THE trial of MDC Alliance Makokoba Constituency MP James Sithole, who together with three accomplices are facing charges of embezzling more than US$4 000 and R10 000 belonging to a local burial society he chaired, has been postponed to January.
Sithole (45), Jacob Manyange (64), Raymond Gombedza (47) all from Makokoba suburb and Manyara Muzamani (49) of Cowdray Park appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja facing theft of trust property charges.
They were remanded out of custody to January 9 for continuation of trial.
The four men allegedly diverted to their personal use R10 000 rand, which belonged to Makokoba Burial Society after collecting the money from the treasurer, Ms Margaret Sibindi.
They also allegedly squandered US$4 250, which was restituted by Ms Sibindi following her conviction and sentence for dipping her fingers into the coffers of the burial society.
The burial society was founded in 2010 by MDC party supporters in the constituency to assist members during funerals.
The MP was the burial society’s chairman.
Prosecuting, Mr Leonard Chile said between 2010 and 2011, the accused persons acted in common purpose and sent Manyange to collect R10 000 which was being kept by Ms Sibindi who was the treasurer of the burial society at the time.
It was, however, not stated in court papers why the accused persons had requested the money from Ms Sibindi.
They allegedly converted the money to their personal use and the money was not recovered.
In 2011, Ms Sibindi, who was responsible for keeping the money stole US$4 250 from the burial society and she was arrested and taken to court and convicted of theft.
She was ordered to restitute the money and she complied with the court order by paying the money through the Clerk of Court at the Bulawayo Magistrate’s Court.
The court heard that Manyange went to the Clerk of Court at Tredgold building where he signed for the money and took the cash.
“Manyange signed and collected the money which was restituted by Margaret Sibindi. The four accused persons, acting in common purpose, converted the money to their personal use,” said Mr Chile.
In her testimony, Ms Sibindi told the court that the four accused persons embezzled the funds belonging to the society.
Sithole, in his defence, said the allegations were an attempt by his political opponents to soil his image after he defeated them in last year’s elections.
Mr Prince Butshe Dube is representing the four accused persons.
Four more witnesses are expected to testify when the trial resumes next year.
State Media|A 15-MAN gang brandishing an AK 47 rifle and machetes allegedly attacked shop owners at a business centre in Gwanda and left with R14 000, $1 100 and groceries whose value is yet to be ascertained.
The gang invaded Gobathema Business Centre in Guyu on Saturday at around 9PM.
They allegedly fired shots into the air and sent patrons at night spots scurrying for cover before breaking into shops, ransacking some and demanding cash at gunpoint from others.
They attacked shop owners who resisted their demands with machetes and left one unconscious. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “I can confirm that we recorded an armed robbery case which occurred at Gobathema Business Centre in Guyu where a group of 15 unidentified men who were armed with machetes and an AK47 rifle went about robbing shops.
“They arrived at the business centre, fired two shots in the air to threaten patrons who then fled. They invaded several shops and took cash amounting to R14 000, $1 100 and groceries whose value is yet to be ascertained.
“Investigations are underway and we would like to appeal to members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact any nearest police station. As police we urge businesspeople to be on the alert and not discuss their financial matters with just anyone as that might put them at risk of being victims. In this case it seems the suspects were targeting shops that had a lot of money. The police are working tirelessly to ensure these culprits are brought to book.”
A source close to the investigations who preferred anonymity said after the suspects had dispersed patrons, shop owners locked their premises out of fear of being attacked but the gang went on to forcibly enter the shops demanding cash.
The source said the gang first went to Allan’s Butchery where they struck the owner with a machete and left him unconscious. He said after the gang took R600 and $170 from the butchery they went to Thembisiwe Ndlela’s shop.
“At Thembisiwe Ndlela’s shop they forced open a locked door and gained entry. They demanded cash from her and she gave them R9 000 and they also took some groceries and left.
“The gang went on to Khethiwe Nyathi’s shop where they broke a window in order to gain entry. They demanded cash from her and she gave them R4 500 and $940 and they took some groceries. They loaded the goods in a vehicle and drove away,” said the source.
Itai Mushekwe| Cologne– Military tactician, Vice President Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga, has reportedly set the stage for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s removal from power in 2020, Spotlight Zimbabwe, can exclusively report.
Bildergebnis für general chiwenga back from china”
Senior army officers linked to the VP’s faction and sources inside the presidency, this week revealed that Chiwenga is allegedly going to boot out Mnangagwa from office “at all costs”, following the latter’s attempt to secure a life presidency, and reneging on a gentlemen’s agreement with the former to only rule for one presidential term, amid indications from the just ended ruling Zanu PF 18th annual people’s conference in Goromonzi, that Mnangagwa wants to run unchallenged as Zanu PF candidate in the 2023 presidential elections and beyond.
Bildergebnis für general chiwenga back from china”
The disclosures come at a time when, there is growing political speculation of China’s involvement in Chiwenga’s plan, after the VP returned back home last month, following four months of intensive medical treatment at a military hospital in Beijing.
Chiwenga’s security and communications are now believed to be managed by Chinese intelligence operatives inside the country, working with his inner circle home security team, that was with him throughout his medical troubles in Beijing.
China is also said to be irate with Mnangagwa’s foreign policy stance of wanting to “Look West” as opposed to his predecessor’s Look East Policy, which gave preferential treatment and security to Chinese investments and economic interests in Harare.
Chiwenga’s move to get rid of Mnangagwa next year, is in line with the army’s communication to China two years ago, that the ruling party’s leader power expires in 2020, so it might seem.
As first reported by Spotlight Zimbabwe, on 22 March this year, a special delegation of senior Zimbabwean military officials reportedly told Chinese generals that Mnangagwa’s political reign will expire in 2020, and that he was going to be an interim caretaker president up to the period, before the military replaces him with their preferred successor, a few days prior to former leader, President Robert Mugabe’s November 2017 coup topple.
Image result for Chiwenga china trip
Chiwenga visited China between November 8 to November 10 2017, when he was still the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, together with an elite delegation comprising officials from the army and air force, who according to a military attache stationed in Beijing, told their Chinese counterparts that Mnangagwa would be in power “for no more than three years” as a “stopgap measure” to stabilise the country, with a Zimbabwean general likely to takeover until 2023 to finish off Mnangagwa’s presidential term and then handover the country to a civilian leadership.
“Things are not what they seem to be. Don’t be fooled by the calm climate,” said one of the senior officers based at the Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks in the capital. “2020 is going to be a defining year in our country’s history and politics. Our own(Chiwenga) is going to remove iye aripo uyo (the incumbent leader) and become president, at all costs to save the country from total economic collapse. I hate to say that it’s going to be a bloody affair, and we are likely going to see a declaration of a state of emergency by the ZDF leadership, to manage government change, but not a coup.”
Sources in the presidency said, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has already warned Mnangagwa about the potential of a “violent revolution” induced by the opposition’s planned series of mass demonstrations throughout the country next year designed to force Mnangagwa to step down.
“The CIO have a report warning the president about a potential people’s revolution to topple him from power by June 2020 engineered by Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance,” the sources said. “The insurrection is expected to be violent, and there are fears of a superpower’s hand in all this. Given such a scenario, we are likely going to see the ruling party sending it’s supporters to go and counter the opposition’s street demonstrations. The scariest part is that, the vice president’s backers in the army, according to the intelligence findings might seize the opportunity as a pretext to restore order in the country, resulting in a subtle change of the constitutional order of government.”
Chamisa on Monday said his party was going to remove Mnangagwa from power in the next five months of the new year if dialogue fails to yield positive results, while addressing thousands of party supporters at Chisamba grounds in Mutare.
Bildergebnis für John Magufuli and mnangagwa”
Another long serving official in the presidency said confirmation that all is not well for the president, and that Chiwenga is on the verge of ousting him is the fact that Mnangagwa has reached out to former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Tanzanian leader, John Magufuli, to mediate in the country’s political crisis, while “coup and impeachment proofing” himself.
“Thabo Mbeki was not just paying a private visit this week,” she said. “There are efforts underway for the former South African president to broker a political pact between Mnangagwa, Chamisa and the other smaller parties under the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), to recognise him as president, and in return Chamisa gets parliamentary recognition as leader of the main opposition with a paid government salary and other perks. Polad actors under the mooted agreement will also receive state salaries equivalent to that of cabinet ministers. Call it coup and impeachment proofing, but it might work.”
On Magufuli involvement, the official said Mnangagwa is courting support from the new Sadc chairman, who is understood to have spoken against new coup attempts in Zimbabwe.
Magufuli visited the country in May, only telling the media that, he had come to cement existing ties between Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The Tanzanian president went on to extend his working visit to the country, giving credence to some online media reports that there was more to the visit, than the official news.
Chiwenga is now expected to finish off Mnangagwa’s term, and will receive a Chinese bailout to stabilise the economy until 2023, when a civilian leader and successor of his choice, with a leaning towards Beijing is expected to takeover, army sources have said.
China has ruled out Mnangagwa’s capacity to reform and turnaround the economy.
Bildergebnis für ibbo mandaza”
Publisher and political analyst, Ibbo Mandaza, on Wednesday told South African national broadcaster, Sabc, that Mnangagwa had lost China’s approval, and that his government is the worst he has ever seen in his life.
“We have literally a military state in the country,” said Mandaza. “It’s the worst government ever in terms of composition and content. They have no capacity to turn things around, and this observation shared not only by those of us who are closer to the situation, but even the international community including the Chinese. They say this government has no capacity to turn around this country. They have no capacity to reform.”
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$10,4 million grant towards supporting a new tax management system to enhance Zimbabwe’s capacity to increase domestic revenue mobilisation and plugging leakages.
The grant means the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) will be able to collect maximum revenue, which will in turn be channelled towards the productive sector and other projects of national benefit.
Known as Tax and Accountability Enhancement Project (TAEP), the new modernised tax regime will improve resource mobilisation by Zimra for essential public services and investments.
The enhanced tax system will also improve tax compliance levels and help reduce large fiscal deficits.
Improved tax collection capacity and efficiency are critical in enhancing Government’s capacity to provide essential public services like healthcare, housing, education and funding key infrastructure projects such as electricity generation and road construction.
Zimbabwe requires funding for roads projects, some of which are underway, but have been stalled by financial challenges.
There is also need for funds to expand power generation to end the current situation where most parts of the country can go without electricity for over 15 hours, impacting negatively on the manufacturing, agriculture and mining sectors.
Assessments by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) found that Zimbabwe’s tax and revenue management system — which is key to tax collection, compliance and accountability — is old and does not perform to the expected international standards.
Zimra will receive 90 percent of the grant, while the remainder will go towards capacitating oversight institutions namely Parliament and the Office of the Auditor General.
The national tax collector mobilises 95 percent of State revenue, while the remainder comes from rentals, fees, levies, fines and licenses collected by ministries, departments and agencies.
“The IT (Information Technology) infrastructure modernisation will increase compliance, tackling corruption and increase revenue (collection) efforts,” the AfDB said on Wednesday.
Zimra started automating its tax and revenue management system in 2003 and subsequently upgraded it in 2012 and 2016, but non-tax compliance remains high.
Last year, an IMF Technical Assessment on the tax management system noted that Zimra was operating a complex and costly system, which offered basic core functions of taxpayer registration, assessment and payment.
Zimra Commissioner General Ms Faith Mazani yesterday said the project would help build an efficient tax management system that would enhance revenue collection capacity.
Without stating figures, Ms Mazani said non-compliance levels among taxpayers remained significant.
AfDB senior policy analyst Mr Erick Mariga told The Herald that the project was aligned with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), which prioritises fiscal consolidation, economic stabilisation and growth, and employment creation.
Zimbabwe continues to face socio-economic challenges arising from macroeconomic challenges including high inflation, high formal unemployment, debt arrears, cash shortages, external shocks and infrastructure challenges and power supply.
The volatile macroeconomic environment has led to rising debt levels, deteriorating service delivery and social well-being.
Resource constraints have compounded the challenges, hence the need to improve revenue collection to support social services.
The AfDB’s fragility assessment for Zimbabwe has identified lack of effective institutions.
The project will provide targeted support to selected Parliamentary portfolio committees.
“Through well-targeted capacity building intervention, the project will make a significant contribution to addressing institutional and human capacity constraints that impact negatively on service delivery by Zimra, Parliament and Office of the Auditor General,” said the AfDB.
By A Correspondent| There were loud celebrations as ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa was removed from a stately billboard.
The undated incident, is seen in a recorded video in which is a sizeable crowd of men who encroach the billboard, begin singing, and then they later physically strip down the entire graphic which has Mnangagwa’s expensive colourful portrait.
It could not be established where this incident happened.
Do you know where and when this was? – Contact ZimEye right now on +44726863301
State Media|Schools should not increase fees by more than 20 percent without Government approval, while charging in foreign currency is illegal.
It also an offence for schools to sell uniforms or force parents to buy them at selected stores, Acting Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Kirsty Coventry has said.
Minister Coventry said this in the National Assembly yesterday while presenting a ministerial statement on various issues affecting the education sector.
This followed a request by legislator, Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, for the ministry to comment on issues ranging from fees and this year’s Grade Seven results, among others.
Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga is the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education.
Minister Coventry said fees increases should be agreed upon by parents during properly-constituted meetings.
“The fees are increased by parents at properly-constituted meetings and schools should adhere to decisions and recommendations of the SDCs (School Development Committees),” she said.
“Our fees currently should comply with Statutory Instrument 121 of 2019 where pricing is done in local currency and this does not give room for rating fees according to the prevailing bank rate since all fees are in local currency.
“Application for fees increases should be below 20 percent increase and any other increases should be approved by the head of the ministry as directed in the Secretaries Circular Minute Number 6 of 2018.”
Some Government and mission boarding schools have already increased fees without approval, especially for pupils starting Form One next year, with some charging between $10 000 and $12 000.
Some elite private schools are charging their fees in foreign currency or in local currency at the prevailing inter-bank rate.
This had seen some schools charging fees as high as $90 000.
Minister Coventry said it was illegal for schools to sell uniforms or compel parents to buy from selected stores.
“A circular was issued that outlawed the purchase of uniforms only at school level. Parents can buy uniforms anywhere to the best of their advantage and can even make them for themselves.
“Schools are not allowed to coerce parents to purchase uniforms at their schools,” Minister Coventry added.
Most schools have resorted to selling uniforms, usually at exorbitant prices as part of fundraising initiatives, although parents argue that some administrators use this to enrich themselves.
Minister Coventry attributed the decline in the Grade Seven pass rate this year to a combination of factors, including a shortage of qualified teachers.
The pass rate declined from 52.08 last year to 46.9 percent.
She said there were 15 000 teacher vacancies with the Government only approving the recruitment of 5 000 next year.
The acting minister said other factors which contributed to the drop, included a shortage of learning materials and space with some pupils, especially in resettlement areas using tobacco barns as classrooms.
Minister Coventry said it was illegal for schools to withhold results for pupils with outstanding fees and levies.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African police said on Thursday they had arrested a number of people, including two former senior managers of Eskom, on suspicion of involvement in fraud and corruption worth 745 million rand ($51 million) at the troubled state-run power firm.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of state power utility Eskom is seen outside Cape Town’s Koeberg nuclear power plant.
The managers, as well as two business directors and seven companies, are expected to appear in court on Thursday to face the police allegations, which also included money laundering, South Africa’s elite police unit the Hawks and National Prosecuting Authority said in a joint statement.
The individuals, who were not named, were arrested earlier in the day following an investigation into the construction of large projects at two power stations, the statement said.
This revealed “gross manipulation” of contracts between contractors, Eskom employees and third parties at one of them, it continued.
