By A Correspondent| The government is reportedly lining up funds to bump up civil servants salaries to cushion them from the daily cost of living which is going up on a daily basis, the state media reports.
This was reportedly said by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube on Friday speaking on the sideline of the SADC Anti sanctions day. Mthuli said:
We are going to have another adjustment as I speak, then we are going to pay the bonus in November. So we are doing our best in gradually supporting civil servants
Civil servants have been imploring the govt to review their salaries for long with doctors on strike since 3 September and teachers saying they now report for duty in casual clothes twice per week.
By A Correspondent| The national university of science and technology is designing an electric trolley bus for Zimbabwe the state media reports.
The project is a collaboration between the NUST innovation hub and WISE Africa according to the publication:
Aleck Ncube, acting director of the NUST Innovation Hub, says the Faculty of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering will be working with Wise-Africa Technologies in a private- public partnership project that is set to introduce the latest technology of an integrated electric trolley train bus
Innovation Hubs were set on every University to foster innovations and inventions in graduates. According to NUST’s VC, the project is a well developed concept that had been researched since 13 years ago.
BBC says more than 15,000 people turned at ED's National Sports Stadium demo on Friday. | ARE THEY TELLING THE TRUTH? Our drone shows no more than 4800 people at the venue throughout the function.
Chief Ndiweni was responding to questions at the Bulawayo Press club when he said: Dialogue between the current president and the leader of the opposition, at this moment in time, is an absolute futile gesture that will not yield anything meaningful.
Outspoken Ntbazinduna Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has added his voice to the dialogue calls by saying a dialogue now will be useless Daily News reports.
When you say dialogue you have to ask what you are dialoguing about. As a traditional leader, the answer to that question is who is going to live at State House.
If that issue is not on the table first and foremost, a dialogue is useless. It is useless to have dialogue if Mnangagwa is not going to entertain that question as it borders on legitimacy. If there is a need for any dialogue, it should be about how to form an interim transitional government.
A GNU will never deal with these issues. We had a GNU in 2008, but here we are once again, experiencing the same challenges, going to change foreign currency on the streets in exchange for paper money. Chief Ndiweni who is a critic of the current admin is out on bail pending an appeal of his vandalism case.
A showdown is looming between the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) following the secessionist party’s threats to remove First Chimurenga heroine Mbuya Nehanda’s statue mounted at Mzilikazi Art Craft centre in the majority Ndebele speaking city.
Mzilikazi Art Craft Centre is located in Mzilikazi high density suburb and is run by the City of Kings Business Ventures, a wholly owned BCC company that is registered as an educational vocational training institution.
MRP has given the city council a week to remove the statue which the party describes as offensive to the Ndebele people.
Mbuya Nehanda is believed to be the spirit medium that was the inspirational source behind the 1896-97 first Chimurenga.
According to a letter written to city authorities by the radical party’s president, Mqondisi Moyo, MRP wants Nehanda’s statue replaced by that of King Mzilikazi.
“The presence of Mbuya Nehanda statue is of little significance, not only to the city but to Mzilikazi Art Centre situated in Mzilikazi suburb and named after King Mzilikazi.
“There are quite a number of Ndebele significant people whose statues can be erected there. The likes of King Lobengula, Queen Lozikeyi and many more Ndebele heroes and heroines,” wrote Moyo to the local authority in his petition.
The MRP leader threatened to storm the place and remove the statue if council did not act within the next coming seven days.
“We, therefore, give BCC seven days ultimatum to remove that statue before we take it upon ourselves,” Moyo said.
The MRP president also threatened to remove all road signposts bearing Shona names on the city’s roads.
“In the next stage, we will be dealing with the issue of Bulawayo CBD roads as we correct all the wrongs in Mthwakazi particularly in Bulawayo,” Moyo added in his petition.- Agencies
AFP | Incumbent President Filipe Nyusi was declared the landslide winner in Mozambique’s election this month, despite claims of widespread cheating, the electoral commission announced on Sunday.
Nyusi of the ruling Frelimo party scored 73 percent of the vote, ahead of Ossufo Momade of Renamo, the rebel group turned opposition party, with almost 22 percent, commission chairman Abdul Carimo told a press briefing.
Renamo protested the outcome, saying the ballot was tainted by “massive electoral fraud”.
Nyusi had been widely predicted to win based on unofficial results from the October 15 vote, and Frelimo had already organised victory celebrations in the capital on Sunday.
After thanking voters for believing in him and the Frelimo party, Nyusi reached out to his rivals to work together.
“I want to express my respect to the opposition parties and give my hand to my Brothers Ossufo Momade, Daviz Simango and Mario Albino,” Nyusi told supporters at a Frelimo conference centre in Matola, a suburb of the capital Maputo.
“We must work together to develop our country,” Nyusi said.
Frelimo won 184 parliamentary seats, a major jump from the 144 achieved in the 2014 polls.
Conversely, the largest opposition lost 29 seats compared with the 89 it attained previously.
Just over 50 percent of the 13 million registered voters cast their ballots.
The polls marked the first time Mozambicans elected provincial governors, who were previously appointed by the government.
– Pre-vote violence –
Nyusi, 60, became Mozambique’s first president not born in the south when he took over from Armando Guebuza in 2015.
Frelimo, which has ruled since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975, took a popularity hit when it was revealed the government had secretly borrowed $2 billion (1.8 billion euros), sparking one of Mozambique’s worst financial crises.
Nyusi’s second term will see prosecutions in the “hidden debt” scandal, which has scared away donors and investors.
Frelimo suffered its worst-ever performance at the ballot box last year, scoring 51.8 percent in local elections.
Nyusi, while battling an Islamist insurgency, is tasked with maintaining the peace mandated by an accord reached in August.
The long awaited deal turned the page on decades of conflict and disarmed Renamo’s armed wing.
Renamo called for fresh elections last week, accusing the government of breaching the peace deal by using violence and intimidation on voting day.
Mozambican civil society and international observers have flagged numerous alleged attempts to stuff ballot boxes and chase away election monitors, as well as hundreds of thousands of so-called “ghost voters” on the electoral roll.
The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) said it was regrettable that irregularities in voter registration had not been addressed before the vote.
The election campaign was one of the most violent in the country’s history, with at least 10 people killed in the run-up to the polls, according to a local observer mission.
Among the killings was the murder of a prominent election observer — suspected to have been carried out by a special police unit — and that of the Renamo Women’s League leader, whose bullet-ridden body was found with her husband’s in the western province of Tete.
Frelimo has hailed the elections as free and fair, while observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) also approved of the election, saying the run-up to the vote and the balloting itself were “generally peaceful and conducted in an orderly manner”.
Despite numerous opposition party complaints, SADC observers have endorsed elections in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana in recent months, declaring them all to be free and fair.
Mozambique is still picking up the pieces after Cyclone Idai decimated the second city of Beira in March, displacing nearly two million people.
On the plus side, Nyusi will preside over an oil boom in the north of the former Portuguese colony.
Prince Dube (right) is joined by colleagues in celebrating his goal against FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday
THE football gods seem to be smiling on Highlanders once again following a lethargic start to the 2019 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.
Bosso struggled on the edge of the relegation zone right from the start of the season and only hit good form eight games ago when new coach Henrick Pieter de Jongh took over the reins.
His impact was instant and Bosso now look set to make up for a disastrous league campaign by winning the Chibuku Super Cup.
Yesterday the resurgent Bulawayo giants displayed a breathtaking performance to blow away league champions FC Platinum in a Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final encounter at Barbourfields Stadium.
Bosso fans were taken down memory lane when no visiting team left Barbourfields Stadium with a positive result.
And what better opponent to relive the good old days than to thrash FC Platinum, who have dominated domestic football for two seasons in a row and are still in contention for a hat-trick of league titles.
Well taken goals by Prince Dube, Denzel Khumalo and Tinashe Makanda’s 88th minute strike that put the icing on the cake seemed to leave Bosso fans in a trance.
Khumalo, who had seemingly lost his way under Madinda Ndlovu and Mandla Mpofu, looks a completely different player altogether under de Jongh.
The diminutive Khumalo, who was used as a striker yesterday, controlled ball off a rebound with his right foot, lifted his head, spotted FC Platinum goalkeeper Wallace Magalane out of position and unleashed a left-footed curler into the top corner of the net, sending Highlanders’ fans into ecstasy.
Prince Dube, scorer of the solitary goal that ditched Dynamos out of the tournament in the first round, had shot Bosso into the lead after converting a ninth minute penalty.
FC Platinum defender Lawrence Mhlanga had handled the ball inside the box in an effort to clear right-back McClive Phiri’s hard and low cross from the right-hand side and referee Arnold Ncube pointed to the spot despite protestations by the platinum miners.
Dube stepped up and sent Magalane the wrong way.
Bosso controlled the entire first half and could have scored more goals had they not been wasteful in front of goal.
FC Platinum returned from the halftime break playing some purposeful football, but somehow couldn’t unlock the Bosso rearguard.
Makanda snuffed out any slim hopes FC Platinum had of coming back from the behind with a tap-in in the 88th minute.
Dube inititated a counterattack from the left side by riding several tackles before releasing the ball to Brian Banda, who sold the FC Platinum defence a dummy and immaculately laid the ball onto Makanda’s path for a simple slot past the advancing goalkeeper.
Makanda’s strike compensated for a dull second half, which had little goalmouth action. The comfortable victory against the platinum miners brought joy to Highlanders’ followers, who burst into song and dance and took their party into the city centre.
Highlanders had started the game livelier, forcing Magalane to pull a stunning save in the fifth minute, pushing Dube’s close-range shot out for a corner.
When Highlanders were in possession in the first half, they shifted to a 3-4-3 formation, leaving three defenders Andrew Mbeba, Peter Muduhwa and either left-back Mbongeni Ndlovu or Phiri at the back, depending on the wing they attacked from.
Nqobizitha Masuku, Banda, either Ndlovu or Phiri and Adrian Silla formed the four-man midfield, with Dube, Khumalo and Makanda attacking. When defending, Bosso folded to a 4-5-1 formation, with Dube and Makanda dropping into the midfield.
In the second half FC Platinum switched from a 4-4-2 formation to 3-5-2. FC Platinum coach Lizwe Sweswe made a double substitution in the 55th minute, pulling out left-back Tawana Chikore and striker Lameck Nhamo for defensive midfielder Devon Chafa and attacker Never Tigere.
FC Platinum’s backline had Mhlanga, Raphael Muduviwa and William Stima, and after the introduction of Chafa and Tigere, Rainsome Pavari moved upfront from anchorman.
The five midfielders were Chafa, Tigere, Pavari, Charles Sibanda and Hagiazo Magaya. Rodwell Chinyengetere and Perfect Chikwende led their attack.
Despite throwing everything at Bosso, they absorbed the pressure right up to the final whistle.
Some of the women who were rescued from the brothel.
State Media|MORE than 30 Zimbabwean women suspected to be victims of human trafficking were rescued by South African police from brothels in eMalahleni, formerly Witbank, in Mpumalanga province where their captors used them as sex slaves.
The Zimbabweans were part of a group of 50 victims among them males, from other countries which included the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria and locals.
South African provincial police spokesperson for Mpumalanga Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said the suspected victims of human trafficking were rescued in a pre-dawn raid on Friday targeting various houses in eMalahleni.
He said some of the women rescued were sex workers and others had been kept against their will.
“As police, we acted on a tip-off and raided houses which were used as brothels in eMalahleni to rid the area of drugs and prostitution and rescued 50 foreign nationals. They were all undocumented, a majority of which were from Zimbabwe. We also arrested more than 60 people for various offences, including prostitution, possession of drugs and human trafficking,” said Brig Hlathi.
He said that the area targeted was believed to be habouring prostitutes, drug dealers and illegal foreign nationals.
“We raided that place informed by an incident that happened during the week in which a 39-year-old woman reported to the taxi people that she was subjected to severe rape and fed with drugs in a particular house in Witbank. The taxi rank people then went to torch three houses as well as a business believed to belong to foreign nationals,” he said.
During the operation, police barricaded the streets and raided the houses.
“The women that we rescued said they had been kept against their will and forced to do sex work after having been forced to take drugs,” said Brig Hlathi.
He said on Wednesday, seven women were also rescued from the clutches of pimps in the area.
“We cannot allow this situation to continue and, in the process, we also found that some of these women were here in the country illegally because they don’t have proper documentation. The locals are from other provinces in the country,” he said.
Brig Hlathi said similar operations would be conducted in other towns in the province.
“We want sanity to prevail and we will soon roll out similar operations in other parts of Mpumalanga as we intensify our fight against drug abuse, human trafficking and sex slave,” said the police spokesperson.
He said the undocumented foreign nationals have since been handed over to the Department of Home Affairs awaiting deportation.
Recently, South African police rescued 37 undocumented Zimbabweans from a human trafficking syndicate and arrested two taxi drivers who were transporting them.
The illegal immigrants — 21 men, 11 women and five children — were intercepted in Polokwane while on their way to Pretoria.
According to the Department of Immigration, an average of 100 illegal migrants are intercepted daily at Beitbridge Border Post as they try to enter South Africa.
Zimbabwean border jumpers wishing to cross into South Africa are helped by commuter omnibus drivers commonly known as omalayitsha who are well connected to officials on both sides of the border.
Despite stiff fines imposed by the South African Home Affairs on omalayitsha caught smuggling undocumented travellers or those with expired passports or no valid visas, into that country, cases of smuggling of such persons continue to rise.
Those caught smuggling undocumented persons are required to pay a fine of R15 000 per person.
Authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa have on many occasions raised the red flag against the rampant smuggling of undocumented travellers, especially minors into the neighbouring country.—
FORMER Telecel Zimbabwe boss and businessman, James Makamba last year revealed that he fled the country and remained in self-imposed exile for 13 years after former President Robert Mugabe (pictured) threatened to kill him on suspicion of having an adulterous affair with former First Lady, Grace.
Makamba made the disclosure after he handed himself over to the Harare Magistrates’ Court after fleeing from justice on August 31, 2005, when he was supposed to appear in court on currency externalisation charges.
The businessman, who was facing charges of externalising funds, told magistrate Hosea Mujaya that he genuinely believed that his life was in danger.
“Your worship my client was under genuine belief that his life was in danger. It was not in danger of the body of his person, but could have been killed if he continued residing in the country,” said Makamba’s lawyer Charles Chinyama Chinyama.
“The person whom he (Makamba) suspected may harm him is none other than the former Head of State Robert Mugabe who suspected that he was dating his wife, Grace. That man was viewed as the law unto himself.”
Chinyama said Makamba decided to have his day in court following Mugabe’s ouster last November in a military-led campaign, dubbed Operation Restore Legacy. “It was a challenge for a simple man as he is, fighting against the Head of State, your worship. So to save his life, he decided to stay away until the right time,” he said.
The lawyer cited a similar case where the now late former President, Canaan Banana, fled the country at the height of his sodomy trial. Chinyama said the court understood Banana’s situation and did not charge him for absconding.
He pleaded with the court to pardon his client on the same grounds, but public prosecutor Michael Reza opposed the application saying the warrant of arrest against Makamba confirmed that the businessman had wilfully defaulted.
“Your worship, the accused wilfully defaulted court and should have brought the evidence that he was under threat from the former Head of State. If he produced proof that the former Head of State wanted to kill him, then the court may rule in his favour,” Reza said.
The prosecutor also suggested that Makamba’s property in Glen Lorne, Harare, which the latter surrendered as surety as part of his bail conditions, should be forfeited to the State as punishment for defaulting.
But the application for forfeiture was opposed by Chinyama who cited section 111 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act which allows the court to call the accused’s name three times before the warrant can be issued.
It later emerged during trial, that the property in question was not registered in Makamba’s name but a company, Chiedza Investments. Chinyama told the court that the State was supposed to have issued a warrant of arrest against the company.
He added that the State’s failure to issue an arrest warrant against the firm means that the court had no power to grant an application for forfeiture because the State should call out the company’s name thrice as required at law.
Mujaya then spared Makamba’s house but ordered forfeiture of the Zimbabwe dollar money he had deposited with the clerk of court as bail.
Makamba was also removed from remand with the State indicating that it would proceed by way of summons if it decides to pursue the matter.
A Mazowe miner, Ngoni Edward Mutopo, has applied for an urgent interdict at the High Court against Gushungo Holdings (Pvt) Limited which he is accusing of chasing him away from his two blocks of mines.
Gushungo Holdings is owned by the Mugabe family.
Mutopo claims that his ore on the mining site was being stolen by illegal panners who were conniving with Gushungo Holdings employees.
He is seeking a court order compelling Gushungo Holdings or anyone acting through the company’sinstructions or command to be interdicted from interfering with his mining operations.
“The applicant’s blocks of mines being Iron Mask 68, registration number 29097 consisting of 10 Gold Reef and Iron Mask 69, registration number 29098 consisting of 10 Gold Reef in Iron Mask Estate in Mazowe,” read the draft order.
Mutopo claims that he was unlawfully evicted from his two blocks of mines and was being denied the right to access them by Gushungo Holdings.
“Applicant has been lawfully mining and is being denied the right by the respondent, who is acting unlawfully and without a court order authorising him to act in that manner,” read the application.
“His ore on the mining site is being stolen by illegal panners who are working in cahoots with the respondent’s employees. The applicant is being prejudiced by Gushungo Holdings’ unlawful actions, hence he is seeking urgent relief.”
State Media|Health Services Board (HSB) last week said it is anticipating to commence disciplinary hearings for striking doctors on Thursday this week following their continued defiance to a court order, which declared as illegal their withdrawal of labour.
Responding to emailed questions from The Herald, HSB board chairperson Dr Paulinus Sikosana said the defiant doctors were being served letters summoning them to a hearing.
He said a letter by the doctors circulating on social media indicating they are unable to attend the hearings does not have a bearing on the scheduled hearings.
“The board is in receipt of the communication from the doctors,” said Dr Sikosana. “This will not have any bearing on the scheduled hearings. Disciplinary hearings are going to proceed as scheduled starting on Thursday next week (this week).
“Currently, they are being served with hearing letters.”
The doctors had earlier written to the HSB saying they will not be able to attend the hearings arguing that they were still open to dialogue, but gave a condition that any offer from the employer must be at interbank rate.
The doctors also argued they had not violated any provision of their contract, but were simply demanding a fair living wage.
“This serves to inform you that the incapacitated doctors nationwide will not be able to attend the disciplinary hearings and any threats should stop forthwith to pave way for dialogue, provided an offer is made at interbank rate,” wrote the doctors in a letter dated October 23, 2019 signed by the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association.
“We believe we have not committed any misconduct by demanding a fair living wage.”
Doctors stopped reporting for work on September 3, citing incapacitation and demanding a cost of living adjustment at interbank rate.
The rest of the health workers accepted Government’s offer serve for the doctors who then exited the Health Apex Council citing uniqueness of their nature of job.
Since then, the doctors have not been reporting for work despite a Labour Court ruling which declared their mass job action illegal and ordered them to report for work within 48 hours from the date of the ruling.
In its ruling, the Labour Court also referred their dispute for arbitration — a process of which was supposed to take place while they are at work.
However, the doctors defied the ruling and opted to continue withdrawing their labour.
State Media|Government has fired a salvo at the United States of America’s decision to add to its sanctions list, State Security Minister Owen Ncube on allegations of gross violations of human rights, describing the move as absurd.
The US State Department last week announced that it was adding Minister Ncube on to the blacklist with the department claiming it had credible information of his involvement in “gross violations of human rights”.
The move flew in the face of growing rancour against US sanctions policy on Zimbabwe with Sadc observing a day of solidarity against the stance on Friday.
