Chingwizi(Mwenezi east) MDCA* *activist laid to rest

7 January 2022

The MDCA led by President Chamisa has been engulfed by a dark cloud down in the remote areas of Mwenezi east.

We lost a brave courageous cadre Fadzai Dhave popularly known as Mai Chikoboda who dedicated her life and time to the struggle. Mai Chikoboda was laid to rest on 5 January 2022.

Despite being staying in the deep end of Mwenezi where ZANU pf brutalises opposing voice, Amai Chikoboda remained resolute a stance which few women can stand.

Mai Chikoboda was Chingwizi Branch Vice Chair lady and despised those who claim that MDCA is nowhere in resettlement areas as she was a pillar of strength there. She was a true activist who attended most party meetings and events.

May Her Soul Rest In Eternal Peace.

Chingwizi people are well known for being neglected by the ZANU pf government since their displacement. It therefore an eye opener to all Resettlement dwellers that ZANU pf has nothing good to offer hence there is need to embrace the spirit of the late Mai Chikoboda.

Timoth Muswere
Mwenezi east

Opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa has mourned the death of a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Jefret Bafana Khumalo.

Khumalo, a former war detainee, was also a former Member of Parliament for MDC in the Mpopoma/Pelandaba constituency.

Below is the MDC Alliance Bulawayo Province’s statement on Khumalo’s death:

We mourn the shocking 5 January 2022 passing away of founder MDC member Jefret Bafana. Khumalo – the first MDC Member of Parliament for Bulawayo’s Mpopoma-Pelandaba Constituency in 2000. A former ZAPU member, who suffered incarceration, Khumalo was a successful businessman.

Khumalo played a pivotal role in fighting for the down-trodden Black workers who were victims of poor wages and job reservation for White workers. He fought under the following national trade union centres i.e. SRATUC, NAFU, ZACU,NATUC alongside the likes of John Mthimkhulu, Mkhushi Khumalo, Enos Mdlongwa, Public Nkomo, Raphael Galen, Norman Sibali, Sydney Malunga just to name a few. He was a founder member of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions after the intervention of senior trade unionist Grey Bango in 1981.

He was an active member of the youths of NDP & ZAPU codenamed “Zhanda” & participated in the programmes as assigned by the leadership leading to the recruitment of cadres for military training. He will be buried on Tuesday 11 January 2022. Jefret will be sadly missed!

By A Correspondent- Warring Zanu-PF factions have been urged to bury the hatchet and stop dropping names of party bigwigs during campaigns.

The call was made by party secretary for commissariat Mike Bimha in a statement on Saturday where he ordered leaders of teams tasked with supervising the just-ended chaotic provincial elections to hold meetings in their respective provinces to hand over administration of the provinces to the newly-elected leaders, and to superintend over allocation of other positions in provincial executive committees.

“The commissariat department will furnish team leaders with talking points and guidelines on the allocation of other positions of the provincial executive committees,” Bimha said in the statement.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week endorsed the outcome of the provincial elections which were marred by allegations of rigging, vote buying and intimidation of voters.

During the Saturday provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Manicaland province, provincial chairperson Mike Madiro blasted party members for name dropping, saying it was an old-fashioned way of contesting elections.

Zanu-PF secretary for external elections Samuel Mumbengegwi was the guest of honour at the meeting.

“I am worried by the amount of indiscipline that we witnessed in the party and we are going to correct that.  I was also not happy with the issue of name dropping in the party.

“Name dropping is old-fashioned. People must attract votes by working hard for the party, not by name dropping,” Madiro said.

Tawanda Mukodza, who was the Manicaland provincial youth chairperson was elevated to deputise Madiro in the province.

Oliver Mandipaka is now the new Manicaland provincial secretary for administration, while Dorothy Mabika is the new political commissar.  Prominent Mutare lawyer Chris Ndlovu is the secretary for legal affairs.  Happiness Nyakuedzwa will lead the provincial women’s league department, while Stanley Sakupwanya is the newly-elected youth chairperson.

During the meeting, all losing candidates cut lonely figures.

These included Makoni district co-ordinating committee chairperson Albert Nyakuedzwa who contested for the provincial chairperson’s position, Danmore Mambondiyani who contested for the provincial youth position and Chido Sanyatwe who lost in the women’s league race.

Mumbengegwi said he was initially hesitant to travel to Mutare as there were sharp divisions in the province.

“I am happy that the province is now organised,” he said.

Party structures in Matabeleland South and North completed the allocation of leadership posts during the weekend.

Newly-elected Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Nqobizitha Mangaliso  Ndhlovu yesterday told NewsDay that his province completed the process on Saturday.

“The Matabeleland South vice-chairperson is Albert Nguluvhe, the MP for Beitbridge East, the secretary for administration is Edgar Moyo, who is also the Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister and Matobo MP, and the finance secretary is Osfael Mazibuko, while the provincial commissar is Washington Nkomo,” Ndhlovu said.

Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Richard Moyo, who retained the chairmanship, said all posts were fairly distributed.

“Silas Maligo from Hwange was elected vice-chairperson, Douglas Khoza from Bubi retained his position as secretary for administration, Stars Mathe from Nkayi retained the treasurer position, Robson Ncube from Lupane retained political commissariat position,” Moyo said.

Other posts went to Land Kabome who is the secretary for security, Patrick Ngwenya from Tsholotsho who is secretary for transport and welfare, Beverly Mthombeni from Umguza was elected provincial spokesperson, while the women’s league boss position was won by Dora Msimanga.

Moyo said candidates who contested for youth league chairmanship did not qualify, hence the posts remained vacant.

Newly-elected Bulawayo chairperson Jabulani Sibanda said he could not immediately comment as he was busy.

Liverpool’s matchday squad for the FA Cup third-round clash with Shrewsbury saw youngsters Melkamu Frauendorf and Isaac Mabaya involved for the first time.

Virgil van Dijk captained the side, with Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher all fit to start, along with Roberto Firmino, Kostas Tsimikas and Takumi Minamino on the bench.

But there are also first-ever starts under Klopp for Max Woltman and Elijah Dixon-Bonner, while there are a host of youngsters among the substitutes.

Joining the ever so slightly more experienced James Norris and James Balagizi are Frauendorf and Mabaya.

Isaac Mabaya, 17, who plays in the right-back, and central midfield positions was an unused substitute as the Reds won 4-1 at Anfield.

Born in Preston with Zimbabwean heritage, Mabaya joined Liverpool’s youth ranks as a six-year-old, and due to injury problems his progress to the fringes of the first team is still in its infancy.

But having stepped up from the U16s to the U18s last season, the 17-year-old has been making his mark under Bridge-Wilkinson this time around.

Though he is a natural midfielder, Mabaya has been used as a right-back on a number of occasions this season, and his ability to drive past players with pace and power has made him a standout.

It is this versatility that has seen Vitor Matos recommend Mabaya to Klopp, with both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Neco Williams ruled out for the FA Cup tie.

Mabaya signed his first professional contract with the club in September and is tipped for big things in the years ahead.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) yesterday admitted that it had deprived thousands of prospective first-time voters an opportunity to participate in the upcoming by-elections after it failed to provide adequate and accessible registration centres throughout the country.

Zec has already closed the voters’ roll for the by-elections slated for March 26 this year.

The electoral management body has been in the eye of a storm over the past few weeks after it gave two different figures regarding the number of first-time voters it registered last year.

Initially, it said only 2 000 had registered as first-time voters throughout the year, but later revised the figure to 2 951.

Zec courted the ire of civic groups after it initially indicated that 22 000 deceased voters would be removed from the voters’ roll, before bumping up the figure to 35 085.

Zec spokesperson Joyce Kazembe yesterday told NewsDay that the electoral management body had realised that several people failed to register to vote due to inaccessibility of its 72 district centres.

She said as the country prepared for the 2023 general elections, Zec would roll out 9 000 biometric voter registration kits to ensure that people travel short distances to registration centres.

“We know that there are some who stay far from the district offices who may not be able to easily access the registration centres, but for now, we are abiding by the law. But we are sorry. We apologise.

“However, the registration process is still ongoing for other elections other than the by-elections. We have 9 000 biometric voters’ registration kits that we will roll out throughout the country to ensure complete accessibility of the registration service.”

But civic society groups and rights lawyers accused Zec of deliberately minimising access to the voter registration centres to frustrate potential first-time voters being mobilised by various groups.

Constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhuku said some provisions of the Electoral Act also deprived a significant number of people of the opportunity to vote; hence the need to amend the legislation.

“Centralisation of the registration centres could have deprived people of their right to vote, but they need to amend the Electoral Act for it to enhance continuous registration processes and afford every citizen the opportunity to vote,” Madhuku said.