“Eskom continues to work with law enforcement agencies … to root out corruption and malfeasance,” the power provider said in a statement, adding the names of the individuals could not be revealed until they appeared in court.
“We … will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that perpetrators … are brought to book,” it added.
The ailing utility, which provides 90% of South Africa’s power, has been struggling to keep the lights on amid serious financial problems in part stemming from years of mismanagement and alleged graft.
Last week, it had to implement some of the most far reaching planned blackouts in years and is regularly cited by ratings agencies as one of the main risks to South Africa’s economy.
“This is a great milestone in the fight against corruption in our country,” South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit, which was also looking into the allegations, said.
Eskom’s problems are a headache for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has staked his reputation on fixing ailing state-owned firms and reviving South Africa’s flagging economy.
($1 = 14.7075 rand)
Reporting by Emma Rumney and Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Tim Cocks and Mark Potter
Former MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said the running mate clause was meant to ensure smooth succession in the event of the President leaving office for any reason.
Mwonzora, who was co-chairperson of the Constitutional Select Committee (COPAC), which spearheaded the writing of the 2013 Constitution, expressed his sentiments on microblogging site Twitter. He wrote:
The running mate clause was meant to ensure smooth succession in the event of the president leaving office for any reason.
By ensuring that a President chose his deputy before an election it would ensure the appointment of relatively better quality Vice Presidents.
Mwonzora made the remarks following the cabinet’s approval of Constitutional Amendment Bill 2019, which seeks to repeal section 92 of the Constitution dealing with running mates.
The removal of the clause will empower the President to hire and fire his deputies as well as appoint and promote judges.
Times Live|Hawkish MDC-Alliance are pushing for political, electoral and economic reforms and a transitional government to end the impasse between Zimbabwe’s main political parties that has had far-reaching socio-economic ramifications in the greater part of the year.
The opposition MDC-Alliance blames Zanu PF for the current economic meltdown. The MDC-Alliance also challenges President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, even after losing so dismally in the Constitutional Court.
This week, there was renewed hope after the former South African President Thabo Mbeki flew into the country, signalling the beginning of the much-anticipated political dialogue among the country’s main political protagonists. Mbeki will return to Zimbabwe after the Christmas holiday.
On Monday, Mbeki met President Mnangagwa, the MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, and other minor political leaders under the banner of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).
Sources told the Business Times that opposition hardliners were opposed to the MDC-Alliance’s participation in Polad, saying the parties that constitute Polad have no political relevance and clout. They insist that the talks should be between the MDC-Alliance and Zanu PF. Zanu PF has a two-thirds majority in Parliament with 145 seats, MDC with 63 seats, and one seat apiece by Masango Matambanadzo (National Patriotic Front) and Temba Mliswa (independent candidate).
For the presidential elections, President Mnangagwa garnered 50.67% while Chamisa received 44.34%.
According to sources, the “MDC had briefed Mbeki that it was not prepared to participate in Polad which it views to have nothing to offer. Instead it wants dialogue between Mnangagwa and Chamisa. Some of the Polad players were not in disagreement with Mnangagwa but had endorsed him and have nothing to offer to end the political and economic problems, in the country.”
Last week, one of the Polad leaders, Brian Mteki, crossed the floor and joined Zanu PF.
Sources say the opposition is also not happy with a power-sharing arrangement, citing yesteryear attritions that existed in the Government of National Unity that existed between 2009 and 2013.
During the GNU, the MDC was led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai who was the prime minister. Other senior MDC members who were in government included Tendai Biti (Finance), Elton Mangoma (Energy) and Nelson Chamisa (Information and Communication Technology). The coalition also included the MDC splinter leaders Welshman Ncube and Arthur Mutambara.
Zanu PF was led by the late President Robert Mugabe, with Mnangagwa heading the Defence portfolio.
Several reforms earmarked during the time were not implemented due to political differences and bickering between Zanu PF and MDC. Insiders said the MDC now wants electoral and political reforms, leading to harmonised elections in 2023.
“We need genuine political and electoral reforms that are wholesome as we don’t want piecemeal reforms. We also need independent commissions and adequate constitutional amendments. We can’t continue to have a cycle of disputed elections as what has been happening in the past. The MDC can only participate in the elections with genuine reforms. The opposition is not seeking power sharing arrangement with any party but wants reforms and also a National Transitional Authority which the modalities can be worked out,” the source said.
Nkululeko Sibanda, the MDC spokesperson, said his principal Chamisa had briefed Mbeki to the effect that his party was keen to engage in political dialogue with Mnangagwa but with an international arbitrator.
“We are ready to engage with Mnangagwa and President Mbeki has asked to break the logjam between us and Zanu PF and make sure that Chamisa and Mnangagwa can meet and start the dialogue,” Sibanda said. “We have presented our agenda to him and he clearly understands our position and we now wait for the way forward and needs to know Zanu PF’s agenda before we can start the talks.
Sibanda continues: “Chamisa has not changed the party position that we want an international mediator and we are not going to be participating in the Polad talks. The matter of opening dialogue with Zanu PF is one of the resolutions that were mandated by our congress to Chamisa which he is executing.”
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo refused to comment on the matter and referred Business Times to Presidential spokesperson George Charamba. Charamba said Mnangagwa took the opportunity to brief Mbeki on the political, social and economic situation in the country and the progress he was making in Polad.
“He had come to the country on a social visit upon our invitation and he decided to meet MDC leadership here as he was supposed to meet them in South Africa. He also invited other Polad leaders to meet him. He took it upon himself to try to help as he once dealt with political talks of the country and wanted to understand what is happening this time around,” Charamba said.
“It is the MDC which is having political issues with us as we are discussing our political issues in Polad. MDC should not be trying to raise unnecessary matters that were not discussed by President Mnangagwa and Mbeki,” he said, adding that the government was waiting to know from Mbeki when he would be back to the country and resume the talks.
Mbeki was midwife to the 2009 GNU. This came after Mbeki secured the Global Political Agreement in which Zanu PF and the two MDC formations agreed to work together after the disputed 2008 elections.
Eldred Masunungure, University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, said there was no trust between Zanu PF and MDC which had necessitated former Presidents Mbeki and Olusegun Obasanjo (of Nigeria) to come to Zimbabwe in recent weeks to break the impasse between Zanu PF and MDC.
“The problem we are having is that there is no trust between the two political parties and MDC are demanding a dialogue with Zanu PF being chaired by someone respected politically in the SADC region who is neutral,” he said.
“MDC has been trying to engage Zanu PF, but Zanu PF has been refusing since the disputed elections in July last year. Zanu PF has been arguing that it has started a political party’s dialogue with other political parties that Chamisa must come and join them rather than to seek a bilateral discussion with them,” Masunungure said.
Political analyst, Ibbo Mandaza said the MDC and Zanu PF had no option but to talk to each other in resolving the political problems in the country. “The MDC are pushing for a political dialogue with Zanu PF and eventually both parties must come to an agreement for political dialogue to resolve the political, social and economic problems facing the country, this is why these former Presidents are coming to try and mend the differences of the two political parties,” he said.
The talks come as the economy is buffeted by rolling power cuts, forex shortages and spiraling inflation – an unprecedented situation in an economy not at war.
Critics say there is low confidence which is key to the growth of the economy, which is now projected to contract 6.5% this year from the earlier projected 3%.
Controversial Norton Independent MP Temba Mliswa has alleged that Zanu-PF members are behind the vandalism of Zesa transformers and theft of copper cables.
Mliswa also accused Zanu-PF members of funding the notorious maShurugwi gold planners behind the bloody gold wars across the country.
“Government and security agents have tried in vain to try and put teams to operate to ensure that this stops and nothing has actually transpired which is positive, it continues. Most of the people involved in this are Zanu-PF leaded as is the same way in the Land Commission Report,” said Mliswa.
“I am glad that the just ended conference, tbe leadership of Zanu-PF, (Zanu-PF chairperson) Oppah Muchinguri was very clear that ‘we have got criminals amongst us’. So how do they expect to arrest the criminals amongst them when they are in the fore front of doing that.”
Mliswa said despite calls by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop the amashurugwi violence, it continued unabated.
“There are a group of of people known as maShurugwis who are carrying around machetes with them, beating up people, invading mines… I see government is quick at Statutory Instruments when it comes to the financial issues and not the death of people as well as the vandalism that is happening with transformers.
“It is the copper that criminals are taking from the transformers. What are you also doing to stop the ban on people buying copper in the country because we are not at all mining copper.”
SOUTH Africa: A businessman was gunned down at a Hillbrow, Johannesburg, petrol station in what his family believes was a hit.
Bheki Ndlovu, who transported people and goods between SA and Zimbabwe, was shot twice in the head by an unknown gunman on Saturday afternoon at the BP Garage on the intersection of Kotze and Klein streets.
The trigger-man reportedly casually walked to his car after the shooting and drove off.
Ndlovu, who is from Zimbabwe, was approached by the gunman while he was seated in his Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which was full of passengers, while waiting for his petrol tank to be filled up.
Police spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said police have not made any arrest in connection with Ndlovu’s murder.
His wife, who cannot be named, was taken in for questioning this week but has since been released. However, Peters would not confirm this.
“Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects and are appealing to anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist apprehending the suspects to please call the nearest police station,” she said.
One of Ndlovu’s friends who was present during the shooting told Sowetan the murder was a hit because the gunman did not take anything from the deceased.
“I thought he wanted to ask Bheki something when he approached the vehicle. He just called Bheki by his name and shot him once in the head as soon as he had his attention. He shot him again while Bheki was lying on the ground, then walked off like nothing happened,” said the friend who asked not to be named for safety concerns.
“Early this year, Bheki found out his wife was having an affair. He then filed for divorce. Things became very sour between the couple,” he said.
Ndlovu’s brother Mandla said the family was hurt.
“Bheki was a quiet guy who did not like starting trouble. He was very generous and kind and wouldn’t allow his family to suffer. So it’s a shock to us that he was killed in such a ruthless manner,” Mandla said.
However, Mandla refused to speculate about his brother’s murder but said the killers would be found in the end.
“These are private matters and I cannot speak about them in public. But I am confident that the people who did this will be found.”
He said the family was preparing to repatriate his brother’s body back to Zimbabwe.
Own Correspondent|Kenny Mubaiwa father to incarcerated second lady Merry Chiwenga has told ZimEye.com that he has not been arrested at all.
This follows sensational reports that made round late Thursday afternoon that the businessman had been arrested allegedly for importing cars into the country without paying duty.
One media actually went to the mountain claiming that Mubaiwa was arrested for being a witch doctor who facilitated the attempted murder of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga by his daughter.
Speaking to ZimEye.com on Thursday evening, Mubaiwa expressed ignorance on the arrest.
IT keeps getting better for Edward Sadomba, even as the former Zimbabwe international footballer prepares for life in the retirement zone.
The outgoing Dynamos skipper was this week once again feted like a king by the United Arab Emirates Chapter of the Al Hilal fans.
Sadomba had some of the best moments of his international career at Sudanese giants Al Hilal in a four-season spell in which he won the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup Golden Boot awards.
The speed merchant, who returned to Dynamos for what turned out to be his swansong season, announced three weeks ago he was calling time on his playing career.
Sadomba will now turn much of his focus on philanthropy through the Edward Sadomba Foundation which caters for underprivileged children in Mbare.
More than 60 children now have their school fees and education requirements being paid for by the former Bidvest Wits and Liga Mulculmana player.
Sadomba and his wife Sherlynn travelled to the United Arab Emirates upon invitation of the UAE chapter.
The Zimbabwe international footballer was presented with a certificate and a gift voucher worth US$1 000.
The chairman of the Al Hilal fans, Monasir Gamblan, who is based in the United States, flew to Dubai to grace the occasion.
He further rewarded the former star with a trip voucher to Washington DC early next year.
“On hearing about my retirement, Mr Osama Hassan Suleiman, chairman of Al Hilal fans UAE, organised a trip for me to UAE so that they honour me for what I have done for the club,’’ said Sadomba.State media
Farai Dziva|There were violent clashes between Catalonia independence protesters and police which happened outside Camp Nou stadium as Barcelona played a goalless draw against Real Madrid on Wednesday night, AFP has reported.
46 people were injured and five arrested during the incident.
The protesters barricaded the streets and set on fire after police arrived in dozens of vans, according to a AFP.
Fans inside the stadium also interrupted play in the 55th-minute when they threw inflated balls on the pitch.
The Wednesday’s La Liga game which was supposed to take place in October was postponed due to security concerns after similar clashes took place.
Stranger than fiction… man says mother in law pestering him for intimacy
It’s the kind of thing that people think only happens in movies!
But for a Bulawayo man movies depict reality as his mother-in-law couldn’t control her taboo sexual urges enough to resist telling him that she wanted a taste of his bedroom skills.
Manfield Nhemachena shockingly claimed he was left disconcerted by his estranged wife’s, Tariro Nhemachena, biological mother when she stormed into his bedroom and allegedly demanded to have sex with him.
Manfield decided to share the hard-to-believe request in court, where his estranged wife was seeking a protection order against him after years of alleged emotional and physical abuse.
“On 17 November my estranged husband Manfield Nhemachena came to my house to drop off the child. We are on separation pending divorce and according to a court order he is supposed to leave the child by the gate, but on this particular day when I sent my child-minder to collect him (her son), he refused to give her saying he wanted me to come there personally.
“As I was about to go, I was shocked when I saw him already inside the house with the child. He went straight to disconnect the Television set saying he has a right over it since our divorce has not yet been finalised.
“From the lounge he stormed into my bedroom and took my laptop which he bought for me when we were still staying together. When I tried to stop him, he violently pushed me against the wall. He grabbed me by the throat and strangled me,” recounted Tariro.
In self-defence, Tariro revealed that she also aggressively grabbed him by his shirt, causing the buttons to fall off.
“I started screaming and he rushed out of the house with the laptop and I followed him as I wanted the laptop which has personal information. Outside the house, he grabbed me by the neck and tackled me. I fell headlong to the ground and neighbours later came to my rescue after I screamed. For a moment, I blacked out and when I woke up, that is when I discovered that I had sustained injuries all over my body,” further narrated Tariro.
A scorned Manfield, however, hit back accusing his estranged wife’s mother of being a sex pest.
“She is always after fixing me by fabricating stories. She once claimed that I wanted to stab our child with a kitchen knife. As if that is not enough, she also reported me to Justice for Children claiming I had kidnapped the child.
“For the past four years she would not allow me to see the child. She and her mother were controlling me to the extent that her mother once entered my bedroom and wanted to be intimate with me. The whole family is aware of the incident and it is the one that also led me to walk out of the marriage,” claimed a livid Manfield.
With regards to the TV set, he said: “I asked her to give me one since she had two sets so that when the child comes to where I am now staying, he could also have access to TV. She refused and I forcibly took it. Turning to the issue of laptop, she lied to me that it was stolen. When I wanted to collect it that is when she screamed”.
Taririo however, refuted Manfield’s submissions before labelling him a “serial liar”.
“He is a liar. He abused me for years. He once assaulted me and I was admitted in hospital for two-and-a-half weeks. He is such an embarrassment, on the divorce summons he even demands that the table flowers and teaspoons should be shared equally,” retaliated Tariro.
In her ruling the presiding magistrate Adelaide Mbeure granted a reciprocal order which compels both parties to stay away from each other’s premises.
She also stopped unreasonable disposal of matrimonial property before the parties’ divorce is finalised. The magistrate further ordered Manfield not to physically abuse or threaten his estranged wife.- B Metro
The widow of the late Mutare transport mogul, Hubert Masara, of Masara Transport has, together with her son, been hauled before the courts on allegations of fraudulently disposing of assets of the deceased’s estate thereby depriving other beneficiaries of their entitlements.
