Tinashe Sambiri| President Nelson Chamisa has denounced the harassment and victimisation of CCC members by the Zanu PF regime.

Members of Parliament Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole were denied bail by the regime after being arrested for speaking on behalf of Moreblessing Ali’s family.

Moreblessing was brutally murdered by Zanu PF activist Pias Jamba.

Moreblessing’s family says burial will only take place after the release of their lawyer Sikhala.

President Chamisa wrote on Twitter:

“THE NEW WILL NEVER;
-Criminalize politics to victimize political competitors.

-Apply the law selectively or weaponize the law.
-Capture or turn state institutions partisan.
-Deny citizens the right to a fair trial & bail.

-Undermine the independence of the judiciary.
BEHOLD THE NEW! #Sabbathhugs.”

Tinashe Sambiri| Chikurubi Maximum Prison is unfit for human habitation, CCC spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has said.

The CCC spokesperson blasted the Zanu regime for terrorising Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Godfrey Sithole while Zanu PF criminals are walking scot-free.

Advocate Mahere called for the immediate release of Hon Sikhala and Hon Sithole.

She wrote on Twitter:

“Hon
@JobSikhala1
& Hon Godfrey Sithole were among the first to arrive at the well where MOREBLESSING was found. They consoled her children & stood by the family. They’re in jail for standing up to the reign of terror in Nyatsime.

When MOREBLESSING was missing, these comrades conducted search missions for her, made several trips to the Police & her family. They didn’t rest till she was found. They’re being persecuted for demanding justice!

These brave comrades are in jail because they stood up for a fellow citizen, MOREBLESSING ALI, who was abducted and murdered in cold blood. Let’s continue to demand their immediate release! They’re innocent.”

“Trust me, you don’t wanna know. Chikurubi Prison is unfit for human habitation. They feed you porridge as runny as tap water but they ban spoons.

We need new leaders.”

Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa claimed Moreblessing Ali’s murder was stage-managed.

 By A Correspondent- A Chimanimani man was killed by the son of a woman he had allegedly held hostage on satanism allegations.

The suspected murderer, Clever Mwandipererwa (29) of Nemaramba Village under Chief Mutambara was dragged before a magistrate last week.

He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Mutare provincial magistrate, Langton Carter.

Mwandipererwa was remanded in custody to Wednesday.

Prosecutor Nyasha Donald Mukonyora told the court that Mwandipererwa struck his neighbour, Godfrey Murungura (27) after he had allegedly abducted his mother.

Mukonyora said on 8 June, Mwandipererwa’s mother, Gogo Irene Gapara (62), was abducted by Murungura and other villagers over allegations that she was practising Satanism.

Gogo Mapara was allegedly detained at Murungura’s home for a night. Said Mukonyora:

On June 9, Mwandipererwa approached Murungura and asked him to release his mother. Murungura refused and a dispute ensued between the two.

Mwandipererwa tried to force his way into the room where his mother was detained, but Murungura barred him from doing so.

There was an altercation between the two, resulting in Mwandipererwa taking a stone and striking the deceased with it.

Mwandipererwa lunged on Murungura and he fell to the ground. He attacked him with a handle of an axe.

He later grabbed a pick handle and continued pummelling Murungura with it until he lost consciousness. Murungura died on the spot.

A report was made to the police who attended the scene.

The deceased’s body was taken to Birchenough Bridge Hospital mortuary.-ManicaPost

An accident involving a heavy truck carrying a potentially hazardous chemical that occurred along the Chirundu-Harare highway, poses risks to local residents, motorists and the environment.

According to Chirundu local board secretary Wilson Gunhe, the border town has more than 5 000 residents.

Thousands of travellers to and from Zambia also use the highway which passes through the town.

On Tuesday, a Mukumba Brothers truck (registration number J00KLGP/WPL3860GP/WHB980GP) carrying 30 000 litres of beta froth liquid overturned at the 265-kilometre peg along the highway.

This resulted in the spillage of 30 000 litres of the chemical into the environment.

Noone was killed in the accident but the driver was injured and is admitted to Karoi Hospital.

The chemical flowed through the road, creating a slippery surface and contaminating the road verges.

The Environment Management Agency (EMA) provincial education and advocacy officer for Mashonaland West, Munyaradzi Nhariswa, confirmed the development. Said Nhariswa:

Beta froth is a flocculation used mainly in the mining sector in native metals metallurgy.

It is harmful if inhaled, causes respiratory tract irritation and is harmful if absorbed through the skin.

It causes eye irritation, is harmful if swallowed and damage the eyes.

It is toxic to fish and is also 92% ready to biodegrade and affects the vegetation by blocking its stomata.

He added that although the transporter had a valid transportation permit, they failed to notify EMA on time to ensure the swift monitoring and containment of the spillage scene.
Nhariswa said an environmental protection order was served on the transporter to clean the spillage scene to the satisfaction of EMA.
The accident occurred barely three days after another spillage, involving a MAICOs also known as Top Hisheen (registration number JJ35CNGP/JJ34VFGP/JJ34LBGP) truck.
The truck was carrying 35 tonnes of sulphur, which spilt into the environment but no fatality was recorded, according to Nhariswa.

Housing and Social Amenities minister, Daniel Garwe, said that local authorities should issue housing stands to home seekers in areas that are fully serviced.

Speaking at the launch of the Hopelyn Housing scheme in Bulawayo recently, Garwe said it is now a jailable offence to build a house before infrastructure such as roads, functioning water and sewer systems have been put in place. Garwe said:

What we are doing now going forward is to ensure that on-site and off-site infrastructure is provided before any house is built.

Building a house before the services are provided is now a jailable offence. I have no apologies to make for that statement.

It’s criminal for local authorities to allow people to build on virgin land.

Garwe said his ministry was playing its role by assisting banks, investors and local authorities to deliver housing to citizens.

Zimbabwe has an estimated 1.5 million housing backlog.

-BusinessTimes

By A Correspondent- VP President Constantine Chiwenga today said corruption has no place in society as he admitted that the vice was denying citizens a decent standard of living.

In a speech read  on his behalf by Higher and Tertiary Education minister, Amon Murwira at the Institute of Corporate Directors Zimbabwe (ICDZ) convention in Kariba, Chiwenga said:  “This is why Peter Drucker said: ‘effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked. Leadership is defined by results not attributes.’

“I, therefore, advise you to act within the confines of the law because all those involved in immoral acts would be made to face the full wrath of the law. At the end of the day, Zimbabwe is the sum total of our individual efforts.

“Therefore, let us not be distracted by sideshows in our resolve to make Zimbabwe a better place.”

The ICDZ convention is being held under the theme: :”Innovate, Engage and Empower.”

Chiwenga said Zimbabweans deserved improved conditions of living including access to social amenities.

“Our people want food, water, shelter, sleep and connection (physical or emotional). For this to happen, consciousness of who we are as a people, what we have, what we aspire to be with the aim to raise the quality of life of all Zimbabweans,” Chiwenga said.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF has promised to give incentives to hundreds of traditional leaders in Masvingo province for them to mobilise people to vote for the party during the 2023 general election while also moving to make village heads cell chairpersons in a move that has infuriated the opposition.

This was disclosed by the party’s second secretary Kembo Mohadi (pictured) during a one-week visit to the province a fortnight ago where he met traditional leaders together with Zanu-PF district coordinating committee (DCC) members in all districts.

The use of traditional leaders by the ruling party is one of the issues usually raised by opposition parties like the Citizens’ Coalition for Change as a rigging tactic used by Zanu-PF to threaten rural folks. The ruling party usually dominates in rural areas but in 2008 the opposition led by Morgan Tsvangirai managed to win three constituencies in Zaka as well as in Bikita and Gutu.

Mohadi promised to give the traditional leaders, including all village heads, US$50 on a monthly basis and a bicycle, a move seen by opponents and analysts as a vote-buying gimmick meant to force community leaders to mobilise for the party. Traditional leaders have often been used to threaten and intimidate villagers during the election period.

In some cases traditional leaders have been known to keep voting registers working in laison with Zanu-PF officials.

In Zaka, Mohadi appealed to the community leaders to ensure that what happened to 2008 should not

be repeated and all those who support the opposition should be brought to book. Back in 2008, the then president Robert Mugabe lost the first round of the presidential election to the MDC-T’s Morgan Tsvangirai, forcing a runoff which resulted in the military taking over the ruling party’s campaign and unleashing violence which resulted in the opposition leader pulling out of the race.

A chief from Chiredzi told The NewsHawks Mohadi’s tour of all districts of Masvingo was good but it was misguided since he is no longer a government employee and was unable to answer critical questions raised by traditional leaders. He said his visit was aimed at mobilising traditional leaders so that they campaign for the ruling party in 2023.

“We thought his visit was going to solve many issues like approved chieftainships which are taking long before being legally installed. This is an issue which needs urgent attention. Promising village heads and headmen extra money and bicycles so that they mobilise people to join Zanu-PF cells and structures is something some of us are not comfortable with. This will affect our leadership in communities,” said the chief who requested not to be named.

A village head from Masvingo West who attended Mohadi’s meeting at Nemamwa said village heads are being paid peanuts by government and it is surprising that they are now being promised foreign currency just because they want to use them.

CCC spokesperson for Masvingo province Derick Charamba told The NewsHawks that what Mohadi was doing in Masvingo is nonsensical. Charamba said the ruling party cannot declare that village heads are now cell chairpersons of Zanu-PF yet they should be leaders of everyone, including those with divergent views.

“All what he was doing in Masvingo is nonsense, considering that he cannot come and make a declaration that all village heads are now chairpersons of Zanu-PF cells in their villages. A traditional leader is for all people, including those in opposition hence they should not be involved in politics,” said Charamba.

Addressing a belated World Press Freedom Day commemoration organised by the Media Institute for Southern Africa (Misa) Masvingo chapter at Sikato Primary School on Saturday, Chief Nemamwa said traditional leaders should not be involved in politics as outlined in the constitution of Zimbabwe. He said chiefs are leaders of people with different opinions and they should accept that without favouring some.

A snap survey by The NewsHawks in different parts of the province found that, since the week Mohadi met traditional leaders, many people are now being forced to attend ruling party meetings in their areas, with village heads declaring that they were given powers to arraign those who miss ruling party meetings to their courts for hearing.

