making time for teaching and mentoring of young people with the hope that they’ll make a difference to those people around them, be it family friends or the community at large, makes her happy.

This, however, is not a walk in the park due to lack of cooperation from the parents – inconsistency in bringing children for lessons, and helping with implementation of language use in the home set-up.

Mr Mashingaidze said the school was about teaching Ndebele and Shona, in particular basic skills for the purpose of communication, preservation of culture and identity.

This language school is important even to Zimbabwe as a nation. Zimbabwe will never lose its people through loss of language in Australia.

Speaking at the same event of certification of the learners, Dr Vera Williams Tetteh, the guest speaker, summarised the importance of the school with an encouraging and touching speech.

“The programme that has brought us here today is a very important one in the lives of your children, and one day these children will be thanking you for your foresight in making sure that they were not deprived of their language heritage,” she said.

“They will thank you also because knowing the language contributes insight for understanding and embracing cultural values and norms embedded within it.

“The thing is, whether we are on the continent or in the Diaspora, our languages are quite important. It is through language that we are able to define who we are in the world.

It is through our language that we can be who we are and bring some of these nuances into English.

“In Australia, English is the main language that we use outside the home and in the public arena, so we all agree that having English is important.

“But it is also important that we do not neglect the language of our ancestors that has been passed down to us as parents and to keep this legacy going in future generations.”

A lot of Zimbabwean parents take their children back home and this complicates their situation and embarrasses both parents and the children.

The school aims to correct this anomaly and also breaks the barrier of relatives in both divides. Dr Tetteh added: “We all know that in the Diaspora, learning the language heritage and passing it on to our children is a big challenge.

It is not like back home, where it is easier because children hear it being spoken and they speak it on a daily basis in a lot of places: on the streets, in the market, on the school playground and so on and so forth.

“In Australia, the story is different. Children mainly hear their language spoken at home. People in the neighbourhood do not speak the language. Their friends do not speak the language and they may not hear it anywhere else apart from the home.

“Around about high school age, some children will start getting embarrassed when their parents speak their language in the presence of their friends. Children want to be like their peers and use English at home.

“Now when they are spoken to in their language, they may respond in English.

A small tension starts to brew with parents not being aware that there is a plan in place for English to replace the home language!

“In situations where parents come from English speaking countries such as Zimbabwe with excellent command of English, this switch to English tends to happen quite often and quickly too.

“English speaking parents, led by their children’s seemingly lack of understanding, would tend to accommodate their children’s language needs by using the home language less and less, until eventually, English takes over as the main language between the parents and the children.

The children would then end up losing their ability to speak their language.”

The school also serves as a vehicle to overcome the problem of language heritage loss.

In a few years, the children will become young adults – Zimbabwean- Australian or whatever hybrid identity they choose to take on.

During this period, they would have a better understanding of their identity, and a better sense of who they are as people of African and Zimbabwean backgrounds living in Australia.

It is then that if they know and use their language they would appreciate what the parents have invested in them by bringing them to weekend school.

Dr Vera added that: “What if they have lost their language, by then? It will not be surprising to see some of the children blaming their parents for not teaching them or not forcing them to learn the language and use it at home.”

DETHRONED Ntabazinduna’s Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni is challenging the government’s decision to eject him from the traditional leadership post and is seeking reinstatement.

Ndiweni, who was dethroned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration with effect from November 30, filed an application through his lawyer Dumisani Dube at the Bulawayo High Court yesterday, citing Mnangagwa, Local Government minister July Moyo, Chiefs’ Council president Fortune Charumbira, Chief Shana for Matabeleland North Provincial Chiefs Assembly, Matabeleland North provincial development co-ordinator (PDC) Latiso Dlamini and Umguza PDC Tapiwa Zivovoyi as respondents.

Ndiweni wants his removal from the chieftainship to be declared unlawful, null and void and set aside.

“The recommendations of the Matabeleland Provincial Assembly of Chiefs that Chief Felix Nhlanhla Ndiweni be removed from office of Chief Ndiweni be and should be, hereby, declared null and void,” he submitted.

“The directive of first respondent (Mnangagwa) that applicant be dispossessed of his government issued vehicle, chief’s regalia and other government assets lawfully in his possession be declared to be unlawful, null and void and of no force and be set aside. “

In his founding affidavit, Ndiweni said his application was for a declaratory and consequential relief that his purported removal from chieftainship by Mnangagwa based on the recommendations by Provincial Chiefs Assembly must be null and void.

“… More particularly that I can only be removed from my office as a chief upon lawful action and processes fully respecting my constitutional rights under subsection (1) and (2) of section 68 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which grants me the rights to administrative conduct that is lawful, reasonable, procedural and substantive as well as the rights to be promptly given reasons for the administrative conduct taken … I was denied all these rights,” he submitted.

“When the issue of my removal from the office was being considered, I was entitled in terms of subsection (1)(2) of section 3 of the administration of Justice Act Chapter 10:28 not only to lawful, reasonable and fair treatment, but also to be given adequate notice of the nature and proposed action against me as well as to be given a reasonable opportunity to make adequate representation on the matter. None of these rights were respected in my purported removal from office …”

Ndiweni said during the process leading to his removal, he was denied the right to be heard.

“Chief Ndiweni having been duly and lawfully appointed by then President late Robert Mugabe in June 2014, accordingly no question arises under section 3(2)(a)(1) of the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17. Section 28(1) of the Constitution cited by first respondent as being the provision on the basis of which … he acted in purporting to remove me from office does not in itself grant first respondent any power of removal of a chief, but merely provides for limits, qualifications and conditions which must be included in an Act of Parliament making provision for the appointment, suspension, succession and removal of traditional leaders,” he submitted.

“I am the substantive Chief Ndiweni on Ntabazinduna, Umguza District having been duly appointed by then President in terms of sections 283 of the constitution Amendment No 20 Act 2013 and section 3(1) of the Traditional Leaders Act Chapter 29:17 having been duly appointed on June 20 2014.”

He wants government to be blocked from confiscating his official vehicle and regalia.

Respondents are yet to file their response.

— NewsDay

Masvingo Provincial, the biggest referral hospital serving 1,7 million people in the province has been running without oxygen for some time now and gasping patients don’t survive.

A source said lucky patients with relatives among nurses and doctors have oxygen cylinders brought for them from private surgeries and returned immediately after resuscitation.

Oxygen at Masvingo Provincial is only found in the theatre, added the source.

In addition, the institution is facing a myriad of problems including critical food shortages.