Priscilla Masara (63) and her son, Kudzai Masara (29), are alleged to have contravened Section 10 (2) of the Deceased Family Maintenance Act, Chapter 6:03 otherwise known as depriving the rights of other beneficiaries to benefit in the deceased estate.
She is also facing a separate charge of contempt of court as defined in Section 182 (2) (e) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23. The duo was not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before Mutare magistrate Ms Notebulgar Muchineripi on Wednesday.
Ms Natsai Nyamwanza represented the suspects. The court heard that following the death of Hubert Masara on July 11, 2019, the complainant, Patience Masara, was appointed as the executor of the estate.
Patience is Priscilla’s stepdaughter. The State represented by Ms Perseverance Musukuto alleged that sometime in November, Priscilla and Kudzai took a haulage truck (ADC 3228) from the company behind the executor’s back and sold it to Prosper Mutowobunyu for US$7 000.
They converted the money to their own use, thereby depriving the other beneficiaries.
“On December 5, Patience noticed that the truck was missing from Masara Transport and reported the matter to the police. Investigations led to the arrest of the pair and the recovery of the haulage truck,” said Ms Musukuto.
The recovered truck is currently being held at Rhodesville Police Station, Greendale, Harare, as an exhibit.
The State further alleged that Priscilla, who had previously been barred by the High Court from accessing and operating Masara Transport online banking platforms, went ahead and made payments to several bank accounts including a bank transfer to her personal account. “The value involved in this particular charge was RTGS$35 035 and nothing was recovered. Between September 27, and October 15, Priscilla accessed Masara Transport online banking and made payments in contravention of a court order that bars her from doing so,” said Ms Musukuto.
The duo was remanded to January 29, 2020 for trial. Bail was set at $200 and were both advised to keep residing at their given addresses and not to interfere with State witnesses. -Manica Post
Farai Dziva|Controversial Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba on Tuesday said a prominent opposition leader (Nelson Chamisa) must be arrested for calling for sanctions.
Chinotimba been widely criticized for calling the youthful MDC leader’s arrest.
Angry social media users used all sorts of unprintable words to attack Chinotimba.
Chinotimba ignited a storm in Parliament on Tuesday after calling for the arrest of ” a prominent opposition leader who went to the United States of America to call for sanctions.”
“Time has come for a law to be passed in Parliament to prosecute those who call for sanctions. Why do people vote for such a people?
Chinotimba also accused of the opposition of causing people’s suffering.
Mutare City Council has indefinitely closed the Main Bath swimming pool and sent two life-savers on forced leave to allow investigations into drowning cases that claimed two lives recently.
Council spokesperson Mr Spren Mutiwi said the local authority wanted to get to the bottom of the deaths.
“We have closed the swimming pool to pave way for investigations following two incidents that claimed lives. Council has also sent two life-savers on forced leave pending investigations to circumstances leading to the deaths,” he said.
“To us, the drowning incidences were unfortunate and they have a bearing on our brand as a local authority and we are taking the matter seriously. Corrective remedial actions will be taken. We can’t lose more lives in similar circumstances.”
There was public outcry following the drowning incidences which were mainly attributed to negligence on the part of personnel working at the swimming pool.
In October this year, Blessing Nyamajo of House Number 1627 Chikanga 2, who was a kombi driver, died on his way to Mutare Provincial Hospital after he drowned at the swimming pool.
Last month, Hussen Marira (16) also died after he allegedly jumped into the pool without the supervisor’s knowledge and drowned. Marira, who was a Form Two pupil at Tsvingwe High in Penhalonga, died instantly. Manica Post
Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Tsitsi Gezi this Tuesday ejected MDC Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu from Parliament for referring to his party leader Nelson Chamisa as “His Excellency”.
Matewu was asked to withdraw his remarks but he declined to withdraw arguing that his remarks were not wrong.
Speaking on the shootout that reportedly happened in Marondera when the MDC was planting trees at a certain hospital, Matewu said:
Two weeks ago as Parliamentarians, we received a letter from the Environment minister encouraging us to plant trees.
During the day, I responded to the minister’s call, planting trees in my constituency, we were approached by the police and they started to fire bullets at us and with His Excellency president Nelson Chamisa.
The police must not stop us from performing our roles as MPs.
Gezi eventually ejected Matewu from the chambers and also refused to entertain MDC Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya who tried to stop her from ejecting his colleague, saying Zanu PF legislators also called First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa “Her Excellency”.
The MDC does not recognise president Emmerson Mnangagwa as the legitimate president saying that he stole the 2018 elections.
Credit: Daily News
Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Tsitsi Gezi this Tuesday ejected MDC Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu from Parliament for referring to his party leader Nelson Chamisa as “His Excellency”.
Matewu was asked to withdraw his remarks but he declined to withdraw arguing that his remarks were not wrong.
Speaking on the shootout that reportedly happened in Marondera when the MDC was planting trees at a certain hospital, Matewu said:
Two weeks ago as Parliamentarians, we received a letter from the Environment minister encouraging us to plant trees.
During the day, I responded to the minister’s call, planting trees in my constituency, we were approached by the police and they started to fire bullets at us and with His Excellency president Nelson Chamisa.
The police must not stop us from performing our roles as MPs.
Gezi eventually ejected Matewu from the chambers and also refused to entertain MDC Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya who tried to stop her from ejecting his colleague, saying Zanu PF legislators also called First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa “Her Excellency”.
The MDC does not recognise president Emmerson Mnangagwa as the legitimate president saying that he stole the 2018 elections.
Credit: Daily News
By A Correspondent| A female officer cannot under any circumstances escort male prisoners, as an analyst tells ZimEye.com, but on Wednesday one of them stationed at Harare Remand Prison was held by the neck by two male prisoners at Harare magistrates court as she was escorting the accused from court to prison cells.
She managed to bite the fingers of one the prisoner. She cried for help and an alert prison officer of the Special Tactics Unit named CO1 Matinyarare came to her rescue and arrested the two prisoners who were appearing at Harare magistrates court on charges of rape and robbery.
The two prisoners are now being charged of attempted escape and attempted murder and were transferred from Harare Remand prison to Chikurubi maximum prison.
Farai Dziva|Teachers wishing to be employed by the Public Service Commission will have to undergo training in Zanu PF principles at Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
See notice below :
CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
16 December 2019
All Provincial Chairpersons
BASIC ORIENTATION COURSE FOR PARTY MEMBERS
You are directed to submit a list of names of all Party members who have completed teachers training and are awaiting employment by the Public Service Commission.
The list must specify the year each candidate completed teachers training.
Chitepo School of Ideology intends to run a Basic Orientation Course for trained teachers.
The deadline for submission of this information to this Headquarters is 20 December 2019.
Regards.
Yours Comradely,
Cde M. Machacha
PRINCIPAL CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
Farai Dziva|Teachers wishing to be employed by the Public Service Commission will have to undergo training in Zanu PF principles at Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
See notice below :
CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
16 December 2019
All Provincial Chairpersons
BASIC ORIENTATION COURSE FOR PARTY MEMBERS
You are directed to submit a list of names of all Party members who have completed teachers training and are awaiting employment by the Public Service Commission.
The list must specify the year each candidate completed teachers training.
Chitepo School of Ideology intends to run a Basic Orientation Course for trained teachers.
The deadline for submission of this information to this Headquarters is 20 December 2019.
Regards.
Yours Comradely,
Cde M. Machacha
PRINCIPAL CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
Farai Dziva| A Zanu PF official shocked all and sundry when he assaulted a pregnant woman.
According to Daily News, the ZANU PF chairperson for Makumbiri District, Walter Nyakudya, assaulted a school head’ s wife and she suffered a miscarriage.
Nyakudya is set to appear in court this Friday.
Nyakudya allegedly assaulted Hopetwin Tumbare, the wife of Vivien Nhamoyebonde, following an altercation between his wife and Tumbare, according to Daily News.
Nhamoyebonde told the publication that he invited Nyakudya for talks following the quarrel between their wives and Nyakudya went to Nhamoyebonde’s house where he assaulted the expecting wife.
Nhamoyebonde said that he was notified of the assault by school kids since the incident happened when he was still at work.
“After the assault, my pregnant wife started complaining about stomach pains.
She went to the hospital before reporting the matter to the police.
She eventually started bleeding before she had a miscarriage. We lost our child in the process.”
Farai Dziva| A Zanu PF official shocked all and sundry when he assaulted a pregnant woman.
According to Daily News, the ZANU PF chairperson for Makumbiri District, Walter Nyakudya, assaulted a school head’ s wife and she suffered a miscarriage.
Nyakudya is set to appear in court this Friday.
Nyakudya allegedly assaulted Hopetwin Tumbare, the wife of Vivien Nhamoyebonde, following an altercation between his wife and Tumbare, according to Daily News.
Nhamoyebonde told the publication that he invited Nyakudya for talks following the quarrel between their wives and Nyakudya went to Nhamoyebonde’s house where he assaulted the expecting wife.
Nhamoyebonde said that he was notified of the assault by school kids since the incident happened when he was still at work.
“After the assault, my pregnant wife started complaining about stomach pains.
She went to the hospital before reporting the matter to the police.
She eventually started bleeding before she had a miscarriage. We lost our child in the process.”
By A Correspondent| Bakers Inn outlets in Bulawayo slashed the price of a standard loaf of bread from $18,50 to $16.50, in a bid to lure customers back after sales fell drastically.
Bakers’ Association of Zimbabwe president Dennis Wallah confirmed the price reduction. He said:
I am aware that Bakers Inn has reduced the price of bread to $16. However, I cannot speak for other bakers in the industry as we have no provision to regulate prices.
Other bakers may charge lower prices if they have an operating advantage and can lower costs. Generally, bread sales have been low for the past few weeks, so it will be an effort to lure more customers and push volumes in sales.
Street vendors have been selling bread at lower prices compared to established retail outlets, a situation that has further reduced the latter’s sales.
Some members of the public revealed that they are no longer buying bread from grocery shops in the suburbs, accusing them of selling stale bread which would have developed moulds.
By A Correspondent| A 16-year old girl was allegedly gang-r_ped on Sunday by the crew of a Honda Fit pirate taxi (Mushikashika) she had boarded in Bulawayo.
According to Zimbabwe Republic Police National Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the girl boarded a silver-grey Honda Fit in the CBD going to Mahatshula at around 6 PM.
The driver of the vehicle was in the company of two other men. The men reportedly diverted route and went to Suburbs where they took turns to r_pe the girl.
The three suspects dumped the girl at the scene and drove off at high speed.
By A Correspondent| Marry Mubaiwa says she is too sick to stand trial as she is still nursing wounds sustained from the White City bombing incident in Bulawayo.
Her lawyers said in her bail application:
“Applicant is of visibly poor health, being visibly traumatized and having lost a considerable amount of weight.
“A doctor attended to her and deposed an affidavit. The applicant asserts she was injured in Bulawayo on June 23, 2018, by a hand-held grenade thrown with the intention of assassinating the President.
“The photographs of her hands will be exhibited to the court at the hearing of this matter. She thus needs constant medical care,” reads the bail statement.
Dr Admire Jira said: “Marry Mubaiwa-Chiwenga has swelling on both her upper and lower limbs. She has a fever and has difficulties in breathing. She has a wound on her left forearm tender measuring 10cm in length and 5cm in width.
“She has a wound on the right forearm measuring 8cm by 5cm. Marry Mubaiwa complained of having flashbacks, lack of sleep and losing weight.”
“Marry Mubaiwa is not capable to stand trial due to her current physical condition. She should be in a hospital on treatment, preferably Avenues Clinic.
“Marry Mubaiwa should be under the care of a physician, surgeon, and psychiatrist of her choice,” writes Dr Jira.
By A Correspondent| Former Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs, Tongai Matutu has been deregistered by the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) and thus, can no longer practise law.
Matutu was a junior minister in the all-inclusive government between 2009 to 2013.
In its latest report, the Law Society indicated that eight lawyers have been deregistered for various misdemeanours.
The development was confirmed to ZTN by LSZ president Thandaza Masiye Moyo;
Nine lawyers have been deregistered between August 2018 to date, and we have about 14 matters that are pending before the Legal Practitioners Tribunal.
But what you would understand is that not all these 14 lawyers will necessarily plead to these matters that are pending.
Other lawyers to have been deregistered include Amon Tendai Toto who was found guilty of misappropriating trust funds and failing to maintain proper books of accounts and Simbarashe Tawona who was found guilty of misappropriating trust funds.
Matutu was a junior minister (from the MDC then led by Morgan Tsvangirai) in the all-inclusive government from 2009 to 2013.
Today marks the culmination in the House of one of the most shameful political episodes in the history of our Nation. Without receiving a single Republican vote, and without providing any proof of wrongdoing, Democrats pushed illegitimate articles of impeachment against the President through the House of Representatives. Democrats have chosen to proceed on this partisan basis in spite of the fact that the President did absolutely nothing wrong. Indeed, weeks of hearings have proved that he did nothing wrong.
Throughout the House Democrats’ entire sham impeachment, the President was denied fundamental fairness and due process under the law. The House blatantly ignored precedent and conducted the inquiry in secrecy behind closed doors so that Chairman Adam Schiff and his partisan political cronies could selectively leak information to their partners in the media to push a false narrative.
When public hearings were held before Chairman Schiff’s committee, Democrats continued their games and denied the President the ability to cross-examine witnesses or present witnesses or evidence. The proceedings in the Judiciary Committee included no fact witnesses at all and consisted solely of a biased law seminar and a staffer rehashing the slanted report that was produced by Chairman Schiff’s rigged proceeding. This unconstitutional travesty resulted in two baseless articles of impeachment that lack any support in evidence and fail even to describe any impeachable offense.
All of these antics make clear that Democrats have lost sight of what this country needs, which is a Congress that works for the people. Their boundless animus for President Trump fuels their desire to nullify the 2016 election results, and improperly influence the 2020 election.
The American people are not fooled by this disgraceful behavior. They understand fairness, due process, and substantial, reliable evidence are required before any American should be charged with wrongdoing—and certainly before impeaching a duly elected President.
The President is confident the Senate will restore regular order, fairness, and due process, all of which were ignored in the House proceedings. He is prepared for the next steps and confident that he will be fully exonerated. President Trump will continue to work tirelessly to address the needs and priorities of the American people, as he has since the day he took office.
EDITOR — It’s that time of the year again! You will soon be barraged by the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas.
Shoppers will soon go into spending overdrive and when the bills arrive at the beginning of the year, some will wonder if it was really worth it.
Christmas is a hugely popular holiday celebrated by some two billion people worldwide.
It has become such an ingrained part of modern culture that even people in nations with little or no Christian history or tradition are celebrating it in increasing numbers.
It’s not surprising that I get some pretty shocked looks when I tell people that I don’t celebrate Christmas and so should every other African.
They are more than enough valid reasons why this Christmas holiday hoopla is close to nothing but a nonentity.
Editor to mention the most valid and yet common reason why Christmas should not be celebrated is because Jesus was not born on or near December 25, surprising but true! This is just nothing but an incredible overlook from the ‘Christmas analysts’.
The funny part is the alleged owner of the birthday was not even born on that particular date, so what’s the reason for celebrating on that particular day.
Secondly the Christmas holiday is largely a recycled pagan celebration, again, surprising but true! Read it for yourself in any encyclopaedia.
Consider the customs associated with Christmas. What do decorated evergreen trees, holly, mistletoe, Yule logs, a jolly plump man in a fur-lined red suit, sleighs and flying reindeer have to do with the birth of Jesus Christ?
None of these things have anything to do with him, but have a lot to do with ancient pagan festivals.
To make matters worse God condemns using pagan customs to worship him.
