By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF party yesterday demanded that opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s newly-formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) be barred from using the colour yellow.

Chamisa last week dumped the MDC Alliance name, saying it had become toxic and unveiled CCC, which uses the colour yellow, departing from the MDC-A red.

Soon after the launch, party supporters and celebrities initiated a campaign to promote the brand and colour a development that has apparently angered the ruling party, which now wants to usurp the colour.

Yesterday, at the launch of the Zanu-PF by-election campaign in St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, ruling party’s politburo members insisted that Chamisa’s CCC party should desist from using the colour.

Zanu-PF’s  acting youth league secretary Tendai Chirau, provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa, deputy national political commissar Omega Hungwe told dozens of party supporters that Chamisa’s party must be ignored as it had nothing to offer, including the yellow colour.

The Zanu-PF party leaders described CCC’s pointed finger symbol as “satanic”.

“When the liberation struggle was fought, it was Zanu-PF that mobilised the masses and one of the key fundamentals was the fight for mineral resources, the fight for independence and that is why Zanu-PF chose yellow as (one of) its colours. The reason was because it was symbolising the national resources in terms of mineral wealth,” Chirau said.

“So these minerals we still have them up to this day and this explains why Zimbabwe has the largest number of artisanal miners and indigenous people who own minerals. Yellow, to us, represents wealth, it’s not just the colour that we took on ourselves, but most importantly, you should also take the fact that we have four colours, (that is) green and yellow, red and black. These colours will never change because of someone who wants to take them. They remain our colours, they symbolise the importance of the rich minerals that we have.”

Chirau said Zanu-PF was formed before the MDC was born and, therefore, would maintain its symbols, including colours.

Masimirembwa weighed in saying: “They want to shine with the yellow colour. Yellow has always been a Zanu-PF colour. It is our special colour as Zanu-PF because we brought independence. Yellow represents the wealth of the country. The wealth of this country was brought in the country from whites by Zanu-PF and not by CCC.”

He said Zanu-PF supporters should not be ashamed of wearing yellow as it belonged to the ruling party.

Hungwe also weighed in, describing Chamisa’s new outfit as “satanic”, adding that the Chitungwiza voters, who have consistently voted against Zanu-PF since 2000, should now be wiser.

“Voting for MDC or CCC shows that you are lost. Do you know what CCC means? It’s an animal that was spoken about in the book of Revelations and it means being used by the devil or the beast,” she claimed.

In line with the claims by Zanu-PF leaders, police last Thursday arrested five CCC activists and charged them with “public nuisance” for allegedly wearing yellow regalia.

Police claimed the five were arrested for blocking a pavement and disturbing the flow of human traffic in central Harare.

In response to the Zanu-PF claims, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said: “Yellow is a colour that symbolises hope, energy and a fresh start. The CCC citizen movement has thrown Zanu-PF into panic mode so they are desperately trying to dampen the spirits of the people who are ready to win the nation for change. They won’t succeed. CCC is here to stay. CCC is here ready to lead. CCC is ready to secure victory.”

Observers say Zanu-PF is fretting over Chamisa’s newly-found mojo after he opted not to fight former MDC Alliance secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora over the MDC Alliance name.

Chamisa accuses Mwonzora of being used by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to decimate the biggest opposition party.

Recently, Zanu-PF secretary for finance, Patrick Chinamasa took to Twitter to warn Chamisa against forming the CCC party, saying he was “playing with fire”.

“Chamisa needs to be warned that he is playing with fire abusing the democratic space and the rights and freedoms that were won for the people of Zimbabwe on the battlefield. Those with eyes let them ‘eye’ and those with ears let them hear,” Chinamasa said.

By A Correspondent- The vice president of the Citizens Coalition For Change, Hon Tendai Biti has declared that the Zanu PF regime is wasting time trying to stop the people’s revolution.

According to Hon Biti, all citizens will fight for their freedom from Zanu PF oppression.

“The yellow revolution is unstoppable. Our people have suffered long enough . They deserve a break from tyranny . Only a Citizens Convergence can save them .#ANewGreatZimbabwe.”

CCC Diaspora Network for Change says in the new formation every citizen is a founding member…

“We are now all founding members of the new party Citizens’s Coalition for Change. We are all starting at ZERO, anyone can stand for any post.

Hello Founding Members of CCC!

Retweet if you are a founding member!”

A Chegutu man has been arrested on allegations of lying to the police that his son had a sudden death when, in fact, he had been shot and killed by a security guard at a mine.

The incident occurred last week at Swavera Mine.

When the victim was shot, his father then made a report at a police station alleging that he had died after falling into a mine shaft.

Investigations later revealed that the victim had a gunshot wound on the back.

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident.

“Police in Chegutu are investigating a murder case in which a man aged 22 was shot dead by a security guard at Swavera Mine on January 25, 2022.

“The victim’s father, who had already taken the body to a local private mortuary, reported the case to the police as sudden death, alleging that the victim died after he fell into a mine shaft.

“It was later revealed that the circumstances were not correct after police discovered a gunshot wound on the deceased’s back. Police has since recovered the spent cartridge and a shotgun used in the commission of the crime,” he said.

And as murder cases emanating from petty issues continue to increase countrywide, a 40-year-old man has been arrested on allegations of killing a neighbour after accusing him of frequently visiting his homestead.

The 41-year-old victim died six days later after being admitted to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Asst Comm Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“The ZRP is investigating a case of murder which occurred at Chirandure Village, Mukumbura on January 19, 2022, where Moses Mangezi aged 40 fatally assaulted his neighbour, a man aged 41 after a misunderstanding over frequent visits, by the victim, to the suspect’s residence.

“The victim sustained serious head injuries and died on January 25, 2022 at Parirenyatwa Hospital where he was admitted,” he said.

In Chikombedzi, police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with a case of attempted murder in which the suspect poured hot water on the victim aged 33 after a misunderstanding over an unknown issue.

The victim sustained serious burns all over the body and is admitted at a local hospital.- Herald

By- MDC-T leader Senator Douglas Mwonzora has asked President Mnangagwa to announce when the national political parties’ dialogue (POLAD) process will commence.

The plea came after Mwonzora’s party recommended urgency for the process after its National Executive meeting held on Friday where the party resolved to expel its vice president Dr Thokozani Khupe. Mwonzora said:

We are not seeking endorsement for dialogue after the by-election, we are seeking for commencement of the dialogue.

The actual talking. As you know a lot of time has been spent in preparations for dialogue. Now we have finished the preparations and we now want to do the actual dialogue.

It must begin immediately after the by-elections. We also have said these discussions must be time-bound and we are confident of a deal that will be in the interests of Zimbabweans.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa set the POLAD platform after the 2018 elections to engage with all political parties that participated in the polls.

While the bulk of the parties joined POLAD, the Nelson Chamisa-led party snubbed the platform saying it was meant to endorse Mnangagwa’s “dubious” presidential election victory. 

The CCC, formerly MDC Alliance say Mnangagwa did not win the election but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in connivance with the ruling ZANU PF manipulated results in Mnangagwa’s favour.

More: The Herald

By- Zanu PF has unveiled the names of its candidates for the house of assembly by-elections for all Harare constituencies.

The candidates were introduced by the party’s Politburo member Oliver Chidawu, at Macheka Square in St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, Sunday.

“Congratulations to you all the MPs and councillors for being elected (during primary elections), but you have a task of winning the elections.
“The President ( Mnangagwa) during a Politburo meeting told us that he wants all the seats. He said we want to win back Harare and bring it back to the party,” he said.
“For us to win Harare back to the party, we have to be united. Let us bury the past and unite.

“Go and solicit for votes around the province,” he said.

By- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), President Nelson Chamisa had secured strategies to protect the vote from being stolen from Zambia, where there was so much active civic participation until Edgar Lungu conceded defeat.

Chamisa said this also inspired him to rebrand his party and give the powers to the citizens who vote.