In Masvingo North and Zaka district, village heads were seen leading proceedings during Zanu-PF “cell day” a weekend ago. The traditional leaders were telling villagers that they will receive farming inputs in line with meeting attendance registers.

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo High Court was on Thursday inundated with twenty (20) cases of people intending to divorce.

According to a survey  infidelity has been cited as the major cause of family break-ups in the country with last year’s statistics showing that at least 1 351 couples filed for divorce at the High Court, an increase from 1 117 cases handled in 2020.

Read the full list of cases below extracted from the court role:
10. MANDLENKOSI MOYO vs HAPPINESS MOYO (nee SIBANDA) HC 184/22
(MATHONSI NCUBE LAW CHAMBERS)

11. JOSPHETH HAPAZARI vs PETTY T. HAPAZARI (nee CHANAIWA) HC 1277/21
(NCUBE-TSHABALALA ATTORNEYS)

12. QUIET HADEBE vs OKTAVIA HADEBE (nee NCUBE) HC 515/22 (SELF ACTOR)

13. SAMUKELISO CHITSA (nee SIBANDA) vs FARAYI MOSES CHITSA HC 434/21
(NCUBE-TSHABALALA ATTORNEYS)

14. CHARITY MPOFU (nee MAVIZA) vs ENERST MPOFU HC 1588/21 (MESSRS PUNDU
& COMPANY)

15. EMMANUEL MADABE VS SIPHEPHILE MADABE (nee NKOMO) HC 835/13
(MAZANGO, MATUMBU AND PARTNERS)

16. TSHIBANI NDHLOVU vs PETER NDHLOVU HC 2164/19 (LEGAL AID DIRECTORATE –
HWANGE)

17. NOMSA DUBE (nee KHUMALO) vs MANDLENKOSI DUBE HC 1589/21 (MESSRS
PUNDU & COMPANY)

18. RACHEL HWAMBO vs AUSTIN MUZENDA HC 2217/19 (MAKIYA AND PARTNERS)

19. VIMBAI KUVHEYA (nee KAMBARE) vs CEAPHAS KUVHEYA HC 833/22 (TANAKA
LAW CHAMBERS)

MOREBLESSING MUCHADEHAMA vs MBONISI SIZIBA HC 487/22 (NYAWO RUZIVE
LEGAL PRACTICE)

21. COLLEN S. NDLOVU (nee MLILO) vs SIKHUMBUZO NDLOVU HC 314/22 (MAKIYA &
PARTNERS)

22. BLESSED MOKONE vs SIPHO MOKONE (nee NDLOVU) HC 1690/20 (MORRIS –
DAVIS & CO.

23. PHATHISA NHLANE vs VUYELWA A NHLANE (nee NKOMO) HC 1714/21
(VUNDHLA-PHULU & PARTNERS)

24. INNOCENT KWIDINI vs VIRGINIA KWIDINI (nee NCUBE) HC 1474/21 (LEGAL AID
DIRECTORATE HWANGE)

25. NTULULI MOYO vs PHATHUMUSA MOYO (nee SIBANDA) HC 1148/21 (DUBE-
BANDA, NZARAYAPENGA & PARTNERS)

26. HONEST SEBATA vs CYNTHIA SEBATA (nee MOKWENA) HC 1547/21 (V. CHIKOMO
LAW CHAMBERS)

27. SIBAHLE NYAMUKAPA (nee GUMPO) vs GEORGE NYAMUKAPA HC 143/22
(MASIYE-MOYO & ASSOCIATES)

28. FARAI FARISAYI MUCHATI (nee PERERA) vs JUSTICE MUCHATI HC 278/22 (NCUBE-
TSHABALALA ATTORNEYS)

29. LOVEMORE MATEMA vs SHARAI ZIBWOWA HC 615/22 (LEGAL AID DIRECTORATE
GWERU)

30. FREDDRICK PHIRI vs NONTOKOZO PHIRI (nee NDLOVU) HC 193/22 (LEGAL AID
DIRECTORATE)

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said he would today announce sweeping policy measures to deal with skyrocketing prices of basics and services, including inflation.

“My government will tomorrow (today) announce concrete measures to tame inflation, and unwarranted increases towards securing the incomes and savings of our people, especially women,” Mnangagwa said while officially opening Zanu-PF’s 7th national women congress in the capital.

Zimbabweans have been hard hit by falling disposable incomes with basic goods and services priced beyond the reach of many.

Some businesses are offering discounts for United States dollar payments, while using parallel market rates when pegging prices in local currency.

Public and private sector workers are now demanding United States dollar wages to make ends meet.

Teachers and health professionals yesterday entered day five of their strike for US dollar salaries.

“We remain committed to ensure sustainable delivery of social services such as water and quality education,” Mnangagwa said.

“Under the responsive policies of the second republic, women are being facilitated to realise their individual and collective aspirations riding on the immense capabilities, skills and competencies. This has seen the appointment of more women in positions of responsibility and decision making in the public sector.”

Addressing the same gathering, Zanu-PF national secretary for women’s affairs Mable Chinomona urged Mnangagwa to introduce stiffer penalties against party bigwigs involved in corruption.

“My President, we want you to introduce stiffer penalties against perpetrators of corruption by even cutting one finger, if not two,” Chinomona said. The women’s conference continues today.-Newsday

Own Correspondent|Mthwakazi Republic Party is unmoved by the Zanu PF leader Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s threats.

Mr Mnangagwa has threatened to shorten the lives of Mthwakazi activists.

Speaking to Zanu PF supporters in Gweru on Thursday, Mnangagwa sent a chilling warning to Mthwakazi Republic Party activists.

In response the party said:

“In his own words, @edmnangagwa is Zambian, a fact which even his spokesperson
@nickmangwana can’t deny, his continued threat to @mthwakazi_mrp just for demanding self determination won’t be tolerated.

We are Mthwakazi by origins not by any form of legal routes determination .”

Zimbabwe is fast turning into a MAFIA STATE

How a private company matter lead to me receiving threats from a ZANU PF youth executive is surprising

Despite the threats, we demand Robert Muwawa back.

Trade unionism is not criminal pic.twitter.com/CYCHOXa4B1

— Peter Gift Mutasa (@MutasaPeter) June 25, 2022

So @ZANUPF_Official @edmnangagwa have started threatening Workers @MutasaPeter @haulage_union using notorious lapdog Taurai Kundishaya, same criminal who wanted to steal @daddyhope goats! I have a message for you, Zimbabwean Truck drivers are waiting for you! Send your location pic.twitter.com/jaemdDB5ON

— African (@ali_naka) June 25, 2022

By A Correspondent- The Workers Committee Secretary at Strauss Logistics, Robert Muwawa, who reportedly went missing on Wednesday, was found in a bush and picked up by good Samaritans.

The Chairperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Peter Mutasa, who is also the General Secretary for the Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union (ZIBAWU), said Muwawa “is not too well”.

Posting on Twitter, before Muwawa was reportedly found, Mutasa said Muwawa was last seen at Strauss Logistics around lunch hour on Wednesday. Wrote Mutasa:

Robert Muwawa is still missing since Wednesday lunch hour. He was leading a strike at Strauss Logistics as Workers Committee Secretary

He was last seen at the company at lunch hour. He had received calls from someone called Assistant Inspector Mutema.

He had reported that Ass Inspector Mutema of Southerton [police] had somehow threatened him about the strike and whether he was at work

His union [ZHTDU] said his family went to the company but were told by management that the company had reported to the police

The Zimbabwe Haulage Truck Drivers Union (ZHTDU) is not happy because management indicated to the family that the matter is being handled by an Assistant Inspector Mutema again.

The family reported on its own a missing person report. Spread the message and help find this person.

It must never be accepted that workers’ representatives are disappeared for leading a strike

Zimbabwe should never be turned into a Mafia State, where those in businesses and in politics can use power to silence, abduct, imprison, threaten or torture trade unionists.

The Zimbabwe Haulage Truck Drivers Union condemned Muwawa’s alleged victimisation, saying workplaces are becoming hazardous places. The union said:

Drivers across Zimbabwe have vowed to in solidarity with their missing friend Robert Muwawa.

This is a clear sign that our workplaces are now a potential hazard, yet suffering victimisation We might all end up disappearing one after the other.

The disappearance of Robert Muwawa has sent a loud and clear message…  We are no longer safe. We call for protection. Help find our missing comrade.

Getting Robert will never get trucks to move. Drivers only needed assurance that victimisation will fall simple.

On 23/06/22, Police in Kwekwe arrested 11 illegal gold miners at Panorama Mine, Silobela. Four hammer mill engines, three picks, and a shovel were recovered at the mining site. The suspects will appear in court soon.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) June 25, 2022

By- Exiled traditional leader Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni predicted CCC’s overwhelming victory in the 2023 national elections.

Chief Ndiweni, who was victimised and pushed out of the country by the Zanu PF government, said no one in their normal sense would vote for Emerson Mnangagwa.

He posted on twitter Satarday:

Folks it is difficult to try to understand how one could logically vote for Zanu PF. When it is certain that Zanu PF will be outlawed in The Republic of Zimbabwe, within the first term of a Civilian gov. A Civilian gov comes into office in 2023.

Folks it is difficult to try to understand, how one could logically vote for Zanu PF. When it is certain that Zanu PF will be outlawed in The Republic of Zimbabwe, within the first term of a Civilian gov. A Civilian gov comes into office in 2023.

— Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni (@FelixNdiweni) June 25, 2022

By A Correspondent- A former army captain and a local doctor appeared before Harare  Ruth Moyo on Thursday charged for impersonation with intent to commit crime.

Moyo remanded Alfred Ngonidzashe Mugadza (54) from Chimupamba farm under Chief Mujinga Tengwe  and Artwell Murambasvina (27)  who is employed by Ministry of Health out of custody to July 20 on $10 000 each.

According to court papers, on June 20, 2022 an informant called the police reporting that the two accused  were impersonating soldiers.

It is alleged that Mugadza was claiming to be a colonel in the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) with his accomplice Murambasvina saying he was stationed at the army headquarters.

The court heard that police then reacted to the information leading to the arrest of the duo.

Court papers state that Mugadza was discharged from the force on October 12 , 2004 .

In an unrelated incident, a 52 year old man from Prowell Brick Compound Mt Hampden appeared before Harare Magistrate Yeukai Dzuda facing charges of raping his 6year old daughter.

