A CHIBUKU Super Cup humdinger is in the offing after resurgent Highlanders FC were drawn against league champions FC Platinum in the quarter-finals in Harare yesterday.
Another interesting fixture will see 2018 finalists Harare City and Triangle United locking horns, while ZPC Kariba clash with Manica Diamonds and Black Rhinos come up against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
All quarter-final matches will be played next weekend at venues to be announced.
Announcing the format and key points to note, Premier Soccer League marketing manager Rodwell Thabe said the first four teams will not be facing each other.
Pure Platinum Play were the first to come out of the hat when Chibuku general manager Tichafa Rinomota and PSL competitions manager Elisha Mandireva conducted the draw. Second to come out of the hat were ZPC Kariba followed by Harare City and Black Rhinos respectively.
“The team that comes out fifth from the hat will square up against the first team to be drawn out of the hat, which in this case is FC Platinum,” said Thabe and coming out fifth were Bosso, who lost 0-2 to Harare City in last year’s quarter-final encounter at Rufaro Stadium.
FC Platinum were themselves eliminated in the first round by Chapungu and the two sides will be eager to do well this time around.
Irrespective of the venue between FC Platinum and Tshilamoya, the Zvishavane side will go into the encounter with a psychological advantage, having last lost 1-0 to Bosso at Mandava Stadium in 2014.
In fact, Bosso have only managed three victories over FC Platinum in the 17 league matches they have contested.
Chibuku commercial services executive Hector Muchuchu said the first round results were testimony that the competition was a tight contest.
“The tournament started with a preliminary round featuring the League’s bottom 4 teams where Mushowani and TelOne FC emerged victorious against Bulawayo Chiefs FC and Yadah FC respectively. The 16 teams then played in the first round matches. I am sure you will all agree with me that judging from the first round results, it is clear that competition is very tight and the cup race is still wide open,” Muchuchu said.
Winners of the Chibuku Super Cup, sponsored to the tune of $1,5 million by Delta Beverages, will represent the country in the Caf Confederation Cup.
Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final draw
Harare City vs Triangle United, FC Platinum vs Highlanders, ZPC Kariba vs Manica Diamonds, Black Rhinos vs Ngezi Platinum Stars
By A Correspondent | Information Ministry Permanent Secretary Ndabaningi (Nick) Mangwana on Saturday afternoon deleted his tweet over the helmetgate scandal which has seen the police being exposed and furthermore killing an innocent vendor Tafadzwa Tamangani.
Following the deletion, Mangwana was handed the below question by another victim Tatenda Mombeyarara who said, “we heard that Tafadzwa Tamangani was murdered: he literally died while in police custody, did you hear about that?
Somewhat responding to the question, Mangwana ‘s tweet was deleted within the hour.
The tweet in question could neither be retrieved at the time of writing.
HWANGE coach Nation Dube’s miserable 12-match winless streak, and Lloyd Chitembwe’s relegation woes with Harare City take the centre stage this weekend. Harare City and Hwange are scheduled to clash in a Castle Lager Premiership match at the Colliery tomorrow.
The two teams, which were both relegated in 2017, find themselves fighting for their lives again with eight games remaining this season.
They both have 28 points, and are jostling for the last place of safety.
Hwange last won a league match three months ago when they beat Chicken Inn 2-0 at the Colliery.
They were hammered 3-1 by title contenders CAPS United in their last outing.
The coal miners are reported to be going through a difficult phase because of the financial challenges.
Hwange returned to the Premiership this year after one-year in the wilderness, and Dube remains optimistic they will survive the chop.
“Let’s not talk about relegation now. If we are to talk about the championship, we are all saying it is going to the wire,’’ he said.
“It’s the same thing with relegation since we still have about eight games to play.
“If we win two games, you will see where we get to. I cannot talk about relegation issues now. We can only talk about it, maybe, with two games left.’’
Harare City have placed their hopes on Chitembwe to pull them to safety.
The Sunshine Boys have won three and lost four of their assignments under the former CAPS United gaffer.
They boosted their confidence last week with a 3-2 win over fellow relegation candidates Mushowani Stars.
“We will continue fighting, I think it is tenable. We just have to try and make it easier for ourselves, this is the way to go.
“Sometimes, it is not about playing pretty football, it is about making sure the job is done,” said Chitembwe.
The relegation puzzle is still unclear, with the bottom seven teams only separated by four points at this stage.
They get the full spotlight as the teams involved in the title race are out of action this weekend because of the CHAN qualifier between Zimbabwe and Lesotho in Maseru tomorrow.
Yadah, Herentals, Mushowani and Bulawayo Chiefs occupy the bottom four places, while Harare City, Hwange and TelOne sit just above.
Paul Nyathi|Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo on Saturday accused the government of violating a recent peace agreement by using “violence” during the general elections this week and called for the election to be cancelled.
“The ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) (…) has violated the cessation of hostilities agreement, which states that violence and intimidation must not be used in pursuit of political objectives,” writes the Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) in a statement, calling for the 15 October election to be cancelled and “new elections” to be held.
Mozambicans voted on Tuesday in a climate of high tension, following a violent campaign fuelled by accusations of fraud on behalf of the regime by the opposition and civil society.
The ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) (…) has violated the cessation of hostilities agreement, which states that violence and intimidation must not be used in pursuit of political objectives.
Renamo also claims that some of its delegates were arrested after surprising election organizers who were distributing more than one Frelimo ballot to voters.
“There have been arbitrary arrests of agents (…) and voters who tried to complain about everything, about the stuffing of ballot boxes, were unable to exercise their right to vote,” Renamo continued in its statement.
The Mozambican Electoral Commission (CNE) began on Friday to publish very partial results of Tuesday’s presidential and legislative elections, which not surprisingly give a large lead to the incumbent president and the ruling party.
These elections were also a test case after the fragile peace agreement reached in August between the ruling party and Renamo, the former civil war rebellion (1975-1992). This agreement was supposed to put an end to their clashes, which have been recurring for more than forty years. But the election campaign rekindled tensions between the two sides.
Interim Warriors coach Joey Antipas has warned his troops not to underestimate their opponents Lesotho when the two sides battle for a ticket to the CHAN 2020 finals in the return leg qualfier in Maseru tomorrow.
Antipas’ charges carry a seemingly healthy 3-1 advantage going into tomorrow’s return leg and only need at least a draw to progress to Cameroon next year but the coach insists The Crocodiles can be a tricky customer in their own backyard.
“It’s an opportunity for them to be seen by a larger audience,” Antipas told The Herald.
“The boys are putting their all and we have to fight hard on Sunday knowing that Lesotho are quite a formidable opponent in their backyard.
“So, there is no room for complacency,” said the Chicken Inn coach.Soccer 24
A 25-year-old woman from Entumbane suburb in Bulawayo was stabbed to death allegedly by her Zimbabwean husband in Cape Town, in South Africa, before he reportedly fled to Harare.
The incident happened on 23 September when Passmore Mugari (36), is alleged to have stabbed Nomakhosi Ntabeni after a domestic dispute in Dunoon, Cape Town, before the suspect fled to Zimbabwe with their four-year-old son. The couple reportedly met in Entumbane years ago when the husband’s family used to stay in Entumbane before they relocated to Harare.
According to the late Ntabeni’s mother, Sinikiwe Ncube (43), messages and pictures started circulating on social media on 24 September about Ntabeni’s death.
“I received a phone call from Nomakhosi’s friends that messages were circulating on WhatsApp and Facebook about Nomakhosi’s death. I contacted Passmore about the incident and he told me that Nomakhosi was well and messages on social media were all a hoax,” said Ms Ncube.
It is understood that Ntabeni was stabbed on the neck following a dispute with her husband.
“Nomakhosi was stabbed on the neck. I went to Cape Town immediately after her death and was told by their neighbours that Passmore was known for physically abusing my daughter in Dunoon,” said a weeping Ms Ncube.
Family sources said Nomakhosi’s passport, cellphone and her household property could not be accounted for amid suspicions that the suspect and his sister, who also stayed in Cape Town, disposed of the personal belongings.
The suspect is reported to have fled South Africa immediately after the death of his wife and was allegedly spotted in Harare on 26 September.
“Passmore arrived in Harare on 26 September and spoke to the family about Ntabeni’s death. We took him for counselling,” said a Mugari family member on condition of anonymity.
Back in South Africa a murder case was opened at Milnerton Police Station in Cape Town with the case number CR14/ 09 /19 and police said the suspect was still on the run.
“We are investigating a murder case which occurred in Dunoon on 23 September and the deceased was stabbed with a knife on the neck. The suspect is still at large,” said a police officer from the station.
The death of Nomakhosi resulted in a flurry of activity between the Ntabeni and Mugari families, with the dispute over the death of the woman delaying her burial as her family sought answers. It is understood that the two families finally came to an agreement over a penalty that the Mugari family had to pay before they could proceed with the burial. Nomakhosi’s body was finally buried on Saturday last week at Athlone Cemetery, after an undertaking was made to pay several head of cattle to the deceased woman’s family.
THREE Zanu PF youths were arraigned before Bindura Magistrates Courts yesterday facing charges of beating a suspected thief to death.
Zivanai Nyazvigodi (38), Alexio Kurai Gondo (26) and Naison Tandaude(31), all from Simoona Farm, were ordered by the High Court to answer to an assault charge after they were initially charged with murder.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charge before magistrate Moreblessing Makati, who remanded them out of custody to Tuesday for trial.
Prosecutor Vincent Marunya alleged that on May 8 in 2008, and at Simoona Farm, police released the now deceased Nicholas Muringanidze after he had been arrested for stealing an electric motor.
On the same day, when the Zanu PF youths heard that the deceased had been released they teamed up with another suspect, who is still at large and went to Muringanidze’s homestead where they introduced themselves as Zanu PF youths before taking him to a disused house which they used as their headquarters.
The quartet ordered him to lie down and took turns to assault him on his buttocks until he admitted to the offence, leading to the recovery of the missing electric motor.
After assaulting him they took him back to the police station, but Maringanidze eventually died on October 7 of that year from injuries he had sustained.
A FIERCE war of words which almost degenerated into an exchange of blows erupted between an angry city married woman and her husband’s side chick at the Mutare Magistrates’ Civil court on Wednesday this week following the granting of a protection order in favour of the small house.
Memory Muringi teamed up with friends and cornered her husband’s lover, who was only identified as P Mudzimwa, soon after coming out of court where the latter had been granted a protection order against Muringi.
“We will teach you a lesson today, so that you will know when not to mess up with other people’s husbands,” shouted one of the women that surrounded Mudzimwa as they left the court premises.
Mudzimwa had dragged Muringi to court claiming that she was in the habit of calling her and insulting her over the phone, accusing her of having an affair with her husband, whom she claimed, had stopped dating a long time ago.
“Indeed Your Worship, I was in love with her husband but that was before I knew that he was married. I dumped him when I found out but now Muringi just won’t stop. She calls me daily, threatening to deal with me. She accuses me of destroying her marriage and calls non-stop, I have had enough of her calling me a wh0re,” said Mudzimwa.
Muringi however, had no kind words for Mudzimwa whom she called a husband snatcher and marriage wrecker. She justified her actions by claiming that she was only protecting her marriage by calling Mudzimwa and telling her to back off.
“She is a blatant liar, she is still in a relationship with my husband even though he no longer wants her. She pesters him over the phone day and night and he has had enough of her too. Just recently, she texted him at 11pm. The message read ‘You are taking too long to reply, I’m sleeping now, let’s chat tomorrow.’ “She should stop communicating with my husband,” said Muringi.
Upon the granting of the protection order, the furious and angry Muringi had asked the presiding magistrate, Miss Prisca Tendai Manhibi, “Your Worship, so the law protects her even if she is having extra marital relations with my husband only because we do not have a civil marriage? It seems so unfair!”
Miss Manhibi ordered Muringi to confront her husband and stop breaching Mudzimwa’s peace by calling her.
“The text message you read to us clearly shows that your husband and this woman were communicating earlier but you fail to see that, and want to shift all the blame to her. Confront your husband, he is the enemy in this matter,” said Miss Manhibi.
The magistrate also explained to Muringi that since she and her husband did not have a civil marriage, she could not do anything to stop her husband from communicating with other women or take a second wife.
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last six home games against Liverpool, including five league matches (W3, D2).
It is the Merseysiders’ longest winless run at Old Trafford in the top flight since a 10-match streak between 1991 and 2000.
United’s only defeat in their last 10 league games against Liverpool was last season’s 3-1 loss at Anfield, a result which prompted manager Jose Mourinho’s dismissal two days later.
Four of the six most recent Premier League meetings have ended in draws (three of them 0-0) – only four of the previous 36 encounters finished level.
Manchester United
United are two short of becoming the first team to score 2,000 Premier League goals.
They have not scored more than once in any of their past 10 league and cup games – their worst such run since 2007.
The Reds have won just two of their last 13 league matches (D5, L6).
United have earned just 17 points from 16 top-flight matches since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed on a permanent basis.
If United fail to win they will have made their worst start to a league campaign since 1986-87, the season in which manager Ron Atkinson was eventually replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Marcus Rashford averages a Premier League goal every 208 minutes against teams from the established top six, compared to one every 266 minutes versus other clubs.
Liverpool
An 18th consecutive league win would equal the top-flight record, set by Manchester City between August and December 2017.
The Reds could become just the fourth team to win their opening nine top-flight games, matching the Premier League record set by Chelsea in 2005.
The only team who failed to win the title after winning their first nine matches are Manchester United, who ended fourth in 1985-86 despite beginning with 10 straight wins.
Liverpool have won just two of their last 13 league matches away to the other sides in the established top six, though that includes their most recent such game against Chelsea last month.BBC
INTERVIEW OF ZIMBABWE’S SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT WITH SIMBA CHIKANZA AT THE IN-HOTEL IN SERBIA ON SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2019.
The interview by Simba Chikanza (SC) with Adv Jacob Mudenda was recorded partly on audio and the rest on video. The interview began with Simba Chikanza showing Adv Mudenda his official name badge presenting himself as a journalist doing research over the Interparliamentary Union ( The Union of all parliaments around the world).
Adv Mudenda was happy doing the brief interview which later became heated.
Watch video below. ..
FULL VIDEO OF INTERVIEW (PLUS AUDIO) LOADING BELOW…
SC: Many of the things that are coming on Zimbabwe; right now, I have just met some Tanzanians who were criticising us, heavily, just here.
Well, we are being told that we are now 7 times worse, more, than when we were during Robert Mugabe times. I think that is one matter that I am going to need a short engagement with you Sir.
Mudenda: There are exigencies (sic)
SC: Excuse me?
Mudenda: There are exigencies (sic)
SC: Let me just, while we are, let me just get a picture with you if you don’t mind Sir.
SC: Right, where are we here? Right so, here. Meeting Advocate Mudenda.
Mudenda: Thank you.
SC: You seem to have forgotten me, I don’t know why.
Mudenda: Yeah, I am trying to recollect.
SC: Splendid. Looking forward, I will be with you shortly.
Mudenda: Yeah
SC: Thank you Sir.
Mudenda: Someone will be joining me soon.
SC: Oh, someone will be joining you?
Mudenda: Yes.
SC: Okay, so someone will be joining you. Okay. So what I will do maybe, once they come maybe, I will go away. I am just having a very light one.
Mudenda: Okay.
SC: Oh, thank you Sir. Yeah, the criticism against us is very scathing, it is very heavy, this gentleman from Tanzania who was saying he runs an NGO, and works between Uganda and Tanzania, and he says your country is now 7 times worse than when Robert Mugabe.
Mudenda: What reasons does he give?
SC: Err, we didn’t go into deep, we didn’t get deeper than that, other than him saying the conduct of both government and institutions. He alleges the judiciary as well, and parliament and he mentioned specifically the withdrawal of allowances. Sir.
Ndokutorerai (shall I get you a ) chair?
SC: Sir, the withdrawal of allowances Advocate Mudenda, that has extremely, extremely criticised yourself. On what basis. You have here a topic, local and international policy analysts here, they say you have caused the deterioration of parliament, and.
Mudenda: I have what?
SC: You have made parliament to deteriorate. The value of parliamentarianism is, should be.
Mudenda: Into what?
SC: You are now a spokesman of a military cartel rather than parliament. And in this case Advocate Mudenda, you have a discussion, a topic, that you yourself, you allowed into parliament, you brought this discussion, and that is the 1 August brutality. It is clear even ZBC broadcast this.
Mudenda: (nod and sound in affirmation).
SC: They broadcast this, announcement that the military would be used to change 2018 election results.
Mudenda: (nod and sound in affirmation).
Mudenda: Yes
SC: The same MPs who are meant to be part of your own parliament Advocate Mudenda, they are part of your parliament. And you are the one who allowed this discussion to get into. You allowed it to be discussed.
Mudenda: No, you see the members of parliament have threatened to go to court, so that matter is subjudice.
SC: Sorry?
Mudenda: The matter is subjudice and I am not discussing that.
SC: Because they have threatened to go to court?
Mudenda: Yeah I’m not discussing that.
SC: But then, Sir, aren’t you concerned?
Mudenda: I am not discussing that.
SC: Aren’t you concerned?
Mudenda: I am not discussing that. I am not discussing that.
