Recently appointed state run Herald Newspaper editor Joram Nyathi has been fired from his job.

Highly placed sources indicated that Nyathi was apparently dismissed for publishing the arrival of President Emmerson on page 2 of The Herald on Tuesday.

Instead of running Mnangagwa’s return on the front page as the lead story, the publication instead featured the return of ZUPCO buses.

Though Nyathi’s departure has yet to be confirmed by Zimpapers group, publishers of the Herald the veteran journalist hinted at his unceremonious ouster; simply saying on Twitter;

The remark suggests he has been fired from the state media.

Mnangagwa loyalist Mayor Justice Wadyajena had warned earlier Tuesday the ruling party’s unhappiness of relegating Mnangagwa To the back against ZUPCO buses.

Remarked the Zanu PF legislator on Twitter;

Nyathi was only appointed Herald editor on December 18 last year, taking over from Caesar Zvayi.

Zimbabwe is likely to get its own new currency within the next month according to reports from local publication Mail and Telegraph.

According to the media sources, the currency was printed in March last year and is being kept safely at the vaults by the Central Bank.

The sources said the currency could not be introduced due to a number of political factors and confidence boost but the currency is likely to be launched within the next month.

They said the currency will be backed by gold and that government has been purchasing the gold through Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR).

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube also recently hinted that government would introduce own currency.

Ncube made the revelations during his address at the Global Shapers Community meeting held at the Celebration Center two weeks ago.

“We should be close on currency reforms. It will happen by stealth because we can’t. Currency reforms started October 2018 but we didn’t have fiscal discipline in place. We won’t capitulate to the USD but have currency reforms.

“We are less than 12 months away from currency reforms,” he said.

In an interview with Bloomberg in Davos, Switzerland on Monday, Ncube also revealed that a lot of work needed to be done in order to create an enabling environment for the reintroduction of the local currency.

“A lot needs to be done before the introduction of the Zimbabwean currency, which first of all is fiscal discipline, making sure we bring the budget deficit into single digits and that runaway Government expenditure is curtailed.” he said.

The opposition MDC leader who was billed to address a press conference to update the nation on his party position and the political situation in the country has cancelled his planned media briefing under unclear circumstances.

The briefing had been set for 1130am today at the party’s Morgan Tsvangirai house.

Chamisa was expected to tackle the issue of the planned dialogue meeting announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he arrived back home from his four-nation visit in Eastern Europe.

Yesterday, Chamisa called for the release of activists and party members detained in connection with last week’s national shutdown as a condition for resumption of dialogue.

By Own Correspondent| Leader of #ThisFlagMovement Pastor Evan Mawarire, has approached the High Court to be granted bail pending trial on treason charges.

Mawarire is being charged with contravening section 22(2) (a) (iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (subverting a constitutional government) or in the alternative being charged with inciting the public to commit public violence as envisaged in section 187(1) (b) as read with section 36(1) (a) of the Code.

In his application Mawarire said:

I aver that to peaceful challenge that the government should address the economic challenges is permissible under section 67(2) (a) of the Constitution. The same applies to a demand that the government pays workers in United States dollars and the allied request for the government to remove the bond notes

I aver that there is no State case from the papers. The main offence in question is only committed if an accused person, acting in or outside Zimbabwe (a) organises, or sets up, or advocates, or suggests the organisation or setting up of a group or body (b) for the purposes of coercing or attempting to coerce the government.-Newsday

Former Masvingo Minister of State, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has scoffed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa for failing to drive the nation to prosperity charging that leadership qualities are not sold in Russia, Khazakstan or Belarus where his former party colleague recently visited to seek cooperation and investment.

Posting on Twitter this morning, Bhasikiti said;

“Those who thought leading a nation is Kutonga,vazvivonera pamhino sefodya,governance demands wisdom,tolerance and fatherly heart to listen and care for all.I don’t want to pretend such qualities are sold in Russia&Kazakhstan,but in Zimbabwe.We shall not be fooled again.”

Government has made progress in terms of achieving conditions that need to be fulfilled on the macro-economic front before the reintroduction of local currency, according to Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.

This follows Minister Ncube’s announcement recently that the country will have its own currency within the next 12 months as Government moves to deal with inflationary pressures among other factors that are impeding economic turnaround efforts.

In an interview with Bloomberg in Davos, Switzerland on Monday, Minister Ncube indicated that he is implementing a cocktail of measures that include enforcing fiscal discipline, cutting runaway Government expenditure as well as increasing compliance on the country’s revenue collection front.

He said these measures were key towards creating an enabling environment for the reintroduction of the local currency.

“A lot needs to be done before the introduction of the Zimbabwean currency, which first of all is fiscal discipline, making sure we bring the budget deficit into single digits and that runaway Government expenditure is curtailed.”

He added; “Also making sure there is compliance on the revenue collection front — we need to build the micro-institutions for full monetary policy conduct in the sense of introducing a monetary policy committee, making sure we put in place a framework for inflation targeting but also growth targeting.

“Externally making sure we can begin to address our arrears in terms of what we owe to other nations, the Bretton institutions included, but fiscal discipline is key.

“If you noticed what has been happening, since October 2018 the premiums in the parallel market have stabilised and this is because of fiscal discipline,” said Minister Ncube.

Meanwhile, Prof Ncube also highlighted that treasury is expecting to significantly reduce annual inflation figures to a single digit by December this year.

“On the fiscal front, we continue to make sure there is fiscal discipline, cutting back on Government expenditure, making sure that it is not the fiscus that is adding to inflationary pressures. In December we are expecting inflation that is single-digit indeed.”

He, however, said it will take a few months to be able to bring inflation to a single-digit.

“We are coming from a low base and then with the sharp hike in October 2018 that has moved us to a higher level of the index and that creates a technically higher figure on inflation, but if we look at month-on-month, the figure for the last two months, it is single digit,” he said.

This comes as the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, recently revealed that Zimbabwe’s month-on-month food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation rate stood at 9,07 percent in December 2018, shedding 5,46 percentage points on the November 2018 rate of 14,53 percent.

State Media

By Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on national stakeholders to come forward for dialogue on the future of the country following last week’s wave of citizens protests.

In response opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has challenged Mnangagwa To first accord Zimbabweans freedom from repression before any thoughts of dialogue are entertained.