The suspect was remanded the accused in custody to July 7 for routine remand, and advised to approach High Court for bail.

Allegations are that the accused person was staying with his minor children after his wife abandoned them.

The court heard that the suspect was arrested following a tip-off that he was sexually assaulting his daughter.

Anesu Chirenje prosecuted.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) officials have blamed alleged Zanu-PF youths for an attack at its Mutare offices, that left the building defaced while all doors and windows were destroyed.

The accusations have however been dismissed by Zanu-PF Nyanga North legislator Chido Sanyatwe as a ploy to deflect CCC fears of electoral defeat in 2023.

Part of the CCC offices at Ruwangwe business centre were attacked Sunday night, with a report made to the police on Monday.

The opposition party blamed Sanyatwe for the violent scenes, arguing she had given a directive to youths to conduct a reign of terror on opposition supporters and officials.

“A leopard does not change its spots, as the adage goes, Zanu-PF will not let go its violent political belief. On Monday morning CCC members woke up to seeing their offices vandalised,” said David Panganai, the opposition party’s provincial spokesperson.

“All the windows and doors were completely destroyed by thugs who had earlier on been addressed by their local leadership and legislator to attack all known CCC members. They then went on a rampage, destroying property at Ruwangwe business centre.

“The matter was reported to the police but no arrests have been made yet. Those being used to exercise violence against their fellow countrymen must be reminded that violence does not solve price hikes on basic needs, create employment and unite their fractured party.”

The police, in their defence, said nothing pointed to Zanu-PF. Provincial spokesperson inspector Nobert Muzondo said investigations were still underway.

“We do not have evidence that points to politically motivated violence other than malicious damage to property, which occurred overnight,” said Muzondo.

“We are seized with the matter and still investigating. When there are leads or arrests it will be made public.”

Sanyatwe, who is yet to know her CCC opponent said there was no need for her to encourage violence as she was confident of victory at the 2023 polls.

She disputed accusations that she had encouraged her supporters to beat up opponents or destroy their property.

“I never addressed anyone inciting violence against CCC members because that party to me is a nonevent. I am confident of a win,” she said.

“Nyanga North is one of the most peaceful constituencies in this country. Zanu-PF is not here to fight CCC or vice versa, because we are all Zimbabwean citizens.”

Politically motivated violence has over the past months reared its head, with four CCC supporters being killed since March.

Opposition supporters have also torched houses belonging to suspected Zanu-PF officials.

By A Correspondent- The Workers Committee Secretary at Strauss Logistics, Robert Muwawa, who reportedly went missing on Wednesday, was found in a bush and picked up by good Samaritans.

The Chairperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Peter Mutasa, who is also the General Secretary for the Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union (ZIBAWU), said Muwawa “is not too well”.

Posting on Twitter, before Muwawa was reportedly found, Mutasa said Muwawa was last seen at Strauss Logistics around lunch hour on Wednesday. Wrote Mutasa:

Robert Muwawa is still missing since Wednesday lunch hour. He was leading a strike at Strauss Logistics as Workers Committee Secretary

He was last seen at the company at lunch hour. He had received calls from someone called Assistant Inspector Mutema.

He had reported that Ass Inspector Mutema of Southerton [police] had somehow threatened him about the strike and whether he was at work

His union [ZHTDU] said his family went to the company but were told by management that the company had reported to the police

The Zimbabwe Haulage Truck Drivers Union (ZHTDU) is not happy because management indicated to the family that the matter is being handled by an Assistant Inspector Mutema again.

The family reported on its own a missing person report. Spread the message and help find this person.

It must never be accepted that workers’ representatives are disappeared for leading a strike

Zimbabwe should never be turned into a Mafia State, where those in businesses and in politics can use power to silence, abduct, imprison, threaten or torture trade unionists.

The Zimbabwe Haulage Truck Drivers Union condemned Muwawa’s alleged victimisation, saying workplaces are becoming hazardous places. The union said:

Drivers across Zimbabwe have vowed to in solidarity with their missing friend Robert Muwawa.

This is a clear sign that our workplaces are now a potential hazard, yet suffering victimisation We might all end up disappearing one after the other.

The disappearance of Robert Muwawa has sent a loud and clear message…  We are no longer safe. We call for protection. Help find our missing comrade.

Getting Robert will never get trucks to move. Drivers only needed assurance that victimisation will fall simple.

By- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has incited violence in Gweru.

Mnangagwa spread hate when he said that the Government would crush instigators of politically-motivated violence.

He also described the opposition as sellouts.

Addressing Zanu PF supporters at a rally in Mkoba, Gweru, on Thursday, Mnangagwa also urged residents to vote for his party to preserve the country’s independence. He said:

When we defeated whites after a protracted war of independence, they left behind their remnants who want to ferment violence and chaos in the country. We will deal with them.

Zanu PF is the only party which has a history and a legacy for this country. We will not allow zvimbwasungata (puppets) to rule this country.

The current freedom we are enjoying, the current liberation, the current independence and sovereignty, and the current respect and dignity we are enjoying as a people, came at a cost.

It came as a result of some daughters and sons who sacrificed their lives and limbs for us to get independence.

You were beaten by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to this seat, I do not want to see a repeat of that.

The Mkoba parliamentary seat was retained by CCC interim organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, in the 26 March by-elections.

Chibaya had won the seat in 2018 on an MDC Alliance ticket but was recalled by the MDC-T following a controversial Supreme Court ruling in March 2020.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa’s comments come at a time cases of politically motivated violence have been rising across the country.

Four CCC supporters have been killed since March including the stabbing of Mboneni Ncube at a rally in Mbizo, Kwekwe.

More: NewZimbabwe.com

By- Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened violence on the opposition whom he labelled as sell-outs.

Addressing Zanu PF supporters at a rally in Mkoba, Gweru, on Thursday, Mnangagwa also urged residents to vote for his party to preserve the country’s independence. He said:

When we defeated whites after a protracted war of independence, they left behind their remnants who want to ferment violence and chaos in the country. We will deal with them.

Zanu PF is the only party which has a history and a legacy for this country. We will not allow zvimbwasungata (puppets) to rule this country.

The current freedom we are enjoying, the current liberation, the current independence and sovereignty, and the current respect and dignity we are enjoying as a people, came at a cost.

It came as a result of some daughters and sons who sacrificed their lives and limbs for us to get independence.

You were beaten by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to this seat, I do not want to see a repeat of that.

The Mkoba parliamentary seat was retained by CCC interim organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, in the 26 March by-elections.

Chibaya had won the seat in 2018 on an MDC Alliance ticket but was recalled by the MDC-T following a controversial Supreme Court ruling in March 2020.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa’s comments come at a time cases of politically motivated violence have been rising across the country.

Four CCC supporters have been killed since March including the stabbing of Mboneni Ncube at a rally in Mbizo, Kwekwe.

More: NewZimbabwe.com

By-The government has increased the prices of fuel again.

These price hikes in fuel are for the second time in a month.

The opposition CCC said this is a clear sign of the failure of the Emerson Mnangagwa regime.

CCC posted on Twitter:

The Zanu PF Govt hikes fuel prices again, days after another upward review. Diesel & petrol prices now at $1.88 & $1.77 respectively. This comes at a time the health professionals & the rest of the civil servants are earning a slave wage. #RegisterToVoteZw

?The Zanu PF Govt hikes fuel prices again, days after another upward review. Diesel & petrol prices now at $1.88 & $1.77 respectively. This comes at a time the health professionals & the rest of the civil servants are earning a slave wage. #RegisterToVoteZw?? pic.twitter.com/QxrkOk5o8P

— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) June 25, 2022

By- Local Government Minister July Moyo is said to be discussing with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on how to administer the constituency delimitation exercise.

According to a report by ZBC, ZEC was consulting and waiting for national census results to start the process.

The election management body said the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was undertaking consultations on delimitation on its behalf.

ZEC has the sole mandate to draw up the boundaries of constituencies, wards and other electoral processes.

ZEC Mashonaland West Provincial Elections Officer, Austin Ndlovu said the boundary delimitation exercise will only be carried out after the release of the national census final report.

Ndlovu was speaking during a delimitation consultation meeting attended by the Mashonaland West Provincial Development Committee in Chinhoyi on Friday, 24 June. He said:
At the moment, there is no delimitation taking place, even the consultations that were taking place on the ground as this exercise was being conducted they are in essence not delimitation, but they are activities that build up to the delimitation because it’s a prerogative of the local government to give ZEC clearly defined administrative boundaries and therefore please let’s not mistake that exercise as delimitation.

Mashonaland West Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Josphat Jaji said:
The responsibility rests with ZEC, but what affects delimitation are the local government administrative boundaries of districts and provinces so we want to ensure that if there are any proposals brought forward to enable when delimitation starts, so we anticipate Harare wanting to extend to our province, as you can see what is happening within Zvimba district Harare is expanding so we expect a proposal from Harare.
The delimitation exercise is done after every ten years, after the national population and housing census. Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold general elections in 2023.

By- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is deliberately delaying to starting the delimitation of electoral boundaries.

ZEC said it was consulting and waiting for national census results to start the process.

The election management body said the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was undertaking consultations on delimitation on its behalf.

ZEC has the sole mandate to draw up the boundaries of constituencies, wards and other electoral processes.

ZEC Mashonaland West Provincial Elections Officer, Austin Ndlovu said the boundary delimitation exercise will only be carried out after the release of the national census final report.

Ndlovu was speaking during a delimitation consultation meeting attended by the Mashonaland West Provincial Development Committee in Chinhoyi on Friday, 24 June. He said:
At the moment, there is no delimitation taking place, even the consultations that were taking place on the ground as this exercise was being conducted they are in essence not delimitation, but they are activities that build up to the delimitation because it’s a prerogative of the local government to give ZEC clearly defined administrative boundaries and therefore please let’s not mistake that exercise as delimitation.

Mashonaland West Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Josphat Jaji said:
The responsibility rests with ZEC, but what affects delimitation are the local government administrative boundaries of districts and provinces so we want to ensure that if there are any proposals brought forward to enable when delimitation starts, so we anticipate Harare wanting to extend to our province, as you can see what is happening within Zvimba district Harare is expanding so we expect a proposal from Harare.
The delimitation exercise is done after every ten years, after the national population and housing census. Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold general elections in 2023.