In an interview yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services secretary Mr Nick Mangwana said the country was already under sanctions and poured scorn on the Western superpower’s tactics.
“These so-called ‘lists’ have just become a farcical and a form of hegemonic arbitrary justice,” he said.
“The US brands itself a fair country but everything we have seen regarding the sanctions issue has been nothing but obstinate arrogance. I advise anyone to check Minister Owen Ncube’s travel history and see whether the US has ever been part of his prime destinations,” said Mangwana.
Mr Mangwana said for the US to ominously announce its decision on Minister Ncube on the day both the African Union and SADC spoke strongly against these sanctions, betrayed a paternalistic attitude towards African states.
“The good news in all this is that Africa has spoken with one loud and emphatic voice in this matter for the first time. No amount of cynical pettiness can muffle that,” he said.
Zimbabweans took part in various activities across the country in anti-sanctions protests against the US and EU, following the declaration by Sadc of October 25 as a day of solidarity with Zimbabwe in its fight against the illegal sanctions.
State Media|Government is lining up another salary adjustment for civil servants to cushion them from the unwarranted price increases that businesses continue to effect.
This was said by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in an interview with journalists at the National Sports Stadium on Friday on the sidelines of the SADC day of solidarity against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West.
“We are going to have another adjustment as I speak, then we are going to pay the bonus in November. So we are doing our best in gradually supporting civil servants,” he said.
It could not be immediately established when the latest increment would come into effect.
Once the salary adjustment comes into force, it will be the third this year alone after reviews in April and July.
Asked if Government was considering pegging civil servants’ salaries to the interbank rate for foreign currency as has been suggested by employee representatives, Prof Ncube said there was no money to sustain that.
“We cannot afford it. Where is the exchange rate now, US$1:$15? So can you imagine if we were to multiply that (the current salary) by a factor of US$1:$15.
“We cannot afford that as Government, we will go bust. So we will do it in a gradual way, I think we have done our best. We had an adjustment in April, another adjustment in July, another is coming, then we have the bonus in November,” he said.
This year’s bonus will be pegged on gross income, a departure from last year when the 13th cheque was based on pensionable salaries only.
The development will increase civil servants’ disposable incomes ahead of the festive season.
Prof Ncube said while Government has been adjusting civil servants’ salaries, “within our means” in the face of a severe drought, it was critical that private sector employers also played ball and adjust their employees’ earnings.
He said while it was critical for the private sector to cushion their workers, Government wanted that to be done in a manner which dids not expose companies to bankruptcy.
Prof Ncube also praised civil servants and the rest of the population for “being understanding because reforms are not easy”.
“We are doing this (salary adjustments and budget surpluses) under severe drought.We have not suffered this kind of drought, power outages, two cyclones and we are still standing. We have achieved a lot,” he said.
Between January and June this year, Treasury recorded a budget surplus of $803,6 million driven by fiscal discipline in line ministries.
Charlton Athletic striker Macauley Bonne is surely making a name for himself in the English Championship after striking again on Saturday in 2-2 draw at West Brom.
The Zimbabwean scored his fifth goal in six games, securing an equaliser on the hour after Charlton had gone behind courtesy of Matt Phillips’ tenth-minute effort.
Bonne’s goal comes as a perfect present for the forward who is celebrating his 24th birthday today.
Hal Robson-Kanu netted the other goal for the hosts on minute 67 while Josh Cullen’s stoppage-time penalty meant the teams shared the points in the Match-day 14 encounter.Soccer 24
Opposition leader Ms Linda Masarira says she stands ready to fight US sanctions on Zimbabwe to the bitter end, adding that she also stands ready to provide sanctions-busting strategies should the Government need her ideas.
Masarira, who is the president of the LEAD party, attended the main event of the anti-sanctions march at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday alongside
“I marched, I expressed myself and I am going to fight for sanctions to be lifted.
“If they are not lifted, I pledge to assist government to come up with sanction busting measures which will revive our economy and ensure sustainable human development,” Masarira said on social media.
Masarira would not divulge what strategies she would employ to beat the sanctions which have been maintained against Zimbabwean political leaders, firms and farms for the past nineteen years . Zimbabwevoice.com
Farai Dziva|Opposition leader Noah Manyika has described Emmerson Mnangagwa As the worst leader in Africa.
“No President has been on a faster track to be crowned Africa’s worst leader than our very own. No leader stubbornly refuses to learn the free lessons of history more than he does.
The end of such regimes and such leaders is never good, not because of the sinister hand of any “Third Force” but because of the perfect storms of circumstances, delusional leaders create for themselves and which invariably swallow them up,” Manyika told Zimbabwevoice.com
A day after the ZANU PF government marched in Harare’s central business district in protests against targeted sanctions a by-election was held today pitting the MDC and ZANU PF.
Human rights abuses have been at the centre of the reasons why certain individuals and companies have been placed under sanctions.
The defacto government is not relenting at all in terms of human rights abuses.
The numbers who attended the so called sanctions march yesterday are a clear testimony that the support of the ZANU PF party is waning.
Today’s by-election in Chiredzi South is a clear testimony that as a country we need a comprehensive reform agenda.
The continuous abuse of state security agents is a cause for concern especially in the 20st century.
Several CIO vehicles were moving around ward 12 as a way on intimidating the rural so that they make choices under duress like what is reflected by the results from the by-election.
In a free country its unheard of that only polling agents can vote for their party and others vote for the ruling as if the process was rehearsed before.
This calls for the government to free the political playing field which is one of the conditions for sanctions removal rather than wasting scarce resources doing kongonya at the national sports stadium.
The following are the results for Chiredzi South Ward 12 by-election:
Zimbabwean striker Tendai Ndoro provided a goal and an assist for Highlands Park in ensuring that his fellow country man, Chippa United coach Norman Mapeza, suffered his first defeat in the ABSA Premiership when the two sides met last night.
Highlands Park won the game 2-0 at the Makhulong Stadium to move to 4th on the table, a point adrift of Bidvest Wits.
Ndoro also provided the assist for the first goal, cutting back for Spiwe Msimango to finish in the 18th minute.
His half volley in the 67th minute bounced and deceived the Chippa United goalkeeper into the back of the net to double Highlands Park’s advantage.
The Chilli Boys are still the only team yet to win a single game in the ABSA Premiership this season and are bottom placed with a paltry four points from nine matches.
Farai Dziva|MDC president Chamisa has said the battle against sanctions is a Zanu PF and has nothing to do with ordinary Zimbabweans.
Said Chamisa:
“Thank you fellow Zimbabweans for rejecting the sanctions propaganda …
For the record, corruption, leadership crisis, human rights abuse, electoral theft are the problem not the sanction nonsense. These sanctions were imposed on few individuals in Zanu pf. Those individuals must march alone. We cannot allow our people to march so that someone can be able to take their whole families to expensive hotels in New York using state funds.
It's now beyond debate that the fight against sanctions on Zimbabwe has won a resounding by-in & endorsement from SADC, AU & the entire progressive world. We now move on to the phase of identifying, curbing & eliminating all forms of corruption.#AfricaIsRising
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed to replicate the Chinese model of fighting corruption after his pledge to tackle the vice when he was first inaugurated.
This was said by University of Zimbabwe security studies lecturer Wesley Mwatwara who opined that the current Harare administration has a penchant for attempting rather than acting on all issues. He said:
While in China, many high ranking government and military officials have been found guilty of corruption since Xi came to power in 2012, the same cannot be said about Mnangagwa’s regime.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has perfected the art of catching and releasing suspects with no high profile convictions yet.
Mwatwara said that corruption has become even more entrenched in Zimbabwe under the so-called New Dispensation that it was during the ancient regime.
A few months ago, the ZANU PF Youth League produced a long list of party bigwigs whom it accused of gross corruption but nothing has been done against them.
By Own Correspondent| 10 members of a Nyanga family died under mysterious circumstances with some family members suspecting that it could be the work of goblins.
The family had to seek for spiritual help from “prophet” Madzibaba Shepherd Nzira, who leads the Zvakazarurwa Zvevapostori Church.
In an interview with a local publication, a family member Francis Nzvenga said:
Family members have died mysteriously until we established that there was witchcraft in the family. We could not figure out who exactly was behind the death of about 10 family members and then engaged Madzibaba Nzira, who exposed the culprit.
… What shocked us most is that inside one of the clay pots was a paper with a list of people that had died mysteriously and earmarked to die.
The “prophet” allegedly retrieved suspected tools of witchcraft which included a creepy-like goblin, lance, knobkerrie tied with hyena tail and clay pot filled with blood.
Madzibaba Nzira told the family that a number of family members were bound to die in the future. He promised the family that he had dealt with the problem and they will not be haunted again.”
By Own Correspondent| Buhera district is facing severe water shortages with reports of young children collapsing as a result of dehydration and the elderly travelling lost distances to fetch the precious liquid.
For those fortunate enough to have boreholes and tanks on their homesteads, the wells have dried up due to a combination of continuous abstraction and a receding water table.
Buhera Rural District Council chief executive officer Emily Chibvongodze spoke to a local publication about the water situation.
She said
We have a population of about 280 300 people against 1306 water points. Normally each water point should serve about 250 people. The imbalance makes our situation dire. We have areas without boreholes and people walk long distances to access water.
The district is the aridest in Manicaland province as it receives rainfall below 500mm per year.
During the summer season, maximum temperatures range between 30 to 40 degrees Celsius which further stresses the available moisture.
Donald Trump announced Sunday morning that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ‘died like a dog’ as the result of a U.S. Special Ops forces raid on his hideout in northwest Syria.
‘Last night the United State brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead,’ Trump said from the Diplomatic Reception Room, where just a week earlier he announced a ceasefire between Turkey and the Kurds.
‘He was the founder and leader of ISIS, the most ruthless and violent terror organization anywhere in the world,’ he continued as he described the events of the raid.
Al-Baghdadi, the president confirmed, detonated his suicide vest, killing himself and three children, during an overnight targeted attack in Syria’s Idlib province.
Donald Trump addressed the nation Sunday morning, confirming that the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He said he had watched and monitored the whole operation Saturday nightMeeting in the situation room Saturday night (from left to right): National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, Vice President Mike Pence, Trump, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army General Mark Milley and Brig. General Marcus Evans
Trump also referred to al-Baghdadi and those who followed him as ‘losers,’ and lauded that no U.S. personnel were lost during the raid. He did say, however, that one ‘talented canine’ was injured.
‘I got to watch much of it. No personnel were lost in the operation, while a large number of Baghdadi’s fighters and companions were killed with him,’ Trump said during his rare Sunday morning remarks.
‘He died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way,’ Trump continued, adding that Baghdadi drug three of his children with him. ‘They were led to certain death.’
‘He reached the end of the tunnel as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children. His body was mutilated by the blast. the tunnel had caved in on it, in addition. But test results gave certain, immediate and totally positive identification. It was him. The thug who tried so hard to intimidate others spent his last moments in utter fear, in total panic and dread, terrified of the American forces bearing down on him,’ he detailed.
He also said, while claiming he’s been looking for Baghdadi for three years, that he’s potentially the only one better at ‘using the internet’ than ISIS forces.
‘A couple of weeks ago they were able to scope him out,’ Trump said of the U.S. intelligence community.
‘You know, these people are very smart, they are not into the use of cell phones any more. They’re very technically brilliant,’ the president said in reference to those working for ISIS.
‘You know, they use the internet better than almost anybody in the world, perhaps other than Donald Trump,’ he continued. ‘But they use the internet incredibly well and what they’ve done with the internet through recruiting and everything – and that is why he died like a dog, he died like a coward. He was whimpering, screaming and crying, and frankly I think it’s something that should be brought out so that his followers and all of these young kids that want to leave various countries – including the United States – they should see how he died. He didn’t die a hero, he died a coward – crying, whimpering, and screaming and bringing three kids with him to die. Certain death.’
The president teased Saturday night, ‘Something very big has just happened!’ and the White House also announced that night that the president would be ‘making a major statement’ Sunday morning from the White House.
Trump said he does not regret his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, which opened the way for Turkey to invade and target Kurdish forces.
Al-Baghdadi arrived at the area of the raid 48 hours beforehand, Turkish officials said – and the CIA assisted in locating him.
The ISIS leader’s two wives, who were both wearing explosive devices that never detonated, were taken down. Several of his children were taken from the lair and are still alive. Several others were killed in the attack.
Trump said more people were killed than captured, but confirmed there are some in U.S. custody.
Caliphate leader: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi detonated his own suicide vest during the targeted raid on his lair in Syria’s Idlib province and killed three of his children in the blast. He is shown in a still from a video released in April, having not been seen since he spoke at the Grand Mosque in Mosul in 2014Syrians ride a motorcycle past a burnt vehicle near the site where a helicopter gunfire reportedly killed nine people near the northwestern Syrian village of Barisha
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed on Sunday they had worked with the U.S. on a ‘successful’ operation against Islamic State.
‘Our strong and effective operations once again confirm our strength and determination to go after (Islamic State),’ the head of the SDF’s media office said.
The Syrian Democratic Forces is an alliance in the Syrian Civil War made up of primarily Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian/Syriac militias.
SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi took partial credit for taking down al-Baghdadi, but also thanked the president and U.S. Army in its efforts, which he said have been under way for almost half-a-year.
‘For five months there has been joint intel cooperation on the ground and accurate monitoring, until we achieved a joint operation to kill Abu Bakir al-Baghdadi. Thanks to everybody who participate in this great mission,’ Abdi tweeted, tagging Donald Trump’s Twitter account.
The president also thanked those who had assisted in finding al-Baghdadi, participated in the raid and brought him to his death. He said that while the Kurds provided information that was useful in taking down al-Baghdadi, they did not assist in the military operations.
The ISIS leader has been among U.S. and Europe’s force’s most wanted figures since his chilling call to arms in 2014, which saw a shift away from the mass casualty attacks carried out by al-Qaeda in favor of smaller-scale acts of violence.
Al-Baghdadi, the leader of the so-called Islamic caliphate, blew himself up during the targeted attack on his lair in Syria’s Idlib province in the early hours of Sunday morning. His lair was in a village known for smuggling, and he arrived there 48 hours before the raid
Shifting away from the airline hijackings and other mass-casualty attacks that came to define al-Qaeda, al-Baghdadi encouraged smaller-scale acts of violence that would be harder for law enforcement to prepare for and prevent.
He encouraged jihadists who could not travel to the caliphate to instead kill where they were using whatever weapon they had at their disposal, resulting in a series of devastating attacks in the UK and Europe.
His words inspired more than 140 terrorist attacks in 29 countries other than Iraq and Syria, resulting in the deaths of at least 2,043 people, CNN reports.
Al-Baghdadi led ISIS for the last five years, presiding over its ascendancy as it cultivated a barbaric reputation for beheadings and horrific executions.
These recordings, often noted for their high production values, were distributed online along with the ISIS propaganda magazine Dabiq.
He remained among the few ISIS commanders still at large despite multiple claims in recent years about his death and even as his so-called caliphate dramatically shrank, with many supporters who joined the cause either imprisoned or jailed.
A picture taken on October 27, 2019 shows a burnt vehicle at the site where a helicopter gunfire killed nine people near the northwestern Syrian village of Barisha in the province of Idlib near the border with TurkeyTrump teased, without explanation on Saturday that ‘Something very big has just happened!’ and the White House confirmed the president would be addressing the nation on Sunday morning
With a £19.5 million ($25m) bounty on his head, al-Baghdadi had been far less visible in recent years, releasing only sporadic audio recordings, including one just last month in which he called on members of the extremist group to do all they could to free ISIS detainees and women held in jails and camps.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported an attack carried out by a squadron of eight helicopters accompanied by a warplane.
The attacks were on positions where ISIS operatives were believed to be hiding in the Barisha area north of Idlib city, after midnight on Saturday-Sunday.
It said the helicopters targeted ISIS positions with heavy strikes for about 120 minutes, during which jihadists targeted the helicopters with heavy weapons.
The Syrian Observatory documented the death of nine people as a result of the coalition helicopter attack, adding that the death toll is likely to rise due to the presence of a large number of wounded.
The strike came amid concerns that a recent American pullback from northeastern Syria could infuse new strength into the militant group, which had lost vast stretches of territory it had once controlled.
The purported audio was his first public statement since last April, when he appeared in a video for the first time in five years.
Reports suggest that al-Baghdadi, the elusive militant who has been the subject of an international manhunt for years, had been killed in Idlib, Syria
In 2014, he was a black-robed figure delivering a sermon from the pulpit of Mosul’s Great Mosque of al-Nuri, his only known public appearance.
He urged Muslims around the world to swear allegiance to the caliphate and obey him as its leader.
‘It is a burden to accept this responsibility to be in charge of you,’ he said in the video.
‘I am not better than you or more virtuous than you. If you see me on the right path, help me. If you see me on the wrong path, advise me and halt me. And obey me as far as I obey God.’
The reported death of such a high-value U.S. target comes amid a difficult political backdrop fro Trump, who has been frustrated heavy media focus on the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, which he calls an illegitimate witch hunt.
He has also faced withering criticism from both Republicans and Democrats alike for his US troop withdrawal from northeastern Syria, which permitted Turkey to attack America’s Kurdish allies.
The second instalment of the Battle Of Zimbabwe has been scheduled for Sunday, November 3 at Rufaro in Match-day 29.
The encounter comes at time Highlanders have rediscovered their touch following the arrival of new coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh last month.
The Bulawayo giants who have dominated the rivalry in recent years will be hoping to complete a double over Dynamos after winning 1-0 in the reverse fixture.
But before the Sunday’s showdown, Bosso and Dembare will play in mid-week fixtures for Match-day 28 set for Wednesday and Thursday.
Dembare will be up against Manica Diamonds on the first day while Highlanders date Yadah at Barbourfields Stadium on Thursday.
Elsewhere, Triangle United’s next two games – against Hwange and Chicken Inn have postponed due to the team’s involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Match-day 28 Fixtures:
Wednesday, October 3 B. Chiefs vs Mushowani Stars (Luveve Stadium) Harare City vs Chicken Inn (Rufaro Stadium) FC Platinum vs Ngezi Platinum (Mandava Stadium) Chapungu vs ZPC Kariba (Ascot Stadium) Manica Diamonds vs Dynamos (Vengere Stadium) CAPS United vs Herentals (NSS)
Thursday, October 31 Highlanders vs Yadah (B/Fields Stadium) B. Rhinos vs TelOne (NSS) Triangle United vs Hwange (Gibbo Stadium – Postponed)
*All games start at 3 pm unless stated.
Match-day 29 Fixtures:
Saturday, November 2 Ngezi Platinum vs Manica Diamonds (Baobab Stadium) FC Platinum vs B. Chiefs (Mandava Stadium) Herentals vs Harare City (NSS)
Sunday, November 3 Dynamos vs Highlanders (Rufaro Stadium) Yadah vs Chapungu (NSS) ZPC Kariba vs B. Rhinos (Nyamhunga Stadium) Hwange vs Mushowani Stars (Colliery) TelOne vs CAPS United (Ascot Stadium) Chicken Inn vs Triangle United (Luveve Stadium – Postponed)
Opposition leader Ms Linda Masarira says she stands ready to fight US sanctions on Zimbabwe to the bitter end, adding that she also stands ready to provide sanctions-busting strategies should the Government need her ideas.
Masarira, who is the president of the LEAD party, attended the main event of the anti-sanctions march at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday alongside
“I marched, I expressed myself and I am going to fight for sanctions to be lifted.
“If they are not lifted, I pledge to assist government to come up with sanction busting measures which will revive our economy and ensure sustainable human development,” Masarira said on social media.