SC: That we have a clear matter.
Mudenda: I am not discussing that.
SC: You talked about a threat Sir, you talked about a threat advocate.
Mudenda: I am not discussing that.
SC: You talked about a threat.
Mudenda: Can you stop it. Alright?
SC: Advocate, Advocate, a crime is being committed right now. People are dying.
Mudenda: Go to court. Go to court.
SC: Go to court where? People are dying right now in Zimbabwe advocate.
Mudenda: I am not.
SC: I have got; I have got victims of 1 August.
Mudenda: Can you also respect my point of view. Alright?
SC: Do you also respect the people who are suffering, Sir? Do you respect the victims who still have bullets in their bodies, Sir…the victims who still have bullets in their bodies right now?
Mudenda: Can you stop it. Alright. Can you stop it.
SC: Advocate, Advocate, you are the highest you are the most respected person in Zimbabwe you are here to represent parliamentarianism. What parliamentarianism is. You are the person we refer to; we respect you sir. We respect you. And I’ve come to you to ask you about this thing which we are being criticised for; our nation is being criticised right here, Sir.
Mudenda: Can you still stop it. This is not the forum.
SC: Why is it not the forum Sir?
Mudenda: Can you stop it.
SC: But you are the Speaker of Parliament.
Mudenda: Can you stop it. Haaah.
SC: I have got people who are crying I have got victims. Are you concerned that you are no longer the Speaker of Parliament you are now the Speaker of a military cartel?
Mudenda: Can you stop it.
SC: Stop what advocate, stop what?
Mudenda: Can you stop it.
SC: Stop what?
Mudenda: Can you stop it.
SC: But you are destroying our country. You are destroying a whole community. You are right now, even the perception of our nation (sic) Advocate Mudenda.
Are you happy that parliamentarianism has been violated advocate Mudenda? Tell me.
Mudenda: [NO RESPONSE]
So you are not willing to address concerns about parliamentarianism, you are here to represent parliamentarianism and you are mentally torturing MDC MPs adding to the physical torture to victims of violence on 1 August which was done to change election results and this was broadcast on the ZBC. Advocate Mudenda, you are a respected man. You are the highest, the most respected person Sir.
Mudenda: Can you slow down so I can eat.
SC: I shall slow down, but I hope you realise here, that I have got people who are dying, there is a crime that is being committed.
Mudenda: Can I have my breakfast?
SC: You can sir, you can sir, I shall wait.
A crime is being committed Advocate.
Mudenda: Can you move off can you move off.
SC: I am not Sir.
I have got a legitimate criminal concern here, a legal concern sir;
I have got a legitimate legal concern.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN – MUDENDA’S AIDE TRAVELED WITH HIM FROM ZIMBABWE:
Sorry sorry I thought I had given you enough time.
SC: No you can’t do this.
SC: Advocate Mudenda people are dying right now people are dying right now and you are mentally torturing MDC MPs. On what basis do you withdraw their allowances for 5-months merely because they are expressing what you brought before Parliament?
Mudenda: Can you move out.
SC: I am here I am not going to move out I am a guest here and I am also; I am very much here; I am very much here; but I will wait on you because this is important, because you are an employee; you are a civil servant Sir; you are a civil servant. This is your job. This is your job, to be accountable to members of the public; to the international community; to prove that you’re doing the job of a speaker of Parliament not a speaker of a military cartel advocate Mudenda.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
No you cannot shut me I’m going to slow down I will allow him to eat but I’m not going to leave here. I am here I am a guest here; I am an invitee to this conference where you are as well; Thank you.
Tine vanhu varikufa right now hamadzedu dzirikufa kuZimbabwe, akomana, varume, mauya kunoku imimi, saka ndanyarara ikozvino. Ndakumirirai. Ndakumirirai.
This is a legal matter, it is also a criminal matter; I am waiting here.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
I think the honorable speaker has come here to have something to eat.
SC: Yes I will wait for him. I will wait for him Sir
As you can see I have withdrawn, I have withdrawn, I was sitting there when you are sitting so now I have moved away now so we will wait sir. I have got Zimbabweans who are waiting across inside Zimbabwe and around the world. They’re waiting; this is the most respected person; The highest person in the country in Zimbabwe next to Emmerson Mnangagwa.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
So why are you shouting?
SC: I am not shouting I am waiting sir.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
I think it is more about threatening than anything.
SC: What threat did you hear? What threat did you hear there?
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
I haven’t heard.
SC: No no no. Please don’t be unreasonable what threat did you hear here? What threat did you hear tell me, can you justify what you said.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
Know what I am simply saying you know when you are talking on top of your voice if you really want to interview you the Speaker you should interview in a manner that is (sic).
SC: According to your allegations I am quiet. Thank you.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
Thank you.
POLICE ARE THEN SUMMONED IN AND DISRUPT THE INTERVIEW THEN THE BELOW HAPPENS….
BREAKING – JACOB MUDENDA HUMILIATED AFTER SENDING SERBIAN POLICE TO CHASE AWAY JOURNALIST AFTER BEING CONTRONTED OVER MENTALLY TORTURING MDC MPs AND 1 AUG VICTIMS, WHICH WAS DONE TO CHANGE 2018 ELECTION RESULTS | FULL STORY TO FOLLOW pic.twitter.com/RQwnMVX86m
RT – Hilton Tamangani Death at Harare Remand Prison after he was arrested last week & tortured by ZRP. "We did all we could to have Hilton treated by private doctors but ZPCS could not entertain our request. MHDSRIP" https://t.co/dsMgdk8SDD
Tamangani Gruesome Murder Exposes Mnangagwa Lies MDC Youth Assembly Calls For Public Response To Human Butchering
The MDC Youth Assembly is highly disturbed by sad news of the passing on of Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani at Harare Remand Prison due to injuries sustained from horrendous assault at the hands of police.
It is not a secret that Tamangani’s gruesome murder is a result of another act of premeditated and well orchestrated torture by the very same people who are supposed to protect citizens.
Tamangani’s gruesome murder at the regime’s concentration camp for opposition voices disguised as a Remand Prison is also a clear pointer that Emmerson Mnangagwa fascist regime is unrepentant and even worse than his predecessor.
Ironically the same regime that already has a track record of human rights abuses that is worse than Idi Amin is busy bombarding SADC and anyone who cares to listen with an anti sanctions campaign nonsense.
They want to invite everyone to help them fight against sanctions yet they selfishly invite the sanctions by their deeds such as this one and many other heinous crimes.
This is the same regime that even want us to believe there is a third hand to violence and abductions yet they kill in broad daylight without shame.
As the MDC Youth Assembly we call upon Zimbabweans from all walks of life and across the political divide to listen to the voice of reason and challenge this act of cowardice and human butcher.
Life is sacrosanct and such it MUST be respected, but when the regime act like hyenas in devouring its own citizens, certainly it calls for response in best suitable fashion!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma_ MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson_
THE OPPOSITION has thrown the cat among the pigeons after notifying police of their intention to take to the streets against the rising cost of living on October 24 – a day before a Zanu PF-initiated demonstration against alleged sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries.
MDC secretary-general Charlton Hwende told Zim Morning Post Friday afternoon they were confident the police will not stand in the way of their October 24 march.
“We are calling on Zimbabweans to come out and demonstrate against worsening human rights violations – the abduction of doctors and the beating up of vendors alleged to have stolen police helmets,” Hwende said.
“We are calling on Zimbabweans to come out and exercise their constitutional rights against the economic collapse, the erosion of workers’ salaries and the increase in cost of living.”
Hwende said the planned demonstration was not an attempt to stifle the anti-sanctions march planned for the next day.
“When we went to the police we, gathered that there was no organisation that had applied to demonstrate on October 24 or October 25. We are not aware of anything, save for Press stories indicating that there is what is being called an anti-sanctions demonstration,” Hwende said.
“But anyway, the kind of democratic space we are fight for should permit any organisation or party to express their views without interference on any given day. We expect police to offer us protection as they would do with any other party.”
Reached for comment, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said he could not comment on the matter as he was yet to see the MDC application.
This comes as an anti-sanctions demonstration has since been given the green light, with the ruling party secretary for administration Obert Mpofu saying “the solidarity march would include government functionaries, civil society, students, the business community and all political parties, among others”.
In the recent past, Zanu PF has vowed to override any police decision that supports the opposition.
Zanu PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda in August promised to thwart an August 16 opposition demonstrations, saying the opposition party was prone to violent protests.
“There are some people who think that democracy meant altruism. It won’t happen. These people, whenever they demonstrate, they cause mayhem. We defend national interests against looters,” he told journalists on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe National Heroes Day commemorations.
Matemadanda castigated MDC for allegedly fronting drunk people during demonstrations to cause violence.
“If they are going to be peaceful, then we do not have a problem with them. They always make people drunk so that they put them in front of their demonstrations,” he said.
Deputy Zanu PF youth league secretary Lewis Matutu is also on record saying the MDC had no capacity to make peaceful demonstrations, regardless them applying to courts.
The apparent confrontational approach appears to have jolted the opposition into spontaneous demonstrations, with the party’s youths recently using the cover of former President Robert Mugabe’s demise to stage an unannounced demonstration.
Hwende insisted that the MDC is a non violent movement which had become a victim in Zimbabwe’s divided political landscape.
Government has reviewed health sector-specific allowances by a further 40 percent with effect from October 1, 2019, which will see junior doctors pocketing $2 400 for on-call allowances, up from $1 200 initially offered.
Nurses will get $720 for either night duty, standby or call allowances, up from the previous $360 while nurse managers will get $1 000, up from $500.
Further, the Government has resolved to pay civil servants full bonuses for 2019, 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.
The allowances offered to health workers by Government are in addition to other health sector-specific allowances that include locum rates, initial uniform grant, initial uniform allowance, out-of-residence allowance and psychiatric allowances, which were reviewed last Friday by at least 100 percent each.
Health Services Board (HSB) chairperson Dr Paulinus Sikosana yesterday said the latest review brings adjustments on health-specific allowances to 100 percent.
“Parties to the Health Services Bipartite Negotiating Panel (HSBNP) met on 18 October 2019 to continue the unfinished negotiations on the review of the Health Sector Specific Allowances following the signing of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) Number 3 of 2019 on 4 October 2019.
“CBA 3 of 2019, provided for a 60 percent adjustment on the HSCA with effect from 01 October 2019. On 18 October 2019, parties to the HSBNP agreed that the said CBA 3 of 2019 be amended to provide for a review of the health sector specific allowances by a further 40 percent from 60 percent.
“This review is with effect from 1 October 2019,” said Dr Sikosana.
However, defiant striking junior doctors snubbed the negotiating table, arguing they were no longer part of the Health Apex Council.
In an interview following the announcement of the latest agreement, acting Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association leader Dr Tawanda Zvakada said; “We did not participate in the negotiations and we still hope the employer will find ways of engaging us meaningfully with a credible inter-mediator since we are still open for dialogue.
“However, not through the Health Apex Council.”
Dr Zvakada said doctors will continue withdrawing their labour until their grievances are addressed.
Last month, the Government awarded civil servants including health workers, a cost of living adjustment of between 55 percent and 76 percent, which was awarded on a sliding scale.
In terms of this year’s bonus payments, Apex Council president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said; “We applaud Government for reverting to the old system.
“During our last meeting which was held on the 14th of October, Government made a commitment to pay civil servants full bonuses calculated on their total income inclusive of allowances such as housing and transport allowances.
“This is a great step that shows that engagement has been fruitful.”
A MAN from Bulawayo who rap_ed a pr0stitute after dragging her to a bushy area, only to fall asleep at the crime scene, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The 25-year-old pr0stitute was rap_ed by Bruce Mlotshwa (28) of Emganwini suburb after they met at a motel in Matobo while the man was in the company of his friend who was only identified as Vandali.
Mlotshwa pleaded not guilty to rap_e when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Tinashe Utahwashe, but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
In his defence, Mlotshwa alleged that the woman had consented to se_x but he failed to pay her and she reported the matter to the police. “I did not rap_e the complainant, we had a mutual agreement but afterwards I realised I did not have the money to pay her. She decided to report the matter to the police,” Mlotshwa said.
Prosecuting, Mr Jethro Mada said on April 4 at around 8PM, the complainant and Mlotshwa were at Rock Motel in Matobo drinking beer when they started arguing.
Mr Mada said the hooker went to her friend’s room at the back of the bar and Mlotshwa in the company of Vandali followed her.
The duo threw a bottle into the room and it struck the complainant on the left thigh.
Mr Mada said the woman went to the bar as she was afraid since the door did not have a lock.
He said Mlotshwa pulled the complainant outside the bar. Vandali then hit her with the back of an axe and a bottle on her right eye before dragging her to a bushy area.
The prosecutor said Vandali left and Mlotshwa rap_ed her.
The court heard that Mlotshwa fell asleep after rap_ing the complainant and the woman escaped.
She went and told some people about the rap_e and they went to the crime scene where they apprehended Mlotshwa as he was still asleep.
By A Correspondent| A vendor arrested and assaulted by police last week, Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani, has died in police custody.
Tamangani was one of the 11 vendors arrested last week and the court was yet to rule on his bail application after the matter was this week postponed for a second time.
He was arrested with 10 others for allegedly assaulting a police officer at the Chicken Inn at Kwame Mall located at Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere.
He allegedly fled towards Robinson House where they were later found.
The lawyers representing the accused said that they were innocent people who were just found in the wrong place and time.
Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has maintained the old fuel price for the third week running and has changed style by beating speculators and fake news peddlers by announcing the price on Friday morning instead of the usual Sunday evening.
In the past weeks, unscrupulous people have created their own fake ZERA alerts with high prices causing panic on the market, a move that could have forced ZERA to act quickly to kill the panic.
Below is the ZERA fuel price for week starting 21 October 2019.
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has responded to President Yoweri Museveni who branded him an enemy of progress saying the long serving leader has ran down the country and destroyed institutions through the barrel of the gun.
Responding to a BBC tweet, Bobi Wine said Museveni’s first name was corruption with his second being a liar and a despot.
Below is Bobi Wine’s
Shamelessly Mr. Museveni brands me enemy of Uganda's progress! Mr. President, your first name is corruption, second liar, third despot. You've ran down our country, killed our people, destroyed institutions and rule us through the barrel of the gun! You are the enemy of Uganda! https://t.co/l5QOudAji5
By Own Correspondent| The Harare vendor who was brutally assaulted by police a few days ago over the police’s own helmetgate scam has reportedly died while in police custody.
ZimEye is getting reports that Hilton Tafadzwa Tamangani died in police custody yesterday following the police beating.
Just been informed that one of the 11 vendors arrested and beaten by police at Robinson House has passed on last night at remand Prison due to the injuries sustained after they were denied medical access. @daddyhope@nelsonchamisa@zimlive@ZimEye @usembassyharare
— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) October 19, 2019
South Africa’s human rights organization Afriforum today said a warrant of arrest has been issued against former First Lady Grace Mugabe.
Grace is accused of assaulting the South African model Gabriella Engels at a Sandton hotel in Johannesburg in August 2017 but could not be arrested or prosecuted after obtaining diplomatic immunity.
The Afrikaaner organization said if the South African government refused to prosecute Grace, it would go for private prosecution.
The South Gauteng High Court today ruled that the decision by Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, to grant Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity should be set aside.
Judge Bashier Vally said the former minister’s decision to grant Grace Mugabe immunity was unconstitutional and that she is responsible for the legal costs of AfriForum and Engels.
Afriforum legal representative Willie said: “We welcome the judgement. This decision paves the way for the institution of criminal prosecution steps against Ms. Mugabe after she last year assaulted and seriously injured Engels, a Johannesburg model, with an extension cord.”
Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, welcomed the news saying: “This is the result of a very long process. AfriForum first had to approach the court to have Mugabe’s diplomatic immunity set aside which paved the way for the police to investigate and it has now reached a point where an arrest can be made.
“We hope this sends a very clear message that no one is above the law, even if your name is Mugabe.”
Afriforum Private Prosecution Unit said it had been informed that the National Prosecuting Authority has applied to have Grace Mugabe extradited to South Africa.
“We hope that the prosecution of Grace Mugabe will commence shortly and we will monitor the case. AfriForum gets involved in issues like this to ensure that people with political power do not get away with committing crimes. Grace Mugabe must be brought to book for her deeds and this is the first step in ensuring that miss Engels will get justice soon,” said Gerrie Nel head of Afriforum’s Private Prosecution Unit.
By A Correspondent| The former chairman of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), David Murangari this Friday skipped a court hearing with his lawyers arguing that he was “critically ill” after spinal surgery.
Murangari’s lawyer said:
As the court is aware that Murangari is on an outstanding warrant of arrest, we would want to tender the latest medical reports from South Africa in which the doctors are indicating that he developed a heart complication after a spinal surgery.
As such, he is having temporary blackouts and the doctors have advised that he shouldn’t participate in stressful activities like attending court hearings as it may strain his heart, he may be able to travel back to Zimbabwe next month but not strong enough to stand trial.
The former ZMDC boss is together with his alleged accomplice Luke Akino facing criminal abuse of office charges after they allegedly awarded a $168 000 consultancy services contract to their acquaintance Thomas Mashungupa without.