Since Christmas is supposedly a day to worship and celebrate God the Father and Jesus Christ, wouldn’t it be a good idea to look into the bible to see how we should worship God?
The answer is quite clear. God gives specific instructions about using pagan practices to worship him, the exact thing Christmas does! (Deuteronomy 12:30-32).
Christmas is more like worshipping God in vain!
Clearly, Christmas is totally missing from the biblical record and yet the main reason why Christians celebrate it is because of ‘certain’ biblical reasons which are nowhere to be found in their ‘book of law’
VLADIMIR PUTIN has played down Donald Trump’s impeachment calling it nonsense and saying the Senate will reject allowing him to continue as US President.
Russia’s President Mr Putin has said he thinks Trump will survive the impeachment proceddings.
This comes after the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump on Wednesday.
Putin said the allegations against Trump are “dreamt up” and that he believes the U.S. Senate is unlikely to remove Trump from office.
Putin supports Trump over impeachment (Image: GETTY)Putin has said Trump will be able to continue as US President (Image: GETTY )
Putin also added that Russia is ready to agree on a new STARTarms treaty with the United States, but that there has been no response to Russian proposals.
Own Correspondent|FormerActing Herald editor Tichaona Zindoga has mocked the publication he left only recently over its story titled “G40 pays Mubaiwa legal fees”.
Writing on microblogging site Twitter, Zindoga dismisses the publication as “embarrassing”.
He wrote:
Embarrassing…
This piece of journalism, the handiwork of a certain antiquated doctor of spin, makes one feel uplifted when you can no longer be associated with such garbage!
https://t.co/6WSHt9s8bH
Ground Up|An informal settlement in the centre of Boom Street in Marabastad in Pretoria has become commonly known as ‘little Zimbabwe’ on account of the number of Zimbabwean nationals living there.
Most of the people living there are undocumented and because of this, they are unable to find work. Some live in shacks made from board and plastic donated by well wishers while others live in shelters made of old plastic sheets and cloth.
The conditions at the settlement are unhealthy as there are no toilets or taps for water. Clusters of rubbish are strewn across the settlement. There are puddles of stagnant water. Despite these conditions, residents here say they would rather live here than pay high rents elsewhere.
Residents say metro police officers have regularly demolished their shacks but they rebuild soon after. Some of their homes were also destroyed in September during a wave of xenophobic attacks.
The more than ten Zimbabwean families who live in the informal settlement survive through waste picking, asking for money or relying on donations. They come from poor families back in Zimbabwe and say they are better off in the informal settlement than back home.
Augustine Armando originally from Epworth in Harare is blind. He came to South Africa in 2013 and lives off the change he is given by people in town. His wife who still lives in Zimbabwe is also blind. When he can, he sends money to her as well. He lives with his ten-year-old grandson Nesbert who helps him get around. Armando brought his grandson to South Africa a year ago in the hope of raising enough money to one day send him to school.
“If only I can raise money for my grandson to go to school, but it seems impossible,” says Armando.
Manners Mdumeni, 40, is a waste picker who also relies on piecemeal jobs. He came to South Africa in 2010 from Kwekwe. He spends most of his time pushing trolleys around town looking for recycling material. He lives alone. “My life is difficult because l live from hand to mouth. Coming to this informal settlement made life easier because l could not pay rent where I used to live,” he says.
Manners Mdumeni is a waste picker who also relies on piecemeal jobs. Photo: Kimberly Mutandiro
Thomas Sithole, 29, from Mkoba in Gweru says he was orphaned at a young age. He came to South Africa in 2008 when the economic situation in Zimbabwe collapsed to even worse levels. To survive, Sithole says he learnt to hustle on the streets to survive, moving from sleeping on the street outside the Methodist Church in Johannesburg to an old building in Pretoria from where he and others were later evicted. In 2011 he moved to Little Zimbabwe.
“We live here because of suffering. We want to rent apartments like other people but we cannot afford it.” Sithole says he survives on buying and selling second-hand electrical goods and gadgets. He has a small stall opposite the settlement where he sells cables, cigarettes and sweets.
“I came to South Africa thinking that l would find greener pastures but things haven’t been easy. Now l do what l can to survive. Going back to Zimbabwe is pointless as l come from a poor family and the unstable economic and political situation worsens things,” he says.
Edward Magoche is also a waste picker. He was born at Renco Mine in Masvingo and came to South Africa seven years ago. He lives with his wife and two children. His wife helps by going around town asking for money and food. He says his family often goes to bed without having had anything to eat.
“Our government in Zimbabwe seems not to notice our suffering. If things were better we would go back home. People back home do not know how poor we are here in South Africa.”
Edward Magoche came to South Africa seven years ago. He lives with his wife and two children. He says his family often goes to bed without having had anything to eat. Photo: Kimberly Mutandiro
“Democracy Works” Tendai Biti: 2019. Buy the book! We saw democracy at work in the house yesterday as President Trump was impeached. With a SECRET ballot ED is impeachable! Even Auxilia is fed up with him! @MaiNoah1@BvondoChidziva@BitiTendai@lilimikoro @LynKoreVP @schikanza
THE war veterans bread-making venture, launched last month, has flopped with the project leaders saying they were failing to secure cheap flour.
The project, situated in Entumbane suburb in Bulawayo, meant to produce “affordable” bread using Dutch ovens, is said to have only produced two dozens of bread on the day of its launch.
Vice-chairperson of the project, Methelia Matunha in an interview, however, said the project had not stopped, but they were stocking ingredients and seeking premix flour.
“We are in the process of making another oven at the same time stocking the ingredients such as flour. We have also requested other ingredients which we could not find in Zimbabwe such as premix flour,” Matunha said.
“Currently, we stopped producing bread at that launch, but we are in the process of following up the flour.”
Matunha said they were cracking their heads to deliver on their promise of cheap bread to the community.
She said by Christmas they would be supplying bread.
“The project has not stopped, but we are stocking the ingredients since they are many. On the launch, it was just for approval so that we can bake, but there are many things including paperwork and registration so that we can be inspected health wise,” Matunha said.
“We do not want to start a project which won’t be able to supply the community, it is not about Entumbane suburb only but also other communities in Bulawayo.”
Matunha said having one Dutch oven was also hampering their dream of providing residents with cheap bread.
“During the launch, the trays were not standard and we sold bread at $7, but now the equipment we are going to receive will be bigger and the ingredients are improved, so our bread price will range from $12 to $13,” Matunha said.
Project chairperson, Partson Ndhlovu said premix flour was expensive.
“Premix flour is very costly. Three weeks back 20kg of premix flour was costing $800 at Bakers Inn,” said Ndhlovu.
“We ended up going to South Africa and we were told that it is only found in Polokwane.”
HON. MATEWU: It is a privilege. Chief Whip, can you allow me to talk please?
During the time that we were planting trees, as we approached the police to talk to them they started to fire bullets. This put the lives of the people and the children at risk. This was at a clinic where you have pregnant women. The police fired bullets and tear gas and some of the people who were there were actually people with chronic diseases. Also present was our president, His Excellency president Chamisa – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
Madam Speaker, we need to ensure that State apparatus do not hinder us.
HON. CHINOTIMBA: Madam Speaker, on a point of order [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
HON. MATEWU: Madam Speaker, we need the State to protect us to ensure that we are protected when we do our constitutional duties. Thank you – [HON. MEMBERS: He must withdraw that.]-
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Member, you must withdraw where you said His Excellency Hon. Chamisa – [HON. MEMBERS: Withdraw.]- Chamisa is the president of your party and not the country, so you cannot say His Excellency – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
HON. MATEWU: Madam Speaker, if you read your dictionary ‘excellency’ means executive powers.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You must withdraw that.
HON. MATEWU: He has executive powers in MDC.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You must withdraw that, it is not allowed.
HON. MATEWU: I cannot withdraw because I am saying what the executive – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.]-
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You must withdraw that, it is not allowed. You cannot say His Excellency president Chamisa in this Parliament – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Hon. Member, it is very wrong for you to say that. Please withdraw. We cannot have two His Excellencies – never, ever! – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – This Parliament cannot have two His Excellencies. Hon. Members, please approach the Chair. Hon. Member please, may you take your seat. The Hon. Member must go out since he has refused to withdraw his statement. –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]-
HON. T. MLISWA: Madam Speaker, I think it is very important that we respect the laws of this country and titles. I will go to Google and talk about what His Excellency means. It is a high official of the State especially Ambassadors. So, I think it is wrong to refer to Cde. Chamisa as Head of State. We must know that we are learned and it is wrong for us to do that. We cannot continue because he is not Head of State neither is he an Ambassador. That is the meaning and it does not change. You have your own vocabulary and your own dictionary but not the dictionary of the world – it does not recognise Chamisa because he is not Head of State. For now, he is not Head of State. He can be Head of State and you can create your own Parliament at Harvest House and not here. –[HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]-
Some Hon. Members having stood up.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No more points of privilege and points of order. We are wasting time. I have ruled, please take your seats.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Madam Speaker, with all due respect – Hon. Mavetera referred to the First Lady as Her Excellency. You said it is unparliamentary and so she must also withdraw.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I did not say that and I did not talk to you.
HON. CHIKWINYA: You have said Hon. Mavetera…
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I did not talk to you and I did not say that. Please may you take your seat? Do not put words into my mouth.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Speaker, with all due respect, you have dismissed Hon. Matewu for using unparliamentary language, but Hon. Mavetera also used the same language.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Take your seat.
HON. CHIKWINYA: She is not denying it. It must be a fair Parliament. I am using your own judgment and your own ruling. She is not denying it.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Take your seat, no more point of order.
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Speaker, I am not being disrespectful, I am simply using your own words.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You are because you are refusing what I am ordering you to do.
HON. CHIKWINYA: I am simply using your own judgement Madam Speaker. Can you be fair to all of us? Is this now a ZANU PF Parliament?
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No more points of order please! May you take your seats? – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]-
Principal of the Chitepo School of Ideology, Munyaradzi Machacha
Own Correspondent|The Principal of the Chitepo School of Ideology, Munyaradzi Machacha has written a letter to all ZANU PF Provincial Chairpersons, requesting them to submit names of trained teachers who are awaiting employment in the public service.
The trained teachers will undergo a Basic Orientation Course in ZANU PF ideology. Below is Machacha’s letter:
CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
16 December 2019
All Provincial Chairpersons
BASIC ORIENTATION COURSE FOR PARTY MEMBER
1. You are directed to submit a list of names of all Party members who have completed teachers training and are awaiting employment by the Public Service Commission.
The list must specify the year each candidate completed teachers training.
2. Chitepo School of Ideology intends to run a Basic Orientation Course for trained teachers.
3. The deadline for submission of this information to this Headquarters is 20 December 2019.
Regards.
Yours Comradely,
Cde M. Machacha PRINCIPAL CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria has allocated US$500 million to Zimbabwe for HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria programmes that will run between 2020 and 2023 period.
According to the allocations released by the Global Fund on Wednesday on its official website, Zimbabwe will be getting about US$425 million for HIV and Aids, US$24 million for Tuberculosis and US$51 million for malaria.
“World leaders came together at our Replenishment and made commitments to step up the fight to end these epidemics by 2030,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund.
“Now the real work begins. Our allocations will allow partners to expand programs that work, and to find innovative solutions for new challenges. In addition to more money, we need better collaboration and more effective programs,” he said.
Farai Dziva|Liverpool have completed the signing of Takumi Minamino from Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.
The Japanese forward who had a £7.25m release clause will officially become a Reds player on January 1.
“It has been a dream, my dream to become a Liverpool player. And I’m so excited that the moment has come true.
“To play in the Premier League was one of my targets. I think this is the top- class league in the world; I was thinking if my career as a footballer progressed smoothly, someday I would be able to play in the Premier League.
“But I never thought I would be able to play in this team and I’m really happy about it. I’m looking forward to it.”
Farai Dziva|There were violent clashes between Catalonia independence protesters and police which happened outside Camp Nou stadium as Barcelona played a goalless draw against Real Madrid on Wednesday night, AFP has reported.
46 people were injured and five arrested during the incident.
The protesters barricaded the streets and set on fire after police arrived in dozens of vans, according to a AFP.
Fans inside the stadium also interrupted play in the 55th-minute when they threw inflated balls on the pitch.
The Wednesday’s La Liga game which was supposed to take place in October was postponed due to security concerns after similar clashes took place.
Khama Billiat could return to action this weekend after spending two weeks on the sidelines.
Kaizer Chiefs’ medical team had recommended a break for the player until the 22nd of December after he aggravated his hamstring problem on international duty last month.
The 29-year old conducted full training sessions with the team ahead of the trip to KZN.-Soccer 24
A raging machete-wielding artisanal miners gang wreaked havoc at Zengeza 2 Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza gruesomely killing one while leaving another battling for life.
The infamous gang mainly known as Mashurugwi reportedly went on a violent rampage at a Zengeza 2 local bar, The Base, and stabbed to death Jonathan Rukweza, 26, who died instantly while one identified as T-one is battling for life at a local hospital.
H-Metro spoke to Mbuya Rukweza, the grandmother of the deceased Jonathan, who said she is yet to come to terms with the death of her grandson who had been taking care of her.
“Jonathan’s friends came around 4am and banged my door to tell me that he had been stabbed.
“I then rushed to the scene only to find him laying dead and I just fell on him crying because they had told me he was just injured.
“Kundidedzera munhu atove chando kare havo,” she sobbed.
One of Jonathan’s neighbours who preferred anonymity said the fight started after one of the revellers was accused of flirting with a Mashurugwi woman.
“Jonathan worked as a security guard at the night club and was just trying to break up a fight which involved one of his friends.
“They stabbed him thrice; on his back, chest and right shoulder whilst he tried to run for his life,” said the neighbour.
One Zengeza 2 resident said the Mashurugwi gang had invaded their community and are fearing for their lives.H-Metro
Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Tsitsi Gezi this Tuesday ejected MDC Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu from Parliament for referring to his party leader Nelson Chamisa as “His Excellency”.
Matewu was asked to withdraw his remarks but he declined to withdraw arguing that his remarks were not wrong.
Speaking on the shootout that reportedly happened in Marondera when the MDC was planting trees at a certain hospital, Matewu said:
Two weeks ago as Parliamentarians, we received a letter from the Environment minister encouraging us to plant trees.
During the day, I responded to the minister’s call, planting trees in my constituency, we were approached by the police and they started to fire bullets at us and with His Excellency president Nelson Chamisa.
The police must not stop us from performing our roles as MPs.
Gezi eventually ejected Matewu from the chambers and also refused to entertain MDC Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya who tried to stop her from ejecting his colleague, saying Zanu PF legislators also called First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa “Her Excellency”.
The MDC does not recognise president Emmerson Mnangagwa as the legitimate president saying that he stole the 2018 elections.
Credit: Daily News
By A Correspondent| Sacked Acting Herald editor Tichaona Zindoga has mocked the publication he left only recently over its story titled “G40 pays Mubaiwa legal fees”.
In the story, the State-owned publication claims that a group of disgruntled former and current ZANU PF officials (G40), opposed to another purported faction (Team Lacoste), which is in control of the party, are paying the legal fees for Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Chiwenga nee Mubaiwa.
Writing on microblogging site Twitter, Zindoga dismisses the publication as “embarrassing”.
He wrote:
Embarrassing… This piece of journalism, the handiwork of a certain antiquated doctor of spin, makes one feel uplifted when you can no longer be associated with such garbage!
Marry was arrested on Saturday last week and subsequently appeared before a Harare magistrate on Monday where she was charged with money laundering, fraud and attempted murder.