Recently patients went for three days getting just one meal a day.Credit: Masvingo Mirror

BIKITA- Chief Marozva of Bikita is waiting for one of his subjects to return from a small house where he is staying after borrowing mon-ey from his wife on the guise that he was going to look for a job in South Africa.

When he returns, Ezekiel Matemavi of Bope Village in Bikita will appear at the chief’s court to answer to allegations that he was now staying with a girlfriend after running away from his wife that he has not paid lobola for.

“Matemavi did not just run away from his wife but he allegedly borrowed money from her on the guise of going to look for a job in South Africa. It is alleged that it is the wife’s money that he started splashing on the girlfriend.

“His irate father-in-law, Edmore Shayanowako of Guru Village under Chief Marozva then went and reported him to Chief Marozva for not paying lobola.

“It has since been established that Matemavi never left for SA but is staying at Rippling Waters in Bikita with his girlfriend,” said a source.

– Masvingo Mirror

In an interview yesterday, Deputy Chief Secretary in the President’s Office, Mr George Charamba, said the decision to take political dialogue to the Sherwood was made after the POLAD negotiators nominated the venue.

Further, it was agreed that a tour of the farm encourages productivity among all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation.

Said Mr Charamba: “It was a request made by POLAD members. The programme is very simple, a couple of hours of business and then another couple of hours touring the farm. So it is almost like a farmers’ field day after the serious business of talks.

“It does clinch the notion of productivity which has been the President’s watchword that we should work, work and work for our economy to grow.”

This is Kwekwe. This the city hosting Emmerson Mnangagwa’s notorious farm property. Mnangagwa is today holding a special function for the group of political parties known as Polad.

The function venue is none other than his farm, a short drive from this beautiful central business district. Last time, there was drama when Mnangagwa was chased through a maize field by his wife after being caught in an affair with a girlfriend.

So what kind of drama will happen today? Two women are heading to his farm, Thokozani Khupe and Linda Masarira who will conjoin the Polad group. Already there have been rumours of Khupe being in trouble with Auxillia Mnangagwa.

Yesterday the government confirmed that Mnangagwa will be meeting Polad, saying the function was centred around production and will include a tour of the farm.

Polad is made up of Khupe’s MDC-T, the National Constitutional Assembly led by Lovemore Madhuku and several other small parties.

The development comes after former South African President Thabo Mbeki visited Zimbabwe piling pressure on Zimbabwe’s most powerful politician Nelson Chamisa to join Polad.

A special invitation has been sent Chamisa for today.

Is Chamisa coming? Bounce back to ZimEye to see what is happening today at Mnangagwa’s notorious farm in Kwekwe.

Watch video downloading below:

The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has taken the Zimbabwe School Examination Council (Zimsec) to task over what it considers to an abuse of examiners marking both ‘A’ and ‘O’ Level examinations.

The teacher’s union claims examiners are getting only two slices of bread and beans for breakfast contrary to the initial agreement.

PTUZ president Dr Takavafira Zhou told TellZim News that Zimsec had initially agreed to give examiners breakfast $40 worth of breakfast.

He said the breakfast would be made up of four slices of bread with butter, coffee, one boiled egg and baked beans.

Zhou said examiners were also promised decent lunch and $57 dinner allowances while those who were not offered accommodation were promised $167 for both dinner and accommodation.

“What boggles the mind is that Zimsec is going back on the initial agreement. We had a meeting with them and we agreed on all the logistics but to our surprise, our examiners are being treated like prisoners.

“They are being given only two dry slices of bread with baked beans and tea. The tea sometimes does not even have milk. For breakfast, we had agreed on a decent meal with a value of $40 but that is not what is happening.

“Our examiners were supposed to be given four slices of bread with butter, baked beans, a boiled egg and coffee,” said Zhou.

He said the lunch being served to examiners was substandard and that was demoralising them to such an extent that final results could be compromised.

“We were promised to be served a decent lunch but what we are seeing is deplorable. The lunch is substandard and sometimes it comes in short supply, with some examiners having to wait for supper.

“The dinner allowances were pegged at $57 but our examiners are being paid $54 and we wonder what is going on at Zimsec.

“Those who have not been offered accommodation are being paid $74 in dinner and accommodation allowances instead of the agreed $167. We are very disturbed by these reports and we are compiling a report so that we can confront Zimsec.

“Marking is a rigorous exercise which requires full concentration for one to be fair and accurate. How would you expect a teacher who is hungry and thinking about where they will sleep to concentrate? It is disaster in the making,” said Zhou.

Zhou said the teachers were made to sign contracts which prohibited them from speaking to ‘outsiders’ about their welfare.

“I visited Masvingo Polytechnic College yesterday to make an assessment and the examiners were running away saying they were not allowed to talk to us. They were given a directive not to speak to any outsider but our members are coming forward and disclosing information.

“If teachers think it is prudent to be silenced and get peanuts at the end of the day then they should wake up. We should not die in silence. We should speak with one voice. Silence means we want to be abused,” said Zhou.

Efforts to get a comment from Zimsec director Dr Lazarus Nembaware were futile as his mobile was not reachable.

Tell Zim

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly made a personal donation of more than 3 000 tonnes of rice to all rural constituencies throughout the country. Each constituency expected to get 15 tonnes of the commodity.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lovemore Matuke confirmed that they have received the rice and they were already on the ground where their officers were distributing it to the villagers.

“We have received more than 3 000 tonnes of rice from President Mnangagwa. The instruction is for us to give out the rice to all rural constituencies in the country before Christmas and we are working right now to ensure that it is distributed to the intended beneficiaries,” said Matuke.

“The President sourced the rice with the rural people in mind. We are thrilled that they have been cushioned. The prices of such niceties as rice is now beyond the reach of many rural dwellers. We have families that do not have anyone in town and they are not looking forward to anything other than what they have, so, the gesture by the President goes a long way to cushion them,” said Matuke.

“This rice is for everyone. The idea of politicising food aid given by the President should not be tolerated. The President is everyone’s despite political affiliation. No one is equal than the other and no one is going to get first preference because they belong to a certain political party,” he said.

In May this year, China donated more than 10,000 tonnes of rice to assist people who were affected by Cyclone Idai as well as vulnerable households facing hunger due to drought.

Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming handed over the consignment of 10,165 tonnes of rice to the Zimbabwean government that was represented by Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister Sekesai Nzenza.

The Zimbabwean government clashed heavily with the Chinese government after Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube failed to disclose the rice food aid during his budget presentation.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said that China had provided Zimbabwe with US$3.6m in “development support” ranking it below the United States and UK, who both provided US$50m. The EU has provided US$41m in support.