Lungu had earlier claimed the polls were rigged, but Zambians, who had camped on the streets sensing victory for Haikande Hichilema, then opposition leader and now president, were already celebrating.
Lungu had also deployed the military, but he eventually conceded defeat after statistics were produced and broadcast showing that Hichilema had won the majority vote with a landslide.
“Yes, we have a plan in place. We are unstoppable. The future looks very bright, and looks good. It’s a Good Morning effect. The sun is about to rise, and nobody can stop the sun from rising but only God. You can’t stop a sunrise; you may not be happy but the sun is rising, and the sun will shine in this great country,” Chamisa told The Standard last night.
On Friday Chamisa and his deputy, Tendai Biti said the recently formed CCC would not be “cheated” and revealed that “pro-active measures” were in place to prevent anyone from stealing the 2023 elections.
“We won the elections in 2018 and we will win the elections again in 2023. The only difference is that, when we won the election in 2018 we could not secure our victory because of subjective and objective reasons but we have since corrected those,” Chamisa told the SABC in an interview on Friday.
“Issues around what we need to do by ourselves and also the reforms that we still need to be implementing as a country, we are pushing for those.”
Chamisa filed a Constitutional Court application challenging the results in a bid to overturn Mnangagwa’s 50, 8% victory but lost the case. Chief Justice Luke Malaba, who delivered the verdict, said Chamisa failed to provide primary evidence to invalidate the poll result.
Chamisa, who dumped the MDC Alliance brand last week after continuously clashing with MDC- T leader Douglas Mwonzora, said the CCC was fully aware of what it had to do to protect the 2023 vote.
“But more fundamentally we have always won elections as a people’s movement. Mr Mnangagwa is so scared of us, they have tried every trick in the book but we have weathered the storm,” he added.
Critics have in the past accused Chamisa of making empty threats. In December 2019, he said his party was going to remove Mnangagwa from power in the first five months of the New Year. Needless to say, that did not happen.
Speaking on Twitter spaces debate on Friday, corroborated Chamisa’s declaration, saying it did not make sense to continue crying that elections were rigged without taking action to prevent vote fraud.
Biti said it was for that reason that the party had come up with a plan to “safeguard” the people’s vote copying from Zambia’s UPND.
Chamisa formed the CCC on Monday after Mwonzora claimed all MDC symbols.
Three days after the CCC launch, Mwonzora received over ZW$150 million from the government under the Political Parties Finances Act in what critics say was meant to spite Chamisa and oil Mwonzora’s campaign machinery for the upcoming by-elections.
Mwonzora on Friday said his MDC Alliance was now ready to cause an upset in next month’s by-elections.
“We received a report that our chances are bright in the by-elections and we want to say to our detractors that elections are not won on social media, or twitter on Facebook or WhatsApp, we are ready for the real battle, the battle for the hearts and minds of the people of Zimbabwe,” Mwonzora told journalists at a press conference in Harare.
Analyst and director of Research and Advocacy at Ukuthula Trust, Brian Raftopoulos said it was remarkable that Chamisa had survived government’s onslaught with Sadc casting a blind eye.
“It’s remarkable that they have still survived the continuous onslaught of the state because the state has really gone at them through the judiciary, through violence, through attack on their alliances and of course they have had, to date, the support of the region Sadc which has placed the question of sovereignty and liberation fellowship ahead of democratic demands,” Raftopoulos said.
-Standard

By-A Mental patient at one of the country’s biggest psychiatric hospitals, Ngomahuru Hospital in Masvingo, escaped from the holding centre but ran out of luck after being killed by a crocodile while trying to cross Tugwi River.
Masvingo provincial police spokesman Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said police were still searching for the remains of Courage Mutsaru of Chief Nemauzhe in Chivi who was reportedly killed by a crocodile.

When police attended the scene, he said they only recovered the hospital garb in the river.

He said on 22 January, Mutsauri and another inmate, Kudakwashe Gomwe escaped from the hospital.
They then reportedly attempted to cross the crocodile-infested Tugwi River and one of them was killed by a crocodile.
“On 22 January around 6pm, two mental patients escaped from Ngomahuru Psychiatric Centre.
After about 10 minutes, when it was time for their medication, the hospital staff noticed that the two were missing.

They reported the matter to the police. After about 30 minutes the institution received a call from villagers informing them that they had seen a person wearing the hospital uniform trying to cross Tugwi River.
According to the caller they saw the victim being attacked by a crocodile.
The crocodile dragged him into the deeper parts of the river,” he said.
“Police attended the scene and found the Ngomahuru uniform. Investigations are underway,” said Insp Dhewa. He said the other inmate is uncounted for but unconfirmed reports say he is in Harare at his home.

-State media

BY- Former St Mary’s Member of Parliament, Unganai Dickson Tarusenga, says he will retain the constituency in the 26 March by-elections.

The constituency fell vacant after Douglas Mwonzora recalled the then MP led MDC-T on allegations that he was serving the interests of the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance.

Tarusenga expressed confidence in winning the seat under the newly-formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) banner.

I am confident because people follow the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) brand.

Recently, the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa rebranded to Citizens Coalition for Change after Mwonzora notified the Zimbabwe Elections Commission (ZEC) that MDC-T would contest future elections as the MDC Alliance.

Asked whether the electorate will understand the name change from MDC Alliance to CCC, Tarusenga said:

It is the idea whose time has come, so my brother, this wave is definitely moving with the people without any problems.

He added that what pushes him to contest in the upcoming by-elections is the desire to complete the outstanding projects that benefit the St Mary’s community.

Pressed to be specific on the outstanding projects, Tarusenga cited the rehabilitation of St Mary’s clinic which he kickstarted but eventually stalled when he was recalled. He added:

My brother, CCC is for ‘shanduko‘ (meaning change), watch the space. The rebranding is definitely not going to affect or haunt party campaigns because if you remember, it was the people who championed this name change to CCC.

Tarusenga will fight it out with Norbert Jinjika of ZANU PF, MDC Alliance’s Adam Puzo and Marcos Sanyanga, an independent candidate.

More: Pindula News

By- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said it would establish at least 2 700 mobile voter registration centres across the country during the first phase of the mobile Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The first phase of the mobile Biometric Voter Registration will run from 1 February to 28 February, while the second phase will be conducted between 10 April and 30 April.
ZEC is scheduled to draw up constituency boundaries in September.
About 271 voter registration centres will be set up in Harare, while 152 centres will be established in Bulawayo.
Manicaland will have 266 centres, Mashonaland Central 291 centres, Mashonaland East Province 303, Mashonaland West 325, Masvingo 287, and Midlands 354.
Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces will have 159 and 223 centres, respectively.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary Aaron Nhepera said the issuing of civic documents by the Registrar-General Office at some of the voter registration centres will be done at the end of March. He said:
At the end of March, we are going to embark on an extensive exercise where the RG’s Office will issue IDs and this will coincide with the voter registration blitz (the second phase) in preparation for the delimitation exercise.
Currently, we still have challenges with consumables.
However, we are working with Garsu Pasaulis (GP) to ensure the RG’s Office begins to operate at an optimum level. We began with issuing passports and now we will be moving to IDs.
ZEC spokesperson Joyce Kazembe said they are well-prepared for the mobile Biometric Voter Registration exercise. She said:
We are prepared and ready for the registration blitz like we announced recently.
We are finalising training and we have completed voter education, so we are ready.

Former ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa has demanded a paternity test for “twins” which his estranged girlfriend Susan Mutami claims were sired by him.

Mliswa and Mutami have, over the past several months, been involved in a war of words using social media platforms following their acrimonious separation.

Mutami, a businesswoman and socialite based in Australia, has accused Mliswa of neglecting his children and failing to cater for their financial needs.

Posting on Twitter, Mliswa expressed doubt over the existence of the alleged twins, asking why Mutami has never shared pictures of the children together. Wrote Mliswa:

Ko, Mai MaTwins (?), @susan_mutami balance me here. When all is said&done, I don’t want to act irresponsibly, so in the spirit of tidying up affairs, we all need closure and a positive way forward. I’m a bit confused though, do you really have twins?.

I’ve only ever received one birth registration form for one child, you had the same one sent at 2 different times on the same day, look at the reg #.

In your pics you only ever have one with you, in this picture [posted on Twitter by Mutami], there’s only one child seat. Saka (so) Susan, imwe Shumba iripi (where is my other son)?

Inga (by the way) the form clearly says what to do in the event of twins. Huuya tiite DNA, then kana vari(ari) wangu, Shumba ngadzipinde mudanga!(Let’s go for DNA tests are if I’m the one who sired the children, then I will support them). 

Asi are you claiming only one is mine and the other is someone else’s?….(no photoshop please) the ball is in your court to clear this up…

Oh, and the reason I’m using this platform is that it seems you’ve very publicly pulled the wool over many eyes and I’m sure they’d want to know too.

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader, President Nelson Chamisa has declared that victory is certain in the 2023 polls.

President Chamisa made the remarks in Tanzania on Saturday.

“People’s President, Adv
@nelsonchamisa
has been warmly received in Dar Es Salaam where he was the Guest of Honour at the launch of #ACTKiganjani at Mlimani City hall. Today, with other like-minded regional political leaders, he will attend the #ACT Congress,” Citizens Coalition For Change said in a statement.

Also watch videos below:

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader, President Nelson Chamisa has declared that victory is certain in the 2023 polls.

President Chamisa made the remarks in Tanzania on Saturday.

“People’s President, Adv
@nelsonchamisa
has been warmly received in Dar Es Salaam where he was the Guest of Honour at the launch of #ACTKiganjani at Mlimani City hall. Today, with other like-minded regional political leaders, he will attend the #ACT Congress,” Citizens Coalition For Change said in a statement.

Also watch videos below:

Tinashe Sambiri|Citizens’ Coalition For Change leader, President Nelson Chamisa has declared that victory is certain in the 2023 polls.

President Chamisa made the remarks in Tanzania on Saturday.

“People’s President, Adv
@nelsonchamisa
has been warmly received in Dar Es Salaam where he was the Guest of Honour at the launch of #ACTKiganjani at Mlimani City hall. Today, with other like-minded regional political leaders, he will attend the #ACT Congress,” Citizens Coalition For Change said in a statement.

Also watch videos below:

By A Correspondent- The Government has availed through Kuvimba Mining House, US$400 000 to the Deposit Protection Commission (DPC) to start the process of compensating small and vulnerable depositors who saw the value of money in their accounts depreciate when the rate moved from US$1: $1 to US$1: $2,5 in February 2019.

In November 2020, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the Government will compensate small and vulnerable depositors who had balances of US$1 000 and below as at 20 February 2019.

The initial tranche of US$400 000 has been allocated to eligible depositors who had funds in the Deposit Taking Microfinance Institutions (DTMFIs), and they are to receive compensation to the full extent of their respective loss of value.

For example, a depositor who had US$1 000 in his or her account will get US$600.

