Itai Dzamara Features In Independence Day Rugare Gumbo Message

Abducted democracy activist Itai Dzamara’s name continues roar until the day he is found and the “Mujuru” splinter group, Zanu People First party has issued the below Independence day message to the people of Zimbabwe pinnacled on Dzamara’s plight. The statement was issued by the defacto party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, who has urged the people of Zimbabwe to defend and safe guard  their hard earned freedom. Gumbo bemoaned the silence by the government authorities on the abduction of Italian Dzamara saying he was abducted for expressing his right to freedom of speech.
 
STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE ON INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS
On this historic day and occasion of our 35th Independence Celebrations, we want to express our profound gratitude to the masses of Zimbabwe for mantaining peace and unity in the midst of a myriad of challenges that have been affecting us as a nation.
Today is a very important day as it symbolises our recognition of the sacrifice of our gallant fathers, mothers, sons and daughters to liberate our country. These people sacrificed their lives to reclaim our identity and rights as Zimbabweans. Through their self-less sacrifice, we attained democracy to freely express our political choices through “one man one vote”, economic freedom, and reclaimed our land. The attainement of our independence brought to an end the dictatorship of Ian Smith and his regime. As we celebrate today, let us pause and reflect on where we are today in upholding the same values that were attained through the liberation struggle.
As Zimbabweans, let us safeguard these values and remain vigilant to resist any manoeuvres by any dynasty or so called “gangs” to reverse the gains of independence. We must always remember that “we are the architects of our own destiny”, and as such entrusting our lives and the future of many young children in the hands of a dynasty or “special gangs” would not only be a mistake but a national suicide. We must always strive to put people first. “Iwe neni tinebasa, mina lawe silomsebenzi”.
Let us shy away from divisive political tendencies and segregating people on racial and tribal lines. The struggle for the national liberation was fought by all people of Zimbabwe, for all Zimbabweans. The current purging of perceived political rivals in the post December 2014 Congress ZANU PF is an unnecessary political evil born out of failure to accommodate and deal with political differences. Zimbabweans need one another to live peacefully and enjoy the fruits of a free Zimbabwe.
It is also sad to note that we are celebrating 35 years of independence at a time when many of our fellow Zimbabweans and other nationalities are under xenophobic attacks in neigbouring South Africa. The loss of lives, and the continued threat to the safety of many migrants in South Africa is a cause for concern. We hail the stance taken by the AU to urge the South African government to stamp out this evil practice.
In our case as Zimbabwe, it is unfortunate that the failure of our political leadership has contributed to many educated and talented people to seek economic refugee in South Africa, where they are now under xenophobic attacks. Whilst we condemn these attacks as inhuman and unAfrican, we are challenging our leader President Robert Gabriel Mugabe and his coterie of selfish political opportunists and careerists to accept the blame for the brutal attack on migrant Zimbabweans in South Africa.
Had our economy been performing well, many of them would be safe in Zimbabwe and enjoying the benefits of our independence. Zimbabweans are now tired of a leadership that focuses on petty party factional wars to the point of bringing the entire nation to the brink. We need a leadership that puts people first, because Zimbabweans deserve the best.
Our economy has been declining over the past two decades. Unemployment is very high and still on an upward trend. Most companies are performing poorly with many closing down and workers losing their jobs daily. This is further compounded by an unprecedented liquidity crisis. This situation can only be revived if appropriate policy measures are taken: • Bringing in a new and open minded leadership with a vision for Zimbabwe.
• Creating a friendly and welcoming environment for local and foreign investors to operate freely. • Maintaining peace and stability in the country. • Formulating clear, consistent and predictable economic policies. • Pragmatic implementation of proposed policies. • Encouraging business to be in the fore front of shaping economic policies. • Tapping into the expertise of all Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
• Respecting and protecting the constitution, promoting constitutionalism and observing the rule of law. Today would a better day if Zimbabweans would be aware of the whereabouts of Itai Dzamara. It is heartrending to note that the present selfish leadership has failed Itai Dzamara’s family and the entire nation. The young man disappeared because he desired to express his freedom of speech, a right brought about by the independence that we are celebtrating today. As Zimbabweans, we fail to find reasons to the merciless brutality demonstrated by the current regime to this innocent young man. The nation deserves an explanation, but most importantly, Itai Dzamara’s family, especially given the existing High Court ruling ordering government to find Itai Dzamara. Let us continue praying for  the family, hoping that one day, we shall get all the answers.
May God bless us as we celebrate our 35 years of independence in a peaceful manner. We call on fellow Zimbabweans to remain calm but resolute in the defence of democracy. We are on the brink of hope and a new renaissance.
ISSUED BY:
Original and Genuine ZANU PF (1963). 17 April 2015
 

Xenophobia Backlash: Mozambique Blocks South African Cars, Shuts Down Border

Lebombo border post has been closed until further notice Friday17 April 2015 after an unruly mob barricaded the N4 near Ressano Garcia, targeting trucks with South African registration numbers.. File photo
Lebombo border post has been closed until further notice Friday17 April 2015 after an unruly mob barricaded the N4 near Ressano Garcia, targeting trucks with South African registration numbers.. File photo

The border post between South Africa and Mozambique has been closed until further notice Friday after an unruly mob barricaded the N4 near Ressano Garcia, targeting trucks with South African registration numbers.
This also came just as immigration officials from Mozambique early in the morning began the blocking of all vehicles coming from South Africa under unexplained circumstances. Witnesses told ZimEye.com the situation at the border is both shocking and desperate with drivers voicing their frustration at the hands of Mozambican border officials.
Lebombo border post has been closed until further notice Friday17 April 2015 after an unruly mob barricaded the N4 near Ressano Garcia, targeting trucks with South African registration numbers..
“Trucks with South African registration plates have been stoned in Mozambique. A volatile crowd of about 200 Mozambicans has barricaded the N4 about four kilometres east of the Resano Garcia border post, where there is a truck stop,” reported Corridor Gazette on Friday.
“It is suspected that this action in related to the Xenophobic attacks which have erupted in various areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng this week.”
Trac, a company which is responsible for the 570km of the road between Solomon Mahlangu off-ramp in Tshwane and the Port of Maputo in Mozambique, placed a warning on the protest action on its website.
A traveller who en route to Nelspruit from Maputo at around 9:30 on Friday morning told the website that: “The crowd let us pass because we had a Mozambican-registered car.

South Africa Xenophobia Exposes Mugabe

Firebrand war veteran and former Zanu PF legislator Margaret Dongo, pictured, has blamed the gruesome xenophobic attacks in South Africa — which have affected tens of thousands of desperate Zimbabweans living there — on President Robert Mugabe’s and Zanu PF’s “gross misrule” of the past 35 years.
In an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Dongo said while xenophobia could never be condoned wherever this happened, the incontrovertible fact was that Zimbabwe’s endless political and economic crises due to Zanu PF’s misrule were “the real reason” why Zimbabweans were living as refugees in South Africa and other countries around the world.
She described as “a shame” the fact that Zimbabwe was marking 35 years of independence from Britain tomorrow while life for ordinary Zimbabwean was comparatively worse than it was in minority ruled Rhodesia — with the country’s unemployment rate standing at more than 90 percent and industries closing weekly.
Dongo also said it was lamentable that while other relatively poorer countries, in terms of natural resources, such as Malawi had already put in place concrete plans to evacuate their nationals from South Africa, the broke Zimbabwean government was “largely talking” about the need to help its citizens.
“It is Zanu PF that is to blame for these xenophobic attacks on our own sons and daughters because they have driven people outside because of their poor policies.
“They are the ones who have caused hardships and the high unemployment rate, and they do not care about anyone because they are busy looting and building expensive mansions for themselves,” Dongo said.
Dongo spoke after Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi told the media on Wednesday that a Zimbabwean had died while 800 more had been displaced in the ongoing mayhem in South Africa, figures that pressure groups say are conservative considering the millions of Zimbabweans who eke out a living in that country.
Up to three million Zimbabweans, most of them illegal migrants, are estimated to live in South Africa — with South Africans routinely blaming foreigners of not just squeezing them out of scarce job opportunities, but also engaging in crime.
To underscore the dire situation in the country, economists have pointed out the horror fact that average incomes in Zimbabwe are now at their lowest levels in 60 years, with more than 76 percent of the country’s families now having to make do with less than $200 a month, well below the poverty datum line of more than $500.
In addition, it is projected that the economic malaise bedevilling the country will worsen this year and beyond, as Mugabe and his Zanu PF continue to demonstrate their gross incapacity to fix things.
Dongo said her erstwhile comrades in Zanu PF had elected “to bury their heads in the sand” when the ordinary people that they had driven out of the country due to their “disastrous policies” were trapped “between a rock and a hard place across the Limpopo”.
So bad was the situation, she added, that many Zimbabweans “dreaded the prospect” of coming back home because there was “nothing to come back home for” and thus would rather face death, xenophobia and uncertainty in South Africa.
“Those who are investing and building mansions in Zimbabwe and South Africa should be asked to focus on investments and their assets outside should be frozen. They should also be investigated to establish the source of their money kuti vaiona kupi (to establish how they massed their wealth),” Dongo added.
The country has been abuzz over the past few weeks owing to reports that the nouveau riche are building mansions both at home and in neighbouring South Africa as they choose to settle and invest in a more stable country.
Dongo said it was time that the anger of hungry Zimbabweans was turned towards the authors of the present hardships.
“Enough is enough, we cannot watch our children and friends die in this manner while the children of the powerful go to areas or countries where they are protected,” she said.
She said, ruefully, that freedom for the majority of Zimbabweans only existed “in theory and on the lips of rented crowds”.
This was the reason, she said, why the country urgently needed to take stock of why so many young people had chosen to sacrifice their lives and participate in the liberation struggle in the 1970s.
“Ndozvakafira vana kuhondo izvozvi zvekunoita nhapwa munedzimwe nyika (Is this the reason why our children died during the war to be serfs in other countries)?” she asked rhetorically.
Dongo also charged that most of the genuine war veterans who were still alive were wallowing in “abject poverty”, which was unnacceptable.
“And we have our anniversary on Saturday. What is there to celebrate, ndikokunonzi kupenga (celebrating independence in this State is madness),” she said. -DailyNews

VIDEO:TB Joshua Shoves Himself In, Claims He Predicted South Africa’s XENOPHOBIA

Five days after the xenophobic murders in South Africa began, Nigerian preacher TB Joshua has shoved himself in claiming that he prophesied the crisis. As if the killing of 116 people (81 of them South Africans) at his church hostel last year was not enough, the preacher attempted a video stitch up of carefully edited footage in which he claims he predicted the chaos.
His publicist, Ihechukwu Njoku a church paid scribe wrote saying: “a video has surfaced of Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua warning South Africans in July 2013 of a ‘youth revolt’ in their nation which would result in deaths of ‘certain people.Local South African media has however revealed the perpetrators of the violence are of a mixed age group with some beyond 50 years of age, and they are seen in numerous videos in circulation.

Workers at Joshua’s SCOAN church  have themselves admitted deliberately uploading the video after careful editing, and in Ihechukwu Njoku‘s advertorial, he reinforces this truth admitting the footage was “uploaded to Joshua’s popular YouTube channel Emmanuel TV”. He wrote saying: The clip, uploaded to Joshua’s popular YouTube channel Emmanuel TV, says the cleric prophesied about the violent xenophobic attacks spreading across South Africa on Sunday 28th July 2013.
Local Zimbabwean Pastors have warned readers not to be misled by TB Joshua since he merely works on people’s faith using his paid journalists manipulating people’s beliefs so that people can attribute him as possessing special powers and special individual access to God.
 
………………………………………..
Meanwhile below was Njoku’s advertorial of the sample edit-copy of the TB Joshua utterance:
“In the nation, South Africa, we should help them in prayer because I am seeing youth revolt,” the clip quotes Joshua as saying. “It will be very serious. A situation where youth will come out and… you learn that there is a protest. Some people were killed – certain people.”

 
Joshua’s ‘bloody’ prediction made the front cover of South African newspaper ‘City Press’ in August 2013 when Julius Malema, the fiery leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), visited his church in Nigeria for ‘spiritual blessings’.
 
The clip was posted alongside a message from Joshua to South Africans. “If we fail to see that there are powers that cause people to be bowed down in bondage, we are going to fight the wrong battle,” he wrote, in a statement posted on the Nigerian pastor’s official Facebook page, followed by over 1.5 million people.
 
He then proceeded with a prayer for ‘calmness’ in the nation. “I pray for my nation, South Africa. As Jesus stood in the boat and commanded the storms to be calm, I stand in the midst of the storm in my nation, South Africa and I command the storm, wind and waves to be calm, in the name of Jesus! I speak calmness to my nation, South Africa, in the name of Jesus!”
 
The recent spate of xenophobic violence has left both fear and tensions rife across South Africa with hundreds of foreign owned shops forcibly closed and their owners seeking refuge in makeshift camps.
 
Five immigrants are said to have been killed, including a 14 year old boy. Horrific images and videos have surfaced online showing locals burning foreign nationals and looting their shops.
 
The violence erupted shortly after a statement from the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, calling on foreigners to return to their countries as they were causing economic ‘inconvenience’ to locals.
 
T.B. Joshua’s television station, Emmanuel TV, is especially popular within South Africa where thousands of Christians annually go for ‘pilgrimage’ to his church, ‘The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations’ in Lagos, Nigeria. – Ihechukwu Njoku – freelance Nigerian journalist.
VIDEOS:

The Video referred to by Njoku:

BREAKING NEWS: In Pictures – Riot Police Called In as South African Embassy is Boot-Bombed

The South African embassy in Harare is under siege from angry boot-stomping protesters who are demanding that President Jacob Zuma’s government must demonstrate seriousness to the security threatening xenophobic situation which has seen 800 Zimbabweans displaced and one reported killed. Their angers were inflamed after that country’s ambassador yesterday said his government is powerless as the police force resource is stretched. PICTURES:

Man Steals Wife’s Dirty Underwear, Donates them to Girlfriend

A man from Magwegwe surbub stole his wife’s used underwear and donated them to his girlfriend, he regarded as more attractive, a Bulawayo magistrate has ruled.
The magistrate in response ruled that the man rightly provoked his wife to beat him up.
His wife appeared before the Bulawayo Magistrate’s court facing charges of assault but was set free after the magistrate ruled that she was provoked.
Shelter Magorogoye beat her husband Njabulo Mloyi repeatedly after discovering that  he was stealing her knickers and giving them to his girlfriend.
Prosecutor Mufaro Mageza told the court that on an unspecified date in February Magorogoye noticed that her knickers have disappeared from her drawer and thought her husband was the suspect.
She then set a trap by buying more knickers and leaving them in the same place. Mloyi saw the new  knickers and took them with an intention to give them to his girlfriend as usual.
As he did this ,his wife saw him and and she struck him with an empty bottle of beer on the face and then  went on hit him several times.
Mloyi took some property from their  matrimonial home  a few days after he was beaten  and went to live with his girlfriend.
Magorogoye said,  “This time I realised he had been giving his girlfriend my panties pretending to have bought them for her,”
Provincial magistrate Willard Mafios Moyo from Western Commonage  said it was clear Mloyi had provoked his wife.
“Such actions show carelessness and immaturity,”  said Moyo before setting Magorongoye free.
Mloyi was ordered  to return the property he took from the matrimonial home.
His wife, Magorongoye was told to report her husband to the police if he does not return the property.
Magorogoye had pleaded guilty to the assault charges, but said her husband had provoked her.
She told the court that she discovered that her husband was having an extramarital affair and she had  approached and warned the woman against dating her husband Mloyi.
But the affair never ended as the two continued seeing each other until her knickers started to disappear misteriously from their home.
This forced  her to set  a trap and caught her husband ,then discovered  he was stealing  her knickers to please his girlfriend.

Makandiwa Pastors Square Off with Charamba

Veteran gospel musician Pastor Charles Charamba will share the stage with two other pastors from Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s United Family International Church Michel Mahendere and Lawrence Gunda tomorrow at Kingstone House in Harare.
The music concert is expected to kick-off at 5:30pm and end at 9:30pm.
As usual Charamba will be accompanied by his wife Olivia (Mai Charamba) and the Fishers of Men, while Mahendere will be backed by his Direct Worship group.
Surprise artistes will participate also on the event.
It is an opportunity for Mahendere who has always been overshadowed by his brother Amos to convince all and sundry that he is an equally good and an energetic performer.
Mahendere released a live DVD late last year and some of the songs he is known for include Prophecy, Kudzwai Mwari, I’m in Love, Mumoyo, Mweya Mutsvene and My Declaration among others.
On the other hand the Charambas (Charles and Olivia) have more than 10 albums between them including John 3:16, Tinashe Akatendeka, Exodus, Vhuserere, Sunday Service, Daily Bread, Amen and WeNazareta among others and the couple is known for delivering well-polished performances.-DailyNews

DZAMARA: Econet Steps In as Search Hots Up

The search for abducted democracy activist Itai Dzamara has roped in the services of cellular network company, Econet Wireless.
ZimEye.com can reveal Econet has worked to assist in tracing the Zimbabwean ex-journalist following his disappearance on the 9th March in Glen View, Harare. This came as the MDC-T said it was deploying a team of experts across the country to look for the man.
Beyond the normal signal tracer, using the GSM network, it is easy to track a phone anywhere on land around the world.  The latest technologies provide near pinpoint accuracy to locate exactly where a phone device is.
Dzamara’s brother, Patson confirmed Econet’s help which came after ZimEye.com had raised the use of technology with Econet.
When ZimEye.com followed up on the matter, Patson said the last signal on the latest records was traced to a location in Glen View.  The date of that signal was the 9th March 2015.
“Yes they did. His last location was Glen View,” said Patson.
An operation to exhaust Itai’s possible physical presence in the area appears to however have been aborted after it was assumed that the abductors could have easily switched off the device while still in the Glen View area on the day.
Dzamara’s disappearance has seen his lawyers taking the police and CIO to court for failing to obey a court order issued to help find the missing activist. VIDEO:

How to track Gsm mobile | cellphone tracking… by Andrew65_334

WARNING DISTURBING IMAGES – Blood All Over! Hunter Crushed to Death By Elephant

To receive the pictures, write to Whatsapp number +447426863301. UNDER EDITORIAL REVIEWBlood was splattered all over his body which lay in an indescribable graphic sore as a Zimbabwean professional hunter was on Wednesday crushed to death by the elephant he was trying to shoot down.
Chifuti Safaris professional hunter Ian Gibson, had been seeking out the boisterous bull in the lower Zambezi Valley with a client, when he met his fateful end.
“It is with deep sadness to announce the passing of Chifuti Safaris professional hunter Ian Gibson. Ian was tragically killed by an elephant bull earlier today while guiding and elephant hunt in Chewore North (lower Zambezi Valley),” the notice, written on behalf of affiliated company Safari Classics, read.
Gibson had apparently been on the trail of an elephant bull, along with his tracker, Robert, while the client whom they were accompanying rested with the game scout.

They soon established that the animal was in musth, but continued tracking it, until they eventually spotted it about 50 – 100m away.
“The bull instantly turned and began a full charge. Ian and Robert began shouting in order to stop the charge. At very close range, Ian was able to get off one shot before the bull killed him. The scene was very graphic,” the notice concluded.
The announcement was picked up by Africa Geographic on Thursday and saw a flood of comments, highlighting the extreme contentiousness of the issue of big game hunting.
“It is with deep sadness to who? Not to me, that’s for sure! This is the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. I just hope the elephant is ok, and if so, remains so. Good riddance to this sad excuse of a human being. May he rot in hell for eternity,” one comment, left by a reader called Natalie, read.
Another, called Cranky, responded to her comment, saying: “Natalie, Ian Gibson has done more for Conservation than you and your bunny hugger friends will ever achieve in your pathetic existence.”
While most seemed to agree with Natalie’s view, the incident has raised serious questions about the value of these sorts of excursions and whether big 5 hunting should still be allowed at all.
A similar debate was sparked recently when Australian cricket legend, Glen McGrath made headline news as images of him posing with a variety of dead animals he had shot and killed surfaced online.
“If it were not for hunting there would be very little game in SA. Only due to it’s hunting value does game exist on game farms. If the animals had no commercial value they would be replaced by cattle,” John Birch commented on the Traveller24 article. – Traveller24/Agencies/Reuters

NB: To see the images, write to the ZimEye.com Whatsapp number stating your request. UPDATE – UNDER REVIEW

XENOPHOBIA: Zuma Exposed as The Chief Catalyst

ZimPolicy Dialogue Institute Statement on Xenophobia in South Africa
Over the last week, the issues of xenophobia surfacing from South Africa are quite disturbing. Xenophobia is a hate crime against foreigners who risk being lynched, skinned or burnt alive as a message for them to leave.
This development is quite unfortunate in that the xenophobia only targets black African people, hence the coined term Afrophobia. The perpetrators just target blacks. The rage is triggered by allegations of these foreigners taking away jobs and other opportunities. It is quite unfortunate in that any job is offered through a willing employer and willing employee basis. Moreover, skills matter. And Zimbabwean people are there due to desperate conditions in a Zimbabwe where the government has forgotten to serve the people as the economy is collapsing.
Then the other disturbing issue is that two decades ago, the people of Zimbabwe were in solidarity with South Africa up until she earned her independence. There was so much support for apartheid to be eradicated from South Africa. Some infrastructure in Harare was damaged through bombings and some people of Zimbabwe even perished for the South African cause. A few decades later, Zimbabwean people are the most hated and must be killed. How times change!
Then it is also unfortunate that Jacob Zuma and his son as well as King Zwelithini seem to be the catalysts to the agenda. It’s either the vocalist Zwelithini and Zuma ‘ s son screaming for foreign people to be targeted or President Zuma going mellow on the issue. That means he condones it because his reasoning that the police is overstretched on resources and that he cannot guarantee safety of foreigners is offending to any reasonable mind.
Then President Mugabe, as head of the Africa Union and of the targeted people, decides to look the other way. He is embarassed that he has caused so much suffering to the people of Zimbabwe who are escaping from home to find life in South Africa. His silence is a disgrace also given that the problem began when he was in South Africa on a state visit. He remained mum and pretended all was well. That means his Africa Union leadership is just a worthless title for social prestige. Then SADC gets exposed too. It’s nowhere to be found and yet it takes keen interest in discussing hypothetical scenarios in absence of real issues. Here is a real problem and no one is on the scene. How saddening!
Before this xenophobia denigrates into a genocide, Jacob Zuma should act in a practical way as a leader. Robert Mugabe should also demonstrate maturity and wisdom as he makes moves to save lives of his people. Lastly, the SADC and the AU should be seen to be taking real action for once as a way to restore the confidence of the affected families and the International community. To date the AU and SADC stand accused of being paper theorists that operate from high office towers where resolutions reached lack connection or relevance to the troubled African communities.
Xenophobia should be condemned as some form of terrorism. The South African government should stop it before it degenerates into some genocide. No one deserves to die. Every life matters. It’s also a shame when black people turn against each other. The world looks and wonders on such barbarism as instigated by the inertia of those in office.

Thomas Mapfumo Independence Message April 2015


Dear fellow Zimbabweans,
On behalf of myself, family and the whole Chimurenga Music Fraternity, please allow me to wish the people of Zimbabwe a Happy 35th Independence anniversary. We unwaveringly take pride in our independence as it marked the end of racial segregation in our midst after a protracted war of liberation.
The colonial period was a dark epoch as blacks were treated as second class citizens in our place of birth. We suffered restricted movements and failed to access countless opportunities for economic and social advancement. Today, it is a different story altogether. We salute the masses of our people, the heroes and heroines, sung and unsung who dedicated their lives to our struggle for freedom.
While the liberation struggle was fought among other things for social, political and economic transformation, it is regrettable that the majority of our people continue to enjoy only flag Independence. We have shocking levels of unemployment, corruption, poverty and widening inequality. If you are rich you enjoy far more rights. You have probably been getting even richer since 1980, you own a nice house; you send your children to overseas schools; you are cared for in the best private hospitals and you have plenty of access to credit.
 
If however you are poor, unemployed or a low-paid casual worker, you have the legal right to all these things, but you do not actually enjoy any of them. You are most likely to be little better off or even worse off, than in 1980. Life is a constant struggle to put food on the family table, pay school fees and keep out of debt. The proof of spiraling hardships is everywhere. Many of us have fled our country of birth that we love so much because of the unbearable conditions. People are hungry and angry. They have no food, medicines or jobs. The economy is heading south. Cities have no clean water or reliable power supplies. The infrastructure is going down the drain. While the black empowerment program and the land redistribution exercise may have brought a sense of optimism to correct historical imbalances in Zimbabwe coming through a leveled economic ground, it was a sad development as ZANU PF leaders awarded themselves multiple farms while using their political muscles to access ownership of major industries.
The majority of the population remained in the same old conditions that they suffered during the Smith regime and would be encouraged to raise chickens through some paltry loans for cover up.. The majority of the suffering masses who should maintain loyalty and peace, are supposed to cheer for the comfortable corrupt leaders in government who are enjoying their acquisitions alone. Because of lack of accountability, even the comfortable leaders now pretend to be victims of a system that they themselves created.
Be that as it may the dream of better Zimbabwe can only be achieved with unity, hard work and determination. It will need focus and honesty for the conditions to improve. The political situation in Zimbabwe is not yet conducive for free and fair elections, the new constitution still carries some unfavorable clauses that entrench dictatorship. Democracy is still far from cry. There are many other problems that come with that. There is a lot of work to be done to bring comfort, happiness peace and unity for the masses.
For those who left home in search for means of livelihood in other countries, the road has been a bumpy one. Race relations are still a factor in some global spots. Some of our people suffer quietly as they are deprived of equal opportunities despite the granted right to live and work in those foreign countries. Then in countries like neighboring South Africa, the fast-looming hatred for foreigners has become a concern. Xenophobia should be least expected in a place like South Africa. Zimbabwe was in solidarity with South Africa as she fought against apartheid. Today, 21 years after the fall of apartheid, the remnants of apartheid manifesting in some rogue elements who attacking fellow Africans. It is a sad development moreso because the South African government has not proactively reacted to international expectation when it comes to eliminating xenophobia. Through more lobbying, maybe something could be done before the situation degenerates into some genocide. If our Independence really mattered, our people could be safe and sound at home. What is worrying is the SADC and AU Chairperson, President deafening silence and lackadaisical approach in dealing with the issue of xenophobia in South Africa. Sadly, they endure suffering in foreign countries where systems are still working.
As a Chimurenga musician, the struggle for social justice and equality continues through the showbiz stage. We have, and will continue, to sing the music. But again I do wish to express my disappointment by the Government of Zimbabwe for failing to deal with piracy which has left a majority of us musicians wallowing in poverty because of theft of our artistic efforts.  We do not only entertain; we also make sure that we remain connected to the suffering masses, the message I carried in my new album DangerZone. Zimbabweans deserve comfort, peace and a guaranteed pursuit of happiness in their homes. They also deserve a piece of that cake of national wealth. Government leaders in Zimbabwe should listen to, and work with the people to eliminate poverty, crime and the rising unemployment. Daily, we pray that the politicians stop politicking and bickering at the expense of national development. Our leaders must listen to the masses. They need to collaborate with them and stop chasing personal luxuries and foreign travel when the ordinary people are failing to access the basics. Without such basics, the concept of national Independence could be a farce because only the apex of the social pyramid is benefitting from the fruits of Independence. To the suffering masses, Independence Day has just become another calendar date.
I pray that our leaders descend from their high towers and seriously pay close attention to people’s needs. Our leaders must urgently engage the people in a practical way that upholds all the values of our hard won Independence. People are weary of false promises, whining and government blame games. If only our government leaders could stop being big-headed, Zimbabwe could progress and many citizens in the diaspora could find the assurance and confidence to return home to settle and help rebuild the country. It’s a long way home but could be shorter if we worked together.
Finally, on this particular Independence Day we must pay our respects to all the gallant sons and daughters of the soil who participated in the war of liberation.
It is to such heroes that we owe our freedom and we must never ever forget that debt we own them and try to live up to the high standards of selfless dedication to the struggle for freedom and a truly democratic Zimbabwe
Aluta continua!
 
Thomas Tafirenyika Muchadura Gandanga Mapfumo
Oregon, USA
 

Tsvangirai Praises Makarau As Komichi is Slapped with Arrest Warrant for NIKUV Fraud


ANALYSIS|MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s reputation lay hanging in a balance yesterday after he was exposed for refusing to assist as his top right hand man and National Executive member, Morgan Komichi faced a torturous arrest warrant for the 2013 so called NIKUV election fraud. This came within 24hours of his own party spokesperson Obert Gutu openly praising Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and former ZANU PF MP, ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau as an honest, professional person although she is the same who presided over the 2013 sham elections for which their own officer Komichi is spuriously charged.
 
Tsvangirai who during a recorded video interview, responded on Komichi’s case saying he has all the evidence to defend but will rather fight back by ‘writing a book’, has been blasted for gross negligence as a leader who could have saved Komichi but has now chosen to sit back for reasons best known to himself.
 

A warrant of arrest was yesterday issued by Harare Provincial Magistrate, Vakai Chikwekwe for the arrest of Morgan Komichi, who is accused of fraud and contravening the Electoral Act.
 
Komichi’s appeal against conviction and sentence was dismissed by the High Court of Zimbabwe after he failed to file heads of argument as requested.
 
He was sentenced to perform 350 hours of community service at Mabelreign Polyclinic, Harare in November 2013.
 
The community service was suspended in December 2013 after Komichi successfully appealed to the High Court for a review of the case.
 
