By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), an opposition and Zimbabwean socialist political party has resolved to retire all veteran leaders from the leadership as part of the party embarks on renewal and rebranding exercise.

ZAPU’s intended rebranding exercise comes after the party has for the past decade been performing dismally in local elections.

The party’s southern region spokesperson, Patrick Ndlovu confirmed the development and said that the rebranding exercise was being spearheaded by the party’s acting president, Isaac Mabuka.

Ndlovu said:

His (Mabuka) mandate is to organise congress and to carry out the renewal and rebranding resolution of our national people’s council (NPC).

Party members, especially the younger members, felt that the average age of our leadership was too high. New blood is needed at the top to bring in new ideas. The current scenario of having them as deputies was not bearing fruit as the blending was felt to be cosmetic rather than practical, hence the party needed new blood at the top.

Mabuka was endorsed as acting president until the party’s 2020 congress following the death of party president, Dumiso Dabengwa in May.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Armed riot police blocked a doctors’ march over the abduction of the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association acting president Peter Magombeyi.

The doctors intended to render a petition to the government demanding the return of the missing Magombeyi. He was reportedly abducted on Saturday after leading a demonstration over “paltry” salaries which doctors are getting.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Ndabaningi Mangwana has blamed an invisible third force for the abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) President Peter Magombeyi.

According to Mangwana, the state has no reason to undermine itself and destabilize the country through acts of abductions on its citizens.

“This Administration has no reason to destabilise this country by abducting its citizens. Threats to the security of persons and acts of terror are ultimately threats to the security of the State. There is no rhyme nor reason for the State to undermine itself #3rdForce,” said Mangwana.

Health and Child Care minister Dr Obadiah Moyo has also come out in the morning condemning Magombeyi’s abduction saying that state security agents were ceased with the matter.

Magombeyi was abducted yesterday and the matter has been reported at Budiriro Police Station.

He is still to be found and his colleagues have picketed in town to hand over a petition to the government and have vowed never to return to work until Magombeyi is found.

By A Correspondent- – The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has described as shocking the abduction and disappearance of the acting president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association Dr Peter Magombeyi.

Said the association in a statement:

“Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has learnt with shock of the abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) Acting President Peter Magombeyi.

Dr Magombeyi has been instrumental in advocating for better working conditions and remuneration for civil servants in general through the Health Apex and Doctors in particular through the ZHDA.

As an organisation pursuing the same cause, ZINA is against any action meant to stifle unionism, let alone kidnapping. Kidnapping is a shameful and barbaric act which must be condemned in its totality.

We, therefore, demand the unconditional release of Dr Magombeyi without any further delay. We also appeal to law enforcement agents to investigate and bring to book Dr Magombeyi’s kidnappers.

Unions are not a threat to society, they are a voice for employees to get a fair and decent standard of living.”

By A Correspondent: The family of the missing medical doctor, Peter Magombeyi has filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking an order to co compel the government to account for the doctor.

The hearing is today.

Said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in a statement:

THE High Court will on Monday 16 September 2019 hear an urgent chamber application filed by the family of a missing medical doctor seeking an order compelling Zimbabwean authorities to account for the whereabouts of Dr Peter Magombeyi, after he was abducted by some unknown assailants on Saturday 14 September 2019.

Elizabeth Magombeyi, a sister to Dr Magombeyi on Sunday 15 September 2019 filed an urgent habeas corpus application on behalf of her brother, seeking an order compelling the State to do all things necessary including advertising on all State-run print and broadcast media to determine the whereabouts of Dr Magombeyi, who is the President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, after he was kidnapped by some unknown people from his home in Budiriro high-density suburb in Harare on Saturday 14 September 2019.

Elizabeth, who is represented by Roselyn Hanzi, Alec Muchadehama, Tinotenda Shoko and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, cited Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Minister of State for National Security in the President’s Office, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General and the Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation as respondents to the application.

Elizabeth wants the High Court, which will hear the application on Monday 16 September 2019 at 11:AM to order the setting up of a team of investigators, to work closely and in conjunction with lawyers appointed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to search for Dr Magombeyi at all places within Zimbabwe as may be reasonably practical, and report on such search to the Registrar of the High Court, on every alternate Friday.

She also wants the respondents to be ordered to inquire from, and where necessary obtain any such information as may be necessary for the investigations from mobile service operators of Econet to try and locate Dr Magombeyi through tracing the mobile numbers that were on his person at the time of his abduction and mobile phone number +263 782 645 911 used to send him messages on 28 August 2019.

By Own Correspondent| A Kwekwe gold dealer lost $37k to heavily robbers who pounced at his house and took off with $37K. The robbers who had pistols broke into Mr Chihwende’s house after shooting 4 dogs, assaulted his wife and took the money before disappearing into the night.

The robbers reportedly kicked and shoved Mr Chihwende’s wife demanding that she shows them where the money is. Mrs Chihwende sustained injuries from the assault.

The Police are investigating the matter since Mr Chihwende reported the incident which occurred last week.

Inspector Goko whose jurisdiction Mr Chihwende’s case fell into has since warned the public against carrying large sums of money as robberies have surged especially due to prolonged darkness due to load-shedding.

By A Correspondent- Amalgamated Rural Teachers Association received 190 resignation letters from teachers in August over poor salaries.

This was revealed by the ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure who said:

We have received 190 messages of resignation from teachers since the beginning of August. These are our members who have notified us of their resignation and most of them have gone abroad while some of them are doing various jobs around towns to sustain their families.

Masaraure said the situation has to be addressed soon to save the education sector from collapsing. He called for an urgent meeting to dialogue and deliberate over how to save the sector from collapsing:

We urgently call for a stakeholder meeting to come up with ways to address the challenges that are bedeviling the education sector. We cannot afford to lose teachers to other nations as this will have a large bearing on our education sector.

Masaraure also said some members had gone abroad and some were doing various projects in Zimbabwe to sustain their families.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Scores of people who had gathered at Rufaro stadium in Harare left the venue either wearing a single shoe or shoeless following a stamped at the body viewing service for the late former president Robert Mugabe.

The crowds lost either one of both shoes as they stampeded to conduct body viewing for the late president.

See the pictures below…..

Several others were also injured in the fracas and some had to be whisked away by the medical personnel who were at the venue.

See the pictures of the injured below…

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent- The International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) has called on the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to publish data on projects they are undertaking for the civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media to be able to investigate that data and bring them to account.

IATI is a global initiative that seeks to improve transparency in the use of development and humanitarian resources.

“IATI is a project in which we encourage development and humanitarian organisations to publish all of their data, financial and project information for the benefit of particular partner country governments and CSOs and indeed the media to hold their governments to account and to understand better some of the activities going on in their countries and to be able to follow up,” said IATI secretariat co-ordinator Annelise Parr in an interview on the sidelines of IATI Members’ Assembly Meeting held at the European Commission this week.

Some NGOs and governments in Africa and all over the world have published data on their ongoing and completed projects on d-portal.org where such data is open to anyone willing to access it.

In Zimbabwe NGOs such as World Vision Zimbabwe and Leonard Cheshire have already published data on some of the projects they are undertaking in the country.

The data usually include places where funds are coming from and shows a map where the projects are being implemented in a bid to promote transparency and help CSOs to be able to track the progress of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.-Newsday

Watch video downloading below:

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

USD = ZWL$13.1866
ZWL$ = RAND1.1096
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZWL$16 zimrates
USD = ZWL$16.30 zwl365
USD = ZWL$16.20 bluemari
USD = BOND10.40 zimrates

More: Marketwatch

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa will officially open the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on October 1 and layout the legislative agenda.

The opening of the Second Session marks the end of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament, which saw at least 15 Bills out of 30 Bills presented.

In a statement, Parliament of Zimbabwe said the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mnangagwa would unveil a new legislative agenda next month.

“His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa will officially open the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on October 1, 2019 at noon in the National Assembly,” said Parliament.

At least 30 Bills were expected to be tabled in the First Session of the Ninth Parliament.

