By Own Correspondent | Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga while thanking Chinese medics who revived his health, has criticised his own local doctors.

He did this on the first day of arriving in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean doctors as ZimEye reveals, are paid a paltry USD70 per month.

Speaking at his house, Chiwenga praised the Chinese doctors, telling Mnangagwa, ‘Mukoma, ndakabatwa zvakanaka, I can’t think of anything else or wish for anything else . . .’”

But the general barely a day in the country, suddenly opened fire on his own local professionals. Chiwenga took a swipe at civil servants especially doctors, who have been on strike for months demanding pay pegged to the US dollar. “Not that every now and again you go on strike, you strike against who?”, said Chiwenga.

THERE was a high voter turnout yesterday for the Zanu-PF Bulawayo District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections, with results expected to be announced today.

The elections in Bulawayo were held in line with Zanu-PF’s drive to reinvigorate the party. Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Victor Matemadanda, who was spearheading the party’s restructuring process, said the elections went smoothly and was astounded by the turnout.

“Initially I was not expecting such a large turnout. But the numbers are clear; they are very encouraging and project a correct signal to the leadership of whom the people want to lead them. A person and people elected by the people,” said Matemadanda.

He said of great note about the turnout was the presence of the Muslim community and the return of some former members, who had joined other political fronts such as the National Patriotic Front (NPF).

“There was a huge turnout from the Muslim community, this just goes to show that we are taking steps in the right direction. Also the numbers of youths were encouraging, they came and participated and this shows that they are interested in the affairs of the country. Another thing of note was the presence of former members who had left the party to join the NPF. They wanted to contest but according to our party’s constitution they could not because there are certain procedures that need to be followed. They need to reapply and serve for a certain term for them to be considered,” said Matemadanda.

He said during the process, which was held across Bulawayo there were no incidents of violence or rowdiness.

“We are grateful to all who participated and also displaying signs of maturity, as there were no incidents. This is what we forecasted for Bulawayo. The people know what they want and they were co-ordinated. Even the contestants have no bad blood, there were scenes of them sharing lighter moments and even wishing each other well. The only incidents that we experienced were of some individuals who were trying to influence voters but they were immediately dealt with,” said Matemadanda.

Matemadanda said he was also pleased that there was no interference from se­nior party mem­bers such as those in the Cen­tral Com­mit­tee, Na­tional Con­sul­ta­tive Assem­bly and Polit­buro.

“Vet­ting of prospec­tive can­di­dates was done smoothly. The party wants to set proper struc­tures in Bu­l­awayo. The New Dis­pen­sa­tion will not tol­er­ate acts of fac­tion­al­ism in its struc­tures,” he said.

The rein­tro­duc­tion of DCCs, which were banned in 2012, is the first step in the re­struc­tur­ing of the party as it pre­pares for the 2023 har­monised elec­tions.

A commuter omnibus conductor, Oshia Njenge, who luckily escaped a horrific crash near Mutorashanga turn-off, is still struggling to come to terms with the painful end of his eight passengers and driver after their vehicle burst into flames at the 31km peg along the Mazowe-Centenary Road on Friday.

The ill-fated commuter omnibus side-swiped with a lorry at 7pm.

The vehicle was carrying eight passengers plus the driver and conductor.

Njenge, who was the only survivor, was seated at the back seat when the accident happened.

He had to jump through the shattered back screen of the vehicle.

As he was trying to rescue trapped passengers, the kombi burst into flames and he could only watch from a distance.

“I was sitting at the back seat of the kombi when I heard a deafening bang. The back screen was shattered and I escaped through it. I tried to rescue other passengers, but there was an explosion which made it impossible to assist them,” said Njege.

“Some of the passengers, including the driver, managed to find their way out of the kombi, but they were engulfed by the flames.

“It was a sorry site watching them being burnt to death. They were screaming for help, but nothing could be done to assist them,” said Njenge.

Both Civil Protection Unit chair Mr Cosmas Chiringa and Mashonaland Central provincial police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the accident.

“The accident happened near Mutorashanga turn-off around 7pm on Friday night. The kombi, which had nine passengers including the driver, side-swiped with a lorry and eight people were burnt to death. One of them was burnt beyond recognition. The conductor of the kombi was the only survivor,” said Mr Chiringa.

The kombi is said to have been carrying four rolls of fibreglass and some flammable substances suspected to be petrol or resin, which burst into flames as a result of the impact.

Insp Mundembe said the remains of the eight passengers were taken to Concession District Hospital mortuary.

Seven bodies were positively identified yesterday.

One body could not be identified as it was burnt beyond recognition.

He said two of the three people who were in the lorry escaped with minor injuries and were treated at Concession District Hospital.

For Zephania Muringazuva, who witnessed the accident, it was the screaming that still haunts him the most.

The lorry, he claimed, was driving in front of the kombi and suddenly turned right without indicating.

“The kombi then side-swiped with the lorry. It was carrying flammable substances which caused the explosion upon impact of the two vehicles. We are not sure what the substances were because some are saying they were filled tanks of gas while some said it was petrol.

“The fire was just uncontrollable and we watched in shock as people were being burnt to death. We are still being haunted by their screaming,” he said.

Insp Mundembe appealed to those missing their relatives to visit Concession District Hospital to help identify the remaining body.

He urged motorists to observe road regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

“We also want to urge motorists to ensure there is adequate breaking distance between their vehicles. Passenger transporters should avoid night journeys.

“We also want to urge motorists not to carry flammable substances in public vehicles,” said Insp Mundembe.

Three Harare City council employees who allegedly awarded tenders to supply goods and services to companies they have links with were arrested on Friday by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

The trio — Resline Biza (49), Terence Mhereyenyoka (47) and Nhamo Gavhu — yesterday appeared separately before Harare magistrate Mr Josiah Mujaya facing corruption charges.

They were not asked to plead and magistrate Mujaya granted Biza and Mhereyenyoka $400 bail each while Gavhu was asked to pay $500.

They are all expected to be back in court on December 9. According to State papers, Biza used a company — Sales Arena — which she is alleged to have an interest in to raise an order to supply a tent to the local authority.

“Accused awarded the contract to her company Sales Arena which supplied a tent worth US$9 000 without going through competitive bidding with three or more companies, thereby deceiving her principal, Harare City Council,” read the case outline.

The court papers also show that Mhereyenyoka faced one count of doctoring a company registration document which he used to supply the local authority a spray gun and Chalkline worth US$5 700.

“The accused carried out a transaction in connection with his principals’ affairs without disclosing to the principal that he held a personal interest in the subject matter of the transactions,” read Mherenyenyoka’s charge sheet in part

It is further alleged that Gavhu, who faces five counts of corruption, used false documents to defraud Harare City Council.

“Sometime in January 2017 Harare City Council invited quotations for the purchase of rope lights. The accused unlawfully and intentionally used a document containing false statements … to raise fake quotations purporting them to be from Lighting World Msasa and Powerspeed Electrical.

“The accused inflated prices for the purported two competing companies for them to appear undesirable compared to his company of choice, Alichia (Pvt) Ltd, giving it unfair advantage to win the bid and supplied the rope lights worth US$10 000 without going through competitive bidding, thereby deceiving his principals.”

Gavhu is alleged to have used the same modus operandi on four other separate occasions.

In granting bail, magistrate Mr Majaya ordered the trio to reside at their given addresses, surrender passports and not to interfere with State witnesses.

State Media|Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga says timely intervention by President Mnangagwa to engage his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, to facilitate his airlift to Beijing for specialist care and treatment prevented his “imminent death” and saved his life.

In July, the President made the decision when VP Chiwenga was battling for life in the intensive care unit of a South African hospital. At the time, the VP suffered memory lapses, speech impairment and excruciating pain.

However, in what has been an extraordinary recovery story, VP Chiwenga — who arrived home in the early hours of Saturday after a four-month absence — yesterday looked fit and agile when he received President Mnangagwa at his home.

The duo shared a hearty embrace before an hour-and-half private engagement.

Emerging from the meeting, a visibly elated President Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, explained the VP’s path to recovery.

“When he left he was unwell, which was giving us sleepless nights because our comrade was unwell,” said the President.

“So we arranged for him to go to South Africa and while he was there, we spoke to our Chinese friends, we spoke to President Xi Jinping, who is our dear friend, who offered to assist with his treatment.

“We saw it fit for the VP to go to China. We flew him there and he stayed there for a number of months. Now you can see for yourselves that he has regained his fitness and he is clear-minded.

“When he initially left he was having memory lapses, and he was in so much pain that everyone could tell the agony he was in.”

VP Chiwenga, he said, is now “raring to go”.

“I am confident that now the whole of Zimbabwe knows that the Vice President is back and fit, and he is very clear and raring to go. That is why I said God is there because my colleague is back and we can now put our heads together to uplift the country.”

When The Sunday Mail asked him when the VP was expected back in office, President Mnangagwa responded: “You can see the way he looks now, but on my part, I am not too concerned about him returning back to work, I am more concerned about his welfare and that he is back to full fitness. But as someone who is coming from being ill, I only wish for him to start his duties slowly and move progressively to take up more work. You can see for yourselves that the man is glowing.”

The President also revealed that the VP’s ill-health had “affected him personally”, adding that his return had brought him immense relief.

He said he also sent a special message of thanks to President Xi Jinping for facilitating VP Chiwenga’s treatment.

“I am also very grateful to my brother, the President of the People’s Republic of China whom I talked to and he said he will do his best and instruct his system to do their best to look after your Vice President, and that has been done.

“And I have sent a letter to President Xi Jinping thanking him for the role he played in looking after my VP. Besides that, I have also asked General Chiwenga on how was the care in the hospital and he says, ‘Mukoma, ndakabatwa zvakanaka, I can’t think of anything else or wish for anything else . . .’”