In the wake of the budget, China’s embassy in Harare disputed the figure, saying in a statement it was “very different from the situation on the ground.”

The embassy said its records show that bilateral financial support to Zimbabwe was far greater, at US$136.8m between the period of January and September.

“The embassy wishes that the relevant departments of the Zimbabwean government will make comprehensive assessments on the statistics of bilateral supports and accurately reflect its actual situation when formulating budget statement,” it said in a statement.

Own Correspondent|Members of the Political Actors Dialogue. POLAD, will meet at President Mnangagwa’s Sherwood Farm in Kwekwe today exactly the reason why main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has always refused to be part of the group.

In his rejection of POLAD, Chamisa has always insisted that the meetings must be held at neutral venues and chaired by a neutral person.

In an interview yesterday, Deputy Chief Secretary in the President’s Office Mr George Charamba said the decision to take political dialogue to the Sherwood was made after the Polad negotiators nominated the venue.

Further, it was agreed that a tour of the farm encourages productivity among all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation.

Said Mr Charamba: “It was a request made by Polad members. The programme is very simple, a couple of hours of business and then another couple of hours touring the farm. So it is almost like a farmers’ field day after the serious business of talks.

“It does clinch the notion of productivity which has been the President’s watchword that we should work, work and work for our economy to grow.”

Polad was launched in May this year and is convened by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by retired Justice Selo Nare, a Mnangagwa appointee.

POLITICAL negotiations in Zimbabwe will continue to be held under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) and former South African President Thabo Mbeki has not imposed that talks be held outside this platform, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Following Mbeki’s visit, there has been widespread speculation that the former South Africa President, who led negotiations for Zimbabwe’s Government of National Unity in 2009, will bring President Mnangagwa and Chamisa to the negotiating table under a new platform.

Speaking to journalists after delivering his Unity Day message at State House on Saturday, President Mnangagwa said Mbeki had not advocated talks outside Polad.

“He (Mr Mbeki) never pushed for talks when he met me. We are very old friends, indeed he discussed the political situation in the country and I explained to him that with regard to dialogue, we have a platform where every political party freely can come into that platform including MDC under Chamisa.”

Asked if there was a chance of meeting Chamisa under any other platform, the President responded: “That (Polad) is the only platform where political dialogue will take place.”

Polad was launched in May this year and is convened by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by retired Justice Selo Nare.

CHURCHES have called on political parties to desist from causing superfluous tensions and using people to massage their political egos and heighten their aspirations.

Association of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (AACZ) president Bishop Tsungai Vushe said the country’s political parties should refrain from any forms of violence as this was detrimental to the country’s economy and in most occasions leads to the destruction of property and loss of innocent lives.

“Over the past two years we have witnessed numerous politically motivated violence and this has seen lots of properties being destroyed and left scores of people injured while in some cases lives have been lost. It is our call as churches that political parties should not use people as shields to perpetrate violence,” he said.

Bishop Vushe said political parties should complement each other in efforts of reviving the country’s economy instead of throwing spanners at one another.

“We are seeing a lot of political bickering among political parties and this won’t take us anyway as a nation in our efforts to revive the country’s economy. Our wishes as different apostolic sects are to see the country prospering economically, having peace and tranquillity.

Our leaders should also be God-fearing and that way the Lord will listen to our pleas and all the calamities befalling us will end. As churches we can only be mediators in the event of conflicts and pray for peace and prosperity in our country,” he said.

Bishop Vushe warned churches should be non-partisan and guard against being affiliated to any political party but instead strive on providing Godly counselling to all parties.

“We have noted a growing number of churches that affiliate themselves to certain political parties, such tendencies are uncalled for.

Churches should remain apolitical and stick to their mandate of preaching the Word of God across all political divide.

“As indigenous churches we support the Government of the day regardless of the leader as written in Deuteronomy 29 verse 29 (The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law),” he said.State media

Fellow Zimbabweans,
It is now 32 years since the signing of the Unity Accord which united ZANU and PF-ZAPU, the two sole parties of our national liberation, and most importantly it united Zimbabweans.
Tomorrow (December 22), we commemorate this historic accord.

The Unity Accord between these two liberation movements was signed on 22 December, 1987, by our two founding leaders, veteran nationalists and freedom fighters: Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe representing ZANU; and Cde Joshua Mgabuko Nkomo, representing PF ZAPU.

This landmark event ended the disturbances which had flared up soon after our Independence, and threatened to split and rip our nation apart.
It laid a strong and lasting foundation for our national unity, itself the bedrock of the stability and amity we continue to enjoy as a united people.

Sadly, the two leaders of our Independence struggle and signatories to this watershed document are no longer with us.

But their epochal works and deeds make them live beyond their lifetime. We thank them heartily, and will forever remember and honour them as founders and makers of our nation.
We stand obligated to further the ideals of this timeless bequest of unity to our nation.

Far more than a legacy, the Unity Accord is a material force which continues to shape our politics to this day and forever. It never wears out, nor will we ever allow it to perish. It is the life-force of our nation, the pith of our nationhood. We are as good as strong as we are united: today, tomorrow and forever
All generations, all citizens and all leaders of this nation, must continue to renew, affirm and reaffirm our unity as a people. We should never tire to work for national unity, to think, act and to live true to its dictates.

Zimbabwe is and must remain a home to all who belong to, reside and believe in it.

Fellow Zimbabweans:
I revere and celebrate the Unity Accord because it is a national ethic and value which rises above party politics. It is a core part of processes which founded our nation and keeps us together as a nation
During the liberation struggle, both ZANLA and ZIPRA progressively came together and fought against settlers as a united force. The Unity Accord is, thus deeply rooted in our history.

Today more than ever before we need national unity
Firstly, unity to defend and secure our sovereignty.

While the struggle for political independence may have formally ended in 1980 with our independence, the mission to secure that independence remains and is ongoing.

We continue to face challenges to our sovereignty, such as the illegal sanctions by which certain global interests seek to subvert and compromise our hard won independence.

Many hostile interests eye our resources and would want to access them. We must meet this threat by remaining solidly united, even now that SADC, Africa and the progressive world have joined us in a show of practical solidarity.

Secondly, unity to recover and grow our economy.

We have committed ourselves to Vision 2030 to transform and develop our country into an upper middle income economy.
We must be united to assure our people of decent livelihoods through inclusive development and growth which leaves no one behind.

This immutable goal requires all hands on the deck regardless of politics, tribe, region, race or creed.

