In a rather tragic incident, a Harare motorist’s efforts to avoid queuing for hours for fuel backfired after his car was stolen by an unknown male who had offered to assist him to get to the fuel pump quickly.

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) the man had his Toyota Hiace, motor vehicle Reg ADZ 2349 stolen at a service station in the CBD on Wednesday by an unknown suspect who had asked for a $10 bribe to assist him.

The driver then left his disembarked from his motor vehicle to look for cash to pay the suspect, leaving his car keys on the ignition.

Taking advantage of the man’s absence, the suspect then took the chance and drove off with the vehicle.

Speaking on microblogging site, Twitter, using their official account, ZRP said:

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Watch video downloading below of charges against Mudenda.

Paul Nyathi|Zimbabwean speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda has been set up for prosecution at the Serbian War Crimes Court for his involvement in the August 1 killings.

The prosecution for Mudenda may be coming at an absolutely wrong time for him at a time when the court in Serbia has declared the need to accelerate prosecutions.

A report released by the Humanitarian Law Centre NGO in July this year, Serbia was blasted for continuing to make slow progress in implementing its strategy for processing war crimes, with no increase in indictments and the continued glorification of war criminals.

The report by the Belgrade-based Humanitarian Law Centre, said there has been no progress this year so far in the implementation of Serbia’s national strategy for the prosecution of war crimes.

The report, which covers the period from the start of December 2018 to the beginning of July this year, said there has not been an increased number of indictments compared to the number of investigations, that court cases continue to drag on for too long and that fewer missing persons have been found.

It also highlighted the lack of progress in Serbia to improve attitudes towards the issue of war crimes trials.

The Serbian government adopted its first National Strategy for the Prosecution of War Crimes in 2016, and it remains in force until 2020.

With Mudenda’s case coming in as the immediate next war crimes case and the first for a high profile Zimbabwean since Gukurahundi, the Zimbabwean speaker of parliament may find himself going through a difficult time.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday said Bulawayo will hold more national events as he opened the Zim trade Annual Exporters conference in the city.

The conference which ends on Friday, is being held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds.

Mnangagwa who was guest of honour at the conference was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister  Sibusiso Moyo and Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu.

He noted that the conference was being held in Bulawayo for the first time which he said should be continued with other national events.

“I applaud the fact that this is the first time this forum is being held in Bulawayo, which is befitting, given that the city is an industrial hub and special economic zone,” said Mnangagwa.

‘We look forward to more national meetings, events and conferences being hosted at this, our second largest city.”

Mnangagwa flew back to Harare soon after officially opening the conference.

Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has today visited Gringo, real name Lazarus Boora, who is currently hospitalized due to stomach disorders.

“Just visited & prayed with the talented Lazaraus Boora ‘Gringo’ who is undergoing treatment.

Kudos to the CITI Med hospital medical staff for the job well done. In other countries such talent is highly rewarding.Will get there.Thanks to all who helped in med fees.#Zimtalent,” tweeted Chamisa.

Media reports on Government’s re-engagement with Western countries being led by President Mnangagwa should be accurate and progressive for the benefit of all Zimbabweans, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

She said this during her ministry’s Strategic Planning Review Meeting in Harare yesterday.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the meeting was aimed at reviewing the operationalisation of the strategic plan adopted early this year.

“Zimbabwe demands journalists to objectively unpack the Zimbabwean story, mobilise citizens to realise the national vision of developing an upper-middle economy by the year 2030, as defined by President E.D Mnangagwa,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.

She said it was worth noting that the contribution of academics in the analysis of Zimbabwe’s re-engagement process may benefit citizens by way of conditioning them to the eventual outcome of the process.

She said rebranding Zimbabwe locally, in the region and internationally was paramount going forward.State media

Farai Dziva| Prominent human rights activist, Prosper Tiringindi has urged opposition parties in Southern Africa to unite and expose massive electoral theft by ruling parties.

On October 15, villagers around Masvingo were forced to vote for FRELIMO as Zanu PF rigged elections in favour of the Mozambican ruling party at Chiefs Hall in Masvingo.

Speaking to ZimEye.com Tiringindi said:

On October 15 villagers from Nemamwa, Zano and Charumbira were forced to vote for Mozambique’ s ruling party, FRELIMO at Chiefs Hall in Masvingo.

The villagers were given Mozambican identity cards.”

“I have gathered overwhelming evidence to expose the rigging process.

I would like to urge opposition parties to unite and expose massive rigging by ruling parties.

It is clear that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is dubious, illegitimate and undemocratic,” added Tiringindi.

By Paul Nyathi|State run Chronicle Newspaper on Thursday woke up with highly sensational yet misleading front page report that MDC Member of Parliament for Magwegwe Constituency Anele Ndebele has been arrested for raping and impregnating a young school girl.

According to the report Ndebele is accused of raping an Upper Six pupil who learns at a school in Kezi, Matabeleland South Province.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi is said to have confirmed the MP’s arrest yesterday.

“I can confirm that we received a rape report against a 47-year-old male who is a politician. He is a member of the House of Assembly for Magwegwe Constituency. The victim in this case is a minor therefore I cannot divulge further details. The matter is under investigation and the accused is assisting us with investigations,” said Asst Commissioner Nyathi.

The opposition parliamentarian has since come out disputing the whole issue indicating that he is under no arrest nor police investigations for any form of crime including the rape allegations.

Below is Honourable Ndebele’s position on the issue.

Morning family.

l wish to bring it to your attention that l am accused of raping a minor and impregnanting her.

While this is dishonourable. I would like to assure you once more that l am a victim of fake news.l did not do what l am alleged to have done.

l have called on the police for the last 24hours to provide me with details on the issue.The charge sheet has not been coming.Yet l am vilified by the State Media who for reasons unknown to me have had access to the charge sheet.l am traumatised.

There are indications that l am under arrest but l am not.

l shall leave the story here for our spokespersons to interface with the media and shall not comment on the matter again.

You have my deepest assurance that this is fake news again!

Efforts to get a comment from police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, quoted in the state media report have so far not been successful.

Farai Dziva|MDC presidential spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda has said attempts to wrestle power from party leader Nelson Chamisa reflect desperation on the part of the Zanu PF regime.

Sibanda said: “Whatever happens in the Supreme Court today, the reality is that President Nelson Chamisa held a Congress for the Movement for Democratic Change.