“The Act states that the voters’ roll closes when the local authority vacancy arises, but would the electorate know that very well? In this election, an individual may be able to vote for the National Assembly member, but fail to vote for the councillor. There are some citizens who develop the interest to vote only when there is a proclamation. Every reasonable democracy allows them to vote. There is also a need for training of civic society on the key constitutional dictates of the electoral process so that they provide the necessary essential information to the people,” he added.w

Zimbabwe Election Support Network chairperson Andrew Makoni said a number of citizens had failed to register to vote because Zec was not providing adequate information to encourage people to vote.

“Most of the Zec registration centres were closed for the greater part of last year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and citizens failed to register.  Given the low number of new people who are said to have registered to vote last year, it appears as if the voting rights are entitled to those who participated in the 2018 general elections. Of concern is the difficulty in accessing national identity documents which has barred a number of citizens from registering to vote,” Makoni said.

Women’s Academy for Leadership Excellence executive director Stabile Dewa said: “Zec suspended the mobile voter registration blitz that had been slated for December 6, 2021. Many people, especially first-time voters would have gotten an opportunity to register and vote in the upcoming by-elections if it had not suspended the blitz. Considering the current economic challenges, citizens, especially women, have little money to spare for transport costs for them to travel and register to vote.”

Rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama added:  “The right to vote is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution. Zec violated such right and breached the dictates of some international treaties that Zimbabwe is signatory to. That cannot be corrected by a mere apology. There has always been opaqueness on how Zec conducts its elections resulting in lack of transparency, and credibility of its conduct.”-newsday

By A Correspondent- Mutoko villagers are being evicted and relocated by granite rocks mining companies while some villagers are living in homes damaged by blasts and are unable to farm polluted land.

Every day more than 60 trucks take granite for export, along the rough road through Nyamakope village in the district of Mutoko. Quarrying has been happening there since the 1980s.

The shiny Mutoko stone is a popular material for tombstones. An extension to the Danish royal library in Copenhagen, known as the Black Diamond, is clad in Mutoko granite.

Now 50 families in the village have been told by a Chinese mining company that they will have to leave their homes and land. People in four other villages in the district fear they will also lose their ancestral lands.

Two families, including an 82-year-old villager and his wife, have already been relocated by Jinding mining company, which wants to build a polishing plant. One villager told the Guardian:

The 82-year-old man collapsed when he heard the news because he never anticipated it. He was later resuscitated at the hospital. This is how bad things are here.

The man was told his house was within the area licensed to the mining company by the government. Zimbabwe’s Communal Areas Act gives the president power to decide the use of an area that makes up 40% of the country’s land, home to about 70% of the population.

Two other families were given $2 500 (£1 840) to rebuild their homes, but community leaders say this is insufficient.

One villager said:

There is uncertainty around this village. Right now, we do not have anyone willing to help us because our councillor does not want to help us. Anyone who dares to speak out is threatened. Whether they remove us or not, we are already scared to speak out.

The 40-year-old father of four fears losing five hectares of land, his only source of income. He said villagers should have the right to reject the investors from entering our community. 

Richard Ncube, a legal officer at Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), says people in Mutoko were “extremely worried” about evictions.

He said:

The major challenge is they are living in the dark, and they are not sure what is going to happen.

We have gathered that most of the communities [in Mutoko] are afraid to come forward and take these matters to court due to intimidation and fear of being victimised.

Attempts to challenge the mining companies elsewhere in Zimbabwe have had mixed results. Last week, the High Court dismissed a court application by villagers from Chilonga, Chiredzi in Zvishavane who were challenging their impending eviction and Zimbabwe’s Communal Areas Act.-Guardian

By A Correspondent- Victoria Falls residents are counting their losses after flash floods caused by incessant rains that pounded the city since Friday destroyed pre-cast walls, household property, gardens and washed away some roads.

The rains started falling on Friday morning until late afternoon before resuming on Saturday morning until evening.

It was also raining yesterday.

The worst affected areas are ward nine especially around shopping centre and near Vehicle Inspectorate Department Victoria Falls depot, ward 10 behind Mosi-oa-Tunya High School and ward eight around Esikhwahleni area.

The low-density area and central business district where hotels and lodges are were not affected.

While there were no fatalities, some roads especially near Truck Stop and small bridges were damaged.

In some yards, water levels rose to above knee level resulting in pre-cast walls falling especially those without weep holes.

Some water pipes were also left exposed due to massive soil erosion.

Most roads in Mkhosana were impassable as they were flooded resulting in water flowing into yards.

Poor drainage has been blamed for worsening the situation as most parts of the city have no storm drains while the available ones are too shallow to contain massive run-off.

Residents could also be to blame judging by the amount of litter such as plastic bottles, plastic paper and other garbage that was washed down by run-off.

Scores of people lost household property such as beds, stoves, refrigerators and electrical gadgets as well as food which was soaked in water.

Some residents had to drill holes through their house walls to redirect water which had flooded some rooms.

In ward 10 there were more than a dozen houses whose pre-cast concrete walls were destroyed. One of the affected residents, Mr Lizwe Moyo said water had risen close to two metres against the pre-cast wall in his yard before it gave in.

“The challenge in our area is that the drainage is too small and when it rains heavily water flows into yards. Water was almost reaching the top of the pre-cast concrete wall when it fell. My neighbours were also affected and some had to drill through walls of the houses to allow water to drain as it flooded inside,” he said.

Residents have implored authorities to come up with an urgent solution to avoid disaster.

Another resident who preferred to remain anonymous in Mkhosana said all her property was soaked in rain.

“I don’t think I will be left with anything because everything was soaked in water. We spent the whole of Saturday scooping water using buckets but we couldn’t finish it as it kept raining. We wish there could be a solution to this because there could be disaster in future if this poor drainage issue is not addressed,” she said. Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Somveli Dlamini visited the affected areas to assess the extent of disaster.

“The worst affected areas are in wards eight, 10 and 11 where some residents lost pre-cast concrete wall and some roads were washed away. Fortunately, enough service delivery like water provision and electricity were not affected. The council will sit and work out a solution but a long-term solution is construction of storm drain.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has invited observers ahead of the March by-elections which will see 117 local authority and 28 National Assembly seats up for grabs.

Most of the seats became vacant following recalls of MDC-Alliance members following a Supreme Court verdict that Nelson Chamisa illegally assumed the leadership of the opposition party. Polling in other areas has been necessitated by the death of MPs and councillors.

Matabeleland region has 20 vacant local authority vacant seats and four National Assembly seats.

Bulawayo has nine vacant council seats, Matabeleland North, five and Matabeleland South has six vacancies.

Bulawayo’s seats fell vacant following the recall of eight councillors and the death of Ronnah Mudara all from the MDC-T party while in Matabeleland North two councillors were recalled in Victoria Falls and three Zanu-PF councillors died.

In Matabeleland South, the MDC-T recalled three councillors while three Zanu-PF councillors died.

In terms of Parliament, Bulawayo has two National Assembly vacant seats after Advocate Kucaca Phulu, who was the National Assembly member for Nkulumane Constituency and Ms Sichelesile Mahlangu who represented Pumula Constituency were recalled.

Matabeleland North also has two vacant seats, Binga North and Tsholotsho South. Tsholotsho South constituency fell vacant following the death of Zanu-PF’s legislator Cde Zenzo Sibanda, who succumbed to Covid-19 in August, while Binga North became vacant after MDC’s Prince Dubeko Sibanda was recalled by his party early last year.

There are no vacant Parliamentary seats in Matabeleland South.

President Mnangagwa last Thursday proclaimed March 26 as the day for holding by-elections to fill vacant Parliament and council seats.

Zec has since gazetted the election observer fees which will see local observers and local media accredited with Zimbabwe Media Commission paying US$10 or equivalent using the bank rate.

It said observers from the African continent will pay US$20 while observers from foreign Embassies in Zimbabwe will pay US$50.

Journalists from international media houses will also pay US$50 accreditation fees while observers from outside Africa will have to part with US$100.

“The Zec hereby invites applications from observers and media for accreditation to observe by-elections in respect of 28 National Assembly Constituencies as indicated in Proclamation No.1 of 2022 and 117 Local Authority wards to be held on 26 March 2022. All applicants must be received at Zec Head Office no later than 22 March 2022. The accreditation of successful applicants shall be conducted between 8AM and 5PM at venues to be advised commencing 18 January 2022,” read the statement.

Zec said the Nomination Court will sit on January 26.

“Now therefore, the Commission hereby notifies the public of the vacancies that have risen as specified in the first, second and third schedule. The public is further notified that: councillors for the vacant wards shall sit on Wednesday 26 January 2022 commencing from 10AM to 4PM. The nomination courts shall sit at places designated in the Fourth Schedule for the purposes of receiving nomination candidates for election as councillors for the wards in the stated local authorities and shall be presided over by the nomination officers stated therein,” reads the statement.