Zimbabwe needs all its hands; black or white; long or short; tender, clean or greased; fisted or open. All these hands belong to our nation which today bids them to work for it, and in unity and harmony. We have created channels and avenues for resolving our differences and sharing ideas on challenges we face as a nation. It is never too late to serve your people and country.

Thirdly, unity for peace, harmony and eternal peace in for our nation.
A divided house soon crumbles and falls. We should never entertain politics which mobilise around narrow, anti-nation sentiments.

Zimbabwe is a unitary state and politics operating below that constitutional dictate, should be rejected.
We must therefore always seek to be more peaceful and more united through greater interaction, greater justice and more balanced development.

The policy of decentralisation and devolution enshrined in our constitution must take root and be accelerated.
That is what consolidates the Unity Accord which our founders bequeathed to us.

Celebration of Independence away from Harare gives full meaning to both the attaining of Independence and unity we enjoy.
Fourthly, unity for greater democracy.

Our Constitution bids that we hold elections after every five years. With elections comes contestation; however, these must never be aggressive or divisive rivalry. Democratic contestations should never destroy our national cohesion.
The quest to govern is neither a license to divide.

Our politics must never fracture our nation or threaten to break it up. Our politics must affirm our nation by always advancing, productivity, economic development and prosperity for all our people. That is which is in the best interest of the people must beacon.

Fifth and last, national unity for sub-regional and continental cohesion
Zimbabwe is an African country whose membership is in SADC and the African Union.

We have played and discharged important roles in our region, and our continent.
Zimbabwe remains among those states that can be counted on for conflict prevention, management and resolution.

Presently, we chair the SADC Organ on Defence, Politics and Security. Not long ago, we were a member of the African Union’s Peace and Security Commission.

Only a united Zimbabwe which is at peace with itself and its neighbours becomes a useful member of its Sub-region and its continent. We owe it to ourselves, but also owe it to our African brethren.

I exhort us all therefore, to continue to cherish our unity and working towards its consolidation.

As we slow down and take a deserved rest, starting tomorrow, the day we remember the signing of the Unity Accord and over Christmas and the New Year; Let unity, peace, love and harmony prevail over our great country.
God bless you all. God Bless Zimbabwe. I thank you.

Farai Dziva| A spokesperson for the Mubaiwa family has indicated that Constantino Chiwenga was involved in the “murder of Zimbabweans in August 2018.”

Commenting on Marry Chiwenga’ s arrested and prosecution, Hannington Mubaiwa described Chiwenga as a “ruthless man.”

See full statement below recorded by ZimEye.com :

My name is Hannington Mubaiwa. And I am an uncle to Marry Chiwenga.

It is needless to say that we are very saddened about the manner in which the alleged case for our daughter or on our daughter is being handled.

The Primary Factor in this case is that, behind it everything that is happening is a family matter. We know that when when a family has a disagreement, the husband who is not happy with his wife should approach the parents and discuss the way forward. And this has not been done, it has shown, it shows how Chiwenga despises and condescends on the Mubaiwa family; Because he should have thought, as a strategic man, should have thought about this; I am sure he considered it and found it unnecessary because we don’t have power, so he perceives.

I want to appeal ED Mnangagwa to intervene in this case in such a way that our daughter is handled with a level of Dignity and Protection that every citizen should have and coming from a higher authority like that, they need to honour her. She is the wife of a Vice President

The People In Govt, None Of Them Deserves Honour

She needs to be respected and honoured regardless of anything else around because the people in government today around today none of them deserves honour when you come to think about it, but they are still in these positions. The best you can do is for her to be allowed house arrest for now.

There is nowhere she can go, but there is need to be a level of dignity. She has children five of them young ones; this is child abuse and it is illegal for Chiwenga to come and take and to organise for the children to be taken; we don’t want to say and think he didn’t know about this.

He does; he is using military power and political power to abuse the police and the anti-corruption system to get back on his wife. Think about this. The case that is at hand, it just does not make much sense.

Intention to murder the husband

As far as the intention to murder the husband – it does not make sense at all; and the rest of them, the externalization; I mean it’s a laughable matter.

Because in Zimbabwe Mr President ED Mnangagwa even though you know yourself there is a lot of externalization that took place; there were many people from many nations who externalised millions of dollars and you didn’t do anything about it. But presidency is being a custodian of the freedom and safety and liberty of the citizens, and my daughter is being denied that right now.

Chiwenga is acting outside the power of the Zim govt

And we need to look at this case it’s a very serious case it’s a precedent, that really, that Chiwenga is acting outside the power of the Zimbabwean government right now he is a rebel of the Zimbabwean government.

Because we understand that he came into Zimbabwe, and was received by the Chinese government that is a total disrespect of the Territorial Integrity of Zimbabwe and it is a total disrespect and dishonor of the sovereignty of Zimbabwe. No country should ever be in 2019 be exposed to hegemony or Imperial economic colonialism that has been expressed by China.

Chiwenga was aided by China to secretly fly into Zimbabwe without informing Zim Airspace authorities, ED

Chiwenga has basically externalised the whole nation to China; And that is treason it’s a serious matter, coming into the country without consulting; without informing the president what authority was he using?

What Zimbabweans need to understand is number one we are not saying that our daughter did or didn’t but the manner in which vindication [vindictiveness?] is being used it’s against the international bill of rights it’s against the Zimbabwean Bill of Rights, it should not happen.

You need to understand that hegemony authority of one country over another once it has been instituted the estate of our Descendants has been captured, they will find it very difficult to detach themselves from it.

The Chinese themselves they say according to the words of …. he said that China will never accept interference by other countries in its internal affairs. He said the key principles governing the new international order should be non interference in other countries’ internal affairs and social systems, and China has done just that, and he goes ahead to say hegemony and power politics which have emerged in new form can not last long allowing a few countries to monopolize everything is they have done for years has never solved any problems and never will and I want to ask the people of Zimbabwe to be careful that this is a bad precedent. It’s a precedent, it’s happening in Zimbabwe it’s going to happen to all other countries. This is about power, this is about anti constitutionalism; this is about anarchy that Chiwenga is introducing; this power, this authority.

He was involved in the murder of Zimbabweans in 2018 of August; he is responsible, in January he is responsible it is him. That man is a military pugilistic individual that should not be allowed near power.

President Mnangagwa, I request that you take this matter and give this lady my daughter Mary Mubaiwa the dignity that she deserves, thank you.

However, Efforts by ZimEye.com to get a comment from the Chinese embassy were fruitless at the time of writing.

Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has declared that the opposition party will not join POLAD.