By-The Zambian Army has disciplined soldiers filmed beating up civilians.

This comes after the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) honorary secretary Sokwani Peter Chilembo challenged the Army Commander to discipline the rogue soldiers.

Tweeting Friday the ruling, United Party for National Development spokesperson Joseph Kalimbwe said the two soldiers had been disciplined.

He tweeted:

Army has today instituted disciplinary procedures & action against the two soldiers who were recorded assaulting two youths who had used foul language against our leader. Good move; no one must take the law into their own hands. It’s not our Zambian democracy !!!

Below is the statement issued earlier by the LAZ:
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) is appalled at videos showing military personnel assaulting unidentified youths for purportedly insulting the President of the Republic of Zambia. Military weapons are also seen in one of the said videos, being used to intimidate the said youths.
Regardless of the behaviour exhibited by the youths, Zambia has sufficient laws in place to deal with such conduct.
The institution bestowed with the constitutional power to effect arrests over such conduct, and possibly prosecute, is the Zambia Police Service, acting in liaison with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
There is no law that gives military personnel power to mete instant penalties on erring members of society.
To say the least, the conduct exhibited by the military personnel, who are identifiable in one of the videos, is illegal, inhumane, degrading and undermines the Rule of Law and Constitutionalism in the country.
Military personnel in Zambia play a key role, and their importance cannot be overemphasized.
However, no one is above the law, and under no circumstances must any citizen, let alone men and women in uniform, take the law into their own hands and mete out street justice.
Therefore, it is LAZ’s strong view that such conduct by military personnel on private citizens should immediately be redressed by the Military Command.
LAZ therefore, calls upon the Army Commander to take appropriate steps to promptly deal with the erring officers so as to maintain the Rule of Law, and to deter would-be offenders within their ranks.
LAZ will not relent in the execution of its statutory mandate to protect Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law, for the greater good of the Nation.

The Zambia army has today instituted disciplinary procedures & action against the two soldiers who were recorded assaulting two youths who had used foul language against our leader. Good move, no one must take the law into their own hands. It's not our Zambian democracy !!!

— Joseph Kalimbwe (@joseph_kalimbwe) June 24, 2022

LIVINGSTONE MURDER- When a crime has happened, the premises becomes crime scene… the school has to be shut down, says Advocate @AllAhojhttps://t.co/FrSF0VqLjb

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 24, 2022

https://youtu.be/6EYGPcBfYiM

By A Correspondent- Body parts belonging to a St Mathias Tsonzo High School student Livingstone Sunhwa (1)9, who has not been seen or heard from since he vanished on December 6 last year have been discovered.

The development was posted by the popular sociallite Madam Boss who said:

“Pacherwa musango takawana mbabvu. Nemusoro Livingston veduweee.”

The development comes as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) claimed that Sunhwa is on the run.

The teenager’s curious disappearance has been trending on social media under the hashtag #JusticeforLivingstone with many Zimbabweans baying for the school headmaster’s blood.

Livingstone was said to have gone missing after allegedly being tortured by the police and some of his teachers over his claimed involvement in a break-in at the school’s tuck-shop.

Narrating the events surrounding his disappearance on social media, Livingstone’s mother said she was not told about her son’s disappearance by school authorities and only learnt about the development from her daughter who also attends the same school.

She was however, particularly concerned about the alleged involvement of the school head, who was only identified as Sandura, in the saga.

The family has since appealed for help from members of the public saying they were not getting any assistance from both the police and school authorities.

According to some reports, after being tortured in front of other students, Livingstone was taken to Mutasa Police Station where he was detained without the knowledge of his parents.

When his mother got wind of the incident, she phoned the headmaster and requested that her son back to school so he could write his exams.

“The headmaster told me that he had taken him from the police around 5 pm and took him to his dormitory around 9pm but did not disclose that he was missing,” reads the social media post by Livingstone’s mother.

The headmaster was, according the family, the last person to see the teenager.

Manicaland police spokesperson, Inspector Nobert Muzondo acknowledged that Livingstone was missing.

He however, criticised the family “sensationalising the issue which is currently under investigation”.

“You should note that he did not go missing while in the hands of the police,” he said.

“From the police side, he is on the wanted list. He is on the run because he stole from the school.

“Groceries were indeed found stashed under his bed  so we are treating this case on two sides, that he is missing and that he is wanted.”

He added, “As the police we are investigating the matter and we still want him to be found but it is the father who has chosen to blow it out on social media … that person is not a minor, but a major.”

It has also been claimed that the mother fled the country with her son because of the pending criminal case.

However, in her social media post, the mother insisted that she visited the school on December12 to establish what happened to her son.

She said they would go out looking in the surrounding communities but was surprised that the headmaster always insisted that they search during the night.

“What troubled me is the fact that he (headmaster) did not want the company of other teachers when we went to look for my son and we would only do this at night,” she said.

She said she later went to the police station seeking to file a missing person report but was not assisted.

“They said it was impossible because my son was a suspect,” she said.

By- An anti-President Emmerson Mnangagwa Hurungwe man has escaped jail.

Vincent Chigwedere (47) was recently acquitted on charges of undermining the authority of or insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Chigwedere appeared before Kariba Magistrate Tendai Banda on charges of undermining the authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa as defined in Section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), prosecutors alleged that Chigwedere impaired the image of President Mnangagwa when he unlawfully and intentionally made an obscene and indecent statement concerning the President.
He is alleged to have made the remarks during a verbal altercation over a land ownership dispute.
Chigwedere was, however, discharged at the close of the prosecution case by Magistrate Banda, who ruled that prosecutors had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

He was represented by Unite Saizi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

By-The Zambian Army has disciplined soldiers filmed beating up civilians.

This comes after the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) honorary secretary Sokwani Peter Chilembo challenged the Army Commander to discipline the rogue soldiers.

Tweeting Friday the ruling, United Party for National Development spokesperson Joseph Kalimbwe said the two soldiers had been disciplined.

He tweeted

Army has today instituted disciplinary procedures & action against the two soldiers who were recorded assaulting two youths who had used foul language against our leader. Good move; no one must take the law into their own hands. It’s not our Zambian democracy !!!

Below is the statement issued earlier by the LAZ:
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) is appalled at videos showing military personnel assaulting unidentified youths for purportedly insulting the President of the Republic of Zambia. Military weapons are also seen in one of the said videos, being used to intimidate the said youths.
Regardless of the behaviour exhibited by the youths, Zambia has sufficient laws in place to deal with such conduct.
The institution bestowed with the constitutional power to effect arrests over such conduct, and possibly prosecute, is the Zambia Police Service, acting in liaison with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
There is no law that gives military personnel power to mete instant penalties on erring members of society.
To say the least, the conduct exhibited by the military personnel, who are identifiable in one of the videos, is illegal, inhumane, degrading and undermines the Rule of Law and Constitutionalism in the country.
Military personnel in Zambia play a key role, and their importance cannot be overemphasized.
However, no one is above the law, and under no circumstances must any citizen, let alone men and women in uniform, take the law into their own hands and mete out street justice.
Therefore, it is LAZ’s strong view that such conduct by military personnel on private citizens should immediately be redressed by the Military Command.
LAZ therefore, calls upon the Army Commander to take appropriate steps to promptly deal with the erring officers so as to maintain the Rule of Law, and to deter would-be offenders within their ranks.
LAZ will not relent in the execution of its statutory mandate to protect Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law, for the greater good of the Nation.

The Zambia army has today instituted disciplinary procedures & action against the two soldiers who were recorded assaulting two youths who had used foul language against our leader. Good move, no one must take the law into their own hands. It's not our Zambian democracy !!!

— Joseph Kalimbwe (@joseph_kalimbwe) June 24, 2022

By- Zanu PF President Mnangagwa has officially opened his party’s Women’s League National Conference at the Harare International Conference Centre.

The Conference began Thursday and is being attended by delegates from the country’s 10 provinces.

“I want from the onset to commend the immense contribution and milestones achieved by the women of our great country,” he said.

“You the women are the consistent and reliable bedrock of the Party’s support base. Your mobilisation abilities in the 2018 Harmonised General Elections helped our colossal Party to romp to a landslide victory where our usual detractors were left counting their bitter loss.”

The President also commended women for the inroads they have made in various sectors of the economy such as agriculture, mining, tourism and manufacturing.

“We were together in the trenches and you continue to play your role in building our great motherland, Zimbabwe.

“Well done to the women of Zimbabwe. Well done to you the Women’s League of our colossal mass party, Zanu PF,” Mnangagwa said.

-State media

By- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is deliberately delaying to starting the delimitation of electoral boundaries.

ZEC said it was consulting and waiting for national census results to start the process.

The election management body said the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was undertaking consultations on delimitation on its behalf.

ZEC has the sole mandate to draw up the boundaries of constituencies, wards and other electoral processes.

ZEC Mashonaland West Provincial Elections Officer, Austin Ndlovu said the boundary delimitation exercise will only be carried out after the release of the national census final report.

Ndlovu was speaking during a delimitation consultation meeting attended by the Mashonaland West Provincial Development Committee in Chinhoyi on Friday, 24 June. He said:
At the moment, there is no delimitation taking place, even the consultations that were taking place on the ground as this exercise was being conducted they are in essence not delimitation, but they are activities that build up to the delimitation because it’s a prerogative of the local government to give ZEC clearly defined administrative boundaries and therefore please let’s not mistake that exercise as delimitation.

Mashonaland West Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Josphat Jaji said:
The responsibility rests with ZEC, but what affects delimitation are the local government administrative boundaries of districts and provinces so we want to ensure that if there are any proposals brought forward to enable when delimitation starts, so we anticipate Harare wanting to extend to our province, as you can see what is happening within Zvimba district Harare is expanding so we expect a proposal from Harare.
The delimitation exercise is done after every ten years, after the national population and housing census. Zimbabwe is scheduled to hold general elections in 2023.

-ZBC

By- CCC members have devised yet another innovative way of branding their party.

This time the members are branding fruit juice, cooking oil and dishwasher with party colours.