The legislative agenda that had been set out by President Mnangagwa mainly focused on improving the business climate in the country and entrench democratic values.

Movers of the Bills will have to seek Parliament to reinstate outstanding Bills at the stage they were by the end of the First Session.

Five Bills were passed by Parliament and two of them were signed into law while the other three are still waiting for Presidential assent.

Laws that were assented to are; the Shop Licence Amendment Act and the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Act; while the Consumer Protection Bill, Microfinance Amendment Bill and the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill are still awaiting assent.

The TNF Act establishes the Tripartite Negotiating Forum that brings together Government, business and labour in a formal setting to discuss pertinent issues affecting the economy with the aim of preventing clashes that characterised relations of the three in the past.

The Shops Licence Act reduces bureaucracy in the establishment of businesses including creation of electronic platforms for applications of business licences while the Consumer Protection Bill seeks to protect consumer rights from unscrupulous businesses bent on profiteering at their expense and provides them mechanisms to seek recourse.

If passed into law, the Microfinance Bill will streamline the institutions from the current four recognised by the law to two that is credit-only micro-finance and deposit-taking micro-finance institutions. MOPA will repeal the Public Order and Security Act and open up democratic space and management of gatherings and demonstrations.

Some of the Bills that are at various stages of debate in Parliament include the Education Amendment Bill, Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency Bill, Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, Coroner’s Office Bill, Freedom of Information of Bill and the Marriages Bill.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Preparations for the MDC 20th Anniversary celebrations are on course, party spokesperson Daniel Molokele has said.

Molokele said the celebrations, which were shelved in order to join the nation in mourning the late former president Robert Mugabe will be held on September 28 as planned.

He said:

“We are having our celebrations on September 28 as planned. Preparations are on going and all is on course.”

The MDC was due to hold its 20th Anniversary last Saturday at Rufaro Stadium, Harare, and the party joined the nation at the National Sports Stadium for the national funeral service for the late former president Robert Mugabe.

Said the party in a statement:

“As MDC, being a Pan-Africanist and social democratic party, consistent with our values of ubuntu, solidarity and empathy we have decided to postpone our 20th Anniversary Celebrations to the 28th September 2019 so as to allow the funeral proceedings and events not to compete with our Anniversary celebrations. This is in line with our values of ubuntu, solidarity and empathetic leadership.

We had our differences, which are well documented and recorded, with the late President Mugabe, but this is not the time to rehash those differences. This is the time to join the former President’s relatives and friends in mourning.

In order to give peace a chance and allow for nation building in the context of tolerance and human dignity, we continue to deploy our might and main to things that unite us than those that may divide us.

The MDC does not make profit out of tragedies. For that reason, the party would not use Mugabe’s death to score political points. We have sufficient avenues and platforms to address the huge challenges facing the motherland outside funerals.

As a Pan Africanist and Social Democratic Party, we don’t take our differences with our political adversaries to the grave. Hurt and hatred is not part of our agenda.”

The passing on of former President Mugabe should remind leaders of today, tomorrow and the future on how we must treat each other as Zimbabweans. The position we take today is not to wish away issues of transitional justice to do with past injustice but to exhibit that as the MDC our role is to heal, unite and bring freedom and justice to every Zimbabwean.

To all Zimbabweans, this is an opportunity to reflect on values of nation building, national healing, democracy, tolerance, justice, equality, freedom and solidarity that are central to our democratic struggle.

Let us take this moment to build upon the positives of the past and negate its negatives to build a better nation and a better future. We must correct past mistakes and right the wrongs. We must learn from the omissions and commissions of the past.

By A Correspondent- A senior police official has attributed the abduction of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA), Dr. Peter Magombeyi to a third force adding that the development may have been stage managed for political expedience.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement:

“We have noted with concern that previously there were a number of alleged abductions ahead of the SADC Summit recently held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The possibility of a third force being involved in the alleged abductions for political expedience and to sustain the human rights abuse narrative ahead of the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly cannot be ruled out.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police further notes the continued abuse of social media to propagate falsehoods including the unconfirmed reports of abductions with a view of tarnishing the image of the country and in the process compromise the security and safety of Zimbabweans.

The above notwithstanding, the police assures members of the public that a team is investigating the report which has been made by a ZHDA representative,” said the police spokesperson.”

By A Correspondent- First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday visited the Mazvovere residence in Rutendo, Kwekwe, where she paid her condolences following the death of ZANU-PF Central Committee member Caroline Mazvovere.

Mazvovere, who was the party’s Deputy Secretary for Information Communication and Technology, died on Friday following a long illness.

She succumbed to lung infection in South Africa.

Her body is expected in Zimbabwe on Wednesday before burial the following day.

In her condolence message, Amai Mnagagwa described Mazvovere as a person who helped shape her political career.

“She was instrumental in shaping my political career. She was someone whom I could rely on at any given time.

“All the meetings that we did, she was there and would correct me after I made my speeches. She left a legacy and I urge all of you here in Redcliff to emulate her. Children who have been left behind, do not forget what your mother did for you. Even at her time of death, she remained faithful and hardworking; she will be missed, “ she said.

Gillian, daughter to the late Mazvovere, described her mother as someone who put the party first.

“Even in hospital in South Africa, she was known for loving Zanu-PF. “She would avoid soiling the regalia she was wearing as she said she could not stand soiling the party,” she said.

Gillian said her mother succumbed to a combination of heart and lung complications.

“Her body is expected in Zimbabwe on Wednesday and burial should be on Thursday. We are still awaiting the party to inform us on the status as a family but we don’t have a problem in her being conferred Provincial heroine status,” said Gillian.

Mazvovere left behind husband Medaldo, five children and 10 grandchildren.

The First Lady was accompanied by Minister of State Security Owen Ncube, party provincial spokesman Cornelius Mpereri, and other party members.

-StateMedia

State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa celebrated his 77th birthday yesterday and citizens from across the political divide wished him well.

First was the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services which posted on its Twitter handle, wishing the President well.

“Today is His Excellency, President @edmnangagwa’s birthday. “We wish him abundant wisdom in leading this nation to the realisation of its aspirations.

“We wish him good health and pray that he keeps his phenomenal temperance and hardwork ethic. We wish him a long life.”

Many people started commenting on the post, also wishing him well.

Shongedzai Mugwagwa said; “Happy born day Shumba Murambwi (President Mnangagwa’s totem) . . . Tinokushuvirai mamwe makore mazhinji (we wish you many more years).”

Charity Maodza also wrote; “Happy Birthday Shumba Murambwi. Wishing you many more fruitful years at the helm of the country!”

Another twitter user, Admire, said; “Makorokoto mdhara mwari akupei makore akwanda ekurarama (happy birthday elder, may God grant you many more years).”

More messages were to follow, with Skhumba Somile saying “happy birthday my President @edmnangagwa. I wish you many more years”.

Trust also said; “Happy birthday Your Excellence (sic)”.

Kudakwashe Mahere had a lot more to say; “Happy birthday our beloved President, the future is bright for you and our country. “May Jehovah bless your works. Enjoy your born day sir! Amen.”

LeilaniAngels also said; “Happy birthday my President, may God and our Lord Jesus grant you an abundant life full of wisdom and prosperity.”

President Mnangagwa also got many birthday wished from supposedly MDC-Alliance supporters, who were reacting to his earlier tweet where he congratulated the party on its 2oth anniversary.

Sean Ndoro said; “Wisdom (referring to the congratulatory remarks)! Happy Birthday Mr. President.”

A twitter user with the moniker, Gweru Zambezi, said; “Happy birthday Shumba.”

By A Correspondent- A Harare couple Tawanda Chimurure and Fadzai Simango are seeking assistance to raise US$13 000 to have their three-month-old baby, Mikayla Rutendo, undergo surgery in India to correct a heart defect.

The baby is suffering from a complex congenital heart disease DORV.

The parents, who can be contacted on 077 816 7754 or 077 254 7801, said doctors had told them that their baby’s complex heart defect is unlikely to improve on medications, but through a repair procedure.