Chamisa has also said his party’s views on dialogue have not changed.

Chamisa tweeted:
Zimbabwe is in a deep crisis. Only true and holistic reforms will bring about real change. Dialogue must be genuine. Will take no part in POLAD.Our views on the much-desired dialogue remain unchanged.

We seek true change for the people of Zimbabwe. We will never betray your trust!”

Watch video below. ..

TWO soldiers based in Hwange, Matabeleland North province, allegedly threatened to kill a State spy bearing a Mugabe surname after accusing him of being related to the late former President Robert Mugabe.

Sindiso Nkomo and Philani Nyoni allegedly threatened to kill Tawanda Mugabe in an act of revenge, claiming the late President had also killed thousands in the region.

The incident took place on December 8, 2019 at Cricket Club in Hwange.

This emerged during their court appearance before Hwange magistrate Aelene Munamati, who found the pair guilty and fined them $100 each.

Munamati also slapped them with a wholly suspended two-month jail sentence.

The State, led by Trymore Chitumbu, said the two soldiers, based at 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange, took offence when they heard that an officer from the Office of the President and Cabinet had a Mugabe surname.

“The accused persons approached the complainant after they heard him being called Mugabe by his friend. The accused threatened to kill the complainant, accusing him of being related to the late former President. They said ‘we must kill him because Mugabe killed a lot of people in this region’,” Chitumbu said.

The pair reportedly beat up Mugabe, resulting in their arrest.

The late former President, Mugabe, has largely been blamed for the 1980s Gukurahundi mass killings in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces after he deployed a North Korea-trained Fifth Brigade in the region to ostensibly fight dissidents.

The arrest of the two soldiers comes after the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) raised concern over cases of indiscipline among its officers.

ZNA Chief of Staff Quartermaster Staff, Major-General Hlanganani Dube recently said cases of indiscipline were rising.

“I strongly feel obliged to express the command element’s concern over repeated acts of indiscipline by some of our members,” Dube was quoted saying during a recent speech and prize giving ceremony of Inter Formation and Unit Drill Competitions held at Headquarters 5 Brigade.

“We continue to experience an increase in the number of members involved in crimes committed both within and outside the organisation. Such acts of indiscipline must end immediately. Severe punishments will always be applied for any deviation from our set standards.”

-Newsday

VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga has warned machete-wielding artisanal miners who are terrorising communities and other miners that they will face the full wrath of the law.

Addressing a handful of people at the International Day of Co-operatives in Bindura yesterday, the Vice-President said he was back and healthy and would ensure that machete-wielding illegal miners were brought to book.

“I would like to thank you all for praying for me during my sickness. Let me assure you that I am back and very much healthy,” Chiwenga said.

“As government, we are saying no to machete-wielding miners, hatidi mabhemba (we don’t want machetes)! Let me repeat, no to machete-wielding miners. The law will descend heavily on (the rogue) artisanal miners. We cannot afford to have illegal miners wreaking havoc in the country,” Chiwenga thundered.

He urged illegal miners to join co-operatives and regularise their operations in a bid to develop the nation.

“The government recognises the existence of artisanal miners and we are urging them to join co-operatives so that the country moves forward in the mining sector,” Chiwenga added.

The VP also told the gathering that hunger is stalking the nation due to a poor harvest and Mashonaland Central province, formerly the bread basket of the country, has not been spared.

“I was briefed by the Minister of State for Mashonaland Central (Monica Mavhunga) that hunger has tormented the province. Yes, we know hunger is there and as the government, we have formed a committee being spearheaded by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sibusiso Moyo, Minister of Agriculture, Perrance Shiri and Minister of Finance, Mthuli Ncube, who are busy sourcing for food aid and weekly, the country is receiving food,” he said.

“Let me also assure you that no one will starve under the new dispensation. The government is working flat out to see to it that everyone is fed.”

Chiwenga also said: “We were also told that many schools in Mt Darwin, Muzarabani and Mbire are like fowl runs and should be prioritised because education is key, that is where our future leaders are learning. The government has taken note of that.”

— NewsDay

A Bulawayo-based cop was shamed for “stealing” his wife’s underwear supposedly to take them to a sangoma for ritual purposes.

The disgrace was made public at the Bulawayo Civil Court where Locardia Hove made an application for a protection order against her husband, Freedom Hove, a police officer, accusing him of being violent towards her.

Locardia claimed her abusive husband based at ZRP Nkulumane was also in the habit of assaulting her in front of their children aged five and eight years respectively.

“I am the applicant in this matter and the respondent Freedom Hove is my husband. He is based at ZRP Nkulumane. He is of a violent nature and he is always assaulting me in front of our children and this affects them emotionally.

“He also took my documents and underwear without my consent.

He went on to accuse me of being a witch and banned me from cooking for our kids saying I might poison them,” complained Locardia, adding that she was now living in fear of her husband as they were no longer in talking terms.

Spiritedly begging for a protection order to be granted in her favour, Locardia further said Freedom was no longer sleeping at home.

“He is now coming home after two days only to change and whenever he comes, he will be violent,” she said.

In his response, Freedom didn’t deny his wife’s accusations before he consented to the granting of the protection order in her favour.

By his consent presiding magistrate Jeconiah Ncube granted the protection order which refrains Freedom from verbally and physically assaulting his wife.

He also ordered him not take his wife’s property without her consent.B-Metro

It never rains but pours for incarcerated Second Lady Marry Chiwenga following sensational claims made by ex-husband Shingi Kawondera, implicating her and nephew Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure in ‘company theft’ allegations, Zim Morning Post can reveal.Shingi Kawondera and his four kids

Kawondera told Zim Morning Post last week. that Pioneer Gases (Ginimbi’s company) was his brainchild and he was the sole owner and founder.

He alleges that his ex-wife Marry connived with Ginimbi to forge papers and elbow him out by illegally changing the directorship.

“I am the sole owner of Pioneer Gases that Ginimbi claims to be his.

“I have the papers to prove it.

“What happened is Ginimbi was my friend at the time and he connived with Marry to doctor paperwork to remove me from the directorship, but Mwari ndewemunhu wese haamwire ku Dreams (God is for us all)

“I was based in Cyprus and had the resources to fund the project,” Kawondera said.

Kawondera could not however produce documentary evidence and company registration certificate to prove his claims.

Ginimbi scoffed at these claims describing them as ‘wild and crazy’.

He explained how he solely started Pioneer Gases and enlisted himself and his mother as directors.

“This is shocking and absurd, surely don’t be used by people who have their issues and behaving like they are mad.