Meanwhile, Tsvangirai in responding to questions on a massive vote rigging expose by ZimEye.com which the MDC leader could have utilised in Komichi’s cause, said he pulled out of the court lawsuit for fraud despite him having a boulder of evidence but he would fight rather by “writing a book” on what happened in July 2013 in which he “exposes” the use of the army and the CIO in utilising the Israeli NIKUV software to rig the elections.
 
The MDC leader even announced that he absolves Rita Makarau and her ZEC team of rigging the electiion rigging.  Mr Tsvangirai has said that ZEC chairperson Judge Rita Makarau cannot be blamed for many things such as printing of ballot papers and the distortions in the voters’ roll.
 
In a highly gripping oration, Tsvangirai  explained on his opinion on why the MDC failed to win the just ended election which loss he also blames on the Chinese Communist party. He said the blame for the printing of fake ballot papers could not be laid on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission but rather on the army and (CIO) Central Intelligence Organisation.
“Not even ZEC could control those ballot papers,” he said.
 
He added:
 
“There were three million extra ballot papers put in the system especially in Manicalanad, in Matebeleland and in Masvingo where the MDC has very substantial representation,” he said.
 
Even Makarau Did Not Have Voters’ Roll
 
On voter registration records, Tsvangirai added that the army was in control and “even Makarau did did not have access to the electronic voters’ roll. Even the voters roll itself right up to the end even the chairperson of ZEC did not have access to the electronic voters’ roll one day before the election; Even right up to the end.”
 
“The other area was the question of the youth militia. The Chinese Communist party trained 35,000 youth militia who were deployed in various military bases, I can give you the figures but in Inkomo there so many youths. In Bharabhara there were so many youths and this there were so many youths. What was the purpose of the youth militia was actually to mark extra ballots, to stuff them and to move those youths around the country.
 
“The other area was the question of traditional leaders. Traditional leaders were used to frog march people in their various villages. By saying this village is going to vote from time to that time, the next village is going to vote from this time to that time. And the role of traditional leaders was very effective on the ground to undermine the people.
 
“The other issue was the question of assisted voters. I know in Muzarabani there were 10,500 assisted voters in a voting population of 17,000. Even teachers and headmasters claimed ignorance about voting. When it comes to the question of the deployment of military leaders we now are aware that each province had a commanding officer and that at every voting station, every registration centre there was either a CIO, a ZANU PF activist and all. Now lets look to ZEC itself. ZEC was not an independent body.
 
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission did not control anything because everything was controlled by the military and by the CIO.
 
“Right (now) as I speak the ZEC does not know the total number of the people who voted. That was the basis of our electoral challenge. We withdrew it because they would not give us the full details of those people who voted and the outcome of the voted, ” Tsvangirai said, clearing the ZEC of all and any wrong-doing in the election fraud.

 

Lucky Harare Tenants Dished Houses for Sale

State Media: Harare City Council has resolved to sell its residential properties to sitting tenants who have occupied the houses since independence in 1980. The city, which has various residential properties in Harare, is now working on proposed guidelines for the disposal of the houses.
According to recent minutes of the Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee, councillors recommended that council considers selling its houses to sitting tenants who had been in occupation for more than 35 years.
“The corporate and housing director advised that a report with proposed guidelines for the disposal of the houses would be submitted in the next meeting for consideration by the committee,” read part of the minutes.
The committee resolved that the corporate services and housing director should report on the proposed guidelines at the next committee meeting.
Last year Government ordered all local authorities to immediately transfer into home ownership houses built for rental occupation as it moved to reduce the housing backlog presently hovering around 1,5 million countrywide.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo told parliamentarians during a national pre-budget seminar for 2015 that Government was disturbed by the ever increasing accommodation shortages as evidenced by illegal occupation of land in towns and sprouting of squatter camps.
“We are compelling all local authorities in Zimbabwe, especially the major cities who have houses on their books for the last 20,30,40,60 years being rented out to families, that we want those houses sold to the sitting tenants and title deeds given to them,” said Dr Chombo.
In line with the Revised National Housing Policy (2012), the minister said Government was also working on resuscitating the rural housing programme aimed at raising the standard of houses from traditional units to modern structures.
Under Zim-Asset, Harare province is expected to deliver 105 935 houses by 2018, the Midlands (56 760), Matabeleland North (28 772), Mashonaland West (23 819), Manicaland (21 830), Masvingo (20 269), Mashonaland Central (16 607), Bulawayo (15 100), Matabeleland South (12 500) and Mashonaland East (11 776). herald

30,000 Zimbabweans Kicked Out of Jobs Last Year Alone

The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) says 30 100 workers lost their jobs in the mining and manufacturing sectors last year.
“There has been a decline in the number of people employed in the manufacturing sector from 118 600 employees to 93 100 in 2014 and the mining sector from 43 000 employees to 38 400,” said Mutasa Dzinotizei, Zimstat director general.
This comes as Zimbabwe’s moribund economy is forcing many companies to either retrench or scale down operations to stay afloat in a challenging environment characterised by high production and labour costs, lack of cheap credit lines and electricity shortages among other things.
According to Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa 4 600 companies closed down between 2011 and October 2014, resulting in 64 000 job losses.
Dzinotizei recently told delegates attending a dissemination workshop for the 2014 Labour Force and Child Labour survey results that despite the decline in formal employment other sectors, mainly informal, had recorded increases in employment figures.
Sectors that showed gains are distribution, restaurants and hotels which increased from 74 900 employees to 82 000 employees.
Transport and communications also recorded a swell in employment figures, employing approximately 31 200 to 35 500 employees.
According to the survey, 6,3 million Zimbabweans above the age of 15 are gainfully employed with approximately 859 060 employed in the informal sector.
The survey states that the highest proportion of the employed population is in the agricultural sector at 61 percent.
The figures come in the wake of wage disputes between mining companies and mining labour unions over wage increases.
Earlier during the year, government proposed to merge all diamond mining operations in the country, in which the State will have a 50 percent share holding and gave miners up to March 15 to accept the proposal.
However, fears are rife that more jobs will likely be lost due to the merger as workers in the diamond sector are opposing the merger proposal.
Sources at the Associated Mineworkers Union of Zimbabwe (Amuz) told the businessdaily yesterday that more jobs were to be lost in the “forced merger”
In manufacturing, while a Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) (PMI) above 50 percent means the manufacturing sector is growing and expanding, the country’s manufacturing sector recorded a PMI of 43,5 percent according to the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries.
This PMI indicated further shrinkage in the manufacturing sector, leading to more retrenchments and company closures. – DailyNews

Mujuru’s Luxury Govt Dollars Cut Short Suddenly

tough talk...Wilbert Mukori
tough talk…Wilbert Mukori

Former VP Mujuru’s life time salary and allowance guaranteed in the constitution have been stopped. Since January 2015, she has reportedly received nothing.
Zimbabwe is broke. Three and half decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have taken their toll. The national cake has shrunk and shrunk whilst the appetites of the Zanu PF ruling elite have grown in leaps and bounds all clamouring for the lion’s share of the cake. For years Mugabe has had to dig deep, taking the last crumb away from the poor and starving so that the elite can have cake. He would have wanted to continue to giving his Zanu PF thugs and party loyalists all their hearts desires regardless of all their wastefulness but he cannot. How can he give away loot when there is no loot to give away!
Last week parliament was adjourned earlier than it should have been and will reportedly reopen 5 May 2015 (although many doubt that) because there is no money to pay the MPs’ gravy train allowances and expenses. The MPs are part of the inner most ruling elite and if their share of the loot is being cut back then Joice Mujuru, who has been thrown out of the inner circle, must have known it was just a matter of time before her generous VP salary and allowances are cut.
Well Christmas is early this year; all her salary and allowances have been cut just a month since she was fired from her post! No doubt all her other looting privileges have gone too! And the regime is not done with he; they will be after all the loot she and her late husband have amassed over the years next. Mugabe will take her and all her supporters to the cleaners.
After years of worrying not eating too much (but eating it anywhere and piling on the pounds) whilst she lived in Easy Street; here in Shit Alley, Mai Mujuru will have something new to worry about – having nothing to eat all day!
Mai Mujuru and her supporters’ privileged lives of luxuries and leisure are over and will soon be forgotten. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the real world of abject poverty and despair you help created but, until now, refused to even acknowledge that it existed.

Walter Masocha Trial Moved

The trial of Scotland based AGAPE For All Nations mega-church founder Bishop Walter Masocha, was moved once again today.
Masocha is on trial on charges of allegedly sexually abusing minors among other female victims, some using so called “anointing oil”.
Court officials told ZimEye.com the reason for the rapid change of dates was availability of witnesses. It was originally meant to have been concluded on the 13th April [READ MORE – “Sex Acts on Child using Anointing Oil,” Accused Bishop Walter Masocha Trial ]
The trial which has dragged for close to two years is now scheduled to be heard on Monday morning at Falkirk Sherriff court. More to follow…

WATCH LIVE: Zuma Speaks, BeLittles Xenophobia, Calls It A Response to Social Pressures


DISCUSSION:

President Jacob Zuma is making a statement in the National Assembly on the xenophobic violence which has swept across KwaZulu-Natal.
Zuma’s strategists have announced that he is to carpet down the word xenophobia and will rather emphasise that the nationwide attacks are rather a response to social pressures. “President Zuma is scheduled to make a statement on the unfortunate violence ahead of him taking oral questions in the National Assembly Thursday afternoon,” ANC chief whip Stone Sizani’s office said in a statement.
“After the President has delivered his statement, all political parties represented in the National Assembly will have an opportunity to make their declarations in reaction to the statement.”
Zuma will address MPs at 2pm on the xenophobic attacks, shortly before he is set to answer outstanding questions from last year’s chaotic August 21 sitting which was suspended after members of the Economic Freedom Fighters disrupted the President’s question and answer session.
Sizani’s office said Zuma’s statement on the attacks against foreigners would afford Parliamentarians the opportunity to voice their condemnation of the violence.
“The office of the ANC Chief Whip wishes to state that such attacks have no place in our free and democratic society and urges those responsible to immediately desist such acts of violence against our African brothers and sisters.”
In the meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters said they would use the question session to ask Zuma whether he intends repaying any of the public funds spent on improving his private homestead in Nkandla.
“That is where the question session was interrupted. So we certainly intend to return to the issue of Nkandla and paying back the money,” EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said.

VISIT this space at 2PM – Capetown time, to watch President Jacob Zuma’s live address

BREAKING NEWS: Mystery Fire Guts Gokwe’s Largest Supermarket, Continues Unabated

A bizarre mystery inferno gutted Gokwe’s largest wholesale and supermarket, Metropitch last night and is continuing unabated, ZimEye.com can reveal.
 
Firefighters called at the scene just after midnight were at the time of writing still engaged in their battle as the mid -day fast approached as a fire brigade service truck from the Gokwe town centre appeared helpless in stopping the ferocious rising flames.
 
Traffic along main road was on Thursday morning shortly paralysed after fire gutted the roof material. Large billows of heavy smoke from the fire rose all over the shopping area while affecting neighbouring businesses.
 
Eye witnesses said the fire’s cause was not clear as there was no serious industrial activity inside that could have caused it, sparking lurking superstitious beliefs that spirits were responsible. This came as another fire last year gutted the nearby CBZ Bank and the community’s biggest flea market. Their claims however remained myth with no proof.
 
Metropitch is the largest wholesale in the area with a staff complement of more than 200 workers.
 
Neither the fire brigade nor the police could pass a comment at the time of writing. More to follow….

Xenophobia: Zim MPs Descend On Embassy, Demand Urgent Answers from Jacob Zuma


A GROUP of MPs led by the MDC-T’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Jessie Majome on Wednesday descended onto the South African embassy in Harare demanding answers from the South African government on the ongoing xenophobic killings which have seen 800 Zimbabweans displaced, and one citizen killed.
And answers they surely received with the South African ambassador breaking away from his office to met them. He pleaded with them saying at present the South African police cannot guarantee the safety of Zimbabweans as the the cops’s resources are exhausted.
Majome who led the delegation of six MPs from across Zimbabwe’s political divide, said South Africans “can’t have their cake and eat it”.“Here in Zimbabwe we support South African businesses, which sell goods and conduct trade. The South African people can’t have their cake and eat it,” she said
Below was was her full statement just after the meeting:
MPs PETITION SOUTH AFRICAN AMBASSADOR TO ZIMBABWE ABOUT XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS AGAINST ZIMBABWEANS AND OTHER AFRICANS
Dear Harare Westerners and Friends
Myself and my fellow Members of Parliament representing our constituents and indeed fellow Zimbabweans in South Africa, yesterday presented a Petition to the South African Government to stop the xenophobic lynching of our nationals and other foreigners to the South African Ambassador to Zimbabwe to His Excellency Mr. W. Mavimbela. Please click here for the petition https://www.scribd.com/…/Petition-to-the-South-African-Gove…
The Ambassador met us without notice upon acknowledging the urgency of the problem, and will transmit our petition to Pretoria. He said that while he and the SA government acknowledge the enormity of the problem his government:
1. cannot guarantee the safety of Zimbabweans because police are stretched, failing to control the violence.
2. beyond enforcing the law against the perpetrators, will need a comprehensive solution that addresses immigration & refugee settlement policies.
3. realises that this is a problem for all of Africa to solve.
4. has long forecast these problems that is why its foreign policy prioritises promoting democracy and economic prosperity in the rest of Africa, which would prevent mass migrations to SA that put pressure on it.
Our delegation made it clear that this rabid wave of xenophobia is possibly the biggest threat to African unity and indeed the AU itself. I said if South Africa cannot stop this xenophobes its national Nkosazana Zuma must step down from being Chairperson of the A U Commission and the A U’s Pan African Parliament must move from Midrand South Africa and relocate to a hospitable country in Africa.
Zimbabweans are not safe in South ave Africa.
I am stunned by blacks being racist to fellow Africans, especially when Zimbabweans and South Africans share the same struggle against colonialism. We are South Africa’s major trade partner; almost everything in our homes from Mzansi. The amount of money we spend on sending our children to universities, and support the SA economy in numerous ways. If across the continent Africans were to withdraw support from SA business SA would feel it.
In Harare West constituency in Ashdown Park a house that belonged to PAC members in Eves Crescent was bombed during their fight against Apartheid. The Limpopo border was an invisible curtain and tribes such as the Makoni people originated from South Africa.
It is my prayer that the violence both physical and verbal is stopped! Already Malawi is sending buses to rescue their nationals, what is the Zimbabwean government doing to help our brother and sisters?
MPs who were with me at the South Embassy where:
Hon. Tongesai Mudambu M.P. Harare North Constituency
Hon. James Maridadi M.P. Mabvuku-Tafara Constituency
Hon. Shadreck Mashayamombe M.P. Harare South Constituency
Hon. Margaret Matienga M.P. Sunningdale Constituency
Hon. Paurina Mpariwa M.P. Mufakose Constituency
Hon. John Makore Sen Harare
Hon. Josephine Chitembwe M.P. Proportional Representation
Your MP
Jessie Fungayi Majome

Useless Fatcats!… Zim Govt Fails to Evacuate Exiles as 800 Citizens are Displaced by Xenophobia


ANALYSIS| AS ONE ZIMBABWEAN was killed in escalating xenophobic attacks in Durban, South Africa, the Zimbabwean Government demonstrated incompetence by failing to evacuate its own citizens.

Army Helicopters which have been used by First Lady Grace Mugabe in her perry-personal rallies last year, were no-where to be seen yesterday with the government instead of sending an army, announcing they were rather in the long process of setting up a committee of ministers to attempt to deal with the crisis. The poor nation of Malawi overtook Zimbabwe in demonstrating responsibility when its officers launched into the dangerous neighbourhoods to begin evacuating their own people.
The Zim Govt instead announced through their broadsheet media they were proposing the setting up of an inter-ministerial team to facilitate the immediate return of those displaced by the attacks. Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said in a statement yesterday that reports indicated that the attacks were serious and close to 800 Zimbabweans had been displaced and fled to a camp established in Chatsworth, Durban.
“So far, it has been established that one Zimbabwean has died,” he said.
“As a result of these reports, Government decided that those Zimbabweans wishing to return home be facilitated to do so immediately.
“An inter-ministerial team has been put together at both ministerial and senior official level. The team is expeditiously putting in place the logistics as well as the resources necessary for this exercise in close liaison with the Zimbabwean Ambassador in South Africa and his staff.”
Minister Mumbengegwi said a number of Zimbabweans had expressed their wish to return home to embassy officials who visited Durban to assess the situation and discovered that it was tense.
This came as South African ambassador Mr Vusi Mavimbela said in an interview yesterday that his country lacked the capacity to deal with the flurry of xenophobic attacks targeting foreigners.
“The police, really, to be honest, if this thing spreads, the police don’t have the physical capacity to be everywhere and to arrest everybody who is involved,” he said.
“I know you watch South African TV you see things like service delivery protests that happen, flare up all the time in South Africa and the police have never been able to contain it.
“This xenophobic thing that is happening in South Africa you know if its spreading the police are going to be spread thin all the time and they can’t be at every informal settlement.”
Mr Mavimbela said the South African government needed to come up with a holistic approach in addressing socio-economic issues and immigration laws to reduce the competition for resources between South Africans and foreigners.
He spoke as the SA government warned foreigners against retaliating.
Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa Mr Isaac Moyo said in an interview yesterday that he was yet to confirm reports of the deaths of two Zimbabweans, among them a toddler.
He said over 2 000 foreigners, including Zimbabweans had been displaced.
Mr Moyo said the embassy, with the assistance of the host government, had started documenting Zimbabweans affected by the attacks who are at Chatsworth Camp in Durban.
“We met with South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Mr Malusi Gigaba and the premier for Kwazulu Natal Province to get an appreciation of their plans to arrest the volatile situation and assist the victims,” said Mr Moyo.
“We are very hopeful that a solution will be arrived at soon.”
Mr Moyo said the embassy was encountering challenges in cases where undocumented South African women were insisting on travelling to Zimbabwe with their husbands.
He said about 10 undocumented South African women were insisting on travelling with their husbands, while 120 Zimbabweans had left their properties under the attack of South Africans.
Mr Moyo said the situation was dire in Durban given the cold weather persisting there and the absence of adequate tents to house the displaced people.
The Durban violence outbreak follows similar violence in Soweto where foreign shops were looted and foreigners displaced three weeks ago.
The attacks started after Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini said in a public speech that foreigners in South Africa should return to their countries and the remarks were widely viewed as having sparked the xenophobic attacks.
In 2008, in the worst violence to date against foreigners, over a dozen people were killed — some burnt alive through neck-lacing, a barbaric, painful slow-killing method in which a burning tyre, filled with petrol, is placed around one’s neck.
At the time, the then South African president Mbeki, horrified by the violence, said South Africans’ heads were “bowed in shame.”

Boss Slashes his $1 Million Salary So Every Worker Earns $70,000 Each


Seattle – A United States CEO of credit card company Gravity Payments, Dan Price, has hit the headlines by becoming the first to cut down his massive $1Million take home salary so that the most lowest employee is paid a minimum wage of $70,000.
The man who announced that he is to help cover the cost of big raises for his employees didn’t just make those workers happy.
He’s already gained new customers, too.
“We’ve definitely gained a handful of customers in the last day or two,” said Stefan Bennett, a customer relations manager at Gravity Payments, a credit card payment processing firm. “We’re showing people you can run a good company, and you can pay people fairly, and it can be profitable.”
Dan Price, chief executive of the company, stunned his 100-plus workers on Monday when he told them he was cutting his roughly $1 million salary to $70,000 and using company profits to ensure that everyone there would earn at least that much within three years.
For some workers, the increase will more than double their pay. One 21-year-old mother said she’ll buy a house.
At a time of increasing anger nationally over the enormous gap between the pay of top executives and their employees, the announcement received immense attention. But corporate governance professor David Larcker of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business said it’s unclear if Price’s unusual gesture will start a trend.
“It’s an alternative way to think about a tough problem, and I give these guys a lot of credit for laying it out there,” Larcker said. “Whether this would scale to a bigger organization, it’s hard to know. But it’s clever, it’s interesting and it’s fun to think about.”
Washington state already has the nation’s highest minimum wage at $9.47 an hour, and earlier this month Seattle’s minimum wage law went into effect. It will eventually raise base hourly pay to $15.
Labor unions and workers in the Seattle area on Wednesday joined national protests for better pay. Drivers for Uber and Lyft — the app-based car-hailing services — gathered in Seattle, while airport workers rallied at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In Seattle, police arrested 21 demonstrators who opted for civil disobedience to dramatize their point, refusing to move out of an intersection at the conclusion of their march.
Gravity’s CEO launched the company from his dorm room at Seattle Pacific University when he was just 19. He’s long taken a progressive approach that included adopting a policy allowing his workers to take unlimited paid vacation after their first year.
“I think this is just what everyone deserves,” Price told workers in a video of Monday’s announcement released by the company.
But he also acknowledged it won’t be easy: The increased pay will eat into at least half the company’s profits, he said, and he has no plans to simply raise rates on clients.
“It’s up to us to find a way to make it work,” he said.
Bennett, 28, went to college with Price and has worked for Gravity since graduation. He said he was already happy to work for a company that treats its employees and customers well in what he otherwise considers a predatory industry. For him, the raise will amount to about $10,000.
“I don’t care as much about the money,” he said. “But if I look at my colleagues, and what they talk about on a day-to-day basis and what their concerns are — just looking at their faces when Dan announced the pay increase, it was pretty phenomenal.” – Yahoo News/ AP/ Agencies

Police Called In as Grace Mugabe is “Skirted” By Shaddie Mashayamombe


Notorious Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe’s political life is hanging by  a thread after he caused a violent stir in Harare by encoraching into Women League she-supremo, Grace Mugabe’s private space.
The development has reportedly angered President Robert Mugabe himself.
Police had to be called in to quell the situation yesterday when Mashayamombe violated Mrs Mugabe’s officers by reportedly hiring rogue militants who fought women League bosses from the provincial premises where they have been protesting concerning a pile of allegations of gross corruption. He is being charged for conducting the sale of fake stands and is also accused of siding with Marondera businessman Ray Kaukonde.
Addressing the people gathered at the Zanu pf Provincial Head Quarters yesterday, the chairperson of the Harare Provincial Women’s League boss Mrs Mukarati went on to dig deeper saying Shadreck Mashayamombe is just like Nzokira (a certain commuter omnibus operator who pays spot fines to the police in advance) because whoever tries to stand his way he just pumps out money.
Mukarati said she was “exposing” Mashayamombe of also hiring 150 women and sending them to China after dishing out $4000 each pocket money.
Efforts to get a direct comment from him were fruitless as his phone kept ringing without being answered.
Mrs Mukarati said in Shona, “Isu kunyanya seni amai Mukarati ndinoti vemapepa nyorai sezvandirikutaura nekuti Mashayamombe iyeyu akatondinyorera tsamba kuti ndiuye kuhearing.Asi tsamba yacho ndakaramba kuitambira nekuti handidzingwe ne main board asi kuti women’s league.
“Arikuda kuisa magamatox kwese asi tinoziva hedu kuti ndiye akanga asingade Mai Mugabe muno muHarare.
“Akazotongeswa naKaukonde kuti sei uchiramba wakaisa picture yaMai Mugabe pa range rover yaakapihwa neparty iye akaita zano akadriver mota isina mvura ikanonokera kuMasvingo, ndipoka paakazopihwa chevrolet yaainayo nhasi naKaukonde inova yaakadriver personally kuenda kuBotswana kunotora.
“Mari yaarikuda kuendesa madzimai 150 kuChina achivapa $4000 each pocket money.
Zvese tinozviziva” PICTURES:

‘Gumbura’ Prophet Jailed for 85Years

  • A SELF-STYLED PROPHET dubbed a “religious rapist” by a magistrate was yesterday jailed for 85 years for sex attacks on five women, including a Form 1 pupil. Ephias Ndlovu, 42, of Trenance suburb in Bulawayo, will serve an effective 45 years in prison after a magistrate suspended 40 years. He kidnapped one of his victims and detained her overnight at his shrine on a mountain top in Emakhandeni suburb.
    Ndlovu (likened to the jailed Pastor Robert Gumbura), lured six women to the bush on different occasions with claims that he had prophetic visions about their lives, prosecutors said.
    He pleaded guilty to five counts of rape and one count of kidnapping before regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere.
    The magistrate rebuked Ndlovu for using religion to abuse women, saying criminals like him deserved lengthy jail sentences.
    “The scourge of sexual offences by ‘men of the cloth’ continues unabated. Five women aged between 14 and 20 were raped in similar circumstances as they sought help from a man they believed to be a prophet,” said magistrate Mberewere.
    He said the court had a duty to curb “religious rape” by imposing stiff sentences to deter like-minded men planning to abuse God’s name for criminal purposes.
    “For the first five rape counts, you’re sentenced to 15 years each of which a total of 30 years is suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. For the kidnapping count, you’re sentenced to 10 years of which five years are suspended. Effectively, you will serve 45 years in prison.”
    Tinashe Dzipe, for the state, told the court that Ndlovu kept his victims — including two high school girls — in the bush overnight after his promises to cleanse” them turned into a living nightmare.
    Ndlovu’s first victim was a Form 1 pupil whom he approached while she was selling potatoes at Entumbane Complex just after 2PM on April 1 last year.
    Ndlovu, Dzipe said, produced a $100 note but the girl indicated that she did not have change. He asked her to follow him to his house so that he could get change. On arrival at his home in Lobengula, Ndlovu instructed the pupil to wait for him outside.
    He emerged after a few minutes and told her he could not find a smaller denomination, and suggested that they continue walking around looking for change. At around 6PM, they got to a bushy area where the girl insisted on going home.
    Ndlovu told the girl that the Holy Spirit wanted her to remove her panties, warning her she could die for failing to comply.
    Ndlovu, the prosecutors said, lifted his victim and placed her on a rock and raped her once. He detained her the entire night and raped her four times.
    His second victim was a domestic worker aged 20 who met Ndlovu on her way to Cowdray Park on April 6 of the same year at around 1PM.
    As they walked, Ndlovu told the woman that the Holy Spirit had showed him that she would suffer abdominal pains and that she had something in her chest. He told her that he could provide the spiritual solution.
    He warned the woman that she was going to choke to her death if she refused to go with him to his home for a “healing session”. The woman followed Ndlovu.
    The court heard that he led her to a wooded pathway and sat her down, claiming his wife would come and give him keys to the house.
    Seven hours after they had first met, Ndlovu grabbed the victim by her jacket, struck her with a stone on the forehead and pushed her to the ground.
    He raped her twice while holding the same stone and kept her for the whole night.
    He met his third victim at a bus stop in Pumula South, a 17-year-old girl to whom he introduced himself as a prophet. He told her he would give her a red rose which, when placed in vinegar, would cleanse her of bad luck.
    He told the teenager the flower could only be found in the bush, and the girl followed him. Once they reached a secluded spot, he demanded sex but the girl refused.
    Ndlovu detained her for the night saying there were thugs in the bush and released her the following morning unharmed.
    The fourth victim met Ndlovu and he asked her for directions to Emganwini after which he immediately told her that he was a prophet. He “prophesied” that the woman ate human flesh mixed with hair.
    From that moment, the woman became confused and found herself sleeping in a bush, covered with a brown blanket the next day. She noticed that the panties and tights that she had been putting on were beside Ndlovu’s bag, but he was nowhere to be seen.
    A Form 3 pupil from Lobengula West was Ndlovu’s next target. She found him sitting under a tree on her way from Nkulumane Complex.
    He identified himself as a prophet and told the girl that she was bewitched by an old woman from the suburb. Ndlovu insisted that he could heal her with a herb called Dhuba mixed with vinegar. The girl was deceived into following Ndlovu into the bush where she was raped and detained for the whole night.
    Ndlovu sold his sixth victim the same story about eating human flesh and told her she needed a herb only found in the bush to cleanse her. Once there, he raped her and released her the following morning.
    He was arrested on May 19 last year and all six women picked him out at an identification parade.
  • Horror as Man’s Stomach Ripped Open in Beerhall

    A Bulawayo man ripped open his friend’s stomach with a knife leaving his intestines protruding after he tried to play peace maker, a magistrate heard yesterday. Western Commonage magistrate Willard Maphios Moyo heard this on the initial appearance of Khulekani Ndlovu, 22, of Luveve suburb facing an attempted murder charge.
    He was not asked to plead and remanded in custody to April 29.
    Khulekani was advised to apply for bail at the High court.
    “If you want to be out of custody you’re advised to apply for bail at the High court,” said Moyo.
    The state’s case as presented by Nomzamo Ndlovu is that on March 28 at around 11PM at Kidza Sports Club, Khulekani and his two friends were drinking beer.
    The court heard that a misunderstanding over a girl arose between Khulekani and Mbongeni Sibanda.
    “When Davison Zitha Khumalo tried to stop the fight, Khulekani stabbed him with a knife once in the stomach,” said Ndlovu.
    She told the court that Khumalo’s stomach was slit open and his intestines were left protruding.
    The court heard that Khumalo was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital where he was admitted.
    Ndlovu said Khulekani ran away but was later arrested.
    Last month, a man from Mangwe who ripped his neighbour’s stomach open with a knife for denying him beer was slapped with a three-year jail sentence.
    Kiliboni Sijumba Ngwenya, 32, of Makuzeze area, slit open 27-year-old Mbulalisi Nyathi’s stomach with a knife leaving his intestines protruding after he found him drinking beer with other villagers. – Chronicle

    Mugabe Expels Mujuru Secretaries, Shoves In Army Generals


    Robert Mugabe has expelled several Permanent Secretaries and Principal Directors for various ministries perceived to be Joice Mujuru sympathisers.
    Mugabe has moved to appoint a crop mix of army personnel and party praise singers. In a statement the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda said the President made the appointments in terms of Section 205 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (Number 20) Act 2013.
    He said all the appointments are with immediate effect.
    Permanent Secretaries
    1. Dr Desire Mutize Sibanda to the Ministry Of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion.
    2. Brigadier General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi to the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, former Political Detainees and Restrictees.
    3. Dr Machivenyika Mapuranga to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.
    4. Ambassador Grace Tsitsi Mutandiro to the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement.
    5. Dr Judith Kateera to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, as a Non-Accounting Officer.
    Principal Directors
    1. Major General Richard Ruwodo, Brigadier General James Jotham Murozvi and Brigadier General Chancellor Diye in the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, former Political Detainees and Restrictees.
    2. Brigadier General Godfrey Chanakira in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
    3. Brigadier General Evaristo Dzihwema in the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment.
    4. Air Commodore Ivan Gibson Dumba in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.
    5. Brigadier General Thando Madzvamuse in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion.