The MDC is a Democratic movement which means that the only D-Day that is understood by its statutes and its membership, is the day of a Congress. It is therefore always going to be clear to any right-thinking person that the shenanigans of attempting to wrestle or destabilise the MDC through the court system will always be insufficient and cannot change the facts as they obtain. President Nelson Chamisa is a strong leader of great integrity, immense charisma and an overarching vision, who continues to work extremely hard to ensure that the Party of Excellency achieves its primary goal and mandate, which is to free Zimbabwe.

This will be done no matter how many people keep going to court because they’re afraid to face his leadership.”

By A Correspondent- Relatives of a headman who was murdered by his neighbour in Mberengwa are demanding 70 heads of cattle from the murderer’s family to conduct a traditional ritual to appease the dead man’s spirit.

Chief Matarutse of Mberengwa, under whose jurisdiction the families live, told NewsDay that the deceased’s spirit was not at rest and would seek vengeance on the murderer’s family unless they deliver the cattle. Said the chief:

Jorum Makondo, brother to the deceased, and some family members informed my court that they need 70 beasts from the accused’s family to conduct a cleansing ceremony.

It is usually our custom and tradition that when one murders someone, he/she has to meet certain demands from the deceased’s family to avoid being haunted by an avenging spirit.

Malambeni Makondo (56) of Chemimwe village under Chief Mataruse was struck with a log several times and killed by Hlupeko Mabuzane (38) following a dispute over a botched donkey deal.

Strange things are alleged to be happening at the Mabuzane homestead and villagers suspect that the dead man’s spirit is haunting the family.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- Unconfirmed reports allege that socialite and businesswoman Pokello Nare may have paid actor Lazarus Boora’s surgery bill.

Boora, who is known as Gringo’s family appealed to the public through social media influencer Jackie Ngarande asking for RTGs18 000 in order for Gringo to have surgery.

Jackie gave a shout-out to Pokello on social media thanking her for saving someone in need, prompting many to think that she had contributed to Gringo’s bill.

The actor was taken in sick on Tuesday due to complications with his appendix.

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

Both parties are yet to confirm the story.

By A Correspondent- Mugodhi Apostolic Faith Church leader, Bishop Tefius Mugodhi has died aged 79.

The passing on of the clergyman was confirmed by his spokesperson, Benjamin Mungiriya who said that Mugodhi succumbed to cancer at a local hospital in Harare on Monday.

Mungiriya said:

We are saddened by his death. It’s a great loss for us. He is the one who initiated the church’s anti-sanctions call and he would have loved to die after the sanctions are lifted.

Mugodhi took over the church leadership in 2002. Four church leaders had to lead the church since 1961 when his father died since he was too young to lead.

Most recently, the ailing Mugodhi indicated that he would pass the church leadership to his son, Washington, a decision that prompted rebellion from one of his deputies, Tony Sigauke.

The battle for the church leadership is already at the courts.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Mpilo Hospital doctors, one of the last groups of public hospital doctors that was still going to work in Bulawayo, has now joined the doctors’ incapacitation strike.

In a letter addressed to the hospital’s Clinical-Director, the doctors said that they cannot afford to come to work anymore due to the high cost of living.

Below is the letter by the doctors…..

By A Correspondent- The Member of Parliament for Magwegwe Constituency in Bulawayo, Anele Ndebele (MDC Alliance), has been arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating a high school pupil. 

Ndebele is accused of raping the Upper Six pupil who learns at a school in Kezi, Matabeleland South Province.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the MP’s arrest yesterday.

“I can confirm that we received a rape report against a 47-year-old male who is a politician. He is a member of the House of Assembly for Magwegwe Constituency. The victim in this case is a minor therefore I cannot divulge further details. The matter is under investigation and the accused is assisting us with investigations,” said Asst Commissioner Nyathi. 

 Sources told The Chronicle that the matter came to light when the pupil, whose name has been withheld for ethical reasons, fell pregnant.

Ndebele is alleged to have first met the girl in March this year when he proposed love to her but was turned down. 

He then allegedly started raping her in April and May after offering to pay for her school holiday lessons.

The girl reported the matter to the police after discovering that she was pregnant.

“Ndebele met the school girl at Kezi Business Centre in March and she told him she was a Form Six pupil. He allegedly met the pupil again the following month in Kezi during the school holidays and asked her why she was not attending holiday lessons like other pupils. The complainant is alleged to have informed him that she had no money to pay for the holiday school programme. He is alleged to have offered to pay for her holiday school lessons and gave her 100 rand and some local currency,” said a source.

Ndebele allegedly proposed love to the pupil and was shot down. 

“After he was rejected by the school girl, he then forced himself on her. After the rape he gave her money and left,” said the source.

Ndebele is alleged to have seen the girl again in May this year after calling her from school to meet him by his car. 

He reportedly drove to a house under construction in the area where he dismissed all construction workers.

“He told all workers to leave and then went into the house with the school girl. He raped her four times before he let her go. He gave her ZWL$60 and took her back to school where he dropped her off at the gate,” said the source.

The matter allegedly only came to light when the complainant discovered that she was pregnant and filed a police report.

-StateMedia

The opposition MDC led by advocate Nelson Chamisa has dismissed reports that its officials had a meeting with ZANU PF officials at the ruling party’s Headquarters to push for dialogue between Chamisa and President Emmerson Mnangagwa. We present the party’s statement in full below.

MDC dismisses report on talks and meeting at Zanu PF Headquarters

The MDC would like to put it on record that it has not been involved in any meeting with Zanu PF either formal, ad-hoc or informal.

As the party that won the 2018 election, the MDC is committed to resolving the socioeconomic problems facing the country in keeping with its promise to the people of Zimbabwe at the 2018 Election.

The MDC understands that the deepening crisis is a direct consequence of the unresolved 2018 Presidential election wherein popular will was disregarded and the MDC was prevented from executing its mandate as the winning party. We therefore, believe that it is fundamental that there be genuine dialogue aimed at resolving this legitimacy question and to attend to political and economic reforms.

The MDC believes that the platform for this dialogue must be convened by a neutral arbitrator or institution and that the outcome of the dialogue and its execution be guaranteed by SADC, AU or the UN.

The MDC would like to reassure its members and the nation that we have not digressed from the path to dialogue as explicitly expressed in the RELOAD document.

Chalton Hwende
Secretary General

By A Correspondent- After long regulatory delays, Zimbabwe has now begun cultivation of hemp and cannabis, with high hopes to add a new export into its pot of traditional cash crops.

In 2018, Zimbabwe announced it would allow the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes, and further amendments to the law this September legalised the growing of industrial hemp, which is used in the manufacture of fibres.

