By Wilbert Mukori| Ten years ago, SADC leaders condemned the 2008 Zimbabwe elections because Mugabe and his Zanu PF thugs had blatantly cheated in the March vote count and used wanton violence in the run-off. Mugabe was told in no uncertain terms that SADC will not recognise his government as a product of the democratic wishes of the people of Zimbabwe and thus legitimate. 

In other words Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections were so flawed and illegal the process failed to produce a legitimate government. 

As a way forward, SADC leaders proposed the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in which the core requirement of a government elected by people was to be suspended. Zimbabwe would be ruled by a Government of National Unity (GNU) whose principle task was to implement a raft of democratic reforms and write a new democratic constitution so ensure the debacle of the 2008 elections will never ever be repeated. 

Sadly not even one reform was ever implemented in the five years of the GNU. Not one.

Mugabe bribed Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends, who were entrusted to implement the reforms, with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms. 

“MDC leaders were busy enjoying themselves during the GNU, they forgot what they were there for!” complained one SADC diplomat after Zanu PF, once again, blatantly rigged the 2013 elections.

Mnangagwa promised to hold free, fair and credible elections after the 2017 military coup. Sadly, he was conning the naive and gullible because he did not implement even one reform. Zanu PF blatantly rigged last year’s elections as the facts on the ground proved.

He denied 3 million Zimbabwean in the diaspora the vote; a very significant number since he was declared the winner with 2.4 million votes. The regime failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, for Pete’s sake!

It therefore beggared belief why SADC leaders endorse Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF as the legitimate government regardless of all the flaws and illegalities in last year’s election process. But worse still, having endorsed this Zanu PF regime as legitimate SADC cannot force Mnangagwa to agree to anything near the 2008 GPA. 

Unlike in 2008, SADC leaders have no political leverage to force Zanu PF to agree to the need for democratic reforms much less force the party to get the reforms implemented. SADC leaders shot themselves in the foot by endorse last year’s elections as legitimate. 

Those asking SA’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and SADC to play a role in ending the Zimbabwe crisis have no clue what they are talking about; they are just dogs howling at the full moon! By endorsing Zimbabwe’s rigged elections President Ramaphosa shot himself in the head; not in the foot, head! 

Like it or not, if President Ramaphosa is play any meaningful role in Zimbabwe’s crisis; he must tell Mnangagwa that he rigged last year’s elections and is illegitimate, a spectacular volte face in itself. It is almost certain that Mnangagwa will pretend there is a teaspoon full of wax in his ears and thus refuse to hear.   

What Zimbabwe needs to move forward, is to implement the democratic reforms; nothing, absolutely nothing of substance will ever be accomplished until we cure ourselves of this curse of rigged elections, the mother of bad governance. 

SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com

Own Correspondent | Democracy is under siege as the stalemate over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy continues, with new Standing Order Rules which will rein in and force the MDC Alliance MPs to recognise and “respect the president” being proposed.

The new rules if adopted are likely to force the MDC Alliance which is slowly being rendered ineffective to consider altogether pulling out of Parliament or accept Mnangagwa’s legitimacy.

The MDC Alliance has in the past argued that its continued presence in Parliament is to defend its democratic space, citing its oversight role on the government through hearings and inquiries.

The new rules also mean the MPs will no longer chant slogans or sing revolutionary songs, only the national anthem will be sung in the August House.

This continued bickering between the MDC Alliance and their Zanu PF counterparts in the Parliament over Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, is leading to a stalemate, that is slowly rendering the August House useless.

MDC Alliance chief whip Senator Lilian Timveos, raised alarm, “we are in hot soup”, as she published the New Standing Order 86 “Respect of the President.”

The Standing Order states that, Members shall observe utmost dignity and decorum during the President’s address and also that a Member shall not disrupt or interrupt the President’s address through disorderly conduct.

Standing Order 76 “Members in the House” meaning Parliament’ It is proposed that an amendment be made to standing Order 76(1) by the insertion of a new paragraph (e) which shall read― (e) not sing except when required to sing the National Anthem.

A bewildered Timveos asks on social media, “Sing national anthem only ?”

New Standing Order 86 “Respect of the President”

We are in hot Soup, Parliament of Zimbabwe

(1) Members shall observe utmost dignity and decorum during the President’s address.
(2) A Member shall not disrupt or interrupt the President’s address through disorderly conduct.

— Lilian Timveos. (@lilimikoro) November 27, 2019

Self exiled former cabinet minister Savior Kasukuwere has moved a gear up in his Presidential campaign with a picture of branded vehicle with his image making rounds on social media.

It has not been ascertained if the vehicle is in Zimbabwe.

View picture below….

Watch the video loading below. ..

Watch video loading below. ..

https://youtu.be/D5USQDRsuXI

Own Correspondent | MDC Alliance Secretary General has been called out over a meeting he held with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s envoys in Germany.

Hwende is a delegate in the Internet Governance Forum a multi-stakeholder platform, which brings together various stakeholder groups as equals, in discussions on public policy issues relating to the Internet.

Hwende suffered backlash from angry Zimbabweans who challenged him on his meeting with Ambassador Paul Chikawa, whose appointing authority Mnangagwa the MDC Alliance does not recognise.

Wrote Hwende, “Yesterday I passed through our Zimbabwe Embassy in Germany and was well received by Ambassador Paul Chikawa and his team very fruitful engagement. Many Zimbabweans are based in Germany studying and working.”

Yesterday I passed through our Zimbabwe Embassy in Germany ?? and was well received by Ambasador Paul Chikawa and his team very fruitful engagement. Many Zimbabweans are based in Germany studying and working. During the GNU our very own MDC Ambasador Makuvise was based here ✅ pic.twitter.com/jqvNACqiPm

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) November 27, 2019

In a bid to mitigate his visit, the senior MDC official wrote, “During the GNU our very own MDC Ambassador Makuvise was based here.”

MDC Alliance MPs have refused to recognise Mnangagwa walking out of Parliament, whenever he is present for national events, leading to an impasse that has crippled business in the August House.

Among the Zimbabweans who called Hwende out is politician Setfree Mafukidze, “ An Ambassador appointed by an illegitimate President is illegitimate too. He would have been appointed by a person who is not confirmed to make such appointments. VaHwende you guys either need to accept that @edmnangagwa is legitimate or just remain consistent on your case.”

An Ambassador appointed by an illegitimate President is illegitimate too,he would have been appointed by a person who is not confirmed to make such appointments.
VaHwende you guys either need to accept that @edmnangagwa is legitimate or just remain consistent on your case. https://t.co/masWBIuzXG

— Setfree Nherera Mafukidze ?? (@cdesetfree) November 27, 2019

Zanu PF politician Farai Muvuti challenged Hwende too, “Needless to point out the obvious. If you can see the legitimacy of the good Ambassador then you may want to acknowledge the legitimacy of his appointing authority. Your unexpected excursion appears to have betrayed your party narrative. Food for thought.”

Vakomana ava havanawo kana idea busy kutamba nepfungwa dzedu haa yaas! Help me identify a new political party to support

— te'Humba (@TeteHumba) November 27, 2019

Watch video loading below. ..

https://youtu.be/D5USQDRsuXI

His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa today ordered his security team not to harm or chase away a suspected mentally ill woman who stood in front of his motorcade as he was preparing to leave for a Kadoma rally; delaying the motorcade for some minutes. pic.twitter.com/u2SGecsMip

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) November 27, 2019

His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa today ordered his security team not to harm or chase away a suspected mentally ill woman who stood in front of his motorcade as he was preparing to leave for a Kadoma rally; delaying the motorcade for some minutes. pic.twitter.com/u2SGecsMip

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) November 27, 2019

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has hit the ground running, joining President Emmerson Mnangagwa and vice President Kembo Mohadi on a tour of the new parliament building in Mt Hampden.