The surgical treatment will include evaluation, complex open heart surgery, omograft conduit, CT angiogram as well as diagnostics special diet and serology.

Donations can be donated in Steward Bank account number 1002876694

-Newsday

AFRICAN leaders on Saturday converged at the National Sports Stadium to mourn Zimbabwe’s late former President Robert Mugabe whom they described as one of the greatest leaders of all time.

Both current and former presidents from Africa and beyond acknowledged that the Mugabe wrestled for African freedom during the liberation struggle in the 1960s till the time of his death.

Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, died aged 95 on 6 September, 2019.

Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings told mourners that Mugabe was one of the greatest leaders of Africa and nationals from his country.

He remembered him for his contribution in Africa’s struggle for freedom, justice and dignity and his moral values.

“Mugabe was not only a teacher but most of all his impressive moral values. Our enduring affection for Mugabe was equally rooted from not only growing up as brotherhood but by marrying Sarah Francesca Hayfron, the wife of his youth now buried at the National Heroes Acre who supported him with her energy.

“Mugabe never lost his sharpness and direction,” said Rawlings.

Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta also spoke highly of the man who Zimbabweans wanted out of power for failing to run the economy.

“An intellectual giant, firm and steadfast in solving African problems. He was unwavering in finding solutions. A Pan-Africanist and a great icon of the African continent and visionary leader who was a relentless champion of freedom,” Kenyatta said.

He reminded fellow African leaders that the onus was now on them to keep the light on.

Kenyatta urged regional leaders to be united and safe-guard against negative influence and manipulation that may erode the continent’s common values.

Saharawi Republic President Ibrahim G thanked the late President for his effort to have Africa occupy its rightful place in the world.

“One of the leaders of Africa Mugabe was a freedom fighter who supported Saharawi people to get their freedom and fought for unconditional contribution to the continent’s liberation struggle,” he said.

Mugabe’s best friend Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said, “Today the whole of Africa is mourning the loss of a great fighter. It is true, he was the African icon against apartheid, colonialism and neo-liberalism.

“Mugabe was a defender of human dignity worldwide, defender of sovereignty rights of the people of Zimbabwe.”

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was booed as he tried to express his condolence message and had to be forced to apologise for the xenophobic attacks in South Africa that have resulted in 12 deaths foreign nationals.

MDC president Nelson Chamisa has condemned the kidnapping of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) Acting President Dr Peter Magombeyi.

Dr Magombaeyi was abducted around 10 PM on Saturday night and has not been seen since.

In a statement, Chamisa bemoaned the abduction and called for the implementation of political reforms to prevent such acts from happening. He said:

It breaks my heart knowing that the family of Dr Peter Magombeyi is terrified of what is happening to their loved one.

Dr Magombeyi’s crime is only to ask for a living wage for his profession.

This is a reflection of the troubles born out of the refusal to implement Political Reforms.

Meanwhile, doctors have vowed to embark on demonstrations in all public hospitals in protest over the forced disappearance of Dr Magombeyi. ZHDA secretary-general, Mthabisi Bhebhe said:

Tomorrow all government hospitals will be operating without a single doctor. There are scheduled mass protests against the BRUTAL DISAPPEARANCE of Dr Magombeyi who has gone missing for close to 24 hours now. Demonstrations will start at 1000AM in all Central Hospitals.

News24|While the Zimbabwean government and former president Robert Mugabe’s family had indicated plans to take his remains to Zvimba, his home village following his Saturday funeral, this was ditched on Sunday morning.

‌His nephew Leo Mugabe confirmed this, amid reports that former First Lady Grace Mugabe was feeling unwell.

“The information that I have coming from the chiefs in Zvimba is that the coming of the president has been postponed for tomorrow ten o’clock,” he told journalists, adding there must be a good reason for the postponement.

Meanwhile numerous Zimbabweans said they did not attend Mugabe’s funeral because of other commitments but that they had taken other opportunities to honour the former liberation hero.

Scenes of a near-empty 60 000 capacity national sports stadium shocked many across the continent as Zimbabwe bid its final farewell to the man who led the country for 37 years. His nephew expressed some disappointment, saying he did not “expect it to be this empty”.‌

Mugabe died last week in Singapore where he had been receiving medical attention for around three months.

“I work at a place that is open every single day. I couldn’t make it to the sports stadium because of that but I went to Rufaro to pay my respects to our father on Thursday,” said one Zimbabwean, who asked not to be named.

Mugabe’s remains arrived in Zimbabwe on Wednesday and laid in state at Rufaro Stadium for two days so members of the public could pay their respects.

“No, I didn’t go to his funeral. I had to attend to my work, in this economy I cannot afford to take time to go to the stadium,” said a woman, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Several Zimbabweans refused to be named claiming they could become targeted by their own government but insisted they did not stay away from the memorial service because they had any animosity towards Mugabe.

“We were told this was for just the heads of state, so we understood to not have been really wanted there,” said a lady who lived a stone’s throw from the national sport stadium.

There has also been tensions between the Mugabe family and the Zimbabwean government, with the family publicly rebuking President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government for planning the former leader’s funeral without consulting them, in a statement.

The standoff was resolved just hours leading up to the planned funeral, with Mugabe’s nephew telling journalists the leader would be buried after thirty days at Heroes’ Acre, but in line with the wishes of village elders of where he came from.

This after the family and the chiefs from his home village of Zvimba said he wished to be laid to rest in his home village where his mother had been laid to rest.

There have also been questions about his widow’s future, with some unsure whether she would remain in Zimbabwe without her beloved husband. Grace had previously been accused of using Mugabe to attack Mnangagwa and had labelled the current president a coup plotter in 2017, when her husband’s reign crashed, and he took over.

Mnangagwa hailed her and told her that he would always support her.

“Be rest assured that you will continue to have my support and that of my government, in these moments of grief,” said Mnangagwa.

According to reports some of the Mugabe family’s allies have refused to return to their homeland to bury the former statesmen out of fear of being targeted by Mnangagwa’s government.

Numerous heads of state attended the Saturday government memorial service including South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and two former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.

ZERA has increased the price of fuel once again for the umpteenth time this year. The new pump price for petrol and diesel are as follows:

Diesel $10.89

Petrol $10.41

ZERA has announced that fuel prices will be reviewed on a weekly basis to ensure that prices don’t lag behind.

ZANU-PF has expressed gratitude to world leaders, other foreign dignitaries and the generality of Zimbabweans for paying tribute to the country’s late former, President Robert Mugabe, during a State funeral service in Harare.

The party also welcomed the statement by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, denouncing the barbaric attacks on other African nationals by citizens of his country.

Sitting and former presidents from various African countries, diplomats and special envoys on Saturday attended the funeral service of the late icon of the liberation struggle at the National Sports Stadium.

In a statement yesterday, Zanu-PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the huge turnout by the Heads of State and former presidents and special envoys from across Africa and beyond, demonstrated the works of Mugabe, which had illuminated the world, notably the land reform programme and indigenous economic empowerment.

“The revolutionary party Zanu-PF extends great appreciation to world leaders, special envoys, international delegations, local political players and the generality of Zimbabweans across the divide who graced the momentous State send-off service for our dearly departed, Zimbabwe’s founding father, liberation war luminary of record, an unflinching international towering giant and former President Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe at the giant National Sports Stadium on 13th September 2019,” he said.

“The strong attendance by Heads of State, their predecessors, Prime Ministers and special envoys from across Africa and beyond, demonstrate how the life and works of former President Mugabe had illuminated the world and awoken African consciousness through his policies on land reform and indigenous empowerment.”

Khaya Moyo said the outpouring of grief from the leaders at the ceremony reflected respect, excellent fraternal and cordial relations both present and past global leaders shared with Mugabe during his tenure of office.

“The scene at the Rufaro Stadium on the 12th and 13th of September 2019 where multitudes of people stampeded to bid farewell to the late Cde Mugabe and the subsequent crowds at the giant the National Sports Stadium attests to the fact that he was a great revolutionary of impeccable liberation credentials,” he said.