Below is the opposition leader’s full response to Mnangagwa.

We continue to mourn our lost relatives and empathise with the wounded and displaced fellow citizens.

“Our solution to the crisis requires sincerity, honesty and compassion for those we lead. It is not about lofty words or wordplay unsupported by conduct on the ground.

We’ve long offered a hand to resolve our national challenges.

Regrettably this hand has been spurned and mocked. It is sad that some seem to have reluctantly come to this realisation following the loss of lives.

It doesn’t have to be that way but such is the price of arrogance.

When people die, we come together and mourn together. We console the bereaved and show compassion.

Leaders console, comfort and apologise for wrongs that they have done.

It is not the time for a catalogue of excuses, explanations or justifications. We must show respect to Zimbabweans.

Going forward, we must correct wrongs now. We call for an immediate end to the crackdown and terror that has induced insecurity across the country.

We call for the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience and political detainees whose rights continue to be violated.

No nation can make progress without the rule of law and peace.

Zimbabwe can’t be open for anything without being open to its citizens’ concerns.

In order to dialogue, one’s tongue must be free to talk. The tongues of the nation are tied in jails and many others by fear. This must end.

We must repair our value system and moral fibre, to value human life.

We need morals revolution and values reset. Our laws mustn’t be abused.

Why should a right to demonstrate be followed by flowing rivers of blood and tears? We can’t claim to love God without loving his people.

Nelson Chamisa”

By Paul Nyathi|ZimEye.com readers have sent in yet to be confirmed reports that the government is tracking all citizens who turned to use Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access social media last week when government disconnected internet access in the country.

According to the readers, they have been receiving messages ordering them to report to the police and surrender their passports on charges of illegally accessing the internet when the government had disconnected them.

See the message below copied to ZimEye.com.

ZimEye.com is following up the issue for more details and is inviting anyone who has received a similar message to come forward and present it.

By Own Correspondent|Former Zimbabwe National Students Union who is also the current Southern Africa Students Union deputy president Alistar Pfunye has been picked up by security agents.

Pfunye, who according to sources was picked up around midnight (Tuesday) joins dozens of other youths and civilians arrested by the Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration following the #ShutdownZimbabwe protests.

Said activist Makomborero Haruzivishe:

“@edmnangagwa is calling for dialogue with civil society, is Chikurubi maximum prison the venue for national dialogue?”

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has condemned the excessive use of force by security details.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Commission said it is unfortunate that last week’s disturbances have led to a number of deaths of civilians and a police
officer.

Said ZHRC:

Whilst the Commission’s investigations are still in progress some facts have since been verified. For example, a 22 year old young man, Tinashe Choto died as a result of
gun shots and was buried on Saturday 19 January 2019. A post mortem report read to family members by the authorities confirmed the cause of death as gun shots.

Eye witnesses confirmed that the young man was shot near Makoni Police station during a face-off between the protesters and law enforcement agents. This is what incensed the protesters leading to the attack of Makoni Police Station.

At least 8 deaths have been reported to the Commission and mostly attributed to use of live ammunition. Whilst the police officers in charge were not forthcoming with their side of the story, the verified facts raise a lot of questions around the crowd control capacity of the law enforcement agents.

They seem to resort to use of brute, excessive and disproportionate force in most circumstances thereby causing avoidable loss of life and also worsening the situation.

Below is the full text of the report by the ZHRC:

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association has raised the flag over the conduct of members of the security forces who are on a rampage intimidating and threatening citizens.

The organisation reports that the Chairperson of the ARDA Transau Relocation Development Trust, Donald Masvaure was threatened with unspecified action by members of the security forces who told him to stop mobilizing the community to seek legal redress in a pending court case.

Said ZELA in a statement:

The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is saddened by the reports of events that occurred at around 22:00hrs on the 21st January in ARDA Transau.

ZELA received disturbing reports that on the said night, a group of men who identified themselves as members of the security forces intimidated and threatened the Chairperson of the ARDA Transau Relocation Development Trust, Donald Masvaure, at his place of residence with unspecified action should he continue to mobilize the community to seek legal redress in a pending court case.

The threats and intimidation came at a time when the Trustees of the ARDA Transau Relocation Development Trust, led by Masvaure were planning on convening a meeting to update the community on the progress of their case set down for hearing at the Mutare High Court on the 24th January 2019 before Justice Mwayera.

The residents are being represented by lawyers who have been instructed by ZELA. In the said case, the Trust is seeking an order compelling the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to furnish it with the records and all documents pertaining to the relocation of the residents of ARDA Transau from Chiadzwa.

It also seeks an order compelling the same Minister to furnish information relating to the tenure system to be given to the relocated residents.

The Trust and the residents as a whole have a constitutional right to access the requested information guaranteed by the section 62 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Accordingly, the court will be persuaded on the 24th of January to make a finding that the Attorney General neglected his duties and obligation to promote, protect and uphold the Constitution and defend the public as provided for in section 114(4) of the Constitution by failing to advise the Minister of Local Government and Public Works and National Housing.

ZELA categorically condemns these unlawfully actions aimed at stopping or discouraging communities to assert their rights through the courts.

It is worth noting that the residents as represented by the Trust have the right to access the courts in Zimbabwe as enshrined in section 69(3) of the Constitution. The realisation of this right should not be discouraged through unlawful and forceful means. The threats and intimidation have no place in a constitutional democracy like Zimbabwe.

ZELA calls upon the Zimbabwe Republic Police to investigate the incident, identify the culprits and bring them to book in line with their constitutional mandate as provided for in section 219 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Furthermore, ZELA is concerned about the security and safety of the residents of ARDA Transau and is appealing to all the relevant authorities to give all the necessary support and protection in order to ensure that justice prevails.

By Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has justified the fuel price increases which triggered last week’s protest arguing that while the move may not be popular, it was the right thing to do.

Mnangagwa said this shortly after his arrival from his aborted 5 nations international trip. He added that while citizens had a right to protest, the protests should be peaceful which is not what transpired during #ShutdownZimbabwe.

Said Mnangagwa:

“I was aware that these measures may not be popular, and this was not a decision we took lightly. But it was the right thing to do. What followed was regrettable and tragic. Everyone has the right to protest, but this was not a peaceful protest.