In a statement, DPC chief executive officer Mr Vusi Vuma confirmed receipt of the initial batch of funds meant for distribution to depositors.

“Government has now availed through Kuvimba Mining House the sum of US$400 000 to the Deposit Protection Corporation as agent, for distribution to vulnerable depositors. Given the available resources, several scenarios were iteratively evaluated to identify a method that offers the best compensation to depositors.

The Deposit Protection Corporation wishes to advise the banking public that in the meantime, the initial tranche of US$400 000 will be allocated to eligible depositors who had balances of US$1 000 and below in the Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institutions, to pay for the loss of deposit value occasioned by exchange rate movement from USD1: 2,5, as at 20 February 2019,” he said.

Mr Vuma said those eligible are to submit their claims to DTMFIs, with their window period to do so set to expire on 7 November 2022.

“Accordingly, qualifying depositors are advised to submit their claims as at 20 February 2019 within a period of 12 months running from 8 November 2021 to 7 November 2022 to their respective registered Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institutions namely: African Century Limited; Getbucks Microfinance Bank; EmpowerBank Limited; Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank; Success Microfinance Bank Limited; and Lion Microfinance Limited.

“The Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institutions will periodically submit the schedule of claims to the Deposit Protection Corporation for verification, validation, and subsequent remittance of the requisite payment to the Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institutions for onward settlement to eligible depositors in USD without incurring transaction costs.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Deposit Protection Corporation, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and the banking sector have reached an agreement in that regard,” he said.

Mr Vuma said the programme will also move to depositors in banks, building societies and other financial institutions.

“After compensating depositors of Deposit-Taking Microfinance Institutions, subsequent tranches for disbursement would be allocated to remaining deposit-taking institutions namely commercial banks, building societies, savings banks, and infrastructure banks, as and when additional funds are availed,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Teachers are headed for another showdown with the government following an announcement that schools will open on February 7, with unions representing the educators saying they will not report for duty until their welfare issues are addressed.

Acting Health and Child Care minister Amon Murwira said schools would now open as he announced new relaxed lockdown measures on behalf of acting president Constantino Chiwenga on Thursday.

But teacher unions have dug in insisting that until their demands for pre-October 2018 salaries are met, they will not return to class.

“As with regards to our proclamation of incapacitation, we encourage our employer to take us seriously on that issue and to focus on the restoration of pre-October 2018 salaries of US$540 before schools open,” the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe said yesterday.

“Teachers being incapacitated to travel back to their stations will however prove to be a sticking point and beyond that, the union stands ready to escalate protests in line with our constitution provisions.”

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary general Raymond Majongwe said teachers were not prepared to return to class without improved salaries.

“It would seem that the government is always spoiling for a fight with its long-suffering employees given the timing of the announcement and the prevailing circumstances,” Majongwe said.

“Our members cannot be expected to comply with the directive to open schools now before the government has not financially capacitated them and given the above scenario, we would be shocked if the government genuinely believes that teachers will report to work on 7 February. The ball is in the government’s court.”

Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro was not available for comment.

Teachers have been demanding US dollar salaries as the local currency keeps losing value amid rising inflation and an escalation in the prices of goods and services.

Government has said it does not have the capacity to pay US dollar salaries. Late last year, the government gave the teachers  and all other civil servantsUS$75 Covid-19 allowances. The deadlock over salaries is likely to dominate the election talk as Zimbabwe heads towards the March 26 by-elections.

Meanwhile, the catering industry has welcomed the reviewed lockdown measures as necessary to save the sector from collapse..

“The level 4 National Covid-19 lockdown had seriously impacted many small to medium scale enterprises to the extent that they had lost their viability and this had led to the layoffs of many employees and closure of businesses,” said Restaurant Operators Association of Zimbabwe president Bongai Zamchiya.

Under the new measures, businesses, bars and restaurants can now open till 10pm, while a curfew now kicks in at midnight till 5:30 am.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA Zimbabwe) has written to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) asking the broadcaster to be neutral and grant equal access for political parties as directed by the High Court and recommended by election observer missions.

In a letter dated 21 January 2022, MISA Zimbabwe director Tabani Moyo reminded ZBC of its obligations under the national constitution.

Said Moyo:

Section 160 of the Electoral Act requires a public broadcaster to afford all political parties contesting elections such free access to its broadcasting services as may be prescribed.

It is in that regard that the High Court of Zimbabwe and several election observer missions came up with several recommendations on how the public media, ZBC and Zimpapers, should cover the country’s elections following the conclusion of Zimbabwe’s 2018 harmonised elections.

In June 2019, Justice Joseph Mafusire said ZBC and Zimpapers had violated the constitution with their partisan reporting. He ordered ZBC and Zimpapers:

… to ensure their communications do not show bias in favour of one political party or its candidates and that they exercise impartiality and independence in their duties.

MISA Zimbabwe said that ZBC has not complied with the court ruling and the ruling ZANU PF party’s rivals could be denied coverage in forthcoming elections.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will set up more than 2 700 mobile voter registration centres during the first phase of the mobile Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) drive that begins on Tuesday.

The exercise will run for a month. Voter registration will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase running from February 1 to February 28, before the second phase is conducted between April 10 and April 30. ZEC is heightening preparations for drawing up constituency boundaries under the delimitation exercise scheduled for September.

About 271 voter registration centres will be set up in the Harare, while 152 centres will be established in Bulawayo.

Manicaland and Mashonaland Central will have 266 and 291 centres, respectively.

Mashonaland East Province is expected to have 303, Mashonaland West 325, Masvingo 287, Matabeleland North 159 and Matabeleland South 223.

Voters in the Midlands Province will have 354 centres.

The second phase of the exercise will see the Registrar-General Office issuing civic documents at some of the voter registration centres. ZEC postponed the programme in December last year following an increase in coronavirus infections at some of its offices.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary Mr Aaron Nhepera said the two exercises will run concurrently.

“At the end of March, we are going to embark on an extensive exercise where the RG’s Office will issue IDs and this will coincide with the voter registration blitz (the second phase) in preparation for the delimitation exercise.

Currently, we still have challenges with consumables.

However, we are working with Garsu Pasaulis (GP) to ensure the RG’s Office begins to operate at an optimum level. We began with issuing passports and now we will be moving to IDs.”

ZEC Commissioner Mrs Joyce Kazembe said the elections management body was adequately prepared.

We are prepared and ready for the registration blitz like we announced recently.

We are finalising training and we have completed voter education, so we are ready.”

Civic society has applauded ZEC for undertaking the exercise, which will help inform the delimitation exercise and consequently the distribution of constituencies among provinces for next year’s elections.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) chairperson Mr Andrew Makoni said: “The voter registration blitz is a welcome development.

However, it is premature to comment beyond what I have said as the process itself has not started.

We will be giving feedback as we observe the registration process across the country.”

Zanu-PF national political commissioner Cde Mike Bimha said the ruling party had instructed its lower organs to begin mobilising prospective voters.

“For us, this is a continuous process where we encourage our members to go register and vote.

Over the past few years, the party has been receiving new members and through our cells we have encouraged them to register to vote.

We have engaged our leaders at the cell levels to educate and mobilise our members who have not registered to vote to take advantage of this period and vote in the 2023 elections.”

Zanu-PF plans to mobilise five million voters for the forthcoming elections.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Lloyd Damba said the party was also prepared for the exercise.

“We have already informed our members to be ready for the blitz so that they are ready for the 2023 harmonised elections,” he said.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- More than 2 500 families in Chiredzi face eviction after the Government issued offer letters to two politically-connected companies to undertake farming in the area where the families were resettled many years ago.

Precab Investments and Redoak Corporation were issued two offer letters for 5 600 hectares which is part of 8 500 hectares in Chihungume, Triangle, known as Lot 16 of Nuanetsi Ranch.

The land is occupied by 2 500 families but the Government has not revealed how it will compensate the families or where they will be resettled.

The offer letters for the two companies were issued on the same day, 2 September 2021.

The letters also have similar details which include the quantity of land being offered and the names of company directors are the same.

Villagers in Chihungume wrote a petition to the ZANU PF Chiredzi district coordinating committee (DCC) and it (the petition) will be discussed at the party’s provincial executive committee this weekend.

Speaking to The NewsHawks, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) in Chiredzi district, Killer Makuni, said:

As war veterans, we are always clear on issues to do with the land. We are worried by the behaviour of some of our leaders who are not worried about the welfare of others.

We are hearing that there is a company which was given an offer letter for Chihungume but truly speaking we are not aware of that company.

It was never discussed at our meetings here in Chiredzi and we are telling our people not to move an inch and we will resist any attempt to move them away.

Chiredzi district development coordinator, who is also the chairperson of the district lands committee, Lovemore Chisema, said he was in the dark over the identity of the company which was offered land in Chihungume.

ZANU PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Rabson Mavenyengwa confirmed to The NewsHawks that villagers in Chihungume had sent a petition to the ruling party over the matter. Said Mavenyengwa:

It is true that the party received a petition from people in Chihungume after the ministry of Lands issued an offer letter for their land to a certain company.

Unfortunately, l have not seen the contents of the petition since it was submitted to the Chiredzi district party executive and l am certain that the issue will be discussed at our executive meeting here in Masvingo at the weekend.

A villager in Chihungume who spoke to The NewsHawks said a man who identified himself as Kwenda, who was in the company of his colleagues, recently scouted the area in preparation to move in.