    Pastor in Sex Charges with Underage Girls, Court Trial: Walter Masocha LATEST UPDATE

    ZimEye.com brings the latest updates in the case in which Scotland based former ZAOGA church preacher who is founder of AGAPE for All Nations church  Walter Masocha, currently on trial for a bill of sexual assault charges which include making two minors perform a sex act on his body using anointing oil.
    The case was previously meant to have been concluded on Monday the 13th April according to projections communicated by the prosecution.
    But due to complications primarily caused by court listing pressures, the case has been lifted to the 16th April, tomorrow.
    ZimEye.com has it on good authority that another reason for the delay has been the unavailability of one of the key witnesses.
    Indications at the time of writing were that the trial might not be exhausted by the end of day tomorrow. “I cannot say when it will finish, it will all depend on what happens tomorrow,” a court clerk told ZimEye.com on Wednesday.
    Masocha’s legal team is defending five charges one of which was on the 1st April announced to have been dropped under unexplained circumstances. The preacher is accused of making underage teenage girls massage his naked body. Masocha allegedly induced a 15-year-old and 12-year-old to perform the act on him on various occasions at an address in Sauchieburn and Crieff Hydro Hotel between 2012 and 2013. The 50-year-old is also accused of sexual assault on a woman and engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl during the same period.
    The case will be heard early in the morning from 10am in Court One (1) at Falkirk Sherrif Court.
    VIDEO: 1April Update –

    Makarau Is A Respectable ZEC Official -Gutu

    OPEN LETTER TO THE ZEC CHAIRPERSON, JUSTICE RITA MAKARAU
    Dear Justice Makarau
    I write this open letter to you in my capacity as a concerned Zimbabwean patriot and also as one of your learned friends.I hope I find you well.
    I have known you since the early 1980s when both of us were law students at the University of Zimbabwe. You were a few years ahead of my stream. I have nothing but absolute respect for you as an individual, a lawyer and a jurist.You have distinguished yourself as a legal practitioner and your record as a jurist is impeccable.
    When you were appointed chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ( ZEC ) a few years ago, I was very pleased and in fact, I was convinced that you were going to clean up the mess at the ZEC and that you would,in your typical hardworking manner, ensure that the ZEC would promptly regain its lost respect and integrity. As Judge President of the High Court of Zimbabwe, you had clearly distinguished yourself as a no – nonsense administrator who wouldn’t tolerate sloppiness, laziness, inefficiency, incompetence and corruption. However, I appreciated the fact that your new assignment at the ZEC was a political powder keg in view of the sensitivity and importance of the ZEC in ensuring that the ruling political establishment remained firmly ensconced at State House. Knowing you as I do,I nevertheless expected you to take the bull by the horns and to hit the ground running; making sure in the process that the ZEC would be cleansed and that it would become a truly independent and professional electoral management body.I knew that several spanners would be thrown in the works but being the Iron Lady that I knew you to be,I was absolutely convinced that you would discharge your new duties at the ZEC diligently, without fear and/or favour.
    The main challenge at the ZEC is that you inherited a highly militarised secretariat that was also packed with several high ranking State intelligence operatives.This was the type of secretariat that was accustomed to a military and commandist style of administration and management. They were used to taking orders from certain shadowy bosses and to execute the same without question and/or interrogation. When I was the MDC-T deputy chief Presidential election agent in the July 31,2013 elections, I attended several meetings that you chaired. I could sense that there was an element of uneasiness in the manner in which you would tackle “hot” topics particularly to do with the electronic voters’ roll as well as the special vote by members of the Police and other security services. I could clearly observe that something was seriously amiss. It was apparent that you were now reporting to certain shadowy political forces that were now in de facto control of the operations of the ZEC.On more occasions that one,I felt pity for you because of this. That said, I still expected you to firmly stand your ground (as is usual with you ) and to refuse to be manipulated by unprofessional and shadowy political forces.Little did I realise that this was a high stakes game. The fate of the ruling elite was now basically in your hands and the establishment would not allow you to discharge your duties honourably and professionally.
    To this very day, the ZEC secretariat remains populated with military and State security personnel. I know,for certain,that you are clearly powerless to change the status quo.The powers that be would never allow you to effectively and transparently clean up the mess at the ZEC. The political stakes are just too high. They are not prepared to take such a risk.
    As your learned colleague, I hereby kindly call upon you to search your conscience and make a decision whether it is worth your while to retain your job as the ZEC chairperson. You have an otherwise impeccable professional reputation to protect and I know that in your heart of hearts, you are not enjoying your job as the top dog at the ZEC. All things being equal, I know that one day very soon you will find it fit and proper not to continue to be associated with the insipid rot at the ZEC.
    Yours sincerely,
    Obert Chaurura Gutu
    Readers please note that,Obert Gutu writes in his  own capacity and  Editor disassociates himself from his opinion.
     

    How To Buy Presents For Your Spouse

    IMFP ZE1
    How do you pick a present for your lover? For many people this is a difficult question. Having the genuine burning desire to please your spouse, and the thought of finding yourself unable to deliver what your feel makes one uncomfortable. As special occasions approaches a lot of people go under stress wondering where to begin.
    Each Occasion Calls For A Different Type Of Gift
    Each occasion calls for a different type of gift; valentine, birthday, women’s day, Father’s day, anniversary, Christmas etc. although your husband like a tool box, getting it delivered as a valentine present is questionable. Buying your wife a microwave or cooking pots for a valentine or birthday or anniversary does not sound right. But the same present on women’s day is a great gift. The gift you get for your spouse is different from what you buy for your mother or aunt or any woman for that matter. Why, because a gift carries a message.  It is a means of communication. And to the receiver, each present will always tell a story.
    When should you buy your spouse a gift? My answer is ‘you do not have to wait for a special occasion, but you must at every special occasion.’ Your gifts to your spouse communicate your feelings towards him/her, so make them count.
    Here Are A Few Tips

    • Make gifts and presents a lifestyle. Do not wait until something unusual happens. There is no harm in reminding your spouse about your upcoming occasions and even your birthday.
    • Avoid strife. If your spouse is not so excited about the gift, shoving it down his/her throat does not help.
    • Be creative. Inexpensive gifts that create lasting memories are great. You do not have to purchase goods, something like a massage or movie can do him/her good.
    • Know his/her love language and find the gifts around that. Make it an adventure as you try to unlock his/her heart.
    • If necessary ask for help from a friend, or you can just google. Visit one or two marriage blogs for ideas.
    • It is recommended to stay away from essential household goods as gifts, but try to make it personal.
    • Husbands, this article ‘Gifts for her’ can help – http://www.the-generous-husband.com/2012/11/30/gifts-for-her/.

    We finish with this post on buying gifts for our loved ones.
    I hope you enjoyed this love series.
    If you enjoyed this article, share it with your most favourite friends!
    Please share your thoughts, ideas and comments below!
    © Copyright 2014 by It’s My Footprint, www.itsmyfootprint.com/blog.

    Sex In the Bush with Married Woman: Madzibaba Struck By Snake

    Gweru Metro|A prophet with an apostolic sect in Murayo Village under Chief Nyamondo in Mberengwa, Midlands Province appeared to have been severely punished by God after he was allegedly bitten by a snake during a sex romp in the bush with a married woman.
    According to reports, the woman had reportedly consulted the prophet for spiritual help over problems with her husband who was accusing her of allegedly being “infertile” after their two-year marriage had not been blessed with a child.
    On the fateful day, when he got more than what he had bargained for, it is alleged that he solicited for sex from the woman as part of the healing session after she had visited him at his shrine.
    Due to a recent downpour and mud, the two could not lie on the ground, forcing the man of God to improvise a makeshift mat from tree branches and leaves. For the prophet, the pleasure however, turned to mourning when he was bitten on the leg by a snake which was apparently sheltering in the makeshift love nest.
    After the attack, he ran from the scene in horror thereby attracting the attention of a passersby who quickly rushed to see what was happening. The passersby later assisted him by taking him to Mberengwa District Hospital for treatment.
    “Before he was assisted, Madzibaba reportedly lied to his rescuers claiming that he was bitten by a snake while relieving himself. However, when the seemingly suspicious passersby went in the direction which he had emerged from to “locate” the snake, they were shocked when they found the woman standing half naked near the makeshift love nest.
    “She later confessed that Madzibaba was bitten by the snake while they were having sex. She also begged them not to report her to her husband saying she was trying her luck with the prophet after she failed to bear children with her husband,” said a source on condition of anonymity.

    BREAKING NEWS: Another Kombi Accident: 8 Badly Injured, Harare

    Eight people were badly injured when a commuter omnibus rammed into a pick up truck along Bulawayo road near National Sports stadium.

    The accident happened early afternoon with the injured passengers immediately being ferried to the nearby Parirenyatwa hospital.
    The kombi was ferrying people from the city centre.
    The driver of the kombi was said to have fled the scene after realising that his passengers were badly hurt.
    Efforts to get a comment from the police were fruitless as the local spokesperson referred questions to senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba who was unavailable at the time of writing.
    “The driver is lucky not to be hurt because he was wearing his seatbelt. We hope no one dies from injuries sustained from this accident.” a local vendor known close to the scene said.”
    The kombi was badly damaged. IN PICTURES:

    Telecel Strangled By Indigenisation Law


    The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) says issues surrounding Telecel Zimbabwe’s licensing are being complicated by its failure to comply with the country’s indigenisation law.
    Telecel’s shareholding has Dutch-headquartered communications firm VimpelCom, which has a 60 percent stake with the remainder in the hands of Empowerment Corporation (EC), a local consortium. Zimbabwe’s indigenisation law demands that locals be majority owners, with a minimum 51 percent shareholding in companies valued at over $500,000.
    Potraz acting director general, Baxton Sirewu told journalists on the sidelines of the Innovation Africa Digital Summit which started on Tuesday in the resort town of Victoria Falls that the regulator was currently looking at how ‘complications involving operations of Telecel Zimbabwe can be resolved.’
    “I appreciate that a lot has been said in terms of Telecel licensing. What I can say is that there has been a number of complications on operations of the company and as a regulator we are working on these,” said Sirewu.
    “Telecel has written to us giving representations and the complications have to do with indigenisation of the company and the issue to do with payment according to a plan signed between the company, ourselves and government.”
    He said details of the deliberations would be availed once the process is concluded.
    The firm has been caught up in a protracted dispute involving the various EC shareholders.
    These are Affirmative Action Group (AAG), Indigenous Business Women Organization (IBWO), Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU), Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (ZLWVNA), Zimbabwe (SS) Miners Association, Kestrel Corporation (Private) Limited and Integrated Engineering Group.
    Government two months ago cancelled an agreement with the firm which allowed it to operate without paying $137,5 million to renew its operating licence.
    Telecel, which has just over two million subscribers according to the latest official data, is the third biggest mobile operator.

    S.A. Singers Stop Shows Now! – Jah Prayzah, Sandra Ndebele


    Zimbabwe’s celebrated Musicians, Sandra Ndebele, Jah Prayzah, Forgiven Ndlovu and Vengai ‘Vekann’ kanhema have come out guns blazing on the on-going Xenophobia attacks on Zimbabweans plying their business in South Africa.


    The Artistes are calling for the cancellation of all gigs lined up by SA Musicians this weekend, around the country, to allow the grieving atmosphere that has gripped the Zimbabweans, caused by South Africans to cool down.
    Ndebele posted on her Facebook page today calling all Zimbabweans and music lovers to boycott all lined up musical shows by South African singers in protest against Zimbabweans who are being killed and maimed in the neighbouring country.
     
    “We cannot party and dance to these South African Artists that are coming (Big Nuzz , Diliza, Nyovest) when South Africans are killing our brothers…….WE ARE NOT GOING TO ATTEND THEIR SHOWS,” said Sandra on her post.
    South African musicians have lined up live shows in Bulawayo and Harare, during the difficult time, when Zimbabweans are being butchered and burnt alive in their country.
     
    Vengai Kanhema another Zimbabwean Celebrated Musician also took a swipe at the show arrangements and their promoters. “This is the wrong time to enjoy and party while our brothers and sisters are in hell fire. If the South African Musicians are coming to console us, then the shows must be free and that can be acceptable. Musicians both from SA and Zimbabwe must come together and sing out xenophobia from the perpetrators so that they can be informed. But for now let’s not allow any SA Musician to perform in our country because we are moaning.
    This is also the time that Presidents Zuma and Mugabe must sit down and dialogue about this issue that is affecting their people. As they both helped each other’s independence,” said Vekann.
     
    His sentiments were also echoed by those of Jah Prayzah’s Manager and spokesperson Filda Muchabaiwa. “What will we be partying for when our relatives are dying painful deaths back in SA? Are the artistes coming to celebrate the deaths and suffering of our fellow sisters and brothers who are experiencing hell on this earth? Let them be warned that if they dare stage any shows this week, trouble will attend them,” warned a visibly angry Filda.
    Another Bulawayo Artiste Forgiven Ndlovu also said that they have already organised a demo to be staged at the venue where SA singers are booked for performance this weekend. “Why are they coming to get money from Zimbabwe, when they don’t want us to get money from SA? They must demonstrate in the streets of SA starting from today, lobbying against the attacks and also informing their fellow countrymen to stop the brutality otherwise we are ready for the war against them here,” said Ndlovu.

    Magaya Posh Vehicle Scam, ZIMRA Men Arrested


    TWO ZIMRA men have been arrested for allegedly conniving with a commodity broker to import a vehicle for Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) ministries founders’ wife, Tendai Magaya and evading duty payment.
    The fraudulent deal saw the prophet’s wife losing a Land Rover Discovery 4 vehicle worth about $116,000.
    The vehicle has been donated by the church’s senior overseer for Chitungwiza, Admire Mango, to ZIMRA.
    Kudakwashe Mapfumo, 30, and Clifford Gonde 30, were charged with fraud and remanded to 30 April when they appeared before Harare magistrate, Tendai Mahwe on Monday.

    According to the state, Mapfumo is a former ZIMRA official and Gonde is currently employed as a revenue officer.
    It is the state’s case that on the 15th of July 2014, Mango, decided to acquire a high powered all-terrain vehicle for prophet Magaya’s wife.
    He then sought for a supplier for a Land Rover Discovery 4, 2014 model and contracted Upenyu Ignatius Mashangwa.
    They then entered into a verbal agreement that Mashangwa would import the vehicle from South Africa and deliver it by 22 August 2014.
    On 20 July 2014 Mashangwa received $80,000 cash from Mango. The former then teamed up with Cosmas Mushaninga and went to South Africa for the vehicle.
    Mushininga and Mashangwa then imported the car from South Africa into Zimbabwe through a temporary import permit on 6 September2014.
    On the 20th of September Mashangwa approached Mango asking for $36,000 which he said was meant for the payment of import duty and registration fees.
    Mashangwa then purportedly hatched a plan to evade paying duty and acted in cahoots with Mapfumo and Gonde, who were using their positions as ZIMRA officials to manufacture fake documents.
    The state further alleges that they then misrepresented that the vehicle was not a recent import, stating that Magaya bought it in 2009 through a public auction from K.M Auctions.
    The duo purported that the vehicle was registered previously by CMED under registration number PL 047, adding that it was a 2004 model.
    They then assessed the vehicle’s value to be $18,000 and charged a special duty of 5% which amounted to $900.
    The misrepresentation came to light after Mango approached ZIMRA officials to verify the authenticity of the vehicle registration.
    On 13 March 2015 ZIMRA seized the vehicle by issuing a notice of seizure to Tendayi Magaya.
    The commodity broker, Cosmas Mushininga was arrested last month and remanded to 30 April on $100 bail.
    Mashangwa has since appeared before the same court facing similar charges and is on $300 bail. – NewZimbabwe

    DZAMARA: Police Go After Khumalo

    POLICE who say they are investigating the disappearance of democracy activist Itai Dzamara have targeted Bulawayo East legislator Thabitha Khumalo.
    ZimEye.com can reveal the ZANU PF controlled police force is under instruction to find a reason to divert the attention off the Dzamara search. The dented Central Intelligence agency is also active in that plot, documents strongly suggest.
    An internal memo seen by this reporter has Thabitha Khumalo’s name printed thereon as a focal point. The letter dated the 3rd April 2015, states that Khumalo must be dealt with being also a former civil servant who is working against the ruling party.
    Yesterday a police officer at Harare Central Police station confirmed they are in receipt of a letter of request from a (Name not revealed) boss in the force to consider Khumalo as a “prime suspect”.
    “Bosses in Harare and Bulawayo are working to set up a joint investigation team to check on Thabitha Khumalo,” the officer who could not divulge his name as he is not allowed to speak to the media, said.
    The incident comes short in the heels of whirlwind statements by ZANU PF Energy Mutodi who claimed that Khumalo knows where Dzamara is.
    Wrote Mutodi, “Police are being encouraged to immediately arrest Bulawayo East MDC-T Member of Parliament Thabita Khumalo so that she can assist them locate the destitute journalist. It is emerging Dzamara is trying to use this fake abduction to get an International Award like the one which was given to Jestina Mukoko and other sellouts who are on record. At the very least, he hopes to be given an asylum in UK where he hopes to land greener pastures. Muri kungozvionerawo mhuri ye Zimbabwe ndiwo mabasa e zvimbwasungata aya,” wrote Mutodi shortly after Dzamara’s disappearance last year.
    Dzamara disappeared on the 9th March 2015 after having been abducted by men who presented themselves as police officers.

    Punish South African Musicians for Xenophobia, Bunk their Shows! – Readers

    News readers rushed to the internet on Tuesday to ignite a proposal that the South African music industry needs to be slapped with sanctions for the rampant killing of foreigners in that country.
    That suggestion became viral as the messages were circulated in varied form across platforms such as Facebook and topic discussion forums. Hundreds of Zimbabweans said they will not attend three shows of visiting South African artists landing in Harare this week. The messages were circulated on the Whatsapp network and one of them read:
    We cannot party and dance to these South African artists that are coming (Big Nuzz, Diliza, Nyovest) when South Africans are killing our brothers!!! WE ARE NOT GOING TO ATTEND THEIR SHOWS!!! #StopXenophobia #SpeakOutAgainstXenophobia
    Pass it on and on
    But broadcast journalist Ezra Sibadna voiced caution saying the move would not achieve anything apart from being self destructive.
    “Call to people to boycott SA artists in Zim because of Xenophobia in SA is idiotic!,” wrote Sibanda.
    He continued,  “Why not first boycott SA products in Zim Supermarkets?”
     

    Temba Mliswa Freed as Chiyangwa, Chombo are Fingered


    EXPELLED former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Temba Mliswa and four of his colleagues arrested for allegedly disrupting a sanctioned Zanu-PF rally at Sengwe Business Centre in Hurungwe West constituency on Sunday have been released just as his number one enemies Phillip Chiyangwa and the now Secretary for Administration, Ignatius Chombo were named as party to the charges.
    The development has since seen the prosecution withdrawing to attempt a review of the preferred charge.

    The State is as a result now expected to proceed by way of summons. Mliswa, was arrested on Sunday together with former Harare provincial youth chairman Jimu Kunaka, aspiring Chinhoyi constituency candidate in the 2013 harmonised elections Prosper Gavanga, Munyaradzi Mugoneza and Farai Kuvheya.
    They were taken to court yesterday afternoon but the prosecution seeing the weakness of the case said the charge needed to be reviewed and that the police would proceed by way of summons. Prosecutor Mr Herald Matura reviewed the case.
    Mliswa and his co-accused according to the allegations allegedly traveled to the venue of the rally in a two-vehicle convoy comprising a white Toyota Landcruiser and another green SUV Landcruiser and swarmed the venue of the rally that was addressed by Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo, Politburo members Dr Douglas Mombeshora and Josiah Hungwe, and Central Committee member Philip Chiyangwa among others.
    Mliswa’s lawyer Mr Musindo Hungwe welcomed the development boldly stating that the allegations by the police were flimsy.
    “The prosecution on assessing the facts as they relate to the charge that has been preferred was of the opinion that there was need for further management of the case. As such Mr Mliswa and his colleagues have been released and will be brought back to court on summons if need arise.
    “To us that is a breath of fresh air that at least they realise there is nothing of substance to hold onto,” he said. The five were arrested at Sengwe Business Centre and later detained at Magunje Police Station before they were taken to Chinhoyi CID Law and Order.

    Magaya Church Man Rapes 6Yr Old Girl: Court Papers

    A member of crowd-church preacher Walter Magaya has been charged for raping a 6year old girl.
    Shadreck Zviripayi (20), who is a commuter omnibus hwindi, allegedly offered a lift to a six-year-old school girl and took her to an unknown location where he raped her.
    Zviripayi who is from Epworth is reported to have left the driver of the kombi behind and offered the victim – a Grade One pupil who was coming from school -a lift in Queensdale.
    Zviripayi, who is employed at Wadawarova Transport, yesterday appeared in court before Mr Mahwe charged with rape.
    Mr Mahwe remanded him in custody to April 28 after the State led by Mrs Idah Maromo opposed bail.
    Zviripayi was advised to approach the High Court for bail due to the gravity of his offence.
    He is being represented by Mr John Mugoko of Gunje and Chasakara Law Firm.
    It is the State’s case that on March 31, the minor was coming from school when she boarded a kombi which was being driven by Zviripayi.
    After all the other passengers had dropped off, Zviripayi is said to have taken the victim to an unknown house where he had anal sex with her, the court heard.
    After the act, Zviripayi allegedly dropped the minor near her house and ordered her not to tell anyone. He then sped off. The victim did not disclose the rape to anyone until she developed some sores on her back prompting her mother to question her.
    She then opened up and police investigations led to Zviripayi’s arrest.

    ZANU PF Is Burning: Chigwedere Axed

    Six months since they began, the anti Mujuru purges have continued to burn up Robert Mugabe’s party with the latest statistic being the prolific academic Aeneas Chigwedere in what analysts say the liberation party will by 2018, not be able to stand against any party.
    The Zanu PF Mashonaland East province interim executive committee on Tuesday passed a vote of no confidence on Acting Chairman Aeneas Chigwedere and recommended the expulsion of 5 other senior members of the party.
    The interim committee says the reasons for the vote of no confidence on Chigwedere include taking decisions without consulting the executive; failing to conduct meetings for the past 2 months; failing to introduce newly re-admitted members of the party namely Jonathan Samkange of Mudzi and Daniel Garwe of Murehwa – to the community which has caused factionalism, chaos and confusion within those particular areas where these members come from; and failing to advise the interim committee of the 5-star rally in which Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa came to Hwedza resulting in poor attendance.
    Chigwedere, however, said the interim committee does not have the mandate to expel him as he can only be fired by those who appointed him.
    The interim executive also recommended the expulsion of the following members from Zanu PF – Ray Kaukonde, Simba Mudarikwa, Petronella Kagonye, Tendai Makunde and Olivia Muchena.
    The executive also recommended that the following party members be given 5-year suspensions – Paddy Zhanda, Washington Musvaire, Phenias Chihota, Felix Mhona, Beater Nyamupinga, George Katsande, Lucky Kandemiri, Vernon Muringayi, John Mushayi, Peter Murwira, Marble Kavindikisa, Taurayi Pasirayi, Getrude Mariwo and Lillian Zemura.
    The interim committee said the suspensions are as a result of the vote of no confidence emanating from their involvement and participation in promoting factionalism and planning to topple the legitimate government led by President Robert Mugabe.

    LISTEN to Biti’s Renewal Team Accepting Court Defeat


    ZimEye.com interviews the spokesman for the Renewal Team, Jacob Mafume after the Con Court ruled against their bid to be restored into parliament.
    This came after Morgan Tsvangirai successfully demanded their ouster from the august house.
    Under the constitution if an MP joins another party, their seat should be declared vacant. Analysts say Tendai Biti misled his group by playing into Tsvangirai’s hands by appearing to be changing the party’s name, slogan, forming a union with Welshman Ncube’s party, and most crucially, the party colours into Grace Mugabe’s theme emblem, “Mazowe Orange”…SEE carricature:

    Now this has attracted various interpretations and differing views. Before today, Sec General Tendai Biti
    who is one of the best legal experts in Southern Africa, had vowed he would change his name to Morgan Mugabe
    if Tsvangirai succeeds in removing him and his colleagues from parliament…
    These were Jacob Mafume’s direct comments. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN (Right Click to DOWNLOAD) :

    Biti’s Renewal Team Loses ConCourt Case

    A bid by 21 members of the breakaway MDC Renewal Team to challenge their expulsion from Parliament has hit a brick wall after the Constitutional Court threw out their application.
    The court found no fault on the actions of Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda and Senate president Edna Madzongwe in announcing the 21 vacancies.
    Mudenda had scoffed at the application saying it was devoid of merit and should be dismissed with costs on a higher scale. He argued that the former MDC-T MPs “knew, or must have known, or should have known, or ought to have known” that the natural and probable consequences of them receiving the letter(s) of expulsion from a political party was to be followed by the concerned members’ recall from Parliament.
    “All these important events have already taken place and what is now left for the applicants is simply to accept his/her fate, because, to use the language of a rancher, the horse has already bolted out of the pen, and to use Shakespearean language, it is a high-sounding application, but signifying nothing or, to use biblical language, this application is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell which will not produce the desired results.
    “On or about the 4th day of March the first applicant (Willias Madzimure) received a letter from MDC-T expelling him from the party and instead of rushing to court to protect his or their alleged fundamental rights, he or they went to Tendai Biti,” Mudenda said.
    “The first applicant/applicants did nothing to interdict the announcement, let alone the publication of the Government Gazette, perhaps being content on discussing the matter with Tendai Biti.
    “On or about March 6, I received a letter from the secretary-general of the MDC-T recalling the applicants from Parliament, around or about the same time the local news media was awash with the news that I was to make an announcement on the fate of the applicants vis-à-vis their seats in the National Assembly, again instead of rushing to court to protect his alleged fundamental rights, the first applicant went to see Biti,” Mudenda said.
    The MDC-T bid to recall the MP’s who broke away from the party was re-launched following Zanu PF’s own successful application to the speaker to expel former Headlands and Hurungwe West legislators, Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa.
    The Tsvangirai MDC recalled former secretary general Tendai Biti (Harare East Constituency), Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma), Paul Madzore (Glen View South), Solomon Madzore (Dzivarasekwa), Lucia Matibenga (Kuwadzana West), Samuel Sipepa Nkomo (Lobengula), Reggie Moyo (Luveve) and Evelyn Masaiti.
    Also recalled were Bekithemba Nyathi (Mpopoma/Pelandaba), Moses Manyengavana (Highfield West), Albert Mhlanga (Pumula), Roseline Nkomo (Tsholotsho North), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Judith Muzhavazhe and Gorden Moyo (Makokoba).
    The MDC-T also recalled three senators namely Sekai Holland (Chizhanje), Rorana Muchihwa (Chikomo) and Watchy Sibanda (Matabelaland South).