Chiwenga who spend 123 days in a Chinese hospital and only returned back home on Saturday morning fully fit and raring to go.

When Mnangagwa visited the powerful former army general, he urged him to take time before resuming work but on Monday he was back at work.

On Tuesday, he attended the cabinet meeting and proceeded to Mt Hampden today.

He is likely to join Mnangagwa in Kadoma for a youth interface rally today.

A Guard Alert security detail who was manning an Econet Wireless Shop along Harare’s First Street in the CBD late Tuesday afternoon shot and killed himself with police saying the unidentified keeper committed the act after he had been exposed for stealing cell phones from the same shop.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident to NewZimbabwe Tuesday evening.

“Yes, a security guard shot himself at a cell phone shop (Econet Shop),” said Nyathi.

According to Nyathi, “the security guard reported for work Tuesday morning and stole some cell phones and hid them.

“Upon realising many of the workers were not yet at work, he took advantage of their absence and committed the crime.

“At the end of the day, the workers checked the CCTV as per routine and it showed the guard had stolen some cell phones.

“After being shown the videos, he requested to go to the toilet and he shot himself.”

Nyathi warned members of the public to desist from committing crimes which he said had consequences.

“It is really unfortunate, but people should also realise that such a crime does not pay. Crime has some consequences,” he said.

He added, “The name of the deceased will not be released until his next of keen are advised. I want to caution the media against publicising his name until his relatives are advised.”

Some vendors who spoke to NewZimbabwe outside the Econet Shop said they knew the guard to be a good man.

“He was such a good person but temptations (to steal) are there. People are struggling to make ends meet at home. It is so sad we have lost a family man,” said one of the vendors who refused to be identified.

A junior police officer who was among the team that attended the scene was overheard saying of the dead security, “Anga aguta kufema (he had had enough of life).”

— NewZimbabwe

By Alice Majola| In this piece, I will try to channel the speech made by His Majesty Emperor Selassie of Ethiopia to the League of Nations many moons ago in 1936. The following is the iconic segment of Emperor Selassie’s speech:

“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war. And until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained… now everywhere is war.”

The speech was so iconic in its honesty about the struggles of dark skinned peoples of the world that it inspired Bob Marley to turn it into a song which he called ‘War’. Here is my version of it  which I have edited to address the problems in Zimbabwe:

“Until the philosophy which holds that Zanu leadership and their friends are superior and above the law while the rest of us are inferior and subjected to intentional misinterpretations of the same law, is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, there will be resentment towards Zanu pf. And until there is no longer vote rigging, corruption, and state violence against political opposition and the general public, until the political affiliation of a person has no significance in their chances of living a decent life in Zimbabwe. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to every Zimbabwean regardless of wealth, war veteran credentials, presence of disability, tribe or location, there will be resentment towards Zanu pf. And until that day, the dream of democracy, prosperity  and being the bread basket of Africa will remain but a fleeting illusion to be that will never be attained, which is why there is resentment towards Zanu”

Personally, I will always measure the success and fairness of a Zimbabwean government on the basis of what it will do to help the many women who have to carry their little babies on their backs everyday, walking long distances while hoisting large weights on their heads so they can try to sell a bit of fruit and vegetables in the hot and sometimes cold and dusty streets of Zimbabwe. These women sometimes sit for 15 hours a day waiting hopefully for the next customer, who on some days will not emerge because of the dire economic situation in the country which has resulted in many Zimbabweans ‘living without’.  Sometimes these women make as little as 5RTGs in one day which can’t afford to pay for the baby’s milk. They are part of the most marginalised people in Zimbabwean society.  The morality and uprightness of a government is measured by how it treats the most vulnerable members of society.  

Like I said, the needs of these women and their babies is the yard stick by which I judge the robustness and success of a Zimbabwean government. So here is my yardstick in which I will use elements of Selassie’s League of Nations speech:

 “Until these women and their babies do not have to go through this suffering and humiliation, I will always resent this corrupt Zanu pf government. Until these mothers are given help by the state in the welfare of their children, I will always resent Zanu pf. Until these mothers are able to earn enough money to live a decent life from the difficult jobs they do, I will always resent Zanu pf. Until these mothers and their babies do not have to pay money to receive hospital treatment and don’t have to pay school fees for their children up to A level, I will always resent Zanu pf.  Until they have a viable option to earn a living, I will continue to resent Zanu pf”

FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe and her son, Russell Goreraza, have both been ordered to pay US$278 304 to a local law firm which represented them in several court cases, one of which involved a botched $1,4 million diamond ring deal.

The order by the High Court, issued on November 15, 2019, followed an application for rescission of a default judgment that was filed by Mugabe and her son in April this year seeking to overturn the judgment on the basis that it had been issued in error.

According to court papers, the legal firm, Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners is said to have acted for Grace in her cases against a Lebanese national Jamal Ahmed, who she accused of duping her.

In a bid to recover her money, Mugabe is alleged to have “grabbed” three properties namely stand number 409 Harare Drive, Pomona; 18 Cambridge Road, Avondale and 75 King George, Avondale, all owned by Ahmed, but the latter later approached the courts and successfully retained his properties.

On January 15, 2019 High Court judge Justice Felistus Chatukuta ruled in favour of the law firm and ordered Grace and her son to pay the legal fees, before the duo filed for rescission which was recently determined by High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore.

The order by Justice Mushore simply said: “Application is dismissed with costs”.

Prior to Justice Mushore’s order, Justice Alpheus Chitakunye had ordered the duo to pay the law firm’s legal fees with costs as well.

According to Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners, Grace and her son approached them in December 2016 seeking legal services in respect of a number of cases linked to the diamond ring saga.

The firm said the pair also wanted to be legally represented in an urgent chamber application that was before the High Court under case number HC 12497/16. The legal services rendered included attending to all litigation procedures and hearings, the drafting of court processes, consultations, round table meetings over a two-year period.

-Newsday

In September, Mitchell Matarause delivered her baby boy by candlelight at a clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital.

It was after sunset and the electricity supply had been cut.

“Midwives were using candles and torches for lighting,” said the 26-year-old, holding her second-born. “I delivered in the evening, there was no electricity.

“There was a candle on the table. I heard the midwives say that they could not see properly, so they had to use torches as additional light sources. As one midwife assisted me, the others held the torches.

“I was just praying I deliver well, without complications. I feared the worst and sighed with relief when it was over.”

High-quality maternal healthcare is difficult to access and provide in Zimbabwe, a country struggling with regular power outages — sophisticated equipment relies on electricity.

Women across the country have reported similar experiences to Matarause, relying on a small flame or a cellphone to provide enough light to give birth safely during power blackouts.

Earlier this year, the State-owned Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) introduced 18-hour load-shedding after reducing electricity generation due to low water levels in Lake Kariba, its main source of power.

While the power is not switched off at large referral hospitals in Harare, such as Harare Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, it is cut at most facilities in residential suburbs and rural areas.

A midwife at Mufakose Polyclinic, where Matarause welcomed her child, said the team usually asks pregnant mothers to provide their own lighting.

“(We) ask them to bring bulbs with batteries as it is difficult to see when using candle lights,” she told Al Jazeera.

Most women in Zimbabwe deliver at State-run hospitals, which charge a small fee, about $200, that goes towards basic equipment.