The Bulawayo Nomination Court will sit at the Bulawayo City Council’s boardroom while in Matabeleland North three venues have been designated; Bubi Rural District Council boardroom, Victoria Falls Council boardroom.

In Matabeleland South, the Nomination Court will sit at Beitbridge Town Council, Gwanda Town Council, Umzingwane RDC and Insiza RDC boardrooms.

Most political parties have said they are ready for the coming election.
Analysts have said the elections will be a precursor of the watershed harmonised elections set for next year.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Violence dominated the new Zanu-PF provincial joint council of the main wing, women’s and youth leagues’ inaugural meeting held in Chinhoyi Saturday.

The meeting was meant to officially hand over the reins of power to newly-elected chairpersons of the three-party organs voted during recent shambolic elections characterised by rigging allegations.

Mashonaland West Provincial Minister, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka won the chairmanship ahead of Information Deputy Minister Kindness Paradza, former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West youth league leader Vengai Musengi and ex-Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive Happison Muchechetere.

In the women’s league polls, Constance Shamu came out victorious, while Tapiwa Masenda clinched the chairperson post of the youth league.

However, an ill-fated Indaba held at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) gym hall started off later than scheduled, before violence broke out just as proceedings were about to start.

This was after Mliswa-Chikoka had instructed party security and police officers to allow only listed “winners” from the recent elections and bar the rest of party members.

Timothy Masviba from Chegutu district, who later on had his car tyres deflated by opponents, sparked the chaos insisting all participants of the polls, losers included, were eligible to attend the meeting.

Haggling and mudslinging ensued for close to 20 minutes as security details struggled to fend off resistance from Masviba and hordes of other members who wanted to bulldoze into the venue.

Guest-of-honour at the function, Ambassador Zenzo Nsimbi, who was standing in for Politburo secretary for security Lovemore Matuke, watched helplessly from the top table as the melee ensued.

A visibly agitated Mliswa-Chikoka had to personally intervene to cool down tempers after it became apparent the meeting would not proceed and ordered police to close the door.

The meeting went ahead amid numerous complaints about the list of winners, the highlight being an objection by Agriculture Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos questioning the ‘ghost’ identity of one Jessie Banda, who was listed as having won in Muzvezve constituency.

Haritatos said: “With all due respect, on the list of winners that you have just read out, there is a character called Jessie Banda who is said to have won in Muzvezve. We don’t know a person called Jessie Banda and where they come from. We recently convened a meeting of chairpersons from Muzvezve and no one said they knew this Jessie Banda, we are baffled where that name came from, it needs to be replaced by someone identifiable we know won in the elections,” he said.

The chaos continued during the allocation of other posts that constitute the provincial executive membership, with Mliswa-Chikoka taking the flak for trying to impose her preferred candidates.

One Tsitsi of Kadoma district, who had been elected as the women’s league commissar, had her joy cut short after Rosemary Goteka was unilaterally thrust into the position as Mliswa-Chikoka flexed her muscle altering the line-up.

Tsitsi did not take it lightly causing a scene as she remonstrated against her shunting to a less influential post of information secretary.

The chaotic meeting ended late at night way after some members from far away districts had left.

The appointees to the Zanu-PF Mashonaland West main board are; Tavengwa Mukhuhlani (vice-chairperson), Misheck Nyarubero (administration secretary), Gilbert Chibayamagora (finance), John Yotam (commissariat), Alexio Mutyambizi (security), Vangelis Haritatos (transport), Godknows Murambiwa (information), among others.

The PCC, which will transform into an elections directorate, is reportedly set to meet soon to endorse or nullify the appointments as well as deliberate on complaints from the just-ended provincial polls, particularly from Chakari and Makonde districts.

By A Correspondent- MDC founder member and former MP for Mpopoma/Pelandaba, Jefret Bafana Khumalo, died Wednesday last week at his Riverside home in Bulawayo following a short illness.

He was 83.

The MDC Alliance Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza confirmed Khumalo’s death in an interview.

He said:

I confirm the death of one of our longest-serving elders in the party, Jefret Khumalo. His death was just sudden. As a party, we would like to convey our condolences to his family. If all things were equal, Khumalo was supposed to be declared a national hero because he fought for the liberation of this country.

The late Khumalo will be buried Tuesday in Bulawayo.

He worked in the furniture-making industry where he was involved in trade unionism before joining politics.

During the liberation war, Khumalo and other youths used to supply freedom fighters with clothes and shoes which led to his imprisonment in 1973.

He was detained at Whawha Detention Camp in Gweru with his friends, Norma Zikhali, Sidney Malunga, and others. On his release from prison, Khumalo went to England to join his wife.

When he returned to Zimbabwe in 1981, he joined ZAPU and worked closely with the late Vice President John Nkomo, and Malunga.

Khumalo worked as a district education officer for Tsholotsho during the 1980s before joining the government as a labour officer at Mhlahlandlela government offices in Bulawayo.

He later left the government and joined Radar Metal as a labour officer. He joined the MDC when it was formed in 1999. In 2000, he was elected the party’s Mpopoma/Pelandaba constituency MP.

By A Correspondent- John Mupanduki, the Bikita West MDC Alliance youth member who was abducted, tortured and dumped in Mashava, has made double police reports.

Unknown assailants around 2 AM allegedly abducted Mupanduki at Nyika Growth point on Friday.

According to the MDC Alliance, his abductors were driving an unmarked car.

The opposition party Sunday posted on its Tweeter handle saying that Mupanduki was severely tortured and disoriented.

“Bikita West youth, John Mupanduki, was abducted at around 0200hrs at Nyika Growth point on Friday. The perpetrators used an unmarked car.
He was found yesterday badly tortured & disoriented. We call for an end to abductions of opposition members, torture & political violence.

“Mupanduki made an official report at Bikita Police Station Law and Order after an initial report at Nyika Base. He was abducted in the early hours of Friday & dumped in Mashava. He was tortured by suspected state agents & remains in a state of shock,” posted the MDC-Alliance.

By-Harare City Council has destroyed “illegal structures” in Mbare, targeting the Mupedzanhamo Market zone and illegal tuckshops around the bus terminus.

The authority said it wanted to bring sanity to the area.

They also said they wanted to give Mbare a facelift, with the market stalls at Mbare Musika and renovate other structures such as the suburb’s colonial-era flats.

Harare Provincial Development Co-ordinator Mr Tafadzwa Muguti has previously indicated that the Government intends to transform Mbare by unlocking value at the marketplace which is the country’s largest market, particularly for agricultural produce.
When contacted on his mobile phone last night, Mr Muguti said he was not in a position to comment.
Harare City Council spokesperson Innocent Ruwende referred questions to acting Harare Mayor Councillor Stewart Mutizwa whose mobile phone was not reachable.

When The Sunday Mail visited Mbare yesterday afternoon, a council bulldozer could be seen razing down illegal structures such as clothing tables, backyard food outlets and illegal tuckshops.
People that delayed or failed to remove their structures were left counting losses.
Many push carts were seen ferrying some of the wares that were being removed by traders.
Other people were hurriedly removing some valuables such as metal sheets.
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts president Mr Shalvar Chikomba said restoring sanity to Mbare was long overdue.
He said space barons are mostly to blame for the rot in Mbare.
“There is a lot of money being made in Mbare, but it is falling into the wrong hands. The traders whose markets have been destroyed are not always the ones to blame because they buy the space from space barons who pocket the money without remitting a cent to Council or Government to refurbish the area.
here are also some greedy merchants who manipulate processes so as to buy produce from farmers for a song. Council and Government need to get to the bottom of all this if they are to restore order in Mbare because space barons will continue to illegally sell space to desperate vendors.”

Traders whose wares and stalls were razed down cried foul about how the demolitions were done saying they did not have alternative places to carry out their businesses.
Mr Motion Mabubu, a vendor outside Mupedzanhamo, said: “They should open a new place for us because this place was our source of income. At least if they had told us in advance that they were going to come and demolish our tables we would have removed them nicely ourselves because they are expensive for us to erect,” he said.
Another vendor, Mr Ronald Chita, said they had no option but to rebuild their illegal structures at the same place.
“All we want is a place where we can do our business because that is where we get money for our upkeep. Schools will be opened soon and our children want school fees so the money comes from here. We have no option but to start re-erecting our tables here because we have nowhere else to go,” he said.
Another vendor who declined to be named said: “If we could have Mupedzanhamo reopened that would be better because all we want is a place to do our business. We do not want to be chased by the police or to bribe them, all we want is a safe place to do our work.”

-State media

By-MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa will preside over a “crucial” meeting today to deliberate on a possible new name for the party ahead of the March 26 by-elections and the 2023 national polls.