“You know the history of how I build my business yourself and you have written about it long back.

“I am self made and when I left school, I started doing gases and of course help from some experienced people in the game who recognized my hard work until I decided to register Pioneer Gases,”Advertisementexplained Ginimbi.

Ginimbi further stated that his relationship with Kawondera was not bordered on any business deals, but it was purely based on partying.

“I met Shingi (Kawondera) way after I had already started doing business.

“Ndakasangana naye mustreet and ndanga ndatoshanda ndatobhoo (I met him in the streets and I was already financially stable).

“Our relationship was purely based on partying and his claims are like say for example, anyone can wake up one day and say the car that Genius is driving is mine, its nonsense,” fumed Ginimbi.

A quick search at the registrar of companies confirmed that Genius Kadungure and others were directors of Pioneer Gases.

He challenged Kawondera to institute legal proceedings if he stands on solid ground.

Pioneer Gases imports and distributes LP gas and it also has set footprints in Botswana and South Africa.

Meanwhile, in a previous interview with this reporter in 2010, Ginimbi revealed that soon after school at the age of 17, he engaged in small business transactions.

While residing in Harare’s Sunningdale density suburb, he became a middle-man securing gas for domestic users.

Through a friend who worked for a top airlines company, he quickly secured his first major contract to supply gas to the commercial, industrial, public and retail sectors.

This breakthrough led to the birth of Pioneer Gases.

He has been assisted in planning and logistics by his friend and most trusted lieutenant known as Kit Kat, at least according to him then.

-Zim Morning Post

Dear Ms. Mahere,

I hope I find you well dear girl-child. Your interview with Trevor Ncube made me a proud mother. Not to repeat all you have already said in that groundbreaking interview: You are indeed a very talented person, a passionate activist, one of the finest young women politicians out there who know their activism on their fingertips. This is the calibre of women we want to see taking this country forward. Where we may have failed dismally, you have the energy to finish our journey to freedom successfully, a responsibility that we took over from our mothers and fathers. Fadzai, you have it all in your profession as a lawyer, your academics and a politician to lead this nation to dizzy heights.

What was striking in your interview was your answer as to why you joined MDC-Alliance. Your conviction is that you did not need to split the opposition by fighting the regime as splitter groups but as a united force. I am sure that decision was informed judging from the vast experience you already have: you have a very impressive CV and international exposure. You have served in international bodies and institutions to get the in-depth knowledge you have. In that interview you shone out. You will indeed inspire many young girls to do more: to my delight.

Coming to some parts of your interview once more; you say you joined the party that is not perfect. The women in MDC-Alliance still have a lot to work on because in that party woman are seriously short-changed. Having seen your vibrant talk to the end with Trevor I have no doubt in my mind that those will be the areas of interest to turn tables around and revolutionalize your party on gender issues. Women still rate second in MDC-Alliance; I am sure that you and other young women will correct those gender imbalances. Women are indeed second class citizens, first in MDC-Alliance and in the country as a whole. I am dead sure you are going to play your part well.

What stood out in that interview once more is the courage you displayed throughout. This is what makes a genuine and authentic activist and politician. You are young, intelligent, eloquent, articulate and courageous woman. I cannot ask for more in a young woman of your age. We are not young anymore dear Fadzai, the hope that we shall leave the fight for justice and gender equality on your hands like yours and indeed other women will make me smile in my grave. Thank you for making my day mtanami/mwana wangu. I really love you. You have my blessing. We are slowly passing on the baton to you young women to do more for the revolution, remembering too that the women’s fight is a double fight all the time: it is fighting for the regime change in Zimbabwe and at the same breath the women’s rights will not be given to us on a silver plate but a bitter fight will be needed to change this patriarchal thinking and a sense of entitlement in our societies.

Before I pen off dear Fadzi, I wish to remind you that in our own ways, abilities and possibilities we need to be able to fight for other women irrespective of their political affiliations and close connections to the powers that be. I am having Mrs. Marry Chiwenga in mind. She has made many mistakes during the time she was wife to the General Chiwenga admittedly. However, at such hard times she finds herself in, we need to see a mother in her and a sister who needs our emotional solidarity. Her crimes compared to all other criminals looting the state coffers, she did not deserve the treatment she got from her husband; exposing her in that manner. Remember too that, that humiliation can happen to anyone of us women. The estranged husband General Chiwenga is using ZACC to punish her but on the other hand, forgetting that she is mother to his children! Curiously the head of ZACC department is a woman!

Our solidarity is not to condom corruption Marry is accused of, but the way the state was used to punish her as if she is the big fish in the scheme of corruption. Marry is a complete victim of circumstances still beyond our comprehension. Here, I ask for women’s solidarity and nothing more. Mrs. Marry Chiwenga is unwell and her children need their mother at Christmas to them that motherly comfort and her presence will give smile to their growing up faces.

Solidarity with other women is something I have learnt as a politician here in Germany. Just like you: I lost parliamentary EU elections in May this year and I know how it feels to lose elections. I was on a Feminist Party” The Women” ticket that taught me among many other things: global solidarity with women in distress. I am deeply proud of this insight. We can do a lot in uplifting other women and give each other hope, inspiration and courage to fight especially gender issues, a global menace.

Please, for all those who did not see this “Conversation with Trevor/Adv. Fadzai Mahere, I would recommend all especially women to watch the video to the end. It is a refreshing well articulated, intelligently presented interview to recommend. They don’t call you Fadzai for nothing!

Your mother in spirit
Nomazulu Thata

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe injected an additional $20 million of banknotes into circulation in the last week, with much of it channelled to the People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB), used to distribute a lot of pensions.

The funds are expected to marginally ease the demand for physical cash. 

This was said by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in an interview on the sidelines of a familiarisation tour of the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) head office in Harare yesterday.

“In the last week alone, we have put in about $20 million,” said Prof Ncube. “We targeted POSB specifically, but not exclusively, because we know that a lot of our ordinary citizens are banking with them and it’s important that they have all the cash that they need.”

Depositors  yesterday said they still faced challenges obtaining cash from banks, adding that they observe the situation was getting worse.

Economists say while the RBZ was right to increase cash in circulation given the high demand, it would take time before cash queues start to subside. 

The recommended cash levels in circulation are 10 percent to 15 percent of money supply, which is presently estimated at $19 billion.

This means Zimbabwe requires about $2 billion in physical cash, yet there is about $720 million in circulation. 

Since the introduction of new notes and coins in November, about $120 million has been injected into circulation.