The cost of giving birth at private hospitals is about $5 000, a sum that is out of reach for most — civil servants earn just $500 on average each month.

Zimbabwe turns to solar energy to reduce maternal mortality rate
Because of power outages, some hospitals purchase fuel at cost price from service stations for generators.

Power blackouts threaten to worsen maternal mortality rates, which the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey estimates at 651 deaths per 100 000 live births.

According to Unicef, two regions, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, account for 86% of maternal deaths worldwide.

The United Nations Population Fund describes Zimbabwe’s rate as “unacceptably high”, even as the last five to 10 years show a decline.

Some hospitals and clinics, including private facilities, use fuel generators, but this option is out of reach for many — diesel and petrol are expensive with a 300% inflation rate as of August 2019, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The fuel price is determined by the Zimbabwean dollar and US dollar interbank exchange rate.

At the time of writing, petrol was trading at around $16,6 a litre, while diesel was up at $17,43.
At Chiredzi Hospital, a government-run facility almost 500km southeast of Harare, when authorities fail to purchase fuel for generators, midwives do whatever it takes to save lives.

“Hospitals need to provide comprehensive obstetric (and newborn care), among other things such as responding to emergencies and doing surgery.

“That’s where the power issues come in. With the current cost of diesel to run generators, the situation is dire,” Chiredzi district acting medical officer, David Tarumbwa, said.

“We buy fuel straight from service stations at cost price, no subsidies. It’s not sustainable. You can’t run a generator for 12 hours daily. The next thing is, it breaks down.”

When they do not have generators, the doctors and nurses “explore whatever options will be available”.

Emmanuel Mahlangu, president of the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives, explained: “It is important to differentiate between normal pregnancy and childbirth with complicated pregnancy and childbirth. Eighty-seven percent of pregnancies and childbirths are normal.

“A normal childbirth occurring during the day may actually go through without much use of electricity. However, if it were to occur in the night, the priority is lighting.

“A complicated delivery may require electricity for resuscitation of the baby, warmth from radiant heaters, lights and operative delivery.”

Against this backdrop, new technology that does not rely on fuel is being tried out.

Zimbabwe turns to solar energy to reduce maternal mortality rate
Solar panels have been installed at several health facilities across the country in an attempt to overcome the negative impact of power shortages.

We Care Solar, a California-based NGO, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are working with the government to install solar power systems in clinics and hospitals nationwide.

We Care Solar has struck a partnership with local NGO ZimEnergy Eco Foundation, providing compact rugged solar electric systems called solar suitcases.

Designed in 2010, these “suitcases” provide bright lights and foetal heart monitoring.

More than 4 000 health centres in Africa and Asia have been equipped with this technology.

Since 2016, We Care Solar has supported 136 maternal health facilities with reliable lighting and electricity in Zimbabwe, in the provinces of Matabeleland South, Mashonaland East and Masvingo and aims to extend its project to other clinics across the country.

“Before year-end, we aim to officially launch the Light Every Birth campaign in collaboration with the Health ministry,” We Care Solar Zimbabwe programme manager Shamiso Moyo said. “We aim to install the solar system at a total of 1 000 clinics.”

UNDP also partnered with the Health ministry on a Solar For Health Project and installed solar systems at 405 institutions across the country to ensure uninterrupted power, including at maternity wards.

“They are now primarily running on solar and only using the mains electricity grid as backup. The systems vary in capacity, depending on the size of the medical facility. Smaller clinics are now running on 5kW or 7kW, while larger clinics and district hospitals run on 10kW, 15kW or even 40kW systems,” said UNDP Zimbabwe resident representative Georges van Montfort.

He hoped that eventually, no woman would ever have to deliver by candlelight again.

As the rest of the country waits, however, Mahlangu said that while the use of candle and cellphone lights during delivery is not recommended, midwives will continue to use whatever means they have to offer women support during their critical hours in labour.

“Midwives cannot leave a woman unattended because of lack of electricity,” he said, “And childbirth will not stop because there is no electricity.”

— Al Jazeera News

Cabinet received an update on the industrial action by Public Hospital Doctors and City of Harare Nurses. The Minister of Health and Child Care reported that the Doctors’ strike has now gone beyond 84 days, with the doctors continuing to cite incapacitation. As such, health service provision at most Central hospitals remains constrained.

On the situation at Harare City Council clinics, the Minister indicated that 99 out of the expected 179 nurses turned up for duty as of 25th November, 2019. The recent opening of the Edith Opperman Clinic in Mbare has since eased the challenge of home-based deliveries.

Pertaining to disciplinary hearings for striking doctors, the Minister informed Cabinet that 508 disciplinary cases on doctors that have not been coming to work have so far been heard, out of which 498 doctors were found guilty. It will be recalled that from the previous report, 435 doctors had been discharged, and since then an additional 13 doctors have been found guilty and discharged, bringing the cumulative total of doctors discharged to 448. In addition to the 508 disciplinary cases heard by the 25th November 2019, an additional 43 doctors from the Provinces are awaiting hearing. Serving of charge letters for 57 Senior Doctors at Central Hospitals commenced on the 25th November, 2019.

Regarding the recruitment of Doctors, the Ministry of Health and Child Care will publish before the end of this week an advert in the press for all posts that have become vacant as a result of the disciplinary process.

Processes on the recruitment of 700 nurses, 150 Cuban medical staff as well as the training of 6000 Clinical Officers are being expedited.

Once again, Cabinet wishes to assure the nation that all avenues to ensure that the situation in the health sector returns to normalcy are being explored for immediate implementation.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

"Anyone who has got the suitable qualifications is welcome to apply to come and work as a doctor, in our system. I thank you," says @MoHCCZim Obadiah Moyo@ZHDAofficial @DMagombeyi @ZadhrDoctors pic.twitter.com/JrmGihPabQ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 26, 2019

MAGISTRATES in Bulawayo have resorted to going to prisons to handle some cases as the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has been failing to bring inmates to court after its truck broke down two weeks ago.

Since November 11, magistrates at Tredgold and Western Commonage courts have been going to prisons or further remanding prisoners on remand in absentia. At court, magistrates have only been dealing with matters of suspects who are out of custody.

A prosecutor told a Western Commonage magistrate that an accused person Chelesani Sibanda (34) who is facing attempted murder charges had failed to attend court as the ZPCS truck has been grounded.

Prosecutor Stewart Madzore told magistrate Stephen Ndlovu that Sibanda who is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly poisoned his three children had failed to get transport.

The magistrate moved the matter to December 5.

Three magistrates told The Chronicle that in some cases they are going to prisons to remand some inmates out of custody in deserving cases.

Questions were sent to the ZPCS national public relations officer, Ms Meya Kanyeze on Tuesday last week over the matter but she had not responded by last night.This is not the first time that ZPCS has faced transport problems compromising the delivery of justice.

Last year in May, inmates were not taken to court for days after the truck broke down. In November 2014, ZPCS failed to bring prisoners to Bulawayo courts for three consecutive days due to a shortage of fuel, forcing courts to indefinitely postpone some trials.

Correspondent|Zimbabwean engineer. Martin Manuhwa has won the World Federation of Engineering Organizations and Service to Engineering award at the just ended World Engineering Convention held in Melbourne.

Eng. Martin Manuhwa is President of the Federations of Africa Engineering Organisations (FAEO), former President of SADC Engineering Organizations, past President of ZIE and former Chairman of the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe.

The World Engineering Convention is the Engineering Olympics that takes place every 4 years. The last two editions were held in Japan and Switzerland respectively!