Wanton violence and cynical destruction; looting police stations, stealing guns and uniforms; incitement and threats of violence, this is not the Zimbabwean way.”

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe Youth Alliance chairman Kumbirai Learnmore Magorimbo was abducted and brutally tortured by state agents before being thrown into Chikurubi maximum prison, ZimEye has learnt.

Magorimbo joins several other civil society leaders, opposition members and civilians who have borne the brunt of state sponsored violence and incarceration following last week’s protests over the deteriorating economic situation in the country triggered by the fuel price increases.

State security minister Owen Ncube is on record attributing the violence and “acts of terror” which rocked the nation to opposition stalwarts accusing them of working in carhoots with civil society organisations.

Ncube said government treated the protests against fuel price increases and the violence and looting which ensured thereafter as treason.

Unconfirmed reports by civic organisations allege that over 12 people have died since day 1 of the #ShutdownZimbabwe protest but government confirms that only 5 people died.

State security agents on the other hand have since the protests been abducting and torturing opposition, civil society leaders and civilians some in the dead of the night and throwing them behind bars in a development which replicates the former president Robert Mugabe era.

Following his arrival from his aborted international trip, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appreciated the “calm and peace” in the country ignoring reports of the gross human rights violations against citizens by security agents.

He promised that investigations will be conducted regarding what transpired in the country during his absence and “heads will roll” in a development which has been described by analysts as mere rhetoric considering the presence and continued abduction, torture and incarceration of opposition supporters, civil society leaders and civilians at the hands of state security agents.

By Own Correspondent|Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Welfare, Cde Victor Matemadanda has revealed that the government is working on a massive funding project for war veterans.

The project, aims to compliment artisanal miners’ mining activities and empower the liberation fighters.

The development comes amid revelations that the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Welfare in collaboration with the National Business Council of Zimbabwe have also embarked on a programme to create a national database of freedom fighters whose main objective is to assist them venture into empowerment projects.

Chief among the projects, which Deputy Minister Matemadanda presented to the veterans of the struggle leadership in Harare, was a gold mining project which will see freedom fighters funded to venture into massive production of the yellow metal to boost reserves.

“The war veterans will go under training to come up with viable entities in gold production, agriculture and other sectors of the economy through the assistance of the National Business Council of Zimbabwe.”

The programme to empower the war veterans will see the National Business Council of Zimbabwe embarking on a countrywide census to identify and register the freedom fighters who will benefit under the new War Veterans Fund.-StateMedia

Paul Nyathi|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Mr Kumbirai Hodzi who came a distant seventh in public interviews as the country’s substantive Prosecutor-General, against ten other prominent lawyers who had applied for the position.

Mnangagwa is set to swear in Hodzi as Zimbabwe’s substantive Prosecutor-General at State House on Wednesday morning.
 
Hodzi, has been serving as Acting PG for almost a year.

ZimEye.com can confirm that Hodzi came 7th during the public interviews held by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in November last year.

The JSC submitted the names of the top three performers to Mnangagwa for consideration as required by the Constitution.

Former principal law officer Calvin Mantsebo came first with former student activist Tinomudaishe Chinyoka and president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe Misheck Hogwe coming second and third respectively.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabiza confirmed to local media that Mnangagwa had asked for new names after the three were presented claiming that they all did not meet his expectations.

There were reports by some sections of the media that the names of the top three performers in the public interviews held last year were rejected by Mnangagwa as Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Virginia Mabiza preferred Hodzi. 

The sources said Mnangagwa ruled out Mantsebo on the basis that very little was known about him, while Chinyoka was discredited for his previous association with the opposition MDC.

Mnangagwa’s reservations about Mantsebo and Chinyoka effectively meant Hogwe would be the automatic choice, but influential senior officials from the Justice ministry opposed his appointment.

Included on the original shortlist was former MDC legislator Ms Jessie Majome, former High Court Judge Mr Maphios Cheda, Acting Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi and Bulawayo lawyer Mr Tavengwa Hara.

Initial speculation was high that Jessie Majome would land the post.

Other shortlisted candidates are former deputy prosecutor general Mrs Florence Ziyambi, lawyers Mrs Wendy Mangeya, Edmund Edios Marondedza and Ms Noria Mashumba.

The post fell vacant following the suspension and subsequent resignation of Advocate Ray Goba in July last year.

Mr Hodzi has been Acting PG since July 24 last year. He had been Deputy Attorney-General in charge of the Legal Advice Section since 2012.

Exiled former cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has assured people that his relationship with Zanu PF ended with the November 2017 military coup that displaces long time ruler President Robert Mugabe with his long time ally Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Posting on his Twitter account this evening, Moyo said he regrets ever joining Zanu PF to change it and will never return to the party led by the people who led the brutal murder of his father in 1983.

“I tell my father I regret I understood better after the damage had been done that by joining ZanuPF to change it; I risked having ZanuPF changing me. I assure him I’m done with ZanuPF & that my family will disown me if I ever again rejoin it in any disguise, shape or form,” said Moyo.

Since his dismissal from Zanu PF, Moyo has become one of the fiercest critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa whom he accused of masterminding the gukurahundi atrocities in Midlands and Matebeleland in the early 80s

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC Councillor Charles Ngwena in Marondera central, has just been picked up by soldiers from his home, ZimEye has learnt.

In a news alert issued recently, the MDC information department said Ngwena was taken by soldiers from his home but did not disclose further details regarding the exact time that he was taken.

Said the opposition MDC in a news alert:

News Alert: Councillor Charles Ngwena of Ward 4 in Marondera central, has just been picked up by soldiers from his home.

By Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC has called for an immediate end to the terror and insecurity which has engulfed the country following the unleashing of violence against members of the opposition, civil society leaders and citizens following the #ShutdownZimbabwe.

The party said going forward, the country’s leaders should prioritise sincerity, honesty and compassion for those that they lead calling for the release of political prisoners.

Said MDC in a statement:

We continue to mourn our lost relatives and empathise with the wounded and displaced fellow citizens. Our solution to the crisis requires sincerity, honesty and compassion for those we lead.

It is not about lofty words or wordplay unsupported by conduct on the ground. We have long offered a hand to resolve our national challenges. Regrettably this hand has been spurned and mocked.

It is sad that some seem to have reluctantly come to this realisation following the loss of lives. It does not have to be that way, but such is the price of arrogance.