Khaya Moyo said the ruling party also extends its profound gratitude to President Mnangagwa for the exemplary leadership he demonstrated since the death of Cde Mugabe including the assistance he rendered to him and his family throughout his illness.

“Zimbabwe will forever cherish the overwhelming show of sympathy from our brothers and sisters at this moment of grief and their acknowledgment of the sacrifices of the late Cde Mugabe in dismantling colonialism in its various manifestations, not only in Zimbabwe but beyond. The attendance at the send-off service was indeed befitting of the stature of a statesman,” he said.

Khaya Moyo said the late national hero’s name will be remembered as that of a fearless and committed leader who espoused unflinching Pan African values and quest to see a free and emancipated Africa.

“His name will always be mentioned in the same breath as Samora Machel, Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda, Sam Nujoma and many other great names of our struggle for political and economic emancipation,” he said.

The family of the late former President Mugabe has also thanked Zimbabweans for commiserating with them during the loss of the country’s founding father.

Mugabe (95) died in Singapore on Friday, September 6 and has since been declared a national hero.

CIVIL servants have called on the Government to set a framework that safeguards the value of salaries following the latest adjustments that have triggered significant price increases.

Government last month increased civil servants’ salaries by a massive 76 percent, a development that saw the lowest paid worker earning $1 023 up from $582.

However, the development saw prices of basic commodities being increased by up to 100 percent last week, thereby pushing the prices beyond the reach of many.

Apex Council president, Mrs Cecilia Alexander, called on the Government to intervene and to protect civil servants.

She said while they appreciated Government’s efforts to improve their conditions of service they were concerned about the tendency by the business sector to hike prices immediately after salaries are increased.

“What is happening in the market is unacceptable and Government must step in. When civil servants receive increments, prices of basic commodities and services shoot up.

“Retailers and service providers don’t even care how much increment was received, they simply review their prices upwards,” said Mrs Alexander.

She said the price increases were defeating the purpose of them receiving salary increments.

She added that salary negotiations between the Government and the Apex Council would continue, with the civil servants’ umbrella body expecting salaries that match the prevailing exchange rates.

“We didn’t conclude the salary negotiations. We don’t have dates yet but we’ll continue and we hope that the Government will consider our requests.

“Our position is that salaries should be matched by the current interbank market rates because all prices have gone up by that factor,” said Mrs Alexander. Last month, civil servants pegged their demand at $4 750 for the least paid worker but Government offered $1 023 and agreed to come back to the negotiating table.

Apart from the various monetary incentives to cushion the civil servants, Government introduced non-monetary incentives such as affordable medical aid and pension schemes and housing facilities.

State Media|THE body of the former President Robert Mugabe is expected at his rural home in Zvimba today to afford people to bid farewell to him, family spokesperson Mr Leo Mugabe has said.

The body was initially set to be taken to Zvimba yesterday, but the programme changed due to other pressing issues.

In an interview at Mugabe’s rural homestead in Zvimba yesterday, Mr Mugabe said the body leaves Harare at 10am.

“We have been informed by Chief Zvimba, that the programme has changed. So I was told to inform the gathering of the changes to the programme.

“However, we were not informed of the reasons for the postponement. The body was supposed to be here today. As you can see, thousands of people have already gathered here to bid farewell to their own son.

“I am not sure what caused the postponement. I heard the former First Lady Grace Mugabe wanted to rest. Like any other human being she needs a rest,” he said.

Mr Mugabe said the body might go to Zvimba by road as requested by Norton residents and people from other surrounding areas.

“We will inform those leading the proceedings on the latest development. Our plan was to have his body come by road to enable people from Norton and other surrounding areas to pay last respects to their former President.

“Some might not get transport to ferry them to Zvimba, so we are organising that the body passes through by road,” he said.

Mr Mugabe said after the rural proceedings, the body will be taken to a mortuary, where it will lie in state for about 30 days to pave way for the construction of a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre.

Former President Mugabe will be buried in the mausoleum that is being constructed on top of a hill at the national shrine.

Government, on Friday, conferred the leader the special honour, a first at the national shrine.

“Thereafter, we will take the body, on Tuesday, back (to Harare) and take it to the mortuary for preservation for roughly 30 days until the Heroes Acre is ready” he said.

State Media|President Mnangagwa will officially open the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on October 1 and layout the legislative agenda.

The opening of the Second Session marks the end of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament, which saw at least 15 Bills out of 30 Bills presented.

In a statement, Parliament of Zimbabwe said the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mnangagwa would unveil a new legislative agenda next month.

“His Excellency, President E.D Mnangagwa will officially open the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament on October 1, 2019 at noon in the National Assembly,” said Parliament.

At least 30 Bills were expected to be tabled in the First Session of the Ninth Parliament.

The legislative agenda that had been set out by President Mnangagwa mainly focused on improving the business climate in the country and entrench democratic values.

Movers of the Bills will have to seek Parliament to reinstate outstanding Bills at the stage they were by the end of the First Session.

Five Bills were passed by Parliament and two of them were signed into law while the other three are still waiting for Presidential assent.

Laws that were assented to are; the Shop Licence Amendment Act and the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Act; while the Consumer Protection Bill, Microfinance Amendment Bill and the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill are still awaiting assent.

The TNF Act establishes the Tripartite Negotiating Forum that brings together Government, business and labour in a formal setting to discuss pertinent issues affecting the economy with the aim of preventing clashes that characterised relations of the three in the past.

The Shops Licence Act reduces bureaucracy in the establishment of businesses including creation of electronic platforms for applications of business licences while the Consumer Protection Bill seeks to protect consumer rights from unscrupulous businesses bent on profiteering at their expense and provides them mechanisms to seek recourse.

If passed into law, the Microfinance Bill will streamline the institutions from the current four recognised by the law to two that is credit-only micro-finance and deposit-taking micro-finance institutions. MOPA will repeal the Public Order and Security Act and open up democratic space and management of gatherings and demonstrations.

Some of the Bills that are at various stages of debate in Parliament include the Education Amendment Bill, Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency Bill, Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, Coroner’s Office Bill, Freedom of Information of Bill and the Marriages Bill.

ZANU-PF has title to former President Robert Mugabe’s houses — the imposing Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale and a Mount Pleasant property occupied by his daughter, Bona, details have emerged.

Mugabe family spokesperson Mr Leo Mugabe confirmed yesterday that Zimbabwe’s late founding father did not own the houses.

President Mnangagwa is now working on modalities to transfer the title deeds of the two houses to Mugabe’s family.

Addressing journalists in Zvimba yesterday, Mr Mugabe said: “The issue of properties is being handled by the President. He is handling the issue to ensure the family is safe.

“I was told by President Mnangagwa that the party will help to transfer the title deeds of the properties to the former President’s family. I do not want to jeopardise the process.”

Mr Mugabe said ZANU-PF owned the land on which the two houses were constructed.

“It’s so funny. The party (ZANU-PF) is the one that bought the first house in Mt Pleasant and the land for the Blue Roof property. It leaves the former President Mugabe without a house in Harare,” he said. ZANU-PF secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu confirmed the development, saying the party was doing the paperwork to transfer the properties.

“The process is currently underway to transfer them to the (Mugabe)
family,” said Dr Mpofu.State media

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has described his former boss Robert Mugabe as a giant African tree that has fallen.

“There is no place in our modern world for unilateral punitive sanctions imposed in pursuit of selfish interests, undue influence and colonial-time expansionism.

As we mourn our revolutionary icon, we call for the unconditional and immediate lifting of the sanctions imposed on us.

“We invite the world to work and walk with us into a brighter future for our people, our region and the continent. A Zimbabwe free of the albatross of sanctions is indeed of greater benefit to the world,” he said.

In his moving tribute to his predecessor, Mnangagwa described Mugabe as a “giant African tree that has fallen”.

“He taught a generation, led a nation, inspired a continent, spoke for the oppressed and defined the politics and economics of an epoch. The man who lies before us was for years our leader, our commander, mentor and President, both in the party and Government.”

CHARLES MANYUCHI’s head might have endured hundreds of punches since his professional debut a decade ago, but only one date is etched in the boxer’s memory.