Masarira would not divulge what strategies she would employ to beat the sanctions which have been maintained against Zimbabwean political leaders, firms and farms for the past nineteen years . Zimbabwevoice.com
Farai Dziva|Opposition leader Noah Manyika has described Emmerson Mnangagwa As the worst leader in Africa.
“No President has been on a faster track to be crowned Africa’s worst leader than our very own. No leader stubbornly refuses to learn the free lessons of history more than he does.
The end of such regimes and such leaders is never good, not because of the sinister hand of any “Third Force” but because of the perfect storms of circumstances, delusional leaders create for themselves and which invariably swallow them up,” Manyika told Zimbabwevoice.com
Musarwadziwe ana d**o kana neniwo dai ndakavawona ba Shero @alickmacheso3 ndaiva kisser I'm a big fan. Mai Shero married a celebrity and she should be fine nazvo it's not like she's complaining – Tracey Sakala pic.twitter.com/cKPL96C3W6
A day after the ZANU PF government marched in Harare’s central business district in protests against targeted sanctions a by-election was held today pitting the MDC and ZANU PF.
Human rights abuses have been at the centre of the reasons why certain individuals and companies have been placed under sanctions.
The defacto government is not relenting at all in terms of human rights abuses.
The numbers who attended the so called sanctions march yesterday are a clear testimony that the support of the ZANU PF party is waning.
Today’s by-election in Chiredzi South is a clear testimony that as a country we need a comprehensive reform agenda.
The continuous abuse of state security agents is a cause for concern especially in the 20st century.
Several CIO vehicles were moving around ward 12 as a way on intimidating the rural so that they make choices under duress like what is reflected by the results from the by-election.
In a free country its unheard of that only polling agents can vote for their party and others vote for the ruling as if the process was rehearsed before.
This calls for the government to free the political playing field which is one of the conditions for sanctions removal rather than wasting scarce resources doing kongonya at the national sports stadium.
The following are the results for Chiredzi South Ward 12 by-election:
Supporters of Robert Mugabe, leader of the ruling party, wave flags at Mahusekwa south-east of Harare on March 05, 2008 where Mugabe addressed a campaign rally ahead of general elections on March 29. AFP PHOTO/Desmond Kwande
A day after the ZANU PF government marched in Harare’s central business district in protests against targeted sanctions a by-election was held today pitting the MDC and ZANU PF.
Human rights abuses have been at the centre of the reasons why certain individuals and companies have been placed under sanctions.
The defacto government is not relenting at all in terms of human rights abuses.
The numbers who attended the so called sanctions march yesterday are a clear testimony that the support of the ZANU PF party is waning.
Today’s by-election in Chiredzi South is a clear testimony that as a country we need a comprehensive reform agenda.
The continuous abuse of state security agents is a cause for concern especially in the 20st century.
Several CIO vehicles were moving around ward 12 as a way on intimidating the rural so that they make choices under duress like what is reflected by the results from the by-election.
In a free country its unheard of that only polling agents can vote for their party and others vote for the ruling as if the process was rehearsed before.
This calls for the government to free the political playing field which is one of the conditions for sanctions removal rather than wasting scarce resources doing kongonya at the national sports stadium.
The following are the results for Chiredzi South Ward 12 by-election:
Charlton Athletic striker Macauley Bonne is surely making a name for himself in the English Championship after striking again on Saturday in 2-2 draw at West Brom.
The Zimbabwean scored his fifth goal in six games, securing an equaliser on the hour after Charlton had gone behind courtesy of Matt Phillips’ tenth-minute effort.
Bonne’s goal comes as a perfect present for the forward who is celebrating his 24th birthday today.
Hal Robson-Kanu netted the other goal for the hosts on minute 67 while Josh Cullen’s stoppage-time penalty meant the teams shared the points in the Match-day 14 encounter.Soccer 24
When Frank Lampard took charge of his first game as Chelsea manager and his side got thumped 4-0 by Manchester United on the opening weekend of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign, many forthwith conclussions were made.
Some felt that the Chelsea hierachy had gambled in appointing their all time leading goal scorer as manager of The Blues, months after begining his managerial career at Championship side Derby County.
The same conclusions re-surfaced when the Blues lost two consecutive games; a 1-0 loss to Valencia in the Champions League and a 2-1 loss, also at home, to Liverpool in the Premier League.
Since that defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s side however, Chelsea have won seven consecutive games on the trot in all competitions, including an impressive 1-0 win away to sturbon Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League last week.
Yesterday’s 4-2 win over Burnley, in which young American Cristian Pulisic scored a hat-trick, saw Lampard’s men move into 4th on the table, just two points behind title chasing Manchester City.
Chelsea yesterday also became the first team in Premier League history to have two different hat-trick scorers who are 21 years of age and below, in a single Premier League campaign (Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic), a sign that Lampard’s philosophy and trust in young players is now slowly paying off.
Zimbabwean striker Tendai Ndoro provided a goal and an assist for Highlands Park in ensuring that his fellow country man, Chippa United coach Norman Mapeza, suffered his first defeat in the ABSA Premiership when the two sides met last night.
Highlands Park won the game 2-0 at the Makhulong Stadium to move to 4th on the table, a point adrift of Bidvest Wits.
Ndoro also provided the assist for the first goal, cutting back for Spiwe Msimango to finish in the 18th minute.
His half volley in the 67th minute bounced and deceived the Chippa United goalkeeper into the back of the net to double Highlands Park’s advantage.
The Chilli Boys are still the only team yet to win a single game in the ABSA Premiership this season and are bottom placed with a paltry four points from nine matches.
Farai Dziva|MDC president Chamisa has said the battle against sanctions is a Zanu PF and has nothing to do with ordinary Zimbabweans.
Said Chamisa:
“Thank you fellow Zimbabweans for rejecting the sanctions propaganda …
For the record, corruption, leadership crisis, human rights abuse, electoral theft are the problem not the sanction nonsense. These sanctions were imposed on few individuals in Zanu pf. Those individuals must march alone. We cannot allow our people to march so that someone can be able to take their whole families to expensive hotels in New York using state funds.
By Showbiz Reporter|
Sungura Beast, Alick Macheso made jaws to break at the weekend when a video surfaced of him with a young lady – this is certainly not his wife, and she is certainly not his second wife, upon a further relook it is very clear she is not even his third wife. She is likely a female fan he met on the street. But they seem to have suddenly crashed into each other, a perfect accident, and further beyond a selfie? She poses on camera administering a firm kiss on his cheek. And where is Mai Shero on a Sunday like this today? Is it an innocent fan’s kiss, and so what, come on! – Well, this is a question that only the two can answer and maybe one day they will explain to the nation of Zimbabwe. These are the volcanic convulsions a person is tormented under while watching the clip when it is likely just a selfie video, nothing more, nothing to worry about.
Zanu PF has won the Chiredzi ward 12 by-election after beating the opposition MDC Alliance in what confirms the ruling party’s popularity with rural voters or should we say effectiveness of its vote rigging machinery.
The ward only had two polling stations and Zanu PF polled 84 and 75 to MDC Alliance’s 3 and 23 respectively.
These are the volcanic convulsions a person is tormented under while watching the clip when it is likely…
By Showbiz Reporter|
Sungura Beast, Alick Macheso made jaws to break at the weekend when a video surfaced of him with a young lady – this is certainly not his wife, and she is certainly not his second wife, upon a further relook it is very clear she is not even his third wife. She is likely a female fan he met on the street. But they seem to have suddenly crashed into each other, a perfect accident, and further beyond a selfie? She poses on camera administering a firm kiss on his cheek. And where is Mai Shero on a Sunday like this today? Is it an innocent fan’s kiss, and so what, come on! – Well, this is a question that only the two can answer and maybe one day they will explain to the nation of Zimbabwe. These are the volcanic convulsions a person is tormented under while watching the clip when it is likely just a selfie video, nothing more, nothing to worry about.
The Zimbabwean adage has remained – To understand Zimbabwe’s current climate, pay attention when three people start speaking out – Temba Mliswa, Christopher Mutsvangwa, and Terrence Mukupe, in that order. The Norton MP early Sunday morning blew the horn against the current ZANU PF leadership to allege that none of them was elected.
He wrote saying the leadership of ZANU PF is “out of touch with the masses as none of them have been elected into office.”
Below was Mliswa’s full thread:
My advice is to use Gwanzura Stadium and Rufaro stadium for the next national events, the NSS (National Sports Stadium) exposes the truth about the leadership of ZANU PF, out of touch with the masses as none of them have been elected into office.
If Gamatox truly had 9 Provincial Chairpersons in a country with 10 provinces, what was left of ZANU PF?0
An inclusive Govt was the only way forward following the departure of RGM.
All Politburo members feel ownership of the 2017 revolution- Zimbabweans however felt used and abused by ZANU PF. Magnanimity preferred that ZANU PF enter into a Govt of National Unity.
ZANU PF failed to “fill up NSS” due to Co-opted structures. Following the expulsion of 9/10 Provincial Chairpersons in the Gamatoxit, no elections have been held in ZANU PF. Gamatox therefore had more people in ZANU PF than the true current ZANU PF
The same people that are being asked to mobilise, fail to mobilise their own constituency. Each province would have been given a bay to fill! In smash West, more MPs were present than people. The ZANU PF MPs got coupons exclusively and they abused these
It is clear now that politicians are missing the plot strategically. The NSS is not the best place to hold such important events. It has exposed a lack of strategy on ZANU PF. The Ant-sanctions march was made a ZANU PF event as opposed to a being a national event
Wherever we are, we must ensure effective representation. The day was unplanned, but I became a part of a program that mobilised young people. Informal as the interactions may be, a lot is leant from such interactions. The youth are here and have become the arrival of the future
South Africa’s controversial clergyman Prophet Paseka Motsonoeng who is affectionately known as Prophet Mboro joined Zimbabweans in praying for the removal of sanctions that were imposed upon Zimbabwe by the Western powers in the turn of the millennium.
Mboro is the leader of Incredible Happenings Church. SADC declared 25 October as a day to call for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe.
MARVELOUS NAKAMBA got a big test of his pedigree in the English Premier League against champions Manchester City and the Zimbabwean star midfielder did not look out of place at the Etihad despite Aston Villa’s 0-3 loss yesterday.
Nakamba was not overawed by the occasion as he battled against World stars – Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva — in the middle of the park.
His father Antony Nakamba watched the match from Lusaka, Zambia where he is visiting and told The Sunday Mail that he was a bit nervous for his son, but felt relieved after Marvelous put on another decent performance on his sixth straight Premiership start.
“It was a nice feeling watching my son up against the world stars, but I was a bit nervous. I am however relieved now, they were playing against a great team and he (Marvelous) tried his best,” he said.
Nakamba made three crucial tackles and got a rating of 6.7 after another cool performance in front of the back four.
Manchester City’s win left them three points behind log leaders Liverpool who play Tottenham at Anfield today.
While this ended up being a routine win for Pep Guardiola’s side, they had to work hard and wait to break down a well-organised Villa side.
The visitors had largely frustrated City in the first half but their resistance lasted for only 20 seconds after the restart.
After Villa squandered possession from their own kick-off, Ederson’s long punt forward was flicked on by Gabriel Jesus and into the path of Raheem Sterling, who made no mistake.
Jesus should have made it 2-0 soon afterwards when a mistake by Bjorn Engels left him clean through, but a combination of a Tom Heaton save and a brilliant goal-line clearance by Tyrone Mings denied him.
City had to wait until the 65th minute for their second goal, which was eventually awarded to Kevin de Bruyne after a long delay for a VAR decision.
It was unclear at first glance whether David Silva or Raheem Sterling, who would have been offside from a Silva touch, had got a deflection on De Bruyne’s wicked curling cross, but it was ruled it had gone straight in and was allowed to stand.
Ilkay Gundogan made absolutely sure of the points a few moments later, when Fernandinho’s shot was cleared into his path, and he expertly adjusted his body to put away a fine first-time finish.
The hosts finished the game with 10 men after Fernandinho was shown a second yellow card.
Villa came to a sodden Etihad Stadium after taking seven points from their previous three games, and with the message from their manager Dean Smith that City were “not superhuman” and they had nothing to fear.
They did more than just keep City quiet in a tight opening period, with John McGinn bringing a fine fingertip stop from Ederson — the Scot also went close to a consolation before the end when he hit the post after the City keeper had denied Douglas Luiz.
The only slight disappointment from Villa’s point of view was that they did not see more of Jack Grealish with the ball at his feet in the City half, the midfielder’s role here involving rather more defensive duties.
There were still some neat passes and a couple of trademark flashes of his quick feet that saw the away fans break into chants of ‘Super Jack’, but he did not create a single chance or do much to back up his claims this week that he wants a senior England call-up.
But, with Warriors duties beckoning on November 15 and 19, Zimbabwean fans would have been left happy and praying that Nakamba maintains the kind of form he has shown in the English Premiership.
Nakamba is a key member of the squad named by coach Joey Antipas ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Botswana at home on November 15 and away to Zambia on the night of November 19 at the Heroes National stadium in Lusaka.
ONE of Bulawayo’s most prominent traditional healers, known to possess immense powers, some that allegedly could turn anyone’s fortune around, heal any ailment and even curse or send one into a frenzy of madness has retired.
Popularly known as Makhwelintaba (real name Thembinkosi Ncube), the healer who was born in Nkayi District 45 years ago, with a woven tapestry to churn traditional remedies and healing, decided to turn to God, as he felt his life was centred upon poverty and misery.
Makhwelintaba, who was known throughout the country and presumably beyond, as one of the most powerful traditional healers, decided to give up his trade and be delivered a few weeks ago.
His decision was invoked by the feeling of discontent; “Instead of bringing me fortune it brought me poverty, misfortune and misery,” he said in an interview.
For many traditionalists, his repentance and rebirth may have struck them as a loss, but in his words it was his greatest test and achievement. His decision, which came at his prime, left many shocked and stranded in search and need of his services.
Now gainfully employed in Bulawayo and preferring to shy his name away from the public domain, in fear that he might be drawn back to the trade by “Satanists”, he told Sunday News that he was a new man and never wanted to revert or ever reminisce about his past
“I was born in Mbuma, Nkayi District 45 years ago. My birth wasn’t that of a normal child, my mother had difficulty conceiving. She had so many miscarriages and I was a miracle or rather after consultations with a traditional healer I was born. “At the age of 12 my life began to be complicated, I had serious nose bleeds that would prevent me from being an active young boy, sometimes I couldn’t attend school. My parents tried all sorts of remedies, hospital, until I was referred to a traditional healer in Emakhandeni suburb in Bulawayo,” said Makhwelintaba.
He said that is when the traditional healer revealed that his body was to be used as a vessel by “healing” spirits.
“I had snake spirits that needed a haven to operate. I then was taken to the Apostolic sect, where I was prophesied by a 12-year-old girl who told me that I had spirits within me that were waiting to fully possess me to fulfil my destiny as a healer,” said Makhwelintaba.
During the interview, where he took a few brief moments to reminisce he noted that he then sought the services of an elderly female traditional healer, who unlocked his potential.
“Thereafter I began my trade, but all along I had problems in life, love, financially and socially. I was possessed by some spirits that would prevent me from granting my wife conjugal rights to the extent that we almost separated. The spirit mediums did not allow me to have a life. I had no sexual desires at all,’ said Makhwelintaba.
He said that was the time he deliberated about leaving the trade and turning to God. “What many people don’t understand is that these spirits are not here to assist but these are demon infused. They come with a price. My wife and I decided I get delivered,” he said.
He said he also consulted his siblings who agreed that he got delivered as they were Christians.
“We then went to church, where I surrendered all my trade tools, which comprised various charms such as snakes, animal skins and a cocktail of other things that one can imagine,” said Makhwelintaba.
He then said on the day he was to be delivered at church, a grave and dark feeling engulfed him to the extent that he fled from the church and city.
“I ran away and went to take refuge at my cousin’s place between Filabusi and Gwanda. While I was there I then felt awful for abandoning my family. My children being my worst worry. I decided to come back,” said Makhwelintaba.
Makhwelintaba was delivered at prominent Bulawayo prophet’s church Dr Prophet Blessing Chiza, Eagle Life Ministries. He said it was a momentous delivery and he was humbled by the might of the Lord. “Through God everything is possible,” said Dr Prophet Chiza.
IN a rare show of bravado, an 11-year-old girl from Hwange Town plunged into a stream and jumped on top of a crocodile before gouging its eyes to rescue a nine-year-old friend who had been gripped by the reptile.
The incident happened last week when Latoya Muwani was attacked by a crocodile while swimming with friends in a stream in Sinderela Village.
However, Rebecca Munkombwe, a Grade Six pupil at a local school, displayed some heroic exploitations when just after coming out of the stream, she was alerted by screams of help coming from the water.
After seeing that her friend Latoya was struggling to stay on the water surface and was being pulled away, her instinct told her that she had to help her.
She quickly plunged into the water where she found out that Latoya was being pulled away by the big reptible which had gripped her on the hand and leg.
She mounted on top of the reptile and started gouging its eyes until it loosened its grip on Latoya. Rebecca then helped her out of the stream.
Sunday News traced the young heroine and she narrated how despite fighting the crocodile and rescuing her nine-year-old friend, she did not sustain any injuries.
“We had just left the water when we heard Latoya who was left alone swimming near the neck deep zone screaming that something was biting her hand. Since I was the eldest among the other seven children, I felt the urge to save her. So, I jumped into the water and swam to where she was struggling to float. She was screaming in pain that something was biting and pulling her under,” said Rebecca.
She said once she got close to Latoya she noticed that a crocodile had its jaws locked on her thigh.
“I jumped on top of the crocodile and started beating it with my bare hands before using my fingers to poke its eyes until it released her. Once she was free, I swam with her to the banks where the other children pulled her out of the water. The crocodile fortunately did not attack us after it let off Latoya,” said Rebecca.
Sunday News also visited St Patrick’s Hospital where Latoya was admitted to but the administrator stopped the publication from seeing her.
A nurse at the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity said Latoya was lucky to have escaped with “mild injuries” as the crocodile did not fracture her bones.
Latoya’s father, Mr Fortune Muwani could not hide his gratitude describing his daughter’s survival as miraculous.
“I was at work when I learnt that my daughter had been attacked by a crocodile while swimming. For a moment there I thought of the worst before I learnt that she had survived after being saved by Rebecca. How she managed to do that I don’t know but am grateful to God. Latoya is recovering well here at St Patrick’s and we expect her to be discharged soon as her injuries are not serious,” said Mr Muwani.
Ward 10 councillor Steve Chisose confirmed the attack arguing that the incidents were becoming worrisome.
“Yes, there was another crocodile attack involving a girl who luckily survived after a friend came to her rescue just on time. I spoke to the father who told me that she was receiving treatment at St Patrick’s. What’s also contributing to these incidents is that we have challenges with accessing water which forces women and children to use unprotected sources such as these crocodile-infested streams. The women are usually accompanied by their children who get naughty and end up swimming in these water bodies. I appeal to ZimParks to remove these reptiles before they cause serious harm or death,” he said.
Police in Hwange and Zimparks spokesman Mr Tinashe Farawo said they were yet to receive the report of the attack.
The incident brings to three the number of people, mostly children who have been attacked in the stream which is a tributary of Deka River.
The stream, which has a continuous flow, gets most of its water from the Zimbabwe Power Company effluent and goes through various treatment stages before passing through the area enroute to Deka River.
Sometime this year, a 21-year-old man was attacked and killed by a crocodile while fishing at a disused pit that had filled with water in Madumabisa.
By Own Correspondent| Vendors in Victoria Falls have a newfound trade of hoarding and reselling mealie meal in Zambia for the much-needed United States dollars.