With a voice full of life, VP Chiwenga thanked the President for his judicious decision to send him to China for treatment.

“And I want to thank personally my President, His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, if he had not intervened the time I was in the intensive care in South Africa, I could have been history by now, and when he communicated with his counterpart President Xi Jinping, I was then taken to China . . . he did not act as the President but acted as my brother to make sure that I survive . . .

“And I would also want, before I go far, to thank the people of Zimbabwe for their prayers; those prayers from across the country helped my recovery.”

He also explained his hospital stint and recovery.

“Up to yesterday, from the time I left, I had spent 123 days in hospital. When I got there it was the 21st of July and got my discharge certificate later on after 123 days. “I feel strong and I am raring to go for work . . . everything possible was done; they left no stone unturned . . . so I am very fit and happy.”

He said he had already resumed his duties.

It is now incumbent upon us to work to achieve the vision our President has set for 2030”.

“Let us work with him tirelessly to ensure everything is achieved.”

FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe’s language was foul, vulgar and stinking to the heavens, a sign of immaturity in politics, veteran freedom fighter and former Cabinet Minister Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube has said.

In his autobiography titled “Quiet Flows The Zambezi”, launched at the Bulawayo National Art Gallery on Friday evening, Retired Colonel Dube, a Zanu-PF Politburo member, wrote that Mrs Mugabe was crude and was the reason behind the subsequent fall of the late former president Robert Mugabe.

Rtd Col Dube said Mrs Mugabe’s immaturity in politics started showing when she used unorthodox means to push former Vice-President Joice Mujuru from her post and Zanu-PF in 2014.

“She was extremely crude and vulgar. Her language was obscene and uncouth, to say the least,” writes Rtd Col Dube.

He said Mrs Mugabe, in her typical crude tirades, made accusations against former VP Mujuru some which bordered on witchcraft and prostitution.

“Some of us knew VP Mujuru to be a respectable person. All the denigration and insults she received were calculated to bring her down so that the First Lady would rise,” he said.

“Her language was foul, vulgar and stinking to the heavens. She solicited support from some party heavy weights,” he said.

Rtd Col Dube said Mrs Mugabe, teamed with some G40 elements such as former Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Jonathan Moyo to try to use the same tactic to push out President Emmerson Mnangagwa (then VP) in 2017.State media

Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga says timely intervention by President Mnangagwa to engage his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, to facilitate his airlift to Beijing for specialist care and treatment prevented his “imminent death” and saved his life.

In July, the President made the decision when VP Chiwenga was battling for life in the intensive care unit of a South African hospital. At the time, the VP suffered memory lapses, speech impairment and excruciating pain.

However, in what has been an extraordinary recovery story, VP Chiwenga — who arrived home in the early hours of Saturday after a four-month absence — yesterday looked fit and agile when he received President Mnangagwa at his home.

The duo shared a hearty embrace before an hour-and-half private engagement.
Emerging from the meeting, a visibly elated President Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, explained the VP’s path to recovery.

“When he left he was unwell, which was giving us sleepless nights because our comrade was unwell,” said the President.
“So we arranged for him to go to South Africa and while he was there, we spoke to our Chinese friends, we spoke to President Xi Jinping, who is our dear friend, who offered to assist with his treatment.

“We saw it fit for the VP to go to China. We flew him there and he stayed there for a number of months. Now you can see for yourselves that he has regained his fitness and he is clear-minded.
“When he initially left he was having memory lapses, and he was in so much pain that everyone could tell the agony he was in.”
VP Chiwenga, he said, is now “raring to go”.

“I am confident that now the whole of Zimbabwe knows that the Vice President is back and fit, and he is very clear and raring to go. That is why I said God is there because my colleague is back and we can now put our heads together to uplift the country.”

When The Sunday Mail asked him when the VP was expected back in office, President Mnangagwa responded: “You can see the way he looks now, but on my part, I am not too concerned about him returning back to work, I am more concerned about his welfare and that he is back to full fitness. But as someone who is coming from being ill, I only wish for him to start his duties slowly and move progressively to take up more work. You can see for yourselves that the man is glowing.”

The President also revealed that the VP’s ill-health had “affected him personally”, adding that his return had brought him immense relief.
He said he also sent a special message of thanks to President Xi Jinping for facilitating VP Chiwenga’s treatment.

“I am also very grateful to my brother, the President of the People’s Republic of China whom I talked to and he said he will do his best and instruct his system to do their best to look after your Vice President, and that has been done.

“And I have sent a letter to President Xi Jinping thanking him for the role he played in looking after my VP. Besides that, I have also asked General Chiwenga on how was the care in the hospital and he says, ‘Mukoma, ndakabatwa zvakanaka, I can’t think of anything else or wish for anything else . . .’”

With a voice full of life, VP Chiwenga thanked the President for his judicious decision to send him to China for treatment.State media

By A Correspondent| EMMERSON MNANGAGWA’S personal spokesman George Charamba has taken a direct swipe at the Deputy Chinese ambassador for driving to the RGM Airport to welcome Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga on Saturday.

In the wee hours of Saturday, the Deputy envoy, Mr Zhao Baogang performed a brief welcoming ceremony for Chiwenga at the airport.

Writing on his twitter portal, Charamba complained saying, what is the sympathy for itsitsi dzeyi? He said in full:

“TWI-PROTOCOL? Interesting that well-known oppositional twi-voices seek to teach is how to welcome and love our leaders! Itsitsi dzei? For the record, ED who is Head of State and President of Zimbabwe does not – repeat – DOES NOT receive his Deputy. In the same vein, the Chinese.

“…Ambassador who personifies the Chinese State here in Zimbabwe WILL NOT receive a Vice President of the State to which he is accredited. Protocol does not allow both cases. For the record, President Mnangagwa and his Deputy enjoyed daily communication while the VP was away.

“The President will meet and welcome his Deputy in the appropriate way and setting. In the meantime, all well-meaning Zimbabweans rejoice that Vice President Chiwenga is back and looks fit.”

It is believed there is a rift between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, and the former, Mnangagwa, has omitted Chiwenga in renaming over 10 streets after him.

Meanwhile Chiwenga today announced that he is ready to resume his official duties.

Chiwenga was speaking to reporters after arriving at around 02:30Hrs.

Chiwenga had been in China for the past four months where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

Government is placing strong emphasis on reviving key economic sectors through the promotion of production-oriented investment and implementing initiatives targeted at enhancing the performance of State enterprises and parastatals.

This was said by Vice President Kembo Mohadi during the 7th edition of the Excellence in Corporate Governance Awards held in Harare on Thursday night.

The annual awards ceremony is organised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe (ICSAZ) to honour company boards who promote good corporate governance practices.

Mohadi said the various reforms being undertaken by Government had put Zimbabwe in the right direction.
“We are seeking to grow the livelihoods of our people,” he said.

“Progress has been made on many fronts that include, but not limited to fiscal consolidation, monetary policy restoration and liberalisation of the foreign exchange market to mention but a few.

“The 2020 National Budget, which marked a transition from austerity to a growth stimulation and employment generation era, offered quite a number of incentives which should be taken advantage of by all productive sectors of the economy.”

Mohadi said Government was improving the ease of doing business in the country through the establishment of a “One-Stop Shop” investment centre.

“The establishment of a One-Stop Shop investment centre is aimed at improving investor confidence,” he said.State media

Watch video loading below. ..

MDC President Nelson Chamisa will be arrested if he holds public meetings without notifying the Zimbabwe Republic Police and getting its approval.

This was said by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in an interview with the Daily News on Friday.

He said:
“Under the new Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, you can’t do a demonstration without notifying the regulatory authority, and if they do that then they can be arrested.
“If Chamisa carries on with what he said he can be arrested.

He is out of order … you can’t do that and endanger other people who are doing their business.”

Police have been routinely banning almost all of the MDC’s planned public gatherings giving flimsy reasons for doing so.

Nicknamed ”Wamba Dia Wamba”, after a Congolese warlord, when as a fiery student leader, he was expelled from Harare Polytechnic for a time because of his activism as a founder member of the MDC in 1999.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently signed into law the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa) — which replaced the Public Order Security Act (Posa).

Posa was used by the police to block the MDC from holding rallies.
– DailyNews

MDC President Nelson Chamisa will be arrested if he holds public meetings without notifying the Zimbabwe Republic Police and getting its approval.

This was said by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in an interview with the Daily News on Friday.

He said:
“Under the new Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, you can’t do a demonstration without notifying the regulatory authority, and if they do that then they can be arrested.
“If Chamisa carries on with what he said he can be arrested.

He is out of order … you can’t do that and endanger other people who are doing their business.”

Police have been routinely banning almost all of the MDC’s planned public gatherings giving flimsy reasons for doing so.

Nicknamed ”Wamba Dia Wamba”, after a Congolese warlord, when as a fiery student leader, he was expelled from Harare Polytechnic for a time because of his activism as a founder member of the MDC in 1999.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently signed into law the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa) — which replaced the Public Order Security Act (Posa).

Posa was used by the police to block the MDC from holding rallies.
– DailyNews

MDC President Nelson Chamisa will be arrested if he holds public meetings without notifying the Zimbabwe Republic Police and getting its approval.

This was said by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in an interview with the Daily News on Friday.

He said:
“Under the new Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, you can’t do a demonstration without notifying the regulatory authority, and if they do that then they can be arrested.
“If Chamisa carries on with what he said he can be arrested.

He is out of order … you can’t do that and endanger other people who are doing their business.”

Police have been routinely banning almost all of the MDC’s planned public gatherings giving flimsy reasons for doing so.

Nicknamed ”Wamba Dia Wamba”, after a Congolese warlord, when as a fiery student leader, he was expelled from Harare Polytechnic for a time because of his activism as a founder member of the MDC in 1999.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently signed into law the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa) — which replaced the Public Order Security Act (Posa).