Posting the images of the new innovation, CCC deputy spokesperson Ostallos Gift Siziba said: 

The creativity of a Zimbabwean compatriot! In this part of the country, Citizens use creative imagination to resolve some of the concrete realities facing our people. The intention is to self sustain as we advance the struggle for Real Transformation and Change #FakaPressure

Creativity of a Zimbabwean compatriot!
In this part of the country, Citizens use creative imagination to resolve some of the concrete realities facing our people. The intention is to self sustain as we advance the struggle for Real Transformation and Change #FakaPressure pic.twitter.com/ncA2MIDfrX

— Gift Ostallos Siziba (@Cde_Ostallos) June 24, 2022

By- The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has reported a case of assaults on citizens by that country’s soldiers.

LAZ said the soldiers beat up some unidentified youths for allegedly insulting President Hakainde Hichilema.

In a statement issued on 23 June 2022, LAZ honorary secretary Sokwani Peter Chilembo called upon the Army Commander to discipline the rogue soldiers so as to maintain the Rule of Law in the country. 

Below is the statement:

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) is appalled at videos showing military personnel assaulting unidentified youths for purportedly insulting the President of the Republic of Zambia. Military weapons are also seen in one of the said videos, being used to intimidate the said youths.

Regardless of the behaviour exhibited by the youths, Zambia has sufficient laws in place to deal with such conduct.

The institution bestowed with the constitutional power to effect arrests over such conduct, and possibly prosecute, is the Zambia Police Service, acting in liaison with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

There is no law that gives military personnel power to mete instant penalties on erring members of society.

To say the least, the conduct exhibited by the military personnel, who are identifiable in one of the videos, is illegal, inhumane, degrading and undermines the Rule of Law and Constitutionalism in the country.

Military personnel in Zambia play a key role, and their importance cannot be overemphasized.

However, no one is above the law, and under no circumstances must any citizen, let alone men and women in uniform, take the law into their own hands and mete out street justice.

Therefore, it is LAZ’s strong view that such conduct by military personnel on private citizens should immediately be redressed by the Military Command.

LAZ therefore, calls upon the Army Commander to take appropriate steps to promptly deal with the erring officers so as to maintain the Rule of Law, and to deter would-be offenders within their ranks.

LAZ will not relent in the execution of its statutory mandate to protect Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law, for the greater good of the Nation.

• Law Society of Zambia

http://www.laz.org.zm/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LAZ-Press-Release-Military-Brutality-on-Private-Citizens.pdf

By-A woman from Makoni District, Manicaland Province, believed to be in her 80s, was recently found naked early morning close to a community graveyard.

Gogo Prisca Magondo was brought before Chief Makoni’s court to explain her actions.

This was the second time that Gogo Magondo appeared before Chief Makoni’s court following her conviction for witchcraft in the early 2000s.

During her recent court appearance, Gogo Magondo said that on the day in question, she had lost her senses and ended up sleeping outside her house.

Her neighbour, Malvern Nyamukomba, told the court that they found Gogo Magondo lying naked on a path leading to the graveyard. Said Nyamukomba:

After burying my daughter, we went back to the graveyard to perform some traditional rites the following morning.

We were shocked to see Gogo Magondo lying a few meters from the graveyard.

She only had her petticoat on. We confronted her, and she said she was looking for sweeping brooms.

However, there were no signs or marks that the grave had been tampered with. We informed Gogo Magondo’s sister and her clothes were brought.

The traditional court found Gogo Magondo guilty of witchcraft and ordered her relatives to conduct a cleansing ceremony for her.

More: The Manica Post

By A Correspondent- Body parts belonging to a St Mathias Tsonzo High School student Livingstone Sunhwa (19), who has not been seen or heard from since he vanished on December 6 last year have been discovered.

The development was posted by the popular sociallite Madam Boss who said:

“Pacherwa musango takawana mbabvu. Nemusoro Livingston veduweee.”

The development comes as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) claimed that Sunhwa is on the run.

The teenager’s curious disappearance has been trending on social media under the hashtag #JusticeforLivingstone with many Zimbabweans baying for the school headmaster’s blood.

Livingstone was said to have gone missing after allegedly being tortured by the police and some of his teachers over his claimed involvement in a break-in at the school’s tuck-shop.

Narrating the events surrounding his disappearance on social media, Livingstone’s mother said she was not told about her son’s disappearance by school authorities and only learnt about the development from her daughter who also attends the same school.

She was however, particularly concerned about the alleged involvement of the school head, who was only identified as Sandura, in the saga.

The family has since appealed for help from members of the public saying they were not getting any assistance from both the police and school authorities.

According to some reports, after being tortured in front of other students, Livingstone was taken to Mutasa Police Station where he was detained without the knowledge of his parents.

When his mother got wind of the incident, she phoned the headmaster and requested that her son back to school so he could write his exams.

“The headmaster told me that he had taken him from the police around 5 pm and took him to his dormitory around 9pm but did not disclose that he was missing,” reads the social media post by Livingstone’s mother.

The headmaster was, according the family, the last person to see the teenager.

Manicaland police spokesperson, Inspector Nobert Muzondo acknowledged that Livingstone was missing.

He however, criticised the family “sensationalising the issue which is currently under investigation”.

“You should note that he did not go missing while in the hands of the police,” he said.

“From the police side, he is on the wanted list. He is on the run because he stole from the school.

“Groceries were indeed found stashed under his bed  so we are treating this case on two sides, that he is missing and that he is wanted.”

He added, “As the police we are investigating the matter and we still want him to be found but it is the father who has chosen to blow it out on social media … that person is not a minor, but a major.”

It has also been claimed that the mother fled the country with her son because of the pending criminal case.

However, in her social media post, the mother insisted that she visited the school on December12 to establish what happened to her son.

She said they would go out looking in the surrounding communities but was surprised that the headmaster always insisted that they search during the night.

“What troubled me is the fact that he (headmaster) did not want the company of other teachers when we went to look for my son and we would only do this at night,” she said.

She said she later went to the police station seeking to file a missing person report but was not assisted.

“They said it was impossible because my son was a suspect,” she said.

Tinashe Sambiri|The crisis in the country’s health sector is a reflection of Zanu PF’s incompetence.

This was said by President Nelson Chamisa’s CCC party on Thursday.

CCC slammed the Zanu PF regime’s gross failure to address government workers’ concerns.

See statement below:

We stand in firm solidarity with government health workers who were left with no option but to withdraw their labour on the 20th of June 2022 due to incapacitation and poor working conditions

This is regrettable because the State’s incompetence and failure to address the workers’ concerns and prioritize this critical sector have caused mass suffering to Zimbabweans whose right to affordable, quality health care remains under constant threat.

The health workers issued a public statement on the 17th of June 2022 indicating that they had repeatedly tried to engage the Health Services Board and the Ministry of Health and Childcare over a fourteen-month period to have their plight addressed without success.

They stated that their poor conditions of service had caused chronic brain drain in the health sector with over 4000 resignations in the last three years.

Instead of engaging with the health workers to address their concerns in good faith, draconian measures have been introduced to illegally prevent health workers from leaving the country, including through the refusal to issue certificates of good standing.

We call for the concerns that have been raised to be addressed immediately to ensure that the citizens’ right to health is respected.

As the alternative and a government-in-waiting, we wish to put forward highlights of the alternative CCC health policy approach which will solve the nation’s health crisis at its root.

The ZanuPf govt’s incompetence and failure to address the workers’ concerns & prioritize the health sector, which is critical, have caused mass suffering to Zimbabweans whose right to affordable and quality healthcare remains under constant threat.

?The ZanuPf govt’s incompetence and failure to address the workers’ concerns & prioritize the health sector, which is critical, have caused mass suffering to Zimbabweans whose right to affordable and quality healthcare remains under constant threat. pic.twitter.com/zz0JoDjr68

— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) June 22, 2022

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo High Court was on Thursday inundated with twenty (20) cases of people intending to divorce. According to a survey  infidelity has been cited as the major cause of family break-ups in the country with last year’s statistics showing that at least 1 351 couples filed for divorce at the High Court, an increase from 1 117 cases handled in 2020.

Read the full list of cases below extracted from the court role:
10. MANDLENKOSI MOYO vs HAPPINESS MOYO (nee SIBANDA) HC 184/22
(MATHONSI NCUBE LAW CHAMBERS)

11. JOSPHETH HAPAZARI vs PETTY T. HAPAZARI (nee CHANAIWA) HC 1277/21
(NCUBE-TSHABALALA ATTORNEYS)

12. QUIET HADEBE vs OKTAVIA HADEBE (nee NCUBE) HC 515/22 (SELF ACTOR)

13. SAMUKELISO CHITSA (nee SIBANDA) vs FARAYI MOSES CHITSA HC 434/21
(NCUBE-TSHABALALA ATTORNEYS)

14. CHARITY MPOFU (nee MAVIZA) vs ENERST MPOFU HC 1588/21 (MESSRS PUNDU
& COMPANY)

15. EMMANUEL MADABE VS SIPHEPHILE MADABE (nee NKOMO) HC 835/13
(MAZANGO, MATUMBU AND PARTNERS)

16. TSHIBANI NDHLOVU vs PETER NDHLOVU HC 2164/19 (LEGAL AID DIRECTORATE –
HWANGE)

17. NOMSA DUBE (nee KHUMALO) vs MANDLENKOSI DUBE HC 1589/21 (MESSRS
PUNDU & COMPANY)

18. RACHEL HWAMBO vs AUSTIN MUZENDA HC 2217/19 (MAKIYA AND PARTNERS)

19. VIMBAI KUVHEYA (nee KAMBARE) vs CEAPHAS KUVHEYA HC 833/22 (TANAKA
LAW CHAMBERS)

MOREBLESSING MUCHADEHAMA vs MBONISI SIZIBA HC 487/22 (NYAWO RUZIVE
LEGAL PRACTICE)

21. COLLEN S. NDLOVU (nee MLILO) vs SIKHUMBUZO NDLOVU HC 314/22 (MAKIYA &
PARTNERS)

22. BLESSED MOKONE vs SIPHO MOKONE (nee NDLOVU) HC 1690/20 (MORRIS –
DAVIS & CO.

23. PHATHISA NHLANE vs VUYELWA A NHLANE (nee NKOMO) HC 1714/21
(VUNDHLA-PHULU & PARTNERS)

24. INNOCENT KWIDINI vs VIRGINIA KWIDINI (nee NCUBE) HC 1474/21 (LEGAL AID
DIRECTORATE HWANGE)

25. NTULULI MOYO vs PHATHUMUSA MOYO (nee SIBANDA) HC 1148/21 (DUBE-
BANDA, NZARAYAPENGA & PARTNERS)

26. HONEST SEBATA vs CYNTHIA SEBATA (nee MOKWENA) HC 1547/21 (V. CHIKOMO
LAW CHAMBERS)

27. SIBAHLE NYAMUKAPA (nee GUMPO) vs GEORGE NYAMUKAPA HC 143/22
(MASIYE-MOYO & ASSOCIATES)

28. FARAI FARISAYI MUCHATI (nee PERERA) vs JUSTICE MUCHATI HC 278/22 (NCUBE-
TSHABALALA ATTORNEYS)

29. LOVEMORE MATEMA vs SHARAI ZIBWOWA HC 615/22 (LEGAL AID DIRECTORATE
GWERU)

30. FREDDRICK PHIRI vs NONTOKOZO PHIRI (nee NDLOVU) HC 193/22 (LEGAL AID
DIRECTORATE)

By A Correspondent- The ongoing public health professionals’ strike that has crippled major government hospitals is continuing unabated until the demands of the workers have been met, leaving many patients stranded.