Four years ago, on July 30, 2015, Manyuchi realised his long cherished dream of meeting former President Robert Mugabe, when he was treated to a royal bash, before walking out of State House US$50 000 richer.

The State House bash was organised after Manyuchi had knocked out Gianluca Frezza of Italy to retain the World Boxing Council International welterweight title in Sequals on July 17, 2015.

Manyuchi was 26 at the time and his career was on an upwards trajectory.
Manyuchi is now 30 and in search of a road to recovery after losing his WBC belts.

Former President Mugabe is also gone and the boxer is seeking a way to appease the spirit of Zimbabwe’s founding father, who passed away on September 6.
Manyuchi has a crucial fight on September 28. The bout could enhance his status on the international boxing arena.

He takes on Diego Diaz Gallardo of Argentina for the vacant World Boxing Federation world middleweight title at the Harare International Conference Centre in a fight that he is dedicating to the late former President Mugabe.

“Everyone knows how the late former President Mugabe appreciated my boxing talent. At one time, I was invited to the State House and got a whopping US$50 000, that was a lot of money.

“So, as I prepare to take on Gallardo, I am motivated by the need to do it (win) in remembrance of the late former President Mugabe.

“The good thing is that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is also very supportive of my boxing career, he has often given me words of encouragement and my wish is that, if time permits, may the President be present at Harare International Conference to witness the demolition of Gallardo.
“I was down yes, but I am certainly not out.

Manyuchi is rising again and I am doing this for the pride of my beloved nation,” Manyuchi said.State media

By A Correspondent- The government has condemned the abduction of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association Acting President (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi, saying it has engaged the police to immediately institute investigations.

Dr Magombeyi was allegedly abducted on Saturday night by three men and has not been seen since.

Minister of Health and Child Care Minister, Obediah Moyo said:

“We have been made aware of the reported disappearance of Dr Peter Magombeyi the Acting President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association and our employee at Harare Hospital in the case of a reported kidnapping. As the Ministry of Health and Childcare, we are alarmed by this.

I have therefore personally engaged the State Security agencies who have undertaken to deploy resources to look for Dr Magombeyi and they are seized with this matter with no stone left unturned.

As the Minister responsible, my Ministry is concerned about the welfare, safety and well-being of all its cadres. We are taking this matter very seriously and we condemn any illegal acts by whosoever with the revulsion it deserves.

I appeal to all concerned, and his workmates to remain calm and direct all efforts towards assisting the police with information with a view to a quick and successful closure of this matter resulting in Dr Magombeyi’s safety and return to his family.”-StateMedia

VOA|Dozens of doctors marched at Zimbabwe’s biggest hospital on Sunday, demanding the release of a union boss believed to be abducted after calling for a pay strike.

Several government critics, including a comedian and a teachers’ union leader, have in recent weeks been abducted from their homes, tortured and warned by suspected state security agents to back off from anti-government actions.

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) says their president, Peter Magombeyi, was abducted on Saturday, just days after he received threats on his phone.

His Vice President, Masimba Ndoro, said Magombeyi had alerted colleagues that three unidentified men were forcibly taking him away.

Senior ZHDA member Tapiwa Mungofa lead protesters in chants, saying: “No Peter, no work, we will not go back to work.”

The association represents hundreds of newly-qualified doctors who are doing their residencies.

The doctors, who earn less than $40 a month, want a review of their salaries and allowances.

Magombeyi had expressed concerns to journalists about the poor state of Zimbabwe’s hospitals.

Police spokesman Paul Nyathi says he has yet to receive details of the case.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins Zimbabwe and the World at large in commemorating the International Day of Democracy on this 15th day of September 2019 running under the theme, “Participation.”

This day comes amid continued calls by civic society and institutions supporting democracy for multi-stakeholder efforts towards the promotion of inclusion, equal treatment, and participation in democratic governance issues by citizens to ensure sustainable peace and development.

Participation is perhaps the most critical tenet of democracy implied in the popular definition of democracy “rule of the people, by the people, for the people”.

In connection with this, Zimbabwe is signatory to a number of International and Regional Human Rights instruments and protocols, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whose article 21 (3) particularly states that: “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures”.

Consistently, Section 3 (2) (f) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, under Founding Values and Principles reposes the authority to govern in the people of Zimbabwe. Section 2 (b) elaborates on the elements of the electoral system that include universal adult suffrage and free, fair, and regular elections.

This day presents ZESN with the opportunity to reiterate its calls for measures to ensure inclusive participation in elections, especially of women, People with Disabilities (PWDs), and youths in Zimbabwe.

Despite the fact that women constitute the demographic majority, and youths account for the largest voting population, their participation, especially as candidates, in elections has been very low.

This has resulted in the limited representation and participation of these important constituencies in the governance of the country.

ZESN is concerned with the civic space that is shrinking and therefore calls upon the Government to have meaningful Social Dialogue with Civic Society, Churches, and Media among others to ensure participation of all stakeholders in democratic electoral and governance issues.

The main goal of social dialogue is to promote consensus and building democratic involvement among main electoral stakeholders.

The Network has also petitioned Parliament on electoral reforms as part of efforts to lobby government to promote and enhance democracy, transparency, and an effective democratic electoral system by addressing gaps in the legal framework of elections.

The gaps include non-alignment of the Electoral Act with the Constitution with only amendments that have been piecemeal, diaspora voting; legal provisions in relation to political parties’ regulation and funding; electoral dispute resolution and mechanisms; political environment reforms, and the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission among others.

ZESN remains committed to promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe that are free and fair elections in line with international best practices and respect for human rights.

Mozambique’s national electricity firm will sell 50 megawatts of electricity to Zimbabwe, it was announced in Maputo on Thursday.

A memorandum on the deal was signed by the Mozambican company, EDM, and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) in the Mozambican capital.

The EDM, which will get 4.6 million U.S. dollars a month under a two-year contract, will start providing the power within two weeks, EDM chairperson Ali Sicola said.

The deal will help ease Zimbabwe’s power shortage, and the two companies will look for additional sources of power, because the EDM cannot sell more than 50 megawatts, Sicola said.

“The entry of more electricity generated from renewable sources in the country, the photovoltaic plants, will help the country increase availability and improve conditions for increasing commercial responsiveness,” he said.

Patrick Chivaura, chairman of ZESA, said the agreement is a great relief for Zimbabwe, which is going through tough times.

The Zimbabwean company also announced the settlement of a 9 million dollar debt of a previous contract that expired in 2017. Enditem

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

Artuz condemns in strongest terms the abduction of ZDHA President Peter Mugombeya. As a Union, we strongly feel and suspect that the abductors are State apparatus targeting the leadership of ZHDA for demanding a living wage.

ARTUZ Leadership has also been a target of abductions and torture at the hands of State agents.

As a Union, we are not going to fold hands as the State continues to abduct Activists and perceived Government opponents as such we are calling on all our members to join the Demonstration that has been called by ZDHA at Parirenyatwa Hospital today.

Injure one Injure all. (Solidarity shall remain a key component of our Struggle)

A move by a Binga chief and a local councillor to evict illegal settlers, believed to have come from outside the district, from the Mucheni Community Conservancy has started paying dividends as council is now generating income from hunting activities.

Chief Sinasengwe and councillor for Ward 4, Elmon Mudenda, were instrumental in the eviction of the settlers two years ago after realisation that the occupation of the concession was having a negative impact on Binga Rural District Council’s revenue inflows.

Council lost millions of dollars in potential revenue as hunters started shunning the conservancy, but indications are that money is now trickling in.

The conservancy declared a dividend of $9 800 from the concession last year.

Chief Sinansengwe and Mudenda were roped in after council’s legal route turned out to be fruitless.

“Council had not managed to remove the settlers from the five conservancies they were occupying for the past 10 years and in our conservancy area in Sinansengwe, I had to team up with

my chief and we managed to evict the settlers,” Mudenda said.

“So far we have been working very well with our safari operator who is operating in our conservancy.”

“Last year we received our dividend of ZWL$ 9 800.”