Posa was used by the police to block the MDC from holding rallies.
– DailyNews

Self-exiled G40 kingpin Professor Jonathan Moyo and MDC-ALLIANCE leader Mr Nelson Chamisa have allegedly written a letter to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and selected SADC leaders requesting for them to push for exclusive dialogue between President Mnangagwa and Mr Chamisa, outside the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).

The letter dubbed “Open Letter to President Ramaphosa” was not sent through official channels, but has been distributed to five newspapers, among them the Sunday Times for publication on Sunday, Kenyan sources said.

President Ramaphosa is especially targeted since he is taking over the African Union chairmanship in January next year.

“Chamisa and Moyo have agreed that they would not send the letter to the Presidents of Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Angola, claiming that ‘the regimes in these countries are as repressive as Zimbabwe.’

“Although they initially wanted to exclude President Masisi of Botswana from the list of recipients of the letter, Chamisa assured Moyo that the Khama remnants in the BDP would be in a position to push Botswana towards a more friendly posture.

“Chamisa and Moyo were advised by US officials to embark on a diplomatic offensive against the rising anti sanctions sentiments, ahead of the AU Summit in January 2020,’’ said the sources.

However, the initiative is unlikely to succeed as African countries are convinced that the sanctions are not justified.

MDC secretary-general Mr Charlton Hwende yesterday said; “My president Chamisa is very clear in engaging SADC leaders to mediate between Zanu-PF and MDC-A.

‘There is need for dialogue between the two major political parties in Zimbabwe to take the country forward.”

Analysts and political leaders have criticised the MDC-A leader for continuing to insist on dialogue between President Mnangagwa and himself outside POLAD.

Recently, Mr Chamisa approached bishop of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) Nehemiah Mutendi to facilitate dialogue with President Mnangagwa.

National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku said if the MDC-A was serious about dialogue with Zanu-PF, it should do so through Polad.

“Polad provides that platform where two political parties can discuss certain issues without the involvement of other players.

“MDC-A should realise that they are the only party missing from the framework.

“They are welcome to join us. Sadc recognises Polad and so who are they to condemn the platform.

“This country does not belong to ZANU-PF and MDC-A only, other parties constitute almost five percent, which is a big number,” said Professor Madhuku

Political analyst Mr Tafadzwa Mugwadi said it was interesting that Mr Chamisa was pushing for a parallel process that excluded other players at a time when the Polad platform had been endorsed by progressive forces.

“That only serves to show that he is aware that he is fast losing relevance even among his kingmakers in the vanguard. He should sort out his own problem than hiding behind the excuse of bilateral discussions with President Mnangagwa,” he said.

MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu said MDC-A should appreciate the efforts of local co-conveners of Polad led by retired Justice Selo Nare from the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and Mrs Margaret Sangarwe from the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to initiate the dialogue process.

“These two individuals are not only proud Zimbabweans, they are also people of impeccable integrity and credentials.

“This attitude of always wanting and preferring foreign things at the expense of our own home-grown solutions and ideas is clearly indicative of low self-esteem and self-hate. Dreaming of a foreign convenor to chair Polad is like experiencing a torrid and horrible nightmare.

“That is not going to happen. Zimbabweans will manage dialogue amongst themselves.

“They don’t need a foreigner to handle their dialogue,” said Mr Gutu.

Professor Richard Chinomona said Zimbabwe needed every patriotic citizen to contribute the best of his or her ability towards rebuilding the nation.

“The dialogue process should be done in the spirit of love for our country that should take precedence over our own personal political, economic or other ambitions.

“There should be no special treatment of certain individuals or groups.

“These platforms could be political such as Polad, churches and business among other platforms,” he said.

Professor Chinomona said Government should put together all these views and concretise them into policies, programmes and activities that promote peace, stability and prosperity for the common good of all.

“I think it is myopic for any one individual or group of individuals to think that they hold the keys to Zimbabwe’s economic challenges,” he said

Polad member, Rebuild Party of Zimbabwe leader Reverent Everesto Chikanga said MDC-A should not use Polad as a sticking point for dialogue with Zanu-PF.

“President Mnangagwa is everyone’s President. Chamisa is free to engage President Mnangagwa, but he should recognise him as the President of Zimbabwe first. If we are looking for a national dialogue that will take our country forward, Polad is the only platform.

“It has already been endorsed by the international community, including Sadc and the AU among others. President Mnangagwa is saying everyone should join Polad.

“If he is serious about dialogue, Chamisa should do so,” said Rev Chikanga.

-Herald

A 34-year-old suspect was arrested at the Beitbridge border post on Thursday for trying to smuggle explosives into South Africa from Zimbabwe.

Police said the explosives were contained in four-gallon (roughly 15l) plastic containers being transported on a trailer. The suspect initially told police that the containers contained oil.

“He was then directed towards the baggage scanner. When the containers were subsequently opened, 398 pieces of blasting cartridges (explosive gel) were found and the suspect was immediately arrested,” police said.

They added that the suspect, who is from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, would appear soon in the Musina magistrate’s court on charges of possession of explosive materials.

“The motive for the smuggling is not known at this stage, however police investigations are continuing.”

— TimesLive

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It is barely 10 o’clock in the morning, but the sweltering heat is unforgiving and scores of patients from all over the country sit huddled on wooden benches while others are sprawled on the pavement around the entrance of the outpatients department at Karanda Mission Hospital, Mt Darwin.

A pregnant young nurse aide, dressed in pink, calmly attends to each patient, but clearly, she is overwhelmed because more patients keep walking through the gate a few metres away. It gets worse when a Kurai bus from Harare docks by the gate and more patients flock into the hospital to join the long, meandering queue.

The bus is literally emptied of passengers, who have all come in desperation to seek medical care, which has been elusive in public hospitals across the country following the doctors’ strike that began two months ago.

An elderly man with a dangling urine bag peeping from the hem of his worn out trousers walks with determination and shrugs off a helping hand from his aide, who has accompanied him from Harare. It looks bloody, but the man is unperturbed and his face lights up as he approaches the nurse aide.

A heavily pregnant woman waddles along carrying her oversized bag. She is alone. The bus fare (about $70) proved too much for relatives to accompany her.

Kurai is the only bus that has not yet hiked its fare for the 200km trip from Harare.

NewsDay Weekender had earlier trailed the speeding bus, whose driver was more concerned with honking his horn than paying attention to the sharp curves and the many dips on the road.

Back at the 150-bed mission hospital, the smell of sickness, blood, wounds and disease hangs thick, but no one seems to mind. They are only too happy that at last they are at a place of hope and pin their hopes on the dedicated staff to heal them and restore their health.

For such a crowd, there is a surprising quietness and serenity as each individual awaits their turn to be served. Many have come from faraway places like Gokwe, Rusape, Gwanda, Kwekwe and even Beitbridge.

Besides an occasional cough and hushed whispers, it remains peaceful.

For the past few weeks, this has been the situation at this lovely establishment, which is known for its quality service and dedicated staff. It is one of the last few oasis of hope in the madness that prevails in most public hospitals, which have literally ground to a halt in terms of operations.

Taison Hloko (60) from Muzarabani cuts a lone figure as he sits by a concrete bench. He is waiting for the visiting hour, so that he can see his wife, who is admitted at the hospital.

“My wife was involved in an accident with a scotch cart and fractured her pelvic bone in September. Ideally, we would have taken her to Harare, but the situation there was pathetic. There were no doctors,” he recalls the painful experience.

Desperate to save his wife’s life, Hloko braved the long draining trip to Karanda — an Evangelical Alliance Mission-run hospital which boasts of treating over 100 000 patients and performing about 3 500 surgeries annually.

“The journey was too painful for her, but we both had to be brave because we knew this place was her only chance,” he said.

Since then, Hloko has been hanging around the hospital, sleeping in the open at the verandas of nearby shops.

“We sleep on the verandas of the shops and during the day we just walk about waiting for the visiting hours. It has been very difficult for us, but there is no other place I would rather be,” he said with resignation.

Hloko is upbeat that soon, his wife will be discharged and they can go home, but he makes a plea to the doctors.

“Please come back to work. We need you. This is no way to live. People are struggling,” he said.

But the reality of the situation across the country’s hospitals is reflected in the wards at Karanda, which are literally swarming with patients.

In the male wards, all the beds are occupied as well as the floor.

The scene is shocking as well as sad. Grown men, mostly shirtless because of the suffocating heat, crouch on their beds surrounded by relatives, who have come to visit. Oblivious of their surroundings, they chat happily and are eager to hear news from home.

Despite being overcrowded, the patients are well taken care of. The ever-polite staff is always on hand, ready to assist, but the workload is evidently taking a toll on them.

After every few minutes, another stretcher bed is wheeled in with another patient from the surgery. There are many of these apparently. Some patients lie on these stretcher beds in the passage as they wait to be admitted.

“I had to sleep under my husband’s bed after his surgery, because he needed assistance. It was only a bit uncomfortable at first to be in a room full of men, but when I realised that we just wanted the same thing I relaxed,” Jane Magoso said.

But she feels he was discharged prematurely.

“I do not fault the service here; it is excellent, but because there are too many people coming every day, they are running out of space and so at times they discharge quickly. We sort of understand because others also need help,” she said.

-Newsday

THE return on Saturday of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga from China where he has been on treatment for an undisclosed ailment for over six months has become the subject of much speculation and conspiracies in Zimbabwe.

Social media has generated rumours galore, with users alluding that Chiwenga’s return from the Asian country had exposed the fragile nature of relations between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy.

Many have questioned the conspicuous absence of Mnangagwa and other senior government officials from the Robert Mugabe International Airport to welcome back home Chiwenga following such a long hiatus from the country.