On Friday, overcoming bureaucracy and the suspicion that has long-delayed investment, the Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust (ZIHT) sowed six varieties of industrial cannabis, the country’s first authorised hemp crop. Industrial hemp is a variety of cannabis that is grown for industrial uses in textiles, paper, rope and edible seeds.

The notion that hemp is “mbanje”, or marijuana, has, however, caused some suspicion and delay. In reality, hemp, unlike marijuana, is not a drug and does not make one “high”. Unlike marijuana, hemp contains a low count of psychoactive substance THC.

ZIHT founder, dentist Zorodzai Maroveke, says she discovered the opportunity when she bought a dress made from hemp fabric while studying in China. She has lobbied for years to have the production of cannabis and industrial hemp legalised, which meant having to convince government officials to overcome their own prejudices.

Hazy regulation

Johannes Swan, co-founder of lobby group the Roots Movement, says they still have to prove to the government that hemp is not a narcotic.

“As soon as we can prove that to them then we can take this to a larger scale and go commercial. We hope to be producing the best quality hemp fibre in the world,” Swan says.

However, the industry has won part of the battle against negative perception, with Agriculture Minister Perence Shiri attending Friday’s first plant.

“This project is the first of its kind in the history of our country,” Shiri said. “This pilot project will provide essential knowledge or information for the successful production of this crop. The benefits that will be derived from the production of industrial hemp are enormous and varied.”

Hazy on how to regulate the crop, and confused by differing submissions by applicants over just how much the crops would earn for the country, government took months to develop a licencing regime.

Growers of hemp and cannabis – two different crops – get licences running for up to five years, and have to produce their crops under strict monitoring.

To convince the sceptics in government, growers have had to show them the numbers. According to consultancy firm, Prohibition Partners, Africa’s legal cannabis industry could earn up to US$7,1 billion per year by 2023 “if a number of the continent’s major markets open up and mirror the trend of legalisation” seen in markets such as the USA, Canada and Europe.

Since legalisation of cannabis growing last year, interest has been strong, with over 350 applications received within weeks of the announcement.

“We will find the funding for it. There are many interested parties already,” Swan says.

The new hemp project in Harare, on a 10 hectare patch on the fields of the Harare Central Prison, is partly funded by NSK Holdings, an international company, and Symtomax, a Portuguese firm that will provide technical farming support.

Joint venture

In Marondera, British firm Eco Equity has begun work on its US$6.3 million medicinal cannabis project. The company plans to complete a greenhouse by the first quarter of 2020, start cultivation in the second quarter, and begin exports of the product by the third quarter.

Eco Equity has partnered with Dutch greenhouse manufacturer DutchGreenhouses and Australian cannabis company Delta Tetra to build the facility. The company says it has been granted a long-term lease on 2 000 hectares of land to grow and process cannabis.

Jon-Paul Doran, Eco Equity CEO, said: “After months of planning, we have moved on to the next exciting phase of our project and we are already seeing the first pictures of the work undertaken. We believe we have the perfect site in terms of both location and climate to cultivate the optimum quality cannabis, which we can use for medicinal purposes. We have employed experts from around the globe to ensure our facilities are cutting edge as we look to provide an alternative natural cure.”

According to Eco Equity, the project has an expenditure requirement of £5 million (US$6,3 million), which will include total capital cost of £3 million and £2m as working capital.

-newZWire

As she waits for her turn to immunise her twin boys at a local clinic, 33-year old Sphiwe Muranda (not her realm name) cannot help but reflect on the long, emotional journey she has travelled.

The memory of how she suffered at the hands of her first husband’s family after failing to conceive for 10 years is still fresh in her mind.

“Harrison’s family put all the blame on me. They said I was infertile. But now, it is clear the problem was their son,” she said, wiping off tears with the back of her hand.

Muranda is one of the many women who have been hounded by their in-laws and condemned by society for “failure” to conceive. Cultural beliefs on infertility issues have resulted in both physical and emotional abuse of many women in Zimbabwe.

“At first, my ex-husband would rally behind me and we would pray over it. None of the family members ever thought that their son was the one who was infertile. I was forced to visit traditional healers and prophets, but all was in vain. I was verbally abused until I could not bear it anymore. I decided to end the marriage,” she said.

After the divorce, Muranda relocated to South Africa in 2017, where her sister lived, to pick up the pieces of her life in a new environment. She met the man who would marry her and sire her twin boys.

“My sister encouraged me to try again. At first I thought I would suffer a miscarriage, but I was relieved when the doctor said he had discovered two foetuses and that I was in perfect health. I gave birth to these two boys and my ex-husband who also got married is still childless. The answer is clear now,” said Muranda, forcing a smile.

Her ex-husband is already aware that she is now a mother.

“Harrison is aware of my two sons. I told him to visit specialists so that they can examine him. He wants a baby, but the truth is most people think that only women suffer from infertility issues. That is a very wrong perception,” she said.

In some societies, infertility is like a curse while others see it as a bad omen or a result of witchcraft. Despite the massive effects of globalisation or modernity, most people are still reluctant to accept that infertility is a medical condition and that even men can be infertile.

According to Mayo Clinic, infertility in men is due to a low sperm count, abnormal sperm function or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm. Illnesses, injuries, chronic health problems, lifestyle choices and other factors can play a role in causing male infertility.

Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) spokesperson George Kandiero said it is high time affected couples sought solutions together since it has proven that the problem can also lie with men.

“Most times the woman is blamed, even if it means consulting traditional medical practitioners, it is the woman who does it alone. As custodians and champions of culture we know and believe that the problem can also lie with the man, hence we encourage couples to consult together,” he said.

According to the World Health Organisation, between 8% and 12% of couples around the world have difficulty in conceiving a child at some point in their life, and in some areas that figure reaches one-third or more of couples. Infertility affects an estimated 48,5 million couples worldwide, of which 10,8 million live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Addressing journalists in Harare recently, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa said the issue of infertility should not be a blame game, mainly on women.

“Infertility affects men and women. This cannot be a blame game. Yet we know in our societies that women bear the brunt of this problem. This can be a basis of sexual and or physical abuse, divorce or isolation from the family structure,” she said.

Traditionally, men’s infertility has been concealed by family and relatives who at times devised ways of secretly engaging his elder or younger brother to impregnate his wife. This act would be kept as a secret by the family members. However, it is different with women who, after being certified barren, are chucked out of the family residence in a humiliating way.

“There is need for a shift from the traditionally-held view that infertility affects women to a realistic understanding of the truth that infertility equally affects both men and women,” said Gerald Madziyire, a gynaecologist with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

According to a 2003 research by Health Care Women International on the fertility patterns of women in Zimbabwe, at least one in every four women of childbearing age suffers from some degree of infertility.