“We are operating very well.

“It’s been over two years now and things are moving fine.”

The conservancy was among many in the district that were invaded by illegal settlers in the last 10 years.

According to officials, illegal settlers in six wards, namely Sinakoma, Sinansengwe, Sinampande, Siabuwa, Chunga and Kabuba, are hampering hunting activities.

In 2014 councillors passed a resolution to evict all the illegal settlers after hunters threatened to pull out.

Council obtained a court order to evict the settlers, but they appealed to the High Court and the case has since been struck off the roll.

The local authority mainly gets its revenue from taxes paid by hunting companies.

Standard|Former president Robert Mugabe’s family yesterday said the nation should now just celebrate the life of the former Zanu PF leader and stop mourning him as he lived a long life.

“We must stop mourning and start celebrating his life,” family spokesperson Leo Mugabe (pictured) said of his uncle, who died at the age of 95.

Mugabe, who was declared a national hero at the announcement of his death, will be buried in about 30 days at the National Heroes’ Acre.

A low turn-out characterised the funeral service in Harare yesterday.

Several bays at the giant National Sports Stadium were empty in sharp contrast to the huge turnouts at Rufaro Stadium on Thursday and Friday where there was a stampede to view Mugabe’s body.

Yesterday’s ceremony was attended by several presidents and former leaders from Africa.

“A giant tree of Africa has fallen,” eulogised President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the man he called a mentor and father figure, before their fallout.

He said: “…The bold, steadfast and resolute revolutionary, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe, is no more.”

Mugabe’s widow and former first lady Grace Mugabe, dressed in black with a veil covering her head, did not address the gathering, but has been present at all occasions, accompanied by her children.

The foreign heads of state in attendance included South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial

Guinea. Former presidents who attended included Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Festus Mogae of Botswana and South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa was heckled by the mourners when he took to the podium to deliver his speech.

He apologised for xenophobic attacks where Africans, including Zimbabweans, have been targeted in South Africa.

Ramaphosa described Mugabe as a friend of South Africans who was instrumental in that country’s liberation.

“President Mugabe was a friend of the African National Congress, and the people if South Africa and he stood by us in our darkest hour,” he said.

“He was unwavering in his support for our liberation. Under his leadership, Zimbabwe and especially Zanu PF gave both moral and material support at a time when our leadership wasforced into exile and out people were suffering under the yoke of apartheid.”

Mugabe’s body will be flown to Murombedzi in Zvimba, his rural home, today where he will lie in State.

—Additional reporting by VOA

Striking government hospital doctors have gone on an immediate action demanding the return of their abducted Doctors Association President, Dr Peter Mugombeyi.

‪Doctors spent Sunday morning conducting a march at Parirenyatwa Hospital. They have declared that without his release, they won’t be working.

Watch video downloading below.

“No Peter No Work…a total shutdown of hospitals,” they said.‬

See pictures below:

THE bitter fallout between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the late former president Robert Mugabe which has divided their families, Zanu PF and government, as well as the public — exacerbated this week in his death as it did in life, with far-reaching political consequences.

A series of dramatic events — including Mnangagwa’s visit to Mugabe’s home Thursday and his failure to break the deadlock over where his mentor would be buried – characterised the theatrical end of an era.

Thursday’s visit was Mnangagwa’s first visit to the Mugabe family home since 2017. Since the November 2017 military coup which brought to an end Mugabe’s 37-year rule, while propelling Mnangagwa to power, the two comrades-turned-enemies had not had direct contact.

Mugabe and Mnangagwa had been communicating through emissaries, including Central Intelligence Organisation director-general Isaac Moyo.

When the coup happened, Mugabe and Mnangagwa completely lost contact with each other.

Before his death in Singapore, as exclusively reported by the Zimbabwe Independent lead story in the August 9 edition, Mugabe told his family that he does not want to be associated with Mnangagwa, some government officials and military chiefs, whom he viewed as “betrayers” and “tormentors”.

Mugabe had told his family that he does not want Mnangagwa and his allies to take custody of his body as it might be used for ritualistic purposes, sources said.

It has also emerged Mugabe told his family that he does not want Mnangagwa and the government to have custody of his body at any given moment and pontificate over it, insisting Grace and other family members must closely stick to it until it is interred.

Family members told the Independent Mugabe feared there was a huge risk Mnangagwa could use his body for rituals, to consolidate and maintain power, sources said. Insiders say Zanu PF leaders are incredibly superstitious.

As a result, Grace and the family have been clinging onto Mugabe’s body since its arrival on Wednesday. They clung to it from the airport to One Commando Barracks and all the way to Blue Roof.

The strategy to keep the body under lock and key was also on display Friday when Mugabe’s youngest son Bellarmine Chatunga refused to let his mother and her sister to travel alone in a military helicopter carrying the body from the Blue Roof mansion to Rufaro Stadium in Harare after security officers tried to stop him. He bulldozed his way and security officers backed down.

— Zimbabwe Independent

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has described his former boss Robert Mugabe as a giant African tree that has fallen.

“There is no place in our modern world for unilateral punitive sanctions imposed in pursuit of selfish interests, undue influence and colonial-time expansionism.

As we mourn our revolutionary icon, we call for the unconditional and immediate lifting of the sanctions imposed on us.

“We invite the world to work and walk with us into a brighter future for our people, our region and the continent. A Zimbabwe free of the albatross of sanctions is indeed of greater benefit to the world,” he said.

In his moving tribute to his predecessor, Mnangagwa described Mugabe as a “giant African tree that has fallen”.

“He taught a generation, led a nation, inspired a continent, spoke for the oppressed and defined the politics and economics of an epoch. The man who lies before us was for years our leader, our commander, mentor and President, both in the party and Government.”

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated opposition MDC on its 20th anniversary adding that despite the differences that exist between his party and MDC, democracy entailed tolerance and embracing each other’s diverse opinion.

He said:

“Congratulates to MDC Zimbabwe on your 20th anniversary this week. Though we have our differences, this is what democracy is all about. I look forward to many more years of debate and dialogue. Makorokoto! Amhlope! Wishing all the people of Zimbabwe a blessed Sunday.”

This was a passionate plea by President Cyril Ramaphosa following his return to the country after attending the funeral of former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe in Harare on Saturday.

Ramaphosa was a guest of honour at the Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto, this morning when he pleaded with the congregants and Pastor Mosa Sono to help his government fight the scourge of xenophobia which hit parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

While on a charm offensive – Ramaphosa drew the attention of the hurt these attacks had on the people on the people of Zimbabwe – who booed him while he was addressing the funeral of former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe in Harare yesterday.

“This is the second time I was booed. The first time is when I introduced the national minimum wage for workers. I was booed by a certain group of people and those were the community health workers. They booed me because I did not mention them in the wage allocation.

“In Zimbabwe, I was booed by the whole stadium. I had to apologise to the people of Zimbabwe for the attacks. I do not want to call it xenophobic attacks. South Africans do not hate people of other nations.

“We had to offer an apology on behalf of the people of South Africa. We are loved in the continent. We are sought after country.

“I had to apologise because those attacks were a national shame,” Ramaphosa insisted.

He emphasised that South Africans are not xenophobic saying do not hate people from other nations.

However, Ramaphosa said South Africa is now faced with a much bigger problem of tribalism in the wake of fatal xenophobic attacks which claimed the lives of more local citizens in the past two weeks.

He said he addressed a gathering in Ekurhuleni in which certain grouping in the crowd were making a call for the Shangaan speaking people to leave the area.

“They were saying Shangaans must leave. The Vendas must leave. The next thing they will say the Batswanas must leave. The BaXhosa must leave. Who is going to remain?

“Who is going to remain. We must defeat the demon of tribalism,” Ramaphosa urged.

He thanked the church for its role in bridging the difference between those who were responsible for the attacks.

He also thanked the church for assisting people who were displaced as a result of the attacks but noted that some of the people who too refugee in church and community halls were actually South Africans.

-IOL

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated the opposition MDC on its 20th anniversary saying he is looking forward to more years of debate and dialogue.