Conspicuouslys absent was also his wife Mary Chiwenga who has been seen in the country while her husband was holed in a Chinese hospital.

“It is clear Chiwenga is an unwelcome visitor following internal squabbles in the ruling Zanu PF’” said a senior official.

“Speculation has been rife that Chiwenga and Mnangagwa fell out amid clashes in how to run the country as well as on appointment of cabinet ministers.

“Following the January protests Zanu PF insiders accused Chiwenga and some military elements of scheming to topple Mnangagwa.

“Chiwenga is also accused of having a soft spot for the youthful opposition leader Nelson Chamisa whom he wanted to be involved in the political dialogue while Mnangagwa has set conditions that Chamisa must concede electoral defeat.”

Sources also said Chiwenga, though he was not a full time politician before the November 2017 military intervention that ushered in the Mnangagwa adminstration, has already built strong structures within the party to upset Mnangagwa.

Does Mnangagwa trusts Chiwenga?

Zanu PF insiders close to both Mnangagwa and Chiwenga have always said the two are very close and have always consulted each other in critical decision making.

While that argument may hold water it remains a fact that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Mnangagwa has worked closely with the ousted leader the late Robert Mugabe but in the end their 52 years old relationship had to end in a bitter way.

“If Chiwenga had ambitions he could have taken over in November 2017 after the military intervened and ousted Mugabe,” another source said.

While those close to Mnangagwa maintain that the two leaders’relations are in good form those routing for Chiwenga question why not even one government official was at the airport to welcome the vice president.

“We expected the ruling party officials, like the national chairperson ( Oppah Muchinguri) to be there and welcome the second in command,” the source said.

But presidential spokesperson George Charamba said on his microblogging site Twitter that there was nothing unusual in the purported absence of Mnangagwa and other prominent persons from the airport to welcome Chiwenga back home from China.

“The President will welcome his Deputy in the appropriate way and setting.

“In the meanwhile, all well-meaning Zimbabweans are happy that Vice President Chiwenga is back and looks fit,” Charamba said.

He also added that it was not part of national or international protocol that presidents or ambassadors were obliged to take time off their schedules to receive vice presidents from wherever they are coming back from.

For the avoidance of doubt, said Charamba, the President and his Vice President were always in communication during all the time Chiwenga was out in China receiving treatment.

— Zim Morning Post

By Patrick Guramatunhu| Let us all be very clear here; Zanu PF blatantly rigged last year’s elections, the regime does not have the people of Zimbabwe’s mandate to govern the country and must therefore step down, especially since it is now clear that it has failed to revive the economy. The duplicity of such major international players like the EU, who condemned the rigged elections but continue to treat the Zanu PF regime as the legitimate government, has only emboldened the regime to continue to ride roughshod over the people’s hopes and dreams to end its reign of terror!

“The EU confirmed the talks on its official Twitter account, saying the talks, dubbed the second edition of the formal political dialogue, include issues on investment, human rights, rule of law and good governance,” reported Newsday.

The EU had a high powered Election Observer Mission team of 246 individuals and their report was through and detailed and the condemnation of the elections as a farce was unequivocal.  

“The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability. Finally, the restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign. As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards,” stated the EU Election Mission final report. 

Whilst the Americans had made it clear the sanctions on Zanu PF leaders will remain as punishment for the blatant rigging of the elections and the use of violence in the 1 st August 2018 “post-election period” in which 7 civilians protesting the rigged elections were shot dead. The EU took off their foot off the sanctions pedal regardless of their own scathing election report. 

Even when Mnangagwa followed the 1 st August “shoot to kill” order with yet another “shoot to kill” order in which 17 civilians protesting the soaring fuel prices were killed; the EU still turned a blind eye. 

It is this ambivalence by key international players like the EU that have encouraged corrupt and tyrannical regimes like this Mnangagwa government to believe it can blatantly rig elections, use brute force to silence its political opponents, etc. and get away with it. 

When Mnangagwa took over from Mugabe two years ago, he, like Mugabe before him, was cocksure he was going to revive Zimbabwe’s economic fortunes. He expected his “Zimbabwe is open for business!” clarion call to be answered by a flood of investors. By failing to end corruption, to keep his promise to hold free, fair and credible elections, etc. Mnangagwa confirmed that Zimbabwe was still a pariah state ruled by corrupt and vote rigging thugs. Investors understood this message and have continued to shy away from the country.

It is no secret that Mnangagwa’s “Zimbabwe is open for business!” is dead in the water and the country’s economic meltdown, in a pitiful state he took over two years ago, has turned a decided turn for even worse. The country is facing a chronic shortage of fuel, cash, power, medicine, food, etc. Inflation, single digit a year ago, has surged to 400% plus. 

Decades of under funding had left the country’s health care and education services in a sorry state. The regime has just fired doctors because it could meet their demand a living wage, above their current US$ 40 per month. Without doctors and nurses the health care services is now all but dead! The same is happening in education; some teachers are now work two-day week because they not afford the transport costs. 

How long are the people of Zimbabwe going to accept to suffer and died quietly the consequences of the economic meltdown, the chronic shortages, no health care, etc.? How long is a piece of string! 

Mnangagwa and his regime know the country’s economic meltdown is socially, morally and politically unsustainable. Still the regime is clearly determined to hang on to power for as long as possible; not by reviving the economy and alleviating the people’s suffering and deaths, it has failed to to do so; by using brute force. 

I for one, was not surprise that Mnangagwa used excessive force to disperse MDC supporters who had gathered to hear their party leader, Nelson Chamisa, give his Hope of the Nation Address. Mnangagwa is very jumpy and as the economy sinks deeper and deeper we can be certain he will be resorted to more and more violence in a futile attempt to silence all those protesting the economic hardships. 

It is disheartening that whilst Mnangagwa was unleashed his riot Police to beat MDC supporters for no reason at all; he was having his re-engagement meetings with the EU officials, who continue to treat this illegitimate regime as if it won free, fair and credible elections. 

If any of the EU member state’s elections process “failed to meet international standards” the Union will suspend the same member’s membership and follow this up with very stringent economic and political sanctions to punish those involved. Why is Mnangagwa and his cronies being treated differently? 

Why is the EU turning a blind eye to the economic suffering and deaths Zanu PF misrule and barbarism is inflicting on innocent Zimbabweans whose only crime is to demand the same freedoms and rights EU nationals take for granted?

SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com

By A Correspondent- Sometime late last year, mourners attending a funeral at St Peter’s in Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb were astonished after realising that they had been fed donkey meat disguised as game meat.

It was later discovered that the meat was from a stolen donkey after some of the people who had consumed the meat reported stomach aches.

In Zimbabwe, donkeys have not been known to be part of the local diet but more for providing draught power in rural communities.

It is against this backdrop that a local businessman’s attempts to open an abattoir for the slaughter of donkeys early this year caused a stir in Bulawayo.

The businessman, Gareth Lumsden, had first announced in October 2017 that he had established a US$150 000 donkey abattoir in the City of Kings, courting the ire of animal welfare organisations.

A popular Harare butcher, who spoke to NewsDay Weekender this week, indicated that the sale of donkey meat was risky business.

Shadreck Matsetu, who runs three butcheries in Budiriro, said it was unlikely that he could consider selling donkey meat — even in the event that it is given green light — because he did not believe that donkey meat was edible and that it would find takers among his customers.

“I think it’s safer to stick to what we have been selling all along. I’ve done fairly well with beef, pork and chicken — and sometimes goat meat — but to think that I can sell donkey meat, I don’t know,” he said with a shrug.

“But I don’t think it’s something I can consider. Perhaps it’s traditional. From the time we were growing up, we never thought there could be a time in future when people would eat donkey meat.”

In 2017, when stories about the possibilities of taking donkeys to the slaughter in the country started circulating, the then Agriculture deputy minister (Livestock), Paddy Zhanda, said while he was not sure if the campaign would succeed, there was concern over the low donkey population in Zimbabwe.

“I’m not sure how the business will go because it takes longer for a donkey to grow as compared to other forms of livestock,” he said.

“Countries with a huge population of donkeys are Botswana and Namibia. In actual fact, in Namibia donkeys are left to roam in the wild. We will get to know (more) of the abattoir when it’s complete as we are the ones that will inspect it.”

The organisations that campaigned against Lumsden’s plans argued that his proposed slaughter rate of 70 donkeys a day would wipe out the country’s national donkey herd — estimated at 175 000 — in just five years.

The Department of Veterinary Services, which administers abattoir inspections and certification under the Veterinary Public Health Act and issues livestock transit and slaughter permits, indicated that no such licence was processed for a donkey abattoir in the country.

The department’s director, Josphat Nyika, issued a circular dated October 9, 2017, in which he ruled out the possibility of a donkey abattoir being licensed in the country.

“I am sure you are all aware of the anxiety, acrimony, havoc and mayhem that have been generated among the Zimbabwean public by the construction of a donkey abattoir in Bulawayo,” he said.

“You are hereby advised that the said abattoir, or any for that matter, will not be registered to operate in Zimbabwe, and that no donkey will ever be slaughtered at any abattoir.”

Traditionally donkeys have only been known as beasts of burden rather than a delicacy, although in other countries such as China, the meat is a prized protein source often served in burgers.

Research done by senior veterinarian Erick Mutizhe to evaluate stakeholder perceptions on donkey skin trade, unearthed some sticking points in the donkey meat processing business.

Mutizhe observed that the consumption of donkey meat was considered a taboo.

He said some of the donkey owners indicated unwillingness to part with their stock as that would deplete their labour source and the mules were central to their families’ livelihoods.

“The majority of donkey owners expressed willingness to sell donkeys to donkey skin markets if they exceeded the maximum number of donkeys they needed at their households,” he said.