The urgent meeting follows claims by MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora that he also owns the MDC-Alliance name and could use both of them as and when he feels.

MDC Alliance presidential spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda confirmed today’s meeting to The Standard.

“The party will hold a crucial meeting to resolve that issue. You may ask our national party spokesperson Fadzai Mahere for further clarification because I only speak on behalf of the president. She will also make an official announcement after the meeting,” Sibanda said.

Mahere said the party would, at the “appropriate” time, set its position to the people.

“The party is ready for the by-elections, but there is need to implement electoral reforms, which are not negotiable — to solve the governance crisis in Zimbabwe,” Mahere said.

“We need to align our electoral laws to the Constitution and there is need for full disbandment of the partisan and militarised Zimbabwe Electoral Commission secretariat.”

Chamisa’s party lost the MDC headquarters, Morgan Tsvangirai House, and the funds that it is supposed to get through the Political Parties Finances Act to the Mwonzora faction, which claimed to be the legitimate MDC and the courts ruled in its favour.

Mwonzora’s party also recalled MPs affiliated to the MDC Alliance, and has since replaced about 15 proportional representation seats with its MPs.

About 133 Parliamentary seats and council wards are now vacant after the recalls of MDC Alliance MPs. Other vacancies were caused by the deaths of MPs and appointment of others to Ambassadorial posts.

The MDC-T has since threatened to use the MDC Alliance name in the forthcoming elections, a situation which has now forced the MDC Alliance to think about changing its identity.

MDC Alliance deputy national spokesperson Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda said the party was ready to take part in any “credible, legal, free and fair elections”.

“By-elections were stage-managed by Mwonzora, a surrogate of Zanu PF. It is going to be a humiliation to Mwonzora and his henchman,” Sibanda said.

Mwonzora’s MDC-T also said it was ready to participate in the by-elections and reiterated they would use any of the MDC names that may come up.

Mwonzora’s spokesperson Lloyd Damba said the names MDC- T and MDC Alliance were both theirs to use as electoral vehicles for different times depending with the situation on the ground.

“So we are going to use any of the names and no one outside of our party is allowed to use any of the above,” he said.

“Our claim to the MDC Alliance name is not to spite anyone, but is embedded in the history of the MDC name, of which the resolution was made on July 27 2017 and the signing of the pact on August 5 2017 in Zimbabwe Grounds.”

Coalition for Democrats (CODE) leader, Trust Chikohora who lost the 2018 Presidential elections said his party would not contest the by-elections as they were a waste of time and resources.

Zanu PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa said “the democratic ethos” of his party would lose no time to prepare for the by-elections as well as the 2023 polls.

“Zanu PF has just finished its own internal provincial elections. To underscore the serious commitment, the party even held them during seasonal holidays on the annual calendar. The cadre ship and membership enthusiastically responded even as the other population partook in festivities,” Mutsvangwa said.

-The Standard

By- Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, said that there were no diplomatic tensions between Zimbabwe and South Africa over immigrants.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail’s Harmony Agere, Hamadziripi urged Zimbabwean nationals living in South Africa to respect the neighbouring country’s immigration laws.

This comes after South Africa’s government announced its decision to discontinue the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), special permits that were granted to about 200 000 Zimbabweans and were renewed after every four years. Said Hamadziripi:

I am not aware of any diplomatic tensions between Zimbabwe and South Africa over immigrants.

Concerning the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit, the Government of Zimbabwe has noted and acknowledged the sovereign decision taken by the South African government on that matter.

It has encouraged the concerned Zimbabweans to comply with that decision.

Both Zimbabwe and South Africa seek to ensure regular and orderly migration between and into their territories, hence the clampdown on irregular migration at Beitbridge.

Hamadziripi also confirmed that South Africa has extended ZEP by another 12 months. He said:

Yes, the validity of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit has been extended to December 31, 2022.

Refer to the Minister’s (SA Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi) immigration directive.

South Africa recently launched a blitz against illegal immigrants including Zimbabweans with hundreds deported in the past few days.

More: The Sunday Mail

By-A Chitungwiza-based traditional healer, Sekuru Kafura, says he has sired 100 children and is married to 12 wives, excluding three that died in the past five years.

The 68-year-old is a self-confessed seller of goblins, and a successful businessman and farmer.

The Malawi-born traditional healer loves flashy, expensive cars and his garage holds 35 vehicles, among them the latest BMWs, Ford Rangers, Mercedes-Benz and commuter omnibuses.

He said his very large family consumes a beast every week and spends US$826 every week on bread alone. He said:

There is nothing to be ashamed of. I sell goblins to whoever can afford them. I have been doing this since 1972 and this is not a secret.

… When it comes to goblins, we have three packages. We charge US$2 500, US$1 500 and US$500 for the three packages on offer.

Unlike the typical traditional healer, Sekuru Kafura, who resides in Unit J, Chitungwiza, is a well-dressed teetotaller who does not take traditional snuff.

He told The Sunday Mail that he is currently training four of his children to become traditional healers after he is gone. He said:

They will only become fully-fledged traditional healers after I am gone. My father taught me this craft and I only started healing people long after my father had died.

I will do the same with my sons; I will not allow a situation in which I will one day compete for clients with my own children.

Sekuru Kafura warned people who are reportedly using his name to defraud his clients. He said:

I am aware of people who are using my good name to rob people. My clients are being robbed in broad daylight.

What I can only say is that those that are doing this must stop or face the consequences.

More: The Sunday Mail

By A Correspondent- Abducted Bikita West MDC Alliance youth member John Mupanduki has been found severely tortured and dumped in Mashava.

Unknown assailants around 2 AM allegedly abducted Mupanduki at Nyika Growth point on Friday.

According to the MDC Alliance, his abductors were driving an unmarked car.

The opposition party Sunday posted on its Tweeter handle saying that Mupanduki was severely tortured and disoriented.

“Bikita West youth, John Mupanduki, was abducted at around 0200hrs at Nyika Growth point on Friday. The perpetrators used an unmarked car.
He was found yesterday badly tortured & disoriented. We call for an end to abductions of opposition members, torture & political violence.
In an update on Sunday afternoon, the MDC Alliance said Mupanduki had made an official report at Bikita Police Station Law and Order after an initial report at Nyika Base,” said MDC- Alliance.

John Mupanduki has since has made an official report to Bikita Police Station Law and Order after an initial report at Nyika Base.

“He was abducted in the early hours of Friday & dumped in Mashava. He was tortured by suspected state agents & remains in a state of shock,” posted the MDC-Alliance.

Tinashe Sambiri|Makomborero Haruzivishe is a lion of the people’s struggle, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.

On Sunday morning President Chamisa commended Zimbabweans for supporting Mako emotionally and physically during his time of incarceration.

Mako spent 10 months in prison for challenging Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dictatorship.

President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page:
“THE LION IS OUT & ROARING…I’m excited.

We have Our God who answers prayers. Thank you Lord! You always take care of your own.

You have your own ways. And you never disappoint! Thank you Zimbabwe for your prayers and support. Happy Sunday. #Godisinit.”

President Chamisa added:
“HAPPY AGAIN! Mako is back! A New Great Zimbabwe loading.”

Britain is offering Visas for farm jobs including drivers, fruit pickers, General Farm Workers, Vegetable Farm Workers, Meat Packers, Farm Labour Supervisor, Greenhouse Supervisor, Dairy Farm Worker and many more, announced senior journo Hopewell Chin’ono.

• General Farm Workers

• Live Stock Farm Workers

• Vegetable Farm Workers

• Meat Packers

• Farm Labour Supervisor

• Greenhouse Supervisor

• Dairy Farm Worker

• Flower Farm Hand

• Hog Farm Laborers

• Farm Equipment Service Technicians

• Milkers

• Field Workers

• Poultry Technicians

• Truck Drivers

• Production Technicians

• Fruit packers

• Aquaculture Technicians

• Farm Assistants

• Maintenance Mechanics

• Farm Manager

• Farm Machinery Operators

• Vineyard Workers

• Farm worker, mushrooms

• Live Poultry Handlers

• Forklift Operators

• Sale Associates

• Regenerative Farm Workers

• Carpentry

• Production Supervisors

Job requirements

Languages:

English Or French

Education:

No degree, certificate or diploma

Experience:

Will train

Tinashe Sambiri|Makomborero Haruzivishe is a lion of the people’s struggle, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa has said.

On Sunday morning President Chamisa commended Zimbabweans for supporting Mako emotionally and physically during his time of incarceration.

Mako spent 10 months in prison for challenging Emmerson Mnangagwa’s dictatorship.

President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page:
“THE LION IS OUT & ROARING…I’m excited.