Murangari is already on an outstanding warrant of arrest after absconding court repeatedly.
SOUTH AFRICA- President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday opened South Africa’s first smartphone production plant at the Dube TradePort in Durban.
Ramaphosa described the Mara Phones plant President Ramaphosa as a great moment in South Africa’s drive to be a producer of goods.
“The highlight of my visit is the Mara smartphone plant. At the investment conference, the chief executive of Mara Phones Ashish Thakkar was willing to set up the factory at the Dube TradePort. The smartphone plant is an outstanding world-class facility. The facility is equal or even better than smartphone factories. With the launch of the smartphone factory we have made history.
The launch of the plant shows that South Africa is indeed a place where people should invest,” said Ramaphosa.
Ashish J. Thakkar, Founder of the Mara Group, initially announced the company’s intentions to build affordable smartphones in South Africa during the inaugural South Africa Investment Conference convened by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2018.
He is the founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation, and he is a co-founder of Atlas Mara. Thakkar was born in the United Kingdom, but he moved to East Africa as a teenager before founding Mara Group, a Pan-African conglomerate, at the age of 15. Ashish J. Thakkar is a Rwandan-based entrepreneur.
MaraGroup’s operations and investments span 22 African countries.
The smartphone company, which was established in 1996, opened its first smartphone factory in Kigali, Rwanda last week.
Mara Phones will have an initial workforce of 313 in year one but plans to increase its staff complement to 1 369 in the next five years.
At the moment, the plant has 200 formerly unemployed engineering graduates, 66 percent of whom are women and 92 percent youth.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala said the Mara smartphone plant was one of the successes of the Ramaphosa’s investment conference drive last year.
“We will continue to support foreign and local investors to ensure that they succeed. Make eThekwini more vibrant. Investment conference has yielded the result of SA’s first smartphone production plant,” said Zikalala.
Ramaphosa launched his drive last October to attract $100 billion foreign direct investment into South Africa by 2024.
In March, the SA Reserve Bank said that investments direct investment inflows in South Africa had increased to R70.7 billion from R26.8 billion in 2017.
Mara Phones chief executive Ashish Thakkar said the company had delivered on its promise to open a smartphone plant in South Africa.
“It is Africa, South Africa and Mara’s dream that has been fulfilled. We have finally launched smartphone factor that will create jobs for South Africans. It is high tech manufacturing in South Africa by South Africans,” Thakkar said.
“This our first investment in South Africa and it has been phenomenal. We are proud to contribute to South Africa’s fourth industrial revolution. The project has happened in record time due to support form the government. Let’s celebrate Africa and South Africa.”
The company will roll out 200 Mara stores across the country. Part of the revenue from sales will be used to support youth empowerment, women empowerment and job empowerment.
Proudly SA chief executive Eustace Mashimbye said the opening of the plant represented an opportunity for the replacement of nearly 4 million smartphones that the country imported in 2017 alone.
“The establishment of Mara’s smartphone production plant here in South Africa sends a very strong message of confidence for local manufacturing in our country,” Mashimbye said.
“This operation has an extensive and diverse supply chain for which Mara has committed to sourcing from other local enterprises, creating many much-needed jobs in the process. We need many more Maras to see the advantages of setting up bases in South Africa, and of being part of the Buy Local movement.”
By A Correspondent| A bid to own a home in the city has landed some home seekers in the hands of greedy fraudsters who are now selling them abandoned and undeveloped properties claiming they won the properties.
This was revealed by Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu who corresponded with a publication and said:
Some conmen are pouncing on unsuspecting members of the public as they fall victim to sales of properties belonging to absent landlords.
In the end transfer of the same hits snags. The aim is to also collect outstanding rates while they still have value.
Bulawayo City Council has also been having problems with these abandoned properties and has already issued a 30 Day notice to their owners to come forward or risk losing their properties.
THREE Zanu PF youths were arraigned before Bindura Magistrates Courts yesterday facing charges of beating a suspected thief to death.
Zivanai Nyazvigodi (38), Alexio Kurai Gondo (26) and Naison Tandaude(31), all from Simoona Farm, were ordered by the High Court to answer to an assault charge after they were initially charged with murder.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charge before magistrate Moreblessing Makati, who remanded them out of custody to Tuesday for trial.
Prosecutor Vincent Marunya alleged that on May 8 in 2008, and at Simoona Farm, police released the now deceased Nicholas Muringanidze after he had been arrested for stealing an electric motor.
On the same day, when the Zanu PF youths heard that the deceased had been released they teamed up with another suspect, who is still at large and went to Muringanidze’s homestead where they introduced themselves as Zanu PF youths before taking him to a disused house which they used as their headquarters.
The quartet ordered him to lie down and took turns to assault him on his buttocks until he admitted to the offence, leading to the recovery of the missing electric motor.
After assaulting him they took him back to the police station, but Maringanidze eventually died on October 7 of that year from injuries he had sustained.
Shoppers at Mbare Musika have voiced concern at the surge in harassment by conmen who demand money from them despite initially pretending to help find goods or run errands.
The conmen start off by showing unsuspecting shoppers around the market or showing them where their desired goods are found — often at a commission by sellers — then demand cash after doing the job. Usually they charge a dollar or more if they take one to several places.
Ms Joyce Dare said she once fell victim to a conman. “Some time ago, I came here to buy vegetables. As I was doing my errands, one guy approached me and asked what I was looking for. He showed a place where I could buy the remainder of my vegetables. I was surprised when he later demanded payment,” she said.
Mr Takudzwa Alfas, a trader at the market, said they witness people especially girls and women falling prey to these conmen. “Every day, we see women and girls being trapped into this kind of scam.”
HARARE – The government will pull a few tricks up its sleeves soon to stabilise the exchange rate as part of a broader task of creating a viable environment for business, Business Times reported.
A team of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close advisers in the central bank and in government, particularly the Ministry of Finance, see the stabilisation of the exchange rate as a step in the right direction that has to be made to stop economic haemorrhage characterised by deindustrialisation.
The stabilisation of the exchange rate is also seen as critical ahead of the introduction of a local currency. Informed sources said authorities are currently making frantic efforts to work on improving confidence in the financial services sector, enhance productivity, manage the supply of money and increase the supply of foreign exchange.
In terms of exchange rate stabilisation, there are two choices for a government, normally through its central bank. It either takes an adaptive or active approach. In the adaptive approach, there is no active participation, but instead adapting to the market tendencies. In the active approach, the central bank actively influences the exchange rate.
Sources actively involved in the critical task of exchange rate stabilisation say the current exchange rate volatility makes it difficult for business to plan and is a huge threat in the case of restocking.
This creates problems for the formal and informal sectors and makes it difficult to run bureaux de change. The sources said a stable exchange rate is good for foreign currency dealers and makes foreign currency more available.
“When the rate is volatile, people make losses when they need to restock. This is the same for bureuax de change where the cash is the stock and when they need to replenish the stock they are at a huge loss,” said a close source.”This is why they don’t sell the US dollars but they are just buying from the public.
This is a problem because if you want to travel you just go to a bureau de change like in most countries. You buy your money and or sell as you please. We can’t have people going to Zambia for a night failing to get US$300, it’s unacceptable.”
Efforts to stabilise the exchange rate include the ongoing anti-corruption fight which has in recent weeks seen the central bank freezing accounts belonging to individuals and corporates believed to be driving the black market.
The central bank also temporarily banned the cash-in, cash-out, and cash-back transactions on EcoCash as part of the measures to control the volatile exchange rate. EcoCash agent lines were being used by illegal foreign currency dealers and who were driving the rates up.
The parallel market rates crashed significantly when EcoCash agent lines were closed. “There is information on everyone and indeed there are no sacred cows,” one source told Business Times. “You will be surprised when the appropriate action is taken. It’s not about making noise, but getting things done to stop malpractices and stabilise our rates. It is known who is doing what on the parallel market because people are sending monies where they are not supposed to go, where there is no production. Instead, money is a commodity.”
As foreign currency shortages persist despite the creation of an inter-bank market, which is meant to be a free market place for foreign currency trade, the parallel market is thriving. Bank officials, according to information at hand, have now started charging premiums on the inter-bank rate to give their clients foreign currency.
Economist Prosper Chitambara said a stable exchange rate helps to stabilise prices because developments in the forex market are a key determinant of inflation. “This will generally result in a stable macro economy,” Chitambara said. He said the best way for the government to stabilise the exchange rate was to push production up by attracting new investment and enabling existing businesses to grow and export their products.
“When there is a greater supply of forex, there tends to be stability, but right now the demand for forex remains high while supply declines,” Chitambara said.
Economist Brains Muchemwa blamed the exchange rate depreciation and the subsequent pricing instability on the government printing huge amounts of unproductive money.
“The government is the biggest culprit in terms of destabilising the exchange rate,” Muchemwa claimed. “The only way to stabilise the exchange rate is for the government to limit broad money supply growth.”
A 25-year-old woman from Entumbane suburb in Bulawayo was stabbed to death allegedly by her Zimbabwean husband in Cape Town, in South Africa, before he reportedly fled to Harare.
The incident happened on 23 September when Passmore Mugari (36), is alleged to have stabbed Nomakhosi Ntabeni after a domestic dispute Dunoon, Cape Town, before the suspect fled to Zimbabwe with their four-year-old son. The couple reportedly met in Entumbane years ago when the husband’s family used to stay in Entumbane before they relocated to Harare.
According to the late Ntabeni’s mother, Sinikiwe Ncube (43), messages and pictures started circulating on social media on 24 September about Ntabeni’s death.
“I received a phone call from Nomakhosi’s friends that messages were circulating on WhatsApp and Facebook about Nomakhosi’s death. I contacted Passmore about the incident and he told me that Nomakhosi was well and messages on social media were all a hoax,” said Ms Ncube.
It is understood that Ntabeni was stabbed on the neck following a dispute with her husband.
“Nomakhosi was stabbed on the neck. I went to Cape Town immediately after her death and was told by their neighbours that Passmore was known for physically abusing my daughter in Dunoon,” said a weeping Ms Ncube.
Family sources said Nomakhosi’s passport, cellphone and her household property could not be accounted for amid suspicions that the suspect and his sister, who also stayed in Cape Town, disposed of the personal belongings.
The suspect is reported to have fled South Africa immediately after the death of his wife and was allegedly spotted in Harare on 26 September.
“Passmore arrived in Harare on 26 September and spoke to the family about Ntabeni’s death. We took him for counselling,” said a Mugari family member on condition of anonymity.
Back in South Africa a murder case was opened at Milnerton Police Station in Cape Town with the case number CR14/ 09 /19 and police said the suspect was still on the run.
“We are investigating a murder case which occurred in Dunoon on 23 September and the deceased was stabbed with a knife on the neck. The suspect is still at large,” said a police officer from the station.
The death of Nomakhosi resulted in a flurry of activity between the Ntabeni and Mugari families, with the dispute over the death of the woman delaying her burial as her family sought answers. It is understood that the two families finally came to an agreement over a penalty that the Mugari family had to pay before they could proceed with the burial. Nomakhosi’s body was finally buried on Saturday last week at Athlone Cemetery, after an undertaking was made to pay several head of cattle to the deceased woman’s family.
The interview by Simba Chikanza (SC) with Adv Jacob Mudenda was recorded partly on audio and the rest on video.
INTERVIEW OF ZIMBABWE’S SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT WITH SIMBA CHIKANZA AT THE IN-HOTEL IN SERBIA ON SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2019.
The interview by Simba Chikanza (SC) with Adv Jacob Mudenda was recorded partly on audio and the rest on video. The interview began with Simba Chikanza showing Adv Mudenda his official name badge presenting himself as a journalist doing research over the Interparliamentary Union ( The Union of all parliaments around the world).
Adv Mudenda was happy doing the brief interview which later became heated.
Watch video below. ..
FULL VIDEO OF INTERVIEW (PLUS AUDIO) LOADING BELOW…
SC: Many of the things that are coming on Zimbabwe; right now, I have just met some Tanzanians who were criticising us, heavily, just here.
Well, we are being told that we are now 7 times worse, more, than when we were during Robert Mugabe times. I think that is one matter that I am going to need a short engagement with you Sir.
Mudenda: There are exigencies (sic)
SC: Excuse me?
Mudenda: There are exigencies (sic)
SC: Let me just, while we are, let me just get a picture with you if you don’t mind Sir.
SC: Right, where are we here? Right so, here. Meeting Advocate Mudenda.
Mudenda: Thank you.
SC: You seem to have forgotten me, I don’t know why.
Mudenda: Yeah, I am trying to recollect.
SC: Splendid. Looking forward, I will be with you shortly.
Mudenda: Yeah
SC: Thank you Sir.
Mudenda: Someone will be joining me soon.
SC: Oh, someone will be joining you?
Mudenda: Yes.
SC: Okay, so someone will be joining you. Okay. So what I will do maybe, once they come maybe, I will go away. I am just having a very light one.
Mudenda: Okay.
SC: Oh, thank you Sir. Yeah, the criticism against us is very scathing, it is very heavy, this gentleman from Tanzania who was saying he runs an NGO, and works between Uganda and Tanzania, and he says your country is now 7 times worse than when Robert Mugabe.
Mudenda: What reasons does he give?
SC: Err, we didn’t go into deep, we didn’t get deeper than that, other than him saying the conduct of both government and institutions. He alleges the judiciary as well, and parliament and he mentioned specifically the withdrawal of allowances. Sir.
Ndokutorerai (shall I get you a ) chair?
SC: Sir, the withdrawal of allowances Advocate Mudenda, that has extremely, extremely criticised yourself. On what basis. You have here a topic, local and international policy analysts here, they say you have caused the deterioration of parliament, and.
Mudenda: I have what?
SC: You have made parliament to deteriorate. The value of parliamentarianism is, should be.
Mudenda: Into what?
SC: You are now a spokesman of a military cartel rather than parliament. And in this case Advocate Mudenda, you have a discussion, a topic, that you yourself, you allowed into parliament, you brought this discussion, and that is the 1 August brutality. It is clear even ZBC broadcast this.
Mudenda: (nod and sound in affirmation).
SC: They broadcast this, announcement that the military would be used to change 2018 election results.
Mudenda: (nod and sound in affirmation).
Mudenda: Yes
SC: The same MPs who are meant to be part of your own parliament Advocate Mudenda, they are part of your parliament. And you are the one who allowed this discussion to get into. You allowed it to be discussed.
Mudenda: No, you see the members of parliament have threatened to go to court, so that matter is subjudice.
SC: Sorry?
Mudenda: The matter is subjudice and I am not discussing that.
SC: Because they have threatened to go to court?
Mudenda: Yeah I’m not discussing that.
SC: But then, Sir, aren’t you concerned?
Mudenda: I am not discussing that.
SC: Aren’t you concerned?
Mudenda: I am not discussing that. I am not discussing that.
SC: That we have a clear matter.
Mudenda: I am not discussing that.
SC: You talked about a threat Sir, you talked about a threat advocate.
Mudenda: I am not discussing that.
SC: You talked about a threat.
Mudenda: Can you stop it. Alright?
SC: Advocate, Advocate, a crime is being committed right now. People are dying.
Mudenda: Go to court. Go to court.
SC: Go to court where? People are dying right now in Zimbabwe advocate.
Mudenda: I am not.
SC: I have got; I have got victims of 1 August.
Mudenda: Can you also respect my point of view. Alright?
SC: Do you also respect the people who are suffering, Sir? Do you respect the victims who still have bullets in their bodies, Sir…the victims who still have bullets in their bodies right now?
Mudenda: Can you stop it. Alright. Can you stop it.
SC: Advocate, Advocate, you are the highest you are the most respected person in Zimbabwe you are here to represent parliamentarianism. What parliamentarianism is. You are the person we refer to; we respect you sir. We respect you. And I’ve come to you to ask you about this thing which we are being criticised for; our nation is being criticised right here, Sir.
Mudenda: Can you still stop it. This is not the forum.
SC: Why is it not the forum Sir?
Mudenda: Can you stop it.
SC: But you are the Speaker of Parliament.
Mudenda: Can you stop it. Haaah.
SC: I have got people who are crying I have got victims. Are you concerned that you are no longer the Speaker of Parliament you are now the Speaker of a military cartel?
Mudenda: Can you stop it.
SC: Stop what advocate, stop what?
Mudenda: Can you stop it.
SC: Stop what?
Mudenda: Can you stop it.
SC: But you are destroying our country. You are destroying a whole community. You are right now, even the perception of our nation (sic) Advocate Mudenda.
Are you happy that parliamentarianism has been violated advocate Mudenda? Tell me.
Mudenda: [NO RESPONSE]
So you are not willing to address concerns about parliamentarianism, you are here to represent parliamentarianism and you are mentally torturing MDC MPs adding to the physical torture to victims of violence on 1 August which was done to change election results and this was broadcast on the ZBC. Advocate Mudenda, you are a respected man. You are the highest, the most respected person Sir.
Mudenda: Can you slow down so I can eat.
SC: I shall slow down, but I hope you realise here, that I have got people who are dying, there is a crime that is being committed.
Mudenda: Can I have my breakfast?
SC: You can sir, you can sir, I shall wait.
A crime is being committed Advocate.