Mutizhe concluded that donkey skin trade was risky and it was important to carry out thorough assessment to ensure that the country would not embark on a trade that may dispossess families of livelihoods emanating from donkey ownership.

International animal welfare charities The Donkey Sanctuary and Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (Spana) last year applauded government’s strong legal position against the emerging donkey meat and hide trade.

Following a one-day conference on donkey trade held in Bulawayo last year, the organisation said Lumsden’s Battlefront Investments, a meat value chain operator in a joint venture with some Chinese partners, intended to satisfy the demand for donkey skins for the production of ejiao, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Spana Zimbabwe country director Keith Dutlow told the media that donkeys played a vital role in catering for the daily livelihoods for rural communities.

“Our aim is to prevent the devastation caused by this horrific trade, which is destroying rural communities, undermining communities and leading to the brutal slaughter of a vast number of animals throughout Africa,” he said.

According to Mutizhe, the demand for donkey skins in the production of traditional Chinese medicines has resulted in donkeys being sourced from all over the world.

The demand for donkey meat saw a spike in livestock theft as equine creatures were targeted for slaughter and sale. Last year, Umguza district became a flash point with suspected livestock rustlers invading the district to steal cattle and donkeys.

Newly-resettled villagers in Maraposa, Redwood, Stella and Makondo were the main targets.

Richard Matshona, a villager from Redwood, popularly known as Mathonisa resettlement area, told NewsDay Weekender at the time that livestock rustlers were ransacking their area. They stole two cattle from one homestead and slaughtered them along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, just a few metres from the homestead.

The incident happened shortly after the arrest of a suspected donkey-meat seller who had allegedly stolen the beast, slaughtered it and sold the meat to unsuspecting residents.

In his research, Mutizhe observed that “there were possibilities of donkey welfare violations, increased donkey thefts, potential decimation of donkey numbers and reduction in the quality of livelihoods of rural people”, if the animal’s skin trade was given the green light.

He recommended that there be education for donkey owners, advocacy for legislation on their skin trade and their inclusion in national animal health programmes.

Animal rights and welfare activists contend that the world’s donkey population is likely to be decimated as millions of the beasts are slaughtered every year for their skins, according to a report by the United Kingdom-based welfare charity, The Donkey Sanctuary.

The practice is more widespread in South America and Asia where millions of donkeys are killed, pregnant mares, foals and sick animals stolen, transported and killed.

According to The Donkey Sanctuary’s report, Under the Skin Update, there is a high risk of anthrax and equine flu infection in the trade of donkeys, which are central to the livelihoods of 500 million people across the globe.

Donkey populations in China have reportedly collapsed by 76% since 1992. Since 2007 donkey populations have declined by 28% in Brazil, by 37% in Botswana and by 53% in Kyrgyzstan.

Africa has not been spared, with the commercial trade of donkeys rife in Kenya and Ghana.

More than 60 000 donkeys died in West Africa this year along live skin trade routes, which the World Organisation for Animal Health had said are almost certainly linked to the
trade.

These deaths demonstrate the potentially high risk of contagious diseases being spread as a result of the skin trade. Donkey skins from this area are being exported untreated direct to China

-Newsday

MDC president Nelson Chamisa will be arrested if he holds public meetings without notifying the Zimbabwe Republic Police and getting its approval, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said.

In an interview with the Daily News on Friday, Ziyambi Ziyambi said the new law Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, demonstrations without notifying the regulatory authority is a criminal offence.

“If Chamisa carries on with what he said he can be arrested. He is out of order … you can’t do that and endanger other people who are doing their business,” said Ziyambi.

Police have been routinely banning almost all of the MDC’s planned public gatherings giving flimsy reasons for doing so.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently signed into law the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa) — which replaced the draconian Public Order Security Act (Posa). Posa was used by the police to block the MDC from holding rallies.

Watch video loading below. ..

Eight people died while two others sustained minor injuries last night when a commuter omnibus heading to Kanyemba from Harare collided with a lorry and burst into flames in Concession, Mazowe District.

Former Warriors player Abel Muteji (46) has appeared in court for allegedly stealing motor vehicle parts.

The Zimbabwe under-23, Chapungu United and Mkwasine ace striker was arrested for theft.

Muteji played for Chapungu Football Club and together with his twin brother Cain, were part of the under-23 national team that was called for national duty in the All -Africa games in 1995.

Their brotherly partnership charmed the soccer loving nation.

Muteji however decided to hang his boots some years ago taking mechanics as his profession in Chiredzi’s Tshovani Suburb.

On Monday, he was in court and the State led by David Tafangenyasha submitted that on a date unknown to the State, the complainant Persuade Shemar left his truck parked outside Muteji’s premises.

The complainant later found out that a diesel pump, 500 litres tank, 60 wheel nuts, tilt pump, exhaust silencer, 2 leaf spring, 2 half shafts, 2 U bolts, 10 wheel studs, steering pump, front shock absorber, starter motor, wheel drum, 2 fuel pipes, 1 grill, 3 trailer load axles, 6 leaf springs, 6 hanger pins, 12 hanger bushes, 6 double booster chambers, twin splitter valve and 24 tier bolts were missing from both the truck and trailer.

Shemar, who resides in Kuwadzana in Harare reported the case to the police on 15 September who instituted investigations.

Muteji was found in possession of the missing diesel pump, leading to his arrest.

The recovered pump has been valued at $3 750 and the value of all the missing goods is Z$77 570 Bond.

Muteji is set to appear back in court on December 5.

Muteji studied at Mkwsine High School in the Lowveld where he started his football career.

In 1995, Abel and Cain (Muteji brothers) were voted soccer stars of the year with Dynamos’ Memory Mucherahowa winning the Player of The Year.-Lowveld Post

@ARTUZ_teachers leader @OMasaraure has been Arrested in town while directing his wife for parking. Charged with disorderly conduct. The people who arrested him said they want to punish him. Detained at Harare Central police @DougColtart @MakomboreroH @pridemkono @robohchere

— Mhofu Mapanzure (@NationMudzit) November 23, 2019

By A Correspondent- Villagers in Fudu area in Nkayi have accused a fellow community member of owning mystical beings which have turned teachers at Fudu primary and secondary schools into sex slaves causing them to flee the learning institutions.

Male teachers have said the invisible beings sodomise them and female teachers narrated ordeals of marathon sex sessions that occurred in their sleep and tired them out to the extent that they struggled to work the following day.  

Villagers alleged the supernatural beings believed to be goblins which operate in shadow form were owned by a fellow villager. 

A meeting was held at Fudu Secondary School and was attended by village head Cornelius Ndlovu, School Development Committee Chairperson (SDC) Mbalekelwa Ndlovu and community members on Tuesday. 

During the meeting it emerged that for a month now lessons had been disrupted at both institutions.

“Teachers fled the school but a few have returned, lessons are held erratically since at times teachers won’t be at school as they fear for their lives. We do not know whether those who have not returned will ever return. We paid school fees but now it’s like we threw our monies into a pit because our children are not learning,” said Tracy Dlomo.

Speaking on condition of strict anonymity a Fudu Secondary School teacher said goblins had turned them into sex slaves. 

“It’s terrible. Most of us (both female and male teachers) have been sexually abused by the goblins as we would wake up with semen stains on our undergarments and feeling tired. Most of the female teachers would feel as if an invisible hand was caressing them while they slept at night. They would feel dizzy before falling into a deep sleep. In the morning they would surprisingly wake up with no undergarments and they would be wearing their male counterparts’ trousers. We did not want to leave this place but we are forced to transfer because of this unbearable situation,” she said casting a dejected face.

A male teacher said: “About 10 of us (teachers from both primary and secondary) saw an apparition of a female teacher who died mysteriously at the school soon after she was promoted. During the night we would feel something playing with our genitals until we climaxed. About 20 of us have had the same nasty experience. At times during my sleep I would feel like I was having sex. Shockingly I would wake up feeling extremely tired and would phone my wife who is based in Bulawayo and she has since advised me to transfer.”

Another male teacher declared that he was in the process of transferring as he could not stomach the traumatic situation.

“The goblins sodomised me and five other colleagues told me that they were also sodomised. This is terrible! I believe it’s somebody who does not want us here because we are from other places,” said a male teacher. 

In a bid to root out the suspected goblins the community leadership under the watch of headman Reuben Ncube enlisted the services of prophets who have fingered a villager as the force behind the magical beings at the school.

Mlandeli Mpofu said the suspicion was heightened after the said villager bragged to the prophets saying he wielded unfathomable spiritual power from the spiritual underworld.

“We are now afraid of him because when the prophets fingered him during a meeting which was attended by 500 people he said they could not do anything to him because he was too powerful. He said he wielded spiritual power and would defeat them with a combination of air force and ground force. He bragged that he has a strong muthi that will cause them to die in a strange manner,” said Mpofu. 

As  if that was not enough another villager Prosper  Nyathi said: “At this meeting we have only  10 community members  out of 85. They are afraid to attend these meetings because they fear him. His wife died mysteriously. He called a prophet who did rituals on the wife’s grave  and a strange fire erupted and razed her brother’s family homestead leading the person who is suspected to have killed his wife to confess during a meeting that was attended by former  Nkayi officer in charge, only identified as Tshabangu, and the community leadership,” said Nyathi.

Village head Cornelius Ndlovu said the prophets who were tasked to root out the goblins failed to exorcise the school.

“We are worried because about 500 community members paid $5 each. A total of $2 500 was raised and paid to the prophets. Shockingly they failed to remove the goblins. Now we want to engage other prophets or a witch- hunter and we will agree with villagers on how much will be paid and the villagers agreed that if a goblin is found at a homestead that person would pay a hefty fine equivalent to two beasts,” he said.  