We have Our God who answers prayers. Thank you Lord! You always take care of your own.

You have your own ways. And you never disappoint! Thank you Zimbabwe for your prayers and support. Happy Sunday. #Godisinit.”

President Chamisa added:
“HAPPY AGAIN! Mako is back! A New Great Zimbabwe loading.”

By A Correspondent- A suspected serial armed robber who was also wanted for rape was arrested on Wednesday, as police continue to put their foot down in the fight against rising armed robbery cases.

The suspect, Tinashe Muguti (35) from Glen View 7 in Harare, has been on the run since May 2021 and is believed to have a committed a spate of robberies in Harare, Mazowe, Rusape, Kadoma, Bindura and Zvishavane.

Some of Muguti’s accomplices, who are already in custody, implicated him in several armed robbery cases.

The accused also served time for armed robbery for four years from 2016 until he was released.
On Friday, he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Yeukai Dzuda facing two counts of robbery.
The State, however, indicated that it will bring more charges.

He was remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecutor Mr Thomas Chanakira told the court that on May 12, 2021, Muguti and his accomplices, who have already appeared in court, proceeded to house number 24161, Unit O Extension, Chitungwiza, armed with an unidentified pistol and iron bars.

They forced open the main door and confronted two complainants who were sleeping.
They demanded cash, ransacked the house and stole cash and goods worth over US$7 000.
“The accused person force-marched one of the complainants into another room.

“Whilst inside, he forcibly removed her pant and had unprotected sexual intercourse with her without her consent before leaving the scene.

The total value of goods stolen is US$7 000 and nothing has been recovered,” Mr Chanakira said.
On the second count, the accused, in the company of his accomplices, approached the complainant, Stephen Rovha, at his residence whilst armed with an unidentified pistol.

The gang introduced themselves as police officers and accused him of illegally printing textbooks for resale.

The accused then informed him that he was under arrest and force-marched him into the house, where they assaulted him all over his body using open hands, booted feet and a screwdriver, resulting in him sustaining an injury on the left eye.

They ransacked the house and stole US$7 000 cash and a Samsung A30 phone.

During the commotion, the complainant‘s son aged 8 sneaked out of the house and ran to his uncle’s house, which is a few houses away.

The uncle teamed up with the other neighbours and proceeded to the scene.
Upon arrival, they confronted the accused person and his accomplices.

The suspects fired three shots and took the chance to run away to their getaway car – a silver Toyota Allion without number plates – before speeding off.

The accused was arrested along Mukuvisi River near Mbudzi roundabout in Harare, with evidence indicating he was planning to commit another robbery in Mazowe.

By A Correspondent- On this summer day, two years ago, Nyarai Tsvuura cut a lone figure at a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting in Marondera during Zanu-PF gatherings.

She was the provincial women’s league chairperson but could not occupy the front seat due to the party factional fights.

Instead, Lyn Gororo occupied the position, with the blessings of a group of powerful women in the party.

The late Joel Biggie Matiza, who was the then provincial chairperson, read a letter to the effect that Tsvuura, also a Mutoko legislator (PR) was the substantive women’s league boss.

The decision was made after the politburo had found Tsvuura not guilty of the accusations, which were noted as ‘gossiping’.

But this group of women did not take heed of the decision.

They responded through holding fresh elections claiming that Tsvuura was not voted to the position.

Tsvuura did not participate in the elections resulting in Gororo claiming the posts as planned.

The province disregarded the results but Tsvuura was barred from exercising her duties as the women’s league provincial boss.

The Central Committee (CC) recommended that Tsvuura be reinstated as the provincial women’s league boss in the last conference held in Bindura last year.

The reinstatement was captured in the final CC report.

But her joy was short-lived as the same group of women barred her again.

Senate President Mabel Chinomona, Secretary for Administration (women’s league) Monica Mutsvangwa among others, wrote letters defying the CC order and prevented Tsvuura from taking the reins.

Today, Tsvuura has had the last laugh after she was elected in the provincial basket in Mutoko.

Though tormented, rejected and barred from executing her duties, the politician has shrugged off stiff competition in the just ended provincial elections and waits to be accorded an influential post as the province’s women’s league political commissar.

Across the province lies Wedza District, the home of provincial affairs minister Aplonia Munzverengwi.

She reportedly fell out of favour with influential women in the national women’s league executive where she held the political commissariat post. She was seen as a threat to her colleagues who reportedly crafted frivolous accusations against her before being demoted to a lesser post.

Now nicknamed Deborah in the province, Munzverengwi was assigned to the deputy secretary for lands in the women’s league.

In a bid to show her abilities and influence, the former top cop contested in the provincial elections for the women’s league post.

She defeated incumbent, Gororo by a wide margin and is now back at the top.

“The elections are over, we are now working towards mobilising people to join us so that we achieve the six million votes tag,” Munzverengwi said during victory celebrations in Marondera.

The province was tasked to deliver 800 000 votes come next year’s elections.

The tales of both Tsvuura and Munzverengwi have revealed how Zanu-PF has been imposing candidates or leaders for factional reasons.

Today, the party’s rejects have bounced back boasting of top posts in the province.-standard

By A Correspondent- Bulawayo lawyer and former MDC-Alliance Member of Parliament for Binga North, Prince Dubeko Sibanda has been ordered to allow his wife back into their matrimonial home by a local magistrate.

Sibanda was ordered “not to hinder applicant’s access to the matrimonial home” and “not to physically, verbally or emotionally abuse applicant”.

In an application at the Bulawayo Magistrate Courts for a protection order, Sibanda’s wife, Memory said her husband had been physically aggressive to her for a long time, but his behaviour had increasingly become unpredictable.

She said he had been acting in a menacing way which all came to a head when he threatened to axe her and her mother before throwing them out of the house in the dead of the night.

“I got the feeling that he just wanted me gone. Now I don’t trust that he is of sound mind not to do something that would hurt me given that he has already threatened me with an axe and strangled me with our bedroom door locked,” she told the court.

The marriage has been difficult for years, she told the magistrate, accusing her estranged husband of verbal and emotional abuse coupled with several threats of physical abuse. The threats culminated in threats to kill her and his mother-in-law with an axe after the latter and their children had forced their way into the couple’s bedroom upon hearing her scream for help as Sibanda strangled his wife then picked an axe and threatened to axe her to death.

On a recent night, the wife said he arrived home at their Waterford residence around midnight and seemed very angry.

Sibanda reportedly entered their bedroom where he found his wife sleeping and started shouting at her telling her he was spoiling for a fight.

His wife said she pretended to be asleep to avoid the brewing confrontation with her visibly irate husband. She told the court that the politician then pulled the bed covers back and began to repeatedly pull and push her into the bed before strangling her with both hands.

She said he eventually let one hand off her throat and reached out to grab an axe that was near their bed at which point she was able to scream for help.

“My mum who had visited, my daughter (21) and my step-son (17) all woke up when I cried out for help.

They tried opening the door which was locked from the inside. I then managed to open the door and they all rushed into our bedroom to save me,” she said.

“They stood between us, crying and asking why he was being violent.

In the process, he was trying to get to me with his axe, he pushed my mother and she fell down. Then wamsikiza ngehloka (then he threatened her with the axe).

“As if that was not enough, wasixotshanisa (he chased after us out of the house and yard) until we were all outside the gate.

Then he locked the gate. We had to sleep at a neighbour’s house for a few days after he said he didn’t want me back at home,” said Mrs Sibanda.

Sibanda’s wife told the court that problems for the couple began when her husband began to sell off their properties without consulting her and when she reached out to his family for assistance, he lost his cool.

She said one of his cousins had asked about the properties while they were attending a family funeral in Binga and upon his return, he attacked her and her mother before throwing them and the children out of the house.

The man rarely took a holiday, though when the family did go on holiday some time ago, it was “the most miserable 19 days of my life”. Her husband was now “in a bad place, and the intensity of what has happened in the last weeks is frightening me”.

The magistrate said he was satisfied that the necessary threshold had been reached and issued an interim barring order, with a decision as to what to do in the longer term to go to hearing next week.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Lilian Mdlongwa, 19, a first-time mother from Manomano village, recalls how she almost lost her baby when she went into labour at Nkayi district hospital a month ago, when there was complete shutdown of electricity at the whole hospital as part of load shedding.

“The nurses had only a small rechargeable light that they used to deliver my son and that of another expecting mother that I went into labour with,” Mdlongwa narrates.

“It was tough, and when I had just delivered, the nurse who stitched me noticed that she had almost left some cotton wool inside me.”

“It was dark because the small light had been put at the centre for them to share, and even that lady had a similar tale as they almost stitched her cuts while the cotton wool was inside,” Mdlongwa says.