This was revealed by locals who spoke to the publication and said local supermarkets were now diverting the mealie meal to the black market because the vendors sold it in USD there.
Said the source:
“People grab all the mealie-meal as soon as it is delivered and stock it to resell at Emaplankeni where there is a ready market in US dollars.
Some wholesale shops (names given) would even tell customers that mealie-meal is finished yet it will still be there in the shop as they keep it for the black market. Zimbabwean mealie-meal reportedly fetches better money in neighbouring Zambia as their products are expensive.
A few months ago the situation was reserved as Zambians would smuggle mealie meal and other basic into Zimbabwe for resale as there was an artificial shortage of some sort.”
When the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe rightly relieved you of your Vice Presidency of Zimbabwe, we heard you singing the song which is turning out to be true of yourself and correctly manifesting today on you.
When you were plotting for the coup which several of Zimbabweans joined which I personally didn’t, those who joined the march hoped that the country will go through a transition to democracy.
They were tired of authoritarianism and savagery. They wanted a new start to their destiny. You hijacked their dream and turned it into a nightmare.
If you don’t know it, the people of Zimbabwe have got no respect, faith and hope in your leadership of the country.
People on the ground are saying you are not their president because you robbed them of their will and shot and killed several people to the Presidency.
The 1st of August 2018, massacre of civilians in the streets of Harare will remain the sad bloody chapter in the memories of many.
This is compounded by the recorded role you are allegedly played in the Gukurahundi genocide, the grand murder and massacre of the MDC supporters after the victory of the late democracy icon Morgan Richard Tsvangirai in 2008.
You staged a military coup against the will of the people of Zimbabwe through the deployment of the military into the countryside to commit all manner of human rights abuses.
A detailed report by the Zimbabwe NGO Forum graphically exposes how you deployed merchants of death.
It is recorded that hundreds of our MDC supporters were murdered in cold blood, raped enmass, tortured, having their properties destroyed, their livestock eaten on night vigil meetings which you duped ‘pungwes’.
Your role as the Minister of State Security from 1980 until your reassignment, left a trail of sad episodes. There are hundreds of thousands of families who have tears that are difficult to dry.
Trails of pain and scars of brutality are all associated with you. The God you said projects himself through the voice of the people is not a fool.
He is a God who is honest and will never disappoint. Since you grabbed power from your former master several families are having tears down their cheeks on the basis of losing their family members on your hands.
People are being shot at, tortured to death and several tormented to prisons for exercising their constitutional and democratic rights.
I had the opportunity to represent 188 Zimbabweans, the majority of them minors in January 2019, after the stay away by citizens of our country.
The level of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment that was perpetrated against the people I represented in Court can only be expected from the world of animals.
The savagery committed will not go unnoticed by the God who according to you is the Voice projected via the people.
We are in the 21st century and the world can not continue to watch while leaders like you perpetrate the kind of human rights abuses which some of us witnessed personally.
Evil thrive for sometime and it is not short of reference in history. It happened to mankind on this earth and we all know how it ended.
Counting bodybags and becoming arrogant over it invites cursing from the God you were fond of referring to during the period of your usurpation of power and the gods of our land.
The voice of the people is the voice of God. Signals should have made reason visit you after your address of an empty National Sports Stadium on the 25th of October 2019, at the purported anti sanctions solidarity Rally. For the God’s voice to authenticate its mighty, there were gigantic flops throughout the country.
The people who heeded your call to the march and Rallies throughout the country should have send clear signals to you that all is not well. They want their voice which they know is the voice of God to be heard. They refused to associate with you.
They know it very well that you wanted to use them to protect your selfish enjoyment of the national cake under the guise of austerity when you and your few friends and family members do as they please.
Our people are suffering. They can not afford a decent meal a day, they are jobless which you promised them after the coup that jobs, jobs and jobs was your main mission, they are not able to send their children to school, they can not afford basics in their homes.
There are hundreds of thousands of graduates from teachers’ and nursing colleges who got trained for nothing in the past 10 years.
There are hundreds of thousands of university graduates who are wondering in the streets without an agenda. Mothers are delivering in wildlife conditions in our hospitals. Teachers, doctors, nurses, police officers and even military personel going to work are remunetated slave wages.
The suffering among our people has gone beyond comprehension of a normal person. Anyone going to work is doing so to find somewhere to while up their time and day.
Fear alone is not a sustainable strategy. I remember being in Libya in 1997, as a student leader on an international student conference.
Every Libyan you met was shaking like a reed in a flooded river in fear of the Great Leader of the Great People of Great Jamarihiya as Muammer Gaddafi loved to call himself. I felt sad when I saw how it ended for him. Saddam Hussein killed 200 000 Kurds in Western Iraqi like rats in 1992.
No one ever imagined him being retrieved from a hole with beards that looked like the forest of an anthill. General Augustino Pinochet, after his assassination of Allende, went on a crusade to cause disappearance of Chileans into liquidation.
He is now a locus classicus study of students of human rights and international law on how immunity can be withdrawn against leaders who treat their citizens as cannon fodder.
Slobodan Milosevic, after his massacre of Kosovas and Serbians ended up being an example of how international law can be enforced against cruel leaders.
Charles Taylor of the famous roasting of human palms learnt Greek when he was in isolation in the country of the aliens. I can give examples infinity, but it won’t assist if I don’t convey the essence of my letter.
The Voice of the People is the Voice of God. Deep down your heart and soul, you know that you did not win the elections in July 2018. You stole it with impunity from Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
If this episode is unresolved, signs of being abandoned by God and ancestors of this land will continue coming in bounds and hound you.
You can spill as much blood as you enjoy, but the end results are dire to contemplate. God will do his work and favour. Evil rulers always end tragically. It is just my sincere and honest advise to you.
Long live the will of the people.
Long live the people of Zimbabwe.
Long live democracy.
Long live prosperity for our people.
A MAN from Binga has been jailed 16 years after he kidnapped his 24-year-old girlfriend before savagely engaging in anal rape which lasted the whole night as a way of punishing her for refusing to be his second wife.
Pangayitari Mudimba of Siantibule Village, Lubu in Binga appeared before Hwange regional magistrate Mr Collet Ncube last week facing kidnapping/ unlawful detention and four counts of rape.
Mr Ncube slapped him with a 16-year jail term, two years of which were conditionally suspended.
Mudimba, who pleaded not guilty, said he wanted to marry the woman although he already had a wife and that he had consensual anal sex.
“Your worship, I did not rape her, she is my girlfriend. I actually told her that I intended to marry her so I took her to my homestead where we had consensual sex.
“She is aware that I have a wife already and was upset that I was rushing her as she argued that she was not yet ready,” he said.
The court heard that on 31 October 2018 at about 7pm Mudimba called the woman on her phone and told her to bring him his cellphone by the roadside which she was in possession of.
She complied and went to meet him while in the company of her sister’s daughter.
After handing over the phone, Mudimba suddenly grabbed her hand and told her that she was not going anywhere.
He then dragged her towards his homestead. She tried to free herself from Mudimba’s hold by biting him on the arm.
However, Mudimba retaliated by also biting her on her shoulder.
The sister’s daughter then rushed back home and alerted the elders about what had happened.
The woman managed to also phone some relatives but they could not come and rescue her.
When they reached Mudimba’s homestead she once again tried to escape but Mudimba pushed her into a hut and locked her inside.
The court heard that Mudimba threatened to kill the woman before he tried to rape her.
The woman resisted at first and slept head down but Mudimba then raped her from the back.
He repeated the act the whole night without the woman’s consent.
At dawn, Mudimba went out leaving the door unlocked and that was when she ran away and reported the matter to her mother who then reported to the police resulting in Mudimba’s arrest.
The woman was referred to Binga District Hospital for medical examination. Mr Vumizulu Mangena represented the State.
CONCERNS have been raised over hoarding of mealie-meal in Victoria Falls where it is sold in United States dollars to Zambian cross-border vendors on the black market, thereby creating artificial shortages of the commodity.
Sunday News understands that some millers divert mealie-meal to the black market in the resort town where they sell to Zambians who allegedly smuggle it to their country.
The Zambian vendors, popularly known as Mzangas, resell the mealie-meal among other goods in their country where they make more money.
Some local individuals and shops have also reportedly joined the bandwagon as they hoard mealie-meal from shops and resell it to omzanga outside.
In the shops, a 10kg bag of mealie-meal costs about RTGS$64 and it is sold for US$3 outside, with 20kg and 50kg bags going for US$6 and US$15 respectively. The concern is compounded by lack of monitoring of the situation as the hoarding and bush selling of the mealie-meal is happening without anything being done to curb the practice.
“People grab all the mealie-meal as soon as it is delivered and stock it to resell at Emaplankeni where there is a ready market in US dollars. Some wholesale shops (names given) would even tell customers that mealie-meal is finished yet it will still be there in the shop as they keep it for the black market,” said a concerned local dealer.
“Zimbabwean mealie-meal reportedly fetches better money in neighbouring Zambia as their products are expensive.”
Some months ago it used to be the other way round where Mzangas would bring mealie-meal for sale in Zimbabwe as locals preferred refined products from the neighbouring country. Besides mealie-meal, a variety of other products such as sugar, rice and juices are smuggled out of the country through the bush.
The same people cross with vegetables, bread and other products which also have a market in Victoria Falls.
Combined Victoria Falls Residents’ Association chairman Mr Morgen Gazza Dube said stakeholders in the resort town carried out an investigation into the matter following public complaints. “The issue of hoarding mealie-meal is now a cause for concern to our residents and we are doing our own investigations before taking the matter to the police with a view of angling on the culprits and bringing them to book.
“We are aware that the municipal security has been raiding unlicensed shops and individuals but this is not enough as suppliers are not playing their part,” he said.
The general feeling is that it is not easy to control the commodity as there are no statutes prohibiting people from buying or shops from selling any quantity to people.
Shops are allowed to sell any quantity to anyone while there are no statutes stopping mealie-meal from being exported.
Grain Millers Association spokesman Mr Garikai Chaunza said the distribution and selling of mealie-meal is not controlled.
“We used to monitor how our products are distributed and sold but the Competitions and Tariffs Commission wrote to us saying we should forthwith stop that and we did so in July. It used to be our role to monitor but we are no longer allowed to do so,” he said.
POOR water treatment processes and lack of due diligence coupled with the use of obsolete water treatment methods by local authorities, mostly urban councils, has caused the surge in cancer cases in the country as carcinogens that stimulate cancer escape water treatment processes.
Chemical experts have alleged the dire situation is also being worsened by some bottled water and drinks that are not being properly inspected which find their way to the market.
According to the experts, there is a need for most urban councils to change their technology and employ more chemists in the water treatment processes.
In an interview on the sidelines of a meeting of Zimbabwe Chemical Society in Gweru, the society’s registrar and founding executive president, Mr Fastino Madzima, said most urban councils were using water treatment designs and technologies that were set up in the 1950s and are not effectively treating water.
Mr Madzima said most carcinogens were escaping water treatment processes.
“Most of the water that we drink is not properly treated. Some carcinogens are escaping the water treatment processes and this is why we are having more cancer cases, mostly in towns and cities.
We have challenges in water treatment which has been much talked about. Chemists started to talk about it and researches are being done through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development,” he said.
Said Mr Madzima: “At the moment the pollution has reached alarming levels and again there are solutions that are being offered.
“In order for us to get clean water there is a need for the involvement of chemists. Chemists have the capacity to remove the pollutants. So only chemists can remove the pollutants because the pollutants are chemicals.
“At the moment we have a number of researches that we did in terms of the removal of the pollutants if you want to do feasibility studies to establish whether the current water treatment processes are effective.
“Some of the water treatment processes being implemented at the moment and even the chemicals were used in the 1950s thereabout,” he said.
Mr Madzima said if local authorities want to effectively address the water challenges they need to change technology.
“At the moment people are complaining that the water is salty. The problem is on the technologies that are being used.
Nanoparticles escape through the water treatment plant even if we put chemicals and chlorine we need to change the technology and that can be done by chemists,” he said.
By A Correspondent| The government bought a wide assortment of agricultural equipment worth US$20 million from US-based John Deere.
It consists of 500 tractors, 200 pieces of machinery and 40 combine harvesters.
The first batch of the equipment has reportedly docked in South Africa and will be transported to Zimbabwe soon.
Speaking to a local publication, Afgri Equipment Zimbabwe (the franchise holder of John Deere equipment) managing director Graeme Smith said:
On the first US$20 million worth of equipment that is arriving, there will be a total of 500 tractors, 200 pieces of machinery (100 disc harrows and 100 planters) and 40 combine harvesters with the appropriate heads.
So there are tractors ranging from 50-horse power to 95-horse power. There are combine harvesters with both wheat and maize headers, and there is also equipment to go behind the tractors, so there will be some planters and some harrows in the initial US$20 million order.
In August this year, the Government of Zimbabwe signed a deal with John Deere for the latter to provide farming equipment worth US$50 million.
Farmers who will access the equipment would have to pay a 20 per cent deposit on the value of the equipment and service the balance over three years at interest rates of not more than 8 per cent.
By A Correspondent- A Chitungwiza man who assaulted his mentally unstable uncle for seeking refuge at his place of residence is reportedly on the run after the community reported him to the police.
The man, who assaulted his uncle leaving him bloodied reportedly beat up his uncle in his bid to have him vacate staying outside his gate where he had been camped for the past three weeks.
Said a neighbour who took in the man and gave him a place to stay inside her yard identified as Monica:
“When the nephew beat him up, he was badly injured but i am not too sure to what extent. What i did was go to the police and reported him but they (police) could not assist us that much.
We then went to the hospital but he was not treated because there are no doctors and the only option that we had was to take him to the private doctors.
I was not able to do that because i did not have the money so i brought him here, cleaned him up with the help of other men from this community and the Seventh Day church members here in Unit J. I gave him my bed linen so that he can sleep on a clean place. The community also assisted by donating clothes and shoes which he is now wearing.
But the challenge is that he is in pain and looks like he is swollen. I have tried reaching out to his relatives to no avail because it seems they all want nothing to do with him.
I was thinking that if i can have him attended to by the doctors then i will look for how best to ensure that he has a roof over his head because the rainy season is fast approaching.
I also want to reach out to his other immediate family since he says he comes from Mt Darwin but all that is a process that needs the whole community to put our heads together and assist.”
Watch the video below for the initial story about this man….
MASVINGO magistrate Mr Carlson Ndebele has expressed concern over cases of women who are dragged to court by their ex-lovers after refusing to let go.
Granting a protection order to Mr Charles Zhou (40) of Nemamwa Business Centre against Nyarai Matendera (36) of Runyararo West, Masvingo last week, Mr Ndebele expressed concern over the rising cases of women who are taken to court for refusing to separate from their partners and called on the media to make some investigations.
He said the court was inundated with cases of “rejected” women nagging their former lovers and vowing to stay put.
“This is the fourth case of application for protection order by man against his former girlfriend in a space of one week. The trend is worrying that I implore the media to investigate the reason behind,” said Mr Ndebele.
He said the common phenomenon in other provinces was of women seeking a protection order against a nagging former husband or boyfriend.
“This is the first of its kind here as we don’t experience the same in other regions as judicial officers. What is with Masvingo where women can’t let go? In some instances a woman will be the aggressor and the man will be seeking protection from harm. I do not believe it is love, there could be more than what meets the eye that we do not know,” said Mr Ndebele.
He said in most cases he has dealt with involved lovers and not spouses.
“It is surprising that the women involved will be old. Most of them will be jealous of the ex-lover’s new girlfriend and would come back to haunt the two, disturbing their affair.
“While it is painful to be rejected, I advise my sisters to accept rejection and move on. You should learn to let go, do not cling on someone who does not love you. A ditched woman must not disturb someone’s peace since it is not new to be left for someone,” said Mr Ndebele.
In the matter before Mr Ndebele, it was said in court that Mr Zhou and Matendera were once in love in 2011 but their affair ended following some misunderstandings.
After the fallout the two went their separate ways with no one between the two talking to each other.
It is said early this year the two started talking to each other without necessarily rekindling their lost love.
Mr Zhou alleged that Matendera showed signs of affection but he could not return the favour since he had found someone and married.
However, on realising that the man had moved on, Matendera started nagging Mr Zhou claiming that they were still in love. She claimed she had introduced Mr Zhou to most of her relatives and they knew that he was their son-in-law.
Mr Zhou then approached the court seeking a protection order.
By A Correspondent- Narrating his ordeal to ZimEye, one of the vendors who was arrested together with the late Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani revealed how the police details who raided them stole their money before physically beating them to silence about the matter.
The man (42), whose name will not be revealed to protect his identity narrated the vendors’ horrendous experience at the hands of the over 60 anti riot police details who targeted the money changers going about their business in a calculated move to steal their forex.
He said:
“I am a vendor and money changer at the corner of Kwame Nkurumah and Angwa street near QV Pharmacy in Harare.
On Saturday 12 October 2019, we were going about our business as usual. We normally face challenges from police raids but we normally end up paying $20 fines. But on this particular day, it was around past 5:30pm and a small Isuzu truck came with about 16 police officers. The truck came using Angwa road and in the opposite direction came another truck with about 60 anti riot police officers.
We then realised that we were were cornered and we could not escape as the police had rounded us up on all sides. The only place that we could escape to was Robinson House in the basement.
The police however followed suit in the basement and started firing teargas. The effect of tear smoke saw everyone in the basement run for dear life because we were choking and almost suffocating. This was including the people who use the basement for their offices.
I managed to seek refuge in one of the offices in the basement for several minutes and that is when i heard Hilton and another vendor pleading with the police to stop beating them up because they were saying they were badly injured . It took a good 30 minutes and we could hear them taking turns to assault him one after the other. He never stopped pleading for them to stop.
We were celebrating Hilton’s birthday who had turned 29 on that same day. I am a staunch supporter of MDC and this is known by most people in and around the area we operate from so because of the rumour that was doing the rounds that the MDC was planning a demo the next Monday this could be what triggered the attack on us. I don’t know.
When they captured us in the basement, the first person who was caught was the late Hilton and another young lad called Tekere. They were beaten up badly, I was in another room with three other guys but we could hear that he was being severely beaten it took about 30 minutes and they were beaten none stop. The room that these two had been caught in was the same room where the police helmets were discovered. There were over 200 helmets but they belonged to someone else… the police accused them of plotting to overthrow the government .
They then searched all the other rooms in the basement and we were rounded up. The first thing that they did before they beat you up was to do a body search on your person and that is when they took our money. Some of the guys lost over US$400 I personally did not lose much I had about US$66 and 254 rands and 720 bond but the other guys had a lot of money.
The Police took us and put us in the alley where they continued beating us up. They took turns to assault us and our pleas for them to stop fell on deaf ears
The late Hillary on Thursday, a day before he died said, I am hurting guys and the way i feel, i am too sire i will see you tomorrow.
The night before he died, I slept with Hilton in the same blanket. His whole body was swollen. He could hardly move because his right side was now cold. We had to carry him all over. The Police had also used a broken bottle to knock on his head the day we were arrested and his head was now swollen and it had blood clots due to the injuries sustained. He was in pain but we were denied medical attention.
I recall when we went to ask for treatment at the prison clinic, the nurse told us that they did not even have medicines and turned us away.
Our lawyers instructed that we get medical attention but we were still denied. The Police on one day took us out of our cells and we were taken to Harare central front office only to be returned to the cells two hours later because the police said they did not have leg irons for them to take us to Parirenyatwa Hospital. They said that we had been trained and we were dangerous. We went back to the cells, but Hilton was in pain.