The man the villagers accuse of owning the problem goblins, Austin Ndlovu, denied the allegations saying he had even sought legal help after villagers besieged his homestead in the company of the self-styled prophets. He said the accusations stemmed from superstitious fear after he and a prophet conducted a ritual on his late wife’s grave.

“I understand them because accusations are arising from the fact that I conducted a ritual with a prophet to identify the person who killed my wife. The prophet stood on the grave in broad daylight while praying and calling for my wife to avenge  herself and the prophet assured me that I will see the person who killed my wife. After that the news spread across the whole community saying I practise witchcraft,” he said.

“After the ritual on the grave my late brother’s homestead was gutted by strange fires. His wife made a makeshift homestead but the mysterious fires followed her and destroyed it,” he said. 

“I’m a devoted Christian and I don’t have any goblins. Those people who are peddling lies have tarnished my reputation. During a fierce argument with the prophets I said I have a ground force which are my ancestors and I believe in them for guidance and protection and air force which is my God. 

“After the cleansing ceremony at Fudu Secondary School about 500 community members besieged my homestead. I asked the leadership what they were up to and they said I should ask the prophets. The prophets said they had come to remove the goblins from my homestead. I granted them access but they could not find anything. After that they scooped soil from the centre of the yard and I do not know what they were going to use it for,” he said. 

Ndlovu said he was disturbed by that and reported the matter to the police.

“I was shattered by such accusations. I had to report the matter and police advised me to seek a protection order. Sadly, I was not granted the order against Headman Ncube, village head Cornelius, the community and the prophets. The magistrate said I sought a protection order against a wrong person, Headman Ncube who did not attend the exorcism gathering. So it was turned down. Next week I will report the matter to Chief Sikhobokhobo because I feel I‘m being abused by the villagers and community leadership,” he said.

-BMetro

Vice President Chiwenga is fit and ready to resume his duties.

He is currently meeting President @edmnangagwa to catch up with his old friend & principal!

There was joy & jubilation.

More to come!@matigary @Mathuthu @mawarirej @maDube_ @Mavhure @Shekie4 pic.twitter.com/decIprd6ap

— ?????? ?????? (@KMutisi) November 23, 2019

By A Correspondent- Pastors with House of Glory Church in Belmont, Bulawayo have reportedly sparked outrage among congregants forcing some to abandon the church amid allegations that pastors were causing divisions through secret fake prophecies and deliverance sessions.

Pastors Augustine Bhero, Mrs Bhero, and Prophetess Florance Majachani of House of Glory Church got caught up in controversy after allegedly performing fake prophecies and delivery sessions in a bid to allegedly seek fame and wrest control of the church through growing their following.

This was despite the fact that the church board members had initially indicated that they did not approve of the delivery sessions.

Sources close to the issue said what was most weird was that the pastors were trying to seek relevance by bringing a new dimension of deliverance through impersonating God and the Holy Spirit. Prophetess Florance was alleged to often claim she was Jehovah and Mrs Bhero the Holy Spirit.

Among the litany of accusations levelled against the prophets were that for everyone they conducted deliverance sessions in a similar style, which one could easily notice was fake.

“They first tell congregants that they are masters of deliverance. They just make people believe them because in all their deliverance sessions they say that the forefathers are the ones causing people to be troubled. They are just simple people seeking relevance by doing things that are out of line to those desperate for help. In order to prevent members from leaving the church other pastors tried stopping them from delivering people but it was in vain,” said a close source.

To avoid drawing unnecessary conflicts in the church the trio now prophesy and conduct deliverance sessions at Pastor Augustine’s house in Emganwini.

Those seeking deliverance secretly book for sessions at the house. When delivering congregants, a video recording is done and it is believed that it is then used to woo more candidates for deliverance and growth of their offshoot of the church.

In a bid to unravel the truth two B-Metro reporters went for a deliverance session under the pretext of being a couple in dire need of a child.

Interestingly, the prophets were not able to perceive that the “couple” was just acting.

The pastors dismissed allegations that they claimed to be Jehovah and Holy Spirit and instantly demanded to know who had referred the “couple” for deliverance.  

“There is only one God. We are just vessels of God; no one can ever be God. Please describe the person who told you about us and where they work. This person who told you we are Jehovah or Holy Spirit is mistaken. Our duty is to prophesy and deliver people from evil spirits. Our deliverance is conducted from 1st generation, 2nd generation and 3rd generation. Do you know TB Joshua? Our ministry is similar to TB Joshua’s,” said Mrs Bhero.

Prophetess Florance proceeded to explain more about their deliverance sessions.

“Deliverance means manifestation, and that is done so that we know what’s tying you guys. We are going to pray until God does wonders for us. Since you guys are married, and you want a child we are going to pray to God to grant your wish. We are mightily used by God.  We are capable of destroying anything. Our mission is to destroy. We kill goblins and evil spirits. Those are small things,” she said. 

After a series of prayers the “couple” were each given prophesies.

To the woman Mrs Bhero declared that she had a spiritual husband and was possessed with a witchcraft spirit. To the man it was said that he had an anti-marriage spirit which did not want to see him happily married.

They said these evil spirits had to be cast out.

The couple was told they would not be released until the spirits were cast out.

Indeed they were only released after faking manifestations, and being ‘delivered’.

One of the Church’s Apostles, Mike Majachani who is Prophetess Florance’s son and is believed to be against the deliverance sessions, said he was unaware of the deliverance sessions held in Emganwini.

“I am surprised there are deliverance sessions held in Emganwini. I don’t even know about all that,” said Apostle Mike.

After contacting Apostle Mike, efforts to get hold of the trio were fruitless as their phones rang unanswered.

The fake prophecies and deliverance sessions done by the pastors come hot on the heels of another case in which the same pastors once held a fruitless prayer session to resurrect a dead woman at West Park Cemetery in 2015.

They reportedly told mourners not to be quick to accept the death of the deceased Anna Nyandoro but to have faith that she would resurrect after they prayed for her.

Pastor Augustine and other pastors are said to have taken turns in hitting the coffin, and commanding Nyandoro to wake up but their efforts were in vain.

The service is said to have ended when the pastors told people that God had heard their request but they should accept his decision of taking Nyandoro.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is back in Zimbabwe in time for the Zanu PF annual conference scheduled for 11 to 16 December in Goromonzi.

He returned to Zimbabwe earlier today and was welcomed at the airport by a delegation of Chinese people and some relatives.

With his return imminent, a Zanu PF insider commented earlier this week:

The conference will be the ideal stage for Chiwenga to uplift his loyalists in the party, and show that his faction can still mount a significant challenge in the broader context of his political ambitions.

in a big way, the conference will be an opportunity for him, if he makes it, to re-assert his influence within the party and the military.

Chiwenga is reported to have ambitions to succeed Emmerson Mnangagwa as the country’s president. For his part Mnangagwa is reported to have reshuffled his cabinet recently to consolidate his hold on power and reduce Chiwenga’s influence.

-TheIndependent

By A Correspondent- Prominent man of God and leader of Divine Baptist Ministries Pastor Ian Ndlovu has revealed a prophetic message alleging that some people who ran away from the country will come back home while several who are currently at home will run away.

Predicted the prophet:

“Some who are in who will go out for a season and some who have been outside who will go back to where they came from, it shall come to pass.”

God has planted a divided tongue among them and all that they will do is divide and divide until they take each other out. Let us watch and pray.

I saw some of those that ran away come back home and some of those at home go away to faraway places.

I will read the message again… but those that are able to hear in the spirit can hear what i am talking about….

There is a woman, this woman currently is sitting under a very big tree. She is hiding behind the shade of the tree but the big tree will fall away and if this woman is pushed from where she is sitting, there will be big big trouble.”

Watch the video loading below….

Gvnt has said fired doctors should reapply for their vacant positions back. Should fired doctors reapply or they should just be reinstated?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 23, 2019

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF national secretary for finance and politburo member Patrick Chinamasa has said that his party knows that the masses are suffering revealing that the party and government was working on a raft of measures to make sure that they rescue people from the current economic hardships.

Chinamasa said he understands why some people are beginning to get frustrated with the current economic situation but called on calm while President Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration delivers the change the country needs.

Addressing an Indigenization Breakfast meeting at Holiday Inn last week, Chinamasa said when the ‘new dispensation’ was ushered in, there were high expectations across the political divide for immediate change.

“We know people are suffering but joy is on the horizon. Very soon we will be looking back with a sigh of relief that we have done it.

“The country was in a mess when the new dispensation took and we understand that people had their own expectations as to what should happen in the country. We all want a better country for everyone but that does not come over night.

“We won’t work miracles to turn around the economy but we will take those baby steps until we get there,” said Chinamasa.

Chinamasa called on the Zimbabwean people to give President Mnangagwa some time to impelement his vision which will bring in a better country for everyone.

“The President has a vision and we must all support it. Negativism will only affect us together so let us put our hands together and work for our country.

“This is the only country we have so we must guard and protect it jealously. Vision2030 is a reality and we must all embrace and support it,” said Chinamasa.

On indigenisation, Chinamasa said people’s contributions are welcome to make sure that they come up with a law that serves their interests.

“Our President is a listening man that is why we want to listen to people’s contributions so that we can review our policy on indigenization and economic empowerment,” said Chinamasa.

-TellZim

By A Correspondent- Two Bulawayo siblings have been arrested after they were allegedly found in possession of 1,6 tonnes of Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) copper cables valued at more than $400 000.

Sithembinkosi Muti (44) and Thembekile Masiza Conjwayo (34) both of the Kingsdale suburb had hidden the copper cables in Muti’s house.

The duo was not asked to plead to receive or taking into possession any material used in connection with generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electric charge when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Ms Nomasiko Ndlovu.