Mudenda: Can you move off can you move off.
SC: I am not Sir.
I have got a legitimate criminal concern here, a legal concern sir;
I have got a legitimate legal concern.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN – MUDENDA’S AIDE TRAVELED WITH HIM FROM ZIMBABWE:
Sorry sorry I thought I had given you enough time.
SC: No you can’t do this.
SC: Advocate Mudenda people are dying right now people are dying right now and you are mentally torturing MDC MPs. On what basis do you withdraw their allowances for 5-months merely because they are expressing what you brought before Parliament?
Mudenda: Can you move out.
SC: I am here I am not going to move out I am a guest here and I am also; I am very much here; I am very much here; but I will wait on you because this is important, because you are an employee; you are a civil servant Sir; you are a civil servant. This is your job. This is your job, to be accountable to members of the public; to the international community; to prove that you’re doing the job of a speaker of Parliament not a speaker of a military cartel advocate Mudenda.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
No you cannot shut me I’m going to slow down I will allow him to eat but I’m not going to leave here. I am here I am a guest here; I am an invitee to this conference where you are as well; Thank you.
Tine vanhu varikufa right now hamadzedu dzirikufa kuZimbabwe, akomana, varume, mauya kunoku imimi, saka ndanyarara ikozvino. Ndakumirirai. Ndakumirirai.
This is a legal matter, it is also a criminal matter; I am waiting here.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
I think the honorable speaker has come here to have something to eat.
SC: Yes I will wait for him. I will wait for him Sir
As you can see I have withdrawn, I have withdrawn, I was sitting there when you are sitting so now I have moved away now so we will wait sir. I have got Zimbabweans who are waiting across inside Zimbabwe and around the world. They’re waiting; this is the most respected person; The highest person in the country in Zimbabwe next to Emmerson Mnangagwa.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
So why are you shouting?
SC: I am not shouting I am waiting sir.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
I think it is more about threatening than anything.
SC: What threat did you hear? What threat did you hear there?
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
I haven’t heard.
SC: No no no. Please don’t be unreasonable what threat did you hear here? What threat did you hear tell me, can you justify what you said.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
Know what I am simply saying you know when you are talking on top of your voice if you really want to interview you the Speaker you should interview in a manner that is (sic).
SC: According to your allegations I am quiet. Thank you.
UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
Thank you.
POLICE ARE THEN SUMMONED IN AND DISRUPT THE INTERVIEW….
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THE World Bank (WB) has warned that Zimbabwe’s economy faces massive turmoil unless the country gets much-needed international assistance urgently, the Daily News reported.
This comes as the country is currently going through its worst economic crisis in a decade, as it battles acute shortages of foreign currency, fuel, electricity, medicines and water which has triggered unrest among long-suffering citizens.
In its latest report on Zimbabwe, the WB warned that inflation was likely to spiral out of control going forward evoking horrendous memories from 2008 when both businesses and the lives of ordinary people were destroyed by hyper-inflation.
“In the absence of international support, Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic challenges may persist. With dwindling reserves, there is a high-risk of the exchange rate overshooting, contributing to inflationary pressures,” it said.
The bank also warned that the worsening economic situation in the country was likely to lead to tensions which could derail President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-engagement efforts with the international community.
“One tenth of rural households currently indicate they are going without food for a whole day, about double the proportion of urban households.
“Climate related risks may constrain the recovery of the agriculture sector in the medium-term, exacerbating food insecurity.
“Social and political pressures could lead to policy slippage, delaying macro-economic stabilisation and political reforms.
“This might jeopardise the reform agenda under the IMF’s Staff Monitored Programme and delay the government’s re-engagement aspirations,” the WB added.
This report comes as tensions are rising in the country over the deteriorating political and economic situation, which is blamed on Mnangagwa and his under-pressure government.
As a result, many Zimbabweans including the church and the international community are ratcheting up pressure on Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to hold much-needed dialogue to save the country from descending into total chaos.
To illustrate the depth of suffering by ordinary Zimbabweans, the WB projected poverty levels in the country to widen this year, on the back of soaring inflation and skyrocketing prices of basic consumer goods and services.
It predicted that extreme poverty would rise from 29 percent to 34 percent in 2019, meaning that there would be a further one million people living in dire conditions.
Last year the WB said about 4,7 million Zimbabweans were living in extreme poverty. This year, the number has jumped to 5,7 million.
“Continued cash shortages as well as weak targeting of public spending on social safety nets will continue to constrain social pro- grammes and the impact on poverty,” it added.
Mnangagwa, who was initially feted like a king when he replaced the late former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017 following a popular military coup is now facing severe criticism over his government’s stewardship of the country.
At the beginning of this month, he openly admitted that Zimbabwe’s economy was dead.
“I am aware of the pain being experienced by the poor and the marginalised. Fellow compatriots, getting the economy working again from being dead will require time, patience, unity of purpose and perseverance,” Mnangagwa said while opening Parliament. – dailynews
By A Correspondent- Government has seized an Isuzu Double cab vehicle, which it allocated to Chief Mupungu of Chipinge after it emerged that he sold it to a Chipinge man hardly two years after receiving it.
The law stipulates that a chief is not allowed to sell the vehicle five years before the time they received it. President Emmerson Mnangagwa handed over 90 new cars to traditional leaders in August last year.
Manicaland provincial administrator, Edgars Seenza, yesterday confirmed the development and said a reversal of the deal was underway.
Sources close to the development reveal that, as part of the deal, Chief Mupungu (Happyson Nxumalo) received a Toyota ToyoAce and $US4 000. The Isuzu Double cab has a market value of over US$50 000.
An affidavit dated October 9, which The Manica Post is in possession of, states that Chief Mupungu entered into an agreement with one Dzidzai Butau in exchange with a Toyota ToyoAce 1 tonne vehicle and US$4 000.
“Ini Happyson Nxumalo Mpungu wekwa Makoho Primary school boc 185 checheche ndakatengesa mota yangu Isuzu KB 250 reg number AFC 3164 kuna Dzidzai Butau achindipawo Toyota Toyoace nemari USD$4 000 akaibadara yese yakakwana…,” reads part of the affidavit.
(I, Happyson Nxumalo Mpungu of Makoho Primary School Box 185 Checheche, sold my car Isuzu KB 250 registration number, AFC 3164 to Dzidzai Butau, who in return gave me a Toyota ToyoAce and an amount of US$4 000 which he paid in full.)
Said Mr Seenza: “It is the position of the Government that the car should not be sold before a stipulated time. The vehicle is still Government’s property and that deal is a nullity.
“I cannot get into finer details but I can confirm that the reversal of the process is underway.”
Mr Seenza reportedly instructed police in Chipinge to seize the vehicle from the local dealer who bought the vehicle from the chief.
ZANU-PF and MDC are engaged in a battle of wits over next week’s anti-sanctions day after the parties lined up events to support and denounce the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). This comes after Sadc set October 25 to campaign against targeted sanctions on some Zimbabwe leaders.
The decision was taken during the 39th Sadc summit in Tanzania recently and the bloc’s executive secretary, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, said the sanctions were destroying the country’s economy.
MDC provincial chairperson for North America, Tawanda Dzvokora, said the party has lined-up protests against Sadc.
“We are planning big demonstrations. We want to send a clear message that Sadc is misleading the world by supporting a government which is killing people and abducting labour leaders and activists,” he said.
MDC activist Betty Makoni, who is in London, wrote on Twitter that they are going to demonstrate at the Tanzania High Commission on October 25.
“It is us the people of Zimbabwe who called for demo against Sadc chair who wants to support abductions, murder and rapes in Zimbabwe. How can a people watch as a whole president shoot (sic) people in broad daylight? How can women get raped and no arrest is made. You can’t let dictators from Sadc further oppress us and our future generations”
This comes as Zanu-PF is planning to petition America over the sanctions.
“We do not see any reason why the sanctions should last and do not understand how deteriorating the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and undermining our economic growth reflects the interests of US national security,” the petition reads.
“We see economic pressure in the form of sanctions as an act of political blackmail designed to keep the residual US influence in Africa, as opposed to China and Russia.
“Moreover, many American companies would like to come to Zimbabwe, but they cannot because of their own authorities. If the United States is not interested in the African market nor in investing in Zimbabwe, and restricting its own companies in doing so, then let them not stop others from cooperating with us.” – dailynews
Ecocash has revealed that ZETDC has set a minimum purchase amount for electricity tokens using Ecocash. The new directive is with effect from the 18th of October 2019. In a statement, Ecocash said:
Dear Valued Customers.
Please note that ZETDC has set the minimum purchase amount for electricity tokens at ZW$20 for all service providers effective 18 October 2019.
The minimum electricity token purchase on EcoCash has therefore been set at ZW$20.
State Media|Government has reviewed health sector-specific allowances by a further 40 percent with effect from October 1, 2019, which will see junior doctors pocketing $2 400 for on-call allowances, up from $1 200 initially offered.
Nurses will get $720 for either night duty, standby or call allowances, up from the previous $360 while nurse managers will get $1 000, up from $500.
Further, the Government has resolved to pay civil servants full bonuses for 2019, 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.
The allowances offered to health workers by Government are in addition to other health sector-specific allowances that include locum rates, initial uniform grant, initial uniform allowance, out-of-residence allowance and psychiatric allowances, which were reviewed last Friday by at least 100 percenteach.
Health Services Board (HSB) chairperson Dr Paulinus Sikosana yesterday said the latest review brings adjustments on health-specific allowances to 100 percent.
“Parties to the Health Services Bipartite Negotiating Panel (HSBNP) met on 18 October 2019 to continue the unfinished negotiations on the review of the Health Sector Specific Allowances following the signing of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) Number 3 of 2019 on 4 October 2019.
“CBA 3 of 2019, provided for a 60 percent adjustment on the HSCA with effect from 01 October 2019. On 18 October 2019, parties to the HSBNP agreed that the said CBA 3 of 2019 be amended to provide for a review of the health sector specific allowances by a further 40 percent from 60 percent.
“This review is with effect from 1 October 2019,” said Dr Sikosana.
However, defiant striking junior doctors snubbed the negotiating table, arguing they were no longer part of the Health Apex Council.
In an interview following the announcement of the latest agreement, acting Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association leader Dr Tawanda Zvakada said; “We did not participate in the negotiations and we still hope the employer will find ways of engaging us meaningfully with a credible inter-mediator since we are still open for dialogue.
“However, not through the Health Apex Council.”
Dr Zvakada said doctors will continue withdrawing their labour until their grievances are addressed.
Last month, the Government awarded civil servants including health workers, a cost of living adjustment of between 55 percent and 76 percent, which was awarded on a sliding scale.
State Media|THE Harare Institute of Technology yesterday conferred President Mnangagwa with an honorary Doctorate of Technology degree (Honoris Causa) during the institution’s 10th graduation ceremony.
In his citation for the degree, HIT Vice Chancellor Engineer Quinton Kanhukamwe, said the President was honoured for his efforts in the development of the country through technological advancement.
“His Excellency and President, Cde Mnangagwa has demonstrated the tenacity of focus in the economic development of this country that is premised on the conviction that Zimbabwe can be catapulted to be an upper middle income economy by 2030 through heritage-based technological advancement,” Eng Kanhukamwe said.
“The decades of experience in the administration of the affairs of the State in different portfolios under his belt, have helped to shape his clarity of vision and the huge strides he is taking to transform Zimbabwe into a prosperous and modern economy.
“Under the President’s tutelage, universities now play a critical role in the scientific and technological advancement of the nation. He recognised that universities are central to industrialisation and modernisation of the country.”
In his acceptance speech, President Mnangagwa said he was humbled by honour, adding that it was a recognition of the role science, technology and innovation play in the country’s current development agenda.
“As the world rapidly moves into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, my Government has noted how technology is affecting and redefining cultural, economic, social and human endeavours.
“This is the foundation upon which global economic giants are emerging and we should not be left behind. As such I charge universities to champion economic growth through production of relevant and innovative intellectual property which can be commercialised,” President Mnangagwa said.
He urged HIT to use its mandate to develop in various technological fields such as “nanotechnology, Big data, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and bioinformatics” among others.
“You, as the premier tech-institution in our country must not shy away from embracing mega trends which will leap forward our modernisation and industrialisation agenda.
“Innovations from this institution must have radical impacts and make our country a front runner in new innovations and technologies in the various aspects of our economy,” the President said.
He challenged HIT to lead the country in its quest for economic transformation through import substitution, reverse engineering as well as the production of software and business applications.
“I further commend and congratulate you for providing solutions such as the ERP software being used by some Rural District Councils in the country. The Tap and Go application developed for Zupco as well as the manufacturing of transformers by this institution, will undoubtedly go a long way towards transforming our transport and energy sectors. You are indeed in sync with your motto, ‘Designing the Future,’” President Mnangagwa said.
He implored HIT to promote national self-reliance in strategic skills development that would enhance beneficiation of the country’s natural resources.
“You must thus, continue working towards the establishment of a fully-fledged science industrial park and the Export Processing Zone, to explore new frontiers of knowledge in the 4th Industrial Revolution.
“I also urge you to also ensure that your technopreneurship thrust is broadened to hatch and incubate hi-tech SMEs as well as move the nation towards the comprehensive adoption of ICTs across all facets,” President Mnangagwa said.
State Media|GOVERNMENT has resolved to pay civil servants full bonuses for 2019 pegged on gross income, a departure from last year when the 13th cheque was based on pensionable salaries only.
In an interview yesterday, Apex Council president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said all civil servants were this year going to receive their bonuses inclusive of allowances.
Last year civil servants expressed anger after they were paid a bonus which only reflected the basic salary without allowances being factored into the payments.
“We applaud Government for reverting to the old system. During our last meeting which was held on the 14th of October, Government made a commitment to pay civil servants full bonuses calculated on their total income inclusive of allowances such as housing and transport allowances. This is a great step that shows that engagement has been fruitful,” said Mrs Alexander.
Government has been negotiating with civil servants through their umbrella body, the Joint Negotiation Council, for a review of conditions of service after their salaries were eroded by inflation.
The Apex Council says the 76 percent cost of living adjustment (Cola) negotiated last month has been wiped off by inflation.
The 100 percent bonus will therefore come in handy.
Mrs Alexander said while they welcomed the bonus, Government had not yet availed pay dates for the 13th cheque adding that talks are still underway to decide on a salary increment as incomes had been eroded.
She said if bonuses are paid on the current salaries, that would not alleviate civil servants’ plight as the cost of living had incapacitated most of them.
“While we applaud Government for reverting to the old system, calculating bonuses on 100 percent of total package will still have not addressed the problem at hand because salaries have been eroded and prices are soaring, especially as we are approaching the festive season. We therefore urge civil servants to keep their ears to the ground as we are awaiting favourable outcomes from engagements with Government. Government has not yet come back to us since our last engagement,” Mrs Alexander said.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu yesterday said Government has done well to revert to the old system of paying full bonuses.
He said the issue of salaries must be addressed now to ensure that the bonus will make a difference.
“We need a pay rise on the basis of the obtaining situation in the country. Educators are now incapacitated and are unable to effectively deliver lessons to learners. So whatever pay rise comes must be in the context of the situation that we are in,” said Mr Ndlovu.
State Media|FIRED Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira is set to lose her Senatorial seat and Zanu-PF Central Committee position after Mashonaland West Province, where she comes from, recommended that she be recalled.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi said the province resolved to recall Mupfumira from being a Central Committee member and Senator.
“We have already met as PCC and written a letter to secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu, Legal Affairs secretary Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana as well as the National chairperson Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri advising them of our decision to recall Mupfumira as a Central Committee member and from being a Senator.”
Ziyambi said this was in line with Section 129 (I) (k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The section states that: “A seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he or she was a member when elected to Parliament and the political party concerned, by written notice to the Speaker or the President of the Senate, as the case may be, has declared that the member has ceased to belong to it.”
Mupfumira’s criminal abuse of office charges date back to her tenure as Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister.
The Mashonaland West Provincial Coordinating Committee is expected to meet tomorrow to discuss her fate and the anti-sanctions programme.
Mupfumira was recently granted bail after spending nearly two months in custody. She is facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million.
President Mnangagwa relieved Mupfumira of her duties in early August on the basis that her conduct was not in line with that expected of a Government minister.
The President has made it clear that he does not tolerate corruption, and those engaging in it risked punishment despite their standing and positions.
Meanwhile, Mashonaland West meets today to deliberate on pertinent issues, including Mupfumira’s fate.
“We are basically discussing, the anti-sanctions programme, preparations for the national conference to be held in Mashonaland East and related funding activities,” he said.
State Media|FORMER Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) chief executive Frank Chitukutuku, who is under investigation for fraud, has changed his surname.
He has done so together with his family.
This is contained in yesterday’s Government Gazette.
According to the Gazette, the Chitukutukus changed their surname to Mandlamakhulu before lawyer Jonas Dondo of Dondo and Partners legal practitioners.
The former Zinara boss and his wife, Nyasha, adopted new identities together with their two minor children on September 24 this year.