When people die, we come together and mourn together. We console the bereaved and show compassion. Leaders console comfort and apologise for wrongs that they have done.

It is not the time for a catalogue of excuses, explanations or justifications. We must show respect to Zimbabweans

Going forward, we must correct wrongs now. We call for an immediate end to the crackdown and terror that has induced insecurity across the country.

We call for the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience and political detainees whose rights continue to be violated.

No nation can make progress without the rule of law and peace. Zimbabwe cannot be open for anything without being open to its citizens’ concerns.

In order to dialogue, one’s tongue must be free to talk. The tongues of the nation are tied in jails and many others by fear. This must end.

We must repair our value system and moral fibre, to value human life. We need morals revolution and values reset. Our laws must not be abused.

Why should a right to demonstrate be followed by flowing rivers of blood and tears? We cannot claim to love God without loving HIS people!

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

THE opposition MDC will today hold an urgent caucus meeting at the party headquarters in Harare to discuss the arrests of several of their legislators over the weekend and persecution of several others who have now gone into hiding after being accused of orchestrating last week’s countrywide stayaway.

Several legislators, including leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Tabitha Khumalo, Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North), Job Sikhala (Zengeza West), Maxwell Mavhunga (Chitungwiza South), Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Happymore Chidziva (Highfield West), Joana Mamombe (Harare West) and Mashonaland West Senator Voice Chinake, are in hiding.

MDC chief whip in the National Assembly, Prosper Mutseyami, yesterday said that the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House meeting today would tackle issues to do with victimisation of their members, whom he said were being brutalised, tortured and refused treatment.

“Tomorrow [today], we will hold a party caucus for MDC Alliance MPs at Harvest House in Harare, with the view of discussing their victimisation because it is not fair,” Mutseyami said.

“The agenda is to get details from the MPs of what they have gone through and the trauma that they have experienced, as well as what their fellow constituents have also gone through because our members were not involved in organising the demonstrations.”

This came as the United Nations called for a peaceful resolution to the current challenges in the country.

“The United Nations strongly believes that the current challenges in the country can only be resolved through peaceful and consultative processes,” the UN said in a statement last night.

“In line with Zimbabwe’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, upholding rule of law and ensuring the protection of human rights of all Zimbabweans at all times is critical for accelerated economic recovery, inclusive growth and sustainable development.”

Labour and civil rights organisations called for the stayaway when President Emmerson Mnangagwa raised fuel prices by nearly 150% nearly two weeks ago, which turned violent when government reacted by unleashing the armed soldiers and police on civilians throughout the country.

The State also blocked the Internet to prevent the brutal crackdown being broadcast to the world, in what analysts say is evidence that the country is slipping back into authoritarian rule.

Several opposition MPs and labour officials have been arrested, while others have gone into hiding to escape the clampdown, with lawyers and human rights groups saying at least 12 people were killed and 78 others treated for bullet wounds during the protests.

Mutseyami said the meeting would discuss several issues affecting the country, and thereafter, a statement would be issued pertaining to what the MDC MPs would have discussed as the way forward.

He said the MPs that have been arrested so far included Amos Chibaya (Mkoba), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Winnie Kankuni (Sunningdale), Lloyd Mukapiko (Redcliff), Rusty Markham (Harare North) and Livingston Chimina (Chiwundura).

“Those that have been arrested are going through trauma and have no access to food or hospitals. Our caucus meeting will map the way forward and thereafter, we will issue a Press statement. We appeal to our legislators to try to make it to Harare,” Mutseyami said.

“The relatives of those MPs that are in hiding have also suffered a lot, with their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers being tortured to force them to disclose their whereabouts. We are under siege as MDC Alliance members, although these demonstrations were not organised by us.

“But we are genuinely with the people and send our condolences to families of those that were killed during the demonstrations. We are terribly sorry for the unjustified deaths because loss of life is the worst thing that can happen in a democracy.”

Government and the Zanu PF party have sought to pin the violence on the opposition party, despite several of its officials, a senior army and police officer being arrested for burning buses, looting, violence and leading the protests.

“These arrests are a clear clampdown on our party for no reason. It is problematic because one of our top members [Chibaya] has been arrested and we do not know how far to the top [echelons of the party] they want to go because, clearly, they are determined to extinguish the party,” MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said.

“It is clear that this is a strategy to just weaken the MDC,” he said, adding that they would then force them into a false interparty dialogue. The issue in Zimbabwe has nothing to do with MDC, but they are conveniently roping in the MDC because they are so scared of the MDC, they are so afraid of MDC and they literally see the MDC in everything.

“There is persecution, which is in violation of the fundamental rights of the Constitution. They have arrested over 800 people from the structures and in some cases, it’s not even the police, it’s Zanu PF activists literally leading police officers to say go and arrest there, yet it’s common cause that the people who reigned terror in Harare included Zanu PF youths.”

Khumalo yesterday petitioned Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda expressing her concern over persecution of MDC Alliance legislators by State security agents.

“I write this letter as the leader of the main opposition in the Parliament of Zimbabwe to express my disappointment and concern over the wanton and unwarranted arrests and persecution of MDC Alliance Members of Parliament by various State agents … our legislators have been arrested on trumped-up charges and a number of them are being hunted and victimised for their MDC membership,” she wrote.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services has appeared to diss vice President Constantino Chiwenga for failing to deal with what he termed “indiscipline” while posting on Twitter celebrating the return of President Emmerson Mnangagwa from his four nation visit.

Posting on Twitter last night, Mangwana welcomed the return of Mnangagwa saying he will encourage peace and unity.

“The return of HE tonight is welcome news. We know his message will be about peace, unity and that in Zimbabwe we are one family. Brother shouldn’t fight bro. The Zimbabwean say is illustrated by hie we treat each other. HE hates in discipline and will firmly deal with it,” tweeted Mangwana.

He said Mnangagwa hates indiscipline and will firmly deal with it, in what appears to be pointers to the factionalism that has returned to Zanu PF.

During Mnangagwa’s absence, there were reports of cracks in Zanu PF with Gokwe Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena and former Harare East MP Terrence Mukupe revealing that there was a plot within Zanu PF to impeach Mnangagwa.