Posting on Twitter, Mnangagwa said though he has differences with the MDC, it is the work of democracy and is looking forward to more debate and dialogue.

“Congratulations to @mdczimbabwe on your 20th anniversary this week. Though we have our differences, this is what democracy is all about. I look forward to many more years of debate and dialogue. Makorokoto! Amhlope! Wishing all the people of Zimbabwe a blessed Sunday,”‘ said Mnangagwa.

Congratulations to @mdczimbabwe on your 20th anniversary this week. Though we have our differences, this is what democracy is all about. I look forward to many more years of debate and dialogue. Makorokoto! Amhlope! Wishing all the people of Zimbabwe a blessed Sunday

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) September 15, 2019

Jane Mlambo| Funeral service for the late former President Robert Mugabe which was set to take place in his rural home in Zvimba today has been postponed to tomorrow morning.

Mugabe who died in Singapore on the 6th of September returned to Zimbabwe on Wednesday and the government organised three programmes allowing citizens to pay their last respect to the former President who led the country for 37 years.

After two body viewing sessions at Rufaro stadium and National Sports Stadium yesterday, the family were expected to take the body to Zvimba today to allow his kinsmen to have an opportunity to bid him farewell.

Though there has not been any communication from the family, ZimEye understands that the programme is now set for tomorrow amid reports that Grace Mugabe is not feeling well.

Mugabe’s burial arrangements still remain mired in controversy as the family and government engage in endless battle with the former against a National heroes acre burial while the latter is pushing for him to be buried at the national shrine which risk losing respect without the founding father of independent Zimbabwe.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has started the process of constructing the esteemed mausoleum in which the body of late former President Robert Mugabe will be interred.

This was revealed Saturday by Information Ministry secretary Nick Mangwana while speaking to journalists during Saturday’s State funeral of the country’s founding leader.

Mugabe died of an undisclosed ailment in Singapore over a week ago.

His body will be preserved for nearly a month as the government takes time to construct a shrine in which his remains will be interred.

“I don’t know when the engineers will be done with the construction but the engineers have already started designing,” said Mangwana.

Responding to questions on rumors it may take a month to complete the grave, Mangwana said it will not take exactly 30 days as suggested.

“I think people are getting sensational for about 30 days. I think what Leo (Mugabe, family spokesperson) was trying to say is that it may take us up to 30 days but this doesn’t mean it will take exactly 30 days without being completed,” he said.

“I also don’t know where the body will be during the time of construction.”

A mausoleum is described elsewhere as an above-ground free-standing structure that has crypts or burial compartments to hold whole human remains.

By A Correspondent- Widow to the late victim of xenophobia who was brutally murdered in South Africa last week is homeless and is in Chipinge where she buried her husband.

The below are updates coming out of Chipinge where a family relative exclusively told ZimEye, that the late Isaac Mabandla was buried at 1pm (Saturday) in Chipinge.

VIDEO (story continues below)…

Mabandla is one of the victims of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa and he was murdered in the early hours of Thursday morning last week.

His wife, Lydia however does not have anywhere to stay.

Said a relative:

“Ipwo patamusiya haana pekugara meaning we have just left her there but she is homeless,” a female relative told ZimEye via phone also saying there is no phone network coverage in the area.

Mabandla who was burnt to death, was buried in Chipinge. Fears for his wife’s security were high – as she does not have a place to stay.

In Johannesburg, her phone was stolen and she also lost her ewallet money with it. As per wide consensus (in a poll) donated funds by ZimEye news readers are now to secure a tenancy for her.

The funds will come from a pot of over R16,000 left from an initial collection of R25,000 the difference which was paid for securing the first bus to evacuate the first batch of Zimbabweans on Wednesday morning.

– MORE TO FOLLOW

By Own Correspondent- Housing issues remains a nightmare in Bulawayo’s oldest suburb as 170 houses reportedly house more than 3 or 4 families.

Overcrowing issues are now raising a health scare as 4 families share a single room in Makokoba.

Calling this arrangement a precolonial ill, Sunday News investigated these living conditions that was a pre-colonial phenomenon for single male workers, not an entire family.

In the shared accommodation arrangement for single male workers who worked in the city, 3 or 4 single men would share a single big room with an outside flush toilet.

Some of the residents of Makokoba with shared accommodation said:

“I was born in this house (room) in 1994, there is no other home I know, my parents have previously tried to get alternative accommodation but this has been in vain as council only offered stands and as you know it is expensive to construct a house nowadays.

We have tried to engage council on our situation but it is rather difficult because whatever deliberations made, they are money determined. As it is I have managed to get myself a small corner within the same house where I am raising my young family

Bulawayo City Council acknowledged the problem and said they were doing all they can to address the situation.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care earlier this year went on a fact-finding mission at the country’s largest drug company and discovered that NatPham was stocking millions of expired drugs amid a serious drug shortage ravaging the country.

The committee also reports that capitalisation issues have not yet been attended to by NatPham.

The report released by the committee after the fact-finding mission reads in part:

“Five years later, the newly constituted Committee on Health and Child Care undertook a familiarisation visit to NatPharm on the 12th of February 2019. The Committee’s findings were disheartening in that NatPharm was still dogged by the above-mentioned problems. It still had huge piles of expired medicines and drugs in its warehouse and issues of its capitalisation have not yet been attended to.

The majority of our population cannot afford medicines from the private pharmacies and rely predominantly on the public sector. Hence, the Committee proposed that the public health institutions be well stocked with medicines to improve on accessibility and affordability of the products to the general population

Unfortunately, the current state of equipment and manufacturing processes has affected their ( phamacetical companies) ability to produce vital drugs and medicines in the country. At the time of the enquiry, capacity utilisation of the industry was, on average running below 40 percent primarily due to inadequate foreign currency allocations.2

It was also reported that drugs are also expiring at rural district hospitals as effective redistribution channels are yet to be established.

The committee, however, is strongly against a proposal by NatPham to set up retail pharmacies across the country at a time where public health institutions have no medicines.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Former President Robert Mugabe’s body is today expected to be taken to Zvimba, to afford people in his home area of Mashonaland West province a chance to bid farewell to the late Statesman.

After the rural proceedings, the body will be taken to a mortuary,  where it will lie in state for about 30 days to pave way for the construction of a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre.

Former President Mugabe will be buried in the mausoleum that is being constructed on top of a hill at the national shrine.

Government, on Friday, conferred the late leader the special honour, a first at the national shrine.

Speaking on the side-lines of a State funeral for the former President at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday, family representative Mr Leo Mugabe said the funeral programme was today shifting to Zvimba.

“The family programme from now on is that tomorrow (today), we will go to Zvimba, Murombedzi. Then to the homestead; and we will give the Zvimba and Mashonaland West people the opportunity to bid their farewell,” he said.

“Thereafter, we will take the body, on Monday or Tuesday, back (to Harare) and take it to the mortuary for preservation for roughly 30 days until the Heroes Acre is ready.”

Mr Mugabe dispelled circulating statements that the National Heroes Acre burial would be a mock ceremony.

Addressing journalists yesterday Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Mr Nick Mangwana said traditional leaders from Zvimba, where the late former President hails from, had already visited the National Heroes Acre to mark the grave site.

“Let’s not also forget that the former President is the founding father. I’m sure if you go to Russia you will see Lenin in his Mausoleum, same as elsewhere, you find other founding fathers in mausoleums,” he said.

The late former President’s mausoleum will be the first at the National Heroes Acre.

Other late Heads of States buried in mausoleums include former Zambia Presidents Fredrick Chiluba, Levi Mwanawasa and Michael Sata. The three died in 2011, 2008 and 2014, respectively.

Democratic Republic of Congo’s former President Laurent Kabila was also buried in mausoleum in 2001.

Former Malawi President Kamuzu Banda who died in 1997 is also interred in a mausoleum.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Addressing delegates and mourners at the late former President Robert Mugabe’s funeral in Harare Saturday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Mugabe’s legacy is a springboard for economic development.

He said:

“As Zimbabwe, we shall ride on the education and high literacy levels bequeathed to us by our late great teacher and educator.