“Take notice that on the 24th of September 2019, Frank Chitukutuku (born on the 31st of October 1973) and Nyasha Chitukutuku (nee Masungo) born on the 25th of August 1975 both appeared before me (Jonas Dondo) a legal practitioner and notary public and changed their names to Frank Mandlamakhulu and Nyasha Mandlamakhulu and also appeared in their capacities as father and mother respectively of their minor children Anesu Tdiwanashe Chitukutuku (born on the 21st of January 2005) and Anopaishe Taona Chitukutuku(born on the 21st of January 2011) and changed their names to Anesu Tadiwanashe Mandlamakhulu and Anopaishe Taona Mandlamakhulu respectively,” reads the notice.
Two others, Vimbai (24) and Vongai (18), who were also formerly identified by the surname Chitukutuku, also adopted the name Mandlamakhulu on the same date before Mr Dondo.
Their relationship to the former Zinara boss could not be ascertained yesterday.
In June, Mr Mandlamakhulu was given a 30-day ultimatum to explain how he amassed his wealth believed to be about US$20 million, amid suspicion he corruptly acquired it.
The ultimatum was issued under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (2013).
He was ordered to submit a detailed statement to the head of Asset Forfeiture Unit within 30 days and he has since complied with the order.
The decision was made following an ex-parte application by Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi for an unexplained wealth and asset freezing order in terms of Section 37B as read with Section 37H of Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (Chapter 9:24) and Exchange Control Act) Regulations, 2018 (Statutory Instrument 246 of 2018).
Justice Ndewere ruled in favour of the State and barred any interested parties from dealing, in any way, with the property in question.
The former Zinara chief executive is said to have acquired 10 motor vehicles between September 2013 and April last year.
These vehicles include two Mazda T35 trucks, a Hino Dutro truck, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Prado, Nissan NP200, Range Rover, Hino Ranger and a Land Rover Discovery.
Sometime in 2011, he also reportedly acquired residential properties namely: Property measuring 4 048 square metres held under Deed of Transfer 3232/11 situated at Lot 1 of Lot 3 of Lot 56A Borrowdale Estate, Harare and another one measuring 8 853 square metres held under Deed of Transfer 3885/11 situated at Lot 3 of Subdivision C of Subdivision B of Subdivision D of Nthaba of Glen Lorne.
The State also claims Mr Mandlamakhulu built or acquired a multi-million dollar thatched precast-walled house at the top of a mountain at Belmont Farm, Goromonzi, adding he also has six state-of-the-art fowl runs, five tractors, a 10-tonne UD truck, 4 x 200-litre PVC water tanks, as well as several structures at the farm.
Apart from a long list of expensive properties, he is also said to be the owner of two renowned companies, Farm Pride (Private) Limited situated at 49 Kent Road, Chisipite, Harare and an insurance company, Champions Insurance, which boasts of assets estimated at over US$15 million.
State Media|Police in Harare have revealed that ONE of the 210 anti-riot police helmets recovered from the basement of Robinson House in Harare last week belonged to a police sergeant who was killed in political violence that erupted near Harvest House in Harare three years ago.
Police last Saturday raided Robinson House and recovered 210 police helmets and 46 others belonging to Harare City Council.
This followed an attack on a uniformed policeman by thugs closer to the building.
When police officers sought to arrest the suspects, they ran into the basement of Robinson House with police in hot pursuit.
While inside, police recovered the helmets and a fleet of unregistered vehicles suspected to be exhibits in some cases of violence around town, among other items.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations had shown that one of the helmets was the one used by the now late Sergeant Talkmore Phiri when he was slain.
“Police have established that one of the recovered helmets belonged to a police officer who was murdered in Harare in 2016 during the process of politically-motivated violence,” he said.
In an interview after the Press conference, Asst Comm Nyathi said the late Sgt Phiri’s helmet was positively identified by the police and it also bore his name.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the late Sgt Phiri was assaulted by the mob together with a female colleague, who survived with serious injuries.
“The helmet was the one used by the late Sgt Phiri who was stoned to death in town. During the attack, a female officer was also seriously injured and spent time in hospital,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga had since instituted internal investigations to establish how the helmets were sold to civilians through auction.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner-General of Police has instituted full investigations into the alleged disposal of police riot helmets to members of the public,” he said.
This followed claims by a Harare businessman Mr Mitchel Chibwe that he had bought part of the helmets from ABC Auctions after they had been disposed of by police’s Ordinance Section.
Police claim that Sgt Phiri was attacked and killed by thugs in Harare’s central business district, during a demonstration.
Sgt Phiri was among police officers who had been deployed to the Deeds Office.
Sgt Phiri and his workmate, Constable Concillia Gumbo, were stoned and fell from a police vehicle.
The gang caught up with him and further stoned him, before kicking and punching him.
Asst Comm Nyathi said last Saturday police also observed rocks that were positioned on several spots in the basement of Robinson House, indicating that they were deliberately stored there.
He said Robinson House was now believed to be a hideout for violence perpetrators.
“The police have established that Robison House basement is a hideout for criminals who also have political inclinations.
“Members of the public are advised that the police are treating this case as a serious and grave incident whose full ramifications are yet to be fully established,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said contrary to various reports on social media by individuals and groups about the helmets, they have not been fully accounted for nor has there been any concrete proof on why they were stored at the building.
“An individual, who approached the police after the recovery of the helmets, has only laid official claim to a fraction of the helmets leaving the vast majority of these helmets unaccounted for.
“This individual claims to have stored these helmets in 2016 leaving the vast majority of these helmets unaccounted for,” he said.
Police are yet to verify the claims that Mr Chibwe bought the helmets from ABC Auctions.
“Police are still to verify the ownership of those helmets that the individual referred to above has laid claim to,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said they had noted with concern that certain political commentators and politicians have made inaccurate and reckless statements pertaining to the helmets in question.
He however warned people against making such reckless statements.
“In view of the gravity of the situation outlined above, the police wishes to warn members of the public and politicians to deists from making statements which place the investigations into jeopardy,” he said.
He said there was a possibility that the 11 vehicles recovered from the basement could have been used in perpetration of politically-motivated violence.
A WOMAN from Bulawayo escaped jail for bashing her husband with an iron rod in a fight over five litres of alcohol that she had consumed.
Rosemary Ndlovu (20) from Pumula suburb struck Mr Bukhosi Ndlovu (30), who is employed at Ingwebu Breweries, with a metal rod after he scolded her for drinking his liquor.
Mr Ndlovu sustained injuries on his arm and was admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital.
Rosemary pleaded guilty to physical abuse before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.
The magistrate ordered her to go to a police station and pay a fine after Mr Ndlovu withdrew the charges.
Rosemary said she attacked her husband because he had accused her of infecting him with Se_xually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
“I assaulted him because he accused me of infecting him with STIs. I lost my cool and attacked him. I also drank all his beer because I was craving for it,” she said.
Prosecuting, Mr Chief Muteve said the incident occurred on July 7 this year at around 10PM.
“The complainant arrived home and discovered that his beer had been consumed and got angry.
“The complainant insulted the accused person who went outside to get a metal rod and attacked him,” he said.
Mr Muteve said neighbours heard Mr Ndlovu screaming and they rushed to the scene to stop Rosemary from further assaulting him.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Rosemary’s arrest.State media
A CHIMANIMANI man reportedly died mysteriously at his girlfriend’s house after a beer drinking spree, but the woman left the body locked inside for two days as she left for another binge.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident.
The now-deceased, Robert Manzou (40), from Ngangu township, met Sibongile Mlambo at around 5pm on October 11 and the two lovers went on a drinking spree until the following day at around 3am before retiring to bed at Mlambo’s place.
While sleeping, Manzou reportedly developed a stomach disorder, but they did not take it seriously.
Around 9am, Mlambo discovered that Manzou had died and left his body locked inside the house and went back to Ngangu business centre to drink beer.
She did not tell anyone and only returned home two days later.
One Kudakwashe picked a strange stench coming out of the house and tried to gain entrance.
At the same time, Mlambo arrived and opened the door and saw Manzou lying dead on the bed with the body in a state of decomposition.
Kudakwashe reported the matter to the police and the body was taken to Chipinge District Hospital mortuary.
Kakohwa said Mlambo is assisting police with investigations.
— NewsDay
AN 18-year-old Churchill Boys High School student (name withheld) on Friday committed suicide at the Julius Nyerere Parkade.
The boy jumped from third floor and died on the spot.
The tragedy occurred barely a month after Upper Room Ministries leader Reverend Berry Dambaza took his life in the same manner at the same parkade.
H-Metro was at the scene shortly after the tragedy occurred.
Some Churchill High School pupils were seen milling around the scene where different versions of what prompted the boy to commit suicide had already started circulating.H-Metro
It’s been a while since a Liverpool trip to Manchester United felt like such a heavy lift for the home team, but that’s precisely the case when Old Trafford is our scene for one of the biggest rivalries in the Premier League.
United sit 15 points behind the unblemished visitors, and will be without
Paul Pogba and David De Gea for the event.
Still, all is not lost; The Red Devils’ poor attack may see the return of Anthony Martial, who had a goal or an assist in all three of his PL matches this season before a hamstring injury cost him six weeks.
And Liverpool will be tasked with breaking down a United defense which has only allowed multiple goals twice this season (Crystal Palace, West Ham).
They’ll be confident of doing that, especially knowing that a win would match two Premier League records:
Most consecutive matches unbeaten in league play (18)
Most wins to start a PL season (9)
Those numbers also mean the Reds have won a remarkable nine-consecutive away matches in the Premier League. Not bad.NBC Sports
A FIERCE war of words which almost degenerated into an exchange of blows erupted between an angry city married woman and her husband’s side chick at the Mutare Magistrates’ Civil court on Wednesday this week following the granting of a protection order in favour of the small house.
Memory Muringi teamed up with friends and cornered her husband’s lover, who was only identified as P Mudzimwa, soon after coming out of court where the latter had been granted a protection order against Muringi.
“We will teach you a lesson today, so that you will know when not to mess up with other people’s husbands,” shouted one of the women that surrounded Mudzimwa as they left the court premises.
Mudzimwa had dragged Muringi to court claiming that she was in the habit of calling her and insulting her over the phone, accusing her of having an affair with her husband, whom she claimed, had stopped dating a long time ago.
“Indeed Your Worship, I was in love with her husband but that was before I knew that he was married. I dumped him when I found out but now Muringi just won’t stop. She calls me daily, threatening to deal with me. She accuses me of destroying her marriage and calls non-stop, I have had enough of her calling me a whore,” said Mudzimwa.
Muringi however, had no kind words for Mudzimwa whom she called a husband snatcher and marriage wrecker. She justified her actions by claiming that she was only protecting her marriage by calling Mudzimwa and telling her to back off.
“She is a blatant liar, she is still in a relationship with my husband even though he no longer wants her. She pesters him over the phone day and night and he has had enough of her too. Just recently, she texted him at 11pm.
The message read ‘You are taking too long to reply, I’m sleeping now, let’s chat tomorrow.’ “She should stop communicating with my husband,” said Muringi.
Upon the granting of the protection order, the furious and angry Muringi had asked the presiding magistrate, Miss Prisca Tendai Manhibi, “Your Worship, so the law protects her even if she is having extra marital relations with my husband only because we do not have a civil marriage? It seems so unfair!”
Miss Manhibi ordered Muringi to confront her husband and stop breaching Mudzimwa’s peace by calling her.Manica Post
A GROUP of Warriors’ fans left Bulawayo yesterday morning for Lesotho to cheer Zimbabwe in the second-leg of the final Chan qualifier in Maseru tomorrow.
The Warriors carry a 3-1 lead going into the encounter. The Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association (ZNSSA) organised discounted fares for fans to travel for the game that will see the Warriors qualifying for the Chan finals in Cameroon next year should they secure an aggregate win.
McCloud Moyo, an avid Chicken Inns supporter, predicted a 3-0 win for the Warriors, with striker Prince Dube shining.
“We’re going for nothing other than victory. We’ll finish off Lesotho 3-0,” said Moyo.
Kudakwashe Masunda of Masvingo tipped Dube to guide the Warriors to victory.
“We’re going to win 2-1 and obviously Prince will get a brace. For the national team, Prince scores for fun,” said Masunda. Bosso fan Mgcini Mafu predicted a 2-0 win.
“Lesotho are a tricky side and our boys should guard against complacency, but we’ll win 2-0.” Trust Jim, a member of the Dynamos Bulawayo Supporters Chapter, predicted a draw.
“Lesotho beat South Africa in the last round and we mustn’t underrate them. Playing on an artificial surface could prove difficult for our boys. We’ll qualify for the finals, but we’ll draw 1-1,” Jim said.
ZNSSA vice-chairman Carlmarx Nkomo thanked fans for travelling to rally behind the Warriors. “It’s always nice to have fans travelling to watch our boys and give them support. Now the challenge is for the boys to deliver. They have to do it for the country and their careers because playing in continental tournaments attracts scouts,” Nkomo said.State media
WARRIORS are in the 2020 African Nations Championship last qualifying round up against Lesotho and Manica Diamonds’ defender Partson Jaure, who is part of the squad, believes the tournament presents the team with a chance to redeem lost pride.
Home-based players travel to Maseru, Lesotho for the reverse tie in the last qualifying round, second leg this Sunday.
The 2020 African Nations Championship finals are set for Cameroon in January.
THE Warriors struggled to play fluently at home last month but they still managed to get the job done when they beat Lesotho in the first leg of the Chan final qualifier first leg.
“Our game against Lesotho is going to be a tough match because they have been together for long and they play in their local clubs. If there is any tournament they use the same players.
“And for us, we must go all the way and we must score and defend to make our job easy. I also hope this is a chance to redeem our lost pride not only by qualifying but making our impact felt at the finals in Cameroon,” he said.
The Warriors began their journey in the second round where they made light weight of Indian Ocean islanders Mauritius by winning 7-1 on aggregate.Manica Post
FIRED Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira is set to lose her Senatorial seat and Zanu-PF Central Committee position after Mashonaland West Province, where she comes from, recommended that she be recalled.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi said the province resolved to recall Mupfumira from being a Central Committee member and Senator.
“We have already met as PCC and written a letter to secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu, Legal Affairs secretary Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana as well as the National chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri advising them of our decision to recall Mupfumira as a Central Committee member and from being a Senator.”
Ziyambi said this was in line with Section 129 (I) (k) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The section states that: “A seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member has ceased to belong to the political party of which he or she was a member when elected to Parliament and the political party concerned, by written notice to the Speaker or the President of the Senate, as the case may be, has declared that the member has ceased to belong to it.”
Mupfumira’s criminal abuse of office charges date back to her tenure as Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister.State media
Vice President Lynette Karenyi-Kore is attending the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings which are being held in Washington, D.C. from Monday, October 14, through Sunday, October 20. These are a series of different meetings. This is a great honour for the MDC to be recognised and welcomed to participate in these meetings. There are also participants from Zimbabwe’s financial institutions in attendance.
At the heart of the Annual Meetings are the Annual Meetings plenary session, the joint World Bank Group/IMF Development Committee, and the IMF International Monetary and Financial Committee, where progress on the work of the institutions is discussed.
Other featured events will include regional briefings, press conferences, and fora focused on the global economy, international development, and the world’s financial markets.
The Meetings are attended by approximately 2,800 delegates from IMF/World Bank member countries, 350 observer organization representatives and 800 members of the press. Approximately 550 accredited civil society members also participate in the Meetings.
Observers organisations are the representatives of international, regional and economic organizations that are invited by the World Bank Group and IMF to attend the Meetings and participate in the proceedings.
The Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) provides an open opportunity for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to dialogue and exchange views with the Bank and Fund staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders. The forum is composed of sessions on a wide range of topics, which are open to all Annual Meetings attendees.
The World Bank Group President David Malpass will engage with representatives of Civil Society Organizations from around the world in an interactive townhall event where he will discuss with civil society a wide range of development topics that highlight the Bank’s work to reduce poverty, boost shared prosperity, secure financial stability, and promote sustainable economic growth.
These platforms give an opportunity to the MDC Party to engage with the IMF/World Bank officials to articulate party policies as well as networking opportunities with other participants from around the globe to share and learn best practice.MDC Communications
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last six home games against Liverpool, including five league matches (W3, D2).
It is the Merseysiders’ longest winless run at Old Trafford in the top flight since a 10-match streak between 1991 and 2000.
United’s only defeat in their last 10 league games against Liverpool was last season’s 3-1 loss at Anfield, a result which prompted manager Jose Mourinho’s dismissal two days later.
Four of the six most recent Premier League meetings have ended in draws (three of them 0-0) – only four of the previous 36 encounters finished level.
Manchester United
United are two short of becoming the first team to score 2,000 Premier League goals.
They have not scored more than once in any of their past 10 league and cup games – their worst such run since 2007.
The Reds have won just two of their last 13 league matches (D5, L6).
United have earned just 17 points from 16 top-flight matches since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed on a permanent basis.
If United fail to win they will have made their worst start to a league campaign since 1986-87, the season in which manager Ron Atkinson was eventually replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Marcus Rashford averages a Premier League goal every 208 minutes against teams from the established top six, compared to one every 266 minutes versus other clubs.
Liverpool
An 18th consecutive league win would equal the top-flight record, set by Manchester City between August and December 2017.
The Reds could become just the fourth team to win their opening nine top-flight games, matching the Premier League record set by Chelsea in 2005.