Dear Mr Speaker Hon. Adv. Jacob Mudenda,

I write this letter as the leader of the Main  Opposition in the Parliament of Zimbabwe to express my disappointment and concern over the wanton and unwarranted arrests and persecution of MDC-Alliance Members of Parliament by various State Agents. To date, four of our Legislators have been arrested on trumped up charges and a number of them are being hunted and victimized for their MDC Membership.

Whilst it is agreed that no one is above the Law, it is emerging that there are others that are more equal than others and actually above the Country’s Laws. For the record, the Constitution of Zimbabwe confers prominence to the fact that all Institutions, Agencies of the State, Government and all Individuals are accountable to Parliament. Even the Presidency as an Arm of the State is not exempt from accountability to Parliament. Compliance with all relevant Constitutional provisions is obligatory and never discretionary. Section.2(2) of the Constitution makes it crystal clear that the obligations imposed by the Constitution are binding on every Person, Natural or Juristic, including the State, all Executive, Legislative, Judicial Institutions and Agencies of Government at every level.

To our surprise some members of the Uniformed Forces and Judiciary are behaving in a manner that portrays tendencies which are in conflict to these provisions.

It is for this reason that I consider it of paramount significance that the Constitution be upheld, respected and defended, particularly by those holding high offices like Your esteemed office, Presidency and Uniformed Forces. In this regard the unleashing of the Security Forces on the MDC MPs and the General Public without the express authority of Parliament is very worrying.

Some MDC Alliance Legislators have been arrested and persecuted for the stay away which as common knowledge was   called for by the suffering Working Class of Zimbabwe. Their call for the action was motivated by the various Socio-Economic challenges that are bedeviling our Nation. Obviously, the hiking of fuel price and its ripple effects to the general cost of living.

Consequently, some of the MPs are being charged for alleged attempts to subvert the sitting Zanu PF Government. In this regard we strongly feel that these are trumped up frivolous charges meant to frustrate and prejudice their social standing and that of the MDC-Alliance.  

For Your record and urgent attention, the following MPs have been unfairly arrested Mbizo’s Hon. Settlement Chikwinya, Redcliff’s Hon. Lloyd Mukapiko, Mkoba’s Hon. Amos Chibaya and Chiwundura’s Hon. Levi Chiminya and are still on remand. A host of other MDC MPs are being threatened and haunted by the State Security Agencies. All is being done for no good reasons. It must be highlighted to you that Opposition MP’s are also Citizens who deserve respect just like their Zanu PF counterparts thus we call upon you to always ensure that this remains the case always.  

Since Parliament is opening on the 29th of January, 2019 I am extremely worried for the safety of my MPs.  

I am also concerned with the widespread victimization of MDC Members and the Public at large throughout the Country. Parliament through Your Office must as of necessity, implore all Members of the Uniformed Forces involved in various operations to always respect Human Rights in their execution of duty,

In conclusion, I therefore humbly appeal for Your urgent intervention on this matter for the safety of all my Honorable Members of Parliament and the Public at large.

Yours sincerely,

Thabitha Khumalo (MP)
Leader of the Opposition House in Parliament.
MDC Alliance National Chairperson

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) said its members will go on strike with effect from today, due to the worsening local economic situation.

Zimta’s announcement yesterday was made as other unions also warned that they would embark on a nationwide strike at the lapse of their 14-day notice on Friday this week.

Speaking to Daily News, Zimta chief executive officer Sifiso Sibanda said they rejected Government’s 19% salary increase offer. Said Sibanda:

The situation remains the same and we remain incapacitated. Government has not done anything to address the plight of teachers. So come tomorrow, (today) teachers will not report for work because they are incapacitated … that is the official position.

We have totally rejected the offer that the government has made as it is insignificant and does not address our needs. The employer must understand that we are workers and we need to survive. 

Some of the teachers have to spend $10 per day on transport and that takes away all their earnings. It is the duty of the government to source for money to pay its employees.

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) also said its members were preparing to go on strike at the expiry of the two-week ultimatum on Friday.

Daily News

Paul Nyathi |Former President Robert Mugabe’s last son Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe has scoffed at Zimbabweans for celebrating the removal of his father in November 2017.

According to the talkative and controversial younger Mugabe, he actually laughed when he saw peole celebrating when they replaced his father with his “bouncers” as he knew that this would not end well in the future.

The word bouncers is an apparent reference to President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is widely reported to have been Mugabe’s enforcer during his almost 4 decades in power. Writing on Twitter, Chatunga said

I laughed when my fellow brothers and sisters celebrated the removal of President RG my Dad and replaced him with his bouncers taizviziva kwazvichasvika here we go.

The tweet was sent at a time when President Emmerson Mnangagwa aborted his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland to deal with the crisis at home.

While he was away there was a fierce protest which started when the president announced a 150 percent increase in the price of fuel.  The government responded by launching a vicious and brutal crackdown on civilians which resulted in at least 12 dead and hundreds maimed and severely assaulted by uniformed forces.

Chatunga went further to accuse the ruling party for executing the violence during the citizens protests held last week. According to Chatunga, the party faked a coup attempt story in order to divert attention from the killings that took place during the protests.

The younger Mugabe seems to be becoming more and more politically conscious with each passing day as he has not taken to social media to give his own commentary on Zimbabwe’s social and political affairs. Chatunga has also taken to criticising President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s policies and those of his government.

ZANU-PF Matabeleland North province has set up command centres around the province for easy surveillance of violent protests.

Zanu-PF provincial chair for Matabeleland North Richard Moyo, who is also Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, said the party provincial leadership convened a provincial inter-district meeting in Lupane on Sunday where a resolution to establish command centres was made.

Community leaders including war veterans, youths and traditional leaders will be used as point persons at the command centres at village, ward, constituency, district and provincial level.

They will be assisted by security agents, Moyo said.

“People were asking about their safety following events around the country although we are happy as a province that we had no such problems.

“We decided that as a party elected by people we come up with command centres to deal with violent protests and protect people. Security services are ready and as a party we are also ready to deal with any criminal elements and protect our people,” he said

Moyo said the command centres would be used to convey information about any suspicious people and activities in each area.

“We encourage every member of the community to help maintain peace in the province,” he added.

“We are the prime tourism province in the country and we’re glad that tourism was not affected by last week’s events as it was business as usual especially in Victoria Falls.”