Zimbabwe has one of the world’s highest infertility rates along with other southern African countries such as Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho according to a 2010 World Population Prospect survey.

Today, Muranda has proved her tormentors wrong. She is now a proud mother after enduring 10 years of emotional and physical torture from his in-laws.

Though God has blessed her with twin boys, the hard times she experienced in her first marriage will never be erased off her mind.

-Newsday

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. Even American president, Donald Trump, admitted that sanctions do damage to our people. Our government has long been changed. We have long been trying to open up to the world and boost our economy. Both the president and the government agree on the need to strengthen international cooperation and attract investment to Zimbabwe.

We do not see any reason why the sanctions should last and do not understand at all how deteriorating the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and undermining our economic growth reflects the interests of US national security.
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!

If this is not blackmail, but the product of a huge bureaucratic machine, operated by inertia, then now is the time to turn it back and correct the mistakes of the White House previous administration.

In order to push the United States towards this decision and draw the attention of Americans to our problems, let’s act in the same way – we urge our authorities to limit US imports and see how quickly the White House comes to their senses when they see that China and Russia will instantly take their place on the market.

Share this petition on social media and forward it to your friends and family. Let everyone see how many we are!

 By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo law firm, Vuyile Jamela Mpofu and Associates and a local resident have been dragged to court for their alleged involvement in a residential stands scam.

The law firm’s two lawyers Vuyile Jamela Mpofu (52) of Queens Park and Mayor Kazingizi (35) of Cowdray Park appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Jeconiah Ncube on Saturday facing four counts of fraud.

The two reportedly made fake agreements of sale between sellers and Bulawayo City Council and fake copies of identity cards and fraudulently sold stands to unsuspecting homeseekers. They were remanded to October 30 on $3 000 bail each.

The court heard that in September this year and at Charter House in Bulawayo, Mpofu and Kazingizi misrepresented to Rumbidzai Chimbunde that Khulumani Mpofu was selling residential stand number 13560, Pumula South.

It is alleged that the two introduced Chimbunde to an imposter who was paid R56 100 for the stand.

It is further alleged that the two again duped Linah Takura of R60 000 by making her pay yet another imposter after purporting that Judith Moyo was selling residential stand number 12239 in Pumula South.

The court was told that using the same modus operandi, in August they again misrepresented to Angela Chikanya that Nomsa Sibanda was selling residential stand number 5343, Emganwini and Chikanya paid R40 000 for it.

Last month, they misrepresented to Douglas Tizirai that Khumbulani Gatsheni was selling residential stand number 3333 Emganwini and he paid R60 000.

Reports filed by the complainants to the police led to the arrest of the two lawyers.

-Newsday

Government has cancelled the US$400 million deal with Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group-Transnet consortium meant to revive the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) after the group failed to comply with contractual timelines.

Apart from failing to meet agreed timelines, Government re-tendered the deal after DIDG cut ties with South Africa’s publicly-owned rail operator, Transnet, which was part of the consortium agreed in the initial tender award, raising legal complications.

The DIDG-Transnet consortium was awarded the tender by the then State Procurement Board in August 2017 for the revival of the rail operator’s operations.

In a statement yesterday, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said Government had re-tendered the project.

He said after the consortium was awarded the tender, NRZ was given Cabinet authority to enter into negotiations with the consortium.

“On October 16, 2017, Cabinet granted authority for the NRZ board to negotiate with the consortium and once agreed, to come back and seek Cabinet approval through the Joint Venture Unit,” Mr Mangwana said.

“On February 14, 2018, a Framework Agreement was signed between the parties for the purpose of performing mutual due diligence. An interim solution to plug the NRZ gap while negotiations continued was arrived at. The framework agreement was valid for 12 months.

“It is the Framework Agreement and a separate Interim Solution Agreement that led to the delivery of 13 locomotives, 200 wagons and six passenger coaches on a lease arrangement.”

Mr Mangwana said after due diligence by both parties, negotiations were initiated in October 2018, but could not be concluded within 12 months as per the Framework Agreement.

“In February 2019, both parties made representations to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development seeking an extension to the Framework Agreement,” hesaid.

“Government granted a conditional extension on 21 March 2019 for a period of six months starting from 14 February 2019. Part of the conditions was that the ‘exclusive clause’ in the Agreement be expunged and that the consortium was to provide proof of funds and shareholder approval before 14 August 2019.”

Mr Mangwana said the consortium submitted an appeal against the above conditions and wanted the extension period to commence on the date of signing and the “exclusive clause” restored.

“Several meetings between DIDG and NRZ leadership took place at which they also raised the concerns that were subject of their appeal,” Mr Mangwana said.

“On June 13, 2019, the Honourable Minister J.B Matiza met the NRZ Board and informed them that the appeal to vary the conditions of the Framework Agreement Extension had been unsuccessful. They were reminded that the six-month extension was due to expire on August 14, 2019.

“Government insisted on getting proof of funds from the consortium before the deadline. NRZ also committed not to enter a competing funding arrangement for the project before August 14, 2019.”

Mr Mangwana said on August 30, a Joint Plenary Session was held at a Harare hotel at which it emerged that there were serious differences between DIDG and Transnet.

“It is important to note that at this point, the parties had still not signed the Framework Agreement Extension they had applied for in February 2019 and therefore, there was no subsisting agreement between the parties,” he said.

“Government indulged the consortium by working with them outside the Framework Agreement. Regardless; they failed to present a common position. DIDG presented a funding structure based on funds sourced internationally, which excluded Transnet.

“The exclusion of Transnet had a legal impact on the tender which had been awarded to them as a consortium. In light of the foregoing, Government took a position to issue a new tender. If any of the former members of the consortium want to compete, they are still eligible to make bids and will be adjudged fairly.”

HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s public sector unions said on Tuesday they were unable to go to work because of soaring prices, adding to the government’s problems as it struggles to revive the economy.

The unions however stopped short of calling a strike to give the government more time to respond to their salary demands.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is grappling with triple-digit inflation, shortages of dollars, fuel and bread, and rolling power cuts that have hit mines and industry.

His government’s moves to end subsidies on fuel and electricity and a decision to re-introduce the Zimbabwe dollar have accelerated inflation and dimmed hopes of economic recovery.

The Apex Council, which groups 14 public sector unions, said it had told the government on Monday that its 230,000 members – which exclude workers from the security and health services – no longer had the capacity to go to work.

Asked if this amounted to a strike, Apex Council co-chair Thomas Muzondo said workers would report for duty only when they were able to do so.