    South Africa :Spreading Xenophobia Worries UN


    The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has voiced deep concern over the continued outbreaks of xenophobia that have been occurring around South Africa.
    The xenophobic attacks in KwaZulu-Natal that have so far claimed several lives and left thousands displaced, on Tuesday spread to the Durban CBD.
    Several businesses in the Durban CBD which are owned by foreign nationals were this week looted.
    “They took all the stock that I had recently ordered,” said Lydia Moyo, a Zimbabwean national who owns a stall at the workshop flea market.
    The attacks in the Durban workshop, which started at around noon, later spread to Russel Street, Grey Street and many other areas around the CBD.
    At about 13H00, almost all businesses owned by foreign nationals in the CBD had been closed.
    KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Major Thulane, confirmed that mobs had attacked several foreign-owned shops in the Durban CBD.
    “Police are currently attending to the situation,” he said.
    Vendors on Joseph Nduli and West streets packed their goods this afternoon, fearing their produce might also be taken.
    This after a number of shops closed earlier today as looters started aiming for foreign-owned shops on Dr Goonam and Ingcuce roads in Durban. Police and Metro police are on the scene.
    In KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, shops belonging to foreign nationals were looted and some burnt down.
    Police said some of the roads were completely blockaded with burning tyres and stones.
    More than 30 people have been arrested in KwaMashu since the incidents of violence against foreign nationals last week.
    Clementine Nkweta-Salami, UNHCR’s Regional Representative for Southern Africa, said: “UNHCR is glad to see the increased police presence and the efforts being made to try to contain the violence and looting to date and encourages them to continue with their efforts to restore peace in the affected areas.”
    The attacks that started in Isipingo, south of Durban, two weeks ago, have so far claimed four lives, left several injured and displaced more than 2000 foreign nationals.
    In Umlazi, south of Durban, one Ethiopian national was killed and another badly injured on Friday after mobs set their shops alight while the two were inside.This after mobs claiming to be carrying out Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s instructions for foreign nationals to be driven back to their countries,unleashed a wave of violence around the city, looting foreign- owned shops and evicting them from their homes.
    UNHCR staff and partners have been receiving reports from refugees all around the country that they are afraid to go about their daily lives for fear of being attacked.
    – By Clive Ndou, Citizen Reporter and Xinhua

    Mujuru Electrocuted My Penis….Gun-Rippled Me – Cpt Albert Matapo

    lucky to be alive...Albert Matapo
    lucky to be alive…Albert Matapo

    The so called Mnangagwa “coup plotter” who endured (7) years illegal detention in prison at the notorious Chikurubi maximum prison, Albert Matapo, says the Mujuru family presided over his abduction and horrific torture in 2007.
    Hinting that the late Gen Solomon Mujuru flung a ready to shoot gun at him and his co accused while on their way to the Chikurubi maximum security, Matapo tells ZimEye.com in an exclusive interview, he was subjected to gross torture which included being electrocuted at his sacred body parts: his manhood, and testicles in an attempt to force him to admit to trumped-up charges of working with Emmerson Mnangagwa.
    Matapo has revealed the State wanted to force charges of attempted coup in which he would allegedly install Mnangagwa as the nation’s President.
    He was eventually illegally detained for a gruelling (7) seven years without a single conviction.
    He says in 2012, his captors, who were Mujuru/Mugabe-led, tried to raise false charges that he had made an attempted escape from prison in their bid to find something to lawfully detain him, but none of the often sporadic charges they tried succeeded.
    He also explains that he had nothing at all to do with Emmerson Mnangagwa and was punished for merely starting a political party, the UCAD (United Crusade For Achieving Democracy). Click below to LISTEN/ Click here to download:       Please note  – if the player does not load below, please use

    AFM Church Hires NIKUV to Rig Pastors’ Elections! – Members

    Members of the Apostolic Faith Mission, AFM has spoken out saying their church has been destroyed by a phenomenal vote rigging worse than that seen only in the bloody political play-fields.[ READ MORE  – AFM Church in Dirty Election Rigging: Court Papers.]
    As questions emerged on the AFM church’s current head Aspher Madziyire hold onto power, that he rigged his way in the just ended January 31 elections, church members thronged to social networks to express their shock and dismay.
    Disgruntled pastors have since launched court action against Reverend Madziyire.
    News readers have expressed concern as they threatened that people are likely to bunk church over the development. Below was an array of comments following the incident:
     
    Vhusimusi Vhusani Dhliwayo Munoonei: Mari inoshanda mu AFM In Zimbabwe havakoshese kuda kwamwari only kuda high table vanoida zvikuru .mweya wakabuda muchurch rangova guru rizere nyoka .nguva yana baba Kupara kwaiva kusina tsvina idzi .zvigaro manje satani agara muzvigaro zvacho .misangano inoitwa vasingawirirane.kumasangano uku kuri kubatwa basa nemasatanist nekushaya chiono AFM wake up muhope idzo .satani ari ari kuita dambe muchurch
     

    Phillipah Muchemwa: Thats why i left the church cz ndakaona kuti mwari havagari pakadaro cz hakasi kekutanga zvakadai zvichiitika

    Lonias Kuriri: Going to court? Its a shame mabvi aramba kushanda here? Ndinoziva munamato uchipedza zvose.
    Farai Matare:   Inga zvakaoma. They hired Nikuv kikikikiki!
    Abel Matarutse: Sad day for the church, I hope that our dear men of cloth will one day come across this chapter 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 NIV. If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified..

     
     

    War Veteran Sibanda Confesses To Intimidating Povo But Admits Regime Change Is Now A Certainty!‏

    WIlbert Mukori
    WIlbert Mukori

    The Zanu PF war vet thug leader, Jabulani Sibanda, who earned notoriety for intimidating, beating, raping and suspected murders of innocent Zimbabweans in the pursuit of Mugabe and Zanu PF’s singular  object of ensuring there will be no regime change has finally come out to admit his thuggery.
    “The conflict over internal party elections currently obtaining is a betrayal of war veterans’ aspirations. It is criminal because the revolution is now devoid of any legality. They (Zanu PF leaders) have committed a crime of unparalleled proportions,” Sibanda told the Daily News.
    “What we thought was that after campaigning so hard, spending months sleeping in the bush and subsequently winning elections resoundingly in 2013, that we would use the five years of Mugabe’s reign to reorganise the party ideologically and structurally.
    “We, however, discovered that the ideology had changed to that of scattering the masses, demobilising and intimidating them using politically borrowed State power,” he said.
    Soon after independence Mugabe and Zanu PF made a conscientious decision to undermine the country’s democratic institutions and ride roughshod over the people basic and fundamental freedoms and rights including the right to one-man-one-vote and even the right to life to establish a de facto one-party dictatorship. By the time Sibanda stepped on the national political stage in the run up to the 2008 elections till his summarily dismissal in 2014 the Zanu PF dictatorship was well established and so too was the party’s thuggery and vote rigging.
    Sibanda’s suggestion that the intimidation of the masses started after the 2013 elections is nonsense; it is to be expected of thugs like him; they are mentally slow, easily fooled and duped but worst, of all, they are known to have a very selective memory in which they are the victim and not the thug!
    “Yes, we have been betrayed and we do not regret ever working under Mugabe because some of us were not working for an individual’s legacy but that of the nation. Remember when we were under the Ian Smith bondage, some thought that his system would not be dismantled but it was.
    “So if it happened then it will certainly happen now. Intimidation will not work,” said Jabulani with conviction.
     
    How can intimidating the people and denying them a vote be in the national interest! Mr Sibanda and his fellow Zanu PF thugs understood the primary objective was to ensure there was no regime change so that political power and the unfettered access to the nation’s wealth and resource will remain firmly in the hands of the Zanu PF ruling elite. Sibanda and his fellow thugs considered themselves fully paid up members of the ruling elite and thus their full share the looted wealth and political power.
     
    Other than a select few of the thug ringleaders like Sibanda and Joseph Chinotimba most of the war vets got absolutely nothing. They would spear head the violent seizures of the white owned farms, for example, and as soon as the white farmer is driven off the njambanja thugs were in turn be driven off the farm with not so much as a thank you!
     
    The decades of mismanagement, corruption and looting have however taken their toll on the national economic forcing the nation cake to be shared out amongst the ruling elite to shrink; in recent years poverty has started knocking at the doors of even the ruling elite. As for the 16% or 2 million ordinary Zimbabweans on whose doors poverty started as far back as the 1990s, the rogue has since taken over completely, these people live in abject poverty; it is the people who have to knock before they enter.
     
    As long as Mugabe and Zanu PF remain in power the economic meltdown now gripping the nation is set to get worse because Mugabe, for all his arrogance and vote rigging expertise has since learnt that it cannot rig economic recovery. His $27 billion ZimAsset economic plan, design to throw lots and lots of money at the economic crisis without ever addressing the underlying problems behind the crisis, is dead in the water because no one was prepared to waste money funding such a hare-brain scheme.
     
    Since Mugabe and Zanu PF do not have the political will or vision to address the underlying problems of mismanagement and corruption – these are tied with the party’s political patronage system that has kept Mugabe and Zanu PF in power and thus it would be political suicide for anyone in the party to dismantle that system, especially now when the party has become unelectable and is totally dependent on thuggery and rigging the vote to stay in power – fuelling the economic meltdown; the only way out is to elect a new government that does not have the same political baggage.
     
    Even simpletons like Jabulani Sibanda can see that the present economic meltdown is not economically or politically sustainable and hence the reason why he is talking of the regime being dismantled just as Ian Smith was dismantled.
     
    Regime change is written everywhere that even the seasoned thugs like Jabulani Sibanda who are known to be mentally slow in comprehending things now know regime change is as certain as the sun rising tomorrow.
     
    What Mugabe and Zanu PF must understand is that their entire political machinations to resist regime change have only succeeded in delaying it but now the time is up. The choice before them is to accept regime change now when there is still a chance of any orderly transfer of power. If the regime continue to drag its feet and the change is triggered by social unrest or rioting then Zanu PF leaders must know that they will be nowhere for them to hide from the angry mob!

    Encounter With A Rhodesian Master Spy


    It was on 28 January 1972 when my lovely mother, younger brother, Muparadzi and I arrived at Lusaka international airport. Our departure for Zambia had been delayed by over a month. From the time of our clandestine departure from our home village in Buhera district the travel itinerary had been changed a number of times. This was because my father, his younger brother, Augustus and their two Masinire cousins were high on the BSAP wanted list for involvement in political activities. Since 1962 when my father had spent two nights under police detention and  invasive monthly visits from Buhera police were routine at our homestead. The Mudzingwa family was under constant police surveillance. To evade detection my mother and the two of us had left the village secretly. It was easy. A story would be put out by my grandfather, Dakwa that my younger brother and I had accompanied our mother on a visit with her relatives.
    We waited in Salisbury for the new arrangements. We were to travel on Zambian passports, by air and under pseudonyms. Because our given names Gandhi and Muparadzi were considered political I would assume the name Gallant Banda, my brother was to be Palanzi Banda. Meanwhile my mother, Catherine was to retain her first name. When my father had been detained by Buhera police the nature of the accusation was absurd and bordered on the ridiculous. But fascist regimes are always paranoid systems. Because my father had circulated a newspaper article on Ghana that showed Nkrumah as the President of independent Ghana he would be accused of possession of seditious material. To show seriousness after my father’s release from police detention an army helicopter had landed at our homestead to deliver the message that my father was now on Police surveillance (PI) because of his political activity.
    Since uncle Zishiri worked as clinical assistant at Salisbury airport staying with him was the most convenient. When the new travel arrangements were in place he would see us through the airport. Uncle Zishiri’s sister who was married to uncle Job Masinire was dispatched from Lusaka with our passports and plane tickets.
    Anticipating that Edgar Whitehead would hand over political power to the black majority in Rhodesia as Roy Wellensky had done in Zambia my father had in 1964 repatriated us back home. Eight years on, a storm was gathering over Rhodesia as the liberation movements upped armed confrontation with the racist regime. As usual my father was to be involved in the mobilization. In comparison with his cousin who had built his own house my father had secured rented city council accommodation. His rented accommodation was given as No 706 Matero Township. From there my father would operate his three commuter taxis before graduating into commuter minibus operations. From Matero Township I completed my primary education. My two younger siblings, Ishe and Takasuwa would were born there too. Politicized names never seemed to leave the family. After Kasamba primary school I would proceed to the famous Munali Secondary School. Incidentally Munali Secondary School is located east of Lusaka on the left side along the Great East Roadd just past the University of Zambia. That was the school that Zambia’s liberation icon Kenneth Kaunda had also been through.
    At thirteen then and barely a year in town I hardly understood the intrigues of the modern life around me. Uncle, Job Maganhu Masinire and his family lived in a self-built area a further three kilometers west of where we stayed. His house bordered with the shanty compound called George. Further west of George compound was located Zapu’s Freedom Camp. I presume the shanty compound on whose outskirts lay Zapu’s Freedom Camp had sprung up on a one George’s farm. We never bothered to find out.
    For his prestigious driving school business, Lusaka Modern Driving School, my uncle had secured offices in the city centre. Uncle’s house served as both residence and rudimentary workshop where he serviced and repaired his fleet of driving school vehicles and numerous commuter taxis. Overnight parking for uncle’s driving school vehicles, which consisted of Toyota corolla and two 3 tonne Bedford trucks, would be provided at my father’s residence. His two 7 ton Leyland haulage vehicles also parked there. In any case they were on routine business runs only during the agricultural harvesting season when the ferried produce from Mumbwa to the various marketing boards in Lusaka. The one was a ‘Clysdale’ while the other was a ‘Super Comet.’ Those were the brand names given by British Leyland. I bet the difference between the two vehicles was more in their engine capacities and shape. Their manufacturers will be best suited to differentiate between them anyway. As and when desired the haulage vehicles would be loaned for Zanu’s logistical needs.
    North of George compound, across the main road running west from Matero Township lay Lilanda Township where Zapu and Zipra offices were based. Once as we played we had bumped into George Silundika there. On recognizing him we extended greetings in Shona. Surprised Mr Silundika responded and heartily invited us into the Zapu premises. Afraid because odd things were said to happen to Shona children there my friends and I nonetheless accepted. After a few verbal pleasantries he had introduced us to the legendary Nikita Mangena after which we left. We would never let our parents know that we had been there.
    I do not quite remember his name but it was probably false anyway. He drove a jalopy. From the outside it had an immaculate polished look. A close approach to it gave off a characteristic blended fuel after combustion odor. The jalopy was just exciting to look at especially so that at the wheel was a white man. The plates were recognizable as those from Rhodesia. Those types of cars had by and large long since disappeared from Zambia’s roads. At independence Zambia was now trading with the French, Japanese and Italians. Cars plying the roads of Lusaka were mostly Peugeot, Fiat, Datsun and Toyota. Fiat had even established an assembly plant locally just thirty minute drive on the outskirts of town. Pricey but quality Germany brands were out of the reach even for the emerging middle class. American cars were just the stuff of the movies; very rare. Where you came across them then they were either remnants from the colonial era or personal imports.
    For most Zambians this white man’s vehicle was some form of collector’s items. As for me, with exception of the BSAP Land Rovers that tormented our homestead back in the village I could only relate this vehicle type to the one that the local grocery store owner, Dan’s at Dorowa mine drove. Even on the odd occasion when I was allowed to go to the bi scope at the local township the movies were often those of the Wild West; on horseback and fighting the Red Indians. Few in the village knew cars by their brand names then. It was just a motor car.
    The Rhodesian had approached my uncle’s workshop on the pretext that his vehicle had developed a fault for which he needed a look over. It was towards end of the working day around 4 o’clock in the afternoon. At that hour in a small ill-equipped repair workshop usually the mechanics would be dog tired and preparing to call it a day. Everything that they did, starting from lifting heavy engines, gearboxes and tyre changes was manual. The workshop equipment was more than rudimentary. Ordinarily it would have been difficult to motivate the workers at such an hour except for offering them a tip. However, because the workshop was in a home setting the mechanics first needed to seek permission from my uncle before looking the vehicle over. Uncle Job usually got home after dark and on very few occasions just before. The spymaster utilized that time to get cozy with the mechanics team.
    The motor mechanics team was all Zambians. Incidentally the head mechanic, Zulu and his deputy, Chongwe had acquired their vehicle repair skills as workshop assistants, repairing tractors on Rhodesian farms. They claimed that occasionally they would be allowed to service their bosses and neighbours’ cars. They were therefore familiar with both the type of vehicle and the environment with regards how to chat up their former bosses. A considerable lot of chatting would happen in the process as they waited the arrival of my uncle. Perhaps to relax them and raise their expectations a few beers had been offered. Though naturally the mechanics team supported the liberation struggle they had no need to be on their guard.
    Uncle spent his day time mostly in town with my father and friends. Routinely they would pitch up at the driving school offices in town before going off on some social or political errand. They would only return home around dusk after gallivanting. Back home in the village and here in Zambia my father and his cousin represented typical patriarchs. So the Rhodesian spymaster would have all the time he needed before uncle Job returned. When he did it was already getting dark. He was tired and therefore dismissively did not object to his mechanics looking the vehicle over. He must have presumed that the mechanics had been constrained by the home setting. The jalopy was too conspicuous just to drive in and out without being noticed. Otherwise the mechanics would have taken on the spymaster’s request as their own part time job. Unfortunately the workshop was not well lit and so it was agreed that the vehicle could be done first thing in the morning with assurances that the mechanics would have it fixed by midday. As the client only needed to get to the border before it closed ninety six miles to the border was less than two hours drive.
    In the conversation that ensued when asked what had brought him into Zambia the Rhodesian spymaster had ready answer. He claimed that he was a member of the catholic clergy based in Salisbury. His visit was for the purpose of sharing a few things with fellow members of the clergy in Zambia. Except that where he was there was no through road to Kabwe he had hit the right node. Clergy were known to wander off their routes and appreciate surrounding environments time and again. That was natural. Most importantly Catholics in Rhodesia were known for their stance with regards the UDI crisis. Rhodesian authorities could not do anything to bring them to any harm for their beliefs. Naturally the Zambian authorities could not deny them entry either. On that uncle Muganhu would offer his erstwhile guest a free look over of the vehicle. Once repairs were successfully done on the morrow he could be on his way.
    It was an amiable conversation to the extent that my uncle sought to extend hospitality by inviting his ‘guest’ to turn in for the night. The guest declined the hospitality saying he would take up a room in a hotel in the city centre. Sympathetic a vehicle was provided for him to be dropped in town. The same service would be made available the next morning ostensibly for him to oversee as his vehicle was being repaired. He professed that he would not be in a hurry and trusted the mechanics to do their job. If it was ok they could pick him up once substantial progress had been made on repairing it. Eleven o’clock was then agreed as his pick up time from his hotel. Members of the clergy were to be treated even better than other volunteers to the liberation effort.
    In Lusaka telephones in the house were rare those days. Communication was by word of mouth. Uncle would pass by the house where we lived the first thing in the morning to inform my father about what had transpired. That is how the two worked all the time with regards the liberation effort. From early on my uncle’s driving school offices had been availed for most of the Dare Rechimurenga meetings. On that basis father and uncle would attend the meetings of Dare Rechimurenga and other Zanu leadership meetings. Much later during détente when Sithole would be released to travel to Lusaka he convened one of his meetings at the driving school offices. The two were inseparable in that regard.
    Having briefed each other the two shot off in my uncle’s Peugeot 404 sedan registration No ES 1028 on their day’s routine. It sounded a bit strange though that the cleric had left all the better equipped garages in town in preference for my uncle. Perhaps as clergy he was just trying to save on his expense. Besides, there was nothing remiss about the demeanor of the man. The fellow was moderately dressed as would be expected of priests. His demeanor was equally befitting people of collar. Humble, soft spoken and appeared not in a particular hurry. He even appeared affectionate and if not gracious towards the mechanics by trusting them to look over his vehicle in his absence. A typical ‘Rhodesian’ would have acted otherwise – arrogant, boastful, talkative and abusive. He had mastered his art well.
    Day two was something else. My younger brother and I had agreed to get together with our cousins at my uncle’s house. After a breakfast of corn flakes, bread, liver and tea we would be ok for food until the evening meal. My mother was exceptionally generous with us. She allowed us about forty Ngwee each time we went out playing at cousins’. That was provided if we came back with change we would be expected to give it back to her. A bun  by then cost less than one Ngwee. A drink was only five Ngwee while tinned fish seldom fetched beyond twenty. The world was in our pocket! To pass time we played soccer with friends kicking around a stuffed plastic paper ball. Then in between play we would occasionally go for a coke and bun. On some days we would opt for tinned pilchards or tuna sandwiched on the bun. If the local butchery had in store ham then we could opt for pressed beef sandwiches. It was part of the growing up. On the day the story of the cleric had spread through the community of friends. Among them was Collins Simbanegavi whose father had met his fate at the front as a guerilla. As we arrived at our cousins’ place they would notice the strange jalopy parked in the constricted yard. It was black in colour and imposingly huge. At the appointed time the mechanics had picked up the supposed cleric. They found him waiting at the hotel as agreed. We caught a glimpse of him as he arrived and off we went to play.
    My cousins would relate to us what transpired just before their father arrived as we went off to play. We knew that once in the company of friends such issues should never be subject of discussion. My cousins had observed the guest take something out from the boot of the car that looked like a pistol. From the distance they had observed the spymaster demonstrating to the mechanics how the rod worked. It was too inconsequential for us to care much about. We just wanted to play. In any case previously we had witnessed guns and other supplies being cached in the makeshift workshop and yard many times before when they were en-route to the guerillas. Whenever Henry Hamadziripi, William Ndangana or Ernest Kadungure had appeared, which was not often, we had been warned never to say a word to anyone. Of course some of the times the visits were just routine and social. Even though we were aware of the routines that were taking place at the driving school offices at the city centre it was never our business to differentiate between what was a social call or otherwise. Discreetness had crept into the families. That was what it took to actively support guerillas. Since the old men had appeared to welcome this particular guest then we presumed it was the same routine process.
    The mechanics appeared to have isolated the problem and fixed it. It was time for a road test. The spymaster would be accompanied by the head mechanic, Mr. Zulu on the test drive. Up to five kilometres was the recommended road test for the particular problem. They were gone for over thirty minutes. On coming back the motor mechanic would give his report. The vehicle was not sufficiently robust for the journey was the report. On that point the supposed cleric had decided to leave the car behind and travel back to Rhodesia without it. Late as it was he would need another night at the hotel. In order for him to find transport to take him to Salisbury when on the other side he requested for one additional favour. They would therefore wait for my uncle to return so that they could work out something together.
    As usual uncle Masinire was only back after dark. When he got home the motor mechanics were there waiting with the report. They were a bit tipsy, which was not unusual when they had worked over time. The vehicle was declared too risky to traverse the treacherous inclines of the Zambezi escarpment on the Rhodesian side of the border. The alternative had to be worked out since the ‘clergyman’ needed to get to the border first thing in the morning in order to hitch a hike to Salisbury. His favour was granted. He surrendered all the vehicle papers to the head mechanic, Mr. Zulu for keeping. The long and short of it was the supposed man of the cloth would be availed an alternative vehicle and driver to take him to the border first thing in the morning. That vehicle would be borrowed from my father, Chinembiri aka Gen Ojukwu. Somehow my father had the best serviced and reliable vehicles at that moment. The cleric offered to do the fuel bill as well as generously pay for the wear and tear to and from the border. It was as good as a hire. The tasked driver started off with his trip at around four in the morning from the hotel. By the border opening time the driver and his fare were at the border post waiting. The two bade each other farewell and the spymaster was gone. Whatever his name was.
    Things began to happen some two days after the departure of the erstwhile guest. One of the assistants, Pikani was arrested for possession of a magnum pistol in George township where he lived. It emerged that the gun had been given to him by the Rhodesian spymaster. On interrogation he was not the only one that he been rewarded with the generous gift of a revolver. The head mechanic had been presented with the most coveted gift of them all; a CZ pistol too. There was third beneficiary to the generosity of our erstwhile spymaster. Then the whole puzzle unraveled. The vehicle was otherwise in mint condition. The mechanics had been compromised with the auspicious bribe of guns and money to give a false report. By the same arrangement they would also keep the vehicle.
    Because it was not the first time that the spymaster had crossed the border on tasks the Zambian intelligence had closed in on the spymaster even though they were still far from catching him. Zambian authorities were reluctant anyway when it came to dealing with Rhodesian subversive activities against the liberation movements. The spymaster had been on a daring mission targeting both Zapu and Zanu in Lusaka. This time around his task was specific and simple. With regards to Zanu it was to put the fear of devil in two critical individuals who according to their intelligence reports provided meeting venues for Dare Rechimurenga. Thus my uncle Maganhu Job Masinire and my father, Leornard Chinembiri Mudzingwa were target for the audacious spymaster drama.
    The message was simple too; the Rhodesians are watching you. It was like reliving the helicopter landing experience at our Dorowa village homestead back in 1963.The spymaster’s mission had been accomplished with pin point accuracy. Unfortunately the two targeted individuals had grown a thick skin to care anymore. Service and sacrifice for the freedom of their fellow countrymen had become second nature to them. In any case after the assault on Altena farm in 1972 the horse had bolted. It was too late to close the gate to the pen. Internationally greater attention was irreversibly shifting towards Zanu. With it more material support would start to pour in as compared to the trickle before the launch of the assault on Centenary district. Soon the meeting place for the Dare would become insignificant to the struggle anyway.
    The Rhodesians had also failed to account for another dimension. A few days later in retaliation Zambia would close its border with Rhodesia. Better still the Caetano dictatorship in Portugal would fall and Mozambique became independent. The war coordination would shift away from Zambia into Manica Province in Mozambique. With that the liberation war effort decisively intensified beyond expectations.
    Bayethe!
    Gandhi Mudzingwa

    Mudenda Pours Scorn On Renewal Team Court Action


    Parliament Speaker Jaob Mudenda has rubbished a new lawsuit brought out by a disgruntled MPs from the Tendai Biti’s Renewal Team to the Constitutional Court terming it as being “without any legal merit.”
    Mudenda could be guilty of contempt of court for speaking into the case while it is under judicial consideration.
    The lawsuit was triggered over concerns that the expulsion of the legislators was illegal and Mudenda should reverse it. Mudenda said that all material times, the former MDC-T MPs “knew, or must have known, or should have known, or ought to have known” that the natural and probable consequences of them receiving the letter(s) of expulsion from a political party was to be followed by the concerned members’ recall from Parliament.
    “All these important events have already taken place and what is now left for the applicants is simply to accept his/her fate, because, to use the language of a rancher, the horse has already bolted out of the pen, and to use Shakespearean language, it is a high-sounding application, but signifying nothing or, to use biblical language, this application is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell which will not produce the desired results,” Mudenda said.
    The Speaker also castigated former Kambuzuma MP Willias Madzimure for wasting his time consulting the party’s secretary-general and ex-Harare East MP Tendai Biti on their expulsion rather than taking the matter to court.
    “On or about the 4th day of March the first applicant (Willias Madzimure) received a letter from MDC-T expelling him from the party and instead of rushing to court to protect his or their alleged fundamental rights, he or they went to Tendai Biti,” Mudenda said.
    “The first applicant/applicants did nothing to interdict the announcement, let alone the publication of the Government Gazette, perhaps being content on discussing the matter with Tendai Biti.
    “On or about March 6, I received a letter from the secretary-general of the MDC-T recalling the applicants from Parliament, around or about the same time the local news media was awash with the news that I was to make an announcement on the fate of the applicants vis-à-vis their seats in the National Assembly, again instead of rushing to court to protect his alleged fundamental rights, the first applicant went to see Biti.”
    Mudenda said he procedurally gave notice to President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Justice Rita Makarau and Zec about the notification from the MDC-T and the existence of vacant parliamentary seats. (ZimEye/Newsday)

    South Africa Doesn’t Want to Stop Xenophobia


    There is something powerful and unusual about the term xenophobia. Every official in South Africa from Mbeki’s time doesn’t want to acknowledge that xenophobia is an issue in their Rainbow Nation. They all want to point to xenophobic outrages and tragedy as rare isolated criminal incidences that can be easily dealt with. But we all know the truth, that’s not the case. South Africa has a large section of its nationals who are xenophobic or suffer from Afro-phobia as one friend would like to describe them. Why do SA official dismiss the existence of xenophobia in SA? And what is xenophobia in simple terms.
    What is xeneophobia?
    In simple terms xenophobia is the ‘hatred, intolerance and hostility towards representatives of other races, religion, culture, foreigners or representatives of other regions as well as towards something unknown, unusual and strange’ Those who are xenophobic always see their group as the best and original. On the other hand, the other groups are met with hostility disrespect and mistreat. For most South Africans, their hatred is targeted at fellow black people whom they also see as bringing diseases and crime.
    When did it start in South Africa
    I am willing to forgive South Africans because of their apartheid history. Its no excuse for their hatred of fellow back people, but other explanation can be acceptable for their continued hatred of others and their practice of burning people. All this can be traced to their history. South Africa’s apartheid introduced xenophobia. The Apartheid regime discriminated and separated people according to their skin colour, complexion and passes. All these counted for one’s status and station in life. And now, South Africans are happy to vent their anger against foreigners, whom they accuse of spreading disease, stealing jobs plus sponging off basic government services like electricity, running water and healthcare. Some cases of xenophobia found before the shocking 2008 major incident include;
    • In 1998, three foreign-nationals were killed on a train, between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
    • In 2000, a Sudanese refugee was thrown from a train on a similar route. The reasons were all the same: blaming foreigners for a lack of jobs, or economic opportunity.
    • In 2007, a shop in the eastern Cape was set alight by a mob.
    • This escalated in 2008, leaving 62 people dead, and more than 17 000 displaced and properties worth millions of Rands looted and destroyed, with thousands of foreigners under protection in refugees camps, churches, mosques and police stations. The violence only stopped when the government resorted to military intervention. Mozambique repatriated most of its citizens. It was Afro-phobia, it only affected black, African foreign nationals because there was no evidence of violence directed at white Europeans Indians from the subcontinent.
    As these incidents took place, the South African government did not want to see them as signs of festering xenophobia, instead, preferred calling them criminality.
    AFROPHOBIA IS OFFICIAL SNUBBED AT?
    If South Africa is not xenophobic, then it is Afro-phobic for mainly people have endured this treatment against them by their black brothers. Surprisingly, the South African leaders have not helped the situation. Their denial of the problem was as good as condoning it. The then President Thabo Mbeki, just before he left power and when xenophobia viciously raised its ugly head in 2008, said those who were using the term were “trying to explain naked criminality by cloaking it in the garb of xenophobia…When I heard some accuse my people of xenophobia, of hatred of foreigners, I wondered what the accusers knew about my people, which I did not know … and in spite of this reality, I will not hesitate to assert that my people are not diseased by the terrible affliction of xenophobia which has, in the past, led to the commission of the heinous crime of genocide’’
    Subsequently, 62 people were murdered for being foreigners inside Thabo Mbeki’s Rainbow nation. The president was not alone. It became official to deny a problem before everyone.
    Like Mbeki, President Zuma continued to condemn the incident not as xenophobic, but criminal activities.
    Gauteng Premier David Makhura, ‘What we have seen happening, ladies and gentlemen, is not xenophobia, it’s criminality….We have gone out to the community to talk, telling our community members that nobody in our communities must try to defend criminality.”
    The Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu, who set a Task Team to look at the underlying causes of the violence against foreign-owned businesses, left the nation shocked as she worsened the situation by declaring that foreign-business owners in South Africa’s townships were not expected to co-exist peacefully with local business owners unless they shared their trade secrets.
    The most recent violence is alleged to have been instigated by comments attributed to the
    Zulu king who forcefully told migrants to go home. Later, he said he was he was mistranslated. Even though, the Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba called on traditional leaders to stop making remarks that “could result in a
    loss of life”.
    More stunning revelations and comments were made by those indulging in xenophobia, or observers.
    “Cops told us to loot,” the headline said. Even the police when they come to help you they first take money from you
    Cynthia Khanyile, a Jabulani street vendor the blame lies elsewhere did not mince her words, “I hate foreigners. I really don’t like them. They take business away from us. We work hard, but then the foreigners come and take our business and our jobs,” she said.
    Another observer nailed laid the blame squarely where it belongs, ‘Our government also knows, the State Security people, know who the perpetrators of the violence are, and they looking the other way sometimes. And mostly, it’s because of power hungry people that cause all those conflicts that only if they could, they should sit around the table and resolve their differences for the sake of peace…
    ‘It’s a group of people coming together and deciding to attack. Most of the time violence happens after a general public meeting, organised by the community leaders, where foreigners are discussed, and then a decision is taken to remove them from the community. In those meetings, it a matter of taking charge: “this is the situation, we can’t continue like this”, or “there is nobody else to take care of this issue,” or “It’s now us who has to deal with it”.
    Thus the violence is not an impromptu action by drunk, hungry or unemployed youths. This is violence that happens as a result of local leaders meeting and deciding on it. These are powerful local resident groups who even determine local elections results. It is happening with the blessings of the police who either join in looting or simply pretend they are not there. The violence is not seen and seriously taken for what it is by the country’s leadership. This is pure hatred of black foreigners by South Africans, its Afro-phobia and must be tackled as such.
    MOST PAINFUL DEATH
    Brutal South Africans do not value life at all as statistics show. The most painful death in front of out TVs was that of a young Mozambican man named Mido Macia in early 2013. He was tied to a police van and dragged through a street close to Johannesburg by officers simply because he was a foreigner who parked his taxi on the wrong side of the road. If the police can do this to foreigners, what can the general population do. South Africans are well known for their most painful and heinous way of killing people by touching them. This goes back during their liberation struggle as a summary execution tactic against betrayers. This is what is now being done to foreigners. South Africans will drag their victims into the street for all to see and “necklace” them. A rubber tyre is filled with petrol and forced around a victim’s chest and arms, and set alight.
    Can South Africa not stop xenophobia violence?
    South Africa can stop this if its commits itself. For example, South Africa was able to drastically reduce its crime rate during the World Cup in the west of Johannesburg by 70% and by 60% in the east of Johannesburg. Armed robberies and home robberies dropped by 37% and 31% respectively in these parts during the World Cup. So we have a country leaving foreigners at the mercy of murderers yet the same country was able to give maximum protection to mainly white people who attended World Cup. It is the same country that opened its borders for black foreigners to come and work for it during the same World Cup. IS South Africa not Afro-phobic then?