The only team who failed to win the title after winning their first nine matches are Manchester United, who ended fourth in 1985-86 despite beginning with 10 straight wins.
Liverpool have won just two of their last 13 league matches away to the other sides in the established top six, though that includes their most recent such game against Chelsea last month.BBC
A 26-year-old man from Sizinda suburb in Bulawayo sent his neighbours into shock and disbelief after he slaughtered and braaied his dog in full view of his neighbours, that he also threatened with a similar fate.
According to sources a drunk Jacob Mwanza, popularly known as “Nyaguza”, had a tendency of not only patting his dog, but fondling it as well. He also told his neighbours that one day he would slaughter his dog commonly known as My Lady.
“My Lady was always abused by Jacob. Especially when he was drunk because he would be all over My Lady as if he was fondling a woman,” said one of the residents, Nonsikelelo.
Mwanza was known for making noise especially when he was drunk and he had threatened his neighbours that he would eat them one day.
“Jacob always makes noise especially when he is drunk. He threatened that he’ll eat us one day so we are afraid of him,” said one of the neighbours on condition of anonymity.
On D-Day it is reported that Mwanza came home drunk on Wednesday last week and started shouting at his tenants in the family house demanding meat for a braai.
“He shouted and asked for meat for braai when he came home drunk. He then slaughtered My Lady in view of the public,” said MaNcube, one of the residents.
It is understood Mwanza slaughtered My Lady and had a braai until members of the public reprimanded him.
“He slaughtered his dog and had a braai. Residents tried to reprimand him for eating dog meat but Mwanza became radical and ordered the community to respect his rights,”said Brian, one of the residents.B-Metro
Farai Dziva|Controversial musician Desmond Chideme, also known as Stunner, was involved in a public brawl as he allegedly bashed a moneychanger in central Harare.
See below the report that was compiled by Zim Celebs:
Rapper Desmond Chideme better known as Stunner recently caused a scene along Kwame Nkrumah when he bashed one money changer only identified as Ngoni for harassing his daughter Celeste.
Speaking to this publication, the money changer laughed at the issue and said he didn’t know she was Stunner’s daughter.
“Stunner approached me warning me not to harass his daughter ndikamuudza kuti akanyorwa pamhanza here kuti mwana wako vanhu vemuroad ava and iyoyo mhinduro ndo isina kumufadza akabva andirova handina kumbopihwa nguva yekubatanidza” he said.
In an interview with Zim Celebs, Stunner said he doesn’t mess around when it comes to family.
“When it comes to my family i don’t let people mess with my family. I didn’t beat him for proposing to my daughter but after he was rejected he called her names and she came to me saying daddy munhu uyo anga achindinetsa” he said.
— Zim Celebs
FIVE Rusape villagers allegedly ganged up and fatally assaulted a 14-year-old boy accused of stealing a hen from one of their colleague, last week.
Three of them – Jonathan Elias (43), Michael Bhunu (47), of Kasvosve Village and Ambrose Gogo (42), of Mugadza village, under Chief Makoni – have since been arrested in connection with the offence.
The other two – Christopher and Abel Nyatoro – have been declared fugitives from justice.
Police are appealing for information leading to their arrest.
Elias, Bhunu and Gogo on Tuesday appeared before Rusape magistrate Mr Gift Manyika facing murder charges.
The three were not asked to plead.
They were remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
The lower court does not have jurisdiction over murder cases.
The Nyatoros allegedly fled the village upon realising that they had committed murder.
Prosecutor Miss Theresa Mangwende told the court that the five allegedly caught the victim, who was in Grade 7 at a local school, in possession of Jonathan Elias’s hen in a nearby mountain.
The suspects allegedly took turns to assault the victim with sticks all over the body.
The boy died two days later as a result of the assault.
“On October 11, 2019, at Mupfumi village at about 0500hrs, the deceased, Watson Gogo was alleged to have stolen a hen from Jonathan Elias the previous night. Elias together with Christopher and Abel Nyatoro, who are at large, followed the boy’s footprints from the fowl run into the bush where they allegedly discovered him with the stolen hen.
“They (allegedly) apprehended the boy and took him to Ambrose Gogo’s homestead.
“Michael Bhunu arrived while the boy was at Gogo’s homestead.
“The accused persons, including those on run, assaulted the deceased with sticks all over the body.
“On October 13, 2019 the victim died, before being taken to hospital, as a result of the injuries,” said Miss Mangwende.Manica Post
Farai Dziva|A government official has said school pupils are expected to join the Anti-Sanctions March because the issue affects everyone.
“We expect primary and secondary school pupils to attend the celebration because sanctions affect us all.
Members of POLAD and other organizations are also invited to attend. There will be a football match , musicians and comedians are to perform,” Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana told ZBC.
Two men from Shurugwi under Chief Nhema allegedly murdered a fellow patron after he accidentally spilt their beer.
Godknows Dondiwa and Tafadzwa Jairos Moyo, appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Ms Sithabile Zungula charged with one count of murder, after they fatally stabbed Edward Chikuni of Shurugwi for spilling their beer.
The duo was not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to October 23.
Circumstances surrounding the matter are that, on Septmebr 28, the two accused persons were drinking beer at Dombwe Business Centre in Shurugwi.
While drinking, the victim passed by and he accidentally kicked their beer, spilling it in the process.
The issue did not go down well with the Dondiwa and Moyo who demanded that Chikuni buys them another beer.
The now deceased indicated that he had no money and he apologised but the pair would have none of it.
The two accused persons, the court heard, started assaulting Chikuni with open hands and he managed to break loose and ran away.
They allegedly chased after him, caught him and further assaulted him. Moyo allegedly produced a knife and stabbed Chikuni with it several times while Dondiwa held him down.
After committing the heinous crime, the pair ran away leaving the victim, who was bleeding profusely, lying haplessly on the ground.
Chikuni was ferried to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Dondiwa and Moyo.
Mr Pride Gomera prosecuted.State media
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man, Noel Tshuma, was arrested after he returned to his victim’s house wearing the clothes he stole from the same house.
It is reported that on October 4 this year at around 7 PM, Tshuma smashed the bedroom window of Mr Sandile Ntshali’s house, entered and robbed Nrshali of his 21-inch television set and a suitcase that was full of clothes all valued at R 5000. The victim told the court:
On the 6th of October, when I was home, the accused person came wearing a grey shirt and a grey trouser which were some of the clothes that were stolen and he ordered me to cover my face so that I don’t recognise him. I immediately called the police leading to his arrest.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube who sentenced him to four years in prison and suspended one on condition that Tshuma does not commit a similar offence within the next three years.
By A Correspondent- The opposition MDC led by advocate Nelson Chamisa has called upon the Southern African Development Community to speak against violation of human rights by the administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The party posted on Facebook saying:
#NoToHumanRightsAbuses SADC must speak up on this persistent brutality against innocent Zimbabweans by the so-called new dispensation. #ZimbabweHumanRights
The call comes when the SADC has stood with Zimbabwe in calling for the removal of the sanctions imposed on the Southern African country by the USA, the UK, the EU and other Western states over alleged human rights abuses.
The opposition party argues that the SADC which is vocal on the removal of sanctions must also raise its voice when the government is harassing its people.
By A Correspondent- The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe has told the government that teachers were now incapacitated to execute their duties and responsibilities.
Resultantly, they will be reporting for duty only twice a week with effect from the 21st of October 2019.
We present the union’s letter to the Public Service Commission below.
By A Correspondent- A man from Victoria Falls, Artwell Mthethwa allegedly tiptoed into a Johanne Masowe shrine at night and stole five handsets and two bags while congregants were in a prayer session.
It is alleged that Mthethwa was arrested after the congregants tracked his footprints to the main road where he boarded a car to Lupinyu Business Centre, intending to sell the stolen items. Some congregants testified about the theft saying:
After we noticed that some of our things were missing, we followed the footprints from the shrine to the main tarred road where we spotted the accused waiting for transport while carrying a brown satchel. He boarded a car which dropped him at Lupinyu where we later found him.
Mthethwa appeared before Victoria Falls Magistrate, Ms Rangarirai Gakanje where he pleaded guilty to stealing four phones on September 21. He, however, denied stealing the fifth phone and the bags.
Gakanje remanded the accused in custody to tomorrow for judgment.
By A Correspondent- Popular actor Lazarus Boora aka Gringo who underwent surgery for a ruptured appendix this week is recovering well in hospital and the family would like to thank all who helped him out.
Gringo was operated on on Tuesday at CitiMed Hospital in Chitungwiza after well-wishers from around the country raised money for him. He had been admitted to hospital last week Thursday.
This was after an appeal by his family for people to help him as Gringo was in dire financial straits and could not raise the reported $18 000 needed to go under the knife.
His daughter Tanaka Boora said she was grateful that people rallied behind him.
“Although he isn’t out of the woods yet as he still hasn’t gained his strength he is recovering well. I want to thank all the people who heeded the call to raise funds for him to undergo the surgery,” said Tanaka.
She said they were not sure when Gringo would be discharged from hospital.
When news spread that Gringo had fallen ill and was in need of the money for surgery, socialites such as Jackie Ngarande and Lorraine Guyo went on a plea to their followers and Zimbabweans at large to raise the $18 000.
It is reported that fashionista Pokello Nare pledged to raise the $18 000 and people thanked her.
However, despite the media reports no one could neither confirm whether or not Pokello paid for Gringo’s surgery.
“I don’t talk to the media and I don’t want to confirm anything,” Pokello said before hanging up.
Tanaka said she had no knowledge of any contribution by Pokello.
“Hapana chandinoziva (I don’t know anything about that donation personally).”’
Ngarande posted a picture on her Facebook page with Pokello with the caption: My friend has a heart made of gold, The most generous person I know, She made a huge difference for someone in need.
God bless you Pokello’s Addicted 2 Shoes.”
She did not say what exactly Pokello did to change someone’s life and it seems some people assumed that she donated to Gringo.
The award-winning actor hogged the limelight in 1997 when he featured on Enock Chihombori’s drama series “Gringo” that rocked the local television station ZBCTV.
The success of the series led to similar projects “Gringo Ndiani”, “Gringo Mari Iripi” and subsequently a movie “Gringo the Troublemaker”. He also acted as Gibbo in the film “Village Secrets”, which was being screened on ZBCTV. He made cameo appearances in local movies such as Yellow Card.
By A Correspondent- A woman from Hwange has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for killing her cousin’s chickens, guinea fowl and a dog with a fungicide.
Nelia Shoko (49) of Diki Village in St Mary’s was arrested last Thursday after she laced isitshwala with the poisonous Triadime before feeding it to her cousin’s livestock.
She told the court that her intention was to kill a cat that had eaten her chickens.
Shoko spread the poison laced isitshwala around her cousin Mr Fungai Ncube (47)’s homestead in the same village at night causing the death of five chickens, five guinea fowl and a dog.
She was charged with violating Section 3 (1) (i) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act which criminalises administering any poisonous or injurious substance to any animal without any reasonable cause.
Shoko pleaded guilty to the charge when she appeared before Hwange magistrate Mr Gift Dube.
The magistrate slapped Shoko with 10 months in jail which was wholly suspended on condition that she restitutes RTGS$525 to the complainant by the end of this month.
Prosecuting, Mr Vumizulu Mangena said Shoko intentionally laced some isitshwala with Triadime and gave it to the chickens, guinea fowl and dogs.
“On the 8th day of October 2019 at 6PM, the accused took Triadime fungicide and put it on some isitshwala as bait. She placed the poisoned meal in the complainant’s homestead whereupon five chickens, five guinea fowls and a dog fed on it and died,” said Mr Mangena.
The court was told that Mr Ncube discovered that the chicken, guinea fowl and one dog were dead the following morning.
He made a report to the police and investigations led to Shoko’s arrest. Police recovered a 250ml bottle of the Triadime fungicide from Shoko.
The combined value of the chickens, guinea fowl and dog is of RTGS$525.
That there's always a symbiotic relationship between sanctions & corruption is beyond debate. Sanctions actually cause & fuel corruption. Many sanctions busting activities are, of necessity, mired in corruption.#SayNoToSanctions
By A Correspondent- Two men from Shurugwi under Chief Nhema allegedly murdered a fellow patron after he accidentally spilt their beer.
Godknows Dondiwa and Tafadzwa Jairos Moyo, appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Ms Sithabile Zungula charged with one count of murder, after they fatally stabbed Edward Chikuni of Shurugwi for spilling their beer.
The duo was not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to October 23.
Circumstances surrounding the matter are that, on Septmebr 28, the two accused persons were drinking beer at Dombwe Business Centre in Shurugwi.
While drinking, the victim passed by and he accidentally kicked their beer, spilling it in the process.
The issue did not go down well with the Dondiwa and Moyo who demanded that Chikuni buys them another beer.
The now deceased indicated that he had no money and he apologised but the pair would have none of it.
The two accused persons, the court heard, started assaulting Chikuni with open hands and he managed to break loose and ran away.
They allegedly chased after him, caught him and further assaulted him. Moyo allegedly produced a knife and stabbed Chikuni with it several times while Dondiwa held him down.
After committing the heinous crime, the pair ran away leaving the victim, who was bleeding profusely, lying haplessly on the ground.
Chikuni was ferried to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Dondiwa and Moyo.
By A Correspondent- Having served for more than two years in prison for stealing, Kelvin Mbuyiswa (24) seems to have learnt nothing inside.
He appears to have tried to perfect his thieving skills hoping never to get caught but the long arm of the law caught up with him.
Mbuyiswa, an informal trader at a stall along 6th Avenue, was arrested and shipped back to prison after stealing a cellphone from a shopper at the corner of Lobengula Street and Third Avenue last month.
Narrating his ordeal, the complainant said at around 2pm he was waiting to cross the road when Mbuyiswa approached him from the front and pushed him.
“He accused me of pushing him and started demanding an apology from me. I didn’t want any misunderstanding so I just apologised.
“But he kept on walking all around me still demanding an apology before he finally walked away,” said the victim.
As he tried to recompose himself, another trader who had been watching the whole scene told him that Mbuyiswa had searched him and stolen his phone.
“I hadn’t felt him search me at that moment so I searched my pockets and found nothing,” said the victim.
A security guard at the Kurai Coaches advised him to report the case to police officers who were patrolling nearby because he knew Mbuyiswa as a serial thief.
After reporting the case to the officers, they tracked Mbuyiswa to his stall where they recovered the phone whose Econet simcard he had already removed.
Meanwhile, State files showed that Mbuyiswa had served 24 months and another eight months on different occasions for stealing cellphones.
However, pleading guilty before Bulawayo magistrate Lesigo Ngwenya, Mbuyiswa appealed to the prosecution to be lenient with him as he claimed his eight-month-old sick son was the one that pushed him to look for fast money.
“I am a very lenient person, but how do I let you go when you have served two times before for the same offence.
“It means this is your job. If I let you go then you will go back to your job and prey on your next victim. Go inside and reflect on your actions and think about your son,” said the magistrate.
By A Correspondent- A man from Gundani Village under Chief Nembudziya in Gokwe was ordered to pay three cows for having an illicit relationship with his stepdaughter which resulted in pregnancy.
Jacob Manyengavana had a relationship with his 20-year-old stepdaughter Farisai Bhasikiti.
The matter came into light when Bhasikiti told her mother about the pregnancy. This was after Manyengavana tried to force her to abort the three months pregnancy.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the two had a relationship for close to three years without anyone noticing until Bhasikiti got pregnant. They had a fallout after Manyengavana tried to convince Bhasikiti to terminate the pregnancy.
“Manyengavana and Bhasikiti started their relationship about three years ago. Their relationship went sour when Bhasikiti fell pregnant and her stepfather wanted her to abort.
“She refused to terminate the pregnancy and Manyengavana then threatened to chase her away from their home. He told her to go and look for her biological father if she wanted to keep the baby,” said the source.
Left with no option, Bhasikiti opened up to her mother about the whole incident.
“Due to pressure put on her by her stepfather, Bhasikiti told her mother about the pregnancy and that her stepfather was responsible. She also revealed that he wanted her to abort the pregnancy but she refused,” said the source.
Bhasikiti’s mother reported the matter to Chief Nembudziya.
Chief Nembudziya confirmed presiding over the incident saying he fined Manyengavana three cows for sleeping with his stepdaughter.
“I presided over the case and l ordered Manyengavana to pay three cows for the embarrassing incident. Two cows were given to the girl’s mother while the other cow goes to the community,” said Chief Nembudziya.
By A Correspondent- Lesley Qiniso Mlala is an insensitive and aggressive son.
This came out at the Bulawayo magistrates court when his mother broke down narrating how he beats her grandchildren for no reason and insults her every time he gets drunk.
Leanor Mlala from Entumbane suburb said in most instances her son comes home drunk at midnight and then starts insulting her for no apparent reason.
As if that is not enough he goes on to assault her three grandchildren. Now her grandchildren fear living in the house because of his abusive nature.
During her first days of being insulted, Leanor sought assistance from family members but efforts to tame Lesley’s rowdy behaviour were fruitless.
As months went by Lesley turned to be extremely violent and fearing for her life and her grandchildren’s Leanor decided to seek help from the courts.