Also called the ‘Olympics of Engineering’ this international convention is held every four years and this year attracted 1300+ global participants from over 70 countries.
The overarching theme for WEC 2019 was “Engineering a Sustainable World: The Next 100 Years”.

The focus was not only on engineering innovation, but how this can have a positive impact on lives by creating sustainable engineering solutions.

Sustainability is used in the broadest sense – encompassing the management of precious natural resources such as water, renewable energy technologies, frugal innovation, management of natural resources etc., and incorporates values of ethics and social responsibility.

This was a unique opportunity to take an integrated approach to solve many of the problems that the world is facing – all of them requiring engineering. With Engineers Australia celebrating its Centenary in 2019, this convention highlighted Australian engineering on a global scale and exploration of the distinctive and sustaining mindset of our profession; the notion that ‘anything is possible’.

News Of The South

NewsDay|FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe and her son, Russell Goreraza, have both been ordered to pay US$278 304 to a local law firm which represented them in several court cases, one of which involved a botched $1,4 million diamond ring deal.

The order by the High Court, issued on November 15, 2019, followed an application for rescission of a default judgment that was filed by Mugabe and her son in April this year seeking to overturn the judgment on the basis that it had been issued in error.

According to court papers, the legal firm, Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners is said to have acted for Grace in her cases against a Lebanese national Jamal Ahmed, who she accused of duping her.

In a bid to recover her money, Mugabe is alleged to have “grabbed” three properties namely stand number 409 Harare Drive, Pomona; 18 Cambridge Road, Avondale and 75 King George, Avondale, all owned by Ahmed, but the latter later approached the courts and successfully retained his properties.

On January 15, 2019 High Court judge Justice Felistus Chatukuta ruled in favour of the law firm and ordered Grace and her son to pay the legal fees, before the duo filed for rescission which was recently determined by High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore.

The order by Justice Mushore simply said: “Application is dismissed with costs”.

Prior to Justice Mushore’s order, Justice Alpheus Chitakunye had ordered the duo to pay the law firm’s legal fees with costs as well.

According to Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners, Grace and her son approached them in December 2016 seeking legal services in respect of a number of cases linked to the diamond ring saga.

The firm said the pair also wanted to be legally represented in an urgent chamber application that was before the High Court under case number HC 12497/16. The legal services rendered included attending to all litigation procedures and hearings, the drafting of court processes, consultations, round table meetings over a two-year period.

Correspondent|A Chinese man was found dead in his hotel room in Harare on Tuesday morning.

A hotel cleaner stumbled on the lifeless body of 39-year-old Song Yuan at around 10AM, according to police sources.

Yuan was pronounced dead by an ambulance crew from MARS that was called to the hotel in the Msasa area.

“The ambulance crew estimated that he had been dead for about two hours, which means he died sometime between 7AM and 8AM,” a source said.

Yuan’s body was taken to a local hospital for postmortem procedures.

“He was found sitting on a sofa and had no visible injuries. Only a proper examination of his body by a pathologist will determine how he died,” the source added.

Police spokesman Paul Nyathi was not immediately available for comment.

ZimLive understands a Zimbabwean ID was found on Yuan, indicating that it was issued to him on March 30, 2006. He was a regular at the hotel, although his occupation is unknown.

Zimbabwe issues IDs to foreign nationals on long-term residence permits or who are married to locals. Each card contains a number, the last two digits of which indicate the district of origin. If these digits are “00”, as in the ID found on Yuan, it means that a person has “alien” status and is a non-citizen.

Zimbabwe is hosting thousands of Chinese nationals, most of them in the mining and construction industries.

State Media|A UNITED Arab Emirates-based company, Albwardy Investment, is finalising a purchase of one of Zimbabwe’s prestigious hotels, the Meikles Hotel in Harare, for US$20 million.

Meikles has over the past few years struggled with low occupancy levels and has lacked foreign exchange to refurbish the property, which is situated in the capital’s Central Business District.

Albwardy said the investment has been approved by the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and the Competition and Tariff Commission, while the shareholders would vote on the transaction next month, Reuters reported.

“The Meikles Hotel provides a unique opportunity to invest in Zimbabwe’s leisure and business markets as a first mover,” Albwardy director of hospitality, Laurie Ward said, in a statement.

The hotel was established in 1915 and has 312 rooms. In a circular to shareholders last week, Meikles Limited said the board assessed and is satisfied with ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe’s capacity to fulfil the terms of the proposed transactions. ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe is a special purpose vehicle of Albwardy Investments, which was recently incorporated in Zimbabwe.

“The board assessed and is satisfied with ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe’s capacity to fulfil the terms of the proposed transactions, including the US$20 million combined purchase price.

“It should also be noted that the previous carrying value of Meikles Hotel (US$26,7 million as at March 31, 2018) was higher than the subsequent independent property valuations undertaken in April 2019 and August 2019,” said Meikles Limited.

It said the principal rationale for the proposed transaction was that the group does not want foreign currency exposure related borrowings to fund the required refurbishment of the hotel to bring it to a five-star property by international standards.

Initial estimates indicate that up to US$30 million is required for the substantial modernisation of guest facilities as well as electro mechanical and plumbing to restore the hotel to international standards.

“Accordingly, the board believes that it is best for the future development of the hotel to be placed in the hands of skilled international hotel operators with the capacity to undertake the requisite refurbishment of the hotel,” said Meikles.

Proceeds from the disposal of the hotel will be ringfenced and earmarked for investments that enhance foreign currency generation capabilities of the group, in particular further investments in hospitality and agriculture sectors.

State Media|Cabinet has ordered the retendering of the National Railways of Zimbabwe recapitalisation project following the cancellation of the US$400 million deal last month.

The deal, involving the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG) and Transnet was cancelled after DIDG failed to provide proof of funding for almost two years.

Already as Zimbabwe moves ahead, a firm deal with a Russian company to provide wagons and locomotives has been signed, with the first 100 wagons expected to arrive in January.

The DIDG-Transnet deal with NRZ was cancelled after the consortium failed to meet contractual timelines two years after winning the tender, principally failing to provide proof of funding despite repeated enquiries from Government.

DIDG was given a six-month grace period to provide the proof of funding which again lapsed, leaving Government with no option except to cancel the tender.

It also emerged that DIDG had won the tender using the financial books of Transnet but they later presented a funding structure based on funds sourced internationally, which excluded Transnet. The exclusion of Transnet complicated the deal, raising legal issues to the initial contract.

Several foreign investors are already expressing interest in Zimbabwe’s rail sector.

Last month NRZ signed the new deal with Union Wagons of Russia for the supply of wagons and locomotives while Indonesia had also expressed strong interest to invest in the same sector.

Under the Russian deal, NRZ is expecting to boost its capacity utilisation through the supply of 5 000 wagons.

The first 100 wagons are expected in January next year at a cost of US$10 million.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said that the recapitalisation tender would be flighted soon.

He said recapitalisation of NRZ was key to the revival of the industry as it would facilitate bulk movement of goods and people.

“We are going to retender the project as directed by Cabinet. Processes are already underway to ensure that we flight another tender. By next week, I will have full details on how much ground has been covered in this regard.

“Recapitalisation of our national railway is key to the revival of our industry. It is also in line with the attainment of the targets that we have set for ourselves in line with Vision 2030,” said Minister Matiza.

He said a vibrant railway system was key in the transportation of minerals from the mines and agricultural produce to ports such as Beira.

Information gathered showed that DIDG was trying to circumvent Government processes in implementation of its deal with NRZ.