This week, health workers in public institutions downed tools citing paltry salaries and pathetic working conditions.

They are arguing that the government is giving a deaf ear to their plight and to the reality that inflation has eroded their meagre earnings. Inflation has since shot up to 137%.  Physician Tapiwa Kusotera told the Zimbabwe Independent that the strike would go on indefinitely.

“This is a matter of survival for the workers. From what I am seeing, the mass action is likely to continue indefinitely. The workers are the ones to decide but their demands have to be met for the strike to end,” Kusotera said.

A visit to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the largest referral health facility, painted a sorry sight.

Patients at the casualty section were stranded while their relatives could be seen pleading with officials for assistance.

The casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who are admitted without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance.

“I came with my mother this morning and it’s almost lunchtime, she has not yet been attended to. She has been having continuous hiccups and vomiting for several days and we are not sure what the problem is,” Macdonald Ncube told the Independent.

“Government should not treat us as if we are sub-humans. Those in power are there because they have a mandate to ensure that the lives of people are improved not worsened. I do not have money to take my mother to a private hospital. What should I do now?”

Section 76 (1) of the Constitution provides that: “Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to have access to basic healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare services.”

The same section on (4) adds that: “The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve the progressive realisation of the rights set out in this section.”

However, what is currently prevailing speaks otherwise. The situation has left patients in physical and mental agony. However, health professionals argue that it is for the best as they push the government to act.

“We work in the most deplorable of conditions here,” said a nurse at Sally Mugabe Hospital who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.

“We put up with a lot. But what we get is an insult. I cannot send my son to a good school. I cannot put food on the table, and my salary is inadequate for me to pay bills and provide for my family. This nonsense must stop. If not, we will not be going back to work. If they are going to fire us, so be it!” she charged.

Nurses are getting an average of ZW$30 000 per month which fetches about US$40 on the parallel market.

In comparison, private hospitals are paying nurses between US$500 and US$600 per month.

In Namibia, nurses get an average monthly salary of NAD22 000 which is about US$1 477. In neighbouring South Africa, nurses earn a monthly salary of about R28 470 which translates to US$1 783.

The yawning gap coupled with the high cost of living biting citizens has radicalised workers in the health sector.

Further compounding the problem for patients is the fact that some health workers at Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) hospitals are on a go-slow industrial action because of poor salaries which do not come on time.

A doctor at West End hospital in Harare said: “We last got paid in May and now we are being told that we will be getting 25% of the total salary because they do not have money; 25% of nothing is nothing. How am I supposed to survive on that?”

The same sentiments were echoed by another doctor at a PSMAS health institution in Bulawayo.

He said: “I am supposed to be at work today but I did not report for duty. I cannot go there to work for peanuts.”

“When I joined PSMAS, I used to save an average of 70 patients per day but these days, 20 is enough for me. We advise patients that the system is down and they cannot be entered before seeing the doctor. It is now the norm.”

Most government workers are on PSMAS medical aid, which means they cannot get the attention they require at public hospitals or the medical aid they subscribe to.

Health Apex Council secretary general Lloyd Sarai said workers should not be intimidated, instead they “should remain resolute as we are not committing any crime of misconduct”.

Contacted for comment, director of public relations at the Health Services Board Tryfine Dzvukutu said: “Negotiations with representatives of health professionals started on Monday and I cannot comment before the talks concluded.”-ZimbabweIndependent

Information Alert
24 June 2022

THE opaque procurement of some firefighting trucks is in the public eye after a human rights campaigner asked President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to furnish her with specific details of the agreements authorising the controversial transaction.

Alice Kuvheya, a resident of Chitungwiza, engaged Paidamoyo Saurombe and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who on Thursday 23 June 2022 wrote letters addressed to Dr Misheck Sibanda,

the Chief Secretary to President Mnangagwa and Cabinet, Kennedy Chokuda, the Clerk Parliament of Zimbabwe and Zvinechimwe Churu, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, requesting to be furnished with a copy of the Government to Government Agreement between the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Government of the Republic of Belarus relating to the procurement of
fire tenders on behalf of local authorities.

The request followed media reports alleging that government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works had circumvented the public tendering system by commandeering both rural and urban councils to use financial resources meant for Devolution to procure fire-fighting trucks from Belarus.

Kuvheya, who said she is acting in the interest of public accountability, asked for the total cost of the fire tender equipment to be procured from the government of the Republic of Belarus, and the quantities ordered, payments made to date for the purchase of the
equipment and outstanding balances.

The human rights campaigner, who is also the Executive Director of Chitungwiza Residents Trust, also want to be furnished with Parliament’s approval of the “Government to Government “Agreement as required by Section 327(3) of the Constitution including copies of all

“Government to Government “Agreements entered into with the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the due diligence conducted by the Government of Zimbabwe relating to the suitability specifications and costings of the fire tenders sought and being procured and comparison in terms  of the suitability specifications and costings  from other
suppliers.

Kuvheya said she is making the request for such information and specifications in terms of Section 62(1) of the Constitution as read with Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act.

According to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, Dr Sibanda, Chokuda and Churu have a maximum of 21 days within which to respond to Kuvheya’s request.

Members of Parliament are going to have a substantial salary increase with effect from 1 July 2022, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday.

Legislators will also be put on a contributory medical insurance scheme and their sitting allowance will also be increased.

Ncube disclosed the development after Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent), complained that legislators’ earnings have been severely eroded by inflation.

Mliswa also revealed that MPs were this week locked out of hotels because the Government had not settled their bills.

Below is the full debate in the National Assembly:

HON. T. MLISWA: Thank you Mr Speaker Sir. It is just something that needs to be addressed for certainty.

When Hon. Members of Parliament wanted to check into the hotels this week, they were told they could not.

I am glad that the Minister of Finance and Economic Development is here, I wanted him to pay attention to this one.

It involves the issue of Parliament not paying, but I think it is the Ministry of Finance that has not paid Parliament to pay.

It was quite embarrassing and humiliating for Hon. Members of Parliament to be told ‘you cannot check in.’

I am glad that there was some quick reaction to that.  There was a quick response to that intervention and they were accommodated but it is an issue which really talks about their welfare.

Most Hon. Members of Parliament – if I am not mistaken, we were paid RTGs4 000 after deductions of PSMAS and it is quite something.

If you think of RTGs4 000 for a mother and father to carry home to say this is the money, I do not know how we can comprehend and continue on that.

So I know you have been looking at the welfare of Hon. Members of Parliament but an update would surely help Hon. Members to understand where they are in terms of those negotiations which we once did with the Minister of Finance and Economic Development and the Permanent Secretary pertaining to a number of issues.

Hon. Members are not immune to inflation as well. So I know that they do not have the energy to speak about it, but a response is needed to what is the way forward for the welfare of the Hon. Members of Parliament in spite of the inflation which is there. Thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: I am aware of what has been done following the meeting between the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development on the welfare of Hon. Members of Parliament and generally Government at large.

I do not think I will be privileged to announce what has been agreed to and I do not know whether the Hon. Minister may also want to announce that at this point in time.

What I know is a substantial increase has been agreed to as well as an increase in your sitting allowances effective 1st July 2022.

So something has been agreed to. I think at the appropriate time, the Hon. Minister will make some pronouncements, not only for us here but for the entire State. Have I concluded properly Hon. Minister?

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. You have summarised it well.

Maybe only to add that our three areas of focus for Hon. Members of this august House – they have been awarded a very good increase in the salary and basically putting them on a contributory medical insurance scheme which we are introducing as well as an increase in the sitting allowance. We are going to do those three areas – [AN. HON. MEMBER: When?] – Thank you.

THE HON SPEAKER: Someone is shouting when I had said with effect from 1st July 2022. I have the figures and I have been told and I think they are very reasonable in the circumstances of hyper-inflation.

That is all I can say for the time being but there has been some progress in terms of what the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has done.

I do not think that I can doubt what I have been told by the Hon. Minister. Let you judge by the action you will see beginning 1st of July, 2022.

HON. T. MLISWA: I thank you for your response which is promising but you know it is difficult for one to really have peace of mind when they do not know what they will get.

Hon. Speaker munenge matinzvenga ipapo. Tirikuda kumboombera kuti tapihwa ipapo tosvitsa maoko.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa, if you cannot trust the Hon. Speaker, who are you going to trust?

HON. T. MLISWA: No, I will rest my case, we trust you. So please trust the Hon. Speaker and that everything will be okay, your salaries.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Please do rest your case and if that does not happen, I put my head on the block and then you can come with the guillotine. Thank you

By A Correspondent- CCC interim Secretary for Public Service and Social Welfare has bemoaned the alleged capture of the country’s judiciary and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) by the ruling ZANU PF party.

Kademaunga queried why three CCC members from the Nyatsime area whose homes were allegedly torched by ZANU PF activists were arrested while ruling party members linked to the assault of 21 women at the funeral of Moreblessing Ali were not arrested.

The three CCC members, Precious Jeche (41), Misheck Guzha (62) and Odius Makoma (42) were arrested on Wednesday and appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi on Thursday facing charges of public violence.

The magistrate ruled that the trio is likely to skip bail, hence it is risky to free them on bail pending trial.