Farai Dziva|Teachers wishing to be employed by the Public Service Commission will have to undergo training in Zanu PF principles at Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
See notice below :
CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
16 December 2019
All Provincial Chairpersons
BASIC ORIENTATION COURSE FOR PARTY MEMBERS
You are directed to submit a list of names of all Party members who have completed teachers training and are awaiting employment by the Public Service Commission.
The list must specify the year each candidate completed teachers training.
Chitepo School of Ideology intends to run a Basic Orientation Course for trained teachers.
The deadline for submission of this information to this Headquarters is 20 December 2019.
Regards.
Yours Comradely,
Cde M. Machacha
PRINCIPAL CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
Farai Dziva|Teachers wishing to be employed by the Public Service Commission will have to undergo training in Zanu PF principles at Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
See notice below :
CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
16 December 2019
All Provincial Chairpersons
BASIC ORIENTATION COURSE FOR PARTY MEMBERS
You are directed to submit a list of names of all Party members who have completed teachers training and are awaiting employment by the Public Service Commission.
The list must specify the year each candidate completed teachers training.
Chitepo School of Ideology intends to run a Basic Orientation Course for trained teachers.
The deadline for submission of this information to this Headquarters is 20 December 2019.
Regards.
Yours Comradely,
Cde M. Machacha
PRINCIPAL CHITEPO SCHOOL OF IDEOLOGY
According to Ruhanya, Mubaiwa was reportedly arrested for importing cars without paying duty.
“As I predicted, potentially reliable rumor says Marry Chiwenga’s father Ken Mubaiwa, was arrested last night for importing cars without paying duty to Zimra among a plethora of allegations. Kusungisa tezvara,” Ruhanya posted on Twitter.
Bulawayo vendors have accused municipal police officers of demanding bribes so they do not confiscate their wares during raids at illegal selling points.
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association executive director Michael Ndiweni said municipal police officers are bribed so that they turn a blind eye on vendors who want to sell their goods at strategic points in the city.
“The municipal police is demanding bribes from vendors so that they can save their goods and be able to sell in strategic points,” Ndiweni told Southern Eye yesterday.
“We recently had a meeting with the Bulawayo City Council and this was one of the major issues which surfaced.”
He said the issue of selling at strategic points applied to licensed and unlicensed vendors.
“As informal traders we want to see how much is being lost through bribes. We have raised this with the BCC again after our meeting, we hope investigations will be carried out,” Ndiweni added.
“Licensed informal traders sometimes are threatened or lack knowledge on the laws governing the sector and they are harassed even if they have the papers.”
Ndiweni said unlicensed vendors sell wares from the boots of their cars.
“These people must be made to pay licenses or a certain fee because they are shortchanging those who are paying to council,” Ndiweni said.
Central business district ward one councillor Mlandu Ncube said the council does not tolerate corruption.
“As city council we do not support corruption and we are against it. Those that have been made to pay bribes should report even to the police,” Ncube said.More in Home
BCC director of security and enforcement, Sikhangele Zhou said they had not received any reports or complaints from vendors. She, however, condemned corrupt activities.
“I did not get any reports or complaints of bribery.
“However if any allegations are brought forward they will be investigated and anyone found to be taking bribes will be brought to book,” Zhou said.
Government is working to end cash shortages, eliminate cash discounts and the multi-tier pricing system which have negatively impacted on hard-pressed consumers.
Further, the Government intends to strengthen the regulatory environment to punish traders that continue employing the multi-tier pricing system and offering cash discounts.
This was said by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in an interview yesterday.
Some retailers are openly displaying different prices for cash and electronic payments.
A loaf of bread costs $14,85 cash, but the price rises to $18,40 when using mobile or electronic money.
Bread prices are between $11 and $13 on the streets where traders demand cash, prompting many citizens to want to withdraw money and enjoy such discounts.
Traders at the Mbare fresh produce market are demanding cash, with watermelons going for between $3 and $30 compared to supermarkets where they are going for up to $100.
Prof Ncube said Government was aware of the cash challenges and the attendant problems and promised to continue feeding cash into the system.
“As we said, this is a progression. We are drip-feeding the economy with cash. We are doing everything to make sure that there is more cash, there is higher denominations and those who are being prejudiced through this refusal (to accept small coins) should exchange their small coins for higher denominations.More in Home
“Then going forward, we will be issuing higher denominations of Zimbabwe dollar $10, $20. We will let you know once we are ready.”
Turning to multi-tier pricing by retailers, Prof Ncube said laws were being perfected to clamp down on the practice.
“We are aware of all these challenges and also, we are going through a transition as an economy. I think it’s fair that we cannot clean-up the system and achieve 100 percent compliance all in one year or one day.
“We accept as Government that we are going through a transition, but we will enforce the law. Part of that (multiple pricing), we think is because of the shortage of cash so once we solve that as a key issue, a lot of the multiple pricing will go away,” he said.
Prof Ncube said there was need for enforcement and better regulation to eliminate multiple pricing.
He said he expected price distortions to dissipate slowly by next year on the back of falling inflation and the injection of more cash into circulation.
Last week, President Mnangagwa signed the Consumer Protection Bill into law, with traders engaging in multi-tier pricing and displaying unpriced goods now liable to hefty fines.
The new law was published in an Extraordinary Government Gazette dated December 10, 2019.
Unfair pricing will attract a Level 5 fine ($600) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months, or both.
A raging machete-wielding artisanal miners gang wreaked havoc at Zengeza 2 Shopping Centre in Chitungwiza gruesomely killing one while leaving another battling for life.
The infamous gang mainly known as Mashurugwi reportedly went on a violent rampage at a Zengeza 2 local bar, The Base, and stabbed to death Jonathan Rukweza, 26, who died instantly while one identified as T-one is battling for life at a local hospital.
H-Metro spoke to Mbuya Rukweza, the grandmother of the deceased Jonathan, who said she is yet to come to terms with the death of her grandson who had been taking care of her.
“Jonathan’s friends came around 4am and banged my door to tell me that he had been stabbed.
“I then rushed to the scene only to find him laying dead and I just fell on him crying because they had told me he was just injured.
“Kundidedzera munhu atove chando kare havo,” she sobbed.
One of Jonathan’s neighbours who preferred anonymity said the fight started after one of the revellers was accused of flirting with a Mashurugwi woman.
“Jonathan worked as a security guard at the night club and was just trying to break up a fight which involved one of his friends.
“They stabbed him thrice; on his back, chest and right shoulder whilst he tried to run for his life,” said the neighbour.
One Zengeza 2 resident said the Mashurugwi gang had invaded their community and are fearing for their lives.H-Metro
THE constitutional amendments approved by Cabinet that will see the President appointing and firing his vice-presidents is proof that Zimbabwe is morphing into a new autocracy under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a political scientist has said.
Cabinet on Tuesday approved Constitutional Amendment Bill 2019, which repeals section 92 of the Constitution dealing with running mates, giving the President power to hire and fire his deputies as well as appoint and promote judges.
But political analyst Eldred Masunungure said the approved changes were taking the country towards a “tenacious” autocracy and show that Mnangagwa was not only power hungry, but hopes to die in office.
“Amending those sections of the Constitution is an extremely tenacious move,” he said.
“The constitutional amendments touch at the heart of the Constitution. These are dangerous developments towards the progression of democracy.
“We are moving towards a tenacious autocracy, a chilling future. We should look at those changes with trepidation. I don’t see any constitutional way to stop the amendments because Zanu PF has the majority in Parliament unless sanity prevails in some MPs and they block it.”
Section 92 of the Constitution stipulates that the presidential candidate must nominate two persons who will have to be directly and jointly elected by registered voters.
The two nominees automatically become his deputies, with one of them nominated to be the first vice-president.
The running mate clause was supposed to take effect in 2023, but with the proposed amendments, the President will have the latitude to appoint and fire his two deputies.
The Constitution does not give the President the powers to fire the Vice-Presidents, according to Section 95.More in Home
Section 97 says a President or Vice-President can only be removed by Parliament, a joint resolution by both houses, the Senate and the National Assembly.
“The idea of running mates was made to insulate the Vice-President from a predatory President. Now, according to the new changes, the President can now hire and fire the Vice-President, the same manner Mnangagwa was treated by Mugabe in 2017,” Masunungure said.
Mnangagwa was fired by Mugabe in 2017 before the army staged a coup that ousted his former boss. The court later ruled that Mugabe had no powers to fire his deputy.
“If Mnangagwa made the amendments due to fear of being removed by his deputies or if this was a coup-proofing move, it only improves the chances of him being removed through a coup,” Masunungure said.
“It shows that Mnangagwa is very power-hungry. The constitutional changes speak for themselves. He is moving towards being an autocrat more than his predecessor. Ten constitutional amendments in one Bill, and the Constitution is already obliterated.
“It is no longer the Constitution that we voted for. This is a betrayal of the people and, in fact, God because he says the voice of the people is the voice of God. I don’t know what type of wind is blowing at Zanu PF headquarters, but truly it is a bad wind.”
The Constitution requires judges to be subjected to public interviews, and not outrightly appointed by the President.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba has been widely criticized for calling for MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s arrest.
Angry social media users used all sorts of unprintable words to attack Chinotimba.
Chinotimba ignited a storm in Parliament on Tuesday after calling for the arrest of ” a prominent opposition leader who went to the United States of America to call for sanctions.”
“Time has come for a law to be passed in Parliament to prosecute those who call for sanctions. Why do people vote for such a people?
Chinotimba also accused of the opposition of causing people’s suffering.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba has been widely criticized for calling for MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s arrest.
Angry social media users used all sorts of unprintable words to attack Chinotimba.
Chinotimba ignited a storm in Parliament on Tuesday after calling for the arrest of ” a prominent opposition leader who went to the United States of America to call for sanctions.”
“Time has come for a law to be passed in Parliament to prosecute those who call for sanctions. Why do people vote for such a people?,” he asked.
Chinotimba also accused of the opposition of causing people’s suffering.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba on Tuesday said a prominent opposition leader (Nelson Chamisa) must be arrested for calling for sanctions.
Chinotimba been widely criticized for calling the youthful MDC leader’s arrest.
Angry social media users used all sorts of unprintable words to attack Chinotimba.
Chinotimba ignited a storm in Parliament on Tuesday after calling for the arrest of ” a prominent opposition leader who went to the United States of America to call for sanctions.”
“Time has come for a law to be passed in Parliament to prosecute those who call for sanctions. Why do people vote for such a people?
Chinotimba also accused of the opposition leader of causing people’s suffering.
Farai Dziva| A Zanu PF official shocked all and sundry when he assaulted a pregnant woman.
According to Daily News, the ZANU PF chairperson for Makumbiri District, Walter Nyakudya, assaulted a school head’ s wife and she suffered a miscarriage.
Nyakudya is set to appear in court this Friday.
Nyakudya allegedly assaulted Hopetwin Tumbare, the wife of Vivien Nhamoyebonde, following an altercation between his wife and Tumbare, according to Daily News.
Nhamoyebonde told the publication that he invited Nyakudya for talks following the quarrel between their wives and Nyakudya went to Nhamoyebonde’s house where he assaulted the expecting wife.
Nhamoyebonde said that he was notified of the assault by school kids since the incident happened when he was still at work.
“After the assault, my pregnant wife started complaining about stomach pains.
She went to the hospital before reporting the matter to the police.
She eventually started bleeding before she had a miscarriage. We lost our child in the process.”
Farai Dziva| A Zanu PF official shocked all and sundry when he assaulted a pregnant woman.
According to Daily News, the ZANU PF chairperson for Makumbiri District, Walter Nyakudya, assaulted a school head’ s wife and she suffered a miscarriage.
Nyakudya is set to appear in court this Friday.
Nyakudya allegedly assaulted Hopetwin Tumbare, the wife of Vivien Nhamoyebonde, following an altercation between his wife and Tumbare, according to Daily News.
Nhamoyebonde told the publication that he invited Nyakudya for talks following the quarrel between their wives and Nyakudya went to Nhamoyebonde’s house where he assaulted the expecting wife.
Nhamoyebonde said that he was notified of the assault by school kids since the incident happened when he was still at work.
“After the assault, my pregnant wife started complaining about stomach pains.
She went to the hospital before reporting the matter to the police.
She eventually started bleeding before she had a miscarriage. We lost our child in the process.”
Farai Dziva| A Zanu PF official shocked all and sundry when he assaulted a pregnant woman.
According to Daily News, the ZANU PF chairperson for Makumbiri District, Walter Nyakudya, assaulted a school head’ s wife and she suffered a miscarriage.
Nyakudya is set to appear in court this Friday.
Nyakudya allegedly assaulted Hopetwin Tumbare, the wife of Vivien Nhamoyebonde, following an altercation between his wife and Tumbare, according to Daily News.
Nhamoyebonde told the publication that he invited Nyakudya for talks following the quarrel between their wives and Nyakudya went to Nhamoyebonde’s house where he assaulted the expecting wife.
Nhamoyebonde said that he was notified of the assault by school kids since the incident happened when he was still at work.
“After the assault, my pregnant wife started complaining about stomach pains.
She went to the hospital before reporting the matter to the police.
She eventually started bleeding before she had a miscarriage. We lost our child in the process.”
Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC-T vice President Obert Gutu has dismissed parliament as ineffective and less influential when it comes to speaking on behalf of the people while praising the Political Actors Dialogue which he said had made so much progress in dealing with issues affecting the ordinary people.
In an interview with Newsday, Gutu said POLAD had scored more than parliament.
“Let me start by clarifying the fact that Polad is not an arm of the State in the same trajectory as the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature.
“Polad is merely a forum for political actors to talk and discuss pertinent and relevant national issues. To date, Polad has scored spectacular successes in that we have managed to convene several meetings involving different political parties in the same room and under the same roof.
“We have held robust and no-holds-barred debate even with the President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa.”
He added that Polad was the voice of the suffering masses which has been neglected by self-serving politicians who are only after power and nothing else.
“I, for one, always speak truth to power. We have made it abundantly clear to the Head of State that the majority of the people of Zimbabwe are suffering and also that it’s high time austerity measures are set aside.
“We held a meeting attended by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mthuli Ncube.
“The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Sekai Nzenza, as well as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya and we also raised the concerns of the toiling and suffering masses of Zimbabwe.
“If anything can be said, Polad is the voice of the silent and toiling masses of Zimbabwe. We are not noisy and garrulous, we are strategic and focused,” said Gutu.
By A Correspondent- Three Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) accountants are facing fraud charges after they allegedly transferred $751 150 twice to a private cleaning company Ollymann Investments.
Tirivangani Matare (37), Linda Mangove (34) and Oscar Kwaramba (46) appeared before Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya, who remanded them to January 3, 2020.
The complainant in the matter is the Defence ministry represented by Gary Marongwe.
Allegations are that on May 23, 2019, Matare, Mangove and Kwaramba unlawfully and intentionally processed a payment to the private company.
It is alleged that Matare instructed Mangove to prepare a template document that would be processed by Kwaramba for payment of $751 150 to Ollymann’s FBC bank account.
The State alleges that the money was purported to be for cleaning and car services rendered by Oilymann Investments to the ZDF. Ad by Valueimpression
It is alleged that Kwaramba asked Joseph Providence Chamboko to use his personal account to process the payment to Ollymann.
Chamboko told Otillia Mhundwa, the accountant who is responsible for payments, to call Ollymann Investments manager who confirmed receipt of payment. Despite the confirmation, it is alleged that the three insisted that another payment had to be done.
It is further alleged that Mangove prepared a document and Kwaramba used Fungisai Chiurira’s account to post it to the chief accountants Lameck Jekiseni and Maurice Maswa, who acted upon the misrepresentation and paid another $751 150.