The villager added that they were verbally told via phone call by officials from Chiredzi’s ministry of Lands office.- The NewsHawks

BIGBBOY Chiremba (57) is well known in Marondera for his yellow outfits.

It is not for the love of the colour, but a marketing strategy that has paid off since 1992.

To residents and those who pass through the farming town, Chiremba is a known banana vendor.

With his bicycle drawn cart, and having been in the trade for close to four decades, he has earned himself nicknames Marondera Bananas or Mr Bananas.

But alas, a new wave inspired by the yellow colour is sweeping across the nation, and Marondera is no exception.

It came after opposition political leader Nelson Chamisa launched a new party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

The party uses yellow as its brand colour.

Those with wardrobes laden with yellow outfits have been teased as supporters of the new party. On Friday, social media was awash with people donning yellow outfits as they called it a yellow Friday.

Mr Bananas is no exception as he is being teased as one of CCC brand ambassadors because of his outfit.

“I am not campaigning for any party. My outfit is part of my marketing strategy in my Banana selling business. I am known and identifiable in this town because of how I dress, who doesn’t know Marondera Bananas and his yellow suits?,” he said.

True to his words, Chiremba is known from suburbs, CBD and in offices.

“Some people are saying I am marketing CCC, but that is not it. CCC came decades after I launched my business,” Chiremba said.

The hardworking father of two owns two houses in Marondera, all from banana proceeds.

His houses are designed with banana symbols at the front, a clear message to aspiring banana vendors that the trade pays.

“People are asking me how I am going to operate given my line of business and outfit. I have been wearing these suits or outfits since 1992. That is my response; nothing will change. I am not compromised, but I am a citizen.

“I put on yellow clothing, my bananas are yellow and my house is yellow,” he said.

Chiremba who resides in Cherutombo high-density suburb said politics will not disturb his business.

“I am concentrating on my business. I am just a citizen, I am not into politics,” he added.

Chiremba is a widower and has two children.

On Thursday, six CCC activists spent the night in cells after they were arrested in Harare for wearing yellow outfits, but law enforcement agencies charged them with public nuisance.

Analysts have warned that the country faces violent elections, and this worries Marondera’s yellow-man.

Chiremba said if politics of colour got tense as the country heads towards elections, he will shelve the outfit.

“I am not moved by politics. This euphoria came after I had established my brand. If the atmosphere becomes tense I will just let it go,” he said.

Today, Chiremba has been caught in the political matrix of colour.

His brand has dovetailed with that of the CCC party. To his faithful clients, he is just a banana vendor who they identify with, but to political animals, he might be a good example of a figure pushing an agenda of the opposition party.-standard

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) President Nelson Chamisa has dumped his old twitter profile picture with red colours.

Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe MDC factions use the red colours.

Chamisa adopted a new tweeter profile a few days after rebranding the MDC-Alliance, naming it CCC.

The youthful opposition leader replaced his old profile twitter profile picture with a floral yellow coloured one.

By A Correspondent- In a new twist to the Doves funeral burial saga, the grave of Maxwell Chimwaurombe was exhumed and it was discovered that there were no human remains in the coffin.

It was however discovered that there was a plastic bag with a blanket, another plastic bag with two tent body bags and another plastic bag with one trousers, a shirt and a white cloth which were all wrapped in blanket then placed in a coffin.

Doves Funeral Services allegedly stuffed blankets and plastic bags inside the coffin meant to have carried the remains of the late Maxwell Chimwamurombe, in the latest twist to the burial saga of the Nyanga resident who died in March last year.

Chimwamurombe’s remains were instead buried in Harare, inside the coffin that had the body of a pauper, whose funeral was paid for by the Harare City Council.

Doves funeral services delivered the coffin to the Chimwamurombe family in Nyanga and the family received it in the belief that it contained the remains of their relative.

The Funeral Services Company now faces two accounts of fraud for duping Harare City Council by burying two corpses in the same vault and for failing to offer expected services to the policy holder who was paying her premiums.

According to a leaked police memo seen by The Sunday Mail, Doves later realised the mix-up, but instead of correcting the mistake, the company buried Chimwamurombe’s corpse at Glenview Cemetery under a pauper’s burial.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the validity of the police memo yesterday.

“I can confirm the authenticity of the internal memo, although it was leaked, it is part of police investigations between Doves and the family of Chimwamurombe,” he said.

According to the memo, detectives from the CID accompanied by chief pathologist Dr Tsungai Victor Javangwe on Friday exhumed the coffin in which Chimwamurombe was purportedly buried and found no body inside.

“The remains were exhumed and taken to Avilla Mission hospital mortuary (in Nyanga) where they were examined by Doctor Javangwe in the presence of all the interested parties. It was discovered that there were no human remains in the coffin. Instead it was discovered that there was a plastic bag with a blanket, another plastic bag with two tent body bags and one with a trousers, shirt and a white cloth which were all wrapped in a blanket.

“Doctor Javangwe, chief pathologist announced that his findings will be highlighted in a report which he will submit to CID Homicide while CID Homicide I.C Crime D/I Tongo stated that the Doves Morgan Funeral policy company will be charged with two counts of Fraud. The first count is that of defrauding the policy holder who was paying her premiums but failed to offer her the expected services. The second count is that of defrauding Harare City council by paying for one grave then later buried two corpses in the same grave.”

Stakeholders in the funeral services and assurance sector said they are studying the case, amid indications that Doves could face further sanctions.

The Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) — a statutory body that regulates, supervises and monitors the sector, said they are ‘seized’ with the matter.

“While IPEC does not regulate funeral services providers such as Doves Funeral Services (Ltd), its interest was drawn by the fact that the matter also involved the insurer, Doves Life Assurance which it regulates,” reads part of IPEC’s communique sent to this publication.

Doves Funerals Services spokesperson, Mr Innocent Tshuma said the company will speak at a later stage.

“We are still waiting for an official police communication and we will take it from there,” he said.
Yesterday, efforts to get comment from Chimwamurombe’s family spokesperson Mr Adama Chimwamurombe and another family member Fungai Chimwamurombe hit a brick wall as both mobile number were unreachable.

Maxwell Chimwamurombe drowned in the flooded Nyamombe River in Nyanga last year and his body could not be found for weeks.

When he was discovered, the body had some parts scattered on a riverbank.

The remains were reportedly collected in a plastic bag and then sent to Harare for Doves to prepare for burial.

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has said teachers are financially incapacitated and are therefore not ready for the reopening of schools.

In a letter addressed to the Public Service Commission (PSC) and copied to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE), dated 29 January 2022, PTUZ secretary-general Raymond Majongwe accused the Government of “spoiling for a fight” with its employees.

This comes after the Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Amon Murwira on Friday announced that schools will be opened on the 7th of February. Said Majongwe in the letter:

We take note of the statement by the government informing the nation that schools will be opened on the 7th of February, 2022.

It would seem that the government is always spoiling for a fight with its long-suffering employees, given the timing of the announcement and the prevailing circumstances.

Our members cannot be expected to comply with the directive to reopen schools now before the government has financially capacitated them.

Majongwe said teachers expected the Government to announce that it has reviewed their salaries with effect from January 2022. He said:

It does not make sense that the government is content to remunerate its employees with about a quarter of the consumer basket, which as of December 2021 stood at about $72 000.

None of our members managed to meet their very basic expenses with the measly amount they received as salaries on 18th January 2022.

Why anyone believe teachers managed to spare anything from that amount so they can report for duty on 7 February 2022 beats us.

Majongwe said the PTUZ would be shocked if the Government really believes that teachers will report for work on 7 February.

He urged the Government to utilise the time between now and the 7th of February to ensure that it solves the issue of teacher remuneration.- Pindula News

By A Correspondent- Former ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa has demanded a paternity test for “twins” which his estranged girlfriend Susan Mutami claims were sired by him.

Mliswa and Mutami have, over the past several months, been involved in a war of words using social media platforms following their acrimonious separation.

Mutami, a businesswoman and socialite based in Australia, has accused Mliswa of neglecting his children and failing to cater for their financial needs.

Posting on Twitter, Mliswa expressed doubt over the existence of the alleged twins, asking why Mutami has never shared pictures of the children together. Wrote Mliswa:

Ko, Mai MaTwins (?), @susan_mutami balance me here. When all is said&done, I don’t want to act irresponsibly, so in the spirit of tidying up affairs, we all need closure and a positive way forward. I’m a bit confused though, do you really have twins?.

I’ve only ever received one birth registration form for one child, you had the same one sent at 2 different times on the same day, look at the reg #.

In your pics you only ever have one with you, in this picture [posted on Twitter by Mutami], there’s only one child seat. Saka (so) Susan, imwe Shumba iripi (where is my other son)?

Inga (by the way) the form clearly says what to do in the event of twins. Huuya tiite DNA, then kana vari(ari) wangu, Shumba ngadzipinde mudanga! (Let’s go for DNA tests are if I’m the one who sired the children, then I will support them). 

Asi are you claiming only one is mine and the other is someone else’s?….(no photoshop please) the ball is in your court to clear this up…

Oh, and the reason I’m using this platform is that it seems you’ve very publicly pulled the wool over many eyes and I’m sure they’d want to know too.

By A Correspondent- In a development that could signal a scandalous vote rigging plot, former Chinhoyi mayor, Dyke Makumbi, shockingly discovered that his wife’s name and five other people who were supposed to support his candidature were missing from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s voters roll despite having registered.