As a visionary, he understood the importance of solid education, as well as science and technology in the future world. As Africa, let us find our niche within the fast unfolding Fourth Industrial Revolution, leveraging in our youthful population, abundant, untapped natural resources and expansive combined market.

As Africa boldly operationalises the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), let us be emboldened by the ideas of the late Mugabe, who was one of the consistent champions of African unity, industrialisation, intra-Africa trade, as well as regional and continental integration.”

The late former president Robert Mugabe, died last week aged 95 in Singapore.

Mugabe, the man who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist for close to four decades and presided over its total economic collapse in 2008 died in a foreign land in a development which has been described by some as a reflection of his failed policies which also saw the collapse of the health care system in the country.

Despite inheriting a jewel at the dawn of independence, Mugabe’s policies saw the country’s economic standing plummet into chaos characterised by shortages of food and other essential commodities, as well as falling exports and soaring inflation.

In November 2008, Zimbabwe’s peak month of inflation was estimated at 79.6 billion percent month-on-month and 89.7 sextillion percent year-on-year.

By A Correspondent- South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, was on Friday booed at the National Sports stadium before he apologised to the African continent over the recent spate of xenophobic attacks on African immigrants in his country.

Ramaphosa said the recent flare-up of violence against foreign nationals goes against the spirit of oneness that was championed by pan-African stalwarts such as the late Mugabe and former South African leaders Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo.

He said:

“In the past two weeks, we as South Africans have been going through a challenging period. We have had acts of violence erupting in some parts of the country, some of which was directed at nationals from other African countries. This has led to the deaths and injuries of a number of people, some of whom were nationals from other countries and the majority were South Africans.

I stand before you as a fellow African to express my regret, and to apologise for what has happened in our country. What has happened in South Africa goes against the principles of the unity of the African people that President Mugabe and President Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and the great leaders of our continent stood for.”

Violence targeting foreigners in South Africa claimed 12 lives and 2 Zimbabweans died during the attacks.

One of the victims of xenophobia, the late Isaac Mabandla was buried at 1pm on Saturday in Chipinge.

VIDEO (story continues below)…

Mabandla is one of the victims of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa and he was murdered in the early hours of Thursday morning last week.

His wife, Lydia however does not have anywhere to stay. “Ipwo patamusiya haana pekugara,” a female relative told ZimEye via phone also saying there is no phone network coverage in the area.

Mabandla who was burnt to death, was buried in Chipinge. Fears are for his wife’s security were high – as she does not have a place to stay. In Johannesburg, her phone was stolen and she also lost her ewallet money with it. As per wide consensus (in a poll) donated funds by ZimEye news readers are now to secure a tenancy for her. The funds will come from a pot of over R16,000 left from an initial collection of R25,000 the difference which was paid for securing the first bus to evacuate the first batch of Zimbabweans on Wednesday morning.

By A Correspondent- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said his government was working hard to encourage the country’s nationals to embrace people from all African countries.

He said this while speaking at the the late former President Robert Mugabe’s funeral at the National Sports Stadium in Harare Saturday.

Ramaphosa thanked his fellow African leaders for the support offered to his government in the wake of the violence targeting foreign nationals and which claimed the lives of 12 people, including 2 Zimbabweans.

He said:

“I would like to state it here and now that South Africans are not xenophobic, South Africans are not against nationals from other countries.

We welcome people from other countries and we are going to work very hard that we encourage and promote social cohesion of the people of South Africa working and living side by side with people from other parts of our continent.

This we shall do because we want to embrace the spirit of unity that President Mugabe worked for throughout his life.”

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa reportedly threatened the Mugabe family to get the family to agree to bury the late former president Robert Mugabe at the heroes acre.

A local publication claims to be in possession of recordings that exposes the government threatening the former first lady and widow to the late former president, Grace that she will lose her Harare Mansion if they antagonised the government over Mugabe ‘s final resting place.

Mugabe had made it clear he didn’t want to be buried at the Heroes acre after the November 2017 coup. It has further emerged that Mugabe’s properties in Mt Plesant, Waterfalls and the Blueroof were still registered in Zanu Pf’s name and Grace and her family risked losing them if they antagonised the government.

The threats were reportedly issued in a meeting with the Mugabe family and the government represented by Ziyambi Ziyambi, Philip Chiyangwa and Gideon Gono. A family member was recorded after the meeting saying:

They told the family that they needed to be careful when handling the burial issue and work with government because the family might stand to lose Mugabe’s properties that are still registered in Zanu PF name

Patrick Chinamasa reportedly confirmed that the properties were registered in Zanu PF’s name claiming Robert Mugabe’s daughter approached him last month pleading with him to transfer the deed from the ruling party’s name into her own name as she received the Mt Pleasant property as her wedding present.-Standard

The President of the Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association Peter Magombeyi has reportedly been abducted by three men yesterday evening.

Details suggest that the abduction happened in Budiriro.

The ZHDA has been threatening industrial action and even issued a statement of incapacity to the government.

Prior to his abduction Peter Magombeyi the president of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association had received a threatening text message for the number 0786645911 (he saved it as C10).

He is persecuted for organizing doctors in demanding better working conditions.

I regret having my family issues escalating in social media & beating up my wife on 4 & 5 September 2019 for a silly misunderstanding caused by jealousy. We had a disagreement which I failed to handle amicably as a man. #BecauseIamAman I own up for my transgressions @lilomatic.

Just like any marriage, we have had our fair share of challenges and I publicly apologize to my wife, her family and followers for my barbaric and uncalled for archaic actions. What happened between my wife and me has nothing to do with politics.

Contrary to media reports that I intend to harm the person of my wife, I’m not a politician. I have been in warehousing and logistics in South Africa for 14 years. 7 years ago I met Mrs Kaingidza to whom we have a 6-year-old child. #BecauseIAmAMan I love my wife.

To my family, friends and the rest of the world, I apologize again. I spent 2 days in police cells and was fined by a magistrate at rotten row magistrates court on Thursday after pleading guilty to two counts of domestic violence and I regret as a man and husband.

I acknowledge my responsibilities to love, listen, respect and support my wife’s dreams to fruition. Women are not objects that we can just toss around. It is with regret that I stand before my wife to apologize instead of laughing with her as we always do.

However, I’m worried about false media reports that target my wife through our marriage just to distract her political focus. I wish for a just world that recognizes capable leaders for their contributions to development, particularly women like my wife Linda Kaingidza and stop polarizing the environment with propaganda.

This has been the norm in Zimbabwe particularly via social media, were excessive propaganda is used to destroy women in politics personalities. Families have been affected by propaganda spread via social media.

In conclusion, I love my wife @lilomatic & will stand by her until death does us part. To all those who have been trying to create enmity and dig negative information leading to the spreading of malicious statements about my wife, please stay away from my WhatsApp inbox.

The body of the late former president Robert Mugabe was embalmed in Singapore before being flown to Harare on Wednesday and is likely to be buried after a couple of weeks, the Zim Morning post reports.

Despite arriving last Wednesday, the body has never been taken to a local mortuary for safe keeping in a cold room yet it has been on public displays at Rufaro stadium for two days and then at the giant National Sports Stadium.

Family sources said the body was embalmed to last for five years without being taken to a cold room.

“The body was prepared and can last for five years in that state,” said the source.

“We knew it was going to take long to determine his final resting place so we had to be ready for that.

“We also knew that we wanted the body to lie in state at his Blue Roof until the day we are going to lay him to rest.“

The source also said the family has requested that his wife, former first lady be next to his coffin until he is laid to rest.

“That is why the body has never been taken to a morgue or local funeral palour,” the source said.

Meanwhile, it has been a week now since the former president died and his body has not decomposed regardless it being frequently moved from one place to another.

Medical doctors said a human body begins to decompose as soon as life ceases and after three days if no proper care is taken then no-one can get closer to the body.

Mugabe will only be buried after thirty days.

Embalming is the art and science of preserving human or animal remains intact by treating and making them suitable for public viewing for years.

Source: Zim Morning Post