Kademaunga also criticised the police for arresting opposition MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole on public violence charges while a local ZANU PF MP and councillor were not arrested despite appearing to incite violence. She wrote on Twitter:

Nine citizens have been wrongfully arrested in the continued repression of the people of Nyatsime in the aftermath of the gruesome murder of Moreblessing Ali.

Again we see clear undue political interference forcing police and courts to act as willing executioners of repression.

Police is being abused in the systematic criminalisation and subjection to the harsh reprisal of three CCC members who made police reports after their homes were torched in Nyatsime.

The three were later arrested and in turn, charged with public violence.

Police is being abused to silence and harass justice seekers; Ali family lawyer Job Sikhala1 and legislator Godfrey Sithole who was assisting the family to pursue justice whom they have wrongfully imprisoned and are currently held at Chikurubi maximum prison.

Courts are being abused to aid Judicial Harassment of the arrested whom they have denied bail and will possibly be subjected to lengthy pre-trial detentions as has been the trend.

Police is being abused to promote impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations.

Police have not acted on ZANU PF MP and Councillor who publicly incited violence at the Ali funeral, and ZANU PF Youth who abducted and assaulted 21 women at a funeral.

A free, fair and credible election can only be possible if key institutions like the police, the courts, ZEC, Chapter 12 commissions etc are free from the demonic grip of the tyrannical ZANU PF regime!

By A Correspondent- Four robbers who were part of a six-member machete gang which has been terrorising people in Gweru’s Mkoba and Woodlands areas have been arrested.

The machete robbers stole cash and many other valuables from residents.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed yesterday the arrest of the quartet Tafara Mabika (23), Blessing Chikomba (22) both from Mkoba, Joseph Moyo (22) and Dither Chigondo (26), both from Woodlands.

They were nabbed following a tip-off from members of the public.

Mahoko said a manhunt for the other two identified as Philani Hove and one Tafara has since been launched.

“The suspects allegedly specialised in breaking into people’s houses armed with machetes and knives. They would use threats and violence to force people to submit while demanding cash and other valuables.

“Police managed to recover seven gas tanks, six cellphones, laptops, wallets and a bunch of keys. Most of the property has since been identified by the owners and we invite the public to come and identify the remaining properties,” Mahoko said.

The four are expected to appear in court soon.

Of late, the Midlands province has been recording increased cases of robberies involving dangerous weapons such as machetes and knives.

On Wednesday, Mahoko urged people to secure their business premises to guard against robberies.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has defended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), saying the electoral body does not remove voters from their polling stations.

This followed reports that the country’s voters roll is in shambles after independent statisticians, Team Pachedu, in February this year accused Zec of illegally moving 170 000 voters from their original constituencies and wards in the voters roll that was used for the March 26 by-elections.

Responding to queries on the voters roll in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Ziyambi said: “Zec advises that it is not aware of any formal report wherein it has been alleged that it has moved voters from their registered polling stations without their consent. What the commission is aware of are the powers granted to it by section 35 of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), which provides that a voters roll may be altered by the commission at any time to correct any error or omission, or to change the original name or address of the voter to an altered name or address; which is done by the voter registration officer at any time by correcting any obvious mistake or omission, or by changing on the written application of a voter, the original name or address of the voter to an altered name or address.”

Ziyambi said in terms of the Electoral Act, notice of alteration of a voter is published in the Government Gazette by the commission or voter registration officer.

He said the Act also provides that in the event that the voter is aggrieved, they may appeal against a decision to a designated magistrate of the province on whose voters roll the voter is, or prior to the alteration registered.

“The commission recommends that where there are known incidents of voters being moved from their polling stations without their consent, a formal report must be filed at Zec provincial offices, or an appeal of any decision of an alteration must be made by the commission or voter registration officer to a designated magistrate within the affected voter’s province.”

Ziyambi was also grilled over the issue of the diaspora vote.

“There is currently no legislative framework that regulates voting by citizens in the diaspora. If a person requires to vote, he has to be registered in a constituency within Zimbabwe whereby the residential requirements is among the voter registration requirements provided for by our electoral law,” Ziyambi said.

Last month, the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda crossed swords with fellow Zanu PF members when he suggested that the Constitution must be amended to allow millions of Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote in the 2023 elections.

“It is also important to note that the residence requirement is not a requirement strictly for persons in the diaspora as it also affects those who live in Zimbabwe. In this regard, the residence requirements are not directed or targeted to exclude the diaspora vote as is the assumption by many,” he said.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed that “puppets” will never rule Zimbabwe, saying ZANU PF was the sole custodian of the country’s liberation heritage.

While Mnangagwa did not identify the puppets, ZANU PF has in the past characterised opposition political parties, particularly the MDC, and its successor, the CCC, as surrogates of the United States of America and countries in Europe.

Addressing hundreds of ZANU PF supporters at Bata Shoe Company in Gweru, on 23 June, Mnangagwa said, “we will never allow for puppets to rule this country,” adding:

They sanctioned us because we want to determine our own destiny. Germany, Japan, France and other Western countries are building their own countries.

Can we, therefore, be stupid to have foreigners determine the development of our country?

Yes, they can come with investments, but with no strings attached.

Mnangagwa also castigated the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) saying the opposition party’s activists were possessed by evil spirits.

He reiterated his stance that Zimbabwe will remain a republic and a unitary State.

In March this year, Mnangagwa warned MRP activists that their lives will be “shortened”.

He issued the chilling warning while addressing a rally in Chitungwiza ahead of the 26 March by-elections.

MRP is pushing for the separation of Matabeleland provinces, Bulawayo and part of Midlands Province from the rest of the country.

During his visit to the Midlands province, Mnangagwa toured Sino-Zimbabwe Cement, Lesaffre and Bata.

Watch- @PoliceZimbabwe storm health centre, beat protesting #healthworkers. The health workers are protesting poor working conditions & poor salaries @ZimbabweFreedo1 @schikanza @ZimbabweNurses @ANANursingWorld @SeniorDoctors @DoctorsWomen @MSF_USA pic.twitter.com/qYzwROSwTr

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 24, 2022

By A Corresposndent- Anti riot police on Wednesday reportedly stormed Bindura General Hospital and indiscriminately beat up nurses for joining a nationwide strike by health workers protesting over salaries and poor working conditions.

This came as public hospitals yesterday discharged patients and closed wards as the strike entered day four with no solution in sight.

And there were also strong indications that schools might be forced to close early after a sizeable chunk of teachers downed tools starting Monday demanding improved working
conditions.

On Wednesday, there was drama at Bindura General Hospital when baton-wielding riot police officers stormed the health institution and indiscriminately beat up nurses for downing tools.

A video in possession of NewsDay showed nurses running and scurrying for cover as riot police officers chased and beat them up.

Some of the nurses had to remove their uniforms to escape the wrath of the police. Elderly nurses could also be seen trying to run away with limited success.

But national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was unaware of the incident.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enock Dongo condemned the police action as barbaric and deplorable.

“The hospital is deserted; nurses have stayed at home because they fear being beaten. The fear has triggered nurses to boycott their workstation,” he said.

“The overzealousness of the police has worsened the situation because other nurses from other hospitals might also stay at home fearing to be beaten up by the police.”

At Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Chitungwiza Central Hospital, patients were discharged from wards in a total shutdown of health services.

In other cities, NewsDay witnessed people taking away their relatives from wards because no one was attending to them.

Health Apex leader Tapiwanashe Kusotera told NewsDay that most provincial hospitals were deserted.

“We hope that the government takes this as an urgent matter,” Kusotera said.

“We take job action as the last resort. As we speak, some hospitals have shut down. The situation is not looking good, and we implore authorities to take this seriously. Government has not offered us anything as of today but we keep demanding that the issues we are raising must be addressed.”

Health Service Board executive director Angelbert Mbengwa said the board was still making consultations towards finding a win-win situation.

“At the moment, I can’t really comment on the government’s position on the issue. Once there is a concrete position on what we are going to do, we will notify the public,” Mbengwa said.

Contacted for comment, Public Service Commission secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe said he was in a meeting.

But Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike warned of loss of lives if government dragged its feet in addressing the concerns of health workers.

“The current impasse between the striking health workers and government over demands for improved working conditions, tools of trade and better remuneration has taken too long to address resulting in the untold suffering to the general public and now causing unnecessary preventable and avoidable deaths,” he said.

“We want to encourage genuine dialogue and long-lasting solutions to the current stalemate instead of intimidation or firing. Both parties should bear in mind that more than 90% of the Zimbabwean population depends on the public health delivery system.”

Civil servants last week rejected a 100% salary hike insisting on United States dollar salaries.

Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) secretary-general David Dzatunga said: “The economy has already dollarised. Traders and even government institutions are charging in foreign currency when the government workers are earning in local currency. It won’t work.”

Teachers’ representatives said 55% of their members were not reporting for duty, and accused government of trivialising workers’ grievances.

“Government is using double standards in addressing the teachers’ concerns,” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said.

“It is very unfortunate that the government has found trade unions who are doing firefighting and distracting the teachers’ efforts in fighting for restoration of the US$540 salaries. The problem is getting out of hand and I don’t see schools remaining open till the end of the term.”

But the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) said its member were reporting for duty.

“We have not taken a position yet. We are negotiating for a salary review under the ZCPSTU and we are set to have a meeting this week,” Zimta secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said.

“The outcome of that meeting will determine how we are going to deal with the issue.”

There is also simmering discontent in the private sector as workers demand United States dollar salaries in the face of a devaluing local currency due to skyrocketing inflation.

Source- Newsday

By A Correspondent- Some wholesalers in the country are reportedly no longer accepting the Zimbabwe dollar and insisting on payments in foreign currencies only.

The local currency is shedding value on a weekly basis on both official and unofficial markets.

This week, the Zimbabwe dollar is officially trading at ZWL$350 against the US Dollar while on the parallel market the exchange rate is above ZWL$600.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Rushinga legislator, Tendai Nyabani (ZANU PF), said:

We have wholesales like National Foods, Gains and others; we have noted that these companies are receiving money from the RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) so that they assist people but I have noted that they are not taking RTGs and local currency but they only want US dollars.

We have noted that people have to go to the black market to procure US dollars so that they go and buy from these wholesalers.