Matabeleland North remained calm when Zimbabwe was rocked by violent protests on Monday and Tuesday last week characterised by destruction of property, looting, burning of shops, closure of schools and industry with Bulawayo and Harare provinces the epicentres.

Moyo said while Matabeleland North recorded no incidents of violence last week, the party felt there is a need to ensure security of the general populace.

State Media

GOVERNMENT has appealed to parents to send their children to school as most schools recorded a low turn-out yesterday despite security guarantees by the authorities.

Schools suspended lessons last week due to violent protests organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and its allies.

Education officials in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South told Chronicle yesterday that there was serious apathy at schools as children did not turn up for lessons.

In an interview yesterday, Bulawayo acting provincial education director, Mrs Olicah Kaira said she was worried by the low turn-out in schools.

“It was a normal day on Monday 21 January in the majority of our schools in the province, teacher attendance was good but we did not have the majority of our students. I went around the schools and I found out that students’ attendance was very low. We are appealing to parents, guardians to send their children to school. Teachers are eager to execute their duties in schools,” said Mrs Kaira.

She said when pupils return to school, teachers will go an extra mile to cover up for lost time.

“We will make sure that we cover the syllabus as expected of us that’s why we are appealing to all parents and guardians in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province to send children to school. We are ready, we want to return to the classroom,” she said.

Mrs Kaira said the delay in resumption of lessons would also affect the sporting calendar which is among the top activities in the first term.

“The sporting calendar has started. Our schedule is tight; there is a lot of activity that we need to do in our schools, so we need children back in schools. We have to be in the classroom; we have to start athletics. The first term is athletics season so we don’t need to inconvenience ourselves and inconvenience the students as well,” she said.

When Chronicle conducted a snap survey yesterday morning some pupils were on their way back home saying there are no lessons at school while others were playing in school grounds.

Mrs Kaira said there were no reported incidents of missing pupils as a result of the violent protests.

She said all children from Bulawayo were accounted for and are safely in the custody of their parents and guardians.

Turning to the issue of a job action by teachers, Mrs Kaira said she was not aware of any strike as was circulating on social media.

Matabeleland North acting provincial education director Mr Jabulani Mpofu said: “Pupils turned up for lessons but not all of them. We urge parents to release their children, so I engaged our Provincial Affairs Minister, [Richard] Moyo to assist us in engaging parents because most parents were still hesitant and I’m sure he has issued a Press statement to that effect,” said Mr Mpofu.

Matabeleland South acting provincial education director Mr Lifias Masukume also appealed to parents to send their children to school.

“All schools are open but the turnout by the learners was very low. The teaching staff and headmasters were there but the learners were very few. We hope those who attended school today will tell their classmates that lessons went on normally today,” said Mr Masukume.

Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association Chief Executive Officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu, said most teachers were incapacitated but they were not on strike.

“I want it to be known that teachers are failing to get to work as they are currently incapacitated. They are not on strike but just do not have the necessary means and resources to get to their work stations and deliver lessons effectively. Transport fares have gone up so most cannot go to work, especially those working in rural areas where they have to pay doubled fares,” he said.

“Food has gone up as well. Those teachers that are reporting for duty are doing so from the benevolence of their families, for example those that have children in the diaspora. We hope for engagements that will put us in a better situation.”

State Media

LEGAL think-tank, Veritas yesterday said the now infamous fuel price hike announced by government a fortnight ago was illegal as the prices were fixed by Energy minister Joram Gumbo instead of the fuel sector regulator as per law.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the new prices nearly two weeks ago, torching countrywide protests that lasted the whole of last week. The protests resulted in the deaths of 12 people, according to lawyers and human rights groups, while 78 were treated for gunshot wounds and over 700 arrested as State security agents clamped down on the alleged violent protesters.

Veritas said SI 10 of 2019 was in contravention of the Petroleum Act as the new fuel prices were illegally fixed by the Energy minister instead of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera).

It said the law also required that the new fuel prices be gazetted, which was never done, and they also raised a red flag over another SI 9 of 2019 which also raised duty on fuel products.

SI 10 of 2019 was published by Gumbo to set out the formula by which fuel prices would be fixed on the same day that Mnangagwa announced the new fuel prices.

“The SI may be ultra vires the Petroleum Act under which it was made because it was purportedly made by the minister after consultation with Zera, but section 54 of the Act states that Zera, after consultation with the minister, must prescribe the prices for petroleum products,” Veritas said in a statement.

It said the Statutory Instrument was made by the wrong person (Gumbo).

“The SI does not mention the new fuel prices announced by the President on January 12 of $3,31 per litre for petrol and $3,11 per litre for diesel, and the President did not mention Zera when announcing them,” they said, adding that if Zera did not fix the prices, then they were invalid.

Veritas said although Zera posted the new fuel prices on its website three days after Mnangagwa announced them, it still has not published the new prices in a national newspaper or in the Government Gazette as required by law.

“When Mnangagwa announced the new prices, he said that foreign missions and tourists would be able to buy fuel at designated garages for special prices at US$1,32 per litre for petrol and US$1,24 per litre for diesel fuel, but neither the SI nor Zera’s website mentions these special prices,” Veritas said.

It also said the special prices were not sustainable in view of the fact that on the same day as Mnangagwa’s announcement, another SI 9 of 2019 under the Customs and Excise Act raised duty on petrol to US$2,31 per litre and on diesel fuel to US$2,05 per litre, which points to that the duty must be paid in United States dollars, exceeding the special prices announced by Mnangagwa.

“The confusion is made worse by the President reportedly having said these prices are predicated on the ruling official exchange rate of 1:1 between the bond note and the United States dollar. This statement and the two-tier pricing announced are contradictory,” Veritas said.

SI 10 of 2019 stipulated, among other issues, that procurement licensees must not sell fuel at more than $0,10 cents profit margin per litre.

“Any person who is found selling petroleum products above the prescribed wholesale price or retailing price as prescribed by the authority, or fails to display the current and corresponding prescribed prices of petroleum products in a prominent place and on the dispensing unit at their retail outlet shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level nine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” the regulations read.

ZANU PF politburo member Tshinga Dube has urged the country’s political leaders to take a cue from Kenya and engage in the aftermath of last week’s deadly protests so as to find a lasting solution to the deepening socio-economic crisis.

Reports say about a dozen people were killed, while around 172 were injured and over 800 rounded up by members of the security forces in protests over a spike in the cost of living and fuel price hike.