The RBZ introduced new $2 coins and $2 and $5 notes following a surge in demand for cash in the informal sector which operates largely on a cash basis or offers discounts for cash.

Informal traders say that this allows them to buy black market foreign exchange at a discount.

As Unity Day, Christmas and New Year holidays start tomorrow, there has been a sharp rise in the demand for cash across the country for bus fares and for spending in rural shops which often seek a high premium for mobile money transfers.

This has seen long queues at banks, amid reports that some unscrupulous bank workers were diverting personal withdrawals to the informal cash market where it is sold at about 30 percent premiums, half what was usual a month ago, but still steep. 

Prof Ncube said as more banknotes were being injected into circulation for the convenience of the transacting public, bigger denominations will start circulating in the first quarter of next year. 

Turning to IPEC management and staff, Prof Ncube said Government was aware of the work underway regarding the revaluation of pensions in light of currency changes in 2009 and this year. 

He said Government will be supporting the insurance regulator to make sure industry players did the right thing. 

Prof Ncube said there was need for IPEC to engage in public awareness programmes on the goings-on in the sector. 

“I guess there is need to do more awareness in terms of the public; educate the consumer about what is going on in the industry,” he said.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa will tomorrow meet members of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) at his Kwekwe farm.

The government confirmed the meeting, saying it was centred around production and will include a tour of the farm.

Polad is made up of the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe, the National Constitutional Assembly led by Lovemore Madhuku and many other small parties.

The meeting comes as MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has called for the non-inclusion of Polad in talks between his party and Zanu PF, saying the coming in of the actors will confuse the process as they have their own agendas.

Polad was created by Mnangagwa after the disputed 2018 elections to dialogue with losers in the presidential poll.

Chamisa, however, refused to be part of the process, saying meaningful dialogue should be between his party and Zanu PF and should address the legitimacy issue first.

While the MDC leader has refused to recognise Mnangagwa as the legitimate President, Polad members have, however, recognised him and are working with him.

The meeting comes days after the visit by former South African President Thabo Mbeki to initiate dialogue among political actors.

“The President has invited all members of Polad for them to appreciate what he is doing at the farm,” presidential spokesperson George Charamba said yesterday.

— NewsDay

Government has dismissed social media messages that universities have raised fees by more than 500 percent.

One of the discredited messages reads: “University of Zimbabwe fees increased to $15 000 per semester. Medicine Faculty to pay $45 000 per semester. Law full time $12 000 and part time $21 500 per semes­ter. The Ministry of Higher education has granted all State Universities and other ter­tiary institutions authority to raise the fees which had not been raised in tandem with inflation.”

A table of fees purportedly for Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) shows fig­ures ranging between $4 245 and $15 000 while international students are supposed to pay US$3 000.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Min­ister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Sci­ence and Technology Development Pro­fessor Amon Murwira said the messages circulating on social media were meant to cause despondency because Government had not approved any fees increases.

“It is shocking, I saw the messages on twit­ter and I was so disappointed with social media,” he said.

“These messages are causing despond­ency in the country. Who can afford to pay $45 000 for fees in this country. I mean what will be your salary?

“We have not even adjusted anything on the ground. Even if we increase the fees it will not be that much, it is just a pack of lies. No committee has sat to discuss fees structures for next year.”

Prof Murwira said the Government indi­cated fees will be adjusted at the end of the austerity period, but nothing had been said as of now.

In July, Government warned universities against raising fees without approval, amid reports that some varsities countrywide had attempted to unilaterally hike fees.

Universities increased fees for parallel and block students, leaving out conven­tional ones whose public outcry usually draws attention.

Prof Murwira, at the time, said fees for all undergraduate categories remained unchanged.

“All fees to do with undergraduate studies have not been increased as such commu­nication passes through my office,” he said then. “I have not signed an ordinance to that effect.

“Fees remain the same until we put alter­native payment methods as we are working on introducing grants.

-State Media

THE family of a South Africa-based Zimbabwean businessman who was shot dead in a suspected hit in the neighbouring country has accused his wife of involvement in the killing.

They said Bheki Ndlovu (44) had many problems in his 25 years of marriage with Mrs Nomazwe Ndlovu that could have contributed to his death. In interviews yesterday, two family members said Mrs Ndlovu also cheated on him, recording herself in 66 videos while doing so with a man named as Jabulani Ncube aka Christopher Tshabalala.  

Ncube’s wife told Chronicle that if her husband killed the businessman, he must pay for the crime.

Bheki, an umalayitsha was gunned down while fuelling his vehicle at a BP service station in Johannesburg on Saturday.  The incident happened just a week after his wife allegedly sent him a threatening message that one of them would die.

 “Just a week ago he received a message from his wife. She claimed that it was going to be either Bheki or her who would die. We have the threatening message. We haven’t been able to talk to our daughter-in-law since his death.”

“We don’t know what really transpired but we will share what we know. Two weeks ago, our daughter-in-law came to Zimbabwe counting and registering properties that Bheki had. She counted the shops, houses and livestock one by one something that she had never done during the subsistence of their marriage, we don’t know why,” said a Mr Ndlovu, Bheki’s uncle who declined to give his first name.

They said their in-laws have not even visited their home to pay condolences after Bheki was shot dead.

“Our daughter-in-law’s mother just said she would only come when his body arrives which is very strange as we were not fighting with them,” said Mrs Ndlovu, Bheki’s aunt. 

They said Ndlovu caught his wife several times cheating on him but he would forgive her insisting that he still loved her.

 “As it is, we have 66 sex videos where she recorded herself cheating on him with this man called Jabu (Jabulani Ncube aka Christopher Tshabalala). We think this illicit relationship with Jabu was the most troublesome on their marriage. She did not just cheat with him, around 2017 she cheated on him with a pastor from a local church (name supplied) who committed suicide after their illicit affair was exposed. I think our son was a victim of loving a woman who didn’t love him. He loved his wife but she never loved him,” said Mr Ndlovu, the eldest of Bheki’s uncles and leader of the family. 

He accused her of stealing R100 000 from Bheki.

“But again, he forgave her saying he wanted his family intact. While they have this North End suburb house, his wife clandestinely rented a flat in town. We don’t know why. This only came to light after some properties were attached here in the house as she was no longer paying rent. Again, he forgave her. He bought 25 cattle from his in-laws, that he never saw. We tried on several occasions to intervene in their problems but we failed. For between 19 to 25 years of their marriage they had serious marital problems,” said Mr Ndlovu.