“I wish to apply for a protection order against Lesley who is my son. The respondent usually comes home drunk during midnight, and he starts insulting me for no apparent reason. He just lacks respect for me. He also assaults my grandchildren even if they have done nothing wrong,” said Leanor.
She added: “The respondent usually damages the door to gain entry when he comes home late at night. He switches off the television anytime when he finds me and my grandchildren watching, and if I try to reprimand him he becomes violent and starts damaging my property.
He also raises the volume of the radio full blast at midnight, making noise for us and the neighbours. May the court assist me by reprimanding him not to make noise, assault my grandchildren so that I can live peacefully.
Western Commonage magistrate Urgent Vundla granted an interim order pending a final decision.
By A Correspondent- In a bizarre incident that has left villagers in Mkuze Village under Chief Mkoka in Gokwe South shell-shocked, women at a funeral wake mysteriously woke up without their panties last week.
The undergarments were later found hanging on a tree near the homestead.
Chief Mkoka confirmed the incident saying the strange incident had sent tongues wagging in the village.
“There was a funeral in the village at Twoboy Ncube’s homestead. As usual villagers went to the funeral wake to comfort the Ncube family and to help with all the other necessary chores.
“It is said that when they woke up in the morning, most women discovered that they had been stripped of their undergarments while they were asleep,” said Chief Mkoka.
He said the women were later asked to identify their panties from the tree.
“Most of them were able to positively identify their panties though they were scared to take them as they suspected witchcraft,” said Chief Mkoka.
Chief Mkoka said he received the report on the incident from Headman Mkuze on the same day seeking permission to invite traditional healers and tsikamutandas and seek answers.
“I received a report about the strange incident last week and we are trying to seek answers from spirit mediums and local prophets in our area. They are telling us that the ancestral spirits are the ones behind the whole issue.
“The spirit mediums were summoned and they performed their rituals. They didn’t say anything though after completing rituals,” he said.
This incident is not the first of its kind in Gokwe.
In September 2014, a similar incident happened in Chibarirwa and Demawatema villages in Gokwe South. In the same year Saviors Nyenyezwa of Gokwe was found in possession of 13 women’s panties and a black mamba during a cleansing ceremony.
In July 2012, a 62-year-old man from Charisekera, under Chief Njelele came out and claimed ownership of a goblin which had been terrorising women in his village by taking off their panties at night while they were asleep.
The man, Lumeck Ncube, made the startling revelations at a cleansing ceremony in the village.
By A Correspondent- Fudu primary and secondary schools in Nkayi, Matabeleland North Province, have been closed for three weeks after teachers fled in terror when female teachers woke up wearing their male counterparts’ trousers.
Goblins are said to be behind the bizarre incident which has disrupted public examinations at the institutions.
As if that was not enough, one of the male teachers claimed that whenever he was at the school grounds he would fall into a trance and see the shoes of a teacher who they suspected to have been killed by another teacher at the school.
He said since the last week of September they had faced a hellish time at the hands of the alleged spirit of the late teacher.
Now word doing the rounds is that the spirit of the late is hovering at the school and tormenting teachers.
“ There are two teachers who fought for the position of deputy head and subsequently one died mysteriously and we firmly believe that her spirit is the one that is hovering at the school and disrupting lessons,” he said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity a female teacher confirmed that she and her female counterparts woke up wearing trousers.
“I have not seen anything like that! It’s strange. Just imagine about six of us strangely woke up wearing trousers of our male colleagues,” said the female teacher.
As a result teachers fled the school and pupils at both schools have been left stranded.
A teacher said pupils who were sitting for examinations were affected.
“This thing has left pupils who are sitting for final public O-level examinations greatly affected because they have to walk more than 18 kilometres to Mpumelelo High School where it has been arranged they sit for their examinations.
“This has put the pupils’ preparations for end of year examinations into disarray as it has disturbed their preparations and it’s not known whether they will write examinations or not,” said the teacher.
Parents have been left worried and with the aid of the local leadership have sought the services of a witch-hunters.
A villager from Ward 22, Robert Moyo, said each community member contributed $5 to pay the witch-hunters.
“The pupils who have been disturbed are from Ward 22 and Ward 23 and those wards have more than 200 homesteads respectively. We divided ourselves into two groups.
“Some slept at the primary school while some slept at the secondary school.
“We were asked to sing for the whole night and at around 3am they (witch-hunters) conducted cleansing but they failed to get rid of the beings which they claimed are goblins,” he said.
Village head Victor Mloyi said witch-hunters had failed to exorcise the school of the goblins.
“They have tried to root out the beings for a week but they have failed. We are worried. After paying they tell us they cannot root it out.
“Now we are want to engage Chief Sikhobokhobo to plan the way forward,” said Mloyi.
Provincial education director Matabeleland North province Jabulani Mpofu confirmed the incident: “I can confirm that Fudu Primary School and Fudu Secondary have been affected by beings suspected to be goblins. The local leadership has engaged witch-hunters to exorcise the schools.”
He could not be drawn to explain how they would help pupils sitting for end of year examinations.
Gaborone — As Botswana heads to the polls next Wednesday, the four presidential candidates have assured the nation that they will accept the outcome of the elections.
In a debate that pitted the candidates against each other on Wednesday, two of them, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and Mr Ndaba Gaolathe of Alliance for Progressives (AP) indicated that they would accept the results of the elections whether they favoured their respective parties or not.
Dr Masisi said the BDP, which has held power since independence, was a party that had an established track record of respect for the rule of law, hence there was no doubt that the it would accept the outcome of the polls.
He expressed confidence that the BDP would win the elections convincingly, particularly because the party had already started to deliver on the promises it had made to the nation in its election manifesto.
On the question on foreign policy, he said when given a fresh mandate, the BDP government would pursue a foreign policy that safeguarded the interests of Batswana.
Dr Masisi said in forging relations with other countries, the party’s government would put the interests of the nation in the forefront, and ensure that the relations helped push forward the country’s development agenda.
Mr Gaolathe similarly stated that the AP would respect the laws of the country and accept the results regardless of how the party fared.
The AP president assured the nation that the party, though generally regarded as having slim chances of taking over state power, would put up a spirited fight and a remarkable showing at the polls and thereby entrench its position as a key feature in Botswana’s political landscape.
On foreign policy, Mr Gaolathe said it was paramount to be aware that there was a shift in global power, and that in establishing relations with other countries, Botswana must realise her position as a small country and guard against being an aggressor.
He said under AP rule, Botswana would establish relations with advanced economies that would help the country to develop further.
Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) candidate, Mr Biggie Butale said the party would accept the outcome of the polls provided they were conducted in a free and fair manner.
Mr Butale said the BPF, when elected into office, would establish relations with countries with a culture as a well as a good track record of democracy, justice and the rule of law as well as the respect for human rights.
For the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Advocate Duma Boko shared the BPF candidate’ sentiments and stated that the coalition would accept the results if the elections were held in a transparent, free and fair manner, free of any rigging.
He however accused state security agencies such as the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) and Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) of having a hand in trying to help the BDP rig the elections.
He said if the agencies would cease interfering in the elections process, the UDC would accept the results of the polls.
The UDC candidate, like others, said under the party’s rule, Botswana would pursue a foreign policy that benefitted Batswana.
He said the UDC government would be guided by whether or not the relations with a particular country were in the best interest of Botswana.
A FIERCE war of words which almost degenerated into an exchange of blows erupted between an angry city married woman and her husband’s side chick at the Mutare Magistrates’ Civil court on Wednesday this week following the granting of a protection order in favour of the small house.
Memory Muringi teamed up with friends and cornered her husband’s lover, who was only identified as P Mudzimwa, soon after coming out of court where the latter had been granted a protection order against Muringi.
“We will teach you a lesson today, so that you will know when not to mess up with other people’s husbands,” shouted one of the women that surrounded Mudzimwa as they left the court premises.
Mudzimwa had dragged Muringi to court claiming that she was in the habit of calling her and insulting her over the phone, accusing her of having an affair with her husband, whom she claimed, had stopped dating a long time ago.
“Indeed Your Worship, I was in love with her husband but that was before I knew that he was married. I dumped him when I found out but now Muringi just won’t stop. She calls me daily, threatening to deal with me. She accuses me of destroying her marriage and calls non-stop, I have had enough of her calling me a whore,” said Mudzimwa.
Muringi however, had no kind words for Mudzimwa whom she called a husband snatcher and marriage wrecker. She justified her actions by claiming that she was only protecting her marriage by calling Mudzimwa and telling her to back off.
“She is a blatant liar, she is still in a relationship with my husband even though he no longer wants her. She pesters him over the phone day and night and he has had enough of her too. Just recently, she texted him at 11pm. The message read ‘You are taking too long to reply, I’m sleeping now, let’s chat tomorrow.’ “She should stop communicating with my husband,” said Muringi.
Upon the granting of the protection order, the furious and angry Muringi had asked the presiding magistrate, Miss Prisca Tendai Manhibi, “Your Worship, so the law protects her even if she is having extra marital relations with my husband only because we do not have a civil marriage? It seems so unfair!”
Miss Manhibi ordered Muringi to confront her husband and stop breaching Mudzimwa’s peace by calling her.
“The text message you read to us clearly shows that your husband and this woman were communicating earlier but you fail to see that, and want to shift all the blame to her. Confront your husband, he is the enemy in this matter,” said Miss Manhibi.
The magistrate also explained to Muringi that since she and her husband did not have a civil marriage, she could not do anything to stop her husband from communicating with other women or take a second wife.
Maputo — A judge in the northern Mozambican city of Nampula has postponed the trial of two men accused of attempted ballot box stuffing in Tuesday’s general election because key witnesses have not shown up at the courtroom.
According to the independent television station STV, Luis Florindo and Ivandro Manuel were caught with extra ballot papers on their persons when they headed for the ballot boxes in two polling stations in the same Nampula polling centre.
They were arrested, and later on Tuesday a magistrate validated the detention and ordered that they be imprisoned until the trial.
The trial should have been held on Thursday – but judge Mohamed Khaled announced that the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the polling stations, although they had been summoned to court as witnesses, had not appeared. The judge assumed they must still have been involved in counting the votes – which is most unlikely, since the polling station count should have been completed on Wednesday morning.
Khaled postponed the trial to next Wednesday, and ordered the two accused to pay bail of 100,000 meticais (about 1,610 US dollars) each. If they cannot raise this sum, they must stay in prison until the trial.
A polling station monitor of the main opposition party, Renamo, told STV there was no doubt about the guilt of the two men, and their crimes had been written down in the polling station minutes.
A further case of alleged ballot box stuffing, this time involving polling station staff members (MMVs) is underway in Mutarara district, in the western province of Tete,
According to reports from correspondents of the anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), the five accused are mainly polling station chairpersons and deputy chairpersons from the Inhangoma administrative post, accused by Renamo of slipping extra ballot papers to known members of the ruling Frelimo Party.
MINISTRY of Energy secretary Gloria Magombo was yesterday grilled by Parliament over issues of rebundling of Zesa with MPs questioning why an institution that was recently unbundled was now being rebundled.
Magombo had appeared before the Joel Gabbuza-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy to speak on her ministry’s 2020 budget proposals.
Gabbuza also asked her to explain the $8,6 billion loss by Zesa which was attributed to exchange rate losses and low electricity tariffs.
“After the $8,6 million loss which was attributed to exchange rate losses you were now given a new tariff and calculations show that this will enhance your revenue by $800 million per month, and it shows that you should be able to offset this loss within three months,” Gabbuza said.
Magombo admitted that the sharp increase in Zesa tariffs will boost the company’s balance sheet.
“We were operating in a situation where our tariffs were low, as well as issues of inflation – and because of this background Zesa has been operating in an almost impossible situation with revenues amounting to $98 million against expenditure of $1,2 billion,” Magombo said.
“The major issue that was causing the net loss were the sub-economic tariffs that were previously charged,” she said.
Bikita West MP Elias Musakwa then asked Magombo to explain the rationale of unbundling and then rebundling Zesa, and why she would need to get outside consultants to rebundle Zesa.
“You said you will engage consultants to re-bundle Zesa, but is this country suffering from lack of consultants? Do we not have technocrats in this country who can do that exercise without us paying all that money to foreign consultants?” asked Musakwa.
Magombo then responded: “The issue sounds simple, but rebundling means there are people who are going to lose jobs. There is a vested interest and the role of a consultant is to do an independent structure which is not based on individuals and personalities.”
Uzumba MP Simbaneuta Mudarikwa said unbundling of Zesa was done by consultants, and now they wanted to hire other consultants to rebundle. He said Zesa was concentrating on wrong issues instead of focussing on ensuring that the country had enough power.
“The unbundling exercise was the work of a consultant and we need to know if they were competent enough. The only things we see is the expansion of the Zesa car park. You are generating 1 300 megawatts with three boards. While the sizes of your vehicles are improving, there is no generation of power. Our focus must be on generation of power,” Mudarikwa said.
MPs suggested that Magombo should look at the issue of hiring local consultants — even at universities to look at the issue of the Zesa rebundling.
NOIC acting chief executive officer Godfrey Ncube said the major challenge affecting non-availability of fuel was foreign currency.
“We had 104 million litres up to August, but we only sold 76 million litres. On capital projects, we developed four projects in Mabvuku, Bindura, Warren Park and Masvingo. The major challenges that we are facing which are causing shortages of fuel is foreign currency, but in the short term I think it will be better because of pricing, and we also hope that in the long term there will be proper functioning of public transport,” Ncube said.
A CHEEKY, if not dumb thief from Bulawayo was arrested after he went to one of his victims’ house two days after robbing him, wearing clothes he had stolen from the home.
Noel Tshuma (20) from Old Pumula suburb robbed Mr Sandile Ntshali of his 21-inch television set and clothes at a knife point after smashing his bedroom window to gain entry.
He also stole a suitcase that was full of clothes and the television set all valued at R 5000.
Tshuma pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry, theft and being found in possession of stolen property before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.
The magistrate sentenced him to four years in prison and suspended one on condition that Tshuma does not commit a similar offence within the next three years.
Prosecuting, Mr Chief Muteve said on October 4 this year at around 7PM, Tshuma hatched a plan to steal from Mr Ntshali while he was sleeping at his home.
Mr Muteve said Tshuma returned to the complainant’s house after two days wearing Mr Ntshali’s clothes armed with a knife.
“On the 6th of October, when I was home, the accused person came wearing a grey shirt and a grey trouser which were some of the clothes that were stolen and he ordered me to cover my face so that I don’t recognise him. I immediately called the police leading to his arrest.”
The Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation former chairman who is facing criminal abuse charges absconded court once again yesterday as he is reportedly critically ill.
David Murangari, who is already on an outstanding warrant of arrest, was in a no show in court yesterday with his lawyer presenting his latest medical report to regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya which revealed that he has developed a heart condition.
“As the court is aware that Murangari is on an outstanding warrant of arrest, we would want to tender the latest medical reports from South Africa in which the doctors are indicating that he developed a heart complication after a spinal surgery.
“As such, he is having temporary blackouts and the doctors have advised that he shouldn’t participate in stressful activities like attending court hearings as it may strain his heart, he may be able to travel back to Zimbabwe next month but not strong enough to stand trial,” said Mushoriwa.
In response to the application to have the matter remanded to end of November, senior prosecutor Micheal Reza said he didn’t understand whether by saying if he continues coming to court he will damage his heart, do the doctors mean that the trial should be stopped completely.
The matter was subsequently remanded to November 25.
Murngari is appearing with his alleged accomplice Luke Akino and the duo is facing criminal abuse charges in which it is alleged that they corruptly awarded a $168 000 consultancy services contract to their acquaintance Thomas Mashungupa.
The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe has told the government that teachers were now incapacitated to execute their duties and responsibilities. Resultantly, they will be reporting for duty only twice a week with effect from the 21st of October 2019. We present the union’s letter to the Public Service Commission below.
How much does it cost the taxpayers when the Government of Zimbabwe rolls out anti-sanctions marches throughout the country’s provinces and districts, with the major event being held at the National Sports Stadium on 25 October 2019 as reported by Minister Monica Mutsvangwa?
Masvingo’s Minister for State for Masvingo Province has already confirmed that buses will be used to ferry people from Masvingo to Harare to support the main event to be addressed by Emmerson Mnangagwa on 25 October 2019 (The Herald, 17 October 2019), If people are being ferried from every province, rightfully they would need decent accommodation, but probably accommodation will be a benefit for the fat cats only. These people will or should be fed. Money will be spent putting in place logistics for the event, which will include a musical gala, obviously to attract numbers. This shows how warped the thinking of Zimbabwe Government officials and all those supporting the move is.
With free transport and promises of food, and free entertainment, the hungry citizens have no choice but get a free ride to a feeding trough; whether or not they are convinced they should be doing what they are being asked to do. Enticing people to do what they wouldn’t normally do is corruption, and that is what has caused the country to be what it is today.
It is a shame people who are supposed to be criticizing Government for its extravaganza Dr. Lovemore Madhuku and Dr. Thokozani Khupe have chosen to be part of revellers to this event. Let them enjoy themselves and feel good about it while the country suffers.