Dube, a former Defence and War Veterans minister, said Zimbabwe stands to benefit a lot if the country’s political leaders — particularly Zanu PF’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC’s Nelson Chamisa — take a cue from Kenya and dialogue “without pride and prejudice”.

“Some of these problems have been recurring. They did not start with the new dispensation. They have been there from the last regime. All we have to do is to work as hard as possible to resolve them amicably. I think the best thing we have to do is to sit down as the country’s leaders and talk to each other without any pride or prejudice,” Tshinga, a former Makokoba constituency legislator, told Southern Eye.

“When you are running a country, all of us who are running this country, we are not owners of this country. Anyone can do our job, but we must think of the people first. Now, we hear that 12 people have been shot dead and that is a result of failure to solve our problems.”

Several organisations and churches have called for dialogue between Mnangagwa and Chamisa to end the political logjam and find solutions to the biting socio-economic crisis.

While Zanu PF has issued different statements on the issue, Chamisa recently said he had tried some avenues for dialogue without success, and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) offered to broker the talks.

“In Kenya, the two parties were at serious loggerheads…thousands of people died (in Kenya), what for? They found out that it was not necessary to have all these people die for their sake. They sat down and today, they sit together to solve problems of their country. They are now like brothers,” Dube said.

“It would be a very good solution if we convinced the leaders of both parties to have a dialogue. But I know there are people who think taking hard-line positions means you are a great revolutionary. It is not necessary.”

The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission, in a statement last week, also reiterated calls for national dialogue to address the “situation in our country and foster peace and development”.

NewsDay

By Own Correspondent| Speaking to the state owned Herald soon after his arrival in Harare, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appreciated the calm and peace in the country urging citizens to concentrate on their work while utilising the appropriate channels of airing their complaints.

Mnangagwa said his administration’s thrust is on economic development as a way of growing the country’s economy.

Said Mnangagwa who was welcomed back home by the two vice presidents Retired army general Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi, service chiefs and several other government ministers:

“I will be fully briefed … on what was happening. I am happy that the country is quiet.

Our people must concentrate on doing their work. The thrust is economic development; we must grow our economy.

“We want peace, we want unity among our people. There are channels for complaints if anyone has any complaints. This is the spirit and culture that we want as Zimbabweans to be developed.”

By Talent Gondo| In an interview with The Herald, Zanu Pf apologist Tafadzwa Mugwadi commended urban dwellers for resisting the call for a second round of protests.

Said Mugwadi:

This is a clear signal that the tomfooleries in the opposition and their proxies have over-exaggerated their influence on the people after taking advantage of the difficulties associated with last week in particular. Zimbabweans, urban dwellers in particular, should be commended for completely ignoring the calls to re-protest by the merchants of violence in the rank and files of the opposition whose political fortunes only rise at the horrible sights of looting, arson, wanton destruction of property and violence against peace loving citizens. The normalcy that characterised Monday (yesterday) is a strong and categorical indictment of the devil’s angels by all Zimbabweans, including those who have been detained or hiding that last week’s unprovoked violence was regrettable and must never visit our dear society again.

By Talent Gondo|Zimbabwe National Youth Service Graduates Association (ZNYSGA) popularly known as green bombers have launched a manhunt for all the organisers of last week’s national shutdown which saw Masvingo city closed and roads blocked by burning tyres and stones.

The youths stormed the offices of the Community Tolerance, Reconciliation and Development (Cotrad), a civil society organisation, accusing them of mobilising people to revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

ZNYSGA says that it has evidence against all the organisers of the shutdown in Masvingo and will not rest until they are all brought to book.

ZNYSGA national public relations officer Tariro Bwerinofa said they will work with the police to make sure that they bring all hooligans to justice.

Said Bwerinofa:

As the national youth service, we will not watch hooliganism gain ground in our country. We will take a stand and make sure that they face justice. We will work with the police as we hunt down all the culprits because we have evidence and our intelligence reported that the Cotrad people were busy mobilising people telling them to block roads and burn tires. We know that they have been using their car to carry the tires which were later burnt in the middle of our roads blocking free movement of cars.

Seven Cotrad members were last week arrested after the green bombers surrounded their offices before calling the police who took them to Masvingo Central Police Station. The 7 were released after the charges against them could not stick.-Mail and Telegraph

By Talent Gondo| Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services secretary, Nick Mangwana has warned that President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is expected back home tonight will firmly deal with indiscipline.

Mangwana’s statement that the President will deal with indiscipline comes amid revelations that a section of Zanu-PF was working to impeach Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa announced on Twitter on Sunday that he was abandoning his trip and is coming back to Zimbabwe to deal with the Shutdown Zimbabwe crisis.

Said Mangwana:

The return of HE tonight is welcome news. We know his message will be about peace, unity & that in Zimbabwe we are one family. Brother shouldn’t fight bro. The Zimbabwean way is illustrated by how we treat each other. HE hates in discipline and will firmly deal with it.

By Own Correspondent|ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa is back in the country following his return home last night.

On arrival, the state owned Herald reported that Mnangagwa said he was happy that the country was now peaceful following a few days of “opposition-led violence” that resulted in loss of lives, injury and damage to property.

Said Mnangagwa:“I will be fully briefed … on what was happening. I am happy that the country is quiet.

“Our people must concentrate on doing their work. The thrust is economic development; we must grow our economy.

“We want peace, we want unity among our people. There are channels for complaints if anyone has any complaints. This is the spirit and culture that we want as Zimbabweans to be developed.”

Mnangagwa said he will release a statement on deals clinched during his tour.

By Own Correspondent|Former Zanu Pf youth league leader Jim Kunaka appeared before Harare magistrate Francis Mapfumo facing charges of subverting a constitutionally elected Government or alternatively inciting public violence.

Kunaka, unsuccessfully challenged his placement on remand and the matter was remanded to January 31.

Prosecuting, Shepherd Makonde said Kunaka incited citizens to carry out nationwide shutdown and to stay away from work using his Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp accounts.

The State alleges Kunaka participated and also urged the people to take part in acts of public violence.

In his application which was dismissed by the court, Kunaka was arguing that there was no reasonable suspicion warranting his placement on remand but the State opposed the application on the basis that the facts as presented by the State disclosed a reasonable suspicion that Kunaka committed an offence.