He made the discovery during the sitting of the Nomination Court at Chinhoyi Town House, where he was filing his nomination papers. He is bidding to bounce back as councillor after he was recalled by the MDC-T.

To his utter shock, Makumbi found out that his wife Nolene, his number one nominator as she has always done in previous polls, was no longer listed as an eligible voter.

The ex-mayor was further dismayed to learn from ZEC officials present that his other five nominators namely, Usumani Usumaili, Stella Jezereni, Blandina Muparaganda, Baison Muparaganda and Amos Madzinga had been struck off the voters’ register despite having participated in the 2018 general elections.

Circumstances under which their names were obliterated are still unclear.

Fears are that this could be a rampant, nationwide plot to disenfranchise numerous voters ahead of the 2023 general election.

“Imagine my wife has always been my number one nominator over the years and all of a sudden her name is not found on the ZEC voters roll. Names of five other people l had selected as nominators for me to be eligible to contest the by-election couldn’t be found. A computerised search also proved they had been removed, despite having participated in previous elections,” Makumbi said.

“Cases like these bring in doubt the authenticity or correctness of the ZEC voters roll. This is probably the tip of the iceberg; hordes of people might be surprised to find themselves not on the voters roll regardless of being registered voters,” he said.

Makumbi said he would take up the issue with his party, the Citizens Coalition for Change, which is expected to escalate the matter to ZEC.

Efforts to get comment from ZEC headquarters proved fruitless by the time of publishing.

Meanwhile, ZEC has announced the start of voter registration at various centres across Chinhoyi from February 2 until February 29, 2022.

This would enable potential voters to enlist to cast ballots in the 2023 harmonised elections and latter polls but will not be able to vote in the March 26 by-elections.

By- Doves Funeral Services allegedly stuffed blankets and plastic bags inside the coffin meant to have carried the remains of the late Maxwell Chimwamurombe, in the latest twist to the burial saga of the Nyanga resident who died in March last year.
Fresh details gathered by The Sunday Mail have revealed that Chimwamurombe’s remains were instead buried in Harare, inside the coffin that had the body of a pauper, whose funeral was paid for by the Harare City Council.
Doves had delivered the coffin to the Chimwamurombe family in Nyanga and the family received it in the belief that it contained the remains of their relative.

The Funeral Services Company now faces two accounts of fraud for duping Harare City Council by burying two corpses in the same vault and for failing to offer expected services to the policy holder who was paying her premiums.
According to a leaked police memo seen by The Sunday Mail, Doves later realised the mix-up, but instead of correcting the mistake, the company buried Chimwamurombe’s corpse at Glenview Cemetery under a pauper’s burial.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the validity of the police memo yesterday.
“I can confirm the authenticity of the internal memo, although it was leaked, it is part of police investigations between Doves and the family of Chimwamurombe,” he said.

According to the memo, detectives from the CID accompanied by chief pathologist Dr Tsungai Victor Javangwe on Friday exhumed the coffin in which Chimwamurombe was purportedly buried and found no body inside.
“The remains were exhumed and taken to Avilla Mission hospital mortuary (in Nyanga) where they were examined by Doctor Javangwe in the presence of all the interested parties. It was discovered that there were no human remains in the coffin. Instead it was discovered that there was a plastic bag with a blanket, another plastic bag with two tent body bags and one with a trousers, shirt and a white cloth which were all wrapped in a blanket.
“Doctor Javangwe, chief pathologist announced that his findings will be highlighted in a report which he will submit to CID Homicide while CID Homicide I.C Crime D/I Tongo stated that the Doves Morgan Funeral policy company will be charged with two counts of Fraud. The first count is that of defrauding the policy holder who was paying her premiums but failed to offer her the expected services. The second count is that of defrauding Harare City council by paying for one grave then later buried two corpses in the same grave.”
Stakeholders in the funeral services and assurance sector said they are studying the case, amid indications that Doves could face further sanctions.
The Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) — a statutory body that regulates, supervises and monitors the sector, said they are ‘seized’ with the matter.
“While IPEC does not regulate funeral services providers such as Doves Funeral Services (Ltd), its interest was drawn by the fact that the matter also involved the insurer, Doves Life Assurance which it regulates,” reads part of IPEC’s communique sent to this publication.

Doves Funerals Services spokesperson, Mr Innocent Tshuma said the company will speak at a later stage.
“We are still waiting for an official police communication and we will take it from there,” he said.
Yesterday, efforts to get comment from Chimwamurombe’s family spokesperson Mr Adama Chimwamurombe and another family member Fungai Chimwamurombe hit a brick wall as both mobile number were unreachable.
Maxwell Chimwamurombe drowned in the flooded Nyamombe River in Nyanga last year and his body could not be found for weeks.
When he was discovered, the body had some parts scattered on a riverbank.
The remains were reportedly collected in a plastic bag and then sent to Harare for Doves to prepare for burial.

By-A man from Bulawayo is suspected to have discharged a firearm, sending dozens of patrons at a local nightclub scurrying for cover following an altercation with another man.However, police indicated that they had not received the report.
This reporter witnessed the incident which happened in the car park of the popular nightspot.
The reporter witnessed security guards at the nightspot trying to calm down the man only identified as Gibby.
The man later drove off in a car — a Nissan Sunny Box (Reg number withheld) after he had pulled the gun and threatened to shoot everyone on sight.
The man, clad in white, ripped jeans and a vest got into a physical altercation with another man before he got into his car and drew the weapon.
This was after security guards who seemed to be well-acquainted with him tried several times to restrain and calm him down.
After he pulled his gun, he began shouting: “I’ll shoot you all. I will shoot everyone.
Don’t come near me. I’ll shoot you.”
Fearing for the general public, one security guard tried to wrestle the gun out of his hands but failed and let go.
“After that, ‘Gibby’ seemed to have been more agitated and as he waved his weapon around, he shot into the ground before getting into his car and sped off,” a witness added.
Meanwhile, police are appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Nkosiphile Dube, who is being sought in connection with theft of 9 071 litres of diesel, valued at US$12 245,85, which was meant for a road rehabilitation programme in Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province.
The suspect is alleged to have stolen the fuel while he was the Bubi Rural District Council engineer responsible for the road rehabilitation programme, during the period extending from October 2021 to January 2022.
-Sunday News

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) President Nelson Chamisa has dumped his old tweeter profile picture with red colours.

Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe MDC factions use the red colours.

Chamisa adopted a new tweeter profile a few days after rebranding the MDC-Alliance, naming it CCC.

The youthful opposition leader replaced his old profile tweeter profile picture with a floral yellow coloured one.

By-Funeral services company Doves is set to be charged with two counts of fraud after it buried a coffin stuffed with blankets and body bags in place of the body of a man who drowned in early 2021.

There was no body-viewing at the burial of Maxwell Chimwamurombe at Chitambara Village in Nyanga due to COVID-19 regulations that were in place at the material time.

Doves reportedly later discovered their “error” but instead of informing the family, the company buried Chimwamurombe’s remains at Granville Cemetery (KuMbudzi) in Harare.

Further, the company buried Chimwamurombe’s body inside a coffin containing the body of a pauper, whose burial was paid for by the City of Harare.

On Friday, detectives who were accompanied by Chief Pathologist Dr Tsungai Victor Javangwe exhumed a coffin in which Chimwamurombe was supposedly buried in Nyanga.

The coffin was taken to Avilla Mission Hospital where it was examined by the police and pathologist.

• Inside the coffin were a blanket wrapped in a plastic bag, another plastic with two body bags, a pair of trousers, a shirt and a white cloth all wrapped in a blanket.

An internal police memo seen by ZimLive reveals that investigators want Doves charged with two counts of fraud. The memo reads in part:

The first count is that of defrauding the policyholder who was paying her premiums but the company failed to offer her the expected services.

The second count is that of defrauding the City of Harare by paying for one grave and then later burying two corpses in the same grave.

The burial mix-up was exposed in October last year when a member of the family – a lawyer – reportedly tried to extort doves of a vehicle and thousands of US dollars in cash.

A Doves employee had informed the Chimwamurombe family that they had been given an empty coffin.

More: ZimLive

By- The MDC-T national council on Friday resolved to expel suspended deputy party president Thokozani Khupe alongside Nomvula Mguni, Mildred Dube and Ntandoyenkosi Ndhlovu with immediate effect
Khupe’s expulsion from the party comes after she announced a split of the MDC-T during a press conference in Bulawayo last week on Friday.
She also claimed that MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora had left the party after he announced that the opposition party will contest the 26 March by-elections as the MDC Alliance.
In a statement this Saturday, MDC-T Secretary Information and Publicity Witness Dube said Khupe and her colleagues won’t be allowed to use the MDC-T name and symbols. Said, Dube:
The National Council also deliberated on Dr Thokozani Khupe’s alleged “Declaration of a Split” and noted that no such arrangement was catered for by the Party Constitution and at law in general.
The Council asserted the move by Dr Khupe as a testament to her having terminated her own membership with the party.
Accordingly, the National Council unanimously resolved to expel her, together with Nomvula Mguni, Mildred Dube and Ntandoyenkosi Ndhlovu with immediate effect.
Dr Khupe, together with the aforementioned trio, will therefore not be allowed to use the MDC-T name, symbols, and or associated intellectual property henceforth.

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition for Change President Nelson Chamisa has changed his twitter profile.

Chamisa adopted a new twitter profile a few days after rebranding the MDC-Alliance.

The youthful opposition leader dumped his old twitter profile, which had red colours and replaced it with a floral yellow coloured one.