    Xenophobic Torture Continues Unabated

    Police have been stretched as looting of foreign owned shops continue in the Umlazi and Kwamashu areas on Monday evening. Jeff Wicks for News24, reported that riot police have been stationed in Gale Street in central Durban.
    He said some of the police had to be redeployed from Umlazi to attend to the volatile scene.
    Earlier police fired stun grenades at a group of protesters outside the Dalton Road hostel in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal.
    The latest protest follows the looting of shops in KwaMashu on Monday morning, after an outbreak of overnight violence aimed at foreign-owned businesses.
    According to News24’s Giordano Stolley, a group of 300 protesters who gathered at the Dalton Road hostel were being followed by 100 police.
    He said after protesters returned to the hostel, shots were fired and public order police (POP) called in.
    “People were hanging out of the windows shouting abuse at police,” Stolley reported.
    Police then fired tear gas on the crowd, who then marched out of the hostel and towards Gale Street.
    According to POP about five or six shots were heard in the hostel after they fired stun grenades.
    Thousands of foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Somalia have been displaced following the xenophobic attacks.
    Close to 2,000 foreigners are being housed in three temporary makeshift camps.
    According to police spokesman Thulani Zwane, four people have died in the violence, but some media reports put the figure at six. A total of 17 people have been arrested in the last two weeks.
    Zimbabwe’s consul-general in South Africa, Henry Mukonoweshuro, told SABC news that diplomatic ties between South Africa and Zimbabwe will not be affected by the on-going xenophobic attacks in the greater Ethekwini metropolitan municipality.
    There have been reports of attacks in Umlazi, Kwamashu, Inanda and Siyanda. Durban head of provincial government communications, Thami Ngwenya, said the situation is tense but stable.
    Human rights campaigner China Ngobese says the attacks on foreigners are worrying.
    Last year the South African Human Rights Commission said the term xenophobia, which has been used to describe the violence against foreigners, should be called afrophobia as Africans seem to be targeted. – News24.com

    Sex Statch: Madzibaba Caught, Stabbed to Death

    An Apostolic church leader accused of sleeping with a church mate’s wife has been stabbed to death in Warren Park.
    Stuart Tapiwa Chirara was stabbed to death by a fellow church mate, Webster Mutinje. The deceased was alleged to be having an adulterous relationship with the Mutinje’s wife.
    The deceased was an Apostolic church elder who worshiped with the suspect’s wife, and practised a spiritual ritual known as ‘Kushandira Mweya.’
    On Sunday mid-morning, Webster Mutinje came to Chirara’s home in Warren Park armed with a butcher’s knife and an acid bottle.
    He proceeded to sprinkle acid on the occupants of the house through the dinning room window, injuring Chirara’s son.
    Mutinje proceeded into the house where he found Chirara and stabbed him in his shoulder and blinded him with the remaining acid.
    In a bid to save his life, Chirara ran out into the street calling for help but friends and neighbours could not assist as his attacker was armed with a butcher’s knife.
    The Chirara family is still in shock and regret that such an incident that could have been solved amicably took such a tragic turn for the worse.
    Harare Province Police Spokesperson, Inspector Memory Pamire confirmed the murder and called on members of the public not to take the law into their own hands.

    Broke Govt Scraps Bonus for Civil Servants

    The government has suspended civil servants bonus payments until 2017 as part of measures to contain the unsustainable recurrent expenditure.
    The government also aims to create fiscal space to support the socio-economic transformation drive.
    The bold and pragmatic decision is one but many strategies government says it is taking to address the huge expenditure bill and to create the necessary capacity to grow the economy.
    Civil servants bonuses will be scrapped in 2015 and 2016 and the situation will be reviewed in 2017 in the event that government is able to build enough capacity.
    “We will not hesitate to take bold decisions to take this economy forward and we need to be realistic about our situation,” the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Patrick Chinamasa said.
    Government has been channelling almost 82 percent of the budget towards salaries with monthly employment costs amounting to US$260 million.
    According to the fiscal authorities, heavily taxing the private sector is not sustainable, hence the need to create breathing space for the productive sector.
    Chinamasa expressed government’s commitment to pay all the outstanding bonus obligations.
    To date, treasury has managed to pay US$159 million in respect of civil servants bonuses out of the US$172 million 2014 bonus obligations.
    The scrapping of the civil servants bonuses comes at a time pundits have highlighted the need for the country to address the high cost structure which has negatively impacted on both the competitiveness and attractiveness of the economy.
    The message has been for the country to live within its means.

    Malawi Repatriates Its Nationals From Afrophobic South Africa

    Malawi repatriating its nationals from South Africa | Malawi Nyasa Times
    Malawi government has said it has begun the “voluntary repatriation” of its citizens, in the wake of ongoing xenophobic violence in South Africa that authorities say has claimed dozens of lives, displaced thousands including Malawians.
    Hundreds of people from Malawi, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Congo have reportedly fled their homes since xenophobic attacks and looting erupted two weeks ago.
    The violence began shortly after Goodwill Zwelithini, the reigning King of the Zulu nation, publicly said that immigrants should pack their bags and leave the country. Similar comments were also made by South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma’s son, Edward.
    Malawi government spokesman Kondwani Nankhumwa said the government has been working to repatriate those who had immigrated to the country.
    He said Lilongwe  is mobilising resources to repatriate atleast 400 Malawians rendered destitute and some of them injured.
    “We are repatriating out citizen to come back home safely,” Nankhumwa, who is Information Minister said.
    “The situation is really tense as about 360 Malawians are stranded in South Africa following xenophobic attacks there,” Information Minister said.
    He said the Malawians targeted had “lost everything”, including their passports.
    Nankhumwa said:”Logistically our embassy (Malawi High Commission in South Africa)is in touch with the South African government to facilitate processing of temporary travel documents for our countrymen and women who have lost their passports. Wew hope this process will be done this week”
    The minister said Ministry of Foreign affairs and International Cooperation officials are on the ground to bring back some people by the end of this week
    He said government will also carry a civic education Malawians who are trekking to South Africa for economic migration to stop until the situation normalises.
    The violence has damaged South Africa’s reputation in Malawi as a haven for foreigners in search of employment and wealth.
    Malawian law university lecturer Sunduzwayo Madise said Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and African Union leaders should “demand an emergency meeting” with South Africa President Jacob Zuma to “stop these senseless and savagely attacks on foreigners.”
    “If the South Africans don’t want other Africans in their country; let’s tear up the SADC Treaty for a start; and sanction their goods, services and businesses. Let us see if an implosion will not result as the fever catches the global market,” Madise wrote on his Facebook Timeline.
    Nankhumwa has since promised government will assist those who needed to be evacuated back to Malawi.
    Malawians are being housed in tents on a sports field waiting to be repatriated back home in buses.
    Meanwhile, some  Malawians refuse to leave South Africa, as they would rather stay in  hiding than face poverty and hunger in their own country.
    Violence against African immigrants in South Africa is common, with impoverished locals accusing foreigners of taking their jobs and business.
    The government has condemned the violence, with President Jacob Zuma sending a team of officials to assess the situation.
    “We reiterate that there can be no justification for attacking foreign nationals,” Zuma said on Sunday.
    Zuma said not all foreigners in South Africa were in the country illegally and many contributed to the economy with their skills.

    AFM Church in Dirty Election Rigging: Court Papers


    The Apostolic Faith Mission Church, AFM, presided over a rigged election in January when they elected their new President, court papers state in a development that could destroy the church’s credibility, a phenomenon previously known to the political arena where politicians are suing each other over electoral fraud.
    AFM today saw (13) thirteen senior pastors approach the High Court challenging the election of Reverend Aspher  Madziyire  as their president on January 31  this  year.
    In their court application the pastors said Reverend Madzire stole the election by evading the Workers Council which is the Church’s Electoral College.
    They further accuse him of conducting the election the ZANU (PF) way of taking down the serial numbers of the voters’ registration slips.
    “The defendant violated the rights of the plaintiff to be in the workers council that was going to vote for a president of the Church.
    “The Workers Council is due to meet on the 26th of April and there was never a call for the Workers Council on the 31st January 2015 which culminated in the election of 1st defendant as president of the church”, read part of the application which was filed at the High Court by Zivanai  Macharaga of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers on behalf of the disgruntled thirteen pastors.
    The pastors also accuse Reverend Maziyire of intimidating and victimizing pastors in the church.
    According to Macharaga the defendant has up to three weeks to respond to the application.
     

    BREAKING NEWS: CIO Bonyongwe Faces Arrest over Dzamara Disappearance

    CIO Boss Happyton Bonyongwe is facing arrest and imprisonement for 90 days over his failure to search for abduted activist Itai Dzamara. A court move has been launched naming Bonyongwe Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, and Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi should be imprisoned for 90 days for disobeying a lawful court order issued on Friday 13 March 2015 by High Court Judge Justice David Mangota directing them to brief lawyers on progress and cooperate with them in their efforts to conduct the investigations as a team.
    Mohadi, Chihuri and Bonyongwe are guilty of contempt of court after they intentionally disobeying a court order by not reporting any progress of the search for Dzamara as required of them by Justice Mangota, the full application by Dzamara’s wife, Sheffra, charges.
    On Friday 13 March 2015, Justice David Mangota ordered Mohadi, Chihuri, Bonyongwe and the State Security Minister to dispatch a team of police detectives to work closely and in conjunction with lawyers appointed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to search for the freelance journalist at all such places as may be within their jurisdiction in terms of the law and report progress of such search to the Registrar of the High Court by 1600 hours every Friday fortnightly until his whereabouts have been determined.
     
    Human rights lawyers have disputed the contents of a letter submitted to the Registrar of the High Court by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) purportedly as a report into the abduction of pro-democracy activist Itai Dzamara, who went missing early last month.
    Fearing contempt of court proceedings initiated by human rights lawyers on Thursday 02 April, 2015 for failing to comply with a High Court order obliging them to report on progress they have made in searching for the missing human rights defender, police are now claiming that they are doing all they can to locate Dzamara, who was abducted in early March.
    Fortune Chimbaru, the Acting Director in the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office recently furnished the Registrar of the High Court with what she claimed to have been a “fortnightly update of investigations” conducted by the ZRP on the missing Dzamara.
    But human rights lawyers have taken issue with what Chimbaru referred to as a fortnightly update as it is just a letter containing five-paragraphs addressed to the Director of Legal Services at the Police General Headquarters and prepared by Assistant Commissioner Crispen Makedenge, the Officer Commanding ZRP CID Law and Order Division.
    Lawyers charge that the update is totally insufficient and cannot be considered as a report because it doesn’t contain crucial specifics of a police probe including details of people whom the ZRP officers interviewed during the purported investigations which they carried out.
    Lawyers charge that by submitting such a “report”, the ZRP is just trying to find a way out of contempt of court proceedings instituted against them together with Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Happyton Bonyongwe and the State Security Minister by Sheffra, the wife of the missing pro-democracy activist and freelance journalist for failing to comply with a High Court order obliging them to report on progress they have made in searching for the missing human rights defender.
    The contempt of court proceedings, which were filed in the High Court on Thursday 02 April, 2015 were a follow up to the habeas corpus application filed on Monday 9 March 2015 by human rights lawyers to compel whoever is holding Dzamara to bring him before the court so as to determine if he should really be in detention.
    Sheffra Dzamara, through her lawyers led by Charles Kwaramba of Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, who are members of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, wants Mohadi, Chihuri and Bonyongwe to be imprisoned for 90 days for disobeying a lawful court order issued on Friday 13 March 2015 by High Court Judge Justice David Mangota directing them to brief lawyers on progress and cooperate with them in their efforts to conduct the investigations as a team.
    In the application for contempt of court Sheffra charged that Mohadi, Chihuri and Bonyongwe were guilty of contempt of court after they intentionally disobeying a court order by not reporting any progress of the search for Dzamara as required of them by Justice Mangota.
    On Friday 13 March 2015, Justice David Mangota ordered Mohadi, Chihuri, Bonyongwe and the State Security Minister to dispatch a team of police detectives to work closely and in conjunction with lawyers appointed by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to search for the freelance journalist at all such places as may be within their jurisdiction in terms of the law and report progress of such search to the Registrar of the High Court by 1600 hours every Friday fortnightly until his whereabouts have been determined.
    But in her application, Sheffra argued that the respondents had not complied with the provisional order and hence Dzamara’s fundamental rights including the right to life; to the protection of the law; to access to relatives, family and friends; to access to his lawyers; to freedom of movement and association, remain under threat with each day that passes without him being found.
    Failure to locate Dzamara, Sheffra said, makes the need for Mohadi, Chihuri and Bonyongwe to comply with the provisional order extremely urgent.
    Sheffra said the respondents must account for every minute that goes by because as the State, they have a duty to protect citizens.
    The 35 year-old Dzamara, an iconic figure in Zimbabwe’s pro-democracy movement was abducted on Monday 09 March 2015 by some unidentified men who were travelling in a white twin cab vehicle with a blurred registration number plate from a barber shop, where he was having a haircut in Harare’s high density suburb of Glenview. He has remained missing since then.

    ‘Mugabe’s Government Can’t Help People’ – Mahofa

    Zimbabwe’s government, which is run by a globe trotting President, has completely nothing to offer for its people, as revealed by one of recently appointed Masvingo’s Provincial Affairs Minister Shuvai Mahofa.
    While Mugabe is busy complicating the operations of Non-Governmental Organisations, his colleagues are bleeding from inside, as the donor funding is the only gateway to Zimbabwe’s economic woes.
    Addressing Gutu East community this weekend, Shuvai Mahofa said, “It’s something really wonderful, in such remote areas that you keep helping the disadvantaged people help. Please continue giving the help that you started, we can only survive through you donors.” Minister Mahofa was applauding Oxfam and its partners, who have come to the rescue of Zimbabwean community with rural sustainable energy through developmental projects. Zimbabwe’s head of state is well known for denigrating NGOs, but never substituted their services, with whatever he promised. The Zimbabwean electorate are still waiting for promised deliveries after 2013 elections, which most people said were peacefully rigged, as nothing has come out of promised ZimAsset. The Gutu East project was funded by the European Union focusing on promoting enterprise development through increased uptake for solar energy products by poor and marginalised communities.
    “Members of Parliament for Masvingo told me of the situation, and I saw it for myself when I was coming here. People’s lives are in danger, because of this drought,” said Mahofa, while praising the NGOs efforts to improve lives of the neglected community who are only remembered during election time. Gutu East MP Berita Chikwama also concurred with Mahofa, as she echoed the same sentiments of NGOs looking after the community than the Government.
    “There is drought in the area, and we thank all NGOs organisations for their efforts in improving the lives of people. You have rekindled the lost hope to the people. I want to thank Oxfam, EU, French deputy Ambassador and Practical Action. We appreciate what you are doing. NGOs please keep on helping Gutu people to serve them from this poverty.” Said Chikwama.[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/04/shuvai-mahofa.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2015/04/shuvai-mahofa-180×232.jpg” width=”180″ align=”none” title=”shuvai-mahofa” frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]

    Psychology Maziwisa to Become An MP, Wins Primaries

    Zanu-PF conducted primary elections on Saturday in eight constituencies in Harare, Midlands and Manicaland and has announced candidates who will represent the party in the by-elections set for June 10.
    Spin doctor Psychology Maziwisa is set to become an MP after winning the Highfield West bi election.  He will represent the party in Highfield West after polling 840 votes, beating Emmanuel Juta (270), Alexander Matafi (200), Norbert Chikumbo (34) and Regis Muguva (23).
    In Glen View South, Pious Madzinga won with 191 votes, beating s Doubt Mhike (159), Tawanda Musengi (103), Gladys Muvuti (68) and Musafare Muchemwa (7).
    Betty Kaseke will represent Kuwadzana after managing 572 votes ahead of s Lloyd Makuwe (308), Tauya Mauka (36) and Joseph Mutezo (148). In Kambuzuma, Tinashe Maduza got 891 votes beating Oliver Chidau (378), Samuel Mvurume (66) and Samuel Chinyowa (62).
    The Dzivaresekwa primary election was won by Omega Hungwe who polled 679 votes to beat s Never Kowo (253), Francis Chanduru (66), William Muhipe (47) and Tichaona Kapfunde (5).
    Terrence Mukupe polled (651) in Harare East, beating s Mavis Gumbo (369), Stanley Mau Mau (111), Chris Chuchu (14), Justice Zvandasara (151), Margaret Sithole (20) and Milton Chaniwa (31).
    Speaking after the elections, Mau Mau said he was ready to work with Mukupe since he was “the best candidate” for the constituency.
    Vongaishe Mpereri polled 2 299 votes against Knowlet Hove in Kwekwe Central, while Esau Mupfumi will represent the party in Dangamvura-Chikanga after garnering 1 110 votes followed by s Yard Binali (745), Reketai Duru (586), Kenneth Muchina (522) and Future Pariyana (67).

    UK: Missing 23 Yr Old Tinashe Hombarume


    Concern is growing for a missing 23 year old vulnerable Zimbabwean youth in Manchester, Tinashe Ashleigh Hombarume.

    Tinashe went missing Monday 6 April in Manchester. Tinashe is a vulnerable adult who has previously used mental health facilities.
    He gets agitated in the presence of uniformed police officers.

    Tinashe is soft spoken and does not know the Manchester area well as he is from Yorkshire.
    If Spotted readers are encouraged to call Mrs Hombarume on UK Mobile 07572546841 or Cousin Mai Thandie on +44 7414 467915

    Mwonzora Flying to UK for Massive Fundraising for 2018 Elections

    At at time when Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF is destroying itself through bitter purges, the MDC-T has firmly set its eyes on the upcoming 2018 elections beginning its first massive fund raising shows in the United Kingdom.
    A team of officials led by Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora are on their way to be in England early in July in preparation for a massive music gala fund-raiser in the posh city of Oxford, ZimEye.com can reveal.
    Fund-raising has become vital after the ZANU PF government strangled the MDC parties by failing to release up to $3million of political party funds as allocated by the Constitution.
    The trip has been facilitated by the MDC-T party’s most organised branch, Oxford, led by the prolific chairman Chrispen Chamburuka who has outshined many both within and outside Zimbabwe. Oxford has for years financed the MDC party from its cashbook including ensuring that the party retains Thabitha Khumalo’s Bulawayo East constituency.
    Accompanying Mwonzora is Treasurer General Theresa Makone, Abednico Bhebhe, and Deputy Spokesperson, Thabitha Khumalo.
    The function will be held on the 1st August, at the large Exeter Hall, Oxford, OX5 1AB(picture below)

    BREAKING NEWS – Temba Mliswa Arrested for Disrupting Zanu PF meeting

    FIRED former Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman and Hurungwe West independent candidate Temba Mliswa was arrested at Sengwe business centre yesterday and allegedly charged with disrupting the ruling party’s meeting.
    Mliswa was still in police custody by the time of going to print last night.
    His campaign team member Farayi Kuvheya said they were taken to Magunje Police Station and charged with interfering with an authorised meeting.
    “We were just moving around the constituency organising our campaign teams at Sengwe Township 500 metres away from Nyamhunga School where Zanu PF was holding a rally,” Kuvheya said.
    He claimed that some people at the business centre mobbed Mliswa, assuring him that they would vote him in the by-election scheduled for June 10.
    “Mliswa’s mob attracted people who were going to the rally, prompting the police to arrest him and members of his team,” Kuvheya said.
    Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara refused to comment on the issue.
    Mliswa is contesting the by-election against Zanu PF candidate Keith Guzah.
    The constituency has of late become a favourate hunting ground for Zanu PF heavyweights who have made various pledges to the electorate during campaigns for Guzah.
    The National Constitutional Assembly which participated in recent by-elections held in Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Mt Darwin West, did not field a candidate hoping to give Mliswa an opportunity to defend his forte.
    Zanu PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo and national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere were among some top ruling party officials who have held rallies in the constituency where they have publicly denounced Mliswa and promised to upgrade public infrastructure.
    “We will bring four graders to rehabilitate roads in the constituency and each ward will have new boreholes drilled,” Kasukuwere said at a recent rally in the constituency.
    Chombo also told Zanu PF supporters that the farming inputs that Mliswa distributed recently were not his, but came from government.
    Mliswa was expelled from both Zanu PF and Parliament a few weeks ago on charges of fanning factionalism and sympathising with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
    Guzah is the current Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial vice-chairperson and former president of the Affirmative Action Group.
    Zanu PF, according to observers, was working hard to ensure that the seat located in President Robert Mugabe’s home province backyard remained under its control.
    Mliswa, who last Wednesday successfully filed his nomination papers, has premised his campaign on his track record in Parliament for the past 20 months.
    He also enjoys the backing of traditional leaders, war veterans and other disgruntled Zanu PF members. – Newsday

    BREAKING NEWS: Bonyongwe Clips CIO Agents’ Wings

    The Central Intelligence Organization boss Happyton  Bonyongwe  has put new measures  which have seen junior members of the organization having ‘less powers’, ZimEye.com has learnt .
    Highly placed sources within the CIO said Bonyongwe has directed the police and local authorities not to tolerate them when they approach them ‘while on duty’. 
    “He wrote letters to the ZRP instructing them to arrest any member of the CIO who would have been caught say driving without a license. He did this saying he wanted to bring sanity in the organization”, said the source.
    “He has also directed all local authorities throughout the country to clamp our cars should they find them parked in the city without some parking discs.
    “This is unusual because the nature of our duty sometimes demands that we spend 10 hours parked at a certain point carrying out some investigations.” 
    They also said the CIO Boss had ordered financial institutions to stop giving his members loans.
    “We used to easily access loans from banks and other financial institutions and this was also blocked. We have a housing scheme which used to give us some loans and housing stands and again the facility is now a preserve of the top officers,” complained the CIO members.
    “There is also heavy militarization of the organization with most of the heads of departments being recruited from the Army. In fact he is saying that every member should have a military background and very soon we will see ourselves getting military training”. 
    The officers however believe Bonyongwe is  trying to convince President Robert Mugabe that he does not belong to the ousted former Vice President Joice Mujuru camp.
    Bonyongwe is in the ZANU (PF) firing queue together with Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner General Paradzai Zimondi, Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri and Perence Shiri  the Air force of Zimbabwe Commander. 
    The security chiefs are accused of siding with the former Vice President Joice Mujuru who was fired from both the government and the ZANU(PF)  party by President Robert Mugabe.

    Zimbabwean Pastor arrested During Church Service In Botswana

    A  pastor from Zimbabwe, who was fined P500 or four months in prison in default of payment for entering Botswana illegally, is facing deportation
    Shadreck Lovedale 36 was found guity last Tuesday after admitting to have entered Botswana through an ungazetted point at Matsiloje on October 25 2013, by the principal magistrate Sijabuliso Siziba.
    The sentence was suspended for one year on condition he does not commit any offence that has an element of dishonesty.
    Lovedale is a pastor and founder of Gospel Impact Church in Francistown. He was arrested during a church service on Saturday evening.
    He told the court that although he did not have any legal justification for having committed the offence, he was forced to overstay in the country to oversee the growth and progress of his infant church.
    “I applied for residence and work permits and was at first rejected by the minister of Labour and Home Affairs,” he said.
    “I then reapplied and my days were exhausted while awaiting a reply from the minister.
    “I wanted to teach some of my congregants how to run the church in my absence while waiting for the reply from the minister, but unfortunately found myself in this situation.
    “I sincerely apologise for my unlawful actions,” Lovedale said.
    Sentencing the accused, Siziba said he took into consideration that the accused was a first offender.
    However, the magistrate said the accused had committed a serious offence that carries a maximum sentence of four years in jail and a fine of P4 000 or both.
    “First offenders should be treated with leniency although the court does not condone their unlawful actions,” Siziba said.
    “Also, this court is inundated with cases of foreigners entering Botswana through ungazetted points of entry.
    “Nonetheless, your motive in the commission of the offence shall be taken into account.”
    Kutlwano Police Station commander Letsholathebe Mothibi said Lovedale had been handed to the Centre for illegal immigrants for deportation.
    He said the pastor might be allowed to come back to Botswana to preach after normalising his work and residents permits. – Mmegi

    Zanu PF Bulawayo Province Hand Picks Candidates For Primary Elections

    Yesterday the Zanu-PF Bulawayo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) announced the names of candidates who will take part in primary elections set for this week.
    Out of the five constituencies in Bulawayo, there will be no elections in two constituencies where Mr Joseph Tshuma (Mpopoma-Pelandaba) and Mr Godfrey Malaba (Pumula) sailed through unopposed.
    In Makokoba, Mr Tshinga Dube will battle it out in the primaries with Mr Michael Mukarwa. Anna Moyo and Ntando Mlilo will square off in Luveve while Tariro Zhou and Maidei Mpala will contest the Magwegwe constituency.
    Bulawayo interim provincial chairperson Alderman Dennis Ndlovu yesterday told The Chronicle that the recommended candidates were confirmed by the party’s national elections directorate (NED) in Harare.
    “We recommended the names, which were submitted to us and the party’s NED has confirmed them because everything was done above board. We’re now geared to successfully hold our primaries between Tuesday and Wednesday,” said Ndlovu.
    On Saturday, Zanu-PF held primaries in nine constituencies in Harare, Manicaland and Midlands provinces ahead of the 16 by-elections set for June, 10.
    In Harare primaries were held in six constituencies namely Highfield West, Glen View South, Kuwadzana, Kambuzuma, Dzivarasekwa and Harare East, while other polls were held in Manicaland’s Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency and in the Midlands province’s Mbizo constituency.
    The by-elections were necessitated by the recall last month of 21 MDC-T legislators who had defected to the MDC Renewal Team. MDC-T will fill seven seats which it won on proportional representation in the July 2013 harmonised elections, but the opposition party has resolved not to contest in the by-elections.
    Zanu-PF’s national secretary for the commissariat Mr Saviour Kasukuwere on Friday announced that primaries for the five vacant constituencies in Bulawayo would be held this week. Last week the party’s provincial leadership in Bulawayo disqualified some aspiring candidates for the primary elections. The Central Committee and Politburo members in the province resolved to disqualify party members who had submitted their names after the vetting process which was done on March, 29.
    Thirty two party members in Bulawayo had expressed interest in contesting in the primary elections for the five constituencies.
    Politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu pulled out of the party’s primary elections for the Mpopoma-Pelandaba constituency, while Central Committee member, Mr Mpehlabayo Malinga, also withdrew his candidature for Makokoba saying his name was submitted while he was abroad.
    President Robert Mugabe proclaimed April, 16, as the date for the sitting of the Nomination Court for the June 10 by-elections. -chronicle

    Sex Flame Made Me Bash My Wife

    A 47-year-old Mbare man who has received a 10 day prison sentence for bashing his wife over sex has pleaded saying he was overcome by a strange burning sensation for intimacy which made him attack his spouse, Durai.