Kunaka was remanded in custody to January 31 2019 pending trial.-Mail and Telegraph

By Own Correspondent| A councilor in the opposition MDC Alliance Godfrey Kurauone has joined the fray of other opposition stalwarts who have gone into hiding following the crackdown on opposition party members over the #ShutdownZimbabwe protests by Zanu Pf, soldiers and the police.

Kurauone reportedly escaped to South Africa seeking refuge after he received a tip off that Zanu-PF members and soldiers were hunting him down and wanted to beat him for mobilising people to stay away from work and engage in acts of violence.

However, he denied the allegations that he mobilised people for the stay away saying the people of Zimbabwe are not children who need mobilisation to express themselves and demand their rights.

The ward 4 councilor said he will return to Zimbabwe when the dust settles.

Said Kurauone:

I have decided to run away for my safety because I would rather be safe than sorry. I do not know why they are targeting me because I never mobilised anyone. The people of Zimbabwe are not children who needs mobilisation. They can think for themselves and act upon their own will so to say Kurauone mobilised people boggles the mind. But the situation in the country is scary and you may be lucky to be given time to explain. If it was the police looking for me I would not have run because they enforce the law. I have my friends who warned me that even some Zanu PF members wanted to beat me up. I am safely in South Africa now and will return home soon once the dust settles

By Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended an olive branch to opposition, civil society organisations and the religious leaders to a dialogue arguing that everyone needs to set their differences aside for the benefit of the ordinary person.

Mnangagwa said what unites Zimbabweans is much stronger than what divides them.

Said Mnangagwa:

Paul Nyathi|ZANU-PF activist Acie Lumumba is confident that there will not be another coup in Zimbabwe. In a cryptic tweet today, Lumumba said that there is a battle between two senior figures, a battle to keep support form the financier (Queen B probably.

“It’s time; There is a power wrangle at the top. @edmnangagwa doesn’t want you to know who, you know who doesn’t want @edmnangagwa. Between the 2 is also the battle to keep support from the financier (who is the most lucrative pipeline available FOR NOW). There will be NO COUP!,” Lumumba said.

He added that there will not be another national shutdown as people are afraid of losing their lives. He suggested that Zimbabweans are quick to forget and are keen to move on with their lives.

Said Lumumba: “There will be no more shutdown/stay away. Business lost a lot last week, they can’t afford to stay shut.

“Also, those who stayed away gained nothing so they don’t see the point. Self-preservation is why there will be no more shutdown. Zimbabweans move on quickly!”

Acie further warns that Oppah Muchinguri who is rumoured to be favourite amongst ZANU PF rebels to take over from Mnangagwa when he is eventually removed is the person to watch.

SOUTH Africa’s largest trade union, the Congress of South African Trade (COSATU) has reportedly thrown its weight behind a planned march by Zimbabweans living in that country on February 1, against the Zanu PF led government.

The march will be held in Pretoria as a follow up to the countrywide fatal protests held in the country last week following a 150 percent hike in fuel prices announced by the government.

In an interview with CITE from his base in Johannesburg, Chairperson of the African Diaspora Forum (ADF), Dr Vusumuzi Sibanda confirmed COSATU would use its influence to support the Zimbabwean cause.

He said a lot of meetings had taken place in South Africa since the protests started, as Zimbabweans in the diaspora were worried about the escalating violence.

“The bulk of meetings and the marches that have taken place in South Africa were apparently organised by ordinary people with no affiliation to any political party or grouping. A lot of meetings are actually taking place and I’m attending most. We are basically discussing mass action that will be supported by COSATU around February 1 to stand with people of Zimbabwe,” Dr Sibanda confirmed.

“Brothers and sisters in the diaspora are very unhappy about the situation in Zimbabwe and want action and see this government moved. The march coming on February 1 has now received more attention as a lot of civic society organisations and COSATU have come in and the meetings would be at COSATU house.”

The ADF chair said diasporans were worried about the reported killings and the subsequent internet blackout which had affected communication between them and their families.

“Resultantly, there’s a lot of solidarity activities taking place seen by the march at the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria. There was another group at the Johannesburg consulate and another in Cape Town,” Dr Sibanda said.

He said they were concerned about the security and safety issues in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo as they infringed on people’s rights.

“We are saying we cannot have a president (in Zimbabwe) who calls himself constitutional yet has an illegal background, having people butchered and at the same time was in charge of Gukurahundi.

“People are now abducted, reportedly killed and the army has been released into the streets doing policing work, which makes Zimbabwe into a military state rather than a constitutional state. We don’t even need a police state but a democratic state where people’s rights are fully respected,” he noted.

Dr Sibanda also condemned the use of live ammunition by the security forces..

“Brute force should not be used but hooligans should be arrested and face the law rather than the army becoming a law unto itself. People that looted and those that destroyed property must be arrested and sent to court. We can’t have people reportedly killed by the army and police, which are institutions supposed to protect them, that’s unacceptable,” Dr Sibanda highlighted.

Human rights activists have put the number of civilians killed during the protests at 12, including a police officer while about 800 people have been arrested.

CITE

Own Correspondent|ZIMBABWEANS are now able to access social media websites following a High Court ruling on Monday.

A High Court judge ruled that the Minister of State Security does not have the authority to issue any orders to shut down the internet.

This makes the orders he issued last week illegal.

MISA Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights challenged the internet and social media blockade at the high court following last week’s orders by government.

Government had ordered internet service providers to block social media on 15 January 2019. WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and other social media apps were blocked whilst the rest of the internet was working.

Zimbabweans relied on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) such as Psiphon to access social media.

The government made effort to also block some VPN services but this did not affect all of them.

Given the blocking of WhatsApp, Zimbabweans resorted to using alternative apps, like Telegram, that were not blocked, to message each other.

Correspondent|A PHOTO of President Emmerson Mnangagwa seemingly performing rituals has gone viral on social media after it was posted on Twitter by former Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo.

However, the Deputy Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Energy Mutodi claims that the picture was photo-shopped by the former G40 kingpin Moyo.

Mutodi said: “Professor Jonathan Moyo has tweeted a photoshopped image of President ED Mnangagwa purportedly performing a ritual.

“I have no doubt that only fools & rumour mongering idiots will believe that to be true.”