By- Chinese gold mining firm, Rongxin has been caught in the eye of a storm after the Zimbabwe Union of Mine Workers (ZUMW) levelled a litany of allegations against the miner’s Mashonaland West-based operations.

Documents gleaned by the Zimbabwe Independent this week show that ZUMW accused the Chinese mining firm of violations of labour rights ranging from withholding wages and benefits as well as subjecting workers to long working hours without proper protective clothing.

“We act on behalf of Rongxin Mining employees. We hereby launch a complaint of unfair labour practices by the employer Rongxin management on its employees.

Rongxin is in wilful violation of the Labour Act Chapter 28:01 Section 13.

“The employer is in violation of the regulations made under this section, whereby he is withholding wages and benefits … (employer) wrongfully terminated their contracts of employment in violation of the Labour Act Chapter 28:01 Section 12B subsection 3,” reads a correspondence, addressed to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare dated January 17, 2021.

The correspondence was undersigned by ZUMW legal, education and training officer Shadreck Pelewo.

In another correspondence addressed to the Mines ministry’s regional mines inspector (Kadoma), ZUMW general secretary Zedi Banda also raised complaints against Rongxin for violating safety, health and environmental regulations.

“We act on behalf of Rongxin Mining employees.

The employees are exposed to hazardous health conditions, including the surrounding community.

“The mine is discharging laboratory chemicals and effluent in the rivers used for domestic purposes in violation of the mining (health and sanitation regulations Statutory Instrument (SI) 182 of 1995 Section 6,” read the correspondence dated January 18, 2021.

Rongxin had not responded to questions sent by this publication.

“The mine is not keeping and maintaining a supply of drugs, dressing and appliances as specified in the second schedule for the immediate treatment of all accidents likely to occur on the mine,” Banda said.

He noted that the Chinese miner is also in violation of Section 14 of Statutory Instrument 182 of 1995 which implores treatment and care for the injured.

According to the documents, the miner has not made any reports to the parent ministry for the six accidents that happened at the mine.

“The injured have not received any compensation for the injuries…This prompts us to seek Ministry of Mines intervention to rectify the violations.”

The letter was also copied to Rongxin management.

Mines minister Winston Chitando could not be reached for comment.

This is not the first time Rongxin has been mired in controversy.

On January 4, 2022, our sister paper NewsDay reported that one of Rongxin directors based in Sanyati allegedly offered 10kg of gold to suppress an investigation into a forced child marriage case involving a Chinese engineer at the mine.

As reported at that time, the 15-year-old girl (name withheld) dropped out of school after being married off to a Chinese engineer on November 26, 2021.

It is alleged that the engineer paid US$2 000 as customary bride price in ward 5 under Chief Neuso, Sanyati district, in Mashonaland West province.

The minor was in Form 3 at Tomdrayer Secondary School at the time she was married off.

This week, Zimbabwe civil society groups fired a broadside at Chinese business operations citing that most Chinese funded mining projects were displacing indigenous people from their ancestral lands as well as destroying the environment.

“We are united in our common objective of defending our communities and national heritage against investment projects that disempower and impoverish our people.

We seek to register our deep concern with the behaviour of Chinese businesses in Zimbabwe.

“We have however noted with deep concern the threats of displacements and mining projects in ecologically sensitive places around the country without any regard for the concerns of local people,” the grouping said in a statement.

This subsequently prompted the Chinese Embassy in Harare to dismiss the allegations raised by the civic society.

The Chinese embassy underscored that investors from China in Zimbabwe were pursuing a mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.

Harare and Beijing’s relationship was elevated to the status of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Co-operation following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to China in 2018 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping.

-Independent

Tinashe Sambiri| The vice president of the Citizens Coalition For Change, Hon Tendai Biti has declared that the Zanu PF regime is wasting time trying to stop the people’s revolution.

According to Hon Biti, all citizens will fight for their freedom from Zanu PF oppression.

“The yellow revolution is unstoppable. Our people have suffered long enough . They deserve a break from tyranny . Only a Citizens Convergence can save them .#ANewGreatZimbabwe.”

CCC Diaspora Network for Change says in the new formation every citizen is a founding member…

“We are now all founding members of the new party Citizens’s Coalition for Change. We are all starting at ZERO, anyone can stand for any post.

Hello Founding Members of CCC!

Retweet if you are a founding member!”

Tinashe Sambiri| The vice president of the Citizens Coalition For Change, Hon Tendai Biti has declared that the Zanu PF regime is wasting time trying to stop the people’s revolution.

According to Hon Biti, all citizens will fight for their freedom from Zanu PF oppression.

“The yellow revolution is unstoppable. Our people have suffered long enough . They deserve a break from tyranny . Only a Citizens Convergence can save them .#ANewGreatZimbabwe.”

CCC Diaspora Network for Change says in the new formation every citizen is a founding member…

“We are now all founding members of the new party Citizens’s Coalition for Change. We are all starting at ZERO, anyone can stand for any post.

Hello Founding Members of CCC!

Retweet if you are a founding member!”

By A Correspondent- Former Cabinet Minister and Zanu-PF Politburo member Patrick Chinamasa and ex diplomat Dr Andrew Mtetwa have landed regional top posts after they were appointed Southern African Development Community Panel of Elders and Mediation Reference Group respectively.

The appointments of the two were made following approval by the 41st Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held in Lilongwe, Malawi in August 2021.

In a statement released today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said the Panel of Elders and Mediation Reference Group are part of the SADC Mediation and Conflict Prevention and Preventative Diplomacy structure that was established by the SADC Heads of State and Government in August 2014.

Chinamasa has an illustrious career in Government since independence in 1980 where he rose to become the country’s first black Attorney General, before being appointed as Cabinet Minister holding the portfolio of Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Finance and Economic Development.

Dr Mtetwa is a senior Lecturer at the Zimbabwe National Defence University, and former Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Belgium, Ethiopia, South Africa and Zambia

By A Correspondent- On 20/01/22, Police in Tsholotsho acted on a tip-off and arrested a woman (38) in connection with a case of infanticide, where the suspect, who was impregnated by her boyfriend while the husband was in SA, gave birth to a baby girl on 01/12/21 at Mhlatshwa Village and strangled the baby to death before burying the remains in her garden.

The matter came to light after the husband came back and noticed the suspect’s swollen breast. The husband did not report the case to Police.

The remains have since been exhumed and taken to Tsholotsho District Hospital for post-mortem.- ZRP

By A Correspondent- Police on Friday arrested and allegedly tortured members of the Citizens Coalition For Change Youth Assembly for wearing yellow regalia.

In a statement on Friday, Zimbabwe Human Rights Monitors Platform condemned the incessant persecution of perceived government opponents.

The CCC members were arrested in the capital Harare.

“The CCC youth leadership has been released from prison with Erasmus Nyandoro having a fractured arm and the rest of the team having difficulties to walk because of swollen feet as a result of alleged torture

The arrest of Emmanuel Gumbo, Prince Mutebuka, Tatenda Chigwida, Admire Sinaiti and Erasmus Nyandoro for donning yellow regalia is worrisome that it is being equated to public nuisance,” Zimbabwe Human Rights Monitors Platform reported on Friday.

By Cucsman Music

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By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance led by Douglas Mwonzora was dumped by some prospective contestants in the last minute at the Nomination Court on Wednesday in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, resulting in the party fielding only two candidates instead of six to fill vacant seats in the forthcoming March by-elections.

Senior MDC-T member and MDC Alliance Ward 2 aspiring candidate, Willie Nyambe, said they were let down by some colleagues, who dumped them at the Nomination Court.

“We failed to field (candidates) in other wards because we were tricked by some members who pretended to be ours but dumped us at the last minute claiming to belong to the Citizens Coalition for Change,” said Nyambe.

According to party officials, the MDC Alliance failed to field council candidates in some wards including Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North.

Party spokesperson, Witness Dube, said when some members deserted the MDC-T at the last minute, those who replaced them failed to get enough nominators on time to register at the Nomination Court.

“Yes, we failed to field candidates in some areas because there was confusion on the selection of candidates. Some members who purported to be ours deliberately failed to submit nomination papers,” said Dube.

A large number of council and parliamentary seats fell vacant following the recall of some councilors and lawmakers by the MDC-T, which claimed that they had aligned themselves with the MDC formation led by Nelson Chamisa. Other lawmakers died while they were in office.

The MDC-T now has two factions led by Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe, who claimed last Friday that she had expelled the party president for declaring that he is also the leader of the MDC Alliance.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has warned that stern measures will be taken against Zimbabweans who violate the country’s election code of conduct during campaigns in the run-up to the March by-elections.

Speaking soon after announcing candidates nominated to contest the forthcoming by-elections, Makonde district elections officer, who was only identified as Kawocha, said it’s high time ZEC should punish people for violent behaviour during elections.

“All along we have been trying to make political parties commit to each other that they will behave in a peaceful manner during campaigns and after voting but they disregarded the code. It’s high time ZEC exercises power to discipline those who violate the code of conduct by disqualifying them,” said Kawocha.

Kawocha urged all candidates to campaign peacefully and avoid tearing campaign material for rivals.

He also said candidates should put posters in designated places and elsewhere with the consent of property owners.

“Let’s campaign in peace, let us have tolerance and respect posters of other candidates and not to put posters on buildings without the owners’ consent,” said Kawocha.-voa

By A Correspondent- Police in Mashonaland East are investigating a case in which a 60-year-old man from Goromonzi was allegedly murdered while drinking beer at a farm shop.