    Sibangani Bandera appeared before Mbare magistrate Ms Gladys Moyo charged with contravening the Domestic Violence Act.

    It is the State’s case that on April 5 this year, Bandera woke his wife, Durai up in the late hours of the night and asked her for sex. The court heard that Durai refused to be intimate with Bandera and this did not go down well with him.

    He then bashed Durai in reaction to the refusal.

    “I admit I did it. I was consumed with an unusual sex flame and I am sorry,” Bandera said.

    In passing sentence, Ms Moyo considered that Bandera was a first time offender who had demonstrated remorse by pleading guilty to the charges.

    Ms Moyo handed Bandera a court fine of $50 or 10 days in prison after he was convicted of bashing his wife over sex.
    “I have taken into account that you have lived a criminal-free life up to this age and you have shown remorse for what you did. However, you did something wrong and you have to face the consequences of your actions, ” she said.

    She continued, “You have to learn to talk things over with your wife and not turn to violence when you have misunderstandings,” she added.

    Mr Chamunorwa Manyere prosecuted.

    Bloody Knife Attack Kills Man at Beer Garden

    A-37-YEAR old Mzilikazi man died on the spot after he was stabbed in the neck and stomach for admonishing a youth he found insulting his aunt minutes after walking into a beer garden.
    Simon Ncube, 23, allegedly stabbed Nkululeko Vuma with an okapi knife at around 9PM at Mzilikazi’s Manwele Beer Garden in Bulawayo on Friday following a misunderstanding after he told the murder suspect not to insult his aunt, only identified as Rita who was in the bar.
    It is alleged that Ncube was angered by Vuma’s intervention as he was hurling insults at the elderly woman and started poking him on the forehead and later stabbed him.
    Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said: “We’ve received a murder report and we’ve since arrested a suspect and he’s assisting us with investigations.”
    A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited Vuma’s home in Mzilikazi suburb and managed to talk to family members.
    Vuma’s widow, Jennet Nyoni, 31, said her husband left home for a drink at the beer garden soon after arriving home from work at Power Sales Stores where he was employed
    “Upon arrival at the beer garden, he saw Simon insulting our aunt Rita. My husband asked Simon why he was insulting a person as old as his mother. This angered Simon who went on to point his finger at my husband’s forehead. I’m told that he said, ‘uzangenzani wena ungumfazi akulalutho ozangeza lona’ (What can you do to me, you’re a woman),” said Nyoni.
    “They started fighting and Simon drew an okapi, stabbed him in the neck and stomach. He died on the spot. Simon ran away to his sister’s place in Hillside but was later apprehended by the police. Vuma was a quiet person.”
    His uncle George Moyo, said they were saddened by Vuma’s demise in a violent and cruel manner.
    “It’s very painful to lose a son in such a manner. Nkululeko was a quiet man. We urge the judiciary to consider death sentence for Simon. He must be killed as well, he doesn’t deserve to live,” said Moyo, angrily.
    Moyo said police took Ncube to Manwele beer garden for indications.
    Vuma is survived by his wife Nyoni and three children, two boys, aged 10 and 12 and a girl aged 16.
    The city has witnessed an upsurge in murder cases over petty issues. – Chronicle

    Highlanders Defeat Triggers Violence

    HIGHLANDERS’ coach Bongani Mafu continues to break records, for all the wrong reasons, after his side crashed to a surprise defeat at the hands of Chapungu who arrived at Barbourfields without a win and goal to their credit.The loss sparked a demonstration by Bosso fans as they marched from the match venue to the club house demanding Mafu’s sacking.
    However, Sibhalo Mpofu, the Highlanders vice-chairman said they still have faith in their coach. “I think we need to give him some time. I still have faith in him,” said Mpofu.
    After going for 360 minutes without celebrating a goal this season, John Nyikadzino’s boys took only eight minutes to celebrate after Allen Tavarwisa beat Highlanders ‘keeper Ariel Sibanda with a rising shot from inside the box off a cross from the right.
    Highlanders never really came to the party and can actually count themselves lucky to have lost by just a solitary goal as the visitors were in control.
    Bosso were only visible when Ariel Sibanda made a save from a Chapungu attack or when skipper Felix Chindungwe, anchorman Erick Mudzingwa and midfielder Welcome Ndiweni were in possession.
    It was a surprise to everyone when coach Mafu pulled out Ndiweni in the 46th minute for a forward, Ozias Zibande. The substitution never proved to be of any benefit to the team.
    Chapungu coach,John Nyikadzino, celebrated his team’s superb win.
    “It’s never easy to score against Highlanders at Barbourfields, worse still, to win but we did it and I want to congratulate the boys for a job well done,” said Nyikadzino.- State Media

    Outrage as Mugabe Publicly Kisses a White Man, PICTURE


    Social networks were abuzz at the weekend as Zimbabweans poured their outrage at President Robert Mugabe who recently said he does not talk to white people. This came as an undated photograph of him surfaced as he kissed a white male priest’s hand (picture). Mugabe told a white journalist in South Africa last week he does not speak to white people. READ MORE -VIDEO: Mugabe Refuses to Talk To Journalists After Spotting a White Face

    Doctors Create “Miracle Jaw” Out of Leg Bone-Chop for Zimbabwean boy

    UT-San Diego |Zimbabwean’s life has been transformed in past two years thanks to the generosity of many.
    SURE, reconstructive surgery has given Blessing Makwera a blinding smile and the ability to eat whatever he wants.
    But it is his voice that makes the most difference, the 22-year-old from Zimbabwe said.

    Before a team of San Diego surgeons used a bone from his left leg to replace the part of his jaw that an explosion had torn off, talking was so painfully difficult that he would just give up.
    “When you’re in class and the teacher can’t understand what you’re saying, it kinda lowers you down. But if people can understand what you’re saying, you can start to enjoy talking,” Makwera said.
    That sense of joy came out recently during a check-up with Dr. Thomas Vecchione, the Hillcrest (a San Diego neighbourhood) plastic surgeon who is part of the team responsible for this young man’s transformation.
    Makwera said far more than “thank you” as he chatted with Vecchione and Dr. James Chao, the reconstructive and plastic surgeon who crafted his new jaw from a harvested piece of his left fibula.
    He described his desire to become a mechanical engineer, his newfound love of running, his temporary home in Boise, Idaho, and his phone conversations with loved ones back on the family farm in Zimbabwe.
    He said the simple joy of being able to make his thoughts and feelings understood is just so … fun.
    “It’s something that I’m still trying to wrap my mind around, even today,” Makwera said, flashing a smile at the doctors.
    Planning to help Africa some day
    They smiled back. Vecchione offered to introduce him to his son who just landed a coveted engineering job with electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors.
    “Tesla? I would love to work there some day,” Makwera said, launching into his master plan to someday help Africa develop more renewable energy.
    Everything, it seems, is on the table now that people can understand what he’s saying post-injury.
    Faced with the onslaught of words and smiles, Vecchione said Makwera has the one thing he needs to succeed. “Enthusiasm is the key to life, and you’ve got enthusiasm,” the plastic surgeon said.
    Makwera’s still-imperfect but vastly improved voice is modulated by a mouth full of implanted teeth and meticulously rebuilt soft tissue in and around his palate, cheeks and tongue.
    Those areas were damaged by an unfortunate encounter with a land mine detonator in 2008. The explosion took his teeth and most of his lower jawbone. He struggled to form words or eat even the softest foods.
    Eventually, the non-profit group Operation of Hope Worldwide in the Orange County city of Lake Forest learned about Makwera’s plight.
    It brought him to the United States and began looking for a health provider willing to donate reconstructive surgery. Sharp HealthCare and a team of associated surgeons answered the call to donate everything needed to rebuild what the detonator took away.
    Three surgeries were required to harvest and implant bone, repair soft tissue and eventually have Dr. Joel Beger, a maxillofacial surgeon, implant permanent teeth.
    Mechanical engineering dreams
    Sharp and the contributing surgeons have not tabulated the value of their donated work, but it is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
    In between operations, the patient has been able to live with an Operation of Hope volunteer in Boise.
    The arrangement has allowed Makwera to avoid traveling back and forth to Zimbabwe during his course of treatment, which includes months of recovery after each surgery.
    He has tried to make the best use of his recuperation time by enrolling in a Boise community college. His mechanical engineering dreams may be helped significantly by his recent discovery that he is a great long-distance runner.
    Jennifer Trubenbach, the president for Operation of Hope, explained that one day, Makwera decided to participate in a Boise marathon with the woman who has been his host there. Although he had not trained for the run, he did well.
    “He eats two hot dogs the night before and he runs the marathon the next day and beats her by an hour,” Trubenbach said.
    More recently, Makwera has tried out at a university in Idaho interested in having him join its track team.
    This from a guy who is missing his left fibula.
    Chao, the surgeon who crafted the bone into Makwera’s new jaw, assured the aspiring runner that he would be able to return to regular physical activity once his leg healed completely.
    The other bone in the lower leg, the much larger tibia, can handle a full load.
    “That was pretty surprising,” Makwera said. “I thought it was going to be hard for me to even use the leg, and now I can run 26 miles no problem.”
    After harvesting the left fibula, Chao made mitered cuts to help it flex and take a boomerang shape before attaching it with titanium plates to what was left of Makwera’s jaw bone.
    More surgery still needed
    Delicate microsurgery was needed to connect a vein inside the bone that is about the width of a human hair. The surgery succeeded, enabling Makwera’s vasculature to supply the bone with enough blood to heal and remain alive.
    Vecchione, the plastic surgeon, said the case was in the top ten of his career in terms of overall complexity. Chao agreed.
    “We needed to get the soft tissue, the muscles, the teeth and the bone all in the same place, all functioning together,” Chao said.
    The two physicians believe a fine-tuning surgery is still necessary to manipulate scar tissue preventing the left corner of Makwera’s mouth from taking a more natural shape.
    There also will be a little more work to make his tongue, which was damaged in the blast as well, more mobile.
    “The key is to try to release the tongue as much as we can. If you can move the tip of the tongue a little bit better, you can get better definition in your speech,” Vecchione said.
    For his part, Makwera said he is amazed that these doctors are continuing to help him two years after his first surgery.
    “I am surprised that someone can do all of this and make everything functional. I’m just grateful to these guys for what they have done and what they are still doing,” he said.

    Tsvangirai hints Secret Meeting with Didymus Mutasa

    • We have a tremendous following” – Mutasa

    MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has sent out a public message to expelled ZANU PF strongman Didymus Mutasa that he is open to secret talks and those which would not accessible to the media.
    Tsvangirai blew this revelation in a presser on Friday.
    This came as Mutasa expressed he wishes to unite with Tsvangirai following the breakdown of his relations with his former boss Robert Mugabe.
    Mutasa (who thousands of Tsvangirai’s supporters have not forgiven for the alleged killing of toddler Christpower Maisiri three years ago), said he wishes to form a united front within a matter of weeks. “It is only be a  matter of time before we publicly launch such a party. We have a tremendous following. This is going to be a coalition of all political parties within Zimbabwe,” said Mutasa.
    The announcement was made last week as Mutasa lost a court bid against his expulsion from ZANU PF.
    The development has attracted a rise in internal calls to take Mutasa seriously. “Mutasa is coming at an important time,” said one senior Tsvangirai officer . “It comes at a time when we are trying to launch the last arsenal on Mugabe,” they said.
    Responding to Mutasa’s calls, Tsvangirai spoke calmly relating to the calls as a dating proposal.
    “If you are proposing love to a girl you do not do that in the media or in public. Mutasa has not approached me and if he really wanted to engage me at that level he would have come to me through the right channels,” said Tsvangirai. ALSO READ- EXCLUSIVE:Horrific Photo of 12 Year-Old Burnt In Headlands

    Mnangagwa ‘Coup Plotter’ Albert Matapo Strikes in Britain

    The convicted “Emmerson Mnangagwa coup plotter,” as reported by ZANU PF, Albert Matapo has hit the headlines in Europe.
    ZimEye.com can exclusively reveal that Matapo’s 8 year old party has struck a note in the UK and the rest of Europe.
    Matapo was accused of trying to replace Mugabe with Emmerson Mnangagwa, allegations which both he and Mnangagwa vehemently deny. This was at a time when expelled VP Joice Mujuru was in charge and Matapo was subjected to four days of torture  having been blindfolded and driven away at high speed for interrogation for four days, afterwhich he was imprisoned for treason.
    His alleged accomplice, Mnangagwa was never touched.
    After coming out of prison last year, Matapo said that the reason why he was targetted was because he had at the time started his party, the UCAD (United Crusade For Achieving Democracy) and CIO agents were just punishing him for it.
    Now in exile, Matapo’s party has reinvigorated itself. Below is their authoritative manifesto revealed by UCAD’s UK chair Lovemore Taruvinga.matapoooooo
     
    UCAD is a political party which is campaigning to bring a democratic change in Zimbabwe through non-violent means. UCAD believes that to bring a real and democratic change in Zimbabwe there should be a change in the political, economic and social governmence.

    The political, economic, humanitarian and social crisis in Zimbabwe has long been marked by a repressive political climate systematically managed and sustained by the dictatorial regime of Zanu PF under Robert Mugabe. The government of the callous Zanu PF has carried out too many sadistic projects since 1980 and continues to oppress the patient people of Zimbabwe to this day. A few cases in point include;
    I.        The Matabeleland Massacre called Gukurahundi, executed between 1982 and 1987 in which more than 20 000 innocent civilians were murdered, and over 60 000 women were raped. This was also exacerbated by victimisation, persecution and complete marginalisation of both the minority Matabeleland people and all those not identified with Zanu PF.
     
    II.        The carrying out of so many private and secret extra judicial killings over the years
     
    III.        The privatisation of the county’s judicial system which is now being absolutely controlled and directed by those who wield power in the desperate institution of Zanu PF.
     
    IV.        The chaotic farm invasions in which farmers’ assets were grabbed by Zanu PF and the accompanying persecution and killing of some white farmers as well as the replacement of over a million farm workers and the concomitant loss of their livelihoods as death from murder, poor nutrition and health.
     
    V.        The demolition of people’s houses and small businesses under Operation Murambatsvina (Operation remove trash), particularly in those urban centres believed to be opposition strongholds.
     
    VI.        The privatisation of our resource- rich country and the eventual handover to a new colonialist called China.
     
    VII.        The unlawful abductions, detentions, torture, killing and imprisonment of those opposed to Zanu PF.
     
    VIII.        The massive grabbing of both public and private resources from those known and suspected to oppose Zanu PF
     
    IX.        The massive and pervasive election rigging
     
    X.        The militarisation of state institutions
     
    XI.        The total disregard of the rule of law. Indeed, the regime has totally mismanaged the economy and is guilty of dereliction of duty through failure to respect international laws, government, profligacy and spectacular failure to deliver on its judicial function to Zimbabweans. Zanu PF has excelled in maliciously preaching lies, thwarting opposition politics, misinterpreting national laws to suit their institutional needs, institutionalising corruption and murder, and promoting tribalism, racism and gross immorality. The activities and policies of the regime coupled by its sheer economy management incompetency have caused immense suffering to the people, significant increase in loss of lives, haemorrhaged the economy and driven over 6 million Zimbabweans into forced exile in not only neighbouring countries like South Africa and Botswana, but also in some overseas countries including the UK, USA, Germany, Austria, Canada, Australia and Newzealand. There was a Government of National Unity(GNU) in which Zanu PF joined hands with both the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai and that led by Welshman Ncube and Professor Arthur Mutambara that ran the country from February 2009 to July 2013. The GNU spectacularly failed to deliver Zimbabweans from Zanu PF as the regime took advantage of every positive development that was a product of the GNU. The international community supported the GNU and resultantly, Zanu PF became increasingly stronger. Zanu PF even managed to get closer to the opposition top leadership, once viewed as genuine, like Morgan Tsvangirai and Tendai Biti among others. In the process MDC’s leadership was severely permeated and characteristically reconfigured by the impermeable Zanu PF. However, as these formerly truthful torch bearers of Zimbabwe’s democracy have not openly joined Zanu PF, it is difficult for ordinary people to find it easy to believe simply because they have ordinary understanding of politics.

    More to follow….

    7 Diamond Bosses to Lose Jobs

    THE Chiadzwa diamond fields will be temporarily closed and seven chief executive officers and 60 board members of mining companies will lose their jobs within the next three weeks as Government collapses the entities into one firm.
    Government is already in the process of merging Mbada Diamonds, Anjin, Marange Resources, Gye Nyame, Kusena, Jinan and Diamond Mining Company into the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC).
    Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga told The Sunday Mail that Government would control the 150 000ha Chiadzwa diamond fields.
    This, he explained, would improve accountability and transparency in diamond mining amid continued suspicion that the sector is haemorrhaging the economy instead of being a driver of growth.
    Prof Gudyanga said: “The initial plan to consolidate Marange Resources with Kusena and Gye Nyame was subsumed in the broader consolidation of all the seven mining companies in Marange diamond fields together with Murowa diamonds and DTZ-OZGEO. So there was never a plan to have other groupings for consolidation.
    “The emerging company after consolidation, ZCDC, will assume all the assets and liabilities of all the companies that are being merged. The shareholding of these small companies will be determined by their equipment assets plus what they financially inject into ZCDC for its capitalisation and exploration.
    “The process is expected to be completed by end of April or early May 2015 bar the unforeseen. There is a committee working on the arrangements that will be made after consolidation including business plan of the ZCDC.
    “The chief executive officers and boards of the current companies will be dissolved but the workforce will essentially be retained subject to conditions that may be set.”
    Government resolved to take charge of Chiadzwa after companies failed to satisfactorily declare royalties and taxes. Some of the entities misrepresented to Government that they were dysfunctional despite operating for over four years.
    In January 2014, Gye Nyame Resources said it was moribund and was looking for investors to help it resume operations. This was after a Ghanaian investor was accused of being involved in underhand dealings. Gye Nyame was also accused of wantonly violating environmental laws.
    On the other hand, Marange Resources — owned by Government through its mining arm, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation — was implicated in a fraud scam by a 2014 forensic audit.
    The audit revealed that management siphoned money from the firm by inflating the value of equipment purchases.
    Kusena Diamonds failed to declare royalties despite digging up precious stones.
    DTZ-OZGEO is a 60/40 percent joint venture between Econendra of Russia and the Development Trust of Zimbabwe.
    While the other operations are 50-50 joint ventures between ZMDC and foreign investors. Prof Gudyanga said earlier plans to cancel licences of under-performing companies were shelved.
    “The question of cancelling licences for under-performing companies is now not going to arise. All the current entities will no longer exist or transact as they do now. There will be one CEO, one board, and the Government will have 50 percent shareholding.
    “Government had no participation in Murowa diamonds and DTZ-OZGEO. However, like other companies in the country, they were being approached so that they comply with indigenisation laws of the country.
    “The consolidation process is now causing these companies to be compliant with the indigenisation,” he said.
    Rio Tinto Plc has a 78 percent stake in Murowa Diamonds with the remaining 22 percent owned by RioZim Limited — a Zimbabwean-listed entity.
    Murowa Diamonds communications and external relations manager Mr Lovemore Chimuka said the company had already submitted its indigenisation plan.
    “While the ownership and control of Murowa Diamonds remains unchanged, Rio Tinto’s intention is to engage fully with the Government to understand its position on the future of diamond mining in Zimbabwe.
    “In 2014, Rio Tinto paid the Zimbabwean Government a total of US $14 million in taxes and royalties.
    “We intend to continue to work in this spirit even though we are concerned about a number of steps recently taken by the Government with regards to the tax and regulatory environment. We will continue to discuss these issues with the Government in a constructive manner as they are threatening the viability of Murowa diamonds as a going concern.
    “Murowa diamonds has duly submitted its indigenisation plan and is awaiting a formal response from the Government,” he said. sunday mail

    Mnangagwa Preaches Bible

    Wishes transformed into horses in Bikita at easter when the nation’s most detested politician next only to the century-bleaked Robert Mugabe, Vice-President Emmerson Munangagwa, rode on his own holy-phantom beast.
    Mnangagwa wore a preacher’s hat when he attempted to preach the word of God at Zion Christian Church in Bikita on Easter Sunday.
    The Jonathan Moyo controlled media reports stating in full that:
    Hundreds of people from across the country and beyond gathered under the leadership of Bishop Dr Nehemiah Mutendi at Mbungo Estates to celebrate the Easter season.Deducing his message from John 8v12, VP Mnangagwa said one’s salvation had nothing to do with one’s close relations to men of the cloth.“Imi munofunga kuti chiyedza chenyika izuva, kwete. Chiyedza chenyika ndiye Jesu Kristu, ndiye Mwanakomana waMwari, wakaburutswa kuti tiwane kuponeswa. Ndiye chiedza. Nokuti pane angafunga kuti zuva ndiro chiedza chenyika, ayihwa. Hongu Jehova vakati ngakuva nechiedza 12 hours tombova nerima 12 hours.
    “The light of life inongobva kuna Jesu Kristu, ndiye woga. Hazvina witness, hazvina chii! Isu kana tiri muCabinet tinodebater nyaya vamwe vachiinda nekuku vamwe vachiinda nekuku. VaMugabe vakateerera vozopendera nyaya inenge iripo. Makambohwa here kuti Mwari anodebater nengirozi ozopendera?
    “Bodo! Anopa instruction. Ngakuve nechichi, chovako. Haaite mainstruction gumbo rako richirwadza oti ndoporesa zvandambotaura? Bodo! Ndiye Mwari watinonamata, ndiye Mwari mupenyu,” said VP Mnangagwa.
    He added that God’s ways are above men’s who change goal posts now and then.
    “Asi isu kana tapinda muCabinet tinombopasser zvimwe kana tafunga tozozvibvisa toisa zvimwe tichingodaro. Zvasiyana munhu nezva Ishe ari kumusoro kudenga. Zvedu zvinoda a witness but the spirit of the Lord, the light of the Lord hazvina witness zvinoda commitment yako, kuzvipira kwako,” affirmed VP Mnangagwa.
    He further preached from Acts 2v14-24, emphasising that now is the time God is pouring his spirit in all kinds of people
    “Imi mhuri yeJudea, imi maZion makaungana pano tererai shoko iri randinokutaurirai Peter. Kana mazuva angu okupedzisa asvika ndiwo mazuva angu iko zvino ndichaburutsa mweya wangu ugofamba pamusoro penyu ndiJesu Kristu. Nhanhasi uno mweya unobva kudenga uchiuya pamusoro pevapenyu.
    “Vanakomana, vanasikana vachaporofita ndonhaka yatakapiwa naJesus. Munoona musingaonesese. Matana, vakweguri venyu vacharota hope. Hamungazvioni here pakati penyu. Ndozviriko nhasi asi zvakataurwa kare Jesu achitaura paverse rake. Munohwa musingahwisisi.
    “Nguva yekugumisira isati yasvika muchaona zvishamiso zvakawanda kudenga napasi,” preached the Vice- President.
    He also implored Christians to seek the Lord with true and committed hearts. – SundayMail

    VIDEO: The Youngest Christian Can Instantly Cast Out Devils and “Evil Spirits”


    “…whether you feel like you’ve got it or not!”
    The newest, youngest child of God has authority over Satan and his demons to put them on the run, contrary to what some teach and pastors preach.
    In fact in the prophetic sccriptures,“the very first sign mentioned as following any believer—not any pastor or any evangelist—is that they shall cast out devils. That means that in my Name they shall exercise authority over the devil, because I have delegated my authority over the devil to the Church,” claims Kenneth Hagin.
    He continues: That authority is yours whether you feel like you’ve got it or not. Authority has nothing to do with feelings. But you must exercise it.”
     
    MARK 16:15-18
    15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
    16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
    17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
    18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

    Exercising Authority Over Others

    Believers have authority over the devil. They can break the power of the devil if he raises his head anywhere in their own life or the lives of their immediate family or loved ones. They have authority there. They’ll be free from the enemy because they’ve got the right to exercise their authority over him.
     
    That doesn’t mean, however, that they’ll go down the street casting the devil out of everyone they meet. It primarily means they will exercise authority over the devil in their own lives.
     
     
    You’ve got to realize that you’ve got authority over your own household that you don’t have in my household. Spiritual authority is much like natural authority. For example, you don’t have authority over my money. You can’t tell me what to do with my money unless I give you permission to. You don’t have authority over my children.
     
     
    You can make the devil desist in some of his maneuvers in somebody else’s life, but you can’t always cast him out, because you don’t have authority in that “household.” That’s one place we’ve missed it.
    The next reference Jesus gave me was James 4:7: “.. .Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (the understood subject of this sentence is “you”).
    The believer has to have authority over the devil, or the Bible wouldn’t tell him to do something about the devil. This Scripture doesn’t say that the devil will flee from Jesus; it says he’ll flee from you!
    Similarly, you don’t pray that Jesus will lay hands on the sick; you do it. Notice, too, that the hands are not in the Head; the hands are in the Body: “They … shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” When you lay hands on the sick, you are exercising authority over the devil.
    That authority is yours whether you feel like you’ve got it or not. Authority has nothing to do with feelings. But you must exercise it.
    Excerpted from Kenneth Hagin’s The Believer’s Authority, Faith Library Publications.

    VIDEO:

    I Own 10 Hyenas, Witch Confesses


    A SELF-CONFESSED teenage witch (16) from Chief Zimunya’s area claimed she was a proud owner of 10 hyenas and 10 snakes which she uses in her nocturnal activities.
    The teenager (name withheld) shocked people gathered at Acting Chief Zimunya’s court recently when she vividly narrated their spine-chilling underworld trade which has resulted in the deaths of some villagers in the peri-urban area which has over the years sent tongues wagging because of acts of sorcery.
    The witch claims that she is now being haunted by the avenging spirit of one of her group’s victims who is baying for her blood.
    In a macabre real-life drama, the girl stunned the court when she disrupted proceedings for a few minutes, crying, claiming she was seeing the ghost of Tracy Mutendi, whom she allegedly caused her death through witchcraft.
    The girl’s mother, Francesca Chitambo-Bhasera, said she was not sure whether the incision marks on the teenager’s body were from the girl’s paternal side or from the wife of her husband’s elder brother, Alick. Francesca said she came to the chief’s court to seek his counsel on how to handle the case which has now divided the family. The girl confessed to being a witch claiming that she was initiated by her paternal grandmother.
    She said her tools of the trade include 10 hyenas and the same number of snakes.
    What, however, surprised the court was that in her confession when she was asked her name, the girl claimed to be Portia Bhasera, the wife of her stepfather’s elder brother.
    “I have incision marks inserted on me by my grandmother. I have eaten over 25 corpses and human meat tastes good. We ate the body of Tracy Mutendi who is now haunting me. She is now summoning others baying for my blood and I am having sleepless nights . . .
    “My name is Portia. My husband (Portia’s husband Alick) is my horse. I have 10 hyenas and 10 snakes. My other snakes are in Gombakomba where they feed on milk from Portia’s grandmother, but she does not know this,” she ranted unperturbed in her manifestation.
    She claimed that the black mambas that were currently being seen in Madziva Village chasing people were hers.
    One of the snakes allegedly chased her stepfather Edmore Bhasera when he was coming from the fields recently and the other snake chased their neighbour’s little boy who escaped death by a whisker by seeking refuge at the Bhasera residence.
    “You (referring to Edmore) were supposed to die because you talk too much. That day that snake was supposed to kill you. As for that boy, he was lucky because he ran towards the Bhasera residence. He was meant to die,” boldly declared the girl.
    She, however, said she was tired of the trade and wanted to lead a normal life again.
    Francesca said the problem started in 2013 when Portia used to fall into a trance. She said she sought the assistance of a local prophet, Mai Zingwe, who managed to make the spirits possessing her daughter speak.
    Mai Zingwe told the court that the girl was being used by her late uncle and aunt to boost their businesses, but she cured her.
    “I managed to remove a scorpion and a snake from the girl. She was well for a while in December and the problem started again recently. But now the spirit is manifesting again claiming to be Portia.
    “I told the stepfather, Edmore, and asked him if I should perform the same ritual we had performed to cast out the spirits haunting her, but he told me to wait until he talked to his brother,” said Mai Zingwe.
    Spine-chilling testimonies were revealed about people who the girl and other witches ate in surrounding villages.
    Acting Chief Zimunya said they should come back on April 30 and go to a traditional healer for consultation. He instructed both Edmore and Alick Bhasera to each look for $150 for the traditional healer’s consultation fee and another $30 each for the chief’s aide who will escort them.
    Acting Chief Zimunya said he would pass his verdict based on the outcome from the traditional healer’s consultations.
    “This matter involves human lives, so appeasement is needed. We must unearth the truth first,” said Acting Chief Zimunya.
    In October last year, another 15-year-old girl from Zimunya appeared at Chief Zimunya’s court confessing to witchcraft after being involuntarily inducted at the age of 10 by her grandmother.  – Manica Post

    Econet Shugs $40 Million Shoulder-Cash to Nyambirai


    Econet Wireless has paid out an undocumented cash lump-sum of $39.9Million to TN Holdings (now Lifestyle Holdings) boss and CEO Tawanda Nyambirai for securing its licence renewal and facilitating debt recovery from TelOne, a local weekly reports declaring.
    The deal, the report reveals how the company evaded accounting and auditing procedures by shoving out the undeclared cash to the businessman.
    The report comes short in the heels of Econet being involved in a dirty cover up stunt in which it raided the Reuters-affiliated news agency, The Source. When contacted for comment on the $39.9Million scandal by The Independent, Econet claimed the explosive investigation was sub-judice as they attempted albeit unsuccessfully to hide behind their damned raid on journalists in which they arm twisted High Court Judge Joseph Musakwa.
     