One of the prison guards then saw Hilton’s condition and he was touched and he facilitated that the prison nurse treats him. Fortunately, the nurse on duty was equally touched and she then gave us a wheelchair and he was then taken to the prison hospital. Unfortunately, we received the sad news that Hilton died the following day.”
My Advice is to use Gwanzura Stadium and Rufaro stadium for the next national events, the NSS exposes the truth about the leadership of ZANU PF, out of touch with the masses as none of them have been elected into office
By A Correspondent- Two Rusape farm workers who last Saturday tried to sell a stolen beast to the MP for Makoni Central – Mr David Tekeshe – were arrested after the alert legislator teamed up with the police to trap them.
The two – Brighton Chisiwa (26) and Itai Matimba (27) – who were general workers at Sakutukwa Farm in Headlands – pleaded guilty and when they appeared before Rusape magistrate Mr Gift Manyika, who sentenced each to nine years in jail.
Prosecutor Miss Theresa Mangwende told the court that the stolen beast had strayed into Sakutukwa Farm and police had advised the farm owner to keep it while they look for its owner.
Instead, Chisiwa and Matimba, working in connivance, phoned Mr Tekeshe informing him that they were selling a beast.
Mr Tekeshe quickly suspected that the beast could have been stolen and immediately informed the police.
The MP and police jointly set up a trap to ambush the rustlers.
Mr Tekeshe, who is a successful cattle rancher in Headlands, pretended to be keen to buy the beast and arranged to meet the suspects at night. He met them around 9pm while armed police were keeping a close eye as the accused persons slaughtered the beast and loaded the carcass into his car.
Tekeshe then drove his car from the scene and stopped where the cops were hiding, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
“During the beginning of October 2019, a black cow strayed into accused persons’ herd. They kept the cow and reported it as lost property to the police and were advised to keep it until its owner had been located.
“On October 19, 2019 the accused persons connived to steal the beast. They phoned Mr David Tekeshe with the intention to sell the beast for $2 000. They took the beast to Moreson Farm and slaughtered it around 9pm and loaded the carcass into Mr Tekeshe’s vehicle.
“Mr Tekeshe phoned the police and both accused persons were arrested. Value of the beast is $4 000 and the whole carcass was recovered,” said Miss Mangwende.
By A Correspondent- Pretoria Portland Cement has recorded a 25 to 30% drop in cement sales In Zimbabwe for the period leading to 30 July 2019, Sunday news reports.
This was revealed in a trading update which cited the economic meltdown as the major contributing factor to the sales plummet.
PPC remains focused on optimising its local operations and implementing its cash preservation strategy to ensure the business is self-sufficient. The devaluation of the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) dollar versus the US$ impacted revenue, which declined by 30-35 percent in rand. Overall cement sales volumes contracted by 25-30 percent due to a weaker economic climate,
The economic meltdown has affected many businesses, with DSTV also recording low sales but mainly due to the power outages.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned his wife, First Lady Auxillia, against interfering with his official duties, saying she should not be like her predecessor Grace Mugabe, who had usurped Executive powers from her “frail and ageing” husband, Robert.
Addressing delegates at the annual Mushamukadzi Charitable Foundation fundraising dinner organised by Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife, Mary, for cancer awareness projects at Borrowdale Brooke Golf Course in Harare on Saturday, Mnangagwa urged Auxillia and Mary to stay off from their husbands’ duties.
“Amai Chiwenga, I know you are the one behind who tasked me to talk. Just a few months ago, we had interfaces (rallies), where both the (former) First Lady and the President were talking. We don’t want that to be repeated. Let it be a platform which is mine and my vice-presidents only and not for the ladies. It’s wrong,” he said, amid wild cheers from the delegates.
On numerous occasions, Grace was accused of conflating the institution of marriage with that of the presidency.
Known for her unrestricted and stinging attacks, especially at public forums, Grace accused many Zanu PF leaders from politburo members, war veterans, the military bosses, her own colleagues in the women’s league and Mugabe’s close allies of plotting against her 94-year-old husband.
Critics argue Grace’s insatiable desire to meddle in Mugabe’s duties and her penchant for publicly attacking senior party and government officials catalysed the former leader’s removal from power last November.
Mugabe was removed from power in November last year at the height of the interface rallies, where he and his wife took turns to attack their political enemies in Zanu PF, including Mnangagwa.
Besides addressing her own set of rallies, Grace usually became the centre of attraction at Zanu PF gatherings, even those addressed by her husband.
For that, she earned herself the moniker, Dr Stop It!
During his address, Mnangagwa left guests in stitches when he claimed that he was an accomplished border jumper, following his recent sacking from government while he was Mugabe’s deputy and then ran into self-exile through an illegal crossing point.
“When Vice-President Chiwenga was introducing me, he left something very important. In 1962, in December, I border-jumped in Tanganyika (now Tanzania); in 1964, I border-jumped from Zambia into Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and in 2017, I border-jumped to Mozambique. I am an accomplished border jumper,” he said.
About $180 000 was raised at the event, with proceeds set to be channelled towards cancer awareness projects.
Mnangagwa also hailed the charity work for bringing up issues that might not be exposed on the political arena.
“Serving people, putting yourselves to the service of people is saving God. Many of us delight in serving ourselves. Many of us delight that our own families are comfortable, but the few among us, as narrated here by Amai Chiwenga and the First Lady (Auxillia), they are putting their time to service our nation and this is a service to God, and we must applaud the work that they do,” he said.
“The difficulties our people face in rural areas, some in urban areas, some of these things are not exposed to us in political arena, but they are there. People are suffering in the country side, in communities and foundations of this nature are able to reach them, for purposes of assisting, mobilising assistance and resources to assist those who are suffering.”
Mnangagwa said in the political arena, they assemble people to persuade them to vote, as they hardly have the opportunity of assembling people in order to address their health.
“Indeed, we have institutions which deal with primary health and so on, but these foundations are specifically directed to assist those in our societies who are unable to help themselves, they have no access to healthy,” he said.
“I would like, therefore, to appeal to captains of industry and commerce here and our citizens to find ourselves on the side of helping and on the side of assisting those who are not as advantaged as ourselves in our various calling and endeavours in our society.”
The Finance Minister now called the Bond Notes Minister, Mthuli Ncube early Sunday unashamedly published the below picture standing aside the IMF’s new Managing Director, Ms Christalina Georgieva.
Mthuli Ncube meeting with the new Managing Director of the IMF, Ms Christalina Georgieva.
IN a rare show of bravado, an 11-year-old girl from Hwange Town plunged into a stream and jumped on top of a crocodile before gouging its eyes to rescue a nine-year-old friend who had been gripped by the reptile.
The incident happened last week when Latoya Muwani was attacked by a crocodile while swimming with friends in a stream in Sinderela Village.
However, Rebecca Munkombwe, a Grade Six pupil at a local school, displayed some heroic exploitations when just after coming out of the stream, she was alerted by screams of help coming from the water.
After seeing that her friend Latoya was struggling to stay on the water surface and was being pulled away, her instinct told her that she had to help her.
She quickly plunged into the water where she found out that Latoya was being pulled away by the big reptible which had gripped her on the hand and leg.
She mounted on top of the reptile and started gouging its eyes until it loosened its grip on Latoya. Rebecca then helped her out of the stream.
Sunday News traced the young heroine and she narrated how despite fighting the crocodile and rescuing her nine-year-old friend, she did not sustain any injuries.
“We had just left the water when we heard Latoya who was left alone swimming near the neck deep zone screaming that something was biting her hand. Since I was the eldest among the other seven children, I felt the urge to save her. So, I jumped into the water and swam to where she was struggling to float. She was screaming in pain that something was biting and pulling her under,” said Rebecca.
She said once she got close to Latoya she noticed that a crocodile had its jaws locked on her thigh.
“I jumped on top of the crocodile and started beating it with my bare hands before using my fingers to poke its eyes until it released her. Once she was free, I swam with her to the banks where the other children pulled her out of the water. The crocodile fortunately did not attack us after it let off Latoya,” said Rebecca.
Sunday News also visited St Patrick’s Hospital where Latoya was admitted to but the administrator stopped the publication from seeing her.
A nurse at the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity said Latoya was lucky to have escaped with “mild injuries” as the crocodile did not fracture her bones.
Latoya’s father, Mr Fortune Muwani could not hide his gratitude describing his daughter’s survival as miraculous.
“I was at work when I learnt that my daughter had been attacked by a crocodile while swimming. For a moment there I thought of the worst before I learnt that she had survived after being saved by Rebecca. How she managed to do that I don’t know but am grateful to God. Latoya is recovering well here at St Patrick’s and we expect her to be discharged soon as her injuries are not serious,” said Mr Muwani.
Ward 10 councillor Steve Chisose confirmed the attack arguing that the incidents were becoming worrisome.
“Yes, there was another crocodile attack involving a girl who luckily survived after a friend came to her rescue just on time. I spoke to the father who told me that she was receiving treatment at St Patrick’s. What’s also contributing to these incidents is that we have challenges with accessing water which forces women and children to use unprotected sources such as these crocodile-infested streams. The women are usually accompanied by their children who get naughty and end up swimming in these water bodies. I appeal to ZimParks to remove these reptiles before they cause serious harm or death,” he said.
Police in Hwange and Zimparks spokesman Mr Tinashe Farawo said they were yet to receive the report of the attack.
The incident brings to three the number of people, mostly children who have been attacked in the stream which is a tributary of Deka River.
The stream, which has a continuous flow, gets most of its water from the Zimbabwe Power Company effluent and goes through various treatment stages before passing through the area enroute to Deka River.
Sometime this year, a 21-year-old man was attacked and killed by a crocodile while fishing at a disused pit that had filled with water in Madumabisa.
Prince Dube will be available for selection when Highlanders and FC Platinum face each other this afternoon in the Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinal match at Barbourfields Stadium.
The striker received a straight red card in the league game against ZPC Kariba on Wednesday, but the suspension will not affect his availability in today’s encounter as it only applies to league matches.
Dube is now expected to lead the attack as coach Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh is likely to retain the players from the team that did duty in the mid-week.
The winner in the encounter will join Ngezi Platinum in the semifinal round along with the other two teams from quarterfinal clashes between ZPC Kariba vs Manica Diamonds and Harare City vs Triangle United.
By Own Correspondent| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa demanded a bribe of USD20 million for food aid to be released to his own people, a top ZANU PF senior Simbarashe Marumahomo has alleged.
Can you urgently respond to the allegation by your own party member, Simbarashe Marumahoko who alleges that you demanded a bribe of USD20 million in order to permit food aid for your own people @edmnangagwa@InfoMinZW
The allegations are contained in a leaked audio Maumahoko is heard screaming in anger. Says Marumahoko in the clip:
“Mnangagwa sokd the country. What kind of the president is that? Dont talk fuc**ll about Mnangagwa he is an idiot. He is not ZANU PF, Our musangano of ZANU PF has collapsed because of him.”
Another unnamed man is then heard in the background as Marumahoko tells him to go ahead to record the allegations.
“Record this I don’t care. I am Simbarashe Marumahoko. I don’t care about this. I am Simbarashe Marumahoko. Imagine a person who demands 20 million bribe in order to allow his own children to access food aid. What kind of an idiot are you when you even call yourself a president?”
On this day, 25th October 2019, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) reiterates its call for the removal of all forms of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe to pave way for socio-economic transformation and economic development of Zimbabwe.
The removal of sanctions will benefit Zimbabweans and the SADC Region, as well as, enhance cooperation of SADC with the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA).
INTRODUCTION
1 The SADC Region is deeply concerned about the prevailing sanctions imposed by the EU and the USA on the Republic of Zimbabwe and is mindful of the impact of these sanctions.
The sanctions have proved to be directly affecting entities beyond the so-called targeted individuals, and have a negative impact on the credibility of Zimbabwe and serious trickle-down effects on the economy and people of Zimbabwe, and by extension, the SADC Region.
In recognizing the socio-economic impact of the sanctions on Zimbabwe, the 39th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Dar es Salaam, the United Republic of Tanzania expressed solidarity with Zimbabwe, and called for the immediate lifting of the sanctions to facilitate socio-economic recovery in the country.
NATURE OF SANCTIONS
The EU sanctions on Zimbabwe comprise of an arms embargo, as well as an
asset freeze and travel ban on targeted people and entities;
The nature of USA Sanctions on Zimbabwe is in two key instruments namely:
(i) The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA), and
(ii) The “targeted sanctions program”, which comprises a list of individuals and entities, and specifically instructs US nationals not to do business with these designated entities or their affiliated entities. The current list as of October 2019 includes’, 13 state-owned enterprises; 13 so-called “other” enterprises; 25 farms; 3 Zanu-PF owned Enterprises; and about 100 individuals; http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/zimb.aspx (as at 20th October 2019).
1
IMPACT OF SANCTIONS ON ZIMBABWE’S ECONOMY
The State-owned enterprises traditionally contribute significantly to SADC economies including that of Zimbabwe, and that at the peak of the Zimbabwean economy, state-owned enterprises contributed close to 40 per cent of the Zimbabwean economy, and as at now, is estimated to contribute about 14 per cent of Zimbabwe’s GDP, making these entities a key part of the economy. The prevailing sanctions on Zimbabwe, including the unlawful restrictions on multilateral financing and business dealings with US companies, have negatively impacted on the strategic economic sectors of Zimbabwe and presents barriers to innovation, investment and growth.
Sanctions on these entities directly impact on employment and income generation opportunities, and thus the livelihoods of the ordinary Zimbabweans. The imposition of sanctions, therefore, have had significant spillover effects on a number of sectors that have had serious ramifications on the growth and development, and therefore on the livelihoods and social well-being of ordinary Zimbabwean citizens as follows:
Since 2001, International Financing Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank are barred from extending financial support to Zimbabwe and have instituted a number of suspensions on balance of payments and technical assistance support, including declaring Zimbabwe as ineligible to access fund resources. Despite the accumulation of arrears on the part of Zimbabwe, the IFIs have deliberately avoided enrolling Zimbabwe on special recovery programmes (like other countries in similar circumstances). The suspension of multilateral financing support is more linked to sanctions than failure by Zimbabwe to honour loan servicing obligations.
Beyond multilateral financing, the sanctions over the years have extended to the strategic economic sectors of Zimbabwe, as follows:
o Agriculture Sector: The Agricultural Bank of Zimbabwe, an entity entrusted with providing financing for smallholder farmers were put under sanctions until February 2016. This development, coupled with the lack of external financing support, and the lack of foreign direct investment have negatively impacted on expansion programmes and investment in agriculture, hence the deterioration in production capacity.
o Mining Sector: Two strategic entities in the Mining Sector, the Minerals Marketing Cooperation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) were sanctioned in 2008 and 2012, respectively.
The sanctioning of these entities, particularly the MMCZ (Institutions that are mandated to solicit markets and administer mineral sales proceeds), has resulted in constrained financing for mining operations, loss of revenue, and reduced ability to access new markets.
o Industry and Manufacturing Sector: The cancellation of business ties with US-based and the US linked firms and companies has negatively impacted the Industry and Manufacturing Sector, as the sourcing of industrial technologies and supplies was disrupted, including loss of supply and market contracts in the international markets. These developments have also affected, and continue to affect the performance of the extractive sectors (agriculture and mining) and the competitiveness of the industry sector.
o Infrastructure investments: Sanctions on the Infrastructure Bank of Zimbabwe, an entity mandated to provide long and medium-term funding for key infrastructure projects in the transportation, housing, energy, ICT, and water and sanitation sectors, has resulted in the loss of credit lines worth $100 million and equity partnerships. This has affected targeted infrastructure investments in the related sectors, especially capital intensive ones.
o Aviation industry and the tourism sector: As a result of sanctions, most European Airlines have left the Zimbabwean aviation industry since 2003, affecting not only the aviation industry but also the tourism sector. The tourism sector is further constrained by the stringent Visa requirements for Zimbabwean nationals, bad publicity and negative travel advice given to tourists as part of the calculated sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Barriers to innovation, growth, profitability and investment. It is evident that the strategic sectors of the Zimbabwean economy are constrained by the imposition of the sanctions (targeted or not targeted) as they are a barrier to innovation, growth, profitability and investment. Sustained sanctions will imply continued lack of access to multilateral financing and therefore no prospects for economic resuscitation. Instead, the economy will continue to grapple with public debt, inflation, unemployment, low FDI stock and limited supply of goods and services, with negative and devastating impacts on the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.
REGIONAL IMPACT OF SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON ZIMBABWE
The impact of the sanctions at the regional level include:
The implosion of the Zimbabwean economy has added a burden to the social services of neighbouring countries due to mass emigration.
The lack of financial support for infrastructure development has led to the dilapidation of critical rail and road networks in Zimbabwe, which was traditionally utilised by neighbouring countries as transit networks in support of regional trade.
Regional economic integration targets such as SADC macroeconomic convergence have been retarded as Zimbabwe has failed to meet some of its targets owing to the adverse effects of the sanctions.
Sanctions have reduced Zimbabwe’s capacity to take part in regional programmes that are supported by International Cooperating Partners, thus impacting negatively on SADC development and integration agenda.
Sanctions have resulted in the underperformance of the agriculture sector, as a result of, among others, continued lack of financing for agricultural technologies thereby posing threats to regional food and nutrition security as Zimbabwe was once considered a breadbasket of the region.
SADC CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS ON ZIMBABWE
Regardless of the terms used to define the sanctions, international finance and investment entities take a precautionary approach and inadvertently restrict the extension of financial support to Zimbabwe, and investment across economic sectors. This is contrary to the argument that the sanctions are targeted at individuals, and do not affect ordinary Zimbabweans and the region. This situation negatively affects the prospects for economic recovery.
SADC therefore, calls upon the European Union, the United States of America, Multilateral Organizations, and International Community to recognise that sanctions on Zimbabwe have far-reaching social, economic and financial implications, which not only affect Zimbabwe’s economy and Zimbabweans but also affect the region at large.
Once again, SADC reiterates its call for the immediate removal of all forms of sanctions on Zimbabwe to pave way for socio-economic transformation and economic development of Zimbabwe. The removal of sanctions will benefit Zimbabweans and the SADC Region, as well as, enhance cooperation of SADC with the EU and the USA.
Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax SADC Executive Secretary
Citizen|African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Ace Magashule has issued an angry statement in solidarity with Zimbabweans who have taken to the streets to protests against sanctions imposed on the country by the United States (US) and the European Union (EU).
The statement, written on behalf as the ANC, does not mince words in its opposition to what it describes as “neo-colonialism” on behalf of Western countries.
It expresses solidarity with Zimbabwe in the same “context” as past support the ANC has shown for Cuba, Venezuela, “the State of Palestine”, and the “people of Western Sahara”, against “meddling” and “regime change plans , in which many Western European nations and the EU slavishly follow the USA lead”.
“As the ANC has stated with conviction many a time at the United Nations (UN), and other international platforms, these actions contravene international law, and are illegal acts of political and economic prescriptiveness, followed by the bullying of sanctions when the dictates of Big Brother are not accepted and implemented, that can never be accepted by any proud and sovereign nation.
“The African National Congress will never allow such meddling in our own internal affairs, and as such integrity and principles dictates that we must also show our unwavering solidarity and support for fellow nations that are subjected to such international thuggery.
“International relations can never be ruled by the law of the jungle, where might is right, and economic power and military superiority become the only norm.
“As the ANC, we will never tolerate such conduct, because we understand very well the day we allow this to continue, not only other nations but also our own hard fought liberation of our sovereign nation will be fundamentally compromised and in jeopardy.”
The statement accuses the USA and the EU of trying to force “political and economic reforms”, which it says are “diplomatic code words of the USA and their lackeys to actually say: ‘Do as we say, or else’.”