When The Citizen Bulletin visited the hospital recently, the whole hospital was in complete electricity blackout and none of the administration, theatre and X-ray duties among other day-to-day programmes of the hospitals were being conducted.

Patients that had come for X-ray examinations, for instance, were being told to go back to their homes, or wait until electricity was restored.

But, even for those that waited for up to eight hours, their examination could not be completed as electricity was restored and immediately cut off ten minutes later with the darkness extending throughout the night.

In September the country’s electricity provider, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETCDC) implemented countrywide 12-hour load shedding due to power generation issues at Hwange coal powered station.

According to the District Medical Officer Thabani Moyo, the problem of electricity the hospital is experiencing started about two months ago, and has seen many expecting or just delivered mothers struggling to nurse their babies successfully, especially at night.

“The challenge, especially to patients and nursing staff, is largely felt at night,” Moyo notes.

“We have tried to purchase four small lights, but we can only give them one per ward, and that light is only used by the nurses on duty, so patients struggle a lot during this time,” says Moyo.

Mdlongwa says during the week she was in hospital following delivery, she relied on her neighbour’s phone torch to change her newly-born nappies, clean the umbilical cord or comfort her wailing baby.

“We breastfed in the dark,” she adds.

“The light that the nurses use services everyone and during that time, there were over ten of us in the ward and the same light was also being used to assist in the labour section, so its use was based on emergencies.”

Moyo says they have tried to rope in the ZETCDC officials from the district without any fruitful outcomes.

He says the feedback that they get is that the hospital is equipped with a solar system, but it also has some issues despite it being only two years old.

“We have a solar system that covers the maternity labour wards, post-natal ward, theatre, mortuary and the pharmacy but even so, we have a challenge with that solar system because it doesn’t pull and the batteries are always too low such that we fail to even use them.” Moyo said.

Provincial medical director Admire Kuretu says the Nkayi solar system has not been connected to the whole hospital and is only meant to cover critical areas like maternity and theatre and the health ministry’s head office is aware of the Nkayi situation..

“The solar system works, the problem is that the installation is not complete and it covers a small part of the hospital,” Kuretu says.

He adds that they have been pushing the head office to connect the other departments like the wards, the mortuary health information, the administration block and the X-ray department.

By A Correspondent- Jailed MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe has opened up on his “hell” prison experience adding that while it was hell, the time spent behind bars made him determined to fight for democracy and change for Zimbabwe.

We publish below excepts from the exclusive interview with ZimEye:

ZimEye: Can you please comment on your prison experience.

Mako: Prison, you know, it can only be equated to hell…Prison especially if you are a prisoner of conscience like me, it’s a kind of hell, a different kind of hell, with all the pains and everything.

But however because of my strong will and determination, and the will to succeed, succeed in terms of achieving an inclusive and democratic Zimbabwe, in which all citizens’ issues and concerns are addressed, the…physical pain and mental pain I managed to ignore it, and because we know that it is not an easy road and great sacrifices will be made.

Others have made bigger sacrifices, others have paid the ultimate price…you can talk of Itai Dzamara, you can talk of all these victims of the ferrets. You can talk of all those victims of politically motivated violence sponsored by the state.

So this was just prison, and it in no way changed my fuse, if it changed it changed them for the better. Because one thing that we have to remember is that for us to achieve our mission, we will have to remain resolute to demand what belongs to us.

The charges that I got in here for, if you read the Constitution they are Constitutionally guaranteed rights freedom assembly, freedom of expression, and they tried to criminalise that, it is awkward but it only serves to strengthen me more than what they wanted to, to scare me away and one word is with the people we are in charge, and victory is certain.

ZimEye: Did you receive threats while in prison?

Mako: “Definitely, from prison to court, state capture is a reality. And getting into prison for this prolonged period, enabled me to see that we have a bigger fight than what we actually imagined, especially within our Justice system.

We have a bigger fight and we have to pull up our socks and we need to be more concentrated, we need to be even more radical in terms of organising on terms of educating the masses for them to understand the problem that we are in which chiefly emanate from military state capture.

It’s unfortunate that we don’t have much time, it’s a security place and there was riot police all over since yesterday even today, so but I hope we will get more time and I can give you more details about these 10 months 22 days.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has banned Civic Society Organisation (CSOs) that are not accredited with them from conducting voters education ahead of the 26 March by-elections and 2023 general elections.

On Friday last week, ZEC released a list of 76 CSOs that it has approved to conduct voter education countrywide.

ZEC spokesperson, Joyce Kazembe, on Saturday told The Standard that ZEC has the mandate to approve organisations to engage in voter education as well as the materials that they would be using during the campaigns. Said Kazembe:

The procedure is that anyone who wants to engage in voter education must submit an application to the commission.

They will be stating their particulars and the activities they want to conduct. The content must be approved by the commission.

Those that are not on the list that we submitted, but are conducting voters’ education must not be doing that without permission. They must stop forthwith.

They must do that only after they have been registered with us. Those that are doing that have been doing so illegally.

Project Vote 263, an organisation that recently claimed it had facilitated the registration of 9 635 virgin voters throughout the country in 2021, is not on the ZEC list.

However, Project Vote 263 chairperson Alan Chipoyi said they are constitutionally mandated to conduct voter education.

Said Chipoyi:

We will continue encouraging people to vote. ZEC has no mandate to select the parties that are consulting, but they can regulate the content that is disseminated.

We are conducting a constitutional mandate to encourage citizens to register to vote and no one will stop us from carrying out that mandate.

Last week ZEC came under scrutiny from opposition parties and civic groups after it recently released disputed figures of newly-registered voters.

ZEC announced that only 2 000 new voters were registered in 2021 but later revised the figure to 2 971 after opposition political parties and civic groups challenged its statistics.

More: The Standard

By A Correspondent- Ten (10) armed robbers pounced on Mukuvisi Woodlands in Harare in the wee hours of Saturday morning and went away with over US$17 000 cash and various items valued at US$19 000.

In a post on Twitter, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the suspects, who were armed with an unidentified rifle, catapults, hammers and iron bars captured two guards and a caretaker before robbing the premises. The ZRP said:

The ZRP is investigating an armed robbery case that occurred at Mukuvisi Woodlands, Harare on 08/01/22 at about 0110 hours.

10 unknown male suspects armed with an unidentified rifle, catapults, hammers and iron bars stormed the premises before capturing two guards and a caretaker.

The suspects stole US$17 320 cash, laptops and cellphones all valued at US$ 19 040 and fled. Meanwhile, Police recovered US$5 030 scattered on the scene of the crime.

In an unrelated incident that occurred in Chiredzi on the 5th of January, police acted on a tip-off and arrested Admire Magwaza (40), Benard Museki (30) and Ephraim Madausipo (47) for stock theft which occurred at Horse Vale Farm Buffalo Range.

A team of police officers pretended to be buyers of cattle and was shown a herd of 37 stolen cattle by Benard Museki and Ephraim Madausipo at a makeshift kraal in the bush near COTTCO, Chiredzi.

Investigations by the police revealed that Admire Magwaza who is the complainant’s employee connived with the other suspects to steal the cattle.

By A Correspondent- Lawyers representing the founder of Goodness and Mercy Ministries, Tapiwa Freddy, better known as Prophet T Freddy, on Friday played audio of a recorded phone call between him and his accuser, which they said proved the two were lovers.

Freddy denies raping the 33-year-old woman employed as a radio DJ by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).

The complainant claims the attack happened at her Mt Pleasant Heights home on a date in November 2020.

Freddy, a married self-proclaimed prophet, insists he had consensual sex with his accuser, claiming that she only reported him for rape when he ended their affair.

His lawyer Everson Chatambudza played an audio recording in court in which the complainant said during a call:

Shaa (dear), I’m sorry. Ye ropa (about the bleeding) and scratches was just a story to spice up things.

Chatambudza told the court that the complainant had told Freddy that she bleeds and has scratched inside her thighs each time they are intimate.

The lawyer argued that if the audio does not prove that the alleged victim is a liar, it does at least prove that they were in a relationship and quite comfortable to discuss their sex life.

During cross-examination, Freddy’s lawyers accused the complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, of giving a statement to the police that was different from her testimony in court.

The woman admitted to leaving out a lot of information in the police statement but maintained that all she said was true. Said Chatambudza:

There is nothing in your police statement that you tried to stop him from getting into your bedroom. You said (in court) that Freddy entered your bedroom and lay on your bed.

Much later you say he stood up and locked the door and put the keys under the pillow.

This means the door was still unlocked when you came into the bedroom and found the accused lying in bed.

Why is it that you never took any action, why did you not leave?

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday showered praises on Kwekwe mayor Future Titora (MDC Alliance), an ally of MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora, for providing good leadership to the city.