    Below is the full report by the Independent:
    TN Holdings (now Lifestyle Holdings) founder and CEO Tawanda Nyambirai was reportedly paid a staggering US$39,9 million by the country’s leading telecoms giant Econet Wireless in September last year for securing its licence renewal and facilitating debt recovery from TelOne, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.

    According to informed sources, the payment to Nyambirai by the diversified telecoms group raised eyebrows as there were reportedly a number of discrepancies in the transaction procedure, which include Econet’s alleged failure to capitalise the consultancy fee onto the licence fee as required by accounting rules.
    Sources said the other irregularity was that Nyambirai used the money he received from Econet to pay its subsidiary, Steward Bank (formerly TN Bank) US$26 million to reduce his debt with the financial institution in a case which has been likened to “Peter paying Paul so that Paul can repay Peter — literally”.
    There was also concern as to why the funds from licence renewal and debt recovery consultancy were paid through TN Harlequin which specialised in furniture manufacture and retail, not consultancy.
    Sources also questioned why the funds were used to clear debts for other third parties as well. They also said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe was supposed to have been suspicious of the transaction as it had a material impact on Stewart Bank’s financial position.
    The sources further said it was curious why the funds did not appear in TN Harlequin accounts where they were paid and consolidated into Lifestyle Holdings books, something which raises tax issues.
    The Zimbabwe Independent recently reported on Nyambirai’s facilitation of a US$30 million loan facility to government last year. Econet confirmed the involvement of its former chairman as a consultant, saying it was an arrangement whereby government took over and settled interconnection debt owed by NetOne and TelOne.
    Asked on Wednesday to respond on Nyambirai’s US$39,9 million payment, Econet ducked the issue claiming it was sub judice and that the story was based on “stolen, private and confidential information” in a bid to entangle the Independent in its current dispute with Reuters-affiliated news agency, The Source, even if the paper has nothing to do with it.
    The business news agency was raided last month by the Deputy Sheriff’s department following a High Court order granted to Econet and Steward Bank to have the online publication delete or expunge the stories it had published on its site.
    The raid – widely condemned by the media and other stakeholders – related to two published stories in which Econet reportedly extended a US$30 million loan to the government and the other concerning flamboyant local tycoon Philip Chiyangwa’s Pinnacle Property Holdings paying a US$2,1 million debt — under-secured by US$720 000 collateral — he owed to Steward Bank using land.
    Econet went to court seeking an order to seize computers and search for the documents they claimed The Source stole. The order was granted. The case is still running in the courts.
    However, the information obtained by the Independent – just like on the earlier published story about the loan to which Econet responded to professionally – was gleaned from informed sources in the market, not the said stolen documents.
    The enquiries sent to Econet corporate communications manager, Rangarirai Mberi, on Wednesday were as follows:
    =As per our telephone conversation, could you please help me with my enquiries;
    =We understand, according to our sources, that Mr Tawanda Nyambirai received US$39,9 million payment for his services in securing the Econet licence renewal and facilitating the recovery of debt due to Econet from Telone;
    =We are also informed that Mr Nyambirai used US$26 million of these funds to reduce his debt at Steward Bank. Is this true and if not what is the correct position, and
    =My deadline is 15 00 hrs tomorrow (April 9 2015). Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.
    Econet’s response was as follows:
    “As you are aware, Econet Wireless and Steward Bank approached the courts and were granted an order against The Source for the deletion and expunging from their online publication private and confidential material relating to both entities, their directors, consultants, customers or counter parties. The order also interdicted the publishing or republishing “personally or through the agency of other persons” the names of both entities’ customers and the details of their loan or credit agreements with both entities.
    “In addition, the court also interdicted the publishing of “contents of email and internal memoranda or correspondence of a private nature relating to the applicants’ business or that of its customers, consultants or other counter parties.
    “The basis of the provisional order was that the private correspondence had been stolen and that its publication infringed upon Econet and Steward Bank’s and their clients’, customers’ and other related parties’ rights to privacy, particularly as the banker/client relationship is based on confidentiality.
    “On this basis, the court granted an order authorising the recovery of the stolen information and documents, which has since been done. An application brought by Source-Net (Pvt) Ltd in an endeavour to stay execution of the provisional order and to have it thereafter set aside was dismissed by the High Court with an order that Source-Net pay Econet and Steward Bank’s costs on a legal practitioner and client scale.
    “During the recovery of the stolen, private and confidential information, it was confirmed that the stolen private and confidential information had been conveyed through the agency of two former Steward Bank executives who accessed such information in the course of their duties and who were not authorised to divulge it to unauthorised third parties, and your enquiry relates to the exact same stolen private and confidential information whose publication the court has interdicted.
    “There can be no doubt that Econet and Steward Bank’s financial services advisors fall under the category of ‘consultants’ who are specifically covered by the order. “On the advice of our legal advisors, we cannot therefore provide you with answers to your questions on the basis that the matter is sub-judice in so far as the provisional order is yet to be dealt with on the return day, that your questions relate to the very same private, confidential and stolen information in respect of which there is already an interdict and both Econet and Steward Bank are unable to disregard the very privacy it sought to protect in the first instance.
    “Your use of stolen, private and confidential information would also be illegal and in breach of the provisional order already referred to which interdicted the publication of the information ‘through the agency of other persons’, which includes your publication. We trust that this fully explains Econet and Steward Bank’s position”.

    Zanu Expels 16, Suspends 25 Mujuru Loyalists

    Calls for Midzi, Chikukwa expulsion
    The Zanu PF Harare province has recommended the expulsion of former chairman Amos Midzi and several other officials fingered in acts contrary to the party’s code of conduct.
     
    The province has also recommended that Miriam Chikukwa and others be suspended for five years.
    The Acting Zanu PF Harare Chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa says the provincial co-ordinating committee has recommended that 16 members who were actively involved in the plot to unseat President Robert Mugabe from power should be expelled from the party as they are a security threat.
    “That the offences committed by Noah Mangondo, Tendai Savanhu, Bonifce Karoro, Right Banda, Amos Bernard Midzi, Christopher Chigumba, Angeline Matambanadzo, Prince Shinya, Torongo Torongo, Tongai Nheta, Brian Hwenjere, Andrew Tiriboyi, Munyaradzi Mugomeza, Olivia Mususa and Tendai Diwa constitute acts of disloyalty and treachery and they should be expelled from the party in line with Article 267(c) of the party’s constitution,” said Cde Masimirembwa.
    Masimirembwa also told the media that the province has agreed that 25 members who had votes of no confidence passed against them at the end of last year be suspended from the party for a period of five years.
    “The party ruled that offences committed by Edith Kagoro, Tsitsi Jadagu, Idah Mashonganyika, Albertina Bwititi, Varaidzo Mupunga, Miriam Chikukwa, Eva Chaneta, Susan Chuma and Clyde Mutero constituted acts of gross misconduct, hence it was recommended that they be suspended from the party for five years,” Masimirembwa added.
    The province says the move is meant to strengthen the party.
    Former Vice President Joice Mujuru had led a faction that intended to unseat President Mugabe from power.
    State media

    Prophet Rapes Minor With Maid’s Help

    A maid from Bulawayo facilitated the rape of a 15 year old girl by a prophet claiming she was possessed by evil spirits.
    Silibaziso Khupe of Cowdray Park was looking after the girl while her parents lived in South Africa.
    Khupe (21) yesterday appeared before the Western Commonage provincial magistrate Willard Mafios Moyo facing rape charges for allegedly assisting Herbert Khumalo to sexually abuse the girl.
    Khumalo is still at large and Khupe was remanded in custody to April 15.
    Prosecutors said the prophet turned the girl into her sex slave after Khupe convinced her that she needed to be cleansed of evil spirits.
    Testifying in court, the girl said she was told that she had been bewitched by her grandmother and needed to be cleansed of the evil spirits.
    Prosecutor Mufaro Mageza said at a date unknown to the State, Khupe connived with Khumalo to sexually abuse the girl.
    The abuse started immediately after the girl’s parents had left for South Africa.
    The victim said when the abuse started, she woke up preparing to go to school and heard Khupe talking on the phone inviting someone to their house.
    After taking a bath she was forced to drink an unknown liquid which she was told would prevent her from becoming pregnant.
    Khumalo later arrived at the house and Khupe told the girl to go into one of the bedrooms so the prophet could pray for her.
    “When I entered, he locked the door and shoved a piece of cloth into my mouth to prevent me from screaming,” she said.
    Khumalo told the girl that she was being bewitched by her grandmother before he raped her. He abused the girl every weekend for six weeks until her parents returned from South Africa.
    The girl’s mother noticed that her behaviour had changed and quizzed her. She opened up on the abuse, leading to Khupe’s arrest.-southern eye

    Two More People Murdered In South African Xenophobic Attacks

    AS TENSIONS FLARED in South Africa, two more people said to be foreign nationals havebeen killed in the first wave of xenophobic violence in the South Africa since the 2008 killings.
    Several incidents have been reported in and around the city of Durban, with police stating they have arrested 17 people and opened murder cases.
    One Somali shopkeeper is currently fighting for his life since Thursday after he was attacked by residents who raided shops owned by foreigners. More than 300 people from DR-Congo, Malawi, Burundi, and Zimbabwe have fled their homes in the last 7 days.
    The rioting followed comments by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, form KwaZulu-Natal who criticised the presence of immigrants in South Africa, statements which he has denied.
    The Home Affairs Ministry is holding discussions with residents of not only Durban, but also Isipingo, KwaZulu-Natal following the forced evictions of foreigners in the areas.
    Police spokesperson Maj Thulani Zwane said police do not know exactly how many people have been killed, but that some were South African nationals and some were foreigners.
    Minister Malusi Gigaba has apologised to foreign nationals who’ve been left destitute following the xenophobic attacks.
    Last week, more than 200 people were forced to take refuge in a safety camp after they were violently evicted by locals.
    Community members are reportedly accusing them of threatening their job security.
    Violence erupted in the area when locals began looting foreign-owned shops and demanding that they leave.
    Officials have hidden the location of the safety camp where over 200 foreigners are receiving shelter to avoid further violence.
    The department says it will begin working to ensure the reintegration of foreign in the town.
    In January, there was widespread looting of foreign owned shops in Soweto.
    The unrest was caused by the death of 14-year-old Siphiwe Mahori, allegedly by a foreign shop owner in Doornkop, who had accused him of attempted robbery.
    The looting and violence spread beyond parts of Soweto and claimed at least six lives, including that of a baby. (EWN/Additional Reporting)

    Tsvangirai party Reverses By-Election Motion

    MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has announced a reversal of his party’s emergency motion to contest in the bi-election.
    The MDC-T met on Friday afternoon in a make or break National Council as Mr Tsvangirai and top lieutenants pondered reversing a congress resolution not to contest in bi elections until reforms have been implemented.
    Tsvangirai was going to field for the by-elections Theresa Makone, Thokozani Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora, Obert Gutu, and his own uncle, Hebson Makuvise who were all “vying for the big job” which has several benefits besides a salary, sources said.
    But Tsvangirai’s deputy Thokosani Khupe stormed out of the meeting in protest when the decision was made, a source said, just as Tsvangirai made his announcement,
    The meeting confirmed by spokesperson Obert Gutu that it would be a heated one, confirming an earlier exclusive ZimEye.com expose on the development (READ MORE- ), came as pressure mounted from perceived potential international donors that Mr Tsvangirai crucified himself for Robert Mugabe’s gain when he recalled Tendai Biti and his group of MPs the MDC-T say are “rebels.” The “rebels” include popular activist Solomon Madzore millions of Zimbabweans label Zimbabwe’s Nelson Mandela and pulled away untold thousands from Tsvangirai’s support base.
    But following media pressure, Tsvangirai announced the council decision at the end of day,
    “We have considered the congress resolution regarding the recall of 21 MPs from parliament and council was very emphatic that the position taken in October that reforms must preceded any election in Zimbabwe has been vindicated by the stories coming from across the country regarding the few by-elections that have been held because they are also shambolic,” he said.
    The move analysts say, reflects that Tsvangirai committed political suicide when he chose to expel Tendai Biti and his Renewal Team legislators, since ZANU PF which controls the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, will now effortlessly swallow all the parly seats.

    UK: Zimbabwean Cop Race Discrimination Case


    Daily Mail| A Zimbabwean police constable has won a race discrimination case against the UK force after they did not promote him due to the colour of his skin.
    Ronnie Lungu was singled out as ‘a marked man’ by Wiltshire Police solely due to his race, the employment tribunal ruled.
    It found the 40-year-old was passed over for promotion in favour of white colleagues after his internal assessments were secretly downgraded to make him appear unworthy.
    It also heard evidence that derogatory comments were made about Mr Lungu based on his colour violating his dignity.
    When the PC raised concerns with his superiors they were not taken seriously and his complaints were brushed off as trivial.
    The force – which has only 16 ethnic minority officers out of a total of just over 1,000 – had denied the claims.
    But the tribunal ruled that the Zimbabwe-born officer was unlawfully discriminated against on grounds of race.
    Mr Lungu said: ‘When I realised I was being singled out and treated badly because of the colour of my skin I felt so angry and upset.
    ‘I had worked all my career to serve the community and be the best police officer I could but I was being penalised because I was black.
    ‘It was totally unacceptable. But what made matters worse was that when I did raise the issue internally it wasn’t taken seriously.’
    The tribunal in Bristol was told that the father-of-three joined the force as a police constable in 2003 after moving to England and 10 years later was temporarily promoted to the role of sergeant.
    After passing his sergeant’s exam he applied for the role permanently, but he was turned down.
    Employment judges were told he was the only black candidate out of 20 officers to go for the position.
    The panel found that his internal assessments were specifically downgraded in order to make him appear unworthy of promotion.
    It also was told that a senior member of staff was invited to make negative comments about PC Lungu during an appraisal.
    The judgment read: ‘The reduction in the scoring has the very significant effect in terms of making it appear reasonable that the one black applicant for promotion was scoring lower than the 19 white applicants and should therefore not be promoted.’
    It went on: ‘This behaviour is so extreme that the Tribunal cannot think of any apparent motive other than one that is directly related to [the] Claimant’s race.’
    Despite his treatment, Mr. Lungu is still serving as a PC with the force.
    ‘I joined the force to uphold the law and I still would like to remain with the force,’ he said.
    ‘I need reassurance from Wiltshire Police that they will take issues of discrimination seriously in future and I want to see new procedures put in place to tackle discrimination and better education among senior members of staff in how to deal with complaints.’
    His lawyer, Juliette Franklin, of Slater and Gordon, said: ‘It’s extremely disappointing that people are facing this sort of prejudice and discrimination.
    ‘Wiltshire Police needs to take this tribunal ruling very seriously and take swift steps to address any failings which have been identified.
    ‘The force needs to ensure that officers feel confident that if they experience racism or discrimination that any complaint will be taken seriously.’
    Wiltshire Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said the force was ‘concerned’ by the findings and would ‘learn lessons’ from the case.
    He said: ‘Wiltshire Police take this matter very seriously and I am concerned by the Tribunal’s findings. Clearly, the issues this raises do need to be carefully considered.
    ‘We continue to work hard to embed our values and behaviours and the Code of Ethics within the organisation.
    ‘Wiltshire Police will learn lessons from this process and continue to move forward.’
    He added: ‘As an organisation we have a very small number of Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) staff (16 officers, 15 police staff and 3 Police Special Constables) and this judgment raises some serious concerns about how an officer felt he was treated.
    ‘I have no doubt that this judgment will affect members of the Black and Ethnic Minority community who might be considering joining Wiltshire Police.
    ‘I want to reassure the public that Wiltshire Police are committed to increasing diversity in the Force so that we can reflect the communities we serve.
    ‘This case was complex and there were a number of points covered. With our legal advisors, we are undertaking an assessment of the Tribunal’s findings in order to decide whether to appeal any aspects of the judgment.
    ‘Following this assessment, decisions will be made on what action we may need to take and how we can ensure that lessons are learnt from this case.
    ‘We will continue to engage with the officer and his representatives to ensure that he can continue to be a valued member of Wiltshire Police.
    ‘All necessary training and support will continue to be provided to him.’ – DailyMail

    Dzamara:CIO $200,000 Plot REVEALED

    As this week marked one month since pro-democracy activist Itai Dzamara was abducted by suspected state security agents, new details have emerged pointing to the government’s Central Intelligence Organisation.
    Email evidence in possession of this journo shows an intelligence agent writing to a colleague on the day Dzamara was taken from his Glen View surbub, saying that “he has become a security threat.”
    In the same email the agent, (Name Supplied), then complains that Dzamara had been allegedly handed $200,000 by western donors.
    “How can one person receive $200,000 against $180,000 for the whole country’s agriculture what is that?,” the agent, a man, states.
    He then follows at the footer saying that Dzamara would be released after interrogation.
    The western donor’s name is not declared in the email.
    The evidence once accepted by the courts, is now set to buttress the legal challenge against the government.
    Dzamara’s lawyers have voiced that they are concerned by the silence of the government, while his colleagues say they fear for their lives and threatened to sue the CIO for contempt of court.
    ZRP cops say Dzamara’s wife last saw her husband when five men forced him into a car before driving off.
    Lizwe Jamela is with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, an organization which sought an order to compel state agents to locate the anti-Mugabe activist. He explains how it has been since Dzamara disappeared.
    “From lawyer’s perspective, it is so sad to work on a case where you do not actually talk to your client. Where he vanishes in the air. Nothing is really leading to where they [Dzamara] are. In as much as there are statements by the authorities that they are investigating, so far we have not had any updates,” said Jamela.
    The statements the lawyer mentioned is a reference to a denial by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa that Harare had an issue with the missing activist.
    “We are a democratic society and anybody in this country who commits a crime must account for the crime that is committed. That is why we have institutions like the Zimbabwe Republic Police to deal with this. I can assure the House that it [Dzamara’s abduction] is a barbaric act and we want those responsible to come to book,” said Mnangagwa.
    The accusations stemmed from the fact that Dzamara had been calling for President Robert Mugabe’s resignation. Dzamara along with other activists accused Mugabe of ruining once-prosperous Zimbabwe and of disregarding human rights. (ZimEye/ Additional Reporting VOA)

    Mujuru’s $21Million Debts

    The late General Solomon Mujuru’s estate may be exposed to liabilities in excess of $21 million being creditors of the now under liquidation Limpopo Mining Resources Limited, preliminary investigations have established.
    Creditors for LMR, formerly River Ranch Diamond Mine, include Rani Investments which is owed $21 million while seven other companies are owed thousands of United States dollars.
    Preliminary investigations conducted by the executor of the estate, Mr Stern Mufara of Nyika, Kanengoni and partners also revealed that Gen Mujuru has four properties registered in his name.
    These are Stand Number 810 Land Park, Marondera measuring 2 240 square metres, held under deed of transfer 6763/91. Another two pieces of land Number 95 and 96 Hogertyhill township measuring two hectares and stand number 449 Bindura Township measuring 1,5 ha.
    “We are in the process of investigating other properties which may be registered through various city councils, which properties may not reflect in the office of the Registrar of Deeds,” said Mr Mufara.
    “We are also searching for companies that own some of the properties that are listed on the inventory as the deceased’s property.” Mr Mufara said during his life time, Gen Mujuru managed his businesses through a company called Kalmic Investments. He said all rentals collected from Gen Mujuru’s properties were paid to the company.
    “It has come to our attention that Kalmic is no longer managing the assets,” said Mr Mufara. The company called Ruzirani Investments (Pvt) Ltd is now collecting rentals. It started managing the property after the death of Gen Mujuru.”
    Mr Mufara said he was now in the process of establishing who controls Ruzirani, but it is believed one of Dr Mujuru’s daughters Kumbirai is one of the directors.
    As the administration of the late national hero’s estate gathers momentum, Mr Mufara has scheduled a meeting next week with lawyer Mr Thekor Kewada who used to act for Gen Mujuru. Mr Kewada is expected to furnish the executor with documents relevant to the administration of the estate.
    But former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru’s lawyer Mr Addington Chinake denied that he was in possession of documents necessary for the winding up of the estate in a letter to the executor last week.
    “We refute the suggestion that Kantor and Immerman may have in its possession any of the documents you have requested,” said Mr Chinake. “We suggest that in future you separate client matters from the firm.”
    He said he had since forwarded the executor’s letter to Dr Mujuru for consideration.
    Gen Mujuru, who died in an inferno at his Ruzambo Farm, Beatrice in August 2011, is reported to have left multi-national investments in mining, real estate, agriculture and tourism.
    His interests covered River Ranch Diamond Mine, Zimbabwe Mining and Smelting Company, Marange Diamonds, Trojan Nickel Mine, Kalmic Investments and Ruzirani Properties. He also held stakes in hotels and lodges in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique among many other investments.
    The executor is still to meet with beneficiaries of the estate who are listed in the Deed of Trust which Mr Kewada filed with the Master of High Court office.
    The Deed listed only 12 children and former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru as the beneficiaries.
    However, the Deed is dated June 22, 2003.
    There is a possibility that there may be more children and beneficiaries in view of reports that the national hero could have sired 90 children with different women. – Herald

    AirZim $10 Million Fraud, Duo Gets 20 Years

    Grace Pfumbidzayi

    Grace Pfumbidzayi

    Two former Air Zimbabwe executives  who brought the company down to its knees  in one of country’s biggest corporate fraud scandals have been each  jailed for 10 years.
    Air Zimbabwe lost nearly $10 million between 2009 and 2013 in a “well planned and well executed” aviation insurance fraud, which a magistrate said was “pre-planned” by its top executives who circumvented laid down procurement procedures.
    Relatives of the former CEO, Peter Chikumba, 60, and the airline’s suspended company secretary Grace Pfumbidzayi, 50, wailed uncontrollably as a Harare magistrate handed down the sentences following their conviction for criminal abuse of office at the end of their high-profile trial on Thursday.
    Police had hard times clearing the courtroom of the wailing relatives. Magistrates in adjacent courtrooms had to send their court orderlies to disperse the relatives who were disturbing proceedings.
    Pfumbidzayi’s sobbing sister cried out: “Maihweee kani Mwari imi madarireiko, ko vana vake ndonovaudza kutiiko? Ndovaudza kuti mai vavo vayendepiko? Kudakwashe ndomutiiko, ndarwadziwa kani [Oh, dear God why did you let this happen? What will I tell her children? Where do I say their mum went? What will I do with Kudakwashe? I’m hurt].”
    Regional magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni sentenced Chikumba and Pfumbidzayi to 10 years each before conditionally suspending three years. They will each serve an effective seven years.
    In jailing the duo yesterday, Mthombeni appeared to invite prosecutors to pursue fraud charges against the pair.
    “What the two accused persons did cannot be tolerated and they must be punished accordingly,” she said. “There was a lot of prejudice caused to Air Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd by the actions of the two, although the State did not go deeper and dig out the fraud charge.”
    She added: “Lots of companies are collapsing because of crimes committed by people holding high positions in the companies and abusing those positions.
    “The courts must put a stop to that and punish the offenders to send a clear message to the society. These two convicted persons brought the airline to its knees.”
    The two shamed executives’ lawyers, Admire Rubaya and Advocate Webster Chinamhora – instructed by Andrew Muvirimi – notified the court of their intention to approach the High Court for bail pending appeal against both conviction and sentence.
    “Good luck,” was Mthomben’s reply.
    Pfumbidzayi and Chikumba bled the national flag carrier of millions of dollars in a fraudulent aviation insurance deal after they appointed Navistar Insurance Brokers in opaque circumstances as the airline’s local broker.
    The airline, which previously paid Marsh Insurance Brokers 125,000 euros (about $171,000) per annum in brokerage fees, suddenly found itself paying Navistar 300,000 euros (about $410,000) per quarter, translating to 1,2 million euros (about $1,6 million) annually — nearly 10 times what Marsh was charging.
    The upward spike in premiums was not matched by any commensurate increase in Air Zimbabwe’s fleet size or expansion of its route network. In fact, some aircraft were grounded at the time.
    An audit report by BCA Forensic Audit Services, which triggered the arrests, also implicated Pfumbidzayi’s uncle, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Munesu Munodawafa, for “conflicted” interference in trying to expedite payments to Navistar.
    Working with other senior managers, Pfumbidzayi actively pushed through “fraudulent” payments to Navistar. Once, when there was a delay of a $305,000 payment, Munodawafa wrote to Air Zimbabwe asking them to expedite the payment. The auditors concluded Munodawafa – a former principal director in the former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s office – was “conflicted”.
    Delivering judgment on Thursday, magistrate Mthombeni said the crime was well planned and well executed.
    After hearing the guilty verdict, Pfumbidzayi wept in court and told the magistrate: “Whatever I did, and no matter how misguided it was, I did it in good faith. The court found out that it amounted to a criminal conduct and for that I apologise for my actions.”
    Joined by Chikumba, they pleaded for a non-custodial sentence, stating that they were even ready to perform community service.
    In aggravation, prosecutor Daniel Muchimbiri urged the court to impose a custodial sentence, arguing that the pair had been convicted of a serious crime which attracted a prison term of up to 15 years.
    The convictions have been welcomed by anti-corruption fighters who, however, remain sore that Navistar bosses beat fraud charges on a technicality after being tried before a different magistrate.
    Harare magistrate Noel Mupeiwa acquitted Givemore Nderere, 46, Vukile Hlupo, 46, and Orten Mawire, 61, of fraud, stating: “The State missed it when it decided to separate accused one, which is Navistar, from the three accused persons. Navistar was put on judicial management, consequently all judicial proceedings against it were suspended. The State then decided to proceed with the trial of the trio.”
    Prosecutors are studying the judgment with a view to launching an appeal. -chronicle

    VIDEO: Mugabe Refuses to Talk To Journalists After Spotting a White Face

    Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe told a crowd of media and spectators on Thursday while visiting Hector Pietersen Memorial in Soweto, “I don’t want to see a white face”. Watch.
    An SABC reporter described the incident as Mugabe exited the museum, he walked past a television journalist who asked whether the tour had evoked any emotion. 
    When Mugabe saw a white journalist behind her, he pushed the microphone away and reportedly said: “I don’t want to see a white face.”
    Mugabe’s comment can be heard in the above video.

    BREAKING NEWS: Chaos as ZANU PF HQ ‘Goes On Fire’

     – Expelling Gamatox ‘Agents’ –

    Update: 1515Hrs |Roudy ZANU PF youths are currently gathered at ZANU PF Harare province headquarters where there is fiery commotion just as the party sinks deeper. Friday afternoon saw a new bill of names singled out to be so called ‘Gamatox’ members and now set to be humiliated and expelled. One of the people on the list is Harare province supremo Shadreck Mashayamombe.
    Barely weeks after the liberation party expelled Joice Mujuru, Didymus Mutasa, and Temba Mliswa, Robert Mugabe’s private institution has continued on the decline with accusation upon accusation, conflicts which have at other times turned bloody. PICTURES:

    As the noise and confusion continued, the Acting Zanu PF Harare Chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa soon stood up voicing out the expulsion of former chairman Amos Midzi and several other officials fingered in acts contrary to the party’s code of conduct.
    He also recommended that Miriam Chikukwa and others be suspended for five years.
    Masimirembwa said the provincial co-ordinating committee has recommended that 16 members who were actively involved in the plot to unseat President Robert Mugabe from power should be expelled from the party as they are a security threat.
    “That the offences committed by Noah Mangondo, Tendai Savanhu, Bonifce Karoro, Right Banda, Amos Bernard Midzi, Christopher Chigumba, Angeline Matambanadzo, Prince Shinya, Torongo Torongo, Tongai Nheta, Brian Hwenjere, Andrew Tiriboyi, Munyaradzi Mugomeza, Olivia Mususa and Tendai Diwa constitute acts of disloyalty and treachery and they should be expelled from the party in line with Article 267(c) of the party’s constitution,” said Masimirembwa.
    Masimirembwa also told the media that the province has agreed that 25 members who had votes of no confidence passed against them at the end of last year be suspended from the party for a period of five years.
    “The party ruled that offences committed by Edith Kagoro, Tsitsi Jadagu, Idah Mashonganyika, Albertina Bwititi, Varaidzo Mupunga, Miriam Chikukwa, Eva Chaneta, Susan Chuma and Clyde Mutero constituted acts of gross misconduct, hence it was recommended that they be suspended from the party for five years,” Masimirembwa added.
    More to follow…

    ‘Castrate All Rapist Teachers’… Parents


    Masvingo – Parents in Masvingo province are breathing fire over what they have branded a rapist habit, by teachers who are supposed to be guardians during their absence. Parents who have organised themselves, to demonstrate at all victim schools, that have recorded rape cases by teachers, are appealing to relevant authorities for the castration of all criminal teachers.
    “We are now shattered of habitual rapist teachers who are sexually abusing our unsuspecting and innocent children. We want them castrated and also locked for a long time in custody, to implant distress in their colleagues, who might want to do the same,” said Mr Enock Chiumburu, a parent and village head.
    Another villager and relative to one of the abused girl child, told ZimEye that she will fight to the bitter end, to make sure that all rapist teachers are castrated and sentenced to death. “We have organised ourselves as parents from three districts of Masvingo, Zaka, Gutu and Bikita, to lobby for the castration of all perpetrators of rape at all our schools,” said Mrs Rudo Chatira.
    Recently, a teacher at Makwau Secondary School in Zaka allegedly raped one of his Form 2 pupils after he proposed love to her and she eventually accepted.
    It is alleged that the teacher, Tawanda Zinyemba started proposing love to the pupil (name withheld because of age) in 2014 when she was 14-years-old.
    Zinyemba would ask the victim to take some pupils’ exercise books to his house for marking and tell her to wait for him in the house. He proposed love to her but she initially refused.
    As a way to persuade the pupil, Zinyemba started to give her money so that she would comply. The teacher allegedly continued giving her money until she consented to having sexual intercourse with him.
    The matter came to light when some villagers from Mawoneke under Chief Nyakunhuwa became suspicious on the way the pupil was behaving. They probed the girl and she disclosed everything, including their sexual expedites in class rooms.
    The matter was reported under case number 3703/2015 at Zaka Police, and the teacher appeared before Zaka Magistrates Courts.
    Meanwhile, another Gutu teacher, Simon Gwatiringa, appeared in court for raping a 15 year old form three student, after buying her food and school uniform, a situation that seduced the girl into submitting to the rapist teacher’s intention. The matter is still in the courts at Gutu.
    Last month in Bulawayo, a Form two teacher was sentenced to 21 years in prison, after he was convicted of sodomising six teenager boys on several occasions, during break and lunch time.