It further accuses the USA and EU of using sanctions in an attempt to “subdue foreign nations” and make them “subservient service and raw material providers”.
The full statement can be read below, as it was shared on Twitter by uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MCMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus.
It’s possible, in fact, that Niehaus may have played a hand in the writing of the statement, or even authored it in full, as News24 reports that he has been working at Luthuli House since January and is believed to be working as something of an unofficial spokesperson for Magashule. The statement is also written in Niehaus’ trademark hyperbolic style.
Thousands of people gathered for an event in protest of sanctions on Friday — which was declared a national holiday — waving posters and banners as they marched towards the national sports stadium.
Some rode on top of buses, chanting slogans.
“Sanctions are a crime against humanity,” read one banner.
“ZIDERA must go,” said another, referring to sanctions imposed by the United States in 2001, at the height of land reforms that saw hundreds of white-owned farms violently seized.
Tensions escalated further when the Mugabe regime kicked out European Union observers and cracked down on opposition party members ahead of a presidential vote in 2002.
The sanctions were aimed at high-ranking officials and government institutions, including travel bans on Mugabe and his inner circle.
US President Donald Trump extended the penalties in March to more than 100 individuals and entities, Mnangagwa included.
On Friday, the president and his wife Auxilia paraded through the streets of Harare, escorted by a brass band playing religious and political songs.
“We know very well that the sanctions are neither smart nor targeted,” he said in an address to the crowds at the stadium.
“Their impact on our daily lives is immeasurable and the consequences are dire.”
Three dozen baby elephants at the centre of a controversy over the sale of wildlife to Chinese zoos have left Zimbabwe after they were loaded secretly on to a cargo flight.
Thirty-two of 37 young elephants were removed from a holding facility in Hwange National Park on Thursday morning and loaded onto a Saudia Cargo jet at Victoria Falls airport in the afternoon, sources close to the transfer said.
The five other elephants were rejected, apparently for health reasons.
The Zimbabwe National Society for the Protection of Animals confirmed the reports.
A source close to the society said the destination, buyers and condition of the animals were all unknown.
The young elephants have been at the centre of a legal battle since footage of them being held in the Hwange National Park emerged in February.
At the time, wildlife activists said the group had been sold to a Chinese safari park, and warned that the sale might breach Zimbabwean law because details of the deal, including the price, the customer, and the animals’ final destination, had not been made public.
Last week, the People and Earth Solidarity Law Network, a Zimbabwean NGO, warned the national parks authority that any attempt to export the elephants before the case was resolved would amount to contempt of court.
Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for Zimbabwe National Parks, said he was not aware of the transfer. — The Telegraph
By A Correspondent- The former Matabeleland Governor, Obert Mpofu has said sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are also affecting strategic road construction and other infrastructure development projects, Sunday news reports.
In a telephone interview with the publication, the Zanu PF Secretary for Administration said:
It needs no genius to understand that sanctions are real and are not affecting those in Zanu-PF only as has been argued in some circles. Sanctions cut across the entire economic spectrum, isolating the country and making doing business with the international community not only difficult but impossible.
I remember the Nkayi Road was being constructed by a company from Italy but it pulled out. Then there was another from Turkey that also pulled out after the US imposed sanctions on us. A lot of other projects that were underway were affected and some of them are still in that state as the Government has no money to complete the work.
We only did a 40km stretch of the Nkayi Road before the contractors pulled out. A number of other roads were affected too. The Byo-Kezi Road, Plumtree-Lupane via Tsholotsho and many others were affected. We are happy that the Government is working on them now.
Sanctions have made noise in Zimbabwe over the past few days leading to the SADC sanctions day on Friday. Those accused of imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe have maintained that sanctions don’t harm the ordinary Zimbabwean as they target certain individuals and their businesses.
With Zimbabwe’s economy expected to shrink by 7,2% this year, buffeted by severe headwinds, including rising inflation, currency and exchange rate volatility, massive power outages and widespread company closures, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube (pictured)’s projection that the economy will rebound next year and register 4,6% growth rate is not realistic, analysts say.
A fortnight ago, Ncube, battling to contain economic implosion that has plunged Zimbabwe into hyperinflation, a decade after the country experienced another bout of hyperinflation, projected that the economy would register positive growth next year on the back of currency and price stability.
The gross domestic product projection, contained in the 2020 Pre-Budget Strategy Paper, is anchored on impressive growth that Ncube anticipates will be registered across various productive sectors of the economy, with agriculture expected to grow 10,3% next year from -16,3% this year.
However, former finance minister Tendai Biti contends that with weather forecasts pointing that Zimbabwe will experience yet another lean rainfall season next year, agricultural growth would remain depressed, worsening Zimbabwe’s economic crisis.
“A projected growth of 4% is just hope and prophesy. But economics is not prophecy. We already know that we are going to have an indifferent rainy season. So there is not going to be any meaningful production in agriculture. We already know the political situation will remain sharp and divided so there is not going to be foreign direct investment (FDI),” Biti said.
“We already know the how the monetary situation is; you do not need to be a rocket scientist to know that inflation will be at 1 000% by the end of this year. We all know the United States dollar will reach 1:150 very soon.
“But we also know they (government) are not capable of reform. Command Agriculture, which has been the basis of looting, is not going anywhere; fuel cartels are not going anywhere. The Reserve Bank quasi-fiscal activities are not going anywhere. So a realistic growth projection for 2020 is -14%. The problem with Mthuli Ncube is that he has become captured and now he is an oligarchy serving the interests of the cartels.”
Biti said growth can only happen if there are credible underlying assumptions.
The former finance minister said the underlying assumptions in the budget strategy paper were however “hogwash”.
Ncube also forecasts that next year’s growth will be driven by “improved foreign currency availability and macro-fiscal stability and business confidence” among other factors. Agriculture is expected to be a major contributor.
Economist John Robertson told the Zimbabwe Independent this week that next season’s summer cropping season would be derailed by inadequate inputs, among a myriad of challenges.
“There is nothing to show for the growth. Farmers should be getting ready to plant but there are no inputs and there is no money. On the other side, though, there is command agriculture, which is however not properly organised. So agriculture is going to be disappointing,” Robertson said.
“The tobacco season was bad. Farmers have had to cut back on the seed and the crop was affected by frost. If they repeat the same pricing as this year it means there will be nothing from it. Wheat production has also been affected by electricity cuts.
“Manufacturing has also been affected by the electricity. And the Kariba Dam is going to start filling up mid-year so the situation is not encouraging. Indications are for a negative growth of -8% and maybe positive growth will be at the start of 2021. Government plans are not working and are shallow. There are a lot of claims that should be challenged in that budget strategy paper. The IMF is not even going to be impressed by the budget strategy paper,” Robertson said.
Treasury also projects the anticipated growth next year to be propelled by the mining sector, which is forecast to grow by 10,35% next year, carrying over a 7,7% growth margin in 2021,riding on government’s ambitious plans to achieve US$12 billion in mineral shipment receipts annually by 2023.
Inspite of the massive rolling power cuts, water shortages and the crippling foreign currency crisis, among other factors, which have disrupted industrial operations, Ncube further projects that the manufacturing sector will register marginal growth of 0,8% in 2020,and 9,4%(2021) though it will contract -4,3% by year-end.
The energy sector, reeling under severe power outages which have ground industrial operations to a halt, is also expected to rebound in 2020, posting a 8,7% growth rate and 11,7% next year. It will end the year at -19,8% .
The Treasury chief also forecasts next year’s GDP growth rate to be driven by the hotel industry, registering a 5,3% growth margin, after contracting 9% this year.
Month-on-month inflation, which is hovering around 10%, is projected by Treasury to retreat next year, stabilising at 2,3% contained by a range of “fiscal and monetary policy reforms and other structural policies.”
Mthuli Though the southern African country suspended publication of annualised inflation figures, the International Monetary Fund estimates that inflation, hovering above 300%, has choked Zimbabwe’s fragile economy.
[10/25, 21:02] William: Maswera sei comrades,hope I find u well,I’m seeing a problem in our party,today’s march flopped ,what is happening who should we blame ,mdara Victor and other leaders pliz can u explain how can a president address less than 15 ,000 people,let’s discuss pliz musangano haufe takatarisa ,zvandikuona hazvisati zvamboitika izvi
[10/25, 21:02] Mozi : pakuda urgent meeting coz I see danger kutopfura ye G40 and lacoste
[10/25, 21:05] Steward: zvema demo hazvichashande comrades even KU MDC people have matured politically
[10/25, 21:05] Lincon: ma provincial leaders were supposed to plan well each province yaifanira kuunza at least 10 buses but I see sabotage
[10/25, 21:08] Matipa: saka moreva kuti wen he addressed empty chairs abroad ,ma provincial leaders akaenda ikoko akanoudza ma Presidents there to sabotage here grow up hey
[10/25, 21:09] Matemadanda : Hazvisati zvamboitika sure kuti bato redu riite march isingapfure vanhu 30,000 ,I think ma G40 ariko kuchiuto uko
[10/25, 21:10] Mr Mavhunga: Akaita coup asina order he was supposed to consult us
[10/25, 21:11] Hon Nduna: Chimamiso ichocho
[10/25, 21:12] Mayor: ED hasvike 2023 uyu ndikuona vakuru vachinhongana kumusoro
(CNN)|ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is believed to have been killed in a raid conducted by the US military in northwest Syria on Saturday, according to a senior US defense official and a source with knowledge. The final confirmation is pending while DNA and biometric testing is conducted, both sources tell CNN.
The defense official said it appears that Baghdadi detonated a suicide vest during the raid.
The raid was carried out by special operations commandos, a source familiar with the operation told CNN.
The CIA assisted in locating the ISIS leader, the defense official said.
Newsweek first reported that Baghdadi was believed to have been killed.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to make a major announcement Sunday at 9 a.m., White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley announced. An administration official tells CNN that the announcement is foreign policy related.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Baghdadi, the leader of the terror group, has been in hiding for the last five years. In April, a video was published by the ISIS media wing al-Furqan that showed a man purporting to be Baghdadi. It was the first time Baghdadi has been seen since July 2014, when he spoke at the Great Mosque in Mosul.
In February 2018, several US officials said Baghdadi had been wounded in an airstrike in May 2017 and had to relinquish control of the terror group for up to five months because of his injuries.
Baghdadi became the leader of Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) in 2010. In 2013, ISI declared its absorption of an al Qaeda-backed militant group in Syria and Baghdadi said that his group will now be known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS).
White House officials were at the White House late Saturday evening in preparation.
One official told CNN the announcement will be in the Diplomatic Reception Room.
Trump stoked speculation when he tweeted Saturday evening “something very big has just happened!”
The estranged wife of the founder of Christ Embassy Church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – Anita, seems to have moved on with her life following her break up with her husband as there are strong indications that she has remarried.
Anita sparked up marriage rumors recently after she introduced ‘Schafer’ to her maiden name.
She authored her latest article ‘A Simple Prayer’ with the name Anita Ebhodaghe Schafer, on her online Christian portal at www.pastoranita.org.
Below is an article where it was confirmed she had remarried, as one of the approved comments said, “Congratulations Pastor Anita for your new name.”
Two other comments – “Congratulations Pastor Anita for your new name,” “It was such a beautiful ceremony,” also confirmed that the mother of two had tied the nuptial nuts.
It would be recalled that Anita was last year, involved in a messy break up with her husband, Chris after she claimed he was involved in illicit affairs with female members of the church.
She said she tolerated abuse for so long and subsequently, the ministry pulled down her profile from the church website, a development that showed all was not well with the family.
She had confirmed she was no longer a part of, or involved in, Christ Embassy, also known as, Believers LoveWorld INC.
Anita, however, officially filed for divorce at Central Family Court, High Holborn, London, UK, citing her husband’s “unreasonable behaviour” and inappropriate relationships with members of staff, an intonation of “adultery” as her reason.
TANZANIA has called for an international community constructive dialogue towards removal of the Cuban economic embargo and sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Baku, Azerbaijan, that the economic embargo and sanctions imposed on the two countries cripple the determination towards economic development, access to trade, investment and the well-being of their people.
In 2001 Western powers imposed economic sanctions on Zimbabwe after the southern African country restored its land which was under foreigners.
On Friday China joined member states of the Southern African Devevelopment Community (SADC) to press Western nations to lift the sanctions.
Mr Majaliwa said “Tanzania is partnering with the international community to call for a fundamental dialogue that will remove barriers to the Cuban government and sanctionson the Zimbabwean government to bring about economic change for the benefit of the people of those countries.”
The premier, who is representing President John Magufuli at the Summit, called for deeper South-South cooperation and strengthened North- South relations. He reaffirmed Tanzania’s faith in the NAM, a true embodiment of humanity.
“Tanzania dedicates itself to continue respecting the values and principles of NAM as well as constructively engaging in the work of our movement as we have always done in the past 58 years,” he said.
He commended the relations between NAM, G77 and China.
“We urge for its consolidation in defending the interests of the Movement whose majority are developing countries,” he said.
The current global political, social and economic challenges call for collective and urgent responses by the international community in its entirety, he explained.
He said this is especially necessary for the NAM whose members nearly make up 55 per cent of world population, commonly facing similar challenges in all arenas.
“It is, however, essential that the collective solutions chosen to address these shared challenges are in conformity with the principles of justice and international law. These principles are crucial guides towards building sustainable, secure, fair and prosperous societies; and for creating and enabling environment for upholding the United Nations Charter,” he noted.
It is in this regard that he said the Tanzanian delegation welcomes the theme for this Summit: ‘Upholding the Bandung Principles to ensure concerted and adequate response to the challenges of contemporary world.”
“Today, we are deeply concerned to see the resurgence of isolationism and extreme nationalism that have so far served to curb the efficiency and even the very existence of a rules-based international order, cooperation and dialogue.”
“With the existing global challenges, the international community should be united, not fragmented and should be willing to take collective global approaches to global issues for the betterment of humanity.”
Concerning climate change, Mr Majaliwa noted that it is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.
“We therefore urge the international community to adopt appropriate measures to address the threat that we are constantly facing. We also call upon developed countries to fulfill their financial obligation, build capacity and enhance technological support to developing countries,” he said.
Regarding the reforms of the Security Council, Tanzania commends the work of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Security Council Reforms, he said.
However, “We sternly feel concerned that recent consultations within the 73rd session have shown divergent views and interests that are falling short of Africa’s expectation of the legitimate claim of at least two seats in the permanent category of membership in the Security Council.”
State Media|THE ravaging drought that has seen pastures depleted and water sources drying up has so far wiped out nearly 5 000 cattle in Matabeleland South Province only while thousands more are at risk if no immediate action is taken, Sunday News has learnt.
The situation is almost similar in most southern parts of the country with farmers enduring the agony of watching their investments and source of wealth being wiped out.
Statistics obtained from the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services in Matabeleland South showed that 4 539 cattle have died with the most affected district being Beitbridge where 1 057 cattle have since succumbed to drought.
The second most affected is Insiza where 918 cattle have died while 600 have been lost in Gwanda.
In Matobo, 524 have died and 498 succumbed in Mangwe while the least affected is Umzingwane where 330 cattle have been lost.
Matabeleland South provincial livestock specialist Mr Hatitye Muchemwa said more cattle could have died as the figures represents only the reported incidents.
“Compared to last year, the figure represents nearly 500 percent increase as by this time we had only recorded 1 000 cattle deaths,” he said.
The province has a herd of 658 518 cattle.
Statistics from Matabeleland North could not be readily obtained, but the Department of Veterinary Services provincial officer Dr Polex Moyo told Sunday News recently that cattle in the province were also being affected by the drought.
But it is farmers in Matabeleland South who have suffered more with some saying the situation was unbearable as a majority cannot afford the prices of stock feed while water sources have dried up.
They said everyday they are watching helplessly as their prized wealth is being wasted away.
The chairman of Livestock Farmers Trade Union, Mr Sifiso Sibanda, said while the loss of livestock might be viewed as a loss to individual farmers, it was the national herd that is taking a knock.
The country’s herd stands at slightly more than five million and Matabeleland region used to be the country’s prime cattle producing area but recurrent droughts since 1992 reportedly killed about 60 percent of the provinces’ herd.
“It has been the national herd that has been affected. We have a situation whereby livestock is dropping like flies. In Matabeleland large numbers of animals are dying while this is the beef basket of the country. No one is doing anything to help the farmers and after this season farmers will be left impoverished and they won’t be able to recover,” he said.
Mr Sibanda said the drought was also inflicting further pain on farmers who have already lost some of their cattle to tick-borne disease which started last year.
Most of the farmers are not only grappling with sourcing stock feed but dipping chemicals have gone up beyond the reach of many with most veterinary shops selling chemicals for as high as $400 per dose.
The prices also change regularly.
“Most animals are not only succumbing to drought but to diseases worsened by the poor health and the poor diet. Vaccines, a dosage is going for $400. Some of these farmers have no any other source of income. Imagine a litre of dipping chemicals costs $800 and how many can afford this. A single bag of stock feed is $400 and that cannot even last for a week,” said Mr Sibanda.
“We have advised farmers to say sell a few beasts and then buy vaccines and stock feed but when we made that call the stock feed producers also increased and when farmers went to buy, they could not afford,” lamented Mr Sibanda.
However, most farmers are now also reluctant to sell their animals as they are thin and would fetch very low prices on the market.
A farmer in Figtree, Mr Amon Moyeti said most communal farmers were looking to the skies but nothing has come out so far.
“The Meteorological Department had said the rainy season will start early in October but still there is nothing, if we continue under these conditions until mid -November then the losses will be too much,” he said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union director Mr Paul Zakariya said it was well known that during this period, most areas will be dry with the most affected being the southern parts of the country.
However, despite such conditions, he said, nothing concrete has been put in place to mitigate the challenge.
“Farmers are losing animals and this is knocking harder on producers who lost quite a lot during the last season. Plans need to be put in place to mitigate such disasters going forward. Livestock farmer associations must be formed for the sole purpose of producing feed to bridge these known dry periods,” he said.
Mr Zakariya said the Government could provide the necessary policy environment to assist farmers save their animals.
“Farmers, together with private sector players must develop business initiatives around livestock feed to avoid any further losses,” he said.
Last month, the Government, however, announced that it has partnered with various organisations to avail 200 000 tonnes of stock feed to save hundreds of cattle mainly in Matabeleland.
Experts said the problem will likely result in the increase in beef prices especially towards the festive season since most farmers are reluctant to sell their cattle in the condition they are.
“Farmers are also reluctant to sell because they will not get value for their cattle since they will not fetch high prices,” said a livestock expert.
The price of beef is already averaging $80 per kilogramme in most butcheries which is beyond the reach of many people.
State Media|Parties to the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) — Government, business and labour — will convene on November 8 to discuss “critical issues facing the economy”.
It will be the second meeting under the body, which was officially launched on June 5 when President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the TNF Bill into an Act.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza told The Sunday Mail that there have been inordinate delays in convening the second meeting because there was need to properly constitute TNF structures in compliance with the Act.
While the management committee, whose mandate is to set the agenda, had not been fully constituted, the technical committee — charged with preparing documents for the main TNF — was also still discussing, she said.
“The TNF technical committee is expected to formally assign clusters work to be executed leading into the main TNF meeting scheduled for November 8 2019,” said Minister Nzenza.
“It is hoped that the main TNF will consider recommendations of the TNF technical committee on critical issues facing the economy.
“It is also hoped that the main TNF outcomes will inform ongoing budget consultations, with a view of ensuring that the views of business and labour are taken on board,” she said. The process of constituting TNF structures involved processing invitations to social partners and respective Government ministries for nominations into the various bodies of the TNF, including the appointment of the chairperson.