The court heard that a whistleblower then revealed the fraud to the Zimbabwe Anti -Corruption Commission who launched investigations into the matter, leading to the arrest of the three.
By A Correspondent- A 27 year old former soldier was yesterday fined $200 by a Bindura magistrate for shouting obscenities at his mother in-law during a binge.
Robert Jack of Foothill farm, Bindura was convicted after full trial by magistrate Tinashe Ndokera and failure to pay the fine would earn him 20 days in prison.
Prosecutor Vincent Marunya told the court that on November 6, Jack was drinking beer at his mother-in-law Grace Murambadzenga’s shebeen where he harassed his sister-in-law by fondling her breasts. When confronted by his mother-in-law he shouted expletives at her while accusing both the daughter and her mother of prostitution.
Murambadzenga filed a police report leading to Jack’s arrest, who was charged with criminal insult.
In mitigation he told the court that he was drunk and does not recall anything that happened on the date in question.
“I was drunk, so I do not even know whether I committed the offence or not, but if I did may the honourable court forgive me,” he said.
Melody Jasi pleaded not guilty to theft and malicious damage of property before the same magistrate who remanded her out of custody to tomorrow.
The State said that Jasi hooked up with Takunda Timothy at a musical show in Bindura and went for a “quickie” after which the client forgot his cellphone on the bed. Jasi was seen by her colleagues taking the phone to the toilet.
When the complainant discovered that his phone was missing, he returned and confronted Jasi who flew into a rage and destroyed Timothy’s power bank.
Timothy was later told by other sex workers that his cellphone had been stashed in a toilet and he filed a police report.
By A Correspondent- A Mvurw police officer was last week arraigned before Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro on allegations of assaulting a fellow tenant after his wife, also a police officer, allegedly stole groceries.
Tatenda Charlse Matiza (31) pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded out of custody to December 20.
The State alleges that sometime in July, the complainant, who is a student at a local school, left 20 eggs and a bottle of body lotion in his room while visiting his parents for the weekend.
Upon his return he discovered that his eggs and lotion were missing and he confronted another tenant Primrose Magutakuona, Matiza’s wife, and she confessed the theft and tried to buy his silence with $4.
Magutakuona subsequently told her husband that she had been confronted by the student and she gave him $4 bribe and that did not go down well with the police officer who stormed the student’s room demanding an explanation on why he had confronted his wife.
The furious cop slapped the complainant once on the face and threw him against the wall, which attracted the attention of neighbours who came to the rescue of the boy.
By A Correspondent- Members of Parliament have urged Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube to re-dollarise the economy saying that businesses, including government-owned, had informally re-dollarised already.
These remarks were said by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti who is also the Vice President of the opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa.
He said:
As I said before, three-quarters of it is the government seeking to enforce payment of taxes in US dollars. If that is the case, why should we pretend that the US dollar is not alive and kicking in our economy? Why should we not simply repeal Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 and allow the two currencies to operate together; the US dollar and the exchange rate?
His remarks come a few days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared at a ZANU PF 18th Annual People’s Conference that there was no turning back on currency reforms.
Biti also speaks when the government announced through the Government Gazette released on 6 December that it had put forward Finance Bill No. 3, 2019, an amendment to several monetary Acts which among other things penalises the re-dollarisation of the economy.
In June this year, Zimbabwe outlawed the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions bringing an end to multicurrency regime that was adopted a decade ago.
By A Correspondent- Harare City Council is investigating cases of fake business licences being issued in the city amid indications that some council officials were involved in the scam.
The local authority alleged that there were cartels responsible for the issuance of fake shop licences, prejudicing the local authority of thousands of dollars in potential revenue.
Council will soon rope in the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to deal with the fake licence chaos, warning that heads will roll, the audit committee chaired by councillor Ian Makone heard on Tuesday.
“We will seek prompt referral of fake licences to the Zimbabwe Republic Police for investigation. Heads of Department expedite providing Zacc with requisite information,” the council minutes read.
“The Committee noted with concern that 37% of the sample licences submitted for verification were fake which meant council could have been prejudiced of a lot of money. It accordingly felt the need to establish how many shop licences were fake and those which were authentic.
“It further expressed concern on the reported cartel which was purported to be operating with support of some in-house connections. The committee then expressed the need to detect such a cartel by suing the holder of the fake licence who would then assist to identify the originator of such a deal.” Ad by Valueimpression
The city is planning to transform shop licence revenue streams into its cash cow and is coming up with broad strategies to maximise revenue collection prospects.
Harare has been hard hit by rampant corruption particularly in areas of revenue collection where some council officials are reportedly pocketing huge amounts of money.
Jane Mlambo| Government is yet to secure foreign currency to purchase enough fuel ahead of the busy festive season, deputy minister of energy and power development has said.
Responding to questions from legislators in parliament yesterday, Deputy minister Honourable Murambiwa said the country had bonded fuel which requires foreign Currency to procure.
He said that are hoping RBZ will issue letters of credit to fuel suppliers so that the country can have enough for the holiday.
“We do have enough fuel at our depots in Mabvuku and Masasa but it is bonded. This means that we need to pay before we can withdraw that fuel. We are discussing with RBZ who issue letters of credit to fuel traders so that they access the fuel. I can assure the nation that we do have enough fuel at our depots save for the lines of credit. If the process is expedited then the fuel can be available. We are doing everything within our means to make sure that we have enough fuel for our motorists during the holiday,” said Murambiwa.
Speaking to ZimEye early this week, energy minister Fortune Chasi said they were working on improving supply during the festive season which is usually marked by high demand as people travel a lot.
By A Correspondent- Walter Nyakudya, who is ZANU PF chairperson for Makumbiri District is set to appear in court this Friday after he assaulted the wife of a Mvurwi headmaster.
Nyakudya allegedly assaulted Hopetwin Tumbare, the wife of Vivien Nhamoyebonde, following an altercation between his wife and Tumbare.
Nhamoyebonde told a local publication that he invited Nyakudya for talks following the quarrel between their wives and Nyakudya went to Nhamoyebonde’s house where he assaulted the expecting wife.
Nhamoyebonde said that he notified of the assault by school kids since the incident happened when he was still at work.
He added:
After the assault, my pregnant wife started complaining about stomach pains.
She went to the hospital before reporting the matter to the police.
She eventually started bleeding before she had a miscarriage. We lost our child in the process.
Doctor Wadzanai Govha who examined Tumbare after the assault said that the pregnancy was 11 weeks old adding that the injuries were severe although there were no possibilities of permanent disability.
THE worst is over and the future promises a prosperous economy for everyone, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Sakubva Urban Renewal Project in Mutare yesterday, the Head of State and Government admitted that austerity measures implemented by his administration had caused suffering.
“Our policies have created problems, but we are certain of where we are going. To achieve our goal we have to take measures which are painful, but it will pass and everyone will be happy. Nothing comes cheaply. We have to tighten our belts and I am happy that the worst is over! The bad is past us. Things are going to improve,” said President Mnangagwa.
He urged discipline among the business community warning those charging goods and services in American dollars face punishment.
“We were used to multi-currency and there are businesses that are still charging in US dollars. We now have a law dealing with such practice. We will punish those violating the law. Things will straighten up. We will not hesitate,” he warned.
President Mnangagwa said laws were promulgated to ensure sanity and not to please anyone.
“The laws were promulgated not to please anyone, but to ensure the nation progresses well. We want discipline, discipline. You might enjoy it now (violating the law) but the long arm of the law will catch up with you and when it happens don’t say Mnangagwa’s Government is bad,” he said.
He said austerity measures instituted by Government and the re-introduction of the local currency were aimed at bringing economic stability.
“Tirikugadzira nyika irurame vana vedu vagare zvakanaka. We must leave this country in a better position when we go away,” added President Mnangagwa.
He urged Zimbabweans to pride in their currency.
“Our currency collapsed in 2008 and we brought a basket of currencies, but we now know that no country succeeds without its own currency hence we introduced our own currency in June. Many were used to other currencies like Rand and US Dollar, but muchida musingadi nyika ino inofanigwa kuva nemari yayo. Every Zimbabwean must be proud to have own currency. The Mozambicans have their Metical. If its value falls, they stick to it. South Africa has its own Rand and they are proud of it. Botswana has Pula and they are proud of it. In Zambia they have the Kwacha and it is theirs. Ko isu ngative neyedu nyangwe kukatonhora, ngative neyedu. Kukaita nzara ngative neyedu. Tikaita maguta ngative neyedu.Tikarwara ngative neyedu. Tikachata tochata neyedu. Tovaka dzimba nemari yedu,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the use of your own currency reflected on a nation’s independence and sovereignty.
“That is what is called independence. That is what is called a proud nation. We are going to build our nation on the basis of our own resources in Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.
By A Correspondent- Marry Mubaiwa-Chiwenga, the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has alleged that the former army boss is “hilariously fabricating” stories against her to force former model out of marriage.
The ex-wife of former Warriors striker, Shingi Kawondera revealed this in her bail application in which she said that even after June, when she allegedly attempted to kill Chiwenga, the two remained together and the VP actually sent her US$30 000 for her upkeep in China when she visited him at his request.
Through her lawyers, Mtetwa & Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, Mubaiwa who is in remand prison for externalisation of funds, attempted murder on Chiwenga and money laundering said:
The applicant denies the offence, and specifically incorporates the statement made by her to the police. She will state that the allegations are conjured by the Vice-President in an endeavour to force her hand in the divorce proceedings that are pending in this court.
She added that it is unthinkable that she “dragged a whole army general from a hospital bed” because she was already unwell at the time the alleged offence was committed.
Her lawyers also argued that she is still unwell and therefore unable to stand trial.
Self-exiled G40 kingpins are scheming to exploit, for political expediency, the case of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Mubaiwa, by launching a sustained smear campaign against the Presidium.
Mubaiwa is in remand prison until December 30 on charges of attempted murder, fraud, and currency externalisation.
Sources close to the Mubaiwa family said one of the G40 leaders based in South Africa mobilised money for legal fees.
The G40 leader is alleged to have instructed Mubaiwa to defame and politically smear President Mnangagwa and VP Chiwenga.
Mubaiwa is facing charges of attempting to murder VP Chiwenga, illegally externalising US$1 033 000, laundering US$990 000 and fraudulently seeking to upgrade her customary union to a civil marriage without her husband’s consent.
She is facing six counts of exporting foreign currency in breach of the Exchange Control Act and five counts of concealing transactions involving proceeds of crime in violation of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act.
Mubaiwa allegedly exported the money to South Africa and China after misrepresenting that her companies intended to buy tents, chairs and prepaid metres for use in Zimbabwe but she ended up buying houses and top-of-the-range vehicles.
“The G40 leader told Marry to falsely allege that the US$1 million she allegedly laundered was in VP Chiwenga’s house. She has also been coached to allege that the money she is alleged to have stolen was just small change,” said the source.
In a bid to elicit sympathy from women, the defence team would also allege that the VP bought houses for alleged girlfriends.
According to the source, the concoction was meant to justify Mubaiwa’s purchase of properties outside the country using stolen money.More in Home
The source also revealed that there had been regular telephone contact between the G40 leader and Mubaiwa, an interaction that raised suspicion that the latter could have been spying on her husband on behalf of the G40 over the years. Mubaiwa’s legal representative, Mr Taona Nyamakura of Mtetwa and Nyambirai Legal Practitioners denied the allegations.
‘‘I’m not aware of those allegations. As lawyers, we are doing our job professionally in a manner that protects the interest of our client and the administration of justice,’’ he said.
The G40 cabal has been relentlessly conniving to undermine and destabilise President Mnangagwa’s Government. They have reportedly recruited a brigade of journalists who have formed an online group called “Vasvibisi.”
The recruited journalists were reportedly tasked by G40 conspirators to generate fake news that would politically smear President Mnangagwa and his Vice Presidents.
By A Correspondent- The Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, who is also Zanu PF provincial chairperson for Manicaland, Mike Madiro, told President Emmerson Mnangagwa that residents of Sakubva high-density suburb “are living like rats”.
Madiro said this while thanking Mnangagwa for launching the Sakubva Urban Renewal Project in Mutare on Wednesday. Said Madiro:
We would like to thank the president for giving us a worthy Christmas present as people were are living like rats with entire families sharing one room from grandparents to in-laws and grandchildren.
The Sakubva Urban Renewal Project will be funded by Banc ABC. It is a grand project that will see the construction of a state-of-the-art vending market, an upgraded stadium, bus terminus, shopping malls and a new suburb.
The launch of the project comes at a time when the demand for housing has been increasing exponentially with unplanned settlements mushrooming in most urban centres.
By A Correspondent- South Africa’s Ministry of Transport recently launched Operation Malaisha which targeted bus, freight and logistics transportation mainly headed towards Zimbabwe and Malawi.
On Wednesday evening, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula stopped several overloaded trailers at the Weighbridge heading to Limpopo. Speaking to reporters from the scene, Mbalula said:
Here we got a lot of unroadworthy vehicles and some of them weigh more than what is expected.
All those vehicles are being impounded.
This operation is taking place at night because people think that police are not working 24/7.
At this time of the year, there is an increase in the volume of human and vehicular traffic in South Africa moving towards the country’s northern gateway, Beitbridge, towards the SADC region.
Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans, Malawians, among other nationalities, living and working in South Africa travel home for the festive season, leading to concerns about safety on South African roads.
UN Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torres has stressed the need to accept the verdict of the five-judge panel of the Constitutional Court in a case where two petitioners want presidential poll results in the May 21 Tripartite Elections nullified over alleged irregularities.
UN Resident Coordinator Maria Jose Torre hailed PAC for bringing leaders together and also promoting peace
Jose Torres said as the country awaits the Court decision on the elections case, Malawians should learn to respect the rule of law and stressed on the need to have peaceful settlement of disputes.
She was speaking during the national peace prayers organised by the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) in Lilongwe on Sartuday.
“People have to respect the Judiciary, to show tolerance whether political or religious for views different from their own, to show compassion for fellow citizens – and to put Malawi first,” the UN diplomat said.
She said Malawi is living in a critical time in its history, as a young nation and even a younger democracy the present times have opened important questions on how to achieve an inclusive society governed by peace and justice.
Jose Torres quoted the 1994 Constitution of Malawi (as amended in 2017) that states advocates clearly in 13(l) for “Peaceful Settlement of Dispute”,adding that Malawians are called upon “To strive to adopt mechanisms by which differences are settled through negotiation, good offices, mediation, conciliation and arbitration”.
She said the future calls upon the leaders to be united in prayer and to remain united to honour the principles of peaceful coexistence embraced in the Malawi Constitution.
The prayers were part of an ongoing peace-building initiative.
Speeches and sermons in a packed Bingu Convention Centre centred around appealing to the citizenry to uphold the rule of law and promote peace and co-existence as the country awaits the court ruling.
The five-judge panel comprising Healey Potani, Dingiswayo Madise, Ivy Kamanga, Redson Kapindu and Mike Tembo is expected to deliver its ruling early 2020.
HON. MURAMBIWA: Alright, let me come again Mr. Speaker Sir. I am saying that my question is directed to the Minister of Energy and Power Development. What measures do you have in place to ensure fuel adequacy during this impending festive season?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT (HON. MUDYIWA): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. I would like to thank the Hon. Member for a pertinent question, particularly now that we are towards the Christmas holiday where most Zimbabweans would love to travel in and out of Harare to holiday resorts and all sort of places.
The fact is that we do have enough fuel at our depots but it is bonded – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Can you listen.