It is reported that on January 22 at around 10 pm the now deceased Zvirokwazvo Munhenga was drinking beer in the farm shop with the accused Dorothy Million (36) of the same farm and other patrons.

It is alleged that both the accused and the deceased got drunk before Million started dancing close to Munhenga. Apparently this did not go down well with him as he pushed her away and Million slapped him.

Munhenga is alleged to have fallen backwards and became unconscious. First aid was rendered but to no avail and he was rushed to Parirenyatwa hospital where he died the following day.

A report was made at Goromonzi police station leading to the arrest Million.

Mashonaland East Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachiyi confirmed the incident and urged members of the public to value life.

“We can confirm the incident occurred in Goromonzi and we are urging members of the public not to use violence in solving issues,” he said.

By A Correspondent- Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Larry Mavima has instructed the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to stop disconnecting Gweru City Council (GCC) for non-payment of a debt.

He also directed Gweru City Council not to disconnect water supplies to defaulting residents but come up with acceptable payment plans.

Mavima said this when he met ZESA and GCC officials at his offices after the former switched off electricity to the latter over non-payment of a $257 million debt.

On Tuesday, ZESA disconnected electricity at Gweru’s water treatment plants at two of its main water sources, White Waters and Gwenhoro dams

ZESA also disconnected Town House resulting in the council failing to collect revenue and thereby affecting its ability to pay off its debt to the power utility.

ZESA reconnected GCC on Friday afternoon following the commitment by the council to a payment plan.

ZESA Southern Region general manager Gibson Kasipo represented the power utility while acting town clerk Vakayi Douglas Chikwekwe represented the local authority during the meeting with Mavima.

Mavima ordered GCC to come up with an acceptable payment plan to clear its ZESA debt while calling on residents to pay their water bills and rates timeously. He said:

Zesa is urged to explore other measures of enforcing payment for their services by local authorities as opposed to resorting to disconnection of power at critical service facilities such as water plants.

Furthermore, the local authority will not disconnect residents’ water and instead should look at other alternative ways to recover the debt such as attachment of property.

And that goes for Zesa attaching council property.

I want to urge residents of Gweru to fully play their part by consistently paying their water bills and rates to enable the local authority to meet its service delivery obligations.

This is not the first time that ZESA has switched off the local authority for non-payment of debts.

In May 2021, ZESA disconnected GCC’s water treatment plants over a debt of $143 million.

The power utility only restored supplies after the council committed to a monthly payment plan of $13 million.-statemedia

By A Correspondent | INVESTIGATIVE | Just as ZimEye exclusively revealed in 2021, Zanu PF informer and socialite Susan Mutami yesterday came out into the public with one only child, contrary to previous claims that she has twins with Norton Law-maker Temba Mliswa.

Last year, the controversial Australia-based Mutami went to town claiming that she was having torrid times with pregnancy carrying Mliswa’s twins.

ZimEye.com early 2021 exposed Mutami’s several bedroom scandals, which included  government ministers and top Army Generals, at a time her own family said she has also bedded the ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa, allegations which the coup leader, up to the time of writing, has not denied.

The below is a trail of event twists that involved high profile ministers caught between two scandals, one on the sale of stands, and one of trappings using a self proclaimed anti-terrorism expert, Susan Mutami.

It was all triggered when earlier in the year, the Special Anti Corruption Unit head, Thabani Mpofu was close to arresting Local Govt Minister, July Moyo over the alleged sale of stands in Harare, Kwekwe and Gweru for his own benefit.

There were several beneficiaries listed on this reported scandal who are in the ministry of Justice; so to hide this, a quick plan was hatched to get Mpofu fired.

Mpofu, who leads the controversial taskforce, was swiftly accused of authoring letters for MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti advising the opposition icon on ways if navigating through the justice system.

Close sources allege that, when this was about to happen, the Norton MP Temba Mliswa went over to president, Emmerson Mnangagwa to advise him to ignore the calls to fire Mpofu, doing this in order to settle scores with the enemy of an enemy (Mliswa had heard that Thabani Mpofu had been set up by July Moyo, Owen Ncube, and Virginia Mabhiza). Mliswa has had several bones to chew with Thabani Mpofu. Mliswa reasoned with Mnangagwa saying: how could Thabani Mpofu author letters for MDC Deputy President Tendai Biti in this age and time when he could simply pick a phone call.

Parallel to all this, Temba Mliswa was the subject of an ongoing probe in which he was entangled with ex girlfriend, Susan.

Facts became clear mid February that, Susan Mutami, the centre of the axis, was used to incriminate Mliswa.

Mutami is an enigma. She claims she bedded the late SB Moyo, Killer Zivhu, Temba Mliswa. She is even openly  announces saying she has bedded the President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

She says she has Mliswa’s twins, while at the same time naming her son after his arch enemy, Owen Ncube.

5 LOVERS, 2 PREGNANCIES TO 2 DIFFERENT MEN, ALL IN ONE YEAR

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Last year alone she dated at least four different men who include the Foreign Affairs Minister SB Moyo, one after the other:

Polite Kambamura, the Mining Deputy Minister (they were engaged). Walter Chikwana, Secretary for the Judicial Commission (they had a civil partnership in 2020), and ZANU PF MP, Hon Kenneth Musanhi (see pictures).

Furthermore, an affidavit seen by ZimEye states in addition that she was already pregnant way before bedding Mliswa last year.

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The affidavit, certified by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), shows that as at around March 2020, she was still engaged to another man, who works inside the JSC, Mr Walter Chikwana.

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The man was reached for a comment but wouldn’t speak or respond to questions.

Meanwhile, the affidavit states that Mutami was carrying a pregnancy to another man at the end of March 2020. In the affidavit, her boyfriend, Mr Chikwana says:

+

‘ I am Susan Vivian Mutami’s partner and in case of emergency I can be contacted on the above mentioned address or on my mobile number, +263772***********”

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He then goes on to say he is the legal guardian of SB Moyo’s Child (full name redacted-in accordance with the Children’s Act on the paper).

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” I am also the legal guardian of (name withheld), and our unborn child as of date. Attached hereto is a copy of my identification.”

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The affidavit was signed on the 24th March 2020.

The development puts burden on Mutami to explain the timing drama surrounding her two pregnancies (to different men) which are within months of each other.

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She also says that she is the holder of two Australian degrees of which she has none, and also makes false claims that she is the winner of Australia’s CEO awards. During interviews with Mutami, ZimEye reveals how that her claims to university courses are baseless.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Asked to state which universities issued her 2 degrees, Susan Mutami says: the @AusEmbZim performed all verification checks. She says: "There is no way a whole embassy would just leave and accompany me to go and donate, and hand out donations without doing proper checks on me…" pic.twitter.com/deBmXUv4St

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 27, 2021

Susan Mutami Says Australian Embassy Verified Her 2 Fake Degrees | IS SHE TELLING THE TRUTH?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) February 27, 2021

She is also put to task on her CEO Awards claim, and it is revealed that she was only a passerby at the function who posed in front of a camera holding someone else’s award. (SEE RGM INTERVIEW BELOW)

Her ex lover, Mliswa has maintained his allegations that he was set up by the Central Intelligence Organisation in order to incriminate him using Susan Mutami.

After all this she is lawfully stopped while trying to leave the country, and then she is put under the custody of the Central Intelligence Organisation.
Mutami is held for possessing details on the attempted assassination of the president and killing of three aides at the White City Stadium, then she is whisked out by two powerful ministers who have close links to the president, July Moyo (local governments), Owen Mudha Ncube, minister of state security. After being whisked out without knowledge of the mother body of the CIO, she then starts to attack to the Director General of the CIO, who she claims she once dated, then threatening to release secret information on the cabinet, Politburo and a number of other official secrets, while on the same tweet, absolving the two ministers, July Moyo and Owen Mudha Ncube.

At this time, July Moyo is under investigations for parceling out land, a case being probed by Thabani Mpofu’s SACU organisation.

July Moyo is very close to permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza and Kumbirai Hodzi, the prosecutor General. At the same time, Thabani Mpofu’s SACU is having clashes with the Prosecutor General. There was a collusion between the Prosecutor Gen and July Moyo to get Thabani Mpofu fired. The PG and July Moyo then approached the president Emmerson Mnangagwa to pass allegations that Thabani Mpofu has advised Biti.

The event trail is as follows:

Thabani Mpofu is accused of writing WhatsApp letters to MDC Alliance MP Tendai Biti giving him advice on how to return to parliament, and this makes the president very angry. At this time, Mnangagwa has also been told by Perm Sec Virginia Mabhiza, and Prosecutor Gen Kumbirai Hodzi, to ignore the request to arrest Minister July Moyo on land fraud.

Mnangagwa then summons Thabani Mpofu to State House where he is dressed down. It is reported that Mpofu has been fired. ZimEye contacts Mpofu who tells this news network, it’s not true at all. Are you my employer?, Mpofu fires a question while answering to the report.

Soon afterwards, Temba Mliswa who is naturally against Mpofu, comes to the rescue of Mpofu to tell the President that Mpofu has been set up. Thabani Mpofu also gets support of the CIO DG Isaac Moyo. This angers July Moyo who together with Owen Ncube sponsor Susan Mutami to tweet ‘some dirt’ on Isaac Moyo while absolving July Moyo and Owen Ncube publicly, on the Twitter website.