    Air Zim Bosses Get 10 years in Jail

    10 years for Air Zim
    BREAKING NEWS: 10 years for Air Zim bosses
    Two former Air Zimbabwe bosses, Peter Chikumba and Grace Pfumbidzayi, have each been sentenced to 10 years  in prison for criminal abuse of office.
    Three years were suspended on condition of good behaviour meaning the duo will serve an effective seven years behind bars.
    Details to follow…..

    Why Zimbabwe’s Land Grabbers Can Never Get their Way


    Land Snag...Walter Mzembi
    Land Snag…Walter Mzembi

    Ian Scoones | RESHUFFLING OF POLITICAL power at the top always has implications at the bottom in Zimbabwe.
    And so from December last year, with the purging of the Mujuru faction at the Zanu PF congress, there were multiple rumblings elsewhere. As ever in Zimbabwe, issues of land were important. With a new configuration of power and leadership, some thought that this was the time to use their weight to get land.
    Since the land reform – and indeed before – a spate of land grabbing has been seen around the time of elections. Either just before, for those fearing losing power, or just after as those with new power exert it. This was especially the case in 2008, when the ruling elite feared time was up.
    As it turned out the chaos of election violence meant they hung on, and were able to consolidate positions, resulting in another round of land grabs. These are widely resented, including by the majority of land reform beneficiaries who, after all, were normal people coming from nearby communal areas and towns, with few connected to the ruling Zanu PF party.
    The fall out of the Zanu PF congress upheaval has seen some pushing their luck, confident that they are in the right camp, while others have used attempts to grab land as a way of distancing themselves from the toxic consequences of being associated with the ‘Gamatox’ camp (the term associated with the Mujuru faction – a banned pesticide against weevils).
    But land grabbers don’t always win. And indeed in this latest round, many, despite their credentials, have lost. Resistance and protest from villagers, authorities condemning the attempts at usurping ‘strategic’ farms, contests in the courts, and local press and international condemnation have put paid to a number of attempted grabs.
    The most high profile recent land grab attempt was at Maleme farm in Matabeleland South. Here a senior CIO officer tried to force his way onto the farm. There was local uproar. This was a farm that was being used by a number of groups for local outreach. The white farmer was hugely popular in the area, and the projects widely appreciated.
    The local chiefs got together and petitioned the government and, in local meetings villagers living nearby, vowed to destroy the fences and the farm if it was taken over. The chiefs backed them, saying that they would not support the takeover and would sanction the protests. Meanwhile, the case hit the press, and international petitions were launched.
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    This particular grab of course touched a raw nerve. This was Matabeleland, a place where massacres at the hands of a Zanu PF-led military force took place in the 1980s. And here was a Shona CIO officer from the same group attempting to take land. The arrogance and insensitivity was apparent to anyone from the area.
    The Gukurahundi period is deeply etched in people’s memories, and the seeming peace in Matabeleland is shallow. While the chiefs are notionally servants of the state, and usually closely linked to the party, their allegiances are, at root, local, as are their memories.
    After much obfuscation, in the end the Vice President – Phelekezela Mphoko, the lesser known of the two beneficiaries of the December putsch – came to the area, and talked with the chiefs. He announced that the offer letter – pushed through by the local land committee that included the CIO officer as a member – was to be rescinded, and the farm would be returned ‘to the people’ (or at least the former owner and the various groups that use it as a base).
    This was a major victory widely celebrated in Matobo. We have a new study site in this area, and were working on its establishment with colleagues from NUST at the time. It was certainly clear who people – including those in positions of authority in the state – backed in this confrontation. This land grab was a step too far.
    But this is not a single, isolated case, peculiar because of its prominence and international exposure. There have been a few others recently where senior, apparently very powerful, individuals have tried to take farms, and have been (at least for now) pushed back.
    One case in Masvingo, in another of our study areas, was Barquest farm, near Lake Mutirikwi. Here a minister tried to claim land on the farm, notionally as part of a ‘joint venture’ with the farmer who supplies day-old chicks across the province and beyond. The Masvingo authorities have since 2000 designated this as a strategically important farm, protected from take-over. Again the farmer is highly popular and well known in the area.
    When the attempted grab was highlighted everyone I talked to was outraged. This was a person who allegedly had other farms, including access to conservancy land. Some put it down to an attempt to present himself as a solid backer of the winning faction in December, casting off aspersions of links to the Gamatox faction. Others saw it simply as greed.
    In any case, no doubt influenced by the complex political contours that shroud every move particularly post-December, the new provincial minister, Shuvai Mahofa, asserted her new-found authority, and withdrew the offer letter, and referred the wider allegations of multiple land ownership to an investigation.
    For now the crucial day-old chick operation is safe, and the many involved in small scale poultry production in the region breathed a sigh of relief. Had this happened in 2008, or almost any time in the previous 15 years, the outcome would have been different. Perhaps, some surmised, things have changed.
    Across the country there are a number of examples where ‘protected’ farms have been under siege. These are usually commercially successful but strategically important operations such as at Barquest, where small-scale operations in the new resettlements depend on them, and cannot replicate them given the level of expertise and capital investments required.
    Dairy farms were the most common, where early in the land reform, agreements were made among government officials in the provincial technical implementing ministries that they would not be offered as part of the A2 scheme.
    Such local agreements among the technocrats however were often not heeded by those in the political-military-security elite, who went on a rampage at key moments, often grabbing, then destroying, these strategic farm businesses. However some have remained, protected in various ways, such as the case of Barquest, and remain important for agriculture in their areas.
    Another case has been Centenary farm near Figtree, again in Matabeleland, where a long court case, with many twists and turns, continues to be fought over the farm, where a senior official from the President’s office tried to take it over. This is an important dairy farm in the region, run by a widely respected Matabeleland farmer, with enormous experience in the dairy sector.
    Unexpectedly, the court upheld David Conolly’s claim to hold onto the farm, and has requested the land grabber to abandon the farm. This dispute hangs in the balance, but just maybe here again common sense – and Zimbabwe’s collective long-term interest in supporting and rehabilitating the agricultural sector – will win out against individual political opportunism.
    Land grabbers in Zimbabwe therefore do not always get their way. This is perhaps especially so in places like Matabeleland and Masvingo where local economic imperatives, as well as local politics and allegiances, hold sway. This is reinforced, especially in Matabeleland, by deeper memories of external interference by a violent state.
    Local voices against predatory land grabbing it seems are gaining the upper hand, and are fuelling alliances of resistance among local people, chiefs, technocrats and local politicians. As a new politics of the countryside emerges, this dynamic may well be important for the longer term. – Zimbabweland.

    LATEST on Walter Masocha as Bishop Appears in Court for Multiple Sex Charges

    Scotland based Zimbabwean preacher who has been served several sex assault charges including making a minor massage his body with oil, appeared in court on Wednesday.
    This is the second time the preacher has appeared before the court in a week.
    The case which is on a rail till Monday, commenced with first court diet session at Falkirk.
    He is being tried before a jury.
    During the session the charges were debated upon in session and finalised for the final trial. Masocha defence attorney speaking on the issue of the use of oil, said the case is “complex.”
    The final trial is now set for on Monday 13th, next week.
    However it may be another 14 days before a verdict is made.
    The case number is SCS/2014-157867.    FULL REPORT  – READER MORE  –

    Boss Dies while Having Sex with Subordinate

    A SENIOR SECURITY guard and supervisor in Gwanda died allegedly while being intimate with a junior workmate. Married Maxwell Gwatipedza, 54, a Role Security company inspector, was found half naked with his underwear at knee level at about 2PM on Wednesday.
    Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Thabani Mkwananzi confirmed the incident.
    “I can confirm that we’re investigating the sudden death of a 54-year-old man who died in Gwanda Town. The causes of his death will be revealed by post-mortem results,” he said.
    Sgt Mkwananzi said Gwatipedza had left his work place after some routine checks at the Government Complex premises which they were guarding.
    “However, at about 2PM, he was found dead on a bed at his residence by a workmate who had visited him. A report was made to the police and the body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he was certified dead. The body is at the hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem,” said Sgt Mkwananzi.
    Sources said used condoms and female underwear were found at the scene. Gwatipedza, who is reported to have had a chest problem, was alleged to be in a relationship with Linnet Hlatshwayo, one of his subordinates.
    Hlatshwayo, who informed their colleagues of Gwatipedza’s death, had visited the deceased at his house when the incident happened. She told The Chronicle she was not in a relationship with Gwatipedza.
    “I’d gone there to collect some money which he had promised to lend me so that I could pay my rentals. When I got there, I discovered that he couldn’t wake up so I rushed to inform others. It’s a lie that we had an affair. I’ve my boyfriend whom I live with and I don’t know anything about his death,” she said.
    Gwatipedza’s subordinates, however, were adamant that she was in a relationship with him.
    “Everyone knows that she was having an affair with him, so it’s very suspicious for her to say that she found him already dead and with his pants down,” said one security guard.
    Upon seeing that Gwatipedza had died, Hlatshwayo, in the company of another female security officer, informed their colleague, Dexter Tshababa, about the incident. Asked about the issue yesterday, Tshababa admitted to being approached by a visibly shaken Hlatshwayo about the death of Gwatipedza.
    He said when they went to Gwatipedza’s place, they found him half naked with his manhood exposed.
    “At first I thought it was just a joke, but I was shocked when we went to his house and discovered that he was indeed dead. He was not wearing his trousers and his underwear was a bit lowered. I had to dress him properly,” said Tshababa. – State Media

    Prostitute Beats Up Rival

    A SUSPECTED prostitute was arrested after assaulting her rival with an empty bottle in the stomach and several times on the head for stepping on her client’s foot at a Bulawayo night club.
    Sifikile Baloyi, 30, of Pumula East appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Marylin Mtshina charged with assault.
    She was not asked to plead and remanded out of custody to April 16 on $100 bail.
    It is alleged Cleopatra Ncube, who was severely assaulted by Baloyi, almost lost her front row teeth as they were left loose.
    The state’s case as presented by Taurayi Hondoyemoto is that on April 6, this year at around 12AM, Baloyi was at Waverley night club located at corner Lobengula Street and 13th Avenue in the city centre.
    Hondoyemoto told the court that Baloyi was sitting with an unidentified man.
    “When Ncube was passing by, she accidentally stepped on the man’s foot,” he said.
    The court heard that Baloyi started insulting Ncube before assaulting her once on the stomach with an empty bottle.
    Hondoyemoto said Baloyi assaulted Ncube several times on the head with fists.
    He told the court that Ncube managed to run away but Baloyi followed her outside the club.
    “While outside she continued assaulting the complainant until she sustained injuries on the left breast,” said Hondoyemoto.
    The court heard that Ncube also sustained bruises on her upper lip and neck.
    “Due to the assault, Ncube’s two front teeth are loose,” said Hondoyemoto.

    Rapist Obert Mpofu Jailed

    AN Inyathi man was yesterday sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping and impregnating his step granddaughter. Obert Mpofu, 56, who was initially charged with raping two of his granddaughters aged 12 and 13, was lucky when one of the victims’ mother chose to support him in court resulting in the State dropping the second charge.
    The court heard that he had turned his granddaughter into a sex slave for a year during which he paid her off with packs of Jiggies and sweets. The granddaughter aged 13, a Grade Five pupil, fell pregnant when she was 12 and was taken in by Musasa Project where she divulged that she together with her cousin were being sexually abused at home.
    Regional Magistrate Chrispen Mberewere rebuked Mpofu for turning the girls into his sex objects saying criminals like him were better off in prison.
    “It’s common cause that the girl was abused and you were lucky as one of the mothers chose to defend you instead of supporting her own child. We are aware that a family meeting was held to discuss the abuse of these children and its clear to this court that you did it,” said magistrate Mberewere.
    He said a medical report submitted as evidence before the court showed that the girl was sexually active and this was proof enough that the girl was raped numerous times.
    “You are therefore sentenced to 20 years in prison of which three years are suspended on condition of good behaviour. The court condemns sexual abuse of children and it is our duty to curb the crime.”
    When the girl gave her testimony in camera, she said Mpofu used to call her to his bedroom where he would rape her together with her cousin.
    “He used to call me or my cousin and rape us one after another before giving us sweets and Jiggies. Sometimes he would rape me in my cousin’s presence. He made us promise to keep the abuses a secret after buying our silence with food,” she said.
    The girl also said at one point, she was raped while her mother had gone to the district hospital to deliver. Prosecuting Trust Muduma told the court that sometime in 2012, Mpofu used to go to a local beer hall and come back drunk. He said Mpofu would then call the girls to his bedroom to dance for him.
    On an unknown date but from the period extending from January 2012 to July 2014, Mpofu had sexual intercourse with the girls, one after the other. The matter came to light when one of the girls told her stepfather who was helping her do homework that Mpofu was having sex with them.
    A family meeting was called and the girls revealed that Mpofu had been raping them. The matter was not reported to the police as it was settled at family level
    Mpofu ran out luck when police got an anonymous tip off and instituted investigations.
    One of the girls was already pregnant and she told Musasa Project counsellors that her step grandfather had been raping them for some time. – Chronicle

    Zuma, Mugabe Have Failed to Deal with “Shit” of Xenophobia – Elinor Sisulu


    Johannesburg – As President Jacob Zuma and his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, met for a second day of bilateral talks in Pretoria, the wife of former National Assembly speaker Max Sisulu, Elinor, said the two had failed to deal with the “shit of xenophobia” in front of them.
    She said it was very probable that the issue of xenophobia was not on their agenda.
    “They sit on a table and there’s lumps of shit on the table.The shit is xenophobia and its stinking there, but they will look elsewhere to put the blame yet and say kukhona okunukayo [something stinks], open the windows. They don’t deal with the shit. They talk about things which have no relevance to the people,” she said to applause.
    She was speaking at a press conference on xenophobia in South Africa hosted by the African Diaspora Forum in Johannesburg.
    Sisulu said xenophobia was not just a South African problem, but an issue all over the continent.
    Listing a number of solutions, she called for better education on Africa in schools and society.
    “People are operating on ignorance,” she said.
    She also called on leaders to be careful and responsible on how they spoke about migrants in the country.
    “When people beat each other up because of what you said, you say ‘oh no, I was quoted out of context’,” she said.
    The conference was attended by SA Human Rights Commission, the King of the Batlokoa tribe, the Protection of Foreign Business and Citizens, the Nigerian Traders Union, human rights activists as well as foreign nationals. – News24

    BREAKING NEWS: Mujuru Opens Fire on Mugabe, Demands Dzamara Justice


    Expelled Vice President Joice Mujuru has opened fire on her “hateful” boss Robert Mugabe demanding answers on the mysterious death of her husband, General Solomon Mujuru, and also on the disappearance of activist Itai Dzamara.

    Mujuru last night bluntly told her Zanu PF foes that she could never be expelled from the “genuine” ruling party, while also openly querying for the first time the mysterious death of her husband, General Solomon Mujuru, whose remains were found after an inferno at their Beatrice farm in 2011.
    In a statement released by her aides, Mujuru also savaged Zanu PF bigwigs for showing no care for the life of abducted journalist turned pro-democracy activist Itai Dzamara, as well as the welfare of his young family.
    “On the eve of the holiest day on the Christian calendar, the politburo chose to dwell on its relentless, unsubstantiated, malicious and hateful campaign against the person of Amai Mujuru.
    “As if this was not inhuman enough, the much-decorated national hero, the late General Mujuru, who passed on in yet unclear circumstances, was not spared as well. It is un-Zimbabwean to desecrate our dearly departed. Hunhui ihwohwo / Ubuntu bani lowu?
    “One wonders if the politburo ever spared any moment to enquire on the disappearance or lack of news on the whereabouts of young Itai Dzamara and what his young family is going through. My prayers go to ALL those who are hurting in silence.
    “Given the prevailing economic hardships, the looming food crisis (tutsawona) and the declining inflows to the fiscus, the politburo’s silence on these matters is deafening.
    “Ini handidzingike mu-original (I cannot be expelled from the original) and genuine Zanu PF!!!,” the hard-hitting statement said.
    The statement came after President Robert Mugabe’s warring Zanu PF said they had summarily expelled her from the party last week, and at a time that the ruling party is on fire over contentious claims that her husband, whose war-time name was Rex Nhongo, plotted with her to oust and assassinate the nonagenarian before the revered late liberation war icon’s charred remains were found after the mysterious 2011 inferno.
    It also came as Zanu PF has now officially split into two distinct and bitterly-opposed formations, with disaffected party stalwarts — including liberation struggle pioneers, war veterans and security sector bigwigs — coalescing under the banner and principles of the “original Zanu PF” and using the slogan “People First”.
    The divisive allegations against Gen Mujuru, whose funeral at the Heroes Acre in Harare drew the largest crowd ever seen at the burial site, were contained in a report prepared by Zanu PF’s disciplinary committee and that was adopted by the party’s politburo last week.
    The shocking claims have since prompted the Mujuru family to plan an urgent meeting to discuss the “disturbing and extremely serious” allegations, what the allegations mean and whether this had “played a part” in the death of the liberation pioneer.
    Ironically, the late general is widely credited with catapulting Mugabe to the leadership of Zanu PF in the mid 1970s. However, he was also seen as the only senior party official who could challenge the nonagenarian.
    His wife, who was once seen as Mugabe’s de facto successor, was booted out as Vice President of both the ruling party and the government last December following a vicious political assault on her by controversial First Lady Grace Mugabe.
    The former VP was then subsequently expelled from the party altogether last week, the day that Grace resurfaced in the public domain after weeks of speculation regarding her health.
    Investigations earlier this week have showed that the disaffected Zanu PF stalwarts who are involved with Zanu PF “People First” have been meeting regularly with many prominent Zimbabweans for some time now, to plan “the operationalisation” of the party in a bid “to reclaim the original Zanu PF”, which they allege has been hijacked by power-hungry mafikizolos.
    Sources said many expelled and serving Zanu PF ministers, Members of Parliament, Youth and Women’s league officials who had been victims of the party’s harassment and brutal purges of the past few months, which had been fronted by Grace, supported the idea of Zanu People First and were pushing Mujuru to lead the party.
    Former Presidential Affairs minister, Didymus Mutasa, who is a former top aide of Mugabe, has said that the group is pinning its hopes on the popular widow to lead the party.
    “There is no doubt that the person that will take Zimbabwe from the current political and economic mess is Amai Mujuru. The government has failed and the Look East policy only makes a few people rich.
    “Only until there is a real change of government, we are all going to suffer. The only person capable of changing this is Amai Mujuru.
    “We are members of the original and genuine Zanu PF which was formed on August 8, 1963. We constitute the nucleus that bore the brunt of the national struggle. Unlike the mafikizolos who constitute the new-look and illegal central committee and politburo of the 2014 Zanu PF.
    “Our membership is composed of the original and seasoned politicians, commanders of the Zimbabwe African National Army (Zanla), Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra) and Zimbabwe People’s Army (Zipa) forces who are now being marginalised,” Mutasa said. – DailyNews

    Rising Gospel Musician Kuda Mutsvene releases new video

    Rising gospel musician; Kuda Mutsvene has released another video for the single “Mhururu” from his album “Chirangano”

    Displaying his high levels of choreography and creativity skills; the video which is shot with a retro and urban feel; defines the future for this young man which is definitely looking bright. He featured his sister, Mercy Mutsvene another gospel ace who rocked during her days on this video and they displayed their unmatched talent as they melodiously sang this chorus.
     
    Shot in the rural district of Seke and in the city of Harare; the video is well choreographed with dances that are mind blowing and will most certainly get people in the praise and dance mood be it at weddings or in the church. The song has also received rare reviews and is currently topping the gospel charts on local radio stations.
    The album is marketed and distributed by Gospel Nation and is available for download on iTunes; Amazon and Google Play
    Click on the links below and watch the video
     
    Google Play: http://goo.gl/i59HsS
    iTunes: http://goo.gl/wsX36T
    Amazon: http://goo.gl/PA4CaC

    Goodrich Chimbaira Ditches Ncube, Defects to Tsvangirai

    Welshman Ncube strongman Goodrich Chimbaira has ditched his boss and has now joined Morgan Tsvangirai.
    Below was Morgan Tsvangirai’s remarks on the occasion of the return to the party of Goodrich Chimbaira:
     
     
    Welcome home!
    Today is a happy day for the democratic movement as we once again welcome more people into the MDC big tent.
    We are glad that Mr Goodrich Chimbaira, the former chairperson of the political formation led by professor Welshman Ncube, is rejoining us today. Together we are better and stronger. We are happy that more and more members continue to come back to the party they helped found some 16 years ago.
    In politics and especially in a democratic movement, adventurism is permissible but it only takes the courage of great men and women to realize that together we are stronger, thereby making them take the bold decision to come back and work with others.
    We in the MDC appreciate the importance of working together and we welcome this son of the struggle back home.
    In our MDC family, there are people who have come from various political homes, be it Zanu PF, Mavambo, MDC-N, MDC T and others. But they are all welcome in this big family of democrats. Disagreements are permissible because we are a huge movement of diverse characters and sometimes we part ways, but today’s lesson is that we can always meet again especially if we all realize that this struggle needs all of us.
    Today, we are celebrating a small victory of the people’s struggle Today, we are a happy lot because the MDC tent continues to swell. And I can assure you that many shall continue to come back into this big tent.
    Those who have rejoined us are colleagues and we will always welcome them because this struggle is too big and needs all of us. As we configure and execute the end-game of our struggle, there is indeed work for every one of us.
    I am happy that these colleagues are coming back to renew their faith in this party and this leadership, which has always shown a wild tenacity to defy all odds to rise like a phoenix even when skeptics choose to underestimate us and to prematurely write us off.
    I simply want to say to our colleagues: Welcome home. And to those who are too proud to make the step back home, I want to tell you that there is no place like home. We will always welcome colleagues who know that this is no time for petty divisions and runaway ambitions.
    This is the time when this country requires all its patriotic sons and daughters to set aside petty squabbles and work towards transforming the lives of the people.
    At our last Congress on 1 November 2015, we made a resolution that we will maintain our big tent for everyone who wishes to come and join us in executing the democratic struggle.
    Our resolution on the big tent reads: “ Congress noted the need to expand its social and political base. Congress therefore resolved to welcome all members of other political parties and even former rebels to come and join the party in order to strengthen the base to fight for a new, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe.”
    I want to say to everyone, even to our colleagues in Zanu PF, that there is space for everyone in this big tent and the yare equally welcome to join us in the democratic struggle to rescue our country from the jaws of illegitimacy and unmitigated repression of citizens by a party and a leadership that has simply gone bonkers.
    Once again, I wish to say welcome home to our colleagues.
    Together, let us execute the end-game because together, we are stronger and better.
    I thank you.

    Update US On Progress on Dzamara Search-EU asks Government

    The European Union on Thursday demanded an explanation from government on progress it has made to locate the missing rights activist Itai Dzamara who was abducted by suspected members of the Central Intelligence Organization in Harare last month.[lightbox link=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2014/10/eu-flag2.jpg” thumb=”http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images//2014/10/eu-flag2-386×232.jpg” width=”386″ align=”none” title=”eu-flag2″ frame=”true” icon=”image” caption=””]
    “We look forward to a report on the Zimbabwean authorities search for Mr Dzamara, as ordered by the High Court in March,” said the western bloc in a statement to the media.
    “The EU Delegation remains deeply concerned for his welfare. The EU reiterates its call on the Government of Zimbabwe to take all necessary measures to ascertain Mr Dzamara’s whereabouts, safeguard his wellbeing and accord him the full protection of the law, within its overall responsibilities of ensuring the safety of all its citizens.
    Civil society organizations have tried to offer rewards as a way of motivating people with any information leading to the location of Dzamara.
    Last week human rights lawyers sued government for refusing to comply with the March 13 High court order compelling the authorities to search for the missing rights activist.
    Prior to his abduction Dzamara was demanding for the stepping down of President Robert Mugabe for his failure to turn around the country’s economic fortunes.
     

    Itai Dzamara: US Govt Blasts Horn

    As prominent activist Itai Dzamara’s disappearance reached a full month of cold suspense, the United States govt on Thursday raised the horn for justice and freedom.

    The US said,  “today marks one month since the initial reports of the forced disappearance of Zimbabwean civil society activist Itai Dzamara.  The United States remains concerned about Mr. Dzamara’s whereabouts and wellbeing.

    “On this date, we reiterate our call to the Zimbabwean authorities to mobilize their full resources to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr. Dzamara’s abduction and to ensure the protection of his fundamental human rights and freedoms.

    “The United States stands together with Mr. Dzamara and the people of Zimbabwe in supporting their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.  We call for Mr. Dzamara’s immediate and safe return to his family and friends.”

    Dzamara was abducted on the 9th March at a barbershop in Glen View by men who presented themselves as police officers and told him they were apprehending him for cattle theft.

    Broke-Zimbabwean Govt fails to Fight Foot and Mouth … As the Elite Seek Medicals in Asia

    While most of the elite travel to overseas for medical attention, Zimbabwe’s povo and their livestock are bearing the government’s failure to capacitate health institutions and veterinary services.
    Midlands’s provincial veterinary officer, Dr Thomas Sibanda said it was difficult to contain the outbreak because the Government does not have the necessary resources.
    While farm invasions are still taking place, and little being done to contain foot and mouth, Zimbabwe is going to face another serious epidemic. “Foot and mouth outbreak in Zvishavane and some parts of Matabeleland, started sometime last year but the Government is failing to contain the outbreak because of lack of resources in the department to treat the disease,” said Sibanda.
    Farmers who spoke to the media expressed anxiety over the situation and urged the Government to assist farmers in mobilizing resources to fight the outbreak.
    “The virus does not kill the cattle immediately but this is a worrisome disease. We appeal to Government to visit our different dip tanks and organise farmers to contribute money towards the procurement of the necessary drugs,” said one villager at Mapazuli deep tank in Mapanzure.
    Reports have become far and wide on the failure of local health institutions , to cater for its own people. The Ministry of Health has also been failing to answer questions from the povo, as to why the First Family travels to Asia for their medicals, while they claim that Zimbabwe’s health facilities are in good shape.
    The answer to all this is for the povo to digest. The lumpy skin, foot and mouth diseases which broke out in Zvishavane and Matabeleland last November has not been contained because Government lacks the resources to fight the outbreak, as confirmed by a senior veterinary officers.
    Foot and mouth virus only affects animals with horns. It affects the tongue and stops cattle from grazing resulting in them starving to death.
    Human beings are affected by foot and mouth if they eat contaminated meat and there are fears that the outbreak could be fuelled by some butcheries, who are selling un-inspected meat.

    Mzembi Humiliates Grace Mugabe’s Friend, Mahofa


    Tourisn Minister Walter Mzembi has opened fire on First Lady Grace Mugabe’s close friend and Resident Minister for Masvingo, Shuvai Mahofa saying that the Minister is ideologically bankrupt.
    Mzembi who was for months rumoured to be a Joice Mujuru ally, took a direct swipe at Mahofa following the contentious issue of a large farm Mzembi wants to seize for himself, and which Mrs Mahofa has blocked from being taken over.
    According to Mahofa Mzembi does not need any extra farm as he has too many properties already .
    “We have already written a letter to the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement (Dr Mombeshora) informing him of our decision to have Minister Mzembi’s offer letter at Barquest Farm withdrawn and nothing is going to change on that,’’ Mahofa said.
    She continued, “Our decision as the provincial land committee cannot be challenged because it is us the people of Masvingo who decide what should happen with our land. The Minister of Lands cannot turn down what we would have recommended because he does not live here. The issue of Barquest Farm is a closed chapter and we have already assured the owner of the farm, Mrs Mitchell, that she is safe because the hatchery project there is very important to us,’’ added Senator Mahofa.
    However, responding to the attack Mzembi opened fire on Mahofa saying: ”
    “It is, in the circumstances, inconceivable and ideologically bankrupt for a senior Government official, who should know better, to defend both iniquities, let alone when such iniquities are by old colonial settler farmers.”
    “The ongoing narrative about some farms being too strategic to take over is a misplacement of priorities. All land is strategic and should never be used as a tool for political revenge, vengeance or retribution by blacks against their own kind, as seems to be the case here,” he continued.
    The Masvingo provincial land committee recently blocked Mzembi from moving onto Barquest Farm arguing that the hatchery project was of strategic importance as it supplied day-old chicks to Masvingo, Manicaland and Midlands provinces.
    The Minsiter of Lands Sydney Mombeshora spoke saying he was still investigating.
    “We will resolve the matter away from the media. We do not handle it in the media,” said Minister Mombeshora.
    Mombeshora said his ministry was seized with the case.