They remanded in custody to December 4.

According to court papers, on Wednesday at around 5PM, detectives received information that Muti and Conjwayo were in possession of copper cables at their house.

At around 6PM, the detectives went to Muti’s house in Kingsdale where they found Conjwayo and introduced themselves.

The detectives requested to search the house and Conjwayo who was in possession of Muti’s house keys opened one of the spare bedrooms where 124 rolls of copper cables and an ameen AWS 300 electronic scale were recovered.

Conjwayo allegedly told the detectives that the copper cables belonged to his sister.

A follow up was made to locate Muti. The siblings failed to account for the copper cables leading to their arrest.

The recovered copper cables are a mixture of 50 millimetre and 75 milimetre squared rolls. They are all worth $486 300. Zesa has been experiencing increased incidents of vandalism, some of which have claimed lives.

Recently, Cabinet also expressed concern over vandalism of Zesa infrastructure and put into spotlight the effectiveness of the 10-year mandatory sentence for those convicted. Some stakeholders have suggested a mandatory sentence of 20 years.

Some of the stolen copper is being smuggled into neighbouring South Africa where there is a ready market.

Many cases of vandals being electrocuted while cutting live wires have been reported but this has not been a deterrent.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Vice President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga says he is now very fit to join others in government in the work to build the nation.

He said this while speaking to reporters in the wee hours of Saturday morning soon after he touched down at the Robert Mugabe International airport.

VP Chiwenga arrived back home around 02:30 this Saturday morning and was received by the Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Zhao Baogang and some government officials.

He expressed gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for facilitating his treatment in China.

Chiwenga had been in China for the past four months where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- At least 8 people where burnt to death in a kombi accident in Mutorashanga Friday evening.

The kombi was coming from Concession and headed to Kanyemba when it was side-swiped by a lorry near the Mutorashanga turnoff.

Acting Mashonaland Central Development Co-ordinator, Mr Cosmas Chiringa confirmed the accident which happened around 7pm.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates..

THERE were dramatic scenes at the Tredgold Magistrates’ Courts yesterday when anti-Government activist, Josphat “Mzaca” Ngulube and three accomplices were each jailed seven years for burning three vehicles belonging to Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial women’s league chairperson, Eva Bitu, in Sizinda suburb during the January violent protests.

Ngulube (34) of Sizinda suburb, a Bulawayo South Constituency losing independent candidate in last year’s harmonised elections, Fortune Masuku (29), Melusi Moyo (32) and Otilia Sibanda (34) had pleaded not guilty to malicious damage to property but were, however, convicted by Mr Tinashe Tashaya due to overwhelming evidence.

The four will, however, each serve an effective six years in jail after one year was suspended on condition that they do not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Soon after the pronouncement of the sentence, a group of women believed to be relatives of the accused started wailing uncontrollably.

Mr Tashaya said the quartet had committed a serious offence in aggravating circumstances.

“The offence was committed in aggravation after the whole country was plunged into violence. The accused persons were acting in common purpose with other perpetrators and were using social media to incite people to engage in violence forcing Government to temporarily shut down the internet. Everything came to a standstill as roads were barricaded while shops were looted and burnt, he said.

Mr Tashaya said the events of that week and particularly the day in question could not be disputed.

He said many people were victims of the violence that left a trail of destruction and injured some people including police officers who were overwhelmend.

“The offence does not only call for a custodial sentence but a lengthy one given the value of property which was destroyed,” said Mr Tashaya.

Ngulube produced a video purportedly indicating that on that fateful day he was attending a funeral but Mr Tashaya dismissed the evidence.

“Although it is not disputed that on the day in question Ngulube was attending a funeral in Sizinda, the time factor is not fully accounted for. The funeral proceedings were supposed to commence at 7AM but delayed and only started around 10AM. There is nothing that was brought before the court to show what accused person was doing in between. This evidence is important because the alleged offence, according to State witnesses, occurred between 7AM and 10AM,” said Mr Tashaya.

He said the funeral could not have stopped Ngulube from committing the crime.

Mr Tashaya said three State witnesses gave credible evidence which nailed Ngulube and his accomplices.

He said the State therefore managed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Prosecuting, Mr Jetro Mada said on January 14 at around 7AM, Ngulube and his accomplices connived with about 100 other protesters, unlawfully blocked the free movement of traffic at an intersection between Sizinda Road and Nketa Drive.

He said the mob confronted Bitu at her home in Sizinda before shouting at her as they continued accusing her of benefiting from taxpayers’ money.

They threw stones and damaged window panes before pushing Bitu’s Ford Ranger out of the yard and torching it.

“The accused persons returned to the yard where they had left a Nissan NP300 and a Toyota Vitz. They also set alight the Nissan NP 300 whose flames partly destroyed the Toyota Vitz. The Ford Ranger and Nissan NP300 were burnt to ashes,” said Mr Mada.

The total value of the destroyed property is US$95 000.

Former Deputy Prime Minister in the Government of National Unity Professor Arthur Mutambara has hit out at President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the change of street names saying the “incompetent” Zanu-PF leader wants to immortalise himself.

Mnangagwa’s government announced the change of street names on Monday where 8 roads in the equal number of cities were named after the President.

The controversial move drew a lot of criticism with local councils arguing that the government had jumped the gun with the name changes as thadt was their prerogative.

Mutambara joined in the criticism saying Mnangagwa wanted to stamp his name in history whether or not he stays in power.

“An incompetent ED wants to immortalise himself whether he falls or prevails.  All the other name changes are to cover-up this wicked ambition. His name must be called in 8 cities every day, forever. That’s the ‘big idea’ while the Zimbabwe degenerates into mayhem. How low can you sink, ” said Mutambara.

Veteran broadcaster Ezra Tshisa Sibanda also lampooned the street name changes which he said is an insult to the people of Bulawayo.

Sibanda was aggrieved by the naming of 6th Avenue in Bulawayo after Mnangagwa who was instrumental in the Gukurahundi genocide that targeted the people of Matabeleland.

Source – Chronicle

Own Correspondent|TENSION is rising in Zanu PF as the party counts down to its annual conference, more so with the return of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga from China where he has been receiving medical treatment.

Chiwenga arrived in the country on Saturday morning and will attend the conference scheduled for Goromonzi from December 11 to 16.

The former millitary commander’s arrival from the Asian country, where he has spent four months since he was airlifted from South Africa in July, comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa reshuffled cabinet this month in a move meant to consolidate his grip on power while whittling down the influence of his ambitious deputy.

The build-up to the conference, which comes at a time the ruling party is fighting a losing battle to contain an intractable economic crisis, has been punctuated by behind-the-scenes manoeuvres by Zanu PF bigwigs to topple Chiwenga from his influential position on grounds of incapacitation.

As reported by The Zimbabwe Independent on October 24, the clique plotting to topple Chiwenga was scheming to use Section 97 of the constitution which provides for the removal from office of a vice-president on the grounds of incapacitation.

Sources close to Chiwenga’s faction say the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander, who has been receiving periodic intelligence updates from his trusted lieutenants during his time in China, was fully aware of the plan to push him out on grounds of his ailment.

Attending the conference, the sources said, would present Chiwenga an opportunity to re-assert his influence in the party, while enabling him to re-assure his loyalists that the former army commander still has the gravitas to revive his floundering political ambitions.

“The conference will be the ideal stage for Chiwenga to uplift his loyalists in the party, and show that his faction can still mount a significant challenge in the broader context of his political ambitions. This would be important for him to do because there were real fears among his sympathisers that due to ill-health, he may not be able to push ahead with his agenda.

“So, in a big way, the conference will be an opportunity for him, if he makes it, to re-assert his influence within the party and the military,” a Zanu PF official told the Zimbabwe Independent this week.

Source: Zimbabwe Independent.

Paul Nyathi|Latest reports by State Run media, Zimpapers, indicate that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who has been out of the country receiving medical attention in China is finally back in the country.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WatEMc0VRE

https://www.pscp.tv/w/cKiu0jF6WUtiR0RBYXpyamV8MU1ZeE5QandMUUxHd7py0X3H0ut5xYmpd7mZJKdZn6AQeLD0wE4bWzzQcRAU

BREAKING- VP CHIWENGA FINALLY RETURNS https://t.co/ty2v6eqZSw pic.twitter.com/QHAnN7JtpB

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 23, 2019

The media showed pictures of a fit as fiddle Chiwenga arrive at the airport named after former President Robert Mugabe who he removed in a military coup in 2017.

Chiwenga was conspicuously received in the country by China’s Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Zhao Baogang. There was no President Emmerson Mnangagwa to receive his Deputy but the former General was pictured sitting on a couch at the airport above him with the portrait of a smiling President Mnangagwa.

Chiwenga’s being welcome into the country by China’s ambassador with no Mnangagwa nearly confirms rumours that the Chinese are planning to execute a coup on Mnangagwa and replace him with Chiwenga.

Also at the airport to welcome Chiwenga was his elder brother Onisimo and Son Tawanda.

No official communication on Chiwenga’s return has been made by government.

President Mnangagwa has assented to three new laws.

The three laws are the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) (Chapter 11:23), the Companies and Other Business Act (Chapter 24:31) and the Microfinance Act (Chapter 11:24).

The Companies and Other Business Entities Act and MOPA are contained in an extraordinary Government Gazette published on November 15 under General Notice 2073 of 2019.

“The following laws, which have been assented to by His Excellency the President, are published in terms of Subsection (6) of Section 131 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe-Companies and Other Entities Act and MOPA,” reads the notice published by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda.

The Microfinance Act is contained in Extraordinary Government Gazette published on Tuesday under General Notice 2074 of 2019.