“Here is a situation where one has no capacity to go to work. The person wants to go to work but has no capacity. It is a different scenario to a stay-away,” Muzondo told reporters.

Unions are demanding that government employees should be paid U.S. dollar-indexed salaries. They want the least-paid workers – who get 1,023 Zimbabwe dollars ($67) a month – to receive the equivalent of $475.

In shops, prices of sugar, cooking oil and maize meal are rising at least once a week in line with the weakening local currency, but salaries have fallen behind.

Some public sector doctors have been on strike since Sept. 3 to demand higher pay and have vowed not to return to work even though a court ruled their action was illegal.

The government is caught between placating restive workers and keeping the share of public wages in the national budget low, in line with commitments under an International Monetary Fund programme that ends next year.

The worst economic crisis in a decade, worsened by a drought that cut farm output, has angered citizens. Mnangagwa’s government is anxious to avoid violent protests like those in January after a sharp fuel price hike.

The crisis has echoes of the dark days under late president Robert Mugabe, when hyperinflation reached 500 billion percent and workers stopped reporting for duty as salaries and pensions became worthless.

As the month of November nears, the payment of bonuses for the majority of the country’s workforce hangs in the balance, with the government also still undecided over the 13th cheque for the civil servants.

Ministry of Finance and Economic Development officials on Monday told Parliament the government had not yet made a decision on whether civil servants will be paid bonuses this year as they needed to consult workers’ representatives first.

The government is currently in salary negotiations with civil servants who are now demanding US$475 or local currency equivalent for the lowest paid worker.

Bonuses in Zimbabwe have traditionally been paid in November to boost workers’ income as they enter into the festive season, but since the economy took a nosedive a number of companies stopped paying them.

The government, which has maintained the practice despite economists having warned it was unsustainable to continue doing so, paid bonuses on basic salaries only last year.

Other allowances such as housing and others were not catered for.

Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) president, Israel Murefu, told CITE they did not have one standpoint as employers on the payments of bonuses.

“On such issues, we do not have one position,” he said.

“Each organisation will have to look at its own circumstances and if they are able to pay bonuses, they can go ahead and pay. However, most of them are struggling and I will not be surprised if they fail to their workers bonuses.”

He said a number of challenges including energy, water and foreign currency availability were negatively affecting businesses.

Murefu added it did not make any economic sense for businesses struggling to surpass their targets or operating on losses to pay bonuses.

Economist, at the National University of Science and Technology’s Department of Banking and Investment promotion, Stevenson Dlamini, said conditions under which Zimbabwean companies are operating defeat the whole purpose of bonus payments.

“The whole idea behind bonus payment is to celebrate a surplus and a productive year but companies are downsizing and closing and therefore it would not make any economic sense to pay bonuses,” he told CITE.

Dlamini said companies should instead reinvest the little money that they have to create more jobs instead of wasting it on bonuses.

Staffers at the State broadcaster ZBC have threatened to go on strike over non payment of salaries. 

The staffers last got paid in August and are yet to receive their September wages. 

According to insiders, the workers committee at the country’s biggest media institution wrote to management indicating that they could not continue coming to work while salaries were outstanding. 

The committee said the salaries were also paltry that even if they were paid, they can only report for duty once a week. 
The management is expected to respond by the end of the week.

CITE|Commuter omnibus owners, operating under the banner of Tshova Mubaiwa in Bulawayo have rejected a move by the government to have their vehicles placed under the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) franchise citing a number of reasons.

The government, which is battling to address the urban transport crisis, is mobilising over 200 kombis to service urban routes in addition to a few ZUPCO that have been failing to cope with demand.

The move is aimed at having affordable fares for commuters in the city.

ZUPCO held a meeting in Bulawayo with kombi owners to explain the newest scheme in the transport sector.

“I am just from the meeting between kombi owners and ZUPCO officials and they (kombi owners) have rejected the move to put their Kombis under ZUPCO,” Tshova Mubaiwa Chairman, Atlas Moyo, told CITE.

“They said their vehicles will not be subjected to work from 4 am up to 10 pm, so they refused to have their vehicles operate under ZUPCO.”

Under the scheme, transport owners only provide drivers while ZUPCO avails conductors, something the former says is for transparency purposes.

Moyo said kombi owners shot down that down, arguing they cannot abandon their touts with whom they have worked for years.

“They also rejected the move to not use their conductors, saying it was difficult to just drop people they have worked with over the years,” said Moyo.

“They said they want to use their drivers and conductors. They also said that they have also managed to discipline their workers for over the years. As operations we have had disciplinary committees for over the years and we have also managed to put order.” said.

Expricoss Chairperson, Nsikelelo Ngangezwe Khumalo, said their association had not yet been consulted.

Expricoss is an association mostly made up of operators whose use small vehicles.

“As an association, we have not been consulted, we only heard the news through media; we have been isolated,” said Khumalo.

“We cannot join something which we have not been consulted on. As an association we have ways of running these associations; we cannot just be part of something which we were not approached about in the first place.

He, however, said they were also having challenges with fuel and also looking forward to being rescued from that.

We have also had challenges of fuel and eager to be rescued,” he said.

 Director of Bulawayo United Public Transport Association (BUPTA), Morgan Msipa, told CITE he did not attend the meeting.

“I was not part of the meeting so I cannot comment on that as I was not part of,” he said.

ZUPCO Bulawayo manager,  Modreck Zivende, said proper documentation was a prerequisite to operators registering their kombis under the company.

“Anyone can register their  Kombi under ZUPCO, associations or even individuals,” said Zivende.

THE MDC Member of Parliament for Magwegwe Constituency in Bulawayo, Anele Ndebele, has been arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating a high school pupil. 

Ndebele is accused of raping the Upper Six pupil who learns at a school in Kezi, Matabeleland South Province.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the MP’s arrest yesterday.

“I can confirm that we received a rape report against a 47-year-old male who is a politician. He is a member of the House of Assembly for Magwegwe Constituency. The victim in this case is a minor therefore I cannot divulge further details. The matter is under investigation and the accused is assisting us with investigations,” said Asst Commissioner Nyathi. 

 According to sources the matter came to light when the pupil, whose name has been withheld for ethical reasons, fell pregnant.

Ndebele is alleged to have first met the girl in March this year when he proposed love to her but was turned down. 

He then allegedly started raping her in April and May after offering to pay for her school holiday lessons.

The girl reported the matter to the police after discovering that she was pregnant.