Titora was elected Kwekwe mayor after Mwonzora’s party recalled Angeline Kasipo on allegations of being sympathetic to opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.

The MDC-T is accused of being used by the ruling ZANU PF party to try to destroy the opposition in Zimbabwe and create a de facto one-party state, a charge the party denies.

In spite of the denials, Mwonzora appears to be cosier with Mnangagwa than with other opposition political figures. The two met at State House as recently as last week.

The MDC-T controlled City of Kwekwe gifted Mnangagwa with two cattle, which prompted the ZANU PF leader to invite Titora for a braai at his Sherwood farm.

Said Mnangagwa:

I have heard that from the central government with the ministry being led by minister Ndlovu (Environment Minister) that Kwekwe, through the leadership of its mayor, has shown great leadership.

Mind you, the mayor is of the same Shumba totem as me, so she is very good. We have realised that Kwekwe is advanced in terms of adhering to the requirements of the central government.

We are, therefore, going to prioritise Kwekwe ahead of other cities and towns as the central government for a waste management site.

After the site would have been established the next phase as government, we are going to give them a plant, a power generation plant which processes waste to generate electricity for the city.

Mnangagwa urged members of the public and local authorities to adopt best waste management practices which include separation and segregation of waste. He added:

I would like to thank Kwekwe for the gifts. We will take them (cattle) to my farm. Mayor, you are free to drop by my farm which is in Sherwood, and we can braai these beasts.

By- A 25-year-old gold panner pelted and injured a lady of the night accusing her of failing to be intimate with him after he had paid her for a pleasurable night.
The man, Thamsanqa Dube of Number 838 Magwegwe West, allegedly threw stones at the sex worker before beating her for allegedly failing to deliver as she had promised.
The incident took place in Emganwini where the complainant has a vending stand and the matter came to light after the complainant was beaten and made a report to the police.
Dube appeared before Mr Shepherd Munjanja at the Western Commonage Magistrate’s Court on Friday last week.
The State was represented by Melisa Dube.

Dube was sentenced to four months in prison or pay a fine of Z$10 000. Three months were, however, wholly suspended since he is a first offender.
Allegations are that on 20 December 2021, Dube paid the complainant US$20 for her to pleasure him for the night.
However, later on, the woman refused to have sex with Dube despite their initial agreement.
That did not go down well with Dube who started throwing stones at the complainant and injuring her in the process.

The woman, however, refuted the allegations in court stating that Dube assaulted her because she asked him to move away from her as he was drunk.
Dube admitted to the court that he was drinking, but argued that it was not the reason why he assaulted the complainant.

B-A 37-year-old man from Bulawayo’s Pumula South allegedly killed his 32-year-old girlfriend by drowning her in a sewage stream on New Year’s Day over an undisclosed misunderstanding.
The man, Josphat Sibanda, residing at house number 20530 Pumula South allegedly killed his girlfriend, Constance Chitete, on 1 January at around 5am.
He allegedly held her by the neck and immersed her in sewer water for minutes and did that several times until she died.
Sibanda appeared at the Western Commonage Magistrate’s Court before Mr Shepherd Munjanja and was remanded in custody to 19 January.

He was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Miss Melisa Dube prosecuted.
According to the State outline, the informant, Lwazi Sibanda, and her husband, Witness Sibanda, were doing their morning routine exercise when they heard the now deceased Chitete screaming.
The couple then proceeded to where the screams were coming from, which is a place close to a sewage stream. They saw the accused having a heated argument with the now deceased.
On arrival they tried to intervene by negotiating with Sibanda who was holding Chitete by the shoulders aggressively.

The court was told that it was at that time that Sibanda pushed his girlfriend into the sewage stream and afterwards jumped into the stream where he then held her by the neck and shoulder and immersed her into the water for a period of about two minutes.
He allegedly continued to immerse her without giving her breathing time while she gargled as the sewer water was getting in the nose and mouth.
She fought to free herself, but Sibanda remained steadfast, holding her tightly in the water until she died.
The deceased’s body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals where a postmortem was conducted on 3 January by Doctor Juana Rodriguez Gregory, who indicated the cause of death as Asyphixia and drowning.
-State media

By-The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is set to demolish 12 church structures that are either dilapidated and an eyesore or have been illegally constructed as it ups its fight to rid the city of illegal and dilapidated buildings.

The churches have been issued with demolition notices for their illegal buildings amid revelations that the local authority has listed 47 properties in the Central Business District (CBD) that are dilapidated.

According to the latest council report, 12 churches have been issued with notices to rectify or demolish their illegal structures or risk having the local authority use its own resources to demolish the buildings, with the churches bearing the costs.

The 12 are Zion Christian Church (Emganwini), The Living Gospel World Church (Emganwini), Assemblies of God Church (Tshabalala), Johanne Masowe (Nkulumane), The Same God Apostles ((Pumula East), Holy Apostolic Church in Zion (Pelandaba), Gospel Preaching Ministry (Nkulumane), Potters House Christ Fellowship (Nkulumane), Apostolic Faith Mission of Zimbabwe (Nkulumane), St Lukes United Methodist Church (Nkulumane), Zaoga Church (Nkulumane) and New Birth Fellowship in Nkulumane.

Last year, the local authority upped its surveillance mechanisms of illegal structures in the city, where a number of churches and residential properties were issued with notices.
It is from there that the 47 properties were identified as being derelict with the owners given notices to rectify their structures.

BCC has the authority to repossess such properties as guided by the Titles Registration and Derelict Lands Act (Chapter 20:20).
The Act states that; “Persons having claim on derelict land may apply to High Court or other public body upon immovable property in Zimbabwe and such property is abandoned, deserted, derelict, and the owner thereof cannot be found, it shall be lawful for the person or body claiming such rate or assessment to apply to the High Court, stating the amount claimed to be due and the grounds applying for relief under this Act.”

The local authority revealed that of the identified buildings, 26 were classified as work in progress with the property owners working to fix the anomalies, while there was no action being taken totally by the owners of two other buildings.
“The Director of Housing and Community Services (Mr Dictor Khumalo) reported on 9 December, 2021 that 55 percent of the identified buildings were at various levels of compliance. The department was commencing court processes to obtain repair orders on 15 percent of the buildings,” reads the council report.
Seven of the properties have court process against them and 12 have partially complied with council notices.
The properties that have been red flagged are Number 102 Jason Moyo Street, Number 102 Robert Mugabe Way (Revindra Lalloo Rama), Lot 1 of 484 BT (Zim Cinema Investments), Number 105 Fife Street (TV Sales and Hire), Number 105 Fort Street, Number 105 George Silundika (Kudakwashe Maponga) and Number 107 Robert Mugabe Way (Alasco (Pvt) Ltd).
Other buildings are Number 102 H Chitepo (Dorchester Enterprises), Number 112 Robert Mugabe Way (Beglows Investment), Number 11 115 Robert Mugabe Way (Field Cress Investments), Number 116 Jason Moyo Street (Norab Investment), Number 120 Samuel Parirenyatwa Street, Number 121 Jason Moyo Street, Number 122 Samuel Parirenyatwa Street, Number 124A Samuel Parirenyatwa Street, Number 133/135 George Silundika Street and Number 157-161 Leopold Takawira Avenue.
Other properties that have been red flagged are number 46 Railway Avenue, Number 53 George Silundika Street (Lalla Investments), Number 56 Railway Avenue, Number 58A Robert Mugabe Way, Number 59A George Silundika Street (Ishmael Ahmed Jina), Number 62 Samuel Parirenyatwa Street (The Trustees of Gumtree AME Church), Number 80 Fife Street (R Hassamal Investment), number 96 Robert Mugabe (Grill Mer) and Number 97 George Silundika.

By- A suspected serial armed robber who was also wanted for rape was arrested on Wednesday, as police continue to put their foot down in the fight against rising armed robbery cases.

The suspect, Tinashe Muguti (35) from Glen View 7 in Harare, has been on the run since May 2021 and is believed to have a committed a spate of robberies in Harare, Mazowe, Rusape, Kadoma, Bindura and Zvishavane.
Some of Muguti’s accomplices, who are already in custody, implicated him in several armed robbery cases.

The accused also served time for armed robbery for four years from 2016 until he was released.
On Friday, he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Yeukai Dzuda facing two counts of robbery.
The State, however, indicated that it will bring more charges.
He was remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecutor Mr Thomas Chanakira told the court that on May 12, 2021, Muguti and his accomplices, who have already appeared in court, proceeded to house number 24161, Unit O Extension, Chitungwiza, armed with an unidentified pistol and iron bars.
They forced open the main door and confronted two complainants who were sleeping.
They demanded cash, ransacked the house and stole cash and goods worth over US$7 000.
“The accused person force-marched one of the complainants into another room.