It is reliably understood that DIDG by-passed the parent Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and Government financial advisors Deloitte and Touche to validate its funding structure with Treasury.

The funding structure that DIDG wanted Treasury to validate excluded Transnet and had no input from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Government financial advisors.

State Media|All is set for President Mnangagwa’s Youth Interface Rally at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma today.

A target of 25 000 youths has been set to attend the rally.

The meeting is expected to tackle a range of issues impacting on the youths including employment opportunities and price increases.

Further, the indaba is expected to endorse President Mnangagwa as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 harmonised elections.

Kadoma has been a hive activity in the last few days as youths, provincial and national party leaders worked around the clock to ensure a flawless event.

It was also brisk business for most guest houses in Kadoma and Chegutu, as they were fully booked last night, for the first time in a long time.

Mashonaland West youths yesterday had a car rally where about 30 vehicles went around Rimuka, Ngezi, Patchway, Rio Tinto, Westview and Mornington mobilising people for the event.

Zanu-PF national youth secretary for external relations Sibongile Sibanda, who was part of an advance team, said.

“In terms of mobilisation countrywide, all provinces are ready to come in numbers including all the affiliates; that is ZICOSU (Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union), NYS (National Youth Service), Ziliwaco, and children of war veterans, among others, are all coming to Kadoma for the youth convention.

“One of the critical issues that the young people want to see addressed is the issue of machetes and criminal activities related to machetes,” said Sibanda.

Many youth groups including youths in mining, youth entrepreneurs, youths in business, environmental youth groups, and youths in tourism, have confirmed attendance.

Machete-wielding artisanal miners are terrorising music shows, demanding free entry and torching violence, making artistes think seriously about going to smaller towns.

They get the name MaShurugwi from the small Midlands town located on a mineral-rich greenstone belt, known in this area as the Selukwe Schist Belt and the centre of a chromite, gold and nickel mining area.

Some of the artisanal miners became aggressive and now have given their name to all groups, usually armed with machetes, who force others off their panning claims or who just cause trouble. And Midlands is just one affected province.

MaShurugwi do not only give musicians laborious tasks of deciding on whether to hold shows in certain areas or not, they have also threatened musicians’ potential income by unleashing violence at shows or forcing their way into gigs without paying.

ZORA musician Leonard Zhakata recalls when he was forced to let people enjoy his show for free after violence sparked by MaShurugwi broke-out at the midst of his show in Chipinge, Manicaland Province.
Zhakata said they rely on spying on these ‘gangs’ and at times engage their leaders in their programmes, as a way of buying safety.

“We sometimes encounter their clashes here and there. We make sure at every show there is police presence, especially in areas associated with artisanal mining gangs.
“There is huge cost involved in trying to deal with issues of security and sometimes in those areas where the situation is very tense, we spy to know the purported gang leaders and try to involve them in some way.

“I remember when there was gold rush in Chipinge some time back and MaShurugwi came there, police officers were out-numbered. We saw police officers taking off their hats running for dear life.

“The situation only normalised after the arrival of military police.

The show became free for all,” he said.State media

Farai Dziva|SHDA has said dismissed medical doctors must be reinstated by mutual agreement.

See full statement :

SHDA Extraordinary Meeting Summary 25/11/19 UPDATES

1. There has been no feedback from the ministry since our meeting on the 15th of November.

The lack of urgency is of great concern.

435 doctors have been dismissed so far by the government including senior registrars who happen to be members of SHDA. These colleagues had not been upgraded from JRMO ship.

1. The government has said doctors who were dismissed must reapply. Our position is they must be reinstated in a mutual agreement.
2. Concerning exams; no exams are being written in the medical schools (UZCHS and NUST) as it will mar the Zimbabwe medical degrees. Members of SHDA are going to ensure this world-renowned quality of our degree quality is not compromised.
3. A consortium of local donors met SHDA, ZHDA and AMSITZ representatives and offered a package which if agreed upon, the doctors are supposed to receive provided they are going to work. The package includes a monthly allowance, WIFI at hospitals, daily three trips by VAYA. A Save-Our-Hospitals foundation would also be set up to address hospital infrastructure issues. We are not sure if this has cabinet authority yet but was presented to the associations for buy-in first.

DISCUSSION

1. The offer from the donors is appreciated and will come in useful, especially for juniors. However, it leaves the hospitals still incapacitated. It won’t change Flexi hours or the drug and equipment situation or reinstatement of colleagues. It is a good gesture which members will accept once we have resolved outstanding issues with the government, who must do something reasonable too. There is a need to continue seeing the bigger picture. The current state of hospitals and all the responses observed so far show a coordinated attack on the medical profession and the profession must stand to uphold itself and keep its integrity. We remain incapacitated.
2. The Min of HCC is continuing to push for PPPs in government hospitals. We maintain this will endanger the vulnerable members of society who are the beneficiaries of services in government hospitals. This system must be rejected.
3. The SHDA will join with its sister organisations and organise for a march to parliament to submit a petition on the state of the health care system in the nation.
4. Retiree members of the profession need to be discussed with to see how best they can help in this situation since they may be having direct access to different offices of authority in government without red tapes.
5. A number of poor outcomes were reported as having been recorded during the ’emergency mode’ that some colleagues had embarked on. This is all because the hospitals remain unsafe for safe delivery of services.
6. It was resolved that we need to actively engage colleagues in the private sector because we are facing a threat to the entire profession, both public and private. Doctors in private practice are to be discussed with so that they can withdraw their service in protest against government decision to leave public hospitals to lie to waste. This will, unfortunately, lead to a complete shutdown of services which is regrettable. More details will be availed on the logistics as we engage our colleagues
7. Members are advised to keep a social media presence to stand and uphold the profession against social media attacks that have been seen. They are to comment platforms to support the profession and help educate the general public on the current situation.
8. Members agreed not to reapply as suggested because they were never on strike, just incapacitated. The members agreed not to worry since they are just not on a salary like their counterparts.
9. The SHDA members who were present have agreed for a total withdrawal of services in government until the 435 doctors who have been fired are reinstated and their incapacitation is addressed.

President Dr Nyaguse-Chiurunge, Vice President Mr Makota, Secretary General Mr Musara
Treasurer Mr Wazara, Committee Members Dr Dube,Dr Gutu, Dr Gidiri, Dr Jira.

Watch the video loading below. ..

By A Correspondent- Mourners gathered at the burial of Zanu PF councillor Edson Chauke in Mwenezi on Tuesday were barred from body viewing because of the corpse’s advanced state of decomposition that left it oozing yellow liquids through the coffin and sending a sharp stench into the air.

The body had spent 24 hours wrapped in a blanket on a hospital bed because Chikombedzi Hospital mortuary is not working due to massive power cuts.The funeral left Zanu PF dignitaries, officers from the President’s Office, heads of Government departments embarrassed as women burnt cow dung to put out the strong odour.

Chauke’s body was kept overnight in a hut far from the rest. No one slept in the hut or stayed there with the body as is the African culture. Burial was hushed and by 8:30am mourners were back from the graveyard.

Indeed, the dying economy and the collapsed health system is sparing no one as Chauke, a Zanu PF guru in Mwenezi and a powerful man by virtue of the fact that he was also a headman was buried in the most undignified fashion; his body was shunned by everyone.

Chauke died at 6pm on Sunday and his body was wrapped in a blanket on his bed until Mwenezi Rural District Council collected it at 6pm on Monday. Decomposition was also accelerated by the soaring temperatures.

Silas Musengi, a young brother who accompanied the deceased to Chikombedzi said he was saddened by the pain and suffering that Chauke went through until he died.