The MOPA provides “for the maintenance of peace, order and security to ensure the enjoyment of rights and freedoms by any persons and in particular to make provision for peaceful conduct of gatherings in a manner that protects the right of freedom of assembly, association, demonstration and petitioning without prejudicing the rights and freedoms of others.”

Section 3 of the Act designates the police officer commanding a police district as the regulating authority of that district and spells out procedures the conveners of gatherings or demonstrations have to follow when applying to the regulating authorities.

Section 4 empowers a regulating authority to prohibit the possession of weapons such as catapults, machetes, knobkerries, swords, knives or daggers in public or concealed if the authority believes there is likely to be a breach of peace. Section 5 requires conveners of demonstrations to appoint a person “responsible for the arrangements of that demonstration and to be present thereat, to give notice in terms of Section 7 and to act on its behalf at any consultations or negotiations contemplated in Section 8, or in connection with any procedure contemplated in this Act at which his or her presence is required.”

Section 7 provides for the timelines within which a convener of public meetings, public demonstrations and processions has to give notice to the regulating authority before proposed date of the public meeting, public demonstration or procession.

Section 8 provides for instances when consultations, negotiations and amendment of notices can be made prior to holding of processions, public demonstrations and public meetings to avoid public disorder. The Act also exempts professional, religious, recreational, sporting or charitable gatherings from provisions requiring giving notices to the police or appointing conveners of the said gatherings.

State Media|Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) officers have defrauded the entity of at least US$30 000, and perhaps as much as US$450 000 in a cheating scam using tollgate coupons issued to foreign truckers at border posts.

Nine officers have already been arrested and are before the courts, while others have been fired. The system of cancelling coupons has since been upgraded to plug loopholes.

Foreign commercial truckers using Zimbabwean roads pay their full set of toll fees once-off in foreign currency on entry and are issued with coupons at the border post they use to enable them to pass easily through all subsequent tollgates.

In the scam, officers charged with collecting these transit fees would issue and then cancel the coupons, on a false pretext, but still collected the foreign currency.

The cancelled coupons would then be issued to other truckers for the standard fees, with only one payment recorded in Zinara’s books and the rest of the money pocketed by the issuing officer.

Coupons were entered as cancelled on the grounds the trucker had not proceeded with the journey or that the wrong numbers had been entered.

But in all cases, the unsuspecting foreign trucker paid the full fee, as did the second driver who received the cancelled coupons which still looked like new.

The duped truckers would start meeting problems at the first tollgate from the border when coupon readers warn that the coupons were cancelled.

After debate and listening to the drivers, Zinara would end up allowing the vehicle to pass despite the system confirming the cancellation.

So two trucks in effect used one coupon.

In some cases, impatient drivers would bear the brunt of paying again to avoid delays.

A sophisticated monitoring system that supports Zinara’s operations exposed the rot, resulting in the arrest of at least nine officers, six from Beitbridge, two at Victoria Falls and one from Nyamapanda.

So far, at least US$30 000 was reported stolen in the scam, while investigations are still in progress to verify the genuineness of other cancellations involving US$450 000.

Zinara acting chief executive officer Mr Saston Muzenda said an internal audit corroborated findings by the system run by Univern Enterprises.

“Yes, I can confirm that the organisation was prejudiced of thousands of United States dollars in fraudulent coupon cancellations by our representatives at the borders,” he said.

“Some of these officers have since been dismissed from work while others are in court over the issue. Their illegal activities were picked by the system. We also carried out internal audits which unearthed the rot.

“Some of these officers would cancel a coupon and falsely state that the truck would have failed to proceed with the trip. However, the same truck does not stop and cameras at various tollgates captured the vehicles in transit.

“That is what our audit also showed.”

Mr Muzenda said investigations were still underway and Zinara could have lost more in the scam that is believed to have started in 2017.

The checking system is integrated with the tolling system such that all vehicles in transit are issued with a bar-coded transit coupon, which is then scanned and authenticated at the tollgates between the entry border post and the Zimbabwean destination or the exit border post.

In one case, a cashier stationed at Beitbridge Border Post was captured by the system issuing a coupon valued at US$120 for a truck destined for Harare.

She then cancelled the coupon, but reissued it some hours later to another truck driver going the same direction.

Investigations revealed that both vehicles travelled and completed their journeys using the same coupon. It was also established that both paid US$120 to the cashier, but only US$120 of the US$240 paid reached Zinara.

Sometimes checks are lax.

At Mushagashi tollgate, transit coupon number 175S1MLW2920180624102 (Jira ticket-TF1174) was read by the system as invalid.

Investigations by the Univern call centre revealed that the coupon had been cancelled, yet the driver had passed through Lutumba and Chivi tollgates without any challenges.

This prompted further investigations into the manner in which the coupons were being cancelled at the borders.

Beitbridge, according to investigations, recorded the highest number of cancellations, followed by Nyamapanda.

Univern chief executive officer Mr Phil Mushosho said a raft of measures were now in place to plug the loopholes.

“We have amended our system to ensure that once a coupon has been scanned and passed the first toll gate, it cannot be cancelled,” he said.

“The coupon cannot be cancelled for 48 hours after being issued. Whenever the need to cancel coupons arises, the officers have to contact our call centre and provide all the necessary information supporting their request.

“Upon satisfaction that the request is genuine, authority to cancel will be granted.”

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi, in consultation with President Mnangagwa, yesterday announced the appointment of six more members of the ZESA Holdings (Pvt) Ltd board.

The six are development economist Professor Ashok Chakravati, Ms Rosemary Siyachitema, experienced accountant Mrs Caroline Mathonsi, seasoned lawyer Mr James Muzangaza, investment banker Mr Jonathan Wood, seasoned marketing enthusiast and business executive Ms Stella Nkomo and accomplished energy engineer Ms Wadzanai Chigwa.

The board members join new executive chairman Dr Sydney Zukuzo Gata and his deputy Mrs Tsitsi Makovah, who were appointed on Wednesday.

In his statement announcing the board, Minister Chasi said the new members had their work cut out for them in ensuring that the country has adequate supplies of electricity.

ONE person died after being struck by lightning and property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed when heavy rains accompanied by strong winds hit Masvingo province.

In an interview, provincial Civil Protection (CP) chairman Mr Fungai Mbetsa said the heavy rains were recorded between Monday and Thursday.

A family in Rujeko was left homeless when the hailstorm destroyed its house.

“I can confirm that we have been experiencing flash floods in Chivi, Gutu, Zaka, Chiredzi and the worst affected was Bikita.

District teams are on the crowd compiling statistics,” said Mr Mbetsa.

He said girl from Chief Budzi in Bikita was struck and killed by lightning.

Mr Mbetsa who is also the provincial development coordinator urged families whose homes are on low ground to move to high ground.

“People should be wary of heavy rains and lightning that we are experiencing since the onset of the rains.

School children should dismiss early when there are signs that it might rain ” he said.

Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa confirmed that a Rujeko family is now homesless after their house was destroyed by a hailstorm. He said the roof of Rujeko Clinic was also blown away off.State media

Government is placing strong emphasis on reviving key economic sectors through the promotion of production-oriented investment and implementing initiatives targeted at enhancing the performance of State enterprises and parastatals.

This was said by Vice President Kembo Mohadi during the 7th edition of the Excellence in Corporate Governance Awards held in Harare on Thursday night.

The annual awards ceremony is organised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe (ICSAZ) to honour company boards who promote good corporate governance practices.

Mohadi said the various reforms being undertaken by Government had put Zimbabwe in the right direction.
“We are seeking to grow the livelihoods of our people,” he said.

“Progress has been made on many fronts that include, but not limited to fiscal consolidation, monetary policy restoration and liberalisation of the foreign exchange market to mention but a few.

“The 2020 National Budget, which marked a transition from austerity to a growth stimulation and employment generation era, offered quite a number of incentives which should be taken advantage of by all productive sectors of the economy.”

Mohadi said Government was improving the ease of doing business in the country through the establishment of a “One-Stop Shop” investment centre.

“The establishment of a One-Stop Shop investment centre is aimed at improving investor confidence,” he said.State media

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Farai Dziva|The ZIMSEC Grade 7 results are out.

According to The Herald results will be collected from Monday.

Indigenous languages recorded highest pass rates with Shona and Ndebele recording above 80 per cent pass rate.

ZIMSEC board chairperson Eddie Mwenje said the results will be collected from respective centres from Monday.

The 2019 national pass rate is 46.9 per cent down from last year’s 52.08 per cent, according to ZIMSEC.

The school head of Ntombankala Secondary School in Zhombe has reportedly gone into hiding after parents bayed for his blood linking him to a satanism scare rocking the school.

The school head, Edson Dube, reportedly fled the school following the mysterious death of a Form Four pupil who fell into a trance linked to satanism.

The death of the girl soon after writing her last Ordinary Level examination paper reportedly opened a can of worms as more pupils fell into trances calling out the school head’s name.

This, according to a source, did not go down well with the parents who called for a meeting with the head and village heads.

Dube reportedly did not attend the funeral of the deceased pupil and ordered teachers to shun the funeral, further inviting the wrath of the parents who resorted to the use of force.

Dube could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered.

Kwekwe District Schools Inspector Bernard Mazambani confirmed the development but said he was yet to get a written report.

“It is still rumours because the matter is yet to get to my office formally. I asked for a written report of which I will be able to comment after seeing a formal report,”said Mazambani.

He said Dube had applied for leave.
“I am told the head applied for leave. He did not run away from school as far as I know,” said Mazambani.

But a source close to the happenings said the situation had degenerated into chaos as more children became hysterical calling out the head’s name.
“It is chaotic at the school as we speak.

Children are still falling into trances and to make matters worse, some are now falling while at home. Everyone wants answers from the school head but he is nowhere to be seen,” said the source.

Dube, the source revealed, transferred from Zvishavane to the current school.B-Metro

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