“Whilst inside, he forcibly removed her pant and had unprotected sexual intercourse with her without her consent before leaving the scene.
The total value of goods stolen is US$7 000 and nothing has been recovered,” Mr Chanakira said.
On the second count, the accused, in the company of his accomplices, approached the complainant, Stephen Rovha, at his residence whilst armed with an unidentified pistol.
The gang introduced themselves as police officers and accused him of illegally printing textbooks for resale.
The accused then informed him that he was under arrest and force-marched him into the house, where they assaulted him all over his body using open hands, booted feet and a screwdriver, resulting in him sustaining an injury on the left eye.
They ransacked the house and stole US$7 000 cash and a Samsung A30 phone.
During the commotion, the complainant‘s son aged 8 sneaked out of the house and ran to his uncle’s house, which is a few houses away.

The uncle teamed up with the other neighbours and proceeded to the scene.
Upon arrival, they confronted the accused person and his accomplices.
The suspects fired three shots and took the chance to run away to their getaway car — a silver Toyota Allion without number plates — before speeding off.
The accused was arrested along Mukuvisi River near Mbudzi roundabout in Harare, with evidence indicating he was planning to commit another robbery in Mazowe.

-State media

By-Harare City Council has destroyed “illegal structures” in Mbare, targeting the Mupedzanhamo Market zone and illegal tuckshops around the bus terminus.

The authority said it wanted to bring sanity to the area.

They also said they wanted to give Mbare a facelift, with the market stalls at Mbare Musika and renovate other structures such as the suburb’s colonial-era flats.

Harare Provincial Development Co-ordinator Mr Tafadzwa Muguti has previously indicated that the Government intends to transform Mbare by unlocking value at the marketplace which is the country’s largest market, particularly for agricultural produce.
When contacted on his mobile phone last night, Mr Muguti said he was not in a position to comment.
Harare City Council spokesperson Innocent Ruwende referred questions to acting Harare Mayor Councillor Stewart Mutizwa whose mobile phone was not reachable.

When The Sunday Mail visited Mbare yesterday afternoon, a council bulldozer could be seen razing down illegal structures such as clothing tables, backyard food outlets and illegal tuckshops.
People that delayed or failed to remove their structures were left counting losses.
Many push carts were seen ferrying some of the wares that were being removed by traders.
Other people were hurriedly removing some valuables such as metal sheets.
Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trusts president Mr Shalvar Chikomba said restoring sanity to Mbare was long overdue.
He said space barons are mostly to blame for the rot in Mbare.
“There is a lot of money being made in Mbare, but it is falling into the wrong hands. The traders whose markets have been destroyed are not always the ones to blame because they buy the space from space barons who pocket the money without remitting a cent to Council or Government to refurbish the area.
here are also some greedy merchants who manipulate processes so as to buy produce from farmers for a song. Council and Government need to get to the bottom of all this if they are to restore order in Mbare because space barons will continue to illegally sell space to desperate vendors.”

Traders whose wares and stalls were razed down cried foul about how the demolitions were done saying they did not have alternative places to carry out their businesses.
Mr Motion Mabubu, a vendor outside Mupedzanhamo, said: “They should open a new place for us because this place was our source of income. At least if they had told us in advance that they were going to come and demolish our tables we would have removed them nicely ourselves because they are expensive for us to erect,” he said.
Another vendor, Mr Ronald Chita, said they had no option but to rebuild their illegal structures at the same place.
“All we want is a place where we can do our business because that is where we get money for our upkeep. Schools will be opened soon and our children want school fees so the money comes from here. We have no option but to start re-erecting our tables here because we have nowhere else to go,” he said.
Another vendor who declined to be named said: “If we could have Mupedzanhamo reopened that would be better because all we want is a place to do our business. We do not want to be chased by the police or to bribe them, all we want is a safe place to do our work.”

By A Correspondent- MDC-Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has celebrated the release of his party’ top youth leader, Makomborero Haruzivishe, from Prison.

Posting on his Twitter handle at the weekend, Chamisa said the MDC-Alliance was happy to receive back Haruzivishe.

” THE LION IS OUT & ROARING…I’m excited. We have Our God who answers prayers. Thank you Lord! You always take care of your own. You have your own ways. And you never disappoint! Thank you Zimbabwe for your prayers and support,”.

By A Correspondent| University of Kent lecturer and political analyst Alex Magaisa is unimpressed by National Constitutional Assembly leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku’s succesful representation of MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.

Responding to a Twitter post by one Majaira Majairosi who hailed Madhuku for getting Haruzivishe out of prison free of charge, Magaisa said it was not much about the constitutional law expert’s deep knowledge of the law but the mood of ZANU PF regime.

“I think too much is made of representation. Mako should never have been in jail in the first place. It’s the politics at hand, not law,” said Magaisa.

He further explained that the whole Makomborero Haruzivishe bail application and eventual release was choreographed just “to give the appearance of justice.”

“The questions of who goes to jail and who doesn’t, who gets bail and when they get it depend on the mood at Munhumutapa. Everything else is just choreographed drama to give the appearance of justice. Unfortunately, this is aided by our collective gullibility,” said Magaisa.

Madhuku has not said anything about his decision to accept to represent Haruzivishe and following the bail ruling, he told journalists to speak to Fadzayi Mahere, the party spokesperson who was present in court.

Majaira Majairosi has shared on Twitter, how he spoke to Madhuku about representing Haruzivishe and other behind the scenes processes.

Madhuku has also successfully represented Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume when he was detained after organising his July 31 Anti-Corruption protest.

A 32-year-old Makoni woman recently appeared before a magistrate facing murder charges after she allegedly fatally assaulted a drunk neighbour who was pestering her for sadza.

Mollin Nyakudyara of Nyamukamani Village was arrested after she assaulted her neighbour on 27 December 2021, leading to his death the following day.

She reportedly used five sticks to assault her victim whose identity was not disclosed in the court papers.

Nyakudyara, who had no legal representation, appeared before magistrate Gift Manyika, who remanded her in custody to 14 January 2022.

Manyika advised Nyakudyara to apply for bail at the High Court.

Prosecuting, Oripa Sagandira said the now deceased arrived at Nyakudyara’s homestead in the evening on 27 December and started demanding sadza. Said Sagandira:

On December 27, 2021, at Village 2, Nyamukamani, the accused person was at her homestead.

The deceased victim came to her homestead at around 7 pm and started demanding to be given sadza. He was told to leave her homestead but refused.

A misunderstanding arose between the two, prompting the accused person to use some sticks to assault the deceased all over the body.

The victim sustained injuries on the face, left hand as well as some bruises on the stomach.

The victim passed away the following day at the accused’s homestead.-The Manica Post

The just freed MDC Alliance activist Makomborero Haruzivishe has rallied Zimbabweans to fight for freedom and independence saying his prison experience has helped him realize that there is need to put more effort to defeat the regime.

Speaking just outside Harare remand prison following his release after 10 months and 22 days, Haruzivishe said the fight for freedom in Zimbabwe is bigger than he imagined.

“Getting into prison for this prolonged period, enabled me to see that we have a bigger fight than what we actually imagined, especially within our Justice system, we have a bigger fight and we have to pull up our socks and we need to be more concentrated,” said Haruzivishe.

He called for grassroots education on the problems facing the country which he said emanated from military state capture.

“We need to be even more radical in terms of organising in terms of educating the masses for them to understand the problem that we are in which chiefly emanate from military state capture,” said Haruzivishe.

The former student leader was incarcerated in February last year and it took Professor Lovemore Madhuku to push for his bail application which was finally granted on Friday setting him free from prison walls which had become his new home.

Meanwhile, Madhuku’s representation of Haruzivishe has attracted mixed feelings with some hailing his selflessness while others felt he succeeded because the state was sympathetic to him.

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader President Nelson has said the problems affecting Zimbabweans in South Africa emanate from an immigration crisis in the region.

According to President Chamisa, thousands of Zimbabweans are running away from the political turmoil in the country.

He also blamed the Zanu PF regime for the deepening social unrest in Zimbabwe.

” To all Zimbabweans living in South Africa: we are concerned about you, your challenges and seized with your situation.

We have opened platforms of engagement. Ultimately we must fix our home base and that which has destroyed our beautiful and great country.

The immigration crisis facing the region is as a result of too much diplomacy and too little action on rigging of elections, governance deficits and multiple rights violations.

In order to solve the immigration challenges we must end elections rigging & citizens repression,” said President Chamisa.

He also posted a message of hope to the nation:

“I’ll go in the strength of the Lord God;I’ll make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.O God,You’ve taught me from my youth;And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.…O God, do not forsake me, until I declare your strength to this generation,Your power to everyone who is to come. Psalms 71:16-18 #Godisinit.”