“My brother complained of stomach and chest pains and my uncle and I took him to Chikombedzi and the nurses on duty put him on two drips after promising that a doctor would come and see him.

The doctor never came until he died 12 hours later. Apart from the drips there was no other service rendered to him.

“After his death on Sunday, they said that the mortuary was not working and just wrapped him in blankets and left him the body on the bed until Monday evening when council officials came to ferry his body home,’’ said Musengi.

Mwenezi RDC Chief Executive Officer Albert Chivanga described Chauke as a hardworking man who had the desire to see improvement in social services delivery.

Chauke was a committee member for three committees namely Agriculture and Environmental, Natural Resources committee and Social Services committee.

The village urged people in his community to get funeral policies so that their bodies can be taken to private mortuaries when they die.

– Mirror

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Ostalos Siziba has accused president Emmerson Mnangagwa of disregarding Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and muzzling the democratic space for civilians.

In an exclusive interview with ZimEye Tuesday afternoon Siziba said:

“The government has responded by suppressing our rights. The judiciary is captured, they have failed to deliver and this is why we took our demonstration to the doors of Rotten Row magistrates court where most of our trials are being conducted.”

Siziba accused Mnangagwa’s government of stifling the democratic space for especially young people hence the protest by the youths at the magistrates court where they duct- taped their mouths as a sign to show how it had become a crime to express oneself under the “New Dispensation”.

He added:

“Our leaders in the opposition are arrested and charged over frivolous charges including treason…

I am one of those that are in court but there are no state witnesses to testify in court to date. At one time, the witness was said to be attending to some personal family function before they were said to be attending a ritual process. The next time i appeared at court, the witness was said to have been involved in an accident….

…The fact is that we have become slaves of an incompetent justice delivery system. We are however prepared to surrender ourselves before our freedoms are taken away from us.”

Zesa Holdings Ltd., the utility that’s subjecting Zimbabweans to 18-hour power cuts, is going off the grid.

The electricity producer is inviting bids for a roof-top solar power installation at its head office in the capital, Harare, to ensure that its staff enjoy uninterrupted power.

The bids open today and will close on Dec. 19, according to a Government Gazette published Nov. 22. Solar panels may also be installed at Zesa’s provincial offices, said Fullard Gwasira, Zesa’s spokesman.

The southern African nation has been hit by crippling power cuts as a drought has drained the reservoir at its biggest plant, the Kariba South hydropower station, and a coal-fired generator at Hwange keeps breaking down. Zimbabwe is also struggling to pay for imports from South Africa and Mozambique.

The two power plants on Friday were producing a combined 523 megawatts of electricity, according to the Zimbabwe Power Company, the electricity distribution arm of the utility. That’s a fraction of the country’s demand.

Bloomberg 

Correspondent|Zimbabwean authorities have intercepted a poaching syndicate which was trying to sell a lion’s head to a tourist in Victoria Falls.

Game ranger Kissmore Munsaka, 32, nurses Munashe Murimisa, 32, and Buuya Sikuka, 48, as well as Mascot Muvari, 35, a policeman, soldier Anymore Sikuka, 37, and Victoria Falls resident Verster Chimidzi, 43, were arrested on Monday by Criminal Investigation Department police officers.

The CID received advance information about the crew’s search for a buyer in the resort town.

Using a tourist, a trap was set and the sellers agreed to meet their potential buyer outside a supermarket.

When police rounded them up, the suspects were found in possession of a lion’s head and skin without a hunting permit.

Investigations revealed the lion they killed had been illegally hunted on November 3 in a safari area which is strictly a game-viewing zone.

They are set to appear in court on Wednesday, each on three charges under the Parks and Wildlife Act, including a section that stipulates “no person shall sell any animal or any part of animal which has been hunted in or has died in or has been removed from a safari area”.

A second charge is that of removing an animal or part of it from a safari area. The final charge is that of hunting in a safari area.

Pindula|The opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has accused the Zimbabwe Republic Police of being double-faced after they allegedly blocked MDC demonstrations at the same time assisting the ruling ZANU PF in organising its events.

The accusations were made by MDC youths who yesterday stormed into the Harare Magistrates Court with tape covering their mouths to show dissent to “State-assisted closure of democratic space”.

Gift Ostallos Siziba, the MDC Youth Assembly Spokesperson, who was leading about twenty youths spoke to News Day and said that the party was not happy with the bans on its demonstrations. He also expressed displeasure in the judiciary system which he accused of taking forever to deliver justice. Siziba said:

They staged their anti-sanctions demonstration (on October 25) without even as much notifying the police. They are doing these demonstrations countrywide, including rallies, and in most cases, you actually see police organising these events on behalf of the (Zanu PF) party. We are arrested, beaten and jailed. This is unconstitutional and unacceptable.

His remarks come after the police have blocked over thirteen MDC demonstrations in August and September alone and have also violently dispersed MDC supporters in the event that they would have managed to gather.

Own Correspondent|Reports just in indicate that the army is running operations at Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo Airports following a strike action by Air Traffic Controllers at the two ports of entry into the country.

Sources at the airports said that members of the Airforce of Zimbabwe were rushed in to take over Harare and Bulawayo airports.

On Tuesday morning the Zimbabwe airspace was closed and all flights scheduled to fly in and out of the country were grounded.

The move by the air force has fueled speculations that there might be a more political and sinister agenda behind the said strike and closure of the airspace.

Own Correspondent|The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe has denied reports that the air space has been closed and that their workers had gone on strike.

In a statement released on Tuesday CAAZ said, “Our attention has been drawn to some reports circulating on various media platforms this morning. Our airspace is open and flights are operating as normal.”

However facts on the ground from the country’s main airports point to the fact that the airports were not functioning for the better part of the morning.

In Bulawayo at the JMN Nkomo Airport, a South African Airlink plane which landed at 7.45AM was due to turn back at 8.05AM but did not take off for almost another three hours without a clear explanation given by authorities.

Air Zimbabwe’s only aircraft servicing domestic and regional routes took off from the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare as scheduled for its morning service to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

The Boeing 767 200-ER, due to return to Harare to pick up passengers to Johannesburg, was forced to sit on the tarmac in Victoria Falls for nearly two hours from 8.30AM obviously as negotiations with the air traffic controllers continued.

The plane only took off at 10.15AM.

A Fastjet plane due to fly to Johannesburg and an Airlink flight from Harare to Johannesburg appeared to have failed to get clearance for takeoff.

Data from flight-monitoring website FlightRadar24 shows operations began normalizing at Harare Airport way after midday with a Kenyan Airways plane landing in Harare, closely followed by the Air Zimbabwe aircraft.

Below is the information as at 13:30 hours on 26 November 2019.

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe officials reportedly intervened on Tuesday to off-set the grounding of flights into and out of the country after air traffic controllers at major airports reportedly downed tools, affecting some flights in Harare and Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe is battling an economic crisis that has seen inflation erode workers’ salaries, leading to various workers unions declaring incapacitation to report for duty. Some bank workers and junior doctors are among employees that have declared incapacitation and the air-controllers were reported to have also complained of poor pay on Tuesday morning.

A travel agent confirmed on Tuesday that there was a slight disturbance in the landing and taking off of morning flights although authorities had quickly moved in to stabilise the situation after instituting contingency measures.

“We just heard there were some disturbances in Harare and Bulawayo and I have been on the phone all morning handling queries from apprehensive customers asking if they should reschedule their itineraries,” said the travel agent.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) however said in a brief statement posted a few hours on Twitter a few hours after the reported disturbances to flights that: “Our airspace is open and flights are operating as normal.”