Minister Nzenza said: “This process took some time given the fact that organisations of social partners are constituency-based, hence, there are various consultative and approval processes involved.
“The appointment process has, however, been finalised, with the exception of technical committee cluster nominations from labour, which have not been submitted.”
The three technical clusters are economic, social and labour.
The economic cluster has been tasked with preparing proposals on how the twin challenges of foreign currency shortages and soaring inflation can be solved.
It has also been charged with coming up with proposals on how to promote economic development.
On the other hand, the social cluster has been tasked with looking into allegations of both perceived persecution of trade union representatives and rent-seeking behaviour by businesses.
The labour cluster has been specifically mandated with unpacking the TNF Act and proposals for operationalising the TNF and making it efficient.
Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz) president Israel Murefu said there was need for Government to consult extensively before crafting statutory instruments to avoid blind siding stakeholders.
“So many statutory instruments are being crafted by the authorities without the input of the other parties; that is, business and labour. Government needs to consult before all these instruments are put into place,” said Mr Murefu.
Apex Council president Cecilia Alexander said labour was ready for negotiations.
“The establishment of TNF is a very positive development, but, yes, since we met in June, we have not yet had another meeting.
“It would have been good for us as a country to utilise such a forum to discuss the challenges that we are facing.”
State Media|The furore over the name to be adopted by personnel who teach sexual reproductive issues in schools, as envisaged by Clause 14 of the Education Amendment Bill, has split Parliament, with Senate expressing strong reservations on naming them “sexual and reproductive health personnel”.
Senators argue that the use of the word “sexual” has negative connotations to local culture and could erode the country’s morale fabric.
It has recommended the amendment of the clause by scrapping the words “sexual and”.
However, the National Assembly has rejected the amendment, which has bogged down passage of the Bill.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, said a 90-day waiting period will be observed after which the Bill will be presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“The Bill was debated in Senate and amendments were made, and it was referred back to the National Assembly, which rejected the amendments.
“In such instances, we wait for 90 days then take it for Presidential assent in its original form,” he said.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary, Ms Virginia Mabhiza, said the Bill may eventually be presented to the President in its original form.
“The Constitution has provisions to deal with that. In terms of the Constitution’s Fifth Schedule, Section 6(1), the Bill will be presented to the President in the form in which it was passed by the National Assembly.
“It is now up to Parliament to make the paperwork ready so that the process can move forward,” she said.
Clause 14 of the Education Bill provides for the appointment of sexual reproductive health personnel in schools to sensitise pupils on the consequences of adolescent sexual relationships such as teen pregnancy, illegal abortions-related deaths, sexually transmitted infections and HIV, including psycho-social trauma.
The contested clause mandates the inclusion of comprehensive sexuality education in primary and secondary schools’ curricula.
This refers to curriculum-based education that approaches sexuality and relationships with information that is age-appropriate, scientifically accurate, culturally relevant as well as non-judgemental.
During Senate debates on the Education Amendment Bill, there were concerns that using the term “sexual” gives the impression that the focus of health education in schools will be on sex.
Chairperson of Parliament Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said MPs feel that sexual health education has to be included in the Bill.
“The Bill provides that there should be appointed teachers or personnel responsible for teaching sexual and reproductive health rights, and we feel very strongly about this because not only have there been issues of sexual abuse in schools, but we are also having situations where these young kids are having sex and getting pregnant,” she said.
“We believe there should be somebody who speaks to them. After all, its part of things we have agreed to in numerous treaties — that we will deal with the issue of sexual health rights in schools. When it went to Senate, some of the people, especially traditional leaders, felt that the word sex should not find its way in the Bill, it should be removed.
“National Assembly believes sexual health rights are crucial and they rejected the amendment.”
Constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku said disagreements may be resolved during the 90-day waiting period.
“The 90 days are to see if the two houses can come to an understanding. A committee can be set up to try and resolve those disagreements.
“When all processes to reach an agreement between the two houses have failed, the National Assembly is allowed to send the Bill for Presidential assent, but is obliged to note that there have been disagreements. After that, the President can either sign it into law or refuse to sign it and send it back to the National Assembly citing reasons,” he said.
A Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council study conducted in 2015 raised the flag on sexual-related issues among school-going children.
The study indicated that 40 and 30 percent of girls and boys, respectively, have had sexual intercourse before the age of 18.
However, HIV prevalence between the ages of 15 to 19 was gauged at 3,7 percent and 4,6 percent for boys and girls.
The Education Amendment Bill, which seeks to replace the Education Act (Chapter 25:04) of 2006, also includes a provision that will see the mandatory teaching of all Zimbabwe’s official languages in all schools countrywide.
It also proposes abolition of corporal punishment as well as provision of free basic education by Government.
Parliament’s two houses have disagreed before on proposed Bills.
In 2017, when the Land Commission Bill was before Parliament, Senate demanded the amendment of a clause that declared Government the sole body responsible for land acquisition.
Traditional chiefs, many of whom sit in the Senate, wanted authority over agricultural land.
The legislation was passed into law the same year without the amendments that were proposed by the Senate.
Paul Nyathi|Government claims that it has mysteriously managed to establish what really happened to a loot of 10 000 carats of diamonds which disappeared in 2016 in the hands of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamonds Company, ZCDC.
According to the company the gems were actually sold in a transaction “that was above board” raising eye brows how it would take over three years to realise the transaction.
About 10 000 carats of gem diamonds with an estimated value of US$10m disappeared at ZCDC in 2016 after the precious stones were reportedly shipped out of the country to China under the pretext that they were for educational use by students in the Asian country.
According to an initial report compiled by a former ZCDC senior executive titled, “Corruption at ZCDC”, the diamonds were shipped to China for training of students. The diamond cutting and polishing students were supposed to use those gems for practical purposes but according to the report which was submitted to Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President, the diamonds never reached the intended destination.
The training was being done by Zheng Jingyi Vocational Technology School while the students were drawn from all the 10 provinces in the country.
The issue stated together with other irregularities was referred to the then ZCDC board but no action was taken to investigate or rectify the anomalies.
A ZCDC internal audit memo dated October 16 2019 has suddenly surfaced claiming that the diamonds were sold to Harvest Way Enterprises Limited — a Hong Kong company — to facilitate training of students in the beneficiation of diamonds.
“Inquiries made with the finance and marketing personnel indicate that two batches of approximately 10 000 carats were sold to Harvest Way Enterprises Limited in 2016 and these were all paid for,” reads the internal memo.
“Diamonds were then sold to Harvest Way at reduced prices; that is, royalties of 15 percent and the MMCZ commission of 0,875 percent were exempted,” it adds.
The exemptions, which covered a three-year period, were apparently approved by former Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Francis Gudyanga, on January 8 2016 in a letter that was addressed to then ZCDC acting chief executive officer, Mr Mark Mabhudhu.
The case has attracted the interest of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Sacu) and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), which separately confirmed that they were looking into the transaction.
Sacu chair, Mr Tabani Mpofu said his office compiled a report that has been forwarded to Zacc.
Zacc chair Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo confirmed receiving the report, which is presently being perused by investigators.
Stakeholders in the diamond industry, however, are worried that there seem to be contrived news stories calculated to besmirch the image of the local diamond industry ahead of the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process in New Dehli, India, from November 18 to November 22.
On May 16 this year, the ZCDC board fired chief executive officer Dr Morris Mpofu and six top executives — chief finance officer Mr Charles Gambe, supply chain executive Dr Newton Demba, chief human resources executive Mrs Masciline Chikoore, engineering executive Engineer Andrew Murwisi, audit executive Dr Cleopatra Mutisi and chief security officer Clemence Munoriarwa.
It is now under the management of acting CEO Mr Roberto de Pretto.
ZCDC said in a statement released to The Sunday Mail, the company remains compliant with the Kimberly Process and continues to invest in its security system.
“For the first time in the company’s history ZCDC has published all its audited accounts since formation in 2016,” read part of the statement.
“Production has also continued to grow from one million carats in 2016 to a projected three million in 2019. Contrary to some media reports, the company does not use forced labour within its operations. Not only is this in conflict with stated corporate governance rules and values, but it is also against the laws of the country. The recruitment practices are stringent and abide with best professional standards that compare to any diamond operation around the world.”
ZCDC is reportedly investing into latest surveillance technologies such as drones that are backed up by rapid response teams.
“At present, huge investments are being made to strengthen both electronic surveillance as well as access control of ZCDC premises.
“The annual Diamond Stakeholder Indaba has also been useful in strengthening relations with various civic society bodies and other stakeholders,” it said.
PROPERTY worth thousands of dollars was destroyed when one of the boys’ hostels at Tongogara High School in Shurugwi was gutted by fire which is suspected to have been caused by pupils who were allegedly smoking in the dormitories.
It is alleged that some boys were smoking cigarettes in the hostel resulting in the blankets and curtains catching fire and subsequently gutting down the whole floor.
Pupils, a majority of them sitting for Ordinary Level Zimsec examinations were left stranded as their clothes, books and other valuables were destroyed.
Acting Midlands Provincial Education Director Reverend Tedious Mativenga confirmed the incident which occurred on Wednesday last week in the afternoon.
Rev Mativenga said no one was injured in the incident.
He said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education together with the police were carrying out investigations to establish the cause of the fire.
“I can confirm that one of the hostels at Tongogara High School in Shurugwi was gutted down by fire which broke out in the afternoon. The Fire Brigade was called immediately and managed to put out the fire.
However, the top floor of the double storey hostel had already been destroyed.
We have sent a team on the ground and also the police are investigating the matter to establish the cause of the fire,” he said.State media
Sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States of America and other Western countries contributed heavily to the fall of manufacturing industries in Bulawayo which was once the industrial hub of the nation.
Bulawayo which is home to giants like the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), Cold Storage Company (CSC), Datlabs, Dunlop have all lost their glory owing to the restrictions and limitations that were brought about by sanctions.
CSC used to be a major beef exporter while NRZ can no longer procure some of the equipment from European countries due to the sanctions.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Matabeleland Chapter president Mr Golden Muoni said the country has not been able to benefit from developmental grants because of sanctions.
“Our industry was inclined to the European Union and the Americans who are signatories to multi-national banks such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
So you find out that development grants that are supposed to benefit us in terms of development are no longer accessible,” he said.
He said investor confidence was shaken after the imposition of sanctions.
“There are investors that would have loved to trade with Zimbabwe but they have not managed to do so looking at the risk element, when a country is under sanctions, multinational companies who may be willing to invest are discouraged to do so and we lose out in the process.
“Where ever there is high risk in investments, investors do not dice with their money but go elsewhere instead where they can invest and recoup profits unlike staying in a sanctioned country,” he added.State media
THE ravaging drought that has seen pastures depleted and water sources drying up has so far wiped out nearly 5 000 cattle in Matabeleland South Province only while thousands more are at risk if no immediate action is taken, Sunday
News has learnt.
The situation is almost similar in most southern parts of the country with farmers enduring the agony of watching their investments and source of wealth being wiped out.
Statistics obtained from the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services in Matabeleland South showed that 4 539 cattle have died with the most affected district being Beitbridge where 1 057 cattle have since succumbed to drought.
The second most affected is Insiza where 918 cattle have died while 600 have been lost in Gwanda.
In Matobo, 524 have died and 498 succumbed in Mangwe while the least affected is Umzingwane where 330 cattle have been lost.
Matabeleland South provincial livestock specialist Mr Hatitye Muchemwa said more cattle could have died as the figures represents only the reported incidents.
“Compared to last year, the figure represents nearly 500 percent increase as by this time we had only recorded 1 000 cattle deaths,” he said.
The province has a herd of 658 518 cattle.
Statistics from Matabeleland North could not be readily obtained, but the Department of Veterinary Services provincial officer Dr Polex Moyo told Sunday News recently that cattle in the province were also being affected by the drought.
But it is farmers in Matabeleland South who have suffered more with some saying the situation was unbearable as a majority cannot afford the prices of stock feed while water sources have dried up.
They said everyday they are watching helplessly as their prized wealth is being wasted away.
The chairman of Livestock Farmers Trade Union, Mr Sifiso Sibanda, said while the loss of livestock might be viewed as a loss to individual farmers, it was the national herd that is taking a knock.
The country’s herd stands at slightly more than five million and Matabeleland region used to be the country’s prime cattle producing area but recurrent droughts since 1992 reportedly killed about 60 percent of the provinces’ herd.
“It has been the national herd that has been affected. We have a situation whereby livestock is dropping like flies. In Matabeleland large numbers of animals are dying while this is the beef basket of the country.
No one is doing anything to help the farmers and after this season farmers will be left impoverished and they won’t be able to recover,” he said.
Mr Sibanda said the drought was also inflicting further pain on farmers who have already lost some of their cattle to tick-borne disease which started last year.
Most of the farmers are not only grappling with sourcing stock feed but dipping chemicals have gone up beyond the reach of many with most veterinary shops selling chemicals for as high as $400 per dose.State media
The new NetOne CEO Lazarus Muchenje assisted by Darlington Gutu and KudakwasheNyashanu must be exposed for corruption and scandals. They are victimising employees especially those not aligned to their faction or those that served under the erstwhile CEO Reward Kangai.
The new CEO is changing corporate structures to accomodate his cronies as he drops those that he does not want for personal but unprofessional reasons.
To date, four executives had their titles changed for junior ranks and have been posted to Masvingo, Mutare and Bulawayo. Those that remain at HQ have been given dubious titles on a take it or leave NetOne basis.
Most recently the CEO demoted three Zone commanders and he posted them to the regions where the company has no available housing for management like Gwanda and Hwange.
The three have surrounded themselves with yes men, relatives and girlfriends.
If you ask those that resigned this year and those yet to resign, their reasons are premised on the CEO’s reign of terror, nepotism, corruption and victimisation.
Every meeting is turned into a binge party that runs into the next day. Company funds are recklessly squandered on food, drinks and entertainment.
Employees have no free week ends and no family time. At any time you are called for unnecessary meetings at odd hours just to prove power by the senior management. Workers are forced to be on social media to write good stuff about NetOne.
We suspect looting of corporate assets is also happening. Employees are working in fear and not motivated.
Can the shareholder deal with these crooks disguised as leaders. The board and Minister of ICT are captured and just watching when NetOne is being looted and destroyed by the day.
We can’t even approach ZACC. The system is woven to be immune from accountability. Where do we go from here? – Anonymous
IT’S almost two decades now Zimbabwe has been alienated from the global financial systems due to sanctions imposed by western countries protesting the land reform programme implemented by the Government to redress historical colonial imbalances.
While the US government and its global north allies have for long provided the narrative that the sanctions were targeted at individuals and selected entities, it is quite evident that ordinary Zimbabweans and businesses who are not on the purported sanctions list have suffered the brunt of these illegal restrictive measures.
On Friday, an anti-sanctions rally was held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare to express disgruntlement over the western sanctions.
This was after SADC leaders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in August declared October 25 as a solidarity day against sanctions. Like Zimbabweans, the region is also feeling the effects of the sanctions.
According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the sanctions on Zimbabwe have resulted in the drying up of project finances and balance of payments support, with far reaching consequences on the majority of the people through collapsed service delivery.
Despite growing voices condemning the sanctions, the US and its allies continue justifying the sanctions.
A report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (MoFAIT) prepared last month has shown that Zimbabwe could have lost US$ 98 billion as a result of illegal western imposed sanctions.
It said the sanctions have branded Zimbabwe and its entire financial linkages with the rest of the world as high risk, thereby making the country a compelling target for de-risking interventions by leading correspondent banks in the US and Europe.
“It is believed that Zimbabwe lost bilateral donor support estimated at US$4,5 billion annually since 2001, US$12 billion in loans from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and African Development Bank, commercial loans of US$18 billion and a gross domestic reduction of US$21 billion among other losses,” said MoFAIT.State media
MARVELOUS NAKAMBA got a big test of his pedigree in the English Premier League against champions Manchester City and the Zimbabwean star midfielder did not look out of place at the Etihad despite Aston Villa’s 0-3 loss yesterday.
Nakamba was not overawed by the occasion as he battled against World stars – Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva — in the middle of the park.
His father Antony Nakamba watched the match from Lusaka, Zambia where he is visiting and told The Sunday Mail that he was a bit nervous for his son, but felt relieved after Marvelous put on another decent performance on his sixth straight Premiership start.
“It was a nice feeling watching my son up against the world stars, but I was a bit nervous. I am however relieved now, they were playing against a great team and he (Marvelous) tried his best,” he said.
Nakamba made three crucial tackles and got a rating of 6.7 after another cool performance in front of the back four.
Manchester City’s win left them three points behind log leaders Liverpool who play Tottenham at Anfield today. While this ended up being a routine win for Pep Guardiola’s side, they had to work hard and wait to break down a well-organised Villa side.
The visitors had largely frustrated City in the first half but their resistance lasted for only 20 seconds after the restart.
After Villa squandered possession from their own kick-off, Ederson’s long punt forward was flicked on by Gabriel Jesus and into the path of Raheem Sterling, who made no mistake.State media
A man from Mvuma has appeared in court charged with indecent assault after he fondled a woman while she breastfed her baby, before threatening to rape her if she tried stopping him.
The matter came to light when Shepard Tafirenyika (25) of Kwesi Village in Mvuma appeared before Mvuma resident magistrate Tafadzwa Mhlanga.
He pleaded not guilty but he was found guilty following a full trial. In his mitigation, Tafirenyika told the court that on the day in question, he was drunk and as such he could not remember anything that transpired. “Your Worship, on that particular day l was drunk so l don’t remember what transpired,” he said.
Magistrate Mhlanga slapped him with a 12-month jail sentence. Three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The case against Tafirenyika was that on October 8, the complainant Natasha Mahufa (21) was seated on her doorstep with her two housemates Pamela Chimvemve and Evelynn Manyumbu.
Tafirenyika arrived and proceeded to Mahufa who was breast-feeding her baby while talking to Chimvemve and Manyumbu.
He then started caressing Mahufa’s thighs, threatening to rape her if she dared to stop him. Mahufa’s housemates ran off and hid inside the house leaving Mahufa at Tafirenyika’s mercy.
Out of fear, the complainant complied. She then managed to escape, ran to her bedroom and locked herself inside. Tafirenyika followed her to the house saying ndikakubata ndoda kukuk**ra meaning “If l manage to catch you, I will rape you”.
While inside her bedroom, Mahufa then called her friend Tinovonga Tongogara, who together with other men apprehended Tafirenyika and handed him to the police. Mr Michael Kazomba prosecuted.State media
In a rare show of bravado, an 11-year-old girl from Hwange Town plunged into a stream and jumped on top of a crocodile before gouging its eyes to rescue a nine-year-old friend who had been gripped by the reptile.
The incident happened last week when Latoya Muwani was attacked by a crocodile while swimming with friends in a stream in Sinderela Village.
However, Rebecca Munkombwe, a Grade Six pupil at a local school, displayed some heroic exploitations when just after coming out of the stream, she was alerted by screams of help coming from the water.
After seeing that her friend Latoya was struggling to stay on the water surface and was being pulled away, her instinct told her that she had to help her.
She quickly plunged into the water where she found out that Latoya was being pulled away by the big reptible which had gripped her on the hand and leg.
She mounted on top of the reptile and started gouging its eyes until it loosened its grip on Latoya. Rebecca then helped her out of the stream.
Sunday News traced the young heroine and she narrated how despite fighting the crocodile and rescuing her nine-year-old friend, she did not sustain any injuries.
“We had just left the water when we heard Latoya who was left alone swimming near the neck deep zone screaming that something was biting her hand. Since I was the eldest among the other seven children, I felt the urge to save her. So, I jumped into the water and swam to where she was struggling to float. She was screaming in pain that something was biting and pulling her under,” said Rebecca.