“Ndebele met the school girl at Kezi Business Centre in March and she told him she was a Form Six pupil. He allegedly met the pupil again the following month in Kezi during the school holidays and asked her why she was not attending holiday lessons like other pupils. The complainant is alleged to have informed him that she had no money to pay for the holiday school programme. He is alleged to have offered to pay for her holiday school lessons and gave her 100 rand and some local currency,” said a source.

Ndebele allegedly proposed love to the pupil and was shot down. 

“After he was rejected by the school girl, he then forced himself on her. After the rape he gave her money and left,” said the source.

Ndebele is alleged to have seen the girl again in May this year after calling her from school to meet him by his car. 

He reportedly drove to a house under construction in the area where he dismissed all construction workers.

“He told all workers to leave and then went into the house with the school girl. He raped her four times before he let her go. He gave her ZWL$60 and took her back to school where he dropped her off at the gate,” said the source.

The matter allegedly only came to light when the complainant discovered that she was pregnant and filed a police report.

State Media|THE Consumer Rights Association says bread is now beyond the reach of many consumers as retailers this week increased the price of bread to almost $16 a loaf from around $10.

Consumer Rights Association spokesperson Mr Effie Ncube said they were troubled by the continuous increases in the cost of basic commodities including bread which was now beyond the reach of consumers.

“We are very much concerned about the ever-increasing cost of basic commodities, like bread that has been priced beyond the reach of the majority of the people of Zimbabwe.

“As a result, in the morning everyday where you are supposed to have bread on the table, people are not affording that, so children are going to school without bread; spending the whole day without food,” he said.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, the Poverty Datum Line for a family of five as at the end of August was pegged at $1, 826,99 while a majority of middle-income earners were earning way below $1 000.

Leading bakery, Bakers Inn, a business unit of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed Simbisa Brands had its bread sold at $15,65 by major supermarkets in the Central Business District.

Oceans Supermarket which also operate a confectionery was selling its factory-produced bread at $15 a loaf.

In a separate interview, the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) media and public relations manager Mr Garikai Chaunza said flour supply by the millers across the country was constant.

National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Dennis Wallah said his association does not prescribe prices individual members should charge on their products, adding that the association was only able to engage the Government on cost changes.

“As an association, we don’t actually prescribe prices to our members. But we conscientise the Government to say when the costs are moving like this and in the event that nothing is done, obviously chances are there that price movements on bread are going to take place,” he said.

THE Zanu-PF Politburo has endorsed newly-elected Harare District Coordinating Committee (DCC) executive members as part of a restructuring exercise to strengthen the party ahead of 2023 national elections.

Zanu-PF is starting from DCCs as the basis of setting up party structures in Harare and Bulawayo since the provincial structures were dissolved earlier this year by President Mnangagwa after reports of divisions that rocked the restructuring process.

The Politburo yesterday endorsed former Harare provincial chairman Godwills Masimirembwa as the DCC chairman for Zone 4, former provincial youth chairman Godwin Gomwe (Zone 2), Ephraim Fundukwa (Zone 6), Kudakwashe Damson (Zone 5), Mafuratidze Goodwell (Zone 1) and George Chiminhi (Zone 3).

Addressing a Press conference after the special session yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu said the Politburo endorsed the DCC elections outcome.

“This is a special edition of an extraordinary session of the Politburo which was called by His Excellency President Mnangagwa to address the outcome of the DCC elections which took place here in Harare,” he said.

“We received a detailed report from the National Political Commissar, Cde Victor Matemadanda, and the report was comprehensive and identified areas that needed to be addressed.”

Generally, Dr Mpofu said, the exercise was accepted in its entirety, including the results of that exercise.

“You will notice that the exercise was conducted by six provinces, six representatives who supervised the six zones that were restructured,” he said.

“We have chairpersons, in fact, the whole structure of DCC has got structures whose leadership has been fully endorsed by the Politburo. These are the outcomes of a very contested process which saw quite a number of comrades taking part.”

The newly elected DCC Harare executives will undergo the party ideological training to instil discipline.

“The Politburo has also directed that all the recently elected leaders in Harare

for all the zones should be compelled to undergo ideological training as we reaffirm discipline and ideological understanding of our revolution,” said Dr Mpofu.

He urged party members to stop interfering with party processes, saying they risked expulsion.

“It was observed also that there was some mischief by some certain elements who are prone to using money to cause confusion within the party process and the Politburo has directed that in future such characters if found and proven that they are using money to interfere with our internal electoral process this should warrant an instant dismissal from the party,” said Dr Mpofu.

“We want to warn those who would want to use unorthodox methods in seeking for positions in the party to refrain from activities that are meant to divide or corrupt the system.”

State Media|Sacked Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister and Zanu-PF Politburo member Prisca Mupfumira, who is on $5 000 bail for alleged criminal abuse of office, was ejected from yesterday’s extraordinary session of the Politburo.

The former minister arrived just before the start of the meeting at 9am and took her seat among other Politburo members.

She, however, emerged from the meeting before debate started minutes later and left.

Sources said members of the party’s protocol were instructed to eject Mupfumira from the meeting because her presence was undesirable.

Before entering the meeting room, the erstwhile minister had attended an anti-sanctions day preparatory meeting at the party headquarters.

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.

The Zanu-PF Mashonaland West Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) has since resolved to recall Mupfumira from her position.

Party provincial chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi said the province resolved to recall her from being a Central Committee member and Senator.

Mupfumira’s criminal abuse of office charges date back to her time as Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister.

During her application for bail, it emerged that Mupfumira had properties in South Africa, Dubai and the United Kingdom.

She was granted $5 000 bail by High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga recently, that was coupled with stringent conditions.

Justice Tsanga ordered her to surrender her two passports or any other travel documents and title deeds of house number 51 Fairway, Mt Pleasant.

Mupfumira is to report twice a week at Avondale Police Station, not to interfere with State witnesses and to continue residing at her Mt Pleasant, Harare, home.

She is set to be charged with fraud and money laundering, with the State saying it had completed investigations into the fresh charges and will be ready to commence trial once all due processes have been completed.

Maputo — The Mozambican police have detained a member of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party, named as Afonso Henriques, for alleged electoral fraud, reports the election observation team from the anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity.

Henriques was supposedly caught in the possession of 12 extra ballot papers all marked in advance in favour of Frelimo, while he was trying to slip them into the ballot box in a polling station in the Angoche municipality of the northern province of Nampula.

In a polling station in Mopeia district, in Zambezia province, a member of the polling station staff named Selma Francisco was found with ballot markers also marked in advance for Frelimo. The report did not say how many she was carrying.

In Dachua locality, in Milange district, also in Zambezia, a citizen was found with six extra ballot papers, and was arrested.