If SADC had a real case against sanctions, it would have arranged a meeting with the sanctions enforcers to push its position. What is happening here is complete madness which, unfortunately, some people who started off with the zeal to stop the Zanu PF rot, D. Khupe and Dr. Madhuku, have finally decided to join in.
Maputo — INCUMBENT, Filipe Nyusi, is tipped to retain power following divisive polls in Mozambique.
Preliminary results after Tuesday’s vote indicated the leader of the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) was ahead of closest rivals, Ossufo Momade and Daviz Simango.
The Joint Electoral Observation Platform projected a landslide victory for Nyusi, with 72 percent of the vote.
Momade, leader of the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) is placed second with 21 percent.
Simango, the Democratic Movement of Mozambique, is tipped to clinch 5,8 percent of the presidential election.
“This data is in line with the projections which are being shared by the press,” Felicidade Chirindza, Joint Electoral Observation Platform spokesperson, said in Maputo.
Tension has gripped Mozambique ahead of the announcement of results in the upcoming days.
Allegations of vote-rigging have marred the election and put to test a peace agreement signed by longtime rivals FRELIMO and RENAMO.
A private poll observer was murdered on the eve of Mozambique’s election, allegedly by police.
The insurgency by Islamists groups disrupted elections in the northern Cabo Delgado Province.
Momade said his party would reject the results of a rigged election.
“If these are manipulated results, we can never accept them,” he said after voting in the northern province of Nampula.
Nyusi won 57 percent of another contentious poll in 2014.
The then-leader of RENAMO, Afonso Dhlakama (now deceased) claimed the election was fraudulent.
This widened the rift with the FRELIMO-led government, resulting in sporadic attacks by militants in RENAMO’s ranks.
Relations between the rivals have been strained since independence from Portugal in 1975.
THE battle for control of the MDC yesterday took a new twist at the Supreme Court with former deputy president of the party, Thokozani Khupe challenging party leader, Nelson Chamisa in his appeal against a High Court judgment which nullified his presidency in May this year.
The move by Khupe came after Chamisa’s lawyer advocate Thabani Mpofu, who was assisted by advocate Sylvester Hashiti, told Justices Paddington Garwe, Antoinette Guvava and Bharat Patel that Chamisa had decided to withdraw his appeal against Khupe, Elias Mudzuri and Douglas Mwonzora and also tendered to pay the wasted costs.
While Mudzuri and Mwonzora consented to the withdrawal of the appeal against them, and Elias Mashavira — who successfully challenged Chamisa’s appointment — also had no issues with the withdrawal, Khupe, through her lawyer Lovemore Madhuku declined the withdrawal.
Mashavira’s lawyer Ashell Mutungura, who was assisted by Sarudzai Chatsanga, told the court that his client had no issues with the withdrawal of the appeal against Mwonzora, Khupe and Mudzuri.
Khupe has, however, insisted that she intends to be part to the proceedings and defend the High Court judgment which was delivered in favour of MDC’s Gokwe Sesame district secretary, Mashavira.
In his submissions, Mpofu said it was baffling to note that Khupe had not been a part to the proceedings in the High Court and further that no judgment was passed in her favour, yet she was now insisting to be part of the proceedings in the Supreme Court.
“The third respondent (Khupe) takes nothing out of these proceedings and she cannot obtain a judgment in her favour. She did not obtain a judgment in the High Court and she can ask no judgment from this court,” Mpofu said.
He added that although Khupe did not appear in the High Court she was now the one leading the charge in opposing Chamisa’s request for access to the late party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s affidavit and the MDC’s original constitution.
In his address to the bench, Madhuku said Khupe had an interest in the current court proceedings arguing that the law says once the matter has been set down for hearing the applicant no longer enjoys the liberty to simply withdraw the same.
“Third respondent has an interest in these proceedings and she is prepared to defend the judgment of the High Court,” Madhuku said insisting that his client does not accept the withdrawal of the appeal against her.
As the matter continued Mpofu also indicated that his client was not happy with the copy of the party constitution which the Registrar of the High Court had obtained from another court record allegedly filed by Tsvangirai when he was defending his party’s constitution.
The challenge by Mpofu then prompted the Supreme Court to roll the matter over to today in order to allow all the parties to have access to the original court record and verify if the copy of the Constitution availed to the parties was the same with the one allegedly filed by Tsvangirai.
Chamisa’s appeal to the Supreme Court followed Justice Edith Mushore’s ruling in favour of Mashavira after he sought a declaration that Chamisa and Mudzuri’s appointments as MDC deputy presidents by Tsvangirai was unconstitutional.
ZBC|The Netball Gems saga continues with poor travel plans. The latest in The Gems saga is that the team will travel on Air Zimbabwe Friday departing Robert Mugabe International Airport at 11 am to Johannesburg where they will connect to Cape Town and arrive in the evening at about 9pm.
Their first game of the Africa cup against Uganda was scheduled for Friday morning at 0800 hours at the Bellville Velodrome in cape Town, South Africa.
“The Zimbabwe Netball Association President Mrs Chipandu has made the African Netball Association aware of this and consequently… The Zimbabwe VS Uganda Game has been re scheduled to the last game for both teams in the tournament,” According to a statement issued by Maimba Mapuranga, the Public Relations and Communications for the Zimbabwe Netball Team African Championships Campaign.
“We are very grateful to the African Netball Association for understanding our situation and to Uganda for agreeing to this rescheduling,” read the statement. The saga is the latest in a series of bungling by the national netball association who have been accused of “mismanagement” by some affiliates dating back to the World Cup in Liverpool England.
Maimba also refuted media reports that Lloyd Makunde, had been fired as head coach of the Gems.
“The Zimbabwe Netball Association would like to place on record and refute stories making the rounds in some section of the Media that The Gems Coach was fired.. This is Not true. Coach Lloyd is still Head coach of the Gems but is not traveling for this Assignment because he will be attending an elite coaching Training being conducted by ZOC this weekend,” stated Mapuranga.
Efforts to get hold of Makunde were fruitless and messages to his phone were not answered.
“Coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki will lead the team and we have every belief that he will do us proud.. should you have any questions, please reach out to me and I will gladly respond best I can…
“Coach Mutsauki will lead the team and we have every belief that he will do us proud…” said Mapuranga.
The African championship tournament is set to kick off from the 18th until the 22nd of October and Africa’s best eight teams will be going head to head for the continents netball ultimate prize in Cape Town in a few days’ time. Zimbabwe it would appear is not ready or are far from it.
Zimbabwe netball gems made a huge impression at the Vitality Netball World Cup in Liverpool England in July, where they finished a credible eighth.
Zimbabwe Netball Association is under fire from all corners and stand accused of maladministration and incompetence after failing to secure sponsorship to run a national league, the Netball Super League where the majority of players that went to the world cup including those from the development side were drawn from.
A group calling itself concerned netball administrators from local clubs petitioned the SRC over “gross irregularities” in netball governance” violation of ZINA’s constitution as well as the failure of requirements of the SRC Act throwing the game into further abyss.
Among the allegations were that ZINA had clashed with players during the just ended Liverpool World Cup over allowances. The alleged bonus row was resolved after the Youth, Sport, Arts & Recreation Ministry pledged to pay the players which cast a shadow on what was otherwise impressive debut appearance by Zimbabwe at the global showpiece.
Another allegation emanating from an audit report compiled by Robert Kambarami alleged ZINA paid themselves huge allowances at the expense of the players almost six times more than the players.
The governance issues, it is alleged came to light when ZINA were allegedly forced to engage an independent auditor in line with SRC demands for good corporate governance practices by national sport associations.
In the midst of all this bickering, the team and it’s final preparations for the African Championships failed to take off in time and team only went into camp this Wednesday, a few days before the African Cup championships.
Off-court bickering by administrators has stalled the game’s progress and deflated the nation’s expectations.
Zimbabwe were recently drawn in Group B together with rivals and defending champions Uganda who finished 7th in Liverpool, Kenya and Tanzania while Group A consists of South Africa who finished 4th in Liverpool, Zambia, Malawi who also finished 5th in Liverpool and Lesotho.
Malawi announced their preliminary squads in September 2019. Malawi revealed a list of 24 players in the squad and later cropped the list to 12 members. Uganda released a squad consisting of 22 players beginning of October 2019, just three weeks prior to the start of the tournament.
Paul Nyathi|Majority of Zimbabweans have declared that Zimbabwe is under no felt sanctions at all declaring the mantra on sanctions as a “stupid ZANU PF excuse” on its failures to govern.
In an online poll run by ZimEye.com on Thursday, 76% of the respondents said that ZANU PF was lying that the so called sanctions were crippling the nation.
The Zimbabweans instead blamed ZANU PF for all the suffering that they are going through.
A paltry 14% of the respondents voted in favour of ZANU PF claims that the country is failing to move ahead because of the sanctions imposed on its leaders by the USA and the European Union.
The online voting trend leaves many doubting who then will join the ZANU PF Anti Sanctions March set for next week.
Below is how Zimbabweans voted on the matter.
Whats Your Take "We, the citizens of Zimbabwe, are tired of putting up with the never ending assurances from the United States that sanctions are exclusively targeting certain individuals and companies, and do not affect ordinary residents.
Farai Dziva|Organisers of an international football scouting programme are targeting Zimbabwean players.
Zimbabwe has been chosen as one of the six African countries from where they hope to pick, at least, 15 players from each nation.
The scouts are looking for players between the ages of 13 and 25 and will hold a two-day scouting tournament at Prince Edward, in Harare, and a similar event in Bulawayo.
Dubbed “The World’s Biggest Scouting Event”, it will start tomorrow in Harare.
The scouting tournament was organised by Russia-based Nigerian Moo Muhammed Mustapha and Portuguese scout Miguel Angelo Ferreira Almeida along with Dynamic African Stars, a football academy which has its headquarters in South Africa.
They have roped in former Warriors defender and DC Academy director Dickson Choto and former CAPS United defender, Charles Manjera, who also runs a football academy in Chitungwiza.
Mustapha told the Herald that the decision to come to Zimbabwe was largely inspired by Marvelous Nakamba’s performance in the English Premiership.
“We have earmarked six countries for this event this year. Zimbabwe is our second destination after we did one such event in Nigeria,’’ he said.
“After the displays by Zimbabwean midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba, we thought if Nakamba can do that, then how many other players, who are like him, can also be found in Zimbabwe?”
Mustapha also revealed that several teams across Europe have developed interest in signing Zimbabwean players.
“Several teams in Spain, Russia, Portugal, Greece and many others countries have expressed interest in taking on board Zimbabwean players. So, the tournament at the weekend, is a huge opportunity for both professional and amateur players to come.”
Farai Dziva|Kaizer Chiefs winger Khama Billiat says he knows nothing about the reported feud with coach Ernst Middendorp.
Rumors of a fallout started to swirl last season and the player was linked with an early exit at Chiefs in the pre-season.
Things took another nasty turn last month when the gaffer questioned Billiat’s decision to feature for the Warriors during his recovery from an injury.
Despite the fact that he got a clearance from the medical team, Middendorp berated the 29-year-old on the radio over the decision.
Speaking to Sowetan on Wednesday at the club chairman, Kaizer Motaung’s birthday party, Billiat dismissed speculation of a rocky relationship with Middendorp.
“I don’t know that. Like now‚ I was just greeting him now‚” he said.
“I don’t know where this is coming from. But I’m working with him every day. I’m fine.”
Last week ahead of the 4-2 victory against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup, the forward made the same sentiments, saying everything was solved in a professional way.
Farai Dziva|Outspoken Egyptian giants Zamalek president Mortada Mansour has prohibited his players from using social media as a means to ensure focus on games.
The controversial 67-year-old, who is known for his hard stance, declared that any of the Zamalek squad members risk being heavily fined if they defy his orders pertaining to social media usage.
“None of you are allowed to have a Facebook page,” Mansour said on his Arabic YouTube account.
“Pick between Zamalek and your Facebook and Instagram page.
“Whoever opens a social media page I will fine him half his salary, and every time you post you will be fined.” he declared.
Farai Dziva|Controversial musician Desmond Chideme, also known as Stunner, was involved in a public brawl as he allegedly bashed a moneychanger in central Harare.
See below the report that was compiled by Zim Celebs:
Rapper Desmond Chideme better known as Stunner recently caused a scene along Kwame Nkrumah when he bashed one money changer only identified as Ngoni for harassing his daughter Celeste.
Speaking to this publication, the money changer laughed at the issue and said he didn’t know she was Stunner’s daughter.
“Stunner approached me warning me not to harass his daughter ndikamuudza kuti akanyorwa pamhanza here kuti mwana wako vanhu vemuroad ava and iyoyo mhinduro ndo isina kumufadza akabva andirova handina kumbopihwa nguva yekubatanidza” he said.
In an interview with Zim Celebs, Stunner said he doesn’t mess around when it comes to family.
“When it comes to my family i don’t let people mess with my family. I didn’t beat him for proposing to my daughter but after he was rejected he called her names and she came to me saying daddy munhu uyo anga achindinetsa” he said.
Farai Dziva|A government official has said school pupils are expected to join the Anti-Sanctions March because the issue affects everyone.
“We expect primary and secondary school pupils to attend the celebration because sanctions affect us all.
Members of POLAD and other organizations are also invited to attend. There will be a football match , musicians and comedians are to perform,” Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana told ZBC.
A 26-year-old man from Sizinda suburb in Bulawayo sent his neighbours into shock and disbelief after he slaughtered and braaied his dog in full view of his neighbours, that he also threatened with a similar fate.
According to sources a drunk Jacob Mwanza, popularly known as “Nyaguza”, had a tendency of not only patting his dog, but fondling it as well. He also told his neighbours that one day he would slaughter his dog commonly known as My Lady.
“My Lady was always abused by Jacob. Especially when he was drunk because he would be all over My Lady as if he was fondling a woman,” said one of the residents, Nonsikelelo.
Mwanza was known for making noise especially when he was drunk and he had threatened his neighbours that he would eat them one day.
“Jacob always makes noise especially when he is drunk. He threatened that he’ll eat us one day so we are afraid of him,” said one of the neighbours on condition of anonymity.
On D-Day it is reported that Mwanza came home drunk on Wednesday last week and started shouting at his tenants in the family house demanding meat for a braai.
“He shouted and asked for meat for braai when he came home drunk. He then slaughtered My Lady in view of the public,” said MaNcube, one of the residents.
It is understood Mwanza slaughtered My Lady and had a braai until members of the public reprimanded him.
“He slaughtered his dog and had a braai. Residents tried to reprimand him for eating dog meat but Mwanza became radical and ordered the community to respect his rights,”said Brian, one of the residents.B-Metro
By A Correspondent- Lesley Qiniso Mlala is an insensitive and aggressive son.
This came out at the Bulawayo magistrates court when his mother broke down narrating how he beats her grandchildren for no reason and insults her every time he gets drunk.
Leanor Mlala from Entumbane suburb said in most instances her son comes home drunk at midnight and then starts insulting her for no apparent reason.
As if that is not enough he goes on to assault her three grandchildren. Now her grandchildren fear living in the house because of his abusive nature.
During her first days of being insulted, Leanor sought assistance from family members but efforts to tame Lesley’s rowdy behaviour were fruitless.
As months went by Lesley turned to be extremely violent and fearing for her life and her grandchildren’s Leanor decided to seek help from the courts.
“I wish to apply for a protection order against Lesley who is my son. The respondent usually comes home drunk during midnight, and he starts insulting me for no apparent reason. He just lacks respect for me. He also assaults my grandchildren even if they have done nothing wrong,” said Leanor.
She added: “The respondent usually damages the door to gain entry when he comes home late at night. He switches off the television anytime when he finds me and my grandchildren watching, and if I try to reprimand him he becomes violent and starts damaging my property. He also raises the volume of the radio full blast at midnight, making noise for us and the neighbours. May the court assist me by reprimanding him not to make noise, assault my grandchildren so that I can live peacefully.
Western Commonage magistrate Urgent Vundla granted an interim order pending a final decision.
Two men from Shurugwi under Chief Nhema allegedly murdered a fellow patron after he accidentally spilt their beer.
Godknows Dondiwa and Tafadzwa Jairos Moyo, appeared before Shurugwi magistrate Ms Sithabile Zungula charged with one count of murder, after they fatally stabbed Edward Chikuni of Shurugwi for spilling their beer.
The duo was not asked to plead and were remanded in custody to October 23.
Circumstances surrounding the matter are that, on Septmebr 28, the two accused persons were drinking beer at Dombwe Business Centre in Shurugwi.
While drinking, the victim passed by and he accidentally kicked their beer, spilling it in the process.
The issue did not go down well with the Dondiwa and Moyo who demanded that Chikuni buys them another beer.
The now deceased indicated that he had no money and he apologised but the pair would have none of it.
The two accused persons, the court heard, started assaulting Chikuni with open hands and he managed to break loose and ran away.
They allegedly chased after him, caught him and further assaulted him. Moyo allegedly produced a knife and stabbed Chikuni with it several times while Dondiwa held him down.
After committing the heinous crime, the pair ran away leaving the victim, who was bleeding profusely, lying haplessly on the ground.
Chikuni was ferried to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of Dondiwa and Moyo.
Mr Pride Gomera prosecuted.State media