She said once she got close to Latoya she noticed that a crocodile had its jaws locked on her thigh.
“I jumped on top of the crocodile and started beating it with my bare hands before using my fingers to poke its eyes until it released her. Once she was free, I swam with her to the banks where the other children pulled her out of the water. The crocodile fortunately did not attack us after it let off Latoya,” said Rebecca.
Sunday News also visited St Patrick’s Hospital where Latoya was admitted to but the administrator stopped the publication from seeing her.
A nurse at the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity said Latoya was lucky to have escaped with “mild injuries” as the crocodile did not fracture her bones.
Latoya’s father, Mr Fortune Muwani could not hide his gratitude describing his daughter’s survival as miraculous.
“I was at work when I learnt that my daughter had been attacked by a crocodile while swimming. For a moment there I thought of the worst before I learnt that she had survived after being saved by Rebecca. How she managed to do that I don’t know but am grateful to God. Latoya is recovering well here at St Patrick’s and we expect her to be discharged soon as her injuries are not serious,” said Mr Muwani.
Ward 10 councillor Steve Chisose confirmed the attack arguing that the incidents were becoming worrisome.
“Yes, there was another crocodile attack involving a girl who luckily survived after a friend came to her rescue just on time. I spoke to the father who told me that she was receiving treatment at St Patrick’s. What’s also contributing to these incidents is that we have challenges with accessing water which forces women and children to use unprotected sources such as these crocodile-infested streams. The women are usually accompanied by their children who get naughty and end up swimming in these water bodies. I appeal to ZimParks to remove these reptiles before they cause serious harm or death,” he said.
Police in Hwange and Zimparks spokesman Mr Tinashe Farawo said they were yet to receive the report of the attack.
The incident brings to three the number of people, mostly children who have been attacked in the stream which is a tributary of Deka River.
The stream, which has a continuous flow, gets most of its water from the Zimbabwe Power Company effluent and goes through various treatment stages before passing through the area enroute to Deka River.
Sometime this year, a 21-year-old man was attacked and killed by a crocodile while fishing at a disused pit that had filled with water in Madumabisa. Sunday News
By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday unwittingly announced that nations he seeks coexistence with do not exist anywhere on earth.
Mnangagwa said he seeks coexistence with nations which are not on earth. He said these nations are those “off this world.” He was at the time making his speech update on the 25th October March. BELOW WAS THE FULL TEXT:
Mnangagwa unwittingly says he seeks coexistence with phantom nations, countries that don't exist, nations that are beyond planet earth, nations that are "off this world" | IS THIS AN ERROR @edmnangagwa ? STATEMENT BELOW pic.twitter.com/YOxWLIIGh3
There is common wisdom that “change” is the only constant in life and nothing else.
This view is borrowed from an ancient Greek philosopher and means that there is nothing in life which is stationary or will remain the same throughout one’s life.
Even the Bible has it that Saul who was sworn to persecute Christians changed to Paul in Damascus, arguably one of the greatest preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Baron Dube (44), a popular gold miner who has been involved in numerous deadly turf wars was recently baptised at the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church in Habane, Esigodini.
For years, Baron’s dark side has graced the media, as one alleged scandal after another painted a picture of him as the type of “sinner” who should be struck with lightning, brimstone and fire.
However, the soft spoken gold miner has opened a new chapter in his life and turned his heart to God. Dube, who has hogged the limelight for wrong reasons revealed that he got his Damascus moment while he was sleeping about three months ago. He said he heard a small voice whispering in his ear saying he must turn to God.
At first he ignored the voice but he heard it for the second time and it would not leave his mind even when he was awake. After careful thought, he said, he decided to turn to God. He said turning to God was not an easy decision.
“At first I thought I was making a wrong decision but I summoned courage and went to church. After attending church services for two weeks I accepted Jesus as the Lord and saviour of my life,” he says. He says he feels he made a proper decision. “I have no regrets about the decision that I made. Many people were shocked when they saw me going to church. In the first days they thought it was just a gimmick to win people’s sympathy since they know me for wrong reasons. But they had to believe me after they saw me changing from my usual habits of drinking beer to quitting it,” he says.B-Metro
Jose Mourinho is being lined up by Borussia Dortmund to take over as their new manager, and the club are in “regular contact” with him, according to reports in Germany.
Mourinho is keen to get back into management and Dortmund could be an attractive choice, given they regularly appear in the Champions League and boast stars such as Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus and Paco Alcacer.
Mourinho hasn’t managed since he was sacked by Manchester United last year, but is already learning to speak German, according to Bild.
The 56-year-old has appeared on Sky Sports as a pundit but wants to return to the touchline.
The chance to challenge Bayern Munich’s utter dominance of German football might also appeal to the famously combative manager.
Bild report that Mourinho is Dortmund’s No 1 choice to take over from Lucien Favre, whose side have made an inconsistent start to the season having been proclaimed by some to be favourites to win the Bundesliga ahead of the mighty Bayern.
B-Metro
DYNAMOS coach Tonderai Ndiraya milked the occasion as the Glamour Boys rode on Evans Katema’s solitary goal to beat traditional rivals Highlanders in the Anti-Sanctions Challenge Cup match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Bosso had beaten Dynamos three times this year in different competitions.
But the Bulawayo giants, with a diabolical fixture congestion which saw them travel to Kariba for a midweek league match, before they face FC Platinum in a Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final tomorrow, turned to their youth brigade.
DeMbare fielded some of their regulars, including skipper Godfrey Mukambi and striker Katema, and found a way to win a tight encounter. Ndiraya said what mattered was that they won the game.
“What is important is that we have won. How we have done that it doesn’t matter,’’ he said. ‘’But I think what’s way important than just the game is why we are here. I think we all know what we are here for.
“The significance of the event carries the day more than anything else. But, in terms of performance, I think it has taken a long time before we broke the jinx.
“Of course, it had to be broken on this occasion and that makes it sweeter. From a technical point, we had to give some of our fringe players a run and to mix, of course, with the next match in mind.
“I am quite happy with the performance, although, I would have wanted more. What was important was the win so that we bring back the confidence not just to the players but the team as a whole.’’ Ndiraya then saluted his opponents.State media
Concerns have been raised over hoarding of mealie-meal in Victoria Falls where it is sold in United States dollars to Zambian cross-border vendors on the black market, thereby creating artificial shortages of the commodity.
Sunday News understands that some millers divert mealie-meal to the black market in the resort town where they sell to Zambians who allegedly smuggle it to their country.
The Zambian vendors, popularly known as Mzangas, resell the mealie-meal among other goods in their country where they make more money.
Some local individuals and shops have also reportedly joined the bandwagon as they hoard mealie-meal from shops and resell it to omzanga outside.
In the shops, a 10kg bag of mealie-meal costs about RTGS$64 and it is sold for US$3 outside, with 20kg and 50kg bags going for US$6 and US$15 respectively. The concern is compounded by lack of monitoring of the situation as the hoarding and bush selling of the mealie-meal is happening without anything being done to curb the practice.
“People grab all the mealie-meal as soon as it is delivered and stock it to resell at Emaplankeni where there is a ready market in US dollars. Some wholesale shops (names given) would even tell customers that mealie-meal is finished yet it will still be there in the shop as they keep it for the black market,” said a concerned local dealer.
“Zimbabwean mealie-meal reportedly fetches better money in neighbouring Zambia as their products are expensive.”
Some months ago it used to be the other way round where Mzangas would bring mealie-meal for sale in Zimbabwe as locals preferred refined products from the neighbouring country. Besides mealie-meal, a variety of other products such as sugar, rice and juices are smuggled out of the country through the bush.
The same people cross with vegetables, bread and other products which also have a market in Victoria Falls.
Combined Victoria Falls Residents’ Association chairman Mr Morgen Gazza Dube said stakeholders in the resort town carried out an investigation into the matter following public complaints. “The issue of hoarding mealie-meal is now a cause for concern to our residents and we are doing our own investigations before taking the matter to the police with a view of angling on the culprits and bringing them to book.
“We are aware that the municipal security has been raiding unlicensed shops and individuals but this is not enough as suppliers are not playing their part,” he said.
The general feeling is that it is not easy to control the commodity as there are no statutes prohibiting people from buying or shops from selling any quantity to people.
Shops are allowed to sell any quantity to anyone while there are no statutes stopping mealie-meal from being exported.
Grain Millers Association spokesman Mr Garikai Chaunza said the distribution and selling of mealie-meal is not controlled.
“We used to monitor how our products are distributed and sold but the Competitions and Tariffs Commission wrote to us saying we should forthwith stop that and we did so in July. It used to be our role to monitor but we are no longer allowed to do so,” he said. Sunday News
FARMERS have been warned of impending heat stress on livestock as the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has forecast extreme weather conditions in the country with places such as Lupane, Gwanda and Victoria Falls expected to record maximum temperatures of between 40 and 44 degrees Celcius.
The extremely hot weather conditions are expected to prevail until the end of this month.
In a telephone interview, Matabeleland North Provincial Agritex Officer Mr Dumisani Nyoni said the heat wave was drying up the few drinking points, meaning that cattle and goats will have to move longer distances in search for water. He said plants under irrigation were also prone to suffer from moisture stress and urged farmers to adjust watering cycles throughout the duration of the extreme weather.
“This extremely hot weather had detrimental effects for farmers and livestock such as chickens risk dying or not laying eggs. Pregnant livestock are at a risk of suffering abortions due to heat stress.
“Dehydration will be high and it is particularly problematic because many areas were affected by veld fires meaning there is no shade and leaves from trees,” said Mr Nyoni. “At this time leafy vegetables will lose their green colour and turn pale due to moisture stress, even plants under irrigation are not spared, so farmers are urged to reduce cycle days to ensure that plants always have enough moisture to avoid evapotranspiration,” he said.
He urged farmers to closely monitor the condition of livestock at this period and consult livestock officers for assistance if they faced challenges.State media
Radio and TV personality Tinopona “Tin Tin” Katsande recently learnt that celebrity or fame count for little when hardship comes knocking after she was turned away at a clinic while in labour due to the on-going strike by the country’s doctors.
The former model and Studio 263 actress, who only a few years ago was told by medical professionals that she would probably never have children because of her battle with endometriosis, recently gave birth to her second child.
With the on-going job action by the country’s healthcare professionals even the best laid plans can come unstuck at the last minute and Tin Tin found this out the hard way when was turned away from Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital.
Despite the sympathy of members of stuff at the institution, she eventually had to seek alternative avenues for the birth of her second miracle child after being told that doctors would not attend to her. Zimbabwe’s doctors have been on strike for over a month and have so far turned down Government overtures and even defied a court order that ruled their industrial action illegal.
“It’s a calamity that I faced. I was booked at Mbuya Nehanda and paid up but come delivery day, in full labour by the time I got to the hospital, the nurses literally closed the door in my face. Shame, I could see their empathy but there was nothing they could do. There were no doctors to attend to me. It was quite the ordeal driving round in labour looking for a hospital that could accommodate me. I thank God Baines Clinic took me in and rendered a par excellent service even though I wasn’t previously booked there,” she told Sunday Life in an interview.
While her struggles on the day she delivered her second born might have brought her face to face with struggles faced by the majority of women in Zimbabwe, it was not the only encounter or incident that left her shell shocked. With most people struggling in a harsh economic environment, she was not spared as she counted the costs of pregnancy before her second child was delivered.
“No pregnant woman should have to go through the financial hardships we Zimbabwean women are going through. Everything is unbearably expensive. As a pregnant woman you must have a special and consistent diet. Doctors’ visits must be regular, even to the local clinic but fuel costs and transport costs are so exorbitant and ever rising that it makes the human right to antenatal care so cumbersome. Scans are very important too so we know how the baby is doing inside but again the cost has become so prohibitive. And worse now when birthing when the doctors are on strike,” she said.
On her corner Tin Tin had family members willing to cushion her against financial hardship.
“Everyone needs people like this in their lives. I also believe God sent living guardian angels to assist me financially too as at every turn which required monies I didn’t have they stepped in without a blink of eye. A friend in need is a friend indeed,” she said.
While prevailing in the current conditions might have been a worthy test of her resilience, for Tin Tin the birth of her second child also represented yet another triumph. After having her first child against the odds at 36, she never thought she would have another special delivery only four years later. After being told that chances of her having any child at all were slim, her two children now represent her own resilience and the strength of hope in the face of adversity.
“I am in awe of God’s grace in my life for I declare it is not by my hand or any human hand that I have conceived not once only but twice now and have managed to carry the babies to full term. This time I didn’t even try IVF as I was convinced there was absolutely no way I could get pregnant again. I’ve got Stage Four endometriosis so as doctors had rightfully said having a baby for me was highly unlikely. But here we are. I’ve received a double blessing. I’m a Christian and I try to be the better Christian each day and in my life I always declare that surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and well, here is the proof. I’m so very grateful,” she said.
Despite her joy, Tin Tin described her nine months of pregnancy as “hellish”.
“In truth although I now knew the different stages and mostly what to expect physically and how to take good care of myself , second time round was even more arduous than the first time. Oh, the nine months were hellish, I won’t lie. I have endometriosis so again baby grew with fibroids just like with the first baby except this time the one fibroid was a lot closer to the birth canal and grew a lot bigger than before,” she said.
Despite the hardships she faced, Tin Tin said she was grateful for the support she received from those close to her despite the fact that the circle of those that supported her had grown smaller with her second pregnancy. This had led her to rely on the virtual support of fans and friends that shared her pregnancy journey with her on social media.
“This second pregnancy journey was definitely filled with more anxiety than the first. My close support system was nothing like the first time round so that played a big role in everything but I’m grateful to my fans and friends on social media whom I often turned to for sharing experiences and advice. They really calmed me a lot a made me see that I was not alone and neither was I abnormal in what I was feeling. I love my fans and social media friends, I really do,” she said. Sunday News
The results of Mozambique’s general elections will be announced on October 30, the electoral commission said on Wednesday, amid allegations of widespread ballot fraud.
Partial tallies from the October 15 vote show President Filipe Nyusi and his Frelimo party dominating parliament, the legislative assemblies and all 10 provinces.
The National Electoral Commission (CNE) spokesperson told AFP on Wednesday that full and final results were being tallied.
“We have already received all the results from the provinces, now we’re busy processing them and it (the final result) will be published on the 30th of this month, as the law requires,” CNE spokesperson Paulo Cuinica said.
Mozambican civil society and international observers have flagged numerous alleged attempts to stuff ballots and expel election monitors on voting day, as well as hundreds of thousands of so-called “ghost voters” on the electoral roll.
The election has been seen as a key test of a peace deal sealed in August between Frelimo and the main opposition party Renamo, which fought a brutal 1975-1992 civil war.
The opposition had been tipped to win control of at least three provinces after Frelimob agreed to allow voters to elect provincial governors for the first time as part of the peace deal.
But Renamo has called the vote to be annulled, saying the government breached a peace deal by using violence and intimidation on voting day.
The election campaign was one of the most violent in the country’s history, with at least 10 people killed in the run-up to the polls, according to a local observer mission.
Among the killings was the murder of a prominent election observer — suspected to have been carried out by a special police unit — and the shooting of Renamo Women’s League leader, whose bullet-ridden body was found with her husband’s in the western province of Tete.
Frelimo has ruled Mozambique since independence from Portugal in 1975.State media
AT least 55 elephants have died in the country’s largest national park — Hwange National Park due to starvation caused by severe drought.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the deaths and said more jumbos could succumb to the drought.
“The situation is dire as elephants are dying from starvation and this is a big problem. We are desperately in need of water.
“However, these animals perished near waterholes dotted around the Hwange National Park, which is a sign they travelled long distances to access water,” said Mr Farawo.
He said preliminary investigations had pointed out that at least 55 elephants had died due to lack of food.
“We are still carrying out investigations, but we are certain that at least 55 elephants have died from lack of food and water in the park, which holds the biggest elephant herd,” said Mr Farawo.
He said the national park’s elephant population was about 50 000 and the large number was causing havoc in Hwange, as the animals are now forced to forage for food at nearby villages, causing human-wildlife conflict.
More than 200 people have died from elephant attacks in the past five years, according to Zimparks.
Mr Farawo said the agency has been planning to provide the elephants with more water by drilling boreholes in Hwange because the existing ones have run dry.
“There are plans of drilling more boreholes in the park to provide sustenance to the elephants but we are faced with a huge problem, which is lack of funds,” said Mr Farawo. Sunday News
POLICE have launched a manhunt for two South-based Mwenezi men who allegedly fled after fatally assaulting their father with a sjambok, accusing him of witchcraft.
Clayton Moyo (22) and Layton Moyo(20), both of Hlunganiso Village under Chief Mazetese in Mwenezi accused their biological father Nelson Tomu of using black, white and red pieces of cloth to bewitch them. They then allegedly took turns to assault him using a sjambok until he died on the spot.
Masvingo police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa confirmed the incident and said investigations to bring the culprits to book were still in progress.State media
State Media – An internal probe conducted by the new management of Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) into allegations that 10 000 carats were stolen from the State-owned firm in 2016 has revealed that the gems were actually sold in a transaction “that was above board”.
An internal audit memo dated October 16 2019 seen by The Sunday Mail indicates that the diamonds were sold to Harvest Way Enterprises Limited — a Hong Kong company — to facilitate training of students in the beneficiation of diamonds.
“Inquiries made with the finance and marketing personnel indicate that two batches of approximately 10 000 carats were sold to Harvest Way Enterprises Limited in 2016 and these were all paid for,” reads the internal memo.
“Diamonds were then sold to Harvest Way at reduced prices; that is, royalties of 15 percent and the MMCZ commission of 0,875 percent were exempted,” it adds.
The exemptions, which covered a three-year period, were apparently approved by former Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Francis Gudyanga, on January 8 2016 in a letter that was addressed to then ZCDC acting chief executive officer, Mr Mark Mabhudhu.
The case has attracted the interest of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Sacu) and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), which separately confirmed that they were looking into the transaction.
Sacu chair, Mr Tabani Mpofu said his office compiled a report that has been forwarded to Zacc.
Zacc chair Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo confirmed receiving the report, which is presently being perused by investigators.
Stakeholders in the diamond industry, however, are worried that there seem to be contrived news stories calculated to besmirch the image of the local diamond industry ahead of the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process in New Dehli, India, from November 18 to November 22.
Government has been cleaning up State-owned enterprises in order to make them efficient.
On May 16 this year, the ZCDC board fired chief executive officer Dr Morris Mpofu and six top executives — chief finance officer Mr Charles Gambe, supply chain executive Dr Newton Demba, chief human resources executive Mrs Masciline Chikoore, engineering executive Engineer Andrew Murwisi, audit executive Dr Cleopatra Mutisi and chief security officer Clemence Munoriarwa.
It is now under the management of acting CEO Mr Roberto de Pretto.
ZCDC said in a statement released to The Sunday Mail, the company remains compliant with the Kimberly Process and continues to invest in its security system.
“For the first time in the company’s history ZCDC has published all its audited accounts since formation in 2016,” read part of the statement.
“Production has also continued to grow from one million carats in 2016 to a projected three million in 2019. Contrary to some media reports, the company does not use forced labour within its operations. Not only is this in conflict with stated corporate governance rules and values, but it is also against the laws of the country. The recruitment practices are stringent and abide with best professional standards that compare to any diamond operation around the world.”
ZCDC is reportedly investing into latest surveillance technologies such as drones that are backed up by rapid response teams.
“At present, huge investments are being made to strengthen both electronic surveillance as well as access control of ZCDC premises.
“The annual Diamond Stakeholder Indaba has also been useful in strengthening relations with various civic society bodies and other stakeholders,” it said. -state media