Moleen Sanyanga who was scheduled to fly to South Africa from Harare, told Business Report that her agent had assured her that any disturbance would have been sorted within two hours. Other travelers at the Robert Mugabe Airport said flights had started to land and take off in the afternoon.

“My agent says any issue of that nature would have been solved in about 1 to 2 hours. He said such a situation would be very risky and rarely happens because it disrupts the flow of flights,” she said.

Nick Mangwana, permanent secretary for the Information Ministry said airports in Zimbabwe “remains busy” although some Twitter users suggested that a flight in Bulawayo had been delayed while another flight in Victoria Falls was also disrupted.

Zimbabwean air traffic controllers appear to have been slowly expressing their displeasure to authorities through various means such as delays in starting shifts. This resulted in them compromising on safety measures on the amount of hours a controller can work.

In a letter dated 11 November 2019, the CAAZ implored for “compliance” with statutory licencing obligations.

“It has been noted that here have been violations … where some air traffic controllers would work more than the stipulated maximum number of hours or continued to work under fatigue,” says CAAZ in the letter to air traffic controllers.

There were suggestions that senior traffic control managers had to intervene on Tuesday by stepping into the control room. The air traffic controllers were reportedly demanding a salary increase pegged to the US Dollar.

Zimbabwe is a prime destination for tourists and other travelers. Regional and international airlines such as South African Airways and Emirates fly into Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that his government is working hard to protect women from violence as his government strives for a more equal and peaceful society.

He said this as Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating 16 Days of activism against gender based violence.

Said Mnangagwa:

“Today is the International Day for the elimination of violence against women #EliminationOfViolenceAgainstWomen.

We must all strive for a more equal & peaceful society, where violence has no place. In Zimbabwe we are working hard to protect women from violence, to eliminate this evil phenomenon once and for all.”

Mnangagwa’s statement comes hardly a week after the media exposed videos and pictures of police details assaulting women near Morgan Tsvangirai house in their bid to disperse civilians who had gathered to hear opposition leader Nelson Chamisa deliver his Hope of the Nation Address.

The police battered women in full glare of the media but President Mnangagwa did not issue any statement regards the development.

We publish some of the reactions to Mnangagwa’s pledge below:

Tsungai Marian Mutasa: Really please don’t start women are abused right under your nose give us a break.

Ash Tayler Van Zyl: Didn’t you guys break a gogos leg just last week.

Tami Makanza: Given what happened a few days ago its hard to see past the ghoulish irony of this post.

Avelyn Corbett: Hmmm and what are your thoughts on the recent violence against women last week by the police force who are meant to protect citizens??

Talentt Kandiyero: Wish you know how much we are praying for your time of suffering, and the spirits of those you have killed to hunt u.

Artwell Chef Muchenje: Mr President,I’m sure you saw what the police did to MDC supporters and some pedestrians caught in the crossfire including the women we celebrating here,what was your response to that police brutality that happened on that day. A honest answer Mr President when u asked……

Simbarashe Mapangera What’s the meaning of thisHide or report this.

Simbarashe Chihoro: Ko zvamunonyarara wani vanhukadzi vachirohwa neZRP zvekutyora gumbo, its easy to say it on Facebook but practically its a different story. We know law has to be adhered to but authorities under your leadership is too heavy handed towards citizens.

Ishmael Hlabangana: Mr President police were brutalising women last week ,what was your roll there of not condemning that?please be the president of the people and be the leader of the the country.

Hon Isaac Butholezwe Mutasa Do the comments posted here mean anything to you Sir?Do you see how angry people are?Is this your idea of a new dispensation.You have no shame at all.

Krystyn Grace Nkomo Go to bed wena Emasoni,You are bored..When will you ever practice what you preach?

Maphia Chemhere: So this is how you and your boys work hard.ita mushe iwe unotibhowa,

Honest Mutusva: We made a big mistake by being part of a coup. Now we are paying for it…

Timothy Gumbi: I don’t think its true ,women are being victimised in Zimbabwe, even your VP Mohadi was captured victimising X wife , lets live the talk Mr President.

Tafara Daitai: Vara rekuti working hard munorida mukuru… Some of us are already confused of what it really mean… Does it mean carrying a scarf everywhere or what.

Taurai Nyikadzino Musoko: Try and not use the word eliminate. It’s too harsh, in mathematics it speaks of subtraction then in human it means subtraction by killing. The word tells a lot given your instinct and background.

Godfrey Viki: The most perpetrators of violence against women and children are nothing else but ZANU PF and its Security forces, ie the police force. Last week a woman had her leg broken by your police officer!

 Lawrence Avant Mutasa: Mr President just check all the comments it’s really sad or even though you may say its a mere facebook post, it does not matter we are the Zimbabweans, the fact is that you violate people’s rights kodzero dzevanhu hamunaba-hwi uye vanhu havakudei kana even one day meaning the people do not love you not even for a day. Believe me or not my best advice you have to resign its not a crime and you have failed (hayisi mhosva zvaramba vamurambiwa woye) give others a chance we deserve better as people of Zimbabwe we can’t continue living in tatters like this !!!Enough !!

Farai Dziva|Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights(ZLHR) has described the attack on Douglas Coltart as shocking.

See full ZLHR statement : Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) strongly condemns the despicable conduct of some Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers, who physically assaulted human rights lawyer Douglas Coltart on Saturday 23 November 2019 while discharging his professional duties.

Coltart, a member of ZLHR, was assaulted at Harare Central Police Station by some unidentified police officers after he had attended to offer emergency legal and other attendant support services to Obert Masaraure , the President of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), who had been arrested on Saturday 23 November 2019 by some ZRP officers and charged with disorderly conduct.

The attack on Coltart is in itself alarming in that it comes three months after some ZRP officers assaulted the same human rights lawyer while executing his professional duties of representing some ARTUZ members, who had been arrested while intending to hand over a petition to Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube’s Office in Harare demanding improved remuneration and favourable working conditions for teachers.

ZLHR strongly condemns the brutal actions of the police. Such conduct puts the integrity and independence of the legal profession at critical risk.
The physical assault of a lawyer while carrying out his professional duties is a clear sign of the police’s outright disregard for constitutional protections and regional and international human rights standards which oblige all state actors to ensure that lawyers are able to carry out their duties without fear or favour and enjoy the same fundamental rights and freedoms as other people of Zimbabwe.

The assault on Coltart is in violation of section 219 of the Constitution which mandates the Police Service to protect and secure the lives of people and also violates section 208 of the Constitution which prohibit police officers from violating the fundamental rights or freedoms of people.

The ZRP officers’ callous actions also contravene Zimbabwe’s obligations under regional and international law.

The United Nations (UN) Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, provide that lawyers and human rights defenders must be able to carry out their professional functions and work without hindrance, harassment, intimidation or improper interference.

The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers require adequate protection of lawyers if their security is threatened when carrying out their legitimate professional duties and not to be identified with their clients or their clients’ cause
ZLHR calls upon the government to:
Guarantee Coltart’s safety and physical integrity and to ensure that legal practitioners are able to carry out their work free of fear, harassment or intimidation and to adequately protect the safety and independence of all lawyers and end the culture of impunity.

Promptly and thoroughly investigate the assault of Coltart with the aim of identifying those responsible and holding perpetrators accountable in order to serve justice and to prevent reoccurrence of violations.

Fully comply with and create awareness about the core values underlying the legal profession, amongst others by bringing the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers to the attention of ZRP and other relevant stakeholders.