State security sources report saying Mutami was whisked out of Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge Border post. ZimEye requests paperwork to confirm that the escape was truly through that border post. No date is provided, but by end of April 2021, she is now safely in Australia.

Both Owen Ncube and July Moyo are contacted for a comment, and their phones are put down soon after hearing the interview questions.

Responding to the state security reports, Mliswa denies ever approaching Mnangagwa to assist Mpofu. He tells ZimEye: “Mpofu, Matanga, Mudha, July Moto, and Ziyambi Ziyambi are all one and the same, working hand-in-hand.”

It surfaces that Mutami is an agent of July Moyo and his team to settle their matters with Director General, Isaac Moyo. Thabani Mpofu then suddenly comes out the victim of the two warning camps.

The development has raised questions on how safe Zimbabweans are when ministers and two officials are using a woman to settle their personal scores. Is Zimbabwe is being run by people controlled by bottom power, or is it that Susan Mutami has some ability to capture all these people, or she is so dazzling to control the nation’s top government officials?

By A Correspondent- A Binga based journalist, Mujopeni Mudimba, has allegedly been receiving death threats from unknown people after he wrote a story about the displacement of villagers by a Chinese miner in the district.

The Chinese company has been granted authority by the government to mine coal in that area.

Mudimba was reportedly threatened over a story he wrote on the eviction of villagers in Ward 12 by the Chinese company.

The journalist works for the recently licensed local community radio station, Twasumbuka Community Radio.

According to the station manager, Bbaido Ndhlovu, Mudimba was threatened by an unknown person, who called him twice using a private number.

The unknown caller reportedly warned Mudimba that he would rot in jail and also “die for nothing” if he continues writing stories relating to the evictions.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa Zimbabwe) on Tuesday condemned the harassment of the journalist. It said:

Misa Zimbabwe strongly condemns any forms of media violations including threats and harassment of journalists.

Journalists should be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to media freedom without fear

Through its watchdog role, the media is allowed to voice and disseminate information on the concerns of communities in which they operate.

Misa Zimbabwe, therefore, urges any persons aggrieved with a story published by any media institution or media practitioner, to approach the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe or the Zimbabwe Media Commission for adjudication and redress.

By A Correspondent- The price of fertiliser has gone up again, with a 50kg bag of ammonium nitrate now priced at between US$55 and US$70, up from US$37.

The price hike comes at a time when the product is in huge demand following incessant rains that have been pounding most parts of the country, resulting in heavy leaching of soil nutrients.

In a statement on Friday, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) bemoaned the increase in the price of fertilisers, saying it has increased the cost of production. The statement read in part:

There has been a significant rise in agricultural input prices, especially fertilizers to be more specific, nitrogenous fertilizers.

This has greatly increased the cost of production of most agricultural enterprises if not all.

Persistent rain the country is currently experiencing even increases the requirements of nitrogenous fertilizers as leaching increases.

In April last year, local fertiliser manufacturers said the shortage of foreign currency had hampered production.

They said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)’s foreign currency auction system was failing to meet their needs.-newsday

By-Funeral services company, Doves, is set to be charged with two counts of fraud after it buried a coffin stuffed with blankets and body bags in place of the body of a man who drowned in early 2021.

There was no body-viewing at the burial of Maxwell Chimwamurombe at Chitambara Village in Nyanga due to COVID-19 regulations that were in place at the material time.

Doves reportedly later discovered their “error” but instead of informing the family, the company buried Chimwamurombe’s remains at Granville Cemetery (KuMbudzi) in Harare.

Further, the company buried Chimwamurombe’s body inside a coffin containing the body of a pauper, whose burial was paid for by the City of Harare.

On Friday, detectives who were accompanied by Chief Pathologist Dr Tsungai Victor Javangwe exhumed a coffin in which Chimwamurombe was supposedly buried in Nyanga.

The coffin was taken to Avilla Mission Hospital where it was examined by the police and pathologist.

• Inside the coffin were a blanket wrapped in a plastic bag, another plastic with two body bags, a pair of trousers, a shirt and a white cloth all wrapped in a blanket.

An internal police memo seen by ZimLive reveals that investigators want Doves charged with two counts of fraud. The memo reads in part:

The first count is that of defrauding the policyholder who was paying her premiums but the company failed to offer her the expected services.

The second count is that of defrauding the City of Harare by paying for one grave and then later burying two corpses in the same grave.

The burial mix-up was exposed in October last year when a member of the family – a lawyer – reportedly tried to extort doves of a vehicle and thousands of US dollars in cash.

A Doves employee had informed the Chimwamurombe family that they had been given an empty coffin.

More: ZimLive

By A Correspondent- Funeral services company, Doves, is set to be charged with two counts of fraud after it buried a coffin stuffed with blankets and body bags in place of the body of a man who drowned in early 2021.

There was no body-viewing at the burial of Maxwell Chimwamurombe at Chitambara Village in Nyanga due to COVID-19 regulations that were in place at the material time.

Doves reportedly later discovered their “error” but instead of informing the family, the company buried Chimwamurombe’s remains at Granville Cemetery (KuMbudzi) in Harare.

Further, the company buried Chimwamurombe’s body inside a coffin containing the body of a pauper, whose burial was paid for by the City of Harare.

On Friday, detectives who were accompanied by Chief Pathologist Dr Tsungai Victor Javangwe exhumed a coffin in which Chimwamurombe was supposedly buried in Nyanga.

The coffin was taken to Avilla Mission Hospital where it was examined by the police and pathologist.

Inside the coffin were a blanket wrapped in a plastic bag, another plastic with two body bags, a pair of trousers, a shirt and a white cloth all wrapped in a blanket.

According to an internal memo investigators want Doves charged with two counts of fraud. The memo reads in part:

The first count is that of defrauding the policyholder who was paying her premiums but the company failed to offer her the expected services.

The second count is that of defrauding the City of Harare by paying for one grave and then later burying two corpses in the same grave.

The burial mix-up was exposed in October last year when a member of the family – a lawyer – reportedly tried to extort doves of a vehicle and thousands of US dollars in cash.

A Doves employee had informed the Chimwamurombe family that they had been given an empty coffin.

By-The newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is set to resolve the issue of double candidates in Masvingo Urban, Ward 4, where Thokozile Muchuchuti and Aleck Tabe both filed their nomination papers on Wednesday to contest in the 26 March by-elections.

The two candidates have been called to Harare to meet senior party leaders to resolve the matter.

By- A school head in Chikomba has been ordered to pay $300 000 adultery damages for dating a married woman whose husband was based in South Africa.
Riversdale Secondary School head Brighton Makaudze, had an adulterous relationship with a married woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her children who exposed the affair.

In his claim filed at the Mvuma Magistrates Courts, the plaintiff (name withheld), had demanded $3 million compensation for both loss of consortium and contumelia.

But Magistrate Makwanya ordered that Makaudze pays $300 000. Newsday

By-MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora has said suspended deputy president Thokozani Khupe is no longer a member of the MDC-T.

Addressing the media in Harare this Friday, Mwonzora said Khupe violated the party’s constitution when she declared a split and her move was rejected by the National Council. Said Mwonzora:

The National Executive completely rejected the declaration of a split, there is no split in the MDC-T.

This is because when Thokozanai Khupe held her Press conference she was accompanied by only two MPs and also after her declaration none of the MPs in Parliament expressed solidarity with her.

We are also happy to note that a hundred per cent of our provinces rejected the call for a split.

The declaration of a split is not provided for anywhere in the Constitution of MDC, it is also not provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe or anywhere in the law.

Mwonzora also said Khupe cannot use the MDC-T name or the party’s symbols or insignia. He said:

Dr Khupe is no longer a member of our party by virtue of her declaration, we do not know what her party will be called but definitely not MDC-T.

MDC T is a party of the people who follow the law and who have gone to the extraordinary congress.

Therefore, Dr Khupe will not be allowed to use our name, our symbol and our party insignia.

On Friday last week, Khupe held a press conference in Bulawayo where she declared a split of the MDC-T, accusing Mwonzora of violating the part’s constitution.

She claimed Mwonzora was no longer MDC-T president and had automatically expelled himself from the party when he announced that he would contest future elections under the MDC Alliance banner.

More: ZBC News

By- Five opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists, including one pedestrian, were arrested by the police in Harare, allegedly for blocking a pavement and disturbing the flow of human traffic in central Harare.

The activists were charged for public nuisance but they claimed that they were arrested for wearing their party’s yellow T-shirts.

Early this week, the Nelson Chamisa-led CCC abandoned its MDC Alliance name and red colour and unveiled yellow as its official colour.

Human rights lawyer Lynnet Phiri said the six were released after paying a fine of $2 000 each for obstruction of traffic. He said:

They have been released. They paid a $2 000 fine. Right now, we are taking Erasmus (Nyandoro) who was assaulted by the police on Thursday to the hospital with the assistance of the Counselling Services Unit.

CCC deputy spokesperson Gift “Ostallos” Sibiza decried the arrest of the party activists, describing them as “a clear reflection of how the State wants to restrict dissenting voices.”

However, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi disputed the claims, saying the six had committed a crime by blocking a pavement along Julius Nyerere Way and Robert Mugabe Avenue. He said:

It is really unfortunate that people run to social media and post about yellow regalia.

They were arrested for blocking a pavement as they were chanting party slogans, so the police intervened and others ran away while some were arrested.

So the arrest has truly nothing to do with their regalia.

More: NewsDay