In the same district, a polling station monitor for the main opposition party, Renamo, caught a man trying to slip extra ballot papers into a ballot box in the locality of Chitambo. According to the CIP correspondents, the man concerned works for the district immigration services. In his case, the police took no action.

According to the coalition of observer groups known as Sala da Paz (Peace Room), people have also supposedly been found with ballot papers marked in advance for Frelimo in Nampula city and in the Zambezia districts of Mulumbo and Mocuba.

So far, it is not known whether these ballot papers are authentic, or how they reached the hands of the people who intended to slip them into the ballot boxes.

CIP also noted a number of other irregularities at polling stations. Thus, at a station in the Zona Verde neighbourhood of Maputo, the deputy chairperson of the station was suspended for unauthorised use of a cell phone. Polling station members of staff are forbidden from using cell phones, except for the chairperson and them only to communicate with STAE.

In the Caliu administrative post of Angonia district, Tete province, a citizen who had already voted was detained by the police, when he returned to the polling station. He was said to be making “strange movements”. A citizen was detained in the Angonia district capital Ulongue, because he had been collecting voter cards. In both case, these individuals turned out to be members of Renamo.

The Health Services Board (HSB) is likely to commence disciplinary hearings against doctors who ignored last Friday’s Labour Court ruling ordering them to return to work within 48 hours.

This followed revelations that the provision for arbitration in the ruling was based on the doctors’ return to work, which they defied.

Furthermore, striking doctors who spend more than 30 days without reporting for work were not paid October salaries.

Speaking from Harare Central Hospital where he was assessing the situation, including availability of medicines and equipment, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said Government was still open for dialogue and would want the striking doctors to return to work while negotiations continue.

“The arbitration process as of today, I have been advised by the Attorney-General that, because the doctors did not meet the deadline, they didn’t turn up for work, so that provision now falls away,” said Dr Moyo.State media

Farai Dziva|Former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s is facing eviction from her Mazowe Farm.

A Mazowe gold miner she displaced during her late husband, Robert Mugabe’s reign, is now seeking to evict her and repossess the farm where the mine is located, according to NewsDay.

The miner, Langton Chapungu, approached the High Court seeking the former First Lady’s eviction together with two other individuals who were only identified in court papers as Tongai and Jemwa.

Grace is facing similar threats from Harare property owners who were displaced to pave way for expansion of Mugabe’s Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale.

“The first and second respondents (Tongai and Jemwa) are doing illegal mining activities in my plot and the third respondent (Grace) is also doing her farming activities in that same plot of mine, to an extent that she had even erected some structures at my place,” Chapungu argued.

“The defendants have gone further threatening me with unspecified action if I continue disturbing them from their illegal activities in my plot.

In spite of the demand to vacate, the defendants have refused and offered flimsy and fabricated reasons to justify their continued illegal stay at my place, leaving me with no option except to approach this honourable court for relief.”

Watch Video below. ..

Farai Dziva| A United Kingdom based think tank has claimed the MDC does not have the capacity to defeat Zanu PF in 2023.

Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a member of The Economist Group has also predicted a comfortable win for Zanu-PF in the 2023 harmonised elections.

See part of the report below :
“In the most recent presidential election, in July 2018, President Mnangagwa won 50.8 percent of the votes just enough to avoid a run-off against his nearest rival, Nelson Chamisa of the MDC.”

“Mr Chamisa secured 44,3 percent of the vote, with the remainder spread across the other 21 candidates.

“In the legislative election, which was held at the same time, Zanu-PF secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority, with 179 out of 270 seats. Zanu-PF remains in a dominant position because any group splitting from the ruling party would lose access to the benefits of incumbency.

“The opposition has little political authority or ability to hold the government to account. The next presidential and legislative elections are due to be held in 2023. We expect Zanu-PF to win comfortably given its stranglehold on the political scene.”

“Government revenue will decline in 2020 as the economy contracts by almost 13 percent.”

“However, as economic activity increases steadily in 2021-24, and government capacity to collect taxes improves, we forecast that revenue will pick up steadily.

“In 2021-24, as revenue increases, expenditure will rise steadily, as the government seeks to repair infrastructure following years of underinvestment, support broader economic growth and maintain the substantial public-sector wage bill. We expect the fiscal deficit to narrow slightly in 2020, to 6,3 percent of GDP, before trending down in 2021-24, to 5,9 percent of GDP in 2024, as revenue growth out paces spending growth.”

A Zimbabwean family perished in a horrific accident in South Africa last weekend.

The accident claimed eight lives and some of the victims were burnt beyond recognition.

The crash occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, with one of the vehicles bursting into flames.

According to the police, all the four occupants were burnt beyond recognition -State media

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean couple and their minor children perished in a horrific road accident in South Africa last weekend which claimed eight lives, some of them burnt beyond recognition.

The crash occurred in Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal, with one of the vehicles, a Porsche Cayenne, bursting into flames on impact. According to the police, all four occupants of the vehicle were burnt beyond recognition.

The husband and wife Zimbabwean couple and their two children aged 10 and five who were travelling in the other vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner, died at the scene of the accident.

SA Police spokesperson Nqobile Gwala said circumstances surrounding the tragedy were being investigated.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport is assisting the relatives of two families with the bereavement.

Traffic officials were working with police to establish the owner of the Porsche, as the car had no registration numbers.

Police identified the Zimbabwean family as: Tonderai Godfrey Sithole (38) – Driver, Faith Sithole – Wife (36), Shalom Sithole – Female (10), Shekinah Sithole – Female (5).

Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli said he was saddened at the continued loss of life and extended his condolences to the families of the dead. He pledged the support of the department.

“I’m deeply saddened at the continued loss of lives. Losing an entire family in just one accident is such a great tragedy. In this particular accident we have lost two families,” he said.

“We once again extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and our officials will continue supporting the families as the make arrangements to bury their loved ones.

“What is most worrying is that it seems as though motorists are not adhering to our road rules and speed limits, which in the main is leading to these accidents.”

Local councillor Zakhele Myende said the area where the accident occurred was notorious for speeding vehicles.

“We don’t often have such accidents, but are aware of the issue of cars speeding at the spot where the accident happened,” said Myende.

“There are a lot of trucks going in and out of Ladysmith towards Newcastle, and motorists often speed to try to overtake these trucks. We have reports that there are lots of speeding tickets issued on that part of the road.”

-Agencies

A CHIVHU communal farmer has lost his entire head of 12 cattle after spraying them with a wrong dipping chemical.

Taziva Madondo’s cattle died on Monday soon after he had finished spraying them with Diazinon 30 EC, an insecticide for garden use.