HON. MUDYIWA: We do have enough fuel at our depots in Mabvuku and Masasa but it is bonded. This means that we need to pay before we can withdraw that fuel. We are discussing with RBZ who issue letters of credit to fuel traders so that they access the fuel. I can assure the nation that we do have enough fuel at our depots save for the lines of credit. If the process is expedited then the fuel can be available. We are doing everything within our means to make sure that we have enough fuel for our motorists during the holiday – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
*HON. TSUNGA: The issue that has been raised by the Hon. Minister is likened to a father who tells his children that there is mealie-meal in the storehouse when they are hungry yet the children are not eating sadza. According to her, diesel and petrol are in the reservoirs but no one is consuming them. The Minister’s responsibility is to ensure that the fuel reaches service stations. We would like to know the plans that the Minister has to make sure that there is fuel at service stations and not tell us about the reservoirs. We want fuel for consumption.
HON. MUDYIWA: Our mandate as Ministry is to ensure that we have got enough fuel in the country and we do have enough fuel like I said before. Go to our depots, there is enough fuel which is bonded but the details of payment is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance. At the moment, we are working with the Ministry of Finance and the RBZ to ensure that they expedite the processes of payment so that the fuel is paid for and the traders can get the fuel from our depots. I think I have been very clear.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Yes, the Hon. Minister is very clear. The Ministry of Energy has brought in fuel; the Finance Ministry must make available the monies to draw that fuel to the service station. It cannot be clearer than that.
*HON. TOGAREPI: Hon. Speaker, I have a request from Hon. Members that when the Ministers come for Question Time, there are some who are teasing the Ministers and confusing them, at the same time making noise instead of asking him questions. So, I plead with them to respect the Ministers so that their questions are answered – [HON. MLISWA: You want to take away the duties of the Hon. Speaker when he is present.] –
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order. I do not feel threatened – [Laughter.] –
A 16-year old girl was allegedly gang raped by a pirate Honda Fit crew in Bulawayo.
National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
He said the girl boarded a silver-grey Honda Fit in the CBD going to Mahatshula at around 6PM on Sunday and the driver who was in the company of two other men diverted route and went to Suburbs where they took turns to rape her.
Ass Comm Nyathi said the three suspects dumped the girl at the scene and drove off at high speed.
“We are appealing to those that might have information leading to the arrest of the suspects to contact any nearest police station,” he said.
Ass Comm Nyathi urged parents to ensure children are accompanied especially at night.
He also urged members of the public to use registered public transport as pirate taxis are mostly driven by criminals.
On Saturday two domestic workers from Bulawayo’s Kumalo suburb were allegedly robbed of groceries and money worth US$140 and ZWL$3 422 by a pirate taxi crew.
The incident occurred at about 5AM as Ms Ruth Ruhwaya (49), a maid and Shepard Mathe (40), a gardener employed at the same house were commuting to town from their employer’s house.
“The two victims boarded the pirate Honda Fit taxi heading for the city centre and the taxi had two passengers seated at the back while another was in front with the driver. While the vehicle was in motion, the passenger in front produced a knife and told the pair that they had ‘boarded a wrong car’ and they were being robbed. He ordered the two to surrender their belongings.”
Scores of people have been raped or robbed after boarding private vehicles, especially Honda Fits that in most cases have no registration number plates.
THE Beitbridge Border Post has been turned into a hive of activity with thousands of Zimbabweans based in South Africa arriving home for festive season.
Statistics from the Department of Immigration show that an average of 21 000 travellers inclusive of arrival and departures is being cleared at the border post daily.
Long queues of both vehicles and people have become the order of the day at the arrivals’ sections especially in the evening since December 14.
Immigration and customs authorities from both countries have indicated that they are ready to process the travellers.
Chronicle understands that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has deployed 80 more officers from less busy stations to Beitbridge.
Further, border authorities from both countries have categorised traffic into commercial, motorists, buses and pedestrians while more clearing points have been opened to avoid crowding at the border.
It is also reported that the South Africans have also beefed up their manpower to enhance efficiency in the movement of both human and vehicular traffic.
The Assistant Regional Immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube said harmonised operations with their South African counterparts will help in the speedy processing of travellers. “We have harmonised operations as border stakeholders together with South Africa to enhance a speedy flow of traffic between December 4 2019 and January 13 2020,” said Mr Ncube.
“We are building from the successes of the last festive season and this time will implement the following measures; all off and leave cancelled for border worker, collapsed four shifts into three to enhance manpower and will also utilise outside clearing points in conjunction with separating traffic into buses, light, heavy and pedestrians. In terms of human traffic, we have been clearing an average of 16 000 in the off-peak period and now we are handling close to 21 000 daily.”
The official said they have also adopted a zero tolerance on touts, conmen, wheeler dealers, vendors and other criminals who cause unnecessary congestion of human traffic within the border post.
In a statement, South Africa’s Home Affairs Department said they have extended working hours at some ports of entry and deployed 400 more workers to all busy borders including Beitbridge border post. “We implore travellers leaving and entering South Africa to ensure that all their travel documents area in order to avoid unnecessary delays at ports.
“These include valid passports, visas, health certificates, permits for specified goods, plants and animals and vehicle insurance and bank authorised cross-border documents for vehicles,” said the organisation. The South African Police Services (SAPS) has increased their staff with 80 more workers while customs have deployed 86 more revenue officers to its borders.”
State Media|A director in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs is reportedly on the run in South Africa over $5 million allegedly siphoned from the ministry through double payments to firms he owns, while three accountants in the ministry have since been arrested.
Chief accountant in the ministry Tirivangani Matare, his assistant Linda Mangoya and accountant Oscar Kwaramba appeared before the Harare Magistrates Courts yesterday on criminal abuse of office charges arising from allegations of paying $751 150 to Ollymann Investments, using another officer’s log-in profile to process the payments.
The three were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya, who remanded them out of custody on bail to January 3.
Matare was ordered to deposit $4 000, Mangove $2 000 and Kwaramba $3 000 as part of their bail conditions.
It emerged during the bail applications that a director in the Ministry of Defence evaded arrest and went into hiding in South Africa.
Investigating officer Patrick Madiye, while testifying in court, revealed that more charges are likely to be preferred against the three as investigations were still underway.
Own Correspondent|State run The Herald newspaper has sensationally claimed that exiled G40 kingpins are bankrolling Marry Chiwenga’s legal costs for political expediency.
The publication claims that the unnamed G40 members are funding Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry in order for her to reveal a sustained smear campaign against the Presidium.
Marry Chiwenga is in remand prison until December 30 on charges of attempted murder, fraud, and currency externalisation.
According to the publication, the G40 leader in question is in South Africa giving a hint that the person referred to is Saviour Kasukuwere.
Kasukuwere is alleged to have instructed Marry to defame and politically smear President Mnangagwa and VP Chiwenga when trial begins.
“The G40 leader told Marry to falsely allege that the US$1 million she allegedly laundered was in VP Chiwenga’s house. She has also been coached to allege that the money she is alleged to have stolen was just small change,” the paper claims an unknown source to have indicated.
The source also revealed that there had been regular telephone contact between the G40 leader and Mubaiwa, an interaction that raised suspicion that the latter could have been spying on her husband on behalf of the G40 over the years.
Marry’s legal representative, Mr Taona Nyamakura of Mtetwa and Nyambirai Legal Practitioners denied the allegations.
‘‘I’m not aware of those allegations. As lawyers, we are doing our job professionally in a manner that protects the interest of our client and the administration of justice,’’ he said.
Own Correspondent|State run The Herald reports opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will be joining the Emmerson Mnangagwa initiated Political Actors Dialogue, POLAD.
According to the publication, Chamisa opted for the move after his meeting with former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
“He has already created a negotiating team involving Messrs Tendai Biti, Douglas Mwonzora and one other, after the party’s standing committee meeting on Tuesday,” the paper quotes a source.
“The team will participate in the working teams that were created under POLAD.”
Meanwhile, sources within the MDC earlier this week indicated that Nelson Chamisa is expected to travel to Bulawayo and meet his party’s National Council Thursday and brief it on his meeting this week with former South Africa president in Harare.
“He will be in Bulawayo where he is expected to meet the National Council and touch on a number of key issues including his meeting with Mbeki on Monday,” one of the sources said.
Chamisa has always insisted that he will not join POLAD but works rather have an independent meditation between him and Mnangagwa.
Members of Parliament have urged Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube to re-dollarise the economy saying that businesses, including government-owned, had informally re-dollarised already.
These remarks were said by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti who is also the Vice President of the opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa. He said:
As I said before, three-quarters of it is the government seeking to enforce payment of taxes in US dollars. If that is the case, why should we pretend that the US dollar is not alive and kicking in our economy? Why should we not simply repeal Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 and allow the two currencies to operate together; the US dollar and the exchange rate?
His remarks come a few days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared at a ZANU PF 18th Annual People’s Conference that there was no turning back on currency reforms.
Biti also speaks when the government announced through the Government Gazette released on 6 December that it had put forward Finance Bill No. 3, 2019, an amendment to several monetary Acts which among other things penalises the re-dollarisation of the economy.
In June this year, Zimbabwe outlawed the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions bringing an end to multicurrency regime that was adopted a decade ago.
Former Chelsea player, Neil Shipperley has admitted staring at both mother and daughter (names withheld) from his white van with his manhood out and performing a sex act.
The 45-year-old who has been faced with personal and financial problems handed himself to the local police just as his victims were reporting him.
Uxbridge Magistrates Court heard today that his crime was a “cry for help” as a list of personal and financial problems, plus coping with the end of his football career, came to a “crescendo.”
Shipperley sat in the dock wearing a dark grey suit, and was handed a community order, but was spared a possible jail sentence.
The incident occurred on September 17, 2019 when Shipperley stopped his vehicle in Station Road, Hayes, west London to allow both mother and daughter cross only for them to turn back and see him holding his genitals.
Shipperley then followed the women and was seen by them a further twice, staring and exposing himself.
Shaan Sethi, prosecuting, told the court: “The two complainants, a youth and her mother, were walking on Station Road, Hayes.
“The defendant drove his van alongside them, matching their speed. He wound down his window and stopped adjacent to them.
“The complainant, who believed the defendant was letting them cross the road, turned to thank him, but noticed he was holding his penis in his hand and staring at them.
“They walked further up the road to get away and he followed them, stopped by traffic lights.”
He was performing a solo sex act, the court was told.
Shipperley, also played for Southampton, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United in the top flight.
State Media|A director in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs is reportedly on the run in South Africa over $5 million allegedly siphoned from the ministry through double payments to firms he owns, while three accountants in the ministry have since been arrested.
Chief accountant in the ministry Tirivangani Matare, his assistant Linda Mangoya and accountant Oscar Kwaramba appeared before the Harare Magistrates Courts yesterday on criminal abuse of office charges arising from allegations of paying $751 150 to Ollymann Investments, using another officer’s log-in profile to process the payments.
The three were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya, who remanded them out of custody on bail to January 3.
Matare was ordered to deposit $4 000, Mangove $2 000 and Kwaramba $3 000 as part of their bail conditions.
It emerged during the bail applications that a director in the Ministry of Defence evaded arrest and went into hiding in South Africa.
Investigating officer Patrick Madiye, while testifying in court, revealed that more charges are likely to be preferred against the three as investigations were still underway.
Own Correspondent|The President of the United States of America, Donald John Trump has been impeached by the US Congress.
He has become the third US president in history to be impeached by the House of Representatives, setting up a trial in the Senate that will decide whether he remains in office.
The House voted on two charges – that the president abused his power and that he had obstructed Congress.
Both votes fell along party lines with nearly all Democrats voting for the charges and all Republicans against.
As voting took place, President Trump was addressing a campaign rally. Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, took the stage at a Michigan rally as the House began voting on impeachment.
“Tonight the House Democrats are trying to nullify the ballots of tens of millions of patriotic Americans,” Trump told the crowd.
The proceedings on Wednesday began with members of Mr Trump’s Republican Party calling for votes on procedural issues in an effort to frustrate the process.
That was followed by a vote on the rules to be set out for the impeachment, which kicked off six hours of partisan debate on the merits of the two impeachment charges against President Trump.
The vote on abuse of power was 216-197. Two Democrats voted against the first article, and one voted present.
The vote on obstruction of Congress was 229-198, with three Democrats voting against the second article and one voting present.
Marry Chiwenga, incarcerated wife to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has told the High Court that the money she is accused of externalizing belonged to her husband and not the state.
Marry made the revelations in her bail application at the High Court indicating that if there was any money laundering crime it should be placed on Vice President Chiwenga who owned the money.
“On the charge of externalization of money to China, the state has only evidence of one witness that the appellant will challenge at trial. She will state that the witness would not have any basis to assume or allege that the money was moved illegally nor is the witness telling the truth.
“The money does not belong to the appellant, and in fact, it was money belonging to her husband, who should be the person in the dock assuming an offense, was committed,” she said in papers filed by her lawyers.
Marry has also challenged allegations that she tried to kill her husband. “Laughable is the so-called last exhibit. The state says it has a photograph of a blooded shirt that the Vice President was wearing.
“Surely an exhibit of that nature, despite it being merely of circumstantial relevance would have been kept and safeguarded. A photograph of a blooded t-shirt remains a photograph. It proves nothing and cannot override primary evidence.
“One is reminded of the saying that surely when a hyena wants to eat its children, it first accuses them of smelling like goats.”
State Media|Government is working to end cash shortages, eliminate cash discounts and the multi-tier pricing system which have negatively impacted on hard-pressed consumers.
Further, the Government intends to strengthen the regulatory environment to punish traders that continue employing the multi-tier pricing system and offering cash discounts.
This was said by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in an interview yesterday.
Some retailers are openly displaying different prices for cash and electronic payments.
A loaf of bread costs $14,85 cash, but the price rises to $18,40 when using mobile or electronic money.
Bread prices are between $11 and $13 on the streets where traders demand cash, prompting many citizens to want to withdraw money and enjoy such discounts.
Prof Ncube said Government was aware of the cash challenges and the attendant problems and promised to continue feeding cash into the system.
“As we said, this is a progression. We are drip-feeding the economy with cash. We are doing everything to make sure that there is more cash, there is higher denominations and those who are being prejudiced through this refusal (to accept small coins) should exchange their small coins for higher denominations.
“Then going forward, we will be issuing higher denominations of Zimbabwe dollar $10, $20. We will let you know once we are ready.”
Turning to multi-tier pricing by retailers, Prof Ncube said laws were being perfected to clamp down on the practice.
“We are aware of all these challenges and also, we are going through a transition as an economy. I think it’s fair that we cannot clean-up the system and achieve 100 percent compliance all in one year or one day.
“We accept as Government that we are going through a transition, but we will enforce the law. Part of that (multiple pricing), we think is because of the shortage of cash so once we solve that as a key issue, a lot of the multiple pricing will go away,” he said.
Prof Ncube said there was need for enforcement and better regulation to eliminate multiple pricing.
He said he expected price distortions to dissipate slowly by next year on the back of falling inflation and the injection of more cash into circulation.
Last week, President Mnangagwa signed the Consumer Protection Bill into law, with traders engaging in multi-tier pricing and displaying unpriced goods now liable to hefty fines.
The new law was published in an Extraordinary Government Gazette dated December 10, 2019.
Unfair pricing will attract a Level 5 fine ($600) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months, or both.
MARRY Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is in remand prison for attempted murder, fraud, money laundering and externalisation of foreign currency, now claims to be too sick to stand trial.
Her lawyers Mtetwa & Nyambirai Legal Practitioners said their client should be in a medical institution.
This came out in Mubaiwa’s bail appeal papers filed at the High Court against dismissal of bail in respect of fraud, externalisation of foreign currency and money laundering.
She also raised her health challenges in a separate bail application in respect of the attempted murder charge.
In her bail papers, Mubaiwa claims she had a serious medical condition arising from an assassination attempt.