In his response Finance and Economic Development deputy minister, Clemence Chiduwa said they have also received similar reports. Said Chiduwa:

Indeed, it is very true that we are receiving reports regarding wholesalers and such business entities which come to the auction.

They get money to buy their goods. Such business entities, upon receiving money from the RBZ, then sell their goods in US dollars and do not take local currency.

Working together with the Financial Intelligence Unit, our Ministry has been seized with the issue.

As of Friday last week, we investigated big shops, pharmacies, and some retailers. Out of the 28, those who were complying with the exchange rate were only 11, which means that we have a lot of violations.

The FIU on its own does not have the capacity to cover Zimbabwe as a whole. At the moment, we want to work with the National Economic Inspectorate and different law enforcement agents so that we cover the whole country.

Meanwhile, former Finance Minister, Tendai Biti urged the Government to abandon the auction system, saying it has become a source of arbitrage. Said Biti:

The black market rate is now between ZWL$650 andZWL$700 but the auction is around ZWL$350.

Why not just remove the auction so that we do not have arbitrage and the ZWD will find its own resting place without the arbitrage of the auction.

Today is marks 11 days since @OMasaraure was arrested for a crime he did not commit. The case is aimed at silencing us and intimidating other HRDs but we will not be fooled. We shall keep on piling pressure until they release our leader. #FreeObert #SaveOurEducationZw pic.twitter.com/myZqsBpWxE

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) June 24, 2022

It is key to remind @edmnangagwa that during the liberation struggle days it was the working class that stood by the liberation movement .It's sad that today they have drawn lines of enemity with the worker because he only asked for a living wage #Freeobert pic.twitter.com/YtndQxdA6X

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) June 24, 2022

By A Correspondent- Some wholesalers in the country are reportedly no longer accepting the Zimbabwe dollar and insisting on payments in foreign currencies only.

The local currency is shedding value on a weekly basis on both official and unofficial markets.

This week, the Zimbabwe dollar is officially trading at ZWL$350 against the US Dollar while on the parallel market the exchange rate is above ZWL$600.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Rushinga legislator, Tendai Nyabani (ZANU PF), said:

We have wholesales like National Foods, Gains and others; we have noted that these companies are receiving money from the RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) so that they assist people but I have noted that they are not taking RTGs and local currency but they only want US dollars.

We have noted that people have to go to the black market to procure US dollars so that they go and buy from these wholesalers.

In his response Finance and Economic Development deputy minister, Clemence Chiduwa said they have also received similar reports. Said Chiduwa:

Indeed, it is very true that we are receiving reports regarding wholesalers and such business entities which come to the auction.

They get money to buy their goods. Such business entities, upon receiving money from the RBZ, then sell their goods in US dollars and do not take local currency.

Working together with the Financial Intelligence Unit, our Ministry has been seized with the issue.

As of Friday last week, we investigated big shops, pharmacies, and some retailers. Out of the 28, those who were complying with the exchange rate were only 11, which means that we have a lot of violations.

The FIU on its own does not have the capacity to cover Zimbabwe as a whole. At the moment, we want to work with the National Economic Inspectorate and different law enforcement agents so that we cover the whole country.

Meanwhile, former Finance Minister, Tendai Biti urged the Government to abandon the auction system, saying it has become a source of arbitrage. Said Biti:

The black market rate is now between ZWL$650 andZWL$700 but the auction is around ZWL$350.

Why not just remove the auction so that we do not have arbitrage and the ZWD will find its own resting place without the arbitrage of the auction.

-CITE

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) said the Government should address nurses’ grievances so that they return to work as bringing in the military to stand in for them would never work.

ZINA president Enock Dongo said it is not possible to bring nurses and doctors from the army as there should be a proper handover of patients’ records. Said Dongo:

The number of health workers in the army vis-a-vis our number is incomparable. In short, it will definitely not work.

I do not think it is possible or serve the purpose.

It is very simple and for the government to try and look for other ways of doing things is not fair and it will lead to the total collapse of our health system.

They have done it before, to bring in nurses and doctors from the army but I think they know it well that it will be for politicking not for real work to be done.

This is not a profession that you can take someone to come and replace, there is a need for handover because these patients have records.

He said the Government has an obligation to pay nurses US dollar salaries since it has indexed its services in US dollars. Dongo said:

When the government indexed everything else in US dollars, they forgot about indexing our salaries.

We do not have the basics in hospitals, we do not have bandages, gloves, or paracetamol which is just a pain-stop, we do not have antibiotics, and x-rays so even if health workers were to go back to work today, they would still have to watch people die because of lack of the resources.

The health workers are not demanding something out of this world, they are just demanding basic salaries and medication in the hospitals and equipment.

Zimbabwe’s public health workers have been on strike since Monday, demanding that their salaries should be paid in US dollars, among other things.

NewZimbabwe

Watch- @PoliceZimbabwe storm health centre, beat protesting #healthworkers. The health workers are protesting poor working conditions & poor salaries @ZimbabweFreedo1 @schikanza @ZimbabweNurses @ANANursingWorld @SeniorDoctors @DoctorsWomen @MSF_USA pic.twitter.com/qYzwROSwTr

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 24, 2022

By A Correspondent- The rape and murder of an elderly woman by an illegal gold miner have shocked Munetwa villagers in Zhombe, Midlands province.

Chief Gwesela confirmed the incident, saying the woman was buried on Monday. “The elderly woman was allegedly raped and then killed by a gold panner. The matter is now being investigated by the police,” he said.

“The suspect has been arrested and charged with rape and murder, while the victim was buried on Monday.” Chief Gwesela decried the rise in rape and murder cases in the Kwekwe district.

Meanwhile, police have disclosed that Kwekwe residents are living in fear of machete gangs terrorising them, but they are scared to testify against them in court.

Speaking at belated Press Freedom Day commemorations in Redcliff, Kwekwe district police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna said without the public’s co-operation, convictions would be difficult.

“Some complainants end up retracting their cases in fear of retribution by the accused persons,” he said.

Nduna urged journalists and the community to work with the police to ensure that machete-wielding gangs are brought to book.

2/2 The suspect would lure neighbouring girls between the ages of 9 and 12 to his room, where he would play pornographic videos before abusing the minors. So far, five victims have come up after one of the victims revealed the matter to her mother. #notocrime.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) June 23, 2022

By-The Zanu PF regime, through the Harare magistrate Mrs Munashe Chibanda has for the second time dismissed an application for exception filed by a legal clerk with Tendai Biti Law Chambers who is facing two fresh counts of fraud due to lack of merit.

The magistrate ruled that the trial should commence on June 29.

Constantine Chaza had applied for an exception on amended charges arguing that the charges on the State outline do not constitute an offence.
In dismissing the application, Mrs Chibanda said Chaza’s application lacked merit.
On the first count, it is alleged that on February 26, 2020 at the High Court in Harare, Chaza tendered a fake special power of attorney from Elliot Rogers in the matter in which the complainant, Tendai Mashamhanda, was the other party.

The court acted upon the misrepresentation and allowed Chaza to file the papers.
The matter came to light when Mashamhanda managed to contact Rogers in the United Kingdom, who denied giving Chaza any power of attorney and the matter was reported to the police.
The special power of attorney tendered by Chaza was checked out by the CID Forensic Laboratory for analysis together with other documents that Rogers signed and it was allegedly discovered that the documents were not signed by the same person.
On the second count, it is alleged that on October 18 2021 at the High Court in Harare, Chaza again allegedly tendered a fake special power of attorney from Rogers in another case.

It is further alleged that the matter came to light when the complainant, Piwayi Chiutsi, noted that the signature on the special power of attorney dated September 27, 2015 was different from the signature by Rogers on an affidavit done on October 7, 2014 and a report was made to the police.

Chaza is on $5 000 bail on another matter involving perjury charges after allegedly filing a false statement under oath at the High Court.
-State media

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has announced saying the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission does not at all edit the voters roll without consent.

Ziyambi Says ZEC Doesn’t Edit Voters Roll | TRUTH or UTTER NONSENSE?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 24, 2022

Responding to queries on the voters roll in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Ziyambi said: “Zec advises that it is not aware of any formal report wherein it has been alleged that it has moved voters from their registered polling stations without their consent. What the commission is aware of are the powers granted to it by section 35 of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), which provides that a voters roll may be altered by the commission at any time to correct any error or omission, or to change the original name or address of the voter to an altered name or address; which is done by the voter registration officer at any time by correcting any obvious mistake or omission, or by changing on the written application of a voter, the original name or address of the voter to an altered name or address.”

Ziyambi said in terms of the Electoral Act, notice of alteration of a voter is published in the Government Gazette by the commission or voter registration officer.

He said the Act also provides that in the event that the voter is aggrieved, they may appeal against a decision to a designated magistrate of the province on whose voters roll the voter is, or prior to the alteration registered.

“The commission recommends that where there are known incidents of voters being moved from their polling stations without their consent, a formal report must be filed at Zec provincial offices, or an appeal of any decision of an alteration must be made by the commission or voter registration officer to a designated magistrate within the affected voter’s province.”

Ziyambi was also grilled over the issue of the diaspora vote.

“There is currently no legislative framework that regulates voting by citizens in the diaspora. If a person requires to vote, he has to be registered in a constituency within Zimbabwe whereby the residential requirements is among the voter registration requirements provided for by our electoral law,” Ziyambi said.

Last month, the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda crossed swords with fellow Zanu PF members when he suggested that the Constitution must be amended to allow millions of Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote in the 2023 elections.

“It is also important to note that the residence requirement is not a requirement strictly for persons in the diaspora as it also affects those who live in Zimbabwe. In this regard, the residence requirements are not directed or targeted to exclude the diaspora vote as is the assumption by many,” he said. -Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri| Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is largely failing to address the concerns of citizens, CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.

The CCC leader also challenged government leaders to perform and deliver expected results.

“ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT LEADERS; JUST PERFORM & DELIVER!!

When you perform and lead so well, you render opposition or criticism so irrelevant, meaningless and unnecessary.

The best way to silence opposition or critics is to perform & serve the citizens so excellently .#FakaPressure.”

By-President Emerson Mnangagwa has ignored the striking health workers and proceeded to commission a small shoe-making project.

Zanu PF posted the images of Mnangagwa visiting the small shoe making project;

Zanu PF Posted:

Cde ED has finished touring Bata Shoe Company Zimbabwe and has commissioned machines worth US$800 000.