“As it stands, we are afraid that the wife can come and claim all their property since she is the surviving spouse. We don’t want the properties as we have our own properties. But we are afraid that she could squander these things and their children will end up living in poverty yet their father worked so hard. He was our son, but in terms of responsibilities, he was our father as well. He looked after all of us.”

-State Media

Farai Dziva|The Mubaiwa family has released a statement about Marry Chiwenga’s arrest and prosecution.

See full statement below recorded by ZimEye.com below :

My name is Hannington Mubaiwa. And I am an uncle to Marry Chiwenga.

It is needless to say that we are very saddened about the manner in which the alleged case for our daughter or on our daughter is being handled.

The Primary Factor in this case is that, behind it everything that is happening is a family matter. We know that when when a family has a disagreement, the husband who is not happy with his wife should approach the parents and discuss the way forward. And this has not been done, it has shown, it shows how Chiwenga despises and condescends on the Mubaiwa family; Because he should have thought, as a strategic man, should have thought about this; I am sure he considered it and found it unnecessary because we don’t have power, so he perceives.

I want to appeal ED Mnangagwa to intervene in this case in such a way that our daughter is handled with a level of Dignity and Protection that every citizen should have and coming from a higher authority like that, they need to honour her. She is the wife of a Vice President

The People In Govt, None Of Them Deserves Honour

She needs to be respected and honoured regardless of anything else around because the people in government today around today none of them deserves honour when you come to think about it, but they are still in these positions. The best you can do is for her to be allowed house arrest for now.

There is nowhere she can go, but there is need to be a level of dignity. She has children five of them young ones; this is child abuse and it is illegal for Chiwenga to come and take and to organise for the children to be taken; we don’t want to say and think he didn’t know about this.

He does; he is using military power and political power to abuse the police and the anti-corruption system to get back on his wife. Think about this. The case that is at hand, it just does not make much sense.

Intention to murder the husband

As far as the intention to murder the husband – it does not make sense at all; and the rest of them, the externalization; I mean it’s a laughable matter.

Because in Zimbabwe Mr President ED Mnangagwa even though you know yourself there is a lot of externalization that took place; there were many people from many nations who externalised millions of dollars and you didn’t do anything about it. But presidency is being a custodian of the freedom and safety and liberty of the citizens, and my daughter is being denied that right now.

Chiwenga is acting outside the power of the Zim govt

And we need to look at this case it’s a very serious case it’s a precedent, that really, that Chiwenga is acting outside the power of the Zimbabwean government right now he is a rebel of the Zimbabwean government.

Because we understand that he came into Zimbabwe, and was received by the Chinese government that is a total disrespect of the Territorial Integrity of Zimbabwe and it is a total disrespect and dishonor of the sovereignty of Zimbabwe. No country should ever be in 2019 be exposed to hegemony or Imperial economic colonialism that has been expressed by China.

Chiwenga was aided by China to secretly fly into Zimbabwe without informing Zim Airspace authorities, ED

Chiwenga has basically externalised the whole nation to China; And that is treason it’s a serious matter, coming into the country without consulting; without informing the president what authority was he using?

What Zimbabweans need to understand is number one we are not saying that our daughter did or didn’t but the manner in which vindication [vindictiveness?] is being used it’s against the international bill of rights it’s against the Zimbabwean Bill of Rights, it should not happen.

You need to understand that hegemony authority of one country over another once it has been instituted the estate of our Descendants has been captured, they will find it very difficult to detach themselves from it.

The Chinese themselves they say according to the words of …. he said that China will never accept interference by other countries in its internal affairs. He said the key principles governing the new international order should be non interference in other countries’ internal affairs and social systems, and China has done just that, and he goes ahead to say hegemony and power politics which have emerged in new form can not last long allowing a few countries to monopolize everything is they have done for years has never solved any problems and never will and I want to ask the people of Zimbabwe to be careful that this is a bad precedent. It’s a precedent, it’s happening in Zimbabwe it’s going to happen to all other countries. This is about power, this is about anti constitutionalism; this is about anarchy that Chiwenga is introducing; this power, this authority.

He was involved in the murder of Zimbabweans in 2018 of August; he is responsible, in January he is responsible it is him. That man is a military pugilistic individual that should not be allowed near power.

President Mnangagwa, I request that you take this matter and give this lady my daughter Mary Mubaiwa the dignity that she deserves, thank you.

However, Efforts to get a comment from the Chinese embassy were fruitless at the time of writing.

SELF-EXILED former Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Mandiitawepi Chimene, should be investigated on allegations of selling state land at the 120-hectare Fairholme Farm in Mutasa Rural District among other charges.

The recommendation was made by the Commission of Inquiry into the sale of state land around urban areas since 2005. The commission recently presented its report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa who vowed to bring to book land barons who duped home-seekers.

Chimene who is cited with many others has also been accused of selling the land without signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Local Government.

She also stands accused of selling land before fully servicing it and abusing her office ‘then’ in securing the allocation of farm and change of use letter of permissions through ministry officials.

According to the report, one Tonderai George Bandure is accused of abusing his office by issuing the letter of support in the allocation of the farm to Atonstar, a company belonging to Chimene and one Patience Mabota.

The Commission’s report indicates that Chimene was allocated Fairholme Farm under the Model A2 Scheme in 2003, in 2016. She however, applied to the Mutasa rural District Council for change of use of the farm from agricultural to residential.

It is reported the application was granted in March 2016 and the farm was surrendered to the Ministry of Local Government by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture andAdvertisementRural Resettlement.

“A layout plan was prepared by Savanna Land Developers which had entered into an agreement with Atonstar Investments to develop the land,” reads the report.

“The Department of Physical Planning (DPP) approved the layout plan on the 120 hectares of land which would create, 469 residential stands, 16 commercial stands, a flat, school, church, police post and other critical buildings housing much-needed service providers for any developing residential area in September 2016.

Chimene’s Atonstar company through its agent Simple Ventures began selling residential stands pegged at US$20 per square meter while the prerequisites for buying the land meant, home seekers would pay a deposit of US$2 000 and the balance would be paid in instalments ranging from US$150 to US$260 per month.

The land was being sold despite the fact that there was limited infrastructural development in terms of roads, water, electricity and sewer systems.

“The developer merely opened roads which are neither gravelled or tarred, there is no water reticulation and the developer is still engaging Mutare City Council to provide water and there are no electrical connections,” alleges the report.

However, 114 residential stands had already been sold by the time of the inquiry with one occupant and several invaders already living on the land regardless of the development shortcomings.

The residents have long since resorted to buying water and using blair toilets posing health hazards.

-State Media

Watch video below. ..