To that end, the lawyers said she was not fit to stand trial and that she should be freed on bail and get medical attention.
“Applicant is of visibly poor health, being visibly traumatised and having lost a considerable amount of weight.
“A doctor attended to her and deposed an affidavit.
The applicant asserts she was injured in Bulawayo on June 23, 2018 by a hand-held grenade thrown with the intention of assassinating the President.
“The photographs of her hands will be exhibited to the court at the hearing of this matter. She thus needs constant medical care,” reads the bail statement.
An affidavit by Dr Admire Jira was attached to the application stating Mubaiwa was not fit for trial neither could she stand prison conditions.
Part of the affidavit reads:
“Marry Mubaiwa-Chiwenga has swelling on both her upper and lower limbs.
“She has a fever and has difficulties in breathing. She has a wound on her left forearm tender measuring 10cm in length and 5cm in width.
“She has a wound on the right forearm measuring 8cm by 5cm.
“Marry Mubaiwa complained of having flashbacks, lack of sleep and losing weight.”
As a result of the observations, Dr Jira concluded that she is not fit for incarceration or trial.
“Marry Mubaiwa is not capable to stand trial due to her current physical condition.
“She should be in hospital on treatment, preferably Avenues Clinic.
“Marry Mubaiwa should be under the care of a physician, surgeon and psychiatrist of her choice,” writes Dr Jira. State media
Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale misfired as Real Madrid held Barcelona to a 0-0 goalless draw in the La Liga encounter at Nou Camp on Wednesday night.
Both sides had shots cleared off the line and Gareth Bale did put the ball in the net after the interval but his strike was narrowly ruled out for offside and the fixture ended scoreless for the first time since November 2002.
The draw left Barca top on 36 points after 17 games with Real also on 36, five clear of third-placed Sevilla.
State Media|Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has expressed confidence in Zimbabwe’s capacity to resolve its challenges and reiterated his support for processes aimed at addressing issues of concern.
During his two-day stay, Mbeki met President Mnangagwa, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, leaders of political parties involved in the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), the National Patriotic Front and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC).
Speaking to journalists before his departure on Wednesday, Mr Mbeki, who said he had come at the invitation of President Mnangagwa, promised to return in the next two weeks to continue his engagements with stakeholders that have requested to meet him.
“I have a lot of confidence in the leadership of this country, the collective leadership and coming together as they have done in the past,” he said.
“There is a lot of capacity, lots of capacity in the country to resolve all of these problems, all of these reforms that are needed whether it is political or economic, but we are listening, so we will come back later this month because people have left now to prepare for the Christmas holidays. We will come back and talk a bit more.”
Earlier on, Mbeki had said he had come to meet President Mnangagwa and took the opportunity to interact with other political players in the country.
“I came here to see the President,” he said. “I hadn’t seen him since he became President. As I said (on Monday) but as you know, I know many people in Zimbabwe, I have got many friends here so a lot of other people wanted to see me.
“So, we have been talking to everybody and everybody, of course, is interested in discussing the situation . . . I am interested in the situation here; just to understand what is happening and to say basically that we support the efforts of Zimbabweans to address their fundamental challenges whatever the challenges are (and) that everybody gets together.
“So we have been listening to everybody and we haven’t finished that listening process, so we will come back again later this month to continue to finalise that. It’s really a listening thing because we want to give whatever support we can.”
Mbeki said ordinary people wanted to see the country’s challenges addressed, adding that South Africa, as a neighbour, was willing to support that process.
“As I said, many people in Zimbabwe are saying the country needs to address many challenges — whether they are political reforms, economic and so on,” he said.
“We are neighbours and as I said, I have many friends in this country, I know many people and I think we should give all the necessary support.”
Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba yesterday said Mr Mbeki was here to encourage dialogue as a friend of Zimbabwe.
“He is just encouraging dialogue as a concerned friend of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Whatever interaction that will happen between political parties will have to be national and within the context of POLAD.”
The estranged wife of the Vice President, Retired General Constantino Chiwenga, Marry Mubaiwa who is facing charges of attempted murder, externalisation of funds, money laundering and fraud has approached the High Court in a bid to get her freedom.
She has filed before the High Court an application for bail in relation to the attempted murder case while appealing against the dismissal of her bail application by a Harare magistrate in respect of the other three charges emanating from her arrest by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission as the court feared she would abscond trial.
She was remanded to December 30 in custody by Deputy Chief Magistrate, Christen Mberewere.
The Deputy Chief Magistrate in his ruling said it would be easy for her to abscond court as she has properties outside of Zimbabwe like many other high profile people who have absconded, she is no exception.
Marry Chiwenga was denied bail on all four charges being raised against her which were dealt with in two stages by the courts. On the charge of attempted murder, she was remanded in custody to December 30, with instructions to approach the High Court as it is a third schedule offence and the Magistrate court has no jurisdiction over it.
The State which was represented by Michael Reza and Jonathan Murombedzi, Tinashe Makiya and Francesca Mukumbira successfully opposed her being granted bail on condition that she was a security threat to the Vice President after her first failed attempt at murdering him in South Africa.
The lead prosecutor, Reza submitted before court that the Second Lady is a flight risk due to the nature of offences against her and the amounts of money involved.
“The offences the accused person is facing are fairly serious as most of them attract a custodial sentence,” Reza submitted.
“The amount externalised is in excess of a million US Dollars and the money laundered put together will amount to close to US$2 million and this is a substantive amount in any language. The accused is married to the Vice President and clearly, she has a very high standard of living and to move from an opulent house to a prison cell will make any reasonable person want to flee.”
Reza also submitted before court that Marry had refused to hand over her diplomatic passport to the arresting officer which he said was indication enough that she intended to flea the country.
The court also heard that there are other matters which are still under investigation which will likely see more charges being preferred against the Second Lady.
“The investigating officer advises me that the accused is under investigation of the matter in which she handled funds from Musha Mukadzi, how she took foreign currency from her security detail which was given to them as allowances for foreign trips and that four previous winners on the Miss Zimbabwe pageant won motor vehicles and all of them were registered in her name and ownership was not changed technically making her the owner of those vehicles,” said Reza.
Reza also submitted that the courts had become a source of ridicule under the ‘catch and release’ narrative which has seen a lot of high profile people jumping the borders of Zimbabwe after being granted bail.
The investigating officer, Victor Masimba testified in court reiterating the same statements raised by Reza.
During cross examination, Marry’s lawyers, Taona Nyamakura and Mzokuthula Mbuyisa of Mtetwa and Nyambirai law firm told the court that her health should be considered in granting her bail and that her diplomatic passport would make it impossible for her to run away as she would be extradited without difficulty.
The defence counsel also told the court that denying her bail would mean denying her minor children of their right to have their mother’s tender care and nurturing.
“Allegations are that during the period extending from October 2018 to May 2019, the accused would instruct Memory Chakuinga, who is the Managing Director of two South African based companies namely Falcon Projects Pvt Ltd and Bonnette Electrical Pvt Ltd which are based in Pretoria, South Africa to raise proforma invoices for the purchases of either event tents and chairs or prepaid household electrical meters.
The invoices would then be referred to CBZ Bank on the pretext that the accused wanted to purchase the event tents, chairs and prepaid meters for consumption in Zimbabwe, when in actual fact the accused knew very well that after the funds were transferred to South Africa, she would then divert them for other personal purposes,” reads part of the document.
According to the document, the funds were diverted to the purchase of two range rover vehicles which are registered in the name of the accused in South Africa worth half a million dollars while US$36 thousand was used for the purchase of furniture which is alleged to have been delivered at house number 1309 Kingstone Heath Close, Waterkloof Golf Estate, Pretoria, South Africa.
“One hundred and forty-two thousand dollars was used for the purchase of house number 1309 Kingstone Heath Close, Waterkloof Golf Estate, Pretoria South Africa and the house was registered in the name of LaChelle Travel and Tours Pvt Ltd which the accused is the sole Shareholder.
It is alleged that on the 8th October 2018, the accused sent her driver Carrington Kazingizi and Terrence Mutandwa to the Republic of China with United States Dollars cash amounting to one hundred and fourteen thousand dollars (US$114 000-00). The money exited Zimbabwe through Robert Mugabe International Airport without any declaration being made to the authorities which is in contravention of the Exchange Control Act, Chapter 22:05,” reads the document.
According to ZACC, the fraud case has one count and the Vice President of Zimbabwe Comrade Constantino Guvheya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga is the complainant.
It is alleged that during the year 2019 on the date to the prosecutor unknown, the accused misrepresented to Judge President George Mutandwa Chiweshe that herself and the complainant had consented to wed under the Marriage Act, Chapter 5:11 under the marriage licence on the 2nd of July 2019 at their place of residence at number 614 Nick Price Drive, Borrowdale Brooke, Harare.
“The accused then submitted copies of national identity documents of both parties to the Judge President George Mutandwa Chiweshe without the knowledge and consent of the complainant.
The Judge President then contacted the Acting Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi to look for a magistrate to solemnize the marriage.
The Acting Chief Magistrate, Munamato Mutevedzi as the highest-ranking marriage officer in the Judiciary decided to preside over the wedding ceremony and the national identity documents were forwarded to him.
The Acting Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi, upon noticing that the passport size photos and address of the parties were not included, he contacted the Secretary of the Judiciary Service Commission Walter Chikwana who in turn contacted the accused with the request,” notes the document.
Acting on misrepresented facts, the requested items were delivered to Walter Chikwana who forwarded them to Munamato Mutevedzi to facilitate the registration for special marriage licence for the complainant and accused.
“Acting on the misrepresentation, the marriage officer caused the completion of registration forms and the marriage certificates in preparation for the ceremony. When the accused was doing all this, the complainant was bed ridden and not in a condition to consent to the marriage.
After the applications for special marriage licences were made, a Duplicate original register MR No: 0222402 was prepared. On the Duplicate Original Register copy, the marriage was between Constantino G.D.N. Chiwenga and Marry Mubaiwa.
On the Register it was endorsed or indicated that the marriage was by own consent through the misrepresentation by the accused whilst in actual fact, the complainant had not consented.
On 22 June 2019, the accused together with complainant proceeded to South Africa where the complainant was to receive emergency medical attention as he was critically ill.
On 2 July 2019, the marriage Officer Acting Chief Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi proceeded to number 614 Nick Price Drive Borrowdale Brooke so as to solemnize the marriage with all the necessary documents for the marriage to take place. However, he could not get access to the house.
By such misrepresentation, the accused caused prejudice to the good administration and reputation of complainant” said the document.
Allegations against her of attempted murder are that on 22 June 2019, the complainant, Vice President Chiwenga, was airlifted to South Africa for emergency medical attention, however upon arrival, the accused forced the complainant to stay at a Hotel in Pretoria for 24 hours only for his security team to force their way to take him to the hospital.
It is alleged she ordered the security personnel to excuse her and the General in his private ward alleging she wanted privacy with her husband, only for her to unlawfully remove the medical intravenous giving set as well as the central venous catheter which was inserted into the Vice President who began bleeding profusely.
She allegedly disappeared from the hospital after the hospital staff was alerted by the security personnel.
SEVEN police officers from Bulawayo have been arrested for allegedly storming a Njube man’s bedroom before assaulting him as he lay naked on the floor while threatening to shoot him for failing to pay a $1 500 fine.
The police officers stationed at the Njube and Bulawayo Central police stations identified as Samuel Marava, Leonard Mlezane, Kudakwashe Saungweme, Abious Munatsi, Edgar Muduva, Vincent Dube and Colen Zumo allegedly assaulted Mr Edmond Makonese (56) for failing to pay the fine at the Tredgold Magistrates Court.
The cops pleaded not guilty to assault charges before West Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndlovu yesterday.
The magistrate remanded them out of custody on free bail to December 31 for continuation of trial.
It is alleged that Mr Makonese defaulted paying a fine after he was found operating as an agent in the city centre without a licence.
The courts had fined him $1 500.
The police officers allegedly went to look for Mr Makonese at his home in connection with a warrant of arrest that was issued against him for failing to pay the fine.
The court heard that the officers saw the complainant’s son, Tatenda, who was outside the house and allegedly assaulted him demanding to know where his father was hiding.
They allegedly stormed into the complainant’s bedroom and assaulted him while threatening him with a firearm.
Prosecuting, Mr Tony Kamudyariwa said on March 6 this year at around 7:30AM, police officers stormed into Mr Makonese’s bedroom armed with a pistol and batons.
He said they found him changing clothes and ordered him to lie down naked.
“The police officers assaulted the complainant by hitting him with hands, booted feet and baton sticks several times intending to cause bodily harm,” he said.
Mr Kamudyariwa said one of the police officers threatened to shoot Mr Makonese who was now screaming in pain as he was being assaulted.
He said Mr Makonese sustained chest injuries, swollen eyes and a deep cut on his forehead and was admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital.
Makonese’s neighbour, Mr Samuel Phiri testified that he saw Makonese walking barefooted with blood gushing from his head.
“I was so worried when I saw my neighbour half naked, in the company of many police officers who were busy assaulting him on his way to the police station. His head was covered with of blood,” said Mr Phiri.State media
The world awaits voting decision on Donald Trump Impeachment.
Own Correspondent|President Trump is likely to enter the history books as the third president in U.S. history to have been impeached by the House.
The votes on impeachment bring to an end the House’s months-long inquiry into whether Trump improperly pressured Ukraine to conduct investigations that would benefit him politically.
First, what has been happening on Wednesday? The House spent the day and night debating the two impeachment articles on the House floor. The first article is for abuse of power, and the second is for obstructing the congressional inquiry.
Once debate is over, they will vote separately on the two articles of impeachment. If just one passes with a majority vote, Trump will be impeached.
HOWEVER, That won’t mean Trump is removed from office. The Senate determines whether that will happen.
A president who has been impeached by the House can still serve as president. It’s up to the Senate to hold a trial to decide whether to remove him from office. The two other presidents impeached by the House, Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, were both acquitted by the Senate.
The Constitution only says that the Senate has to hold a trial, with the senators sitting as jurors, House lawmakers serving as prosecutors known as managers and the chief justice of the United States presiding over it. They must take a public vote, and two-thirds of senators present must agree on whether to convict the president and thus remove him from office.
Why Is Trump Being Impeached?
Congress and the Defense Department approved nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine in early 2019. Out of public view, diplomats were urging Trump to meet with Ukraine’s newly elected president in the Oval Office — a meeting the Ukrainians viewed as an important signal to Russia.
But that meeting was pushed off, and the military aid was ordered stopped by the White House.
In late July, Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, asking him to “do us a favor though” that included investigating his political opponents and the Biden family.
In August, a whistleblower filed a complaint about that call, alleging Trump had dangled a meeting with Zelensky in exchange for launching investigations into Joe Biden and his son Hunter and into a conspiracy theory about a Democratic National Committee server.
The Washington Post’s Editorial Board wrote that it had been “reliably told” that Trump was pressuring Zelensky to investigate the Bidens.
The existence of the whistleblower complaint is reported by The Post and other outlets.
The White House releases a transcript of the call with Zelensky, and the whistleblower complaint becomes public. And Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces the House will conduct an impeachment inquiry into Trump to see whether his actions on Ukraine render him unfit for office.
The investigation gets underway. It happens behind closed doors at first. Then to the dramatic public testimony by White House aides, many of whom said Trump held up an Oval Office meeting with Ukraine’s president to get those investigations, and many of them say they believed Trump withheld the military aid for the same reason.
Trump also blocked his top aides from complying with congressional subpoenas to testify in the investigation.
The vote to impeach The House Intelligence Committee released a report on the findings of the investigation, and based on that, the Judiciary Committee wrote up the two articles of impeachment the House will vote on.