Expedite the establishment of Independent Complaints Mechanism as provided in section 210 of the Constitution which will be mandated with receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services who include the Police Service and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct.

ENDS

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Kodzero/Amalungelo House No. 103 Sam Nujoma Street, Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone: (+263 8677005347, +263 242 764085/705370/708118
Email: [email protected]

Watch the video loading below. ..

Own Correspondent| Doctors have warned that incarcerated whistle-blower, Wikileaks founder, editor and publisher, Julian Assange, Zimbabwe’s own Baba Jukwa, could die inside a top British security jail.

Zimbabwean online blogger Baba Jukwa caused a social media frenzy in 2013, as he wrote exposing ‘secret operations’ by the ruling Zanu PF party, he became a favourite follower, number one whistle-blower, the opposition became dependent on for information on the secret on goings in the ruling party and security services.

Cynics, however, dismissed the ghost Baba Jukwa as a decoy created to divert the MDC led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai’s attention, from real issues surrounding the pending harmonised elections, to trivialities, gossip and bar talk.

The more than 60 doctors wrote on Monday advising that Assange, urgently needs medical treatment at a university hospital, they also warned of his fast deteriorating health, “that Assange suffers from psychological problems including depression as well as dental issues and a serious shoulder ailment.”

Sweden last week dropped rape investigations against Assange, who is also battling extradition to the US, which accuses him of espionage for publishing secret documents relating to his WikiLeaks work, which exposed, the extent of US state surveillance in western countries and the conduct of its troops in the Middle East, in which the 48 year old Australian, allegedly proved war crimes had been committed.

The letter, from doctors across UK, Australia, Europe and Sri Lanka, was sent to Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Dr Lissa Johnson, a clinical psychologist in Australia, said an independent medical assessment was needed to determine if Assange was “medically fit” to face legal proceedings.

More The Guardian

Farai Dziva|MDC organising secretary Amos Chibaya has has said Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is likely to face imminent protests as Zimbabwe’s economic problems intensify.

Chibaya also slammed the Zanu PF regime for attempting to muzzle voices of democracy.Chibaya was acquitted of treason charges by a Gweru magistrate.

Read Chibaya’s statement below :
I would want to take this opportunity to thank the People’s President, The Right, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, the Midlands provincial chairperson Josiah Makombe and the entire provincial leadership, my legal team, the organising department, MDC staff and the dedicated MDC family for the unwavering support I recieved in my trying times in detention and routine court appearances over trumped up treason charges.

Yesterday I had my case of subversion thrown away at the Gweru Provincial Magistrates Court.

The case related to the January fuel price hike protests where children of this land took to the streets to vent their anger over the heinous regime of the increasingly unpopular Emmerson Mnangagwa.

After refusal of further remand by my lawyers , the Prosecution conceded that there was no case against me and they proceeded to withdraw the false charges.

Once again thank you Mkoba family not forgetting our external assembly stuctures- again thanks for your support.

Fellow Zimbabweans, brothers and sisters, my message to you all is that time for change is now. No one can free us but ourselves.

The debilitating crisis of Zimbabwe now demand action.
The rogue regime is taking us down the garden path by promises of a better Zimbabwe.

On January 17 2017 we jumped from a frying pan into the fire after the coup.

It is now time to pour into the streets and send a clear message to the dictator that enough is enough. The country is rooted in entrenched dictatorship which does not require body massaging but real action of sustained peaceful demonstrations.
The Streets should become our second homes. The recent infamous actions by police to crash our demonstrations should not deter us. Let them kill us all but we die saving our future generations.

State security agents should join this struggle and pour into the streets with us. It is a noble struggle.

It shall be indefinite protests.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Farai Dziva|MDC
MDC Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs Innocent Gonese has said the harassment of legal practitioners is a gimmick meant to silence human rights defenders.

See statement below:

MDC is so shocked and disgusted by yet another senseless attack and harassment of legal practitioners in the course of their duty representing their clients as provided for in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Messrs David Coltart and Jeremiah Bhamu have a right and in fact obligation to provide legal services to any client who seeks their assistance.

In this regard, the President of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union (ARTU) is no exception notwithstanding what the police and regime might think of him as he is a Zimbabwean citizen who is fully entitled to enjoy the Rights enshrined in the Constitution including the right to engage a lawyer of his own choice.

As the MDC we believe in upholding the Rule of Law and the brazen violation and trampling upon of citizen rights has no place in a modern society and it is disconcerting that police continue behaving in this manner particularly when the Regime wants to mislead the world that we are in a new dispensation but the facts on the ground show that it is worse than the previous one and in fact would not be out of place if placed alongside the Nazi or apartheid regimes.

The assault of Douglas Coltart and the visible injuries seen on his person and the trauma caused to Jeremiah Bhamu is not an isolated incident. In fact for Coltart, it is a repetition as previously he has been arrested for attending to the call of duty.

We call upon the relevant authorities if they have any sense of decency to look into this matter and take appropriate remedial action to prevent any recurrence.

At a time when some people complain about the negative publicity that the country is getting there is no need to score own goals but for this regime it appears that the end justifies the means and they continue trampling upon the rights of those perceived to be enemies of the State.

The MDC is also concerned that this conduct has not received censure from institutions that should be protecting the rights of professionals and this can only inculcate a culture of impunity upon the transgressors and it is high time that all Zimbabweans stand for what is right and just. If it happens to professionals what more of the ordinary people whose harassment and violation of their rights go unnoticed every day.

What has happened to the lofty ideals espoused in the Constitution that the police should be transformed from a force into a service.

Under an MDC government the rights of all the people would be protected without fear or favour and this brazen and wanton behavior inherited from the racist regime brought to an end.

The situation in our country has reached another level. There is widespread injustice, no protection of the law, great insecurity of persons and property and systematic violence against citizens.

Innocent Gonese
MDC Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs

HARARE City Council has threatened to withhold salaries for striking nurses and take disciplinary measures because their job action was illegal, NewsDay can reveal.

About 600 council nurses are on strike.

In a memorandum seen by NewsDay dated November 20, the council, acting human capital director Matthew Marara cautioned nurses that if they are to receive their salaries they have to discontinue their industrial action.

“I have learnt with sadness that most of these ‘striking’ nurses have not taken heed of my call. I will reiterate that the action by the absenting nurses is illegal and in terms of Labour Act (Chapter 28:01) and section 108 (4), the employer is not obliged to pay employees not reporting for duty to render services as per their employment contracts,” Marara wrote.

Marara’s previous memo to the nurses’ union on November 4, directed them to report for duty while dialogue for better salaries was underway and made reference to the talks in the recent memo.

“Accordingly, council shall proceed and apply the legal principle ‘no work no pay’ and withhold payment of salaries in respect of all the nurses who are not reporting for their duties with effect from the dates they started absconding their duties. Council will continue to withhold the nurses’ salaries up until the time when the striking nurses report for their duty to render services,” Marara said.

“Nevertheless, continued strike action shall inevitably call for disciplinary action.”

Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Nurses Workers’ Union secretary-general Tedious Chisango dismissed the threats, saying the only condition for returning to work was when their demand for better salaries was addressed.

“The nurses are not moved by those threats; all they demand is their salaries. If you are trapped between a hard rock and a rough surface, you cannot move and that is the situation with the nurses right now,” Chisango said.

Chisango accused council of being insincere to their plight as it has failed to meet them to address the issues at hand.

“The same excuse, he doesn’t want to recognise us and we have to go through the NEC (National Employment Council) ,” he said.

The union wrote to the NEC and are yet to get feedback, Chisango said.

-Newsday