Chikomba district veterinary doctor, Tafadzwa Mashawi confirmed the incident.

“I received information that a farmer had sprayed his cattle with a wrong chemical, but I have not yet received finer details from the vet officer who attended the scene,” Mashawi said.

Madondo, of Chirinda village in Chief Chivese’s area, told NewsDay that he purchased the insecticide from a pharmacy in Chivhu intending to kill insects in his fowl run and he assumed that it would also work on cattle ticks.

“Unfortunately, all the cattle reacted negatively soon after I had finished spraying them so I couldn’t do anything to save them. Luckily, I had not yet used it in the fowl run,” he said.

The villager said since he uses cattle for draught power, this farming season could be a difficult one after losing his entire head.

Media Statement|The MDC would like to put it on record that it has not been involved in any meeting with Zanu PF either formal, ad-hoc or informal.

As the party that won the 2018 election, the MDC is committed to resolving the socioeconomic problems facing the country in keeping with its promise to the people of Zimbabwe at the 2018 Election.

The MDC understands that the deepening crisis is a direct consequence of the unresolved 2018 Presidential election wherein popular will was disregarded and the MDC was prevented from executing its mandate as the winning party. We therefore, believe that it is fundamental that there be genuine dialogue aimed at resolving this legitimacy question and to attend to political and economic reforms.

The MDC believes that the platform for this dialogue must be convened by a neutral arbitrator or institution and that the outcome of the dialogue and its execution be guaranteed by SADC, AU or the UN.

The MDC would like to reassure its members and the nation that we have not digressed from the path to dialogue as explicitly expressed in the RELOAD document.

Chalton Hwende
Secretary General
Movement for Democratic Change

Police are investigating a suspected murder case of a 26-year-old woman after she was allegedly pushed in front of a moving car by her boyfriend after an altercation got out of hand.

A woman only identified as Melissa, was allegedly involved in a brawl with her boyfriend Lawrence Chimombo on their way from Pabloz Bar in Gweru.

The fracas occurred at the 264-kilometre peg along Harare-Bulawayo highway around 4 am on Sunday.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Joel Goko said they were still investigating the case.

“The man is alleged to have quickly driven away in a Ford Ranger registration AEX 6370 after the accident.
“Police are investigating this case to find out the reasons behind the fight in the middle of the road and circumstances leading to the accident.
“Members of the public are being urged to desist from irresponsible driving.
“People are also being cautioned not to fight in the middle of the road in order to avoid accidents,” he said.

A witness who attended the deceased’s funeral said the man who hit the woman took pictures of Chimombo and his car at the scene.

“Chimombo sped away after realising that the man who hit his girlfriend had seen that he pushed her while they were quarrelling in the middle of the road.

”Mellisa left Pabloz Bar with Chimombo after a night of fun.
“She then sent a text message to her best friend informing her that she was having a misunderstanding with Chimombo.
“Surprisingly Chimombo had a lavish birthday bash the day after the incident and did not pay any condolences to Melissa’s family.
“It does not make sense why someone can enjoy a birthday party knowing that he pushed a person in front of a car the night before.
“The police are still investigating the matter and the family is yet to take action,” said the source.

Paul Nyathi|Prophet Magaya has been spotted dancing SA’s famous Kwaito hit song Kokota.

According to informants, the PHD leader was dancing in front of his congregation as he celebrated the third anniversary of his Yadah Hotel.

Its not the first time Magaya has hit headlines dancing to the so called earthly songs. He once made headlines after dancing Clarks to one of Tocky Vibes song Mari and the video went viral.

Watch the video of the Prophet dancing downloading below…

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has assigned roles to his three vice-presidents months after they were elected at a party elective congress in Gweru.

Vice-president Tendai Biti was assigned the powerful responsibilities of shaping policy and ideology in the party, while also overseeing the arms of local government.

Welshman Ncube will lead the diplomatic arm of the party, as he is now in charge of international relations and the general administration of the MDC.

Lynette Karenyi-Kore takes the role of party building and Parliament, where she will interact more with parliamentarians and how they deliver their roles in the constituencies.

Highly-placed sources said in assigning roles to the VPs, Chamisa was hoping to establish order and avoid duplication of roles.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda could neither confirm nor deny the latest move, saying he needed time to check with his boss.

“I have to check and get back to you,” he said.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ notes with disgust the shambolic manner in which the 2019 national examinations are being conducted. We have received reports of examinations being written without invigilators as teachers have embarked on an industrial action.

We implore the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council, ZIMSEC to shelve the writting of examinations until the situation in our schools normalise.

We call upon government to expeditely resolve the salary crisis to save our education from collapse.

We demand interbank rate indexed salaries.

*ARTUZ INFORMATION DEPARTMENT.*

Farai Dziva|The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has informed the public that it will revert to stage 2 of load shedding.

This has been caused by a shortage of capacity faced by South Africa’s Eskom.

Eskom exports electricity to Zimbabwe through ZETDC.

“The Eskom alert will affect Power Imports. As such load shedding will be implemented at Stage 2 today.

PowerAlert Due to a shortage of capacity stage 2 load shedding is to be implemented.”

According to NewZwire Zimbabwe’s 400 Megawatts deal with South Africa stipulates that during this time when Eskom implements its own stage 2 of load shedding, it reduces domestic electricity exports to Zimbabwe to zero but electricity exports for businesses “are reduced proportionally to the load shedding stage”.

A BULAWAYO man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife on the buttocks, scratching her with a steel nail and assaulting her with a brick resulting in her losing her front tooth.

Zibusiso Mthethwa (29) of Selborne Park suburb allegedly assaulted Ms Gugulethu Moyo (25) of the same suburb accusing her of cheating on him.

Mthethwa was not asked to plead to physical abuse when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Ulukile Mlea-Ndlovu.
The magistrate remanded him in custody to October 22.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said on September 29 this year at around 2 PM, Mthethwa arrived home and found his wife in their bedroom.

“The accused person told the complainant that he was hungry,” he said.

As Ms Moyo left to prepare food, Mthethwa allegedly followed her into the kitchen where he punched her on the forehead and scratched her with a steel nail on the back.

Mr Mageza said Ms Moyo went to hospital for medical treatment and came back the following morning at around 5AM.

“The accused person insulted the complainant and threw a brick at her causing her to suffer head injuries,” he said.

Mr Mageza said Mthethwa got hold of Ms Moyo’s leg and hand before pushing her to the ground.
He allegedly stabbed her on the buttocks with a broken bottle.

The matter was reported to the police leading to Mthethwa’s arrest.
— Chronicle